Episode Summary
Nan Heng successfully thwarts Chu Guihong's attempt to frame him by arranging a prison break for his followers. The Emperor intervenes in the conflict by issuing an edict to marry Song Yimeng to Nan Heng, but Yimeng cleverly counters by demanding an annulment to prevent Nan Heng from gaining military power. This act deeply wounds Nan Heng. After learning from her sister that her real love is Shangguan He, Yimeng pieces things together and realizes Nan Heng is the mysterious hero, Li Shiliu. She confirms this suspicion by staging a dangerous situation, forcing Nan Heng to instinctively save her and reveal his true identity. Concurrently, to protect his men from being captured, Nan Heng makes the difficult choice to disband his secret organization, Can Jiang Yue.
Spoiler Alert
A Dream within a Dream: Episode 23 Spoilers
In a whirlwind of schemes and revelations, the latest episode sees alliances shatter and true identities come to light, leaving relationships in tatters and setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation.
The episode kicks off with Nan Heng masterfully outplaying Chu Guihong. Anticipating Chu Guihong's plan to frame him, Nan Heng preemptively hires people to stage a prison break, allowing the "Ye You Shen" (Night Wanderers) to escape from Can Jiang Yue and preserve their strength. When Rong Hua and his men arrive, they find the place empty. A furious Chu Guihong confronts Nan Heng, vowing to find evidence of his collusion, but Nan Heng coolly retorts that he was merely an invited guest who was injured on Chu Guihong's territory. Shangguan He can't help but mock Chu Guihong for his lack of composure.
Meanwhile, the Song family is in turmoil. Song Yiting refuses to see anyone except Nan Heng, leading her father, Song Yude, to blame him for the family's troubles. The situation escalates when the Emperor himself pays a surprise visit to the Song residence, specifically asking to see Song Yimeng. Knowing the Emperor's animosity towards Nan Heng, Yimeng contemplates exposing Nan Heng's knowledge of the secret "Satin Blade technique" to prevent the future destruction of her family as foretold in the script she is living.
The Emperor, however, misinterprets her intentions. Believing she wants to secure her position, he issues a shocking edict: Yimeng is to marry Nan Heng on the seventh day of the month, her sister Yiting will be taken as a concubine, and their father must resign from his post to accompany Nan Heng to his designated fiefdom.In a bold move, Yimeng rejects the decree. She declares that the only edict she wants is one to annul her engagement, arguing that severing ties with Nan Heng is the only way to prevent him from gaining control over the powerful Ministry of War.
Armed with the annulment, Yimeng confronts a stunned Nan Heng. He angrily throws the edict aside, hurtfully asking why she refuses to trust him. Yimeng fires back, accusing him of manipulating her family for his own gain. The confrontation reaches a heartbreaking climax when she admits she only ever got close to him with the intention of killing him and that she could never truly believe in him. Devastated, Nan Heng is left in tears as she walks away.
Later, a conversation with her sister brings another revelation. Yiting, angry about the annulment, confesses that her true love is Shangguan He, not Nan Heng, urging Yimeng to see the truth of the situation. This, combined with her knowledge of the "script," leads Yimeng to a stunning realization: Nan Heng is the heroic figure, Li Shiliu.
While Yimeng grapples with this new reality, Nan Heng makes a painful decision. With the Qianyu Army actively hunting his followers, he secretly meets with the Ye You Shen and disbands Can Jiang Yue to protect them.Though his men protest, wanting to face the danger together, Nan Heng reveals his true face and uses harsh words to force them to leave, leaving him alone and heartbroken.
The final, decisive moment comes when Yimeng finds Nan Heng drinking alone at the now-empty Can Jiang Yue headquarters. Remembering a similar scene with Li Shiliu, she decides to test her theory once and for all.
