Episode Summary

In this episode, Nan Heng stages a grand proposal, but is rejected by Song Yimeng, who reveals the shocking truth that they are characters in a storybook.To prove his love and eliminate her fears for her family's safety, he convinces the Emperor to make her father the Prime Minister with the power to depose him. Faced with his immense sacrifice and her own deep-seated fears of leaving him, Yimeng is urged by her father to live without regret.

Spoiler Alert

"A Dream within a Dream" Episode 31 Spoilers: The World is a Script

In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the line between reality and fiction blurs for Nan Heng and Song Yimeng.

The episode opens with Song Yimeng at Can Jiang Yue, where she finds a land deed, a cat, and a dog. She has a moment of realization: Nan Heng has been quietly making all her spoken wishes come true. Just then, Nan Heng makes a grand entrance on a flying horse, wearing a rabbit mask. He confesses his feelings once more, promising to cherish her for a lifetime and asking for her hand in marriage. The romantic scene moves onlookers like Shangguan He, who fully expect a happy "yes."

However, Song Yimeng tearfully rejects him. She tells him to stop and flees, explaining that she cannot marry him. A confused Nan Heng chases after her, demanding to know why. Her reason is a bombshell: she opens a script and shows him the scene of his proposal, revealing that they are living inside a storybook and their lives are pre-determined plot points.

Meanwhile, other forces are at play. The Emperor, playing chess with Song Yude, pushes for the marriage between Nan Heng and Yimeng. Song Yude tries to demur, suggesting his daughter's personality isn't suited to be a future empress, but the Emperor is fond of Yimeng and is set on making the union happen, leaving Song Yude in a bind.

In another part of the story, Nan Rui visits Chu Guihong and misunderstands a situation, believing Chu Guihong and Rong Hua are plotting to assassinate Nan Heng. He tries to intervene but is harshly rebuked by Chu Guihong, who calls him useless. When Jixiang defends Nan Rui, Chu Guihong strikes her down. A heartbroken Nan Rui protects Jixiang and leaves, saddened by Chu Guihong's unyielding path.

Nan Heng is left reeling from Yimeng's revelation.As a heavy rain begins to fall, he stands alone, even cutting his own palm to feel if the pain and the world are real. His loyal attendant, Fugui, finds him and offers a simple but profound perspective: whether the world is real or fake, what matters is doing what you want to do. This snaps Nan Heng out of his existential crisis.

Resolved, Nan Heng decides to face the "script" head-on. He informs Song Yude about the storybook world. Understanding the situation, Song Yude accepts the imperial edict for the marriage, effectively forcing Yimeng's hand. An angry Yimeng is then tricked by her sister, Song Yiting, into going to Nan Heng's residence. There, she finds her whole family has been won over by Nan Heng. He tempts her with a hot pot meal and gently convinces her to stay, promising he will wait for her. Her maids, Yingqiu and Zhixia, arrive with her luggage, ready to prepare for the wedding in ten days.

Nan Heng knows he cannot force her and must eliminate her fears. In a bold move, he recommends Song Yude for the position of Prime Minister. To secure the Song family's safety and prove his sincerity, he asks the Emperor for a second edict: if Nan Heng ever acts improperly, the Prime Minister (Song Yude) will have the authority to lead the officials in deposing him. The Emperor, though calling him a fool for love, agrees.

When Song Yimeng learns that her family has essentially been given a "death-exemption gold medal," she is stunned. Her father, Song Yude, explains the depth of Nan Heng's feelings for her. He asks what she is truly afraid of, urging her not to fear the future. Yimeng admits her fear is not just for her family's safety, but also the fear that she might suddenly disappear from this world, leaving Nan Heng to face that loss alone. Song Yude, speaking of his cherished memories with her late mother, advises her that matters of the heart should be pursued without regret.