Episode Summary
In a game-changing episode, the plot veers wildly off-script with the return of a suspicious King Qianyu, who is shockingly revealed to be the story's screenwriter who has transmigrated into his own creation.Simultaneously, the strained romance between Song Yiting and Shangguan He reaches a boiling point amid intense family drama.
Spoiler Alert
A Dream within a Dream: Episode 34 Spoilers
The episode opens with the fallout from the Emperor's attempt to betroth Song Yiting to Nan Rui. Unhappy with the situation, Song Yiting receives a gift of wild geese, a traditional betrothal gift, which only sours her mood further. Nan Rui rushes to explain that this was not his doing and that he is actively trying to persuade the Emperor to withdraw the decree. Song Yiting offers a cool thanks but leaves without answering when Nan Rui asks if she would ever see him differently if Shangguan He were not in the picture.
Later, Nan Heng accompanies Song Yimeng on a formal visit back to her family, but the reception is icy. Only her father, Song Yude, is there to greet them. Her mother, Zhou Xueyi, is furious with Song Yiting for rejecting the advantageous match with Nan Rui, accusing her of trying to spite her. In a fit of pique, Song Yiting retorts that if her mother mentions Nan Rui one more time, she'll go have a child with Shangguan He immediately.
The family dinner that follows is painfully awkward. Nan Heng's attempts at light conversation are shot down by Zhou Xueyi, who belittles Shangguan He as a mere subordinate of Nan Heng and blames Nan Heng for not managing him properly. Song Yiting fires back, accusing her mother (Zhou Xueyi) of embarrassing everyone. The argument escalates as Zhou Xueyi brings up a past incident at the Zijing Pavilion, demanding that Nan Heng give a satisfactory explanation and exile Shangguan He to the southern territories. When Song Yude tries to defuse the tension with a toast, Zhou Xueyi stops Nan Heng from eating and angrily pokes him in the eye with a quail egg.
After the disastrous dinner, Song Yimeng wonders aloud if Shangguan He truly has feelings for her sister, believing he is simply too passive to act on them. Nan Heng offers a different perspective, suggesting that Shangguan He refrains from starting a relationship because he fears he lacks the power to protect Song Yiting. Song Yimeng dismisses this as mere pride.
Meanwhile, Song Yiting seeks out Shangguan He to draw a clear line between them. She gives him his monthly allowance as promised, but he says he wants to use the money to buy her a zither. His indecisiveness finally makes her snap. She accuses him of dragging his feet and demands a clear answer about where they stand, declaring she can't continue in this state of uncertainty.
A major shift occurs with the sudden return of King Qianyu to the capital, accompanied by Chu Guihong. Nan Rui is shocked to see the King alive. The Emperor, upon hearing the news, arranges a grand banquet in their honor. For Song Yimeng, this is a terrifying development, as King Qianyu's survival is a massive deviation from the script she knows.
The banquet is fraught with suspicion. King Qianyu questions the Emperor's decision to make Nan Heng the crown prince. Nan Rui steps in to praise Nan Heng's capabilities. The Emperor, ever suspicious, warns Chu Guihong to show respect to Nan Heng. Later, the Emperor deliberately serves deer meat, a dish King Qianyu famously does not eat. When the King partakes without hesitation, it deepens the suspicion of everyone present, especially Nan Heng and Chu Guihong.
After the banquet, a furious Chu Guihong confronts King Qianyu with his sword, demanding to know why he ate the deer meat. The King coolly replies that one cannot always stick to old rules.
The episode's biggest twist comes when Song Yimeng is suddenly grabbed by King Qianyu. He calls her by her real-world name, Song Xiaoyu, and reveals the truth: he is the screenwriter of the story and has written himself into the plot.After they confirm their shared secret, Song Yimeng rushes to tell Nan Heng. She suggests they win the screenwriter over with lavish gifts, but Nan Heng is wary, believing he must have a hidden agenda.
His suspicion is proven correct when the screenwriter, as King Qianyu, visits them. He complains that their constant script changes are making it impossible for him to answer to his "director."He wrote himself into the story to regain control. While this is happening, the ever-vigilant Chu Guihong begins his own secret investigation into the King's true identity.
The screenwriter then tries to manipulate Song Yimeng, telling her that the only way to return to the modern world is to follow the original script to its tragic conclusion. Song Yimeng refuses, unwilling to let her family be destroyed as the script dictates. The screenwriter is indifferent to her pleas. In the final, ominous moments of the episode, Nan Heng suddenly coughs up blood, realizing with horror that it must be a physical backlash from altering the predetermined fate of the story.
