Episode Summary
In "A Dream within a Dream" Episode 8, suspicion and conflict escalate dramatically. Nan Heng grows certain that Song Yimeng and Chu Guihong are plotting against him, a conversation Chu Guihong secretly overhears, causing him to regret his mistrust of Yimeng. A flashback reveals the sixteen-year-old misunderstanding behind the late Empress's death, the root of Nan Heng and Chu Guihong's rivalry. Tensions peak when Chu Guihong's disguise as the assassin Li Shiliu is exposed, forcing Yimeng to physically intervene to prevent bloodshed. In court, Chu Guihong is appointed Capital Governor, a plot deviation that alarms Yimeng. The final turning point comes when the Qianyu Army is ambushed, an act Chu Guihong blames on Nan Heng. Convinced he is a villain who must be stopped, Song Yimeng makes a desperate decision and proposes a plan to assassinate Nan Heng.
Spoiler Alert
A Dream Within a Dream Episode 8 Recap & Spoilers: Mistrust and Murder Plots
A tense hour of television sees alliances crumble, old wounds reopened, and a desperate plan set in motion as Song Yimeng decides the only way to fix the story is to eliminate its male lead.
The fragile trust between the central characters shatters in an episode defined by suspicion, manipulation, and a shocking escalation of violence. As Nan Heng and Chu Guihong's bitter rivalry intensifies, Song Yimeng finds herself caught in the middle, forced to make a decision that will irrevocably alter the course of the "script."
The episode opens with Nan Heng's paranoia reaching a fever pitch. He is utterly convinced that Song Yimeng and Chu Guihong are conspiring to frame him for chaos they've orchestrated. When Yimeng, still hoping to unite forces against a common enemy, suggests bringing Chu Guihong into their fold, Nan Heng flatly refuses. He will not risk his plans on what he sees as Yimeng's blind faith in his rival.
Unbeknownst to them, Chu Guihong is hiding inside a wardrobe, listening to every word. Overhearing Nan Heng's accusations and Song Yimeng's defense of him, he is struck with remorse for ever having doubted her intentions.
In an attempt to make Nan Heng understand the deep-seated animosity, Song Yimeng brings up the royal autumn hunt from sixteen years prior, a painful memory that she knows is connected to the death of the late Empress, Chu Yurong. This triggers a flashback for Nan Heng, revealing the true source of the conflict. The Emperor blamed a young Nan Heng for the Empress's death, leading to a deep rift and fueling Chu Guihong's lifelong desire for vengeance. The truth, however, is more complex; Nan Heng was punished and isolated, and his actions on another battlefield were later twisted to make him seem like a ruthless traitor who had murdered his old friends.
The tension boils over when Chu Guihong, still in the wardrobe, makes a noise. Nan Heng, ever alert, attacks the closet, forcing Guihong to crash through a window to escape. The situation further devolves when Song Yimeng is confronted by two identical versions of the masked assassin Li Shiliu. As she struggles to tell them apart, the cool-headed Shangguan He remarks that the one with superior fighting skills must be the real one.
The ruse is exposed when Nan Heng rips the mask from one of the imposters, revealing Chu Guihong. No longer needing to pretend, Guihong grabs a blade and moves to strike the real Li Shiliu, only for Song Yimeng to throw herself between them. Desperate to prevent further bloodshed, she tries to mediate a truce between the two men, pulling them into a room and insisting they must cooperate to defeat Nan Heng.
A tense negotiation follows. Chu Guihong demands to see Li Shiliu's face, but Shiliu claims a facial injury prevents him from unmasking. Guihong then challenges Shiliu to prove his innocence by confronting Nan Heng directly. Yimeng, refusing to believe Li Shiliu is one of Nan Heng's men, stops the argument. Touched by her sincerity, Chu Guihong seemingly relents, agreeing to trust Li Shiliu for now and promising to keep Nan Heng occupied.
However, this is all part of a larger scheme. Guihong later admits to Nan Rui that he was merely "luring the snake from its hole," pretending to trust Li Shiliu to expose him. Meanwhile, Nan Heng uses the opportunity to have one of his men secretly swap Chu Guihong's signature Zhanyue blade with a fake.
Later, Nan Heng, disguised as Li Shiliu, has a tender moment with Song Yimeng. She gives him a handmade rabbit mask as a thank-you gift for saving her life. The moment is cut short by the arrival of Chu Guihong, who whisks her away.
The political situation in the capital takes a sharp turn. Nan Heng learns that the Emperor plans to appoint Chu Guihong as the Capital Governor, giving him authority over the upcoming Lantern Festival. Nan Heng warns his subordinate, Yao Qian, not to act rashly. Despite this, at the next court session, Yao Qian publicly objects to the appointment. The Emperor, enraged, has Yao Qian beaten and demoted. Song Yimeng is stunned by this development, recognizing it as a major deviation from the original plot she knows.
The final straw comes when Zhixia reports that the Qianyu Army has been ambushed and injured while pursuing bandits. Chu Guihong immediately points the finger at Nan Heng. This accusation solidifies Song Yimeng's belief that Nan Heng is an irredeemable villain who must be stopped at all costs.
Driven by this conviction, she rushes to the Canjiang Guild Hall. She finds Li Shiliu (unaware that it is Nan Heng in disguise) and proposes a shocking new plan: they must assassinate Nan Heng. Li Shiliu refuses, questioning whether she has any proof that Nan Heng was behind the attack on the Qianyu Army. But Yimeng's mind is made up, setting the stage for a dramatic and dangerous confrontation.
