Episode Summary
Wangquan Zui confesses her feelings to Yang Yitan, leading to a kiss under fireworks and their engagement. Wangquan Hongye arranges the formal proposal details, settling issues with Yang Yitan's family. Meanwhile, Dongfang Huaizhu contemplates a riddle left by her mother. Qingmu Yuan decides to join Hongye in the Yaoguai Kingdom to investigate Zhang Zheng's suspicious activities there. Jin Renfeng also heads to the Yaoguai Kingdom under Jiu Huo's orders to obtain the Xiwu Flower before Huaizhu. Huaizhu and her sister Qinlan arrive but are quickly jailed for lacking proper credentials. Hongye and Li Quzhuo rescue them in disguise, though Qinlan remains wary of Hongye's obvious affection for Huaizhu.
Spoiler Alert
"Love in Pavilion" Episode 20 Recap & Spoilers
Alright, so we kick things off with Wangquan Zui and Yang Yitan taking a stroll near Ruyi Tower. The place is buzzing with people, street performers, the whole nine yards. It's a lively scene, and maybe feeling the energy, Wangquan Zui finally musters up the courage to lay her heart bare for Yang Yitan. She gets real, pouring out her true feelings.
And guess what? It totally works! Yang Yitan is visibly moved, tears welling up, and the next thing you know, he leans in and kisses her. As if on cue – talk about perfect timing – fireworks explode spectacularly in the sky! Now, these aren't just random fireworks. The show hints they weren't set off by Qingmu Yuan (more on her later), but were actually a signal arranged by Dongfang Huaizhu for Wangquan Hongye (Zui's brother) back at the Huaishui Bamboo Pavilion. Seeing the fireworks from their spot confirms to them that whatever plan they had went off without a hitch. Smooth.
Speaking of Huaizhu and Hongye, they're having a quieter moment at the bamboo pavilion, watching the moon and stars. Huaizhu opens up about her mother, Jiang Juanxue, who left her a mysterious riddle to solve. Hongye also has his own business to attend to. Little do they know, their paths are set to cross again very soon in the Yaoguai Kingdom (literally "Monster Taming Kingdom"). Foreshadowing alert!
Now, let's circle back to Qingmu Yuan. We learn she and Zhang Zheng go way back – they were classmates for years. He apparently played the hero quite a few times, protecting her from bullies, which naturally led to her developing feelings for him. But things changed drastically after Zhang Zheng became the head of the Zhang family. His personality took a nosedive, and despite Qingmu Yuan, in her capacity as the master of Ruyi Tower, inviting him multiple times, he's ghosted her every single time. Ouch. Recently, Ruyi Tower got intel that Zhang Zheng is once again sneaking into the Yaoguai Kingdom in disguise. Qingmu Yuan is determined to find out what he's up to on these repeated trips, so she decides to tag along with Wangquan Hongye, who's also heading there. It's unusual for Qingmu Yuan to go on field missions herself, which surprises Wangquan Zui, but Zui doesn't question it too deeply.
Before Hongye can head off to the Yaoguai Kingdom, though, there's a major piece of personal business: his sister Zui's wedding to Yang Yitan! Yang Yitan promises to observe all the traditional formalities – the "San Shu Liu Pin" (Three Letters and Six Rites), ensuring everything is done properly. But Hongye has one more condition: he insists that Yang Huanzhou and Yang Ying (Yitan's family members, presumably his father/uncle figures) must come and formally propose the marriage in person.
This is a huge step up for the Yang family, marrying into the prestigious Wangquan family, so Yang Huanzhou is ecstatic. He even promises Yitan the position of Yang family head once he marries Wangquan Zui. As for Yang Ying? He's got a gambling problem and has racked up considerable debts. Ever the protective brother, Wangquan Hongye clears all those debts. Not only that, he buys two jade mines down in Nanchui and basically ships Yang Ying and his family off there, presumably to keep him out of trouble and away from the main family affairs. Hongye really goes the extra mile for Zui, but even with all this, he still feels like it's not quite enough, wrestling with that bittersweet feeling of his little sister getting married.
Meanwhile, trouble's brewing elsewhere. Jin Renfeng's cultivation training isn't going anywhere, so he decides to throw in his lot with a shady character named Jiu Huo. Following Jiu Huo's orders, Jin Renfeng heads to the Yaoguai Kingdom with a message for its King. His other goal? To snatch the coveted "Xiwu Flower" before Dongfang Huaizhu can get her hands on it.
Speaking of Huaizhu, she and her sister Dongfang Qinlan arrive in the Yaoguai Kingdom. Their plan is to find the Xiwu Flower at a place called Zuimeng Lou ("Drunken Dream Tower"). But they barely get started before they're nabbed and thrown in jail! Why? Because they don't have the required identity tokens and aren't traveling with any accompanying Yaoguai (demons/spirits are apparently necessary travel companions here?).
Luckily, Ruyi Tower has eyes and ears everywhere. Their informants spot the sisters and recognize they might be from the Shenhuo Mountain Manor. Word quickly gets back to Wangquan Hongye. Ever the hero (especially where Huaizhu is concerned), Hongye and his buddy Li Quzhuo disguise themselves as Yaoguai and manage to bail the sisters out.
Hongye is clearly worried sick about Huaizhu, and in the moment, he instinctively reaches out and takes her hand. Protective sister Qinlan immediately jumps between them, physically separating them. How did Huaizhu even recognize them in disguise? Turns out, Li Quzhuo cleverly wrote the characters "Saozi" (meaning 'older brother's wife' or 'sister-in-law') on his palm. When the ever-curious Qinlan asks what he wrote, Li Quzhuo quickly wipes it off before she can see – probably a good call, given the implication!
Though Hongye doesn't know the specifics of why the sisters are in the Yaoguai Kingdom, he suggests they all team up. Qinlan is having none of it and quickly shuts that idea down. Hongye doesn't push it and just gives them two identity tokens to help them out. Qinlan practically drags Huaizhu away, clearly wanting to put distance between her sister and Hongye, who, as Qinlan observes, looks at Huaizhu like he wants to glue himself to her side. The feelings are definitely not subtle!
