Episode Summary
Feng Lixue discovers a message from her father while trying to help Xuyuan Yunchao. Chong Guang schemes while others worry about Yuan Beichen's poisoning. Feng Lixue is declared Empress, upsetting Mo Xiao. Alliances shift as plans are made to help Mo Xiao escape, and a dangerous wedding is being plotted.
Spoiler Alert
"Destiny and Saving" Episode 23: Recap & Spoilers
So, Feng Lixue sneaks in to bring Xuyuan Yunchao some supplies. She finds him practically frozen solid! She gives him a warmth-inducing trinket, but he's too worried about Wu Shuang still being mad at him to leave. Instead, he points out a weird echo in the ice cave. Feng Lixue investigates and discovers a message left by her dad, Feng Xingtian. Turns out, when she was a lonely kid bugging him instead of letting him practice, he taught her a spell to record her voice in this specific location so he could always hear her. Aww, right?
Following her dad's instructions, Feng Lixue finds his recording. He was trying to develop a technique in this freezing place to cure her unique cold ailment. But then, surprise! She hears Chong Guang's voice instead. Dun dun dun!
Speaking of Chong Guang, he suddenly feels a pain in his chest and heads to where Xuyuan Yunchao is being held. He pretends to thank Xuyuan Yunchao for saving Feng Lixue but really wants to know how to merge the Bingqing Fu (Ice Clean Moth). Xuyuan Yunchao, being the keeper of ancient texts, is the guy to ask, naturally.
Chong Guang then pays Feng Lixue a visit, telling her to dress up for a big announcement the next day. Feng Lixue watches him leave, wondering if he had something to do with her father's death. Suspicious!
Meanwhile, Xuan Zhen discovers Yuan Beichen's medicine has been tampered with. He confronts Lu Jianchuan, who denies everything. Murong Ce arrives just then, and saving Yuan Beichen becomes the top priority for Murong Changfeng.
Zi Ying delivers a fancy outfit to Feng Lixue but won't say what it's for. Mo Xiao is lurking in the crowd, watching everything. When Feng Lixue arrives, Wu Shuang demands she be punished, thrown into the Tianmo Abyss (Demon Abyss) as a sacrifice. Chong Guang ignores Wu Shuang and announces that Feng Lixue is now the honored Empress! Everyone's shocked. Feng Lixue spots Mo Xiao in the crowd, and his departure breaks her heart. Chong Guang taunts Wu Shuang, asking if she wants the Empress thrown into the Abyss too, leaving Wu Shuang speechless.
Feng Lixue chases after Mo Xiao, who asks if she's staying because she wants to be Empress. She doesn't explain, just says becoming Empress is the only way to find out the truth about her father's death. She reminds Mo Xiao that he's the young leader of Shushan and must protect the people. They're on different paths.
Ji Xingluo catches up with Feng Lixue and wonders why Chong Guang wants to marry her. Since Chong Guang is the master of the love stone, he can't have romantic feelings or he'll be consumed by the magic. Wu Shuang thinks Chong Guang wants Feng Lixue close to him to find the third holy stone, but can't actually love her. Wu Shuang plans to make sure Chong Guang achieves "fulfillment," whether he feels anything or not. Yikes!
Chang Ming, under Feng Lixue's orders, tells Mo Xiao that the Wugenhua is in Chang Ming's courtyard. Mo Xiao finds it, but the protective spell makes him dizzy. He barely makes it out before collapsing. Poyun brings him back. Feng Lixue knows Mo Xiao is in bad shape, and Poyun suggests the Longqiu Spring for treatment. But that's Wu Shuang's territory! Feng Lixue is worried Wu Shuang won't allow it, but Poyun suggests getting Tianxin's help.
With Tianxin's help, Feng Lixue gets a token to send Mo Xiao to the Longqiu Spring. She rushes back after hearing Chong Guang went to Shao Hao Palace. Chong Guang brings her gifts, hoping she'll like them, and wants to take her measurements for clothes. Feng Lixue kneels, begging him to take back the marriage order, thinking the announcement was just to protect her.
Wu Shuang arrives with the Empress's White Phoenix Brocade, a wedding gift from Ye Yuan. Chong Guang accepts it, making it clear he knows Feng Lixue is rejecting him because of Mo Xiao. He reminds her that this marriage is what everyone wants and not to disappoint them. Feng Lixue knows that if she doesn't marry Chong Guang, he'll go after Mo Xiao.
Wu Shuang sent the White Phoenix Brocade to Feng Lixue because it's rigged. On the wedding day, whether Chong Guang feels anything for Feng Lixue or not, the dress will backfire on him. Wu Shuang orders Tianxin to bring Xuyuan Yunchao out to prepare for the wedding.
Xuyuan Yunchao is upset that Feng Lixue agreed to be Empress and asks her why she's marrying someone she doesn't love. He wants her to refuse Chong Guang, saying he'll find a way to convince Chong Guang to cancel the wedding. After Poyun leaves, he expresses his feelings, not wanting Feng Lixue to sacrifice herself. Feng Lixue tells Poyun to take care of Mo Xiao and help him leave safely.
Poyun asks Mo Xiao to take Feng Lixue away, not wanting her to be unhappy. He's also worried about the future, but Mo Xiao promises to take Feng Lixue away and protect her from bullying. Poyun is grateful and offers to send messages to Xie Lingyun.
Xie Lingyun is worried about Mo Xiao, but feels helpless. He plans to investigate, but Hualang arrives and leads Xie Lingyun to Poyun. Poyun gives Xie Lingyun the antidote to the Wugenhua to take back. Xie Lingyun sends Zimu back with the antidote while he and the others wait at the foot of Mount Suyu to help Mo Xiao escape.
