Episode Summary
In this episode, Tianji's attempt to force Ji Bozai's hand backfires when he chooses Ming Yi. Ming Yi learns the truth about her past defeat, realizing she was poisoned by an unknown enemy. To get the antidote, she hatches a risky plan to infiltrate the Judgment Hall, only to run straight into a suspicious Ji Bozai.
Spoiler Alert
Love in the Clouds: Episode 4
The Princess Makes Her Move
An Old Deal Comes Due
First, we get some important backstory. Princess Tianji and Ji Bozai made a deal a long time ago. She saw he was a top-tier fighter. She asked him to represent her realm, Jixing Yuan, in the Qingyun Tournament. The terms were simple. If he defeated a guy named Ming Xian, she would clear his criminal record. She would even make him an immortal lord. But if he lost, he had to destroy his own soul. No pressure, right?
The Jealous Doctor Spills the Tea
Back in the present, the ruler of Jixing Yuan is sick. Tianji needs to lock down her power. Her plan is to marry Ji Bozai. This would solidify her position. The problem is, Ji Bozai keeps dodging the subject. He won't even talk about their engagement.
This is where a new player enters. A doctor named Yan Xiao has a huge crush on Tianji. He sees her pining for Ji Bozai and gets jealous. So, he decides to cause some trouble. He deliberately tells the princess that Ji Bozai has a woman living with him at Wugui Hai.
A Not-So-Subtle Kidnapping
Tianji is furious. She immediately sends her guards to grab Ming Yi. They drag her to the Shouhua Palace. Ming Yi then realizes the powerful master of this palace is Tianji herself.
Tianji tries to get Ming Yi to leave Ji Bozai. She offers her mountains of gold and a life of luxury. But Ming Yi is smarter than that. She senses Ji Bozai has already followed her and is hiding right outside the hall. So, she puts on a show. She loudly declares that her love for Ji Bozai is stronger than any treasure. She says she will never leave him.
As expected, Ji Bozai bursts through the doors. He pulls Ming Yi behind him for protection. He looks right at Tianji. He tells her their relationship was just a transaction. There were never any feelings involved. He also reminds her of a hard truth. A champion fighter who can win tournaments is way more valuable than a prince consort. Tianji understands the logic. She has no choice but to let them go.
Schemes and Suspicions
Brotherly Interference
Ming Yi's brother, Ming Xin, is still a mess. He goes to a place called Hua Yue Ye to snoop around. He wants to find some dirt on Ming Yi's past. The people there, led by Zhang Tai, know he's bad news. They don't fall for his threats or his bribes. They give him nothing.
Zhang Tai then goes straight to Ming Yi. He tells her that a fighter from Yaoguang Mountain was asking questions. Ming Yi knows immediately. It was her reckless younger brother causing problems again.
A Party Invitation with an Agenda
We also get a dose of office politics. Situ Ling is the new head of the Judgment Hall. His superior, Mu Qibai, calls him in for a meeting. Mu Qibai pretends he's just congratulating him on the promotion. But his words are sharp. He's clearly trying to intimidate Situ Ling.
Situ Ling doesn't play along. He doesn't even let Mu Qibai finish his little speech. He just says he's busy with work and leaves. After he's gone, Mu Qibai's attendant has an idea. He suggests throwing a banquet. It would be the perfect chance to test the relationship between Ji Bozai and Bo Yulan, who is Ming Yi's cover identity.
Revelations on the Water
The Truth About the Duel
The banquet takes place on a fancy boat. Ming Yi uses the opportunity to ask Ji Bozai about the past. She brings up his duel with Ming Xian. Ji Bozai tells her something startling. He says that during the fight, he could feel Ming Xian's spiritual power was already gone. It wasn't a normal defeat.
Ming Yi is shaken. This changes everything. She finally realizes that someone else must have poisoned her back when she was Ming Xian.
Things Get Tense at Dinner
At the party, Mu Qibai brings out a portrait of Bo Yulan. He's trying to get a reaction out of Ji Bozai. The other guests start making crude and disrespectful comments. Ji Bozai keeps a straight face, but you can tell he's getting angry. Ming Yi senses his anger and cleverly changes the subject, defusing the tension.
But then one of the guests physically grabs Ming Yi. That's the last straw for Ji Bozai. He can't hold back anymore. He attacks the man right there in front of everyone. His power is so intense that the entire room goes silent.
A Desperate Gambit
The Antidote's Hiding Place
On the boat ride home, there's a quiet moment. Ji Bozai gently rubs the bruise on Ming Yi's wrist from where the man grabbed her. The two are clearly developing real feelings for each other.
Later that night, Ming Yi follows a magical "domain bug" into a wasteland. She sees something incredible. Ji Bozai is hiding the antidote, a medicine called "Huang Liang Meng." He places it inside the Lingxi Well. Here's the catch. The well is magically protected. It can only be entered by someone whose mind is linked with Ji Bozai's. Her companion, Twenty-Seven, suggests they get married to create that link. But Ming Yi has a different plan.
A Brotherly Distraction
Twenty-Seven helps set the plan in motion. He deliberately leads Ming Yi's brother, Ming Xin, toward the Judgment Hall. Ming Xin isn't powerful enough to get through the hall's magical barrier, but he tries anyway. The barrier's magic backfires. It hits him hard and knocks him unconscious.
Caught in the Act
With her brother creating a distraction, Ming Yi sneaks inside the Judgment Hall. Her goal is to find the portrait of Bo Yulan. She thinks if she has it, she can use it to get closer to Ji Bozai.
Just as she gets inside a private room, she runs face-to-face with Ji Bozai himself. He's immediately suspicious about how she got in. Ming Yi has to think fast. She pretends to be completely calm. She claims she just used her good looks and a bit of seduction to get past the guards. Ji Bozai doesn't seem to believe her completely. He studies her for a moment, but then drops it. For now, he decides to take her to the study where the portrait is kept.
