Episode Summary
In this episode, Zhong Chunjie learns she is the lost princess and leaves for the palace. Tang Lici meets a doctor who reveals his life is being drained by a heart crystal, and his reliance on A'Shui as a "medicine person" will eventually kill A'Shui. When a young boy, Xiao Shi, goes missing while searching for a cure for him, Tang Lici rushes to a dangerous mountain to save him.
Spoiler Alert
The World Turned Upside Down
Zhong Chunjie's Royal Upgrade
So, remember how Zhong Chunjie was barely eating? Tang Lici finally talked some sense into her. She starts eating again. The very next day, things get weird. Her uncle shows up. This is the same guy who was always giving her a hard time. Now he's all smiles and respect. He even brings his own guys to pack up Tang Lici’s stuff. He tells her she's moving to the main hall. She’s getting her old position as sect leader back.
Zhong Chunjie is suspicious. You would be too. This guy’s complete change in attitude is a huge red flag. Soon after, her adoptive father arrives. Sword Master Shao has a letter for her from Tang Lici.
The letter drops a bombshell. The Empress asked Tang Lici to find someone. He found her. Zhong Chunjie is the Emperor's long-lost daughter. She is the Langya Princess. The proof is a tattoo on her back. Tang Lici discovered it after she almost died. That’s how he figured out her real identity. It all clicks for Zhong Chunjie. She remembers being trapped in the Peony Pavilion. Liu Yan told her something specific. She said if Zhong Chunjie survived for four days, she would get a valuable gift. This was the gift. Her own identity.
Suddenly, the palace shows up. I mean, they really show up. Maids, servants, and a massive sedan chair carried by eight people. A red carpet is rolled out for her. She steps into the fancy ride. She knows the darkest part of her life is finally over.
A Tense Reunion
Xifang Tao is alive. Pu Zhu saved her and she made it back to the Peony Pavilion. The place is empty. But then Fang Pingzhai appears. He seems desperate. He's looking for Liu Yan. He needs some kind of magic weapon from her. He demands Xifang Tao tell him where Liu Yan is.
She has no idea. Tang Lici doesn't even know. But Fang Pingzhai won't let it go. So, she does the smart thing. She makes up an excuse to buy herself some time.
Tang Lici's Terrible Diagnosis
Meeting the Doctor
Tang Lici finally meets the Divine Doctor. She’s a young woman who seems gentle but is clearly a master of medicine. The second Xue Xianzi sees her, he runs and hides. The doctor just tells him to hand over something called the "Xue Fu."
She gets to work on Tang Lici. She takes his pulse. She immediately realizes his body is not normal. She also detects his injuries are extremely severe. She says a normal person would have died from this long ago. Then her eyes land on A'Shui. She can tell right away that something is wrong with his health. She gives him a quick check. She sees the wound on his wrist. That confirms it. A'Shui is Tang Lici's "medicine person."
The Awful Truth
The doctor pulls Tang Lici aside to talk privately. She warns him about the "heart crystal" in his chest. It belongs to someone else. It's sucking the life out of him. His completely white hair is a direct result of this. It's draining his vital energy.
She tells him using a medicine person for blood transfusions is just a temporary fix. It's a band-aid on a fatal wound. He will need more and more blood over time. Eventually, he will drain his medicine person completely dry. This is news to Tang Lici. He never considered this outcome. He absolutely will not let A'Shui be harmed. He knows he has to make a choice, and fast.
Later, Tang Lici is alone in his room. He holds the small statue of Fang Zhou. He thinks about how he used to be ready to die. He would have sacrificed himself to bring Fang Zhou back. But things are different now. He has people he cares about. The idea of living on is actually appealing.
Shen Langhun comes to see him. He saw Tang Lici's quiet mood earlier. He also heard what the doctor said about his condition. He puts the pieces together. He tells Tang Lici he absolutely must find a way to live.
A Desperate Search
The next morning, A'Shui rushes in. He's in a panic. Xiao Shi is gone.
He explains what happened. The doctor had mentioned a special herb. It grows on Baojing Mountain. It can temporarily help Tang Lici's condition. Xiao Shi must have remembered this. He probably went to the mountain alone to find it.
Baojing Mountain is a dangerous place. Many herb collectors have gone there and never returned. Tang Lici doesn't hesitate. He tells Chi Yun and Shen Langhun to stay put. He rushes off to Baojing Mountain himself. He has to find Xiao Shi.
