Episode 23 recap: Xu Cheng Feng exchanged his life for the safety of the painting.
Yi Qin Wang had the water for developing images, but it was useless to have only half of the map in his hand. Luo Xue Er visited Shen Dan Qing in prison and expressed that as long as Shen Dan Qing could brew a new plum wine, they could make amends and leave the prison. Xu Cheng Feng told Shen Dan Qing that she had the ability to develop the image water, which was Shen Dan Qing's bargaining chip and their ticket to survival.
Although Yi Qin Wang narrowly won a game today, the image-developing water was about to expire, and even if he had the other half of the treasure map, it would be useless. Luo Xue Er suggested that the Luo family was known for brewing wine and she would seek advice from the master brewer at Ganlu Tang. Perhaps they would know the brewing method for plum wine. Now that Zong Wei had been killed by Xu Cheng Feng and Shen Zi Shan, Yi Qin Wang hoped that Luo Xue Er could become the person he trusted and appreciated the most, following Zong Wei.
Seeing Luo Xue Er's understanding, Yi Qin Wang even took her as a concubine. The masters at Ganlu Tang were unable to replicate the plum wine, but Luo Xue Er learned from them that if Luo Ai Lian had tasted the wine, there was a 90% chance they could replicate it. Luo Xue Er visited Shen Dan Qing in prison and now that she belonged to Yi Qin Wang, she mocked Shen Dan Qing and then stated that as long as Shen Dan Qing could brew a new plum wine, they could make amends and leave the prison.
Shen Dan Qing knew that the remaining half of the treasure map was in Yi Qin Wang's hands, and she declared that she would rather die than brew the plum wine. After Luo Xue Er left, Shen Dan Qing remembered that Xu Cheng Feng had deliberately mentioned the image-developing water in the hall, speculating that brewing the plum wine might be their lifeline.
Tian Hao pleaded with Lin Ge Lao to rescue Xu Cheng Feng. Although Lin Ge Lao believed in Xu Cheng Feng's loyalty, they would only have a chance to turn the situation around if they found new evidence proving Yi Qin Wang's framing or if they found the other half of the treasure map. Luo Xue Er told Yi Qin Wang that Luo Ai Lian was a wine brewing genius and could determine the composition of any wine she tasted, making it easy to replicate.
Although Luo Xue Er couldn't make Luo Ai Lian cooperate in brewing the wine, Yi Qin Wang claimed that he had his own way to make Luo Ai Lian agree to it. Yi Qin Wang visited the prison to find Xu Cheng Feng. Xu Cheng Feng knew that she couldn't leave alive, but she stated that only Shen Dan Qing could brew the plum wine, making her valuable to Yi Qin Wang.
Xu Cheng Feng didn't want Shen Dan Qing and Shen Zi Shan to be implicated because of her. Yi Qin Wang asked Xu Cheng Feng to persuade Shen Dan Qing to brew the plum wine and promised to spare the lives of the Shen siblings. Xu Cheng Feng, for the sake of Shen Dan Qing, willingly confessed to all the crimes before facing death, ensuring that Yi Qin Wang had nothing to worry about.
Yi Qin Wang admired Xu Cheng Feng's talent and was willing to spare her life, but he wanted her to be loyal to him in the future. However, Xu Cheng Feng would rather die than betray her ruler and live.
Yi Qin Wang arranged for Xu Cheng Feng to see Shen Dan Qing one last time. Shen Dan Qing felt guilty for causing their framing and betrayal due to her own identity, but Xu Cheng Feng had no regrets about being with Shen Dan Qing. They confided in each other, and Xu Cheng Feng told Shen Dan Qing that her ability to produce image-developing water was their bargaining chip for survival. She urged Shen Dan Qing to make good use of this leverage. In their final moments together, Xu Cheng Feng gave Shen Dan Qing a lingering kiss, while Shen Dan Qing remained unaware that it was their farewell.
Yi Qin Wang gave Xu Cheng Feng the poison that Zong Wei used to commit suicide and promised to keep his promise to release the Shen siblings. Xu Cheng Feng, without hesitation, consumed the poison and perished. Yi Qin Wang witnessed Xu Cheng Feng's demise and burst into laughter.
Upon learning about Xu Cheng Feng's suicide and receiving her confession letter, Lin Ge Lao realized that the other half of the treasure map had long been lost. With the situation at this point, Lin Ge Lao had no choice but to return to the capital and report. Before departing, he requested that Yi Qin Wang allow Tian Hao to take Xu Cheng Feng's body for a proper burial.
Yi Qin Wang arrived to take Shen Dan Qing away, but she only learned about Xu Cheng Feng's suicide at that moment. Shen Dan Qing understood that Xu Cheng Feng sacrificed herself to protect her. She expressed her desire to pay respects to Xu Cheng Feng and insisted that she could only brew the image-developing water after doing so.
The following day, Shen Dan Qing was brought to pay her respects to Xu Cheng Feng, but she was devastated to realize that they were already separated by life and death. Tian Hao left Xu Cheng Feng's belt as a memento for Shen Dan Qing. Overwhelmed with grief, Shen Dan Qing mourned the loss.
Shen Dan Qing declared that although they were not married, Xu Cheng Feng was already her husband in her heart. She swore to avenge Xu Cheng Feng. Yi Qin Wang threatened Shen Dan Qing by using the lives of Shen Zi Shan and the Shen family's escorts as leverage. Shen Dan Qing agreed to release Shen Zi Shan and promised to brew the image-developing water for Yi Qin Wang.
After Shen Dan Qing's efforts, she successfully produced the image-developing water for Yi Qin Wang. She handed the identity documents she found in her father's room to Luo Xue Er. It turned out that Luo Ji Da had already made arrangements for Luo Xue Er, finding a deceased prisoner who resembled her in appearance to be a substitute for her in a ghost marriage ceremony and secretly sending Luo Xue Er to a distant village to change her identity.
Now Luo Xue Er realized the genuine intentions of her father's actions, and she blamed herself for killing her father. Shen Dan Qing tried to persuade Luo Xue Er to turn back from the wrong path and confess her crimes. However, Luo Xue Er acknowledged that she couldn't turn back and refused to admit her mistakes.
Comments(Episode 23)