Quippe: Xunfeng is becoming one of my favorite characters in this episode.
Dew: Xunfeng gives me my daily dose of is-he-or-is-he-not-evil so I need this episode to give me clarity asap, please!
*Devy = Devil = Dongfang Qingcang
EPISODE 28 RECAP
Ronghao’s assistant lady asks Jieli to put poison into the bracelet Orchid is wearing. Turns out, Jieli has been a spy for them from the beginning. She sought their protection when she was younger, and in exchange, she works for them. Nooo…
To make sure Jieli stays loyal to him, Ronghao makes her take poison and only gives her the antidote for as long as she reports to him.
Assistant lady orders Jieli to drop the blood of someone unknown on Orchid’s bone bracelet. When Jieli hesitates, she makes sure to remind her that neither Shangque nor Orchid would love her once they know the truth so stick to the plan and no more questions. Jieli bites her tongue and asserts her loyalty to Ronghao. Poof goes the assistant lady.
SQ finds Jieli in the wood and Jieli comes up with this elaborate explanation about her tendency to hide things where no one can find them, like the woods, because she’s been bullied and neglected all her life. So when she has something she treasures, she makes sure no one can find it.
It’s hard to get mad at Jieli when she’s hiding the truth with another truth.
SQ reassures her she won’t have to hide anything as long as he’s around. SQ, you have no idea what she’s needing to hide because you’re around.
Jieli finishes the “blood on bracelet” mission with conflicting emotions.
Devy is facing some domestic protest. Xunfeng and the elders of the court gather in front of the palace to pressure him to cut off ties with Orchid. To them, people from the Heaven Clan are the devils.
This is how all family interventions should go — your family and the entire nation on their knees begging you to break up with your girlfriend.
Great thinking and fast acting on Xunfeng’s part. A ruler can’t afford to offend his entire court for one person, Xunfeng knows this and hopes that Devy does too. Usually, when encountered with this type of pressure, the particular ruler — given that he rules with his brain — would hold his tongue and evaluate the situation before responding.
But of course, this is no usual situation.
Devy reminds Xunfeng that his life was saved from execution because Orchid discovered the secret behind their father’s death. But Xunfeng isn’t convinced that’s enough for his brother to marry the enemy and risk not bringing their troops back from the dead. That’s fair.
Devy declares in front of his elders/court that he loves Orchid, that she has taught him benevolence, and that he intends to marry her. He tells them how gentle, kind, and brave she is. He makes a promise that he will never let her down.
Basically, not only does Devy give his court no acceptable reason to trust Orchid, he also says to their faces that she has changed him. Well good job, Devy, if they didn’t think Orchid used witchcraft on you, they certainly do now.
I know it’s supposed to be a romantic scene or whatever, but realistically, that kind of speech is the surest way to cause civil unrest and get you overthrown. And I’m not going to lie here, I’m definitely in for that kind of angst.
In the end, Devy does say something that makes sense: it’s his fault that the lost soldiers still haven’t returned. He is willing to take some punishment for it.
This kind of punishment is severe, he will have to stand still as magical pointy things — namely spikes and nails — pierce his body and head. I don’t get how that’s going to help the lost soldiers or Orchid, but okay.
Orchid meanwhile has been waiting for Devy from sun-up to sun-down. My god, someone send this girl a “be right there!” message and some dumplings! She gets ready to leave but hears Devy’s footsteps coming.
He’s absolutely battered by the self-punishment and she runs into his arm for a tight hug. Gently Orchid, gently! The two kiss but while no one notices, Orchid’s bracelet glows red.
Devy faints.
That night, Devy goes through hellish pain but he instructs everyone to hide it from Orchid. We’re really taking the noble-idiocy route, aren’t we.
Orchid is frustrated, but she respects his choice and doesn’t ask too many questions about it.
The next day, Devy showers Orchid with pre-wedding gifts.
Orchid doesn’t really know what the gifts are for and don’t seem that interested in them but rather why they’re presented to her now.
He tells her he has something to ask her but she stops him to go first. Actually, in true cutie fashion, she said “What I have to say is more important.”
Then, ladies and gentlemen, she pulls out a handmade Etsy-style bracelet (made from what I can only describe as the best grass and flowers she can find), places it in his hand and —
Asks.
Him.
To.
Marry.
Her.
And at this moment, you can see in this Devil a boy who turns into a 6-foot puddle right in front of his orchid.
She promises him everything and says everything that’s typically what a girl would receive in a proposal and asks for his answer.
He puts on the bracelet wordlessly.
I’ll say it for him: “Yes, I will marry you Orchid.”
But their sweet moment is — thankfully — interrupted by Xunfeng. Little Brother isn’t done yet. He reminds Devy of a law made by their ancestors: Anyone from the Heaven Tribe who wishes to be married into the Moon Tribe will have to enter a dark cave and endure some intense magical torture.
As expected, Devy says no to this. But Xunfeng is smarter, he talks to Orchid directly, pointing out that Devy is neglecting his duty because of her. This unsettles Orchid, but Devy pulls her away before Xunfeng can say any more.
This issue is brought to the court once again. Everyone there kind of agrees that Orchid needs to follow this rule since Devy doesn’t give them a lot to go on. Devy is furious and declares that he will abolish this law. Luckily, Orchid can think. She walks in and accepts this challenge, she hopes this will change the clan’s perception of her and the Heaven Clan.
But Devy disagrees, he says he will not let her get hurt no matter what. Dude, stop talking.
They take the fight back to their room. There’s a lot of yelling, but Orchid wins in the end. She says she needs to do this to let the court see that she is not weak.
She tells Devy that she has no interest in treasures but there is something she wants from him: respect for her decision.
There’s no hierarchy in a marriage, she says, and her opinion matters just as much as his.
That’s our girl.
That night, Orchid secretly seeks out Xunfeng and asks him for a potion that can temporarily cut off the connection between her and Devy so he won’t feel her pain when she enters the cave. And Xunfeng happens to have exactly what she needs in hand. Just something he carries around on a daily basis, I guess.
When Orchid walks away, Xunfeng calls after her, saying that he only wanted to scare her off and make her give up. He doesn’t want her to die because that would make Devy hate him forever. It’s both hilarious and adorable.
It’s the next morning and Orchid just straight up tells Devy to drink the potion/wine. They eye each other knowingly.
When I tell you I almost fell out of my chair laughing when Devy says with a straight face “This would be the third time you drugged my wine.” Just normal fantasy-couple things!
With that, Orchid makes her way into the Cave of Bad Vibes.