EPISODE 19 RECAP
The next morning, Yongqi lets the orphan girl ride with him some more. Definitely to spite Xiaoyanzi, he could have let anyone else take care of this girl without consequences.
When they stop for a break, however, Yongqi comes to apologize, but Xiaoyanzi harrumphs, shoots onto a horse’s back and rides away. Why is this a problem? Xiaoyanzi has not learnt horseback riding!
Yongqi is petrified and Er’kang has to yell “go after her!” for him to start moving.
Xiaoyanzi falls from the horse’s back and rolls down a hill. Of course she does. She must have hit a rock on the way or something because now there are long bloody cuts on her leg.
This certainly puts things into perspective. Actually, no, it doesn’t. Xiaoyanzi still prioritizes shouting at Yongqi and Yongqi kisses her to shut her up. She pushes him aside and hops away. That is the most hilarious attempt to be romantic I’ve ever seen from a male lead. The whole thing is so funny I can’t even fault Yongqi for jumping in like that.
But Yongqi apologises for real, afterwards. Xiaoyanzi forgives him and they ride home together on one horse. That’s right, don’t ever double-ride on horseback with another woman again, Yongqi. Sheesh.
Back at the inn, Yongqi once again apologizes to everyone he yelled at yesterday, including Er’kang. Awww.
Next town. Our group encounters a festival. The street is super busy and packed. Xiaoyanzi wanders off to watch the street performance, Yongqi goes with her. When they wander too far, the emperor asks Er’kang and Er’tai to follow them for protection. Er… they don’t need protection, you do, emperor!
I don’t know where the other bodyguards go afterwards but in the next scene, Ziwei is the only one accompanying the emperor. A pair of street vendors approach them to sell them some tea eggs. But out of nowhere, the two vendors start to attack, throwing the eggs at the emperor. You get one chance to get that close to the emperor and your weapon of choice is a pot of eggs? You guys are the worst assassins ever.
Next, one of them comes at the emperor with a knife. It’s a planned assassination. The whole squad of festival performers are in on it! It’s more creepy than scary, by the way, because these people are still in their costumes. It’s like being attacked by clowns and dolls.
Anyway, because the emperor doesn’t dodge the knife in time, Ziwei throws herself forward and the knife hits her. Nooo… not Ziwei. Prepare to see Er’kang panic like never before. The emperor has to carry Ziwei and defend himself at the same time. OMG, where are you, crappy imperial bodyguards??
The men and the Boy Trio push through the crowd to get to the emperor. A fight breaks out. Er’kang’s dad is a total badass, by the way. The city’s soldiers arrive on time to contain the assassins.
Next problem, the knife in Ziwei’s chest needs to be pulled out. Uh-oh, she might die from blood loss. Before they do anything, Ziwei seizes this opportunity to ask the emperor for a pardon for Xiaoyanzi, no matter what “wrong” she might commit. With her looking like she’s dying, the emperor has no choice but to promise her whatever she wants. Whoever said Ziwei is weak and useless, you can amend your statement now.
Long story short, the room plunges into chaos during the knife-pulling scene; and it’s not Er’kang who makes the most noise, but Xiaoyanzi. But the physician contains the situation and saves Ziwei, even with everyone practically shoving at him and shouting at Ziwei. Next time, just throw them all out, physician.
The next day, Er’kang is bitter about the fact that the emperor has been tending to Ziwei. You see, he thinks it should be him who sits next to Ziwei right now. Er’kang is like that one drama viewer who refuses to accept that this is a lot more than a romance.