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TL;DR Version
Still reluctant to marry anyone he doesn’t love, even if it’s fake, DFQC changes his mind when he thinks Orchid doesn’t have feelings for him. Orchid meanwhile, is grappling with her own feelings about Chang Heng and DFQC. Both Orchid and DFQC’s marriages are two days away. Cricket dies and Dan Yin is ordered to kill Wan Qing/Chi Di to stop DFQC.
Recap
DFQC is still refusing to marry anyone except the person he loves and fighting with Orchid when Wan Qing/Chi Di shows up. Orchid unknowingly uses the Xilan Holy Spell to stop DFQC and seal his lips shut.
Orchid is stuck doing all the talking with Wan Qing/Chi Di while DFQC stands with his back turned to them, silent. Orchid is encouraging and a confused but hopeful Wan Qing/Chi Di, who is excited her feelings are returned by DFQC. She has her birthdate and horoscope written down and makes a date with DFQC to exchange it for his later.
Orchid doesn’t know she put a spell on DFQC and is hurt he didn’t discourage and reject Wan Qing/Chi Di.
Riding in a carriage with Wan Qing/Chi Di, Orchid is wilted because she’s gotten what she wanted as far as DFQC’s engagement. She turns to Wan Qing/Chi Di for advice for a ‘friend’ and outlines her romantic situation. Wan Qing/Chi Di thinks it’s ridiculous not to pursue love, no matter the outside circumstances.
The second DFQC gets his voice back, at midnight, he asks Shang Que what Orchid meant earlier. He then asks about himself compared to Chang Heng. Shang Que finds this behavior strange. DFQC continues to brood over the situation.
Outside, DFQC and Shang Que listen to Jie Li and Orchid question each other about their love lives. Orchid says she has loved Chang Heng forever, doesn’t love DFQC, and isn’t the type to change her mind. Jie Li thinks that’s boring and then evades answering Orchid’s questions about Shang Que.
After Orchid goes to bed Jie Li tries to reassure DFQC and explain how women work and that Orchid was lying about her feelings. It doesn’t help. Jie Li suggests he remove the Heart-Hidden Pin so he can read Orchid’s emotions that way. DFQC goes and watches Orchid sleep, generating a replacement Heart-Hidden Pin.
When it’s just the two of them, Shang Que wants to know Jie Li’s true feelings. He thinks they have the same heart, but she denies it. He has a heart, she sold hers for the safety and security of money. She won’t ever like anyone. Shang Que doesn’t understand.
Xiao Run/Chang Heng takes Orchid out on a date, but everything she sees reminds her of DFQC. She’s not smiling and Xiao Run/Chang Heng can tell. DFQC is following but he didn’t actually change the pins because of something Orchid said.
Briefly, we see him under the emotion tree, which is looking healthier.
Orchid tells Xiao Run/Chang Heng about fantasizing about a day like today, but it sounds very past tense. Xiao Run/Chang Heng gives her the Firefly Stone. She remembers talking to DFQC about Chang Heng, and DFQC getting angry. That makes her smile.
DFQC, still following, misunderstands. He thinks she’s always happy with Chang Heng and sad with him. He thinks it’s natural considering how he treats her. Orchid sees him leaving and chases after him, but he’s about to meet up with Wan Qing/Chi Di. Orchid doesn’t want him to go but has no reason to stop him.
Cricket/Dan Yin and Jie Li need to exchange some mixed-up wedding clothes and Shang Que is coming along. Jie Li tells Shang Que to cheer up because DFQC is going to kill everyone soon. Cricket/Dan Yin overhears, goes running to warn Xiao Run/Chang Heng, gets run over by a carriage, and dies.
Orchid and DFQC are still fighting, jealous over each other’s impending marriages.
Back in Shuiyuntian, Dan Yin is in trouble with Yun Zhong. He wants her to kill Wan Qing/Chi Di to stop DFQC from resurrecting his soldiers. She doesn’t want to because that’ll kill Chang Heng too. Dan Yin’s father, Li Yuan, promises that she’ll do it.
Thoughts
Our leads kiss in the first episode and are inseparable from about the 3rd/4th episode, yet this show is a slow burn. We’re into the 20s in episode count and it feels like their feelings are finally really hitting them. Before this there were times when I thought their feelings flared up or they knew them or suspected them. Maybe they didn’t. Or maybe they dismissed them. But I like that uncertainty. It feels very real. Their situation is complicated, so their feelings should be too.
In this episode, Orchid does seem to realize here that she no longer feels the same about Chang Heng and has feelings for DFQC. The moment when Xiao Run/Chang Heng gives her the Firefly Stone seems to be when it really clicks.
Even though he was wrong about Orchid’s feelings at that moment, I’m glad DFQC realized that he hasn’t exactly been Prince Charming. If she likes Chang Heng more than him, in some ways, that makes sense. Chang Heng is more the classical hero. But DFQC is the one who looked awesome when he rescued her from the fairies and took her away on the dragon that is also his lieutenant.
The bit with Wan Qing/Chi Di’s birthdate/horoscope that she wanted to exchange with DFQC feels like it should have led to something more. I wonder if something got cut. Or if it has some cultural meaning that went over my head.