A lot of stuff happens

This was a very good episode.  The writing was solid, the characters were consistent.  The pacing was good.

1.We open to a Yu ordering Ge'er and Officer Hueng to leave the palace since he is leaving.  She refuses to accept this order and insists to Hueng that she will figure out the source of her senior's illness.  She also disregards Hueng's (good) advice that she should leave because things are not as they appear in the Imperial Palace and that, basically, there is a lot of intrigue and trickery.

2.Ge'er directly (as is her personality) questions the Royal Eunech about Yu's condition, specifically his recent habits and food choices.  Unsurprisingly, he tells her that he cannot tell her anything about that.  He does relate to her the recent meeting that Yu had with Yin Xue and the emperor, and how his sharp health decline coincides with that.

3.Ge'er goes to Yin Xue and is only able to see him because she uses her authority as the future princess consort (the token that Yu left her).  Yin Xue seems troubled by her appearance however he sees her.  When she enters, his expression changes to his usual smiling, coy expression and he is flirtatious with her, joking light heartedly.  But then she asks him in a direct--and somewhat accusatory way--what he has done to Yu.

4.  This seems to cause a slight change in Yin Xue's appearance.  A somewhat I-cannot-believe-this smile appears and he says, almost to himself, first Yu refused to let you toast to me, and now here you are accusing me without any consideration for your identity (i.e. propriety) you must really care for him.  you must think i tried to hurt him and used healing as a cover.

5.Ge'er quietly tells him that Yu was fine before seeing him.  She grew up with him.  Of course she cares about him.  Yin Xue pulls her close and tells her that he drained his energy to heal him and here you are accusing me.  then he FORCES A KISS ON HER (WTF Yin Xue)  Her orders her to not fight against him and she takes a defensive pose and angrily says that she is terrified her senior will die, that she trusts him (Yin Xue) and came to talk yet all he did was dismiss her questions and (basically take everything as a personal attack) when that was not her goal at all, she just wanted information.

6.Hearing this, he finally tells her that Yu is suffering from the dreaded Frost Curse.  He will die soon (and he clearly could care less).  It cannot be cured because it is a curse.  However she challenges him and states anything can be cured.  This causes that silly smile to come back and he says 'you're so smart' and that he can heal him.  He asks her if she would give up undoing the curse if she knew it would case him harm, and she says without hesitation that she would because no life should be sacrificed for another.  He wants to know if she loves Yu.  She explains that he is like an older brother, he's a good person who has always suffered alone, she apologizes to Yin Xua and he tells her, flatly, to beg him.

7.A part of me kind of likes this part of Yin Xue that is so outrageous--and utterly selfish.  It isn't really clear if he really means this or not.  Or why he needs her to beg because his personality is a little twisted, however, she begs him and he laughingly promises to help.  He tells her that he lied to her, that he followed her in secret to see if Yu truly was sick (so he was jealous basically) and that he had taken his anger out on her earlier when he insisted she toast him, and his anger intensified when Yu stepped in to announce they were engaged.  She explains to him that what Yu did was not that strange because him asking her to toast would have been seen as humiliating Yu--he did that to save face.  Yin Xue acts like she has just taught him some great lesson but audience, we both know he knew exactly what he was doing.

8.He says that he will save Yu if she agrees to go to a special place with him (is there a double meaning here?)  she is no longer mad at him, it seems, and cries in relief.

9.They go to where Yu is and Yin Xue examines the Ice Jade cup.  He reveals it is actually a poisoned cup, and he learns it's appearance coincided with Second Madame's arrival.  Furthermore, since the curse has been passed to Yu, it is now safe and thus cannot be used as evidence.  So they cannot report it (which is what Ge'er wants to do).

10.  Ge'er repeats her promise to Yin Xue which includes after this she will go with him and stay away from the affairs of the imperial court and pugilist world.

11.  Miss D continues to spy and follows servants who are bringing a lot of silver to an undisclosed location.  Alas, she is discovered by Feng'er....

12.  Supreme Master drops a BOMB while casually reclining at his headquarters.  Yin Xue's weakness (he tells Wu Xia) is the one he loves.  It was the same with 'that woman' (WHO??) and is the same now, the current special loved one being Ge'er.  He explains Ge'er could not fall for Yin Xue if he knowingly refuses to save Yu, because Yu is like her brother.  However, once he removes the curse he will be severely weaned, and then they can kill him.  Furthermore, if he let's Yu die it throws the palace into chaos.  Hence it's a case of damned if you, damned if you don't for Yin Xue.

13. This conversation is interrupted when Miss D is brought in by Feng.  Wu Xia begs for her life, and she explains she only investigated what she thought were Blade Guards who might be traitors.  Supreme Master calmly says she is lying and knocks her out, and he tells Wu Xia that now that she has doubts about him she will never trust him, and thus never be one of their people.  Wu Xia pleads for her life, stating he will keep her under lock and key.  He asks Feng'er what they should do, and he says they should spare her.  Supreme Master says that the important thing is controlling her mind, not her body.  He tells Feng he must marry Miss D, and force her to have his child.  In doing so 1) The position of Feng will be strengthened and make it easier for him to inherit the Flame Villa 2) It will be good for Blade City and Flame Villa overall

14.MW, the frost curse turns out to be very difficult for Yin Xue to crack.  He privately attempts to heal Yu but all he is able to do is to temporarily halt it.  Yu awakens, and Yu thanks him for saving his life.  Yin Xue is very direct--I am only doing this for Ge'er--but Yu is gracious and says he should still thank him.  Yin Xue then explains to him the situation (divulging info he has not shared with Ge'er): that this is all a trap set for him.  Dark Palace wants to weaken him, because they know he will heal him if Ge'er begs him.  However, if he lets him die, it would through the imperial palace and the pugilist world into panic/chaos.  Yu wants to know what he plans, and Yin Xue essentially tells him that they will have to be very good actors (I guess he plans on faking like he is weak).  

15. Before leaving, Ge'er tries to return his mother's memento, however Yin Xue insists she keep it and ties it to her waist.

16.MW, Feng must decide what he will do.  He learns at the villa that a letter arrives but its contents are not for his eyes.  It is clear that housekeeper does not trust him. Flame leader has a duel with Feng for funzies, and afterwards Feng tells him that he plans on marrying Miss D and asks for his blessings.  This shocks Flame Leader, who does not believe his (obvious) lie that he loves Miss D.  He knows this would be a benficial match but asks Feng if he is okay with never marrying Ge'er because he cannot go back from this.  He tells Feng that he will regret choosing ambition over happiness, but Feng (although visibly upset) insists he is happy with this decision.

17. Miss D is under house arrest....

18.Flame leader discusses Ge'er with housekeeper and states its a good thing she won't be here for , presumably, this latest round of nonsense and bullets to the heart.  He tells him to prepare engagement gifts.

19.We learn from Jie who states that the wedding is set soon--for Feb 2--and Xun Yi tells him she thought that Feng was to wed Yang Yi.  However, Jie reminds her that this is a beneficial marriage for the two pugilist clans.  Xun Yi expresses her distaste for these kinds of business arrangements.

20. MW, Yin Xue and Ge'er take shelter in a cave during a winter storm.  The flame soldiers who are delivering engagement gifts just HAPPEN to walk by (only in a drama does this happen) and she invites them inside.  And so she learns of Feng's engagement, and she is unhappy, and so Yin Xue is unhappy.

21. Master Lei is very angry to learn of this engagement as well--he hates Feng--and is angry when his father forces him to attend to represent their clan.

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