The military training exercise at Mingyi Tower starts in earnest, with all our leads walking into a trap 9th Prince had carefully laid to kill the crown prince and our hero. Hurt by an arrow that was supposed to be harmless, Qing Chen’s first thought is Yuan Ling’s safety and runs off without noticing 9th Prince and Wu Ping Ting hiding nearby.

Gleefully activating a sorcerer’s stone with a drop of Qing Chen’s blood that was left on an arrow, 9th Prince watches triumphantly as Wu Ping Ting successfully uses the stone to block all of the sorcerers from using their power. Eagerly anticipating getting rid of all obstacles in front of him in one swipe, 9th Prince’s excitement turns to dismay when 3rd Prince suddenly shows up and reveals that he knows ALL of 9th Prince’s secrets. Despite 3rd Prince’s pleadings, including bringing up the fact that he knows 9th Prince is the little palace maid that helped him years ago, 9th Prince still refuses to abort his plan especially when success is so close.

Following the plan Qing Chen had devised, Qing Chen forcefully takes 9th Prince with her to where the sorcerer’s stone is blocking her power while Yuan Ling goes off in search for another sorcerer’s stone. Qing Chen successfully obtains the sorcerer’s stone but hesitates when she has the chance of getting rid of 9th Prince for good. Knowing that killing 9th Prince would mean another petal on the flower would fall, Qing Chen finally decides to let 9th Prince live.

Fighting off the dark sorcerers’ attack, Yuan Ling also successfully finds the sorcerer stone Qing Chen had sent him to get.

Stunned when memories (of his past with Qing Chen in the original time line) flood his mind the moment his hand touches the sorcerer’s stone, Yuan Ling wonders out loud if those vivid memories are real experiences he and Qing Chen shared.

Thanks to Qing Chen deactivating the sorcerer’s stone and 12th Prince’s help from the outside, the crown prince’s guards finally enter into the forest and usher the crown prince’s party to safety.  Borrowing a group of guards from the crown prince, Yuan Zhan explains to his brother that there must be a mole among them and judging by how their own party hasn’t encountered any attack from the dark sorcerers, the mole must be someone in Yuan Ling’s group.

BTW, 12th Prince looked super cool in the scene where he finally reveals that he is a sorcerer to Ming Yan.

His heart sinking when he and 3rd Prince are surrounded by the crown prince’s guards, 9th Prince is ready to go down fighting…until the 3rd Prince suddenly holds a knife to his neck and loudly declares himself to be the mastermind behind everything that happened at Mingyi Tower. Knowing full well the ever innocent 3rd Prince can’t be the culprit, Yuan Zhan and the crown prince nonetheless could do nothing but watch 3rd Prince stumbles off while still holding a knife to 9th Prince.

Episode 32

Cue touching scenes between 9th Prince and 3rd Prince as the two brothers finally open up to each other. Shaking his head when 9th Prince naively assures him that the emperor will keep them safe, the 3rd Prince points out that the emperor wants to get rid of ALL sorcerers…and that includes his 9th son who obviously has deep connections to the dark sorcerers.

Realizing that someone will have to take the blame, 3rd Prince decides to sacrifice himself when the pursuers finally catch up with them. Sobbing with grief as he holds 3rd Prince’s lifeless body, 9th Princes looks up with hatred in his eyes then accuses Yuan Zhen, Yuan Ling and Qing Chen of being killers.

Quickly feeling the effect of 3rd Prince’s death, Qing Chen sneaks off quietly then collapses to the ground as the flower inside her sheds another petal. Popping up right next to Qing Chen, 12th Prince in a matter of fact tone says “This is the Flower of Life. It has 12 petals, and as each of the key characters in this time line dies, each petal will fall. There are 8 petals left now, which means you only have eight months time. As your time here decreases so will the condition of your body becoming transparent increases.  If you fail to complete your mission of gathering all the sorcerer’s stones then you will die in this time line. What’s worse, with your departure, no one will even remember you.”

Visibly shaken but not afraid, Qing Chen replies with determination that she will do all she can in her remaining time to make sure Yuan Ling ascends to the throne.

Frustrated, 12th Prince tries to convince Qing Chen to stop trying to fix her mistakes and focus on finding the stones.

Not convinced, Qing Chen explains that the current emperor only cares about his own interest and has spare little thoughts for the welfare of the common people. In a firm voice, Qing Chen continues “Even if it was not for Yuan Ling, for the sake of the nation and the sorcerers, I will seek out a wise ruler.”

Speechless when Qing Chen points out “Instead of opposing me, isn’t it in your best interest to help me instead? Or else, I would rather destroy the stones than leave here. If the stones are destroyed, then the portal is destroyed…at that point, you, as it’s guardian would disappear as well?”

Before 12th Prince can reply to Qing Chen suggestion, their attention is caught by Yuan Ling yelling Qing Chen’s name. Looking up with surprise when 12th Prince steps forward to use his power to heal her, Qing Chen smiles with relief as 12th Prince explains “Didn’t you suggest that we should work together? What are you going to do if 4th brother sees you this way?”

His heart finally at ease after he checks Qing Chen all over to see her unharmed, Yuan Ling demands “Where did you go? Don’t you know I was worried about you?”
Not satisfied with Qing Chen’s answer of “I noticed a traced of the dark sorcerer’s power so I was investigating it.”, Yuan Ling demands “From now on, before you protect others, will you protect yourself first?!”
Somewhat mollified when Qing Chen replies “I’ll try my best.” Yuan Ling kneels down to offer Qing Chen a piggy back ride. With Qing Chen on his back, Yuan Ling begins to tell her about the memory overload he had when he touched the sorcerer’s stone. Surprised by Yuan Ling’s words, Qing Chen thinks to herself “Why does Yuan Ling have memories from the other time line?” Forcing her voice to remain casual, Qing Chen assures Yuan Ling that those memories are just hallucinations due to his fatigue. Seemingly taking Qing Chen’s reply as an answer, Yuan Ling changes the subject and starts to quiz Qing Chen about what the sorcerer’s stones could do once they are all gathered. Quite willing to satisfy Yuan Ling’s curiosity, Qing Chen explains “When they are gathered, they could open a portal, change time, fix mistakes and stop tragedies from happening.” Intrigued, Yuan Ling asks “Do you believe it?” Nodding, Qing Chen replies “I do.”

Both looking up when snow flakes start to fall around them, Qing Chen says “This is the first snow of the year. My master once told me a beautiful legend. During the time of the first snow, all lies would be forgiven.”
Amused, Yuan Ling asks “Does that mean you’ve lied to me before?”
Avoiding Yuan Ling’s question, Qing Chen replies “Even if I did, I would be forgiven right?”
Without hesitating, Yuan Ling says “Yes. You would be forgiven.”
Offering up a legend of his own, Yuan Ling continues “On the first day of snow, lovers would feel more blissful. Compare to your legend, I believe this one more.”
Snuggling her head to Yuan Ling’s, a teary Qing Chen mutters “How I wish this moment could stay forever. How I wish every year this time we could be together.”

I am skipping over the part where 9th Prince and the emperor has a showdown. Suffice to say, the emperor was very unhappy and reveals that he knew all along 9th Prince is controlling the dark sorcerers. No longer harboring any illusion towards his father, 9th Prince ends their conversation by saying “Father, I am the son that is most like you. I am the cruelest after all.”

Puzzled when Yuan Ling hands her the sorcerer’s stone he found in the forest, the very one that marks him the winner of the training and allows him to ask the emperor to grant him a wish, Qing Chen is touched once Yuan Ling explains that she is in constant danger of having her real identity reveals and wants her to use the sorcerer’s stone to force the emperor to spare her life if the time ever comes.

Looking up at Yuan Ling with a slight smile, Qing Chen teases “But this stone could get you the throne…”
Always one quick with the sweet words, Yuan Ling promptly replies “Between the throne and you, I would rather choose you.”
Still curious about the sorcerer’s stone, Yuan Ling asks Qing Chen “You mention the time portal last time, who could open that?”
Pretending ignorance, Qing Chen replies that only the Sacred Sorceress could open the time portal but she doesn’t know anything more than that.

Going with Yuan Ling’s suggestion, Qing Chen uses the sorcerer’s stone to claim the winner’s title (not the wife contest winner but the military training contest…they really like contests apparently) but instead of asking the emperor for a reward asks the emperor to grant her a wish in the future.

Jumping on the opportunity with everyone gathered in front of the emperor, Yuan Ling makes a request for the emperor to formally make 3rd Prince a king. (The emperor’s sons are usually granted the title of a king when they come of age, but in the 3rd prince’s case, he was the least favored out of all the princes so he never got one.) Hesitant at first, the emperor eventually relents when all of his sons join in Yuan Ling’s pleading. Still blaming everyone else except himself for 3rd Prince’s death, 9th Prince vows in front of all his brothers that he will seek revenge one day.

Unable to stop wondering how the 12th Prince could possibly be a sorcerer as well, Ming Yan asks Qing Chen why 12th Prince had said his real identity is a secret between Qing Chen and himself. Putting on a perfectly innocent expression, Qing Chen claims that she is just as puzzled as how 12th Prince could be a powerful sorcerer. Thoroughly amused by a very conflicted Ming Yan, Qing Chen suggests to Ming Yan “12th Prince seems quite enamored with you. Perhaps you should try to use it as a way to get him to our side.” Flustered, Ming Yan protests that 12th Prince just like to bother her.

Qing Chen meets with Elder Tao Yao and both agreed that what happened in the forest is a proof of the emperor’s desire to get rid of them. Admitting the severity of their situation, Qing Chen assures Elder Tao Yao that she has a plan to help Yuan Ling ascend to the throne.

 

 

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