Love and Crown 凤凰台上 (2025) Episodes 21 & 22
hope everybody had a great weekend and welcome to ep 20 discussion, and I am again your co-host.
Links to discussion: Masterpost & Ep 1–3 | Ep 4–7 | Ep 8-9 | Ep 10-11 | Ep 12-13 | Ep 14 | Ep 15-16 | Ep 17 | Ep 18-19 | EP 20
Spoilers: If you'd like to discuss anything past ep 22, please tag your spoiler. Anything up to ep 20 is fair game.
Episode 21
Escaping the Shuyang chapter
We start where we left off. Zhu Sha comes into the room seeing CangCang on the bed and Xiao Huan on the floor. She is gloating at how easy it was to take down XH. All to easily CC uses her own knife to hold her hostage while she is all shocked that both of them are alert and fine. CC snapped out of it at the last second and since our couple is on the same wave length they quickly adapted and staged the scene.
Yes it is sad that her own knife is being used against her.
The Frost Reed can cure any poison so CC is fine. I guess she has immunity for life now? Zhong Lin and Xiao QianQing are also fine. XQQ apparently carries around Princess Yings puppet incense and so he put a servant under control. Potion Princess is quite helpful to XQQ. Since CC has the sect leader hostage they escape outside, but are soon surrounded and then 2 more Zhu Sha look alikes arrive with smoke bombs. They are demanding the Moon-Eclipse when a bell ringing guardian arrives and the whole chapter and ZL end up on their knees in pain.
Zhu Sha is killed by the guardian aka Luo XianXue in disguise for betraying him and trying to become the ghost king herself. XH finds him familiar and is looking at him closely of course LXX tries to kill him but is still no match in martial arts. XH grabs his sword hand and recognized the fake finger and calls him out. Everyone is surprised and CC unmasks him.
Never Eat Pear Blossom Honey Again!
CC is glad he is alive and so she goes to have tea with him? He says he didn't want to see her because "his Majesty always saw him as a thorn in his side" so he would be making things difficult for her. I think he has it backwards, plus has he ever cared in the past? His excuse for trying to assassinate XH is because XH hurts her, endangers her, and causes her suffering. He is again trying to convince her to run away but this time she stands her ground saying he does not know everything between them and nobody can decide for her.
Flashback: CC and Daddy Ling were visiting a scene where a bunch of missing children had been killed, LXX is one of them and is still alive. CC took him home and makes him swear and oath to belong to her and stay strong for her forever. Daddy Ling is just so psycho, he takes his young daughter to scenes of his own crimes.
CC vowed before she married into the palace to protect the Ling family including him her brother and that never changed. She is trying to tell him her feelings for XH but he cuts he cuts her off saying she doesn't care how much she is hurt. She wants to clear up the misunderstandings but he says next time.
CC needs to be warned to Never except Honey from family!
He gives her pear blossom honey. ALARM ALARM. It is obvious that he did something to it. CC passes out.
LXX goes to confront XH. He wants the moon-eclipse and XH to meet his fate. Really? Has he ever beat XH before? Where does he get his inflated ego from?
CC arrives in time to stop the fight, LXX is shocked. She used her inner force to remove the sedatives he gave her.
She calls him a liar and demands answers, especially about his fake death. He says he also has to obey Daddy Ling who is also his savior. She is surprised her father is involved and asks what order he gave to which he promptly wants to kill XH. CC wants to protect XH but it is unnecessary since his Xiaoxing guards are already in the shadows all around. These guards are really good at not being seen, how long have they been following? I wonder how much dirt they have dug up for XHH with there stealth abilities. LXX is also now afraid.
XQQ arrives to call LXX a fool for his loyalty. He asks if he knows what Daddy Ling does, to which LXX says it is for the Ling clan and CC. Meanwhile, CC is listening to all this in surprise wondering about the tone XQQ is using to describe her father. XQQ reveals that Daddy Ling gave CC poison so XH was forced to give her the cure.
CC and LXX are both shocked but CC then remembers the last thing she ate was that 'Pear blossom honey" that Daddy Ling sent over. CC declares she never wants to see LXX again but asks XH to let him go. Big thanks to XQQ for revealing this secret! Gold star! I knew it was useful to have him listening in on that discussion between XH and Daddy Ling. By the way, they were all just waiting around while CC was having her tea and honey with LXX? XQQ and ZL were both wounded! CC realizes it was her father's doing and asks XH to go ahead and leave her alone. She recalls the confrontations between her, XH and her father in the past with new eyes.
I like how he doesn't even see LXX as a threat!
By the way, what happened to all those other passed out sect members? Hopefully the guards took them away?
Back to Work
Eunuch Feng missed XH the most.
They get a grand welcome back, Daddy Ling is not happy.
This is the reception I want when I come back from sick leave!
Back in Court and to everyone's surprise it is still XQQ in charge.
Wait he was stabbed but has to work while XH is still faking sick? XQQ is enjoying himself and he gets to wrap up the Xuzhou incident. He declares that Song Lanxi was killed (ZL is off duty) and at the same time gives the opportunity to old Minister Li to pick the new Governor, since he has just pointed out the last one was a terrible pick by Daddy Ling.
Turtle Couple Takes the Next Step
ZL is wasted since she is out of a job. She died on her fake job, and XH says CC doesn't need her protection anymore. XQQ tells her to do whatever she wants. She drinks some more and while she is resting XQQ can't resist kissing her forehead. She suggests he kiss her lips instead, but he is to shy so she takes the lead.
Go girl! He did say do whatever you want!
ZL wakes up in bed with XQQ (still mostly clothed) and makes the least stealthy escape ever. While doing the walk of shame she runs into Empress Dowager who is coming over to see why XQQ slept in while XH went back to Court. Luckily XQQ comes out to explain that they made Merry together! This whole scene was hilarious. Glad these 2 are over their break-up.
LXX Finally Wakes Up
LXX confronts stooge 2 and confirms that he poisoned CC. He is shocked that they gambled with her life. He takes off and also goes drinking. He also recalls past moments with Daddy Ling and realizes he was manipulated and that he hurt her not XH. He makes another oath to protect CC. Hopefully he understands that this doesn't mean doing everything he can to break her up from XH.
Girl talk
ZL brings CC out and wants to talk about her relationship but is to shy. Instead CC tells ZL that she has figured out that her father is the mastermind behind everything. XH never told her, he was protecting her. ZL tries to comfort her saying her father loves her. CC also realizes that her father wanted XH to use his cure on her and then use her child to get the throne. Glad she figured everything out on her own. She has decided to XH is a good Emperor and she needs to stand with him for the good of the country and the people. She hopes her father stops making mistakes and ZL really tries to convince her he will. What's up with the false hope?
Xiao's United
XH is back in court and discusses the abolishment of the status verification system in Jiangzhou and how he wants to set up a temporary centralized system and then move to abolish the system entirely. Minister Xian is worried about negative effects and Daddy Ling jumps in to explain that registration and taxes are tied together so they cannot change it. XH says he is glad they raised taxation and it was set during the previous Emperors' reign and it should be improved to suit the time. Daddy Ling rejects changing it on a whim. Old Minister Li sides with XH and so many courtiers also perk up. XQQ joins in and says he supports the proposal, since the old system is decades old and Great Qi's development hasn't so it should be reformed. XH says he wants to switch to centralized taxation based on acreage.
Who will win! Can anybody beat XH in chess?
The brother are enjoying a game of chess together and flattering each other. They agree on policy but both know they are only treating symptoms not the real issue. XH says take it step by step, reform takes time. XQQ then brings up that XH stopped CC birth control, XH is surprised he knows but XQQ tips him to the fact that the Empress Dowager is very interested. XH then replies that the Empress Dowager is interested in finding Princess Consort and asks if he needs to give some names. LOL. In the end XH wins and XQQ is annoyed.
Questions: How many chapters of Lingbi Sect are there and where do we get the bells to control the members?
Episode 22
CC and Daddy Ling
Daddy Ling visits CC and reminds her to come home for her mother's death anniversary. Once she agrees he abruptly leaves. She realizes he is up to something and doesn't care about her as he just left without finishing the pears he was supposed to be baking.
No more rose colored glasses for CC. Sadly she now sees her father for who he really is.
Stooge 2 tells Daddy Ling that LXX knows about the poison. Daddy Ling recalls how CC acted and realizes she knows too. LXX knows to much and so Daddy Ling orders him killed.
CC is practicing swordplay blindfolded in order to improve her skills. She flirts with him making him very happy. XH says he will accompany her for her mother's death anniversary. She wants to face it alone.
Yes he definitely is! I like this orange / red outfit too.
CC returns home and Daddy Ling finds her in his study. They discuss memories of her mother. They go to the memorial hall to pray for her mother. CC tells him about LXX trying to assassinate them. She has questions.
He admits to dosing her with lovesickness powder and poison but new XH would save her.
She says the Emperor is heartless or not to him depending on his own schemes and so does his love for his daughter. CC wants him to stop and turn back, he is not interested in her advice. He accuses her of searching for evidence, she says she can get it other ways. He agrees LXX would tell her but LXX cannot make it back alive.
He is not interested in quitting!
These guys he should be able to beat right?
CC is shocked he wouldn't even spare the son he raised and asks if he will kill her? He plans to claim she is sick and hold her hostage to use against XH. He is mad she is siding with XH even though he killed her master and now wants to kill her father. XH surprises them when he arrives. He says he never planned to kill Daddy Ling. He says killing LXX wont get rid of the evidence XH already has. LXX was let go on purpose so that Daddy Ling would be busy purging his own ranks. Meanwhile, XH has used the time to wipe out all his other illegal activities.
XH will not kill him. He doesn't want the empress to have a traitorous father or rebel family. They go to leave. Daddy Ling warns that letting him off could be the biggest mistake he ever makes. I agree!!! XH what are you thinking? Is there a bigger plan here since he doesn't appear to have purged the Lingbi sect yet.
Stooge 2 returns and says he failed again. Has he ever succeeded in a mission? Oh wait he did, the mission to poison CC worked. LXX has a message that he will not hurt Daddy Ling either since that would hurt CC. OK come on, you wanted to kill the man she loved but can't kill the father who would kill her if it suits his purpose?
Daddy Ling says "no one can escape love and once you care you have a weakness"
The Purest Soul
Preceptor Du is having a bath and didn't look pleased when a maid says she is the purest soul. I suppose when you are in love with someone, constantly being reminded you cannot have him is not pleasant. Daddy Ling arrives to depart a family secret. It turns out it was him who forced her mother's death. Thought so. He says it was not one man's fault - she died for the Sect. Plot twist her mother was involved with the sect? This is news to us viewers but apparently not to Du as she has no reaction.
He asks if she still plans to serve the Emperor alone all her life. He give's her a letter that contains a secret he has kept for the Imperial family for over 10 years. It is a blood letter from her mother claiming she is a child of the late Emperor. Eww has she been obsessing over her own brother? The old nursemaid seems to imply it is true, do we trust her not to be a spy of Daddy Ling. She seems to turn a blind eye when she wants to.
Retirement
Daddy Ling makes a scene entering court late. He says he has done his duty serving as Chancellor for 2 Emperors and says it is enough and asks to retire. XH looks pissed but isn't this what he wanted? Eunuch Feng speaks up and Daddy Lings request is granted much to everyone's surprise.
Minister Xiang is surprised someone with that power just walked away. While XQQ says 'strike now or he will be a threat later'. Smart lil brother, go give your big some advice.
XH and the Emperor meet at Xishi gate where XH begged him in the past. XH says he did what he promised he made Daddy Ling Chancellor and CC Empress. He keeps his word. He doesn't need to be reminded to protect the Ling family.
General Lu is sent to escort him. Wait he went to a monastery? How hypocritical! Oh, there seems to be a new stooge lurking around. General Lu prays that the one in his heart is well... uh oh Daddy Ling will use this weakness against him soon.
The Chess Master
Preceptor Du looks terrible, she wants to see XH but he has been avoiding her. Eunuch Feng suggests she see a physician but she doesn't need it. He tips her off to go to a garden where the XH and CC are.
XH tells CC about the time he met her father at Xishi gate when he was 14 years old. He promised to make Daddy Ling Chancellor and CC Empress if he became Emperor. XH asks how her father recounted it. He said their engagement was a deal struck 10 years ago. XH says was being kind, 10 years ago he had nothing to bargain with and this was his last lifeline. Daddy Ling also said he hasn't changed. XH says back then he just wanted to live but admits he is a chess player who weighs the gains and loss of each move but taking her as his wife is the best thing his plotting achieved.
Preceptor Du meanwhile believes that XH hid her true origins as another move in his game.
Questions: Is Preceptor Du really a Xiao? Is that really her mother's letter or a scheme? If it is her mother's letter was it true? If it is true was XH involved in covering it up.
Did XH make a big mistake letting Daddy Ling go? Is this part of a plan to get to the Lingbi sect?
Posted Nov 26, 2025, 6:57 AM UTC