How Dare You - Ep 23/24 Discussion Post
Everyone be very excited for what's coming
Previous Discussion posts: Ep 1-6 Discussion, Ep 7/8, Ep 9/10, Ep 11/12, Ep 13/14, Ep 15/16, Ep 17/18, Ep 19/20, Ep 21/22
Novel Translation: How Dare You
Ep 23: The court is in upheaval because the Empress Dowager is "sick." Xiahou Dan and the scholars use this to move Yang into Lord Mu's ministry. We also get a fun new outfit:
Prince Duan is figuring out how he lost, he suspects both Yonger and Wanuin and has the audacity to be mad at Yonger about it (you tried to murder her with miscarriage pills, dude). The Emperor group has hotpot and discusses how to turn rumours in their favour. Xie Yonger suggests that they go big. Later, they find out the farming scholar, Cen Jintian, is dying. Xiahou Dan thinks without the motivation to see a harvest after drought he can't hold on. Yu Wanuin wants to visit him one more time but Xiahou Dan says she can't, or attend Wang Zhao's funeral. He reminds her that all of them are 2D characters anyway so it doesn't matter. Then he says he needs her to stay alive:
The scholars hold a funeral. Scholar Li is very angry the royal couple aren't attending. Yu Wanuin comes with the doctor, Xiao Tiancai. She gives the grieving mother a court robe that would have belonged to her son. The mother is glad her son was able to bring peace to the two countries (why am I crying right now?):
Yu Wanuin brings Xiao Tiancai to Scholar Cen in the hopes he can help with his illness. He info dumps about all the various grains. The doctor confirms that Cen will die. Xiahou Dan sends Prince Tu'er back home with some elite soldiers. Yu Wanuin's carriage is attacked on the way back to the palace. Prince Duan "saves" her (it's way too convenient). Wanuin pretends that she is trying to escape from the palace and doesn't love the emperor. Xiahou Dan finds out she's been attacked and freaks out
Dude, you are injured and cannot fight. Sit down (we love to see it though)
Ep 24: Xiahou Dan kneels and begs Mr. Bei to save Yu Wanuin (!!!!!!!!). Yu Wanuin is doing pretty great on her own honestly, playing a woman betrayed by everyone. Prince Duan says that since he believes in himself, he's going to win. He keeps touching Wanuin and I am very uncomfortable on her behalf. Then he threatens her.
Flashback to Baby Duan, he watches Prince Duan bury the SOS message and sets up the maid to deceive Xiahou Dan. He wonder what "the same kind" means. In the present, we learn he set up the meeting to find out more about the guns.
Yu Wanuin makes it back and Xiahou Dan is very pissed off. He orders her guards to be killed for not protecting her properly. She begs for their lives and Xiahou Dan very creepily tells her that he's going to hurt people around her so she learns.
Yu Wanuin begs for mercy and Xiahou Dan orders her confined to her quarters until he dies. He walks away, leaving her kowtowing on the ground. She cries in her room. He's having a headache/trauma flashback episode. Wanuin ultimately decides that he's not a tyrant, and runs to Xiahou Dan's room.
Do ya'll remember how the promos literally showed nothing but fluff? I remember this as I scream into my hands.
He tells her to stay away, she does not. They both apologize. And then have sex. And then a very embarrassed doctor gets to see the aftermath (!!!!!!!!!)
Since Prince Duan has found them out, Xiahou Dan suggest they go "all in," which means making her Empress. Wanuin is making all the women exercise. They play what I can only assume is a children's game called Eagle Catches Chicks with Xiahou Dan. Yep, looked it up, you are supposed to try to grab the kid at the end of the line:
The Empress Dowager is dying. Xiahou Dan assures her that he'll bury her properly and send the Crown Prince to guard her grave, because he's going to make a new prince (good for him). The Empress Dowager says she'll explain why Xiahou Dan has headaches, then the Crown Prince bursts in and covers them with red powder. Xiahou Dan grabs him by the throat and demands the antidote
Every time I think to myself, "No, they won't leave that in." I am fully proven wrong.
Also, if anyone is concerned about the Crown Prince: >!he lives!< (novel)
Posted Feb 15, 2026, 12:40 PM UTC