Madeline arrives at the mansion to play the guqin, and Vincent joins her on the flute while Cora's spirit drifts nearby. The performance triggers Cora's memory of Vincent mocking her when her own instrument's strings broke. As the duet continues, Vincent suddenly remembers Cora practicing with her red-tasseled spear in the courtyard. Distracted, he halts his music. A guard in black rushes into the hall with an urgent imperial decree.
Cora's spirit drifts silently through the mansion hall. Madeline comes to visit Vincent and sits down at the guqin. Vincent lifts a flute to play alongside her, and the two prepare to begin their musical duet together.
00:23: Painful Memories of Broken Strings
In the present, Vincent plays the flute while Madeline plucks the zither strings. Cora remembers an earlier day when her own guqin strings snapped. Vincent had mocked her back then, claiming she was merely imitating other people.
00:40: A Vision in Red Armor
As the music continues, Vincent is struck by an unexpected memory of Cora. He pictures her in the courtyard wearing red armor and practicing with her red-tasseled spear. The sudden thought distracts him, and he lowers his flute.
00:58: Urgent Imperial Summons
The duet comes to an end as a guard dressed in black rushes into the hall. The guard delivers an urgent message from the Emperor, announcing that Vincent must leave for the imperial palace without delay.
Key Lines from Episode 8
“你也配抚琴？东施效颦。”
“王爷，你若不喜欢，我以后便不在这一年练了。”
“王爷，陛下召您即刻入宫。”
How Episode 8 Ends
A guard in black rushes into the hall, cutting through the tense atmosphere. He announces that the Emperor demands Vincent's presence at the imperial palace right away. What urgent matter has arisen at court, and how will the Emperor react when he learns about Vincent's treatment of Cora and the ongoing troubles at the frontier?