[Chiness Drama] A Dream Within A Dream Plot Summary Ending & Cast

A Dream Within A Dream, airing on iQIYI in 2025, is a major romance fantasy wuxia comedy drama that playfully explores themes of possession, time reversal, and destiny under the slogan “Fate in the Book, Twist of Dreams.” The story follows the extraordinary journey of a modern-day woman who becomes possessed by the character Song Il-mong, a supporting role in a classic novel. Through this unexpected transformation, she embarks on a tumultuous adventure to carve out her own destiny.

This large-scale romance fantasy martial arts comedy drama unfolds the themes of possession, regression, and destiny in a lighthearted manner. The story follows an ordinary modern woman who is possessed by the supporting character Song Il-mong in a classic novel, embarking on a turbulent journey to carve out her own fate.

Song Il-mong (played by Lee Il-dong) was originally destined in the script to give up her engagement to Cho Gwi-hong and end up with Nam Hyung (played by Ryu Woon-young). However, the possessed Song Il-mong tries to avoid an unhappy ending by making her marriage to Cho Gwi-hong succeed. The clash between the laws of the script world and the will of the possessed leads to repeated cycles of death, resurrection, and regression. Along the way, she becomes entangled with various characters such as Nam Hyung, Cho Gwi-hong, and Lee Ship-yuk, weaving together narratives of power, love, family, and growth.

The drama combines the fantasy elements of possession and regression, martial arts tension, comedic situations, and the visual splendor and costumes unique to period dramas, along with an original soundtrack, delivering new twists and immersive experiences in every episode. Song Il-mong struggles against the power of the script to find her own path, while Nam Hyung grows from a cold-hearted prince to someone who discovers true love. The colorful supporting cast, including Cho Gwi-hong, Song Il-jung, and Shangguan Hak, add depth and enjoyment to the series.

Director Kwak Ho is especially noted for his sensuous direction that crosses boundaries between fate and reality, fantasy and growth, delivering to viewers a message about the meaning and courage of life beyond simple romance. The drama has achieved both popularity and commercial success, ranking No. 1 in real-time in China and airing simultaneously on global OTT platforms, making it one of the most talked-about works of the first half of 2025.

Chiness Drama A Dream Within A Dream

Korean : 서권일몽 | Japanese: 書巻一夢 | Chinese: 书卷一梦
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Martial Arts, Comedy, Period Drama, Possession
Episodes: 40
Release Date: June 26, 2025
Air Time: Daily at 6:00 PM (China Standard Time)
Director: Kwak Ho (郭虎)
Writers: Lim Jang-ryu (任庄柳), Charlotte (夏洛特)
Adaptation: Popular web novel of the same name
Production: iQIYI, Ningmeng Pictures (柠萌影业)
Cast: Lee Il-dong, Ryu Woon-young, others
Filming Locations: Zhejiang, Hangzhou, Shanghai, etc.
Filming Period: May 3, 2024 – September 11, 2024
Production Companies: iQIYI, Ningmeng Pictures
Episode Runtime: About 45 minutes per episode
OTT: iQIYI, iQIYI International, Studio Genie (Korea)

A Dream Within A Dream Ratings

Douban: 8.1/10 (as of July 2025)
WeTV (China): 9.2/10

A Dream Within A Dream Cast

Song Il-mong / Song So-eo (Lee Il-dong): The protagonist who is possessed by the supporting character Song Il-mong in a novel. She fights against repeated deaths, regression, and the power of the script to forge her own destiny.

Lee Il-dong instagram

Nam Hyung / Lee Ship-yuk (Ryu Woon-young): The seventh prince, neglected by the emperor, originally a ruthless male lead in the script, but gradually awakens to love after Song Il-mong’s possession.
Song Il-jung (Chuk Seo-dan): Song Il-mong’s half-sister, who is upright and capable, choosing her own love and future.
Shangguan Hak (Wang Yi-ryun): The head of the Jiangangyue Guild, formerly a righteous outlaw, who is torn between love and his past.
Cho Gwi-hong (Wang Woo-seok): Nam Hyung’s rival and Song Il-mong’s fiancé, conflicted between power and love.

Director Kwak Ho’s Filmography

Cdrama A Dream Within A Dream Director Kwak Ho is known for his delicate portrayal of fate, reality, fantasy, and growth. In this work, he skillfully unravels the complex structure of possession, regression, and the script world, harmoniously blending classic martial arts, youth romance, and comedy. The actors immersed themselves in their characters by reading actual ancient texts and participating in action schools for martial arts scenes. Lee Il-dong, despite being a rookie, received fresh acclaim for his emotional acting.

A Dream Within A Dream plot summary

Episode 1

A sudden, outlandish cell phone ringtone rings out—the camera pulls back to reveal the reading session for the period drama “Seinei Ichimu.” The recent love triangle scene was a crucial part of the script. The heroine, Song Yimeng, played by Song Xiaoyu, shrinks in the corner, enduring unreasonable criticism from the lead actor’s manager. Although her co-star constantly acts like a big shot, Song Xiaoyu is determined not to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and immerses herself in the script. However, as she reads, she realizes the fate of the heroine Song Yimeng is truly tragic: seduced, manipulated, and discarded by the male lead Nan Heng, she is eventually subjected to the cruel punishment of being mutilated alive. While sympathizing with Song Yimeng, a keyboard sound suddenly echoes in her mind, and she finds herself inside the script of “Seinei Ichimu.” Upon waking, her maids Zhia and Yingqiu are dressing her in wedding attire. Thinking she is to marry Nan Heng, she tries to escape, but the maids say her groom is Chu Guihong. Song Xiaoyu remembers—in the script, Song Yimeng was originally supposed to marry Chu Guihong, but tragedy began when she ran away with Nan Heng. Delighted, she decides to stay and live a peaceful life, but each time she tries to marry Chu Guihong, she finds herself trapped in a cycle of mysterious reincarnation and repeated deaths.

Episode 2

Song Yimeng wakes up from “death” once again, this time six months before the wedding. Realizing she now has time to change her fate, she tries to get information about Chu Guihong from her maids, but they only talk about Nan Heng, praising his military prowess. Song Yimeng realizes she must avoid Nan Heng at all costs to survive. However, the next morning, the maids force her into a carriage to the imperial garden, where the seventh prince Nan Heng is present—this is the famous script scene where Nan Heng saves Song Yimeng from drowning and wins her heart. Song Yimeng resolves never to meet Nan Heng.

Episode 3

When Nan Heng hears that Song Yimeng has fallen into the pond, he immediately jumps in to save her. Song Yimeng resists, trying to avoid following the script, but is ultimately rescued. She refuses Nan Heng’s offered coat and tells him there is no future between them. Suddenly, the keyboard sound echoes again, and she finds herself smiling and thanking Nan Heng, confusing him. Nan Heng, unable to control himself, kisses Song Yimeng. The onlookers are shocked. Nan Heng, barely maintaining his composure, decides to win over Song Yimeng—Chu Guihong’s fiancée—before anyone else.

Episode 4

Unaware that Nan Heng harbors murderous intent, Song Yimeng tries to appease him by offering the “Forging Blade Manual,” a secret weapon technique. In the script, Chu Guihong gives this to Song Yimeng, but she finds only a note labeled “Forging Blade Manual.” Despairing, she tries to escape but is abducted by the escaped Chu Guihong, who is enraged by rumors of Song Yimeng’s closeness with Nan Heng. Song Yimeng questions Chu Guihong about the manual, but Nan Heng arrives, revealing he orchestrated Chu Guihong’s escape to frame him for Song Yimeng’s murder. Yet, when Nan Heng aims his bow at Song Yimeng, he instinctively protects her, realizing he is fated to save her no matter the danger.

Episode 5

After a day of chaos, Song Yimeng realizes that whenever the heroine is in danger, the male lead always comes to her rescue—she is grateful to the scriptwriter. With the help of the eighteenth prince and the emperor, Chu Guihong is released. Song Yimeng befriends Chu Guihong and warns him that Nan Heng is plotting against him at court. When Nan Heng learns that Song Yimeng is helping Chu Guihong, he storms into the Song residence, but Song Yimeng turns the tables, demanding permission to marry Chu Guihong. She threatens Nan Heng with poisoned arrows and explosives, forcing him to help her, but Nan Heng secretly plans to try a new tactic at the next crisis.

Episode 6

Zanjiangyue Hall, secretly established by Nan Heng three years ago, is run by his alter ego, Li Shiliu, a fact known only to Shangguan He and the attendant Fugui. Ostensibly a jack-of-all-trades, the hall exists solely for Nan Heng’s benefit. Here, Nan Heng plots to kill Song Yimeng. He lures her to Zanjiangyue, where after gambling and rescuing a dancer, she is attacked by a wealthy patron. In her moment of peril, the masked hero Li Shiliu appears and saves her. Each time she faces danger, Li Shiliu rescues her again. Song Yimeng begins to idolize Li Shiliu, unaware he is Nan Heng. Nan Heng grows frustrated as his plan goes awry, and even his allies are confused about whether to kill or save Song Yimeng. When Li Shiliu tries to leave, Song Yimeng catches him—he is a new character not in the original script.

Episode 7

Song Yimeng excitedly tells her maids about Li Shiliu. Meanwhile, in the seventh prince’s mansion, Nan Heng is irritated. Shangguan He suggests that Nan Heng approach Song Yimeng as Li Shiliu to sabotage her engagement to Chu Guihong and investigate the plans of the eighteenth prince and Chu Guihong. Nan Heng agrees. The next day, Shangguan He and others stage a tragic backstory for Li Shiliu to win Song Yimeng’s sympathy. Nan Heng writes a letter inviting Song Yimeng to Zanjiangyue. Chu Guihong investigates the hall, suspecting Li Shiliu is Nan Heng’s operative, and plans to test Nan Heng with Nan Rui. On the day, Chu Guihong disguises himself as Li Shiliu and collapses at Nan Heng’s table, but Nan Heng quickly sees through the ruse. Chu Guihong escapes and hides in Song Yimeng’s room. Nan Heng, realizing Song Yimeng is coming, hurriedly disguises himself as Li Shiliu and meets her. Song Yimeng proposes an alliance with Li Shiliu, warning him that Nan Heng will cause chaos during the Lantern Festival. Li Shiliu is bewildered.

Episode 8

Li Shiliu becomes furious after hearing Song Yimeng harshly criticize Nan Heng. He is frustrated that Chu Guihong is always seen as a hero while Nan Heng is considered a villain. Song Yimeng cannot understand why Li Shiliu defends Nan Heng. Suddenly, Chu Guihong, disguised as Li Shiliu, emerges from the wardrobe, and the two men argue fiercely. When Li Shiliu unmasks Chu Guihong, the truth comes out. Song Yimeng desperately tries to mediate and form an alliance among the three. Chu Guihong promises to stop fighting temporarily, entrusting Song Yimeng and Li Shiliu with negotiations while he goes to intercept Nan Heng. As soon as Chu Guihong leaves, Li Shiliu reverts to Nan Heng and, with his subordinates, steals the Qianyu Zhan Yue Dao from the banquet. That day, Song Yimeng gives Li Shiliu a handmade rabbit mask. That night, Nan Heng throws the childish mask into a vase but is troubled by Song Yimeng’s warning about the Lantern Festival fire. The next day, the emperor puts Chu Guihong in charge of festival security, while Nan Heng, misunderstanding, seeks revenge on Chu Guihong and the Qianyu Army. Song Yimeng visits Zanjiangyue again and proposes an “assassinate Nan Heng” plan.

Episode 9

When Song Yimeng drops the assassination plan scroll, Li Shiliu becomes uneasy. Each of the three proposes a different plan: Song Yimeng suggests seduction, Chu Guihong proposes stabbing Nan Heng with the Qianyu Zhan Yue Dao, and Li Shiliu suggests Song Yimeng get Nan Heng drunk on a pleasure boat, while he does the stabbing and Chu Guihong distracts the guards. Song Yimeng agrees to Li Shiliu’s plan, but Nan Heng’s real aim is to dispel Chu Guihong’s suspicions and have Shangguan He impersonate Li Shiliu during the festival. On the way home, Chu Guihong confides his true feelings to Song Yimeng, who insists that only by defeating Nan Heng can she avoid tragedy. On the night of the festival, Nan Heng waits for Song Yimeng at the lighthouse, but she gets into a fight with Jia Ruru, and a hidden weapon almost injures Nan Rui. Nan Heng drags Song Yimeng away, planning to take her onto a pleasure boat, but is inspired by a lantern seller’s words.

Episode 10

Song Yimeng remembers that, according to the script, the lantern tower will catch fire. She tries to prevent the accident, but the tower collapses, nearly crushing her. At that moment, Li Shiliu appears and saves her. Nan Heng, suspicious of Song Yimeng’s warnings, had been patrolling the city as Li Shiliu. On a rooftop, Song Yimeng asks Li Shiliu if he believes in fate. He replies that he does not—he holds the pen to his own life. Encouraged, Song Yimeng declares she can change the world and her fate. However, Nan Rui drunkenly sets off the Qianyu Army’s fireworks, causing a fire. When Li Shiliu and Song Yimeng arrive, the fire has already spread to several houses, and Li Shiliu rushes in to save two children.

Episode 11

Li Shiliu, worried about the fire at the oil mill, leads his companions into the flames to help. Song Yimeng, witnessing this, questions Chu Guihong about whether he has forgotten the original ideals of the Qianyu Army. Ashamed, Chu Guihong joins the rescue at Song Yimeng’s urging. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, there are no casualties, and it is revealed that Nan Rui caused the fire. Meanwhile, in the palace, the emperor once again blames Nan Heng for the disaster, despite it being Nan Rui’s drunken mistake, reigniting conflict between father and son. The emperor orders Chu Guihong to oversee the reconstruction of Nancheng and Nan Heng to investigate the previous night’s stabbing. Song Yimeng pleads with Nan Heng to protect Li Shiliu, even offering to take full responsibility for the stabbing. Nan Heng, feeling conflicted, quickly closes the case to protect the Song family and Song Yimeng, and helps with the reconstruction under Li Shiliu’s name. Meanwhile, Chu Guihong grows suspicious of Li Shiliu’s true identity and his connection to Nan Heng and Song Yimeng.

Episode 12

Fugui interrogates Song Yimeng by force but is counterattacked. Nan Heng, angered by Fugui’s foolishness, becomes intrigued by Song Yimeng’s references to the “male lead” and “script.” Song Yimeng refuses to say anything to Nan Heng but tells Li Shiliu everything. Using his dual identity, Nan Heng works with Song Yimeng on the reconstruction and learns that she dislikes him because he is a “selfish protagonist in the script.” Determined to prove he is different, Nan Heng tries to show his true self. That night, Ronghua, Chu Guihong’s deputy, tries to frame Li Shiliu out of jealousy, but Li Shiliu and Chu Guihong overcome the danger together. Later, Chu Guihong gives Li Shiliu a familiar medicine—one that Nan Heng had taught him as a child. The two reminisce, and Chu Guihong warns Li Shiliu not to risk his life for Nan Heng.

Episode 13

Nan Heng visits his mother, Noble Consort Gao, and finds a clue to the Forging Blade Manual while searching for childhood items related to Chu Guihong. He suspects Song Yimeng can decipher the strange writing. When Song Yimeng mutters something familiar, the forge explodes. Nan Heng, as Li Shiliu, tends to her wounds. When Song Yimeng calls him “the person she trusts most,” Nan Heng is flustered and flees. Later, Nan Heng finds a new code left by Song Yimeng and orders Shangguan He to decipher it, but Shangguan He accidentally spreads it throughout the city.

Episode 14

Song Yude, worried about Song Yimeng’s relationship with Nan Heng, urges her to marry Chu Guihong quickly, but she refuses due to her feelings for Li Shiliu. She goes to a banquet in the capital to discuss breaking off the engagement, while Nan Heng schemes to sabotage the marriage. During the banquet, Fugui helps Nan Heng by staging a farce about Chu Guihong’s failures. Song Yimeng tries to help Chu Guihong but ends up embarrassing herself. Nan Heng also tries to help, but Song Yimeng blames the script. Chu Guihong sings a battle song and proposes to Song Yimeng. Nan Heng is shaken, and Noble Consort Gao proposes on his behalf. Nan Rui criticizes the consort, leading to a brawl between the princes. The emperor, enraged, summons everyone to the palace and questions Song Yimeng.

Episode 15

The emperor holds Song Yimeng responsible for the princes’ conflict. Nan Heng takes the blame to protect her, but the emperor orders him to break his own arm. Song Yimeng protests the unfairness, and Noble Consort Gao uses illness as an excuse to rescue them, giving them time alone. That night, Song Yimeng asks Nan Heng why he took the blame, but he cannot answer, and Song Yimeng blames the script, angering him. The next morning, Song Yude petitions the emperor for Song Yimeng to marry Chu Guihong, and the emperor, disliking the Song family’s ties to Nan Heng, orders the marriage. Song Yimeng, still in love with Li Shiliu, tries to break off the engagement, but Chu Guihong refuses, believing she has fallen for Nan Heng.

Episode 16

Nan Heng meets his father-in-law, Gao Changyin, at Zanjiangyue, but Song Yimeng arrives unexpectedly. With Shangguan He’s help, Nan Heng disguises himself as Li Shiliu, but Song Yimeng misunderstands. Drunk, Song Yimeng nearly falls from the roof but is saved by Li Shiliu. She asks about his feelings, and to show sincerity, Li Shiliu blindfolds her, removes his mask, and kisses her, but she falls asleep. The next morning, Song Yimeng thinks it was a dream and tries again to break off her engagement, but Nan Heng offers to help. Suspicious, she refuses, but Nan Heng uses Li Shiliu’s safety to force her agreement. Nan Heng invites her to a hunting ground, where Chu Guihong sees them together and shoots an arrow in anger. Meanwhile, Song Yiting searches for Li Shiliu at Zanjiangyue.

Episode 17

Nan Heng deliberately injures himself, and Song Yimeng realizes he sacrificed himself to frame Chu Guihong for attempted murder. Gao Xiang leads officials to petition the emperor outside the palace, and Song Yimeng is forced to cooperate with Nan Heng’s plan. The emperor dissolves Chu and Song’s engagement, and both Nan Heng and Song Yimeng are pleased, but the emperor then orders their marriage and announces Nan Heng will be sent to a fief after the wedding. Nan Heng, shaken, accepts out of love for Song Yimeng. The next day, Song Yude opposes the marriage, even at the cost of his position. Song Yimeng, moved, chooses marriage with Nan Heng in a “scripted” dramatic scene, causing a rift with her family. Song Yude is punished at court. Nan Heng and Chu Guihong enter the palace to rescue Song Yude, and the emperor bargains his safety for military power. Nan Heng surrenders his command and takes the punishment himself.

Episode 18

As Nan Heng is whipped, Song Yude has mixed feelings. In reality, this was a scheme by Song Yude and the emperor to test Nan Heng’s feelings for Song Yimeng. Nan Heng, though suspicious, endures for Song Yimeng’s sake. After the punishment, he visits Song Yimeng, who is confined in the woodshed, as Li Shiliu. Song Yimeng, now wary of Nan Heng, resolves to change her fate by assassinating him. Li Shiliu, hurt by her misunderstanding, leaves quietly. Meanwhile, Nan Rui repeatedly encounters Song Yiting by chance, and she runs into Shangguan He in the city. Shangguan He, angered by her coldness, reports to Nan Heng, who realizes someone has broken into his study and devises a plan to lure Chu Guihong. A few days earlier, Nan Heng’s punishment in place of Song Yude left Chu Guihong feeling guilty, prompting him to check if Nan Heng still has the “Qianyu Bingji” he gave him as a child.

Episode 19

Noble Consort Gao invites Song Yimeng to the palace to advance her marriage to Nan Heng. Song Yimeng insists she has no feelings for Nan Heng, but the consort persists, sending gifts. Song Yimeng makes bubble tea as a thank-you, but the consort invites noblewomen and stages a selection of concubines to provoke Song Yimeng’s jealousy. The noblewomen criticize Song Yimeng, but Nan Heng intervenes. Song Yimeng’s impression of Nan Heng improves, but she overhears Gao Xiang and Nan Heng discussing a marriage proposal for Song Yiting, fearing a “sister-in-law and brother-in-law romance” plot from the script.

Episode 20

To prevent her sister from being ruined by Nan Heng, Song Yimeng decides to confront him. With the consort’s help, she moves into Nan Heng’s residence under the pretense of “developing feelings.” Nan Heng, sensing her wariness, has Fugui monitor her. Their rivalry turns the prince’s residence into chaos.

Meanwhile, at Zanjiangyue, Shangguan He, fearing blame for the lost sword, impersonates Li Shiliu to resolve the issue, but Song Yiting uses the sword to force a marriage proposal. They agree to a three-day trial marriage: if Song Yiting falls for him, they will marry; if not, she will return the sword. Shangguan He tries to scare her off but is instead won over by her intelligence and sincerity.

Episode 21

Shangguan He and his companions reveal the sword’s history to Song Yiting. Li Shiliu instructs Shangguan He to impersonate him one last time to retrieve the sword. That day, Nan Rui confesses to Song Yiting, who is touched but furious upon learning it was Li Shiliu’s idea. She rebukes Li Shiliu and declares she will collect the sword at the mountain shrine at noon the next day, severing ties. Shangguan He, under the mask, is deeply hurt.

Song Yimeng learns her sister has fallen for a “strange man” and suspects Nan Heng. Fearing her sister is being deceived, she rushes to Zanjiangyue to seek Li Shiliu’s help. In the ensuing argument, Li Shiliu impulsively kisses Song Yimeng, leaving her confused. Nan Heng notices Shangguan He’s sadness and advises him to reveal the truth, but Shangguan He, feeling unworthy as a condemned criminal, hesitates.

Episode 22

At the Song residence, Song Yiting faces pressure from Zhou Xueyi to marry. She decides to drug Li Shiliu and force their union when he comes for the sword. Maid Shannai seeks Song Yimeng’s help. Song Yimeng and Li Shiliu set out to rescue her but encounter Chu Guihong escorting Shangguan He. Chu Guihong detains Shangguan He and heads to the outskirts with Song Yimeng.

In an abandoned mountain temple, Nan Heng, disguised as Li Shiliu, returns Song Yiting’s painting and tries to retrieve the sword, but Song Yiting uses incense to incapacitate him and tries to force a relationship. Nan Heng rejects her, his mask falls off, and his identity is revealed. Song Yimeng and Chu Guihong arrive, and Nan Heng knocks Song Yiting out, revealing himself to the others. Song Yimeng is shocked to see the scene unfold exactly as in the script.

Episode 23

Song Yiting tells Song Yimeng that she loves Shangguan He, not Nan Heng, and asks Song Yimeng about her true feelings. Song Yimeng suspects Nan Heng and Li Shiliu might be the same person.

In the capital, a large-scale search for the Night Wanderers begins. Li Shiliu tries to help his companions escape, but they refuse to leave him behind. Nan Heng reveals his identity as the seventh prince and harshly dismisses them. Back at Zanjiangyue, Nan Heng reminisces about his days with Shangguan He.

In prison, Shangguan He pleads with Chu Guihong, insisting neither Zanjiangyue nor Nan Heng are villains and accepts his fate. Song Yimeng stabs herself at Zanjiangyue to prompt Li Shiliu’s rescue, revealing that Li Shiliu is Nan Heng.

Episode 24

Song Yimeng is captured outside Zanjiangyue and taken to the Qianyu Prince’s mansion. Meanwhile, Gao Changyin exposes Nan Heng’s identity as Li Shiliu at the seventh prince’s residence and threatens to endanger the entire Gao family unless Shangguan He is dealt with.

At the Qianyu Prince’s mansion, Song Yimeng defends the Night Wanderers, angering Chu Guihong, who begins to doubt his own beliefs. In court, Chu Guihong and Nan Heng clash over Shangguan He, and the emperor orders Shangguan He’s execution. Gao Changyin appoints Nan Heng as the executioner and tries to prevent a jailbreak.

Song Yiting seeks Song Yimeng’s help, and Song Yimeng tries to clear Shangguan He’s name using testimony from the Night Wanderers, learning of Nan Heng’s integrity.

Episode 25

Song Yimeng and Song Yiting submit a petition for Shangguan He’s exoneration. The investigation reveals that Shangguan He stole relief funds to help the poor and that Gao Changyin was behind it. Chu Guihong halts the execution, awaiting the emperor’s judgment.

Song Yimeng urges Nan Heng to take responsibility for the Night Wanderers. Nan Heng resolves to bring down Gao Changyin and legitimize the Night Wanderers. He gathers evidence, impeaches Gao Changyin in court, and confesses to being Li Shiliu and founding Zanjiangyue, offering to accept flogging and relinquish his title.

Episode 26

Song Yimeng leaves the capital at night but is attacked by black-clad assassins. Contrary to her belief that this is a scripted “hero saves beauty” scene, it is a real assassination attempt. Nan Heng is gravely wounded protecting her, and Song Yimeng jumps off a cliff with him to save him. In the valley, she desperately tries to revive Nan Heng, who eventually awakens, and Song Yimeng honestly explains why she returned to help him.

Episode 27

The next morning in the cave, Nan Heng confesses his feelings to Song Yimeng, but she rejects him for her family’s sake. Nan Heng sees through her facade, but Fugui and others rescue them. Back at the Song residence, Nan Heng exaggerates the previous night’s danger to restrict Song Yimeng’s outings. Song Yimeng is dissatisfied, and Nan Heng suspects foul play in Gao Changyin’s death. Chu Guihong suggests the emperor reinvestigate Nan Heng’s past crimes. Song Yimeng believes in Nan Heng’s innocence, but evidence is against him. At Zanjiangyue, the tattoo on the black-clad man reveals Kou Bang’s involvement.

Episode 28

Chu Guihong finds Lu Yi in Nancheng, who testifies that Nan Heng refused to help. Lu Yi promises to testify at midnight in Jiang Songlin but is killed beforehand. A Long and A Hu are captured and tortured by Chu Guihong. This is part of Gao Changyin’s fake death plot to push Nan Heng into rebellion.

Nan Rui opposes Chu Guihong’s methods, causing a rift. Chu Guihong demands Song Yude falsify the war records, but he refuses. Song Yimeng accuses Chu Guihong of shifting blame and demands Song Yude attend the tribunal. Song Yude worries that the current situation is unfavorable for Nan Heng and that uncovering the truth will be difficult.

A Dream Within A Dream Ending Spoilers

Episode 29

Song Yimeng discusses the upcoming tribunal with Song Yude, who expresses concern that the situation is extremely unfavorable for Nan Heng and that revealing the truth will be difficult. Song Yimeng, understanding her father’s worries, renews her determination to prove Nan Heng’s innocence. Meanwhile, Nan Heng continues to investigate the black-clad incident at Zanjiangyue. Despite being tortured in prison, A Long and A Hu remain loyal to Nan Heng. Song Yimeng, with the help of the Night Wanderers, works tirelessly to uncover the truth.

Chu Guihong, frustrated by Song Yimeng’s actions, continues to pressure Song Yude. Song Yimeng gathers evidence to protect her father and Nan Heng. In the capital, opinions are divided on Nan Heng’s innocence, and the situation grows increasingly chaotic.

Episode 30

As the tribunal approaches, Song Yimeng collaborates with Song Yiting and the Night Wanderers to gather evidence proving Nan Heng’s innocence. Chu Guihong devises further schemes to corner Nan Heng. Song Yimeng reunites with Nan Heng at Zanjiangyue, and they discuss the truth behind the incident. Song Yimeng expresses her trust in Nan Heng, who is determined to live up to her faith. A Long and A Hu escape from prison and join Song Yimeng’s group. Their testimonies and new evidence gradually reveal the truth.

Episode 31

The tribunal begins. Song Yimeng confidently presents evidence to clear Nan Heng’s name. Chu Guihong objects, but Song Yimeng and the Night Wanderers’ testimonies gradually dispel the suspicion surrounding Nan Heng. The trial exposes Gao Changyin’s conspiracy and Kou Bang’s involvement, shocking the emperor and court officials. Song Yimeng’s courage and wisdom are praised, and the Song family’s honor is restored. Nan Heng expresses deep gratitude to Song Yimeng, strengthening their bond. Song Yiting and Shangguan He also resolve their misunderstandings and confirm their feelings for each other.

Episode 32

With the case resolved, Nan Heng is officially exonerated and restored to his title by the emperor. Song Yimeng and Nan Heng, having overcome many hardships, finally enjoy peaceful days together. Song Yiting and Shangguan He are also united, and the Song family regains its peace. Chu Guihong recognizes his mistakes and apologizes to Song Yimeng and Nan Heng. In the final scene, Song Yimeng reaffirms her belief that “fate is something you carve out with your own hands” and begins a new life with Nan Heng.

A Dream Within A Dream Review

A Dream Within A Dream ranked No. 1 in real-time on iQIYI during its first week and surpassed 1 billion cumulative views in China. With simultaneous global OTT releases, it has become a hot topic in Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asia for its high production quality. Although it is a B-grade fantasy drama featuring possession, regression, and a script world, it is entertaining and recommended for viewers seeking something different.

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