Dear readers, so sorry for the late post. For those who are curious about the ending of How Dare You!? but didn’t have the patience to watch the final episodes, fret not. I’ve prepared a quick recap and explanation of what happened on Yu Wan Yin and Xiahou Dan in the end.
I hope with this post, you can find out how everything wrapped up, including the fate of Prince Duan and the evil Empress Dowager, without spending hours in front of the screen. That way, you can move on and start browsing your apps for the next drama to binge watch. Happy reading! 😁
Read How Dare You!? drama review and the ending explained here:
How Dare You!? Ending Explained
What Happened to Yu Wan Yin and Xiahou Dan on How Dare You Ending?
Xiahou Dan knew that Prince Duan would make a move after the Empress Dowager death, and he worried about Yu Wan Yin’s safety. So, he secretly drugged her and send away together with Xie Yong’er.
Xiahou Dan believed that staying far from the power struggle would keep Yu Wan Yin alive, as she was the most precious person to him.
Yu Wan Yin was shocked when she woke up and found herself inside a carriage with Xie Yong’er. But then their carriage was attacked. While she was facing danger, Xiahou Dan was taken by Bei Zhou to a safe place where the imperial guards were waiting.
There, Xiahou Dan revealed that he wasn’t the real Xiahou Dan, but only a lone soul living inside his body. Shock filled Bei Zhou’s face. He said he could only escort him that far before ordering the imperial guards to take Xiahou Dan away.
Meanwhile, Yu Wan Yin was still grieving over Xie Yong’er’s death. One of her guards handed her a letter from Xiahou Dan. In the letter, he apologized and revealed his real name: Zhang San.
He had transmigrated into the novel world when he was 16 years old, just a 9th grade student. Now it already 16 years and 8 months since he arrived in that world.
For the past two years, doubt had begun to crept in. He wondered whether the world outside the book was merely his illusion. Until Yu Wan Yin arrived. That “How are you?” made him realize that his past was real. Xiahou Dan admitted that he had planned to deceive her and use her knowledge to defeat the Empress Dowager and Prince Duan.
He tried to maintain the image of a modern person in front her. But everything changed after he truly fell in love with her. Xiahou Dan told that if he succeeded, it would lighten her burden. But if not, she must follow what the final page of the book said.
Yu Wan Yin left the mountain with the guards and headed to Peiyang disguised as commoners. Along the way, they heard rumours that the demonic consort had murdered the Empress Dowager and planned to kill the emperor during the funeral.
Yu Wan Yin’s wanted posters were everywhere. Strangely enough, the soldiers captured both men and women. Yu Wan Yin guessed that Xiahou Dan had also escaped, and that they were now looking for him.
During her journey, Yu Wan Yin met a young mute girl who was stealing food from a kitchen. Yu Wan Yin helped her, and the girl repaid her kindness by helping her hide from Prince Duan’s soldiers.
Yu Wan Yi gave her a name, Flower. Meanwhile, faraway from Yu Wan Yin, Xiahou Dan had been captured and thrown into the prison.
When Yu Wan Yin arrived in Peiyang, she met an old friend, A Bai. But now A Bai is General Lin Xuan Ying of the Right Army. He revealed that years ago, Nameless had predicted that a boy from another world would change the fate of the country.
Lin Xuan Ying was sent to secretly protect Xiahou Dan. But then, Xiahou Dan realized that he needed a military power to secure his position and defeat his enemies. So he sent Lin Xuan Ying to join the Right Army under General You.
It was the only military power that was far from Prince Duan’s influence. Now, the Right Army was under Lin Xuan Ying’s command. Meanwhile, Xiahou Dan’s situation remained unclear. But news spread that Prince Dan temporarily handled the court under the pretext that the emperor was ill.
Xiahou Dan has prepared everything. With Lin Xuan Ying’s help, he arranged firearms for the Right Army and left a secret edict for Yu Wan Yin. If anything happened to him, the Crown Prince would inherit the throne and Yu Wan Yin will be the Empress Dowager.
Li Yun Xi and Yang Duo Jie will assist in managing state affairs, while Prince Duan would be executed. Xiahou Dan told her to put the realm first and not worry about his life or death.
Lin Xuan Ying wanted to follow Xiahou Dan’s instruction, but Yu Wan Yin was bent to save Xiahou Dan at all costs. She ordered Lin Xuan Ying to discard the secret edict and follow her command instead.
At the palace, the loyal ministers were kneeling outside the emperor’s chamber. They refused to leave until they saw him. Then a eunuch suddenly announced that the emperor had died. The news soon reached the Right Army. Yu Wan Yin didn’t believe it. She knew that Prince Duan was a master manipulator, and this might one of his tricks.
The young mute girl, Flower, had followed Yu Wan Yin to the camp. Yet, Yu Wan Yin hesitated to bring her into war, but Flower insisted. And Yu Wan Yin eventually relented.
During Yu Wan Yin’s fragile moment, Flower was the only one comforting her and telling her not to be afraid. In truth, behind her brave and strong appearance, Yu Wan Yin was terrified that she might never saw Xiahou Dan again.
Late at night, Flower wake her up. Yu Wan Yin went to the Lin Xuan Ying’s tent and overheard him speaking to someone. Suspicious, she entered his tent and discovered a shocking secret. Xiahou Dan was still alive and had been hiding from her.
He told her to leave, but when she reached the door, he stopped her. His contradiction angered Yu Wan Yin. Xiahou Dan clearly wanted her to stay but kept saying he was giving her a choice. In her eyes, Xiahou Dan simply didn’t want to face the consequences and wanted everything in his own way.
At that moment, Xiahou Dan admitted his illness is terminal. He didn’t have much time left. Still, he really wanted her to love him. After he coaxed the angry Yu Wan Yin, the two finally reconciled
Soon, the Right Army, the Central Army, and the Left Army arrived outside the capital. They were summoned by Prince Duan. However, the reception was far from welcoming. The generals were ordered to enter the city while the soldiers had to wait outside. The troops were inspected and those who appear short and weak were detained.
Yu Wan Yin and Xiahou Dan realized that Prince Duan was looking for them. What she didn’t know was that Prince Duan had discovered that the “dead” Xiahou Dan at the palace was an impostor.
Yu Wan Yin and Xiahou Dan managed to turn the situation by framing the Central Army and killing Lord Cao. In an instant, chaos broke out between the armies while imperial guard shoots arrows towards them. Yu Wan Yin shielded Flower with her body and was nearly killed, thankfully Xiahou Dan and their guards arrived just in time.
With no leader, the armies fell into disorder. Taking advantage of the chaos, the Right Army entered the capital under the emperor’s command. Soon, Xiahou Dan took the control of the city.
From the high city wall, Xiahou Dan and Yu Wan Yin revealed themselves to the troops. One by one, started by the deputy general of the Central Army, the armies pledged their loyalty and surrendered.
Meanwhile at the palace, Lin Xuan Ying managed to control the situation. Prince Duan was devastated that his almost successful plan was thwarted again.
The so-called Emperor’s impostor was actually Bei Zhou. From Xiao Tian Cai, Xiahou Dan and Yu Wan Yin learned that Bei Zhou had sacrificed himself to buy time for Xiahou Dan.
He used a deadly poison that will give the same effect as Xiahou Dan’s illness, so Prince Duan wouldn’t suspect anything. But Bei Zhou died after using his last internal force to attack Prince Duan. He failed because the blow was blocked by Huixiao.
Bei Zhou’s death deeply affected Xiahou Dan. To him, Bei Zhou was more than just a guard. He was family. Bei Zhou had always treated him like a son. He was willing to sacrifice everything for Xiahou Dan.
After the situation in the capital and the palace were under control, Xiahou Dan planned to purge the court from the Empress Dowager and Prince Duan’s remaining allies. He went to meet his former teacher, Xu Huaian. He told the old man that he was dying and didn’t have much time left.
Before he died, he wanted to clear the path for Yu Wan Yin. That was the last thing that he could do for his wife. Moved by Xiahou Dan’s sincerity, Xu Huaian agreed to return to court.
Although everything had return to normal, Yu Wan Yin still felt uneasy. She had nightmare of killing Xiahou Dan, just like in the original story. Xiahou Dan reassured her that the story had already changed.
Still, Yu Wan Yin couldn’t be easily persuaded. She saw that the five stars still aligned and understand that the ordeal has yet to come. Actually, Xiahou Dan knew that only one of them might survive.
Xiahou Dan’s illness worsened, and Yu Wan Yin began handling court affairs. Xiao Tian Cai warned that Xiahou Dan might only have 10 to 15 days left.
One day, a guard reported that Flower has been seen sneaking around the pharmacy where Xiahou Dan’s medicine was prepared. To avoid danger, Yu Wan Yin ordered a new batch of medicine to be made. That afternoon, Flower brought her food and watched her finish it.
In the middle of the night, Yu Wan Yin felt severe stomach pain. Flower calmly said that calling physician is pointless because she was poisoned. Yu Wan Yin was shocked that she could talk.
Flower revealed that she was sent by the Qiang Queen to kill Xiahou Dan as an act of revenge. She demanded Yu Wan Yin to poison Xiahou Dan’s medicine in exchange for the antidote.
But Yu Wan Yin had already prepared for this. Flower was quickly captured. Yu Wan Yin rushed to Xiahou Dan, ready to die with him.
Yet the next day, she wakeup unharmed. Lin Xuan Ying said that according to Xiao Tian Cai, the poison inside her body was only temporary. Yu Wan Yin realized that Flower had never truly intended to kill her. Later she rushed back to her palace because Flower had poisoned herself.
Flower confessed that she didn’t want to harm her. But if Xiahou Dan didn’t die, she would have to kill Yu Wan Yin and she couldn’t bear to do it. Flower said that Yu Wan Yin reminded her of her sister. She took care of her and shielded her from danger.
With her remaining strength, Flower placed a yellow withered flower in Yu Wan Yin’s hair. She made a gesture used by the Qiang people before they died. Seeing the little girl losing her life, Yu Wan Yin cried. Too many good people around her had died tragic deaths.
Lin Xuan Ying noticed the yellow flower and brought it to Xiao Tian Cai. After examining it, Xiao Tian Cai discovered that the flower contained the same substance as Flower’s poison. It turned out the flower had been in the palace all along.
It had been a tribute for the Empress Dowager. She later gave it to Xie Yong’er, who loved gardening. Xiao Tian Cai immediately use it for Xiahou Dan’s treatment. And it worked. Xiahou Dan’s poison was cleared.
Yu Wan Yin eventually become the Empress, ruling the country together with Xiahou Dan. They finally could have a peaceful day for themselves. Then, under the fireworks, Xiahou Dan knelt and proposed. Not as the emperor or Xiahou Dan, but as Zhang San asking Wang Cui Hua to marry him. She accepted and they shared a kiss.
When Wang Cui Hua opened her eyes, she found herself standing inside the subway. The book lay on the floor. A man picked it up and handed it to her. It was Zhang San. He asked, “How are you?”. And with teary eyes, Wang Cui Hua replies, “I’m fine, thank you. And you?”.
What Happened to Prince Duan on How Dare You Ending?
After his ambush at Mount Bei failed, Prince Duan made another plan to seize the throne during the Empress Dowager’s funeral. But he failed to kill Xiahou Dan, and his legs were crush by a falling boulder. His subordinates hurriedly took him back to the capital.
The imperial physicians were afraid to tell him that his legs were beyond saving and has to be amputated. Only Xiao Tian Cai dare to tell him the truth. Because he used to treat Empress Dowager, Prince Duan sent Xiao Tian Cai to treat his prisoner, who turned to be Xiahou Dan.
Meanwhile, Prince Duan demanded Xiahou Dan to sign an abdication edict. He wanted Xiahou Dan to pass the throne to the young Crown Prince while allowing him to rule as regent.
Xiahou Dan only mocked him. He reminded Prince Duan that the one who killed his mother was the Empress Dowager. Prince Duan had merely vented his anger on him, because he was too weak and scared of the Empress Dowager. Everything word struck a nerve. Furious, Prince Duan ordered the guards to torture Xiahou Dan.
Prince Duan could never escape his childhood nightmare. He had been mocked as a lowborn child, while his mother endured beatings to protect him. The culprit? None other than the Empress Dowager. That was why, despite his achievements and ambitions, Prince Duan remained deeply insecure.
When Prince Duan began handling the court, many loyal ministers rejected him. They demanded to see the emperor and even brought up the Mount Bai incident. Prince Duan had no choice but let them do what they wanted to do.
Not long after, Xiahou Dan’s death was announced. Instead of celebrating, Prince Duan was furious because he discovered that the dead man wasn’t Xiahou Dan, but an impostor.
At the same time, the three armies whom he summoned arrived at the capital. Afraid that Xiahou Dan and Yu Wan Yin might be hiding among the armies, he ordered the guards to search the soldiers, but they found nothing. Instead, the search ended up chaotic.
Prince Duan never thought that Xiahou Dan and Yu Wan Yin would gain the control of the three armies. Although he was shocked, Prince Duan refused to surrender. Instead, he retreated to the emperor’s chamber and took the Crown Prince and Yu Wan Yin’s family as hostages.
Lin Xuan Ying who infiltrated the palace used the secret passage to sneak into the chamber. He successfully captured Prince Duan and rescued the hostages.
Later, Yu Wan Yin visited Prince Duan at the dungeon. He was still the same bitter man. He even accused them to use despicable means to defeat him. Yu Wan Yin pitied him. She said that Prince Duan had never trust anyone.
He refused to believe the Empress Dowager killed his mother. He refused to believe that Xiahou Dan really want to be his brothers. And he refused to believe Xie Yong’er’s sincere feelings. Because of that, he had already lost his chance to win a long time ago.
At the end, when Prince Duan asked why everyone chose Xiahou Dan, Yu Wan Yin replied that a person must love others before expecting love in return. Prince Duan remained convinced that the throne was build on piles of bones. He believed that Xiahou Dan would never escape that fate.
Xiao Tian Yan treated Prince Duan’s legs. He survived the amputation, but his mental state didn’t recover. When Wu Jia Dong secretly visited him in the dungeon, he was shocked by his state and rushed to leave the dungeon.
What Happened to Xie Yong’er on How Dare You Ending?
Prince Duan’s plan to ambush Xiahou Dan at Mount Bei failed. He and Lord Mu then found out that Xie Yong’er was the one who leaked the news about the ambush. Meanwhile, Xie Yong’er did not realize that Prince Duan has already made plans to deal with her.
Physician Xiao Tian Cai secretly asked Yu Wan Yin to release Xie Yong’er from the palace. He was worried that she would suffer like a withered plant inside the high wall of the palace.
Xiao Tian Cai was shocked when he learned that Xiahou Dan and Yu Wan Win had already planned to help Xie Yong’er leave the palace. She wanted to roam the world before settling down and starting her own food delivery business.
The plan would be carried out on the same day as the Empress Dowager’s funeral. Before she left, Xie Yong’er left a letter for Xiao Tian Cai.
But there was a surprise on the planned day. Xiahou Dan used Xie Yong’er’s departure to secretly send Yu Wan Yin away from the palace. He drugged Yu Wan Yin and put her on Xie Yong’er’s carriage.
On the designated day, unbeknownst to her, Xiahou Dan used her departure to secretly send Yu Wan Yin away from the palace. Yu Wan Yin was drugged and placed inside Xie Yong’er’s carriage. Two hours later, Yu Wan Yin woke up. She was visibly upset. Xie Yong’er tried to cheer her up.
For Xie Yong’er leaving the palace means starting a new life and a freedom. But just after she celebrate it, the carriage was suddenly attacked. The culprit is Lord Mu Yun.
He had predicted that Xiahou Dan would send Yu Wan Yin away and even calculated the route. To buy time, Xie Yong’er jumped out of the carriage. She pretended that she was the only person inside.
Mu Yun said that he was sent by Prince Duan. But in truth, he took the initiative himself because he was looking for a chance to redeem his reputation and his strategist position after the failed ambush.
Seeing Xie Yong’er tried to persuade him to join the emperor’s faction, Mu Yun sneered. He hated Xie Yong’er because she had ruined his plan. To take out his anger, he stabbed Xie Yong’er. Yu Wan Yin shoot Mu Yun with a firearm to save Xie Yong’er.
Unfortunately, her wound was too severe. Xie Yong’er knew she couldn’t hold on any longer. With what little strength she had left, Xie Yong’er told Yu Wan Yin to hid ethe news of her death from Xiao Tian Cai.
She regretted that she and Yu Wan Yin had not become sisters sooner. In her final moments, Xie Yong’er asked whether she was also a 2D character. Xie Yong’er, the real female lead of the novel lost her life just after she regain her freedom. She took her last breath in Yu Wan Yin’s arm.
In the end, Xiao Tian Cai asked Yu Wan Yin about Xie Yong’er. She didn’t tell him that Xie Yong’er was already dead, in order to fulfil her last wish. Yu Wan Yin only said that they lost contact after Xie Yong’er returned home. She then gave Xiao Tian Cai the letter that Xie Yong’er had left for him.
In the letter, Xie Yong’er expressed her gratitude for all his helps. Xiao Tian Cai left with a smile, believing that she was living well somewhere out there. watching him walk away with such happiness, Yu Wan Yin could only sigh. She decided to let him believe that Xie Yong’er was still wandering the world. At least this way, Xiao Tian Cai could keep the small glimmer of hope in his heart.
What Happened to Empress Dowager on How Dare You Ending?
After Xiahou Dan poisoned her, the Empress Dowager became bedridden. She could no longer move or speak. Yet in her final moment, Xiao Tian Cai managed to help her speak clearly one last time. The Empress Dowager then revealed ahta Xiahou Dan’s chronic headaches were caused by the poison she had fed him years ago.
While everyone’s attention was on the sickly old lady, the Crown Prince suddenly scattered red powder. He yelled at them to leave his grandmother alone. That action was clearly planned by the Empress Dowager.
Because the red powder was a lethal poison. Xiahou Dan was stunned when he realized that Yu Wan Yin had shielded him from it. furious, he rushed toward the young prince and strangled him, demanding the antidote. The young prince was terrified to face his father’s wrath.
Watching the father and son, the Empress Dowager was satisfied. She cursed the Xia people to die a terrible death. With her last strength, The Empress Dowager made a gesture before she finally died.
It was later revealed that the red powder only works on Xiahou Dan who already had a poison inside his body. The red powder worked as a trigger to worsen his condition. And since that day, Xiahou Dan’s condition dropped significantly.
In the end, Yu Wan Yin found out that the Empress Dowager came from Qiang state. All this time, she had been a pawn planted by Qiang state to create chaos in Great Xia. That was why she hated the late emperor and spared no effort manipulating the court. Everything she did had only one goal: to destroy Great Xia from within.
What Happened to Shi Er Lan, Yang Duo Jie, Cen Jin Tian, and Li Yun Xi (The Scholars) on How Dare You Ending?
During the critical time, Li Yun Xi, Shi Er Lan, Cen Jin Tian, and Yang Duo Jie were hiding in a safe place arranged by Xiahou Dan. Unfortunately, Cen Jin Tian’s condition worsened, and he died in Shi Er Lan’s arm.
After everything settled down, Shi Er Lan decided to resign from her position at court. She believed it was improper for her to continue serving there.
Surprisingly, Li Yun Xi was the first to oppose her idea. He said that letting her leave would be a waste of talent. Yang Duo Jie also opposed her resignation.
Yu Wan Yin then asked Shi Er Lan to wait for a little longer because the court was still unstable and Xiahou Dan’s condition recovered. Shi Er Lan agreed.
Even so, Shi Er Lan still wanted to leave the court. She only hesitated because she was worried that Yu Wan Yin will be swamped by work. Yu Wan Yin then told Shi Er Lan that she needed someone to open the path for other woman in the country.
Women, too, could achieve great things that benefited the common people. On the ending, Yu Wan Yin asked Shi Er Lan to help her establish girls’ school across the country. She agreed.
One more thing. Li Yun Xi seemed to start developing feeling for Shi Er Lan. 😁
My Musing
Did the screenwriter forget about the young Crown Prince? 😂😂
Well, dear readers. what do you think about How Dare You drama ending? Was it satisfying for you, or did it leave you with mixed feelings? For me, the ending in the original novel was more complicated, but at the same time it was very clear about what really happened.
Still, I was partly satisfied because Wang Cai Hua and Zhang San eventually found each other in the modern world. At least fate was kind enough to give them another chance.
So, that’s all for today. Thank you for stopping by, dear readers. I’ll see you in another post of drama review and ending explained. Until then, ciao!
