A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College Episode 23 Recap
> A Female Student Arrives at the Imperial College Recap
After a thorough interrogation, Ding Hao's hurried testimony was completely overturned as he began contradicting himself almost immediately and could not identify anyone from the Yan Residence other than Grand Preceptor Yan and Yan Yan. Witnessing this, Yan San Lang confirmed he had meticulously recorded every detail, now having sufficient grounds to request His Majesty to reassess the Yan family's case. The final outcome, however, still awaited His Majesty's decision, expected within a few days.
As night fell, a gentle rain mirrored the unease in Yan Yan's prison cell. To his surprise, Lian Pian, accompanied by Sang Qi, Yan Yunzhi, and Yan San Lang, arrived to visit him. Seeing Lian Pian's concern, Yan Yan quickly reassured her, asserting his innocence and promising his imminent release. He declared his clear intention to marry Lian Pian officially upon his freedom, even if it meant facing his mother's wrath.
Lian Pian, overjoyed yet selfless, confessed that his safety was paramount to her, even if it meant no formal status. Their tender exchange prompted Sang Qi and Yan Yunzhi to express lighthearted discomfort, but the prison guard rudely interrupted, ordering everyone to leave. To their astonishment, the guard's true purpose was to open Yan Yan's cell. Relieved and overjoyed, they quickly departed the prison, with Yan Yan thanking them for their assistance.
Yan Yan affirmed that only Grand Commandant Sang and Yan San Lang were still advocating for his family's case, while others shied away. He resolved to leverage his own network to continue the investigation into his family's plight. Seeing his renewed spirit, Sang Qi and Yan Yunzhi were relieved. Lian Pian decided to stay at the Yan Residence to keep Yan Yan company, aiding him in the lonely and deserted compound.
Meanwhile, Noble Consort Zhuo was infuriated by Yan Yan's release. She chided Zhuo Wenyuan for their sloppy handling of the Yan family's case, clarifying that the Yan family was merely a means to an end; the real objective lay elsewhere, and all loose ends needed to be cleanly severed. She then mentioned a rumor that Song Jiayin was publicly proclaiming herself Zhuo Wenyuan's rightful wife. Zhuo Wenyuan quickly denied this, explaining it was Song Jiayin's own doing.
Noble Consort Zhuo, however, saw an advantage, noting that the Song family rivaled the Sang family in court influence and had been close allies. Marrying Song Jiayin would solidify the Song family's support. Zhuo Wenyuan, however, viewed the Song family as opportunistic, unreliable "fair-weather friends," expressing his discomfort with their alliance and preferring cooperation with the Sang family.
Noble Consort Zhuo sternly dismissed this, reminding him how Sang Qi had complicated their plans and commanded him to set aside his personal feelings. Zhuo Wenyuan requested another chance with Sang Qi, but his aunt retorted that Sang Qi had made her desire to be with Yan Yunzhi clear. Later, Yan Yunzhi found Sang Qi asleep, her exhaustion evident from the Yan family's ordeal. He gently woke her and took her on a boat ride to relieve her stress.
As they enjoyed their time together, evening fell, and under the gentle moonlight, they embraced, gazing at the stars. Their playful banter continued, with Sang Qi feigning annoyance and rising, only for Yan Yunzhi to pull her back down, their closeness veiled by the soft glow of the moon. The tranquility was shattered by the sudden news that Grand Commandant Sang had been arrested by His Majesty.
Yan Yan explained that while he was with Grand Commandant Sang in his residence discussing strategies, imperial soldiers arrived with a decree and took him away. Sang Qi was distraught, unable to comprehend why her father, who had only pleaded for the Yan family without overstepping boundaries, would anger His Majesty. Yan Yunzhi deduced that the arrest was specifically targeting Grand Commandant Sang, unrelated to the Yan family's original case.
Sang Qi, desperate, sought help from Yan San Lang, who informed them that Grand Commandant Sang was held directly in the Heavenly Prison by His Majesty's order, making intervention difficult. Grand Preceptor Yan, though in the Prefecture Court's prison, was also under strict imperial watch. Yan Yunzhi proposed that Yan San Lang and Yan Yan attempt to visit Grand Preceptor Yan, while he and Sang Qi would seek an audience with His Majesty.
Their attempt to see His Majesty was rebuffed by palace officials, who stated His Majesty was busy. Yan Yunzhi, seeing Sang Qi's distress, convinced her to get some food at Qingfeng Restaurant, hoping to gather information. There, they were met with hostility. The restaurant staff, and then Song Jiayin, refused to serve them, citing Grand Commandant Sang's arrest for a serious offense, possibly treason.
Song Jiayin openly declared Sang Qi "bad luck" and boasted about getting the entire restaurant to "chase her out." When Zhuo Wenyuan later arrived, he chastised Song Jiayin for her reckless actions, warning her about the unpredictable nature of His Majesty's stance on the Sang family and the potential for Sang Qi to retaliate against the Song family. Sang Qi managed to visit her father in prison.
Grand Commandant Sang had no clues, stating the arrest was sudden, right after a seemingly positive discussion with His Majesty about the Yan family's case. He was unaware of any betrayal by Grand Preceptor Yan. Later, Yan Yan received shocking news from his father, Grand Preceptor Yan: a familiar individual had accused Grand Commandant Sang, and that person was Wei Zhan Hong.
The revelation stunned everyone, as Wei Zhan Hong was presumed dead after falling off a cliff during an ambush. Sang Qi recalled that while she witnessed Official Wei's death that day, Zhuo Wenyuan claimed to have seen Wei Zhan Hong jump. Despite official searches failing to find his body, the case was closed, declaring him deceased. His sudden reappearance as a witness, implicating the Sang family, indicated a clear conspiracy.
It became imperative to find Wei Zhan Hong to confront him and clear Grand Commandant Sang's name. However, Yan San Lang confirmed that Wei Zhan Hong's return was highly secretive, with the Prefecture Court having no prior knowledge, and the case was now out of their jurisdiction. He was certainly being kept hidden. Realizing the urgency, they decided to split up and search for Wei Zhan Hong.
Yan Yunzhi theorized that a mastermind knew Wei Zhan Hong was alive, rescued and concealed him, and then strategically brought him back to provide false testimony against Grand Commandant Sang. He found it perplexing why Wei Zhan Hong would align with Xizhao to harm the Sang family, whose father was killed by Xizhao. He concluded that finding Wei Zhan Hong would inevitably lead them to the hidden manipulator.
Sang Qi attempted to gather information by inviting scholars to a gathering, subtly inquiring about Wei Zhan Hong's whereabouts, but yielded no results. The scholars only recalled the tragic fates of the Wei, Yan, and Sang families. Yan Yunzhi also reported no success in his city-wide search; even after checking with Song Luotian and secretly monitoring the Song Residence, he found no leads. With no leads, Sang Qi realized one person might know: Zhuo Wenyuan.
At the Zhuo Residence, only Sang Qi was permitted entry, despite Yan Yunzhi's presence. Yan Yunzhi cautioned her to be careful. Zhuo Wenyuan welcomed Sang Qi warmly, attempting to show her around his estate and express his long-standing affection. However, Sang Qi cut to the chase, demanding answers about her father. Zhuo Wenyuan admitted he could secure Grand Commandant Sang's life, though not his official post, and while he denied having Wei Zhan Hong, he insisted he had "his ways."
He then revealed his condition: as an "outsider," he could not interfere unless Grand Commandant Sang became "family." He explicitly demanded Sang Qi marry him to save her father. Sang Qi vehemently refused, reminding him of her father's kindness to him when he was young and questioning how he could have changed so drastically. She accused him of holding her father's life hostage.
Zhuo Wenyuan countered that he had done so much for her, yet she always prioritized Yan Yunzhi, who only brought her trouble and danger. He insisted that only he could truly protect her and her family, and that she would eventually realize he was the best match for her. He rejected her plea for mere friendship and left her to decide her father's fate.
Distressed by Zhuo Wenyuan's obsessive demand, Sang Qi confided in Yan Yunzhi that she believed Zhuo Wenyuan was connected to Wei Zhan Hong, as only Wei Zhan Hong's recantation could overturn the case. She expressed her regret at even seeking Zhuo Wenyuan's help, having feared such a connection. Yan Yunzhi comforted her, vowing to find Wei Zhan Hong and clear Grand Commandant Sang's name, assuring her that the case still had room for reversal.
