Ashes to Crown Episode 22 Recap
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Xie Yanfang's plans were completely disrupted, but fortunately, the credit still belonged to the Xie family. A trusted aide asked if they should still personally go to Yunzhong Prefecture. Xie Yanfang stated that the King of the Northern Desert was already meat on a chopping board, so going to Yunzhong Prefecture made no sense anymore. The most important thing now was to avoid any further complications.
That night, the Gongwei Bureau on patrol discovered a sudden fire at the Grand Tutor's estate. Upon breaking into the room, they found Deng Yi had been burned to death. Upon receiving the news, Chu Zhao first suspected Xie Yanfang. She immediately went to Xie Yanfang's estate to confront him about why he burned Deng Yi to death. Xie Yanfang stated that he had no deep grudge against Deng Yi.
Moreover, he pointed out that those with the ability to kill Deng Yi included not just him, but also Chu Zhao. The Gongwei Bureau only took orders from Chu Zhao, and the Gongwei Bureau was everywhere. Xiao Xun had already taken Deng Yi into an underground passage, saving his life. Knowing that Xiao Xun would not help him for no reason, Deng Yi asked what he wanted in return.
Xiao Xun stated that he wanted the Late Emperor's testamentary edict and to be sent back to Xiaonan. As for who the killer was, Deng Yi asserted that Chu Zhao had no reason to harm him, so it must have been Xie Yanfang. While Chu Zhao was still at Xie Yanfang's estate, Mu Xiaoman hurriedly arrived to report. The coroner's autopsy revealed that the deceased was not Deng Yi.
Hearing the news, Xie Yanfang knelt down to put on shoes for Chu Zhao, gently reminding her that the night cold could harm her health. Chu Zhao went to the autopsy room and found that the corpse had indeed been switched. Thanks to Xiaoman risking herself to drag the corpse out, otherwise, since she and Deng Yi had just disagreed in court, she would definitely be suspected by the courtiers.
Thinking that Xiao Xun might also have interfered, she arranged for Zhu Yong to investigate. The Gongwei Bureau made another discovery: the Imperial Seal had vanished. Chu Zhao began to blame herself. At the time, she only thought of confining him but forgot to retrieve the Imperial Seal. They also discovered a secret passage in Deng Yi's room. Just then, Mu Xiaoman reported that Xiao Xun had disappeared.
Only then did Chu Zhao realize that Xiao Xun had taken Deng Yi away. Once the two of them returned to Xiaonan, they would surely raise the banner of rebellion. Therefore, she immediately ordered the city gates to be sealed. Du Qi could not understand which part had gone wrong. He had clearly arranged assassins around Deng Yi, yet it ended up causing a fire. Xie Yanfang believed it was no longer important.
Right now, they had to go to Xiaonan Prefecture to stop the rebellion of Xiao Xun and the Grand Tutor. Xiao Hong received a Thousand Longevities painting from Xiao Xun and happily approached to examine it. Xiao Xun arrived shortly after and loudly warned him that the painting was poisoned. Soon, Xiao Hong coughed up blood. Xiao Xun anxiously ordered the imperial physicians to do everything they could to save him.
Deng Yi then appeared in the main hall as well. Deng Yi took out the Late Emperor's testamentary edict, explaining that Xiao Xun was the one handpicked by the Late Emperor to inherit the throne. However, at that time, Chu Zhao and the Xie family had conspired to kidnap the Late Emperor, resulting in the imperial decree never leaving the palace. Thus, he had carefully preserved it. Xiao Xun had finally achieved his goal.
Looking at the paralyzed Xiao Hong, he remarked that since Xiao Hong was willing to abandon him back then, he should bear the corresponding consequences. Since Xiao Hong had dreamed of ascending the throne all his life, he would fulfill that wish on his behalf. Deng Yi informed him that the Xiaonan army had been gathered using the mobilization decree.
However, except for Xiaonan, all other regions had received Chu Zhao's mobilization orders, so breaking through would probably not be as simple as imagined. Xiao Xun ascended the throne in Xiaonan and immediately launched a campaign against Xie Yanfang. Panic spread through the imperial court. Chu Zhao told everyone not to worry. Now that the Northern Desert had been pacified, using all military forces to deal with Xiao Xun would not be too difficult.
At that time, the Emperor would issue a clarifying proclamation. After court adjourned, Xie Yanfang dined with Chu Zhao and Xiao Yu, discussing Xiao Xun's movements. In just a few days, he had gathered an army of two hundred thousand. Chu Zhao could not help but think of how this was completely identical to her past life: Xiao Xun raised a scattered army, and Xie Yanfang began to surround and suppress them.
Xie Yanlai was preparing to escort the King of the Northern Desert back to his country. Before their departure, he asked about what had happened in Wei Village back then. The King of the Northern Desert revealed that Chu Cen had arranged for Alan Ruoying to be a bandit leader in the Cangmu Stronghold, and Xiaonan had leaked information to him, hoping to solidify the charge of Chu Cen's collusion with the enemy by capturing Alan Ruoying.
Unexpectedly, Xie Yanlai became the scapegoat, and after several years of twists and turns, he captured him alive. During their conversation, assassins suddenly broke in. Xie Yanlai did not want the King of the Northern Desert to die in Great Chu, so he led him to break through the siege, but they were ultimately forced to jump off a cliff to their deaths. Upon receiving the news, Xie Yanfang was secretly relieved that he had left no evidence.
Chu Zhao would definitely pin the hatred of framing Xie Yanlai onto Xiao Xun, leaving him to simply wait and reap the benefits of their conflict. Upon receiving a secret report that Xie Yanlai and the King of the Northern Desert had been ambushed and their fates were unknown, Chu Zhao immediately rode her horse out of the city to investigate.
