Ashes to Crown Episode 23 Recap
> Ashes to Crown Recaps
Chu Zhao ran alone to the place where Xie Yanlai had fallen off the cliff. She remembered that before Xie Yanlai went to war, he had promised to return safely and return himself along with his armor. Now that he had gone back on his word, she became more sorrowful the more she thought about it. She began to play a leaf to dispel her longing. A soldier reported that those who ambushed Xie Yanlai were Xiao Xun's subordinates.
Chu Zhao was filled with rage and ordered Yunzhong Prefecture to prepare for war with all its might to avenge Xie Yanlai. Xiao Xun had not acted to kill Xie Yanlai, so he naturally guessed that Xie Yanfang was responsible. Chu Zhao soon launched a campaign reaching the border of Xiaonan. Xiao Xun brought Deng Yi out of the city to meet her. The two sides accused each other of the crime of treason, and the battle began.
Unexpectedly, Deng Yi stabbed Xiao Xun from behind, and Xiao Xun fell to the ground. Early on, when she had just entered the palace, Chu Zhao took advantage of Deng Yi's foolishly filial nature. She constantly visited his mother and gave her a safety charm to pray for good luck. During this campaign against Xiaonan, Deng Yi saw the safety charm in Chu Zhao's hand and knew his mother was in her hands, so he immediately changed his mind.
The heavily injured Xiao Xun was brought before Chu Zhao. He asked why she was pressing him so hard. Chu Zhao stated that she had been killed by Xiao Xun in her previous life, so she was determined to seek revenge. Xiao Xun did not believe in past or present lives at all, but Chu Zhao knew that the suffering her family endured was very real, especially since Xie Yanlai had been driven to his death, deepening the hatred.
Xiao Xun tried to launch a sneak attack. Just as he pulled out a dagger, Chu Zhao countered and controlled him. Chu Zhao took off her scarf and wrapped it around Xiao Xun's neck layer by layer, ending Xiao Xun's life in the same way she had been strangled in her previous life. Walking out of the city gate, Deng Yi took the initiative to wait for his punishment, only asking Chu Zhao to treat his elderly mother well.
Chu Zhao agreed to all of it, demoting Deng Yi to a commoner and banishing him to the border. After returning to The Capital, Chu Zhao remembered Xiao Xun's explanation before his death that he had not sent anyone to kill Xie Yanlai. Zhu Yong sought an audience late at night, explaining that a few days ago, he discovered a well-connected peddler named Yu Shang meeting with Liang Qiang and Xie Yanfang in a restaurant. Chu Zhao immediately understood everything.
On the other side, Du Qi congratulated Xie Yanfang for eliminating his two rivals, Deng Yi and Xiao Xun. Xie Yanfang stated that the feeling of controlling everything was better than anything in a prestigious family. He said he was not without flaws, but Chu Zhao was blinded by hatred and could not see them. Chu Zhao went to the prison to see Liang Qiang.
Liang Qiang admitted that he had been instructed by Xie Yanfang to intentionally allow the Northern Desert to enter the pass at Wangcheng. Chu Zhao questioned him on behalf of the souls of thousands of dead soldiers. Liang Qiang finally realized his error and hanged himself in prison that night. Chu Zhao began to think of ways to deal with Xie Yanfang.
Now that he had no more rivals, Xie Yanfang would certainly mention it again at the upcoming Autumn Hunt. At that time, he would take over the border army legitimately. In that case, she would beat him at his own game and let him suffer the consequences. The next day, Xie Yanfang indeed made the expected request, and Chu Zhao immediately agreed.
A few days later at the Autumn Hunt, Xie Yanfang thanked Chu Zhao for her hard work in assisting the Emperor. Chu Zhao stated that she did not dare to be negligent as she was entrusted by the Late Emperor. Now that the government was clear and bright, she wanted to issue a decree prohibiting imperial relatives from serving as officials in the court.
Xie Yanfang said that as long as it was for the good of Great Chu, he would not oppose it. Chu Zhao directly asked why he had set traps for Deng Yi and Xiao Xun, as well as the most innocent one, Xie Yanlai. Xie Yanfang no longer needed to hide anything and admitted that he had done everything himself, though he still claimed the title of a loyal guardian. Chu Zhao could not agree.
Xie Yanfang finally revealed his true face and forced her to hand over the military power of the border army. Chu Zhao did not agree and was placed under house arrest by the Xie family army, given one day to consider. Xiao Yu asked Xie Yanfang to let Chu Zhao go. Xie Yanfang stated that as long as Chu Zhao handed over the border army power, her life would never be in danger.
Xiao Yu ran to the tent where Chu Zhao was held and persuaded her to hand over the power, hoping that the two of them could save their lives. Chu Zhao told Xiao Yu not to be afraid, as someone would surely come to the rescue. Xie Yanfang heard the conversation in front of the door and invited Chu Zhao out to see something. When the wooden box was opened, it contained the yellow silk scarves of the Longwei Army.
Xie Yanfang stated that since the first time he saw the Longwei Army, he had secretly investigated everyone's identity and then killed them one by one. Chu Zhao did not expect Xie Yanfang to be even more cruel and ruthless than she had imagined. Chu Zhao admitted she had lost the chess game. After hesitating for a long time, she took out the military power token.
At the moment she handed it to Xie Yanfang, she slashed Xie Yanfang's wrist with a dagger. Chu Zhao stated that the dagger was dipped in the deadly poison of Longque Gall, and Xie Yanfang would not live long. Xiao Yu grabbed Xie Yanfang and told Chu Zhao to escape. Chu Zhao ran into the wilderness. After being heavily surrounded by the Xie family army, Xie Yanlai suddenly appeared with his troops.
