Ashes to Crown Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
> Ashes to Crown Recaps
A month ago, Xie Yanlai was rescued from the bottom of a cliff by his subordinates. After recuperating for a period, he quietly returned to Chu Zhao. They met the night before. Xie Yanlai believed Chu Zhao should not have agreed to the Autumn Hunt, but Chu Zhao stated that only by agreeing could she force Xie Yanfang to show his true colors. Chu Zhao was restrained by soldiers with swords.
When Xie Yanfang saw Xie Yanlai, he took out the border army's tiger tally and ordered the arrest of the rebel. Chu Zhao knew she could no longer command the border army, so she begged Xie Yanfang to spare Xie Yanlai's life. Xie Yanfang grabbed Chu Zhao by the throat and demanded that Xie Yanlai commit suicide in exchange for her.
Xie Yanlai complied and had just cut his neck with a blade when Xie Yanfang ordered him to stop, wanting Chu Zhao to witness her beloved suffering a fate worse than death. Xie Yanfang took out several Thousand-Year Snow Lingzhi from Southern Xinjiang. Although they could not neutralize the poison, they could be used to sustain life.
He proposed that as long as Chu Zhao followed his arrangements and acted as a puppet in court, he would let Xie Yanlai live. Xie Yanlai pleaded with her not to listen, but Chu Zhao agreed to Xie Yanfang's terms. In the following days, Chu Zhao issued decrees in court entirely according to Xie Yanfang's opinions. Xie Yanlai was sent to Cangmu Stronghold.
Xie Yanfang did not break his word and insisted on sending the Thousand-Year Snow Lingzhi to sustain his life. However, his own health was deteriorating, and he feared he would not survive the winter. Du Qi felt sorry for Xie Yanfang, but Xie Yanfang expressed that it was worth it to help Xiao Yu take over the government step by step.
He believed that once Xiao Yu reached the age of twelve, he would no longer want to obey Chu Zhao, and then he could leave in peace. Xiao Yu would order the extermination of the entire Chu clan, and he would not have to worry about power falling into others' hands. On the eve of Xiao Yu taking over the government, Chu Zhao gave him instructions, and Xiao Yu suddenly resisted. Everything was observed by Xie Yanfang's confidants.
The next day, when Xiao Yu officially took power, he personally announced the first imperial decree: the Chu father and daughter had guarded the border and assisted the government with great merit and were praised by all. Xie Yanfang had monopolized the court with numerous crimes; the entire Xie clan was to be executed, and the distant relatives were to be exiled to the border. Xie Yanfang could hardly believe it when he received the imperial decree.
Xiao Yu did not listen to him at all. He could only retreat to Gaoyang. Before the imperial guards arrived, Chu Zhao appeared first. A memorial tablet for Xie Yanlai had already been placed in the ancestral hall. Xie Yanfang explained that Golden Finch Venom had no antidote and that Xie Yanlai had already passed away. As for the Qianji Ranxue Yin, it had a similar effect.
Originally intended to control Xie Yanlai, it accidentally harmed Chu Cen, which turned out to be a good thing for him. To enter the Xie family, Xie Yanlai had followed orders to set fire to Wei Village. Xie Yanfang rescued Xiang, but five years later, because Xiang wanted to repay Xie Yanlai, he killed Xiang with his own hands. Chu Zhao questioned Xie Yanfang’s conscience, as Xiang was just an innocent child.
Despite all his schemes, he was still one step short. Suddenly, Xie Yanlai pushed open the door and entered. Xie Yanfang was shocked. Chu Zhao informed him that to eradicate him, the two had started planning long ago. The dagger had gold and silver sides; when Xie Yanlai cut his neck, he used the side without poison. Chu Zhao also deliberately yielded and acted as Xie Yanfang's puppet in court to make him completely lower his guard.
She also revealed that Zhong Changrong had pretended to cooperate. Except for the sudden massacre of the Longwei Army, everything was according to plan. Chu Zhao told Xie Yanfang that those who manipulate hearts will only be consumed by them, and all his schemes were merely trapping himself. Xie Yanfang admitted defeat, stating he was willing to lose to Chu Zhao, and then threw a fire into the ancestral hall to end his own life.
Xiao Yu revised the laws, and Chu Zhao could finally leave in peace. She rode across the vast desert with Xie Yanlai. The two of them rebuilt their camp, started a family, and together guarded Yunzhong Prefecture.
