Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty Episode 27 Recap
> Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty Recap
Consort De offered Kangxi his medicine, noting his recent fascination with a balance scale given to him by Yinxiang. She praised Yinxiang as smart and considerate, mature despite his occasional childishness. Kangxi, however, lamented feeling old and powerless in handling daily court affairs. He expressed worry over his grown sons – Yinsi's aggressive ambition, the Crown Prince's request to be deposed, and Yinzhen and Yinxiang's susceptibility to emotions.
Consort De gently advised him to rest, which only deepened Kangxi's concern, as he felt it was indeed time to select a worthy Crown Prince for the Great Qing Dynasty. The former Crown Prince, now known by his personal name Yinreng, spoke with Yinxiang. Yinxiang expressed his gratitude for Yinreng's help, but Yinreng insisted that his sacrifices were voluntary, driven by a desire for a clear conscience.
He reflected on the choices people make between righteousness and power, emphasizing the importance of not losing one's true self. Yinreng was content to have played a role in clearing obstacles for Yinzhen and Yinxiang at the last moment, and to have finally repaid Wei's kindness for saving Xiaochun. As he prepared to leave the Eastern Palace, he took two trees he had planted for Xiaochun to his new residence. Later, Kangxi summoned Wei.
He acknowledged her presence was for Yinxiang, who had gone to great lengths to save her. However, he declared that "Yalaerta Mingwei" was officially dead and could not reappear. As an act of extra mercy, Kangxi offered Wei one wish. She used this opportunity to ask for a peaceful life and hope for Yinxiang.
The next day, Kangxi publicly announced a marriage for Yinxiang, bestowing upon him a bride named Joogiya Hala Yuning, the daughter of the Minister of Revenue, Marhan. This "Yuning" was in fact Wei, given a new identity by the Emperor. The news brought little joy to anyone except Yinxiang. Yintang and Yin'e expressed outrage that Wei, despite her "deception," was now the Thirteenth Princess Consort, and that Kangxi had seemingly overlooked their actions.
They also chided Yinti for not defending Yinsi in court. Yinsi intervened, stopping their complaints. He revealed that he had finally understood that Kangxi had never considered him a viable heir due to his mother's humble status as a palace maid, making all his efforts futile. Yinsi then made a momentous decision: he would transfer all his accumulated resources and influence to Yinti, urging him to contend for the throne.
He reasoned that Yinti's neutral stance in the court, as perceived by Kangxi, positioned him as a hopeful candidate. Yinsi challenged Yinti, reminding him of their lifelong rivalry with Yinzhen and Yinxiang, and asking if he truly wished to resolve it. With the support of Yinsi, Yintang, and Yin'e, Yinti accepted the challenge, declaring his readiness to "play a good game" with his brothers. Upon returning home, Yinti was confronted by Ming Hui.
She accused him of allowing Wei to survive, which contributed to Yinsi's loss of favor. Yinti countered that Ming Hui herself knew Yinsi, despite his popularity, lacked Kangxi's "sacred will" and would never secure the throne. This, Yinti implied, was why he had taken on the heavy responsibility of contending for the succession from Yinsi.
He asserted that he would no longer be soft-hearted now that he carried Yinsi's hopes, and sternly warned Ming Hui to stop interfering in their brothers' political struggles. The Eldest Baylor, known for his deep love of opera despite being somewhat tone-deaf, hosted a performance. Among the guests were Yinzhen, Yinxiang, and other princes. The famous actor Zhao Fengchu, who was performing, had previously declined Yin'e's invitations, which now angered Yin'e.
After the performance, Yin'e threw a silver ingot at Zhao Fengchu's feet, ordering him to kneel and pick it up as a humiliating gesture. The Eldest Baylor attempted to intervene and pick up the money himself, but Yin'e rebuked him for potentially violating decorum. Joogiya Hala Yuning, observing the scene, spoke up. She argued that once a reward is given, it no longer belongs to the giver, and that Yin'e's insistence on humiliation would only tarnish the royal family's reputation.
To defuse the escalating tension, Zhao Fengchu gracefully bowed and picked up the silver himself, thanking Yin'e for the reward. The Eldest Baylor then urged Yin'e to calm down, and other guests offered additional rewards to Zhao Fengchu, who was directed backstage. During the Eldest Baylor's lavish banquet, Yinzhen and Yinxiang remarked on the extravagant food, noting that even a single dish could sustain a common family for months.
They deplored the princes' apparent ignorance of, or deliberate indifference to, the people's hardships, deepening their own resolve. Yinxiang then toasted Yinzhen, expressing profound gratitude for saving both Wei and his own life. Meanwhile, the Eldest Baylor drew Yinxiang to a table with Yinti and other princes, encouraging them to drink until they were completely drunk. Ming Hui approached Joogiya Hala Yuning, explicitly stating that their sisterhood was now over.
She then pressed Joogiya Hala Yuning to predict the winner of Yinxiang and Yinti's drinking contest, alluding to the Aisin Gioro men's competitive nature in all aspects of life. Ming Hui further challenged her to bet on the "final winner" of the fight for the throne. Knowing the outcome from her modern perspective, Joogiya Hala Yuning skillfully sidestepped the question, suggesting that discussing such competition would displease Kangxi, leaving Ming Hui frustrated.
Later, while wandering, Joogiya Hala Yuning encountered Zhao Fengchu, who thanked her again for her earlier intervention. She humbly dismissed her actions, mentioning Yinxiang often called her rash, but Zhao Fengchu praised her courage. Yinxiang then joined them, having been looking for Wei, and expressed relief at finding her safe and happy. Zhao Fengchu, impressed by Wei and Yinxiang, took his leave. Ming Hui, having observed this interaction, began to formulate a new scheme.
She later found the Eldest Baylor, who was heavily intoxicated and still singing. Pressing him about Zhao Fengchu's connection to Yinxiang, she learned little other than the Eldest Baylor's slurred assertion that Zhao Fengchu was "of great use." Ming Hui later confronted Zhao Fengchu, subtly acknowledging his favor with the Eldest Baylor, Yinxiang, and Wei, and ominously expressed her anticipation for his "good play."
Kangxi was infuriated by the heavy casualties suffered by the counter-insurgency army against the Junggar rebels, who had advanced to Qinghai, blaming the Ministry of War. The Minister of War explained that the military spending was inadequate because the Ministry of Revenue had failed to disburse sufficient funds for provisions and weapons.
The Minister of Revenue then revealed the core of the problem: the national treasury was depleted due to massive loans taken by royal family members and powerful ministers, who, using their status, refused to repay, leaving a trail of "white bill arrears" and severely impacting the soldiers at the front. Kangxi demanded to know why this systemic corruption hadn't been reported sooner. Yinti volunteered to recover the debts, offering to assist the Minister of Revenue, Marhan.
However, Yinzhen subtly advised against this. Yinxiang then, in a seemingly lighthearted manner, suggested that if princes were sent, they would merely joke around and easily recover the funds, trivializing the grave matter of military provisions. Kangxi, angered by their flippant attitude towards such a critical issue, declared that the task required someone impartial, righteous, and unwavering. He then assigned Yinzhen full responsibility for debt recovery. Yinzhen promptly began collecting debts, showing no mercy to delinquent officials.
When he arrived at Yin'e's mansion, Yin'e defiantly lay on the ground, threatening anyone who dared seize his property and obstructing Yinzhen's imperial duty. Yinzhen sternly warned him against resisting, and when Yin'e refused to comply, Yinzhen ordered his guards to carry him out of the mansion. Outside, commoners mocked Yin'e, noting Yinzhen's impartiality in already having confiscated properties from several other princes and Baylors.
Yin'e, humiliated, accused Yinzhen of being cruel, disregarding brotherhood and royal honor, and vowed to report his actions to Kangxi. Yinzhen calmly replied that he was merely executing imperial orders to raise military funds and defend the country, acting with a clear conscience. He quoted an old saying, "A person must have invited insult before the insult comes to him," and ordered Yin'e to be taken directly to the palace for an audience with Kangxi.
Consort De brought tea and medicated dishes to Kangxi, expressing concern for his health, which had visibly deteriorated. She lamented his declining ability to lead battles, now relying on his sons. She then hesitantly urged Kangxi to reassign Yinzhen's debt collection task, fearing that Yinzhen's "overly stubborn" and "tough" methods had already alienated too many royal family members and court officials, potentially harming the brotherhood among the princes. Kangxi, however, dismissed her concerns.
He revealed that he was well aware of the national treasury being emptied by powerful figures borrowing extensively and refusing repayment, but as the ruler, he had to maintain a delicate balance of power and couldn't take "tough measures" himself. He praised Yinzhen's resolute, courageous, and decisive nature, asserting that he was the only suitable person to address this deep-seated issue.
Kangxi assured Consort De that he had carefully considered the implications for harmony among the princes, and Consort De, recognizing his profound foresight, acknowledged his wisdom. Unbeknownst to Yinzhen, the Eldest Baylor was using Zhao Fengchu's opera troupe as a front to smuggle money. Under the cover of night, large quantities of silver were being packed into costume boxes.
The Eldest Baylor, expressing concern over Yinzhen's strict investigations and the fact that the money wasn't solely his, was reassured by Zhao Fengchu that all was under control. However, as dawn broke and the troupe attempted to move the boxes out of the mansion, Yinzhen, accompanied by his men, intercepted them. Yinzhen confronted the Eldest Baylor, reminding him of his extensive, long-overdue debts to the Ministry of Revenue, some dating back seven years.
When the Eldest Baylor claimed to be penniless, Yinzhen declared he was there precisely to help him "find some money." Zhao Fengchu quickly asserted that the boxes contained only opera costumes and props, and that he was in a hurry to get to the theatre. Ignoring the claim, Yinzhen ordered the boxes to be opened, revealing them to be filled with large amounts of silver.
