Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty Episode 36 Recap
> Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty Recap
Yinzhen met with Yinti in the imperial study, a surprise to Yinti who had been away commanding troops for months. Yinti expressed his frustration that Yinzhen had kept Kangxi's death a secret from him. Yinzhen, in turn, rebuked Yinti for bringing his entire army back to the capital without permission and enclosing the city, an act Yinzhen deemed nothing short of rebellion.
Yinti, however, argued that his troops were for defending the empire and that he feared someone with ulterior motives might covet the throne, vowing to defend the imperial heritage and eliminate any traitors if such a situation arose. Yinzhen dismissed this, pointing out Yinti's actions were already rebellious.
Yinti then highlighted the suspicious nature of the late emperor's will and questioned Yinzhen's authority to judge him, accusing Yinzhen of seizing control of the Forbidden City and disregarding established laws and brotherhood. Their heated argument was interrupted when a eunuch summoned Yinzhen to Consort De. Upon arrival, Consort De ordered Yinzhen to kneel, expressing her deep disappointment.
She stated she had intended to keep a secret for him as his mother, but his actions, particularly his alleged mistreatment of Yinti, were unacceptable. Yinzhen denied harming Yinti, arguing Yinti's aggressive return with troops was a direct threat. Consort De then accused Yinzhen of murdering Kangxi and committing monstrous crimes, presenting the imperial will stained with blood as evidence.
She pointed out that Yinzhen was the last person to see Kangxi before his death, making him the primary suspect in her eyes and fueling rumors of patricide and usurpation. Yinzhen was deeply hurt by his mother's lack of trust, maintaining his innocence and refusing to admit to deeds he had not committed.
Consort De, despite her outward anger, offered to continue concealing the truth if Yinzhen would fulfill what she claimed was Kangxi's last wish: to eliminate Wei, whom Kangxi supposedly viewed as an obstacle to Yinzhen's stable reign. Yinzhen remained silent, grappling with her demand. Later, Yinzhen found Yinxiang and shared a special wine, a trophy from a childhood hunting trip with Kangxi that he had long saved.
He confessed his overwhelming distress, facing Yinsi's campaign to promote Yinti, Yinti's army at the city gates, and widespread accusations of patricide and usurpation. Yinxiang offered words of encouragement, reminding Yinzhen of their past struggles and their father's pride in him. However, Yinzhen lamented that their brotherhood could never return to its former state after Kangxi's death and the current power struggle.
He spoke of the impossible choice between his brothers and the stability of the empire, hinting at a necessary sacrifice. Drunkenly, Yinzhen apologized to Yinxiang in advance for any wrongs he might commit, asking for forgiveness, which Yinxiang dismissed as mere drunken ramblings. The next morning, Wei received invitations from both Consort De and Yinzhen. Deciding to face the challenges directly, she first went to Consort De.
Consort De offered Wei a cup of Jianghua Bitter Tea, using the process of tea making as an analogy: just as bitter tea leaves must be discarded for the perfect brew, a ruler must make sacrifices to ascend the throne. She implied that Wei was an obstacle that needed to be removed, echoing Kangxi's supposed view of "human nature."
Wei, however, countered that people were not like tea, and there could be a way for both sides to win, firmly stating she would not be the one sacrificed. The tense atmosphere was broken by the unexpected arrival of Noble Consort Nalan, who brought two cups of tea, one for Consort De and one for Wei, subtly encouraging Wei to drink it. Wei then proceeded to Yinzhen's residence. Yinzhen reminisced about their past, recalling cherished moments and Wei's bravery.
He confessed that despite the many ruthless acts he had committed without regret, Wei was the only person for whom he felt deep guilt. He explained that for the sake of the empire, he would have to choose to betray both Wei and Yinxiang. As Wei, still confused by his words, raised her cup to drink, both Yinzhen and Yinxiang, who had just arrived, simultaneously stopped her. However, Wei suddenly collapsed, having been poisoned earlier by Noble Consort Nalan's tea.
Yinxiang, furious, confronted Yinzhen, believing he had attempted to poison Wei for the throne. Yinzhen admitted his inner conflict and the difficult choices he faced to avert a succession war, but offered no true defense for his actions, only an apology for not expecting forgiveness from Wei or Yinxiang. When Wei regained consciousness, she insisted she had not drunk Yinzhen's wine and believed someone was trying to frame Yinzhen and sow discord between them.
Yinxiang confirmed that Yinzhen's wine was indeed poisoned. They resolved not to fall into their enemies' trap and to regain control of the situation. Wei learned from Yinxiang that Ming Hui had forewarned him of her impending danger, solidifying their determination to expose Ming Hui's true intentions and uncover the mystery surrounding Kangxi's death.
Yinxiang also revealed he had discovered a bloody fingerprint on Kangxi's bed in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, which he believed might be the key to solving the puzzle, though the eunuch who could have provided more information was found dead. Meanwhile, Noble Consort Nalan and Ming Hui discussed their successful poisoning of Wei.
Ming Hui, seeing Noble Consort Nalan's unease, hardened her resolve, reminding her that in the ruthless environment of the Forbidden City, only the victor could afford to show pity. Ming Hui then urged Noble Consort Nalan to publicize the rumor of Yinzhen's will tampering, turning the "lie into truth" and using it to garner support for Yinti. With Yinti's army, they planned to seize the throne, ensuring Noble Consort Nalan's continued high position in the harem.
Elsewhere, a doctor informed Yinxiang that while Wei's poison was curable, preparing the antidote would be a lengthy and complicated process. Just then, an attendant delivered an antidote sent by Rongyue. Although initially suspicious, Yinxiang had it verified by the doctor, who confirmed it was indeed the correct antidote, thus saving Wei's life. This suggested Rongyue had overheard Noble Consort Nalan and Ming Hui's conspiracy and acted out of conscience.
Ming Hui also visited Consort De, strategically painting Yinti as a sorrowful and innocent victim of Yinzhen's ruthlessness. She highlighted the circulating rumors of Yinzhen's patricide and warned of Yinti's dire fate should Yinzhen successfully ascend the throne, subtly pushing Consort De to intervene on Yinti's behalf. At the same time, Yinsi and Yinti conspired.
Yinsi confirmed that Consort De held the will and reiterated his belief that Yinzhen had murdered Kangxi, especially since only Yinzhen was present during Kangxi's final moments. Yinti grew more resolute, declaring that he would never allow the throne to fall into Yinzhen's hands. Driven by his conviction, Yinti confronted Consort De, demanding to see the will to ascertain the truth. Reluctantly, Consort De produced the document, insisting it was written by Kangxi himself and had not been altered.
However, Yinti noticed a distinct bloodstain on the will. This detail solidified his belief that Yinzhen was guilty of patricide. Consort De, desperate to prevent further conflict between her sons, tearfully pleaded with Yinti to spare Yinzhen, offering to persuade Yinzhen to relinquish the throne.
Yinti, desiring the throne for himself, agreed to wait for Consort De's efforts, but delivered a chilling ultimatum: if Yinzhen refused to yield, his hundred thousand troops would storm the capital, and Consort De would have no one to blame but herself.
