Resumen del episodio 18 de Ashes to Crown
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Deng Yi pondered to himself. Chu Zhao coming in person to thank him meant she must know that his imperial edict helped Xiao Xun and his father retreat in time. However, Xie Yanfang seemed to be the one who benefited more. For now, he needed to choose his side carefully and make plans for the long term.
Jing Ke, the young master of the Jing family, disapproved of the women's literary club established by Chu Zhao, believing that it was highly unseemly for women to show their faces in public. Chu Tang proposed a competition. The two competed in chess and calligraphy, and Jing Ke was defeated in both. Zhou Jiang worried about offending the Jing family, but Chu Tang stated that she was entrusted by Chu Zhao to make the literary club grow stronger and stronger.
Passing by, Deng Yi overheard this and could not understand what Chu Zhao was planning again. Xie Yanlai found the old servant Uncle Zhang and asked about the whereabouts of Xiang, whom they had rescued from Wei Village back then. Uncle Zhang was left speechless. Chu Tang told Chu Zhao that since the family returned to The Capital, the government had granted them a piece of land, and the two elders were very satisfied.
Chu Zhao asked Chu Tang to use the granted land to recruit female students so that Chu Lan would also have something to do. Chu Tang believed they should let the two elders learn some lessons to prevent them from being blinded by greed and exploited by others again. The women's literary club welcomed another challenger, Peng Yue. Zhou Jiang was willing to compete in chess, but Peng Yue felt that even winning against a woman would bring no glory.
Chu Zhao then appeared and stated that if Peng Yue defeated Zhou Jiang, she would write a letter of surrender in the name of the Eldest Princess. Several noble ladies nearby worried that Zhou Jiang might lose, but Chu Zhao said it did not matter if they lost, as she did not care at all. Xiao Xun received a secret letter from Xiao Hong, instructing him not to act rashly for the time being.
Xiao Xun understood that given his father's nature, his father had completely abandoned him. Thus, he ground some ink and wrote a letter to Deng Yi, demanding the return of a certain item. Chu Zhao came to Deng Yi's manor and explained that the Northern Desert was stirring again. She wanted to select Xie Yanlai to be General Wei of Yunzhong Prefecture. Deng Yi reminded her that Xie Yanlai was, after all, a member of the Xie family.
If he were to pledge absolute loyalty to the Xie family in the future, Chu Zhao would likely be left with no tears to cry. Chu Zhao confidently expressed that Xie Yanlai would definitely obey her commands and asked Deng Yi to give it careful consideration. Just as Chu Zhao left, Xiao Xun's letter was delivered to the Deng manor, requesting a game of chess.
Xie Yanlai sent a secret letter to Chu Zhao, which enclosed a batch number of kerosene canisters exclusively used in Xiaonan Prefecture. Hearing that Xie Yanlai had returned to Gaoyang to search for evidence again, Xiao Xun ordered Tie Ying to cut off all possibilities. If he were discovered to be colluding with the Northern Desert, his entire clan would be executed. Chu Zhao soon arrived at the hostage prince's manor with her people.
Instead of mentioning the evidence, she advised Xiao Xun to stop his wishful thinking, as Xiao Hong had long abandoned him. Chu Zhao intended to appoint Xie Yanlai as General Wei and discussed this with the ministers in court. Deng Yi was the first to object, arguing that Xie Yanlai had once abandoned his post to rush to Yunzhong Prefecture from the capital, and this action alone was a capital offense. Xie Yanfang claimed illness and did not attend court.
Hearing about the clash between Deng Yi and Chu Zhao, he felt it was more appropriate for him not to intervene. Upon hearing that Deng Yi had met secretly with Xiao Xun three times at night, he guessed that Xiao Xun must still have some leverage and instructed his people to keep a close eye on them. Chu Zhao came to the Xie manor to inform Xie Yanfang of Deng Yi's hostility toward Xie Yanlai.
To her surprise, Xie Yanfang expressed that he could not offer protection every single time. Chu Zhao pointed out that regarding the Wei Village arson case back then, even though Xie Yanfang knew it was not done by Xie Yanlai, he did not clear up the matter. Xie Yanfang realized that Chu Zhao knew much more than he had imagined. After lulling Xiao Yu to sleep, Chu Zhao saw Xie Yanlai waiting outside the hall.
She was very glad that Xie Yanlai had returned safely. Xie Yanlai informed her that he did not find the prescription for the Qianji Blood-Burning Drink. Instead, he unexpectedly learned that Xie Yanfang was using medicine to keep a child alive, who was likely Xiang. At the court assembly the next day, Deng Yi recommended Liang Qiang to be General Wei, but Chu Zhao disagreed.
Deng Yi urged Chu Zhao to withdraw to the inner palace and stop interfering with state affairs. Xie Yanlai then entered the hall and volunteered himself for the position of General Wei, promising to present the head of the King of the Northern Desert within six months. Deng Yi looked at Xie Yanfang, who stated that the Northern Desert was currently the greatest threat; if peace and stability could be restored to the country, he had no reason to object. Taking the opportunity, Xiao Yu issued an imperial decree appointing Xie Yanlai to the post of General Wei.
