Resumen del episodio 34 de The Love Lasts Two Minds
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Princess Changle, along with Zhao Yan and others, found themselves under house arrest. Changle questioned why they were confined. Zhao Yan speculated that something serious might have occurred in the royal palace, a change so significant that even the Emperor might be powerless. He believed this upheaval could be related to Lord Ye. Deeply worried, Changle asked what they should do.
Zhao Yan advised patience, assuring her that if major trouble indeed erupted in the palace, powerful figures like Lord Bo, Duke Duan, Mrs. Yuan, and the court officials would surely take action. Upon learning of the palace's turmoil, Mrs. Yuan, despite her housekeeper's pleas, insisted on going to the royal palace. Her housekeeper informed her that the Dragon and Tiger Army had seized control, preventing any entry or exit, confirming a major crisis.
He suggested seeking General Yang Shihou in Weizhou, who commanded significant military power and shared a long-standing friendship with Mrs. Yuan. Mrs. Yuan tasked him with delivering two letters, one for Yuan Qinhe and another for General Yang, while she resolved to confront the situation in the palace herself. She confessed her enduring love for the Emperor, acknowledging his past rejection for power and her personal struggle to let go, comparing her daughters' romantic plights to her own.
She expressed hope that her daughters would find true happiness with their chosen partners, something she never fully achieved. Lord Ye permitted Mrs. Yuan to enter the Jianzhang Palace. She was heartbroken to discover the Emperor had already passed away. Lord Ye then approached her, proposing a partnership. He knew Jing Ci and Mu Beiyan had followed her daughter, Yuan Qinhe, out of the city and were devoted to her.
He instructed Mrs. Yuan to write a letter to Yuan Qinhe, asking her to persuade Jing Ci and Mu Beiyan to return quickly. In exchange, Lord Ye promised to ensure the Yuan household's safety and continued prosperity. Mrs. Yuan demanded to know his intentions. Lord Ye proudly declared that as the Emperor's son, he could do as he pleased. Mrs. Yuan retorted by questioning his parentage, reminding him that his birth mother was a camp prostitute.
She accused his mother of lying to him, branding him an unwanted bastard. Enraged by her words, Lord Ye drew his sword and stabbed Mrs. Yuan in the chest. A servant then reported Lord Bo's arrival, prompting Lord Ye to immediately leave. Mrs. Yuan, clutching the Emperor's hand, uttered, "I can finally be with you," before closing her eyes and dying beside him. Lord Bo angrily confronted Lord Ye, accusing him of sealing off the palace.
Lord Ye denied it, claiming it was the Emperor's order because someone had poisoned his food. He explained that the Emperor, though critically ill and kept alive by imperial physicians, had ordered the lockdown due to the unfound culprit. Lord Ye asserted that the Emperor had urgently summoned Lord Bo to investigate. He urged Lord Bo to enter, stating that their father was still lucid. Lord Bo, however, mentioned he hadn't received any such edict.
Lord Ye feigned surprise, claiming the best messengers had been dispatched and should have reached Xiangzhou by then. He advised Lord Bo to enter alone, citing the Emperor's fright and fear of further misunderstanding. Lord Bo agreed, confidently asserting he knew not to disturb his father with an entourage. As Lord Bo stepped into the room, he was horrified to see a bloody sword on the floor and Mrs. Yuan lying dead by the bed.
Before he could react, Lord Ye, from behind, snared his neck with an iron chain, choking him until he lost consciousness. Jing Ci and Lord Qing, upon their return to the capital, did not rush into the palace. Instead, they met with a woman identified as Xiaohan, veiled and discreet. Lord Qing questioned Jing Ci's decision to delay entering the palace, to which Jing Ci replied they were waiting for someone.
Xiaohan informed them that the Emperor had not been seen for days and was likely in grave danger, dispelling rumors of a mere illness as a smokescreen. She revealed that Lord Ye, driven by arrogance and self-abasement stemming from his humble birth mother, had seized complete control of the palace, imprisoning all princes and princesses. Both Mrs. Yuan and Lord Bo had fallen into his hands after entering the palace.
Lord Ye had then issued false edicts, plunging the court into chaos. Lord Qing, enraged, exclaimed that Lord Ye had gone utterly mad, questioning how he could act so inhumanely given the Emperor's kindness towards him. Jing Ci concurred, denouncing Lord Ye's actions as frenzied and unforgivable. Xiaohan warned them that Lord Ye was now in complete control, and any premature appearance by Lord Qing or Duke Duan would be suicidal without a foolproof plan.
Lord Qing asked Jing Ci for a course of action. Jing Ci theorized that Lord Ye's madness likely intensified after his demotion to Laizhou. He was skilled at pretense and would prioritize salvaging his public image, presenting a façade of loyalty, filial piety, and benevolence to the court. Therefore, he wouldn't openly pursue and eliminate Lord Qing or Jing Ci.
Jing Ci proposed they should appear publicly but feign weakness, focusing first on preserving their strength to tactfully contend with Lord Ye. Xiaohan offered her assistance, promising to help lower Lord Ye's guard against Duke Duan and Lord Qing, thus delaying any immediate threats. She also committed to helping Princess Changle escape her confinement.
When Jing Ci expressed concern about her sacrifice, Xiaohan declared that her sole purpose in life was to confront the wicked Lord Ye, and achieving vengeance would make any hardship worthwhile. As Mu Beiyan and Yuan Qinhe were packing, a servant urgently reported that Lord Ye's men were closing in. Mu Beiyan quickly grabbed Yuan Qinhe, along with a three-claw hook for climbing, and they swiftly made their escape.
Meanwhile, Aunt Zhixia and A'heng also arrived in the same area, searching for Jing Ci. Aunt Zhixia, still holding animosity towards Yuan Qinhe, remarked on her presence causing trouble for Jing Ci. A'heng, however, began to defend Yuan Qinhe. A'heng then spotted a group of people heading towards a bamboo forest and informed Aunt Zhixia that they were Lord Ye's assassins who had previously attempted to kill Jing Ci.
While walking, Yuan Qinhe and Mu Beiyan encountered Aunt Zhixia battling several assassins. Despite Mu Beiyan's reluctance, Yuan Qinhe, seeing Aunt Zhixia injured, immediately drew her sword to help. The assassins, overwhelmed, were quickly defeated and killed. As Yuan Qinhe prepared to leave, Aunt Zhixia stopped her, accusing her of seducing Jing Ci and hiding him, preventing him from seeing her.
Mu Beiyan stepped in to confront Aunt Zhixia, explaining that her long-held belief that Mrs. Yuan murdered Concubine Jing was false. He revealed that Concubine Zhang was the true culprit, who had used Mrs. Yuan's tokens to frame her out of resentment for the Emperor's marriage to Concubine Jing and her own demotion. Lord Qing was aware of this, which was why he sought to reconcile past grievances.
Mu Beiyan asserted that Mrs. Yuan was innocent, and Aunt Zhixia, by stealing Yuan Qinhe and causing mother-daughter separation, was the actual villain. Aunt Zhixia refused to believe him, demanding to see Jing Ci. Mu Beiyan informed her that Jing Ci had secretly returned to the capital with Lord Qing. A'heng then confirmed Mu Beiyan's account, stating that Mrs. Yuan had already explained the truth to Jing Ci, and his own investigation proved they had gravely misunderstood Mrs. Yuan.
Yuan Qinhe and Mu Beiyan, having said their piece, turned to leave. Disoriented by the shocking revelations, Aunt Zhixia instructed A'heng to return to the capital to find Jing Ci, insisting that he go alone. As Mu Beiyan and Yuan Qinhe hurried away, they were ambushed by an even larger group of assassins. The sheer number of attackers, combined with Yuan Qinhe's still-recovering health, made it difficult to hold them off. Just then, Aunt Zhixia arrived.
Rushing forward, she fiercely grabbed the lead assassin, urging Yuan Qinhe and Mu Beiyan to escape quickly. As they retreated, an assassin plunged a sword into Aunt Zhixia. With her last breath, she looked at Yuan Qinhe's retreating form, thinking to herself that she had once wronged Yuan Qinhe, but now they were even. She then collapsed and died. The remaining assassins cornered Yuan Qinhe and Mu Beiyan at a cliff edge.
Mu Beiyan asked Yuan Qinhe if she was afraid. She bravely replied that life and death were predetermined, and she feared nothing. With that, Mu Beiyan embraced her and leaped off the cliff. As they fell, he swiftly deployed the three-claw hook he carried, securing it to the cliff face. They clung tightly to the rope, pressed against the rock, while the assassins, believing them dead, left.
On the imperial court, Lord Ye announced the Emperor's death, which had occurred the previous day at 2 am. The civil and military officials knelt, crying in grief. With a subtle nod to a eunuch beside him, Lord Ye had the eunuch declare an imperial edict, purportedly left by the late Emperor, naming Lord Ye as his successor due to his "innocent, honest, loyal, and sensible" nature.
One minister expressed disbelief, reminding the court that the Emperor had previously intended to make Lord Bo the Crown Prince. Lord Ye countered by fabricating a story, claiming that Lord Bo had acted disloyally at the Emperor's bedside during his critical illness, infuriating their father to the point of banishing Lord Bo to the northern frontier.
Another elderly minister vehemently called this a lie, recalling that Lord Ye had been imprisoned and was slated for demotion to Laizhou for his grave mistakes, making his succession impossible. He declared the edict a forgery and, seeing other ministers' fearful silence, tragically committed suicide by smashing his head against a pillar. Lord Ye then ascended the dragon throne, gazing upon the silenced court. He asked if anyone else dared to oppose his claim.
In unison, the terrified ministers knelt and proclaimed their allegiance to the new Emperor. Following his ascension, Duke Duan swiftly submitted a congratulatory memorial. Princess Changle and Zhao Yan, understanding the precarious situation, also sent a memorial to felicitate him on becoming the new Emperor. Lord Ye consulted his trusted aide, asking whether to eliminate or spare these loyalists. The aide advised "cutting the weeds and digging up the roots."
Xiaohan, serving a soothing soup nearby, visibly flinched, almost dropping the bowl. Feigning fright, she quickly explained that the mention of killing always made her nervous. Lord Ye reassured her. Xiaohan then subtly advised against ruthless extermination, suggesting it might tarnish his reputation as a great hero and invite public criticism. She argued that since they no longer posed a threat and had submitted to him, sparing them would help quell dissent.
Persuaded by Xiaohan's counsel, Lord Ye ordered his men to merely monitor Jing Ci and Changle for the time being, instructing them not to act against them. He also directed them to inquire about Duke Duan's illness, implying that if he were truly incapacitated, he could be left alone. Lord Ye confidently dismissed Lord Qing as a harmless coward.
Later, alone and drinking, Lord Ye reflected on Mu Beiyan, lamenting that while he was now emperor and no one dared disrespect him, he had lost the camaraderie they once shared. He vowed to posthumously honor Mu Beiyan with the title of Grand General of National Defense so that future generations would commemorate him.
Soon after, Yao Chengshi from the Directorate of Astronomy and Calendar presented himself, interpreting Lord Ye's dream of a fractured sky as an omen of potential national division and internal strife. He added that his own stargazing indicated Polaris was dim and flickering, confirming a threat from within Lord Ye's immediate circle. Lord Ye then recalled an impeachment report against Huang Shijian, the leader of the Longxiang Army, for disrespect.
Yao Chengshi linked Huang Shijian's name and the Longxiang Army's location in the capital's inauspicious southwest to the ominous portents. Accepting this interpretation, Lord Ye immediately ordered the arrest of Huang Shijian to investigate potential rebellion.
