Ever Night Season 2 Episode 26 Recap
> Ever Night Season 2 Recap
Princess Li Yu confronted King Li Hunyuan, demanding to know if he was responsible for Xu Chongshan's disappearance. Li Hunyuan admitted to killing Xu Chongshan, asserting that Xu Chongshan had tried to kill him first and therefore deserved his fate. Li Yu then questioned if he was also responsible for leaking General Xu Shi's whereabouts, which led to Xu Shi's death. Li Hunyuan grew defensive, accusing his elder imperial sister of suspecting him.
He angrily suggested that since she was so disappointed, she should simply dethrone him and rule the Tang State herself. Enraged, Li Yu slapped him. Li Hunyuan retaliated by emphasizing his position as the king of Tang, reminding her that she was merely a subordinate and should watch her words.
Li Yu then grabbed a dagger from a nearby table and, holding it to herself, challenged him to order her death if he wished, saying she would willingly join their father. Seeing her desperation, Li Hunyuan panicked and retracted his angry words. Li Yu then pressed him, certain that He Mingchi was manipulating him, but Li Hunyuan vehemently denied it, accusing Li Yu of being overly suspicious.
After this tense exchange, Princess Li Yu ordered Hua Shanyue to immediately arrest He Mingchi from the South Branch Temple. Hua Shanyue expressed concern that such a hasty arrest of the Temple Master of South Branch of Sect Haotian might cause chaos in the capital. Acknowledging the need for stability, Li Yu changed her command; instead of arresting He Mingchi, she would send him to fight in the North Border.
When Li Hunyuan questioned the decision, citing He Mingchi's lack of combat experience, Li Yu stated that if He Mingchi refused, King Li Hunyuan should execute him for disobeying a royal decree. Li Yu then accompanied Li Hunyuan to the South Branch Temple. He Mingchi greeted them, offering tea to Li Hunyuan, which Li Yu quickly dismissed, stating they were not there for tea.
Li Hunyuan, compelled by Li Yu, ordered He Mingchi to immediately depart for the North Border to join the battle. He Mingchi resisted, suggesting General Hua Shanyue would be a more suitable candidate. Li Yu sternly informed him that he, as the Temple Master, must set an example.
When He Mingchi implied he might leave the capital but not go to the North Border, Li Yu issued a dire warning: if he defied the order, an all-points bulletin would be issued across the entire Tang State, and anyone who saw him in the capital before the war's end would be authorized to kill him without mercy. Faced with this ultimatum, He Mingchi reluctantly complied.
Later, Li Hunyuan complained to Li Yu about sending He Mingchi away, lamenting that without him, the capital's defense was compromised, and even suggested surrendering. Li Yu rebuked him for his defeatist attitude, declaring that Tang people would never surrender, and as royal members, they would die in the palace defending their state. She reminded him that she had always cared for him because of their mother, and would never dethrone him.
Meanwhile, Ning Que was escorting Queen Xia Tian, Prince Li Hupo, and the citizens of Wei City on their journey to the capital. As they neared Wuzhou, Ning Que's intuition sensed an ambush, and he advised Xia Tian and Li Hupo to bypass Wuzhou and proceed directly to the capital, where they should go to Mr. Zeng's residence as planned. Xia Tian agreed, and Ning Que stated he would rejoin them later.
Back in the capital, an official informed King Li Hunyuan and Princess Li Yu that the North-Defending Cavalry was escorting Queen Xia Tian and Prince Li Hupo, along with Ning Que, and they would soon reach Wuzhou. Li Hunyuan was shocked to learn Ning Que was still alive. Li Yu, recognizing the critical situation, told Li Hunyuan they had to act decisively.
She proposed that Li Hunyuan personally travel to Wuzhou to welcome Ning Que back to the capital, emphasizing that Ning Que was appointed by their father as the guardian of the God-Startling Formation and was essential for defending the capital. Li Hunyuan vehemently refused, still viewing Ning Que as an enemy who would challenge his throne, and reiterated his preference to surrender to West Shrine than yield his kingship.
Li Yu dismissed his idea of surrender as foolishness, asserting Tang State's determination to fight. Li Hunyuan worried that Ning Que's return would undermine his authority and endanger his position as king. Li Yu reassured him, promising she would never dethrone her own brother, as she had vowed to their mother to protect him. Hua Shanyue then approached Princess Li Yu, offering to go to Wuzhou to intercept Queen Xia Tian and Prince Li Hupo.
He declared his unwavering loyalty, stating he would do anything for her, even die, and vowed to remain by her side even if she "betrayed the world." Li Yu tried to dissuade him from such a perilous undertaking. Hua Shanyue explained he could not bear to see her burdened or wronged and vowed to stop them from returning as they posed a threat to her.
Li Yu admitted that while she did not want Queen Xia Tian and Prince Li Hupo to return, she desperately wanted Ning Que back because the capital needed him to operate the God-Startling Formation. Their conversation was overheard by Li Hunyuan's eunuch, who promptly reported it to the king. Incensed, Li Hunyuan summoned Commander He Yi, a trusted guard left behind by He Mingchi, and commanded him to immediately proceed to Wuzhou.
He Yi was ordered to instruct the local standing army to intercept Ning Que's group, with strict orders to kill anyone who resisted. King Li Hunyuan declared that anyone who dared to defy him would face death. Ning Que, having anticipated Li Yu and Hua Shanyue's arrival at Wuzhou, waited outside the city. Li Yu soon appeared, claiming she was there to retrieve their father's remains.
Ning Que, however, understood her true intention was to inquire about Queen Xia Tian and Prince Li Hupo. He simply stated that he had hidden them in the safest place, ensuring no one could harm them, before riding off. Ning Que then escorted Queen Xia Tian and Prince Li Hupo to the capital. At the city gate, they were initially denied entry by the guards, who demanded a token from Princess Li Yu.
Queen Xia Tian, asserting her identity as the former queen and citing the late King's testamentary edict naming Prince Li Hupo as heir, challenged the guards. She threatened them with charges of lese-majeste if they continued to obstruct their entry, reminding them that their weapons should be aimed at Tang's enemies, not at an "orphan and widowed mother." Faced with her resolve, the guards relented and opened the gate.
Prince Li Hupo, carrying Li Zhongyi's ashes, entered first, followed by Queen Xia Tian. Ning Que arranged for them to temporarily stay at Zeng's mansion. Ning Que remained at the city gate. Soon after, Princess Li Yu and Hua Shanyue arrived. Ning Que warned Li Yu against any rash actions. Meanwhile, King Li Hunyuan received a report that Queen Xia Tian and Prince Li Hupo had successfully entered the capital and were residing at Mr. Zeng's mansion.
Outraged by the failure of the Wuzhou standing army and Princess Li Yu's intervention, Li Hunyuan ordered Commander He Yi to take his men to Zeng's mansion and kill everyone there, leaving no one alive, including the former queen and prince. However, before He Yi could depart, a frantic eunuch informed Li Hunyuan that Ning Que had suddenly arrived at the palace, causing the King to panic.
At Zeng's mansion, Mr. Zeng and his entire family respectfully welcomed Queen Xia Tian and Prince Li Hupo. Inside the palace, Ning Que walked through familiar halls, memories of the late King Li Zhongyi echoing in his mind, particularly the King's words about the God-Startling Formation. Princess Li Yu then entered, and a direct confrontation ensued. Ning Que accused her of falsifying the testamentary edict, while criticizing King Li Hunyuan's incompetent rule.
Li Yu retorted that Ning Que should not have brought Queen Xia Tian and Prince Li Hupo back to contend for the throne and insisted that he and the Academy should not interfere in the royal family's affairs, further claiming that she was the most suitable person to rule.
Ning Que sharply countered, stating that Tang State belonged to all Tang people, not just the Li family, and if it belonged to anyone, it would be the Academy, founded by Sage. Li Yu found this notion absurd, but Ning Que reminded her that falsifying a testamentary edict was unprecedented in Tang's history. He acknowledged her desire for the throne but condemned her and Li Hunyuan for their terrible timing and methods.
He then listed Li Hunyuan's grave errors, including the unnecessary deaths of General Xu Shi, Xian Zhilang, and Ma Shixiang, which caused immense suffering to the common people. Ning Que demanded to know how King Li Hunyuan intended to take responsibility for these egregious actions.
