Glory Episode 15 Recap
> Glory Recaps
As He Xingchen lunges at Rong Shanbao with a dagger, Lu Jianglai swiftly intervenes, disarming the attacker and throwing the blade back to strike him in a vital spot. Mortally wounded, He Xingchen dies with a look of regret, his calculated schemes ending in failure. Magistrate Lang Zhusheng arrives shortly after, ordering his men to take the body away and officially closing the case of the recent violence.
After the crowd disperses, Shanbao warns Lu to avoid the Magistrate, who is eager to eliminate him. Lu is well aware of his precarious position; without his official seal or witnesses, he cannot prove his identity as the Inspector General and must remain hidden within the Rong residence for his own safety. However, a nagging doubt regarding the death of the sixth sister, Rong Junwan, keeps him awake.
That night, he leads his attendant, Jun Dai, to the tea mountains to exhume the grave and uncover the truth. At the burial site, they hide as Shanbao arrives to offer cakes and incense. Hearing her speak tenderly to her sister’s spirit, Lu is moved by her genuine grief and decides to abandon the exhumation. Following his exoneration, Bai Yingsheng is met by Rong Yunshu.
It is revealed that Bai was aware of the plot against him but chose to act as a scapegoat to buy Shanbao time for her investigation. Yunshu had also spotted the deception early on and alerted Shanbao, who instructed her to keep the secret. By playing along, they helped resolve the crisis without tipping off their enemies. In gratitude, Shanbao provides Bai with a recommendation letter for his future career in the imperial examinations.
Back at the residence, Shanbao enters a hidden room where Rong Junwan and her godmother, Ms. Liang, are safely tucked away. Realizing the danger her family faced, Shanbao had staged Junwan’s death as a ruse to protect them, successfully moving them to safety where they no longer have to fear internal schemes. Despite the setback, the Yang family persists.
They arrive with more dowry, proposing that Yang Yitang—the twin brother of the deceased Yang Dingchen—take his brother's place in the marriage alliance. Old Madam Rong is struck by the resemblance between the brothers and suggests that Yitang stay in the Xinfang Pavilion for the time being. Yang Yitang, though seemingly mild, is deeply ambitious. His father encourages the match, revealing that the Rong ancestors were descendants of the Kingdom of Women who possessed hidden treasures.
Furthermore, he tasks Yitang with locating a unique string of Bodhi prayer beads belonging to his aunt, who was supposedly murdered by Wei Kejian, warning him to be ruthless if necessary. Tensions rise as Wen Can watches Shanbao personally teach Lu the art of tea appraisal, a skill usually reserved for the family. Consumed by jealousy and suspicious of Lu's ties to the government, Wen Can ignores Yan Bailou’s advice to stay calm and begins spying on Lu.
He eventually intercepts a message Lu was attempting to send out through a servant, claiming it was a gift for the tea masters. Wen Can discovers a secret wax-sealed letter hidden inside a cake and brings it before Shanbao, accusing Lu of being a "wolf in sheep's clothing." Despite the incriminating appearance, Shanbao chooses to trust Lu and dismisses the others.
Once they are alone, Lu explains that the letter was intended for his mentor in the capital, Minister Xu, requesting him to come to Linji to verify Lu’s true identity. Touched by her trust and concerned for his safety, Shanbao orders Lu to move into the side room of her own Hualin Courtyard, where she can personally ensure his protection.
