Lost Track of Time Episode 26 Recap
> Lost Track of Time Recap
During a morning court session, Prince Qi impeached Xiao Ying, accusing him of ordering garrison troops to assault tenant farmers. Xiao Ying's subordinates took the blame, and the Emperor merely reprimanded Xiao Ying for poor discipline and docked his salary. Xiao Jingque was surprised, remarking on Prince Qi's apparent disregard for his fraternal bond with Prince Qing, especially since he knew Xiao Ying was working for Prince Qing.
Xiao Ying, however, believed Prince Qing was too lenient, allowing Prince Qi to become unrestrained. He regretted missing the chance to eliminate Prince Qi, explaining to Xiao Jingque that his plan was to force Lu Yun to act, then claim Prince Qi caused trouble in the military camp and Lu Yun, enraged by Prince Qi injuring his sister, reacted impulsively. This would eliminate Prince Qi and remove Lu Anran.
Xiao Jingque, concerned for her brother's safety, cautioned against such risks, but Xiao Ying reassured her he would protect her. Xiao Jingque then informed Xiao Ying that Lu Anran had fallen out with her trusted maid, Dong Qing, who had left Prince Qing's residence after a significant argument, seeing it as a satisfying turn of events. Xiao Ying saw this as an opportunity to eliminate both Prince Qi and Lu Anran.
Xiao Ying sought out Dong Qing at the Qinghe Gang, where she was temporarily managing affairs while her elder brother, Shen Changqing, was bedridden. He questioned her about Shen Changqing's injury, implying Prince Qing’s involvement but denying they harmed Shen Changqing directly. Xiao Ying accused Lu Anran of betraying friends for self-preservation, portraying her as cunning and ruthless. He proposed that Dong Qing assist him in eliminating Lu Anran, promising that the Qinghe Gang’s recent activities would be overlooked.
Dong Qing rebuffed him, criticizing a general for resorting to such underhanded tactics and declaring she would seek justice for her brother her own way, without his help. Xiao Ying, annoyed by her refusal, warned her against refusing his offer, but Dong Qing dismissed him. Meanwhile, following Prince Qi’s impeachment of Xiao Ying, Xiao Ying’s followers were arrested and Prince Yi was punished.
However, Prince Qi, dissatisfied with this outcome, sought an audience with the Emperor to argue for true justice. The Emperor, exasperated, questioned where true justice lay. Prince Qi stated it was "written in the law and dwells within people's hearts." The Emperor countered, asserting that justice ultimately lay in his hands and that true law was decreed by the Son of Heaven, not by heaven itself.
He implied that if Prince Qi truly sought justice, he should consider ascending the throne. Prince Qing's subordinates discovered Xiao Ying had visited the Qinghe Gang. Though they couldn't ascertain the exact reason, Prince Qing concluded that Xiao Ying was too self-serving and potentially disloyal, warranting caution. Meanwhile, Lu Anran's intelligence indicated that Xiao Ying was furious after his visit to Dong Qing.
She instructed her people to remind Dong Qing to eventually yield to Xiao Ying's pressure to ensure the Qinghe Gang's safety. She explained her intricate plan to her aide, emphasizing that to eliminate Xiao Ying, Prince Qing needed to perceive him as out of control, as Prince Qing would not allow anyone else to use an asset like Xiao Ying if he could not control it himself.
She acknowledged that using Prince Qi in this scheme would make them even for his earlier sword wound. Xiao Ying, having confirmed Lu Anran and Prince Qi's private relationship from Dong Qing's evasive demeanor, decided to exploit her vulnerability. He instructed his troops to surround the Qinghe Gang, accusing them of robbery, arson, murder, and plunder under the guise of "robbing the rich to aid the poor." This move forced Dong Qing to meet him.
She reluctantly agreed to cooperate, providing information that Lu Anran and Prince Qi communicated through daily vegetable deliveries to Lu Anran's courtyard. Xiao Jingque's attendant, upon checking the vegetables, indeed found a letter arranging a meeting between Lu Anran and Prince Qi. Believing she had caught them, Xiao Jingque excitedly informed Prince Qing.
Simultaneously, Dong Qing informed Prince Qi about the Qinghe Gang's predicament and that Xiao Ying had invited him to meet at a private residence in the western suburbs. Prince Qi, concerned, rushed there. Lu Anran, with Shanyue, arrived at the private residence first. She instructed Shanyue to feign injury and then deliberately stabbed herself with a hairpin, scattering knockout incense to create the illusion of an attack.
As Xiao Jingque and Prince Qing arrived, Lu Anran cried for help, making it appear she was framed. Prince Qi arrived shortly after, witnessing Xiao Jingque’s accusations of improper relations between him and Lu Anran. He clarified that Xiao Ying had invited him. Xiao Ying then appeared with Dong Qing, intending for her to testify. However, Prince Qing, already wary of Xiao Ying's self-serving nature, pressed Dong Qing for the truth.
Under pressure, Dong Qing revealed that Xiao Ying had coerced her by threatening the Qinghe Gang, and that his entire setup was a scheme to frame Lu Anran and Prince Qi. Enraged, Xiao Ying attempted to kill Lu Anran, but Prince Qing swiftly intervened, killing Xiao Ying with Xiao Jingque's hairpin. Later, Prince Qi privately confronted Dong Qing at the Qinghe Gang.
He surmised that she had collaborated with Lu Anran in a staged performance, manipulating him to help eliminate Xiao Ying. Dong Qing, however, feigned ignorance, stating she was merely a maid and could not have orchestrated such a complex plan. Prince Qi, frustrated by her refusal to admit the truth and his growing understanding of Lu Anran's intricate planning, felt a deep sense of disillusionment, realizing he too had been used in her schemes.
Witnessing her brother Xiao Ying’s murder by Prince Qing, Xiao Jingque became distraught, verging on madness. Prince Qing then approached her, chillingly inviting her to join him and Xiao Ying for chrysanthemum viewing during the Double Ninth Festival the next day, implicitly threatening her into silence. The following day, news spread that Xiao Ying had died from a fall during the Double Ninth Festival climb, a cover-up orchestrated by Prince Qing to explain his sudden demise.
With Xiao Ying's sudden death, the capital garrison became leaderless. Prince Qing and Prince Yi both vied for the position. The Emperor, recognizing Mu Chuan's lack of personal ambition and the dangers of entrusting such power to self-serving individuals, favored him. He offered Mu Chuan the command, emphasizing that the military was a vital national tool and that those with excessive personal agendas would bring endless trouble.
However, Mu Chuan, who cherished freedom and sought to protect his water conservancy projects and his role as granary keeper, expressed his reluctance to become entangled in court struggles. The Emperor acknowledged Mu Chuan's magnanimous nature and his yearning for a life beyond the palace walls but reminded him that one day he would have something he wished to protect, forcing him to make a choice.
The Emperor gave Mu Chuan time to consider but warned him not to take too long. Shen Changqing, having regained consciousness, was relieved to learn that Dong Qing had not misunderstood Lu Anran. He was distraught to hear that Prince Qi had stabbed Lu Anran, wishing to intervene and clarify the situation.
Although Lu Anran had previously instructed Dong Qing not to involve Prince Qi in court conflicts, both Shen Changqing and Dong Qing understood the deep affection between Lu Anran and Prince Qi and did not want a misunderstanding to fester. Lu Anran, tending to her own wounds, showed no emotional reaction towards Prince Qing, attributing all recent misfortunes to her own choices. Prince Qing sensed her complete disillusionment and was perturbed by her newfound composure after enduring such hardship.
Lu Anran finally confronted him, lamenting that she had sacrificed her most cherished possessions and willingly confined herself to his mansion, only to receive endless harm in return. She accused him of personally destroying her innocence and trust, asserting that they could never return to their past. To Lu Anran's surprise, Prince Qing was pleased by her outburst, promising to prove that she was the true mistress of Prince Qing's household. He instructed her to freshen up and join him at the mansion, declaring he would make everyone aware of her status.
