Rekap Episod 21 Ashes to Crown
> Rekap Ashes to Crown
Outside the grand hall, ministers gossiped about the rising influence of Zhu Yong. Backed by the Grand Princess, Zhu Yong had become a prominent figure within the Imperial Guard Office, which now arrested officials at will, leaving even the most powerful figures uneasy. Inside the court, the young emperor, Xiao Yu, and the Grand Princess, Chu Zhao, took their places. Zhu Yong stepped forward to request permission to travel to Huzhou to investigate the summer flood corruption case.
Recognizing the gravity of the matter, Chu Zhao decreed that the Commandant of Justice, the Minister of Revenue, and the Imperial Guard Office must launch a joint investigation. She directed Deng Yi to make the necessary arrangements, which he accepted without hesitation. The ministers were surprised by this rare display of cooperation, whispering that Deng Yi seemed to have accepted Chu Zhao's political interference. At the Xie residence, Xie Yanfang saw right through this apparent harmony.
He realized that Chu Zhao and Deng Yi were merely putting on an act to deceive him. Fearing that the Xie clan would grow too powerful and threaten the young emperor's authority, Chu Zhao was intentionally supporting Deng Yi to maintain a tripartite balance in the court. Xie Yanfang found her clever but ultimately too soft-hearted. Deciding to show her that kindness had no place in their world, he instructed his subordinate to send a message to the Northern Desert.
Believing Zhong Changrong had guarded Xinggu Pass for far too long, Xie Yanfang planned for Liang Qiang to prepare to take over his position once the pass fell. Deep in the Northern Desert camp, Qi Bo returned to report to the Northern Desert King. The king demanded more provisions, noting that their resources were draining quickly with three contingents to feed, including the Eldest Prince who was securing the rear.
Qi Bo promised to secure more food soon and presented a highly lucrative proposal. The Northern Desert King read the cooperation agreement from Xie Yanfang, which requested the assassination of Zhong Changrong at Xinggu Pass, alongside Xiao Xun’s proposal to let the Northern Desert army pass through Xiaonan. Amused by how both Xie Yanfang and Xiao Xun were trying to court his favor, the king decided to exploit their ambitions.
He ordered his troops to prepare to march in a day, eager to let the rival factions weaken each other while he reaped the rewards. At Xinggu Pass, Liang Qiang spotted the approaching Northern Desert army and prepared to report. However, a soldier allied with the conspirators stopped him, explaining that the Northern Desert troops were merely passing through as part of a deal.
The soldier assured Liang Qiang that this calculated victory would not alter the overall war but would result in the death of Zhong Changrong. In return, Liang Qiang would inherit the command. Blinded by greed and ambition, Liang Qiang agreed to stand by and pretend he saw nothing. Meanwhile, Xie Yanlai received word in his camp that the Northern Desert King had suddenly decamped and disappeared without triggering any beacon smoke.
Recognizing that there were no natural hiding places for a massive army in Yunzhong Prefecture, Xie Yanlai suspected an ambush. Just then, a scout arrived with urgent news that Xinggu Pass was under raid. Knowing that Zhong Changrong's patrol route was a closely guarded military secret, Xie Yanlai instantly realized there was a traitor and set out with five hundred soldiers to assist. At the pass, Zhong Changrong and his men were heavily surrounded.
He realized their movements had been leaked but remained determined to hold the line. Nearby, Liang Qiang watched the battle unfold. The conspirator soldier warned him that even with a perfect plan, Zhong Changrong would suspect him if he survived. To avoid suspicion and secure his future, Liang Qiang was urged to charge in and kill the remaining Northern Desert soldiers himself, creating a tragic display of valor before reinforcements arrived.
Liang Qiang launched into the fray, pretending to save the day. Just as he was about to eliminate the remaining enemies, Xie Yanlai arrived and struck Liang Qiang down with a well-aimed arrow, ordering his men to keep the traitor alive for questioning. Xie Yanlai brought the gravely wounded Zhong Changrong back to the camp. While the physician worked desperately to stabilize the commander, a soldier rushed in to report that Wangcheng had fallen.
Xie Yanlai realized with dread that they had been lured into a massive trap. In the capital, Chu Zhao woke from a nightmare and was soon met by Mu Xiaoman, who delivered the devastating news of Wangcheng’s fall and Zhong Changrong’s critical condition. Discussing the frontier report, Chu Zhao noticed that while the breakthrough at Xinggu Pass was detailed, there was no mention of Liang Qiang.
She suspected Liang Qiang was deeply involved and that his status was being withheld to prevent a collapse in military morale. During the next day's court session, several ministers clamored for Xie Yanlai to be severely punished for losing Wangcheng. When the Northern Desert King sent a letter offering peace talks, Deng Yi argued that the state should temporarily accept the terms to stall for time and avoid further bloodshed.
Chu Zhao fiercely rejected the proposal, declaring that accepting territorial concessions was a national humiliation that would dishonor her father’s legacy and the sacrifices of their soldiers. Following the court session, Deng Yi and Chu Zhao clashed. Deng Yi blamed Xie Yanlai for the failure, but Chu Zhao countered that the frontier had been secure until Deng Yi's chosen supervisors, particularly Liang Qiang, took over. She accused Deng Yi of orchestrating the crisis to force her out of the court.
When Deng Yi denied the accusation, Chu Zhao had Mu Xiaoman bring out his correspondence with the frontier, including private letters showing that Deng Yi had dismissed Liang Qiang’s concerns about his transfer and promised to take responsibility. With the evidence laid bare, Chu Zhao ordered the Imperial Guard Office to escort Deng Yi back to his mansion and place him under house arrest.
Xie Yanfang visited Deng Yi at his mansion, mockingly apologizing for letting him take the fall for Wangcheng's loss. He openly admitted to orchestrating Liang Qiang's defection to let Deng Yi take the blame, though he claimed to know nothing about how the Northern Desert army managed to pass through Xiaonan.
When Deng Yi accused him of treating the lives of thousands of civilians as garbage, Xie Yanfang remained indifferent, arguing that their deaths were a worthy sacrifice for the state. He dared Deng Yi to try and expose him, knowing no one would believe the word of a disgraced, confined official. Later, Xie Yanfang met with Chu Zhao, offering to help stabilize the court in Deng Yi's absence.
He claimed that while Deng Yi had turned against her, he would always be loyal and trustworthy. He suggested that Deng Yi had plotted Zhong Changrong's death to prevent the Xie clan from gaining too much military influence, claiming he had proof that Liang Qiang was merely Deng Yi’s puppet. Though Chu Zhao thanked him, she remained quiet, keeping her suspicions to herself. Meanwhile, at the hostage prince's residence, Xiao Xun was informed of Deng Yi's house arrest.
Recognizing the political chaos as a perfect opportunity, he remained patient and focused on preparing his father’s birthday gift—a list of his disciples disguised as a longevity scroll. Once completed, he arranged for the scroll to be sent to his father, Xiao Hong, alongside the court's official gifts. In his own prefecture, Xiao Hong received the news of the gift and the situation in the capital. He was highly pleased with Xiao Xun’s patience and the fall of Wangcheng.
He anticipated that the court would be forced to negotiate to save the civilians, which would severely damage the prestige of the young emperor, Chu Zhao, Deng Yi, and Xie Yanfang. Once the court lost the people's trust, Xiao Hong planned to launch his rebellion and seize the empire. In Yunzhong Prefecture, the Northern Desert soldiers began executing a hundred civilians daily on the city walls to pressure the court into accepting their terms.
Back in the camp, Xie Yanlai was relieved to hear that Zhong Changrong had survived the critical night. Refusing to waste any time, Xie Yanlai quietly assembled a team of elite soldiers skilled in disguise and assassination to carry out a highly confidential mission. In the capital, Xie Yanfang informed Chu Zhao that Xie Yanlai was keeping his camp closed instead of confronting the enemy.
Chu Zhao worried that Xie Yanlai might act recklessly and attempt to assassinate the Northern Desert King, which would only pave the way for the fierce Eldest Prince to take the throne and escalate the war. She resolved to travel to Yunzhong Prefecture herself to steady the army, but Xie Yanfang insisted on going in her stead, promising to resolve the crisis without accepting any humiliating terms.
The next day, as Xie Yanfang bid farewell to the court and promised to protect the state's dignity, Mu Xiaoman rushed in with an urgent report. She ecstatically announced a great victory: Xie Yanlai had successfully assassinated the Eldest Prince, breached the enemy's main camp, and captured the Northern Desert King alive.
