Nancheng Banquet Episode 10 Recap
> Nancheng Banquet Recap
Qiang entered the Prime Minister Xiao Wanli's residence under the guise of needing the latrine, while secretly searching for a list. Yan Changyun learned that Qiang had entered the residence to steal the list and, concerned for Qiang's safety, also infiltrated the residence. After obtaining the list, Qiang was nearly caught by patrolling guards but was pulled into a corner by Yan Changyun. Xiao Wanli discovered the list was stolen and ordered an extensive search.
His son, Xiao Quan, the Vice Minister of Justice, suspected it was an inside job and proposed gathering everyone in the residence to identify who was missing. Qiang was noticed by Xiao Quan to be absent from the gathering. Qiang arrived late, claiming he had been in the latrine, guided by Xueru. Xiao Quan found his behavior suspicious and ordered his arrest for questioning.
Empress Heng, Xiao Wanli's daughter and Xiao Quan's sister, intervened, vouching for Qiang and stating he was not a thief. She appealed to her father for a fair handling of the matter and asked her brother to ensure justice for Qiang. Yan Changyun, concealed nearby, created a deliberate commotion while making his escape, drawing the guards away and alleviating suspicion from Qiang.
Under the pretext of an imperial edict related to the Poppy powder case, Xiao Wanli secretly ordered Xiao Quan to act immediately and eliminate everyone on the list before dawn. Meanwhile, Yan Changyun, using the same Poppy powder case as justification, ordered the Qianyu Guards to apprehend everyone on the list. The two forces clashed during the night, and some individuals on the list were killed by Xiao Quan's men before Yan Changyun could reach them.
Overnight, Qiang stayed up, worried about Yan Changyun. She heard the sound of a jade bone whistle and rushed out of the residence. Yan Changyun was waiting nearby. Qiang ran to him, expressing concern for his safety and asking if he had been caught. Yan Changyun thanked Qiang for obtaining the list, acknowledging its great usefulness, but cautioned against taking such risks in the future.
Qiang noticed Yan Changyun had the jade bone whistle she had previously discarded, and he admitted to retrieving it. Qiang then asked Yan Changyun to escort her back to the palace as she had taken leave from the Empress and could return early. Yan Changyun escorted Qiang back to her room and was noticeably affected by her presence before quickly leaving. Upon learning that Yan Changyun had intercepted many people from the list, Xiao Wanli suspected the Emperor's backing.
He decided to impeach Yan Changyun, viewing him as a dangerous rival who must be eliminated. Xiao Wanli revealed his plan to use his daughter, Empress Heng, to control the Emperor, even suggesting she bear an heir who could be elevated to the throne if the current Emperor proved disobedient. He expressed frustration that Heng was not proving useful and hinted he might replace her with her younger sister if this continued.
Empress Heng overheard her father's conversation about his schemes and his willingness to discard her, becoming distressed and feeling like a stranger in her own home. She decided the palace was now her only home and left her father's residence despite Xiao Quan's attempt to comfort her by saying their father was just angry. Xiao Quan informed his subordinate that the list he gave his father was a fake one, used to cause chaos and divert Yan Changyun's attention.
This was intended to protect their Poppy powder operation, which was essential for funding their forces. He stated the operation would continue as planned, as stopping it would ruin years of planning. Yan Changyun discovered that the individuals he had apprehended had no connection to the Poppy powder case but held grudges against the Xiao family.
He realized Xiao Wanli had used the case as a pretext to eliminate rivals, just as he had fifteen years prior during the "Zhu Yinfen" incident to harm loyal officials. Xiao Wanli submitted a petition to the Emperor, impeaching Yan Changyun for defying orders. The Emperor received the petition, noting that Yan Changyun must have caused significant trouble for Xiao Wanli to provoke a direct impeachment.
Yan Changyun reported his findings to the Emperor, confirming his suspicion that Xiao Wanli was using the case for a purge. The Emperor acknowledged Xiao Wanli's power and asked if Yan Changyun was confident he could bring him down. Yan Changyun admitted he lacked sufficient evidence at the moment. The Emperor instructed Yan Changyun to find evidence and secretly authorized him to investigate Xiao Wanli, but cautioned him to proceed carefully.
He ordered Yan Changyun to visit the Prime Minister the following day to request cooperation in investigating the previous night's events and to punish the involved officials. Back at the Qianyu Guards' quarters, Qiang praised the food. Wei Tianjiao offered her some porridge from his bowl, and they shared it. Yan Changyun witnessed this and became visibly annoyed. He publicly reprimanded Wei Tianjiao for not having enough bowls for everyone and for making excuses, punishing him with a run.
Later, the Emperor was seen practicing a dramatic performance, portraying the Overlord, noting he had many roles left to play in the future. Qiang asked the Empress if a man could possess feminine qualities and if she saw any in her. The Empress shook her head after observing Qiang, leading Qiang to lament her perceived lack of femininity due to pretending to be a man for so long.
Xiao Quan planned to send his sister, Empress Heng, a beloved toy from her childhood to cheer her up. Xiao Wanli berated him for constantly visiting the palace instead of focusing on the family's ambitions. Xiao Quan fiercely defended his devotion to Heng, recounting how she was the only one who cared for him after their father had him severely beaten and confined as a child. He stated he had vowed to protect her forever.
Xiao Wanli dismissively called Heng unimportant compared to the family's power and revealed she was not born to his wife. Xiao Quan stated he already knew this, having witnessed Xiao Wanli's assault on a young woman who came to the residence to deliver flowers, her imprisonment, and eventual murder after giving birth to Heng, who was then placed under his wife's name.
Xiao Quan then revealed a secret even Xiao Wanli did not know: the woman was already pregnant before Xiao Wanli assaulted her, meaning Heng was not his biological daughter. Xiao Quan declared himself Heng's only true support and proclaimed his intention to take the throne from the Emperor to give Heng happiness and the position of Empress, leading to a heated argument with his father, who called him an 'animal' for prioritizing an 'illegitimate child'.
The next day, Yan Changyun arrived at Prime Minister Xiao Wanli's residence as ordered by the Emperor. Xiao Quan personally led him to his father's location. After knocking with no response, they entered and discovered Xiao Wanli's lifeless body lying on the floor. The characters "关酉" (Guan You) were written in blood nearby. Xiao Quan cradled his father's body and wept. Yan Changyun immediately ordered the scene to be sealed off.
News of Xiao Wanli's death reached the Emperor, who feigned deep grief and entrusted the investigation to Yan Changyun. Xiao Quan, however, insisted on investigating his father's murder himself, immediately concluding that the killer was linked to the "Guan You Incident" based on the word found at the scene, and specifically accused remnants of the Qin family. Yan Changyun questioned Xiao Quan's hasty conclusion based solely on the characters 'Guan You', suggesting it was premature for someone in his position.
Xiao Quan accused Yan Changyun of protecting the Qin family. The Emperor intervened, stopping their dispute, and ordered a thorough investigation. To find the killer quickly, he decreed that anyone, officials or citizens, could investigate and offered a substantial reward to the one who apprehended the murderer.
Later, reflecting on the murder with a subordinate, Yan Changyun (the "Young Master") addressed the subordinate's confusion as to why Xiao Wanli was killed just as they were closing in on his link to the Poppy powder, and the significance of the "Guan You" inscription. Yan Changyun dismissed the idea that it was a reckless act by one of their allies, such as Lei Shu, stating that Xiao Wanli's death was too significant for such a move.
He concluded that the murder occurred precisely because they were getting closer to the truth, and that the killer understood Xiao Wanli better than they did, suggesting the person behind the Guan You incident might not have been Xiao Wanli after all.
