Nancheng Banquet Episode 5 Recap
> Nancheng Banquet Recap
Yan Changyun chose to take the blame for Qiang's actions. His subordinate questioned why he took the blow when the original plan involved the Emperor protecting Qiang, but Yan Changyun explained that if Qiang had taken the blame, the Great Empress Dowager would likely have killed him. He added that since it was their plan, it was his responsibility. The subordinate commented that despite his reputation, Yan Changyun had a soft heart.
Later, Qiang came to apologize to Yan Changyun, feeling it was his impulsiveness that led to Yan Changyun being punished. Qiang expressed how heartbroken he was seeing Yan Changyun get hit and wished he could have taken some blows for him, though he admitted he feared being accused of causing a scene with so many people around. He declared that Yan Changyun had saved his life and from then on, he would follow Yan Changyun's lead.
Yan Changyun simply hoped Qiang wouldn't cause any more trouble, and Qiang promised he wouldn't. When it was time to apply medicine, Qiang insisted on doing it himself since Yan Changyun was injured because of him. As he applied the medicine, Qiang noticed many scars on Yan Changyun's back and asked about them. Yan Changyun gave brief, dismissive answers about them being caused by cuts, training, or even being bitten by a dog for a new wound.
Seeing how many injuries Yan Changyun had sustained and noting they must have been painful, Qiang blew gently on a wound, telling Yan Changyun to remember that blowing on an injury makes it feel better. This action reminded Yan Changyun of a childhood friend.
Qiang then stated he couldn't let Yan Changyun's suffering at State Duke Wei's hands be in vain and vowed to find a way to help him get revenge, to which Yan Changyun wryly commented on not having been hit enough already. Qiang acknowledged Yan Changyun's kindness and promised not to forget the debt. Qiang later appeared before the Emperor wearing his new Military Governor uniform, looking pleased.
He received a badge but felt it was too small for his status and asked for a much larger one, which the Emperor jokingly agreed to let him carry on his back. Qiang then pulled the Emperor aside to propose a plan that would solve both the Qianyu Guards' pay issue and the Emperor's own money problems.
The Emperor hesitated, mentioning that State Duke Wei was his uncle and it felt awkward, but Qiang convinced him that money was more important. Qiang promised to handle the matter if the Emperor provided an imperial decree and made the Emperor promise not to implicate him if things went wrong. Soon after, the tax silver from Jiangnan arrived at State Duke Wei's residence earlier than expected, having traveled by land.
State Duke Wei personally supervised the transfer and signed for it. He instructed his subordinates to follow the "old rule," taking half and leaving half for the treasury, inwardly anticipating that he would control when the military pay was issued. The next day, Yan Changyun and Qiang arrived at State Duke Wei's residence with an imperial decree to assist in storing the tax silver in the national treasury.
State Duke Wei tried to dismiss them, claiming he had already counted the silver and it was ready for the treasury. However, Yan Changyun stated they were there under imperial orders for a routine inspection. As Qiang inspected the silver, he immediately noticed some of it was counterfeit and confirmed it was fake after testing. When questioned how such obviously fake silver was counted, State Duke Wei's subordinate claimed the silver hadn't been touched since arriving the previous night.
State Duke Wei protested, saying he had never seen that part of the silver and was being framed. To help clear State Duke Wei's name, Yan Changyun ordered a search of the residence. The search uncovered a large amount of national silver hidden in a secret room, revealing State Duke Wei's embezzlement. Although Yan Changyun's initial plan involved finding evidence related to Poppy powder (朱银粉) through the silver investigation, they only found State Duke Wei's embezzlement.
Yan Changyun acknowledged that those they were after had been undercover for many years and wouldn't be easily exposed. However, he admitted that Qiang's "little smarts" and "switcheroo" plan, which correctly anticipated State Duke Wei's greed, had succeeded in recovering the state silver and securing the military pay for the men. Shortly after, Qiang came to Yan Changyun, having received his portion of the reward money and military pay (a total of 102 taels).
He specifically asked about buying the "antidote." Yan Changyun had previously mentioned an antidote costing ten taels per pill. Qiang had earned 102 taels and was planning to use 100 taels to buy ten pills, asking for a discount to get three extra, citing the urgency of "life and death" and lamenting that to survive, he had to spend almost all his money. However, Qiang soon discovered Liu Yidao eating the same pills.
Liu Yidao revealed they were just hawthorn pills given by Doctor Qu for his poor appetite. Realizing he had been tricked, Qiang angrily confronted Yan Changyun, calling him a liar and heartless, claiming he had trusted Yan Changyun completely and worked hard to earn money to live, only to be given fake medicine. He demanded to know the truth and asked if Yan Changyun even had an antidote. Yan Changyun admitted he did not.
Later, Yan Changyun spoke with his subordinate Cheng, questioning if he had done wrong. Cheng agreed that after Qiang had helped them so much, deceiving him was excessive. Yan Changyun confessed that he had initially kept Qiang close to uncover the secrets related to the Jade Ring, but now found himself caring about him.
Seeing Qiang visibly upset, Yan Changyun approached him and gave him a jade bone whistle, telling him to blow it if he was ever in danger and Yan Changyun would immediately come. He quickly added that everyone in the Qianyu Guards had one, telling Qiang not to misunderstand, before leaving for a meeting. Qiang felt the whistle was useless and that Yan Changyun was just trying to placate him.
During the morning court session, the Emperor addressed the empty national treasury and asked for a minister to manage it. The Prime Minister suggested the Minister of Revenue, which the Emperor agreed to. The Emperor then announced that the imperial funds, which had been managed by State Duke Wei since the Emperor was young, would now be managed by him personally.
The Prime Minister then criticized Yan Changyun's lack of progress in investigating the Poppy powder case and suggested transferring the case to the Ministry of Justice. Before the Emperor could even speak, Yan Changyun readily agreed. He explained later to Cheng that this was a tactic to distract their enemies and allow them to secretly investigate the case related to his family's destruction.
Meanwhile, Wei Tianjiao returned late, facing implied disapproval from his colleagues and feeling like an outsider in the Qianyu Guards after his father's disgrace. Though initially resentful of Yan Changyun for the raid, he came to understand that Yan Changyun's actions had also protected him. He ordered food for himself and Yan Changyun, even sharing rare mare's milk wine, stating it was for when Yan Changyun was angry.
He admitted it was his father's fault and he couldn't have raided his own home anyway, thanking Yan Changyun. When he returned home, State Duke Wei furiously scolded him, calling him a traitor for causing the loss of their family wealth. Wei Tianjiao advised his father to earn wealth honestly, stating he could earn his own money for marriage.
He told his father to live peacefully and gave him a deed to a shop, suggesting he start a legitimate business using money Wei Tianjiao had saved. He assured his father that even if the business failed, Wei Tianjiao's monthly salary could support him, and that as long as they were alive, they could rebuild. Later, Wei Tianjiao visited Qiang and was surprised to see the jade bone whistle, suspecting Qiang had stolen it.
Qiang claimed Yan Changyun had given it to him as compensation for being wronged, casually dismissing it as just a whistle. Wei Tianjiao, however, recognized it as one of Yan Changyun's prized possessions that Yan Changyun had never given him despite his requests, feeling Yan Changyun was showing favoritism to Qiang. Qiang blew the whistle, seemingly to prove it worked. Hearing the whistle, Yan Changyun immediately rushed to them.
When Yan Changyun arrived, Wei Tianjiao asked why he hadn't received a gift if Yan Changyun had wronged him too. To downplay the significance of the whistle and Qiang's special treatment, Yan Changyun claimed everyone would get a gift and ordered his own treasured items moved out of his room to distribute among the Qianyu Guards. Qiang began to frequently misuse the whistle for trivial matters.
Hearing the whistle again, Yan Changyun rushed to find Qiang needing a cup of water and demanding it using his title as Military Governor. When Yan Changyun hesitated, Qiang threatened to report that the Guards didn't obey Imperial orders. Qiang then asked for a push on a swing, before changing his mind. He commented on Yan Changyun's unhappy expression, implying it was due to serving him.
At other times, he ordered Yan Changyun to wash clothes, get vegetables for his friends, and even demanded a massage in public, claiming aches and pains from touring the Qianyu Guards grounds. Yan Changyun's subordinates complained about Qiang's increasing arrogance, predicting it wouldn't last long. Overhearing the criticism, Qiang seemingly tried to make amends by climbing a tree to pick fruit for Yan Changyun but got stuck. Fortunately, the Emperor arrived just in time and caught him as he fell.
The Emperor, who had recently secured the keys to the imperial funds, suggested they go out to celebrate. Qiang was excited and looked at jewelry, claiming he enjoyed collecting it, and the Emperor paid for everything he liked. While out, they encountered a woman scolding her disobedient daughter by threatening that the Qianyu Guards would take her.
Qiang immediately corrected the woman, explaining that the Qianyu Guards protected the people and should be sought for help, adding that people with trouble should find Yan Changyun because he could do anything and was willing to help serve both the Emperor and the people, as that was the Guards' mission. Qiang emphasized that the Qianyu Guards represented the Emperor's image and the people shouldn't fear the Emperor. He then suggested letting the Guards serve the people more directly on behalf of the Emperor.
