Nancheng Banquet Episode 6 Recap

> Nancheng Banquet
> Nancheng Banquet Recap

Having returned to the palace, Qiang presented Yan Changyun with body lotion he had purchased while accompanying the Emperor, suggesting it would soften his hands. Despite Yan Changyun's refusal, Qiang explained he bought it specifically for him. Qiang then proposed that the Qianyu Guards should engage more with the common people, arguing their focus shouldn't solely be on the palace but on serving the public, which would help improve their reputation.

The next day, Qiang, acting as military governor, led the Qianyu Guards out to sweep streets, pick up garbage, and assist the elderly and those in need, despite some guards' objections to performing such tasks, questioning the suitability of such duties for the Imperial Guards. Qiang encouraged Yan Changyun, as their leader, to also interact with the people and do small, helpful deeds to build trust.

While they were out, they witnessed a father violently beating his son, accusing him of stealing a pen. Yan Changyun intervened by drawing his sword, prompting Qiang to question his involvement in a domestic matter. Yan Changyun defused the situation, explaining it was a misunderstanding. The boy explained he had only taken the pen to fix it for his teacher, but his father wouldn't listen.

Yan Changyun told the boy to inform his father next time and sternly warned the father that he would face punishment as per military law if he was seen hitting his son again. Yan Changyun continued engaging with the public, helping with tasks like chopping wood, cutting vegetables, and peeling fruit for children. While Yan Changyun focused on helping, Qiang was seen playing games with some children nearby, a scene Yan Changyun seemed captivated by.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Xiao Wanli learned that Yan Changyun and the Qianyu Guards were busy outside the palace performing what he deemed trivial duties. Seeing this as an opportunity, he ordered his subordinates to immediately investigate the whereabouts of Fang You and expedite the case concerning Vermilion Powder, declaring that only he could ensure the stability of Nancheng State.

Xiao Wanli's son, Xiao Quan, arrived, and his father questioned him about frequenting the palace, urging him to focus instead on the Ministry of Justice and the Vermilion Powder case. Xiao Quan retorted that his affairs were his own and his father should focus on holding power rather than controlling him, suggesting not everyone was as greedy for power as his father. Xiao Wanli angrily called him a rebellious son.

Away from the palace, Master Bai anxiously awaited news of Fu Xiao. Discussing her prolonged silence and failure to return with his disciples, some suggested she must have failed since Yan Changyun was still alive, with one even suggesting killing her if necessary. Master Bai chided them for not prioritizing Fu Xiao's safety while she was missing. As they spoke, a masked figure, revealed to be Xiao Quan, appeared and revealed he had secretly poisoned them.

He reminded Master Bai of their agreement to kill Yan Changyun and called him despicable for breaking it now that Yan Changyun was still alive. Xiao Quan noted that Fu Xiao, the disciple sent to kill Yan Changyun, had surprisingly disguised herself as a eunuch and entered the palace, but had lost her memory. He viewed this as a beneficial development for himself as she was now mixed in with the Qianyu Guards.

Master Bai questioned why he was poisoned if he was now disabled and useless. Xiao Quan disagreed, stating there were important tasks ahead. He then presented an antidote, offering it to Master Bai and his disciples but warning that without it, they would die within a hundred days, leaving the choice to them. Back on the streets, Qiang noticed a large group of beggars.

He learned they were former members of the Qin Family who were implicated in the Guan You Incident and sentenced to lifelong begging as slaves, with other family members forced into servitude or entertainment. Yan Changyun inquired about the incident, which was described as a clear miscarriage of justice marking a hero's decline. Yan Changyun expressed concern that they likely hadn't eaten in a long time and sent someone to fetch food.

He personally helped an elder stand up, leading Qiang to believe Yan Changyun was doing so to support him (Qiang), given Yan Changyun's usual aversion to dirty environments. Some bystanders began slandering Yan Changyun, calling him ruthless and claiming his compassion was merely a pretense. Qiang became enraged, confronting the slanderers and threatening to fight them. Yan Changyun stopped him, reminding him of their policy of not fighting back.

Qiang defended Yan Changyun, describing him as a person who valued comradeship, was kind-hearted, sincere, and responsible, and noting that Yan Changyun wasn't the cruel person rumors claimed him to be. Yan Changyun, observing the pitiful state of the beggars, expressed his intention to find them clothes and provide medical care the following day. Yan Changyun continued tending to the beggars. Chu Yue arrived, having heard about Yan Changyun leading the Qianyu Guards in public service.

She brought food, which Yan Changyun immediately shared with the beggars, saying he wasn't hungry. Chu Yue mentioned she had come specifically to see "Brother Yan." Suddenly, a martial sister appeared and confronted Fu Xiao, addressing her by her name "Fu Xiao" and accusing her of faking her memory loss and betraying their master by colluding with Yan Changyun out of greed for status.

Fu Xiao, not recognizing her, questioned how she knew she had lost her memory and asked for her name. The martial sister dismissed her as acting and demanded she return with her. Fu Xiao refused, unsure if she was a good or bad person. The martial sister declared Fu Xiao a traitor and attacked, intending to kill her for their master.

She questioned Fu Xiao's martial arts skills and showed a plum blossom dagger given by their master, stating a cut from it would cause unstoppable bleeding. Yan Changyun intervened and rescued Fu Xiao. The martial sister, unable to defeat Yan Changyun, fled, reiterating that Fu Xiao had betrayed their master. The martial sister had injured Qiang's leg with a stone.

Yan Changyun offered to carry him back, which Qiang accepted after joking about being too heavy and making him carry him all the way back. As they left, bystanders identified Qiang as a eunuch from the Qianyu Guards. Later, Qiang spoke with Yidao, recounting how well Yan Changyun treated him, having saved him twice and never getting angry despite his antics, feeling he owed Yan Changyun a debt.

Yidao suggested Qiang had developed feelings for Yan Changyun, which Qiang strongly denied, stating he couldn't as he was a man. Qiang, wanting to repay Yan Changyun, made some shrimp cakes. He encountered the Emperor, who expressed missing Qiang and took the cakes, insisting on eating them first despite Qiang saying they were for Yan Changyun and were a single serving. After eating the cakes, the Emperor had an allergic reaction, his throat itching, and he fainted.

Guards panicked, calling for Yan Changyun. Yan Changyun arrived and immediately ordered a eunuch to get perilla leaves and make juice. The Empress arrived and ordered Qiang to be beaten to death for harming the Emperor. Qiang protested his innocence. Yan Changyun advised caution to determine what happened. The Emperor regained consciousness and stated he had insisted on eating the cakes, clearing Qiang of blame. He dismissed everyone except Qiang.

As Qiang, relieved, thanked Yan Changyun for saving the Emperor with the perilla leaf juice, he referred to Yan Changyun as Yan brother within earshot of the Emperor. The Emperor, knowing his secret shrimp allergy and that perilla leaf juice was the specific remedy, and hearing Qiang use the intimate childhood name "Brother Yan," became suspicious, thinking "Qin Yan, could that be you?" Later, Qiang spoke with Yan Changyun, confirming that Yan Changyun had received credit for saving the Emperor.

Yan Changyun acknowledged that the Emperor would likely suspect his true identity, noting their close familiarity from childhood made exposure inevitable. Yan Changyun then separately expressed concern about Qiang, considering him a liability if his memory returned, and stated he had a plan to deal with that situation. Flashbacks showed their childhood together, with young Qin Yan explaining how opera masks hid a person's true identity, allowing the performer to become the character.

Yan Changyun also remarked to Qiang on the stalled Vermilion Powder investigation, stating the Emperor was necessary to break the deadlock. Yan Changyun revealed that Fang You had escaped prison and he had arranged for him to be tracked, using him as bait to uncover the source of the Vermilion Powder. The Emperor dreamt of Yan Changyun, confirming his identity as Qin Yan and being stabbed by him. Waking up, and finding Yan Changyun present, the Emperor was startled.

Yan Changyun immediately knelt and requested punishment for his actions during the Emperor's medical emergency, explaining that he didn't know if it was poisoning or illness, but had seen the perilla leaf remedy work for someone with similar symptoms on the street and risked using it. The Emperor, seemingly accepting the explanation for the time being, but his suspicion solidified by the perilla remedy knowledge, confronted Yan Changyun, stating this knowledge proved he was Qin Yan.

Yan Changyun confessed, "That's right. I am Qin Yan." He then challenged the Emperor, asking why he hadn't cleared the Qin Family's name despite knowing they were framed, highlighting their loyalty and subsequent extermination, and expressing his deep hatred. The Emperor rewarded Yan Changyun for saving him. The Emperor summoned Qiang to dine with him, stating he missed him and was concerned about him eating well at the Qianyu Guards.

Qiang enthusiastically praised Yan Changyun, saying they had all misunderstood him, describing him as kind, not cruel, citing his personal care for the beggars. The Emperor, surprised by Qiang's changed perspective, inquired about Yan Changyun's healing injuries, regretting sending him to do manual labor while recovering. Qiang confirmed the back wound was healing and he had personally applied medicine. The Emperor then probed, asking about a chest scar.

Qiang replied he had never seen one, only the back injury, and the Emperor dismissed it as misremembering. Qiang asked to leave to practice sword with Yan Changyun, explaining Yan Changyun was testing him and would dismiss him if he couldn't withstand ten moves. The Emperor offered to help him train, claiming a unique technique specifically effective against Yan Changyun. Meanwhile, the Empress, seeking the Emperor because she missed him, found him practicing sword with Qiang.

Her attendant suggested getting rid of Qiang, even suggesting killing him. The Empress rejected killing him but considered removing him from the palace. The attendant suggested requesting Qiang be transferred to her palace, allowing her to monitor him, potentially discipline him when needed, and crucially, learn how he pleased the Emperor in order to attract the Emperor to her own quarters. The Empress approved of this strategy as a "double gain."

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