Nirvana in Fire 2: The Wind Blows in Chang Lin Episode 28 Recap
> Nirvana in Fire 2: The Wind Blows in Chang Lin Recap
The gloomy rain was dreary. Meng Qianxue, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, held her hand to her abdomen. Xiao Pingzhang's passing caused her to shed endless tears. However, it was gratifying that she eventually conceived Xiao Pingzhang's flesh and blood, preserving his lineage. Sitting alone in her room, she could only find solace for her grief by embracing Xiao Pingzhang's clothes. The Langlin King and the Emperor agreed to send Meng Qianxue away from the manor for recuperation.
After much thought, only Langya Pavilion was deemed the safest. Meng Qianxue herself was also willing. Xun Feizhan came to the Langlin Royal Manor, wanting to send the mother and son away with Xiao Pingjing. However, Xiao Pingjing saw Lin Xi, also dressed in plain clothes, had packed her bags and was waiting outside the manor gate, carrying a medicine chest. After a moment of thought, he still walked towards Lin Xi.
Lin Xi wanted to accompany Meng Qianxue to Langya Pavilion, as she had always been the one caring for Meng Qianxue's health. Xiao Pingjing's expression was heavy, and he said nothing. It wasn't until Lin Xi brushed past him that he finally spoke his mind. He knew Lin Xi had done nothing wrong, but every time he saw Lin Xi, he couldn't help but wonder if things could have had a different outcome, so they couldn't face Lin Xi anymore.
Lin Xi had already guessed his feelings, and with a soft sigh, she slowly walked away. Meng Qianxue bid farewell to Xun Feizhan and set off on the journey to Langya Mountain with Lin Xi. She consoled Lin Xi, saying that Xiao Pingjing had always been like this since childhood; when he couldn't accept something, he would bury his head and hide, unwilling to face it. She told Lin Xi not to blame him.
Lin Xi asked Meng Qianxue if she had also wondered if there could have been another outcome. Meng Qianxue admitted that although she secretly hoped for it, ultimately, it was Xiao Pingzhang's own choice. Fireworks lit up the sky, and firecrackers roared; another New Year had arrived. However, this year, when the Langlin King and his son worshipped before the nameless memorial tablets, Xiao Pingzhang was absent, and the scene brought profound sorrow.
Xiao Pingjing petitioned the Langlin King to go to the northern front and take up the heavy burden that Xiao Pingzhang had always carried. The Langlin King's expression was grave, and he dispatched him to the Ganzhou camp for training. Xiao Pingjing bid farewell to the Emperor's imperial carriage outside the grand hall. With a resolute expression, he strode out of the hall, heading directly for the northern border.
However, Xiao Yuanqi caught up with him, wanting to go to the northern border with him. Xiao Pingjing advised Xiao Yuanqi to think carefully; he was different from himself, not born into a military family. The border region was harsh and cold, and Xiao Yuanqi might not be able to endure it. Xiao Yuanqi chuckled, saying that even if he temporarily became a deserter, Xiao Pingjing would probably not send anyone to arrest him.
This brought a rare smile to Xiao Pingjing's usually tense face. He gladly took Xiao Yuanqi with him to Ganzhou. In Langya, with mountains covered in verdant leaves, Lin Xi stood quietly among the mountains and forests. She was as delicate and graceful as a fine brush painting, yet as ethereal and extraordinary as an ink wash painting. However, her facial expression held an unutterable, unresolvable sorrow.
In the military camp, Xiao Pingjing blended in with the soldiers and was deeply beloved by them. He received a pigeon message from Langya Pavilion, only to find that it actually delivered two tiny footprints to him. Xiao Pingjing was overjoyed, but his subordinate suddenly told him that the pigeon was injured. They found Doctor Du to examine the pigeon. A year later, the Crown Prince had gradually grown more sensible and could already handle state affairs for the Emperor.
However, the Emperor's health was deteriorating day by day. The Langlin King received the Emperor's latest prescriptions from the Imperial Medical Office and asked Grandmaster Li to review them on his behalf. Grandmaster Li thoroughly examined each prescription and believed that the imperial physicians had done everything they could, and even he could not do better. The Langlin King, however, worried, "Why hasn't the Emperor's condition improved despite taking so much medicine?"
Grandmaster Li pondered for a long time, and under the Langlin King's intense gaze, could only say that he couldn't make a rash conclusion without a personal diagnosis, but he did tell the Langlin King that the Emperor would probably only last until after the New Year. This made the Langlin King's heart sink as if into an ice cellar. Xun Baishui intercepted Master Jin, who had been summoned by the Emperor, to inquire about the reason for the summons.
Master Jin frankly stated that the Emperor had conferred upon Xiao Pingjing the title of Third Rank Huaiguai General, concurrently serving as the commander of the Ganzhou Camp. The Langlin King entered the palace to meet the Emperor and blamed the Emperor for not informing him beforehand about Xiao Pingjing's enfeoffment. He believed it was too hasty, even compared to Xiao Pingzhang's enfeoffment back then. The Emperor, however, suddenly said sternly, "Xiao Pingzhang's situation back then was different.
At that time, both the monarch and his subject were in their prime. But now, I know my time is limited, so I have no choice but to be anxious." The imperial edict of enfeoffment soon reached Xiao Pingjing's hands. Xiao Pingjing inquired about the Emperor's condition. However, even the official who delivered the edict told him that the Emperor's health was still manageable.
This showed that all the court officials had already guessed that the Emperor's health was deteriorating and his life was in peril. The Emperor's illness worsened, making it difficult for him even to stand up. At this time, all matters were conveyed by the Langlin King, and even the Empress found it difficult to see the Emperor. The Emperor summoned Prince Ning to the palace again, and the Empress inwardly suspected what these imperial relatives were discussing.
Xun Baishui comforted the Empress, saying that the Crown Prince had always been by the Emperor's side. However, the Empress felt that the Crown Prince was still young and understood nothing. The two summoned Xun Feizhan as well. Xun Baishui stated bluntly, "Once the Emperor can no longer hold on, it will be a fact that a young ruler ascends the throne. The four characters 'lord young, state suspicious' are built upon countless bones in historical records.
Learning from past mistakes, we had to be on guard now." Therefore, they planned to have the Langlin King retire to Weishan for a comfortable old age. Xun Feizhan asked, "What if the Langlin King is unwilling to go?" At this point, the Empress interjected, "Xun Baishui is in charge of the Grand Secretariat, and Xun Feizhan controls the imperial guards. The Xun family is powerful.
After the Crown Prince ascends the throne, if the Langlin King is asked to retire comfortably, he will not fail to consider it." Xun Feizhan knew that the Empress and Xun Baishui intended to monopolize court affairs, so he flatly declared to them that his duty was to obey the Emperor directly, and he would not follow anyone else's opinions.
The reason the Emperor summoned the elderly and frail Prince Ning to the palace was actually because the one he was most worried about was the Langlin King. Prince Ning assured the Emperor that the Langlin King harbored no disloyalty towards the Emperor and the Crown Prince, but the Emperor merely smiled faintly. Only then did Prince Ning understand that what the Emperor truly worried about was the Langlin King's safety, not his threat.
The Emperor understood that the Langlin King had lived a life of military service and, as a martial general, could not participate in politics, thus he knew little about the court affairs in the capital. Previously, Xiao Pingzhang was still at court, but now the Langlin King had lost his most important aide, and his spirit was gradually declining, while Xiao Pingjing was far away at the border.
The Emperor knew his time was short, and it was hard to predict how the Crown Prince's temperament would change in the future. When a young lord presides over court, the Crown Prince should be the most concerned, but the Emperor knew that the Langlin King was the one he was most uneasy about. The Langlin King's position was extremely high, and he could not afford to yield.
Therefore, the Emperor issued a secret edict into Prince Ning's ear, which was his final arrangement. Not long after, the Emperor could no longer hold on. He publicly entrusted his heir to the Langlin King to assist him in governing, in front of all the court officials and imperial concubines. Subsequently, the Emperor finally passed away.
