Nirvana in Fire 2: The Wind Blows in Chang Lin Episode 37 Recap
> Nirvana in Fire 2: The Wind Blows in Chang Lin Recap
King of Changlin (Xiao Tingsheng) was critically ill. Old Master Li of the Hall, accompanied by the imperial physicians and Lin Xi, quietly withdrew from the sickroom, leaving the father and son of Changlin to share their last moments. In the glow of the setting sun, Xiao Pingjing helped King of Changlin sit down outside the hall. He knelt before his father, his heart bleeding from a pain like a knife or spear wound.
Having grown up in Ye You Ting, King of Changlin had seen the world's coldness and warmth and experienced countless battles; he had long come to terms with life and death. He only sighed, lamenting that he had hoped to leave Xiao Pingzhang and Xiao Pingjing, the brothers, to look after each other, but alas, things did not go as planned, leaving only Xiao Pingjing alone and desolate.
With a calm expression, he spoke to Xiao Pingjing about the three great fortunes of his life: first, meeting the renowned master Mei Changsu who rescued and guided him; second, serving two enlightened emperors without ever being suspected or persecuted; and third, having a harmonious family. A father knows his son best; King of Changlin understood that Xiao Pingjing loved freedom.
He instructed him not to be bound by the words "Changlin" after his death, and from then on, not to cling to obsessions, but to take protecting his sister-in-law and nephew as his duty. Xiao Pingjing could not bear it and cried into King of Changlin's arms. King of Changlin had already arranged his funeral affairs: his clothes and hat to be buried in the royal mausoleum, his bones in Mei Ling. Xiao Pingjing kept this always in mind. "
Mei Ling, Mei Ling," King of Changlin murmured, recalling the stories between himself, Mei Changsu, and Xiao Jingrui back then. He had spent his entire life in military service, devoted to his duties, and now, he finally closed his eyes, resting well. Sadly, Meng Qianxue rushed home with their child but failed to see King of Changlin one last time, collapsing in tears.
With the demise of King of Changlin, the entire city mourned, and the young emperor was also in tears. However, Xun Baishui and the Empress Dowager were most concerned about the court's punishment for Xiao Pingjing defying the imperial edict. The young emperor suppressed his grief and decreed that Xiao Pingjing would no longer serve as Huaihua General, stripping him of his military authority, and ordered him to leave the capital to observe mourning.
Xun Baishui seized the opportunity to advise the emperor to separate personal feelings from state affairs and to punish the various camps of the Changlin Army. The young emperor announced the great victory of the Changlin camps at Ningguan Pass, stating that their merits offset their faults. However, he still abolished the Changlin establishment and created a new banner for the Northern Territory. The Empress Dowager was displeased with this, but the emperor subtly sent his mother away.
Once everyone had left, the young emperor, alone, could not help but weep again for King of Changlin. After the Empress Dowager and Xun Baishui left, they discussed the outcome of this court struggle. The Empress Dowager was angry that Xiao Pingjing, despite committing the crime of deceiving the emperor, had not received actual punishment.
Xun Baishui appeased her, stating that as long as the Changlin Army's establishment was abolished and Xiao Pingjing's subordinates were disbanded, there was no need to leave no room for maneuver; going for an outright massacre might backfire. After all, people's hearts can be manipulated. Whether in the military or among the populace, what ordinary people know is merely what those in high positions wish to tell them.
There would only be one narrative for this matter: that King of Changlin had passed away, and the emperor had therefore granted Xiao Pingjing a special pardon for his crime, which perfectly demonstrated the emperor's boundless grace. Seeing the King of Changlin's Manor draped in white mourning cloth, Xiao Yuanqi returned home and paced back and forth. Suddenly, his heart stirred, knowing that Marquis Mozi had arrived.
Marquis Mozi said little; upon meeting Xiao Yuanqi, he drew his sword for a spar. Xiao Yuanqi had practiced diligently, and his swordplay had become increasingly strange and unpredictable, already resembling Marquis Mozi's style somewhat. However, as the time was still short, he could not withstand the power of a single sword strike from Marquis Mozi, the foremost swordsman in the land. Even so, Marquis Mozi greatly praised his progress.
Xun Baishui came to the King of Changlin's Manor to offer condolences, then proactively brought up the young emperor's decision to punish Xiao Pingjing and the Changlin Army. Xiao Pingjing listened silently, his eyes cold. He suppressed his grief, lamenting before King of Changlin's spirit tablet that from now on, the name of Changlin would no longer exist in the world. Xun Baishui advised him not to be too obsessed.
Xiao Pingjing could only obey his father's dying wish not to let the name of Changlin bind him, reluctantly accepting the court's handling of the matter. However, Meng Qianxue could not bear that the King of Changlin's Manor had been so loyal to the Da Liang court, sacrificing the lives of two generations of heroes, only to end up with their name erased. She could not help but let out a loud cry, venting the resentment in her heart.
On the other side, Marquis Mozi instructed Xiao Yuanqi that with the King of Changlin's Manor withdrawing from the Jinling court, it was an excellent opportunity for Xiao Yuanqi to achieve great ambitions and soar to success. Xiao Yuanqi knew that Marquis Mozi, having traveled thousands of miles to Jinling, must have a plan. Marquis Mozi indeed pulled out a letter and handed it to him.
Xiao Yuanqi opened it and saw written on it the names of the ten prefectures of Da Liang closest to the East Sea. It turned out that Marquis Mozi was requesting detailed military intelligence on these ten prefectures in Da Liang's eastern border. Xiao Yuanqi angrily questioned Marquis Mozi about what he intended to do. Marquis Mozi frankly stated that Donghai Country was preparing to follow Da Yu's example and attack Da Liang's territory.
Xiao Yuanqi held the paper, unable to calm down for a long time. This matter was not only a betrayal of the Da Liang court but also concerned the safety of the people in the ten prefectures, making him feel incredibly heavy. He thought for a moment, then straightforwardly told Marquis Mozi that he would absolutely not commit treason by colluding with an enemy. Marquis Mozi, however, unhurriedly told Xiao Yuanqi to consider it carefully.
Xiao Yuanqi declared that he would cut off all contact with Marquis Mozi and asked Marquis Mozi to act as if he had never come. Dressed in white, Lin Xi slowly approached King of Changlin's spirit tablet and conversed with Xiao Pingjing. Xiao Pingjing stared at the floor, stating that he forgave Lin Xi for performing a blood transfusion for him and Xiao Pingzhang to save him.
Lin Xi knew that Xiao Pingjing dared not even look at her, and what he said at this moment must be against his true feelings. Under Lin Xi's persistent questioning, Xiao Pingjing finally opened his heart and spoke from the depths of his soul. The reason he dared not face Lin Xi was precisely because what Lin Xi had done was too cruel to him, making it something he could never accept.
He had always felt that if Xiao Pingzhang had survived, he would surely have handled the situation much better. Lin Xi persuaded him that all of this was Xiao Pingzhang's decision, and that everything Xiao Pingjing had done would not disappoint King of Changlin, Meng Qianxue, or the tens of thousands of people in the Northern Territory. She pleaded with him to let this matter go.
Under Lin Xi's guidance, Xiao Pingjing finally released the pressure and pain in his heart, collapsing into Lin Xi's arms and weeping uncontrollably. The young emperor personally came to offer condolences to King of Changlin. Before King of Changlin's spirit tablet, he stomped his feet and pounded his chest with a resolute expression, causing all the officials to kneel. Xiao Pingjing respectfully handed over the Changlin military command.
The young emperor felt that Xiao Pingjing must have been blaming him all along, blaming himself for not doing better. Xiao Pingjing frankly stated that he had understood a truth: not everything in the world can be salvaged. He advised the young emperor not to blame himself too much. The young emperor returned the Changlin military command to Xiao Pingjing for him to keep.
However, Xiao Pingjing was disheartened and physically and mentally exhausted at this moment, lamenting that the emperor no longer needed Changlin, and he himself would not return to the court. The two childhood playmates could only bid a reluctant farewell. After witnessing the farewell between Xiao Pingjing and the young emperor, Xun Feizhan also felt a sense of desolation in his heart. He submitted a memorial, preparing to resign from his official position as Grand Commander of the Imperial Guards. Xun Baishui painstakingly persuaded him for a long time, but Xun Feizhan had already made up his mind and would not change it.
