Nirvana in Fire Episode 5 Recap
> Nirvana in Fire Recap
On the day of the match between Bailiqi and the three young children, Prince Jing and Nihuang arrived at Wuying Hall early. Mei Changsu took the opportunity to tell Nihuang that Princess Liyang reminded her to be careful of dark schemes in the inner palace, and to be especially cautious of things taken orally. The Emperor of Liang led the crowd to gather in the main hall to watch the match.
Bailiqi was no match for the sword formation of the three young children and was injured; the Emperor of Liang was greatly pleased. Bailiqi was forced to withdraw from the martial arts competition for marriage. Nihuang requested the Emperor of Liang to lift the three young children's status as criminal slaves and take them back to her manor for training, which the Emperor of Liang granted. Tingsheng finally gained his freedom.
After the banquet, Nihuang questioned that Bailiqi's defeat was strange. Mei Changsu admitted that Bailiqi was a member of the Jiangzuo Alliance, and his arrangement was to prevent someone Nihuang disliked from being among the top ten contestants, in order to gain a favor from the Mu Manor of Yunnan. Just as they were about to talk in depth, the Empress summoned Nihuang to Zhengyang Palace for a chat.
The two looked at each other and both thought the Empress intended to harm Nihuang. Nihuang was wary and followed the maidservant into Zhengyang Palace, but she did not touch a drop of anything. On the way out of the palace, Mei Changsu learned from Xiao Jingrui and Yan Yujin that the person recommended by Prince Yu's manor, Liao Yanjie, had invited them to play polo outside the palace.
Only then did he realize that the one attempting to harm Nihuang was not Prince Yu and the Empress, but the Crown Prince and Consort Yue. He was overwhelmed with anxiety and anger, causing his old illness to recur. Meng Zhi arrived and sent Xiao and Yan away. Mei Changsu instructed her to immediately inform Prince Jing, the Empress, and Mu Qing to rescue Nihuang according to the plan.
At this moment, Consort Yue had already taken Nihuang from the Empress's palace to her own Zhaoren Palace. Consort Yue talked and drank with Nihuang on the topic of local customs from her hometown. Nihuang thought the poisoner was the Empress; seeing Consort Yue raise her cup and drink it all, she lowered her guard and drank the "Qing Si Rao". A maidservant reported that the Crown Prince and Sima Lei wished to see her.
Nihuang noticed something was amiss, stood up to take her leave, but felt dizzy and her steps were unsteady. With the last shred of her clear mind, she knocked down Sima Lei. As soon as she rushed out of the hall, she fainted into the arms of Prince Jing, who had forced his way into the palace.
Prince Jing wanted to rescue Nihuang from Zhaoren Palace, but Consort Yue and the Crown Prince were so deranged that they ordered the guards to shoot and kill Prince Jing. Prince Jing, in a moment of quick thinking, held the Crown Prince hostage with his sword, and the two sides were locked in a standoff. At the critical moment, the Empress arrived with the Grand Empress Dowager and took the two away from Zhaoren Palace.
Nihuang woke up and furiously went to Yangju Hall, demanding justice from the Emperor of Liang. Consort Yue argued in every way. Just as Nihuang was helpless, Prince Jing came to testify. Consort Yue, using retreat as a means to advance, outright denied everything. At this time, Meng Zhi entered the hall and reported that an external official, Sima Lei, had been apprehended outside Zhaoren Palace.
Upon hearing this, Consort Yue's face turned ashen; knowing she could no longer deny it, she had no choice but to sacrifice a pawn to save the general, falsely claiming that the Crown Prince was unaware and she took full responsibility. The Emperor of Liang demoted her to consort, banished her to the cold palace, and confined her there for self-reflection.
