One and Only Episode 15 Recap
> One and Only Recap
Zhou Shengchen did not agree to Huaiyang's request. This child is the smartest one in the mansion; once she met Huaiyang, she would naturally detect the problem. By the time Cui Shiyi arrived, Huaiyang was just bidding farewell to Zhou Shengchen and leaving. Xie Yun injured his legs and feet in the previous battle, so he requested to go to Luyuan.
Luyuan is often attacked by foreign enemies, and Cui Shiyi disagreed with letting Xie Yun go, but Xie Yun could not be persuaded and insisted on going. He was born to be a general, to guard the border. Changsun Jie also went to the border with Xie Yun. He volunteered to follow Xie Yun to guard the border. Zhou Shengchen was very worried about Xie Yun and only entrusted Xie Yun to Changsun Jie.
Zhou Shengchen made arrows from eagle feathers as a birthday gift for Cui Shiyi for next year, and Cui Shiyi was very happy. As separation was imminent, Feng Qiao prepared knee protectors for Xie Yun to protect against the cold. Xie Yun was very touched by his junior sister's care, and he also believed that one day he would definitely return to the great army.
Xie Yun instructed his junior sister not to act impulsively in the future, as he would not be by her side to plead for her. Liu Zixing was seriously ill in bed. Liu Hui was burning with anxiety. He promised Liu Zixing that if one day the officials wanted to kill him or Liu Zixing, he would never turn against his own kin. Afterwards, Cui Feng escorted Xing Hua back to the palace.
As soon as Xing Hua entered the palace, she immediately went to visit Liu Zixing. Liu Zixing was critically ill; he could last at most three years, but he believed these three years were enough, and he would definitely reclaim what belonged to him. Cui Feng then went to visit Xie Chong, who was also seriously ill.
Xie Chong mentioned Jin Rong's rebellion to Liu Hui and tasked Cui Feng with the urgent mission of going to Jin Rong's garrison to guard it. This news was relayed by Qin Yan to the Empress Dowager's ears. The Empress Dowager prepared to act against Xie Chong, but Qin Yan had to conceal this matter for the sake of his own life. Xie Chong saw through the situation in the court.
He told Liu Hui that he must find an opportunity to imprison the Empress Dowager before Consort Jin gave birth to a child. Liu Hui couldn't bring himself to deal with the Empress Dowager, but the Empress Dowager preemptively struck. She came to accuse Xie Chong of the crime of deceiving the emperor. Xie Chong's wife was precisely the Gao clan member who had always wanted to harm Liu Hui back then.
Although this matter surprised Liu Hui, he did not blame Xie Chong. Instead, the Empress Dowager put Liu Hui under house arrest and ordered Qin Yan to guard him heavily with soldiers. Only at this point did Xie Chong also realize Qin Yan's treachery. The Empress Dowager presided over court affairs. She colluded with Liu Wei. The officials, intimidated by their power, could only submit. Liu Zixing presented a memorial, asking for a fiefdom far away from Zhongzhou.
The Empress Dowager stopped this matter. She couldn't fathom Liu Zixing's intentions and decided to hold him off for now, postponing the decision. Afterwards, the palace remained a scene of singing and dancing. With heavy troops now under her control, the Empress Dowager, to thank Liu Zixing for his rescue back then, was willing to bestow a marriage between the daughter of the Cui clan, Cui Shiyi, and Liu Zixing. Liu Hui was filled with remorse in the palace.
If he had listened to Xie Chong earlier, he would not be in this situation today. Xie Chong was currently in prison. Facing Qin Yan's admission of guilt and apology, he could only feel profound disappointment. That night, in that prison, he ended his life. In this life, he had been favored by the former emperor and had assisted him until now, never having any regrets, except for a feeling of guilt towards Zhou Shengchen alone.
News of Xie Chong's death reached Zhou Shengchen's ears ten days later. Zhou Shengchen felt very unwell deep down. He remained silent and stayed by himself. Cui Shiyi worried about him and quietly followed Zhou Shengchen. Zhou Shengchen brought up the reason why Xie Chong followed him. In fact, Xie Chong was initially an informant placed by the former emperor to guard against him.
However, after the former emperor passed away, Xie Chong told him everything truthfully, letting him choose whether to kill or keep him. At that time, he chose to keep Xie Chong and trusted him deeply. After Xie Chong left, Zhou Shengchen also mentioned that Xie Chong's wife was from the Gao clan.
Xie Chong worried that Cui Shiyi would hate him, which was why he had kept this matter a secret all along, instructing Zhou Shengchen to only be frank with Cui Shiyi about this after his death. Although she learned of this matter, Cui Shiyi did not hate Xie Chong. She distinguished between gratitude and resentment. There were thousands of people in the Gao clan; how could she hate every single one of them?
