One and Only Episode 23 Recap
> One and Only Recap
Zhou Shengchen was imprisoned. Yang Shao learned that Zhou Shengchen was captured and came to see him in advance. He claimed he had wronged Zhou Shengchen. Liu Zixing convicted Zhou Shengchen overnight. All loyal ministers at court were willing to die with Zhou Shengchen, but Zhou Shengchen only thought that these lords did not need to die with him. He endured the pain of having his wrist bones cut, but did not cry out.
Meanwhile, Shiyi also woke up from a nightmare, feeling unbearable pain all over her body. Just after Zhou Shengchen's death, Jin Rong ordered all loyal ministers at court killed. Liu Zixing witnessed this cruel execution with his own eyes. Although his hands were not stained with blood, he took the lives of countless loyal and good people. The Nanchen Royal Mansion Army wanted to retrieve Zhou Shengchen's body from Liu Zixing.
Xiao Yan learned that the rebel forces previously defeated by the Nanchen Royal Mansion Army would all become enemies of the Nanchen Royal Mansion Army. He advised Feng Qiao and the other generals to withdraw. Only by withdrawing could they seek revenge in the future. But if the Nanchen Royal Mansion Army could not retrieve Zhou Shengchen's remains, how could they withdraw and leave?
To protect the Nanchen Royal Mansion Army, Xiao Yan decided to go himself to request Zhou Shengchen's remains. Liu Zixing was originally unwilling to hand over Zhou Shengchen's bones. Xiao Yan, in his capacity as the Second Prince of Nanxiao, forcibly demanded Zhou Shengchen's bones back. Only then did he discover that Zhou Shengchen had been subjected to the bone-scraping punishment. Meanwhile, Shiyi was trapped in the Eastern Palace at this time.
All the palace maids around her were replaced, and she was unaware of this matter concerning Zhou Shengchen. Even Prince Ping Qin could not enter the palace to see Shiyi. Yang Shao had previously owed Shiyi two lives. He told Prince Ping Qin not to act impulsively and just wait for his news in two days. If Prince Ping Qin did not trust him, he would save Shiyi himself.
Yang Shao secretly killed Yuan Wuchu and attributed the matter of letting Zhou Tianxing go to him. Jin Rong was furious. The entire Nanchen Royal Mansion Army tearfully paid respects to Zhou Shengchen. Yang Shao tried to rescue Shiyi in the palace. Liu Zixing had become the master of the realm. He ascended the throne as Emperor in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Consort Jin was then conferred as Empress. Afterward, Yang Shao came to see Cui Sanniang.
He pleaded with Cui Sanniang for help, claiming he was entrusted by Zhou Shengchen. Cui Sanniang handed the key to the Wushui Room to Cui Wenji, asking Cui Wenji to take the entire Cui family south. Originally, she had sacrificed Shiyi's father for the Cui clan. Now, she absolutely could not abandon her own daughter again. Shiyi was conferred as Noble Consort. Liu Zixing wanted to confer her with the rites of conferring an Empress. Consort Jin only pitied Shiyi.
Liu Zixing killed everyone around Shiyi, yet he wanted to compensate Shiyi with these empty rites. If she were Shiyi, she would only wish to kill Liu Zixing. Liu Zixing was afraid that Shiyi would find out about these things, so he only ordered people to guard Shiyi closely, not leaving her side. Now Shiyi's aphasia recurred. She could not speak. She asked about Zhou Shengchen's whereabouts.
Liu Zixing only claimed that Zhou Shengchen had traveled far beyond the passes and could not return. He mostly avoided the topic. With Zhou Shengchen's death, the borders between Nanxiao and Beichen were all defeated by Nanxiao. The borders had no heavy troops guarding them. The noble families were also not submissive to Liu Zixing. To win over the noble families holding heavy troops, Liu Zixing wanted Cui Sanniang to help him. Cui Sanniang was thus able to see Shiyi.
When Cui Sanniang saw Shiyi, she told Shiyi the news that Zhou Shengchen had raised troops to rebel. Zhou Shengchen was sentenced to the bone-scraping punishment, and the execution lasted three hours. Zhou Shengchen did not cry out once and refused to regret. Shiyi knew very well who Zhou Shengchen was. Hearing this news, she completely broke down. She could not cry out. She only wept incessantly and fainted from the pain. After Shiyi woke up, Cui Sanniang could not stay in the palace for long. She only instructed Shiyi to take good care of herself before leaving the Royal Palace.
