Resumo do episódio 4 de The Promise of Chang'an
> Resumos de The Promise of Chang'an
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
Helan Yunqi went to see Xiao Chengrui, who informed her he had urgent matters to discuss and asked her to proceed into the palace for mourning. Meanwhile, Xiao Chengrui was discussing the succession with Xiao Chengyao and Xiao Chengtian. To maintain control, Xiao Chengrui had already sent men to suppress their battalions.
Both Xiao Chengyao and Xiao Chengtian argued that if Xiao Chengxu, who lacked military accomplishments, were to ascend the throne as per the late King’s last will, the other battalions would not accept it, leading to infighting. Xiao Chengrui, deeply concerned about the future of Great Sheng, initially resisted harming Xiao Chengxu and Xiao Chengxuan. However, the other two princes were adamant in their refusal to support Xiao Chengxu.
Left with no alternative, Xiao Chengrui reluctantly agreed to their demands, but only on the condition that Xiao Chengxu and Xiao Chengxuan would be protected. Unbeknownst to them, Helan Yunqi was eavesdropping and was shocked by a condition Xiao Chengyao proposed. Confined and cut off from their troops, Xiao Chengxu felt a growing unease, convinced something was terribly wrong in the palace. Xiao Chengxuan voiced his fear that a rebellion might be brewing so soon after Xiao Shangyuan's passing.
Helan Mingyu tried to calm their anxieties. Xiao Chengxuan then asked Helan Mingyu to check if Consort Mu was still in her chambers. Helan Mingyu dispatched Ling Zhen'er to discreetly gather information near Consort Mu's residence, providing her with a cover story should she be questioned. She reassured Xiao Chengxu that everything would be alright. Helan Yunqi sought out Xiao Chengli, who had been feigning illness to avoid the other princes. He agreed to meet her, acknowledging her sensible nature.
Helan Yunqi pleaded with him to help Xiao Chengxu and Xiao Chengxuan, but Xiao Chengli explained his difficult position. Intervening would lead to suspicions of him coveting the regency, and he alone could not possibly contend with the three powerful princes. A messenger then arrived from Xiao Chengrui, conveying that if Xiao Chengli continued to claim illness, Prince Han and Prince Wei would personally come and wait for him. Xiao Chengli sighed, realizing the trouble was inevitable.
Xiao Chengli, Xiao Chengrui, Xiao Chengyao, and Xiao Chengtian, accompanied by their men, surrounded Consort Mu's chambers, claiming they were there to announce Xiao Shangyuan's last will. Consort Mu, noticing the absence of Xiao Chengxu and Xiao Chengxuan, immediately grasped the gravity of the situation. The four princes demanded her sacrificial burial. Consort Mu challenged them, stating she was the only one present during the King's final moments and was unaware of such a will.
She then pleaded with them to treat her two sons kindly. Turning to Xiao Chengrui, she made him swear an oath before Heaven, Earth, and all ancestors, promising to protect Xiao Chengxu and Xiao Chengxuan regardless of who sat on the throne, or face divine retribution. With a sense of peace, Consort Mu declared that her death was not only for the King but, more importantly, for her sons, believing her sacrifice would be worthwhile if they remained safe.
Ling Zhen'er, having overheard the grim details, rushed back to inform Xiao Chengxu, Xiao Chengxuan, and Helan Mingyu that Consort Mu was to be sacrificially buried. Xiao Chengxu vehemently refused to believe it, citing Xiao Shangyuan's deep affection for Consort Mu and the long-abolished practice of sacrificial burial. Ling Zhen'er, who had only partially heard the conversation, could only confirm that the four major princes were already present at Consort Mu's chambers to send her off.
Without a second thought, Xiao Chengxu and Xiao Chengxuan broke free, fighting their way past the guards towards the palace. Helan Mingyu and Ling Zhen'er quickly followed. Inside her chambers, Consort Mu, undisturbed by the sounds of fighting, calmly hanged herself. After battling through Xiao Chengrui's men, the brothers finally burst into the room, only to find the four princes and their deceased mother. Devastated, they refused to believe Xiao Shangyuan would have issued such a cruel command.
Xiao Chengxu collapsed in Xiao Chengrui's embrace, while Helan Mingyu watched the heartbreaking scene. Helan Mingyu found the sacrificial burial highly suspicious, given its archaic nature. She pressed Ling Zhen'er for more details. Ling Zhen'er recounted Xiao Chengrui's oath to care for the two brothers, and Consort Mu's statement about dying for her sons.
Helan Mingyu reasoned that if Consort Mu died for her sons, it couldn't simply be a royal decree, suspecting that Xiao Shangyuan had told Consort Mu that Xiao Chengxu was to be his successor. She concluded the four major princes, unwilling to accept this, had orchestrated Consort Mu's death.
She warned Ling Zhen'er to keep these speculations strictly confidential from Xiao Chengxu and Xiao Chengxuan, fearing it could damage their brotherly bond if wrong, or provoke a catastrophic conflict with the powerful princes if true. Later, a tearful Xiao Chengxuan informed Xiao Chengxu about rumors circulating outside, slandering Consort Mu as treacherous, thus justifying Xiao Shangyuan's alleged order for her sacrificial burial.
Xiao Chengxu embraced his brother, urging him to calm down, recognizing these rumors as deliberate attempts to incite unrest, and emphasizing the need for them to remain composed. Eunuch Min then appeared, revealing Xiao Chengrui's ruthless order that all servants of both Xiao Shangyuan and Consort Mu were to be sacrificially buried. He pleaded for his life, mentioning his elderly mother.
Horrified, Xiao Chengxu, though angered by the cruel decree, refused to make things harder for Eunuch Min and urged him to escape the palace. Eunuch Min then presented Xiao Chengxu with a dragon pendant, explaining that Xiao Shangyuan had entrusted it to him, intending it as a gift for Xiao Chengxu's twentieth birthday. Xiao Chengxuan recognized the pendant as a symbol of royal succession and was stunned, wondering if Xiao Shangyuan had truly intended the throne for Xiao Chengxu.
Xiao Chengxu recalled Xiao Shangyuan's profound words about him becoming the "master of the dragon pendant" and the qualities of a hero, leading him to ponder if he was indeed the chosen successor. Instead of speculating further, he decided to seek out Ling Zhen'er for more answers. Xiao Chengxu and Xiao Chengxuan confronted Ling Zhen'er again. She initially tried to deflect, claiming she only heard Xiao Chengrui swear to care for them.
However, under pressure, she finally admitted Consort Mu's last words about her sacrifice being "for her sons." Xiao Chengxuan was enraged, convinced of foul play and intent on immediately confronting the princes. Helan Mingyu intervened, suggesting Consort Mu's words might merely reflect the old custom of sacrificial burial bringing blessings to future generations. Xiao Chengxu challenged this, arguing that if it were a legitimate will, they would not have been kept away from their mother during her final moments.
The revelation of the dragon pendant by Xiao Chengxuan further solidified their suspicions about Xiao Shangyuan's true intentions for Xiao Chengxu's succession. Xiao Chengxu declared that regardless of whether he was meant to be the successor, his mere existence had threatened someone, and Consort Mu had died because of them. He vowed that whoever sought the throne and forced her death would face their retribution, even if it meant fighting to the death.
Helan Mingyu desperately tried to calm him, warning that internal strife was contrary to Xiao Shangyuan and Consort Mu's wishes. She stressed their current vulnerability against the powerful princes, cautioning that any rash action would only play into their enemies' hands. Xiao Chengxu, gradually calming, agreed that every step they took from then on must be cautious. Helan Mingyu advised them to first observe the mourning period, and then slowly investigate the truth later.
Xiao Chengrui informed Helan Yunqi that in a few days, she would officially become the Princess Consort of Great Sheng. Helan Yunqi inquired if anyone had considered Xiao Chengxu for the throne. Xiao Chengrui dismissed the idea. He noted that his elder brother, Xiao Chengli, had no desire to compete for the throne and that he, Xiao Chengrui, was the rightful successor.
He then stated that Xiao Chengxu, as the sole commander of a battalion, lacked military achievements and support, rendering him an unlikely candidate. He reassured Helan Yunqi not to feel guilty, reiterating his oath to treat Xiao Chengxu and Xiao Chengxuan kindly as long as they remained loyal. He also expressed his hope that with proper guidance, Xiao Chengxu would mature into a capable aide and a pillar of Great Sheng.
Helan Mingyu arrived during this conversation, pretending not to have overheard their discussion. Xiao Chengrui was captivated by Helan Mingyu's beauty, complimenting her appearance. Helan Yunqi proudly elaborated on Helan Mingyu's extensive education from a master in Great Liang, her knowledge of various languages, and her understanding of history, describing her as a truly talented woman. She added that they must find a suitable husband for Helan Mingyu in a couple of years.
