Rebirth For You Episode 26 Recap
> Rebirth For You Recap
Li Qian asked Junior General Jin to interrogate Cai Shuang about the military supplies. Junior General Jin threatened Cai Shuang with torture, stating that no one in Bingzhou, the Li Family’s territory, could save him. Fearing the impending torment, Cai Shuang immediately confessed everything. Following his confession, Madam Zhuang and her daughter were arrested and imprisoned.
Cai Shuang was formally sentenced to one hundred strokes, expelled from the military, and barred from future service for abusing his power, diverting military pay, engaging in corruption for exorbitant profits, and causing the Xuanjia Battalion to suffer from lack of food and clothing. Upon returning to the Li Mansion, Li Changqing was furious to learn about the moldy rice and sand-filled cotton uniforms, which had led to a refugee’s death and caused severe problems for the military.
Hu Yiliang had given him only three days to provide a satisfactory answer. Li Lin stepped forward, taking full responsibility for all the wrongdoings. Earlier, Li Lin had privately sought out Li Qian to inquire if Cai Shuang’s interrogation had implicated Gao Miaorong. Concerned that a woman with a ruined reputation would struggle to find a good husband, Li Lin had knelt and begged Li Qian to spare her.
Out of respect for his cousin’s plea, Li Qian had not exposed Gao Miaorong’s involvement at that time. However, Baoning pointed out that Li Lin, who only managed the family's sundry affairs, could not have collaborated with official trading houses without Li Changqing's private seal. She warned that a deeper investigation would inevitably implicate the entire Li family, potentially leading to their extermination.
Li Changqing, perplexed by who would dare to steal his private seal, was then confronted by Gao Fuyu’s confession. Recalling that he had seen Gao Miaorong secretly entering Li Changqing’s study, Gao Fuyu stepped forward to protect his niece, admitting that he himself had stolen the seal for personal gain.
He also confessed to persuading Li Lin to divert the funds initially meant for the charity house, which led to the purchase of moldy rice and sand-filled cotton to cover the deficit, and admitted his involvement in illegal money houses. Li Changqing, deeply disappointed and heartbroken by Gao Fuyu’s betrayal, ordered him to be sent to the government office for punishment. Seeing her uncle about to be taken away, Gao Miaorong desperately begged Li Changqing to spare him.
She then threatened that a thorough investigation would also expose the Li family, revealing that He Cuihua's monthly revenue from usury was sourced from illegal money houses. Upon hearing this, Li Changqing angrily rebuked He Cuihua, but found himself in a helpless situation. Baoning intervened, noting that, given the widespread nature of illegal money houses, pursuing individual blame was pointless.
She suggested minimizing the losses by temporarily using her own dowry to cover the deficit, with plans to recover the funds later. Gao Fuyu reaffirmed his willingness to take full responsibility before the authorities, ensuring the Li family would not be further implicated. Li Changqing reluctantly agreed. Meanwhile, with only half a month left until her birthday, Empress Han Tongxin announced her decision to cancel the grand celebration and allocate the funds for disaster relief.
This act of compassion earned her widespread praise from the officials. In the imperial court, Zhuang Li prostrated himself before Emperor Zhao Yi, pleading for justice for his brother, Zhuang Shu, whom he claimed was framed in Jinxi. An enraged Zhao Yi then produced irrefutable evidence of Zhuang Shu’s crimes, including multiple capital offenses, forcing Zhuang Li to beg for mercy. Chief Councilor Wang Jidao, witnessing his former student’s corrupt and deceitful actions, publicly disowned him.
Ultimately, Zhao Yi stripped Zhuang Li of his official position, declaring him a commoner, for sheltering his relative, falsely accusing the Commandery Princess, and disrespecting the state. Zhuang Li was then sent to the Ministry of Punishments for interrogation. Wang Jidao was also punished with six months' docked pay and was grounded for half a month for allowing his apprentice to commit such widespread evil.
Separately, Zhao Xiao confronted Li Qian regarding the recovered military pay that had not been returned to the Commissariat. Li Qian revealed that Zhao Xiao had been misled, and that Baoning had been forced to use her dowry to cover his mistake. He urged Zhao Xiao to recognize his true position and cease his foolish actions, warning him of severe consequences should similar incidents occur again.
Ashamed to remain in the Li Mansion, Li Lin decided to leave and invited Gao Miaorong to start a new life with him elsewhere. However, Gao Miaorong, unwilling to accept such a fate, refused his offer. Disappointed, Li Lin departed alone. Gao Miaorong then visited Gao Fuyu in prison, where he was awaiting exile to the borderland in three days. He told her that this would be their last meeting and advised her to take care of herself.
Gao Fuyu had sacrificed his future, and Li Lin was forced to leave, all to protect Gao Miaorong. Yet, she felt no gratitude, instead believing Li Qian was indebted to her. She expressed her bitter resentment that Li Qian had married Baoning, convinced that without Baoning, she would have married Li Qian and had a fulfilling life.
Li Qian, however, made it clear that even without Baoning, there would never have been any talk of marriage between him and Gao Miaorong. Later, upon hearing that the Emperor was promoting Baoning, Gao Miaorong, still consumed by delusion, internally vowed to one day make Baoning lose everything she had. Baoning, having secretly witnessed Li Qian’s conversation with Gao Miaorong, became jealous. Li Qian, sensing her displeasure, reassured her of his true feelings.
He explained that he had only spared Gao Miaorong due to Li Lin’s unprecedented plea and the sacrifices of both Li Lin and Gao Fuyu. He emphasized that Gao Miaorong had always been, and would always remain, like a younger sister to him. Meanwhile, Li Dongzhi, while on a mission outside the city, was ambushed and surrounded by enemy forces, only to be rescued by Siqin.
Siqin explained that Qing An had never intended to deceive Dongzhi; he genuinely loved her and had even escorted her to the pharmacy house in Sanyuan Town. Siqin revealed that Qing An had, with the help of the Dark Force his father left him, allied with generals against Qing Tai to overthrow his tyrannical rule. However, their coup failed, and Qing An was killed in an ambush.
Before his death, he had entrusted his ring to Siqin, asking him to tell Dongzhi he had never betrayed her. Upon learning of her beloved’s death, Dongzhi broke down in tears. Baoning and Qingke went to the market, where they encountered a trafficker attempting to abduct a child. Baoning bravely intervened to rescue the child, sustaining an injury to her hand in the process. On the day of the Empress’s canceled birthday, Han Tongxin had no appetite.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Zhao Yi had secretly arranged a celebratory feast, praising her decision to prioritize disaster relief. Overwhelmed by his attention, Han Tongxin was deeply touched. Zhao Yi then tenderly escorted the inebriated Empress to her chambers, where the couple spent a warm, intimate night. Baoning had concealed her hand injury from Li Qian. However, a busy Li Qian unexpectedly returned early from his duties.
When Xiaoman arrived to report that the trafficker had been arrested, Li Qian overheard her, forcing Baoning to truthfully recount the incident. Elsewhere, Zhao Xiao had been diligently training his martial arts every day. Marquis Jinghai urged his son to return to Nanmin, but Zhao Xiao remained stubbornly fixated on his ambition. Marquis Jinghai sternly rebuked Zhao Xiao for his self-pity and degradation over a woman, chastising him for abandoning himself.
He advised Zhao Xiao to grow up and learn to face the thorny and arduous path that lay ahead without his father's protection. Zhao Xiao, determined, vowed to his father that he would one day prove that Li Qian would be his defeated rival.
