Rebirth For You Episode 31 Recap
> Rebirth For You Recap
Upon the new emperor's enthronement, a grand ceremony of homage was held. Jiang Baoning was recognized for her meritorious service in defending the state, earning her the title of Princess Jia’nan with an allowance equal to princes, a hundred thousand mu of fertile farmlands, and ten thousand taels of gold. Li Qian, hailed for his youthful bravery and for guarding the emperor, was bestowed the title of Lord Lintong and commanded the Jinxi Army.
Other officials were also honored, including Li Changqing, who was appointed Capital Grand Commander with an inheritable title, and Jin Xiao, who became the Deputy Commander of the Capital Guards, a third-level official. News arrived that Duke Zhenguo had successfully repelled the Yongqing forces. During the court session, the issue of Zhao Xiao's misconduct was raised.
Minister Wang stated that by law, Zhao Xiao's father, Marquis Jinghai Zhao Kuan, who had caused severe casualties and the loss of Nanmin by unauthorizedly transferring army provisions, should have his title stripped. Zhao Xiao, for deserting his post to rescue his father and causing the fall of Yunlin Pass, should be demoted to a commoner and exiled to the northern border.
However, Jiang Baoning argued that while desertion was a serious offense, the Mu’an State valued filial piety, making Zhao Xiao's actions understandable. She warned that such a harsh punishment would undermine filial piety and destabilize the morale in Nanmin. Li Qian supported her, highlighting Marquis Jinghai's heroic death for the state and suggesting that revoking his title would cause public unrest. He proposed that Zhao Xiao’s merits and demerits should balance each other out.
Despite pleas for leniency, Zhao Xiao insisted on taking full responsibility for his crimes. Li Qian then advised Zhao Xiao to consider his family's and father's honor. Ultimately, the new emperor agreed with Li Qian's suggestion. The Grand Empress Dowager, however, decreed that while exile was to be pardoned, Zhao Xiao must endure thirty strokes of the cane to uphold national authority. Furthermore, Marquis Jinghai’s title would be preserved.
After the court session, Jiang Baoning tried to approach Li Qian, who was still upset with her for her risky actions. Li Qian, annoyed, pushed away Jin Xiao, who had tried to intervene. Jin Xiao advised Li Qian not to damage his relationship with Jiang Baoning by being overly stubborn about his dignity. Later, Jiang Baoning came to Li Qian's study, apologized, and offered to face a wall as punishment.
Li Qian, seeing her playful demeanor, embraced and kissed her, admitting he was not angry but had been overly worried. Jiang Baoning explained that her parents' early deaths forced her to become independent and that she initially wanted to shield the Li family from the former emperor's affairs. Li Qian reassured her, expressing his wish for her to rely on him more as his wife. Meanwhile, Li Dongzhi brought Qing An to the charity house for his recovery.
There, she met Qin Yu, a refugee who helped around with needlework. Li Dongzhi introduced Qing An to Qin Yu and explained his amnesiac condition, mentioning that he understood little of what was said. Qin Yu, seeing Qing An’s efforts to offer Li Dongzhi raw fish, later remarked that Qing An's devoted attention stemmed from gratitude and affection, and promised to help care for him.
Later, after Qing An had tried to eat raw fish and Li Dongzhi had sent for snacks, Siqin, who had been following them, appeared. He was overjoyed to find Qing An alive, revealing that Qing Tai's tyrannical rule and constant conscription had plunged the Yongqing State into misery. Siqin believed that only Qing An could save Yongqing. Li Dongzhi, however, was primarily concerned with Qing An’s recovery, as many doctors had deemed his condition incurable.
Siqin suggested that Qing An’s state might be due to the Zhuyou technique of Wu Man, Qing Tai’s cunning and deceitful minion, but he doubted Wu Man would ever help Qing An. Li Dongzhi, undeterred, resolved to find a cure for Qing An. Dong Shanhu later encountered Li Dongzhi and Qing An at the charity house, realizing with surprise that Qing An did not recognize her.
After learning about his memory loss, Dong Shanhu offered to recommend some skilled physicians she knew through her business. Li Dongzhi gratefully accepted, promising repayment from the Li family. Dong Shanhu then subtly inquired about Jin Xiao. Li Dongzhi playfully teased her, revealing that Jin Xiao was now a highly esteemed Deputy Commander in the Capital. Separately, Dong Shanhu visited a newly opened shop where a rude shop owner disparaged her.
Jin Xiao, who had been following her, intervened, reprimanded the shop owner, and declared his intention to buy all the fabrics for Dong Shanhu. Dong Shanhu, pulling Jin Xiao out of the shop, questioned why he wasn't at his post in the capital. Jin Xiao explained he was in Bingzhou for a military handover with his father and to bid her farewell, as he would be stationed in the capital for a long time.
He presented her with an abacus made of huanghuali wood as a parting gift. Dong Shanhu then revealed that her family also had businesses in the capital, implying she could join him there, which delighted Jin Xiao. Li Qian brought Jiang Baoning to Marquis Jinghai’s mansion, providing her with a potent healing powder for Zhao Xiao. He knew Jiang Baoning felt indebted to Zhao Xiao for his past help and wanted her to ease her conscience.
When Jiang Baoning went to comfort Zhao Xiao, urging him to recover, he asked if she ever considered that Li Qian married her for his own advancement. Jiang Baoning firmly stated that she married Li Qian willingly, and she believed him to be a good man, regardless of any potential benefits. As the time for their return to Bingzhou approached, Jiang Baoning discussed it with He Cuihua and Li Changqing.
He Cuihua was reluctant for them to leave, especially since Li Changqing was to remain in the capital. She asked Jiang Baoning to arrange for Li Dongzhi to also be transferred to the capital, but Li Changqing suspected she merely wanted Li Dongzhi to marry a powerful official there. The couple erupted into a quarrel, which Li Qian and Jiang Baoning eventually managed to quell, reaffirming their decision to return to Bingzhou.
While packing for Bingzhou, Qingke discovered a letter left by Grand Mentor Xiong among Jiang Baoning’s belongings. The letter, penned before his death, contained his research on "The Book of Supreme Weapons," stating it was created by the reclusive weapon master Zhang Zeshi, who had long since vanished. Jiang Baoning showed Li Qian a strange, incomplete weapon she had used in Bingzhou, which, though powerful, was dangerous to its user.
Li Qian warned her of the proverb, "A man is innocent, but the jade he carries is a crime," emphasizing the need to keep the weapon’s existence a secret to avoid endless trouble. Before leaving for Bingzhou, Jiang Baoning decided to spend her remaining days in the capital with the Grand Empress Dowager, whom she worried about.
While playing cards with the Grand Empress Dowager, the old matriarch expressed her fond wish for Jiang Baoning to bear a great-grandchild, which embarrassed Jiang Baoning. Meanwhile, Han Empress Dowager, now second only to the emperor, ambitiously attempted to take control of court affairs.
However, her plans were thwarted when the Grand Empress Dowager issued an edict, citing Han Empress Dowager’s pregnancy and ordering her to stay in Cining Palace for rest, with eight midwives assigned to attend to her until she gave birth. Infuriated, Han Empress Dowager vented her anger, feeling marginalized by both the Grand Empress Dowager and the popular Jiang Baoning. Gao Miaorong tried to calm her, reminding her that her unborn child would be her future support.
Han Empress Dowager then questioned if Gao Miaorong had truly forgotten the humiliations she suffered in the Li family, hinting at her past with Li Lin and her maid, Guanju. A flashback revealed that Han Empress Dowager had rescued Gao Miaorong, Li Lin, and Guanju from a brutal beating. Han Empress Dowager, leveraging Gao Miaorong’s past suffering and her desire to protect Li Lin and Guanju, convinced her to do her bidding, promising power and resources. Gao Miaorong, having experienced hardship, was deemed by the Empress Dowager as someone who would cherish opportunities, and she reluctantly agreed to serve her.
