Rebirth For You Episode 35 Recap
> Rebirth For You Recap
After escorting Baoning back to the palace, Zhao Xiao quickly convened a meeting with Jin Haitao and other officials. He aimed to use the morning court session to bring down Li Qian, accusing him of entering the palace without imperial summons. He also planned to propose relocating the capital, offering eighty percent of Nanmin's tax revenue to fund this endeavor.
Zhao Xiao believed that moving the capital would significantly diminish the imperial court's reliance on Jinxi and, by extension, Li Qian, making Li Qian an easier opponent to deal with. Meanwhile, Li Qian gathered his own trusted officials, including Cao Xuan. He deduced that Zhao Xiao's actions were intended to target him and that if he fell, Zhao Xiao would manipulate the young Emperor, bringing instability to Mu’an.
Li Qian pointed out Zhao Xiao's recent visits to officials in the Ministries of Construction and Revenue, coupled with an appointment with the respected but easily swayed Master Peng, all indicating a relocation scheme designed to undermine him. An official raised concerns about the soaring commodity prices and the depleted national treasury, questioning the feasibility of such a costly endeavor.
Cao Xuan suggested seeking the Grand Empress Dowager's help, but Li Qian was unwilling to burden her due to her frail health or cause Baoning distress. Later that night, Zuo Daren, having learned of the discussions between Li Qian and Zhao Xiao's factions regarding the capital's relocation, urgently sought an audience with Baoning in the palace.
Despite the late hour and palace gates being locked, Zuo Daren insisted on the urgency, reminding Baoning of the late emperor’s will for her to oversee state affairs and her past role in saving Mu’an. He stressed that only she could salvage the situation. Baoning, though initially hesitant to meddle in court affairs, conceded to the gravity of the situation.
She subsequently dispatched a letter to Shanhu, instructing her to send a batch of grain to the capital to stabilize prices. The following morning at the grand court session, Jin Haitao was the first to step forward, prosecuting Li Qian for entering the palace without imperial summons, claiming he neglected his duty to chase his wife. Chief Councilor Wang Jidao further escalated the charge, declaring Li Qian's actions tantamount to treason and urging severe punishment. However, Li Qian remained composed.
He revealed that he had anticipated such an accusation and had sent a memorial to the Emperor days prior, requesting permission to enter the capital to express gratitude for his newly bestowed title. The Emperor confirmed receiving Li Qian’s memorial, thereby dismissing the charge of unauthorized entry. Li Qian expressed his thanks, reiterating his commitment to his duties.
Undeterred, Jin Haitao then presented a joint petition, signed by 131 Jinxi officials and gentry, accusing Li Qian of years of cowardice and shaming Mu’an by consistently refusing to engage Yongqing State in battle. Li Qian explained that after the previous devastating war with Yongqing, Jinxi had suffered immense losses, with countless families broken. His strategy of defensive inaction was to allow the people to rebuild their homes and recuperate, so they could gather strength for a decisive future battle.
An official from Li Qian’s faction challenged Jin Haitao's glowing description of Nanmin under Zhao Xiao, highlighting the actual heavy taxation and forced conscription that plagued the region. As the argument grew heated and Zhao Xiao's faction pressed for a guilty verdict, Li Qian dramatically removed his outer robe, revealing a body covered in battle scars. He declared that every wound was a testament to his patriotic dedication on the battlefield, proving his courage.
He accepted the charge of discourtesy before the Emperor but vehemently denied the accusation of fearing the enemy and shaming the state. The Emperor, recalling Li Qian’s unwavering loyalty during his own youth, personally helped Li Qian put on his robe and hat, reaffirming his deep trust in him. Following this, Master Peng stepped forward, lamenting recent natural disasters, rising grain prices, and widespread refugees, all of which had left the national treasury depleted and the capital's people suffering.
He asserted that the capital's "fate was sealed" and proposed relocating to Pingchuan, a prosperous southern city. Zhao Xiao's allies supported the move, citing Li Qian's "cowardice" and arguing that Pingchuan would offer greater security under Marquis Jinghai's leadership. Baoning then countered that the capital was the "dragon's pulse" of the state, and relocation would disrupt the national fortune.
Moreover, she argued that moving to Pingchuan would merely exchange one threat (Yongqing) for another (pirates), and questioned how they would face the late emperor if the current one were to be captured. At this critical juncture, Baoning entered the court, pushing the Grand Empress Dowager in a wheelchair. The Grand Empress Dowager sternly addressed the court, urging the Emperor to recognize the self-serving individuals masquerading as loyal subjects.
Baoning then eloquently argued against relocation, citing historical precedents of dynasties falling after such moves and emphasizing that Mu’an's current state of recovery made any large-scale undertaking detrimental to its people. The Grand Empress Dowager declared that she would not relocate, asserting that her husband’s and Yong’an’s tombs were in the capital, and the people had their roots there. The young Emperor, emboldened, echoed her sentiment, declaring he would also not relocate and would stay with his Grand Empress Dowager.
Despite the opposition, Zhao Xiao's faction persisted, prompting Li Qian to offer to relinquish his military command of Jinxi, handing it over to Jin Haitao. The Emperor, though surprised, accepted Li Qian’s offer, effectively defusing the immediate crisis. Upon hearing the news, Empress Dowager Han was furious that Zhao Xiao had failed to bring down Li Qian and that the Grand Empress Dowager had intervened.
Her subordinates informed her that Marquis Jinghai likely already knew and that no one had the authority to stop the Grand Empress Dowager from performing a mourning ritual at the Imperial Mausoleums. They suggested that Empress Dowager Han herself might be the only one who could persuade the Grand Empress Dowager to return. Meanwhile, Li Qian visited Baoning, thanking her for her help in court. Baoning stated that her actions were for the good of the people.
Li Qian explained that his surrender of military power was merely a temporary measure, and Zhao Xiao would undoubtedly resurface with his relocation agenda, as his true aim was to diminish Li Qian’s influence. He also reaffirmed his unchanging affection for her. The Grand Empress Dowager then arrived, interrupting their conversation. She firmly declared her resolve to prevent the capital's relocation, saying she would use her "old face" to achieve it.
Baoning and Li Qian expressed concern for her health, but the Grand Empress Dowager insisted she wished to contribute to Mu’an and its people for as long as she had left, as it brought her joy. Subsequently, the Grand Empress Dowager, accompanied by Li Qian and Baoning, set off for the Imperial Mausoleums in a carriage draped in white. As news spread, a large crowd of commoners, moved by her determination, followed the procession. Zuo Daren also joined them.
This public display of defiance, deliberately undertaken without the Emperor, was a "bloodless war" fought to protect the young monarch, allowing him to grow safely and better assume his imperial responsibilities. Upon learning of the events, the Emperor, understanding their profound intentions, vowed to study diligently and become a good emperor. With no other recourse, Empress Dowager Han grudgingly went to the Imperial Mausoleums.
There, the Grand Empress Dowager cried out to the late emperor, lamenting the treacherous officials who, for personal gain, sought to abandon the capital—a city built over centuries, rich in resources, and once prosperous under his rule—and relocate to Pingchuan. Her impassioned plea resonated deeply with the gathered citizens, fueling their anger against the relocation.
When Empress Dowager Han attempted to feign concern for the Grand Empress Dowager's health, urging her to return from the windy suburbs, the Grand Empress Dowager publicly rebuked her as a "hypocrite," noting her absence in the palace but sudden appearance in the wilderness. She passionately declared she would rather die by her late husband's side in the capital than in Pingchuan.
Li Qian and Baoning, kneeling beside her, begged her to preserve her health while loudly proclaiming, "Our lives for the capital, we swear, no relocation!" The crowd of officials and citizens echoed their chant, overwhelming any further arguments for relocation. Seeing the widespread public and official opposition, Zhao Xiao had no choice but to concede defeat, and the relocation proposal was abandoned. After returning, Baoning, deeply concerned, worried about the Grand Empress Dowager’s exhaustion from the ordeal.
However, the Grand Empress Dowager dismissed her worries, stating that her efforts were worthwhile if it meant quashing Zhao Xiao and Empress Dowager Han's relocation plans. Li Qian, preparing to return to Jinxi to complete the transfer of military power, bid farewell to the Grand Empress Dowager, who cautioned him to be careful and asked Baoning to see him off. Once alone, the Grand Empress Dowager visibly weakened and immediately requested her "life-maintaining soup."
Despite knowing that its potent ingredients would ultimately harm her, she insisted on taking it, willing to endure the pain for even a few more days with Baoning, strictly instructing her attendant not to reveal her condition to the children. Later, Gao Miaorong, while retrieving tonics for Empress Dowager Han at the imperial pharmacy, noticed the preparation of powerful herbs.
Under her persistent questioning and threats, the imperial physician reluctantly revealed that the "life-maintaining prescription" was for the Grand Empress Dowager from Shoukang Palace and that she had been consuming it for three months. Gao Miaorong quickly concluded that the Grand Empress Dowager had very little time left.
