Rebirth Episode 23 Recap
> Rebirth Recaps
Following the death of Li Yan and the ensuing chaos in the palace, a palace maid urgently persuaded Zhao Chun'er to flee. The maid revealed that Li Yan had entrusted her with an imperial token days prior, anticipating instability in Biantang and wanting to ensure Chun'er’s safety.
As Chun'er sat in the carriage clutching the token, she recalled Li Yan’s promises—how he had once called a deposed princess and a "useless prince" a perfect match and vowed to fulfill every promise made to her. Realizing too late that he was the one who had truly cared for her, she wept bitterly, calling him a liar for leaving her to make her own decisions.
Elsewhere, the Yanbei Consort Helian Ling struggled to return home with the remains of the Black Eagle Army. Her guards, weary of the endless wars against Yong and the crushing taxes in Yanbei, refused to continue. They argued that returning to a destitute home was pointless and expressed a desire to seek a better life in Biantang.
When Helian Ling tried to convince them by promising ranks and wealth, two of the guards plotted to kill her to hide their desertion. Fortunately, General Huan arrived just in time to dispatch the traitors. Despite Huan's past grievances with Yan Xun, she saved the princess out of a sense of solidarity between women. Helian Ling’s health was severely depleted by her ordeal.
General Huan brought a local physician to treat her, who complained lengthily about how physical labor and overthinking were ruining the princess’s vital energy. After a humorous exchange involving payment—where the physician rejected a blacksmith's hammer and a knife as fees—Helian Ling offered a pure gold hairpin to cover the costs. Later, Helian Ling prepared a traditional meal of Yanbei stone pot chicken and mare's milk cake to thank General Huan.
She finally requested to borrow General Huan’s horse to return to Yan Xun’s side. General Huan agreed, noting that the horse, originally from the Yanbei plains, likely wished to return home as well. In Tangjing, a palace official presented Chu Qiao with a half-finished imperial decree left by Li Ce. The late emperor had never established a harem, as he was waiting for Chu Qiao’s return to ask her to be his Empress.
Fearing she might decline, he had also prepared a draft to make her a grand general so she could marry the man she truly loved with honor. Chu Qiao was overwhelmed with grief upon seeing the decree and a puppet depicting a fierce general. That night, as she struggled with her pain and a desire for vengeance, Zhuge Yue held her, comforting her and reminding her that her duty to stabilize Biantang was now paramount.
The political situation in Biantang remained precarious, with various princes eyeing the vacant throne. While some suggested the sickly Prince Jing and others favored the military-backed Prince An, Chu Qiao intervened to prevent further division. She decided to complete Li Ce’s unfinished decree and appeared at court with the infant Prince Xiuyi.
Declaring the child as the late emperor’s rightful heir, she announced that she would adopt him and serve as the Empress Dowager and regent until he came of age. With the support of high officials like Grand Tutor Liu, who helped orchestrate the transition, Chu Qiao successfully stabilized the court. Meanwhile, Prince Yang of Yong, while returning to his kingdom, stopped at a roadside tavern for a meal.
He happened to dine near General Huan, though they did not interact at first. After a group of beggars stole his purse and his horse, the prince was forced to ask General Huan for help. Finding it ironic that everyone seemed to be borrowing horses that day, General Huan told him her last horse was gone, leaving only a donkey used for the mill.
Left with no other choice, the prince took the donkey and left a note promising to repay her kindness tenfold. In Tangjing, Zhuge Yue encountered the severely injured Ba Ze. From a leather message found on the messenger, he realized that the Ximeng envoy had met with disaster and that the Queen of Lingyue was in grave danger. Realizing he had to depart for Ximeng immediately, he began making arrangements.
Chu Qiao visited him to share her decision to remain as the regent of Biantang. Knowing his own body was still struggling with the Snow Blood poison and wishing only for her success, Zhuge Yue supported her choice. He promised that no matter the distance or the political storms, they would one day walk hand in hand again. As a parting gift, Zhuge Yue personally crafted Star-Moon Lanterns to adorn Chu Qiao’s carriage.
On the day of her official coronation, as Chu Qiao rode through the streets of Tangjing in her empress robes, she saw the beautiful lanterns and remembered the letter Zhuge Yue had left for her. He had bequeathed her the five hundred guards Li Ce once promised him and left a blood pigeon to help her find him in Ximeng if she ever needed him. Encouraged by his silent protection and deep affection, Chu Qiao moved forward with renewed determination to safeguard Biantang, even as she announced the abolition of slavery.
