Renascence Episode 1 Recap
> Renascence Recap
The Vast Continent was divided among three powers: the Kingdom of Chu, the mightiest, the Kingdom of Shu to the west, and Southland to the south. While outwardly appearing peaceful, ambition simmered beneath the surface, with each kingdom secretly vying for total dominance. On the border, Chu's God of War, Ye Junqing, fought bravely against Shu.
During a fierce battle, he was struck by an arrow from Shu's Supreme Commander, Xia Yong, and fell to the ground, calling out the name of Empress Yao Moxin. Ye Junqing quickly recovered, rising to his feet, pulling out the arrow, and killing his attackers. He then ordered his troops to feign a retreat, luring Xia Yong's army into a pre-arranged canyon.
A volley of arrows wiped out Xia Yong's forces, and Ye Junqing commanded his loyal attendant, Ben Lei, to personally finish off Xia Yong. Outside the Chu Imperial Palace, Young Lady Mo Wan, the third daughter of the Yao family who rarely ventured out, arrived to request an audience with her elder sister, Empress Yao Moxin.
Meanwhile, within the palace, Empress Yao Moxin spoke tenderly to her unborn child, Zhong'er, about Young Lady Mo Wan, expressing her deep affection for her younger sister. Her maid noted that the Empress doted on Young Lady Mo Wan so much that some mistook her for being simple-minded. Later, Emperor Ye Hongyi, concerned that completely eradicating Shu would provoke Southland and disrupt the delicate balance of power, ordered Prince Su, Ye Junqing, to return to the capital.
The official reason was for him to recuperate, but the Emperor’s true intention was to curtail his military authority. Upon receiving the imperial decree, Ye Junqing began preparing for his journey. Ben Lei voiced his discontent, finding the Emperor's command unreasonable, especially given Ye Junqing's unhealed wounds. He speculated that Empress Yao Moxin might be the one to cause Ye Junqing trouble, but Ye Junqing did not directly respond.
He departed with a small contingent of guards, anticipating potential attacks from lingering Shu forces. Inside the palace, Emperor Ye Hongyi discussed Empress Yao Moxin's current confinement with Prime Minister Yao Zhenting. The Prime Minister understood the Emperor's decision, explaining that with two of the Yao family's daughters as Empress and a Consort, the family was under intense scrutiny, and the Emperor's actions were a way to alleviate pressure on them.
Ye Hongyi reaffirmed his commitment, promising Yao Moxin and the Yao family unparalleled glory if she stood by him as he ruled the empire. Chief Eunuch An Bing Shan delivered prenatal medicine to Empress Yao Moxin on the Emperor's behalf, conveying Ye Hongyi's concern and a poetic message of their deep connection. Yao Moxin, a skilled physician herself, found the medicine unusually bitter, initially attributing it to a cold. Shortly after drinking it, she began bleeding, indicating a miscarriage.
An Bing Shan rushed to inform the Emperor, while Yao Moxin, realizing someone was poisoning her child, quickly gave instructions to her maid. At this critical moment, Young Lady Mo Wan entered the chamber, distraught at the sight of her sister bleeding. As she tried to help, a blue light emanated from Empress Yao Moxin's hand, forming a pearl. When Young Lady Mo Wan touched it, the pearl transferred into her hand, causing both sisters to fall unconscious.
Empress Yao Moxin awoke to find herself in her sister's body, having swapped souls with Young Lady Mo Wan. Determined to uncover the truth behind the poisoning, she decided that her sister, now occupying the Empress's body and in a deep slumber, would be safest in the palace. She quickly fled the palace, but was ambushed and abducted by masked assailants on her way out.
Meanwhile, Jian Chen, a remnant general from Shu, rallied a group of soldiers, intending to assassinate Ye Junqing while he was still recovering from his injuries. On his journey back to the capital, Ye Junqing's group was pursued by Shu soldiers. Ben Lei volunteered to stay behind and distract the pursuers, allowing Ye Junqing to proceed alone.
In the palace, Emperor Ye Hongyi received grim news from the imperial physicians: Empress Yao Moxin had lost her child and was gravely ill, with little time left. The Emperor, Consort Li (Yao Su Luan), Consort Chen (Huan Cai'er), and Consort Shu (Wang Qin Ruo) all showed signs of deep distress. Ye Hongyi vehemently refused to accept her impending death, asserting his imperial will. As he traveled, Ye Junqing heard Young Lady Mo Wan's (Yao Moxin's soul) cries for help.
Despite her unfamiliar face, she knew his name, compelling him to intervene. In the ensuing struggle, both fell off a cliff. At the bottom, Young Lady Mo Wan (Yao Moxin's soul), suffering a severe head injury, awoke with amnesia and mistakenly accused Ye Junqing of assaulting her. Ye Junqing, in turn, demanded to know why she knew his name. To uncover her lost identity, she clung to him, refusing to leave his side. Suddenly, dozens of assassins attacked them.
Ye Junqing, still injured, fought bravely but was wounded. With quick thinking, Young Lady Mo Wan (Yao Moxin's soul) managed to create a diversion, allowing Ye Junqing to eliminate their attackers. However, Ye Junqing eventually succumbed to his injuries and collapsed, unconscious. Back in the palace, Emperor Ye Hongyi summoned Thousand Face to secretly investigate Empress Yao Moxin's poisoning. He believed that the maids and eunuchs involved were mere pawns and hinted at the possible involvement of the three consorts.
He ordered a complete news blackout to facilitate a covert investigation. Young Lady Mo Wan (Yao Moxin's soul) carried the unconscious Ye Junqing away from the cliff. With assassins still in pursuit, a kind elderly cart driver happened upon them and rescued them, taking them to his home.
Young Lady Mo Wan (Yao Moxin's soul) fabricated a story, claiming they were a married couple being hunted by a local bandit who wanted her as a concubine, and begged the elder to let them stay and recover. While gathering herbs to treat Ye Junqing's wounds, Young Lady Mo Wan (Yao Moxin's soul) experienced fragmented memories of medicinal herbs, medical books, and even flashes involving Ye Junqing.
Emperor Ye Hongyi observed sky lanterns lit by the common people, praying for the Empress and her unborn child, and remarked on her deep popularity. Shortly after, a general reported the arrest and interrogation of all relevant personnel. Ye Hongyi then questioned An Bing Shan directly about any irregularities during the delivery of Yao Moxin's medicine. An Bing Shan recounted his journey, emphasizing that nothing unusual occurred, and thanked the Emperor for his trust.
Young Lady Mo Wan (Yao Moxin's soul) offered Ye Junqing's valuable jade pendant to a doctor as payment for acupuncture treatment. To her surprise, the doctor, after observing her actions, informed her that she herself possessed exceptional medical skills. Yet, she remained bewildered by her newly discovered identity as a healer.
