Renascence Episode 20 Recap
> Renascence Recap
Ye Junqing reflected on the intricacies of imperial power tactics, noting how easily they could be used to gain support. Han Jinyi acknowledged Ye Junqing's understanding but observed that he disdained using such methods himself, calling him the only one in Chu's court who was involved in political affairs yet not political, wise yet not worldly wise. Han Jinyi then showed Ye Junqing a marked item he found in an account book.
The symbol triggered a memory for Ye Junqing, and he abruptly left, leaving Han Jinyi wondering about his destination. Meanwhile, Yao Mowan, embodying Yao Moxin, summoned Dou Xiang Lan to Guanju Palace. She began by expressing feigned sympathy for Dou Shiming's downfall, subtly pointing out Dou Xiang Lan's good fortune in not being implicated. Dou Xiang Lan, however, saw through the pretense, accusing Yao Mowan of cat-and-mouse tactics and wanting to humiliate her.
Yao Mowan confirmed this, recalling how Dou Xiang Lan once boasted about the powerful Dou family and Yao Su Luan's impending role as empress, questioning if Dou Xiang Lan now felt she was a worthy rival. Dou Xiang Lan blamed Yao Mowan for the Dou family's misery and vowed to make her pay a thousandfold. Yao Mowan responded with authority, stating that the Dou family deserved their fate and that the Emperor was wise.
She asserted her own powerful position and challenged Dou Xiang Lan's ability to harm her now that the Dou family no longer backed her. Dou Xiang Lan retorted that Yao Mowan's status as vice-empress would not last, bringing up the rumors of Yao Moxin's involvement with Prince Su and accusing Yao Mowan of being even worse, suggesting the Emperor would not forgive her. She then disparaged both sisters as being born of a "wench."
Yao Mowan then shifted the conversation to Yao Moxin's pregnancy medicine, asking Dou Xiang Lan if she remembered what was added. She revealed her knowledge of the "Suqingfeng Herb," which was not native to Chu, but secretly brought from Shu by Dou Shiming, then given to Dou Xiang Lan, who in turn gave it to Consort Li to add to Yao Moxin's medicine. Dou Xiang Lan scoffed, demanding evidence for what she called mere assumptions.
Yao Mowan's voice intensified as she vowed to make them pay with their blood for her mother and her unborn child. Dou Xiang Lan was stunned by the mention of a child, suddenly realizing that the person before her was not Yao Mowan but Yao Moxin. Terrified, she collapsed, repeatedly denying it was possible but then confirming it to herself in horror.
Yao Su Luan arrived at that moment, saw her mother on the floor, and angrily confronted the woman she believed to be Yao Moxin, demanding to know what she had done. Yao Mowan (as Yao Moxin) retorted that she should be asking what they had done to her sister and mother, declaring it was time to settle the score.
Dou Xiang Lan, in a desperate plea for her daughter, begged for forgiveness and for Yao Su Luan's life, insisting her daughter was young and innocent. Yao Mowan (as Yao Moxin) declared it was too late and merely the beginning. She spoke of the three lives lost – her unborn child Zhong'er, her mother, and her sister – and swore to exact blood for blood.
Dou Xiang Lan, desperate, took responsibility for all deeds and begged for Yao Su Luan's life, then suddenly charged at a table, striking her head and taking her own life. Yao Su Luan, witnessing her mother's horrific death, fainted from shock. A physician examined Yao Su Luan and confirmed she was pregnant, attributing her fainting to the shock. Upon hearing this, Ye Hongyi softened and ordered that Yao Su Luan be well cared for.
In the courtyard, Yao Mowan sat alone, melancholic. Ting Yue tried to comfort her, pointing out that the revenge for Liu Xing and Mo Li had been accomplished, but Yao Mowan still seemed unhappy. Yao Mowan confided that three others involved in her sister's death had yet to be punished.
Although she felt a pang of reluctance to harm Yao Su Luan now that she was carrying a child, she knew that once this path of revenge had begun, there was no turning back. She was certain that Yao Su Luan would eventually seek revenge for Dou Xiang Lan's death, leaving her no choice but to fight. Yao Su Luan eventually woke, devastated by her mother's death and unable to believe it.
Cai Ying urged her to rest for the sake of her pregnancy. Recalling her mother's lifelong ambition for her to become the empress and restore the family's dignity, Yao Su Luan resolved to leverage her imperial pregnancy to reclaim her status and make Yao Mowan pay. She prayed to Buddha for the protection of her mother's soul, the safe birth of her child, and continued imperial favor, promising to perform good deeds.
Ye Hongyi visited Yao Su Luan, bringing precious herbs for her health and expressing his hope that she would bear him a prince. Yao Su Luan feigned fragility, expressing her deep grief over her mother's death in Guanju Palace and her fear that her sorrow would harm the unborn child. She lamented that her mother had died with injustice and no one would seek justice for her.
Ye Hongyi comforted her, promising more calming tonics and urging her to protect his child. He then revealed that the child was conceived on Yao Moxin's birthday, suggesting a profound connection between the baby and the late empress.
Yao Mowan, later informed by Ting Yue of Ye Hongyi's renewed interest in Yao Su Luan's child due to its connection to Yao Moxin's birthday, expressed her continued sorrow for her sister, Mo Xin, who died young with her unborn child, Zhong'er, before they could even experience the world, while the true culprits remained unpunished.
Ye Junqing, recalling Yao Mowan's intense conversation with Dou Xiang Lan and her unusual behavior after encountering Ban Xia in prison, realized that there was more to Yao Moxin's death. He went to the prison to find Ban Xia, who was still traumatized, muttering about "bad guys" and how the empress was dead, with Lady Li merely a scapegoat.
Ban Xia also revealed that "Lady Mo Wan is coming to the imperial palace to avenge you," confirming Ye Junqing's growing suspicions about Yao Mowan's true purpose in entering the palace. Ye Junqing then confronted Han Jinyi, demanding to know if he had long been aware of the hidden circumstances of Yao Moxin's death and Yao Mowan's mission for revenge. Han Jinyi, initially trying to avoid the conversation, finally admitted that he knew.
He explained that Yao Mowan deeply loved Ye Junqing and deliberately kept him in the dark to protect him from the dangers and treacherous hearts of the imperial palace, choosing to bear the burden alone. Ye Junqing was distraught, chastising himself for his ignorance and inability to protect his beloved. Han Jinyi advised him to pretend he knew nothing, as it was what Yao Mowan would want and would also protect him in the perilous palace.
Yao Su Luan continued to suffer from intense nightmares, haunted by visions of Yao Moxin as a vengeful spirit, coming for her unborn child. Her health visibly deteriorated, and the calming medicines prescribed by the imperial physicians had no effect, leaving her visibly haggard. Yao Mowan visited Yao Su Luan, who tried to dismiss her, saying she had her own plans and did not need Yao Mowan's concern.
Yao Mowan then subtly unnerved Yao Su Luan by mentioning that as sisters, she and the late empress shared a spiritual connection, and Mo Xin had been visiting her in dreams, urging her to care for Yao Su Luan's baby. Yao Su Luan, visibly shaken and attributing her nightmares to being out of sorts, quickly ended the visit, while Yao Mowan hinted that her nightmares might stem from a guilty conscience. Later, Pingle Palace was set on fire.
Ye Junqing, deep in sleep, was fortunately roused by a diligent eunuch and narrowly escaped. Ye Hongyi visited him, noting the smoke inhalation and ordering lung-clearing powder. He remarked on the intentional nature of the fire and Ye Junqing's vulnerability despite his usual caution. Ye Junqing admitted his carelessness and expressed surprise that someone in the palace would want his life.
Ye Hongyi attributed the incident to lingering remnants of the Dou family, promising heightened security around the palace and advising Ye Junqing to recuperate there. Meanwhile, Consort Shu, still confined to Prince Dun's residence, raged against Yao Mowan, whom she blamed for her misfortunes, vowing to kill her. Her maid urged her to let go of her anger, but Consort Shu refused to live like a "walking dead."
She asserted that Ye Junqing was now in danger due to the elimination of the Dou family and the Emperor's growing suspicion towards him. Consort Shu brandished a knife, threatening her father, Prince Dun, that she would die if he did not send her back to the palace.
Prince Dun warned her of the perilous situation in the palace, including the Emperor's intent to kill Ye Junqing, but Consort Shu was resolute, declaring her intention to defy fate and choose her own path. Fearing for his daughter's life, Prince Dun reluctantly agreed to let her return, and she departed, telling him to consider her as no longer his daughter. Yao Mowan found Ye Junqing, urging him to leave the palace immediately due to the Emperor's murderous intent.
Ye Junqing refused to leave without her and revealed that he now knew her true purpose in entering the palace was for revenge. Yao Mowan refused to abandon her mission when she was so close to success, insisting her revenge was a personal matter and that she would not implicate him or shame her mother's memory by giving up.
Vowing not to leave her alone, Ye Junqing promised to stand by her side and asked her to wait for him to plan their departure from the capital. As Yao Mowan turned to leave, Ye Junqing declared that from that moment on, he would follow her through any peril and never allow her to abandon him again. From atop a city wall, Consort Shu overheard their conversation, further fueling her intense hatred for Yao Mowan.
