Renascence Episode 22 Recap
> Renascence Recap
Emperor Ye Hongyi, feeling immensely guilty over Yao Suluan's miscarriage, consoled her, assuring her that they would have another child in the future. Yao Suluan, feigning self-blame and sorrow, tearfully expressed her helplessness, lamenting the loss of her family, mother, and now her child, leaving only the Emperor. This further pained Ye Hongyi, who promised never to neglect her again and vowed to make those who harmed her pay a hundredfold.
Prince Dun, upon learning of his daughter, Consort Shu, being imprisoned, was distraught. The next morning, he went to the palace to beg for her life. Ye Hongyi, however, held a long-standing grudge against Prince Dun for supporting Prince Ning in his rebellion. Regardless of Prince Dun's pleas, Ye Hongyi refused to relent, declaring that Consort Shu's crimes of attempting to harm the imperial heir and assassinate Noble Consort Wan were punishable by death.
Prince Dun offered to renounce all his titles and power to save his daughter, even offering his own life in exchange. Ye Hongyi coldly told him that if he truly wished to die, he could accompany Consort Shu on her journey. Yao Mowan visited Consort Shu in the imperial prison, finding her in a miserable state. Yao Mowan declared that Consort Shu, who was once a cunning schemer, had become caught in her own trap.
She reminded Consort Shu that it was her greed, wanting both the status of a consort and Prince Junqing's affection, that led to her downfall. Yao Mowan also revealed that Consort Shu’s attempt to use her to harm others had backfired. Yao Mowan then informed Consort Shu that she knew she was responsible for poisoning Empress Yao Moxin's prenatal medicine with poison nut extract, which ultimately killed her.
Consort Shu, in turn, lashed out, accusing Yao Moxin of being fickle-minded and causing deep pain to Prince Junqing. She argued that Yao Moxin had forced Prince Junqing to relinquish the throne and suffer Ye Hongyi's suspicion. Consort Shu then accused Yao Mowan of being the "second Yao Moxin," hoping she would release Prince Junqing if she did not truly love him.
Yao Mowan, deeply hurt but composed, retorted that she would take good care of Prince Junqing and told Consort Shu to prepare for her impending death. Ye Hongyi suspected Prince Junqing of colluding with border generals and tasked Qian Mian with an investigation, but no evidence was found. After the theft of some documents from Prince Junqing’s residence and subsequent assassination attempts on him, Ye Hongyi realized that keeping Prince Junqing confined in the palace had only alerted him.
He ordered Prince Junqing to return to his residence. Qian Mian expressed concern that "letting the tiger return to the mountains" could be detrimental, but Ye Hongyi believed this was a tactic of loosening the reins only to grasp them tighter. Han Jinyi, hearing that Prince Junqing could finally return home, assumed they could relax their guard.
However, Prince Junqing, well aware of Ye Hongyi's suspicious and stubborn nature, knew that Ye Hongyi would not easily drop his guard against those he perceived as threats and would eventually harbor murderous intentions. Instead of fleeing to Wanhuang City, which would confirm Ye Hongyi's suspicions, Prince Junqing ordered Han Jinyi to recruit skilled martial artists, bringing them into the residence under the guise of hiring household servants.
Prince Dun, desperate to save Consort Shu, appealed to Prince Junqing for help, offering the command of the Capital City Garrison. Prince Junqing, however, calmly rebuked Prince Dun for his treacherous words and suggested he seek assistance from General Luo Bin, with whom Prince Dun had a close relationship. Yao Mowan was troubled and dispirited, questioning her path of revenge.
She reflected on the many lives sacrificed and the blood on her hands, hoping to repay the blood debt with her own life once her revenge was complete. Soon after, Yin Xue informed her that Prince Junqing had returned to his residence. Ben Lei urged Prince Junqing to return to the border, but Prince Junqing believed Ye Hongyi allowed him to leave the palace precisely to observe his next move.
He instructed Ben Lei to tell the border troops to remain cautious and await his command. Prince Dun visited General Luo Bin, who was living in seclusion at Qingfeng Temple. Prince Dun sought his help to save Consort Shu using the Death-exemption certificate granted by the late Emperor. General Luo Bin found it hard to believe Consort Shu would plot to harm an imperial heir. Given Prince Dun's past life-saving kindness, General Luo Bin agreed to help.
Upon arriving at the palace, General Luo Bin expressed his concern to Ye Hongyi that the current chaos in the harem, unlike the peaceful times under the late Emperor, was eroding the nation's foundation. He suggested that punishing Consort Shu, Prince Dun's only daughter, could provoke Prince Dun to use his military power, leading to unrest. General Luo Bin presented his Death-exemption certificate, requesting Consort Shu's release. General Luo Bin insisted on meeting Noble Consort Wan.
During their audience with Ye Hongyi, General Luo Bin deliberately challenged Yao Mowan, implying her rise was too swift and that she had an ulterior motive to become another Yao Moxin. Yao Mowan calmly defended herself, stating her loyalty to the Emperor and her need for self-preservation in the cutthroat harem. Ye Hongyi, protecting Yao Mowan, dismissed General Luo Bin's accusations, attributing Consort Shu's punishment to his own decisions.
General Luo Bin, however, remained unconvinced, asserting that Yao Mowan was the root of the palace's troubles and a threat to the nation. He then left, vowing to prevent Yao Mowan from destabilizing the Kingdom of Chu. Later, General Luo Bin visited Consort Shu in prison to learn more about Yao Mowan. Consort Shu, initially hesitant to reveal details about Prince Junqing, confessed everything to General Luo Bin in exchange for her freedom.
That night, Qian Mian reported General Luo Bin's unauthorized visit to the imperial prison to Ye Hongyi. Though displeased, Ye Hongyi decided not to pursue the matter, acknowledging General Luo Bin's past contributions to the nation. General Luo Bin then returned to speak with Ye Hongyi, reiterating his concerns about Yao Mowan. He revealed Yao Mowan's true intentions: to avenge Yao Moxin and assist Prince Junqing, and urged Ye Hongyi to execute her.
Ye Hongyi, dismissing this as lies from the dying Consort Shu, accused General Luo Bin of being swayed by her. General Luo Bin countered, accusing Ye Hongyi of being blinded by his affection for Yao Mowan, who resembled the late Empress, and of failing to discern right from wrong. Enraged, Ye Hongyi threw back the Death-exemption certificate, declaring that General Luo Bin seemed to need it more than Consort Shu.
These exchanges were overheard by Yin Xue, who reported them to Yao Mowan. Yao Mowan concluded that General Luo Bin was a threat in the palace, determined to save Consort Shu and kill her. She instructed Yin Xue to spread rumors that General Luo Bin and the Empress Dowager were lovers, hoping to use such "poisonous words" to force him out of the palace.
However, General Luo Bin, a seasoned veteran of wars and palace intrigue, quickly saw through Yao Mowan's scheme. He ordered his men to abduct Yao Mowan from Guanju Palace. Upon hearing of Yao Mowan's disappearance and General Luo Bin's absence, Ye Hongyi was furious, assuming General Luo Bin had kidnapped her.
He ordered all checkpoints in the capital to be sealed and the imperial prison to be heavily guarded, anticipating General Luo Bin's attempt to break Consort Shu out of jail. Meanwhile, Prince Junqing also received news of Yao Mowan's disappearance and prepared to rescue her, but Yin Xue intercepted him, delivering a pouch Yao Mowan had entrusted her with in case of danger.
