Renascence Episode 23 Recap
> Renascence Recap
Having abducted Yao Mowan, Luo Bin was surprised by her composure. He remarked that such brilliance could not serve the Emperor or the Kingdom of Chu, and thus, he intended to eliminate her to prevent another battle of four kings. Yao Mowan countered that Luo Bin had clearly misunderstood her. She clarified that her assistance to Prince Su was not to help him seize the throne, but to protect a great warrior of Chu from devious men.
Luo Bin then asked who in this world wasn't devious, stating it was simply a difference in standpoint. Yao Mowan revealed that she knew Luo Bin's true intention: to use her abduction as a diversion, forcing Ye Hongyi to deploy the Iron Blood Army in search of her, which would allow Luo Bin's men to rescue Consort Shu. Luo Bin, impressed by her insight, admitted that she had seen through his plan.
He reiterated his intention to kill her, believing she would bring disaster to Chu. Yao Mowan, however, warned him that Ye Hongyi was already wary of his overbearing achievements and dominance in court, merely waiting for him to make a mistake. She predicted that the imperial prison was likely in chaos at that very moment. Indeed, Ye Hongyi had set an ambush in the imperial prison.
Luo Bin's subordinate, Jin Cheng, reported that Consort Shu was not in the prison and they had fallen into a trap before dying from severe wounds. Overcome with grief and rage, Luo Bin drew his sword, threatening to kill Yao Mowan. However, Ye Junqing and his men intervened.
This was all part of Yao Mowan's plan; she had entrusted her strategy to Ye Junqing: use her disappearance as a distraction, lure Ye Hongyi to deploy the Iron Blood Army, and then have Han Jinyi and Yin Xue ambush any escapees from the prison to track Luo Bin. Yao Mowan decided to give the credit for Luo Bin's capture to Qian Mian.
When Qian Mian reported to Ye Hongyi, he confirmed Yao Mowan's safe return and claimed he intentionally allowed Luo Bin's men to escape to track them, leading to Luo Bin's capture. Ye Hongyi, pleased, heavily rewarded Qian Mian and ordered Luo Bin to be brought before him. Ye Hongyi questioned Luo Bin's devotion to Prince Dun, asking if risking his lifelong reputation to save a criminal was truly worth it.
Luo Bin declared himself a man of devotion, indebted to Prince Dun, and willing to repay him with his life. Ye Hongyi acknowledged Luo Bin's loyalty but stated that his death would serve to stabilize the court and consolidate imperial power, especially after the recent chaos caused by Luo Bin's actions. Luo Bin agreed to do anything to help consolidate the empire, but insisted that Ye Hongyi could not kill him.
When Ye Hongyi asked why, Luo Bin revealed that killing him would be patricide, a grave sin against divine providence. Ye Hongyi, in disbelief, accused Luo Bin of speaking nonsense on his deathbed. Luo Bin then recounted the tragic history: he and Xiao Rong, Ye Hongyi's mother, were deeply in love and secretly vowed to marry. However, his duties called him to war for the former Emperor.
During his absence, the former Emperor took advantage of the situation, "snatching her away" and bringing Xiao Rong into the palace. Luo Bin revealed that Xiao Rong was already pregnant with his child at that time. To protect the secret, she had no choice but to let Ye Hongyi live as a royal prince.
Ye Hongyi was horrified and vehemently denied the claim, asserting that the royal blood of Chu flowed in his veins and accusing Luo Bin of fabricating stories. To prove his claim, Luo Bin revealed that all men in the Luo family carried a distinctive red birthmark on their left arm, a trait passed down from father to son through generations. This revelation sent Ye Hongyi into a state of shock and disbelief as he recalled his childhood.
He remembered his mother, Xiao Rong, strictly warning him never to let anyone see his own red birthmark, not even his father or brothers, emphasizing that his life would be in danger if the secret was exposed. She had hoped he would never know the truth, fearing he would live in constant fear of death. Now, the horrifying truth dawned upon Ye Hongyi, causing him immense distress and fear.
Unbeknownst to them, Yin Xue, positioned on the rooftop, had overheard their entire conversation. Yin Xue reported her findings to Yao Mowan, confirming that Ye Hongyi was indeed the illegitimate son of Luo Bin and Xiao Rong, born from an "ill-fated love" before Xiao Rong entered the palace. The red birthmark served as irrefutable proof.
Yao Mowan was stunned; her earlier scheme to spread rumors about Xiao Rong and Luo Bin to force Luo Bin out, which she considered a risky tactic, had unexpectedly hit upon the truth. Recognizing the gravity of the situation and the unpredictable nature of the Emperor's heart, Yao Mowan saw this as a pivotal moment where disaster and fortune were intertwined.
She decided to "add fuel to the fire" of the circulating rumors, eager to see how Ye Hongyi would choose to handle this shocking truth. The rampant rumors in the palace disturbed Ye Hongyi, but he couldn't simply kill Luo Bin. Instead, he issued a decree to suppress the rumors, ordering the execution of anyone caught spreading them. He hesitated on Luo Bin's fate.
Meanwhile, Yao Mowan, feigning ignorance, visited Ye Hongyi, playfully expressing her disappointment that he didn't seem to care about her recent kidnapping, which served to gauge his reaction. Ye Hongyi, masking his internal turmoil, reassured her and promised to seek justice for her. Luo Bin, confined, seemed prepared for his fate, challenging Ye Hongyi to kill him if he truly believed Yao Mowan's "slander."
Ye Hongyi declared he would not pursue the kidnapping matter further, but killing Luo Bin would go against divine providence and earn his mother's unforgiveness. Luo Bin questioned Ye Hongyi's understanding of his mother, lamenting that he had never seen Xiao Rong since their parting and couldn't even attend her funeral. He believed, however, that Xiao Rong's spirit would not wish for Ye Hongyi to destroy his own future. Ye Hongyi then proposed they visit Xiao Rong's spirit tablet together.
Yin Xue updated Yao Mowan on the escalating rumors, Ye Hongyi's crackdown, and his frequent meetings with Luo Bin. Yao Mowan decided to "lie low" and continue monitoring Ye Hongyi, acknowledging the approaching storm. She also noted Han Jinyi's temporary departure for Wanhuang City. At Xiao Rong's spirit tablet, Luo Bin finally expressed his long-held emotions to her, saying he could finally visit her.
Ye Hongyi, addressing his "Mother," said her son had also come to visit and hoped she would be pleased to see their family reunited. Luo Bin echoed this, expressing that his only wish now that Ye Hongyi was Emperor was for him to protect Chu forever, ensuring his life's battles weren't in vain. Ye Hongyi then spoke of Chu's governance by filial piety.
Addressing Luo Bin as "Father" for the first time, Ye Hongyi apologized for his past lack of filial devotion and offered him a cup of wine, stating that in this moment, they were not ruler and subject, but a reunited family of father and son before his mother. Luo Bin, accepting the inevitable, drank the wine, which immediately caused him to cough up blood.
In his final moments, Luo Bin urged Ye Hongyi to eliminate Ye Junqing, revealing that Ye Junqing was the true heir to the royal bloodline. After Luo Bin's death, Ye Hongyi was deeply unsettled, yet he rationalized his patricide, believing it was necessary to protect his imperial power. He affirmed that anyone, no matter how beloved or close, who threatened his throne would be eliminated.
Yin Xue later reported Luo Bin's death to Yao Mowan, who noted that Ye Hongyi had indeed taken this drastic step, confirming her belief that he would eradicate anyone who interfered with his power. She also reflected on how she herself might have faced a similar fate in the past. When Ye Hongyi arrived at Guanju Palace, Yao Mowan, feigning innocence and vulnerability, expressed her boredom and continued fear of Luo Bin.
Ye Hongyi, maintaining the pretense, apologized for his busy schedule and assured her that General Luo had been sent "back to the deep mountains" and would no longer disturb her. With Southland repeatedly invading Chu's borders and cities, court officials urged Ye Hongyi to send reinforcements, with many proposing Prince Su, Ye Junqing, the "God of War," to lead.
Ye Hongyi, however, expressed concern over Ye Junqing's popularity, but then, to everyone's surprise, declared his intention to personally lead the army in three days to boost morale. Despite ministers protesting the dangers of the battlefield, Ye Hongyi remained resolute. He then appointed Ye Junqing to lead the Outpost Army as his vanguard. Shortly after, an urgent report arrived: Yulin Pass was surrounded by Southland forces and desperately needed rescue.
Ye Hongyi immediately ordered Ye Junqing to lead the troops to Yulin Pass. Yao Mowan learned about Ye Hongyi's decision to personally go to war and Ye Junqing's immediate deployment to Yulin Pass, prompting her to rush out in concern for Ye Junqing's safety.
Meanwhile, Ye Hongyi revealed his true, nefarious plan to a subordinate: he would allow Ye Junqing to relieve Chu's crisis, then ensure he died heroically on the battlefield, believing "a dignified end means dying on the battlefield," thereby eliminating him while utilizing his skills. Yao Mowan, arriving to see Ye Hongyi, expressed her concern over his decision to personally lead the campaign. Ye Hongyi questioned whether her worry was for him or for Ye Junqing.
Yao Mowan quickly clarified that Prince Su was merely a prince and could not be compared to the Emperor. After Ye Hongyi reassured her of his victorious return, Yao Mowan made a surprising request: to accompany him. She explained that her deceased sister had once saved King Hanyu of Southland, and her presence might leverage this past favor for peace talks, sparing the people from war.
Ye Hongyi, acknowledging that "Mo Xin" (referring to Yao Mowan, but using the identity of her sister, Yao Moxin, which he believed she was) was the only woman in his harem fit for the battlefield, agreed to her request.
