Renascence Episode 25 Recap
> Renascence Recap
The plague in Lian City remained unchecked, prompting Ye Hongyi to issue a cruel order: to burn alive all soldiers infected with the disease. Upon learning this, Yao Mowan was overcome with emotion, confronting Ye Hongyi and accusing him of being heartless and unfit to be an emperor. She declared that one who cherishes soldiers but not the people cannot be a general, and one who cherishes a general but not the people cannot be a ruler.
After a desperate cry, she collapsed. Ye Hongyi, visibly distressed, carried Yao Mowan to her tent. He confessed that making such a decision caused him pain, but he believed it was necessary to prevent the plague from spreading to more soldiers and civilians. He recalled a past warning from Luo Bin that an emperor must be devoid of sentimentality and as unyielding as iron.
He asserted that he would gladly be seen as a villain if it meant safeguarding the Kingdom of Chu and its myriad lives. Three days later, the time appointed for Ye Junqing's public execution arrived. Ye Hongyi offered Ye Junqing a cup of poisoned wine as a final farewell. Ye Junqing, understanding Ye Hongyi's intention to eliminate him, poured the wine onto the ground, his eyes filled with both defiance and resentment.
Ye Hongyi proceeded to order Ye Junqing's beheading, citing his defiance of military orders and the resultant conflict. As the execution was about to commence, soldiers pleaded with Ye Hongyi for mercy. This only angered Ye Hongyi further, who declared that any further pleas would be treated as defiance of military command. Just as the axe was about to fall, Duan Ting Ting, Princess Chang Feng of Southland, arrived with Princess Han Yue, interrupting the execution.
They announced that Southland sought a peace treaty with the Kingdom of Chu, proposing a diplomatic marriage. Duan Ting Ting declared her unwavering commitment, stating, "I, Duan Ting Ting, will only have Ye Junqing as my husband in this life." She explained that upon hearing of Ye Junqing's impending execution, she had coerced her father, the King of Southland, into signing the peace treaty by threatening suicide.
To save his daughter, the king had agreed to cede ten cities to the Kingdom of Chu as a condition for peace, knowing Ye Hongyi's ambition to expand his territory. Princess Han Yue presented the treaty, along with the offer of ten cities and the marriage alliance, hoping for eternal peace between the two kingdoms. An advisor congratulated Ye Hongyi on gaining territory without bloodshed.
Ye Hongyi, attributing the conflict to Ye Junqing, decreed that Ye Junqing would be responsible for maintaining the peace by marrying Duan Ting Ting, thereby waiving his execution. Duan Ting Ting insisted on an immediate wedding in the military camp, claiming Southland women disregard formalities and that she had long admired Prince Su. Ye Hongyi assented, ordering the wedding to take place within three days at the camp. Yao Mowan, witnessing these developments, was heartbroken.
Later, Duan Ting Ting joined Ye Junqing, who was drinking alone, reminding him of her earlier vow never to let him go. Ye Junqing thanked her for saving his life. Duan Ting Ting then offered him her necklace, explaining it was a Southland custom for a woman to give her necklace as a token of lifelong commitment to the man she loves. Ye Junqing declined, acknowledging her as a loyal and noble woman.
However, he regretfully stated that he would be unable to return her affections, as his heart belonged to Yao Mowan. Duan Ting Ting accused him of still being fixated on Yao Mowan, who she claimed had betrayed him to become the Emperor's consort, asserting that their fate was over and she was the one truly destined for him. She also reminded him of the treaty, implying he could not defy the decree.
Duan Ting Ting vowed to make him fall in love with her willingly. Meanwhile, Princess Han Yue visited Yao Mowan, expressing shock at Ye Hongyi's brutal methods, especially regarding the plague. Yao Mowan confided that she and Ye Junqing had been under constant surveillance and had lost their freedom. She feared a major upheaval in Chu due to the Emperor's immorality.
Princess Han Yue cautioned Yao Mowan to be vigilant, to which Yao Mowan replied that she had her own plans. She then requested Princess Han Yue's help to see Ye Junqing one last time to bid him a proper farewell. Duan Ting Ting, determined to win Ye Junqing's affection, secretly gave him Southland pastries laced with a potion. Afterward, Ye Junqing's demeanor towards Duan Ting Ting completely changed; he became deeply affectionate, seemingly forgetting his past with Yao Mowan.
Yao Mowan, accompanied by Princess Han Yue, came to see Ye Junqing. He spoke to her formally, apologizing if he had ever given her the "wrong idea" in the past and declaring that his heart belonged solely to Duan Ting Ting. Yao Mowan, distraught, questioned if he had forgotten their shared history and his promises to marry her and to follow her wherever she wished to go.
Duan Ting Ting intervened, telling Yao Mowan to accept her position and warning her that continuing to pursue Ye Junqing would only put his life in jeopardy. Heartbroken, Yao Mowan relented, telling Duan Ting Ting, "I don't care what you have done to Jun Qing. Take care of him." After Ye Junqing left, Princess Han Yue confronted Duan Ting Ting about drugging him.
Duan Ting Ting initially denied it but eventually confessed, explaining her overwhelming love for Ye Junqing and her refusal to endure the pain of watching him suffer over Yao Mowan any longer. Princess Han Yue warned her of the severe consequences if Ye Junqing were to ever regain his senses, but Duan Ting Ting remained unconcerned. Separately, Han Jinyi confronted Ye Junqing, angrily questioning his decision to marry Duan Ting Ting after his deep love for Yao Mowan.
Ye Junqing, acting under the influence of the potion, dismissed Han Jinyi's concerns and claimed he never intended to marry Yao Mowan. Han Jinyi accused him of being shameless and left in disgust. Alone, Ye Junqing touched the jade pendant on his belt and experienced a sudden wave of dizziness. Elsewhere, Yao Su Luan visited Consort Shu in prison, gloating over her downfall. Consort Shu, though initially dismissive, desperately asked about Ye Junqing's safety.
Yao Su Luan cruelly informed Consort Shu that Ye Junqing was her greatest weakness and then delivered the news of his impending marriage to Duan Ting Ting, secured by ten ceded cities. Devastated, realizing she had lost everything and was now useless to Ye Junqing, Consort Shu chose to end her life.
As Yao Su Luan presented the implements for suicide, Consort Shu delivered a final warning, predicting that Yao Su Luan would face the same fate of "love unrequited" as she had. Consort Shu then changed into clean clothes, wrapped herself in white cloth, and committed suicide by hanging in her cell. In a final thought, she promised Ye Junqing that she would love him still in the next life.
On the day of the wedding, Duan Ting Ting joyfully awaited Ye Junqing in her bridal attire. However, Ye Junqing was in a daze, clutching his jade pendant and delaying the lifting of her veil. Impatient and angry, Duan Ting Ting snatched the pendant and smashed it on the table. The sudden shock triggered a severe headache in Ye Junqing, and flashes of memory flooded his mind.
He recalled Yao Moxin giving him a "Couple Jade" and then remembered that Yao Mowan had recently spoken the very same words Yao Moxin once did: promising to marry him and follow him wherever he went, whether to travel the world or live a secluded life. Confused, he muttered "Mo Xin," then "Mo Wan," and again "Mo Xin," before rushing out of the tent.
