Renascence Episode 27 Recap
> Renascence Recap
Emperor Ye Hongyi, facing the bandit threat with Yao Mowan as a hostage, declared that in his battles, only winning and losing mattered, and a mere gang of bandits would not threaten his imperial power. He ordered his men to fire arrows. Fortunately, Yao Mowan had anticipated this and set up mechanisms on the dilapidated city tower, allowing both herself and Liu Sha to escape.
Liu Sha, having lost the gamble, pledged his allegiance to Yao Mowan, promising to serve her wholeheartedly. Yao Mowan gave him a letter and instructed him to lead his followers to Jingyao Trading in the savannah, explaining that she had privately founded the business, which included inns, a horse team, and shops to house them. She assured them that someone would later arrive to train them in martial arts to serve her purpose.
Liu Sha gratefully accepted, promising to lead his brothers safely to the grassland. Meanwhile, Thousand Faces reported to Ye Hongyi that the city tower was filled with scarecrows and Yao Mowan's whereabouts were unknown. Ye Hongyi inquired about Prince Su's location, and then, seeing Yao Mowan reappear, feigned concern, asking if she was hurt.
Yao Mowan explained that she survived by treating the bandits' injuries with her medical skills and that Ye Hongyi's decisive order to fire arrows made her seem worthless to the bandits, prompting them to abandon her and flee. Ye Hongyi then ordered a pursuit, but Yao Mowan advised returning to the city first to rest the army, which had suffered heavy losses. Ye Hongyi agreed.
Upon returning to Guanju Palace, Yao Mowan felt a sense of unfamiliarity, and Ye Hongyi urged her to rest. Inside the palace, Ting Yue cried with relief upon seeing Yao Mowan return. Soon after, Yao Su Luan arrived, feigning weakness and piety, congratulating Ye Hongyi on his victory. A eunuch then reported that Consort Shu had committed suicide ten days prior, on the very day of Prince Su's wedding.
Yao Su Luan attempted to invite Ye Hongyi to her palace to rest, but he declined, instead ordering a doctor for Yao Mowan. Yao Mowan refused the doctor, stating Ting Yue's care was sufficient. Later, Yao Mowan and Ting Yue spoke privately. Ting Yue revealed that Cai Ying had died mysteriously, and Consort Shu (Wang Qin Ruo) had lost all hope and taken her own life after learning of Prince Su's marriage.
Yao Mowan reflected on Consort Shu's life, noting how she was manipulated by her family, forced into power struggles, and ultimately lost everything, including the man she loved. She admitted feeling like a "walking dead" but knew she had to be strong for her own survival and revenge. Ting Yue made her promise to always take her along, no matter where she went.
At Prince Su's Residence, Duan Ting Ting's maid expressed concern over the quiet household and Prince Su moving to the guest room on their wedding night. Duan Ting Ting, however, dismissed her worries, explaining that Prince Su was busy with state affairs and didn't want to disturb her.
She then gave her dowry jewelry to the caretaker, asking him to pawn them, reward the household staff, and hire more servants to make the residence livelier, stating that Prince Su, as Chu's God of War, should not be dishonored by a lack of grandeur. Emperor Ye Hongyi, still suspicious of Prince Su's activities, ordered Thousand Faces to monitor him closely.
Thousand Faces reported that Ye Junqing had remained in his residence, caring for Duan Ting Ting, but Ye Hongyi found this account dubious and ordered continued surveillance. That evening, Duan Ting Ting found Ye Junqing applying medicine to a wound on his arm. She offered him a powerful Wound-healing Salve she had brought from Southland, saying, "You don't care about your health, but I do."
Noticing a secret guard outside, Ye Junqing quickly pulled Duan Ting Ting onto the couch, feigning marital intimacy to hide his injury. After the guard left, he apologized and explained Ye Hongyi's constant suspicion. He warned her that Ye Hongyi would likely send more spies to the residence, and she must feign ignorance if she noticed anything unusual to help them break free from their predicament.
Duan Ting Ting, disheartened, realized that despite his perilous situation, Ye Junqing still chose Yao Mowan. She presented a divorce paper, explaining that she wished to fulfill his desire to be with the one he truly loved, freeing him from the emotional burden of their fake marriage.
She asked him to sign it, acknowledging that their marriage, being a matter of diplomatic relations, could not be publicly dissolved, so they would have to maintain the facade of a married couple externally. Ye Junqing signed the divorce paper. Duan Ting Ting then declared she was "free again." Believing the time was ripe, Ye Junqing instructed Ben Lei to send a secret document to the border generals, signaling them to prepare the suicide army for action.
With the army assembled and ready, Ye Junqing gave Ben Lei another secret letter, this time for Yao Mowan at Guanju Palace. Ben Lei worried about the risk, but Ye Junqing assured him the letter contained a unique numerical code that only he and Mo Xin understood, confident that Yao Mowan would comprehend its meaning. Unbeknownst to them, Emperor Ye Hongyi had already been aware of the secret code, recalling its use by Mo Xin in the past.
He expressed his frustration that both Mo Xin and now Yao Mowan were "embarrassing" him. He instructed Thousand Faces to intercept and replace Ye Junqing's original letter to Yao Mowan, and also sent a manipulated reply to Ye Junqing, scheduling a meeting for both of them at the northeast side palace at the hour of Zi. Ye Hongyi declared his intention to "put an end to everything, ashes to ashes, dust to dust."
At the appointed time, Yao Mowan and Ye Junqing arrived at the side palace. Ye Junqing questioned how Yao Mowan understood his secret code, believing she was Mo Xin. Yao Mowan, in turn, questioned his presence, quickly realizing they had walked into a trap. They communicated silently through hand gestures, confirming Yao Mowan's true identity as Mo Xin. Ye Junqing then slipped his dagger into her hand. Outside, Ye Hongyi and his guards, including Thousand Faces, surrounded the palace.
Hearing feigned arguments from within, Ye Hongyi kicked open the door. He found Ye Junqing lying on the ground, bleeding profusely, and Yao Mowan standing over him with the dagger. Yao Mowan fiercely accused Ye Junqing of killing her sister, presenting the tampered letter as evidence. She claimed Ye Junqing had spread rumors during the succession struggle, causing her sister great suffering.
She then challenged Ye Hongyi's love for Mo Xin, asserting that his doubts had ultimately pushed her sister to her death. Enraged, Ye Hongyi scolded Yao Mowan for her rash actions but, convinced by her performance, ordered a physician to treat Ye Junqing. Yao Mowan continued to insist that Ye Junqing must die to avenge her sister, but Ye Hongyi dismissed her, ordering her back to her palace to rest.
