Renascence Episode 29 Recap
> Renascence Recap
Yao Su Luan sought an audience with Emperor Ye Hongyi, vehemently questioning why he had not punished Noble Consort Yao Mowan for allegedly facilitating Consort Chen's secret affair with an outside official, Huangfu Jun Xiu. Ye Hongyi explained that punishing them would necessitate revealing the affair, which he feared would plunge the already unstable court and apprehensive populace into chaos, especially with General Huan Heng’s growing influence.
Yao Su Luan pressed on, invoking the adage, "You can't bring order to the country if your household is in chaos." She reminded the Emperor of the existing controversies surrounding Yao Mowan and Prince Su and warned that further scandal involving Consort Chen and Huangfu Jun Xiu would severely tarnish the Emperor's and the royal family’s reputation. Soon after, Ye Hongyi summoned Huangfu Jun Xiu, who was already aware the Emperor knew of his affection for Consort Chen.
Huangfu Jun Xiu confessed his sin and begged the Emperor to spare Consort Chen’s life. Ye Hongyi then dispatched Huangfu Jun Xiu on a mission, but it was a ruse; he secretly ordered assassins to fatally wound Huangfu Jun Xiu with a poisoned arrow and cast him into a deep ravine. Once Qian Mian confirmed Huangfu Jun Xiu’s death, Ye Hongyi visited Consort Chen.
Feigning deep sorrow, he informed her of Huangfu Jun Xiu's demise during a secret mission, lamenting that he had secretly planned to reunite them upon Huangfu Jun Xiu’s successful return. Overwhelmed with grief, Consort Chen remembered Huangfu Jun Xiu’s promise to marry her. Heartbroken, she drank a bowl of lotus seed soup that Ye Hongyi had specially prepared for her, which was secretly poisoned.
Earlier, Yao Mowan, suspecting Ye Hongyi's murderous intentions upon hearing of Huangfu Jun Xiu’s mission, had immediately dispatched Yin Xue to alert Ye Junqing. Acting on a prior secret message from Yao Mowan to "spare Huangfu's life," Ye Junqing successfully rescued Huangfu Jun Xiu from the lake beneath the ravine. Huangfu Jun Xiu awoke in Prince Su's Residence, recovering from his injuries. He expressed immense gratitude to Ye Junqing, offering to repay his life-saving kindness.
Ye Junqing advised him to rest and assured him that Yao Mowan was also committed to helping him complete his unfinished business. Yao Mowan received a secret message from Ye Junqing confirming Huangfu Jun Xiu’s safety. Eager to share the good news with Consort Chen, she prepared to visit her. However, Ye Hongyi suddenly arrived at Yao Mowan's palace.
To avoid revealing her intentions, Yao Mowan quickly concocted a story about finally solving a difficult chess problem she had played with Consort Chen. Ye Hongyi, seeking diversion, asked her to show him the chess solution. During their conversation, Ye Hongyi deliberately mentioned Huangfu Jun Xiu's death, noting that Consort Chen was already aware of the tragedy.
Yao Mowan, maintaining a composed facade despite her inner turmoil, declined Ye Hongyi’s invitation for a stroll in the Imperial Garden, citing ill health. The moment Ye Hongyi departed, she rushed to Consort Chen’s chamber. Upon arriving, Yao Mowan found Consort Chen collapsed, seemingly poisoned by the lotus seed soup. Shortly after, Ye Hongyi and Yao Su Luan arrived.
Yao Su Luan demanded a thorough investigation into Consort Chen's sudden death, but a eunuch swiftly intervened, suggesting that a quick burial was necessary for those who died by suicide. Ye Hongyi, to avoid further scandal, declared that Consort Chen had died from a sudden severe illness and ordered her burial for the very next day. Meanwhile, at Prince Su's Residence, news of Consort Chen’s death reached Huangfu Jun Xiu.
Distraught and blaming himself for not protecting her, he turned to alcohol to numb his pain. Just then, Yin Xue arrived with Yao Mowan's secret message: Consort Chen was not dead. In a flashback, it was revealed that Yao Mowan had arrived at Consort Chen’s chamber within a quarter of an hour of her drinking the poisoned soup, before the toxins could fully invade her vital organs. Using silver needles, Yao Mowan expertly expelled the poison from Consort Chen’s body.
Consort Chen, revived and relieved to learn that Huangfu Jun Xiu was alive and safe at Prince Su's Residence, questioned how she could possibly escape Ye Hongyi’s clutches. Yao Mowan, explaining Ye Hongyi's treacherous nature, proposed a plan: she would use an "interim death needle" to induce a death-like state in Consort Chen. This would fool everyone, including Ye Hongyi, and allow them to switch her out of the coffin during the funeral, facilitating her reunion with Huangfu Jun Xiu.
Consort Chen bravely agreed to the perilous plan. General Huan Heng, unaware of the deception, was heartbroken at Consort Chen's memorial. During the mourning rituals, Yao Mowan subtly placed Consort Chen’s bracelet in his hand. Ye Junqing had meticulously arranged for a group of masters of ceremonies to perform the funeral rites. Huangfu Jun Xiu, disguised as one of them, infiltrated the procession.
As the coffin was being transported, Consort Chen, also disguised as a master of ceremonies, was covertly swapped out and left the mourning hall. However, Yao Su Luan abruptly entered the hall, expressing skepticism about Consort Chen’s sudden death and insisting on opening the coffin to verify its contents. Consort Chen’s loyal maid, Cai Yan, fiercely protected her mistress's secret by dramatically throwing herself against the coffin, sacrificing her own life.
Yao Mowan seized the moment to publicly chastise Yao Su Luan for disrespecting the deceased and causing the death of a palace maid. Flustered and unwilling to escalate the incident, Yao Su Luan grudgingly conceded and left. Later, Yin Xue overheard that Qian Mian was heading to the palace clinic to retrieve Jinzhi medicine. Yao Mowan immediately realized the danger: while beneficial for the ill, Jinzhi medicine was a potent, deadly poison for healthy individuals.
She worried that if Huan Heng, who was feigning illness, were to take it, his deception would be exposed with dire consequences. True to her fears, Qian Mian, acting under Ye Hongyi’s command, arrived at Huan Heng’s residence and forcefully gained entry. Qian Mian presented the Jinzhi medicine, demanding Huan Heng drink it immediately, citing that its potency diminished over time. Despite his reluctance, Huan Heng, pressured by the Emperor's decree, consumed the medicine and promptly dismissed Qian Mian.
Qian Mian departed, his suspicions about Huan Heng’s illness unconfirmed but lingering. Hidden nearby, Ye Junqing, armed with an antidote provided by Yao Mowan, swiftly appeared after Qian Mian’s departure and administered the counter-medicine to Huan Heng, saving his life. Huan Heng expressed profound gratitude to Ye Junqing and praised Yao Mowan’s extraordinary foresight, noting that her intelligence rivaled that of the former Empress.
He then voiced his deep concern over Ye Hongyi’s escalating suspicion and surveillance, fearing that his precarious situation might endanger Ye Junqing and Yao Mowan. Ye Junqing reassured Huan Heng, highlighting his distinguished military achievements and widespread public respect, which would prevent Ye Hongyi from acting rashly without concrete evidence. He suggested that they capitalize on Ye Hongyi’s growing suspicion and his guilt over Consort Chen’s predicament.
Ye Junqing revealed that Consort Chen and Huangfu Jun Xiu were safe in the distant savannah and promised to ensure Huan Heng’s safe passage to reunite with them, urging him to continue their fight for the people of Chu.
