Renascence Episode 30 Recap
> Renascence Recap
Qianmian reported to Ye Hongyi that General Huan Heng was using a supposed birthday banquet to extensively gather dignitaries, high-ranking officials, and nobles in the capital. Qianmian noted that those invited were suspiciously quiet about the event and worried Huan Heng "might be up to something." Enraged, Ye Hongyi accused Huan Heng of brazenly rallying support and plotting against him, declaring his intent to witness the banquet's conclusion. Prime Minister Yao, risking his safety, attended the banquet.
Huan Heng expressed deep gratitude for his presence, mentioning his own narrow escape from danger and how Yao Mowan, the Noble Consort, had come to his rescue, saving his sister Consort Chen from harm. He swore to repay the Yao family's kindness a thousand times over, a statement that piqued Yao Mowan's curiosity. Just then, Ye Hongyi arrived, causing an immediate shift in the atmosphere and widespread apprehension among the gathered officials.
Ye Hongyi confronted Huan Heng, stating that his family tree showed today was not his birthday, making the banquet a lie. He rebuked Huan Heng for his audacity in rallying support despite his past military achievements. Prime Minister Yao intervened, explaining that the gathering was not a birthday celebration but a solemn memorial for the late Consort Chen, whose sudden passing had caused General Huan immense grief.
He pleaded with Ye Hongyi to "forgive him" for resorting to such an unwise move due to "emotional pain." Ye Hongyi dismissed this, reminding them that grand memorial ceremonies for concubines were forbidden by Chu customs. He accused Prime Minister Yao of trying to beg for Huan Heng and questioned his loyalty for failing to report the gathering. He then threatened to deal with all the high-ranking officials present "one by one."
Huan Heng took full responsibility, begging Ye Hongyi to spare the others and asking if the Emperor would disregard the late Consort Chen's memory. Ye Hongyi sternly warned that he would thoroughly investigate the matter and from then on, any unauthorized gathering would be treated as treason and punished by law. Later that night, as Huan Heng's army made camp in the mountains during his journey to the border, they were ambushed by forces sent by Ye Hongyi.
To Huan Heng's dismay, his own apprentice, Wei Qi, was leading the pursuit. Wei Qi claimed Huan Heng had become a traitor, but Huan Heng urged his apprentice to "tell right from wrong" and not "follow blindly," advising him to "trust his heart." Prince Junxiu arrived just in time to rescue Huan Heng. To repay his debt of gratitude to Huan Heng, Wei Qi deliberately cut his own leg, feigning injury and announcing, "I've paid my debt of gratitude.
We'll go our separate ways from now on," allowing Huan Heng and his loyalists to escape easily. Huan Heng then reunited with Consort Cai (Cai'er) in the savannah. He received a letter from Yao Mowan, the Noble Consort, instructing him to remain in the savannah for updates as Ye Hongyi would surely discover his escape.
The letter also revealed that Jingyao Trading, a business she had established, and Prince Su’s former troops, complete with military supplies and soldiers, were at his disposal in the savannah for training, preparing them for future battles. Ye Hongyi, recalling how both Ye Junqing and Yao Mowan had recommended Huan Heng for the mission to deal with border bandits, found Huan Heng's disappearance highly suspicious.
He summoned Ye Junqing late at night, expressing his concern about Huan Heng's whereabouts and suspecting that Wei Qi had intentionally allowed Huan Heng to escape, conspiring to deceive him. Ye Junqing feigned ignorance, calmly pointing out that if Wei Qi had truly colluded with Huan Heng, he would not have returned to the capital after achieving his goal.
He advised against hastily labeling them as traitors, reminding Ye Hongyi of their "great contributions to Chu" and the risk of "losing two men in one day." Ye Hongyi agreed that the matter was suspicious and required further deliberation, dismissing Ye Junqing. Afterward, Ye Hongyi ordered Qianmian to "secretly investigate" the matter and "interrogate Wei Qi" thoroughly. Meanwhile, Yao Su Luan observed Ye Hongyi's worried expression and delicately brought up the Huan Heng situation.
When Ye Hongyi questioned her knowledge of the matter, she explained that the Yao family and Huan family were on good terms, with her father admiring General Huan's upright and loyal qualities. She then subtly implied Yao Mowan's involvement, mentioning Yao Mowan's close relationship with the late Consort Chen and her frequent contact with the Huan family. She further recounted that Yao Mowan had once praised General Huan's courage and insight when he visited the Yao Residence.
This fueled Ye Hongyi's growing suspicion towards Yao Mowan, leading him to order surveillance on the Yao Residence and other key officials. To protect Yao Mowan and divert Ye Hongyi’s suspicion, Prime Minister Yao made the drastic decision to take the blame himself. He deliberately penned a letter under his name, incriminating himself, and had his butler deliver it to the palace.
The letter was framed to appear as if Prime Minister Yao was instructing Yao Mowan on how to interfere in political affairs for the family's benefit. Upon reading it, Ye Hongyi was furious, denouncing Yao Zhen Ting for "inciting the concubine to interfere in politics" despite being the Prime Minister of Chu. He immediately ordered Qianmian to arrest and imprison Prime Minister Yao. Yao Mowan rushed to the prison, stopping the guards from torturing her father.
She tearfully confronted him for taking the blame, but Prime Minister Yao expressed profound regret for his past "obsession with power and status," acknowledging that he was "reaping what I've sown." He welcomed this opportunity to "atone for my sins" and finally do "something that a father should do," hoping only that "heaven will keep my two daughters safe." He added that he could then "rest in peace."
When Ye Hongyi arrived, Yao Mowan desperately confessed that she was solely responsible for everything and pleaded for her father's release. Prime Minister Yao, in turn, tried to take full responsibility, insisting Yao Mowan was innocent and knew nothing about the matter. Ye Hongyi, however, dismissed their pleas as a "touching display of father-daughter love," accusing Yao Mowan of hidden ambition, which he deemed "terrifying and detestable." He declared that her current isolation was "reaping what I've sown."
Yao Mowan then defiantly stated, "Then kill me, so I may reunite with Mo Xin in the afterlife!" At Prince Su's mansion, Yin Xue urgently informed Ye Junqing that Yao Mowan was confined in the palace and Prime Minister Yao had been arrested for treason, pleading for his help. Ye Junqing immediately deduced that Prime Minister Yao had sacrificed himself to protect Yao Mowan. Coincidentally, Eunuch Liu arrived, conveying Ye Hongyi's urgent summons for Ye Junqing to the palace.
Duan Ting Ting, sensing a trap, vehemently tried to dissuade Ye Junqing, warning that it was a "one-way trip" and he would "get himself killed." However, Ye Junqing, prioritizing Yao Mowan's safety above all else, declared that he "had to go" because "if I don't show up, Mo Wan will surely die," apologizing to Duan Ting Ting for the potential danger he faced.
Meanwhile, Yao Su Luan, convinced that Yao Mowan's "meddling in politics" sealed her fate, donned the empress's formal wear, envisioning her own ascension to the throne. She dismissed her maid's caution, asserting that no one could judge her for wearing her own clothes, and boasted that "even the gods can't save her." Her dreams were momentarily shaken by the news that Prime Minister Yao had taken all the blame for Yao Mowan.
With a sudden surge of conscience, Yao Su Luan rushed to the scene, still in the empress's gown. In the imperial hall, Yao Mowan continued to plead for her father's life. Ye Hongyi, presenting a dagger, issued a cruel ultimatum: he would spare Prime Minister Yao if Yao Mowan personally killed Ye Junqing.
In that tense moment, Ye Junqing stepped forward, pulling Yao Mowan behind him, revealing his long-suppressed feelings and refusing to continue "putting up with you and making compromises." Ye Hongyi's fury erupted. He accused Ye Junqing of always "stealing my things" and causing him to become "alienated one by one." Ye Junqing retorted, accusing Ye Hongyi of being "obsessed with personal gains" and growing "colder and colder."
Ye Hongyi declared his absolute authority, asserting, "Whether it is Mo Xin or Mo Wan, they are my women. Don't you dare take them away from me!" Yao Mowan again tried to take all the blame, stating, "I planned everything from beginning to end. Please release Jun Qing and my father. Take it out on me." Overwhelmed by irrational rage, Ye Hongyi screamed, "I want him dead!"
At that instant, Yao Su Luan, still in the empress's gown, burst in, begging Ye Hongyi to spare her father. Ye Hongyi's gaze fell on her attire, and he erupted in anger, condemning her "blatant disrespect" and demanding she remove the empress's gown. Yao Su Luan, desperate, pleaded her unwavering loyalty over the years, questioning if her life meant nothing to him and if he had ever considered crowning her as Empress.
Ye Hongyi brutally rejected her, stating that only Mo Xin was his Empress and reminding Yao Su Luan that their marriage was "only because you forced him to." In despair, Yao Su Luan uttered her poignant realization: "love cannot be forced."
