Renascence Episode 31 Recap
> Renascence Recap
The imperial court was in disarray as Yao Su Luan, clad in the empress' formal wear, faced Ye Hongyi. He, consumed by rage at her disrespectful act, drew his sword and held it to her neck, ordering her to remove the attire. Yao Su Luan, heartbroken by his coldness, lamented that her sincere devotion had always been ignored. She questioned why, after so many years, he had never considered her his wife or thought of conferring her as his empress.
Ye Hongyi scornfully reminded her that Mo Xin was his only empress and that their marriage was merely a result of her pleading to his father. Realizing that her love was unrequited and forced, Yao Su Luan tearfully expressed that loving him had completely exhausted her. Ye Hongyi, labeling everyone present as dissidents, ordered Thousand Faces to kill them all. As Thousand Faces moved to attack, Ye Junqing bravely stepped forward to shield Yao Mowan.
Just then, Ben Lei and his men arrived to intervene. In a desperate act, Yao Su Luan bravely shielded Ye Hongyi from a sword strike, sacrificing herself. As she lay dying in his arms, Ye Hongyi was overcome with grief, expressing deep regret for not having conferred her as empress and for not saving their child. He vowed to make her his empress. Seizing this critical moment, Ye Junqing swiftly led Yao Mowan and others out of the palace.
To ensure their escape, Yao Zhengtin courageously positioned himself at the palace gates, blocking the imperial soldiers and declaring that he had finally repaid his debt to Yao Mowan and her mother. Ye Junqing's group then rushed towards the city gates, where they were confronted by a company of soldiers. Ben Lei prepared for a fight, but the soldiers' commander stepped forward, respectfully acknowledging Ye Junqing's past deeds in battle and the aid he had provided to their families.
He ordered his men to clear a path for Ye Junqing's party. After their passage, the loyal soldiers engaged Thousand Faces' pursuing troops in a fierce battle. Meanwhile, Ye Hongyi received intelligence that Ye Junqing and Yao Mowan had successfully crossed the Chu border into the savannah, indicating they had made prior arrangements, as Ting Yue and Princess Chang Feng (Duan Ting Ting) were also reported missing. Feeling betrayed, Ye Hongyi ordered increased border security for the savannah.
He then recalled Dead Soul, a man he had secretly placed in the savannah, who held a deep-seated hatred for Ye Junqing. Ye Hongyi saw an opportunity to exploit this animosity and sent a secret message to Dead Soul, who, upon reading it, grimly acknowledged that the long-awaited moment for revenge against Ye Junqing had finally arrived.
In the savannah, Han Jinyi briefed Ye Junqing and Yao Mowan on their military preparations, confirming that weapons and food supplies were ready and General Huan's training efforts were proving effective, which might give Ye Hongyi pause. However, Liu Sha, a local leader, expressed strong reluctance for renewed warfare. He argued that after years of bloodshed, his people sought a peaceful existence.
He challenged Ye Junqing, accusing him of merely being another dignitary manipulating them for his "grand plan to save the people," and questioned why they should trust a royal-blooded man to lead them to their deaths. Ye Junqing, understanding their skepticism, pledged that if he failed to bring prosperity to the common people, Liu Sha could personally execute him. He assured them he would not allow his men to die in vain.
Ye Junqing assessed their current strength and concluded it was insufficient for a direct confrontation with the Kingdom of Chu. He worried that Ye Hongyi might compel Southland to ally against them. Han Jinyi proposed they act preemptively by seeking support from Southland and other regions.
Ye Junqing emphasized their advantage lay in the public support of the common people of Chu and expressed hope that Southland would recognize the strategic benefit of the weak uniting against the strong, as alliances with the savannah and Southland armies were essential for victory. At that moment, Duan Ting Ting and Ting Yue arrived.
Duan Ting Ting immediately offered to go to Southland, confident that she could persuade her father, the King of Southland, to support Ye Junqing, especially with her aunt also residing there. After careful consideration, Ye Junqing decided to proceed to Southland, instructing General Huan to remain and oversee battle preparations in the savannah, with only a small escort accompanying him. Yao Mowan sought to comfort Duan Ting Ting, asking if she still harbored any resentment.
Duan Ting Ting, having found peace with her unrequited love for Ye Junqing, replied that she had lost so completely there was no reason left to hate. She then handed Yao Mowan a divorce paper, stating that she and Ye Junqing were no longer husband and wife in name.
She mused that in this life, she and Ye Junqing were simply not meant to be, and expressed a poignant wish that in the next life, Yao Mowan would let Ye Junqing be hers. As the small team journeyed through the dense forest towards Southland, they became disoriented, repeatedly finding themselves back at their starting point. To conserve energy, Ye Junqing, Yao Mowan, and Duan Ting Ting decided to scout ahead.
They encountered an old man who deliberately gave them false directions, leading them deeper into a trap. Realizing they had been misled, they were ambushed by Dead Soul's forces. They fled towards a damaged suspension bridge spanning a deep chasm, but Yao Mowan twisted her ankle. As Ye Junqing protected her, Duan Ting Ting bravely intercepted a volley of arrows to shield them.
With her last strength, she severed the ropes of the bridge, plunging herself and the pursuing attackers into the abyss, thus securing Ye Junqing and Yao Mowan's escape. Dead Soul, seizing the opportunity, retrieved Duan Ting Ting's body and quickly proceeded to Southland. There, he twisted the truth for the King of Southland, falsely claiming that Ye Junqing and Yao Mowan had kidnapped Princess Chang Feng to coerce the King into supporting their rebellion.
He further alleged that during the pursuit by Chu soldiers, Duan Ting Ting tragically fell to her death. The heartbroken King, overwhelmed by the loss of his daughter and easily swayed by Dead Soul's deceitful account, swore that Ye Junqing and Yao Mowan would pay a blood debt and immediately ordered his soldiers to seal the borders and apprehend them. Ye Junqing was consumed by grief over Duan Ting Ting's sacrifice.
He blamed himself, lamenting his inability to repay her immense kindness, which cost her life, and that he could only erect a simple tombstone for her in the wilderness. Yao Mowan, seeing his despair, urged him to be strong. She reminded him that Duan Ting Ting's sacrifice was also for the sake of the common people, and she would not wish to see him so dejected.
She insisted they find a way out of the forest and reach Southland for help. Ye Junqing, regaining his composure, led the group in using the North Star to navigate their way out of the dense woods. Soon after, Ben Lei returned with grim news: the King of Southland (Hanyuan) had been informed of Princess Chang Feng's death and now believed Ye Junqing and Yao Mowan were responsible.
The King had sealed the borders and issued a death warrant for them. Yao Mowan insisted that their immediate priority was to explain the true sequence of events to the King of Southland, convinced that Princess Chang Feng's spirit would not want her father to be misled. However, that night, while Yao Mowan was asleep, Ye Junqing secretly departed alone for Southland, instructing Ben Lei and Yin Xue to keep Yao Mowan safe and be wary of pursuers. He understood the extreme danger of this mission but felt it was his responsibility to face the King directly, given his previous relationship with Duan Ting Ting.
