Renascence Episode 32 Recap
> Renascence Recap
The next morning, Yao Mowan awoke to the news that Ye Junqing had left alone for Southland to seek aid. Her companions also informed her that the Iron Blood Army was closing in on their location, prompting her to order an immediate transfer of their forces. Meanwhile, Ye Junqing arrived in Southland and was immediately confronted by its King.
The King reminded him of the promises made when Duan Ting Ting married him, accusing Ye Junqing of allowing Ting Ting to be neglected in his palace and ultimately leading to her tragic death in a ravine, unrecovered. Ye Junqing explained that he never intended to harm Princess Duan Ting Ting, but his heart belonged to someone else, a fact Ting Ting was aware of.
He recounted that they, along with Ting Ting, were pursued by the Iron Blood Army to a precipice, where Ting Ting sacrificed herself to protect him, falling to her death. He asserted Yao Mowan’s innocence, accepting full responsibility and offering to endure any punishment. He then appealed to the King, asking him to honor Ting Ting's memory by providing military support to the volunteer army.
The King, however, demanded Ye Junqing's death as the sole condition for releasing Yao Mowan and aiding the volunteer army. Ye Junqing, without hesitation, agreed, willing to die without regret if it meant saving Yao Mowan and gaining Southland's support. The King then had a fatal poison administered to Ye Junqing, who drank it and immediately suffered excruciating pain, coughing up blood.
The King, driven by his profound grief and disbelief in Ye Junqing’s words, expressed his desire for both Ye Junqing and Yao Mowan to suffer immensely. He ordered Ye Junqing to be chained above the city gates, left to perish. Upon learning of Ye Junqing's dire situation, Yao Mowan, deeply distressed, decided to enter the city with only Yin Xue for escort, instructing Ben Lei to guard the volunteer army and await her orders.
Once in Bian City, seeing Ye Junqing tormented at the city gates, she sent Yin Xue to seek help from Princess Han Yue. Han Yue soon met with Yao Mowan, who tearfully apologized for failing to protect Ting Ting and earnestly pleaded with Han Yue to believe that neither she nor Ye Junqing ever intended to harm the princess.
Han Yue confirmed her belief in their innocence but explained that her brother, the King, was overcome with grief, and Ye Hongyi's manipulations, including a maidservant's false testimony (who was later murdered, destroying evidence), had solidified his conviction of their guilt. Yao Mowan then asked Han Yue to help rescue Ye Junqing. Disguised as Han Yue’s maid, Yao Mowan visited Ye Junqing.
He was gravely ill from the "fatal poison," which Han Yue confirmed only her brother possessed the antidote for. Ye Junqing, weak and bleeding, urged Yao Mowan to leave, arguing that their escape would be seen as an admission of guilt for Ting Ting’s death. He emphasized the greater cause of the volunteer army and the common people, who depended on Southland's aid, which would be lost if their misunderstanding persisted.
He implored her not to be consumed by guilt or despair, reminding her of her responsibility to the thousands of people and soldiers, and expressed his regret at not being able to continue their journey together in this life. Han Yue then advised Yao Mowan that the immediate priority was to resolve the misunderstanding with her brother, the King, to save Ye Junqing and the people.
Before leaving, Yao Mowan entrusted Ye Junqing to Han Yue's care and borrowed Han Yue's personal token. Yao Mowan bravely confronted the King of Southland, offering her life but first seeking to reveal the truth. The King furiously accused her of being Chu’s Noble Consort who shamelessly seduced Ting Ting’s husband and had a secret affair.
Yao Mowan admitted to having feelings for Ye Junqing, but maintained that Ting Ting was aware of their affection, and their relationship was not a secret. She then presented Ting Ting’s handwritten letter of divorce, proving that Ting Ting had willingly decided to release Ye Junqing. Yao Mowan argued that if they had intended to harm Ting Ting, they would have done so in Chu, not in Southland. The King remained unconvinced, dismissing her words as deceit.
He demanded Han Yue be handed over, threatening to kill Yao Mowan and devastate the savannah if she refused. Yao Mowan calmly stated that Han Yue had willingly given her the token, believing in her and Ye Junqing's integrity. At that moment, Han Yue appeared, confirming Yao Mowan's account and asserting that Ting Ting's death was not their doing. She revealed that the maidservant's false testimony was coerced by Ye Hongyi's Iron Blood Army.
Despite this, the King remained unmoved, arguing that Ye Junqing, as Ting Ting's husband, still failed to protect her and deserved to die. Yao Mowan declared herself willing to bear the punishment in Ye Junqing's stead. The King then challenged her to pass the "Three Trials" to earn the right to negotiate for Ye Junqing’s life.
Yao Mowan endured the first trial, the Path of Rods, beaten until her body was covered in blood, yet she steadfastly maintained her innocence regarding Princess Chang Feng's death. She then faced the second trial, cutting her wrist, and the third, being submerged in water. Through all the brutal tortures, she never confessed to a crime she did not commit.
Han Yue, unable to bear witnessing the torture, pleaded with her brother, pointing out that he clearly knew they were innocent and was merely inflicting pain due to his personal grief. The King, overcome with sorrow, spoke of his love for Ting Ting and his despair at being unable to find her true killer. Han Yue assured him that the real culprit would indeed pay. After the ordeal, Han Yue took the severely wounded Yao Mowan to recover.
Yao Mowan, prioritizing Ye Junqing, asked about the antidote. Han Yue revealed the King's terms: within three days, Yao Mowan must find Ting Ting's murderer. If successful, Ye Junqing would be cured, and Southland would send reinforcements to the volunteer army. Yao Mowan insisted on returning to her troops immediately. Soon after, Han Jinyi arrived, having been alerted by Yin Xue’s letter. He expressed his anguish at seeing Yao Mowan’s injuries and Ye Junqing’s suffering, vowing to confront the King.
Yao Mowan, however, cautioned against antagonizing Southland, which would only benefit Ye Hongyi. She then proposed a plan to proactively lure out Dead Soul, knowing that the Iron Blood Army’s primary target was her. Meanwhile, Dead Soul, under pressure for previous failures, received information that Yao Mowan had been banished to the northern border as a slave. Eager to succeed, he set out to ambush her. Instead, Yao Mowan's forces ambushed Dead Soul, successfully capturing him.
Yao Mowan presented Dead Soul to the King of Southland as Ting Ting’s true murderer. Enraged, the King drew his sword and killed Dead Soul instantly. Han Yue expressed her belief that Ting Ting's spirit could now finally rest in peace. The King of Southland then administered the antidote to Ye Junqing, who, after recovering, reminded the King of his promise to aid the volunteer army.
The King voiced his concerns about the potential devastation a war with Chu would bring to the people of Southland. Han Yue argued that Ye Hongyi’s treachery meant war was inevitable and a swift attack would protect Southland’s populace. Ye Junqing reassured the King that the volunteer army would not burden Southland and urged him to avenge Ting Ting by eliminating Ye Hongyi, the true mastermind. Convinced, the King agreed to deploy troops to support the volunteer army.
However, Ye Hongyi, having learned of Southland's support for Ye Junqing and Yao Mowan, planned to preempt their alliance. Ye Junqing, meanwhile, considered further strengthening his forces by uniting with the Kingdom of Shu, hoping a three-army alliance could swiftly overthrow Chu. But unexpectedly, Crown Prince Chu Mo Bei of Shu led his army in a sudden invasion of the savannah. Ye Junqing was perplexed by Shu's unprovoked hostility, as there had been no prior conflict.
Chu Mo Bei's subordinate also expressed confusion over their king's sudden order to attack the volunteer army, even speculating about an alliance with Ye Hongyi. Soon after, Chu Mo Bei sent a secret letter to Ye Junqing, requesting a meeting in the forest outside the city. Ye Junqing, although wary of a potential trap, knew Chu Mo Bei’s character and decided to risk it.
During their meeting, Ye Junqing thanked Chu Mo Bei for his past assistance in Lian City, but Chu Mo Bei retorted that his help was merely repayment of an old debt to Yao Moxin, not an act of kindness, and asked Yao Mowan to confirm. Ye Junqing then directly questioned Chu Mo Bei's aggressive actions, including a failed ambush followed by a siege, asking why Shu was being so hostile. Chu Mo Bei, offended by the accusation of an "ambush," questioned if that was an appropriate tone for negotiations.
