Renascence Episode 9 Recap
> Renascence Recap
Ye Hongyi woke up in a cold sweat, haunted by a nightmare of a pregnant Yao Moxin and Ye Junqing lying in pools of blood. His chief eunuch, An Bing Shan, noted His Majesty’s recent distress and offered calming medicine, but Ye Hongyi dismissed it, believing his ailment was a “heart sickness” beyond physical remedies. He inquired about Prince Su's injury, relieved to hear it was superficial and not life-threatening.
Ye Hongyi then lamented how all his loved ones had left him since he ascended the throne, leaving only Prince Su. He mused on the heavy burden of being king, wishing he and his third brother had been born commoners, where they could have been truly loyal brothers. Yet, in the imperial family, one must be the "chess player" or become "a prisoner." He then asked about the ongoing investigation into the palace fire.
Before the truth about the fire could be uncovered, Consort Shu arrived to express her concern for Ye Junqing’s mysterious injury and the palace fire. Shortly after, Yao Su Luan, referred to as Consort Li, also sought an audience. She claimed to be concerned about the Emperor’s recent bad dreams, subtly implying Consort Shu’s interest in Prince Su while disclaiming any concern for "some official" herself.
Consort Shu quickly retaliated, accusing Yao Su Luan of being callous towards Yao Mowan’s condition and suggesting her expressions of sisterhood with Yao Moxin and Yao Mowan were "just for show." Annoyed by their bickering, Ye Hongyi dismissed both consorts and ordered his litter to Prince Su's Residence. At Prince Su's Residence, Yao Mowan tended to Ye Junqing's wounds, scolding him for risking his life to save her during the fire.
She made him promise that no matter what, they would both survive to see each other. She also pressed him about the fire at the Housekeeping Bureau, wondering if someone had targeted her specifically. As Ye Junqing pulled her into an embrace, intending to kiss her, Han Jinyi burst in, interrupting the moment. Yao Mowan, clearly frustrated, labeled Han Jinyi a "party-pooper." Ben Lei then arrived and reassured Yao Mowan that Ye Junqing’s injuries were merely superficial.
Yao Mowan, seizing the opportunity, asked Ben Lei why Yao Moxin had chosen Ye Hongyi over Ye Junqing. Ben Lei recounted the tragic love story, explaining that at the Lantern Carnival years ago, Yao Moxin had been saved by a masked man and mistakenly believed it was Ye Hongyi, leading her to fall deeply in love with him.
Unaware of this misunderstanding, Ye Junqing had bravely confessed his love in the rain, offering to forsake everything—his kingdom and power—to marry her, promising to follow her wherever she wished. However, Yao Moxin, believing her heart already belonged to Ye Hongyi, gently refused, telling Ye Junqing that their love was impossible and he deserved more than to sacrifice his future for her.
Just as Ye Junqing was about to reveal he was her true rescuer, Ye Hongyi dramatically arrived in his wedding attire. He confessed his difficulties in defying their father's decree to marry another, but declared Yao Moxin was his true beloved wife and he was willing to lose everything, even defy a royal decree, to be with her. Devastated, Ye Junqing punched Ye Hongyi, declaring the blow was for himself and for Yao Moxin's hurt feelings.
He relinquished Yao Moxin to Ye Hongyi, but with a stern warning: if Ye Hongyi ever betrayed or hurt her, he would risk his life to take her back. Ye Hongyi solemnly promised to never fail Yao Moxin. Hearing this story, Yao Mowan realized that Ye Junqing was the one who had truly saved her sister at the lantern festival. She felt a profound sadness, acknowledging a strong, inexplicable connection to her sister's tragic romance.
Ben Lei commented on her resemblance to Yao Moxin and noted how Ye Junqing had changed since that day, never accepting another woman until Yao Mowan. Yao Mowan confessed she didn't want her own relationship with Ye Junqing to end in such a sorrowful manner.
Han Jinyi then updated Ye Junqing on his investigation into the Dou family, presenting a detailed map of their money laundering routes across the Kingdom of Chu, made possible by a network of criminal strongholds that Ye Junqing had inspired him to connect. Han Jinyi revealed that the Dou family primarily used waterways and the borderlands to accumulate wealth, having bribed numerous officials along the way.
He further exposed how Dou Shiming conspired with generals to harm common people and falsely claim military merits. Ye Junqing was enraged by the corruption, condemning how officials would betray their own countrymen for profit while honest soldiers fought and died. They discussed how to proceed without "alerting the enemy."
Ye Junqing suggested starting in the capital, where all the illicit gains converged, to uncover the detailed account books of their bribery and laundering, thus allowing them to "catch them in a jar" and swiftly bring them to justice. Han Jinyi then voiced his concern for Ye Junqing, suggesting that if not for the events involving Yao Moxin "that night," Ye Junqing, with his deep concern for the country and its people, would likely be the emperor.
Ye Junqing quickly silenced him, warning him against speaking such words outside. Han Jinyi assured him of his discretion but reiterated his fear of Ye Hongyi's lingering resentment, as Ye Junqing had been "only one step away" from the throne. Ye Junqing confidently stated he had a plan to protect himself. Unbeknownst to them, Yao Mowan was eavesdropping outside the room, wondering what transpired "that night" that could have changed the line of succession. Moments later, Ye Hongyi arrived.
To protect Han Jinyi, Yao Mowan quickly intercepted the Emperor, fabricating a dramatic story that Ye Junqing was undergoing a gruesome procedure to scrape burned flesh, a sight too "revolting" for him. Inside, Han Jinyi quickly created sounds of a painful operation to sell the deception. Convinced, Ye Hongyi suggested he and Yao Mowan take a walk in the gardens.
During their walk, Yao Mowan mentioned being drugged at the Housekeeping Bureau just before the fire, reiterating her suspicion that someone was trying to sabotage her investigation and declaring her unwavering resolve. Ye Hongyi remarked on her striking resemblance to Yao Moxin, noting her shared medical skills, intellect, and strong character. He spoke fondly of his deep bond with Yao Moxin, lamenting that he might never find such understanding again.
Yao Mowan then skillfully steered the conversation toward Ye Junqing, suggesting that despite their apparent distance, both brothers still harbored affection for each other. She interpreted Ye Hongyi's hesitation to eliminate Ye Junqing as a "test of faith," urging them to communicate openly like commoners instead of letting suspicions fester. Ye Hongyi acknowledged her keen insight but expressed uncertainty about how long their "withering relationship" could endure, hoping for a delayed end.
He invited her to the palace to learn more about the complexities of the imperial family, but Yao Mowan politely declined, stating her personality was ill-suited for such intrigues. Ye Hongyi later visited Ye Junqing, observing his concern for Yao Mowan and remarking on her resemblance to Yao Moxin. He then attempted to test Ye Junqing by offering to betroth Yao Mowan to him. Ye Junqing, seeing through the ploy, stated he needed "time to ponder over it."
Ye Hongyi, acknowledging his cautiousness, accepted the answer and then presented Ye Junqing with a special "wound-healing tonic" from the palace clinic. Ye Junqing, momentarily hesitant, prompted Ye Hongyi to question if he suspected poison. Ye Junqing then drank the tonic and Ye Hongyi departed. Unbeknownst to them, Yao Mowan had been eavesdropping again and was furious at Ye Junqing's response.
She angrily called him a "thankless wretch" and "white-eyed wolf" for his perceived rejection, accusing him of being willing to sacrifice a kingdom for her sister but not admitting his feelings for her. Ye Junqing denied any impropriety with Yao Moxin but refused to explain, further enraging Yao Mowan, who stormed off calling him a "wolf in sheep's clothing" and a "beast." Still fuming, Yao Mowan encountered Han Jinyi and vented her frustration about Ye Junqing.
Han Jinyi redirected the conversation, asking about her activities at the Housekeeping Bureau. Yao Mowan explained her search for records of palace staff who disappeared after her sister’s illness, and how the fire had destroyed her leads, making the situation even more suspicious. Han Jinyi suggested that the "Supreme Court's archives" would also hold records of arrested palace staff.
They attempted to gain entry using Yao Mowan’s royal tablet, but the guards denied access without an imperial decree, stating the tablet only granted access to the palace, not the judicial grounds. Worried about losing her only trail, Yao Mowan accepted Han Jinyi’s help to sneak over the wall. Inside the archives, they found a crucial clue pointing to the "Imperial Prison."
To gain access to this heavily guarded location, Yao Mowan devised a plan: she deliberately provoked a guard, striking him and declaring, "I'm breaking this prison," leading to her immediate arrest and incarceration. Meanwhile, Ben Lei informed Ye Junqing that the Border Guards, hearing of his safety, were offering their unwavering support if he chose to overthrow the Emperor and leave the capital.
Ye Junqing firmly rejected the offer, stating his desire to abandon the "politics of the court" and "seek peace," to live "a life of solitude" with Yao Mowan if she was willing. Ben Lei expressed his relief that Ye Junqing had "finally seen the light," believing it was what Yao Moxin would have wanted. However, Han Jinyi then arrived with alarming news: Yao Mowan had been locked up in the Imperial Prison for "attempting to break it."
A shocked Ye Junqing demanded to know why, then immediately ordered Ben Lei to prepare horses, intending to go to the palace to intervene. In her cell, Yao Mowan tried to communicate with a silent, unresponsive prisoner next to her. A guard brought food, part of a plot by Dou Shiming to poison her. The adjacent prisoner, who had been begging for days, asked for food, and Yao Mowan offered her bowl to him.
The desperate prisoner devoured it, only to immediately start frothing at the mouth and collapse, revealing that the food meant for Yao Mowan was poisoned. Yao Mowan desperately called for help, realizing the danger she was in and asking to switch cells.
