Royal Nirvana Episode 13 Recap, Plot

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The Emperor expressed his desire to transfer Lv Han's Tianchang squad to Changzhou, to be led out of the capital by Li Ming'an. Li Baizhou had anticipated this move and immediately voiced his strong objections. He argued that the capital and Changzhou were thousands of miles apart, making troop movement too far and supplies too lengthy, which was not a sustainable strategy. He suggested instead to recruit soldiers from the local populace around Changzhou.

The Emperor, visibly displeased, refuted Li Baizhou, stating that he was not seeking counsel but had already drafted the imperial decree, making his decision final. Li Baizhou, seeing the Emperor's resolute stance, boldly declared his intention to exercise his right to seal and reject the imperial decree. The assembled officials exchanged uneasy glances, not daring to utter a sound. Meanwhile, at a distance, Lv Han gathered his officers and instructed them all to wear armor under their clothes.

He declared that regardless of the day's outcome regarding the troop transfer, they must absolutely refuse to leave the capital. " Listen to me," Lv Han commanded, "If you don't want to be separated from your family and die in the wildness, then follow me today." His subordinates pledged their obedience to the general. Lu Wenxi, following her father's instructions, informed Lu Shiyu of Li Ming'an's return to the capital.

It was then that Lu Shiyu learned of Lu Wenxi's affections for Xiao Dingquan. He tried to comfort her, saying that things could still be influenced, and the Emperor's decision was not irreversible. He promised to speak with Lu Ying to persuade him not to so stubbornly obstruct the young couple's relationship. Lu Wenxi, however, had made up her mind. "

My family is more important," she stated, confirming her decision to accompany Prefectural Governor Li Ming'an to Changzhou in a few days. Seeing that her mind was set, Lu Shiyu could only reluctantly agree. However, he entrusted her with an important task: to deliver a lost seal to its rightful owner before she left the capital. " It's not a little case," Lu Shiyu emphasized. " You need to go in person. Give it to the owner in person.

I am worried the owner will regret for the rest of his life if he loses it." As Lu Wenxi was about to inquire about the owner's identity, a visitor arrived, and Lu Shiyu requested her to wait a moment. The Emperor then summoned Lv Han, seeking his opinion as a military commander on whether he was willing to lead his troops to Changzhou.

At the same time, the archery finals commenced, with Xiao Dingquan and Xiao Dingtang galloping towards their targets. Lv Han, riding to answer the Emperor's summons, brushed past Xiao Dingquan. In that fleeting moment, Xiao Dingquan caught a glimpse of a golden flash at Lv Han's waist, the reflection of armor hidden beneath his clothing. Knowing that wearing armor before the Emperor was tantamount to treason, Xiao Dingquan immediately recognized Lv Han's ill intent towards his father.

Abandoning his pursuit of victory against Xiao Dingtang, he abruptly turned his horse to chase Lv Han. As Lv Han neared the Emperor, Xiao Dingquan, desperate, drew his bow and aimed an arrow at Lv Han. The onlookers panicked, mistakenly believing Xiao Dingquan intended to harm the Emperor. At this critical juncture, the Emperor also drew his bow. Both father and son released their arrows almost simultaneously.

Xiao Dingquan's arrow wounded Lv Han, while the Emperor's arrow struck Xiao Dingquan's horse, causing him to fall. It was only then that everyone clearly saw Lv Han and his subordinates were secretly wearing armor, solidifying the evidence of their intended rebellion. Prince V, seeing Xiao Dingquan on the ground, inquired about his well-being, but Xiao Dingquan ignored him and ordered Lv Han's capture for treason. Meanwhile, Lu Shiyu was meeting his guest, who turned out to be Xiao Dingkai.

Xiao Dingkai presented a piece of calligraphy he had copied, crafted from Lu Shiyu's historical memorials, seeking the former minister's appraisal. He even expressed his desire to become Lu Shiyu's student. Lu Shiyu politely declined, explaining that he was old, had laid down his brush for years, and did not wish to mislead anyone's future.

He suggested that if Xiao Dingkai wished to pursue a noble path in literature, he should ask the Emperor to find him an eminent teacher from among the contemporary masters. Xiao Dingkai, undeterred, stated he would continue to work harder and visit again. Lu Shiyu then changed the subject, inquiring why Xiao Dingkai had not attended the archery competition, as he had in previous years.

Xiao Dingkai, with a gentle smile, replied that he was an insignificant figure, merely a "prop," and believed his presence would only be a "liability." Lu Shiyu pondered this, sensing an unseen depth beneath Xiao Dingkai's mild demeanor. Lv Han was brought before the Emperor. He looked to Li Baizhou, but instead of defending him, Li Baizhou sternly rebuked Lv Han, accusing him of harboring rebellious intentions, a crime punishable by death.

Li Baizhou feigned ignorance of the instigator and demanded to know who put him up to it. In reality, Li Baizhou had met with Lv Han the previous night, subtly prompting him to resist the transfer even if it meant rebellion. Li Baizhou's shrewd calculation was to provoke Lv Han into enraging the Emperor. If the Emperor ordered Lv Han's execution, the remaining Tianchang army would become agitated, potentially leading to a mutiny, thus precluding their transfer to Changzhou.

However, the Emperor's reaction took Li Baizhou by surprise. After a moment of contemplation, the Emperor did not condemn Lv Han. Instead, he claimed that he himself had permitted Lv Han to wear armor, stating it was a temporary mobilization, and apologized for Xiao Dingquan's accidental injury to the general.

Lv Han was deeply moved by the Emperor's words and immediately declared his willingness to obey the Emperor's command, expressing his desire to transfer to the ministry instead of leading his troops to Changzhou. Li Baizhou's face darkened considerably at this unexpected turn. Since Xiao Dingquan had veered off course, Xiao Dingtang was declared the winner of the archery competition. The Emperor bestowed upon him the prize: a jade belt, an insignia traditionally reserved for the Crown Prince.

The assembled officials whispered amongst themselves. Xiao Dingtang was overjoyed, while Xiao Dingquan, feeling utterly forsaken, sat on the ground, his eyes brimming with tears. He did not realize that this was a carefully orchestrated maneuver by his father. By awarding such a significant prize to Xiao Dingtang, the Emperor aimed to appease the infuriated Li Baizhou and stabilize the court, a perfectly executed strategy, though it came at Xiao Dingquan's emotional expense.

The Emperor had reflected earlier that to secure Lv Han and his army without a fight, he needed to offer them "grace of the same importance," a reason "that he can't refuse." He had also explicitly stated that "This time the crown prince can't win the archery." After Xiao Dingquan was injured, a eunuch delivered the Emperor's horse to him, explaining that the Emperor thought he lacked the strength to return and that the untamed, non-Central Plains horse required caution.

In Lu Shiyu's garden, Lu Wenxi was examining the seal, which was engraved with the characters "Mincheng." At this moment, Xiao Dingkai encountered Lu Wenxi. He was both surprised and delighted, engaging her in a lively conversation. During their talk, they both deduced each other's identities. Xiao Dingkai expressed his heartfelt admiration for her calligraphy and humbly requested her to create a painting for him. Lu Wenxi, however, politely declined, stating, "I can't draw the same painting again."

As Xiao Dingkai prepared to leave, Lu Wenxi inquired if he knew anyone named "Mincheng." Xiao Dingkai's smile froze. After a brief pause, he slowly replied that the person he knew by the style name "Mincheng" was his elder brother, Xiao Dingquan. Lu Wenxi immediately understood Lu Shiyu's intention and now wished to avoid meeting Xiao Dingquan. Later, Lu Shiyu confided in his wife about his "private intentions" for Lu Wenxi.

He explained that he had watched Lu Wenxi grow up like his own daughter, and admitted to having a selfish motive. He worried about the Crown Prince's increasing difficulties and the even harder times ahead. He believed that Xiao Dingquan needed someone who understood him by his side to help him endure, ensuring he wouldn't collapse under the pressure.

Back at his residence, Li Baizhou erupted in a furious tirade against Lv Han, chastising him for agreeing to the Emperor's demands. Meanwhile, Xiao Dingtang gleefully admired the jade belt bestowed by the Emperor, overjoyed. Li Baizhou was beside himself with rage. He lamented that his elite troops, which he had cultivated for over a decade and cherished like his own eyes, had been so easily exchanged for "an ordinary belt."

The Emperor, he fumed, was truly a step ahead, clearly determined to strip him of his military power. He realized that transferring the Tianchang squad to Changzhou was a strategy to control Gu Silin, a "kill two birds with one stone" move that cost the Emperor nothing and that he had failed to foresee.

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