Royal Nirvana Episode 14 Recap
> Royal Nirvana Recap
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
After the Emperor's decision to transfer his troops, Li Baizhou, resigned to the situation, expressed his frustration, acknowledging that the Emperor was determined to reclaim control of his military, especially the elite forces he had cultivated for over a decade. He saw the transfer of Li Ming'an's army to Changzhou to "control Gu Silin" as a clever, cost-free move that "kills two birds with one stone."
He then instructed Zhao Yong to ensure that news of Xiao Dingtang receiving the jade belt was published in the newspaper before the upcoming court test, while also strictly forbidding the release of any information, particularly soldier rosters, about the troops. He warned Zhao Yong that failure would result in severe consequences, including being sent to Changzhou and facing a mysterious death.
Meanwhile, Gu Fengen complained bitterly to Xiao Dingquan about the Emperor, feeling that using a mere "jade belt" was a pretext to reclaim military authority and send Li Ming'an's army to counterbalance his father, Gu Silin, which he found excessive. Gu Fengen also speculated that the Emperor's actions were reminiscent of how he "squeezed Crown Prince Min out." Xiao Dingquan, though visibly distressed, reprimanded Gu Fengen for his disrespectful remarks, urging him to mind his language within the palace.
Xiao Dingquan was primarily concerned about Lu Shiyu learning of the day's events. He tasked Gu Fengen with instructing the head of the office of transmission, who was a student of Gu Fengen’s uncle, to delay publishing any news of the incident in the next day's newspaper until after the court test. As expected, the office of transmission did not publish any news regarding the archery competition.
Xiao Dingtang was displeased with the bland newspaper, but Li Baizhou remained composed, having anticipated Xiao Dingquan's attempt to suppress the information. Li Baizhou had Zhao Yong secretly print a different version of the newspaper that featured news of the Emperor’s troop transfer. This unauthorized newspaper was widely circulated, causing widespread speculation about the Emperor's intentions and the shifting political landscape.
Later, Li Baizhou, speaking to Xu Changping, acknowledged that the Emperor’s guilt and shame towards Xiao Dingquan would make him more prone to suspect the Crown Prince, believing that Xiao Dingquan would eventually "fail him." Li Baizhou also ensured that this "explosive" version of the newspaper reached the Emperor. Unaware of this, Xiao Dingquan was paying his respects to the Emperor when he noticed his father's agitated expression.
Misinterpreting the cause of the Emperor's anger, Xiao Dingquan preemptively confessed to ordering the office of transmission to withhold yesterday's news, claiming full responsibility for everything in the newspaper. It was only when the Emperor angrily threw the privately printed newspaper before him, revealing its inflammatory content about troop movements, that Xiao Dingquan realized he had been framed again. Xiao Dingquan was at a loss for words.
To protect Gu Fengen's upcoming court test, he reaffirmed his responsibility for instructing the office of transmission not to publish news of yesterday's events. However, he adamantly denied authorizing any public dissemination of the troop transfer news. Yet, the Emperor’s suspicions had been stoked; he accused Xiao Dingquan of deliberately obstructing the transfer of Tian Changwei to Changzhou, thereby assisting Gu Silin.
Xiao Dingquan vehemently denied this, stating that he "would die rather than have such a rebellious heart," and urged Li Chongkui to investigate the capital for another version of the newspaper, noting that movable-type printing allowed for two versions to be easily made. But his pleas fell on deaf ears, as all of this was orchestrated by Li Baizhou to manipulate the Emperor and alienate him from Xiao Dingquan, ultimately benefiting Xiao Dingtang.
The Emperor quickly turned hostile, concluding that Gu Fengen must be involved. He ordered the arrest of both the head of the office of transmission and Gu Fengen, explicitly stating that Gu Fengen would not be allowed to participate in the court test. Xiao Dingquan desperately pleaded with his father. At that moment, Xiao Dingtang, dressed in plain clothes and holding the jade belt, dramatically entered.
He knelt and humbly requested the Emperor to reclaim the gifted belt and punish him, claiming his "low status and great favor" were causing instability. He declared that he was the Emperor's subject first, then his son, and that he would die rather than "sabotage the Emperor's plan." This act was clearly at Li Baizhou's behest. The Emperor glared at his two kneeling sons.
Just then, Li Ming'an urgently reported that Tian Changwei's roster was missing and would take "more than two months" to recompile, effectively delaying the army's transfer to Changzhou. Li Ming'an even asked if "desperate measures" should be taken. The Emperor was enraged, noting that killing "him" now would be pointless. He ordered Xiao Dingquan to remain in the palace to write a self-criticism, with his return to the capital to be decided later.
He told Li Chongkui to inform Li Baizhou that he need not accompany the imperial entourage, but should return to the capital to prepare for the court test. The Emperor then took Xiao Dingtang with him, leaving Xiao Dingquan behind. Xiao Dingquan, in despair, clutched at his father's robe, begging for forgiveness and trust, but the Emperor left without a backward glance.
He tossed the jade belt to Xiao Dingquan, telling him to take it to the mausoleum and await further imperial decree on his return. Elsewhere, Gu Fengen, now in possession of the altered newspaper, went to Lu Shiyu's residence but only found Lu Ying. Gu Fengen expressed his distress over the Emperor’s actions, noting that exchanging "military power with a jade belt" was unheard of, and lamented Xiao Dingquan's precarious situation.
He informed Lu Ying of his intention to investigate the origin of the false newspaper and asked Lu Ying to protect Xiao Dingquan should he encounter trouble. Lu Ying vowed to do his best, though he hoped the situation would not worsen to that extent. Unbeknownst to them, Lu Wenxi overheard their conversation.
Lu Ying later spearheaded a joint petition with other imperial censors, urging the Emperor to "fulfill his promise" and send Xiao Dingtang to his fief to stabilize the court. Meanwhile, Li Baizhou, Zhao Yong, and Xu Changping celebrated their success. Zhao Yong credited Xu Changping with the idea for the privately printed newspaper. Li Baizhou marveled at Xu Changping's ability to discern the Emperor's will without ever having met him, finding it "creepy."
Xu Changping modestly attributed it to "sheer luck." Zhao Yong then voiced concerns about the "jinx," referring to the censorate, potentially causing problems for Xiao Dingtang. Li Baizhou dismissed this, believing the censorate's petition to banish Xiao Dingtang would only make the Emperor more wary of Xiao Dingquan. However, Xu Changping then asked Zhao Yong if he had destroyed the evidence related to the private printing.
Zhao Yong revealed that he had not, having spent "tens of thousands of money" to hire many workers who were still printing copies. Shocked by Zhao Yong's carelessness, Li Baizhou immediately ordered all unissued newspapers to be burned, printing plates destroyed, and all workers arrested, emphasizing that the censorate must not discover this.
Gu Fengen, following a lead, arrived at the printing house to find it in ruins, with only "ashes still warm" and no evidence left, realizing he had arrived too late. He questioned his subordinate about the number of copperplates and workers involved and the number of copies they could print. Gu Fengen himself noted that despite all official departments already receiving their newspapers, the printing operation had continued, which seemed odd.
Hidden from Gu Fengen's view, Lu Wenxi also arrived at the scene, having learned of the situation after overhearing Gu Fengen and her father. She had come to find evidence to clear Xiao Dingquan's name, but also found the site already cleared. The observation about the continued printing despite widespread distribution suggested a larger operation was at play than just the initial distribution, a point on which Lu Wenxi seemed to agree or ponder further.
