Royal Nirvana Episode 15 Recap
> Royal Nirvana Recap
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Lu Wenxi's sharp observations uncovered crucial clues at the Jinshi press, which Gu Feng'en then used to track down compelling evidence. Li Baizhou's subordinate reported that although they had dealt with the Jinshi press personnel and materials, the massive quantity of gazettes ordered by An Pingbo (Zhao Yong) had led the Jinshi press to outsource some work to another printing house. Gu Feng'en, titled Jia Yibo, discovered this outsourced operation in full swing and arrested everyone involved.
The subordinate expressed concern that while the arrested individuals likely didn't know enough to implicate Grand Chancellor Li (Li Baizhou) directly, the situation would escalate if it reached the Emperor. Li Baizhou, recognizing the gravity of the situation, immediately dispatched someone to summon Chen Jiusi from the Censorate. He also commanded all private bodyguards from Prince Qi's mansion and his own residence to detain Gu Feng'en until after the court test, ensuring the evidence would not reach the Emperor. "
If you can't stop him at the city gate," Li Baizhou declared, "stop him at the palace gate of the temporary palace." Gu Feng'en, intending to present the evidence to the Emperor, was intercepted by a group of guards before he could enter the palace gates. He initially assumed they were Li Baizhou's or Xiao Dingtang's men.
However, the guards displayed Imperial Bodyguard tokens and announced an imperial decree to arrest both Gu Feng'en and the head of the Office of Transmission for disrupting the imperial court. Gu Feng'en, identifying himself as an earl and the Emperor's nephew, challenged them, questioning what rewards their master had promised them, whether it was wealth, women, or the power to run rampant. The Imperial Bodyguard leader replied that his master had promised him nothing and that he simply followed orders.
Forced to comply, Gu Feng'en entrusted his evidence to the guards, specifically requesting that it be delivered to the commander-in-chief and that he protect the nation's foundation. Unbeknownst to Gu Feng'en, the guard secretly handed the evidence to Xu Changping, who was waiting nearby in a palanquin. The Emperor had not only ordered Xiao Dingquan to write a self-criticism but also to guard the mausoleum.
This decision caused apprehension among his ministers, who speculated that the Emperor intended to remove the crown prince from his status. Li Chongkui, the commander-in-chief, suggested reconsidering the mausoleum assignment, but the Emperor silenced him. Just then, Lu Shiyu, despite having retired, arrived to plead with the Emperor. Lu Shiyu immediately addressed the rumor, asking if the Emperor truly intended to discrown Xiao Dingquan, reminding him that Crown Prince Min was sent to the mausoleum before he was discrowned.
The Emperor coldly told Lu Shiyu that as a retired official, he should not meddle in politics. Lu Shiyu conceded that Xiao Dingquan might have erred or committed a crime but urged the Emperor to investigate thoroughly and punish him according to national law. He attempted to present two gazettes—one "clean" and one "detestable"—but the Emperor refused to look, stating he would deal with it after returning to the capital.
Lu Shiyu then suggested the Emperor's harshness stemmed from Xiao Dingquan's trespass three years prior to see his dying mother, the late Empress, asserting that Xiao Dingquan had no intention to harm the Emperor. The Emperor, questioning if Lu Shiyu believed he held grudges for so long, then asked how Lu Shiyu would discipline his own son for such an act.
Lu Shiyu, deeply saddened, recounted the profound regret and heartbreak he felt after his own son’s death, admitting he had pushed him too hard. He implored the Emperor, for the sake of father-son kinship, not to repeat his mistake, for "only parents and children are not optional or chosen in life." The Emperor seemed briefly moved but quickly regained his icy composure, declaring he would never regret his decisions.
Xiao Dingquan, who had overheard the conversation from a nearby terrace, dropped his writing brush, his heart sinking into despair. The Emperor ordered Lu Shiyu to be escorted out. Lu Shiyu, before leaving, boldly questioned if the Emperor was punishing Xiao Dingquan to appease the army. The Emperor became enraged. Fearing for his teacher, Xiao Dingquan knelt, pleading for his father to let Lu Shiyu go and affirming his willingness to remain at the palace and accept all punishment.
He tearfully urged his teacher to leave and live peacefully, acknowledging that he should not have forced him to stay. The Emperor, with a sneer, remarked that in Xiao Dingquan's heart, his teacher was clearly more cherished than his father. Later, as the Emperor was preparing to depart, Xiao Dingquan, confined to his room, spoke through the closed door to his father.
He confessed his fear, uncertain how he could continue as crown prince, and questioned if his father’s true intent was to "kill his heart." He vulnerably admitted his deep affection for Wenxi, stating that being the crown prince had felt truly good for the first time because it allowed him to meet and feel worthy of her.
He lamented that he had once hoped his father might show mercy and allow their union, believing he would then fight with all his might against Xiao Dingtang. However, with Prefectural Governor Li (Li Ming'an) now involved with the Tianchang squad, he understood his father would never consent to their union, and Grand Censor Lu (Lu Ying) would no longer dare to associate with him. He concluded that he no longer dared to hope for her protection or his own.
He repeated his anguished question, "Does father want to kill my heart?" and asked what he truly meant to his father. After a long silence from outside the door, Xiao Dingquan learned from a servant that the Emperor had not, in fact, left; Li Ming'an was currently in the imperial chariot with him.
Earlier, foreseeing his own obstruction from entering the temporary palace, Gu Feng'en had prepared a second set of evidence and entrusted it to Lu Wenxi, instructing her to find a way into the temporary palace and deliver it to Li Ming'an. He had told her that Prefectural Governor Li would listen to her, and if he couldn't get away, she should inform her father of the outcome.
Lu Wenxi successfully completed her mission, having disguised herself as an internal palace staff member from Denghua palace sent on an errand by Princess Qi, using a pass to enter the palace unchallenged. She then delivered the privately printed gazettes and the confession from the press leader to Li Ming'an, who subsequently presented this evidence to the Emperor. This evidence, exposing Zhao Yong and the deeper conspiracy, caused the Emperor to realize he had misjudged his son.
Remembering Xiao Dingquan's heartfelt plea, his heart softened, and he ordered an investigation into Lu Wenxi's birthdate, with the intention of arranging a marriage between her and the Crown Prince. Li Ming'an, who had a deep friendship with Grand Censor Lu (Lu Ying), recognized Lu Wenxi and advised her to return to her father immediately to inform him that the Crown Prince was safe and to avoid any rash actions.
However, Lu Wenxi suddenly realized she had lost a pouch containing Xiao Dingquan's personal seal. She rushed back to find it, only to see Xiao Dingquan emerging, holding the lost pouch. Filled with mixed emotions, she quickly asked him to keep it. Xiao Dingquan, not recognizing her, dismissed the pouch as an item someone had dropped to gain favor and had it thrown away.
As a result of this delay, the palace gates closed for the night, trapping Lu Wenxi inside and preventing her from delivering the message to her father. Outside the palace, Lu Ying and several censors were in fervent discussion, preparing a joint petition to the Emperor to demand justice for the Crown Prince. Their anger was palpable, but Lu Shiyu arrived and cautioned them.
Presenting such a memorial with their names now, he warned, would only bring further trouble to the Crown Prince. As the Emperor's chariot departed the detached palace, onlookers noted that Xiao Dingquan was not among the retinue returning to the capital, confirming widespread fears that he remained confined within the palace. Lu Ying and the other censors were left to ponder their next move.
