Royal Nirvana Episode 17 Recap, Plot

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Zhang Luzheng, the Minister of Penalty, came before His Majesty to request permission for his department to escort his late teacher, Lu Shiyu, back to his residence. His Majesty granted this. Zhang Luzheng then confessed that as the head of the Ministry of Penalty, he had failed to prevent the recent disorder and threats to the Emperor.

Although the Censorate and scholars had admonished the Emperor, Zhang Luzheng offered to resign, stating his wish to avoid becoming a "sinner of our country." His Majesty, understanding that Li Baizhou's machinations were aimed at weakening the Crown Prince, Xiao Dingquan, issued a decree. He affirmed that Xiao Dingquan was loyal and filial, and thus would not be ordered to leave the capital.

The actions of the loyal advisers were deemed unintentional faults, with only the "initiator" to be punished, acknowledging the sincerity of the scholars. Regarding Prince Qi, Xiao Dingtang, His Majesty decreed that due to ongoing warfare and military rectifications, Prince Qi would be ordered to inspect the troops in the capital for "tempering" before ultimately "going back to his fief."

That evening, a grief-stricken Xiao Dingquan returned to his private quarters, where he called for alcohol, seeking solitude despite his attendant Wang's attempts to console him. He repeatedly insisted he was fine, then drunkenly plunged into a pool, seemingly desperate to forget the day's painful events. That night, Xiao Dingquan was consumed by one of the darkest moments of his life.

He recalled his teacher's words: "The ruler is heaven, the subject is earth; the father is heaven, the son is earth." Yet, he was deeply confused, wondering where man stood between heaven and earth. Meanwhile, Zhang Shaoyun was at home, discussing the day with his father, Zhang Luzheng. Zhang Shaoyun was puzzled by his father's apparent dual loyalty, noting that he had accepted gifts from the Chancellor, Li Baizhou, yet also defended the Crown Prince.

He suggested aligning with Xiao Dingquan, especially since Prince Qi was leaving, and proposed marrying his sister to the Crown Prince to elevate their family to a status akin to Gu Silin's. Zhang Luzheng scoffed, calling his son foolish and remarking that it was fortunate he hadn't pursued a political career, as he would surely have fallen prey to others' schemes. Just then, Li Baizhou arrived, prompting Zhang Luzheng to hastily greet him.

Li Baizhou, in an angry tone, accused Zhang Luzheng of disloyalty, implying that after accepting gifts, he should not have spoken on behalf of others. Zhang Luzheng humbly explained that his actions were for Prince Qi's own good, reasoning that the Crown Prince would never forgive Prince Qi after Li Baizhou had forced Lu Shiyu to his death. Li Baizhou retorted that Lu Shiyu's demise was self-inflicted and arrogantly asserted his own power to protect Prince Qi.

Zhang Luzheng then revealed his true apprehension: the rumor that Lu Ying might become the Crown Prince's father-in-law. He worried that such an alliance would severely endanger him. Li Baizhou dismissed this fear, stating that Lu Ying's recent crimes made any such elevation impossible. He mentioned that the commander in chief's men had already retrieved Lu Ying's household register. Zhang Luzheng, still probing, asked if this was for the registration of the Crown Princess.

He then reiterated his difficult position, citing his existing conflicts with Lu Ying and the Crown Prince's inevitable future power. Later, Concubine Zhao, upon learning of Xiao Dingtang's military assignment, tearfully pleaded with His Majesty. She argued against sending Prince Qi to Jingjiwei, suggesting Changzhou to be under Gu Silin's command instead. His Majesty, however, was furious, smashing his writing brush. He recognized that Concubine Zhao's father, Zhao Yong, and Li Baizhou were behind the recent events.

He lashed out, questioning if they thought the Crown Prince was easily manipulated, and reminded them that Xiao Dingquan was a "suckling tiger," a rightful heir with the full backing of ancestral law, rites, public opinion, and his maternal uncle Gu Silin's two hundred thousand soldiers. He highlighted the Crown Prince's deep affection for Lu Shiyu, noting that after twelve years and eight thousand visits, this was the first night Xiao Dingquan had not come to pay his respects.

His Majesty warned that if Prince Qi did not leave, the Crown Prince would expose all their misdeeds, ensuring they would "die with his teacher." Overwhelmed, Concubine Zhao fell silent. His Majesty then clutched his chest in distress and collapsed, prompting his attendants to quickly administer medicine. Upon regaining consciousness, with only Xiao Dingtang kneeling outside, His Majesty, still raging, demanded to know the true mastermind behind the events, vowing to arrest and execute them.

He then angrily ordered Xiao Dingtang to go immediately to the Xiaoqi squad, which was led by his father-in-law, and forbade him from re-entering the palace, as his presence now vexed him. The next morning, Li Baizhou, who had reportedly stayed awake all night, presented His Majesty with confessions from several Censorate officials. The Emperor sarcastically commented on the speed of Li Baizhou's "confession" writers.

Li Baizhou replied that the gravity of the matter, involving the Crown Prince, imperial relatives, and the Ministry of Rites, demanded swift action. He confirmed that the confessions "all say Lu Ying is the initiator" who had "caused troubles deliberately," and that "His Royal Highness has nothing to do with it." His Majesty, reflecting on his earlier appointment of Zhang Luzheng, mused that it was "my mistake" to have chosen him as "minister of discipline."

He suggested that Lu Ying's family might also be complicit. Pondering the severity of disrupting national ceremonies, His Majesty asked Li Baizhou if they truly needed to proceed to such lengths. Li Baizhou stressed that such disruption was akin to destroying the imperial temple, deeply affecting the dignity of the royal family. Convinced, His Majesty issued a decree, ordering the Ministry of Penalty to arrest the Lu family members.

At Lu Shiyu's mansion, Lu Wenxi, still feeling unwell, was keeping a sorrowful vigil for her teacher. Officials from the Ministry of Penalty suddenly arrived, demanding to know if "royal minister Lu's daughter" was present. Lu's wife protested the unfairness of extending punishment to women and children, but the officials insisted on searching the premises. Realizing the danger, Lu's wife quickly urged Lu Wenxi to escape through the back door. Though distraught, Lu Wenxi was persuaded to flee.

Inside the mourning hall, Lu's wife bravely confronted the Ministry of Penalty officials, reminding them that their superior, Zhang Luzheng, was a former student of Lu Shiyu, and passionately asked if they intended to prevent her late husband's soul from returning home by desecrating his funeral. At that moment, Xiao Dingquan arrived, his eyes filled with a frosty resolve. He sternly ordered Zhang Luzheng's men to immediately cease disturbing his teacher's wife.

Entering the mourning hall, Xiao Dingquan draped Lu Shiyu's cape over the coffin. Memories of his teacher's gentle demeanor and lessons on calligraphy, particularly that "all literature and art can't be used for conspiracy," flooded his mind. He recalled Lu Shiyu's desire to retire after the spring exam and his request for a piece of his calligraphy.

Overwhelmed, Xiao Dingquan picked up a ruler, striking his palm repeatedly, a futile act of self-punishment for a loss that could not be undone. Meanwhile, outside, Lu Wenxi, still on the run from the Ministry of Penalty guards, was cornered, but then suddenly rescued by Xiao Dingkai, who assured her she was safe. Lu Wenxi, crying bitterly, realized that her temporary negligence had doomed the Lu family, the Gu family, and the Crown Prince. In her distress, she expressed only one desire: to go home.

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