Royal Nirvana Episode 2 Recap, Plot

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Xiao Dingtang, after Xiao Dingquan had departed, revealed a sinister smile. He returned a lost golden token to Zhang, the head maid of the Shangfu department, cautioning her with veiled threats. Zhang, intimidated, could only nod in agreement. Later, Xiao Dingtang discussed his worries about Zhang with a confidante, noting that as the late queen's maid, Zhang had been treated kindly by the queen.

His confidante expressed concern that Zhang might risk her life to protect her former mistress, but Xiao Dingtang confidently stated Zhang would not speak. Shortly before the ceremony, Xiao Dingquan courteously thanked Xiao Dingtang for his efforts in preparing for the capping ceremony, to which Xiao Dingtang responded that it was his honor to serve. The solemn capping ceremony for Xiao Dingquan then began.

Emperor Xiao Ruijian, after delivering the commencement address, bestowed upon Xiao Dingquan the style name Mincheng, urging him to uphold his duties as a son and a ruler. Just as the ceremony reached a crucial point, Xiao Dingquan unexpectedly interrupted. He had already sensed something amiss when Zhang had deliberately broken a hairpin earlier while styling his hair, and had privately learned the details of the plot from her.

He announced to his father and the assembled ministers that Qi Wang, Xiao Dingtang, had also prepared a special gift for him, which he wished for everyone to witness. He then addressed Zhang, asking if her deliberate breaking of a hairpin earlier that day was a silent message, urging her to speak the words she couldn't utter in front of Prince Qi.

Zhang confessed that Prince Qi had instructed a maid from her department to use an incident from three years ago to denounce Xiao Dingquan during the capping ceremony. She warned him to be prepared but admitted she hadn't clearly seen the maid involved. As Xiao Ruijian questioned what Xiao Dingquan wished to show him, a commotion broke out. A guard announced that someone had fallen from the tower.

It was quickly identified as Zhang, the head maid of the Shangfu department. Xiao Dingquan was stunned, recognizing her as his late mother's former maid, and wondered why she would do such a thing. A scroll that had been thrown down was then read aloud. It claimed that Xiao Dingquan intended to throw a seditious item during the capping ceremony to frame Xiao Dingtang, and that Zhang, torn between loyalties, chose death as an atonement.

Xiao Dingquan was shocked, realizing that Xiao Dingtang had left him such a trick. He realized the gravity of the situation and immediately ordered Gu Fengen to ascend the tower and apprehend the maid carrying the scroll. However, the maid, Wu, had already escaped, leaving the tower deserted. The truth was, Wu, attempting to throw the denunciation document, was stopped by the righteous Zhang Shangfu. Enraged, Wu pushed Zhang off the tower and then threw the document down.

Chancellor Li Baizhou seized the opportunity to denounce Xiao Dingquan, declaring the incident appalling and questioning the Crown Prince's virtue and fitness for the throne. He formally requested the ceremony be halted. Meanwhile, Wu, having escaped, was told by a servant that Prince Qi had instructed her to quickly hide the scroll.

Back at the ceremony, Lu Shiyu, distraught by the accusations against his student, pleaded with Xiao Ruijian to allow the ministry of justice to thoroughly investigate the case, punish the culprit, and clear the Crown Prince's name. Xiao Dingquan, for his part, stated he had nothing to say at that moment. Xiao Ruijian decided to suspend the capping ceremony and ordered Li Zhongkui to escort Xiao Dingquan back to his palace.

However, a guard then reported that Zhang, the maid who fell, was still alive, albeit barely. Hearing this, Xiao Dingquan regained a glimmer of hope. He reiterated his request, alongside Lu Shiyu, for a thorough investigation, which the Emperor agreed to. Xiao Dingquan then truthfully recounted the entire story.

Xiao Dingtang fell to his knees, feigning a wronged expression, claiming that the whole situation was due to his continued presence in the capital and pleaded with his father to allow him to leave, to avoid further trouble. Xiao Dingquan, however, spoke up to keep him, stating that he already carried too many accusations and did not wish to add "unfriendly to brother, falsely accusing kin" to them.

Gu Fengen, in the meantime, led his men to search the Shangfu department by roster, ensuring no one escaped. Wu, who was attempting to burn the scroll in a locked treasury, was nearly caught when Gu Fengen's men tried to break down the door. Before they could enter, Lady Jiang, who oversees all royal family affairs, appeared. She reminded Gu Fengen, an outsider, not to overstep his authority.

When Gu Fengen challenged her, Lady Jiang produced an imperial decree, stating she was ordered to take charge of the search. Later, Lady Jiang reported to Xiao Ruijian that all eighty-seven people in the Shangfu department had been apprehended, and despite a thorough search, neither the maid nor the scroll mentioned by Xiao Dingquan had been found.

Xiao Dingquan was astonished, realizing his father's blatant partiality in appointing Lady Jiang, a known confidante of Zhao Guifei and Xiao Dingtang, to lead the search. Xiao Ruijian then questioned Xiao Dingquan, asserting that without witnesses or evidence, he could not simply believe his words or expect the world to. Xiao Dingquan, with tears in his eyes, explained that he hadn't informed his father earlier precisely to prevent this situation.

He questioned how his father would treat him if Zhang never awoke, and whether he would protect him as he did Xiao Dingtang. He recalled the pain of being unable to see his dying mother three years prior, when Xiao Ruijian refused to open the palace gates for him, forcing Gu Fengen to fabricate a military report to gain entry, only for Xiao Dingquan to arrive moments after his mother had passed away.

Xiao Dingquan expressed his deep sorrow and asked his father where he truly stood in his heart. Xiao Ruijian merely patted his shoulder and coldly commanded him to plead guilty at the morning court the next day. This time, Xiao Dingquan refused to compromise. He revealed to his father and brother that after Zhang informed him of the plot, he had personally created a replica scroll by imitating Xiao Dingtang's handwriting and instructed Zhang to replace the original with it.

Therefore, the scroll burned by Lady Jiang was his replica, and the original, bearing Xiao Dingtang's actual handwriting, had been hidden by Zhang. He confidently stated that Gu Fengen was already searching for it and expressed his belief in Zhang's integrity, despite her apparent betrayal, sensing she must have had untold difficulties. Xiao Dingquan challenged Xiao Dingtang to wait and see if he could produce the original at the next morning court. Suddenly, word arrived that Zhang had regained consciousness.

Xiao Ruijian, seeing Xiao Dingquan and Xiao Dingtang's conflicting claims, ordered Zhang to be brought before them for personal interrogation. To Xiao Dingquan's shock, Zhang denied that anyone had harmed her, claiming she had jumped herself. Xiao Dingquan pleaded with her to reveal the truth, promising her protection for her department, but Zhang remained silent, even telling Xiao Dingquan to shut up.

When pressed further by Xiao Ruijian about who instructed her to go to Danfeng Gate, Zhang continued to claim she ascended it herself and jumped voluntarily. Desperate, Xiao Dingquan asked her to reveal the location of Prince Qi's original scroll. Zhang, apologizing to her former mistress, then bit her tongue, committing suicide. Xiao Dingquan frantically urged his father to save her, but Xiao Ruijian coldly remarked that saving her would only allow her to expose Xiao Dingquan's "scandals."

Overwhelmed, Xiao Dingquan was then forced to concede and reluctantly agreed to plead guilty at the morning court. Despite Zhang's apparent betrayal, Xiao Dingquan, driven by his inherent kindness, believed she had a hidden reason for her actions. Suddenly, a realization struck him. He declared to Gu Fengen that he knew where the original scroll was hidden, and the two immediately set off to find it, unaware that Lady Jiang and Wu were also desperately searching for the same item.

Episode 1 Recap

Episode 3 Recap