Royal Nirvana Episode 27 Recap, Plot

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The Emperor explained to Xiao Dingquan that someone must be held responsible for the recent defeat, listing Gu Silin, Lu Ying, Zhang Luzheng, Zhang Shaoyun, and even Xiao Dingquan himself, as those who could not be absolved if a thorough investigation wasn't conducted. He told Xiao Dingquan that his perceived safety was only due to the Emperor's backing, and though the Emperor would punish him, others dared not truly harm him.

The Emperor then clarified Xiao Dingquan's position, stating, "We are father and son in private. We are the emperor and minister in public. You are the crown prince." He warned that if Xiao Dingquan failed this time, he would be powerless and unwilling to save him publicly. The Emperor questioned if Xiao Dingquan could still bear the immense responsibility and danger that came with his privilege.

Xiao Dingquan affirmed his understanding and commitment, promising not to disappoint the Emperor and to bear the responsibility. The Emperor then told Xiao Dingquan, "I believe you can." Upon returning to Baoben Palace, Xiao Dingquan found Princess Consort still awake, having waited for him all night, while Lu Wenxi slept on the couch. He softly apologized to Princess Consort for his earlier hurtful words about not wanting their child.

He confided that his distant relationship with the Emperor made him anxious about fatherhood, fearing his child would eventually mirror his own relationship with his father. However, the Emperor's words last night helped him realize that despite past grievances, all he truly desired was his father's encouragement. He now hoped their child would understand him even if he made mistakes, and promised that their child would be the luckiest in the world.

He decided they must never tell their child about his initial reluctance, instead always assuring him his father had deeply anticipated his arrival. After seeing Princess Consort to her room, Xiao Dingquan returned and found Lu Wenxi, telling her to "stop acting a role." He promised to decide her future once the current case was settled.

The Emperor, feeling unwell, decided to temporarily move to the detached palace, appointing Xiao Dingquan as regent to manage all state affairs during his absence. The imperial decree stated that, according to ancient precedent, a crown prince either leads the army or oversees the state when the emperor is away.

The decree further instructed Xiao Dingquan to work diligently, gain more experience, and not disappoint the Emperor, with the chancellor and other talented officials remaining in the capital to assist him. A minister, Xu, playfully questioned Xiao Dingquan's mood regarding the regency, then excused himself to join the Emperor, stating he would not risk offending the "Crown Prince Regent." Another minister praised the chancellor as the nation's pillar, whose assistance would ensure seamless governance.

When a minister complimented a Shangshu, Zhang, as "also the elite minister," Zhang humbly demurred, prompting a pointed remark about whether he lacked talent, virtue, or perhaps "a good son." The decree specified that Xiao Dingquan would decide all routine matters, but life-and-death or military affairs required consultation with the Emperor at the detached palace to ensure free airing of views.

Before departing, a minister attempted to brief Xiao Dingquan on pending state affairs, but Xiao Dingquan interrupted, stating he had his own important matters to attend to. The minister cautioned him to "be careful" during his first regency. Recalling the Emperor's stern warning, Xiao Dingquan declared his immediate intention to personally interrogate Zhang Shaoyun regarding the horse smuggling case.

Meanwhile, Xiao Dingtang was in the military camp, refusing to join others in the festival celebrations, referring to himself as a "sinner." When his Princess sent pomegranate flowers, he recognized it as a message that the pomegranate trees at home were blooming, intensifying his homesickness and desire to return to the capital. He recited a poem lamenting his distant location lacking carriages and horses but abundant in fallen red blossoms.

Taking advantage of the ongoing military reforms, Xiao Dingtang ordered his men to covertly move warhorses out of the capital late at night, claiming they needed to be renumbered. An official from the capital guards intercepted them, questioning the unusual night transfer and threatening to detain the men and horses for breaking into barracks without orders. Xiao Dingtang identified himself as the prince in charge of the army and asserted it was his order to renumber the horses.

When the official presented an order from the Crown Prince Regent, Xiao Dingtang arrogantly dismissed it, stating he only recognized an imperial decree and served the Emperor directly, not a regent. Zhao Yong paid off his two horse-selling subordinates, instructing them to leave, but they were ambushed and killed shortly after. Zhao Yong, displaying a ruthless disregard for human life, remarked that they "live to make money for me" and "after they die, they will make my land fertile."

In prison, Zhang Shaoyun cried out for his father under torture, observed with pity by Lu Wenpu and Lu Ying from their cells. In the palace, Xiao Dingquan was playing a strategic board game with Princess Consort, who, finding it too challenging, asked Lu Wenxi to play in her stead. Lu Wenxi playfully reminded Xiao Dingquan that such games were officially banned.

As they played, they discussed the horse smuggling case, specifically the unusual renumbering of horses and the Emperor's refusal to issue an imperial decree for further investigation. Xiao Dingquan mused on why the smugglers would risk a felony by dealing in warhorses unless they possessed a formidable "trump card." Lu Wenxi, through her clever play, unexpectedly defeated Xiao Dingquan, who playfully conceded that she had "crossed Hangu pass."

He teased her about where she learned such a banned game, to which she replied it was common knowledge to alleviate boredom in the palace. After the game, Xiao Dingquan called for Youming, prompting Princess Consort to comment that he seemed upset and that Lu Wenxi should have allowed him to win. Xiao Dingquan ordered the confiscation of Zhao Yong's property.

Enraged by the loss of his wealth, Zhao Yong complained to Li Baizhou and other officials, accusing the Crown Prince of acting absurdly, unfairly punishing Zhang Shaoyun, and searching his home, which he viewed as a threat to all of them, as they were "on the same boat." Li Baizhou, while outwardly humble, encouraged the assembled officials to uphold their duties and curb the Crown Prince's "wayward" actions, urging them to uncover the true mastermind behind Zhang Shaoyun.

He then subtly distributed large sums of money to several ministers and assistant ministers. Despite some initial reluctance, these officials, already deeply entangled with Li Baizhou, were compelled to accept the illicit funds. That night, Assistant minister Du visited Zhang Shaoyun in prison. Observing Zhang Shaoyun's severe injuries, Assistant minister Du instructed him that during the upcoming trial, if questioned about the horses' origin, he must claim they were stolen from the Xiaoji cavalry.

Zhang Shaoyun, seemingly protesting or recalling a different instruction, responded, "No. This is the crown prince's order." The next day in court, Zhang Shaoyun confessed under questioning that he had stolen the horses from the "imperial guards, Xiaoji cavalry." Xiao Dingquan, accepting this confession, ordered an investigation of the Xiaoji cavalry. However, a minister interjected, suggesting that for true impartiality, all military garrisons, including the crane squad and critically, Xiao Dingquan's own Donggong imperial guards, should also be investigated.

Xiao Dingquan agreed to this comprehensive search. Li Baizhou, confident in his plan, opted to remain in court to await the results. The initial reports confirmed that the Xiaoji cavalry and Changhe cavalry's horse counts matched their rosters. However, a messenger from the Donggong palace, after a noticeably long delay, reported that ten warhorses were missing and their numbers did not align with the records. This revelation caused a stir, with ministers expressing "great surprise" that "the backyard catches fire."

They blamed Xiao Dingquan for attempting to shift responsibility to the Xiaoji cavalry and recalled an incident where a palace maid from Donggong had allegedly destroyed evidence during an earlier arrest. Xiao Dingquan, understanding the gravity of the situation, offered no objection when a minister proposed to adjourn the court until the next day. After the session, Xiao Dingquan confronted Li Baizhou, stating, "Chancellor.

So the trump card you left for me is here," indicating he had unraveled Li Baizhou's scheme. It was at this moment that Xiao Dingquan realized Assistant minister Du, also known as Du Heng, was secretly aligned with Li Baizhou. Later, Assistant minister Du, who was on night shift, asked Li Baizhou if there were any further instructions.

Li Baizhou, implying his personal involvement in the next phase, stated he had to go "in person" for the night's task, noting that he had not yet fully played his "trump card."

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