Royal Nirvana Episode 30 Recap
> Royal Nirvana Recap
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The Crown Princess regained consciousness after her miscarriage. Consumed by grief and a sense of betrayal, she declared her desire to die, feeling that Xiao Dingquan's past assurances had been nothing but lies. An attendant attempted to comfort her, reminding her that matters of progeny are destined and urged her to recover for the future. Xiao Dingquan offered to let her see her father, Zhang Luzheng, but she tearfully refused, stating she didn't want to see anyone.
From outside, Zhang Luzheng expressed his concern for his daughter, who was distraught that without a royal grandson, there would be no general amnesty, thus sealing Zhang Shaoyun's fate. Later, an imperial doctor reported that the medicinal soup given to the Crown Princess had been tampered with; it should have been sour but was bitter. Maid Gu and other palace maids who had prepared the decoction were identified.
Xiao Dingquan, furious, ordered everyone involved to be arrested for immediate interrogation, demanding thorough searches and torture if necessary, without fear of severe consequences. He then headed to the Ministry of Justice himself. At the Ministry of Justice, Xiao Dingquan confronted Zhao Yong, who had awakened from his injuries. Zhao Yong, now referred to as An Pingbo, initially feigned having no appetite, but Xiao Dingquan pressed him, revealing that he knew the chancellor was the true manipulator.
He offered An Pingbo a chance to live if he would expose Li Baizhou and the location of the warhorses. When An Pingbo remained silent, Xiao Dingquan threatened further torture. Xiao Dingquan explained that An Pingbo was merely a pawn, and even if he protected Xiao Dingtang (Prince Qi), Prince Qi's fate was in Xiao Dingquan's hands, not Li Baizhou's.
Xiao Dingquan threatened to make captured Xiaoji cavalrymen testify against Prince Qi, implicating Li Baizhou and An Pingbo while leaving Prince Qi seemingly untouched. Realizing his predicament, An Pingbo broke down, admitting he truly didn't know the exact number or hiding places of the warhorses. Believing him, Xiao Dingquan demanded only that An Pingbo name Li Baizhou at the next trial. An Pingbo then wrote and signed a confession.
While observing the interrogation, Zhang Luzheng saw his injured son, Zhang Shaoyun, nearby. He knelt before Xiao Dingquan, begging for his son's life, noting that Xiao Dingquan had shown clemency to An Pingbo and asserting his son's innocence. However, Xiao Dingquan remained unyielding, stating that Zhang Shaoyun was not the only innocent party implicated. Wang reported that Maid Gu had been interrogated for almost two hours but refused to confess. Xiao Dingquan dismissed Wang and went to Maid Gu himself.
Despite her battered state, with lacerations and blood, her eyes remained firm. Xiao Dingquan accused her of planning to deceive him, then ordered more torture. Maid Gu eventually admitted to having considered harming the Crown Princess but insisted she never acted on it, instead burning the herb and injuring her arm. Xiao Dingquan did not believe her. Just then, Kou Zhu arrived with a packet of Eupatorium chinense, claiming it was found in Maid Gu's quarters.
Maid Gu was stunned, realizing she was being framed, but refused to defend herself, knowing Xiao Dingquan would not believe her. She challenged his perception of power, noting that common people are more fragile and vulnerable than those in high positions, and their lives easily crushed. Xiao Dingquan retorted that she was not one of the fragile. Maid Gu adamantly refused to confess.
Xiao Dingquan, exasperated, ordered her food and drink cut off, declaring that if she didn't confess by noon in two days, she would be "crushed into pieces." Later that night, the Crown Princess, despite her fragile health, came to plead for Maid Gu. She cited Maid Gu's detailed observations about Xiao Dingquan's habits as proof of her loyalty and argued that a truly guilty party would have been more careful.
She suggested simply sending Maid Gu back to the Shanggong division. Xiao Dingquan tried to comfort her, offering to teach her a poem Maid Gu had taught her, and urged her to rest. However, the Crown Princess asked if he was lying to her again about Maid Gu's fate. Xiao Dingquan replied that as a ruler, he faced many unavoidable and more important matters.
Meanwhile, Zhang Luzheng gave Zhao Yong's signed confession to Li Baizhou in exchange for his son's safety. Li Baizhou promised to do his best to protect Zhang Shaoyun. After Zhang Luzheng left, Li Baizhou instructed Du Heng to ensure Zhao Yong's death during the upcoming trial, which would eliminate Xiao Dingquan's key witness and allow them to blame Xiao Dingquan for killing a royal relative.
Du Heng sighed, wishing he could undo the moment he accepted Li Baizhou's first bribe, the hilsa herring. Li Baizhou, undeterred, told Du Heng he would provide him with a copy of the account book the next day, effectively tying him to the conspiracy. The following day, an attendant informed Xiao Dingquan that the Emperor had sanctioned the interrogation and would summon him later for an explanation regarding the Crown Princess. Zhao Yong was brought to court.
To everyone's surprise, he recanted his confession, claiming sole responsibility for the thirty warhorses and implicating no one else. Enraged, Xiao Dingquan ordered severe torture. Despite a subordinate's warning about the severity of the punishment, Xiao Dingquan insisted. During the torture, Zhao Yong coughed up blood and died in court. The attendant confirmed he would not revive. During this time, Maid Gu, enduring her confinement, received a secret delivery of food from Chang'an, an eunuch from Baoben Palace.
Chang'an explained that his master, Xiao Dingkai, had sent the food, specifically milk to soothe her chronic illness. He conveyed Xiao Dingkai's offer to help her escape the palace. However, Maid Gu refused, stating that fleeing would forever confirm her guilt in poisoning the Crown Princess, and eventually implicate Xiao Dingkai. She urged him not to get too deeply involved and to remember to tell Xiao Dingquan if necessary. Shortly after, Xiao Dingquan entered Maid Gu's cell.
He spotted the food, offering a bitter smile but not pursuing the matter. He drank wine, lamenting his overall failure, which had tragically implicated his wife and child. He expressed his desire to know why Maid Gu had come to him, and who had instigated her. Maid Gu stubbornly refused to answer, only reiterating her innocence regarding the poisoning.
Xiao Dingquan sighed, explaining he was on his way to the detached palace to "report his work," which was in fact to plead guilty to his father. He grimly concluded that by the time he returned, he likely would not see her again.
