Royal Nirvana Episode 31 Recap
> Royal Nirvana Recap
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Xiao Dingquan exited the room, instructing his attendants that the criminal held within, Lu Wenxi, was to be executed at noon the following day and for the order to be formally documented. Inside her chamber, Wenxi wept uncontrollably, feeling utterly helpless. Earlier, before his departure, Xiao Dingquan had spoken, seemingly to Wenxi, stating he was heading to the detached palace to report his work, but acknowledged it was, in fact, a summons to plead guilty.
He mused that it might take a few days, and after his return, he might not see her again, as he needed to provide an answer to everyone, regardless of her identity. He expressed regret, explaining that as the monarch, he had no choice. Wenxi, in her solitude, wondered about her own identity, pondering "Who am I?" Meanwhile, an anxious Zhang Luzheng sought out Li Baizhou.
Earlier, Du Heng had paid Li Baizhou a visit, offering what sounded like veiled congratulations for his "dream coming true" before excusing himself, suggesting they would not see each other again until the Emperor's return. Zhang Luzheng then confronted Li Baizhou, expressing concern for his son, Zhang Shaoyun, who was implicated. Li Baizhou attempted to reassure him, claiming he would ensure Zhang Shaoyun's safety before the Emperor.
However, Zhang Luzheng dismissed this, revealing that the crown prince had met with Zhao Yong before they did, instructing Zhao Yong to implicate Li Baizhou. Although Zhao Yong had been executed, Zhang Luzheng asserted that he had left a confession for the crown prince, detailing all of Li Baizhou's misdeeds. Upon hearing this, Li Baizhou's smile vanished, and he immediately ordered his men to intercept Xiao Dingquan’s procession to seize the alleged confession.
However, Li Baizhou's forces were ambushed by Li Chongkui's men. Xiao Dingquan emerged unharmed, revealing that there was no confession from Zhao Yong. He explained that Zhao Yong's hand injuries prevented him from writing, and Zhang Luzheng, having stood outside the prison, couldn't have seen clearly. This elaborate ruse was designed to provoke Li Baizhou's impulsive nature and expose his true intentions.
Addressing Li Baizhou's captured men, Xiao Dingquan observed that their master's anxiety and unchanging nature had led to this situation, with an official clarifying that their attempt to assassinate the crown prince constituted treason. He offered them a choice: face consequences for treason or reveal the extent of Li Baizhou's forces. With solid grounds for arrest, Xiao Dingquan apprehended Li Baizhou. Li Baizhou defiantly resisted, questioning their authority without an imperial decree.
An official countered, asserting that the regent's order was sufficient to arrest a traitor. Suddenly, Zhang Luzheng burst in, accusing Li Baizhou of maintaining private armies, plotting rebellion, and attempting to murder the crown prince. Du Heng also appeared, expressing concern for the crown prince, confirming his support. Li Baizhou, furious, accused Du Heng of slandering him without evidence and poisoning Zhao Yong on the crown prince's orders to frame him.
He insisted that Zhao Yong had already confessed in court that all crimes were his alone and demanded evidence, questioning Xiao Dingquan if he only had a blank piece of paper as proof. Xiao Dingquan scornfully declared that he had never witnessed such shamelessness. Li Baizhou, enraged, demanded an audience with the Emperor. To his shock, the inner room's doors opened, revealing the Emperor seated within, who announced that he had heard everything.
The Emperor initially questioned the lack of evidence but then, on Xiao Dingquan's suggestion, dismissed the need for a full judicial inquiry and ordered Zhao Yong to be brought in as a witness. Zhao Yong, alive and visibly angry, confronted Li Baizhou, declaring he would have died at Li Baizhou’s hands had it not been for Du Heng’s intervention. Du Heng, who had advised Zhao Yong to choose the winning side and align himself with the crown prince, watched on.
Li Baizhou, his hope fading, fell to his knees as Zhang Luzheng watched, secretly delighted. With the truth exposed, the Emperor granted Xiao Dingquan full authority over the matter. Li Baizhou closed his eyes in despair, realizing his complete defeat. Following the interrogation, both Li Baizhou and Zhao Yong provided confessions. The investigation uncovered over a thousand military horses Li Baizhou had embezzled and nearly a thousand private soldiers he had secretly raised near the capital, confirming his rebellious intentions.
Xiao Dingquan presented their confessions to the Emperor, who, upon reviewing them, remarked that not only Li Baizhou and Xiao Dingquan’s father-in-law, Zhang Luzheng, but even he himself had been thoroughly outmaneuvered by the crown prince's intricate strategy. Xiao Dingquan, feeling a profound sense of relief, knew he had finally met his father's expectations.
The Emperor, emotional, confessed that he had been harsh with Xiao Dingquan due to his role as crown prince, believing such rigorous training was necessary to prepare him for governing the nation. He then entrusted the full reins of power to Xiao Dingquan once more, expressing his renewed belief in his son. Meanwhile, Kouchu entered Wenxi's secluded room, holding a white silk sash.
She coldly informed Wenxi that the crown princess had not suffered a miscarriage; Xiao Dingquan had only intended to frighten her. Driven by her own animosity towards Wenxi's closeness to the crown prince, Kouchu declared her intention to eliminate Wenxi. As Kouchu ordered palace servants to strangle Wenxi, the crown princess arrived just in time, saving her. Moved, Wenxi confessed to the crown princess that she had not intended to harm her.
Instead, fearing others might, she had added ginseng to the preserved apricots, which caused the abdominal pain, and secretly instructed the imperial doctor to falsely declare a miscarriage, acting under what she believed to be Xiao Dingquan's command. Soon after, Xiao Dingquan personally took Wenxi away for "interrogation." During this, he offered her preserved apricots, urging her to eat.
He revealed his knowledge of her instructing the imperial doctor to spread false news of the miscarriage, cleverly bluffing the doctor into revealing Wenxi's involvement. Xiao Dingquan explained that her predicament, along with Zhang Shaoyun's and Zhang Luzheng's, had all been part of his elaborate scheme to draw out Li Baizhou.
He admitted that even the medicine found in Wenxi's room had been placed there by Kouchu under his orders, all to make the deception appear flawless to the palace mole feeding information to Li Baizhou. Upon learning of Li Baizhou’s complete defeat, Wenxi was overwhelmed with emotion, crying and laughing simultaneously. Xiao Dingquan, observing her distraught face, gently wiped her tears with his handkerchief.
He explained that both princes and commoners often act out of necessity, with something more important than themselves at stake. Having "taught her a lesson," he declared them "even now," but Wenxi felt otherwise. After Xiao Dingquan departed, Wenxi emerged from her room to find Kouchu anxiously waiting outside. Wenxi reassured Kouchu that she had not spoken ill of her to the crown prince and would soon be leaving the palace.
Elsewhere, Zhang Luzheng, still concerned for his son's safety, approached Commander Li Chongkui. He pleaded with the commander to intercede with the Emperor on behalf of his son, now that Li Baizhou had been identified as the true traitor. However, Commander Li Chongkui was unwilling to help, and Zhang Shaoyun was led away.
