Royal Nirvana Episode 38 Recap
> Royal Nirvana Recap
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Xiao Dingquan brought Lu Wenxi to face the Emperor, openly declaring his intent to continue the investigation into the Crown Princess's death and requesting that Imperial Concubine Zhao assist in the inquiry at Zongzheng Temple. The Emperor, who believed Xiao Dingquan had no interest in such power struggles, expressed surprise, to which Xiao Dingquan responded that he was willing to engage as the Emperor wished. The Emperor pointedly asked if Lu Wenxi, a mere maid, was so important to him.
Xiao Dingquan, feigning agreement, claimed he wanted to throw her into the Taiye Pond. However, he then argued that her confession to the Ministry of Justice, obtained under torture and showing "many fire wounds," was invalid according to national law. He further demanded maid Sun of Denghua palace be brought for questioning, deeming her a "useless pawn" for his purposes, and asked if the Emperor had reviewed his memorial regarding Imperial Concubine Zhao.
The Emperor challenged him, asking if he believed he could win this "game." Xiao Dingquan conceded he was not skilled at chess but asked if the Emperor would grant his request should he win. The Emperor, reflecting on governance, stated that playing politics, strategy, and maintaining the overall situation were paramount, implying that sometimes sacrifices were necessary for the "overall situation."
Xiao Dingquan then directly reiterated his request for Imperial Concubine Zhao to go to Zongzheng Temple to assist Dazongzheng with the investigation. The Emperor grew angry, reminding Xiao Dingquan that Imperial Concubine Zhao was his stepmother, and questioning whether she was an imperial concubine or a suspect in regicide. He concluded that Xiao Dingquan had already lost. The Emperor then issued an imperial decree.
The decree stated that Maid Gu (Lu Wenxi) of Baoben palace had murdered the Crown Princess, confessed, and was to be sentenced to death. Crown Prince Xiao Dingquan was accused of complicity for covering her up, but due to being deceived and showing repentance, he was to go to Zongzheng Temple for introspection instead of being treated as an accomplice.
Xiao Dingquan refused to accept the decree, and as regent, declared he would "reject it," stating he needed neither the Emperor's forgiveness nor understanding. The Emperor scornfully noted that Xiao Dingquan was still relying on the authority the Emperor had granted him. Xiao Dingquan then joined forces with officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, and Dali Temple (the three interdependent judicial departments) to push the case forward.
The officials appeared before the Emperor, stating they were there to take maid Sun and thoroughly investigate the Crown Princess's death, acting on the Crown Prince's order. The Emperor accused Xiao Dingquan of colluding with the three departments. Xiao Dingquan denied collusion, explaining that they were simply acting in accordance with national law.
He detailed how Zhang Shaoyun, the Crown Princess's brother, filed the lawsuit, which was then processed through the Zhanshi department and Zuochun palace to the Ministry of Justice. Since the Minister of Justice's own son was the plaintiff, the minister had to recuse himself, allowing a deputy to proceed. The other two departments were then legally bound to review the case. Xiao Dingquan insisted that every step was "reasonable and legal."
The Emperor sarcastically "praised" Xiao Dingquan for his regency, remarking that he was doing "very well." Xiao Dingquan replied that it was the first time he had received a compliment since becoming regent. The Emperor questioned if Xiao Dingquan truly intended to defy his father and the family for a woman. Xiao Dingquan reminded the Emperor that he himself had once said that institutions and parenthood were distinct matters.
Xiao Dingquan then revealed a prepared seal, warning that if he stamped it, the case would be handed over to the "outer court" for public trial, effectively escalating the matter beyond the imperial family's purview. He claimed he was merely asking the Emperor what course of action he should take. The Emperor, seeing this as a challenge, remarked that Xiao Dingquan wanted to become "the second Li Baizhou."
Ultimately, the Emperor relented, ordering Li Chongkui to personally escort Imperial Concubine Zhao to Zongzheng Temple. Imperial Concubine Zhao pleaded with the Emperor, but he coldly departed. Li Chongkui then informed her that Dazongzheng was the late emperor's brother, Xiao Dingquan's granduncle, and Wu Dehou's uncle, suggesting she might have a hard time clarifying herself to him.
He then added a poignant remark, wondering how wonderful it would be if his own mother, younger sister, wife, and son had been given a similar chance to clarify themselves. Later, Lu Wenxi opened the box containing Xiao Dingquan's seal, only to find it empty. She immediately realized that Xiao Dingquan had never intended to hand the case to the outer court, but merely used it as leverage against the Emperor.
Xiao Dingquan admitted that Imperial Concubine Zhao was his father's concubine and his brother's mother, and he did not wish to harm her. Lu Wenxi commented that Zongzheng Temple sounded "more terrible than the Ministry of Justice." Xiao Dingquan concurred, describing it as "spooky and dark," and then, in a dark jest, suggested she jump into the pond again so he could "enjoy your sinking."
Lu Wenxi, still shaken, then said that Dazongzheng was an upright man who would not be partial, and reminded him that she too would be going there. Meanwhile, outside Changzhou city, enemy forces were attacking. Li Ming'an, having repeatedly sought aid without response, risked his life to personally confront Yang Sheng, General Gu Silin's aide, questioning why no reinforcements had been dispatched.
Yang Sheng dismissed the situation, claiming the city had enough provisions and Li Ming'an should merely hold his position, asserting this was his own judgment, not Wu Dehou's. Li Ming'an then revealed an imperial decree for supervising the battle. Yang Sheng, however, declared himself the commander in chief there, stating that as a soldier, he only recognized the war situation, not imperial decrees. At this moment, Gu Fengen rushed in, addressing Li Ming'an as "Uncle" and trying to calm him.
Li Ming'an then understood Yang Sheng’s true intention: to wait until Li Ming'an's Tianchang camp was depleted, allowing Gu Silin's forces to claim sole victory. Yang Sheng ordered Gu Fengen, whom he called an "adjutant," to be beaten for forty times for entering without permission. Li Ming'an stopped the punishment, warning them to consider the nation's predicament and that of the Crown Prince. He then left.
The Emperor, still without news from Changzhou, wondered if a decree from Xiao Dingquan would be more effective. Back on the city wall, Li Ming'an issued a grim order for all soldiers to guard the gate at all costs, with violators facing execution. Later, Xiao Dingquan received a secret message from Dazongzheng, his granduncle, summoning him to Zongzheng Temple. Upon arriving, he was surprised to find Xiao Dingtang and Xiao Dingkai already there.
Xiao Dingtang questioned Xiao Dingkai's unauthorized return from the frontier, where he was assigned to safeguard, and asked about their mother's well-being, to which Xiao Dingkai responded he did not know. Soon after, the Emperor himself arrived. The three princes, unsure of the reason for their summons, followed him inside. The Emperor explained that Zongzheng Temple was responsible for all imperial family penalties, and the Crown Princess's death was a serious family matter that all his sons should hear.
He then ordered maid Sun and Lu Wenxi to be brought before him for interrogation. Maid Sun, under the Emperor's direct questioning, initially implicated Imperial Concubine Zhao as the instigator in the Crown Princess's poisoning. Imperial Concubine Zhao immediately denied the accusation, calling it a lie. The Emperor pressed Sun, warning her that lying would result in the extermination of her clan. Maid Sun then changed her testimony, claiming it was Lu Wenxi who coerced her, not Imperial Concubine Zhao.
She sensationally added that she had personally witnessed the Crown Princess kneeling and crying before Lu Wenxi on the night of the banquet, a claim that Maid Su also saw. The Emperor directly confronted Lu Wenxi about her relationship with the Crown Princess. Xiao Dingquan interjected, calling Sun's claims absurd.
The Emperor angrily rebuked Xiao Dingquan, criticizing his personal intervention in the case, suggesting it implied fear of Lu Wenxi committing suicide and that the Crown Prince was acting inappropriately despite "confession, evidence, and testimony." He implied for the sake of "decency," they should not speak too plainly about Xiao Dingquan's true motives for defending Lu Wenxi. Lu Wenxi, however, steadfastly denied coercing Sun or being instigated by Xiao Dingquan, pleading for the truth to be recognized.
The Emperor, accusing her of disrespect, ordered her immediate execution. Xiao Dingquan protested, arguing that Dazongzheng should be the one to interrogate the case, not the Emperor. Dazongzheng, who had been trying to enter, was stopped and informed that he was "already not" Dazongzheng, as the Emperor had removed him from office, and that the Emperor himself would temporarily fill the vacancy according to family law.
The Emperor then handed a sword to Xiao Dingquan, ordering him to execute Lu Wenxi personally. The Emperor asserted this was to clarify Xiao Dingquan's "attitude and position" and to settle the case. Xiao Dingquan, distraught, threw the sword to the ground and refused, stating, "I am not a butcher. I won't do such things. I won't agree on your conclusion." He questioned why an innocent person should be sacrificed for the "overall situation" while others were spared.
The Emperor, infuriated, said, "Since he disagrees, he should reject the decree and prove it. He is so eager to be the second Li Baizhou. Okay, I can help him." Xiao Dingquan then declared that as the Chancellor, he would reject the imperial decree. The Emperor, in a rage, commanded Xiao Dingquan to summon his "adherents," including his uncle and cousins, to witness his manipulative methods.
Xiao Dingquan denied having adherents, stating he had returned Jinbao (likely a symbol of authority) that morning and offered to explain any misunderstanding. The Emperor walked away, declaring he would wait for Xiao Dingquan and his supporters. Tearfully, Xiao Dingquan maintained that neither he nor Lu Wenxi was guilty, believing the Emperor knew the truth. The commander then reminded Xiao Dingquan that the Emperor simply wished to see his "attitude and position."
