Royal Nirvana Episode 52 Recap, Plot

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Wenxi listened to Xiao Dingquan's words, realizing he would not avenge her father Lu Ying and his son. Her heart filled with anger and disappointment, and she could not help but shed tears, yet she had no choice but to clench her teeth and deliver the message. She went to the riverside and dug out the crown prince's private seal that she had buried. Her emotions were in turmoil, for this time, Xiao Dingquan had once again let her down.

She recalled Xiao Dingquan's instructions: "Forget all the unhappiness. We will never talk about it again. Tell them I am fine. After this, I will find a way to settle the case to prevent future troubles." In her mind, the despairing thought, "Tell Zhang Luzheng, I will never investigate; the case is in my hands," replayed, confirming her fear that he would not truly pursue justice.

She desperately hoped that this time, he was not lying and would uphold justice for the innocent, despite her doubts. Meanwhile, Xiao Dingtang and his princess were affectionate towards each other. Xiao Dingtang commented on the roundness of the moon. His princess, addressing him as "Husband," told him she had made up her mind when they married: she would follow him everywhere and be with him for her entire life. Xiao Dingtang said he knew.

The princess then suggested, "I don't want to be in the capital. Let's go to the fief" to live peaceful and stable lives. Xiao Dingtang, however, was ambitious and insisted on contending for the position of crown prince. He asked, "Sister, what are you talking about?" The princess replied that they couldn't stay in the capital forever, and she was afraid of what might happen in the future. Xiao Dingtang assured her, "You just miss your father badly. Don't worry.

No more troubles. And I will stay in the capital with you." The princess then pondered, "What a good moon. Other families are watching at it like us, right?" To which Xiao Dingtang replied, "I don't think so. Not everyone is as happy as we are." The Emperor summoned Gu Silin, known as Muzhi, back to the capital. Gu Muzhi knelt, declaring, "Your Majesty, I am sinful. You should punish me."

The Emperor, however, told him to rise and sit, stating, "My son is unfilial. It's my fault. You have nothing to do with it." The Emperor sighed, explaining that he had initially intended to forgive Xiao Dingquan out of fatherly love and filial affection, but he was angered when Xiao Dingquan allied with court officials to coerce him, which led to stricter punishment. The Emperor confessed, "To be honest, I was angry last night.

I thought about beating him to death." Gu Muzhi replied, "I can understand." The Emperor continued that his anger was not just for himself, but "Also because of his mother." Gu Muzhi again affirmed his understanding. The Emperor further explained that when he saw Xiao Dingquan call him "father," he was reminded of the crown prince's childhood, and he thought he should forgive him, as "He is my son after all." Gu Muzhi respectfully agreed.

But then the Emperor revealed, "But this morning, he tried to coerce me with chancery and judiciary departments." Gu Muzhi started to speak, "Your Majesty, the crown prince," but the Emperor interrupted, "Muzhi, what will you do if your son Gu Fengen takes the army to your camp?" Gu Muzhi remained silent, unable to answer. The Emperor continued, "He settled Lu Ying's case during his regency. It was a total fiasco.

I tried to investigate it but I know the chancellor should account for 70% responsibility." The Emperor concluded, "You are right. The chancellor should assist the emperor and set a good example for all the ministers. The chancellor should possess good virtue and capability. I picked the wrong chancellor."

Gu Muzhi pondered the Emperor's intentions, but the Emperor then directly stated, "I call you here because I am afraid you are worried that this and what happened yesterday has something to do with the crown prince. You can go after the case is settled." Gu Muzhi thanked the Emperor for his understanding. At this moment, Zhang Luzheng ordered his men to send Zhang Shaoyun back to the countryside.

When a servant reported that Zhang Shaoyun had woken and was eating, Zhang Luzheng initially wanted him brought to him, but then quickly changed his mind, ordering him to be sent away immediately, to the countryside, and never to return. He sternly instructed his men to keep a close eye on Zhang Shaoyun and break his leg if he tried to run, adding that they needn't report to him anymore.

Zhang Luzheng murmured, "God bless him," hoping his son could escape this ordeal. Zhang Shaoyun, however, refused to leave. As the servant reported this, a visitor arrived—Wenxi, whom the servant identified as being from the Eastern Palace. Zhang Shaoyun's companion, who was his sister, pointed out Wenxi, teasingly asking, "That's the girl you like, isn't it?" Shaoyun initially denied it, saying, "How come?" but then, admitting it, asked his sister, "Sister, how did you know?"

His sister replied, "We have been brother and sister for so many years. I know you so well. See. She looks pretty, huh?" Wenxi, identifying herself not as a maid but a messenger, explained that Xiao Dingquan had sent her with an order. When Zhang Luzheng asked if she brought the crown prince's decree, she replied there was no need, as the crown prince wanted her to convey a message verbally and a letter.

Wenxi conveyed the message, instructing Zhang Luzheng, on behalf of the crown prince, to consider the larger picture of ruler and subject. She declared that when the time came to address Lu Ying's unjust case, Zhang Luzheng should confess his guilt and resign from office. Zhang Luzheng was terrified, trembling, completely unaware that Wenxi had deliberately altered Xiao Dingquan's original message, which (as stated in the secret letter) was to no longer pursue Zhang Luzheng's past mistakes.

When he asked if the crown prince really said so, Wenxi replied by referencing the letter, twisting its instruction of "never mention it again" to imply his immediate compliance, and added, "The crown prince is wise. Please do as the emperor tells you. Don' t harbor any evil ideas." After Wenxi finished delivering her altered message and took her leave, Zhang Shaoyun excitedly chased after her, calling her "Maid Gu," wanting the embroidered purse he had seen on her waist.

He reminded her she had promised to give it to him after she finished it and asked her to promise not to give the quail on it to anyone else. Wenxi, remembering Xiao Dingquan's heartless decision, readily gave him the purse, saying, "I can give you." Zhang Shaoyun was overjoyed, promising to cherish it and carry it with him "wherever I go." He then rushed to show his father, "Dad, Dad, Dad, see, what I have got."

Wenxi had no desire to return to Baoben Palace. She sat outside, distraught and sobbing uncontrollably. Back at Baoben Palace, Wang Gong urged Xiao Dingquan not to wait for her, explaining that "She can go out but can't come back." Xiao Dingquan asked Wang Gong to open the curtains, desiring to look at the moon, even just for a while, remarking that he last saw such a beautiful moon in Zongzheng Temple, and expressing his belief that Wenxi would return.

Just then, Xiao Dingkai approached Wenxi, draping a cloak over her shoulders. Wenxi, tears blurring her vision, looked up and asked, "Prince V, why are you here?" Xiao Dingkai explained he had intended to dine with his eldest brother (Xiao Dingquan), but his brother wanted to be alone with his wife that night and sent him away. He then asked Wenxi why she was there. Wenxi, heartbroken, replied, "I can't go back."

Seeing her distress, Xiao Dingkai, knowing there was nothing to ask, offered her solace, saying he had a room ready for her. At this moment, Zhang Luzheng felt he was at a dead end with the crown prince. He decided to agree to marry his second daughter to Xiao Dingtang. He sent a servant to deliver his daughter's horoscope birthday details to Xiao Dingtang, pleading for him to send the betrothal letter soon.

When the servant delivered the information to Xiao Dingtang, the prince, upon hearing the servant quietly mention "Chancellor's horoscope birthday," impatiently demanded, "Louder. Why so stealthy?" and then, "You are fed up with living? So loud." He then asked who gave the information, and the servant replied it was from the chancellor's family, requesting him to send the proposal letter as soon as possible.

After several days, Wenxi, known as A'bao, finally returned to Baoben Palace to personally attend to Xiao Dingquan's bath. However, she no longer smiled charmingly at him; her demeanor was as cold as ice, as if she were facing a stranger. Indeed, a man had chilled her heart to this extent, and Wenxi realized she needed to awaken to reality. Earlier, in the court, officials gossiped about the political situation and the temper of He Shizhao.

The Emperor, aware of the gossip, inquired if Gu Muzhi had been informed not to come to court that day to avoid further trouble with the censors. A servant confirmed that the crown prince had been told the previous night that the guards would be withdrawn. Another servant reported that Xiao Dingquan could stand, though Doctor Wu advised against movement or speech due to his injuries.

The servant also expressed worry that Xiao Dingquan insisted on bathing despite his back wound. Xiao Dingquan defiantly stated he could afford the medicine and wasn't afraid of scars, emphasizing his need to bathe before attending court, saying, "I haven't taken the shower for days. I can't go to levee like this. Smell it." When a servant seemed to feign a cold, he added, "A gentleman would rather die than remove his cap," to maintain his dignity.

Now, as Wenxi helped him, Xiao Dingquan noticed her return, saying, "You. . . Come back?" Wenxi, with a hardened gaze, simply offered, "Allow me. . ." Xiao Dingquan asked where she had been. She replied that she had stayed at an old friend's home, clarifying it was a man, which prompted Xiao Dingquan to ask, "What man?" As she tended to his wound, he flinched, asking her to be gentle, to which she coolly responded, "Bear with."

He commented that she seemed like a different person after a few days away. Wenxi asserted, "No. I am still the same." Xiao Dingquan then asked what she meant by her earlier words about things coming around. Wenxi said she believed he knew better than anyone. She further observed that no matter what happened in court, he would always have countermeasures and an escape route.

She reflected on how her father, like herself, admired the crown prince, seeing him as an exception among the corrupt. Wenxi then exposed Xiao Dingquan's machinations, asking if he had ordered her to write the letter to Zhang Luzheng only so she could be made a scapegoat if something went wrong. She also questioned if his earlier calligraphy lessons were for the same purpose, recalling when he had insisted on teaching her the calligraphy.

Xiao Dingquan was speechless, unable to defend himself, feeling Wenxi had truly changed. He simply said she had talent. Wenxi retorted that he had not yet seen her true talent. Xiao Dingquan reiterated that she had changed, but Wenxi insisted, "But not me." Staring intently at him, she pleaded, "Please, even if you have scars, you should be a young and clean man."

As Wenxi's sleeve became wet and she wrapped it with a tie, Xiao Dingquan suddenly looked up, a sense of déjà vu washing over him. He stared at her blankly, asking, "We have met before right? Your voice and. . . Not only in the detached palace. Who are you?" A servant then rushed in, reminding him, "Your Royal Highness. We are running late."

Episode 51 Recap

Episode 53 Recap