Royal Nirvana Episode 7 Recap
> Royal Nirvana Recap
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All examinees were released from the examination hall. However, Minister Lu Shiyu discovered an empty examination room that had no number, which immediately raised his suspicion. Simultaneously, the Emperor carefully examined two documents: one was Lu Shiyu's authentic handwriting, and the other a forgery. He noticed the remarkable similarity between them, realizing that the skill to produce such a flawless imitation was akin to that of Lu Shiyu himself.
The Emperor was also informed about the strange empty room found between Tianzi No. 40 and Tianzi No. 41 at the examination site. This anomaly meant that all subsequent rooms, from Tianzi No. 41 to Xuanzi No. 10, had been shifted back by one position from their original arrangement. Xiao Dingquan eagerly went to see Lu Shiyu, only to be struck by his teacher with a ruler.
Lu Shiyu finally understood that Xiao Dingquan’s visit on the eve of the imperial examination was a calculated move to divert him, allowing Zhao Sou to steal the exam papers, thus drawing Xiao Dingtang and Li Baizhou into a trap. What truly grieved Lu Shiyu was that Xiao Dingquan had used the calligraphy skills he had painstakingly taught him for forgery.
Furthermore, all of Lu Shiyu’s efforts to instill moral principles in his student seemed in vain, as Xiao Dingquan had used fame and fortune to entice examinee Xu Changping and Zhao Sou into his elaborate scheme. Lu Shiyu expressed his disappointment, saying that a crown prince should not resort to such deceitful tactics, which would only invite insidious ministers and lead to being exploited by them.
He reminded Xiao Dingquan that the monarch’s virtue is the cornerstone of a nation, and if the crown prince's conduct is not upright, the country would be unstable and its people would suffer. He lamented that using conspiracy would render all literature and art spiritless and invertebrate, and the same applies to people. Xiao Dingquan argued that being pure and innocent was too difficult, claiming he was just trying to protect his teacher and his cousin Gu Fengen.
Lu Shiyu countered that a gentleman must guard against both the harm inflicted by villains and the harm inflicted upon oneself when fighting them. He concluded that his theory of righteousness was far more challenging than mere tactics. Lu Shiyu advised Xiao Dingquan to learn from the Emperor in this regard, revealing that he could discern Xiao Dingquan’s forgery and that the Emperor, with his insight, surely could too. Lu Shiyu's resolve to leave was strengthened by this incident.
He solemnly advised Xiao Dingquan to take care of himself after his departure. Distraught, Xiao Dingquan cried and repeatedly apologized, begging his teacher to stay, even offering to endure more beatings. Lu Shiyu, on the verge of tears himself, dropped the ruler. During this emotional moment, a servant brought a meal featuring Lu Shiyu’s hometown dishes, noting it was Lu Shiyu's birthday.
Xiao Dingquan used the occasion to express how he had lost his mother, his sister, and Wu Dehou, and could not bear to lose his teacher as well. He pleaded with Lu Shiyu to stay long enough to witness his marriage and the birth of his heir. That evening, Xiao Dingquan went to pay his respects to the Emperor and was surprised to find Li Baizhou already there, realizing Li Baizhou had not been arrested by the Ministry of Penalty.
A sense of unease washed over him, but he entered the study nonetheless, where he saw Lu Shiyu’s authentic writing and his own forged copy laid out on the Emperor’s desk. Recalling Lu Shiyu’s words, he suspected his father had seen through his elaborate scheme, but there was no turning back. He feigned ignorance. The Emperor, with a cold smile, ordered the original examination seating chart to be brought forth, along with a revised chart showing the actual seating arrangements.
He explained that an empty room existed because the canopy in Tianzi No. 40 was leaking due to snow, rendering it unusable. Li Baizhou had then ordered the room numbers to be re-hung, shifting all subsequent room assignments. The Emperor recounted that Xiao Dingtang’s letter to Xu Changping had instructed him to place the pre-prepared crib sheets in Tianzi No. 48 and Tianzi No. 60.
However, due to the actual shift in seating, the papers would have ended up in Tianzi No. 49 and Tianzi No. 61, thus implicating Gu Fengen and Lu Wenpu. The Emperor further explained that three men had confessed to having the papers delivered to the original room numbers but were caught off guard by the last-minute change, causing the crib sheets to fall into Gu Fengen’s hands. This revelation cleared Gu Fengen and Lu Wenpu of any wrongdoing.
The Emperor then questioned Xiao Dingquan’s actions in the Ministry of Penalty, which had further complicated the situation. Xiao Dingquan’s hands trembled as he realized Li Baizhou had deliberately ordered the papers to be placed first and then manipulated the room numbers to frame others. The Emperor, infuriated, acknowledged Li Baizhou’s malicious intent but chastised Xiao Dingquan for his own role in setting the trap and, more critically, for forging Lu Shiyu’s handwriting.
He stated that this forgery was irrefutable evidence that, if revealed to the public, would brand Xiao Dingquan as a morally corrupt individual who framed a prince and a minister. Xiao Dingquan was speechless. The Emperor's anger escalated, warning that if Li Baizhou pressed the issue in court the next morning, the charge could lead to Xiao Dingquan being removed from his status.
He reminded Xiao Dingquan that Li Baizhou had served as an official for over thirty years, far longer than Xiao Dingquan had been alive, and that he was no match for such seasoned politicians. The Emperor lamented that only he understood the complexities of the situation, but his understanding was of no use. The Emperor then declared that someone had to take responsibility for the matter.
He revealed he would not punish Xiao Dingquan because someone had already taken the blame for him. To Xiao Dingquan’s shock, the Emperor explained that Lu Shiyu had claimed full responsibility for the exam leak, stating he was the instigator. Lu Shiyu had also realized that the forged document was written by Xiao Dingquan, and had then meticulously created his own perfect forgery to replace Xiao Dingquan’s.
The Emperor concluded by revealing that he had ordered the Ministry of Penalty to arrest Lu Shiyu. Xiao Dingquan cried and knelt before his father, pleading for Lu Shiyu’s life. He confessed that he alone had orchestrated everything and that Lu Shiyu was completely innocent. To save his beloved teacher, Xiao Dingquan offered a desperate bargain: he would ensure Xiao Dingtang remained in the capital, believing this would appease Li Baizhou and prevent him from pursuing the matter further.
The Emperor looked at Xiao Dingquan with profound disappointment, feeling his heir was utterly undeserving, willing to abandon his status and dignity for an external minister. The Emperor reflected silently that Xiao Dingquan’s greatest weakness was his attachment to what little he had left, making him too persistent and prone to greater suffering when those things were eventually lost, much like holding a torch against the wind inevitably leads to getting burnt.
Tears streamed down Xiao Dingquan’s face as he explained that he had few close relatives left. Lu Shiyu was the only teacher his grandfather had left him, a mentor who had been by his side for fifteen years. Xiao Dingquan swore that he would sacrifice everything to protect his teacher.
Given the gravity of the situation, the Emperor tacitly accepted Xiao Dingquan’s "deal," allowing Lu Shiyu to resign from his official post and return to his hometown, no longer involved in court affairs. As guards arrived to escort Lu Shiyu away, he calmly told his wife, "They come to pick me up. Don't panic." Later, Xiao Dingquan, though heartbroken, visited his teacher, bringing him local delicacies. He found Lu Shiyu admiring a painting of Sichuan’s mountain and lake landscape.
Xiao Dingquan praised the painting’s "novel and delicate" colors and "graceful" aura but noted its "weak vigor of strokes," which Lu Shiyu confirmed was painted by the daughter of Imperial Censor Lu Ying for his birthday, as she wanted him to see the beautiful scenery of his hometown. Xiao Dingquan acknowledged Lu Shiyu's insight, stating he envied his teacher for being able to see such beauty firsthand.
Aware that this was likely their final meeting, Xiao Dingquan offered his blessings for Lu Shiyu’s "good and safe trip," wishing him youthful companionship and an early return to his hometown. Lu Shiyu, understanding the implications, asked if the Emperor had given Xiao Dingquan a dilemma and what would happen to Prince Qi and the Chancellor. Xiao Dingquan, overcome with emotion, could only struggle to respond.
