Youthful Glory Episode 16 Recap, Plot

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Ming Tan no longer wished to hold out hope—just one last question: could Su Wenchun truly not offer a helping hand for the sake of the bond they once shared? Seeing Su Wenchun remain unmoved, Ming Tan left in disappointment. She had always sincerely respected Su Wenchun and had believed that the bond between a father and daughter would not change because of personal interest, but in the end, she had been too naive.

Ming Tan took off the bracelet Su Wenchun had given her—she was nothing more than a token he used to win people’s hearts. But she was a person of loyalty and emotion, not to be manipulated at will. The Emperor had urgently summoned Guo Bingmao to the capital. If he could prove Tingyuan’s innocence, there might still be a sliver of hope in this case.

Ming Tan asked Shen Yu whether the escort of Ming Tingyuan to the capital by the General of Dingbei's army encountered any danger. Shen Yu answered truthfully, but Ming Tan was left completely disheartened. After Guo Bingmao arrived in the capital, the Emperor privately summoned him and Jiang Xu. When asked whether he had any dealings with Nanlü, Guo Bingmao also answered honestly, though vaguely—it was not enough to prove Ming Tingyuan’s innocence.

In truth, Guo Bingmao was one of Su Wenchun’s men. That very night, he went to meet Su Wenchun. After this night, he would succeed the position of Commander of Yangxi Route. After running around tirelessly, Jiang Xu returned to his residence in agony. Ming Tan asked whether the incriminating evidence found in the Ming household was truly targeting Ming Tingyuan. Jiang Xu had no choice but to answer truthfully—the evidence of treason and smuggling against Ming Tingyuan was conclusive.

The imperial decree had been issued: Ming Tingyuan would be executed in three days. Ming Tan immediately burst into tears and begged Jiang Xu to let her see Ming Tingyuan one last time. Jiang Xu went to the prison to visit Ming Tingyuan. At this point, overturning the case within three days seemed impossible. Ming Tingyuan knew Jiang Xu had done his best but was still disheartened that years of friendship could not withstand the lure of power and benefit.

His only lingering concern was Ming Tan—he only hoped Jiang Xu would take care of her. Jiang Xu was not willing to give up yet; in his eyes, there was still a path to save Ming Tingyuan. He told the Emperor that the Su family’s foundation lay in Lingzhou—if Lingzhou fell, the Su family would lose their support. Lu Ting and Shu Jingran rushed to Bieyulou, saying they wanted Zhang Huaiyu to meet someone.

When Zhang Huaiyu saw that the person was the Emperor, he was so frightened that he knelt and begged for forgiveness. The Emperor said he wanted Zhang Huaiyu to help audit some accounts. Zhang Huaiyu had long been devoted to commerce and could see through fake accounts with ease. The tax issues in Lingzhou were deeply entrenched, and getting the Su family to hand over tax revenue would not be easy.

They needed someone deeply familiar with the inner workings of this matter. Only after repeated clarification did Zhang Huaiyu realize the Emperor meant him. Regarding Lingzhou’s taxes, every official sent there had never returned—the hope in Zhang Huaiyu's heart was already half gone. Su Wenchun was not concerned when he received news of Zhang Huaiyu being sent to Lingzhou. Instead, he wrote a letter to Er Rong—she knew what to do.

Before leaving, Zhang Huaiyu treated Bai Minmin to wontons and handed her the key to Bieyulou, even giving her the jade pendant he always carried. Bai Minmin was confused as to why a long trip required such a solemn gesture. Zhang Huaiyu explained that officials sent to Lingzhou in the past either went mad or died mysteriously. Bai Minmin smiled and said he should take up the burden of the nation—that was the kind of man women liked.

Zhang Huaiyu thought she still liked Shu Jingran and couldn't help saying that Shu Jingran was not suited for her, while he was a much better match. Bai Minmin was moved and accepted everything he gave her. Yun Yi, seeing Ming Tan heartbroken, brought Bai Minmin to comfort her. Ming Tan hadn’t eaten, drunk, or slept for a day and night.

Nanny Zhang brought out the cloth tiger doll that Ming Tingyuan had given her—it had stayed with him all these years. For Ming Tingyuan’s sake, she had to pull herself together. But Ming Tan recalled Su Wenchun’s words and began to suspect Jiang Xu. Ming Tingyuan once said that if Jiang Xu couldn’t protect someone in Daxian, no one else could either. Yet who would have thought her marriage had become a death sentence for her father.

Ming Tan was determined to see Ming Tingyuan once more, but Bai Jingyuan had pulled some strings and Ming Tingyuan said he didn’t want to see her. Out of compassion for Ming Tan, Bai Jingyuan still decided to take her inside. Jiang Xu had arranged tonight’s plan, ordering someone to deliver a message to Su Wenchun in Ming Tingyuan’s name, saying he wanted to see him one last time.

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