Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Episode 40 (Ending) Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Recap
Nasha galloped fiercely, snatching the polo ball and striking the Dragon Pearl mechanism. However, the bronze dragon head remained silent, and the stands were unharmed. The Emperor, seated on his horse, declared that in polo, a goal is scored by getting the ball into the net. Nasha's expression changed, realizing the polo ball must have been swapped, and decided he needed to find another opportunity to switch it.
Immediately after, Lu Lingfeng charged forward, scoring another point with a masterful shot, bringing the score to two-to-one. Nasha then led his Yenisei Kirghiz riders in a frantic scramble, during which the ball was accidentally hit over the wall and fell into the Qu River. Amidst the crowd's uproar, the Emperor calmly ordered a spare ball. The Grand Princess, holding the new ball, stood on a high platform. With a graceful sweep of her sleeve, she performed another switch.
When Nasha seized the ball and struck the Dragon Pearl again, there was still no reaction, causing him to blanch in shock. The Emperor, seeing this, ceased his pretense. He directly confronted Nasha, asking if he intended for the Dragon Pearl to ignite, blowing up the stands and creating a bloodbath targeting the Tang imperial family, and questioned if Nasha's accomplices were present. Nasha feigned ignorance, but Lu Lingfeng openly exposed Nasha's conspiracy, ordering him to dismount and surrender.
When Nasha angrily retorted that Lu Lingfeng dared not use the Khan's name so casually, Lu Lingfeng revealed that they knew Nasha was impersonating someone named Natie, and they had recognized him from the Battle of Wushan Gorge, where Nasha boasted of killing the Tang standard-bearer, leading to his rise as general and then Khan.
Lu Lingfeng explained that Nasha had approached Xiong Qiannian, the masked chief official of Chang'an, offering him the title of King of Guandong to incite him to assassinate the Emperor and the Grand Princess, thereby clearing the way for the Yenisei Kirghiz cavalry to invade Chang'an. Nasha had threatened to expose Xiong Qiannian as a spy if he did not cooperate. Nasha's plan involved Xiong Qiannian using slumbering incense to incapacitate officials and tamper with the polo balls.
However, Lu Lingfeng revealed that Su Wuming had already mitigated the threat. Su Wuming's team discovered that the modified polo balls were filled with sulfur and saltpeter, and the golden embroidery contained highly flammable materials. The Dragon Pearl on the stands, intended to ignite the ball, had been reforged with solid metal by Feng Tai, the Ghost Market Magistrate, and would not catch fire—though it was a pity about the colorful beast hides the Princess had provided for the decoration.
The Emperor then asked Nasha why he sought to destroy Chang'an. Nasha declared that the Tang Empire's prosperity would prevent the Yenisei Kirghiz from dominating the world. Meanwhile, Lady Chong the Thirty-Sixth, who had been poisoned by Nasha, woke up in Pei Xijun's care, mistaking her for Meng Po, the mythological figure who serves soup to the dead.
Pei Xijun clarified her identity and explained that Yenisei Kirghiz poison was no match for Tang doctors, crediting Sheriff Su for foreseeing the danger and the devoted scholar, Tian Jurun, for running to bring her to safety. Realizing she had been betrayed and recognizing the Tang's kindness, Lady Chong revealed Nasha's entire conspiracy, including the 28 barrels of pine oil hidden under the stands, which had been discovered thanks to her information.
Enraged by the failure of his plot and the exposure of his identity, Nasha drew his sword and lunged at the Emperor. Lu Lingfeng swiftly intervened, protecting the Emperor, and after a brief but intense skirmish, Nasha was defeated. Seeing his conspiracy completely unraveled, Xiong Qiannian made a desperate move, drawing a dagger and attempting to stab the Grand Princess.
However, Li Zhuang and Chu Yingtao, who were present to protect the Princess under Su Wuming’s orders, along with Lu Tong and Pei Mian, quickly apprehended him. The crowd erupted in shouts for Nasha's execution, but the Emperor declared that the finals were not yet over. He challenged Nasha to continue the match, asking if he still had the courage to compete, emphasizing that the rulers of the Tang Empire were "emperors on horseback" and feared no foreign power.
Spurred by the Emperor's words, Nasha agreed to resume the match, rallying his Yenisei Kirghiz warriors to win back their honor on the field. Meanwhile, the Grand Princess questioned Xiong Qiannian about his motives for trying to assassinate her. He confessed his hatred for her mother, Empress Wu Zetian, whom he blamed for the Tang army's devastating defeat at the Battle of Wushan Gorge, where her trusted followers interfered with military operations, leading to widespread casualties.
Su Wuming then presented the full case against Xiong Qiannian. He explained that their suspicion grew from Xiong Qiannian's attempts to extract information from Fei Ji, his suspicious activities at Dayan Pagoda, and the worn-out Heavenly King mask he left at the Ghost Market. Su Wuming further revealed that a search of Xiong Qiannian's residence, conducted with imperial permission, uncovered the complete set of Four Heavenly King masks and the tools he used to impersonate the six-fingered assassin.
Lu Lingfeng produced Xiong Qiannian's official file from the Ministry of War, revealing his undeclared past service in the Heyuan Army under Heichi Changzhi, fighting against the Yenisei Kirghiz. Xiong Qiannian then confessed his past: during the Battle of Wushan Gorge, his vanguard was ambushed and his remaining hundred men were surrounded. To save their lives from the Yenisei Kirghiz, who were known for killing captives, he was forced to become a spy.
They fabricated a story about the Four Heavenly Kings appearing to save them, swearing a blood oath to keep it secret. This secret had tormented him for twenty years. He expressed deep regret over returning to Chang'an, where the Yenisei Kirghiz had found and blackmailed him. He also admitted to intentionally leaking information to the Ghost Market, hoping capable individuals like Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng would thwart the plot.
Overcome with remorse, he requested to be buried with the last remaining Heavenly King mask. Recognizing his Buddhist faith, the Grand Princess granted his final wish, and he was led away. The polo match was fiercely contested, reaching a five-to-five tie with little time remaining. In the final moments, Lu Lingfeng seized an opportunity, delivering a brilliant shot that secured a six-to-five victory for the Tang Team.
The Tang crowd erupted in cheers, but the Yenisei Kirghiz envoys vehemently protested, claiming the result was unfair. To demonstrate the Tang Empire's magnanimity, the Emperor declared the match had been disrupted and he was not fully satisfied. He proposed an extraordinary new match: a "World Team" composed of one expert player each from Yenisei Kirghiz, Tulo, and Kang Kingdom, led by himself, would face Lu Lingfeng's Tang Team again. Despite Pei Mian's initial hesitation, the Emperor's decision was firm.
He personally invited Nasha to join his World Team, and Nasha, regaining his competitive spirit, accepted. The Emperor then challenged Lu Lingfeng to play with his full strength, emphasizing that the polo field, in this context, was also a battlefield. The second match began, with the Tang Team scoring first, quickly followed by the World Team, eventually bringing the score to a two-to-two tie. The intense competition enthralled the spectators.
In the end, the World Team, led by the Emperor, emerged victorious with a score of five-to-four. This gesture not only saved face for the foreign nations but also won over Nasha and his entourage, who now praised the Emperor as "Heavenly Khan reborn" for his broad-mindedness. Witnessing the Emperor's triumphant display, the Grand Princess remarked to her aide that the tournament had become a platform for the Emperor to win hearts.
She concluded that some unavoidable conflicts are best confronted sooner, deciding to take proactive measures rather than passively await her opportunity to claim the imperial throne. Following Xiong Qiannian's downfall, the Emperor appointed Pei Mian as the Chief Administrator of Yongzhou Prefecture, commending his talent and allowing him to concurrently serve as Minister of Ceremonials.
Regarding Nasha's punishment, the Emperor decreed it should be handled according to Tang law, considering Nasha's remorse, as he, having recently ascended the throne, preferred peace. Meanwhile, Yang Xun, a court official, continued to insinuate disloyalty from the Grand Princess. The Emperor, however, furiously dismissed his claims, pointing out that his aunt had willingly stood by his side during the recent danger and blamed such advisors for stirring discord between them. Tian Jurun and Lady Chong the Thirty-Sixth were married.
Tian Jurun presented her with a donkey, explaining it would help her with daily chores like making and selling tofu. He added that if she ever missed her homeland, she could ride it to Leyouyuan, with him leading it to ensure her safety. Lady Chong, still worried about potential arrest, was reassured by Tian Jurun, who relayed that Su Wuming had deemed her actions a meritorious service, offsetting her past involvement in Nasha's plot.
Having lived in Chang'an for fourteen years, she was now recognized as a Chang'an resident and could register for Tang citizenship. Lady Chong worried her past might impede Tian Jurun's scholarly path to officialdom, but he lovingly dismissed her concerns, stating that learning was not solely for office and some things were more important.
He expressed his desire for them to live a simple life, farming and weaving, with him composing poems for her daily, a sentiment that deeply moved her. At a celebratory banquet, Su Wuming singled out Pei Xijun, praising her "Prosperous Polo, Golden Dragon with Five Grains" design for the polo ball.
He explained that its symbolism—the nation depending on its people, and the people being the foundation of the nation—was so ingenious that it would undoubtedly influence Chinese culture for generations. Lu Lingfeng then raised a toast to Pei Xijun, proclaiming that meeting her in this life was his greatest fortune. Pei Xijun, in turn, declared that meeting Lu Lingfeng was the greatest joy of her life.
The next day, Su Wuming and Lu Lingfeng stood atop a tall building, gazing at Chang'an. Reflecting on their journey, Lu Lingfeng reiterated Su Wuming's earlier words that Chang'an, where danger and poetry coexist, truly belongs to its people. He then asked Su Wuming whose Tang Empire it was.
Su Wuming declared it was "the Tang Empire's Tang Empire," further clarifying that just as Lu Lingfeng was his own person, and Su Wuming his own, so too was the Tang Empire its own entity. Su Wuming observed that Zhuque Avenue divided Chang'an into Chang'an County and Wannian County, noting the profound meaning of their names: "Eternal Peace" and "Ten Thousand Years." They concluded that Chang'an belonged to its people, to the Tang Empire, and ultimately, to the entire world, embodying a prosperous Tang that could embrace all rivers.
