Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Episode 5 Recap
> Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Ⅲ: To Changan Recap
Palace maid Yin presented the Emperor with gastrodia powder, which brought him a sense of peace. The Emperor and Yin then reminisced about their past. The Emperor recalled being nine years old, gravely ill and neglected by his father in the Eastern Capital, until his aunt, the Grand Princess, took him in. He remembered Yin as a comforting, chubby presence in whose arms he slept soundly, free from nightmares.
He mused on how he was just a child back then, and now stood as the Emperor of the Tang Empire. Yin noted she too had grown old. A courtier soon reported to the Emperor that Lu Lingfeng had committed treason by mobilizing troops without authorization, invading imperial forbidden grounds, and detaining imperial guards, recommending execution. At that moment, a messenger from the Grand Princess’s mansion, Su Wuming, requested an audience.
Despite the courtier's disdain for Su Wuming's lack of official standing (his Criminal Investigation Scholar title being void after the raptor case was "solved after a fashion"), the Emperor allowed him in. Su Wuming initially dodged the Emperor's questions about the raptor case and the treason, instead frivolously inquiring if the Emperor had more golden peaches from the Kang Kingdom to send to the Grand Princess, as her supply was depleted.
Enraged, the Emperor ordered Su Wuming to be flogged to death. Su Wuming then asked if Lu Lingfeng would be pardoned for his actions if he died. The Emperor, intrigued, halted the execution and questioned if Su Wuming was risking his life to save Lu Lingfeng. Su Wuming declared that death held no terror for him and offered to explain the entire raptor case if the Emperor would permit it, stating he would die a worthy death.
The Emperor commanded him to speak. The events that unfolded were part of the elaborate plan Su Wuming was about to reveal. During this time, Lu Lingfeng, accompanied by Chu Yingtao, visited a military camp to observe training. There, he engaged in a sparring match with a general, sustaining a minor injury.
When the general inquired about his presence, Lu Lingfeng explained he was there by imperial decree to check on the camp’s training on behalf of Grand General Lu Tong. Lu Lingfeng noted the camp seemed deserted, and the general stated their drills were conducted in the nearby hills, promising a formal welcome upon Lu Lingfeng's next visit. Chu Yingtao, observing the general's fighting style, found it familiar and discreetly warned Lu Lingfeng.
Later that night, as part of the scheme, the Grand Princess hosted another golden peach banquet at her mansion. During the feast, the terrifying shriek of a Flame Crow echoed across Chang'an, and citizens witnessed a giant raptor soaring through the night sky, heading directly towards the Princess’s residence. Immediately after, the Grand Princess feigned an assassination, appearing to have died in the attack.
News of the Grand Princess's apparent assassination quickly spread throughout the palace and beyond, causing widespread panic. Believing the time was ripe, Li Feng immediately rallied his troops, declaring that the Princess's death had plunged Chang'an into chaos, and it was their moment to establish a new dynasty. When some soldiers expressed confusion, thinking they were meant to restore the Retired Emperor, Li Feng scornfully dismissed the Retired Emperor as old, feeble, and incompetent, unworthy of ruling.
He then revealed his true identity as Du Feng, a direct descendant of the late Sui Dynasty hero Du Fuwei. He explained that his ancestors were granted the imperial surname Li for their contributions to the founding of the Tang Dynasty, a decision he now viewed as a grave error. Restoring his ancestral name, Du Feng proclaimed his intention to become emperor, promising his loyal followers the status of founding heroes in a new Lingyan Pavilion.
When a loyal officer named Zhu San refused to participate in the rebellion, Du Feng ruthlessly executed him, sending a chilling warning to anyone harboring doubts. Du Feng then laid out his plan: with the Grand Princess presumably dead, the Retired Emperor was at Chengqing Hall, where the Emperor was soon to arrive.
Using his authority as acting commander of the Right Imperial Guard, he had already pulled away most of the guards from Chengqing Hall, leaving only a few token defenders no match for his forces. He declared they would strike swiftly, kill both the Emperor and the Retired Emperor, and seize control of the empire for himself. His soldiers roared their approval, ready to assault the palace. The Emperor proceeded to the Retired Emperor's bedchamber, bringing golden peaches.
Their conversation was fraught with tension and hidden meanings. The Emperor assured his father he could eat the peaches without concern. The Retired Emperor, however, retorted by bringing up the recent raptor attack on the Princess's mansion and her unknown fate, implying the golden peaches might be connected to the danger. He even subtly accused the Emperor of having withheld peaches from him previously. Their tense exchange was abruptly interrupted by shouts from outside.
A panicked palace attendant reported that a group of assassins in white, led by the traitor Li Feng, were storming the palace gates. In this critical moment, Lu Lingfeng, clad in black armor and brandishing the Grand General of the Right Imperial Guard token, appeared alone to block the entrance to Chengqing Hall. He immediately denounced Li Feng's rebellion. Li Feng, stunned by Lu Lingfeng's presence, questioned how he entered.
Lu Lingfeng declared he had foreseen their treason and arrived to protect the imperial family and apprehend the traitors. He taunted Li Feng, revealing he knew Li Feng's ancestral connection to Du Fuwei and his family's signature use of the phoenix-winged gold halberd, which first aroused suspicion after Su Wuming's ambush. Lu Lingfeng then attempted to sway the rebel soldiers, urging them to repent and surrender, promising to plead for their lives, believing they were merely misled.
Li Feng, however, ordered his men to ignore Lu Lingfeng’s attempts to stall. Lu Lingfeng then directly unmasked the hidden conspirator, calling out Wu Wenbin by name and commanding him to remove his disguise. A shocked Wu Wenbin complied, revealing his true face. Seeing his treachery exposed, Wu Wenbin confessed his surprise that Lu Lingfeng had identified him.
Lu Lingfeng explained his deductions: Wu Wenbin’s cover-up of the Paper Effigy Shop owner’s murder and the absence of an autopsy for Cen Zhi at the Yongzhou Prefecture (a fact Lu Lingfeng confirmed by inspecting Cen Zhi’s coffin) pointed to his involvement. He further revealed that only someone familiar with the Eastern Palace would know Lie Na’s identity as the Deposed Queen Wei’s former bird slave.
Lu Lingfeng directly accused Wu Wenbin, a clansman of Empress Wu Zetian, of inciting his father-in-law, Li Feng, to rebel, with the goal of killing the Emperor, Grand Princess, and Retired Emperor to install Li Feng on the throne. Wu Wenbin scoffed at Lu Lingfeng's words and urged Li Feng to attack swiftly. Seeing Lu Lingfeng as their greatest obstacle, Li Feng, with no further words, commanded his white-clad assassins to charge.
Despite being heavily outnumbered, Lu Lingfeng fought valiantly, eventually striking Li Feng with his sword, piercing his chest. The rebel forces were overwhelming, and the doors of Chengqing Hall were close to breaching. Li Feng promised the title of "Marquis of Ten Thousand Households" to anyone who could kill Lu Lingfeng.
Inside, with Lu Lingfeng single-handedly holding the gate, desperately awaiting reinforcements, the Emperor took up a sword, vowing to protect the Retired Emperor with his own life should the rebels break through. Regretting his misplaced trust in Li Feng, the Emperor directly questioned his father: did the Retired Emperor know that the raptor had been kept at his villa on Mount Zhongnan? The Retired Emperor feigned surprise, claiming ignorance.
The Emperor pressed on, pointing out that while Wu Wenbin, a clansman of Empress Wu Zetian and Yongzhou Judicial Official, had manipulated the Bird Slave, he lacked the authority to withdraw all imperial guards from the Retired Emperor's villa. As the Emperor spoke, the Retired Emperor cast a telling glance at his trembling attendant, Laifu, hinting at his intention to shift blame.
Just as the rebels attempted to burn Lu Lingfeng, Grand General Lu Tong arrived with the main contingent of the Imperial Guards, swiftly encircling the rebels. Seeing their cause lost, Wu Wenbin attempted a desperate betrayal, trying to kill Li Feng to feign loyalty to Lu Tong, claiming he had been an undercover agent coerced by Li Feng.
However, Lu Tong saw through the charade and promptly struck Wu Wenbin down with a single sword stroke, advising Lu Lingfeng that such a dangerous individual must be eliminated. Lu Tong then reported to the Emperor and Retired Emperor that he had arrived and that the rebel leaders, Li Feng and Wu Wenbin, had been slain. The Emperor again pressed the Retired Emperor for an answer regarding the raptor at the Mount Zhongnan villa.
The Retired Emperor, recalling Li Feng's past expressions of loyalty, cunningly shifted the blame onto Laifu, stating he had entrusted Laifu with the management of the Mount Zhongnan villa years ago. Just then, the Emperor suddenly remembered Li Feng mentioning his original surname was Du. Laifu, realizing he was exposed, tried to flee but was swiftly pursued and silenced by his godfather, Yang Xun. The Emperor then acknowledged his father's ordeal.
The Retired Emperor, declaring himself weary and defeated, vowed to retire to the Western Palace, promising to never again interfere in court affairs or appoint officials. He formally relinquished all power, proclaiming the entire Tang Empire now belonged solely to the Emperor. This marked the end of the three-way power struggle, leaving only the Emperor and the Grand Princess as key political forces.
Reflecting on the chaos caused by the golden peaches, the Emperor met with Du Ming, acknowledging his past as the Retired Emperor's confidant. With the Retired Emperor now out of power, Du Ming immediately swore his allegiance to the Emperor, stating his unwavering loyalty to the Tang Empire and its sovereign. The Emperor, in turn, pardoned Du Ming for any past oversights and accepted him as his own man, with Du Ming pledging his utmost devotion.
Next, the Emperor addressed the fate of Lie Na, the Bird Slave. Given that Grand General Lu Tong had lost an eye because of Lie Na, the Emperor left the decision to Lu Tong. Lu Tong expressed that if Lie Na could be spared, he should be.
He confessed that when he led the campaign to destroy Amono years ago, the intelligence suggesting Amono's rebellion against the Tang Empire might have been false, possibly a divisive plot orchestrated by the Yenisei Kirghiz. If this were true, Lu Tong admitted that his lost eye was a deserved consequence. He earnestly pleaded with the Emperor to grant Lie Na, the "Little Prince," a chance at life, a request the Emperor granted.
Thirty "li" outside the city, everyone gathered to see Lie Na off. Xue Huan released the Flame Crow, which soared into the sky. Lie Na, seeing his companion fly free, was touched. He expressed a desire to destroy the mask of Liu XVII he wore, as its original owner had committed grave evils, wishing to show his true face to the world.
However, Su Wuming stopped him, explaining that the Tang Empire, with its open policy, was granting him freedom due to his repentance, his cooperation in exposing the rebels, and Grand General Lu Tong’s plea for leniency. Su Wuming encouraged Lie Na to keep the mask, as it would allow him to lead a normal life, marry, have children, and live free from worry, urging him to forget his past hatred and embrace kindness.
Pei Xijun and Chu Yingtao echoed this sentiment. Moved to tears, Lie Na vowed never to harm anyone again, promising that his Flame Crow would also cease to injure. With a final thank you, Lie Na departed, accompanied by his bird, leaving everyone marveling at the magnificent sight, a true symbol of the Tang Empire's grandeur. With the crisis averted, Fei Jishi, now recovered, eagerly inquired about the rewards for solving the case.
Upon hearing that six golden peaches were granted, he immediately claimed the largest one, eating it despite lighthearted warnings about the Flame Crow. The Grand Princess, recognizing her son Lu Lingfeng's extraordinary contributions in saving the empire, keenly awaited the Emperor's decision on his reward. Grand General Lu Tong, despite losing an eye, once again advocated for Lu Lingfeng, proposing his return to the Imperial Guard, even if not as Grand General.
He argued that rewarding Lu Lingfeng was crucial to command respect and prevent him from being pushed towards the Grand Princess’s faction. However, Attendant Yang expressed concern, reminding the Emperor that Lu Lingfeng was the Grand Princess's son, raising fears of divided loyalties. The Emperor intervened, stating he had his own plans for Lu Lingfeng's appointment and noted Lu Lingfeng's continued dutiful protection of Lu Tong.
Subsequently, Lu Tong informed Lu Lingfeng that while he couldn't secure his return to the Imperial Guard, the Emperor had appointed him as Yongzhou Judicial Official, a post he had held previously. Lu Lingfeng expressed no disappointment, viewing it as an opportunity to apply his skills. The Emperor also sent an oral decree through Lu Lingfeng to Su Wuming, allowing him to continue as Criminal Investigation Scholar for his meritorious service in the raptor case.
Lu Lingfeng, who had once wished to kill Su Wuming for informing on him, now reflected that Su Wuming seemed to be a trustworthy ally. The Grand Princess, discussing the appointment, acknowledged that while Yongzhou Judicial Official wasn't a high-ranking post, it wielded real power over the capital region’s legal and penal matters. She considered it acceptable, though wryly observed that it was a windfall for the "foolish" Yongzhou Chief Administrator, Du Ming, to gain two of Master Di's disciples.
Du Ming himself was absolutely delighted, exclaiming that with Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming, both disciples of Master Di, joining the Yongzhou Prefecture, it would become a truly formidable force. When Su Wuming playfully questioned if he was to be considered a "troop" or a "horse," Du Ming clarified it was merely a figure of speech. Su Wuming then expressed his willingness to serve the people of Yongzhou but noted the absence of a salary for his "Scholar" position.
After some discussion, Du Ming slyly announced that the court had allocated a special fund for expanding the capital's network of investigators, and since Lu Lingfeng, as the new Judicial Official, would manage these funds, Su Wuming's monthly salary would therefore be disbursed from Lu Lingfeng's Judicial Office budget. Lu Lingfeng, realizing Du Ming's cunning, jokingly called him a "sly old dog." Lu Lingfeng and Su Wuming then prepared to assume their new posts in Yongzhou.
