The Heiress Episode 24 (Ending) Recap
> The Heiress Recap
Despite Han Shiyi's sword piercing his chest, Chen Yanyi did not dodge, claiming he was willing to seek justice for the Han Army. However, Han Shiyi, disheartened and no longer trusting him, declared she would personally present the evidence to the Emperor, ensuring Chen Yanyi would never become Emperor and would experience the pain of loss.
Chen Yanyi responded that if it brought her peace, he had no complaints, but expressed concern about potential assassins on her journey, offering his guard, Xinting, as an escort. Han Shiyi declined, stating Wang Zhongyu would protect her. As they traveled back to the capital, Wang Zhongyu repeatedly tried to speak, hinting at a truth he couldn't bring himself to reveal. Han Shiyi, accompanied by Wang Zhongyu and Jinzi, was determined to report to the Emperor.
Chen Yanyi had already met with the Emperor before Han Shiyi's arrival. During their conversation, Chen Yanyi confirmed that Prime Minister Wang was responsible for the Han Army's demise, having secretly colluded with Inspector Cheng Huaiquan and the State of Wei to betray their defenses, leading to the annihilation of 60,000 Han Army soldiers. Chen Yanyi advocated for Prime Minister Wang's entire clan to be executed for this act of high treason.
However, the Emperor confessed that he had personally promoted Prime Minister Wang to counterbalance the Han and Chu families. Punishing Prime Minister Wang would mean he, the Emperor, would be remembered as a fatuous ruler who trusted a traitor. He implored Chen Yanyi to delay the rehabilitation of the Han Army and any judgment against the Wang family until one year after his own death, to preserve his dignity.
He reminded Chen Yanyi that he had permitted him to marry a Han family daughter. Respecting his father's final wish, Chen Yanyi reluctantly agreed. When Han Shiyi finally entered the palace, the Emperor, already in failing health, told her he was aware of the situation and would handle it, urging her to leave. Han Shiyi, however, insisted on justice, presenting the evidence and accusing the Crown Prince of colluding with treacherous officials.
Before she could elaborate, the Emperor suddenly coughed up blood and collapsed, his life force ebbing away. Empress Wang then arrived to tend to the dying Emperor. In his delirium, the Emperor repeatedly called out "Zitong," the name of Empress Yuan, professing his undying love for her and regretting having failed her. He wished to be reunited with her in the afterlife and promised not to fail her in his next life.
Hearing this, Empress Wang realized that she had merely been a tool for the Emperor to control political factions. Deeply wounded, she questioned his broken promises of eternal love and unrivaled favor. After the Emperor took his last breath, Empress Wang, despite her heartbreak, drew a hairpin and fatally stabbed herself, declaring that she alone would be his wife, even in the netherworld.
In the summer of the third year of Yongding, the Emperor passed away in Hanzhang Palace and was buried in Xianling Mausoleum, receiving the temple name Xuanzong. Crown Prince Chen Yanyi ascended to the throne, changing the era name to Taichu, marking the first year of his reign. Meanwhile, Wang Zhongyu confronted his father, Prime Minister Wang, who admitted to colluding with the enemy and being responsible for the Han Army's defeat.
Prime Minister Wang explained that his death was the only way to atone for his crimes to the Han family and to protect his own family. He urged Wang Zhongyu to leave the capital with Zheng Wu and Tang Liu, entrusting him with the remaining power of the Wang family, and commanding him never to return. Wang Zhongyu discovered his father after he had consumed poison and wept over his body.
The late Emperor, having declared the evidence submitted by Han Shiyi to be fabricated, hastily closed the Han Army case. Before his death, he issued an edict for Han Yuanniang to marry Chen Yanyi immediately. According to custom, marriages could take place within seven days of a mourning period, avoiding a three-year delay. Han Yuanniang viewed this as Chen Yanyi and the late Emperor sacrificing the Han Army's honor for the throne.
She instructed Jinzi to leave, emphasizing that someone from the Han family must survive. Jinzi initially refused, but Han Yuanniang insisted on her departure. Meanwhile, Chu Xiangyue, desperate to prevent Han Yuanniang from marrying Chen Yanyi, initially considered assassination but was advised by her governess to seek help from Wang Zhongyu. Han Yuanniang donned the wedding dress, looking beautiful, and Chen Yanyi complimented her.
However, Han Yuanniang confronted him, branding him the culpable man who used the lives of the Han Army to secure his throne, refusing to believe his claim that the evidence was fabricated. Chen Yanyi swore an oath, promising to rehabilitate the Han Army within a year, or forfeit his throne. He reminded her of their past affection, but Han Yuanniang remained unconvinced. She feigned belief, offering him a toast for his success.
She had poisoned his wine with arsenic, intending to die with him as an apology to the 60,000 fallen Han Army soldiers. However, Lin Rang, having detected the poison, intervened, preventing Chen Yanyi from drinking. Han Yuanniang explained that while Chen Yanyi was her enemy, killing him would plunge the realm into chaos, harming countless innocent people. Thus, she chose to die herself to atone for the Han Army, declaring herself merely a trophy of his victory.
Just then, Wang Zhongyu, having learned of Han Yuanniang's impending empress anointment, stormed into the palace to take her away. Han Yuanniang believed Chen Yanyi had orchestrated the wedding as a trap to lure and kill Wang Zhongyu. She shielded Wang Zhongyu, preventing Chen Yanyi from harming him, and pleaded with Chen Yanyi to let them leave if he held any affection for her.
Chen Yanyi, seeing her protect Wang Zhongyu, was heartbroken, questioning why she refused to believe his promises and chose to leave with his enemy. Suddenly, Jinzi, who had secretly remained in the palace, attacked Chen Yanyi from behind but was fatally struck down by his soldiers. With her dying breath, Jinzi implored Han Yuanniang to live, reminding her that she was the last surviving member of the Han Army.
Overcome with grief and rage, Han Yuanniang seized Empress Yuan's hairpin and stabbed herself in the chest, declaring it payment for Chen Yanyi's kindness. She then clutched Jinzi's lifeless body and departed with Wang Zhongyu. After burying Jinzi, Wang Zhongyu accompanied Han Yuanniang out of the city. In a secluded spot, Wang Zhongyu knelt before her, apologizing on behalf of the Wang family to the Han Army.
He finally revealed the truth: his father, Prime Minister Wang, had fabricated the incriminating seals and handwriting, and he had carried the guilt of not telling her earlier. Han Yuanniang was devastated to learn that both the late Emperor and Chen Yanyi had known the truth but had still chosen to abandon the Han Army, making their actions no different from Prime Minister Wang's. She felt that everything had begun because of her.
She explained her refusal to kill Chen Yanyi: it would lead to widespread chaos and suffering, making her no different from their enemies, and her father would never forgive her. Wang Zhongyu acknowledged that she had saved his life by threatening Chen Yanyi with her own. He then asked if she was still willing to roam the world with him.
Han Yuanniang replied that it would be best if they never saw each other again, for the good of all, adding that in their current circumstances, her personal feelings no longer mattered. Wang Zhongyu, wishing her peace and happiness, watched her depart alone. Three years later, Emperor Chen Yanyi confronted Chu Xiangyue, informing her that even with Han Yuanniang gone, she would never become Empress.
He then bestowed upon her the title of Princess Hewei and sent her to be married to a foreign country in the Western Regions, a journey rumored to take two years. During these three years, Emperor Chen Yanyi officially rehabilitated the Han Army, exposing Prime Minister Wang's crimes to the public. However, he showed clemency, not executing Prime Minister Wang's clan since Prime Minister Wang had already died. The Emperor remained unmarried, with no consorts or heirs.
Meanwhile, Wang Zhongyu's storybooks, reportedly exploring Han Shiyi's inner world, became extremely popular. Han Shiyi eventually returned to the capital. She discovered that Li Jinxuan had been renamed "Zhiweizhai" (Know about Food) two years prior, a name she and Chen Yanyi had once discussed for their own future restaurant. She heard that the owner of Zhiweizhai had recently welcomed a newborn son. Han Shiyi offered her token jade pendant as a congratulatory gift to the owner.
Shortly after she left, Chen Yanyi arrived to congratulate the owner. Recognizing the jade pendant in the owner's hand, Chen Yanyi realized Han Shiyi had been there and immediately pursued her. However, a passing carriage momentarily obstructed his view, preventing him from seeing her. Han Shiyi, on the other hand, saw Chen Yanyi's retreating figure and offered a faint smile before continuing on her way.
