The Promise of Chang'an Episode 36 Recap
> The Promise of Chang'an Recap
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
Xiao Chengrui rushed to Helan Mingyu's side as servants expressed concern over her cold body and continuous coughing of blood, fearing she might not survive. Visibly panicked, Xiao Chengrui declared he would not allow her to die and urgently ordered the imperial physicians to bring the medicine, personally feeding it to her. Helan Yunqi, observing Xiao Chengrui, found his feelings surprisingly complicated.
She had believed he had grown tired of Mingyu and truly adored Helan Wanyin, but now she pitied both sisters. Yunqi also noted that Wanyin had blocked anyone from entering her hall, insisting she would only wait for Xiao Chengrui. She wondered if the Emperor's actions were driven by deep love or pure heartlessness. In her sleep, Helan Mingyu called out for her older sister. Upon waking, she immediately asked about Wanyin and wanted to see her.
Xiao Chengrui instructed Yunqi to look after Mingyu while he went to Guan Ju Hall to see Wanyin. Mingyu, in a daze, pleaded with her sister not to leave her, asking to return to Yonglin together. Inside Guan Ju Hall, Helan Wanyin played the "Lovesick Melody," a song she often sang for Xiao Chengrui, reflecting on their shallow connection and her destined lovesickness. Xiao Chengrui asked her to stop playing.
Wanyin, resentful, stated he must be angry; to him, Mingyu was his true love, while she herself was merely a lie, and their child a disposable chess piece. She lamented that she had unknowingly given her heart away for nothing, only to realize it was all a deception.
Xiao Chengrui admitted he was the one who let her down, but Wanyin questioned if saving Mingyu was truly worth it, revealing that the Consort Mu incident was a scheme orchestrated by Mingyu to free Xiao Chengxu, the true object of her affection. Wanyin claimed Mingyu was privy to all of Xiao Chengrui's unspeakable past actions. She mockingly asked if his heart hurt, since the person he cherished had stabbed him there, and expressed a wish to see his pain.
As Xiao Chengrui tried to approach, Helan Wanyin grew agitated, warning him not to come closer. Helan Mingyu, who had arrived, called out to her sister. Wanyin, in a fit of delusion, clung to Mingyu, begging her to take her away from that frightening place. Wanyin died in Mingyu’s arms. Mingyu, heartbroken and distraught, cried over her sister's body, blaming Xiao Chengrui for his cruelty and pushing his hand away when he tried to comfort her.
She desperately pleaded with Wanyin not to leave her alone. Xiao Chengrui then lifted the white cloth covering Helan Wanyin, reflecting on the words of the Helan sisters in a mournful voiceover. He finally admitted his mistake, realizing he had been utterly defeated despite his belief that he could conquer anything. He found himself utterly ridiculous. Meanwhile, Helan Mingyu, still recovering, found strength in the thought of her son, Xiao Qiyuan, resolving to live well for him.
Back at the palace, Xiao Chengli urgently reported to Xiao Chengrui that Xiao Qihan had fallen into Hong Guangzhi's trap, resulting in the loss of over half their military supplies. Xiao Chengxu and his soldiers were now isolated and trapped in Qichuan Mountain by Hong Guangzhi and Ling Qi, making rescue difficult. Chengli implored Chengrui to make an immediate decision.
A eunuch delivered another urgent report from the frontlines and expressed concern to Xiao Chengrui, who had been refusing to eat or sleep. Chengrui, however, stated that as the Son of Heaven, he felt he had lost everything and deserved to endure his self-inflicted wrongs. He ignored the eunuch's pleas to attend to Great Sheng's important matters. Meanwhile, Helan Mingyu overheard a conversation between Xiao Chengli and Helan Yunqi.
Yunqi lamented that she, too, had tried to persuade Chengrui, but he remained consumed by self-loathing, refusing to eat, sleep, or show concern. Chengli stressed the urgency of the situation, mentioning that five urgent reports had been received, indicating the dire state of the frontlines, as Xiao Chengxu would not send so many reports otherwise. Trapped in the valley, Xiao Chengxu rallied his soldiers, urging them to raise their spirits and fight.
When soldiers questioned if reinforcements would truly arrive, Xiao Chengxu proclaimed that Emperor Xiao Chengrui was not trapped with them and had sent a secret letter promising reinforcements within seven days. He emphasized that they must unite and win before then. Later, Xiao Chengxuan confronted Chengxu, demanding the truth about the reinforcements, knowing Xiao Chengrui was still in the palace. Chengxu admitted he had to make the announcement to prevent the army's morale from collapsing in fear.
He explained that "seven days" was chosen because their rations would only last that long, a fact Xiao Chengrui surely knew. Chengxuan, however, feared Xiao Chengrui might intentionally abandon them, allowing them to be captured by the Liang army to eliminate them, just as he had always planned.
He further accused Chengxu of letting Chengrui go, lamenting that they had missed their chance for revenge, and now Chengrui was safe with Mingyu while they faced ruin and their mother's murder remained unavenged. Xiao Chengxu, despite Chengxuan's accusations, affirmed he had no regrets. He believed Xiao Chengrui, though holding a grudge against him and seeking to prove his own superiority, would not gamble with the lives of his soldiers or the land of Great Sheng.
He urged Chengxuan to remain calm, recognizing that battling fear and preserving morale was a true test of will in their dire situation. Chengxu then revealed he had already devised an escape plan: if necessary, he would lead a battalion through the west side of the valley, cutting a bloody path for the others to follow. Meanwhile, back in the palace, Helan Mingyu found herself compelled to act.
She confided in Ling Zhen'er that she had initially vowed never to see Xiao Chengrui again, but the thought of the endangered frontline soldiers made her want to confront him and demand he take action. Ling Zhen'er worried that Xiao Chengrui still harbored resentment over Mingyu's relationship with Xiao Chengxu, recalling how Mingyu had called out both Wanyin's and Chengxu's names during a feverish delirium while Chengrui was watching over her.
Mingyu acknowledged that she might have been the cause of his anger, but dismissed the uncertainty of the Emperor's heart. Ling Zhen'er warned her that Chengrui might interpret her visit as solely for Chengxu's sake, leading to unimaginable consequences. Nevertheless, Helan Mingyu firmly resolved to go, stating that for Chengxu and the soldiers, she could not allow the Emperor to remain ignorant and careless, even if it meant "flying into a flame like a moth."
Seeing a eunuch with a military report, Helan Mingyu took it from him, stating that giving it to the Emperor would only add it to his pile of unopened reports, leaving the frontlines with unresolved issues. She then entered the Imperial Study, acknowledging the Emperor. Xiao Chengrui remarked that he thought she would never want to see him again.
Mingyu confirmed her initial intention but questioned if he had purposefully waited for her, suggesting it was another attempt to make her admit defeat. Chengrui dismissed the idea, expressing weariness and a desire to live as a commoner, finding his current life boring and repetitive. Mingyu challenged him, suggesting he should then write an abdication letter and entrust the throne to someone capable of bearing such a heavy responsibility, allowing himself to live a happy life.
Xiao Chengrui sarcastically asked if she meant Xiao Chengxu, believing she thought he had stolen the throne and hoped for its rightful return. Mingyu denied this, then confronted him about ignoring the frontline reports, asking if he was trying to use this opportunity to have Xiao Chengxu killed. She declared that if he truly thought this way, she would be disgusted with him.
When Chengrui retorted that she already thought him a bad person, Mingyu clarified that in her heart, he was an ingenious, ambitious, and talented ruler whose blood and sweat had brought Great Sheng its prosperity. She stated he was a worthy and wise ruler. Chengrui expressed surprise at hearing such words from her.
Mingyu continued, warning that if his personal hatred and sadness led him to impulsively abandon his duties, disregarding the soldiers' lives, the people's safety, and the vision of uniting the great plains, then she would have truly misjudged him. She placed the military report before him, telling him it was his choice to read it or not. Chengrui then recalled Mingyu once telling him that in her heart, he could only be her ruler, not her lover.
He concluded that it was acceptable, as at least in her eyes, he remained an enlightened sovereign. With no sign of reinforcements, Xiao Chengxu declared to his generals that they could not wait any longer and must break through that day.
He detailed a plan for Xiao Chengxuan and Xiao Qihan to lead other battalions in an encirclement from the East, while he would lead a battalion to the west, divert the Liang troops, and then detonate the canyon, creating a flash flood to drown the enemy. Xiao Chengxuan vehemently objected, stating that leading the charge was a suicidal mission and offered to do it himself, hoping Chengxu would survive to avenge him by killing Xiao Chengrui.
Chengxu explained that his presence was crucial to provoke the enemy's attack, ensuring the survival of their army. Xiao Qihan, anxious, questioned Chengxu, asking why his Royal Father had not yet arrived with the promised reinforcements, implying Chengxu was misleading them. Chengxu calmly reiterated that he was also trapped and would not risk their lives with deception, but before he could finish, a soldier reported that Hong Guangzhi and Ling Qi were tightening their siege.
Ignoring Xiao Qihan's continued accusations, Chengxu urged everyone to stop arguing and save their strength for the enemy, then ordered his first battalion to prepare to follow his plan to break through. He rallied his troops, reminding them that as soldiers of Great Sheng, they were not afraid to die and would fight to the last moment, never surrendering, to secure a chance at life for their brothers. He then led his troops to the West, welcoming the Liang encirclement.
As the battle raged, Xiao Chengxuan rushed to Chengxu, revealing that Emperor Xiao Chengrui's reinforcements had arrived, making the sacrificial plan unnecessary. Later that night, Xiao Chengrui and Xiao Chengxu shared a drink. Xiao Chengxu respectfully toasted Xiao Chengrui for risking his life to save them. Chengxu inquired about the palace, and Chengrui assured him that Consort Xian, Mingyu, was doing well.
Chengxu then expressed concern about Chengrui's worsening old lung issues, acknowledging they were a result of an arrow wound he caused in the past. Chengrui admitted this might be his last personal campaign. He reflected on his past obsession with success and failure and how he had wrongly blamed Chengxu. He offered a toast as an apology, thanking Chengxu for their beautiful victory and for steadying the soldiers' hearts and mediating internal conflicts.
Chengxu noted that their Royal Father once said the hardest battles were within the heart, and Chengrui agreed, adding that he had never admitted defeat and no one could determine a clear winner until the very end. Chengxu urged Chengrui to seek proper medical treatment for his illness, stressing the importance of addressing the root cause, not just the symptoms, or problems would resurface.
Chengrui retorted that Chengxu's stubborn personality would never change, and revealed that imperial physicians had long warned his lung illness could be fatal if not properly cared for. He then toasted Chengxu again, expressing his hope for Chengxu to help him achieve Great Sheng's unification, and asked if Chengxu would not accept his gesture of kindness. Chengxu remained silent, seemingly taken aback by Chengrui's words.
