The Promise of Chang'an Episode 55 Recap
> The Promise of Chang'an Recap
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Ling Zhen'er delivered a jade bracelet to Dong Ruoxuan, explaining that it was a cherished gift from Helan Yunqi to Helan Mingyu when she was young. Helan Mingyu, who had never worn it, now sent it to Dong Ruoxuan, saying its delicate color suited her perfectly. Ling Zhen'er conveyed Helan Mingyu's heartfelt gratitude to Dong Ruoxuan for persuading His Majesty to return, preventing a potentially irreparable situation.
Ling Zhen'er also explained that due to the political considerations with Xi Qi, Helan Mingyu was obliged to maintain a distant demeanor towards Dong Ruoxuan on the surface, and she hoped Dong Ruoxuan would understand. Dong Ruoxuan, expressing her thanks, affirmed her understanding, stating her only wish was to share His Majesty's worries and help him fulfill his filial piety, acknowledging Helan Mingyu's own difficulties.
The next morning, Empress Situ Zhen was furious that Dong Ruoxuan had not come to pay her respects. A servant reported that Dong Ruoxuan had fainted, and an imperial physician was attending to her. Enraged, Situ Zhen declared her intention to "teach her what it means to have a high status and lowly status." As she approached, Emperor Xiao Qiyuan rushed out, worriedly asking about Dong Ruoxuan.
He defended Dong Ruoxuan, saying she was exhausted and unwell, dismissing Situ Zhen's complaints about the missed greeting. When Situ Zhen's maid insisted she had informed them, Xiao Qiyuan lashed out at Situ Zhen, accusing her of constantly causing trouble. Helan Mingyu then arrived. The imperial physician emerged, joyfully announcing that Dong Ruoxuan was pregnant. Xiao Qiyuan was ecstatic, proclaiming, "We're going to have our own child.
We've been waiting such a long time for this moment," and admitting he felt like he was "becoming a father for the very first time." Helan Mingyu also expressed her delight, "This is just so wonderful." She advised Dong Ruoxuan to take good care of herself and promised to send nurturing soup.
They lightheartedly discussed whether the child would be a prince or a princess, with Xiao Qiyuan hoping for a prince, while Helan Mingyu and Dong Ruoxuan agreed a princess would be lovely too. Later, as Xiao Qiyuan and Dong Ruoxuan strolled outside, he advised her to limit her daily visits to Helan Mingyu.
Dong Ruoxuan confided in him that she felt "a little afraid," plagued by a recurring dream of standing at a height with "so many bitter and resentful eyes staring at me." She worried she wouldn't "have enough courage" to protect "all the love you have for me" and their child. Xiao Qiyuan reassured her, asserting his power as emperor to protect them both. The day of the birth arrived, and Xiao Qiyuan waited anxiously outside the chambers.
Finally, the cry of an infant was heard, and an attendant announced, "Your Majesty, congratulations! It's a prince. Imperial Noble Consort and son are both safe and sound." Xiao Qiyuan was overcome with joy, declaring, "My first prince is finally born." Ling Zhen'er brought the good news to Helan Mingyu, who had been praying, saying, "It's born! It's already born! It's a little prince," to which Helan Mingyu responded, "Good, good!" However, the joy was soon overshadowed by political unrest.
Rumors quickly spread that the newborn second prince, who had been conferred as the Prince of Hui, would soon be named Crown Prince. Empress Situ Zhen, worried about her position, expressed her anger to her attendant, who reminded her that His Majesty was new to governing and relied on the support of ministers and nobles.
The attendant pointed out that Consort Shu's uncle, the Prince of Cheng, was already dissatisfied with Xiao Qiyuan's decisions and would surely act against the rumors. Soon after, the Prince of Cheng, accompanied by Situ Zhen, confronted Helan Mingyu. Xiao Qiyuan was indignant, accusing the Prince of Cheng of raising a ruckus with his Royal Mother instead of addressing matters in court.
The Prince of Cheng explained that the ministers were upset and had nominated him to seek the Empress Dowager's counsel. He argued that it was "ridiculous" for the second prince, without any achievements, to be conferred as Prince of Hui with a nationwide amnesty, and then proclaimed Crown Prince.
Situ Zhen added that Great Sheng's custom was to establish a crown prince by "noble stature," and since Dong Ruoxuan's son was not the son of the first wife, it would be "highly undeserving and unjustified." Xiao Qiyuan retorted, pointing out that he himself was not born of the first wife, implicitly questioning if they considered him an "undeserving and unjustified" emperor.
Helan Mingyu intervened, stating that all the consort's children were her children, and she understood the ministers' opinions, but that the matter would be discussed "another day." The Prince of Cheng then issued a stern warning, declaring that the matter of the Crown Prince must be postponed and that any future declaration would require summoning "all 12 Great Xiao Battalions" and discussing it with "all nobles and ministers," as it was an "ancestors' rule" and "the law!"
He threatened that if anyone dared to break these rules, three specific battalions would "oppose it to the end." Helan Mingyu again stated the matter would be discussed another day and dismissed him and an angry Situ Zhen. Xiao Qiyuan complained to Helan Mingyu about Situ Zhen's arrogant behavior. Helan Mingyu, however, was not in the mood to be upset with Situ Zhen.
She reminded Xiao Qiyuan of their ancestors' family law, recalling how his father's decision to pass the throne to him had almost caused a crisis, which was averted only by Xiao Chengxu safeguarding the situation. Xiao Qiyuan argued that times had changed, and some old rules were outdated and needed reform. Helan Mingyu countered that such changes required time and careful implementation.
She highlighted the Prince of Cheng's threatening tone and warned that if the dissenting nobles united, it would be dangerous for him. She advised him to be patient and to plan carefully, not rushing for "short-term gains," as those who spoke of ancestral laws were truly pursuing "personal gains." Xiao Qiyuan acknowledged her wisdom. Shortly after, Helan Mingyu fell ill, suffering from sleeplessness and chills.
Xiao Qiyuan suggested she recuperate at the temporary imperial palace, where a hot spring would provide warmth and allow her to avoid courtly troubles. Helan Mingyu agreed. Upon hearing of Helan Mingyu's serious illness, which an imperial physician attributed to prolonged "pent up frustrations," "stagnated energy," and liver damage exacerbated by the recent crown prince dispute, Dong Ruoxuan immediately insisted on visiting her at the temporary imperial palace.
Despite being in her postpartum month, she disregarded Chunyu's warnings about her health, instructing her to care for the Second Prince. At the temporary imperial palace, Ling Zhen'er informed Xiao Qiyuan that Helan Mingyu had a high fever and was having nightmares, calling out "Chengxu." Xiao Qiyuan sent Ling Zhen'er to rest, wanting to be alone with his mother. As Helan Mingyu murmured "Chengxu" in her dream, Xiao Qiyuan realized the depth of her love for his Ninth Royal Uncle.
He confessed his past recklessness and inability to understand her, apologizing for his unfilial behavior, a newfound empathy stemming from his love for Dong Ruoxuan. In her dream, Helan Mingyu saw herself as old while Xiao Chengxu remained young. She reminisced about their youth, envying Xiao Qiyuan and Dong Ruoxuan's carefree love, acknowledging she had made Xiao Chengxu wait "an entire lifetime" and apologizing for hiding him in her heart to avoid becoming "the laughing stock of Great Sheng."
She questioned her own courage, admitting that despite everything, she still couldn't stop worrying about Great Sheng, concluding, "I'm so tired." Xiao Qiyuan, deeply moved, wept silently, apologizing to his mother. Dong Ruoxuan arrived at the temporary imperial palace, still in her postpartum confinement. Both Xiao Qiyuan and Ling Zhen'er urged her to return to the palace to rest, but Dong Ruoxuan insisted on staying to care for Helan Mingyu.
For several days, Dong Ruoxuan, Ling Zhen'er, and Xiao Qiyuan attended to Helan Mingyu, while Empress Situ Zhen deliberately feigned ignorance of Helan Mingyu's severe illness. When Helan Mingyu finally awoke, she was touched to learn that Dong Ruoxuan had not slept for many days while caring for her. Soon after, Xiao Qiyuan returned to the palace after praying at the Temple of Blessings. Helan Mingyu immediately sensed something was amiss when an unnamed eunuch hesitated to speak the truth.
He eventually reported that the Second Prince was "not feeling well" and that His Majesty had requested Dong Ruoxuan's immediate return. Though the eunuch downplayed the illness, Helan Mingyu, sensing the gravity of the situation, urged Dong Ruoxuan to rush back. After Dong Ruoxuan left, Helan Mingyu pressed the eunuch for the real situation.
The eunuch finally confessed that the Second Prince had suffered a severe wind chill the previous day, had seizures, and was trembling and unable to drink water, adding grimly, "We fear he won't make it!" Dong Ruoxuan rushed back to the palace to find Xiao Qiyuan beside their deceased son, with servants kneeling in sorrow. Her maid, Chunyu, hysterically blamed herself for failing to protect the prince, begging for the death penalty.
Dong Ruoxuan, pale and devastated, initially believed her son was "only sleeping" before collapsing in heart-wrenching grief. Xiao Qiyuan held her as they cried together, lamenting, "Why did the Heavens have to treat us like this? Why are you the one who has to bear all the pain?"
He then spoke to his departed child, saying that his lack of luck was "not necessarily a bad thing," as he would be spared "this world's sufferings," the "helplessness of an imperial family member," and the "torment of feeling love and hate." Days later, Dong Ruoxuan remained inconsolable, clutching her son's clothes, and reading by the window, her face pale. Xiao Qiyuan was heartbroken to see her suffering.
He tried to dissuade her from reading and encouraged her to rest, suggesting they could still have many more children. He pleaded with her to recover for his sake, telling her, "If something happened to you, how would I be able to live on?" Dong Ruoxuan dismissed his words, but Xiao Qiyuan insisted he was serious, making her promise to take care of her health. Later, Xiao Qiyuan privately consulted the Imperial Physician about Dong Ruoxuan's condition.
The physician explained that her "six meridians were off balance from both mental and physical exhaustion." When pressed for the truth, the physician stated that "if the Imperial Noble Consort can pull through this winter, when it's the warm spring season and the flowers start to bloom, her condition will greatly improve." Meanwhile, Dong Ruoxuan herself confided, "I know. . . I don't have much time left to serve His Majesty."
She fatalistically compared herself to "maple leaves in autumn, they're splendid only for awhile. When winter comes, they'll fall off. This is fate." Xiao Qiyuan, understanding the unspoken implication from the physician's words, was devastated, realizing that Dong Ruoxuan "won't survive the winter."
