The Song of Glory Episode 12 Recap
> The Song of Glory Recap
Shen Lige confided in Liu Yikang, her heart heavy with worry over her father, Shen Tingzhang, and brother, Shen Zhi, who were unjustly imprisoned. She questioned if drink could truly ease her troubles, knowing that substantive action was required. Liu Yikang assured her that the situation was not beyond hope. He revealed an ancient map of Song, drawn by Lu Yuan's grandfather, Lu Zhang.
He indicated the four former strongholds of the Black Armored Brigade—Xin'an, Yuzhang, Baling, and Xiangyang—and pointed out Wuchang prefecture, located centrally among them and directly connected to Jiankang City by river. Liu Yikang deduced that Wuchang was likely where Lu Yuan was secretly training his private army, a strategic location from which to swiftly encircle Jiankang if a rebellion were to erupt.
Shen Lige, intrigued by Liu Yikang's extensive knowledge of Lu Yuan's movements and history, began to question his true identity. However, she quickly dismissed her curiosity, stating that his identity was secondary to their shared goal of punishing the treacherous. Her pragmatic outlook caused Liu Yikang to hold back from revealing his full status. Shen Lige then inquired if proving Wuchang as Lu Yuan's secret training ground would be enough to save her family.
Liu Yikang explained that direct evidence would be scarce; only by enticing Lu Yuan to mobilize his forces to besiege Jiankang could his rebellion be irrefutably proven. This scheme, he noted, would necessitate a Tiger Tally, which Shen Lige impulsively declared she would immediately steal from Lu Yuan's manor. Liu Yikang cautioned her against haste, emphasizing the complexity of deploying troops with a stolen tally and the need for a meticulous plan.
In a cunning maneuver, Lu Yuan deliberately spread false rumors of Shen Tingzhang and Shen Zhi's impending execution. Li Chengxun, the Vanguard General of the Suiyuan Army, along with his officers, hastily rode back to Jiankang City. They knelt before Prince Peng Cheng's manor, imploring him to intervene on behalf of the Shen family. However, Liu Yikang instructed them to be removed from the capital.
Moments later, Liu Yixuan appeared, sternly denouncing Li Chengxun's unauthorized return to the capital as a capital offense. He ordered Li Chengxun and the accompanying Suiyuan Army generals arrested and taken to the Ministry of Justice. Shen Lige, witnessing this, appealed to Liu Yixuan for their release, expressing her profound disappointment and wondering if his character had fundamentally changed. Liu Yikang, however, harbored a deeper understanding of his brother, suspecting Liu Yixuan's actions were part of a more intricate strategy.
Confined in prison, Li Chengxun and the other Suiyuan Army generals vehemently railed against Prince Peng Cheng, calling him weak and submissive to Lu Yuan. They decried the corruption of the court, arguing their sacrifices for the kingdom had been in vain. Shen Tingzhang, overhearing their complaints, reprimanded them sharply. He explained that their impulsive return to the capital had fallen directly into Lu Yuan's trap, reinforcing the false narrative that the Suiyuan Army harbored rebellious intentions.
Shen Tingzhang stressed that Prince Peng Cheng was working behind the scenes and that Lu Yuan's ultimate goal was to dismantle Prince Peng Cheng's influence, not merely harm the Shen family. He warned that any further rash actions would jeopardize Prince Peng Cheng's larger plan. The generals, acknowledging their error, expressed remorse for not heeding Shen Lige's earlier advice. Shen Lige later confronted Liu Yixuan, voicing her deep disillusionment.
She reminded him of his past integrity in opposing Lu Yuan and questioned why he was now arresting loyal generals, seemingly assisting Lu Yuan's agenda. Liu Yixuan coolly stated that his actions were "acting appropriately for the current situation," suggesting a strategic necessity. Shen Lige scorned his explanation, reminiscing about the principled Prince Jing Ling she once admired. She pointed out the apparent irreversibility of the Shen family's conviction, lamenting Prince Peng Cheng's seeming helplessness.
Liu Yixuan urged her to abandon her futile struggle against Lu Yuan. Shen Lige, however, defiantly declared she would never give up, as Lu Yuan sought to destroy her entire family. She reiterated her plan to acquire the Tiger Tally to expose Lu Yuan's rebellion. Liu Yixuan dismissed their prior connection as mere acquaintanceship and trivial past favors, claiming he had only helped her to prevent a pointless sacrifice.
He asserted his disinterest in her affairs, stating he would adapt to the situation if Lu Yuan offered him what he desired. Heartbroken, Shen Lige questioned if she had misjudged him or if he had truly transformed. Liu Yixuan responded that if his goals were achieved, his change in character was irrelevant. Accepting his apparent shift, Shen Lige declared that they would go their separate ways.
Meanwhile, Xu Lin, believing the Shen family's plight had rendered the marriage alliance unviable, dispatched Chen Shaoxun to warn Shen Lige to leave the Shen family for her own safety, fearing that staying would impede her future escape. Shen Lige adamantly refused, declaring she would not abandon the Shen family or betray the kindness they had shown her, vowing to fight for their justice.
Chen Shaoxun and Kong Cheng, concerned for her well-being, offered her a medicine concocted by Chen Shaoxun, explaining it would help mitigate residual poison and had other beneficial uses. Despite their heartfelt concern, Shen Lige remained steadfast in her resolve. In court, Liu Yixuan proposed that command of the Suiyuan Army be temporarily handed over to Lu Yuan, citing the need for strong border defense against Northern Wei given Shen Tingzhang's imprisonment.
Liu Yikang observed Liu Yixuan with a mix of recognition and unease. After the court, Liu Yikang confronted Liu Yixuan, demanding to know his true intentions and warning that placing the Suiyuan Army in Lu Yuan's hands would grant the Lu family control over the entire kingdom. Liu Yixuan defended Lu Yuan, prompting Liu Yikang to remind him that even rebels had once been highly regarded officials.
He urged Liu Yixuan not to disappoint him, to which Liu Yixuan vaguely replied that Liu Yikang would eventually understand his motivations. Convinced that Liu Yixuan and Liu Yikang were irrevocably estranged, Lu Yuan saw an opportunity to further exploit the situation. He hosted a banquet for Liu Yixuan, where he skillfully flattered him, comparing his ambition and adaptability to Emperor Gaozu.
Lu Yuan pledged the full support of the Lu family in Liu Yixuan's quest for power, demonstrating his "sincerity" by revealing the locations of his private armed forces in Jingzhou and Wuchang—a clear act of treason that Liu Yixuan recognized. During the banquet, Shen Lige embarked on her mission to steal the Tiger Tally.
Despite Chen Shaoxun's insistence on joining her, citing his familiarity with Lu Manor and superior martial skills, Shen Lige maintained that her extensive experience in dangerous missions made stealing the tally a minor task, and his skills would be needed for more crucial future plans. She assured him she would prioritize her safety. After infiltrating Lu Yuan's manor, as she reached for the Tiger Tally hidden in a secret compartment, Liu Yixuan suddenly appeared.
He subtly indicated a hidden mechanism, helping her secure the Tiger Tally. He then handed her a secret letter and provided cover for her escape. Shen Lige, now grasping Liu Yixuan's true, complex intentions, raced back to her boat. Finding Liu Yikang absent, she opened the letter, which contained Lu Yuan's order to immediately deploy the Black Armored Brigade to Jiankang City.
Realizing her earlier misjudgment of Liu Yixuan, she quickly penned a message for Liu Yikang, detailing the acquired Tiger Tally and Lu Yuan's imminent military movement. Upon receiving Shen Lige's urgent message, Liu Yikang summoned Shen Feng. He entrusted Shen Feng with a mission of immense importance, one that bore on the lives of his father and brother, the future of the 200,000 Suiyuan Army soldiers, and the very destiny of the Song dynasty.
He bestowed upon Shen Feng the title of Captain Hu Ben and commanded him to lead 200,000 troops to Wuchang to intercept the Black Armored Brigade before they could reach Jiankang. Liu Yikang underscored the critical need for absolute secrecy, even from Shen Feng's own family. Shen Feng, a brave young man from a distinguished family, accepted the perilous task. Shen Lige resolved to accompany the troops to Wuchang.
Before departing, she sought out Wang Zijin, requesting her to oversee the Shen manor and care for her mother. She advised Wang Zijin to tell her mother that she was meeting friends and would return swiftly, and most importantly, to keep a vigilant eye on Shen Leqing. As Shen Lige rode out of Jiankang, she discovered Chen Shaoxun and Kong Cheng awaiting her outside the city, insistent on joining her. Unexpectedly, Huo Yun also appeared, leading dozens of horse bandits. He explained that Liu Yixuan had secretly released him to provide assistance to Shen Lige. Together, the group set off for Wuchang.
