The Song of Glory Episode 14 Recap
> The Song of Glory Recap
Sun Consort Dowager waited anxiously outside Prince Peng Cheng's manor, seeking to intercede for her son, Liu Yixuan. However, Liu Yikang, Prince Peng Cheng, was unwilling to see her and had San Bao politely send her away, promising to inform her upon his return. Liu Yikang then went to Prince Jing Ling's manor, where he found Liu Yixuan. He expressed his dismay, asking why Liu Yixuan signed the written order.
Liu Yixuan explained that his sole aim was to ensure Lu Yuan's death for his crimes. Liu Yikang chastised him, emphasizing that the consequences were too severe, and the political struggles in the Imperial Court were far more complex and dangerous than Liu Yixuan imagined. He revealed his efforts to act with utmost prudence, having already lost two brothers, and stated he would not allow Liu Yixuan to be swept into the same fate.
Liu Yikang explained that the powerful Lu, Xie, and Wang families, deeply entrenched within the gentry, held intricate ties to various court interests, meaning simply removing Lu Yuan would not necessarily change the situation. Overwhelmed with emotion, Liu Yixuan finally understood his fourth brother's long-standing thoughtful planning and the treacherous path ahead.
Realizing that he had put Liu Yikang in a dilemma, he acknowledged that he could only accompany Liu Yikang up to that point, signifying his intention to shoulder the responsibility. Liu Yikang urged him to visit Sun Consort Dowager, who was ill and missed him. Meanwhile, Shen Lige met Liu Yikang aboard a ship, presenting him with sweet cakes she had personally made. She also handed him the Wuchang official roster, which contained evidence of Lu Yuan's crimes.
Their meeting was interrupted by Xu Zhan, who reported that Prince Jing Ling had gone to the Ministry of Justice to admit his guilt. Alarmed, Shen Lige moved to investigate, but Liu Yikang restrained her, recalling the dangerous Wuchang affair. He insisted that she not risk herself further and asked her to trust him to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Before voluntarily imprisoning himself, Liu Yixuan penned several farewell letters, entrusting Adjutant Ji to deliver them to his mother, Shen Lige, and others. When Adjutant Ji delivered Shen Lige's letter, she questioned him about the circumstances of Liu Yixuan's confession. Adjutant Ji, already feeling resentment on behalf of his master, retorted that Lu Yuan had forced Prince Jing Ling to sign an order for the training of elite soldiers, shifting all blame onto him.
He then pointedly stated that if Shen Lige had not been poisoned, Liu Yixuan would not have resorted to such dangerous measures to seek an antidote for her. Shen Lige read Liu Yixuan's letter, which expressed no regrets about their friendship and wished her well. Lu Yandi, desperate to save Lu Yuan, went to plead with Sun Consort Dowager.
She, however, was in no position to help, consumed by worry for Liu Yixuan, and even harbored resentment towards the Lu family for implicating her son. She berated Lu Yandi for placing Liu Yixuan in harm's way. Lu Yandi confessed to only seeing the monetary gains and admitted Lu Yuan’s lack of foresight, yet he still foolishly claimed Lu Yuan's actions were for Prince Jing Ling and the maternal clan.
Unable to secure Sun Consort Dowager's aid, Lu Yandi followed Xue Qiu's suggestion to seek help from other ministers, but found no one willing to assist. Finally, he turned to Elder Xie.
Lu Yandi humbly begged Elder Xie to intervene, offering all the Lu family's assets, but Elder Xie sternly rebuked him, asserting that Lu Yuan's current state was a direct result of Lu Yandi's poor upbringing and his own greed, which had stripped the Lu family of its noble dignity. Despite Lu Yandi’s tearful pleas, Elder Xie refused, emphasizing that noble families represent upright character and serve the state, not selfish interests.
Sun Consort Dowager, distraught after receiving Liu Yixuan's farewell letter, which ended with him kneeling in farewell, fainted from grief. Upon regaining consciousness, she immediately went to visit Lu Yuan in prison. She angrily accused him of deliberately framing Liu Yixuan. Lu Yuan, ever cunning, manipulated her by listing his own losses and then subtly implying that if he died, her and Liu Yixuan's comfortable days would also be numbered.
He revealed that Liu Yikang had been feigning illness for two years, secretly gathering power, and warned her that without the Lu family's support, she would become vulnerable to Prince Peng Cheng's machinations. Shocked by the revelation, Sun Consort Dowager recalled past political turmoil and felt terrified. She then plotted a way out with Lu Yuan, promising to treat him as her own son if they overcame their predicament.
For several days, Sun Consort Dowager went on a hunger strike, which prompted Liu Yikang to visit her. She tearfully pleaded with him, as a mother, to spare her son's life. Liu Yikang acknowledged her past kindness, remembering how she had raised him like her own son, even risking the Emperor's wrath. However, caught between filial piety and the demands of state law, he could only remain silent, having not yet found a solution.
Sun Consort Dowager became agitated and fainted again. Upon waking, she devised another plan. She had her maid, Chun Fang, send Liu Yikang some peeled chestnuts, hinting that she had sent her servants away to rest. This lured Liu Yikang to her chambers, where he found her feigning a suicide attempt with a white silk rope. She cried out that she wished to die rather than witness internal strife between brothers.
Pressured by her dramatic act, Liu Yikang promised her that he would not let anything happen to Liu Yixuan. Later, Liu Yikang met with Shen Lige. She complained that despite their diligent efforts, Lu Yuan always found a loophole. Shen Lige then pointedly asserted that Lu Yuan’s fearlessness stemmed from Prince Peng Cheng’s indulgence, even speculating that Prince Peng Cheng himself might have groomed Lu Yuan's private army.
Liu Yikang acknowledged her perspective, agreeing that such corrupt officials should not be spared. Prior to the court trial, Liu Yikang drafted a plea to the Emperor, requesting mercy for Prince Jing Ling, who he claimed was framed by Lu Yuan. A key document was also revealed: a tally bearing Prince Peng Cheng's seal, which was a top-secret order for Prince Jing Ling to recruit strong fighters and build an elite army as a national reserve.
On the day of the trial, the Ministry of Justice presented its findings. It was confirmed that Lu Yuan had cast over 4,000 pieces of black iron at Qixia Mountain. Furthermore, in the third year of Yuanjia, under Prince Jing Ling's command, Lu Yuan raised a private army of over 10,000 men in Wuchang and then deployed these troops to besiege Jiankang, a clear act of rebellion.
Lu Yandi spoke in defense, arguing that Liu Yixuan was known for his filial piety and would never rebel. Other ministers debated, some asserting that Lu Yuan's domination of the court, coupled with Liu Yixuan's confession, clearly linked him to the rebellion and warranted beheading. Amidst the heated arguments, another minister attempted to downplay the charges.
