The Song of Glory Episode 23 Recap
> The Song of Glory Recap
Lu Yuan repeatedly urged Liu Yikang to drink, internally noting Liu Yikang's injured state and wondering how long he could endure. Liu Yikang, feeling exhausted, eventually declared his intention to return home. However, Lu Yuan swiftly presented a collection of wedding gifts for both Liu Yikang and Side Consort Li, insisting that Liu Yikang inspect them personally to ensure nothing was amiss.
He described a crystal jade pendant and a "Dingkun bow" made from Yan cow horn and black dragon back muscle, suitable for Liu Yikang, and urged him to try it. Liu Yikang politely declined, accepting the gifts and instructing San Bao to prepare for their return. When Lu Yuan continued to stall, Adjutant Cao intervened, prompting Lu Yuan to question if there was an issue with Liu Yikang's health. Liu Yikang, feigning intoxication, assured them he was just tired.
The Grand Consort then arrived, expressing concern over rumors of an assassin and Liu Yikang's safety on his wedding day. She chastised him for drinking and insisted on having an imperial physician examine him, despite Liu Yikang's protests that he was merely drunk and fine. Lu Yuan subtly supported the Grand Consort's insistence, observing Liu Yikang's condition.
Just as the imperial physician was about to approach, Liu Yixuan arrived, apologizing to the Grand Consort for allowing his "Fourth Brother" to drink and claiming responsibility. He then created a diversion by talking about a large fire and billowing smoke at the Lu manor, implying it was the cause of Liu Yikang's pallor. He urged San Bao to take Liu Yikang back to the manor swiftly.
When the Grand Consort again pressed for the imperial physician, Liu Yixuan quickly attributed Liu Yikang's appearance to a pre-existing cough and the smoky environment. Liu Yikang then instructed Ji Shu to escort the Grand Consort back, and Liu Yixuan reiterated that they would visit her once Liu Yikang had recovered. Outside Lu Yuan's manor, Shen Lige was safely hidden in Liu Yikang's carriage. As they rode away, Shen Lige asked Liu Yikang if he was hurt.
Liu Yikang responded that he knew she couldn't bring herself to kill him and expressed his joy that she was the Side Consort Li he was destined to marry. He recounted his desperate search for her across Jiankang City, releasing countless sky lanterns, and how he had wished to abandon everything to find her when he felt he might lose her forever.
He then gently told her not to cry and promised never to let her go again, acknowledging that she had not intended to kill him. Deeply moved, Shen Lige asked why he treated her so well. Liu Yikang held up the jade pendant he had given her, stating it was a gift for her, and that this time it had saved his life.
Looking at the pendant, Shen Lige suddenly noticed poisoned blood on it, realizing Liu Yikang had been poisoned and the dagger was laced with venom. As Liu Yikang began to fall unconscious, Shen Lige urgently called out to Liu Yixuan, instructing them not to return to the manor but to proceed directly to San Jiu Hall. Though San Bao objected, Liu Yixuan affirmed his trust in her and ordered the carriage to proceed.
Chen Shaochun awoke in San Jiu Hall and, seeing Xu Lin, asked if his Master had saved him. Xu Lin, ignoring the question, angrily demanded why there was no news of Prince Peng Cheng's death, blaming Chen Shaochun and Shen Lige for failing his elaborate plans, and revealing he had personally poisoned the dagger to ensure success. Chen Shaochun realized Prince Peng Cheng was poisoned with the Thousand Thread Poison and was in mortal danger.
He pleaded with Xu Lin to rescue Shen Lige, whom he believed had been captured by Lu Yuan, but Xu Lin callously dismissed his concerns, stating he had his own views and didn't need Chen Shaochun's interference. Kong Cheng, seeing Chen Shaochun’s distress and injuries, helped him up and tried to calm him, saying he couldn't save Shen Lige in his current state.
Confused by his Master's behavior and the turn of events, Chen Shaochun then asked Kong Cheng what had happened while he was unconscious and how Lu Yuan knew the location of Luo Hua Station. Kong Cheng revealed that when he arrived at Luo Hua Station, he found the floor covered in luminous powder from the Zhu Que Alliance.
Outside Jiankang City, Xu Lin met with a mysterious man, informing him that while there were minor complications with the assassination, everything remained under control. He assured the mysterious man that Liu Yikang would surely die from the dagger's poison, as only Xu Lin possessed the antidote. The mysterious man cautioned Xu Lin to keep a close watch on his skilled pupil, Chen Shaochun, to prevent any unforeseen problems.
Xu Lin confidently stated that despite Chen Shaochun's doubts, Chen Shaochun would not dare to question him. He declared that he had waited and planned for years for this very day, and once Liu Yikang died, the Shen family would be doomed forever. Xu Lin then ominously expressed hope that Prince Peng Cheng and Shen Tingzhang would appreciate this "gift." Upon arriving at San Jiu Hall, Shen Lige pleaded with Chen Shaochun to save Liu Yikang.
However, Chen Shaochun was hesitant, conflicted by the fact that Liu Yikang was Prince Peng Cheng, their sworn enemy. Shen Lige knelt and begged him, questioning the Zhu Que Alliance's core beliefs and their Master's recent uncharacteristic actions, like using poison. She insisted that the "Fourth Brother" she knew was a good man dedicated to his people, and that only by saving him could they uncover the truth.
Moved by her words and his own growing doubts, Chen Shaochun finally relented and agreed to treat the prince. With Liu Yikang now under his care, Chen Shaochun diagnosed him with the Thousand Thread Poison. He explained that the antidote required two crucial ingredients: the dangerous white tiger gallbladder and the extremely rare Indian agarwood. Both had to be found within two days, or Liu Yikang would be beyond saving.
Liu Yixuan recalled hearing about Indian agarwood in Prince Peng Cheng's manor and immediately tasked San Bao with searching the manor and Xu Zhan with searching outside. He instructed Shen Lige to stay and care for Liu Yikang. Before leaving, Liu Yixuan sternly reminded San Bao and Xu Zhan that Liu Yikang had risked his life for Shen Lige, and they should understand his intentions. Ashamed, they apologized and hurried to search.
Chen Shaochun then told Shen Lige to stay with Liu Yikang while he and Kong Cheng went to prepare some temporary medicine. The Grand Consort's maid assured her that Liu Yikang's injury would eventually be exposed, and Liu Yixuan would then understand the Grand Consort's efforts. The Grand Consort then instructed Shen Leqing to discreetly monitor the medicine room and immediately report if anyone from Cheng Xiu Pavilion was seen there.
Later, observing Liu Yixuan's urgent search in the medicine room, Shen Leqing realized Liu Yikang was indeed injured. She deduced that Liu Yikang's injury was no coincidence and speculated that Shen Lige might be involved. Liu Yixuan diligently searched the medicine room but found no white tiger gallbladder. After consulting herbal records, he recalled that his Mother Consort possessed Indian agarwood.
He decided to seek it from her, instructing San Bao to continue searching for the tiger gallbladder and other herbs. Upon meeting the Grand Consort, Liu Yixuan feigned a headache and difficulty sleeping, requesting some Indian agarwood for its calming properties. The Grand Consort, playing along, pretended to have forgotten that she had used all her agarwood, prompting her maid, Chun Fang, to confirm she had burned through it in the past few days.
Liu Yixuan, realizing her deception, had no choice but to depart. Afterwards, Shen Leqing reported her observations to the Grand Consort, who asked what other medicine Liu Yixuan was searching for. Shen Leqing replied, "Tiger gallbladder." The Grand Consort instructed Shen Leqing to report her findings to Lu Yuan, asking him to determine what illnesses required those two ingredients.
Liu Yixuan returned to San Jiu Hall, where San Bao reported that the required herbs were not in the manor, but he had brought other rare and precious medicinal herbs. Chen Shaochun examined them and confirmed they could be used, along with acupuncture, to temporarily save Liu Yikang's life, and went with Adjutant Cao to prepare. Liu Yixuan then turned to Shen Lige, asking for the truth, assuring her of his trust as a friend.
Shen Lige confessed she was not the Shen family's true daughter; the real daughter, A'Nu, had been killed by Lu Yuan. She revealed she was an assassin from the Zhu Que Alliance, an orphan raised to believe their parents were loyalists executed as bandits by Prince Peng Cheng, who was portrayed as an incompetent and corrupt ruler. Their mission was revenge and to benefit the common people.
Shen Lige expressed her conflict, never expecting Liu Yikang to be the target, and regretting involving the loyal Shen family. She was willing to die for her actions if Liu Yikang and the Shen family could be safe.
Liu Yixuan expressed sympathy for her difficult past, suggesting the truth of those historical events might be more complex, and emphasized the immediate priority was for Liu Yikang to wake up, as he was the only one who could protect them and resolve the matter. Liu Yixuan then confessed that he had withheld information earlier: the Grand Consort indeed possessed Indian agarwood in her Ren Shou Pavilion, but for reasons unknown, she had refused to give it to him.
As dawn approached, San Bao reminded Shen Lige and Liu Yixuan that it was past 3:00 a. m. and court officials would arrive in four hours. He mentioned Liu Yikang's scheduled announcement of a new policy and the customary morning greetings from the new Side Consort to the Grand Consort. They quickly returned to Prince Peng Cheng's manor. After preparing, Shen Lige presented tea to the Grand Consort and Princess Consort Xie Yunzhi.
The Grand Consort praised Shen Lige but also tried to set the two women against each other. Shen Lige deftly responded, showing unity. The Grand Consort then noted Shen Lige looked haggard and subtly probed about an assassin the previous night. Shen Lige feigned ignorance. An eunuch then reported that Prince Peng Cheng had not attended court and had ordered Prince Jing Ling to temporarily manage state affairs.
The Grand Consort, feigning ignorance, asked Shen Lige if she knew why he missed court. Shen Lige claimed she did not know, stating Liu Yikang had gone to his study early that morning. Princess Consort Xie Yunzhi interjected, stating that women should not interfere in court affairs. Before the morning court session, Secretariat Director Xie Hao expressed concern to another official about Prince Peng Cheng's new policy of promoting students from humble backgrounds.
Meanwhile, Lu Yuan approached Xie Hao, mentioning the events at his manor the previous night. He then revealed that "something big" would happen in Zhi Jian Hall today, seeking Xie Hao's cooperation. At San Jiu Hall, Shen Lige worried about Liu Yikang's unconscious state. Liu Yixuan decided he must represent Liu Yikang at court to maintain stability. Shen Lige volunteered to personally retrieve the agarwood from the Grand Consort, promising to act cautiously.
Liu Yixuan, after obtaining Prince Peng Cheng's imperial seal, solemnly swore to his unconscious brother that he was acting out of urgency and would seek forgiveness later. In Zhi Jian Hall, Liu Yixuan formally announced an imperial edict: Shen Tingzhang was promoted to General of Northern Stabilization, Madam Shen-Yang Clan was made Duchess of Anqi, and the Shi Lin Hall was established under Fang Qing to assist in state affairs.
He then declared he was temporarily managing state affairs on Prince Peng Cheng's behalf. Officials immediately expressed alarm and suspicion about Prince Peng Cheng's absence. Secretariat Director Xie Hao directly challenged Liu Yixuan, demanding to know Prince Peng Cheng's whereabouts. Lu Yuan further fueled the dissent by questioning the new reform policies.
Shen Tingzhang defended Liu Yikang's arrangements, but Xie Hao retorted that if Prince Peng Cheng couldn't explain in person, the officials would not be appeased, and they demanded his immediate presence. Lu Yuan, supported by Xie Hao, accused Liu Yikang of neglecting his duties due to Side Consort Li, suggesting she was a "demon consort." He challenged Liu Yixuan, asking if he was deliberately hiding something or falsifying an edict. Liu Yixuan, seeing the escalating defiance, secretly dispatched San Bao to find Shen Zhi and secure Cheng Xiu Pavilion, preventing anyone from entering.
