The Song of Glory Episode 32 Recap
> The Song of Glory Recap
New policies initiated by Liu Yikang had caused widespread anxiety within the court. Now, with the foundation of the nobility being threatened, Xie Hao, the Director of Central Secretariat, lost patience and sought Grand Consort Sun's intervention, pledging his full support if she would help. Grand Consort Sun, herself from a noble lineage, refused to allow the nobility to be at the mercy of others.
She believed the new policy was like a rootless tree that would collapse without Prince Peng Cheng's (Liu Yikang's) backing. Xie Hao worried that Prince Jing Ling (Liu Yixuan) might continue to push these reforms in the future, but Grand Consort Sun assured him that as Liu Yixuan's mother, she would never permit anyone to dismantle the nobility's foundation. Liu Yixuan, acting in Liu Yikang's stead, had previously ordered inspections of military households for soldier recruitment, which stirred unease.
He then mandated a comprehensive household registration cleanup. At a banquet hosted by Grand Consort Sun, she attempted to mediate between Liu Yixuan and Xie Hao. Liu Yixuan openly accused Xie Hao of being in a difficult position because the new policies threatened his ill-gotten wealth and vested power. Liu Yixuan declared that he would not tolerate anyone obstructing the military recruitment orders given by Prince Peng Cheng before his departure for battle.
He had already dispatched Ji Shu to the Section for the Citizens to inspect and verify the number of private soldiers registered by noble families, warning that any discrepancies would result in immediate banishment. Xie Hao warned that such actions would be met with resistance from all nobles. Before Ji Shu could complete his task, the Section for the Citizens was set ablaze, destroying all the archived household registration records.
Liu Yixuan furiously accused Xie Hao of orchestrating the fire to destroy evidence and protect the nobility. Xie Hao, however, claimed he was with Grand Consort Sun at the banquet and was unaware of the fire, implying Liu Yixuan was unfairly blaming him. Grand Consort Sun sided with Xie Hao, urging Liu Yixuan to be more measured. Enraged, Liu Yixuan condemned Xie Hao's "despicable" methods for shielding nobles, questioning his fitness as a high official.
Xie Hao retorted that he would not passively watch the nobles be controlled. Determined, Liu Yixuan vowed to thoroughly investigate the incident. His mother, Grand Consort Sun, was so exasperated by his defiance that she slapped him in public, expressing her profound disappointment. Meanwhile, in the Xie Manor, Xie Hao's grandfather, Xie Gong, confronted him about the fire. Xie Hao admitted his involvement. His grandfather berated him, reminding him of the Xie family's generations of loyalty and good reputation.
Xie Hao countered that such a modest and loyal life had not protected their family and that maintaining only a "clean and loyal" reputation would eventually make them vulnerable. His grandfather was deeply dismayed by Xie Hao's cynical worldview. On the northern front, the Wei army, under General Wan Jingsheng, was cautious. He decided to first besiege General Shen Tingzhang's forces to test Liu Yikang's strength at Matou. Shen Tingzhang's troops found themselves surrounded, sustaining heavy casualties.
They were in a desperate situation, but Shen Tingzhang insisted on holding the line as ordered by Prince Peng Cheng. Learning of the dire situation, Liu Yikang dispatched a regiment of 3,000 soldiers to reinforce General Shen, despite warnings about Matou's dwindling food supplies and lack of reinforcements. Liu Yikang believed the Wei ambush was a probing attack, and they must not appear weak.
He ordered Li Chengxun to lead the relief force and Xu Zhan to display the remaining troops at the city gate to deter a full assault. Wang Zijin, determined to find Shen Zhi, requested to join the relief army. Liu Yikang warned her of the extreme danger, but she insisted, stating her desire to be with Shen Zhi. Moved by her resolve, Liu Yikang permitted her to go.
With army rations critically low, Liu Yikang entrusted his adjutant, San Bao, with a handwritten note and ordered him to ride non-stop to Jiankang. The note explicitly stated, "Matou needs urgent assistance. Send army rations immediately!" San Bao's mission was to inform Prince Jing Ling of the grave military situation in the North and to urge him to send reinforcements as quickly as possible to end the war and bring peace to the citizens.
At Matou, due to the severe shortage of rations, the soldiers and citizens were forced to subsist on a bitter porridge made from elm tree bark. Liu Yikang personally tasted it, reflecting on the arduous life of the common people. He finally understood Shen Lige's words, "one who is in a high position but accomplishes nothing; the citizens are suffering without his knowing," vowing never to forget the taste of that congee.
Back in Jiankang, Grand Consort Sun, feigning illness, tried to manipulate Liu Yixuan against Liu Yikang. She insinuated that while Liu Yikang gained popularity on the battlefield, the reforms he left for Liu Yixuan were "offending people" and could ruin his future. Liu Yixuan, however, steadfastly defended his fourth brother, believing Liu Yikang always acted for the people's good. He dismissed her concerns and left, leaving Grand Consort Sun frustrated.
She later received a report from Lu Yuan confirming that the official victory report received in Jiankang was a fake, and the northern front faced severe shortages of soldiers and food. She then instructed the Xie Manor to act on her orders. Meanwhile, San Bao was captured and locked up in the Manual Labor Department on Grand Consort Sun's orders.
She accused him of deserting the battlefield and returning without authorization, even suggesting he might have betrayed them to the Wei. San Bao fiercely argued against her, accusing her of having evil intentions and trying to hinder him. He warned her that Prince Peng Cheng and Prince Jing Ling were close, and Prince Peng Cheng would eventually return victorious, bringing about her downfall. Unfazed, Grand Consort Sun ordered her men to "secretly handle him."
Shen Leqing, who had overheard Grand Consort Sun's plans for San Bao, realized the grave danger to Prince Peng Cheng. She was conflicted, knowing Liu Yixuan distrusted her. In the weaving room, Xiao Xin, missing Shen Lige, heard San Bao's cries for help. She rushed out and bravely fought off Grand Consort Sun's guards, rescuing San Bao. Xiao Xin, thinking Shen Lige was dead, pleaded with San Bao to take her away so she could pay respects to her mistress.
San Bao then revealed that Shen Lige had faked her death and was alive and well in Matou with Liu Yikang. Overjoyed, Xiao Xin expressed her relief. San Bao, having urgent matters to attend to, promised to explain more later and rushed off. However, just outside, he was ambushed and knocked unconscious once more by black-clad figures. On the northern front, the reinforcements led by Li Chengxun arrived, bringing desperately needed rations to Shen Tingzhang's depleted forces.
To Shen Zhi's surprise, Wang Zijin was among them. He chastised her for her recklessness, but she insisted she came only to see him and be with him, undeterred by the danger. Her courage earned the respect of the soldiers. Li Chengxun explained that due to heavy losses and critical food shortages, General Shen Tingzhang was urgently needed back at Matou for strategic discussions. Shen Tingzhang agreed, and they immediately set off.
Back in Jiankang, Shen Leqing approached Liu Yixuan, informing him that San Bao was locked up in the Manual Labor Department. Liu Yixuan initially hesitated, distrusting her due to her past deceptions. Shen Leqing insisted she had accidentally overheard the information and speculated that San Bao carried an urgent message from Prince Peng Cheng. Liu Yixuan, still wary, decided to take her with him. Upon arrival, they found San Bao gone.
Shen Leqing, searching frantically, eventually found Liu Yikang's handwritten note, which San Bao had left behind. The message confirmed Matou's urgent need for assistance and army rations. Despite a subordinate's concern that it might be a trap, Liu Yixuan recognized his fourth brother's handwriting. Overriding all other considerations, he immediately ordered Huo Yun to lead all the newly trained soldiers and accompanying provisions to Matou, demanding they travel day and night without a moment's delay.
