The Song of Glory Episode 4 Recap
> The Song of Glory Recap
The morning court convened, where the Commandant of Justice reported on the previous night's military vessel transfer. He stated that Pei Ruhai, the arsenal administrator, had confessed to embezzlement and to Protectorate General Lu’s involvement in secretly withholding elite troop arrowheads and falsely reporting military supply quantities. With written evidence, Lu Yuan remained calm, admitting only to negligence in supervision and boldly requesting to confront Pei Ruhai.
However, when the guards brought Pei Ruhai to the court, he was found unconscious, his limbs mutilated and his tongue cut, rendering him unable to testify. Liu Yikang understood that Lu Yuan had orchestrated this beforehand, and Lu Yuan further shifted blame to the Commandant of Justice, casting doubt on his integrity. Prince Jing Ling, Liu Yixuan, argued that the military supplies were critical state assets, and collusion within the arsenal was tantamount to treason.
He advocated for the punishment and removal of all officials involved, from the highest to the lowest, to set an example. However, many court officials were aligned with Lu Yuan. They collectively appealed to Liu Yikang to retract his previous decision and instead sentence Pei Ruhai to death, executing three generations of his family, to uphold justice and pacify the officials' anger.
Unable to overtly challenge Lu Yuan's power, Liu Yikang complied, not only ceasing to pursue Lu Yuan's culpability but also commending him for his hard work. Just as Liu Yixuan was about to voice his displeasure, Deputy General Li Chengxun arrived with news from the front lines: General Shen Tingzhang had led the Sui Yuan Army to victory against the Wei forces, recovering three towns, and was en route back to Jiankang City. Liu Yikang was overjoyed.
He immediately tasked Liu Yixuan with preparing a grand award ceremony for General Shen. Seizing the opportunity, Liu Yikang used Lu Yuan's multiple positions as an excuse for the earlier oversight, smoothly transferring the military arsenal duties to Shen Tingzhang, thereby redistributing power. After court, ministers buzzed with discussions about Pei Ruhai's fate and General Shen's triumphant return, anticipating Lu Yuan's diminished influence.
Lu Yuan, however, approached Liu Yixuan, subtly attempting to sway him by referencing the historical figures Shi Qui and Prince Zhou. Lu Yuan suggested that just as Shi Qui, who killed his own son for justice, received only empty fame, Liu Yixuan's loyalty to Liu Yikang might lead to a similarly tragic end, akin to the ambitious Prince Zhou. Liu Yixuan remained unmoved, advising Lu Yuan to be cautious and stating that he should worry about his own future.
Following this, Liu Yixuan found solace at Mo Ran Pavilion, enjoying Miss Wan'er's zither music, which mirrored his joyful mood. He expressed his appreciation for her understanding, viewing her as a true confidante. Meanwhile, Lu Yuan was not idle.
Having learned that the Judicial Commandant had replaced all prison guards and Shen Zhi had similarly purged guards from Prince Peng Cheng's manor, effectively removing all of Lu Yuan's informants, Lu Yuan decided to personally interrogate A'ling, an assassin who had survived the palace banquet ambush and was now held in his family's secret dungeon. He revealed to her that he had swapped her with a dead servant girl, while all her companions had been decapitated.
Lu Yuan then produced a distinctive mask and crossbow, questioning her about the owner of the mask and who else among the assassins could wield such a powerful weapon, strongly implying he knew the other surviving assassin. In the bustling market, Shen Lige encountered a street scam. A beggar "accidentally" bumped into her, causing her to "break" a porcelain vendor's wares, which were already broken.
Disguised, Liu Yikang happened to pass by and recognized Shen Lige from their encounter on the boat. He dismounted to observe. Liu Yikang saw through the trick, and Shen Lige, also recognizing the deceit, exposed the vendor's scam. Enraged, the vendor and beggar attempted to attack her. Liu Yikang intervened, overturning the stall, and pulled Shen Lige away, fleeing down the street.
Once in a quiet corner, he playfully teased her about their repeated, tumultuous encounters, but Shen Lige, still unaware of his true identity, threatened to beat him if he kept stalking her. Later, Liu Yikang met with the Grand Consort, who had heard about Lu Yuan's near-impeachment and the transfer of the military arsenal to the Shen family. She worried that Liu Yikang held a grudge against her nephew, Lu Yuan.
Liu Yikang reassured her, asserting that Lu Yuan was his family and the most loyal person at court. He explained that any disciplinary action was merely a necessary public display for negligence, not a personal vendetta, and that he understood Lu Yuan's value. On the day of General Shen Tingzhang's return, Jiankang City celebrated his victorious army.
At home, Madam Shen had previously instructed Shen Leqing to select a song, and she herself had been teaching Shen Lige to play the zither for the welcoming banquet. General Shen was overjoyed to learn of his daughter's return. However, when prompted to call him "Father," Shen Lige only addressed him as "General." Though surprised, General Shen and his wife understood that after years of separation, their daughter needed time to adjust, and they resolved to nurture their relationship slowly.
Prince Jing Ling, Liu Yixuan, arrived at the Shen manor to present an imperial plaque in honor of General Shen's victory. Later, he privately encountered Shen Lige and realized she was the injured female assassin he had saved. Shen Lige explained that she had wandered for many years, developing a personal grudge against Lu Yuan, and had only recently discovered her identity as a Shen family member.
She pleaded with Liu Yixuan to keep her assassination attempt a secret, and he agreed, promising to protect her as a gentleman would. While conversing, Liu Yixuan noticed the music score Shen Lige intended to play, supposedly "Cry of the Crane through the Nine Skies." He immediately recognized it as "Ghost Music" from the Western Regions, rumored to manipulate the mind and cause nightmares, which would be particularly dangerous for Madam Shen, given her history of hysteria.
Shen Lige instantly understood that Shen Leqing intended to harm her. At the banquet, Shen Lige dramatically snapped a zither string, declaring that the song could not be played. She then confronted Shen Leqing, slapping her and exposing her malicious intent to use "Ghost Music" to harm Madam Shen and frame Shen Lige.
Shen Leqing vehemently denied the accusations, insisting she had taught Shen Lige the correct song, "Cry of the Crane through the Nine Skies," and ordered her maid, Li Xin, to retrieve the original music score as proof. Liu Yixuan corroborated Shen Lige's claim, confirming that the score she held was indeed the dangerous "Ghost Music." Shen Leqing continued to argue, accusing Shen Lige of mysterious outings and previously causing Madam Shen's nightmare.
Unfazed, Shen Lige produced a small jar, claiming it contained a poisonous scorpion and that she had applied a special fragrance to the music score, which the scorpion was attracted to, leaving a lingering scent detectable only by the creature. Terrified, Li Xin broke down and confessed that Shen Leqing had instructed her to secretly switch the music scores. Madam Shen was deeply distressed by Shen Leqing's betrayal. Madam Shen, despite the revelation, attempted to defend Shen Leqing.
Shen Lige, however, scoffed bitterly, recounting her eighteen years of solitary wandering, her profound loneliness, and her annual dread of the Mid-Autumn Festival, envious of those who knew their parents. She expressed her disappointment, feeling that her wish for a family had been unfulfilled and that she was still unwelcome. Shen Lige declared her intention to leave the Shen family. Upon hearing this, Madam Shen collapsed in agony and fainted.
A physician diagnosed her with a severe relapse of hysteria, aggravated by emotional distress, and grimly stated that she might never regain consciousness. Shen Leqing knelt outside Madam Shen's room, remorsefully apologizing. Shen Zhi, deeply disappointed by Shen Leqing's actions, initially harbored suspicion towards Shen Lige. However, Shen Lige, demonstrating her compassionate nature, decided to stay and diligently nursed Madam Shen. This act deeply moved General Shen Tingzhang, who reaffirmed his belief in Shen Lige's identity and kindness.
He urged Shen Zhi to put aside his doubts, reminding him that the family owed Shen Lige a great deal for her past suffering. Meanwhile, Lu Yuan continued his investigation into the assassination plot, holding the mysterious A'ling captive in his dark dungeon, one of the few survivors of the palace ambush.
