The Song of Glory Episode 45 Recap
> The Song of Glory Recap
Shen Lige noticed that Madam Shen had been unusually diligent in copying scriptures lately, hurrying to send them to the temple after each session. This aroused her suspicion. Wang Zijin explained that Madam Shen copied scriptures daily to pray for the safety of Shen Tingzhang and Shen Zhi, hoping the family would reunite soon.
Wang Zijin then revealed that Weiyang Lake, where Father and Eldest Brother were ambushed, was also the place where their parents had first met and pledged their love. This detail, previously unknown to Lige, made her realize that Shen Leqing must be involved. To confirm her suspicions, Shen Lige went to the dungeon to interrogate Xue Qiu, who confessed that Shen Leqing had indeed lured Shen Tingzhang and Shen Zhi to Weiyang Lake, leading them into an ambush.
Shen Lige then instructed Wang Zijin to prevent Madam Shen from going to the temple. Wang Zijin successfully intervened, telling Madam Shen that the temple’s scripture chanting was canceled for the day and suggesting they make "zongzi" for Shen Feng instead. Meanwhile, Shen Lige infiltrated the temple’s living quarters and found a box of letters with traced characters, confirming her theory that Shen Leqing was forging letters in Madam Shen's handwriting.
Back at the Shen residence, Uncle Zheng saw Mei Qi admiring Shen Feng’s sword, which she considered petty of him to treat like a treasure. Uncle Zheng explained that the sword was custom-made for Eldest Young Master Shen Zhi and that after Shen Tingzhang and Shen Zhi were ambushed and killed on their way back to Jiankang, Shen Feng had been unable to let go of his grief.
He encouraged Mei Qi to talk to Shen Feng, but she was reluctant. Uncle Zheng subtly pushed Mei Qi towards Shen Feng, causing her to fall in front of him. Shen Feng reacted with his usual coldness, calling her unruly and ill-mannered. Mei Qi responded with sorrow, explaining that she grew up without parents and had no one to teach her manners, then apologized for touching the sword, saying she didn't know it belonged to his eldest brother.
Shen Feng, affected by her words, simply told her to learn if she didn't know. Shen Leqing, having been told by a nun that a young lady was asking about her at the temple, suspected Shen Lige and rushed to Xie Hao for help. However, Xie Hao informed her that their collaboration was over. He had only worked with her because their needs aligned, but now she was no longer useful.
He warned her never to appear in his sight again. Shen Leqing tried to threaten him with letters involving Grand Consort Sun, but Xie Hao dismissed them as irrelevant and an empty threat, stating that eliminating her would be easy. He expressed his disdain for her, calling her ungrateful for betraying the Shen family who raised her and harmed those closest to her.
Xie Hao declared that someone like her didn't deserve to live and that he would applaud if Shen Lige punished her. Shen Leqing retorted, calling Xie Hao a "beast in human clothes" for intercepting military reports and assassinating ministers, predicting that Liu Yikang would eventually tear him to shreds. Unknown to them, Shen Lige had been hiding outside, listening to their entire conversation, confirming Shen Leqing's deep treachery.
Shen Lige brought Shen Leqing back to the Shen family ancestral hall and forced her to kneel before the memorial tablets of Shen Tingzhang and Shen Zhi. Shen Feng angrily denounced Shen Leqing as unworthy of being a Shen family daughter. Wang Zijin tearfully confronted Shen Leqing, asking why she couldn't cherish the love and care she received and instead destroyed everything.
Shen Lige presented the evidence of her crimes and ordered Shen Leqing to take her own life as atonement. Just as Shen Leqing hesitated, Madam Shen burst in, shielding her beloved "Jia'er" and fiercely reprimanding Shen Lige for trying to harm her.
Shen Lige, exasperated, pulled Madam Shen to the memorial tablets and revealed the full truth: Shen Leqing had tricked her into copying scriptures, then forged letters in her handwriting to lure Shen Tingzhang and Shen Zhi to Weiyang Lake, leading to their murder. Madam Shen, unable to comprehend or accept the horrific news, denied it vehemently and accidentally slashed Shen Lige's arm with a sword she had picked up.
Wang Zijin quickly instructed Uncle Zheng to take the distraught Madam Shen away. Seizing a moment of chaos, Shen Leqing grabbed the sword, intending to kill Shen Lige, but Lige, with her agility, swiftly counterattacked and killed Shen Leqing, bringing an end to the villain's evil deeds. That night, Madam Shen was deeply traumatized, screaming hysterically in her room and sweeping all the copied scriptures to the floor.
As a few pages of scripture landed near a candle, the flickering light highlighted specific characters: "Wei Yang Lake" and "Tingzhang." Fragmented memories flooded her mind: her time with Shen Tingzhang, her daily copying of scriptures, and Lige's recent accusations. With a sudden clarity, her memory fully returned. She emerged from her room, tearfully calling out "Lige." Mother and daughter embraced, weeping with relief, as the others silently watched, grateful that this long-awaited day had finally arrived.
With a temporary calm restored to the Shen family, Shen Lige was in good spirits, picking pear blossoms in the courtyard with Xiao Xin. Liu Yikang, however, was wary of Xie Hao's continued threat and urged Shen Lige to remain cautious to avoid falling into a trap. Meanwhile, Shen Feng visited Liu Yikang at Cheng Xiu Pavilion to apologize for his earlier outburst and misjudgment.
Liu Yikang reassured Shen Feng that within Cheng Xiu Pavilion, he was family and would be forgiven, but in the imperial court, as General Shen, he must inherit his father's and brother's legacy. He emphasized that the new policy would face many obstacles and required mutual trust to succeed, ensuring their sacrifices were not in vain. Liu Yikang then tasked Shen Feng with a covert mission to investigate pilot regions to prevent Xie Hao's faction from inciting rebellion.
Shen Feng readily accepted, seeing it as a way to fulfill his father's and brother's unfulfilled wishes. Later, Shen Feng went to see Mei Qi and found her wearing Wang Zijin's clothes. They immediately fell into playful banter. Shen Feng then took Mei Qi out to the market. At an archery stall, Shen Feng skillfully won a golden wooden figure for Mei Qi, which visibly delighted her and stirred her affection for him.
Concurrently, Lu Guang reported Shen Leqing's death to Xie Hao. Xie Hao commented on Shen Lige's ruthless efficiency and finalized his plans to incite civil unrest, dispatching his agents to carry out the scheme.
