The Song of Glory Episode 46 Recap
> The Song of Glory Recap
Shen Feng and Mei Qi were guests at Duke Wang's manor. During dinner, Duke Wang, saddened, reminisced about General Shen, expressing regret for not having had drinks with him as planned. Shen Feng and Mei Qi comforted him, assuring him that Wang Zijin, Shen Feng's sister-in-law, was loved and protected by the Shen family. Despite Mei Qi's boast about Pangu women's alcohol tolerance, she quickly became intoxicated and passed out in Shen Feng's arms.
Meanwhile, Liu Yikang received a visit from Liu Yixuan. Liu Yixuan delivered chestnuts from their mother, and Liu Yikang, expressing concern, sent back yellow peonies. Liu Yixuan then inquired about the new policy's progress. Liu Yikang, while acknowledging initial smooth headway, voiced his suspicion about the recent tranquil period, believing Xie Hao and his allies were plotting. He decided to observe, anticipating an opportunity to eliminate their influence and secure the new policy's implementation. Liu Yixuan pledged his unwavering support.
At Jia Ning Pavilion, Madam Shen had meticulously cleaned Shen Lige's childhood room, urging her to move back. She showed Shen Lige cherished mementos, including a small knife carved by General Shen, reflecting on his dedication to Great Song and the North, and her own steadfast love for him through hardship. Madam Shen expressed deep sorrow over his death, and Shen Lige comforted her, assuring her that with Shen Feng, Wang Zijin, and Liu Yikang, their family would remain strong.
Having recently endured immense loss, Madam Shen yearned for a peaceful life, believing it to be the wish of her late husband and son. Later, Shen Feng prepared to depart for the new policy's pilot regions. Mei Qi appeared, leading a donkey, and insisted on accompanying him. She articulated her desire to contribute to Great Song's prosperity and ensure the Pangu people lived without fear, echoing Shen Lige's aspirations.
Though Shen Feng expressed concern for her safety on such a dangerous mission, Mei Qi, determined not to be a burden, promised to follow his commands and assist him, having brought her sword and provisions. Seeing her resolve, Shen Feng agreed to her companionship. Chen Shaoxun and Kong Cheng, following Shen Lige's instructions, investigated Xie Hao's movements.
They reported that Gu Weiyuan, Wang Meng, and Liu Lin frequently visited Xie Hao, though their activities publicly remained limited to drinking, poetry, and painting. However, Liu Lin had made a late-night visit to Xie Manor a few days prior. Kong Cheng revealed that during their private discussions, the men repeatedly spoke of achieving a "good life" and of "signing without regrets," strongly suggesting a secret pact.
Kong Cheng also reported that many influential clans from the new policy's pilot regions, including those from Chen Prefecture, Jingzhou, and Peng Cheng, had recently gathered in Jiankang. Shen Lige deduced that these individuals were conspiring to sabotage the new policy in its test areas. She immediately informed Liu Yikang, who had just received urgent reports of civilian unrest and riots erupting simultaneously in Jingzhou, Chen Prefecture, and Peng Cheng.
Liu Yikang intended to personally lead troops to quell the unrest, but Shen Lige cautioned him. She suspected this was a calculated move by Xie Hao to draw Liu Yikang away from Jiankang, allowing Xie Hao to then petition the Emperor to abolish the new policy. With the intelligence about the alliance contract, Shen Lige proposed that Liu Yixuan go to Jingzhou instead.
Liu Yikang agreed, tasking Liu Yixuan with uncovering the true cause of the unrest and identifying the instigating clans. Liu Yikang also dispatched Huo Yun to Jingzhou to pacify the populace. At Xie Manor, Xie Hao and his co-conspirators celebrated, believing Liu Yikang was falling into their trap. Upon learning that Liu Yixuan, not Liu Yikang, had gone to Jingzhou, Xie Hao briefly wondered if Liu Yikang suspected their scheme.
However, his allies dismissed the concern, confident that their plan was too far along to be thwarted. They decided to accelerate their strategy: they would jointly confront Liu Yikang in Zhi Jian Hall the very next day to demand the cessation of the new policy. The following day, Xie Hao, supported by numerous officials, presented a joint petition to Liu Yikang in Zhi Jian Hall, demanding the immediate cessation of the new policy.
Xie Hao dramatically claimed that the policy had caused widespread civilian unrest in Jingzhou, Chen Prefecture, and Peng Cheng, leading to the burning of nearly 100,000 square "chi" of fertile farmland and over 10,000 casualties. Other ministers expressed grave concern about impending famine and urged Liu Yikang to reconsider.
Liu Yikang vehemently refuted their claims, asserting that the new policy was designed to benefit the people and that the true source of resentment lay with the self-serving officials who obstructed it. As the debate intensified, Duke Wang Mian, a respected elder statesman, arrived and advised Liu Yikang to exercise caution, emphasizing that sudden changes could lead to chaos and that consensus among officials was crucial. Despite Duke Wang's well-meaning interjection, Xie Hao and his allies continued their aggressive demands.
Liu Yikang, observing their thinly veiled greed, declared his unwavering commitment to the new policy, even if it meant standing alone. Xie Hao, undeterred, announced his intention to petition the Emperor directly for a final ruling, which Liu Yikang accepted, dismissing the court. Afterward, Shen Lige approached Liu Yikang, sharing his disappointment at the officials' hypocrisy.
She then proposed a daring plan: she would use the opportunity of Liu Yikang and Princess Consort Xie Yunzhi visiting Master Xie that evening to infiltrate the Xie Manor and steal the alliance contract. Later that evening, Liu Yikang and Xie Yunzhi arrived at Xie Manor, ostensibly for a family visit. Liu Yikang subtly probed for Xie Hao's presence, who was supposedly busy drafting his petition.
During dinner, Master Xie fondly offered to retrieve childhood portraits of Xie Yunzhi painted by Xie Hao from the study to show Liu Yikang. While Master Xie went to the study, Shen Lige, already hidden inside, was discovered holding the very alliance contract they sought. Revealing her true purpose, she explained to Master Xie that Xie Hao was conspiring with the nobility, inciting civil unrest, and fabricating opposition to the new policy for personal gain.
She implored Master Xie, a man of lifelong honor, to examine the evidence and expose his own family's atrocious actions to preserve the Xie family's century-long good name. Master Xie, recalling Xie Hao's earlier, ambitious pronouncements, was visibly conflicted. He told Shen Lige he did not believe her and ordered her to leave. Shen Lige left the box containing the contract behind and departed.
Master Xie returned to the dining hall, feigning inability to find the paintings and a sudden illness, and withdrew to his room. Xie Hao, suspicious of Liu Yikang's visit, questioned his motives, but Liu Yikang calmly reaffirmed his commitment to the new policy. Xie Hao then excused himself, citing important affairs. In Jingzhou, Liu Yixuan confronted the enraged populace, who were protesting and blaming the new policy for their suffering.
He asserted the authority of Great Song's laws and promised justice against any official or soldier who oppressed the people. To gain their trust, he publicly ordered the detention of Protectorate Lieutenant-General Huo and his central troops, stating they would be held until the truth behind the unrest was uncovered, with a promise to clear Huo's name if innocent. Huo Yun submitted without protest.
Liu Yixuan then appealed to the people, reassuring them that Jingzhou was his responsibility and expressing disbelief that they would burn their own land. The villagers denied setting the fires, claiming it happened overnight and that they were beaten by Huo's men. Liu Yixuan calmed them, explaining that reforms face opposition, and the new policy, aimed at returning land, inevitably threatened certain powerful interests.
He pledged that the court would relentlessly pursue and punish those who bullied the people and obstructed the policy, earning the people's trust. Privately, Huo Yun reported to Liu Yixuan that imposter Central Army soldiers were operating in Jingzhou, bullying citizens and deliberately inciting hatred against the new law and the legitimate army. Liu Yixuan, realizing the depth of the conspiracy, instructed Huo Yun to remain within the Military Council Hall to covertly investigate the imposter army and their masterminds.
He also tasked Ji Shu with a comprehensive investigation of the local noble clans and officials, demanding a list of names be sent to Jiankang promptly. Meanwhile, Shen Feng and Mei Qi, sheltering from a heavy rain in a stable in Jingzhou, observed suspicious activity: "Central Army" soldiers transporting large quantities of grain. Curious, Shen Feng followed them, discovering they were imposters hoarding relief provisions meant for the people. He immediately reported this to Liu Yixuan.
Liu Yixuan, now having concrete evidence of the manufactured unrest, ordered a city-wide arrest of all imposter Central Army soldiers. When the captured imposters refused to confess, Shen Feng, with Mei Qi's help, devised a clever ruse. They posed as arrested imposters and were placed in a cell with the others. Mei Qi feigned severe injuries, lamenting how the noble clans had used and abandoned them.
Shen Feng, playing the role of a fellow victim, bitterly denounced the treacherous noble clans for sacrificing them while the court offered genuine land and a future. Convinced by their performance and fearing for their lives, the other imposters broke, confessing that Jingzhou's Xue Feng, Luo Shuhe, and Zhao Xu families had orchestrated their actions.
Liu Yixuan lauded their successful deception and ordered Shen Feng to swiftly deliver the signed confessions to Liu Yikang in Jiankang, while he stayed to resolve the remaining issues in Jingzhou.
