The Song of Glory Episode 47 Recap
> The Song of Glory Recap
The previous day, Liu Yikang, suspecting Xie Hao's involvement in the civil unrest, had considered sending Shen Lige to retrieve the Contract of Alliance from Xie Manor. Xie Hao's grandfather, Xie Zhong, had unexpectedly discovered Shen Lige in his study. After learning her purpose, Xie Zhong, a man of integrity, seemingly sent Shen Lige away, but his conscience weighed heavily on him.
Late that night, Xie Zhong confronted his grandson, Xie Hao, in the study, revealing he knew about the Contract of Alliance and Xie Hao's scheme to incite civil unrest. Xie Zhong, identifying himself as "Xie Zhong," vehemently condemned Xie Hao for provoking noble clans and harming the common people, questioning how he could face the Xie family ancestors. He declared his intention to take Xie Hao to Prince Peng Cheng's manor to confess and seek punishment.
Xie Hao called his grandfather an "old confused muddlehead" and accused him of not seeing reality clearly, blaming him for the Xie family being bullied. Greatly disappointed by his grandson's inhumanity and personal greed, Xie Zhong struck Xie Hao. Seeing him beyond redemption, Xie Zhong knocked him unconscious, intending to take the Contract of Alliance to Prince Peng Cheng's manor to preserve the Xie family's honor. However, he was murdered before he could reach his destination.
The next morning, attendants at Prince Peng Cheng's manor discovered Xie Zhong's body in a pond. After examination, the medical examiner concluded there were no suspicious external injuries, indicating an accidental death. A wooden mandarin duck was found beside the body. Xie Hao, upon hearing the news, was shocked. While his subordinate retrieved the "painting" (the Contract of Alliance) from the scene, the true killer remained unknown due to the delay.
Meanwhile, Liu Yikang, recalling Xie Zhong's words about the wooden mandarin duck holding a secret message for his granddaughter, Princess Consort Yunzhi, visited her. Yunzhi was distraught over her grandfather's sudden death, struggling to believe her older brother Xie Hao was involved. Liu Yikang respected Xie Zhong for being willing to sacrifice family for greater justice.
He explained that the wooden mandarin duck was meant to convey Xie Zhong's words to Yunzhi, leaving the final decision on its contents to her. In Jiankang, Wang Zijin introduced Shen Lige to Duke Wang. Shen Lige articulated her purpose: to resolve the escalating unrest caused by the noble clans and restore stability. Elsewhere, Xie Hao's associates expressed concern over delays, especially with General Shen Feng returning from Jingzhou.
Xie Hao, worried about Shen Feng's mission, ordered Lu Guang to intercept and silence him. Duke Wang later went to Xie Manor to offer his condolences to Xie Hao. Xie Hao falsely accused Liu Yikang of causing Xie Zhong's death and presented Duke Wang with a joint petition signed by several officials, urging him to submit it to the Emperor to halt the new policy, citing the ongoing civil unrest in Jingzhou. After some hesitation, Duke Wang agreed.
On their journey back from Jingzhou, Shen Feng and Mei Qi were ambushed by assassins. They fought fiercely, eventually jumping off a cliff. Fortunately, they landed in water. Mei Qi, who harbored a deep fear of water due to childhood trauma inflicted by her second uncle after her father's death, was terrified but clung to Shen Feng. Shen Feng comforted her, promising to always protect her, and they shared a tender moment.
As they continued their journey, they were once again intercepted by Lu Guang. Shen Lige arrived just in time, shooting down Lu Guang's men with her crossbow. Shen Feng quickly handed the list of implicated nobles to Shen Lige, urging her to deliver it to Liu Yikang, while he and Mei Qi made their way back to Shen Manor. Simultaneously, Liu Yikang received grim news: Protectorate Lieutenant-General Huo Yun had been murdered in the Military Affairs Department.
Back at Xie Manor, Yunzhi, still grieving, performed rites before her ancestral tablet. She recited her grandfather's teachings on humanity, hoping to awaken Xie Hao's conscience. When Xie Hao questioned her intentions, she simply stated she hoped he would remember the words. Later, Yunzhi opened the wooden mandarin duck. Inside, she found a letter from Xie Zhong.
In the letter, he expressed shame for Xie Hao's treachery, detailing how Xie Hao had united noble clans, formed a gang with a Contract of Alliance, and incited civilian unrest. Xie Zhong admitted his failure in raising Xie Hao and recounted Xie Hao's refusal to repent.
He wrote that he was taking the alliance document to Prince Peng Cheng's manor to seek punishment, willing to die to preserve the Xie family's reputation, and reminded Yunzhi, as both Prince Peng Cheng's Consort and a Xie daughter, of her responsibility to protect their family's honor. Overwhelmed by grief and the weight of the truth, Yunzhi discreetly delivered the letter to Liu Yikang.
Around the same time, Guard Xu led soldiers to raid Xie Manor on Prince Peng Cheng's orders, arresting everyone and seizing the Contract of Alliance. Director of Central Secretariat Gu Wei Yuan attempted to burn the document in his study but was apprehended by the soldiers, thereby confirming his involvement. At court, despite overwhelming evidence, Xie Hao vehemently denied all accusations.
Shen Lige stepped forward, pleading on behalf of her wrongfully deceased father, General Shen Tingzhang, and eldest brother, Shen Zhi. She accused Xie Hao of colluding with Lu Yuan's remnants to murder them at Weiyang Lake, imploring Liu Yikang to uncover the truth. The court then summoned Xue Qiu, who, believing that Lu Wan'er was in Shen Lige's custody, confessed.
Xue Qiu revealed that Xie Hao had conspired with Shen Leqing, the Shen family's Second Miss, to obtain Madam Shen's handwriting and forge a letter. This letter was used to lure Shen Tingzhang and Shen Zhi to Weiyang Lake, where Xue Qiu had set a deadly trap, leading to their deaths.
