Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy Episode 36 Recap
> Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy Recap
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The Grand Engagement Ceremony for Muyun Sheng and Su Yuning commenced. Muyun Sheng offered a toast to Muyun Han, who humbly declined, stating he didn't deserve a toast from the Crown Prince, yet at a critical moment, Muyun Han, mindful of their brotherly bond, intervened to prevent further action from Muyun Sheng. Emperor Muyun Qin then brought up the main topic: the engagement.
Ling Heqing presented a purple gold Ruyi scepter, an item so precious and unique in the entire Nine Provinces, as the betrothal gift Muyun Sheng would personally give to Su Yuning. Following proper etiquette, Emperor Muyun Qin summoned Crown Princess Su Yuning. She entered the hall in a red attire, holding auspicious apples and green branches, enduring the elaborate ceremonial blessings from palace attendants like a wooden figure before finally stepping inside.
Though her face showed no smile, she knelt with Muyun Sheng before Emperor Muyun Qin and Empress Nanku Mingyi. Emperor Muyun Qin informed them that their destinies were extraordinary, and the future of the Duan Dynasty, along with the honor and disgrace of its people, rested upon them, urging them to encourage each other. At this point, Muyun Lu, disregarding Emperor Muyun Qin's orders, stepped forward with a wine cup to toast Muyun Sheng.
With Su Yuning being the woman he loved now marrying Muyun Sheng, Muyun Lu asked if Muyun Sheng would treat her well. Muyun Sheng did not accept the wine cup, stating he could not fulfill Muyun Lu's wish, as affection was beyond his control. Muyun Lu, a grown man, wept for Su Yuning again, demanding Muyun Sheng either release her or give him an answer to set his mind at ease.
As Muyun Sheng hesitated, unable to give the desired answer, Su Yuning proactively intervened, drinking the wine herself and assuring Muyun Lu. Muyun Lu's heart was heavy; from that day forward, he declared, he and Muyun Sheng would no longer be brothers, but merely ruler and subject. Meanwhile, outside the palace, Muyun Ruhanjiang watched the royal proceedings alone, tormented internally. His father, Muyun Rusu, approached him, fully aware of his son's suffering.
Muyun Ruhanjiang reiterated his promise to protect Su Yuning for life. Muyun Rusu gently sighed, explaining that there were many ways to protect a woman, not necessarily through constant companionship. Since Su Yuning had become the Crown Princess, he urged Muyun Ruhanjiang to acknowledge his heritage, accept Su Yuning as a member of the Muyun clan, and fulfill the lifelong duty of the Mu Ru clan to ensure her safety. Having experienced so much, Muyun Ruhanjiang understood his place.
He assured Muyun Rusu that from then on, Su Yuning could only be the future Empress of the Muyun clan, and he would remain Muyun Ruhanjiang. The grand engagement ceremony continued. As Su Yuning was about to receive the betrothal gift, Muyun Sheng smashed the purple gold Ruyi scepter to the ground, declaring his dislike for the gift and his refusal to proceed with the ceremony.
Emperor Muyun Qin's expression soured, but seeing Muyun Sheng's unwavering resolve, he had no choice but to defer the engagement to a later date. Su Yuning sat beside Muyun Sheng and thanked him for his consideration. Muyun Sheng, however, revealed that everything he did was for Muyun Ruhanjiang, recalling an earlier conversation where he had agreed to drink a glass of wine to restore their friendship. Muyun Sheng then drank the madness-inducing wine poured by an attendant.
Muyun Luan, who observed Muyun Sheng's actions, watched with great anticipation for what would happen next. The secret art gradually took effect, and Muyun Sheng's consciousness grew increasingly blurred. He took the wooden sword given by Muyun Han and began to perform a sword dance in the hall. It was disrespectful to brandish a weapon before the Emperor, but Muyun Sheng went further, bringing up Yin Rong's name and accusing everyone present, believing them all to be mad.
He proclaimed that the royal court and imperial system were a cruel reality where those in power, knowing it was a play, could not step down, and onlookers secretly laughed but yearned to take the stage. Emperor Muyun Qin was completely enraged by Muyun Sheng's words, but Muyun Sheng continued his rampage, even using the wooden sword to smash objects. Yuxin Ji, having anticipated such a situation, led imperial guards into the palace to protect Emperor Muyun Qin.
The hall plunged into chaos. Muyun Lu seized the opportunity to lead Su Yuning away, but she refused to abandon Muyun Sheng. Muyun Lu argued that they could not possibly save Muyun Sheng, who was destined to be alone. Su Yuning, however, insisted on staying, unable to understand who the true demon was, even as everyone else called Muyun Sheng one. During their conversation, Muyun Sheng's madness intensified further.
He brandished his wooden sword, preparing to charge at Emperor Muyun Qin, but was intercepted by Yuxin Ji. Just as Yuxin Ji's sword tip pointed at Muyun Sheng, time suddenly stopped. Pan Xi, using a secret art, halted time. She appeared to Muyun Sheng in his mind, expressing her inability to abandon him after he had gone to such lengths.
Pan Xi, initially invisible or appearing through an illusion pearl, joined Muyun Sheng, physically controlling his body, to confront the imperial guards in the hall, repelling Yuxin Ji and striking down the surrounding soldiers. Emperor Muyun Qin and Empress Nanku Mingyi retreated to the side in astonishment. From a corner, Ling Heqing unwrapped the bandages on his arm, revealing carved spells and blood marks.
Ling Heqing then cast a spell, using the blood from his arm to strike Pan Xi's forehead, causing her to physically manifest, enveloped in a golden light, lose all vitality, and collapse. Empress Nanku Mingyi, fearing Emperor Muyun Qin would recall Yin Rong upon seeing Pan Xi, quickly pulled him away. Muyun Lu forcibly dragged Su Yuning away, and even Muyun Luan temporarily retreated for his own safety. Pan Xi and Muyun Sheng fought together.
She held Muyun Sheng's hand, moving in unison with him, but she was no match for Ling Heqing and was gravely wounded. With only a few figures left in the great hall, Ling Heqing also sustained injuries and fell. Muyun Sheng, seeing Ling Heqing also on the ground, helped the heavily injured Pan Xi to leave, but Ling Heqing pursued them relentlessly.
He commanded a black phantom from Weipingzhai (or a black mist, "That Person," as it later identified itself) to take Pan Xi away. Outside a bamboo house, Muyun Sheng and Pan Xi were intercepted by the black energy. Muyun Sheng stood in front of Pan Xi, demanding to know who "That Person" was. "
That Person" replied that it had no name, and that was what everyone called it, before taking Muyun Sheng and Pan Xi away; they vanished instantly from the bamboo house. The next day, palace attendants cleaned up the mess from the previous day. Empress Nanku Mingyi met with Muyun Luan, expressing her satisfaction with the events. She revealed that she had, for the first time, seen fear in Emperor Muyun Qin's expression regarding "mei" (spirits/phantoms).
She wished for the mei spirits to become even more terrifying, believing that only through fear would Emperor Muyun Qin forget Yin Rong. Muyun Luan confirmed he had already made arrangements: he had orchestrated widespread incidents of mei spirits massacring villages throughout the Duan Dynasty, aiming to ignite a belief of hatred towards mei among the people.
Only when the universal hatred and fear of mei spirits reached a certain level, gradually approaching Emperor Muyun Qin like a giant wave, would Emperor Muyun Qin be forced to choose between the people and the mei spirits. Furthermore, it would be known that the mei spirit by Muyun Sheng could rally all mei in the realm.
In Qin Feng Hall, Gu Songzhi, Xue Huo, and other important court officials petitioned Emperor Muyun Qin, urging him to severely punish the mei spirits and execute the female mei beside Muyun Sheng. Ling Heqing also reported his interrogation of Pan Xi, stating that Pan Xi harbored no good or evil, and existed solely to serve Muyun Sheng with all her might.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Muyun Qin found some comfort, realizing Muyun Sheng was fortunate to have such a companion. Emperor Muyun Qin intended to protect Muyun Sheng and Pan Xi, but Gu Songzhi, Xue Huo, and the other officials relentlessly pressed him, demanding he choose between Pan Xi and Muyun Sheng's position as Crown Prince. They insisted that if Pan Xi were allowed to live, a new Crown Prince must be appointed.
If Emperor Muyun Qin insisted on keeping Muyun Sheng as Crown Prince, then Ling Heqing would have to use secret arts to execute Pan Xi to appease the hearts of the people throughout the realm.
