Under the Power Episode 53 Recap
> Under the Power Recap
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Upon hearing the news of Lu Ting's death, Yan Shifan's associates congratulated him, though he revealed he already knew. His men suggested getting rid of Lu Yi, but Yan Shifan identified the Daoist priest Lan Qingxuan as another significant threat. He noted that Lan Qingxuan, now the Emperor's favorite, had refused to join their faction, leading Yan Shifan to suspect Lan's motives for being close to His Majesty.
Shortly after, Lan Qingxuan visited Lu Yi's residence, expressing his condolences for Lu Ting's passing. Lu Yi then showed Lan Qingxuan a geomantic map his father had given him before his death. The map, he explained, revealed that Yan Shifan had built a house on a site with auspicious "waters of favor" and "waters of wealth," hinting at imperial ambitions. Lan Qingxuan praised Lu Ting's foresight in setting a trap for Yan Shifan.
However, Lu Yi decided against using the map immediately, believing their best course of action was to wait for the Emperor to gradually lose confidence in the Yan family. He proposed taking advantage of the imminent completion of the star observation temple to demoralize the Yan family, a plan Lan Qingxuan readily agreed to. The Emperor later summoned Lan Qingxuan for guidance. During a ritual, Lan Qingxuan, feigning possession by an immortal, delivered an oracle to the Emperor.
He declared that the country was in disarray because treacherous officials ruled while virtuous ones were neglected, and then explicitly wrote the character "Yan." Yan Shifan quickly learned of this but dismissed it as absurd. Confident in his network of informants around the Emperor, he decided to let the charade continue, believing a weakness in Lan Qingxuan's performance would eventually be exposed.
Soon after, Lan Qingxuan was arrested by guards from the Ministry of Justice, accused of peeking at an imperial decree while performing the planchette writing. Before being led away, he instructed his disciple to deliver the Emperor's elixir on schedule. Yan Shifan, upon hearing of the arrest, speculated that a rival had acted first to eliminate Lan Qingxuan. Learning the eunuch who denounced Lan Qingxuan had disappeared, Lu Yi suspected a cover-up and retrieved the eunuch's dossier to find him.
Cen Fu suggested enlisting Yuan Jinxia's help, but Lu Yi initially declined. However, Yuan Jinxia was already waiting outside. Once inside, she expressed her concern over Lan Qingxuan's imprisonment. Lu Yi explained that Yan Shifan had bribed the eunuch to frame Lan Qingxuan for deceiving the Emperor. Fearing Yan Shifan would torture Lan Qingxuan, Yuan Jinxia resolved to find the eunuch.
She deduced the man had likely fled with his payment, anticipating that Yan Shifan would try to silence him permanently. Believing the eunuch's retraction was the only way to save Lan Qingxuan, she set out to find him. Lu Yi instructed Cen Fu to give her the eunuch's archive and portrait to aid her search.
At the Ministry of Justice prison, Yan Shifan was angered to learn that Lan Qingxuan had not confessed despite a morning of interrogation and that the bribed eunuch had escaped. He vehemently ordered his subordinate, Yan Feng, to find the eunuch, stating that only the dead can keep secrets. He then went to the prison to witness the interrogation, ordering more intense torture.
As a red-hot brand was about to be applied, Lu Yi swiftly intervened, reminding the officials that the Emperor had only ordered an interrogation, not torture. Yan Shifan appeared, sarcastically mocking Lu Yi's "kindness" and Lan Qingxuan's resilience, claiming his "immortal" body was immune to ordinary punishments. Lu Yi warned the officials that they would face severe consequences if any harm came to Lan Qingxuan.
Yan Shifan, however, reassured them of his protection and instructed them to continue the torture, but to ensure Lan Qingxuan remained alive. Yuan Jinxia and Yang Yue visited the bribed eunuch's residence. Yuan Jinxia noted that while the house was dusty, fresh medicine residue suggested the family was hiding nearby due to the eunuch's serious illness.
Meanwhile, Yan Song presented a list of Taoist masters to the Emperor, who rejected them all, irritated that they were now advocating for Lan Qingxuan's punishment. The Emperor ordered the Ministry of Justice to conclude the case within ten days. Lu Yi visited Lan Qingxuan in prison and gave him a painkiller. Lan Qingxuan urged Lu Yi to arrange a meeting with the Emperor, confident he could resolve the situation if given the chance.
Later, upon hearing that Lan Qingxuan was gravely ill from unsanctioned torture, the enraged Emperor forbade any further torture. Constrained, Yan Shifan decided to keep Lan Qingxuan under surveillance, hoping to see who was backing him. Lu Yi met with Official Xu, who couldn't publicly advocate for Lan Qingxuan without implying collusion, as he was the one who had recommended him.
Xu candidly suggested that the best solution might be for Lan Qingxuan to die in prison, as this would completely erode the Emperor's trust in the Yan family. Lu Yi refused to abandon his friend, insisting on finding the eunuch. Soon after, officials orchestrated by Xu presented a memorial to the throne, impeaching Yan Shifan for a list of crimes. Unfazed, Yan Shifan convinced his father to "put on a play."
They knelt in the snow outside the palace, seeking an audience. Inside, the Emperor confided in Lu Yi, admitting he tolerated the Yan family's wrongdoings because of their loyalty and efficiency, and confessed that seeing the elderly Yan Song kneeling had softened his heart. Lu Yi bluntly warned that showing leniency to the infamous Yan Song would tarnish the Emperor's reputation.
The Emperor then confronted the Yans, scolding them before ordering them home and referring the case to the Three Judicial Offices. Relieved, Yan Shifan expressed confidence in his ability to manipulate the outcome. Lu Yi was informed by Cen Fu that Lan Qingxuan's condition was worsening from his previous injuries and the runaway eunuch had still not been found.
He also learned Yan Shifan was searching for the eunuch, prompting Lu Yi to intensify his own efforts to find him first. Shortly thereafter, the Six-Doors constables were ordered to clean the courtyard for Yan Shifan's arrival. Yuan Jinxia was furious at the audacity of a supposedly imprisoned official being treated like an honored guest. Yang Yue pulled her into a nearby room to prevent her from acting impulsively.
Yan Shifan arrived and, after choosing to dine in the courtyard, pointedly asked for Yuan Jinxia. During the meal, the officials from the Three Judicial Offices flattered him and negotiated his embezzlement charges down to a mere 800 taels of silver. At that moment, Lu Yi arrived, making the other officials nervous. Yan Shifan, dismissive, allowed him to enter. Lu Yi drily remarked on Yan Shifan's comfortable setup.
Yan Shifan provocatively asked if Lu Yi was worried about Yuan Jinxia, then brazenly confirmed the 800-tael figure and challenged Lu Yi to report it. He arrogantly declared, "He who laughs last is the winner." Lu Yi simply replied that Yan Shifan had a "good state of mind" and departed. From inside the room, Yuan Jinxia watched, silently wiping away tears, questioning if Lu Yi had any recourse besides showing weakness to his powerful foe.
