Episode 38 recap: The Xue faction was eradicated.
Zhou Yinzhi, holding You Fang Yin hostage, released her when they reached a safe place. However, You Fang Yin suddenly clung to his leg. In a panic, Zhou Yinzhi stabbed her several times. After Zhou Yinzhi escaped, Dao Qin pursued him. Jiang Xue Ning and Lv Xian rushed over to check on You Fang Yin's injuries. You Fang Yin told Jiang Xue Ning that she noticed a different look in Jiang Xue Ning's eyes, as if she was seeing someone else. She didn't know who that other person was, but she hoped her actions hadn't disappointed Jiang Xue Ning.
Lv Xian sobbed uncontrollably while holding You Fang Yin. When Dao Qin captured Zhou Yinzhi and Jiang Xue Ning ordered Dao Qin to kill him, Lv Xian swiftly slit his throat before Dao Qin could make a move. The ministers, aware of Xie Wei's return, were in court waiting for the Emperor's decree. Xue Yuan suddenly appeared with the imperial edict and announced a solemn message to everyone. The Emperor had passed away due to illness and had passed the throne to Shen Jie before his death. Duke Dingguo was entrusted with the regency.
After Xue Yuan finished reading the imperial edict, Gu Daren immediately raised doubts. Other ministers began to discuss it as well. Claiming to stabilize the situation, Xue Yuan ordered the Xingwu Guards to keep the ministers under surveillance. By this time, the Emperor had been taken to the Empress Dowager's palace. Seeing the Emperor coughing up blood but still alive, Xue Shu approached the sickbed and placed a ribbon around his neck, preparing to send him off.
Jiang Xue Ning wept over You Fang Yin's body for a while. Dao Qin reminded her that it wasn't the time to grieve yet. They didn't know what happened to Xie Wei and Yan Lin. Only after Jiang Xue Ning wiped away her tears did she join the Yan family soldiers who had entered the secret passage leading to the palace. To maintain the marching speed, Jiang Xue Ning asked Dao Qin to lead the way with the others while she took care of herself.
While Jiang Xue Ning hurried towards the palace, Xie Wei and Zhang Zhe were in great danger. Although Jian Shu fought desperately to protect them, they were outnumbered by the Xingwu Guards. Jian Shu sustained multiple injuries, and both Xie Wei and Zhang Zhe were also wounded. Xue Yuan, feeling confident and believing victory was within his grasp, was taken by surprise when the Yan family suddenly surrounded them.
Realizing the sudden appearance of the Yan family troops around him, Xue Yuan suddenly understood that he had fallen into Xie Wei's trap.
Xie Wei didn't hide anything from him either. It was all a trap set in advance by Xie Wei and the Emperor. Before heading to the border, Xie Wei suddenly confessed his identity to the Emperor. Learning that he was the true Prince Xue Ding and the Emperor was both surprised and delighted. Xie Wei and the Emperor had grown up together, and Xie Wei's mother had once made a pair of tiger-head shoes for him, which the young Emperor had greatly admired. Xie Wei took off his shoes and put one on each of their feet. When Xie Wei mentioned this, the Emperor wholeheartedly believed his identity. In order to change the situation of internal and external troubles, the Emperor readily agreed to Xie Wei's plan to eliminate the Xue family and the Prince of Pingnan, and decided to cooperate with him in staging a play.
Xue Shu, holding a ribbon, was about to make a move against the Emperor when the Emperor suddenly opened his eyes. With the Emperor's command, a dozen guards rushed in and firmly restrained Xue Shu. After hearing Xie Wei's words, Xue Yuan realized that Xie Wei didn't have a forged imperial decree at all. Instead, he held the genuine one and had gone to Huangzhou to release Yan Mu and his son.
Seeing that the situation was lost, Xue Yuan forced a smile and told Xie Wei that although he had failed, he didn't feel ashamed because he was defeated by his own son. He also reminded Xie Wei that they were still family, hoping to use this to persuade Xie Wei. Xie Wei looked coldly at Xue Yuan, suddenly picked up a precious sword from the ground, and Xue Yuan thought he was going to kill his father. But unexpectedly, Xie Wei swung the blade and cut his own left hand, letting drops of fresh blood fall in front of Xue Yuan, severing their father-son relationship.
After doing all this, Xie Wei was about to turn and leave when he unexpectedly saw Jiang Xue Ning running towards him. While he was momentarily stunned, Xue Yuan suddenly picked up an arrow and fiercely aimed it at him. Although Dao Qin reacted quickly and shot an arrow that killed Xue Yuan, the arrow in Xue Yuan's hand still pierced Xie Wei's back. Seeing Xie Wei unconscious, Jiang Xue Ning burst into tears and regretted not agreeing to marry him earlier. After Jiang Xue Ning finished speaking, Xie Wei suddenly opened his eyes, smiled bitterly, and said to Jiang Xue Ning that he didn't expect that would be the only way for her to agree. Seeing Xie Wei awake, Jiang Xue Ning stopped crying and broke into a smile. Ignoring the presence of others, she embraced Xie Wei and kissed him.
Xue Shu, for plotting against the Emperor, drank poisoned wine and took his own life. Before the Emperor passed away, he passed the throne to the crown prince born to the noble concubine and appointed Gu Daren and Xie Wei as regents. After Xie Wei and Jiang Xue Ning got married, they had a son and a daughter. Author Jiang Xue Ning wrote up to this point and received a reminder from the editor-in-chief to submit her manuscript. To expedite the publication of her book, the editor-in-chief even assigned her an assistant. Jiang Xue Ning was surprised to find that the new assistant was none other than Xie Wei.
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