Episode 5 recap: Ding Bao Zhen designed to capture Andehai.
After reading the Empress Dowager's letter, Ding Bao Zhen understood that as long as he didn't touch Andehai, he would not be punished for treason. Ding Bao Zhen expressed that he couldn't bear to see the common women being bullied. Yan Daren guessed his determination and didn't misjudge Ding Bao Zhen, so he informed him of the situation in the palace.
Ding Bao Zhen stayed up all night studying the map and finally decided to place the flag at the location of Taian Prefecture. The next day, he handed a secret letter to Chen Yun Fei, instructing him to deliver it to Prefect He, the official in charge of Taian, as quickly as possible, and cautioned Chen Yun Fei to be cautious and vigilant. This was a risky move, and whether they could capture Andehai depended on whether Prefect He had the courage.
Wen Bin criticized the other officials for causing trouble at such a critical time. He was surprised to learn that they planned to bribe Andehai. Wen Bin asked Ding Bao Zhen why he didn't go to the government office, and Ding Bao Zhen lied, saying that the food was a bit salty. Wen Bin said that he had a remedy for that. He expressed his dissatisfaction with Ding Bao Zhen letting Andehai go, but Ding Bao Zhen did not respond to his doubts, so Wen Bin had no choice but to leave.
At this time, Prefect He received Ding Bao Zhen's letter, which stated that Andehai was impersonating an official and taking innocent lives, and requested his assistance. After reading the letter, Prefect He immediately agreed to provide support. People from various sides braved the rain and rode horses to the Taian Pier. Ding Bao Zhen learned that Prefect He had set off an hour ago.
At this point, Prefect He arrived at Andehai's ship with a box of silver taels. He lied, saying that the silver taels were a gift from Ding Bao Zhen, and that there would be a banquet at the pier the next day to entertain Andehai. Andehai mistakenly believed that Ding Bao Zhen was surrendering. The next day, Andehai and his men arrived at the pier. It turned out that everything was part of Ding Bao Zhen's plan. At this time, Pei Rong quietly led the naval forces onto the Tai Ping ship and rescued the captured women.
Many people from the forest also rushed to the pier. Andehai was directly surrounded. Ding Bao Zhen announced that Andehai had no endorsement from the Empress Dowager or the Emperor, and there was no official document. He was accused of leaving the palace without permission and forcibly seizing common women. Andehai stepped out of the carriage and presented the Empress Dowager's decree, stating that he did not leave the palace without permission. However, Ding Bao Zhen, under pressure, directly ordered the arrest of Andehai, stating that even though he was a special envoy, he had violated the law. Andehai saw that he was about to be captured and threatened to take the people of Shandong to their graves. Andehai was arrested, and Chen Yun Fei snatched the decree and found that it was empty.
Andehai, sitting in the prison cell, looked at the food in front of him and angrily commanded the servant to throw it away, which infuriated the guards. Seeing Andehai's audacity, they left in anger. The rescued women were temporarily placed in the yamen. Ding Bao Zhen asked Sheng Qian why he was so worried and learned that he was concerned about his father being implicated. They discussed how to deal with Andehai next.
Sheng Qian went to the ancestral hall and advised his father to release Andehai while they still had the chance. Ding Bao Zhen understood the gravity of the situation, but he believed that the well-being of the people was more important. Sheng Qian, on the other hand, thought that his father's life was paramount. This disagreement prompted Ding Bao Zhen to educate his son, emphasizing the importance of establishing family rules based on reason and governing with love and care for the people, and removing those who harm them.
Officials from Shandong suspected that Ding Bao Zhen would release Andehai and had been waiting to bribe him. They believed that this would bring humiliation to the people for generations. Sheng Qian, at that moment, understood his father's principles of governance and expressed his apologies by respectfully serving tea. He believed that Andehai's death would serve as a deterrent, and if the Prince Gong supported this action, justice would prevail.
Ding Bao Zhen wrote a letter for Sheng Qian to deliver personally to Prince Gong. He explained that in order to eliminate Andehai, they needed the Prince's assistance, and he hoped that Prince Gong would consider the overall situation. Sheng Qian hurried to the capital and delivered the letter to Prince Gong, who, after reading it, only said that he was aware but did not express his stance.
Andehai, anxious in his cell, hoped that the Empress Dowager would save him. The next day, the guards brought him food again. Starving, Andehai took out a ring and attempted to bribe the guard, asking him to deliver a message to someone and promising to reward him with a high-ranking position as a governor if the task was accomplished.
However, the guard deceived Andehai after receiving the ring. Prince Gong agreed to kill Andehai, but he insisted that the Emperor should be involved in the decision. The next day, during the court session, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were absent due to their poor health. Prince Gong's plan could only be delayed. The Empress Dowager from the Western Palace mentioned Ding Bao Zhen's actions and asked the officials to express their opinions. The officials all lied, claiming that they had not heard of Ding Bao Zhen's audacious behavior. However, the Empress Dowager accused Ding Bao Zhen of arresting people without seeking permission, criticizing his audacity. Prince Gong presented the memorial, which stated that Ding Bao Zhen was ordered to capture and apprehend the troublemakers and contradicted Andehai's claims about the three-legged crow flag and the dragon robe. The officials unanimously supported Prince Gong and Ding Bao Zhen.
Seeing the situation, the Empress Dowager claimed to feel unwell and left the court, leaving Prince Gong behind for a private discussion.
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