Episode 22 recap: Xing Shi rose in rebellion and seized power, while Nan Gong Yao was placed under soft detention.
Xing Shi found Su Shen Hai and paid a large sum to request that he withdraw the guards from the city gates at the hour of the rat. Su Shen Hai rebuked Xing Shi for being too greedy, saying that he had already given Xing Shi face by arranging for maids to serve Xing Shi when he was by Su Ruo Mei's side. Xing Shi was not in a hurry, and then went on to recount the process by which Nan Gong Yao had died at the hands of Xuan Bing. Su Shen Hai understood that it was due to his own inaction that this had occurred, and so he reluctantly agreed.
The Empress issued an order prohibiting the Crown Prince from leaving the Eastern Palace. Bai Ye calculated that an incident would occur in the palace at night, and hurriedly went there. Xing Shi led his former Sheng Dong troops in storming the Western Palace, and the Crown Prince led a group of soldiers to engage them in battle. Xiao Dou Zi, hearing the clamor outside, ordered the guards of the Eastern Palace to release him from the great prison.
When Xiao Dou Zi arrived on the scene, Nan Gong Yao was already wounded. Xing Shi forced Nan Gong Yao to hand over the Princess, but Xiao Dou Zi ran directly to Nan Gong Yao's side and ordered that Nan Gong Yao not be harmed. As the two sides were at a standoff, the funeral bell rang, and Nan Gong Yao learned that the Emperor had passed away. Pei Kuai, seeing that the Sheng Dong army had rebelled, rushed to assassinate Xiao Dou Zi, but Nan Gong Yao quickly pulled Xiao Dou Zi aside and shielded him with her own body, falling to the ground.
Outside the palace, Ling Xiao steadfastly protected Bai Ye, but soon also fell, pierced by a sword. Nan Gong Yao was imprisoned, and Xiao Dou Zi pleaded for her release. Nan Bei was allowed to visit her in prison, and brought out the Empress's secret order, explaining that while the Sheng Dong army controlled the palace, there were still large forces outside, and if Nan Gong Yao could regain her spirit, there would be an opportunity to turn the tables. But Nan Gong Yao could not see this, her mind filled only with confusion.
Mei Yu Shan had regained her status and came to comfort Xiao Dou Zi, but Xiao Dou Zi rebuked her for colluding with Xing Shi and fleeing the palace early. Mei Yu Shan repeatedly explained that she had no prior knowledge, and Xing Shi told Xiao Dou Zi that he had arranged for Mei Yu Shan's early departure in order to save Xiao Dou Zi. But Xiao Dou Zi would not listen, and declared that if anything happened to Nan Gong Yao, he would forever be at odds with Mei Yu Shan.
Xiao Dou Zi did not eat or drink for several consecutive days. Xing Shi tried to console him, urging him to consider the bigger picture, as Nan Gong Yao and the Sheng Dong were sworn enemies. But Xiao Dou Zi could not understand Xing Shi's arrangements, repeatedly explaining that the destruction of the Sheng Dong was the work of the previous generation, and should not be held against Nan Gong Yao. Xing Shi stated that if Xiao Dou Zi insisted on his own views, it would make the Sheng Dong the laughing stock of the world, and he would not agree to it.
Bai Ye pretended to submit to Xing Shi and went to the prison to whip Nan Gong Yao, scolding her for wallowing in defeat, but in reality he was trying to provoke Nan Gong Yao to regain her fighting spirit and help retake the Western Palace. Nan Gong Yao remained silent and willingly endured it all. Mei Yu Shan heard that Xing Shi was preparing to exile Nan Gong Yao, and questioned why he could not leave her one path to life. Xing Shi, seeing that Mei Yu Shan did not understand his predicament, felt pained, and explained that he had originally only wanted to save Xiao Dou Zi, but the situation had become complex, and he had ended up capturing the various princes of the Western Palace.
Xing Shi said that if he released Nan Gong Yao, he and his soldiers would become prisoners themselves, so no matter who pleaded, he would not change his mind. Mei Yu Shan told Xiao Dou Zi about Nan Gong Yao's impending exile, and Xiao Dou Zi quietly snuck into the prison, knocked out the guard along with Nan Bei, changed clothes, and rescued Nan Gong Yao and Dong Xi. As they were about to quietly leave, Xing Shi led his guards into the prison, and Xiao Dou Zi stood firmly in his way, preventing Xing Shi from taking action.
Comments(Episode 22)