The Legend of Anle Recap, Plot, Synopsis, Total Episodes

The Legend of Anle Synopsis

Di Ziyuan, who is righteous, heartfelt, comes from a family of founding fathers and was displaced by a sudden change in her family.

Unwilling to be strangled by fate, she took the name Ren Anle and decided to do her best to resettle the people who suffered from the war, hoping to create a peaceful home for them.

While at the same time, she was investigating and learning the truth, hoping to clear her family’s name.

In the process of helping the people, she not only gained a certain prestige and praise but was also appreciated by Crown Prince Han Ye and became his staff.

Later, with the help of the resourceful Ren Anle, Han Ye solves the fraudulent imperial examination case and the Jiangnan disaster relief grain embezzlement case.

At this time, war broke out at the border, Ren Anle, who takes the world’s livelihood as her own, decided to follow Han Ye on his expedition, hoping to end the war as soon as possible so that the people can live and work in peace and happiness.

Faced with a situation where the enemy was strong and they were weak, Ren Anle planned and killed the enemy even when she was ill, winning a close victory and bringing peace to the people.

In the end, Han Ye helped Ren Anle to find out what happened back then and cleared her family’s injustice.

The Legend of Anle Recap

Episode 1 Recap

In the winter of the sixth year of Jiachang, Marquis Jing'an, Di Yongning, was accused of treason and betraying the country. After burying 80,000 troops at the foot of Qingnan Mountain, he committed suicide out of fear of punishment. Emperor Jiachang, Han Zhongzhen, was furious and ordered the extermination of the Di clan. Prime Minister Jiang Yu and Marquis Loyalty and Righteousness, Gu Yunnian, were ordered to surround the imperial residence. Dozens of people were captured, and no one was spared. Just as Gu Yunnian was about to take action against Di Ziyuan, a voice saying "spare their lives" came closer and closer.

Prince Han Ye, following the testament left by the founder of the dynasty, used the reason of making Di Yongning's daughter, Di Ziyuan, his consort to successfully save her life. Since then, she would be imprisoned for life at the Daishan Yongning Temple. Although Han Ye treated Di Ziyuan sincerely, she knew well that she had become a guilty person and her entire family had been exterminated, leaving only herself. She believed that she would never have any intersection with Han Ye again.

Over the decades, Han Ye would meticulously prepare gifts and send them to Daishan every three months, even though he received no response. He continued to disobey the imperial decree and refused to take concubines, solely because he still had Di Ziyuan in his heart. He vowed not to marry anyone else. In order to bring Di Ziyuan down the mountain as soon as possible, Han Ye requested permission to lead a campaign against the pirates in Dongqian Sea. If he could achieve remarkable military feats, there might be a slight chance. The Minister of Justice, Luo Mingxi, seemed to be contemplating this matter but made no comment.

At the same time, the lord of Jingnan Anle Fort, Ren Anle, received news and traveled alone. She coincidentally encountered Han Ye, and his handsome appearance attracted her attention. During their time together, there were often teasing moments that made Han Ye feel flustered. Later, Ren Anle and Han Ye evaded capture together and took shelter on a black tent boat, drifting along with the waves. Ren Anle would occasionally make playful remarks and enjoy seeing Han Ye blush.

As they watched the calm sea, Han Ye was eager to return. However, he was not skilled at rowing and accidentally caused an oar blade to fall into the sea. Just as they were talking, several fleets of pirates approached. Ren Anle grabbed Han Ye and flipped the boat, hiding in the water. At that moment, she emphasized that if they could be saved, she would marry him.

At a critical moment, numerous boats from Anle Fort arrived. Han Ye didn't know Ren Anle's identity until now and was surprised to learn that she was the leader of a 30,000-strong naval force. Han Ye fought alongside Ren Anle and repelled the pirates. However, he was accidentally grazed by a poisoned arrow. Ren Anle publicly offered to treat his wounds, and the maidservants, Yuan Qin and Yuan Shu, couldn't help but gossip.

Because of this incident, Ren Anle adhered to the agreement and insisted on marrying Han Ye. Even after learning that Han Ye was the Crown Prince of Daijing, she wasn't surprised. On the contrary, she was willing to bring her 30,000 navy under the rule of the imperial court as her dowry to become the Crown Princess. Han Ye quickly refused, but Ren Anle took his jade pendant as a token of their love. A day later, she sent a letter to Emperor Jiachang, Han Zhong, expressing her clear stance.

Naturally, Han Zhong would not agree to let Ren Anle become the Crown Princess. He warned Han Ye to retract his thoughts. Neither the daughter of a criminal nor a water bandit from the border could qualify as a Crown Princess. Han Ye failed to obtain the Emperor's pardon for Di Ziyuan. With a heavy heart and no one to confide in, he came alone to the Ministry of Justice to find Luo Mingxi. Both of them couldn't picture each other's faces, but Luo Mingxi easily drew the eyes of Di Ziyuan, leaving Han Ye disappointed with those eyes when she left.

At the Spring Hunting Feast, numerous noble women were invited to attend, and they were all captivated by Han Ye at first sight. The news of the female water bandit seeking to marry the Crown Prince spread throughout the entire capital. Upon hearing this, the women scoffed, while men were curious about the appearance and courage of the bandit, speculating that she must be rough and extremely ugly. Only the Crown Prince's attendant, Wen Shuo, believed that she must be an outstanding beauty.

At that moment, a clear melody suddenly sounded, and Yuan Qin appeared, capturing the undivided attention of Wen Shuo. Before he could react, a woman in red riding a horse arrived, shooting two arrows and taking the lead, coming directly in front of Han Ye. Wen Shuo was shocked and quickly asked about her identity. The woman smiled and declared herself as Ren Anle, the one who would be the Crown Princess.

Episode 2 Recap

In just a few days, Anle Fort surrendered to the imperial court, and the passionate love story between the female bandit and the crown prince spread like wildfire. Inside the palace, the eunuchs gossiped, and the maidservants listened and laughed. Outside, the tea houses and taverns buzzed with discussions, delighting the common people. However, trading three thousand navy soldiers for a princess's position left Wen Shuo perplexed. As he looked at the youthful and tender crown prince, he couldn't help but wonder if the imperial court was taking advantage or if the other party had fallen for it.

As Han Ye had anticipated, Ren Anle successfully captured the attention of the current emperor by skillfully manipulating public opinion. In reality, Ren Anle was far from being as simple as she appeared. Everything she did was to get close to the emperor, enter the court, and use her infatuation with the crown prince as a cover, preparing for a long-planned revenge.

Following orders, the constables escorted the prisoners to the prison, and once he finished reporting the situation to Luo Mingxi, the hall regained its calm. Luo Mingxi received a carrier pigeon message with the words "I'm returning" written on it. He couldn't help but feel a bit distracted and unconsciously wore a smile. He went alone to the appointed place and finally reunited with Ren Anle after many years – Di Ziyuan, the orphan of the imperial family.

When the rebellion of the imperial family ended, Luo Mingxi pretended to switch sides and betrayed Han Zhongyuan, offering his sword as a sign of sincerity, which led to his appointment as the Minister of Justice. Over the years, Ren Anle had built up her forces and learned about Han Zhongyuan and Gu Yunnian through Luo Mingxi. Although Han Zhongyuan had allowed Gu Yunnian to hold immense power and let his courtiers curry favor with him, Luo Mingxi believed that Han Ye and Right Minister Wei Jian acted with integrity and were at odds with Gu Yunnian. They could be seen as allies, and Ren Anle wanted to leverage their power.

Based on Luo Mingxi's suggestion, Ren Anle decided to use the Lin Cong murder case as a pretext to infiltrate Gu Yunnian's faction. Gu Qishan, the son of the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness, begged his father to use his connections to help clear Lin Cong's name. Considering the favors Lin's father had done for him, Gu Yunnian dispatched a message to Pei Zhan, an official of the Grand Court, to prepare for Lin's release.

Upon hearing the rumors of the female bandit seeking to marry the crown prince, Lady Gu became curious about the audacious individual behind it. Naturally, Gu Yunnian did not underestimate the power of the three thousand navy soldiers. He believed that even if Ren Anle couldn't become the crown princess, the emperor would surely appoint her to an important position. A second female official in Da Jing was about to emerge. Recognizing the strength of Anle Fort, Gu Yunnian intended to win Ren Anle over for his own use.

That night, Luo Mingxi mentioned the Lin Cong murder case and the immense power of Gu Yunnian's faction in front of Han Ye, persuading him to agree to arrange a task for Ren Anle. Ren Anle took this opportunity to meet Han Zhongyuan. Despite lacking the grace of a proper lady, she exuded a rustic charm and sweetly flattered Han Zhongyuan, leaving him with no excuse to blame her. Han Ye played along, smoothly securing the position of Assistant Minister of Justice for her, and temporarily assuming the responsibilities of the Three Law Offices.

As a new arrival at the Ministry of Justice, Ren Anle pretended to be a tiger disguised as a pig. Huang Pu, who was also an Assistant Minister, handed her the case files of the Lin Cong murder, only to be vehemently opposed by Pei Zhan. Seeing that Ren Anle wanted to ingratiate herself with Gu Yunnian, Huang Pu believed that both she and Pei Zhan were sycophants, feeling indignant without realizing that Ren Anle had set a trap for Gu Yunnian.

Han Ye visited the Ministry of Justice to see Ren Anle, personally teaching her the laws and regulations of Da Jing. However, Ren Anle continued to playfully tease him, not taking it seriously. With a whole box full of letters, Han Ye demanded that Ren Anle memorize them within a month. Ren Anle personally escorted him out and happened to witness a scene where Gu Qishan, on horseback, injured someone in public.

The capital's provincial examination was approaching, and Gu Qishan showed utter contempt for the scholar from a humble background, arrogantly declaring his victory in front of everyone and insulting them to return to their hometowns as soon as possible. Han Ye watched the scene without any intention to intervene, while Ren Anle knew better and didn't want to become a target.

That night, Han Ye heard that Ren Anle had gone to Lingxiang Tower, so he hurriedly went there with Wen Shuo to find out what was going on. A wager was made at Lingxiang Tower concerning Han Ye and Ren Anle, to see if Ren Anle could become the crown princess. Ren Anle personally appeared to campaign for herself, and Luo Mingxi pretended to oppose her, while others pressed their bets on Han Ye.

Episode 3 Recap

Now Ren Anle, while reviewing the case files, has discovered many suspicious things. It turns out that Gu Yunnian relied entirely on Pei Zhan to create wrongful cases. If they remove Pei Zhan and replace him, the situation in the court will be instantly reversed. Although Han Ye and Gu Yunnian have been at odds for a long time, given his gentlemanly demeanor, he might suffer some setbacks. Currently, it is necessary to observe the situation calmly, even Ren Anle thinks so.

Therefore, Luo Mingxi suggested that Ren Anle should take advantage of the imperial examination to create momentum. This is because the chief examiner of the imperial examination, Li Chong'en, is a trusted subordinate of Gu Yunnian. It is believed that there will be some underhanded dealings during the imperial examination. Afterwards, Luo Mingxi prepared a list of Gu Yunnian's followers in secret and handed it to Ren Anle. On the surface, it appears to be a ranking of handsome men in Dajing, but in reality, it needs to be deciphered by fire to reveal the original meaning.

While they were speaking, Han Ye came with Wen Shuo to find Luo Mingxi. Seeing him talking happily with Ren Anle, it was somewhat strange. Ren Anle deliberately teased a few words, skillfully avoiding her own relationship with Luo Mingxi. Also, because of today's unexpected encounter at Lingxiang Tower, Ren Anle and Luo Mingxi's acquaintance seemed natural. Their interactions wouldn't arouse suspicion from Han Ye. Now she thought about her plan and decided to deal with Gu Yunnian's son, Gu Qishan, first.

Luo Mingxi secretly met with his undercover agent Lin Lang and decided to take action on the night of the courtesan party after the imperial examination. Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the courtesan banquet was held as scheduled. Ren Anle, Han Ye, Luo Mingxi, and Wen Shuo came to Lingxiang Tower, waiting for the appearance of the first-ranked courtesan in Dajing. At this time, Gu Qishan and Lin Cong arrived with other noble youths and arrogantly drove away students from poor families, causing great dissatisfaction among everyone.

Although Lin Cong had killed someone while drunk, the case had been settled and he had regained his freedom. Yet he remained a sycophantic lackey by Gu Qishan's side. As Lin Lang made a stunning entrance and danced gracefully, she captivated everyone and especially caught the attention of Gu Qishan. Lin Lang announced that if someone could catch the flower ball she held, she would personally compose a song for them. Gu Qishan and the other youths competed eagerly, but Han Ye remained indifferent.

Just as Ren Anle was teasing Han Ye for not being able to appreciate romantic feelings, Lin Cong suddenly fell from a height and died. Currently, there were no clues pointing to the identity of the killer. Ren Anle cleverly deduced the true culprit using a small trick and found it to be quite successful. Gu Qishan, feeling bored, prepared to leave. However, Ren Anle unexpectedly found evidence of cheating in the imperial examination hidden in Lin Cong's clothes. It contained detailed records of the names of all the students involved.

Upon seeing this, Han Ye ordered them to be arrested and imprisoned. When Gu Yunnian heard that his son had been captured, he specially invited Ren Anle and tried to coerce and entice her. Ren Anle pretended to go along with his wishes and promised to help him protect Gu Qishan, which made Gu Yunnian feel relieved. At the same time, he somewhat underestimated her, thinking that it would take some effort to bring her under his command. Little did he know it would be so simple.

However, after the incident of cheating in the imperial examination, Han Ye went to the palace overnight to present the evidence and believed that a thorough investigation was needed to uncover the truth. Due to Gu Yunnian's influence, Han Zhongyuan ordered Han Ye to solve the case within three days and sealed the examination papers, forbidding all candidates from leaving the capital. In the middle of the night, Ren Anle came to find Han Ye and noticed that he was extremely upset. She inquired about the reason and learned it was related to the investigation. Ignoring Han Ye's wishes, Ren Anle firmly held his hand and promised that if she found the mastermind, Han Ye should guarantee her position as the crown princess.

Huang Pu, the junior secretary of the Dali Temple, was upright and uncompromising. He believed that the most urgent task was to interrogate each person one by one. On the other hand, Pei Zhan was worried that this would offend the powerful families behind these youths, which could jeopardize his own position. Ren Anle deliberately urged Pei Zhan to find a few scapegoats to fool around. Pei Zhan was overjoyed upon hearing this and nodded repeatedly in agreement. He even handed over his token to Ren Anle, entrusting her with full responsibility. Huang Pu, who was nearby, became angry upon hearing this and glanced at Ren Anle before leaving in a huff. Ren Anle ordered Yuan Qin to secretly monitor Pei Zhan's every move and report any abnormalities promptly.

Episode 4 Recap

Ren Anle knew that Huang Pu had a strong prejudice against her, so she pleaded with Han Ye to accompany her for a visit. As a fourth-rank official of the imperial court, Huang Pu's residence was extremely simple and plain, which surprised Ren Anle. His meals consisted mostly of rice and vegetables, reflecting his integrity.

Huang Pu came from a humble background and had gone through five rounds of examinations before achieving success. He deeply understood the struggles of poor students who had studied hard for ten years, only to have their examination spots taken by privileged youths. Being able to wear the black hat and serve the people today made him realize the hardships endured by the underprivileged families while the noble families could casually buy and sell such positions, not to mention how those who obtained them would use their power for personal gain or to bully others. Even though he would rather not wear the black hat, he couldn't help but voice his discontent.

Unexpectedly, Ren Anle's casual remark completely angered Huang Pu, who immediately ordered her to leave. Ren Anle intentionally treated Gu Qishan differently from other students, coercing and manipulating the spoiled children to vote for Zhou Fu and Wu Yue as scapegoats. Upon hearing this, Pei Zhan felt relieved and informed Gu Yunnian of the situation.

Han Ye initially thought Ren Anle was pretending to be foolish, but to his surprise, she openly showed favoritism and created wrongful and false cases, going against the original purpose of the Dali Temple. Faced with Han Ye's angry questioning, Ren Anle pretended to be wronged and complained. She thought that having control over the 30,000 naval forces allowed her to live comfortably. If it weren't for falling in love with him, she would never have submitted to the court. Indeed, Han Ye's expression softened upon hearing these words, and he promised Ren Anle that if she acted in a righteous manner in the future, he would be her support.

Ren Anle smiled happily upon hearing this and took the opportunity to lean against Han Ye and pretend to sleep. This scene caught the attention of Luo Mingxi, who found it somewhat suspicious. Later, Luo Mingxi reminded Ren Anle to be cautious, as everyone saw her being affectionate with Han Ye. Ren Anle stated that what she did was to ensure smooth progress and that she didn't need the Han family to be her support.

In just one day, Huang Pu found cheat sheets on many students, but Gu Qishan had no problems at all. Huang Pu was angry and accused Ren Anle of being lax in her handling of the case. It was obvious to discerning individuals that these children of noble families were colluding together. Zhou Fu and Wu Yue became scapegoats simply because their identities were relatively lowly. However, Ren Anle did not heed Huang Pu's advice and insisted on hastily concluding the case, to Pei Zhan's great satisfaction.

As Luo Mingxi had anticipated, after Gu Yunnian received the news from Pei Zhan, he sent someone to secretly silence him. That night, Li Chong'en committed suicide, leaving behind a suicide note revealing that Wu Yue and Zhou Fu were his distant relatives. Unable to bear seeing their poor and unaccomplished lives, he leaked the examination questions to them.

Although Gu Yunnian took a step to clear his son's name, Ren Anle clearly had the upper hand. She had already discussed with Huang Pu beforehand and promised him that if he cooperated with her, the principles she advocated would be upheld, and any injustice would be punished. Huang Pu privately interrogated Zhou Fu and eventually obtained a confession that the mastermind was Gu Qishan. On the other hand, Wu Yue, fearing the power of the loyal and righteous marquis, refused to say a single word.

Han Ye knew that Ren Anle was exceptionally clever, so he had higher expectations of her. He was well aware of how much she worried and pondered over the case. In fact, Zhou Fu was just bait, and it was crucial to have Wu Yue, who possessed all of Gu Yunnian's secrets. However, on that night, Wu Yue was assassinated, further complicating the case.

Ren Anle released Gu Qishan, treating him as a valuable pawn. Han Ye, realizing Ren Anle's exceptional chess skills, couldn't help but think of Di Ziyuan. He had never encountered anyone with such extraordinary chess skills before, except for Ren Anle. However, the two of them were different in terms of background and personality. The only thing they had in common was that they were both remarkable women and, coincidentally, had met Han Ye.

Gu Qishan didn't take this case seriously at all and wanted to go out and enjoy himself before it was closed. In the end, he had to behave a bit more obediently under the warning from Gu Yunnian. Ren Anle was invited to attend the courtesan feast at Lingxiang Tower. When she saw Han Ye enter from outside, she immediately leaped into his arms, causing Han Ye to hastily hold her.

Ignoring Huang Pu's obstruction, Pei Zhan insisted on stamping the seal on the closing documents. Huang Pu and the other officials were filled with sorrow, disappointment, and anger. They took off their official robes and hats and left. At the same time, Ren Anle was giving a speech at Lingxiang Tower, outlining the three major steps she took to solve the case. When she saw Gu Qishan enter the room reeking of alcohol, she immediately approached him with a fawning smile and whispered for him to run, as the Crown Prince had come with people to arrest him.

Episode 5 Recap

Han Ye suddenly appeared, scaring Gu Qishan, who panicked and ran without direction. Ren Anle intentionally broke some wine to make him stumble, and the other students rushed forward to beat him up. At the same time, Huangpu received a severe punishment of thirty lashes and, together with the officials from the Dali Temple, rang the Qinglong Bell, seeking justice. Emperor Jia Chang, Han Zhongyuan, had to approve a thorough investigation of the corruption case.

When the news reached the Zhongyi Marquis Mansion, Gu Yunnian became extremely anxious, and Madam Gu could not believe that a mere female bandit would risk offending the powerful marquis just to climb onto the Crown Prince's dragon bed. The official trial by the Three Ministries soon began, and Ren Anle craftily led the proceedings, successfully exposing Gu Qishan's guilt.

Gu Qishan, relying on his status as the marquis's legitimate son, made arrogant remarks in the hall until Wu Yue, who had "returned from the dead," accused Gu Qishan of leaking the exam questions. Ren Anle played the fool and cleverly led Gu Qishan to confess. Indeed, Gu Qishan no longer offered any defense, and following the laws of Dajing, Han Ye sentenced him to be executed after autumn.

Upon hearing this judgment, the crowd and even the students cheered. Wen Shuo watched the spectacle unfold, but he couldn't help but wonder why the evidence appeared so conveniently. Yuan Qin explained it, and he suddenly understood. At the same time, Gu Yunnian hurriedly went to the palace to meet the Emperor. Han Zhongyuan admonished Gu Yunnian and curbed his unruly behavior, promising to handle the matter properly.

Ren Anle couldn't wait to show off to Han Ye, who now saw that she was not the foolish female bandit people claimed she was; she was clever and pretended to be foolish. Later, Han Ye went to have tea and chat with Luo Mingxi, hoping he could help investigate Ren Anle's true intentions. It seemed that her purpose for coming to the capital was not just to become the Crown Princess; there was a bigger conspiracy behind it.

Han Zhongyuan decided to handle it properly by changing the execution to exile, sparing Gu Qishan from death. Gu Yunnian was completely dissatisfied with this outcome and vowed not to let Ren Anle off easily. Han Ye took Ren Anle to Lingxiang Tower, hoping she would confide in him and maintain their trust in each other. However, Ren Anle still pretended to be ignorant and insisted on becoming the Crown Princess.

Now, more and more people were betting on Ren Anle. She directly raised the stakes, and Han Ye, wanting to help her establish herself in the capital, did not stop her. During this time, Han Zhongyuan summoned Han Ye to the palace to explain the change in the punishment. After all, Marquis Gu Yunnian held significant military power and had been in control of the southern regions for many years. If he was truly angered, it could lead to unimaginable chaos. Han Zhongyuan advised Han Ye not to be too anxious and to wait for the right time to act.

When Ren Anle heard that her old friend, Princess Anle, was returning to the capital, she didn't want her to be involved, but she was still a member of the Han family. As expected, Gu Yunnian carried out his revenge, and that night, several assassins sneaked into Ren Anle's residence to assassinate her. Ren Anle's skills were exceptional, and she managed to subdue the assassins with a few chess pieces, and Yuan Shu wielded a sword to drive them away.

Wen Shuo heard the news and rushed to check on Yuan Qin's safety, also taking the chance to see if Ren Anle was injured. Ren Anle deliberately sighed that no one cared about her, but Wen Shuo explained that Han Ye cared a great deal about her, as evidenced by him sending skilled guard Jian Song to protect her in secret. But Yuan Qin almost mistook Jian Song for an assassin, as she was interested in testing his martial arts skills. In the end, Jian Song had to withdraw.

Luo Mingxi used the pretext of investigating Ren Anle to inform Han Ye of her motives for coming to the capital. Since she had aspirations of serving the country, why not give her an opportunity and appreciate her talents? Ren Anle sent Yuan Shu and Yuan Qin to inform Han Ye to meet her at Lingxiang Tower. She had reserved a private room and assured him that she had prepared a great show for him.

Episode 6 Recap

Ren Anle specially invited a storyteller to entertain with drinks, intending to hear a story about a female bandit and the Crown Prince. However, the storyteller noticed Han Ye's signal and lied, claiming that the storybook was sold out, and instead narrated the brave and skilled deeds of Princess An Ning. Princess An Ning had loved martial arts since childhood and at the age of twelve, she demonstrated her skills before the autumn hunting banquet, impressing Emperor Han Zhongyuan. When asked about her wish, Princess An Ning chose to abandon the riches and beautiful clothes, desiring to be stationed on the northwest frontier to protect the border.

Although Dajing and Bei Qin had been in a truce for many years, bandits from the border region frequently harassed the area. For six years, it was thanks to Princess An Ning's participation in every battle that the people enjoyed peace and safety. She defeated the bandits, making them either scatter or surrender. Ren Anle was not very interested, thinking the storyteller was exaggerating. Han Ye proved Princess An Ning's abilities to his older sister and warned Ren Anle that if she were to encounter Princess An Ning, it would be a clash between two heroes.

Just as they were talking, a female general in white armor, holding a sword, entered the Lingxiang Tower. Princess An Ning, with an angry expression, went straight to Han Ye and declared that she had come to settle the score with Ren Anle. The two of them immediately started fighting but found themselves strangely compatible. They announced that they would become sworn sisters.

After a night of heavy drinking, Princess An Ning, completely drunk, went to the palace to meet the Emperor. Han Zhongyuan was somewhat helpless and ordered his daughter to behave properly and choose a marriage partner as soon as possible. Coincidentally, the officials all suggested that the Crown Prince should get married, and many recommended Gu Yunnian's daughter as the Crown Princess. This made Emperor Han Zhongyuan furious. He summoned Gu Yunnian to the palace for questioning and sought advice from the prime ministers.

Currently, Ren Anle had complete control over the Three Ministries and began planning to deal with Zhong Liwen. He was Gu Yunnian's brother-in-law from Jiangnan and one of the accomplices in the unjust case against the Emperor's family. Now, he had turned into the magistrate of the Mutian Prefecture and colluded with the Ministry of Works, blending in perfectly. Luo Mingxi believed that the best way to avoid exposing Ren Anle's identity was to welcome the fake "Di Ziyuan" to the capital. After all, Han Ye was too attached to the past agreement with Emperor Han, and only Di Ziyuan could use the Crown Prince's attachment to succeed in her plans.

Empress Sun Yujun had always been concerned about Han Ye's marriage and urged Han Zhongyuan to select a bride for him. However, Han Ye once again begged Emperor Jia Chang to allow him to be with Di Ziyuan. He kneeled outside the palace gate until Ren Anle suddenly appeared. Ren Anle used her sharp tongue to please Emperor Han Zhongyuan and successfully persuaded him to let Di Ziyuan come down from the mountain and allow her to be a candidate for the Crown Princess. Han Ye was overjoyed at this news and felt grateful and guilty towards Ren Anle.

Lin Lang found that Princess An Ning had a close relationship with an old case involving the Emperor's family ten years ago. Since childhood, she had a deep friendship with Di Ziyuan, studying together. However, a few days after the Emperor's family was exterminated, she fell seriously ill, and her servants died for no apparent reason. After that, she went to the northwest and never returned to the capital. Now, she was putting all her efforts into making Ren Anle the Crown Princess, which made Lin Lang very suspicious. She immediately reported this to Luo Mingxi.

On the other side, Princess An Ning came alone to the old residence of the Jing'an Marquis Mansion, which was now overgrown with weeds, a place of memories but no longer the same. She had complex and conflicting feelings of joy and fear. Han Ye and Luo Mingxi suddenly arrived, and Luo Mingxi deliberately tried to test Princess An Ning, but there were still no clues.

Ren Anle learned about Princess An Ning's unusual behavior through Luo Mingxi and decided to personally investigate. She invited Princess An Ning to the Lingxiang Tower to drink and listen to music. Han Ye learned that Princess An Ning had booked the entire place and found it ridiculous. He hurried there with Wen Shuo. Lin Lang, following orders, dressed up meticulously and personally performed a piece of music for Ren Anle and Princess An Ning. This song, "Soul Comfort," was the one Di Ziyuan excelled in. Han Ye listened outside the door, feeling a mix of emotions. Princess An Ning was moved to tears by the music, took a sip of wine, and suddenly drew her sword.

Episode 7 Recap

A soul-comforting melody, majestic and resolute, yet infused with a touch of tenderness. This song was composed for the frontier soldiers, wishing their souls to return to their homeland after death and no longer be troubled by war. The prosperous capital of Kyoto had rarely heard such a tragic and heroic tune, and the entire Lingxiang Tower fell silent, struck by the sudden and unique sound.

Princess An Ning danced with her sword, expressing her inner emotions upon hearing the melody. Ren Anle, too, was reminiscing about the past. When the music abruptly stopped, they both seemed to be transported to another time, and their eyes reflected a sense of sorrow. In her drunken state, Princess An Ning gazed at the woman in plain attire across from her, her expression filled with memories and melancholy. Suddenly, without any warning, she pointed at Ren Anle, remarking that she resembled someone she knew before, surprising everyone present.

Ren Anle asked Princess An Ning's personal guards to fetch cold water to sober her up, leaving the room with only the two of them. Unexpectedly, Princess An Ning took out a lotus flower pendant from her pocket, explaining that she had acquired it from a general in Jiangnan. In the past, the Duke of Jing'an, Duke Yongning, had the right to mint coins, but after the fall of the imperial family, currency circulation was banned, leaving only silver coins hastily turned into this pendant. It symbolized that the 80,000 imperial soldiers were not entirely annihilated, and some might have survived.

Originally, the music played today was meant to test Princess An Ning, but Ren Anle never expected to make an unexpected discovery. Seeing Princess An Ning passed out on the bed, Han Ye entered the room, and Ren Anle quickly put on a playful and lighthearted facade. Han Ye mentioned the piece of music and casually mentioned Prince Ziyuan's deeds. Ren Anle was moved but tried not to show it.

Afterward, Ren Anle met Luo Mingxi privately and showed him the money, believing that there might be survivors of the imperial army. She knew that Gu Yunnian's brother-in-law, Zhong Liwen, controlled Jiangnan and possessed the list of the imperial soldiers. Thus, she planned to investigate personally. However, she had no good excuse to go there. Luo Mingxi arranged for Lin Lang to save a refugee who came to the capital to file a complaint.

The barely alive petitioner was brought into the Grand Court with dark red bloodstains under the Double Yang Gate. Huangpu found the "Blood Book of Ten Thousand People" on him and realized that it was another major case. He quickly reported it to Ren Anle, mentioning that the patron behind Jiangnan's prefect, Zhong Liwen, was the Loyal Marquis. Ren Anle pretended to have a sudden realization and personally handed the Blood Book to Han Ye, instructing him not to startle the snake.

Hastily, Han Ye went to the palace to present the Blood Book. This joint petition from ten thousand people caused a great uproar in the court of Dajing, thoroughly muddying the waters. Jiangnan had continuous rains for three months, and ten days ago, the Yuanjiang River's dyke broke, causing fifteen counties under the jurisdiction of Mutian Prefecture to become submerged. Tens of thousands of people were affected, and they were left with no choice but to flee. The petition accused Prefect Zhong Liwen of negligence, resulting in the death of thousands of miles of land.

Although Han Zhongyuan was worried about Han Ye's safety in going to Jiangnan, Han Ye was fearless and devoted to serving the people. Afterward, Han Ye went to find Luo Mingxi and coincidentally saw him simulating the construction of a river embankment. Han Ye suggested that Luo Mingxi accompany him on his trip. Luo Mingxi pretended to be reluctant, saying that they needed Ren Anle's approval. Han Ye believed it and went to discuss with Ren Anle.

At Ren Anle's request, the Crown Prince's residence was filled with dishes that Ren Anle liked and fine wines, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a wedding night. Han Ye proactively toasted Ren Anle, but his alcohol tolerance was poor, and he ended up drunk and confused. At one point, he even climbed a tree to enjoy the beautiful scenery, mistaking Ren Anle for Princess An Ning and pouring out his heartfelt feelings to her.

The next morning, Han Ye woke up and sought Ren Anle, but she flatly denied agreeing to travel with him and exposed his embarrassing drunken incident of climbing a tree. Han Ye felt embarrassed and annoyed, but when he entered the palace, he unexpectedly learned that Ren Anle had already left for Jiangnan. He felt somewhat relieved. The two of them set off together, and on the way, Ren Anle pretended to feel carsick and teased Han Ye. Han Ye stayed by her side throughout, taking care of her every need.

Episode 8 Recap

Gu Yunnian learned that the Crown Prince feigned illness and did not attend the court session. In truth, he went on a secret investigation to Jiangnan, which Gu Yunnian had arranged beforehand to see what kind of waves Ren Anle and the others would stir up. At the same time, the carriage suddenly lost control on the way, and Wen Shuo appeared just in time to catch Yuan Qin. Han Ye finally realized that Ren Anle had already known about Wen Shuo secretly following them, so she intentionally broke the carriage to make him reveal himself.

Initially, Han Ye had never agreed to let Wen Shuo accompany them, but Ren Anle pleaded for him in various ways and allowed him to stay for the time being. The group continued their journey, and Han Ye dreamt of Di Ziyuan but couldn't recall his appearance clearly, which frightened him awake. Ren Anle even pretended to be jealous, leaving Han Ye speechless.

The group arrived at Mutian Prefecture in Jiangnan and witnessed the prosperity and liveliness of the place, with no signs of disaster. To avoid alerting the authorities, Ren Anle and Han Ye disguised themselves as refugees and visited around. They found that some merchants were storing a large amount of surplus grain for sale, but the prices were exorbitant, with one stone of rice priced at twenty taels of silver.

Han Ye noticed that the rice was mixed with a lot of dust, indicating that the merchants' rice likely came from the official granary, which accumulated due to good harvests and disaster relief, making it easier to stockpile. Originally, Han Ye wanted to go back and discuss a countermeasure, but Ren Anle said she wanted to show him another side of Jiangnan's prosperity. Han Ye suddenly realized and speculated that the refugees were probably being driven out of the city.

To understand the truth, Ren Anle and Han Ye disguised themselves as refugees and indeed saw that the starving refugees received meager relief food. However, before they could eat enough, they were driven away by soldiers, and all the food was scattered on the ground. Han Ye was deeply distressed seeing this scene.

Lin Lang was ordered to investigate Cold North, who was by Princess An Ning's side, but currently, there was no suspicious activity. Princess An Ning treated Cold North differently because she saved him at the foot of Mount Qingnan. Five years ago, Cold North's family was destroyed in war, and he single-handedly killed seven or eight enemy invaders. At that time, Princess An Ning was considering whether he could be used by Dajing. Over the years, Princess An Ning indeed valued Cold North greatly, but she knew in her heart that saving him was to atone for her inability to save the 80,000 imperial soldiers who died tragically at Mount Qingnan.

Later, Lin Lang helped Luo Mingxi find the Changsi Flower, and Luo Mingxi was delighted. On the other hand, Ren Anle and the others temporarily stayed at an inn. That night, when they came to chat with Han Ye, they suddenly heard fighting outside the door. Upon investigation, they found black-clothed assailants attempting to assassinate them. Fortunately, Yuan Shu and the others arrived just in time. The black-clothed assailants saw that the situation was not in their favor and directly committed suicide by poisoning. Han Ye felt that something was amiss and believed that tonight's incident was likely a warning for him not to continue his investigation.

Thus, Han Ye believed that someone deliberately exposed their whereabouts and location. Instead of waiting passively, it would be better to take the initiative and turn the tables. Han Ye instructed Wen Shuo to inform everyone at Mutian Prefecture, deliberately spreading the news of his assassination attempt, and then appeared at Mutian Prefecture as the Crown Prince.

As expected, Zhong Liwen hurriedly came to welcome him and invited him and Ren Anle to a banquet at Wangjiang Tower. Ren Anle and Han Ye analyzed the situation, vaguely sensing that someone was eavesdropping outside the door. Therefore, they pretended to be affectionate, and Ren Anle playfully teased Han Ye, leaving him blushing and speechless.

As Ren Anle and Han Ye had anticipated, Zhong Liwen planned a trap at Wangjiang Tower and prepared extra measures. He intended to use this opportunity to force Han Ye and Ren Anle to back down. If they refused to drink the toast, he would incite the refugees to riot. At this time, Princess An Ning came to Lixiang Tower to drink, and Luo Mingxi led Lin Lang to greet her. Lin Lang performed a stunning piece, "Plum Blossom Falling," captivating the entire audience, especially Princess An Ning. Remembering some childhood memories, Princess An Ning naturally brought up Di Ziyuan, but unexpectedly, Luo Mingxi suddenly asked her if she ever thought about reuniting with Di Ziyuan.

Episode 9 Recap

Although Luo Mingxi deliberately exaggerated Di Ziyuan's tragic situation at Daishan, Princess An Ning clearly found an excuse to refuse to meet him, so Luo Mingxi suspected that she must know the truth about the annihilation of the Emperor's family. Meanwhile, Yuan Shu and Yuan Qin were ordered to investigate the matter of the Lotus Flower Pendant, hoping to find survivors from the Emperor's army and await Ren Anle's instructions.

Ren Anle went to Wangjiang Tower with Han Ye to attend the banquet. Faced with everyone's flattery and praise, they pretended to be affectionate. Zhong Liwen raised his wine cup to propose a toast, and Ren Anle knew that Han Ye couldn't hold his liquor well, so she helped him block the wine, while Han Ye gently reminded her not to drink too much.

Under Zhong Liwen's suggestion, all the merchants sent gifts to Ren Anle, congratulating her and Han Ye on forming an alliance between Qin and Jin. In fact, Zhong Liwen did this under the instigation of Gu Yunnian. As long as Ren Anle accepted the gifts, he could accuse her of bribery and corruption to the Emperor. Although Ren Anle accepted the gifts, she asked everyone to write down their names and the gifts clearly. Zhong Liwen implied that they should use fake names, but Wen Shuo had already memorized the names of all the people.

Fearing Han Ye's authority as the Crown Prince, everyone wrote their real names truthfully. After the list was completed, Ren Anle handed it to Wen Shuo to deliver to Yuan Qin so that she could report it to the Emperor as soon as possible. After all, these were evidence of officials and merchants admitting to bribery. But as Yuan Qin and the others were about to leave, they suddenly found a large number of refugees flooding into the city, surrounding Wangjiang Tower. They had heard earlier that the Crown Prince had arrived, so, influenced by certain individuals' instigation, they came to ask him for food.

Zhong Liwen lied, saying that it would take four days for the disaster relief funds to arrive, clearly intending to pass the trouble on to them. Han Ye decided to personally get the food and asked Ren Anle to stabilize the people's hearts. The people had already heard of Ren Anle's deeds and still trusted her somewhat. However, Zhong Liwen and the others deliberately made it difficult by not providing accurate information about the location of the stored grain. As a result, Han Ye was delayed in bringing back the food.

As time went on, and the sun was about to set, the refugees became restless. Fortunately, Han Ye had thought of a solution before leaving. He had Jili distribute some rice to appease the refugees and buy some time. Zhong Liwen had planted someone among the refugees to expose the ruse of fake rice, but Ren Anle saw through the person's identity in time and threatened him to keep quiet if he wanted to save his life.

Finally, Han Ye arrived on horseback, fulfilling his promise with several carts of food, and successfully resolved the crisis. Han Ye thanked Ren Anle for her tremendous help and felt a slight attraction to her, but he suppressed his feelings because of Di Ziyuan. On the other hand, Zhong Liwen's plan fell apart, and he was left in a state of anxiety at home. He guessed that they might start with the Jiangnan water problem, which might bring trouble to himself.

Thanks to Ren Anle's quick thinking, she ordered Yuan Shu to search the grain depot and take back the food, also bringing back some useful account books. Han Ye and Ren Anle discussed finding the internal account books of the River Works and Zhong Liwen. Since the 500 river workers were already hidden by Zhong Liwen, tracing them would require some effort. Ren Anle, however, remained calm and unhurried. Instead, she poured wine and asked Han Ye to thank her.

Originally, Han Ye had many excuses, but under Ren Anle's goading, he ended up unable to hold his alcohol and got drunk. In a daze, Han Ye mistook Ren Anle for

Originally, Han Ye had many excuses, but under Ren Anle's goading, he ended up unable to hold his alcohol and got drunk. In a daze, Han Ye mistook Ren Anle for Di Ziyuan and hugged her tightly. Ren Anle played along and admitted that she was Di Ziyuan, trying to inquire about the truth behind the annihilation of the Emperor's family, but she gained nothing.

Han Ye said that he would marry Di Ziyuan and would not give the position of Crown Prince's consort to anyone else, no matter what happened, even though he was already attracted to Ren Anle. The next day, when Han Ye woke up sober, he immediately remembered what he had said in his drunken state the previous night and regretted it. He hurriedly ran to Ren Anle's room and coincidentally saw her washing her face. He handed her a handkerchief and then became flustered and hurriedly left, while Ren Anle intentionally teased him. Di Ziyuan and hugged her tightly. Ren Anle played along and admitted that she was

Originally, Han Ye had many excuses, but under Ren Anle's goading, he ended up unable to hold his alcohol and got drunk. In a daze, Han Ye mistook Ren Anle for dI Ziyuan and hugged her tightly. Ren Anle played along and admitted that she was Di Ziyuan, trying to inquire about the truth behind the annihilation of the Emperor's family, but she gained nothing.

Ziyuan, trying to inquire about the truth behind the annihilation of the Emperor's family, but she gained nothing.

Han Ye said that he would marry Di Ziyuan and would not give the position of Crown Prince's consort to anyone else, no matter what happened, even though he was already attracted to Ren Anle. The next day, when Han Ye woke up sober, he immediately remembered what he had said in his drunken state the previous night and regretted it. He hurriedly ran to Ren Anle's room and coincidentally saw her washing her face. He handed her a handkerchief and then became flustered and hurriedly left, while Ren Anle intentionally teased him. Ziyuan and hugged her tightly. Ren Anle played along and admitted that she was Di Ziyuan, trying to inquire about the truth behind the annihilation of the Emperor's family, but she gained nothing.

Episode 10 Recap

Han Ye thought about the events of the previous night and apologized to Ren Anle. He also understood her ambitions and asked if she would be willing to create a prosperous era together, just like Han Taizu and Emperor Shengtian did in the past. Ren Anle's expression became serious, and she directly responded that there could never be another pair like them because it was well known that the Emperor's family had achieved great success while the Han family coveted that power and eventually exterminated them. Although they still didn't have a clue from the account books, they had a lead with the Lotus Flower Pendant. Lin Lang reported that it appeared in the Mufu (Mu Mansion) and was deliberately thrown away by someone surnamed Zhong, but its whereabouts remained unknown. Yuan Shu and Yuan Qin received a portrait of a Zhong family member and searched the streets and alleys for information but came up empty. However, they encountered Wen Shuo on the way, and Yuan Qin lied, saying that the person in the portrait was Yuan Shu's elder brother.

When Han Ye learned that Mufu had recruited five hundred miners in just three days, he suspected that these people's true identity was river workers. So, he and Ren Anle schemed and let Zhong Liwen know that they were investigating the Jiangnan water disaster. As expected, Zhong Liwen couldn't sit still and planned to arrange for officers disguised as bandits to silence the river workers and managers. In the dead of night, at the Zhao Family Village ten miles south of the city, a group of people on horseback stormed in, surrounded by darkness. They didn't see the guards leading the river workers out as planned; instead, the Imperial Guards armed with helmets and spears appeared, completely encircling them. In the silence, when the crossbows were fully drawn and ready to shoot at Yuan Shu's command, the leader of the officers realized the danger and quickly dismounted, claiming that they had received intelligence of bandits planning to attack the Zhao Family Village tonight. So, they were undercover, and there was a misunderstanding. At the same time, Han Ye went alone to the government office to stall Zhong Liwen until news came that the "bandits had been captured." Only then did he leave.

Originally, Zhong Liwen planned to abandon his son to save himself, thinking that everything would be foolproof once he looked through the account books. However, he fell into the trap set by Ren Anle and Han Ye. He was caught red-handed with the evidence, and all the officials involved in the corruption case were arrested. The Jiangnan corruption case was successfully solved with all the pieces falling into place. Afterward, Han Ye and Ren Anle went to the riverbank and saw the prayer lanterns lit by the people, feeling deeply moved. Han Ye brought up the topic again, believing that with someone like Ren Anle to cleanse and purify, there would one day be lasting prosperity in Dajing. He expressed his willingness to walk with her through thick and thin. Ren Anle retorted with a tough mouth but almost stumbled. Fortunately, Han Ye promptly supported her, and their eyes met, conveying emotions that words couldn't express. On the way back on horseback, Han Ye praised Ren Anle for her meticulousness, particularly for her plan to involve Wen Shuo. He knew that Wen Shuo's intelligence and sharp memory would be of great help, so she planned to bring him along when they went to Jiangnan. The guise of Yuan Qin's probing was to confirm this, and it worked well with Wen Shuo's merits in every aspect. Ren Anle didn't deny it and said that Han Ye's ability to nurture talents as his capable assistants was enough to show that he understood people well.

Madam Gu had not received any letters from Zhong Liwen for a long time and guessed that something must have happened. Gu Yunnian had already prepared a countermeasure. In just one day, the entire Mufu was in turmoil. News of Zhong Liwen's embezzlement of funds for the river embankment, forced collection of relief grain, and his imprisonment for trial spread throughout the city. The long-standing grievances of the people erupted, demanding strict punishment for Zhong Liwen and the return of justice from the corrupt officials. To investigate Zhong Liwen, Han Ye ordered his subordinates to move the Mu Mansion's archives and account books to an inn, including all the embezzled funds from these years. Ren Anle had never liked these troublesome matters, preferring to stay alone in her room. Yuan Qin deliberately distracted Wen Shuo, giving Yuan Shu the opportunity to find a list of eighty thousand soldiers.

Now that the evidence of Zhong Liwen's corruption was conclusive, he had been sentenced to death by autumn, and the other officials involved were dismissed and prosecuted. Even the wealth of the gentry was confiscated to be used for disaster relief. The procession of carriages returned to the capital, and along the way, they saw the Jiangnan people kneeling and bidding farewell. The sound of thunder echoed abruptly, without any words of praise or tribute; it was just a simple "May the Crown Prince live a thousand years." This deeply moved Han Ye; these were his people who had endured hardships and remained loyal to the land, understanding gratitude. Therefore, Han Ye thanked Ren Anle with a bow, as there might never be another Han Taizu and Emperor Shengtian in the world, but they could usher in an era of peace and prosperity. Afterward, Han Ye and Ren Anle went to Cangshan, the mausoleum of Han Zian, the founding emperor of Dajing.

Episode 11 Recap

Ten years of vicissitudes, everything has changed, layers of stone stairs separate life and death, and the emperors in the tombs have long turned to dust, but the living still have to bear burdens and move forward. Ren Anle paid her respects with mixed feelings, while Han Ye once again mentioned their joint creation of a prosperous era for Dajing. Knowing that Ren Anle's sharpness might attract animosity, he earnestly asked her to stay by his side as the Crown Prince, not as a couple, but as confidants. Ren Anle was carefree and not overly attached to her identity. However, suddenly, an assassin jumped out and aimed a sword at Han Ye. The assassin was none other than Han Ye's personal guard, Jian Song. His usual kindness was just a disguise, as he was actually the leader of the dark guards under the title of Loyalty and Righteousness Marquis—a genius in swordsmanship, a rarity in Dajing.

In fact, Han Ye had suspected that there were spies planted by Gu Yunnian around him. Until he intentionally let Jian Song convey the whereabouts of the copper mine, he finally exposed himself. That night, Jian Song spared Han Ye and Ren Anle's lives, as he was grateful to Han Ye for recognizing his talents. Facing his benefactor, Jian Song chose to jump off the cliff to his death. Han Ye hadn't even looked up, but everything was already settled. The tip of the sword still had drops of blood slipping down, and he stood there for a long time, motionless and silent. Ren Anle seemed to have a realization and asked Han Ye how he would deal with her if they were to become enemies someday. Han Ye said that he never doubted people and would always trust Ren Anle.

The eight characters, "Shang Cheng Yu Tian, Si De Zhong Ren," marked the beginning of the fate of the imperial family and the burden carried by Ren Anle. Han Zhongyuan learned that Han Ye took Ren Anle to Cangshan, and he was pleased with how well they cooperated, even though they offended powerful officials on this trip to Jiangnan, they gained respect in the hearts of the common people. Since Jian Song's death, there were signs of Gu Yunnian's decline. In the past, officials who visited him were constant, but now they gradually decreased, fearing that he might become another Zhong Liwen. Gu Yunnian deeply hated Ren Anle, but he couldn't openly eliminate her; he could only think of other strategies.

Meanwhile, Lin Lang reported to Luo Mingxi about the recent situation. The newly appointed prefect had safely arrived in Jiangnan under the protection of the Qianyue Pavilion, and the work of managing the water disaster was progressing smoothly. Luo Mingxi handed over a memorial to Han Zhongyuan, asking for rewards for Ren Anle, and he decided to deal with Zhong Liwen as a warning to others. The imperial capital was still far away, and the swift horses slowed down hundreds of feet away from the city gate. Han Ye knew that he would face even more dangerous situations next, and he hoped that Ren Anle would accompany him. Ren Anle pretended to show affection for him. Now, the capital city had long spread Ren Anle's deeds of governing corrupt officials and wicked officers in Jiangnan, and she was praised to the heavens and the earth, with contributions from Luo Mingxi and Han Ye.

Luo Mingxi secretly met with Ren Anle and told her that half of the courtiers were on her side, so she didn't need to compete for the position of the Crown Prince's consort. But Ren Anle remembered what her father had said: to control the world, one must hold power and public opinion. When Emperor Di Ziyuan took on the identity of Ren Anle, it was already like using herself as bait. If she chose not to get involved, how could she let rumors spread in the capital city? Luo Mingxi was worried that Ren Anle would be deeply involved and forget about revenge. Ren Anle admitted that Han Ye was indeed fit to be the Crown Prince, but she also remembered why the eighty thousand soldiers of the Han family had died.

Meanwhile, Han Zhongyuan summoned Han Ye alone to the palace and reminded him to remember that Ren Anle was not simple. In fact, he had already tacitly agreed that she would be the future Crown Prince's consort and wanted to celebrate her achievements with a banquet. Han Ye originally wanted to explain, but his father interrupted him. That night, with a heavy heart, he went to the banquet and deliberately ignored Ren Anle. Luo Mingxi took the initiative to talk to Ren Anle and Gu Yunnian pretended to send his congratulations, but Ren Anle rejected Gu Yunnian's face and made him leave angrily. Han Ye personally sent the drunken Ren Anle back home and mentioned the matter of Emperor Di Ziyuan. Ren Anle pretended to be angry.

As the election of the Crown Prince's consort approached, Han Ye was worried that Di Ziyuan's appearance would become a target for public criticism. Unexpectedly, the Empress Dowager issued an edict, ordering Di Ziyuan to change her name to Di Chengen before leaving the mountain. Obviously, the name was meant to ridicule Di Ziyuan and strengthen Ren Anle's determination for revenge. Inside the Eternal Peace Monastery in Daishan, a woman disguised as Di Ziyuan practiced chess every day and had long wanted to escape from there. Fortunately, Mu Qing accompanied her, so she didn't feel too lonely. Ren Anle promised to let her regain her freedom after everything was over. Han Ye personally went to Caiwei Pavilion to buy a book as a gift for Di Ziyuan but was unexpectedly snatched by Ren Anle, who pretended to be jealous.

Episode 12 Recap

A sacred edict was transmitted to Daishan, and the Empress Dowager granted permission for Di Ziyuan to return to the capital city. The condition was that she had to change her name to Di Chengen. Faking Di Ziyuan, to gain freedom and favor from the powerful, didn't care about this humiliation at all. She had long forgotten the grace of the Di family's shelter and embraced her own name.

Although Mu Qing was angry at Di Chengen's opportunism, she was ultimately a pitiful person. Before the age of eight, she had suffered from hunger every day, and after being adopted by the Di family at the age of eight, she endured ten years of imprisonment in Daishan as a substitute for Di Ziyuan. In order to appease Mu Qing, Di Chengen put on his favorite clothes again, and finally, Mu Qing agreed to accompany Di Chengen down the mountain.

Relying on his memories, Han Ye drew a portrait of Di Ziyuan and was surprised by the striking resemblance to Ren Anle. When Han Ye heard that Di Ziyuan was willing to change her name and return to the capital city, he felt a mix of emotions. The former Di Ziyuan was proud, but now she willingly endured humiliation. Though he was very surprised, he found a suitable excuse for Di Ziyuan's choice.

Princess An Ning entered the palace in anger and questioned Han Zhongyuan why he made Di Ziyuan change her name. Han Zhongyuan was angry that his children were opposing him for an outsider and immediately ordered that the Jing'an Marquis Mansion be transformed into a large prison under the Ministry of Justice. At this time, Ren Anle followed Luo Mingxi to the Jing'an Marquis Mansion and learned about the latest imperial decree. She couldn't help but smile mockingly. In just a few days, the Han family had caused two humiliations to the Di family, and Ren Anle's desire for revenge became even more urgent.

As soon as the voice fell, Ren Anle heard the voice of Princess An Ning getting closer and closer. She pulled Luo Mingxi and hid behind a rockery. Princess An Ning and Han Ye were in the Jing'an Marquis Mansion, reminiscing about the past and feeling guilty and remorseful for the Di family. Princess An Ning knew why Han Ye was so persistent about someone he hadn't seen in ten years. It wasn't because Di Ziyuan deserved such devotion, but because since the moment the Di family perished, Di Ziyuan had already become a part of Han Ye's blood and bones. His feelings for Di Ziyuan were like Han Taizu's for Emperor Di Shengtian, but fate played tricks on them.

Originally, Ren Anle and Luo Mingxi wanted to leave quietly, but they made some noise accidentally, attracting the attention of Han Ye and his sister. Faced with Han Ye's curiosity, Ren Anle lied, claiming to have come to accompany Luo Mingxi to visit the large prison under the Ministry of Justice and to learn about the story of the "rival," Di Ziyuan. Knowing oneself and the enemy is the key to winning a hundred battles.

Afterward, the four of them went to Lingxiang Tower to drink. Ren Anle suggested playing a game of passing flowers with the zither. The silk flowers were passed to the hands of Han Ye and Princess An Ning. Ren Anle deliberately asked sharp questions. When the silk flower fell into Luo Mingxi's hands, Han Ye asked why Luo Mingxi often came to Lingxiang Tower. Everyone speculated that Lin Lang was his beloved, and Luo Mingxi did not refute it, while Lin Lang blushed and smiled beside him.

That night, Princess An Ning practiced sword dancing alone in her mansion. This sword technique was taught by Di Ziyuan personally, but she didn't have the courage to meet her. Several days later, on the streets of the capital city, a plain carriage flowed through the crowd. Di Chengen looked at the bustling streets outside and secretly vowed never to return to Daishan in this lifetime.

Although the people in the palace arranged accommodations for Di Chengen, they treated her with various neglect and sarcasm. Di Chengen seemed indifferent, thinking that as long as the Crown Prince sincerely loved her, that was enough. However, Mu Qing reminded her to see the reality clearly, as he loved Di Ziyuan from the beginning to the end. Suddenly, Luo Mingxi came to see Di Chengen, deliberately testing her progress in her studies. Di Chengen was cautious in her conversation and even pointed out the flaws in Luo Mingxi's words.

After Luo Mingxi left, Princess An Ning stared at Di Chengen's back as she returned to her residence, feeling uncomfortable. Mo Bei noticed her sadness and tried various ways to cheer her up. On the other hand, Luo Mingxi summoned Mu Qing alone to reprimand him and warned him to behave and not harbor any other thoughts. Otherwise, if Di Chengen made any mistakes, he would face a dead end. Mu Qing quickly assured that he would take good care of Di Chengen. Moreover, Di Chengen had already learned eight or nine points of Di Ziyuan's demeanor, but unexpectedly Luo Mingxi pointed out that Di Chengen made a mistake in one part today.

Episode 13 Recap

Luo Mingxi considered that Di Chengen was still useful and warned Mu Qing to remember that she was a pawn in this scheme and should play her role as a pawn. After returning to Yuanshui Pavilion, Mu Qing, under the influence of alcohol, confided her feelings and expressed her desire to replace Ren Anle as the true "Di Ziyuan" and become the respected Crown Princess.

Now that Di Chengen had caused a stir in the capital city for several days, the Empress Dowager insisted on involving Gu Wanying in the selection of the Crown Princess. Surprisingly, everything seemed calm and peaceful. Months ago, due to Gu Qishan's reckless actions, his military power was stripped, and the Zhongyi Marquis Mansion's influence diminished. Although Han Zhongyuan did not like the women of the Di family, he was even more unwilling to let the daughter of Gu Yunnian take the position of the Crown Princess. So, Luo Mingxi and Ren Anle speculated that he would search for a more powerful candidate.

As expected, the Prime Minister suggested that Princess Mo Shuang of Bei Qin participate in the selection of the Crown Princess. By doing so, they could ease the tensions between the two countries, avoid conflicts, and benefit Da Jing and its people. Luo Mingxi thought that involving more people in the selection would divert everyone's attention from Ren Anle. No matter who was chosen, people would think that Ren Anle was only lusting after the Crown Prince's beauty and power and wouldn't suspect her true identity and motives.

However, in this vast capital city, only Luo Mingxi remembered Ren Anle's true identity and knew that she loved Changsi flowers. Unfortunately, the flowers had not grown enough to be given as a gift. Ren Anle lamented that she hadn't seen Changsi flowers since entering the city, and the revenge involved the innocence of 80,000 people. During this period, they were walking on thin ice, uncertain about success or failure and even life or death. She feared she might never see Changsi flowers again.

Han Ye missed Di Ziyuan but didn't dare to meet her in person. On the other hand, Di Chengen racked her brain to please the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Mu Qing reminded Di Chengen not to covet things that didn't belong to her. But Di Chengen refused to endure further insults and contempt after ten years of imprisonment. She wanted justice and compensation for herself.

As soon as the words fell, someone from the Empress Dowager's side sent a message to Di Chengen, asking her to write a poem for the newly built large prison under the Ministry of Justice. Di Chengen was excited and delighted, thinking that the Empress Dowager recognized her. However, Mu Qing emphasized that the Jing'an Marquis Mansion used to be Di Ziyuan's residence, and the Empress Dowager's intention was obviously to deliberately humiliate her. Awakening from her delusions, Di Chengen didn't want to offend the Empress Dowager or anger Ren Anle, lest she ended up displeasing both sides and be sent back to Daishan.

Princess Mo Shuang's grand arrival in the capital city drew attention, but An Ning had a bad impression of Bei Qin and believed they had ill intentions. Han Ye heard that Di Chengen claimed to be unwell and refused to receive visitors for a while. He suspected it was an excuse to avoid writing the poem and believed that her nature had not changed even after ten years. The name change was probably just a temporary expediency, and it was difficult to reconcile her with the blood debt she owed.

To protect Di Chengen's position as the Crown Princess, Han Ye began to plan countermeasures. Luo Mingxi reminded him that he was reluctant to act due to various concerns, and she might end up being drowned by someone with ulterior motives if she appeared on the surface. People's hearts were always complicated and unpredictable. As Han Ye left the Ministry of Justice and walked back, Ren Anle joined him for a short distance, teasing him about having a new candidate for the Crown Princess from Bei Qin. Suddenly, heavy rain was imminent, and Han Ye hurriedly shielded Ren Anle from the rain with a carriage window, causing his heart to pound.

While facing the memorial tablet of the late Emperor, the Empress Dowager decided to meet Di Chengen in person. At that moment, Di Chengen received a note with a drawing of a red umbrella, but she was puzzled by its meaning when she was summoned by the Empress Dowager. Di Chengen humbly paid her respects and offered Buddhist scriptures on Han Taizu's memorial day. She had no complaints about the extermination of the Di family and expressed her willingness to spend her remaining life atoning for the sins of the Di family.

Princess An Ning saw this scene and found it unbelievable. She couldn't understand how Di Ziyuan had become like this. Mu Qing was angry that Di Chengen had entered the palace privately, as the Empress Dowager was astute and hard to fathom. She could promise Di Chengen wealth and glory or silently let her die in the palace. Back then, the 80,000 soldiers couldn't escape the Emperor's wrath, and Mu Qing couldn't guarantee that he could protect Di Chengen. However, Di Chengen didn't care and gave him a tassel as a gift, leaving him with mixed feelings.

Luo Mingxi handed Ren Anle a list to keep her informed about the movements of various court officials. Considering that Han Ye still hadn't come to see her, Di Chengen worried that she might lose her footing in this selection process. Therefore, she decided to take the initiative. Later, Di Chengen dressed up carefully and went to Caiwei Pavilion, deliberately choosing the calligraphy and paintings of the Di family's head to engage Han Ye in conversation.

Episode 14 Recap

Since the meeting between Di Chengen and Han Ye at Caiwei Pavilion, she had become the hottest candidate in the Crown Princess selection game. It was rumored in the capital city that she had endured ten years of imprisonment in Daishan, and coupled with Han Ye's decades of persistence, the people sighed at their bitter fate and unwavering love. However, Di Chengen's ambitious plan to manipulate Han Ye had already gone beyond Luo Mingxi's control. So, Luo Mingxi decided to take the opportunity to eliminate her and frame Gu Yunnian.

Ren Anle firmly refused, believing that while Di Chengen indeed had suffered, it was unacceptable to sacrifice innocent lives to pursue the position of Crown Princess. Luo Mingxi couldn't persuade Ren Anle and had no choice but to agree to spare Di Chengen's life for now. But if she attempted any further actions to disrupt their plans, they wouldn't show mercy.

At this moment, Han Ye was painting a portrait in his room, but his mind was filled with thoughts of Ren Anle, and he unintentionally drew her eyebrows and eyes repeatedly. His thoughts were interrupted by Wen Shuo's sudden appearance. Looking at the painting, Han Ye felt gloomy and sighed that Ren Anle was ultimately not Di Ziyuan.

Princess Mo Shuang of Bei Qin arrived in the capital not long ago and sneaked out alone for a stroll. She unexpectedly ran into An Ning and Cold North. Mo Shuang was innocent and lively in nature, and even though An Ning was cold and distant, she couldn't help but be affected by her warmth. However, the disputes between their countries made it impossible for them to become true friends.

In this Crown Princess selection game, someone had placed a big bet on Princess Mo Shuang. The person's identity was unknown, but it piqued Ren Anle's interest. That night, Cold North sneaked into Mo Shuang's room through the window and asked her why she came to Da Jing. He accidentally discovered that someone had impersonated him to deliver messages to her. The siblings hadn't seen each other for several years, but their feelings remained deep. Cold North still had a mission to continue undercover near An Ning and reminded Mo Shuang not to vie for the position of Crown Princess, falsely claiming that the Crown Prince was extremely ugly.

The news about Han Ye's deep affection for Di Chengen had spread throughout the capital city. Di Chengen was delighted and declared that he was the only one she had in her heart, not Di Ziyuan. But Mu Qing believed that Di Chengen had left behind the deep hatred of the blood feud with Di Ziyuan. No matter how much she learned to resemble Di Ziyuan, she could never become her.

In order to secure her position as the Crown Princess, Di Chengen decided to personally visit Princess An Ning and tearfully begged her for help in securing the position of Crown Princess. An Ning tried to persuade Di Chengen not to get involved in the royal affairs. After all, behind Princess Mo Shuang was Bei Qin, behind Gu Wanying was the Empress Dowager, behind Zhong Jing was the prominent families of Jiangnan, and even Ren Anle had 30,000 naval troops supporting her, allowing her to compete on equal footing with Han Ye.

Indeed, Di Chengen's attitude suddenly changed, and she silently returned to Yuanshui Pavilion. Since An Ning refused to help her, there must be someone secretly assisting her. Although Gu Yunnian regarded Di Chengen as a thorn in his side, it wasn't a good time to act against her, so they needed to observe her actions and not give her any leverage.

Ren Anle got to know Princess Mo Shuang through An Ning and quite liked her lively personality. Di Chengen deliberately distracted Mu Qing and waited for Ren Anle at Caiwei Pavilion. When Ren Anle arrived and vented her complaints, she felt somewhat guilty. Di Chengen pretended to ignore Ren Anle, leaving her and encountering a strange man in front of the bookshelf. Just as she was about to ask about his identity, the man suddenly drew a dagger and stabbed at her. Fortunately, Di Chengen dodged in time and screamed for help.

Ren Anle rushed over after hearing the commotion and intended to take Di Chengen away, but a group of black-clad individuals descended upon them, surrounding them heavily. Mu Qing arrived in time as well, but Ren Anle got injured during the process. Fortunately, her injuries weren't severe. The black-clad individuals realized the situation wasn't in their favor and left Caiwei Pavilion. Unexpectedly, Lin Lang had already been waiting around the corner and quickly killed them, leaving one person to interrogate about their origins. However, the person chose to commit suicide by poisoning. At the entrance of Caiwei Pavilion, Ren Anle found Lin Lang's handkerchief and was surprised to see Qianyue Pavilion involved in the matter. In contrast, Di Chengen was frightened when she saw the note Mu Qing received, which depicted a red umbrella.

Han Ye met privately with Luo Mingxi and lamented why Di Ziyuan had become someone unrecognizable. However, he thought that enduring ten years of solitude in Daishan might be too difficult for an ordinary person, and he would keep his promise to make Di Ziyuan the Crown Princess. Facing Luo Mingxi's doubts, Han Ye admitted that he did indeed have feelings for Ren Anle and was destined to disappoint her and her 30,000 naval troops.

At this moment, Wen Shuo came to report that Ren Anle was attacked, which frightened Han Ye, and he rushed to check on her. Fortunately, she was not seriously injured. Coincidentally, Mo Shuang came to visit Ren Anle and was immediately attracted by Han Ye's appearance. She was astonished that the rumored ugly Crown Prince was actually so handsome. Luo Mingxi saw Lin Lang's injuries and personally bandaged her, instructing her to stay in the building and rest, cautioning her against being rash and impulsive in the future.

Afterward, Luo Mingxi went to see Ren Anle, but she suspected that he had sent people to kill Di Chengen, and the two parted on unfriendly terms. Cold North took the opportunity to find Mo Shuang and hoped that she wouldn't agree to marry the Crown Prince, let alone marry into Da Jing. Luo Mingxi sternly reprimanded Cold North and issued a final warning. Mu Qing realized that she didn't have true freedom; as a pawn, she was always under the control of those who set the game.

Episode 15 Recap

A assassin sneaked into Yuanshui Pavilion, leaving behind a dagger and a letter before hastily leaving. Di Chengen pretended to be scared and sent Mu Qing away. After he left, she opened the letter, which only contained a few numbers, indicating the debt of gratitude from ten years ago and the offer of protection in the capital city. Ren Anle took the initiative to apologize to Luo Mingxi and admitted that she shouldn't have made baseless suspicions. Luo Mingxi speculated that An Ning knew a lot about the annihilation of the Di family and warned Ren Anle not to be entangled in sisterly emotions.

Cold North intruded into the Prime Minister's residence and questioned Prime Minister Jiang Yu at knifepoint. Unexpectedly, they were both from Bei Qin, undercover in Da Jing, waiting for the right moment. Jiang Yu and Di Chengen had a past debt of gratitude, so they planned to use Di Chengen's identity to win over the former members of the Di family in the northwest. After careful consideration, Cold North agreed to cooperate with Jiang Yu.

The daughter of Duke Zhongyi, Gu Wanying, suddenly withdrew from the competition for the Crown Princess, leaving the Empress Dowager puzzled. Soon after, the Empress Dowager summoned Di Chengen to the palace. After learning this, Luo Mingxi sent a message to Ren Anle, hoping she would see the Empress Dowager's sinister intentions and the value of Di Chengen's existence. After arranging everything, Luo Mingxi specifically told Lin Lang to rest well and couldn't help but feel emotional.

In the meditation hall of the Empress Dowager's bedroom, Han Ye was called to come. He noticed Di Chengen copying scriptures nearby but hesitated for a moment before going to pay respects to the Empress Dowager. The two briefly talked about recent family matters, and Di Chengen presented the copied scriptures to the Empress Dowager, expressing regret for her past arrogance during her years of seclusion in Daishan and hoping to pray for blessings for the Empress Dowager and Da Jing.

Han Ye felt incredulous upon hearing this and looked at Di Chengen with curiosity and unfamiliarity. He saw her cold and reserved face appear submissive and respectful. The Empress Dowager asked the maid to take Di Chengen to a side hall to change clothes, but she was actually given lower-ranked palace maid's clothing to humiliate her. She was further confined to the side hall and made to continue copying scriptures.

Princess Ren Anle angrily rushed into the Empress Dowager's palace with a sword, questioning why she wouldn't spare the last descendant of the Di family. The Empress Dowager was shocked and angered, walking closer to Ren Anle and asking how she planned to deal with her. In the end, with Han Ye's protection, Ren Anle took Di Chengen away. Originally, Di Chengen wanted Han Ye to accompany her back to her residence, but Mu Qing suddenly appeared, shattering her fantasy.

On the way back, Di Chengen pretended to be weak and pleaded with Mu Qing to stay by her side and protect her. Mu Qing's heart trembled slightly, promising never to leave her. Because Di Chengen's plan had succeeded, her face was filled with a smile, no longer showing the desolation and bitterness from earlier. She secretly decided to seek refuge using the debt of gratitude from years ago.

As night fell, Han Ye walked alone with a lonely heart. He unexpectedly encountered Ren Anle at a corner and confided in her. He expressed his disbelief at how Di Ziyuan, who had once been free-spirited and roamed freely, now bowed down to the royal family and displayed various servile behaviors. It made him feel like the person who returned from Daishan after ten years was a stranger with a similar appearance.

So, Han Ye didn't want Ren Anle to become the second Di Chengen. While she might not be a distinguished lady from a prominent family, she was at least living freely and unburdened. Ren Anle reminded him that there was only one Ren Anle in the world, and once lost, it wouldn't come back. The past was gone, and if they missed the chance, it might be difficult to regain it.

Privately meeting with Luo Mingxi, Ren Anle mentioned how An Ning defended Di Chengen, and her heart was in turmoil. Although the Han family had committed many wrongdoings and should pay for them with blood, the person she least wanted to harm was Princess An Ning. At this moment, Cold North used a drug in An Ning's room, causing her to fall into a nightmare and unable to wake up. In her dream, An Ning witnessed the entire process of the Empress Dowager killing the Di family, suffering from the torment of conscience. Originally, Cold North wanted to find something useful to Bei Qin, but seeing An Ning in agony, he couldn't help but feel a hint of reluctance in his heart.

The grand feast to select the Crown Princess was approaching, and Han Ye didn't send an invitation to Ren Anle. The news quickly spread throughout the city, and people were speculating that Ren Anle had been abandoned by the Crown Prince, and in the end, it was difficult for heaven-sent love to rival childhood sweethearts. Di Chengen was expected to be the ultimate winner. Ren Anle devised a plan to take advantage of this situation and had a derogatory script written, threatening to expose it to Han Ye unless he handed over the invitation. Han Ye didn't care at all, and Ren Anle resorted to the same tactics again, hugging Han Ye and making him recall a drunken incident from the past.

Episode 16 Recap

Just as Ren Anle and Han Ye were in a standoff, the Emperor sent an edict inviting Ren Anle to attend the Crown Prince's concubine selection banquet. Luo Mingxi found out that Princess An Ning had fallen into the water during her childhood, causing her to be unconscious for several days and experience continuous nightmares. In her anger, the Empress Dowager executed the eunuch Liangxi, but later, she took care of An Ning with great care and allowed her to go to the northwestern border for garrison duty.

For a full ten years, Princess An Ning had never returned to the capital city and rarely exchanged letters with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, which was somewhat suspicious. Therefore, combining various clues, Luo Mingxi and Lin Lang speculated that Princess An Ning might be a witness to the Di family's annihilation and also a person with knowledge of the case.

Upon hearing that the Emperor was especially partial to Ren Anle and had sent her a special edict, Di Chengen was extremely dissatisfied and eager to live a glorious life in the future. In order to stand out at the Crown Prince's concubine selection banquet the next day, Di Chengen didn't hesitate to immerse herself in cold water and mistreat herself, thus setting up a scheme to evoke sympathy from Han Ye.

Ren Anle carefully considered that if Di Chengen could be chosen as the Crown Princess, it might be a good thing. Firstly, it would attract more attention to the Di family's past, laying the groundwork for a future exoneration; secondly, being the Crown Princess, she would be protected by the royal family and could hide until the time was right for her to seek justice.

Di Chengen asked Mu Qing to help her prepare a few barrels of cold water but was refused. Mu Qing cared about Di Chengen's health and opposed her self-torture. However, Di Chengen didn't listen to the advice and soaked herself in cold water, enduring the piercing cold to achieve her goal. She swore never to return to Daishan or suffer humiliation from others.

On the night before the banquet, Cold North took the initiative to meet Mo Shuang and repeatedly warned her not to become the Crown Princess of Da Jing. However, Mo Shuang fell in love with Han Ye at first sight and regardless of Cold North's obstruction, she had made up her mind to dress up as the kind of person the Crown Prince liked. The Emperor ordered a banquet in the palace, and the women vying for the position of Crown Princess were required to attend at the same time to make the final decision.

Although the royal banquet was not grand, it was rare and solemn. Han Ye didn't want to be too extravagant, so he dressed modestly and low-key. Ren Anle also wore a moon-white long dress, making it difficult for him to take his eyes off her. Wen Shuo wisely left, leaving the two alone. Ren Anle was rarely gentle, with a charming smile, which made Han Ye find it hard not to be moved.

As people came one after another to the banquet, only Di Chengen and Zhong Jing hadn't appeared yet. After waiting for a while, Han Ye raised his cup and proposed a toast, hoping Ren Anle could find a better match. Ren Anle's smile faded slightly upon hearing this, and she wished Han Ye success in finding his ideal match and putting her heart to rest.

Just as they were talking, Di Chengen arrived, deliberately pretending to be weak and about to faint. Han Ye hurriedly reached out to support her. He initially wanted to put a cloak on her, but then he thought it would be better for the eunuch to do it to avoid gossip. As expected, the noble women present saw through Di Chengen's little scheme and mocked her for being too clumsy.

Mo Shuang took the initiative to approach Di Chengen and asked about the unique skills of the Di family. Di Chengen looked uneasy, and Ren Anle deliberately instigated Han Ye to help her out. Faced with the various performances of the noble ladies, Ren Anle suddenly asked Di Chengen to play music. Han Ye tried to decline on her behalf, but to his surprise, Di Chengen readily agreed and was willing to go on stage to perform. Her skill was surprisingly stunning, leaving Han Ye puzzled and puzzled because in his memory, Di Chengen had always loved swordplay. When did she start enjoying playing the qin (a traditional Chinese musical instrument)? Wen Shuo thought it might be because of the boredom of living in Daishan, so she chose to play the qin to pass the time, and Han Ye didn't delve further into it.

At this moment, Princess An Ning suddenly became emotionally agitated and rebuked Di Chengen, asking why she had humiliated herself like this. Today was originally the anniversary of the death of Lord Jing'an, and yet she dressed up in festive clothes and played joyful music. Chaos broke out at the concubine selection banquet. Han Zhongyuan stood nearby and witnessed everything, feeling incredulous that the once flamboyant Di family's daughter had turned into this appearance, which was truly unimaginable.

An Ning calmed down and apologized to Di Chengen, pleading with her to give up the position of the Crown Princess. However, her plea was met with Di Chengen's refusal. In the end, An Ning publicly declared her support for Ren Anle to become the Crown Princess. The crowd was in an uproar, and Mo Shuang proposed to perform a sword dance. However, when she saw her brother casting a stern gaze at her, she pretended to feel unwell and sat back in her seat. Ren Anle, seeing this, said she would perform on Mo Shuang's behalf and requested Di Chengen to accompany her on the instrument.

Episode 17 Recap

Ren Anle saw the graceful and unrestrained dance of the sword and was reminded of Di Ziyuan. For a moment, he felt somewhat lost. Di Chengen felt jealous and intentionally plucked the qin strings faster, hoping to embarrass Ren Anle in front of everyone. However, Ren Anle retaliated by cutting off Di Chengen's hairpin with her sword, mocking her for being so panic-stricken. There was no trace of the grace expected from the Crown Princess.

Seeing this, Han Ye quickly stepped forward and personally helped Di Chengen tidy her hair. He took out a phoenix hairpin and placed it on her head, publicly selecting her as the Crown Princess. However, before the celebration could continue, the Empress Dowager and the Emperor hurriedly arrived. She declared that as long as she was alive, no daughter of the Di family would ever enter the Crown Prince's residence. With that, she pulled off the phoenix hairpin from Di Chengen's head.

Watching Di Chengen's sad appearance, Han Ye said that regardless of the outcome, tonight's banquet was held for her. Then, gently supporting Di Chengen, he led her away. Meanwhile, Ren Anle walked out of the palace in a daze and coincidentally encountered Luo Mingxi at the palace gate. Just a second ago, she had been delusional that Han Ye would give her the hairpin. Now, she felt guilty toward her deceased father. How could she accept something from the Han family?

Back in the palace, the Empress Dowager was still somewhat angry. Han Zhongyuan thought that if Di Chengen sincerely surrendered, it might not be a bad thing for them. The incident involving Di Yongning's death had been disputed in the public for a long time and had not been completely silenced even to this day. Therefore, sending Di Ziyuan to Daishan was to make her completely submit.

Han Zhongyuan explained to the Empress Dowager that Di Chengen becoming the Crown Princess was a legacy of the late Emperor, a gentleman's promise. It was also a hidden reason for taming the Di family. The Empress Dowager listened thoughtfully and gradually calmed down.

Gu Qishan, who was lecherous and cruel, killed Zhong Jing, a prospective bride for the Crown Prince, and attempted to cover up his crime by burning the entire Zhong family. He hurried back to Zhongyi Marquis' residence that night with his slave. Gu Yunnian, disappointed with his son's behavior, had to first investigate the Zhong family's situation through his subordinates and act opportunistically, finding a scapegoat if necessary.

Ren Anle went alone to Jing'an Marquis' residence to pay her respects. However, she lamented the injustice suffered by the 80,000 soldiers and her father's unjust death. It still couldn't bring justice, and the real culprit was still sitting on the throne, enjoying the obedience of countless people. At this moment, Princess An Ning also arrived at Jing'an Marquis' residence and was surprised by Ren Anle's presence. Ren Anle found an excuse to leave.

Since the concubine selection banquet, Di Chengen couldn't hide her complacency, believing that the Crown Prince truly treated her differently. Mu Qing reminded Di Chengen that it was only because of the name Di Ziyuan, but Di Chengen didn't care and even refused to pay respects at Jing'an Marquis' residence, firmly convinced that she would be the one ultimately chosen by the Crown Prince.

Princess An Ning saw Han Ye visiting Jing'an Marquis' residence alone and felt somewhat disappointed. She understood that he was protecting Di Chengen to secure her position as the Crown Princess. Han Ye hoped An Ning wouldn't blame Di Chengen for this, but An Ning felt a sense of desolation for the entire Di family. Her father, Di Yongning, was a heroic figure, but in the end, he couldn't even receive respect from his daughter. Both siblings felt guilty about the Di family's affairs. An Ning mentioned her encounter with Ren Anle, wondering if she would live so freely and openly if Di Ziyuan hadn't been sent to Daishan.

Ren Anle confessed to Luo Mingxi that she had fallen in love with Han Ye, but compared to the 80,000 souls of the Di family, their feelings were insignificant. She wouldn't let herself continue to sink and must rediscover her true self. Luo Mingxi informed Ren Anle that Gu Yunnian was searching for someone named Zhong Hai, who was a survivor of the Di family.

Han Ye personally visited Di Chengen and unexpectedly found no scars on her shoulders from the character that had been written there before. This made him anxious and suspicious about her identity, so he secretly investigated the truth. At the same time, Luo Mingxi revealed to Ren Anle that Di Chengen had shown a flaw. Ren Anle was surprised that he remembered something she had forgotten so clearly.

Episode 18 Recap

Wen Shuo grew up in the Eastern Palace, personally raised by the Crown Prince. He was the youngest top scholar in the Great Jing Dynasty and understood Han Ye's thoughts the best. Since the concubine selection banquet ended, anyone with keen eyes could see that Han Ye was feeling down, likely due to Ren Anle and Di Chengen. Later, Wen Shuo told Han Ye that the entire Zhong family had been wiped out, and the culprit was their servant, Zhong Hai. Wanted posters were now all over the city. However, Han Ye found it suspicious that the fire occurred in the middle of winter and suspected there might be hidden motives. On the other hand, Ren Anle asked Luo Mingxi to find Zhong Hai quickly, as Di Chengen's identity being exposed would ruin their plans. At that moment, Han Ye arrived at Lingxiang Tower and saw Ren Anle and Luo Mingxi privately discussing the matter of Zhong Hai. Feeling a hint of jealousy, he couldn't help but confront Luo Mingxi, who directly exposed that Han Ye was targeting him because of Ren Anle.

Indeed, Han Ye was seen through by Luo Mingxi, and his attitude slightly softened. After calming down, he expressed his doubts about Di Chengen. Despite the striking similarity between Di Chengen's handwriting and that of Di Ziyuan, there had been no progress over the years. The fully grown Di Ziyuan still wrote like a child. Han Ye began to suspect Di Chengen's true identity. Luo Mingxi reminded Han Ye to remember that mundane emotions were always far from the royal family. Even if they made a wrong choice, it would be irreversible, and as the Crown Prince, he should honor his promise.

Yuan Shu was ordered to trace Zhong Hai's whereabouts, but the latter was skilled at hiding, and the only clue was that he had come to the capital city. Ren Anle speculated that Zhong Hai, who had experienced hardships, would surely hide among the dilapidated streets, so she urged Yuan Shu to be extra vigilant. After learning that Zhong Hai had come to the capital city, Gu Yunnian was worried and ordered a full search for him. To avoid implicating the entire family if things were exposed, he ordered Gu Qishan to leave Zhongyi Marquis' residence after the New Year.

Di Chengen accidentally discovered the correspondence between Mu Qing and Luo Mingxi, finally realizing that Luo Mingxi was placed by her side to monitor her every move. At first, Di Chengen had seven parts of utilitarianism and three parts of genuine affection for Mu Qing. But now, she was thoroughly disappointed and vowed to secure the position of the Crown Princess through her own efforts. While browsing at Caiwei Pavilion, Ren Anle spotted a book that had been reserved by Han Ye. He gifted the book to her, but she showed no gratitude. On her way back, she bought a book about the Crown Prince and Di Chengen to give to him. As Han Ye observed Ren Anle's cool and indifferent demeanor, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. But hearing her resolute words, he felt even more inexplicably sad.

Late at night, Luo Mingxi visited the Princess's residence and deliberately brought up the tragic death of the 80,000 Di family soldiers under Qingnan Mountain, causing An Ning to fall into self-blame and pain. In the end, Ren Anle revealed part of the truth to Luo Mingxi. The reason why Marquis Jing'an, Di Yongning, led troops to the northwest was actually due to a mysterious letter he received. The New Year's Palace Feast was approaching, and the Emperor was planning to invite Di Chengen warmly, showing that her position as the Crown Princess was almost certain. The Empress Dowager was furious upon hearing the news. Although she could cooperate with the Emperor in any plan, the Di family must never appear at the Han family's banquet, as it would challenge her bottom line.

Left Prime Minister Mi secretly discussed with Cold North their plan to assist Di Chengen in securing the position of the Crown Princess, and the upcoming New Year's Palace Feast was the best opportunity for them to take action. Upon learning of the Empress Dowager's plan to exterminate Di Chengen, Luo Mingxi intended to use An Ning's hand to protect Di Chengen. Unexpectedly, Di Chengen disregarded Mu Qing's dissuasion and insisted on attending the feast. She sent people to the Left Prime Minister's residence to deliver a red umbrella as a token of alliance. Mo Shuang also wanted to attend the palace feast tonight, but Cold North persuaded her not to go for her safety. Mo Shuang emphasized to her brother that lurking beside the Princess might not be safe enough, so if there was any danger, he must protect himself.

Upon returning to her room, An Ning found a mysterious note with eight large characters written on it: "New Year's Night Feast, Di Chengen in danger." The person who left the note remained unknown. Mu Qing saw Di Chengen dressing up and preparing to attend the feast, wanting to persuade her to stay. However, Di Chengen knew the danger of the palace feast but was willing to take the risk and gamble for wealth and nobility.

The Left Prime Minister learned that Marquis Zhongyi, Gu Yunnian, wanted to kill Zhong Hai to silence him and sent someone to assist him. Upon receiving the news, Ren Anle rushed to Wuliujie to rescue Zhong Hai. Unexpectedly, the assassin set fire directly, and Ren Anle got trapped in a burning warehouse while trying to save Zhong Hai. Her legs were pinned down by heavy objects and couldn't break free. Fortunately, Han Ye appeared just in time, bandaged her wounds personally, and tried to find a way or tool to escape.

Episode 19 Recap

Luo Mingxi heard the news of Ren Anle's accident and hurriedly rushed to Wuliujie, but Han Ye had already rescued Ren Anle. However, this fire at Wuliujie was a welcome relief for Prime Minister Jiang Yu, but it was a dire situation for Marquis Gu Yunnian, leaving him in a precarious position. He ordered Gu Qishan to leave the Gu Family Mansion immediately.

Considering that Han Ye was the Crown Prince of the Great Jing Dynasty and had a pre-existing relationship with Ren Anle as her superior, getting entangled in such a public manner would have a negative impact on her reputation. So, Han Ye handed Ren Anle over to Luo Mingxi to take her back to rest. Ren Anle never expected this turn of events tonight, nor did she expect Han Ye to rush in regardless of danger, causing her to have feelings for him again.

The New Year's Eve banquet proceeded as usual in the Royal Garden. Princess An Ning, who usually detested royal banquets, attended in splendid attire, closely observing every move of Di Chengen. On the other hand, Di Chengen was well-prepared and confident that she would secure the position of Crown Princess after tonight. During the banquet, everyone had their own thoughts. Han Ye arrived late, claiming that he was searching for Zhong Hai, and fortunately, Ren Anle came to the rescue.

Several performers took the stage to present their dances. Han Zhongyuan called Han Ye over to inquire about the details and reminded him that as the Crown Prince of the Great Jing, he carried the fate of the country and its people. He could delegate any matter to others and not risk his own life. Just as they were talking, an assassin disguised as a performer suddenly charged at Han Zhongyuan. Han Ye and An Ning acted quickly to protect the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and Di Chengen, swiftly escorting them back to the main hall of the palace.

The assassin hidden on the beam took the opportunity to attack, but Di Chengen stepped forward and shielded Han Zhongyuan from the sword. Although her injury seemed serious, it was not life-threatening. Han Zhongyuan, grateful for her saving his life and considering the alliance between the Han and Di families, accepted Di Chengen as the Crown Princess from the bottom of his heart.

Han Ye's long-standing wish had finally come true, but he didn't show joy; instead, he appeared too calm, making Han Zhongyuan suspect that his feelings for Di Chengen had changed but he was deceiving himself. Ren Anle woke up and found Luo Mingxi still by her side. Upon hearing about the assassination attempt at the banquet, she knew that their time had come and made up her mind.

Originally, the Empress Dowager had arranged a group of assassins to target Di Chengen, but unexpectedly, there was another assassin who attempted to harm her. This situation frightened her. However, Di Chengen became a hero for saving the Emperor's life, causing the Empress Dowager's plans to fail. She had to think of other ways. Han Zhongyuan secretly investigated the events at Wuliujie, partly because he was angry that it was related to Marquis Gu Yunnian and partly because he was dissatisfied with Han Ye's special treatment of Ren Anle. He used the pretext of commending her and gifted Ren Anle a sword sheath, implying that she should restrain her sharpness.

After returning to the Princess's residence, An Ning thought carefully and realized that the assassin's figure last night was very much like Cold North's. She went to find him but discovered he wasn't in his room and only returned in the early morning. Confronted by An Ning's questioning, Cold North showed a worried expression. Before he could say anything, Mo Shuang suddenly appeared and explained that she had been attacked yesterday but was rescued by Cold North. An Ning, choosing to believe her, didn't know that the assassin last night was indeed Cold North. To avoid arousing the Princess's suspicion, he had to make his sister lie in front of her.

Wen Shuo revealed to Han Ye that he had seen Yuan Qin and Yuan Shu looking for someone with a portrait in Jiangnan, claiming they were searching for their elder brother. Han Ye was puzzled and went to inquire with Ren Anle. However, she brushed him off and evaded the topic. Later, Han Ye personally went to the Ministry of Justice as the Crown Prince and had a conversation with Zhong Hai, encouraging him to speak up for the Zhong family's grievances.

Not long after, Qinglong Bell rang again, shaking the entire court. Zhong Hai held a petition in front of the Dali Temple, his act of loyalty and righteousness resonating with the people and moving the hearts of the officials. Huang Pu decided on the spot to help him clear his name. Witnessing the situation escalating beyond control, Gu Yunnian resolutely arranged for Gu Qishan to leave, lest the whole family be implicated.

Episode 20 Recap

After the conclusion of this matter, Ren Anle, Han Ye, and Luo Mingxi gathered at the Lingxiang Tower to celebrate. They had experienced numerous difficulties but finally obtained solid evidence to completely bring down Gu Yunnian. In fact, the Zhong Family massacre alone was enough to make Gu Yunnian accept guilt and face the law, but Han Ye coincidentally discovered that the sword left behind during the attempted assassination at the palace banquet was not ordinary.

While they were speaking, it was suddenly reported that Princess An Ning urgently needed to discuss something with Han Ye. He hurriedly left, and Luo Mingxi sighed that Han Ye, who had been living in the palace since childhood, couldn't possibly grasp the intricacies of politics and couldn't achieve everything by bringing down Gu Yunnian alone. Ren Anle felt that Han Ye was wholeheartedly seeking the wise and eliminating the evil, fighting for justice for the people and seeking their well-being. If he were to become Emperor, perhaps he could truly bring peace and clarity to the kingdom.

On the other hand, Princess An Ning urged Han Ye to protect Zhong Hai at all costs, as he was the only survivor of the Imperial Family. Han Ye recalled how Ren Anle had been investigating Zhong Hai during the Jiangnan flood case and had nearly lost her life in the fire while trying to save him. Combining all the clues, the answer in his heart started to take shape. Luo Mingxi mentioned that there was still a crucial witness, and that person was Princess An Ning. Intentionally, Ren Anle took Yuan Qin to the pauper's graveyard to pay respects to the late Emperor Jin Yan, and An Ning witnessed the whole process, finally confirming Ren Anle's true identity.

At this moment, Han Ye personally drew Ren Anle's portrait, but he fell into deep thought and didn't return to reality until Wen Shuo came to report that the assassin's sword was related to the West Suburb Camp. Han Ye hurriedly went to inform Ren Anle but found Luo Mingxi there too, making him feel a bit jealous. The two of them exchanged sharp words.

Soon after, Ren Anle, Han Ye, and Luo Mingxi went together to the West Suburb Camp to find clues from its roster. Gu Yunnian had no good plan and had to seek the help of Prime Minister Jiang Yu. On the surface, Jiang Yu agreed to speak well of Gu Yunnian in front of the Emperor, but in reality, she was plotting how to get rid of him. As long as Gu Yunnian died, the West Suburb Camp would fall apart like loose sand. When that happened, border issues would arise, and it was certain that North Qin would launch a counterattack. Naturally, Ren Anle could not stay either.

Since Han Ye realized that Ren Anle was Di Ziyuan, his whole heart was focused on her. Watching her flipping through the books, he seemed to see the former Di Ziyuan. When Ren Anle heard that Luo Mingxi found a clue, she hurried over without hesitation, but ended up colliding with Han Ye and accidentally discovered that he had treasured the red jade chess piece she gave him.

Han Ye didn't hide his feelings for Ren Anle and asked her if she would be willing to give him a chance to take back a wrong move. Before Ren Anle could respond, Luo Mingxi spoke up, saying that she always made decisive moves and never had bad luck. Ren Anle also reminded Han Ye that if he encountered anything he regretted in the future, he should forget it soon to avoid unnecessary self-torment.

Gu Qishan secretly left the city under the escort of his slaves but unexpectedly ran into an ambush by assassins, making him beg for mercy repeatedly. Just as Gu Qishan was about to be killed, Yuan Shu appeared with her men and saved him. The assassin exposed the Loyalty Marquis Mansion's emblem, causing him to believe that Gu Yunnian had sent someone to kill him to protect his family. Under Yuan Shu's subtle guidance, he decisively confessed Gu Yunnian's crimes.

Originally, Han Zhongyuan wanted to spare Gu Yunnian, but when he learned that the killer at the palace banquet was sent by Gu Yunnian, he couldn't help but be disappointed and handed the entire case over to Han Ye for full responsibility. Han Zhongyuan still harbored suspicions about Ren Anle and secretly ordered further investigations. Luo Mingxi, on the other hand, wasn't afraid at all and even wanted the Emperor to know about his excellent relationship with Ren Anle.

With the fall of the Loyalty Marquis imminent, Ren Anle's revenge plan made progress. She decided to publicly reveal her identity and reopen the case on the day after Di Chengen's enthronement and wedding. Luo Mingxi expressed full cooperation. Han Ye obtained a calligraphy sample of Di Chengen copied at the Daishan Mountain, which further confirmed that Di Chengen was definitely not Di Ziyuan. On the contrary, Di Chengen was jealous of Han Ye's excessive attention to Ren Anle and had someone inform her to come to the palace for a gathering. Han Ye felt that something was amiss and hurriedly rushed there.

Episode 21 Recap

Di Chengen invited Ren Anle to meet, primarily for two reasons: first, to assert his sovereignty and emphasize his position in Han Ye's heart; second, to warn Ren Anle to put her identity in order and return to Jingnan as soon as possible if she couldn't have what she desired. Ren Anle found it ironic and stated that Di Chengen could pursue a lifetime of love with someone else, but she had more important matters to attend to. She and Han Ye would avoid each other in official affairs, and even Di Chengen had no right to interfere.

As soon as she finished speaking, Han Ye hurriedly arrived and found an excuse to take Ren Anle away from the Yuanshui Pavilion. Han Ye hoped that Ren Anle would reveal all the truth to him, but she acted like she understood nothing. Tonight happened to be the Fifteenth Lantern Festival, and the famous Linxiang Tower Lantern Festival was not far from the imperial city. Han Ye took Ren Anle to enjoy the festival.

In the past, Di Ziyuan didn't enjoy lantern festivals, so the only way Han Ye could make her happy was to spend a dozen coppers to buy lanterns for her. This time, he personally bought a rabbit lantern for Ren Anle. On the other hand, Luo Mingxi looked into the distance and recalled the past moments with Ren Anle. Lin Lang silently accompanied him, praying sincerely for Luo Mingxi.

At this moment, Yuan Shu suddenly came to see Ren Anle and revealed that Gu Yunnian planned to eliminate the assassin who attacked during the New Year's Eve banquet. Ren Anle and Han Ye quickly rushed to Huayuan Mountain. Leng Bei had already controlled the northwest border, and now only the list of various military officers remained. He deliberately put something in An Ning's wine jar, intending to inquire about Ren Anle's identity. However, due to excessive drinking, An Ning fell into a deep sleep and woke up only to learn that Han Ye and Ren Anle had both fallen off the cliff and gone missing.

It turned out that Prime Minister Jiang Yu wanted to eliminate both Gu Yunnian and Ren Anle at the same time. So, she arranged for them to go to Huayuan Mountain and sent assassins to attack them. Han Ye protected Ren Anle and was injured by a sword, falling off the cliff. Ren Anle immediately jumped down after him, and Gu Yunnian witnessed it, realizing that he had fallen into someone else's trap.

Now that Gu Yunnian was imprisoned, he repeatedly denied any involvement with the West Suburb Camp or Huayuan Mountain, making Luo Mingxi suspect that there was something suspicious going on, and perhaps there was another mastermind behind the scenes. An Ning was worried about Han Ye and Ren Anle's safety, but Leng Bei believed that her concern would only lead to chaos. He pointed out the location where the two fell off the cliff, an area filled with dense forests and seasonal rivers. He thought there was a great hope for survival, and An Ning suddenly realized this. She immediately went to the palace to ask for permission to personally lead the imperial guards to find them.

However, Han Zhongyuan had already secretly dispatched people to search and didn't want the matter to be too public. If the people knew that the Crown Prince was critically injured with his life and death unknown, it could cause internal disorder, and word spreading to Northern Qin would bring endless trouble. An Ning felt her father was heartless and tearfully accused him that even if he didn't care about his son's safety, Han Ye was her own brother, and no one could stop her from looking for him.

At the foot of Huayuan Mountain, Han Ye was seriously injured and unconscious. He kept waking up but was still in danger. Fortunately, Ren Anle stayed by his side and took care of him patiently throughout the whole day and night without rest. When Han Ye finally regained consciousness, Ren Anle, exhausted, collapsed. Han Ye lifted her clothes and saw the scars on her shoulder, confirming that she was indeed Di Ziyuan.

At this moment, An Ning led people to search all over the mountains but still found no trace of Han Ye and Ren Anle. When Ren Anle woke up and saw herself wrapped in a coat while Han Ye endured the cold with just a single garment, caring for her with utmost concern, she was deeply moved. Looking at Han Ye's sincere affection and gentle promises, her heart was touched once again. She decided to temporarily set aside everything and spend time with Han Ye.

Episode 22 Recap

The faint light of dawn revealed itself, and the dark valley welcomed a new day. Han Ye's complexion looked rosier, and there was a glint of vitality in his eyes. If only his fish grilling skills were a bit better, Ren Anle wouldn't mind staying here longer. They had roasted fish for all three meals, which left Ren Anle feeling like she had reached the end of her rope. Han Ye wanted to improve the taste for her and tried to catch a rabbit, but he ended up teasing her, making her blush and act nothing like a prince but more like a mischievous rascal.

Luo Mingxi was anxiously awaiting news. When he heard that Yuan Shu and Yuan Qin found an open bottle of fruit wine by the river, he realized that the peerless martial artist and wandering head of the Di family had returned. If she was here, Ren Anle would surely be safe. With Han Ye and Ren Anle recovering, they planned to take a bath in the river before returning. Ren Anle urged Han Ye to undress quickly, but when the moment came to take off his single-layered clothing, she got flustered and found an excuse to slip away, splashing cold water on her face nearby to cool down.

As night fell, the valley, surrounded by mountains on all sides, became serene and peaceful, with stars twinkling above. Sitting on the ground, Ren Anle and Han Ye looked calm as they gazed into the distance, as if the life-and-death battle they experienced was now a distant memory. They shared their past experiences with each other. Han Ye said that when he returned, he would welcome Di Chengen as the Crown Princess. Although he had feelings for Ren Anle, he promised to protect Di Ziyuan throughout his life. After saying this, he kissed Ren Anle on the forehead, and she responded by saying she would let go of her attachments.

When they were about to leave, Ren Anle accidentally twisted her foot. Han Ye immediately carried her on his back and met An Ning, Wen Shuo, and others near the river. An Ning, looking at her brother who was approaching, noticed an unprecedented sense of peace and serenity in his eyes. He seemed content and detached, as if he had entered another world. An Ning was slightly surprised and thought he must have recognized Ren Anle as Di Ziyuan.

Lin Lang quickly informed Luo Mingxi of this news. Recently, Luo Mingxi's health had been ailing due to excessive worry, and now he finally felt relieved. Han Zhongyuan, upon hearing that they found Han Ye, shed tears of joy. Han Ye was not only the Crown Prince of Da Jing but also his son.

The noisy sound of rolling wheels annoyed Ren Anle, but when she opened her eyes and saw the returning caravan, she immediately regained her cold and indifferent expression. From now on, their relationship was only that of ruler and subject. Han Ye prepared exquisite snacks and ginseng tea for Ren Anle, but she ignored them, leaving him feeling uneasy.

When the caravan arrived at the city gate, Luo Mingxi had been waiting for a long time. Han Ye grabbed Ren Anle and told her that the Emperor had been in power in Da Jing for over ten years, and his mind was much more ruthless than she could imagine. He hoped she would live well within his protection and never provoke the royal taboos. Ren Anle found his words ironic and broke free from his grasp, following Luo Mingxi.

Upon learning that Han Ye and Ren Anle had ridden the same carriage, Di Chengen felt jealous and worried about her position as the Crown Princess of Da Jing. Back at the Crown Prince's residence, Han Ye couldn't stop thinking about Ren Anle, eager to know her plans. At this moment, An Ning came to see him, and the siblings had an honest conversation. Han Ye candidly told her that he would protect her, whether she was Ren Anle or Di Ziyuan, throughout his life.

In fact, Luo Mingxi had already noticed that Ren Anle was acting differently, but she deliberately avoided the topic and didn't want to dwell on her feelings for Han Ye. On the other side, Han Ye was tending to his wounds when Di Chengen suddenly entered, pretending to care, but he coldly ignored her. Di Chengen deliberately brought up the matter of Di Jin's words, but her actions only made Han Ye more repulsed and convinced that she was just a pawn of Ren Anle's.

Episode 23 Recap

An Ning tried to persuade Ren Anle to live on as she is now and not revert to being Di Ziyuan, but Ren Anle firmly refused. Han Ye also tried to convince Ren Anle, but their conversation reopened old wounds, and Han Ye left in silence. Di Chengen met with the Left Chancellor, only to be surprised to see Luo Mingxi instead. In front of Emperor Jia Chang, Di Chengen proposed to confess the crimes of the Di family during the Crown Princess's investiture ceremony and thank the Han family for their grace. On the other hand, Zhong Hai met Ren Anle, learned her true identity, and promised to testify for her. To deal with Di Chengen's confession, Ren Anle planned to merge the investiture ceremony with the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet.

Years ago, the Han family exterminated the Di family, and Han Ye single-handedly protected Ren Anle, leading to his imprisonment by Han Zhongyuan in the palace for several months, enduring unimaginable suffering. Luo Mingxi informed Ren Anle of this, hoping she would make a heartfelt choice: to continue seeking revenge or to stop here. However, no matter which path she chose, she would owe the other side. Despite being moved, Ren Anle still chose to clear the Di family's name and declared that she had cut ties with Han Ye after leaving the valley.

Although Han Ye wanted to call off the marriage, it had become a settled matter. He could only reminisce about the happy times they spent together and vowed to protect Di Ziyuan forever. On the other hand, An Ning went to see Ren Anle, straightforwardly advising her to live on as Ren Anle and not dwell on revenge. However, she received rejection from Ren Anle.

"Do not do to others what you do not want to be done to yourself." An Ning had not been able to let go of her guilt towards the Di family's army, so how could she ask Ren Anle to ignore the grievances of the Di family's army? An Ning knew that the debt owed to the Di family was immense and was willing to help make amends, but Ren Anle declined, knowing that it was not something An Ning could repay. At the same time, Di Chengen, faced with the Crown Prince's coldness towards her, swore not to resign herself and determined that the position of Crown Princess belonged to her.

The next day, Han Ye went to see Luo Mingxi, hoping he would take Ren Anle away. However, Luo Mingxi bluntly stated that Han Ye's fear stemmed from guilt, and the real tragedy would be if the past remained unaddressed. After Han Ye left, Luo Mingxi instructed Lin Lang to keep an eye on Zhong Hai, as Han Ye now knew Ren Anle's identity, and they needed to act in advance.

Han Ye refused to give up and went to see Ren Anle again, urging her not to put herself in danger. If her identity was revealed, all the past would resurface, including the killings and betrayals hidden in her memories. However, Ren Anle insisted that once started, there would be no end. Without the annihilation of the Nine Clans in the past, there would be no Ren Anle today. In her view, the Han family owed the Di family, and she would repay it in full. Han Ye could not decide for her, nor could anyone else.

Di Chengen went to meet the Left Chancellor Jiang Yu in person, but to her surprise, Luo Mingxi appeared. Seeing Luo Mingxi present a jade pendant, she finally realized that he was the person who sent her to Mount Dai ten years ago. Luo Mingxi's patience with Di Chengen had reached its limit, and he warned her that as long as she behaved, he would help her secure the position of Crown Princess. From now on, Mu Qing would obey Di Chengen's orders.

Ren Anle stayed in Lingxiang Tower, listening to Lin Lang's music, and thought of Han Ye drowning his sorrows with wine. She repeatedly mumbled that she had never regretted anything. Watching the drunken Ren Anle, Lin Lang felt a hint of sorrow. If Ren Anle knew that Luo Mingxi had been quietly guarding her for many years, would she feel sorry for him too?

On the other side, Mu Qing prepared to leave, but Di Chengen stopped her, saying she still needed Mu Qing to carry out tasks for her. Afterward, Di Chengen went to the palace to meet the Emperor, confessing the crimes of the Di family and expressing her intention to apologize on behalf of the entire Di family during the Crown Princess's investiture ceremony. Han Zhongyuan was half-believing but satisfied with her change.

Luo Mingxi and Ren Anle found Zhong Hai and asked about his connection with the Di family's army. At first, Zhong Hai was cautious and denied any involvement, but when Ren Anle showed him the lotus pendant and revealed Di Ziyuan's identity, he was shocked and excited. Ren Anle stated her intention to clear the Di family's name, and Zhong Hai promised to follow her orders.

Han Zhongyuan prepared to appoint Di Chengen during the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. The Empress Dowager, instead of being angry, laughed, especially after seeing Di Chengen's performance, which greatly piqued her interest. Before the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, Ren Anle contacted her old subordinates hidden in the capital. However, Luo Mingxi felt that it was still not enough and that the game was still one move short, needing further planning.

Episode 24 Recap

Han Ye married Di Chengen solely to protect Ren Anle, but he was unwilling and could only drown his sorrows in alcohol. Wen Shuo and Ji Li waited outside, realizing that Han Ye and Ren Anle could never return to the past. They lamented the loss of this fate and the capriciousness of life, as things had changed while people had not.

Ren Anle prepared a list of the names of the eighty thousand soldiers of the Di family's army as a birthday gift. According to the royal rules, gifts for the Empress Dowager and the Emperor's birthday should be submitted to the palace in advance. Yuan Qin straightforwardly stated that the Empress Dowager couldn't bear such a grand gift. On the other hand, the Empress Dowager summoned Di Chengen alone and gave her an educational lecture, warning her to be well-behaved and even kneel in the ancestral hall to copy all the scriptures.

Lin Lang was tasked with finding Zhang Jian, a former general of the loyal and righteous Marquis, hoping he would testify. Zhang Jian already felt guilty towards the Di family's army and, with a clear conscience, finally agreed to help clear the Di family's name. Late at night, Ren Anle went to see Han Ye and gave him a folding fan as a congratulatory gift for his wedding with Di Chengen.

Han Ye speculated that Ren Anle would take action on the wedding day and tried to dissuade her, but she stated that she lived her life for the Di family. Han Ye had nothing more to say. After Ren Anle left, Han Ye opened the folding fan, looking at the familiar handwriting and feeling a mix of emotions. Luo Mingxi had been waiting for Ren Anle at the door and, from this day on, they would be themselves again.

As scheduled, the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet was held in grandeur, and the Crown Princess of Da Jing would also be appointed. Han Ye attended the banquet dressed in fine clothes, carrying the folding fan given to him by Ren Anle. Before entering the palace, Ren Anle personally lit incense for her father's tablet. Between her and Han Ye stood the lives of eighty thousand people, destined not to be together. At the same time, Luo Mingxi prepared his birthday gift and was ready to depart. Today's banquet would be the most lively one in Da Jing's history.

During the banquet, Di Chengen took the initiative to wish the Empress Dowager a happy birthday and offered to bear the responsibility for the Di family's sins. Just as she finished speaking, a voice from outside the door exclaimed, "The Di family is innocent!" It was Zhong Hai, who revealed the identity of the Di family's former members. When the Di family's army received the order for reinforcements, they rushed thousands of miles day and night to Qingnan Mountain. Little did they know that the Northern Qin army had already laid an ambush, forcing them to flee back to support through the narrow pass of Qingnan City. However, as soon as they passed the pass, they were ambushed by the guards of Qingnan City, and the eighty thousand Di family's soldiers suffered heavy casualties.

Upon hearing this, everyone present was in an uproar. Right Minister Wei Jian felt that there was something suspicious about this matter and that the old case of the Di family should be thoroughly investigated. However, Left Minister Jiang Yu held a different view, stating that Zhong Hai's words were just one-sided and lacked evidence. Zhong Hai requested another witness, Zhang Jian, who tearfully recounted the dust of the Di family's army from ten years ago. Later, when he returned to the capital to investigate, he learned that Gu Yunnian had received a secret letter from the capital. It was this letter that led him to carry out the massacre of the Di family's army.

In fact, at the beginning, Zhang Jian did not know that these people were the Di family's army, as Gu Yunnian had falsely claimed to be the Northern Qin army. It was only when they cleared the battlefield and saw the armor of the Di family's army that he realized it. Zhang Jian was emotional at the banquet, feeling guilty towards the eighty thousand Di family's soldiers. Han Ye suddenly stood up and bombarded Zhang Jian with a series of questions, asking him to prove how he determined whether the Di family's army conspired with the Northern Qin and was killed, or whether they fell into the trap of Northern Qin after entering the northwest.

However, Zhang Jian could not clarify either of the two situations and struggled to give a clear answer. Han Ye continued to question, suggesting that even if the Di family's army was killed by mistake, it could be because Gu Yunnian mistakenly believed that the Northern Qin cavalry intended to attack the city, so he led the soldiers into battle, resulting in the mistaken killing of the Di family's army. Han Ye's suspicions fueled the Empress Dowager's arrogance, and she sought to use her position to suppress this case unfavorable to her. But Han Zhongyuan believed that they could bring Gu Yunnian for cross-examination to determine the truth.

Episode 25 Recap

The emperor summoned Gu Yunnian to the court for interrogation. He appeared in coarse prison clothes, looking much thinner than a few months ago when he was spirited. Gu Yunnian admitted the existence of the secret letter and sensed the threat in the Empress Dowager's words. The murderous intent in her eyes sent shivers down his spine. He decided to take full responsibility for all the crimes but refused to reveal the identity of the sender of the secret letter.

Ren Anle angrily accused Gu Yunnian of wrongly exterminating the Di family in the past and now pretending to be righteous. Gu Yunnian took the blame as a scapegoat for the sake of his family and was willing to die in the court. Before his death, Gu Yunnian lamented that the Loyalty and Righteousness Marquis, now like the once esteemed Peaceful and Safe Marquis, must be the retribution of fate. Whether he could receive imperial favor depended on whether he was still of value.

After Gu Yunnian's death, Han Zhongyuan announced that the secret letter could not be verified, and the old case of the Di family became an unsolved mystery. Zhong Hai and Zhang Jian were imprisoned in the dungeon. The Empress Dowager summoned Di Chengen again, and she flattered and denigrated the Di family in front of everyone. She was delighted. Han Zhongyuan declared to the world that from that day onwards, Di Chengen would be the Crown Princess of Da Jing.

However, just as the words fell, Ren Anle suddenly stepped forward and revealed her true identity. The notorious female bandit leader who was well-known in Jingnan turned out to be the lost Di family heiress, Di Ziyuan. Merely relying on her testimony was not enough to convince others. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor sent Sun Mamá and An Ning to personally inspect. As expected, they found a scar on Ren Anle's left shoulder.

In addition to this, Ren Anle was confident that Han Ye would prove her identity because Great Peace was his ideal, and it was founded on justice and righteousness. Han Ye didn't let Ren Anle down. Han Zhongyuan still had doubts, but the next moment, Ren Anle presented her birthday gift to the Empress Dowager—a scroll several meters long covered with densely written characters, containing the names and ages of the eighty thousand Di family soldiers.

Ren Anle read out every name, countless names that seemed endless, and this thin scroll carried the final wishes of the eighty thousand Da Jing soldiers who were buried in the northwest ten years ago. Everyone present was deeply moved and could not bear to hear it. Ren Anle stated that the Di family never intended to rebel. The reason they went to the northwest was that they received an imperial edict personally written by the Emperor. She concealed the edict in the folding fan she gave to Han Ye. After Wei Jian's inspection, it was confirmed that the handwriting was identical to that of Han Zhongyuan.

With Wei Jian's statement, the hall fell silent. After all, he was a veteran of two dynasties, holding a high position and great power. He would not easily speak without certainty. Han Zhongyuan firmly claimed that he had never written such a letter. Under such a deadlock, An Ning suddenly revealed that the edict was forged by the Empress Dowager herself. She had witnessed the Empress Dowager conspiring with Liang Xi, and later, Liang Xi had committed suicide, and even the eunuch in the Tranquility Hall disappeared without a trace.

With all the evidence before her, the Empress Dowager knew she couldn't hide anymore. She admitted everything but still arrogantly walked down the hall, stepping on the names of the eighty thousand soldiers without any remorse. This action completely angered Ren Anle and the others. Luo Mingxi led the courtiers to beg the Emperor for military punishment to uphold justice.

After repeated pleas, echoing in front of the Hall of Benevolence and Virtue, Emperor Di Ziyuan, as a ruler, had to make a choice. He announced that the Di family's rebellion case was a setup. Ren Anle's words, "There was never a Ren Anle in the world. From now on, there is only Di Ziyuan," completely restored her identity as a Di family daughter and brought comfort to the entire Di family and the eighty thousand deceased soldiers in heaven.

However, despite resolving this matter, Ren Anle felt downcast. A rift had formed between her and Han Ye, and there was no way to mend it. Di Chengen was deeply affected and lost her sanity. Ever since she set foot on the Jade Mountain ten years ago, she had never been able to be herself, and now she had lost herself even more. Luo Mingxi comforted Ren Anle, saying she didn't need to worry too much, as the court still belonged to the Han family, and they didn't need to take responsibility for everything. The sunshine would eventually break through the clouds, and everything would slowly get better.

Episode 26 Recap

After the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, within a few days, a tremendous public opinion storm swept through the capital. Inside the Tranquility Hall, the Empress Dowager looked aged and lost her former majesty, but she remained unrepentant. She was convinced that the world belonged to the Han family and couldn't tolerate the eighty thousand troops of the Di family sleeping nearby with the power to control Jingnan. Any threat to the throne was intolerable to her.

Han Zhongyuan and Di Yongning shared a deep brotherly bond, and though he understood the Empress Dowager's intentions were in favor of him, this kindness had clearly led to a great disaster. The Empress Dowager's actions seemed like protecting her own son's throne, but in reality, she believed that her own son's strength couldn't compare to Di Yongning's. Han Zhongyuan was heartbroken and resolutely left the Tranquility Hall, and An Ning knelt before the door, apologizing.

Now that Ren Anle had regained her identity as Di Ziyuan, the old residence of the Di family had been unoccupied for ten years, old and dilapidated, yet to be repaired. Luo Mingxi was preparing to request permission from the Emperor to relocate the prisons and rebuild the Marquis of Peaceful and Safe's mansion. Ren Anle looked at the desolate scene before her and recalled the scene of the annihilation of her family ten years ago. Everything had changed, and she and Han Ye could never return to the past.

On this day, the Empress Dowager secluded herself in the palace and received a letter from Emperor Di Shengtian. She dressed herself beautifully and went to meet an old acquaintance on Fuling Mountain. Back then, the Empress Dowager was a high-born lady who married Han Zi'an. Unfortunately, she fell for Di Shengtian, and the two shared similar temperaments, becoming kindred spirits, working together to govern the country.

Because Di Shengtian posed a threat to the Empress Dowager's position, she begged him to leave Han Zi'an. In truth, Di Shengtian disdained power and cared little about the supremacy of the throne. He never intended to be like other women and become a humble concubine in the palace. So, he ceded half of the country, left the capital, and traveled the four corners of the world.

Although Di Shengtian and Han Zi'an had nothing to do with each other anymore, the Empress Dowager's hatred for Di Shengtian had not diminished. She felt that he had snatched her husband away, causing her to suffer loneliness. However, Di Shengtian didn't want to continue hiding the truth and decided to reveal it all. As it turned out, Han Zi'an's health had been deteriorating over the years due to constant military campaigns. Except for the imperial physician and Di Shengtian, no one else knew about it. To divert attention, Di Shengtian accompanied Han Zi'an to move to a separate villa and used his own true energy to extend Han Zi'an's life by three years, ensuring peace in the world for the Empress Dowager and her son.

Upon hearing all this, the Empress Dowager was shocked, as if receiving a great blow. She angrily accused them of deceiving her and felt ironic for being self-delusional. As she left, she sneered at Di Shengtian, saying he was always indifferent to the life and death of his descendants, while she falsely ordered the execution of eighty thousand soldiers, and everything she did was a burden of sin, which she would carry to her death without remorse.

That night, some were happy, some were worried. Han Ye tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The deep rift between them seemed insurmountable. Princess An Ning returned to her palace alone, her once radiant eyes now soulless. On one hand, she wanted to prove the Di family's innocence and clear their name, but on the other hand, she felt guilty toward the Empress Dowager. Mo Bei comforted her, saying she had overworked herself in recent days and should rest well, and he would handle the official matters.

Luo Mingxi was pleased with the vindication of the Di family, but he never cared about his own health. Only Lin Lang cared for him the most, but he declared that he would live for Ren Anle in this lifetime. As for Di Chengen, her mind was confused. She wandered in the Marquis of Peaceful and Safe's mansion, crying bitterly in the pouring rain. Mu Qing arrived in time and quietly held an umbrella for her, pouring out his feelings and promising to protect her forever.

On the other side, the Empress Dowager paid her respects to Han Zi'an's portrait and bid farewell. The next morning, the sound of sixty tolls from the imperial city spread, and people reacted differently to it. The Han siblings knelt on the ground with tears in their eyes. On this winter day, the Empress Dowager hanged herself in the Tranquility Hall, leaving behind a letter, stating that the only person she cared for in her life was Han Zhongyuan. Although she felt guilty toward the Di family, she had no remorse toward the common people.

Since then, the tumultuous case of the Di family that lasted for over a decade finally came to an end, and the hidden beast in the capital would embark on the next plan. Di Chengen still held no value for them, and Jiang Yu wanted to take advantage of the situation to kill An Ning but was rejected by Mo Bei. Mo Bei used the military power as an excuse to appease Jiang Yu and promised to use An Ning to capture Qingnan City.

Episode 27 Recap

The Emperor summoned Gu Yunnian to the court for interrogation. He saw Gu Yunnian wearing rough prison clothes, looking much thinner than a few months ago when he was full of spirit. Gu Yunnian admitted the existence of the secret letter and sensed the threat in the Empress Dowager's words. The killing intent in her eyes made him shudder. He decided to take all the blame upon himself and refused to reveal the identity of the letter's owner.

Ren Anle angrily accused Gu Yunnian of unjustly exterminating the Di family in the past, but now he was using himself as a scapegoat for his own family. He would rather die in the court. Before his death, Gu Yunnian sighed that today's Loyal and Righteous Marquis was no different from the past Marquis of Peaceful and Safe. It seemed like the retribution of fate, rewarding deceit and control, killing the righteous to establish authority. The extent of imperial favor depended on one's value.

After Gu Yunnian's death, Han Zhongyuan announced that the existence of the secret letter could not be verified, and the old case of the Di family became an unsolved mystery. He ordered Zhang Hai and Zhong Jian to be imprisoned. The Empress Dowager once again called Di Chengen to the court and listened to her flattery and public defamation of the Di family, which pleased the Empress Dowager. Han Zhongyuan proclaimed to the world that from that day forth, Di Chengen would be the Great Jing Crown Princess.

However, just as the words fell, Ren Anle suddenly stepped forward and revealed her true identity. The notorious female bandit who had dominated Jingnan for years was actually the long-lost member of the Di family, Di Ziyuan. Relying solely on her words wouldn't be convincing enough, so the Empress Dowager and the Emperor sent Granny Sun and An Ning to inspect. Indeed, they found a scar on Ren Anle's left shoulder.

In addition, Ren Anle was confident that Han Ye would prove her identity, as the vision of a peaceful world depended on him and his sense of justice. Han Ye didn't disappoint Ren Anle, but Han Zhongyuan still had doubts. However, in the next moment, Ren Anle presented the birthday gift she had given to the Empress Dowager. It was a scroll several meters long, filled with densely written names and ages of the Di family's soldiers.

Ren Anle read out each and every name, the list seemed endless, and the thin scroll carried the last wishes of the eighty thousand Great Jing soldiers who had perished in the northwest ten years ago. Everyone present was moved and couldn't bear it. Ren Anle claimed that the Di family never intended to rebel. Their expedition to the northwest was in response to a decree personally written by the Emperor. She had hidden this decree inside a folding fan she presented to Han Ye. After a handwriting examination by Wei Jian, it was confirmed to be exactly the same as Han Zhongyuan's.

Wei Jian's words rendered the hall completely silent. After all, he was a veteran of two dynasties, highly respected and influential. If he didn't have confidence, he wouldn't easily speak up. Han Zhongyuan firmly maintained that he had never written such a letter. The evidence piled up before them, and the Empress Dowager knew she could no longer conceal the truth. She admitted everything, but still arrogantly walked down from the court, stepping on the names of the eighty thousand soldiers. To this day, she showed no remorse.

This action thoroughly angered Ren Anle and the others. Luo Mingxi led the ministers in pleading with the Emperor to handle the matter with justice. The pleadings resounded in front of the Hall of Benevolence and Virtue. Now that Di Ziyuan had won the hearts of the ministers, Han Zhongyuan, as the ruler of the country, had to make a choice. He announced that the Di family's rebellion was fabricated. With the words "There was never a Ren Anle in the world, only Di Ziyuan from now on," she fully regained her identity as a member of the Di family and consoled the spirits of the Di family and the eighty thousand soldiers in heaven.

However, even after resolving this matter, Ren Anle felt downcast. A rift had formed between her and Han Ye that could not be repaired. Di Chengen was deeply traumatized, and he seemed to have lost himself completely. He could never be the same person he was ten years ago on the Dais Mountain. Now he was more lost than ever. Luo Mingxi comforted Ren Anle, telling her not to worry too much, as the court still belonged to the Han family, and they didn't need to be held responsible for everything. The sunshine would break through the clouds, and everything would slowly get better.

Episode 28 Recap

Just as Han Zhongyuan was hesitating and undecided, Ren Anle suddenly entered the palace to meet with the emperor, hoping that the emperor could personally welcome the 80,000 loyal souls of the Di family back to the capital. Han Zhongyuan was reluctant to do so, and Han Ye believed that it was inappropriate for the emperor to go to the northwest border in person. He was willing to go and bring back the Di family army himself to quell the anger of the people.

After some contemplation, Han Zhongyuan agreed to release Luo Mingxi and allowed Han Ye to go to the northwest border. However, there was one thing he needed Han Ye to answer: whether he wanted to marry Di Ziyuan. Han Ye stated that his only goal in life was to assist the emperor in governing the country. Han Zhongyuan was satisfied with this and ordered that the decree of self-blame would be issued on the day the Di family's spirits returned to the capital.

Later, Han Ye and Ren Anle went to the Ministry of Punishment to welcome Luo Mingxi's release from prison. During the journey, Han Ye engaged in conversation with Ren Anle, hoping that they could still talk happily as they used to. However, Ren Anle emphasized that now that she had regained her identity as Di Ziyuan, she could not go back to the way things were. Fortunately, Luo Mingxi seemed to be in good condition, which relieved Ren Anle, but made Han Ye feel out of place.

Ren Anle and Luo Mingxi left together in a carriage, and Han Ye couldn't hide his sense of loss, while Lin Lang shed tears by the roadside. Cold North secretly met with a spy to inquire about Jiang Yu's next plan. Jiang Yu's true goal was to provoke conflicts between the Han and Di families and bring their feud to the surface. While public opinion was still strong, they could further fuel the fire.

Three days later, Luo Mingxi arranged to meet with Ren Anle to discuss her thoughts about the Han and Di families. He reminded her that Di Ziyuan had won the hearts of the people and become a thorn in Han Zhongyuan's side. She was destined to be the feared bloodline of the Han family. If she didn't seize the opportunity to balance the Han family's power, the tragedy of the Di family might repeat itself.

Ren Anle was unwilling to talk about this matter, but she knew she would have to face it sooner or later. Han Ye personally brought pastries to An Ning and advised her to do what she liked without any worries, assuring her that he would be there for her. An Ning understood Han Ye's pain and comforted him, saying that one day Ren Anle would see his efforts.

Empress Chengen discovered that her jewelry had been stolen, and it was the palace maids of Yuanshui Pavilion who did it. These maids, upon hearing that Empress Chengen was an imposter, were disrespectful towards her. Fortunately, Mu Qing helped Empress Chengen get justice and promised to always be by her side, which deeply touched Empress Chengen.

Now, Luo Mingxi's health was getting weaker, and he relied on Lin Lang's acupuncture to improve his condition. He wanted to help Ren Anle solve her current troubles while he still had time. On the day of departure, Luo Mingxi unexpectedly joined Ren Anle and Han Ye on the journey, and Ren Anle resolutely took a seat in Luo Mingxi's carriage.

Originally, Han Ye had prepared fine wine for Ren Anle, but she deliberately avoided him. In fact, Ren Anle had never hated Han Ye. She knew he would become a wise ruler who would benefit the country and the people. But whenever Luo Mingxi mentioned the Di family, she found excuses to avoid the topic. Luo Mingxi reminded her that as a member of the Di family, she should have the courage to influence and change things.

Wen Shuo felt that the deep bond between Han Ye and Ren Anle was no less than that of Han Taizu and Empress Shengtian, wondering how they had come to this point. Han Ye explained that Ren Anle had become Di Ziyuan and they could never reconcile. Though he wished there was no Di Ziyuan in this world, and only Ren Anle, the water bandit leader from Jingnan, whom he would remember forever, he knew that was just wishful thinking.

During the journey, the convoy encountered heavy rain, and they had to take a break. Ren Anle, Luo Mingxi, and Han Ye sought shelter from the rain in a thatched shed. Luo Mingxi was determined to make the Han family repay the half of the country they took away in the past. He deliberately mentioned the unjust death of the Di family soldiers, who were not killed in battle, but by the hands of corrupt officials and an incompetent ruler.

On the other hand, An Ning decided to ask the emperor for his permission to treat the surviving members of the Di family kindly. She had been secretly investigating their whereabouts over the years, and most of them were scattered in the northwest border, and she had received some news about them. Han Ye remembered Luo Mingxi's words about the unjust death of the Di family soldiers and the suffering of their families, and felt even more guilty.

On the carriage, Ren Anle disagreed with Luo Mingxi's stance. She believed that a war for power would only bring suffering to innocent civilians. She had faith in Han Ye's ability to govern wisely and create a peaceful and prosperous era. However, Luo Mingxi argued that the corrupt officials were rampant in Da Jing, and the people were suffering. The Han family was no longer qualified to rule, and Han Ye alone couldn't reverse the situation.

Episode 29 Recap

On Qingnan Mountain, Han Ye made a solemn vow that if he were to rule Da Jing, he would ensure prosperity and peace for all the people. After the ceremony for the Di family soldiers was over, night had fallen. Wen Shuo, Yuan Qin, and others sat on the hillside, gazing at the starry sky, believing that the souls of the Di family soldiers would forever guard this land.

Wen Shuo could sense that Ren Anle seemed more distant and indifferent than before. He wished she and Han Ye could return to the way they were, but it seemed unlikely. Yuan Qin, as an observer, saw through the situation clearly. Ren Anle used to be like this before returning to the capital, but she became lively and cheerful only after meeting Han Ye.

From Yuan Qin's perspective, Han Ye was not particularly gentle and accommodating. He was the Crown Prince of Da Jing, born noble and dignified. In the past year, he had been considerate towards Ren Anle because she held a special place in his heart. However, it was their different identities and positions that prevented them from being together. Even if they were to go back ten years and face it all again, they would still be powerless.

Later, Wen Shuo approached Ren Anle to chat and inquired about what Emperor Jin had said. Suddenly, a group of masked men in black appeared. Fortunately, Han Ye, Luo Mingxi, and others arrived in time. The black-clad men left behind a token that belonged exclusively to the Plum Blossom Guards, a covert force secretly trained by the emperor.

Ren Anle was angry at the sight, but Han Ye emphasized that it was not the emperor's doing. If he really wanted to kill Ren Anle, he could have executed her under the pretext of deceiving the emperor. Luo Mingxi agreed with Han Ye's view. The martial arts of the black-clad men resembled those of the assassins at the palace banquet, which made them suspect that the Northern Qin had planted a force in the capital, with Gu Yunnian being used as their pawn.

Now that the 80,000 spirits had returned to their homeland, Han Ye asked Ren Anle about her plans. She expressed her intention to resign and return to Jingnan. Han Ye tried to persuade her to stay and help create a prosperous era for Da Jing, but she refused. Han Zhongyuan issued an order to reward Ren Anle and had Zhao Gonggong investigate whether she had truly let go of her grievances. Ren Anle said she had never completely let go, but at most, she no longer held any hatred and hoped that similar tragedies would not happen again.

However, Da Jing was no longer the same under the control of the Han family. It was plagued by corruption, and the people suffered. Luo Mingxi questioned whether Ren Anle truly trusted the Han family to govern the country and hand over the realm that rightfully belonged to the Di family. Ren Anle believed that Han Ye would create a peaceful era, but she no longer had any connection to the Han family and hoped that Luo Mingxi would accompany her back to Jingnan.

But Luo Mingxi had found out that the mastermind behind the assassination attempt was none other than Prime Minister Jiang Yu. His intention was not to target the court but to manipulate and utilize the remnants of the Di family. To prevent the Di family army from falling into the wrong hands, Luo Mingxi decided to immediately gather the remnants and reorganize the Di family army, which he would return to Ren Anle to help her deal with the troubles ahead.

While discussing this matter, a subordinate rushed to report that Han Ye was about to kill Prime Minister Jiang Yu in the street. Luo Mingxi was shocked and hurried over. At the same time, Han Ye confronted Jiang Yu with his sword, but Jiang Yu showed no fear. He boldly declared that he would reveal the truth in public and make the Di family perish with him. Hearing these words, Han Ye was completely angered. He swung his sword, and Jiang Yu was beheaded instantly. By the time Luo Mingxi arrived, it was too late.

Originally, Ren Anle was preparing to leave the capital by carriage but suddenly received news of Han Ye killing Prime Minister Jiang Yu and rushed to the Ministry of Justice along with An Ning to find out more. Luo Mingxi questioned Han Ye about the reason for the killing. Han Ye remembered Jiang Yu using Wen Shuo's life as a threat, but considering that Wen Shuo was Emperor Jin in the past, he chose not to reveal this to Luo Mingxi. Although Ren Anle didn't choose to visit Jiang Yu in prison, Luo Mingxi knew that she couldn't let go of Han Ye in her heart and wouldn't be able to return to Jingnan with peace of mind.

Episode 30 Recap

Princess An Ning personally visited Han Ye in the dungeon and urgently asked him why he killed Jiang Yu. However, Han Ye evaded the question and advised An Ning not to get involved in the dangerous situation. He explained that being born into the royal family comes with many constraints, and not everything can be achieved with one's best efforts. Knowing Han Ye's stubborn nature, An Ning stopped pressing him and reminded him that if he needed someone to talk to, he could always come to her.

Ren Anle, who had intended to return to Jingnan, was troubled. She ordered Yuan Shu to secretly investigate in the Left Minister's Mansion and unexpectedly discovered a forged plum blossom imperial guard token. When Luo Mingxi heard that Wen Shuo had been missing for a day and a night, he suddenly remembered that Han Ye had mentioned Wen Shuo possessing something of utmost importance. He speculated that Han Ye's killing of Jiang Yu and Wen Shuo's disappearance might be related, even possibly involving Ren Anle.

Yuan Qin, keeping it a secret from Ren Anle, met Luo Mingxi alone and revealed the truth about the events at Wuliu Street years ago. While the world believed that Wen Shuo saved the crown prince, it was actually Han Ye who sacrificed himself to save Wen Shuo and took a deadly blow for him. Yuan Qin sought Luo Mingxi's help to protect Ren Anle from the turmoil in the capital, and he understood her intentions and promised to take her back to Jingnan.

Meanwhile, Wen Shuo struggled to break free from his bindings in the woodshed, recalling the strategies Han Ye had taught him to survive dangerous situations. He vowed to see Han Ye as soon as he escaped. Soon, Lin Lang found out that the Wuliu Street incident was masterminded by Han Ye and not an accidental encounter as described by Yuan Qin. This meant that Wen Shuo held great significance to Han Ye.

An Ning entered the palace to plead on Han Ye's behalf. Emperor Jia Chang, of course, knew his son's character well. But if he didn't deal with the matter strictly, it would only fuel the anger of the civil and military officials. Even if he insisted on sparing Han Ye from punishment, it would be hard for him to gain the people's trust when he ascended to the throne. The situation was extremely difficult, but An Ning understood her father's dilemma, and their father-daughter relationship was reconciled.

Now, there were rumors circulating that Han Ye killed Jiang Yu due to his involvement in a rebellion against the imperial family. Some court officials were trying to impeach the crown prince. Luo Mingxi warned Ren Anle not to get involved and assured her that he would handle the matter and find the real culprits hidden in the shadows.

Later, Luo Mingxi presented the evidence he gathered to Emperor Jia Chang, confirming that Jiang Yu was behind the New Year's Eve assassination attempt and the assassination attempt at Huayuan Mountain. The attitudes of the court officials were divided, with some believing Han Ye's actions were forgivable while others were instigated to pressure Emperor Jia Chang, viewing him as the source of the Left Minister's power.

To uncover the truth, Luo Mingxi sought Empress Cheng'en and offered to exchange her identity's origin for information. She agreed to reveal everything she knew. At the same time, Ren Anle discovered a detail: during the crown prince's selection of a consort, Jiang Yu recommended Princess Bei Qin, hinting that he might have a connection with the Northern Qin.

Wen Shuo managed to escape from his captors and rushed to the Ren Mansion, finally meeting Ren Anle and Luo Mingxi. Although he couldn't identify who had bound him, he remembered the attire of the black-clad people, identical to that of the plum blossom imperial guards, clearly pointing to the Left Minister's involvement.

That night, Luo Mingxi led his men to search the Left Minister's Mansion and found the intelligence they obtained from the northwest. Surprisingly, it was revealed that Jiang Yu's birth mother was from Northern Qin. Luo Mingxi submitted the relevant evidence to Emperor Jia Chang. This revealed that Jiang Yu colluded with Northern Qin to cause chaos in Dajing, and Han Ye's actions in killing Jiang Yu were to rid the country of harm. Emperor Jia Chang immediately announced Han Ye's release. After learning about this, Leng Bei informed his subordinates to wrap things up and return all the intelligence to Northern Qin, as the northwest rebellion needed to be postponed.

With this matter resolved, Ren Anle finally saw that Han Ye was safe and sound, and her heart was relieved. Luo Mingxi deeply admired Han Ye. Back then, Han Ye had saved the imperial princess with just a decree and later used subtle tactics to keep Di Jin Yan by his side, changing his name to Wen Shuo. This demonstrated Han Ye's exceptional courage and abilities, and even Luo Mingxi felt inferior in comparison.

Wen Shuo prepared a table of food and drinks to welcome Han Ye and express his gratitude. Considering recent events, he was filled with mixed emotions. Han Ye secretly promised that once he found the right opportunity, he would return Di Jin Yan to Ren Anle. However, Luo Mingxi still chose not to disclose Wen Shuo's true identity to Ren Anle, partly out of fear that she might feel indebted to Han Ye for his actions.

Meanwhile, An Ning prepared to return to the northwest, aware that Northern Qin might have spies planted around her. She instructed Leng Bei to thoroughly investigate the matter. Upon hearing about the Left Minister's death, Mo Shuang hurriedly sought out Leng Bei to inquire about the situation, worried that she might be expelled from the capital too. Leng Bei reassured Mo Shuang that he would protect her safety.

Episode 31 Recap

Ren Anle personally went to thank Di Chengen, and the two of them completely let go of their past grievances. Di Chengen decided to return to her hometown and no longer obsess over becoming Di Ziyuan's or even the Crown Prince's consort. On the day of departure, Di Chengen, accompanied by Mu Qing, arrived at Lingxiang Tower. If possible, she hoped to have a drink and chat with Ren Anle and the others. However, Mu Qing comforted Di Chengen, telling her not to be sad and just be herself.

That night, Ren Anle and An Ning held a banquet at Lingxiang Tower, inviting Han Ye and Luo Mingxi to join. The four of them put aside their past grudges and drank together, parting ways when they woke up. Ren Anle and Han Ye took a walk on the bridge and had a heartfelt conversation. Ren Anle hoped that Han Ye would not forget the responsibilities of the heir and promised her a peaceful and prosperous era.

Later, Ren Anle, accompanied by Yuan Shu and Yuan Qin, prepared to return to Jingnan. Han Ye asked if Ren Anle would write to him, but she firmly refused, saying that the past was over, and they would no longer have any interactions. Wen Shuo initially wanted to keep Yuan Qin, but she didn't want Ren Anle to be lonely and resolutely buried her feelings for him, accompanying Ren Anle through the rest of their lives.

At this moment, urgent military information came from the northwest, and An Ning also sought Emperor Jia Chang's permission to return there. Emperor Jia Chang, upon hearing that the Left Minister's spies had infiltrated the entire court, was furious. Despite his reluctance, he knew that An Ning was not only his daughter but also a general of Dajing. Han Ye found Luo Mingxi and, having been close since childhood, they both admired each other for their efforts in protecting Di Ziyuan.

However, not long after, Sifang Pavilion mysteriously caught fire, and the imperial guards failed to rescue Princess Mo Shuang in time, causing a huge uproar. Han Ye found the fire suspicious because they didn't find Princess Mo Shuang's body. It was highly likely that it was deliberately set by Northern Qin, as they wanted a war of life and death, and the news of Princess Mo Shuang's death would serve as an excellent excuse for starting the war.

Emperor Jia Chang and Luo Mingxi believed that Han Ye's and Luo Mingxi's speculations were not without reason. He immediately sent envoys to Northern Qin to salvage the diplomatic relationship and avoid the outbreak of war. Although the two sides had been in an undeclared war, he thought it best to preempt the enemy instead of waiting for them to issue a challenge.

In addition to this, Emperor Jia Chang planned to write an urgent decree to send to Qingnan City, ordering An Ning to strictly guard the border cities.

At the same time, Ren Anle and the others enjoyed themselves in Anle Village. Although Ren Anle occasionally dreamed of Han Ye, she would wake up to reality and not sink into such futile sentimental fantasies. Yuan Shu and Yuan Qin accompanied Ren Anle to fish by the lake. Just as they were about to head back with a good catch, they received a letter from the capital. Seeing Ren Anle's serious expression, they realized that war between Dajing and Northern Qin was imminent.

Upon arriving at Qingnan City, An Ning immediately threw herself into military affairs and ordered Bai Zheng to investigate the military for spies while being cautious of those who came with her from the capital. As expected, Bai Zheng caught a Northern Qin spy and found a secret report on the New Year's Eve assassination attempt. An Ning suddenly recalled Leng Bei's unusual behavior and began to suspect him.

During the New Year's Eve banquet, An Ning had noticed that the assassin's martial arts and techniques were extremely similar to Leng Bei's. Later, when Princess Mo Shuang arrived in Dajing, he was frequently in contact with her. An Ning deliberately sent Leng Bei to follow Bai Zheng to investigate, and when he was off-guard, she launched a sneak attack. It turned out that Leng Bei's moves were exactly the same as the assassin at the banquet. An Ning angrily questioned why Leng Bei betrayed her and Dajing, but he used a smokescreen to knock her unconscious, hoping to force her to reveal the whereabouts of the imperial seal. However, An Ning refused to respond and fell into a coma.

Episode 32 Recap

Bai Zheng realized that he had missed some names on the list, so he turned back to complete it. However, he was stopped at the door by Han Ye, who lied that Princess An Ning was exhausted and needed rest, and it wasn't suitable to disturb her at the moment. When An Ning woke up, she found Han Ye sitting beside her. Due to the effects of the incense, she felt weak and disgusted by Han Ye's feigned concern.

An Ning suspected that Han Ye was not from Da Jing but likely from Bei Qin. Han Ye neither confirmed nor denied this and tried to persuade An Ning to hand over the imperial seal, promising to ensure her future prosperity and wealth. However, An Ning refused to comply and tried to take out a dagger to attack him. Han Ye reacted quickly, blocking her attack and pinning her down. Bai Zheng came to find An Ning and unexpectedly saw Han Ye kissing her, so he turned away and left. An Ning hated Han Ye's deception, and Han Ye was furious at her refusal to cooperate.

Ren Anle, in order to protect the Da Jing dynasty, decided to lead the Anle stronghold into battle and personally wrote a letter to be delivered to Luo Mingxi in the capital. Later, Luo Mingxi and Han Ye went to the palace to meet the Emperor. With the impending war between Da Jing and Bei Qin, Han Ye volunteered to lead troops to the northwest. Despite Han Zhongyuan's reluctance, he had to agree to Han Ye's earnest request.

The father and son of the Han family had a heart-to-heart talk. Han Zhongyuan, being the legitimate eldest son of the late Emperor, should have been the rightful Crown Prince of Da Jing. However, the late Emperor never believed in him throughout his life, leading him to face numerous difficulties at court. Hence, Han Zhongyuan attached great importance to Han Ye, hoping he would not carry the same regrets. Even if Han Zhongyuan had to bear the burdens of the world in his lifetime, he wished Han Ye to return safely from the northwest.

Meanwhile, Ren Anle already guessed that Han Ye would lead the troops personally. In this battle, she would bring along the children of the Emperor's family. It was not only for the country but also for the family. Yuan Qin and Yuan Shu didn't care about their safety and decided to follow Ren Anle. Before leaving, Han Ye talked to Luo Mingxi and learned about the Long Si flowers he planted for Ren Anle. Luo Mingxi had been protecting Ren Anle for ten years and now he entrusted her to Han Ye's care.

During this time, Leng Bei always obstructed Bai Zheng from meeting An Ning under various pretexts, arousing his suspicions. Bai Zheng hid outside the window and eavesdropped, confirming that Leng Bei was a spy from Bei Qin. Bai Zheng intentionally distracted Leng Bei and exposed his identity. Fortunately, An Ning, despite her weakened state, came out of the room and ordered the soldiers to kill him.

Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Leng Bei hurriedly fled. The Emperor of Bei Qin sent an imperial edict to rebuke Leng Bei for his failure. Unlike Da Jing, Bei Qin had many imperial princes vying for the throne, and Leng Bei's mother came from a humble background. To succeed the Bei Qin throne, he needed to achieve significant military accomplishments, or he would have no chance of ascending.

An Ning wrote a letter to Luo Mingxi, asking him to investigate Leng Bei's true identity. With the help of Lin Lang's intelligence network in Bei Qin, they finally discovered that Leng Bei was actually Mo Bei, the rejected illegitimate son of the Bei Qin Emperor. Knowing An Ning's feelings, Luo Mingxi realized that she used to be defenseless against Mo Bei but now, after knowing his true identity, she probably wished to take revenge.

Han Ye arrived at Junxian City ahead of the army, and Ren Anle would soon come to the northwest with the Jingnan Army to fight alongside him and resist the Bei Qin army. Han Ye saw the suffering and hardships of the people and, in public, revealed his identity to motivate both the military and the civilians. He urged the city's defender, Tang Shi, to hold on to Junxian City to buy time for the preparation of Qingnan City's defenses.

Luo Mingxi accepted Han Zhongyuan's appointment and was ordered to rush to aid An Ning. On their way, Ren Anle's forces were ambushed by disguised Bei Qin soldiers, and Han Ye and Luo Mingxi intercepted the news of Ren Anle's attack. Despite the advice of their soldiers, Luo Mingxi insisted on changing direction to rescue Ren Anle. Meanwhile, Han Ye arrived first and joined forces with Ren Anle to face the enemy together. At the same time, An Ning faced a massive attack from Mo Bei and led her troops in defending the isolated city.

Episode 33 Recap

Ren Anle led the troops to join Han Ye. Both sides had different degrees of injuries, and Han Ye was worried and concerned. He took the initiative to be by Ren Anle's side and thanked her for setting aside past grievances to come to the northwest. Although there was a blood feud between Ren Anle and Han Ye, they lived in the same land. If Da Jingguo was destroyed, they would have nowhere to stay.

On the other hand, Wen Shuo and Yuan Qin looked on, feeling relieved that the animosity had been put aside. Han Ye was grateful that he could reunite with Ren Anle. At this moment, Luo Mingxi also arrived to meet with Han Ye and Ren Anle. After carefully examining the secret report, they suddenly realized that they fell for Leng Bei's diversionary tactic.

As the Northern Qin forces intensified their attack and the defenders of Qingnan City grew weak, Princess An Ning led her soldiers back into the city. She was covered in blood, holding a long spear, and facing death fearlessly. She single-handedly killed several enemy soldiers. However, outnumbered, she gradually fell into a disadvantage. Leng Bei tried to persuade her to surrender, but she refused. As she was about to be shot by random arrows, An Ning held up the Da Jingguo military flag, pointing it to the sky and stabbing it into the ground. She still carried an unyielding determination, and her blood dripped from the spear, as if her death did not take away her will to defend the city. In her final moments, An Ning asked herself if she had not gone to Jingxin Hall that year, perhaps she would not have known the truth of the Emperor's family's extermination, and she would not have guarded the northwest with guilt, leading to her encounter with Leng Bei and the fall of Qingnan Mountain. Her life was destined to be full of twists and turns, unable to live peacefully and prosperously as her father wished.

Bai Zheng hurriedly came to report that Qingnan City had fallen, and Princess An Ning had died in battle. Han Ye questioned why Luo Mingxi, under orders, had led troops to support and ended up here. Luo Mingxi seemed to have something he couldn't express, and the military commanders accused him of making unauthorized changes to the route. The soldiers were furious and demanded Luo Mingxi's execution to comfort Princess An Ning's spirit.

Because of Luo Mingxi's unauthorized orders and delayed military affairs, Han Ye took disciplinary action and imprisoned him, planning to execute him later. Ren Anle believed that this was a crucial time to utilize people's abilities. If Luo Mingxi was executed, there would be no one to manage the rear and provide strategies. She begged Han Ye to give Luo Mingxi another chance to make amends. However, Han Ye resolutely refused because he had no other choice. If he did not punish Luo Mingxi, it would be hard to appease the anger of the soldiers, and tens of thousands of them would be disheartened.

After An Ning's death, she left a letter to Ren Anle, expressing that she had passed by Qingnan several times but didn't dare to step in because beneath the city lay the graves of eighty thousand innocent people of Da Jingguo. So, after settling the matters of the Emperor's family, An Ning planned to return to the northwest for mourning. She regretted that Northern Qin hindered her, and she could only gather courage to meet them on the battlefield. Since it all began in Qingnan, it should end in Qingnan City. Ren Anle couldn't help but burst into tears, deeply saddened, and vowed to bring her back.

Later, Ren Anle went to see Luo Mingxi in prison and subtly explained her plan while promising to rescue him. The next morning, Ren Anle left without saying goodbye but left a letter, heading to Qingnan City alone. Wen Shuo followed her to track her movements. Han Ye immediately gathered his troops to attack Qingnan City, but the military commanders insisted on killing Luo Mingxi first. Han Ye angrily rebuked them for endangering the safety of the people due to personal grudges. Bai Zheng and others realized their mistake and pledged loyalty to Han Ye, willing to follow him into Qingnan City.

Wen Shuo intercepted Ren Anle's team on the way, and his wisdom and courage impressed her. So, he joined her to go to Qingnan. The troops broke into Qingnan City at night, attracting the Northern Qin garrison with the clamor of swords and soldiers. Ren Anle sought Leng Bei's residence and ordered him to hand over An Ning's corpse.

Leng Bei deliberately mentioned the suffering An Ning had endured in the past and, taking advantage of Ren Anle's distraction, sprinkled a powder towards her. At a critical moment, Han Ye appeared and protected Ren Anle, forcing Leng Bei to escape while injured. Due to the effect of the drug, Ren Anle fainted, and Han Ye had to put aside the pursuit of Leng Bei.

Episode 34 Recap

Ren Anle remained unconscious for three consecutive days. Han Ye took care of her with great care, staying by her bedside and pouring out his innermost thoughts. Afterwards, Han Ye went to the prison to visit Luo Mingxi, bluntly questioning how he, with his cunning and well-calculated moves in the imperial court for ten years, could still fall into such an easy trap.

However, Luo Mingxi was determined to die and deliberately hid the truth from An Ning about his involvement in the support for Ren Anle's troops. Even though Han Ye already knew, he was powerless and had to use Luo Mingxi's life to stabilize the military's morale. In the end, Han Ye ordered someone to take him to the execution ground, where he was given a cup of poisoned wine in front of everyone. When Ren Anle hurriedly came to stop it after waking up, it was already too late, and Luo Mingxi died from the poison.

Overwhelmed with grief, Ren Anle wanted to take Luo Mingxi away, but Han Ye refused and ordered him to be buried on the spot. Because of this, Ren Anle had no reason to forgive Han Ye and knelt at the execution ground until nightfall. Han Ye also refused to eat or drink and asked Wen Shuo for his opinion on today's events, causing their relationship to completely freeze.

Back in her room, Ren Anle looked at her armor blankly and decided to reorganize the Imperial Army to counterattack Northern Qin. Wen Shuo felt that Han Ye's actions had indeed hurt Ren Anle, but Han Ye stated that as the Crown Prince of Da Jingguo, if the military's morale was not stable and Northern Qin took advantage of it, how could he face the people of Da Jingguo in the future? He had to make his choice after weighing the pros and cons, and it was also a result of helplessness.

That night, Wen Shuo and Yuan Qin sat on the city wall and had a heart-to-heart talk. Taking this opportunity, Wen Shuo poured out his feelings of affection, and Yuan Qin bravely responded, facing her inner emotions. Han Ye saw Ren Anle gathering a large army and learned about her upcoming plan. He was deeply worried and wanted to fight side by side with her, but his offer was coldly rejected.

Soon, Ren Anle led hundreds of soldiers from Jingnan and made a swift advance, reporting continuous victories and recapturing all the lost cities of Da Jingguo. On the other hand, the Northern Qin army in the northwest was in continuous retreat, and their entire army collapsed. Now, inside the city, there were stories circulating about Ren Anle's heroic achievements and bravery, even singing that the Imperial Army was a divine army sent to protect the borders. With them guarding the frontier, Da Jingguo would be as stable as a rock and invincible. This made Han Zhongyuan furious, worrying that the Imperial Family posed a threat to the Han family. He ordered the Mei Hua guards to hurry to the northwest and assassinate Ren Anle, ensuring that she wouldn't return to the capital alive.

Leng Bei, who had been lurking and planning for many years, did not expect that Di Ziyuan would completely defeat his arrangements overnight. He knew that it would be difficult to retake the cities, so he ordered his entire army to kill Ren Anle at any cost, believing that her death would lead to chaos in the military. At the same time, Han Ye and Luo Mingxi came to pay their respects to An Ning, hoping that the good news sent by Ren Anle would comfort her spirit in the heavens.

In fact, Han Ye had never intended to kill Luo Mingxi, but rather arranged for him to fake his death. Lin Lang was also ordered to intercept Mo Shuang's carriage midway, using her life to threaten Leng Bei to hand over An Ning's body. In truth, when An Ning received the intelligence about the ambush on Ren Anle by Northern Qin, she sent a letter to Luo Mingxi, asking him to lead the troops to rescue her. She knew that once this military order was issued, there would be no turning back, but she was willing to risk her own safety to protect Ren Anle.

Han Ye said that when he returned to the army, he would explain the situation to everyone. Luo Mingxi, to avoid criticism of An Ning, suggested waiting until after the battle to bring this up, otherwise it would destabilize the military's morale. Luo Mingxi revealed that Han Zhongyuan sent the Mei Hua guards to assassinate Ren Anle, but he believed that as an inheritor, Han Ye would have a way to solve the situation and bring about an era of peace.

Ren Anle received intelligence about the Northern Qin army preparing to attack Junxian City and was puzzled. She then received a letter from Luo Mingxi confirming that he was still alive and on his way to Junxian City. On the city wall of Qingnan, Ren Anle bid farewell to Han Ye, knowing that she would never step into this place again after today. Han Ye hoped that Ren Anle would live well and return to Jingnan to see the blooming of Chansi flowers.

Episode 35 Recap

The troops of Qingnan City were stationed a hundred meters outside the city. Ren Anle used to train soldiers and convey military orders in the camp, rarely returning to the city unless necessary. However, Han Ye deliberately leaked information to the outside world, suggesting that the Imperial Army was in Qingnan City. As expected, when Leng Bei led his men there, he found that Han Ye had been waiting for them for a long time.

They questioned Han Ye about how he had trapped them on the top of Qingnan Mountain at the cost of his life. They couldn't believe that he would sacrifice Ren Anle's life like this. Han Ye stated that even if they killed Ren Anle, it wouldn't matter because he had died on Qingnan Mountain today. When Ren Anle rushed to Qingnan Mountain, she found Han Ye already fatally wounded, grateful that it wasn't Ren Anle facing those attacks.

Han Ye's death left Ren Anle devastated overnight. She returned to the capital as Princess Di Ziyuan, claiming that the Imperial Family was willing to submit and had never coveted that position. Emperor Di Shengtian personally met Han Zhongyuan and realized that he had never expected him to be so selfish and suspicious, causing distrust between the ruler and the minister. Therefore, Di Shengtian asked Han Zhongyuan to go back and look at the dark green iron sword, as the answers he sought were within the sword.

After reading the late Emperor's edict, Han Zhongyuan finally understood that the late Emperor didn't want to depose the monarch; he wanted to protect his throne. Through the battle at Qingnan Mountain, Ren Anle finally faced her true feelings. In fact, Han Ye didn't die; he was saved by Princess Mo Shuang but lost his sight and couldn't recover. He hoped that Mo Shuang wouldn't reveal to others that he was still alive.

An Ning left a letter to Ren Anle after her death, confessing that she had passed by Qingnan several times but couldn't step in because beneath the mountains of Qingnan lay the graves of eighty thousand innocent Da Jingguo citizens. So, after she settled the matters of the Imperial Family, she planned to return to the northwest to pay her respects. However, she was hindered by Northern Qin, and she could only gather courage to see them again by dying on the battlefield. Since she started from Qingnan, it was fitting to end there too. Ren Anle was in tears, heartbroken, and vowed to bring her back.

After that, Ren Anle went to the prison to see Luo Mingxi, subtly explaining her plan and promising to rescue him. The next morning, Ren Anle left without saying goodbye, leaving behind a letter and heading alone to Qingnan City. Wen Shuo followed her trail. Han Ye immediately assembled the army to attack Qingnan City, but many generals insisted on killing Luo Mingxi first. This angered Han Ye, who sternly rebuked them for putting personal grievances above the safety of the people. Bai Zheng and others realized their mistake and pledged loyalty to Han Ye, willing to follow him into Qingnan City.

Wen Shuo intercepted Ren Anle's group halfway, impressing her with his insight and bravery, so she allowed him to accompany her to Qingnan. In the dead of night, the troops rushed into Qingnan City, attracting the attention of the Northern Qin garrison with noise and weapons, while Ren Anle searched for Leng Bei's location, demanding that he hand over An Ning's body.

Leng Bei deliberately mentioned the pain An Ning had suffered in the past and took advantage of Ren Anle's distraction to sprinkle her with poison powder. At the critical moment, Han Ye appeared to protect Ren Anle, and Leng Bei fled wounded. Due to the effect of the poison, Ren Anle fell unconscious, and Han Ye couldn't pursue Leng Bei.

That night, Wen Shuo and Yuan Qin sat on the city wall, having a heart-to-heart talk. Taking this opportunity, Wen Shuo poured out his feelings of affection, and Yuan Qin bravely responded, facing her inner emotions. Han Ye saw Ren Anle gathering a large army and learned about her upcoming plan. He was deeply worried and wanted to fight side by side with her, but his offer was coldly rejected.

Episode 36 Recap

Ren Anle had been unconscious for several consecutive days, causing great worry for Yuan Qin and Yuan Shu. Luo Mingxi and Wen Shuo came to visit one after another, staying by her side. After a few more days, Ren Anle woke up with silver hair, shocking everyone. She then personally went to see Han Zhongyuan and candidly spoke about the sins of the imperial family, stating that the blame was not on the present but on a certain day in the past.

Upon hearing that Wen Shuo was Emperor Jin Yan, Han Zhongyuan was both shocked and amused that Han Ye had done so much for the imperial family. He agreed to legitimize Luo Mingxi and Jin Yan's names, on the condition that Wen Shuo must remain in the capital as a hostage, and Ren Anle would never set foot in the city. Though Han Zhongyuan and Jing An Marquis were once close friends, the allure of imperial power blinded him, and he gradually lost trust in the imperial family. Compared to the Han family, the imperial family was more qualified to vie for supremacy.

With this arrangement, the imperial family had nothing to fear about accusations, but few knew of their unwavering loyalty. One day, they would force their way to rule the world and expand their territories. In the past, the empress dowager had exterminated the entire imperial family to secure Han Zhongyuan's throne. Now, Han Zhongyuan was willing to sever the lifeline of the imperial family for his son, Han Ye, to become the crown prince.

Upon hearing this, Ren Anle was furious but then smiled. She solemnly stated that the imperial family was willing to submit and promised that there would be no repeat of Han Zhongyuan's concerns. They wished to prevent another tragedy and bring peace to Da Jing Chang'an. However, Han Zhongyuan had no right to decide her and Wen Shuo's fate.

After leaving the palace, Ren Anle took Wen Shuo to meet Emperor Shengtian and officially acknowledge their ancestry. With Emperor Shengtian's generation, Ren Anle became the new head of the imperial family. Emperor Shengtian told her about his past with Han Zi'an and persuaded Ren Anle and Han Ye not to repeat their mistakes, as there was still hope despite the long wait.

Meanwhile, Han Ye survived the cliff fall but was saved by Mo Shuang. He became blind due to severe poisoning. Mo Shuang never left his side, caring for him patiently. She blamed herself for the war between the two countries, believing she was the true cause of Princess An Ning's death. Han Ye knew that Mo Shuang was pure-hearted and everything she did was for Bei Qin's sake, fulfilling her duties. He had no complaints about her actions.

Now that Luo Mingxi and Wen Shuo had regained their status, Luo Mingxi asked Ren Anle about her plans for the future. Ren Anle firmly believed that as long as Han Ye's body was not found, she would believe that he was still alive. If there were no news in the near future, she would personally search for him. On the other hand, Mo Shuang had not found a way to cure her eyes, so Han Ye earnestly asked her not to reveal the news of his survival to the outside world.

Upon hearing that Ren Anle took Wen Shuo to Fuling Mountain, Han Zhongyuan hurried to meet her. He anxiously asked her a long-buried question. Over the years, Han Zhongyuan had never truly been at ease, holding grudges against the dismissal decree issued by Emperor Shengtian and Han Zi'an. It was this that led to his distrust of Emperor Yongning to such an extent. But Emperor Shengtian found it amusing, saying there was never such a decree. He asked Han Zhongyuan to look at the dark green iron sword where the answer he sought lay. Following this advice, Han Zhongyuan discovered the truth - the late emperor's abdication decree was not about dethroning the ruler, but about ensuring his continued reign. Realizing this, Han Zhongyuan felt regretful.

Far in the northwest corner, Mo Shuang made some wishing lanterns by hand. Han Ye knew and asked her for one, writing down his wish by instinct. Curious about his wish, Mo Shuang asked, but Han Ye remained silent. As the lantern rose slowly, the character "帝" (Emperor) was reflected in the clear blue sky.

Episode 37 Recap

Han Zhongyuan personally summoned Ren Anle to apologize for the old case of the annihilation of the imperial family ten years ago. He admitted the mistakes of the Han family and promised that there would be no more suspicion between them as ruler and subject. Ren Anle accepted Han Zhongyuan's apology, and the Han and Di families finally reached a reconciliation. Moreover, she promised to help him find Han Ye.

On the other hand, Luo Mingxi's health was declining, and he was spitting blood more frequently, causing Lin Lang much distress. Ren Anle took the initiative to visit Luo Mingxi, still unaware of his true condition. Lin Lang wanted to speak up several times, but Luo Mingxi stopped her each time. After Lin Lang left, Ren Anle served Luo Mingxi medicine and realized that he had sacrificed too much for her over the years, which made her feel uneasy.

As there was still no sign of finding Han Ye's body, Han Zhongyuan firmly believed that his son was still alive in the world. He spread news of his own critical condition, hoping that Han Ye would appear. Indeed, Han Ye received the news and believed it was time to return to the capital. Since Mo Shuang had not been able to cure his eyes, there was no reason to stop him from leaving.

Upon returning to the capital, Han Ye immediately went to the palace to meet the emperor. Han Zhongyuan saw his son's blindness and assured him that he would find a royal physician to heal his eyes. However, Han Ye had no intention of meeting Ren Anle. Han Zhongyuan witnessed the difficulties they had gone through and advised Han Ye to follow his heart and not do something he would regret.

The next day, Han Ye went out for a walk with Ji Li and unexpectedly encountered Jian Song, learning that he had been saved by Emperor Shengtian. Jian Song took Han Ye to see Emperor Shengtian, hoping that he would have a chance to cure Han Ye's eyes. Emperor Shengtian deliberately tested whether Han Ye would tell Ren Anle about his return but was rejected.

Even so, Emperor Shengtian informed Ren Anle and guided her to Fuling Mountain to meet Han Ye. The reason Han Ye did not want to meet Ren Anle was simple - he did not want to burden her with his blindness. So, he told Emperor Shengtian that if Ren Anle remained in the capital, they would be ruler and subject, but if she returned to Jingnan, they would be just ordinary people, with no relationship as crown prince and princess.

Ren Anle secretly met Ji Li to learn about Han Ye's condition. She felt that Han Ye was too pessimistic, treating their separation as a farewell for eternity. Emperor Shengtian believed that Han Ye's eyes could still be cured with Changsi flowers as medicine, but it was too cold in the capital to grow them.

To stay by Han Ye's side, Ren Anle disguised herself as a mute serving girl, thinking it would help her pass unnoticed. However, her inexperienced tea-making skills were quickly seen through by Han Ye. Luo Mingxi visited Fuling Mountain to see Ren Anle and inquired about Han Ye's condition. They both prepared tea, but Luo Mingxi's tea-making skills were hundreds of times better than Ren Anle's.

Emperor Shengtian, impressed by the exquisite tea, brought some to Han Ye and asked if he wanted to see Luo Mingxi. But Han Ye was not ready yet. Just then, Wen Shuo rushed over and hugged Han Ye excitedly, delighted to see that he was alive but regretful that he couldn't protect him, resulting in his blindness. Han Ye harbored no resentment because Wen Shuo's arrival brought a smile to his face.

Ren Anle talked to Luo Mingxi about their childhood stories, mentioning Han Ye with a smile on her face. Seeing her deep affection, Luo Mingxi felt uncomfortable because he was the one who had been engaged to Ren Anle first. After returning to Lingxiang Tower, Luo Mingxi looked at the Changsi flowers and decided to protect them, hoping that if Han Ye's eyes recovered, Ren Anle would be happier. However, in the next moment, Luo Mingxi suddenly started coughing up blood and fainted. Lin Lang hurriedly administered acupuncture to him.

Episode 38 Recap

Luo Mingxi had already exhausted all efforts and knew that his time was running out. He no longer held any hope, but Lin Lang persuaded him not to give up, firmly believing that they would find a way to cure him. Currently, Lin Lang was investigating Cold North and discovered that he had been demoted to a commoner and exiled to a remote border area after being defeated in battle, and they were still trying to find his whereabouts.

On the other hand, Ren Anle took meticulous care of Han Ye, but he deliberately made things difficult for her, hoping that she would stop being attached to him. However, Ren Anle never gave up and agreed to any request he made, even personally roasting fish for him. In response, Han Ye got angry and knocked the bowl and chopsticks to the ground.

Ren Anle quietly picked up the bowl and chopsticks and left. Even though Han Ye treated her this way, she would always stay by his side. That night, Han Ye got drunk, and Ren Anle patiently accompanied him and took care of him while he slept. She couldn't help but marvel at how the usually gentle Crown Prince could be so demanding. Despite being the head of the Di family and the commander of the army, he had fallen to the level of a lowly maidservant. Nevertheless, she had no regrets.

A few days later, Han Ye took Ren Anle to appreciate plum blossoms and voluntarily revealed his identity to her. He urged her to return to Jingnan. The world had just seen the end of the war, and he was now blind and unable to protect her. Later, Wen Shuo found a letter among Han Ye's belongings and gave it to Ren Anle. It was Han Ye's farewell letter to her.

In the letter, Han Ye expressed his sudden understanding of why An Ning had endured in Jingnan. Besides feeling guilty towards the Di family, it was more for the land beneath his feet, his homeland behind him, and the magnificent mountains and rivers before his eyes. Therefore, An Ning was the Princess of Great Jing, and he was the Crown Prince of Great Jing. The two siblings were destined to fight for the people. If he died in battle and met the members of the Di family and the eighty thousand soldiers in the afterlife, he could do so without regret. However, he couldn't bear to part with Ren Anle alone, but sadly, there were too many barriers between them.

Both Luo Mingxi and Ren Anle knew that if Cold North wasn't dealt with, he would become a lingering threat. To make Han Ye face his own feelings, they decided to spread the news of their upcoming marriage. When Han Ye heard the news of Ren Anle and Luo Mingxi's wedding, he felt somewhat uncomfortable. Lin Lang, in an act of farewell, volunteered to dance for Luo Mingxi.

At that moment, Cold North suddenly appeared and attacked. Lin Lang protected Luo Mingxi and ended up dying in his arms. Devastated, Luo Mingxi vowed to personally capture Cold North and make him suffer forever, for he was no longer human but a monster consumed by power, feeling no guilt for Princess An Ning's death. As a result, Luo Mingxi ordered that Cold North be imprisoned and tortured in the dungeon.

Although Cold North's threat had been eliminated, Han Ye's vision was still a serious issue because they lacked the Changsi Flower as a medicinal catalyst. Fortunately, on the day Cold North was captured, the Changsi Flower finally bloomed, all thanks to Lin Lang's efforts, but sadly, she couldn't see how it looked.

Later, Luo Mingxi brought the Changsi Flower to visit Han Ye on Fuling Mountain, and they reminisced about the past with mixed emotions. Luo Mingxi told Han Ye that if he could, he should attend his and Ren Anle's wedding banquet. Han Ye declined but wished them a happy union. Meanwhile, with the help of Yuan Shu and Yuan Qin, Ren Anle tried on her wedding dress when she suddenly received news that Princess Di Shengtian had obtained the Changsi Flower, which surprised her greatly.

Episode 39 (Ending) Recap

Ren Anle heard that Changsihua had appeared for no reason, and speculated that it must be related to Luo Mingxi. She hurriedly rushed to Lingxiang Tower and hesitated to ask, but instead became curious about the jade pendant in his hand. Luo Mingxi concealed the truth and lied that the jade pendant was meant for him and Ren Anle to address each other as siblings and take on the responsibility of being an elder brother from now on.

Although Ren Anle's heart was clear, she couldn't promise Luo Mingxi anything, knowing that she would owe him a favor. Fortunately, with the Changsihua brought by Luo Mingxi and Emperor Shengtian's medical treatment, Han Ye regained his sight, but he still refused to leave the mountain. Wen Shuo's persuasion was in vain, and before leaving, he reminded Han Ye to live for himself once.

As the wedding date approached, Ren Anle saw no response from Han Ye and felt that he was even more stubborn than she had imagined. Nevertheless, she wanted to take another gamble. Wen Shuo returned to Ren Mansion feeling dejected, and while the siblings were talking, someone came from Emperor Shengtian with a message about the next plan.

Later, Emperor Shengtian came to find Han Ye and recounted her past with Han Zi'an, expressing that even though they had feelings for each other, they couldn't be together. She didn't want Han Ye and Ren Anle to end up like them, especially since their situations were different from Han Zi'an and Emperor Shengtian. Just as she finished speaking, Wen Shuo hurriedly arrived and presented a strand of Ren Anle's white hair, revealing that she turned completely white overnight due to overwhelming sorrow. Han Ye was shocked and finally made his decision.

That night, Ren Anle and Luo Mingxi had their wedding, but Han Ye appeared in time to claim Ren Anle as his bride, using Emperor Taizu's decree as evidence. Whether it was Ren Anle or Di Ziyuan, she was his Crown Princess with a three-thousand-strong navy as a gift. Ren Anle was overjoyed to finally get Han Ye's answer, while Luo Mingxi suddenly announced that the auspicious moment was approaching and preparations should be made for the ceremony. Han Ye initially thought that Luo Mingxi wanted to compete with him for Ren Anle, but then he realized that the couple getting married was Wen Shuo and Yuan Qin, and this wedding hall was specially arranged for them, which was the reason for his appearance.

Seeing Ren Anle going to such lengths for him, Han Ye was deeply moved. Ren Anle was confident that Han Ye would come because no one knew Han Ye better than Di Ziyuan. On the other hand, Luo Mingxi returned alone to Lingxiang Tower, where he was now the only one left. He recalled the bet he made with Ren Anle back then, and now she had achieved her wish, and he admitted defeat.

Not long after, Han Ye took Ren Anle to pay respects to Emperor Taizu again, stating that as the Crown Prince, he had been self-disciplined and formal for half his life. It was fortunate that he received the imperial decree from the Emperor and met Ren Anle, and even happier to realize that Ren Anle, whom he loved, was the one he had to protect as Di Ziyuan. Han Ye held her hand and hoped that Ren Anle would stay by his side as the Crown Princess, and together they would witness the prosperity of Da Jing Changning and the happiness of the people.

Half a month later, the wedding of the Emperor and Empress of Da Jing took place, following Emperor Taizu's decree, welcoming the daughter of the Emperor's family as the Empress. They were blessed by heaven and bore heavy responsibilities. Many years ago, Emperor Taizu's words concluded Ren Anle's magnificent life. Luo Mingxi quietly left Lingxiang Tower, content that he had not failed the Marquis' trust and was pleased that now there was someone to accompany Ren Anle to admire the mountains and rivers.

In the blink of an eye, seven years passed, and Han Ye ascended the throne as the King of Da Jing, while Ren Anle became the Empress. The two of them went to see Changsihua bloom, talked about the heavy responsibilities of ruling the country, and missed the deceased Luo Mingxi. In the following days, Ren Anle and Han Ye embarked on a magnificent journey of fifty years together, a hundred years in this prosperous and peaceful era, enjoying prosperity and peace in the country.

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