The Double Episode 38 Recap
> The Double Recap
Shen Yurong instructed his mother and sister, Ruyun, to pack their belongings and return to their hometown. He advised them to say they were managing the family estate, but warned them strictly against communicating with anyone other than him. His mother was reluctant, complaining about the hardship of their remote hometown and questioning if he was trying to drive them away. Shen Yurong gravely asked if she truly dared to know what was happening in the capital, silencing her.
They quickly agreed to prepare for the journey, with Shen Yurong's mother cautioning him to be careful while he remained in the capital. Lord Cheng sent a memorial to His Majesty, requesting an increased escort for the captives he planned to present during his return to the capital for ancestor worship. Jiang Yunbai saw this as a clear sign of rebellion and angrily proposed a pre-emptive strike to capture Lord Cheng during the grand sacrificial ceremony.
However, Xiao Heng cautioned against this, pointing out that Lord Cheng's well-crafted memorial provided a "reasonable" pretext. If His Majesty were to act, it would only confirm accusations of "persecuting loyal officials and soldiers," allowing Lord Cheng's troops, stationed just outside the capital, to attack and throw the city into chaos. Xiao Heng suspected a more cunning mind behind Lord Cheng and Wanning's strategy.
Ye Shijie, entrusted with the sacrificial ceremony, expressed his anxiety about the national importance of the event and thanked his colleagues for their full support. He resolved to conduct another thorough inspection of all arrangements before the ceremony to ensure flawless execution. Under the cover of night, Shen Yurong met with Lord Cheng outside the capital.
Lord Cheng praised Shen Yurong's "excellent plan" that had enabled him to bring his army to the capital's doorstep, recognizing his extraordinary talent and understanding Wanning's admiration for him. Shen Yurong stated that Lord Cheng now only lacked a "just cause for launching the campaign" and proposed a drastic solution: kill Wanning and frame His Majesty.
Lord Cheng reacted with anger, drawing his sword, but Shen Yurong calmly asserted his trust in Lord Cheng's ruthless nature, reminding him that "success or failure hinges on this moment." Lord Cheng recoiled from directly sacrificing his sister but agreed to a plan involving a "fake death" for Wanning. Shen Yurong revealed his intention not to inform Wanning beforehand but to administer a fake death potion to complete the charade.
He asked Lord Cheng to intercede on his behalf should Wanning blame him later, to which Lord Cheng assented. Shen Yurong then requested Xiao Heng's fish talisman as his reward for orchestrating the plan. Upon Lord Cheng's arrival in the capital, His Majesty publicly lauded him with an imperial edict, bestowing treasures like a Seven-Star Longyuan Sword, jewels, golden and jade Buddhas, Ancient Sea Night Pearls, and an iron decree for his service in defending Great Yan.
His Majesty suggested Lord Cheng remain in the capital after the ceremony, noting that their late father would not want him to be away from home indefinitely. However, Lord Cheng, feigning humility, claimed these rewards were merely reminders of His Majesty's grace and insisted on returning to the Northern Borders after the ancestral worship due to the unstable situation with Dai Country.
Lord Cheng then visited Wanning, scolding her for her spat with Li Zhongnan and attributing her recklessness to the "fake pregnancy potion." He emphasized that a broken relationship with Li Zhongnan would jeopardize their grand plan. Wanning, in turn, mocked Lord Cheng's newfound bravado, recalling his past "disgraceful flight."
Lord Cheng bitterly recounted how Xiao Minghan had thwarted his previous attempt to seize the throne, preventing him from becoming emperor, and scoffed at Xiao Heng for valuing "beautiful women but not power." They proceeded to pay respects at their mother, Consort Liu's, tablet. A flashback showed Consort Liu on her deathbed, advising young Lord Cheng and Wanning (Zhao Sheng and Zhao Jing) to "support each other" and "take care of yourselves" in the perilous palace.
She lamented her lack of family background and the late emperor's favor, impressing upon them that only "supreme imperial power" could truly protect them. Later, Lord Cheng, Wanning, and Li Zhongnan finalized their uprising plan for the next evening's banquet, agreeing to divide their forces into four. Wanning introduced Shen Yurong to Lord Cheng, who, despite their prior secret meeting, feigned surprise and then praised Shen Yurong's wisdom, promising him high office once their plot succeeded.
Shen Yurong, in turn, hailed Lord Cheng as "Your Majesty." Xiao Heng confessed to Xue Fangfei that he had waited eight years for this day, acknowledging the surreal feeling of its arrival. Xue Fangfei reminded him of his own words about seeking justice. Xiao Heng spoke of his father, Xiao Minghan, who died unjustly at the border due to Lord Cheng's selfish actions, and his past inability to clear his name. He wondered if his father regretted trusting treacherous individuals.
Xue Fangfei drew parallels to her own father, believing he and General Xiao would have been good friends. She expressed her faith that General Xiao's spirit would protect Xiao Heng. Xiao Heng corrected her, stating her true belief was in herself, but Xue Fangfei affirmed her belief in him as well. She asserted that Lord Cheng and Wanning, who prioritized power over the welfare of the people, would not find favor with fate or the public.
She then pledged to Xiao Heng that she would never abandon him, no matter what transpired. At the Jiang residence, Old Madam shared a letter from Ruoyao, who was doing well in Yongzhou and wished her grandmother good health. Jiang Yunbai, reflecting on his appointment as Secretariat Director by the late emperor to support His Majesty and stabilize imperial power, pondered whether his family would be in a better situation today if he hadn't accepted.
He explained how he had deliberately ceded power to figures like Li Zhongnan after His Majesty matured, creating internal conflicts that served as a shield for his family. He admitted his "powerlessness" in managing internal family strife, which had led to suffering among the younger generations, accepting the blame as his own fault. However, with the current threat, he declared his commitment to upholding the late emperor's trust.
Old Madam was greatly pleased, remarking that he had finally embodied the "spirit" of the Jiang family, reminiscent of his own father. Yang, Jiang Yunxing's wife, overheard the conversation and, panicking, urged Jiang Yunxing to pack their belongings and flee to her family's house, fearing Lord Cheng's success would endanger their family. Meanwhile, Consort Li, whom His Majesty had previously sent away for her safety, defiantly returned, insisting on staying by his side.
She threatened self-harm if forced to leave, arguing that her absence would only arouse Lord Cheng's suspicion. His Majesty, deeply moved, reluctantly allowed her to stay, understanding her resolve. During the sacrificial ceremony, His Majesty silently vowed to protect his throne, while Lord Cheng harbored thoughts of seizing it. Wanning, however, was consumed by a flashback to the late emperor.
She confronted him on his deathbed, accusing him of sending her to Dai Country as a hostage, where she suffered daily humiliation, hunger, and indignity, feeling "less than human." She demanded to know if he had ever truly loved her. The late emperor expressed his regret, claiming he had "no choice" in the matter. Wanning, unyielding, then force-fed him medicine before suffocating him with a pillow, believing he had "wronged her first" and that they all "owed her this."
She then calmly exited the room. Meanwhile, Xue Fangfei offered a prayer, asking fate to bestow any good fortune she might receive upon Xiao Heng. Unbeknownst to her, Jiang Yunxing had colluded with Lord Cheng's men to kill the real Zhao Ke and replace him with an impostor skilled in mimicry and disguise. At the Jiang residence, she noticed unsettlingly tight security and grew suspicious of the man posing as Zhao Ke.
She tested him by asking about a wilted flower, but his ignorance and unusual behavior confirmed her fears. A letter then arrived, supposedly from Xiao Heng, requesting her presence at his residence and instructing "Zhao Ke" to escort her. En route, Xue Fangfei feigned a need to stop and buy something in an attempt to escape, but the impostor attacked and knocked her unconscious. She awoke in Wanning's dungeons.
Wanning mocked Xue Fangfei for being captured, seeking retribution for the fake pregnancy, and declared she would await Xiao Heng's arrival so they could witness her suffering together. Xue Fangfei argued that Xiao Heng, having relinquished the Longwu Army, was no longer a threat. Wanning cynically praised their "genuine emotions" before bitterly questioning if Xue Fangfei understood the pain of losing a child.
Xue Fangfei retorted that she knew what it felt like "to be buried alive by someone I loved and trusted." Wanning admitted a certain liking for Xue Fangfei, suggesting they could have been friends if not for Shen Yurong, but Xue Fangfei fiercely rejected the notion. Wanning stated she wouldn't harm Xue Fangfei before Xiao Heng arrived, desiring to see them "suffer together."
She concluded that Xue Fangfei and Shen Yurong were a "perfect match" and gloated that she had finally "dragged" the once-clean Shen Yurong into the "mud," believing he should have been like her all along.
