episode 25 spoilers ahead

25/96

1.(I actually flubbed a little, since I am reading from notes. Consort Wei expresses her doubt at the beginning of this episode)

2.Wang Gong Gong delivers a message to Menieng to go to Ganglu Hall. Here the emperor is getting drunk in his room of candles. (Can I just say I find Xu Hui more deplorable than Consort Wei because Consort Wei, you know right away what she is about but Xu Hui is betraying her sister, basically)

3.The emperor is drowning his sorrows. He tells her that he killed someone, and as a result the Tang dynasty and state are better off for it. He's helped stabilize the state (this is like a life lesson to Menieng--the end justifies the means). He is sad, explains that he lit a lantern for the Crown Prince who is alive, even though he killed Chengxin (I wonder if he feels like now he has to depose his own state for stability). He says she is the only one who can drink with him, that his own son tried to kill him over this valet, and that he learned it was because Changxin resembled Changxun, and that he did not deserve to die the way he did.

4.Seeking to cheer him up, she coaxes him outside, and succeeds and putting a smile on his face.

5.Meanwhile, the Crown Prince is visited by Li Zhi, they drink together. (Li Zhi is consistently portrayed as an innocent nice guy, oblivious to the games around him).

6.Courtiers wonder if the Prince of Wei is going to be the new crown prince. Prince Wei learns that half of the crown prince's followers have left or defected to his side. However, the emperor still has not mentioned the incident at all even though everyone knows what happened. This makes Prince Wei impatient, especially since he is trying to 'cleanly' depose him (i.e. he sets the trap, and the prince's reactions lead to self incrimination; the crown prince could have made it though if he weren't so weak)

7.The emperor meets with his advisors and the issue of the northern rebels comes up again. Some say that now is the time to act since the northern revolt is in disarray and its leader is a bad ruler, however this bad leader is good at war, and they can't afford a loss. Hon. Wei changes the topic to something everyone has been wondering: who will run the state after the emperor leaves.

8.The emperor essentially says he will decide in a month whether or not to depose the prince and asks if Hon. Wei had deceived him from the start. He explains to him that he was always loyal but is responsible for not teaching the prince well. He again begs him to give the crown prince a chance, which triggers the emperor into anger because he has given him many opportunities. He storms out. Wei follows him, collapses, and finally gets the emperor's attention. The emperor hears him out. Hon. Wei tells him even if he does not want the crown prince to rule who will replace him? It cannot be Prince Wu, who is a good military man but terrible statesman with Sui blood to boot. It shouldn't be Prince Wei, because he is a schemer and would make a good advisor (however the emperor admits he has yet to form an opinion about Wei).

9.On his way back, the emperor encounters Li Zhi who admits he is troubled after visiting the crown prince. he tells the emperor that he would like to help shoulder his burdens. The emperor is happy to see Li Zhi (probably thinking ah, one who might be a good candidate...)He tells Li Zhi that he is a good child, and encourages him to see him more.

10.Honarble Wei visits the Crown Prince and is upset that he has relapsed into drinking. He leaves, stating that the crown prince doesn't even want to help himself and doesn't know what to do as he coughs up blood...

11.Meanwhile, Menieng has made the choice to try to help the Crown Prince. Xu Hui tries to deter her and says that she is playing with fire (basically) since she almost got killed because of the prophecy (true). She encourages her to leave him alone. Menieng explains that she feels obligated to help since he saved her life.

12.Crown prince is visited by crown princess, and here we learn that he has been faking that he is drinking water (!) what is he planning?? Later that night, he buries some of Chengxin's belongings and the Crown Princess, who has brought Wu, tells her that she is worried, that he is pretending to be drunk and meeting with people she does not recognize. The prince (unsurprisingly) overhears them and wants to know why Meneing is helping a drowning guy. he complains about all the injustices done him and she basically tells him to grow up, that this is going to happen all the time if he becomes emperor and he needs to get over it. She suggests he learn to swim (someone had to say it). He laughs and says he has already lost the crown but not the kingdom--he is planning to revolt!

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