Charitable donations

Advisor Zhuo makes Pei accompany his treasure and lead the Huting army to its new location. Interestingly enough Ning asks him directly if he will be the one leading and he affirms it. While they are moving the treasure, they are set upon by a mob of refugees. The army refuses to fight unarmed civilians so quite a bit of the treasure was “donated”. Emperor Ning finishes up her fasting time at the temple and makes her way to where Zhuo is punishing Pei and the army commander for losing his loot. He is just getting ready to start killing when Ning and company come in catching him in the act. She reminds him it is not legal to use the army for private use. He inadvertently slashes her arm with his sword and a group comes in with a citizen statement thanking him for his kind donation to the refugees. Ning says that when circumstances are better she will build him a statue. Zhuo leaves in a huff, for once publicly outplayed in front of his men. They all see that she is the one standing up for them and the people and they hail allegiance to her. She passes out in Pei’s arms as the episode ends. Here I think he finally sees she is for real and means to stand for the people, with or without help. She is playing the game well. It will not be checkmate until Zhuo is dead. But getting his money was a good start.

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