The Empress of China Episode 37

episode 37 spoilers ahead

Spoilers Ahead

1. As Prince Wei parades through the city, headed towards the palace, with the new crown prince, Prince Wu (Ke) visits his mother, Consort Yang. (In a very deliberate move by the writers, she has no make up on). Consort Yang reveals to her son that she has plotted for revenge her entire life, in order to avenge her family (the Sui) but most importantly, to avenge her husband Yuanji, one of Li Shimin's brothers who was murdered in his attempt to seize the throne. She explains she has carefully bowed her head in humility and raised him to be honest to slide under the radar of the emperor , waiting for this moment. She explains to her son that he must avenge his birth father (yes, she was pregnant it seems when Li Shimin made her his concubine) and be prepared to commit both fratricide and patricide to take over the throne that was stolen.

2.Prince Wu is horrified by this command and shocked by his mother whom he has never known, it seemed. He accuses her of being the most treacherous and malicious woman in the harem, farm worse than Consort Wei. He refuses to do it multiple times, but the admission that his real father is not the emperor seems to give him the strength to do this for her.

3.Elsewhere, Meniang is dressed as eunuch and enters Li Mu's rooms only to find a bunch of dead bodies and a note: this note warns her about Consort Yang, reveals her treachery and plot for revenge, and tells her to stay put until the violence passes. Never being one to sit on the side, she rushes to prevent a tragedy.

4.Prince Wu agrees to see her and they have an intense confrontation. Meniang not only calls him out on his indecisive behavior, but explains to him that he has no way of knowing if the emperor is aware of Consort Yang's treachery. She uses the former crown prince's rebellion as a way to impart some advise: the crown prince believed that all the men beneath him were loyal but some weren't. He was betrayed by Chengji. The emperor was notified 2 weeks before the rebellion occurred, how does he not know that now? Regardless, if he opens the gate, it will appear as if he is assisting in the rebellion of Prince Wei. She gives him the advice that the departed Chancellor Wei gave her: when the curtains fall, make sure you have no regrets. And he clearly has regrets. Prince Wu thanks her, explaining he was probably looking for a reason to change his mind. He orders the gates closed.

5.Meniang uses this opportunity to explain Prince Wei's treachery, how he instigated the crown prince and Prince Wu is shocked by the extent of his brothers duplicity (I imagine it makes it easier to confront him too). Meniang suggests that he send troops led by Fang (the head of the guard) to corner him from the rear that way he will be surrounded, and the prince agrees that is a good idea.

6.Elsehwere, the Emperor is updated on the situation. When he learns that Prince Wu is confronting the Prince of Wei (but did not notify him, as would be appropriate) he suspects that he may have a plot too. He tells his attendant to have General Li wait. Which ever one of his sons survives this confrontation and heads to his palace will be apprehended by him for treason. He says the children should fight it and if they cannot survive this then they cannot be emperor.

7.Meanwhile, the new Crown Prince is busy working over Li Jifu, a scholar who has a knife at his throat. He explains to him that he should assist him because Prince Wei is not going to win. His odds are worse than the crown prince, who at least had a general and an army to back him. This convinces the man, who cuts his ties and then runs screaming 'I am sorry I cannot go along with your plot Prince Wei forgive me' while Zhinu runs for safety. Prince Wei's close attendant and friend, Du tries to charge an attack but Meniang kills him with an arrow. She orders everyone else to lower their weapons, while Prince Wei is surrounded, unless they too wish to die. They obey. Prince Wei laughs and says while his older brother could not be crown prince because of bad timing, he could not be crown prince for having no support. Prince Wu states it is more than that, it is destiny and neither he nor himself is fated to be the crown prince. He laughs in derision and then Prince Wei insists Meniang will bring down the dynasty of allowed to live.

8.The emperor is notified that Prince Wu and Meniang managed to end the rebellion without any bloodshed and that Prince Wei is currently under arrest. however, a prince has been injured (stabbed) and the emperor rushes to see him...

9.In a stunning end, Prince Wu visits his mother with Meniang. She is livid that her son has failed to follow through with his plans. She blames meniang for persuading him but he insists it was his choice, that he could not live with the murders of his family on his conscience. She drinks poison (prepared in case they failed) and curses her son and disowns him, all the while insisting she hates the emperor and expresses hate that fate has allowed him to go unpunished for his evil deeds. She blames herself for raising her son to be honest. She also tells Meniang that the reason she has allowed her to live so long was because she has always believed she is indeed the calamity Wu and believes if she failed, at least Meniang would ruin the Tang dynasty. Just before dying she tells her that at least she will have some satisfaction since Li Mu is going to kill Li Shimin....

Comments: Another EXPLOSIVE episode! I never thought consort Yang would die like this; I thought she would stick around to cause some problems for Meniang. I respect her position: in her eyes, she has merely been surviving, bidding the time until she can have her revenge. In her eyes, Li Shimin is a cruel monster no matter how kind he may have become. He is only able to do so because he wiped out his enemies. She hates that he wins. She has the same respect that I had for Consort Wei, although Consort Wei's death had a bigger impact if only because she had more screen time.

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