Tigers Sniff the Rose episode 36 recap: The forged succession decree

In short

Liu Wenji destroys the Emperor's will and names Prince Jin as heir instead, while Mu Xun's allies rebel and Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang flee Lanyang.

What happens in episode 36

Liu Wenji takes the Emperor's will to Prince Jin, who panics at the thought of Mu Xun taking the throne. Liu Wenji burns it and orders fresh paper and ink. He summons Chancellor Liu to the palace in the Emperor's name, then calls in the other officials and announces a forged decree naming Prince Jin as successor. With the chancellor nowhere to be found, the suspicious officials cannot stop him.

Far from court, Lin Dao and Liu Ruozhu discover that a city has fallen. Two military governors, acting on Mu Xun's orders, are advancing on the capital. The couple burn their precious bamboo books as a beacon to warn others. A rebel governor has Lin Dao shot but spares Liu Ruozhu out of gratitude to her father. Later Lin Dao wakes: a bamboo book against his chest stopped the arrow from killing him.

In Lanyang, the princess sees the beacon and realizes why Yang Si has disappeared. Summoned by Mu Xun to lead the governors' forces, he asks them to leave her alone, only to learn that men have already been sent to seize her. Yan Shang takes her out by a back route before soldiers reach the county office.

An elderly couple shelter the fugitives and offer them their last rice while keeping wild greens for themselves. The leads leave before the soldiers arrive, hoping to spare their hosts trouble. When a search party finally surrounds them, its leader deliberately keeps their portrait folded and sends his men elsewhere. He remembers the good the princess did while governing and chooses to let them go.

Mu Xun escapes prison and joins Yang Si, who worries about the suffering a war will bring. Mu Xun insists there is no turning back and refuses to let Prince Jin rule. In the capital, Prince Jin begs Liu Wenji for help. Liu Wenji tells him he must take the throne and orders the Shence Army to prepare to fight Mu Xun.

Why it matters

Episode 36 turns Liu Wenji's fear for Chunhua's family into a forged succession and brings a new rebellion into the open; the princess and Yan Shang are now fugitives.

Based on the episode synopsis, summarized in our own words: TVmao (电视猫) episode synopses