LayarHijau – The Chinese drama Spring of the Blade (一瓯春), starring Zhou Ye and Xu Kai, has finally aired its final episode. After going through family conflicts, schemes within the Xie household, and an old case that destroyed the Shen family, Xie Qingyuan and Shen Run finally reach the decisive point in their respective quests for revenge.
Spoiler warning: This article fully discusses the ending of Spring of the Blade, including the Xie family secret, the truth behind Jin Chunqing’s death, the fate of Xie Shu and other characters, and the ending of Xie Qingyuan and Shen Run’s story.
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The Xie Family Secret Is Finally Revealed
In the final episode, it is revealed that Jin Chunqing, played by Cai Zhuoyin and the mother of Xie Qingyuan, is actually the biological daughter of the Xie family’s matriarch, played by Huang Xiaojuan. Years earlier, in order to protect her position as the principal wife of the Xie family, the matriarch exchanged her own daughter for a baby boy, the son of a gambler. That baby was later raised as Xie Shu, played by Fu Dalong.
As adults, Jin Chunqing and Xie Shu fell in love. Xie Shu eventually married Jin Chunqing and brought her into the Xie household as one of his wives. They later had a daughter, Xie Qingyuan. However, neither of them knew the truth about the baby exchange carried out by the Xie family matriarch years earlier.
The situation changed after Xie Shu discovered the truth about his origins. Fearing that he would lose the position and wealth he had gained as a member of the Xie family, he chose to sacrifice Jin Chunqing to protect himself.
Xie Shu framed Jin Chunqing and made her take the blame for a crime. He then killed her by setting fire to her residence. Young Xie Qingyuan witnessed the incident herself, and her mother’s death became the main reason she later sought the truth and pursued revenge.
The Xie Family Matriarch Learns the Truth
The truth about Jin Chunqing eventually forces the Xie family matriarch to confront the fact that her own daughter was killed by Xie Shu, the baby boy she had exchanged for Jin Chunqing years earlier in order to preserve her position within the family.
Overwhelmed by regret after learning that her decision had ultimately led to her daughter’s death, the Xie family matriarch eventually takes her own life.
Meanwhile, Hu Wenzhuo, played by Miao Pu, also pays for her crimes. She was responsible for killing Xia Yiniang, one of Xie Shu’s concubines and the biological mother of Xie Qingrong, played by Chen Yihan.
Hu Wenzhuo had previously arranged for Xia Yiniang to receive medicine that caused a miscarriage and made suspicion fall on Jin Chunqing. When Hu Wenzhuo came to see Xia Yiniang, she was still alive and managed to stab her with a hairpin. Hu Wenzhuo then strangled her to death.
After Xia Yiniang’s death, Hu Wenzhuo took the young Xie Qingrong and raised her as her own child. However, Xie Qingrong eventually learned the truth about her mother’s death. She prepared poison for Hu Wenzhuo, who drank it and died.
Xie Qingyuan Takes Control of the Xie Family
After the Xie family’s crimes are exposed, Xie Shu’s position collapses. He had believed that he would eventually become head of the Xie family and enjoy the wealth and status he had pursued for years.
Instead, the Emperor appoints Xie Qingyuan as the new head of the Xie family.
After taking control of the family, Xie Qingyuan chooses not to keep all of its wealth for herself. She distributes the Xie family’s property among refugees.
Xie Qingyuan then burns down the Xie residence together with Shen Run. Realizing that he has nowhere left to go, Xie Shu chooses to remain inside the residence and dies in the fire.
Shen Run Takes Revenge for His Father’s Death
Shen Run also succeeds in settling his own grudge. He uncovers the truth behind the corruption case that had once victimized his father, Shen Zhibai.
The real mastermind behind the case is Wei Changyan, played by He Ziming. Shen Run eventually confronts Wei Changyan at the former Shen family residence and kills him.
Shen Run then puts on his armor and goes to the Xie family ancestral hall. There, he confronts the officials involved in the old case and settles accounts with those responsible for framing his father.
The officials who helped frame Shen Zhibai are ultimately punished. Shen Run therefore clears his father’s name and avenges his death.
The Ending of Xie Qingyuan and Shen Run
After the Xie family conflict and the Shen family case are resolved, Xie Qingyuan and Shen Run leave behind a life consumed by power struggles. They travel together to a fishing village to live a quieter life.
Spring of the Blade ends with Xie Qingyuan and Shen Run beginning a new life together, far away from the conflicts they had faced.
