Catch Up My Prince Episode 7 Recap
> Catch Up My Prince Recap
At the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, when the Crown Prince suddenly collapsed, Lu Ranran rushed to his side and performed emergency treatment using modern methods. The Empress Dowager found Lu Ranran's actions strange and ordered her arrest, but Zhao Chen Yi and Zhao Chen Xuan quickly intervened. Zhao Chen Yi began to highlight Lu Ranran's exceptional talent in dissection during the palace's talent assessment, and Zhao Chen Xuan completed his sentence, calling her a "miracle worker."
Despite this, the Empress Dowager insisted on her removal until the Imperial Physician arrived. Once the Crown Prince regained consciousness, the Imperial Physician confirmed that Lu Ranran's unconventional but effective treatment had saved his life. The Crown Prince himself thanked Lu Ranran and requested his grandmother not to punish her.
Impressed, the Empress Dowager not only pardoned Lu Ranran but promoted the former laundry maid to a medical assistant court lady in the Pharmaceutical Department, assigning her to serve at the Crown Prince's Always Inviting Palace. Zhao Chen Xuan mentioned that Zhao Chen Yi had previously selected Lu Ranran as his personal laundry maid, suggesting his brother's approval was needed for the transfer. Lu Ranran secretly hoped Zhao Chen Yi would refuse, as she yearned to remain close to him.
However, Zhao Chen Yi simply joked that his earlier claim was not serious and that his brother needed her more, allowing her transfer before making a swift exit. The Empress Dowager finalized Lu Ranran's new assignment. Alone later, Lu Ranran lamented that her new role at the Crown Prince's residence would prevent her from pursuing Zhao Chen Yi.
Recalling her game system, she decided to use her last "save game" opportunity, which Qin Shou confirmed was a reward for completing a side quest (fulfilling Yun Zhu's wish). Lu Ranran’s strategy was to restart, fulfill Yun Zhu's desire to shine, and thus avoid her transfer to the Crown Prince’s palace. After confirming the save, Lu Ranran approached Yun Zhu, presenting her with a new dress she had sewn.
She revealed her plan for Yun Zhu to take her place on stage at the Empress Dowager's banquet, sacrificing her own opportunity to fulfill Yun Zhu's dream. Lu Ranran then sought out Zhao Chen Yi, asking for a small favor. She explained that after the performance, she would bring Yun Zhu to toast him and Zhao Chenyao.
She asked Zhao Chen Yi to ensure Zhao Chenyao remained at the table and to subtly praise Yun Zhu in a way that would appeal to the Second Prince. Zhao Chen Yi, initially surprised, agreed after realizing Lu Ranran's intentions were for Yun Zhu, not herself. Lu Ranran was confident her plan would be stunning and that she would avoid being sent to the Crown Prince's residence by ensuring he remained healthy.
Determined to prevent the Crown Prince from falling ill again, Lu Ranran visited the medical office and painstakingly prepared a special "Yi An Ning soup" using fourteen precious herbs known for calming the heart and invigorating blood. She entrusted this miraculous medicine, along with a "Disaster Relief Amulet" she obtained from Qin Shou, to Zhao Chen Xuan, asking him to deliver them to the Crown Prince.
Although Zhao Chen Xuan initially questioned her newfound belief in amulets, Lu Ranran emphasized its symbolic value in bringing peace of mind. Zhao Chen Xuan, trusting Lu Ranran, agreed to deliver both items. Zhao Chen Xuan first presented the medicine to the Crown Prince's consort. An imperial physician examining the concoction recognized it as a long-lost "Yan Shou (life-prolonging) soup," praising its potent properties for healing and fortifying the body.
Later, the Crown Prince's consort conveyed this good news to the Empress Dowager, reporting the Crown Prince's remarkable improvement after taking Lu Ranran's medicine and reiterating Lu Ranran's exceptional medical knowledge. The Empress Dowager was delighted, expressing her hopes for the Crown Prince to recover fully and for the consort to bear him an heir soon. The consort also passed on the "Disaster Relief Amulet" to the Crown Prince, hoping it would ward off misfortune.
Meanwhile, Zhao Chen Yi had imprisoned Ah Wen to protect him after Ah Wen revealed critical information. Guards confirmed Ah Wen's request that Zhao Chen Yi not forget his promise. Zhao Chen Yi was actively gathering evidence of Prime Minister Xu Lang's corruption, intending to present it to the Emperor to clear the Yu family's name.
Xin'er, however, wanted more severe retribution against Xu Lang, hoping he would suffer a broken family and a painful death, just as her own family had. Zhao Chen Yi, though, had changed his stance; he now sought a peaceful, just resolution, emphasizing that they must fight fairly and avoid putting their lives at risk, promising that all would be settled soon and they would start a new life.
That evening, Lu Ranran visited Zhao Chen Yi, eagerly sharing the story of Sun Wu Kong (before becoming the Monkey King) and his love for Zi Yun (Zixia Fairy). She recounted how Zhi Zun Yu (Supreme Treasure) regretted not cherishing his true love and wished for 10,000 years if given another chance. Through the story, Lu Ranran subtly conveyed her own feelings and the importance of cherishing love.
Zhao Chen Yi, however, feigned ignorance, calling her storytelling "average" and dismissing it as "just a story." Frustrated by his coldness, and seeing Xin'er acting intimately with Zhao Chen Yi nearby, Lu Ranran left in anger. Zhao Chen Yi, in an internal monologue, expressed regret for hurting her but affirmed his decision to keep her at a safer distance until current matters were settled, protecting her from further harm.
On the day of the Empress Dowager's birthday, Yun Zhu performed onstage as planned. Unexpectedly, the Emperor arrived and was captivated by Yun Zhu, inviting her to stroll in the Imperial Garden with him that evening. Sensing danger for her friend, Lu Ranran openly protested, stating that "love is about mutual affection" and could not be imposed.
To protect Lu Ranran from the Emperor's wrath, Zhao Chen Yi quickly intervened, loudly declaring Lu Ranran as the person who helped the Crown Prince cure his illness. The Crown Prince then stepped forward and officially requested the Emperor to promote Lu Ranran to a court lady in the Medical Division and transfer her to his Always Inviting Palace to manage his medicines, citing her miraculous healing of his heart palpitations. The Emperor readily agreed.
Zhao Chen Yi privately believed that the Crown Prince's palace, though seemingly dangerous, was actually the safest place for Lu Ranran, where Xu Lang could not easily harm her. Yun Zhu, after some hesitation, accepted the Emperor's invitation, and a sorrowful Lu Ranran apologized to her friend, who, in turn, advised her to be careful in her new posting. Soon after, Zhao Chen Yi was informed that Ah Wen had been abducted from prison overnight.
He immediately suspected the Emperor's involvement. Indeed, the Emperor had received the memorial impeaching Prime Minister Xu Lang, with Ah Wen named as a witness. However, the Emperor dismissed Ah Wen's testimony as unreliable, declaring the impeachment memorandum shelved. He explained to his advisor that he prioritized a "balanced Imperial Court" with capable officials like Xu Lang over "dead, innocent, virtuous officials" from the Yu clique.
He also rejected Zhao Chen Yi's request to claim his domain early, preferring to keep him in the palace to "motivate" him and balance Zhao Chenyao's growing influence. Xu Lang, in a private conversation with the Empress Dowager, tried to discredit Lu Ranran, suggesting she was "not simple" due to her proximity to both Zhao Chen Yi and the Crown Prince.
The Empress Dowager dismissed his concerns about Zhao Chen Yi, stating he was no threat to the Crown Prince, and that Lu Ranran, having saved the Crown Prince's life, should be kept for now, as it's not too late to kill her when she becomes unwanted. Undeterred, Xu Lang proposed an alternative plan: to "control" Yun Zhu, whom the Emperor had noticed, and use her as "bargaining power" against Lu Ranran if needed.
The Empress Dowager agreed, ordering Yun Zhu to be sent to the cold palace and to be kept from ever seeing the Emperor again. Meanwhile, Xin'er, distraught at Yu Manor, wept over the Emperor's failure to convict Xu Lang despite the conclusive evidence. She believed Xu Lang's relationship with the Crown Prince was his "protective amulet" and vowed to see him fall once that protection was gone. Zhao Chen Yi found her distressed, lamenting her inability to clear her teacher's name. He comforted her in her sadness.
