Court Lady Episode 15 Recap, Plot

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Sheng Chuling instructed Sheng Chujun on how to use kites to send messages to Fu Rou. Sheng Chujun suggested including a note so Fu Rou would know it was from him, but Sheng Chuling was confident she would recognize his kites and dismissed Sheng Chujun's warning about the potential danger to Fu Rou if an explicit message were found by palace guards. Meanwhile, Princess Xin Nan was in the garden with her maid, Zhen Zhu, when a kite descended.

Zhen Zhu retrieved it, and Princess Xin Nan, reading the message "I only love you, my red peony," became frustrated. She remarked that Sheng Chuling knew she disliked peonies and preferred cotton roses, believing he was deliberately teasing her. Soon after, Prince Liang encountered Zhen Zhu picking up another kite bearing the same "red peony" message. Misinterpreting this as an attempt to flatter him, Prince Liang began to harass Zhen Zhu.

She bravely resisted, pushing him away, and fled the scene. Elsewhere, Prince Zhou discovered a similar kite with "red peony" on it. Remembering Fu Rou's frequent use of red peonies in her embroidery, he deduced the kites were intended for her and ordered his men to investigate their source. Enraged by Zhen Zhu's resistance, Prince Liang complained to his father, the Grand Imperial Sire.

He emphasized his status as the Grand Imperial Sire's son and the Emperor's brother, arguing that a mere palace maid should not be off-limits to him. The Grand Imperial Sire sided with Prince Liang, asserting that his authority, even as an aging ruler, should not be challenged. He then dispatched a messenger to command the Empress to hand Zhen Zhu over to Prince Liang for punishment.

Princess Xin Nan, already at the Empress's palace, pleaded for Zhen Zhu's protection, recalling Prince Liang's history of violence against palace maids. However, the Empress refused to defy the Grand Imperial Sire for a maid, telling Princess Xin Nan to prepare Zhen Zhu and send her to Prince Liang the following morning. Desperate, Princess Xin Nan sought help from the Crown Prince, who made a brief visit to his pregnant wife.

His wife expressed her insecurity about her appearance during pregnancy, feeling that the Crown Prince was emotionally distant. The Crown Prince then quickly departed, citing urgent official duties and an upcoming lesson with his teacher. Recognizing the Grand Imperial Sire's fondness for unique stones, the Crown Prince gave one of his most treasured pieces to Princess Xin Nan. She then presented the stone to the Grand Imperial Sire, who initially dismissed it as ordinary.

Princess Xin Nan proposed a wager: if her stone proved superior to any in his collection, he would grant her a single request; otherwise, she would serve him daily for three months. Upon closer inspection, the Grand Imperial Sire was astonished to discover that the stone was a "sun streak stone" on one side and an auspicious "blessed and longevity stone" on the other. Impressed by its rarity, he declared her the winner.

Princess Xin Nan then used her wish to plead for Zhen Zhu's life, emphasizing her deep emotional bond with the maid. She offered to find Prince Liang a woman "ten times, a hundred times more beautiful," but the Grand Imperial Sire, pleased, agreed to spare Zhen Zhu, stating he would personally select a new beauty for Prince Liang from the Da'an Palace maids. The Grand Consort, recognizing the stone as the Crown Prince's, inadvertently revealed its origin.

Princess Xin Nan quickly spun the story, explaining that the Crown Prince had given it to her specifically so she could present the best to their revered grandfather, portraying it as a joint act of filial piety. Zhen Zhu tearfully thanked Princess Xin Nan, who in turn credited the Crown Prince for his sacrifice. Meanwhile, Fu Rou informed the Empress that she wished to dismantle the "Landscape" tapestry, believing it concealed a secret.

She explained that while there was only a fifty percent chance of finding a treasure map, it would at least allow her to meticulously study and preserve Lady Hui's unparalleled embroidery techniques. Convinced by Fu Rou's dedication to the craft, the Empress granted her permission. Fu Rou proceeded to carefully disassemble and cut the tapestry. She later reported to the Empress that she had not only taken it apart but had also cut it, initially provoking the Empress's anger.

Fu Rou then explained the elaborate, seemingly unnecessary double-stitching and the peculiar placement of the stitches, revealing that the "Landscape" was not a single embroidery but an intricate assembly of ten smaller pieces. By carefully cutting along the hidden seams and reassembling them according to the patterns, she unveiled a complete nautical chart. During this time, Princess Xin Nan observed Yuchi Liyan, whose broken leg had miraculously healed, allowing Sheng Chuling to return to his duties at the East Palace.

This angered her, as she had seemingly grown accustomed to Sheng Chuling covering for Yuchi Liyan. The Empress presented the nautical chart to the Emperor, pointing out the indicated location of a treasure. The Emperor, however, was less interested in the treasure itself than in the immense strategic value of an accurate nautical chart for the Great Tang Empire, hailing it as an "invaluable treasure." He commended the Empress for her significant contribution.

As a result, the Emperor not only rewarded Sheng Chumu by approving his plan concerning the Four Seas Gang but also acknowledged Fu Rou's crucial role in deciphering the map. When asked what reward she desired, Fu Rou hesitated, subtly attempting to request permission to leave the palace. The Empress, discerning her intention, firmly refused but, as a concession for her meritorious service, granted Fu Rou the privilege of visiting her family outside the palace one day each month.

Sheng Chuling returned to his duties at the East Palace, where Princess Xin Nan found him deliberately ignoring her, leaving her furious. She privately thought he had been "bewitched by that fox." Soon after, Sun Lingshu arrived and engaged Princess Xin Nan in conversation. Sun Lingshu confided her frustrations about the Crown Prince's close friendship with a craftsman named Chen Ji. She felt neglected during her pregnancy, as the Crown Prince seemed to prioritize this friendship over her.

Just as they were talking, Fu Rou arrived to deliver embroideries. Still seething, Princess Xin Nan openly called Fu Rou a "slut" and a "fox spirit," accusing her of secretly associating with men. Misinterpreting Princess Xin Nan's anger, Sun Lingshu asked if she was aware of Fu Rou having secretly left the palace with Prince Zhou. Princess Xin Nan, surprised by this revelation, confirmed she had not known.

Fu Rou, after being told by Crown Princess Consort's attendant to leave the embroidery and depart, encountered the Crown Prince and Chen Ji. The Crown Prince was surprised they knew each other, then recalled their shared time at Prince Han's manor. Chen Ji downplayed his leg injury, attributing it to his own carelessness. Separately, Attendant Wei visited Consort Yan at the Empress's request.

Consort Yan politely declined further tonics from the Empress, stating that Master Da Ping's Buddhist teachings had greatly improved her health and promoted longevity. Attendant Wei reported this back to the Empress, who noted Master Da Ping's frequent palace visits and his apparent effectiveness. Sheng Chujun observed Sheng Chuling's distraction and inquired if he was still quarreling with Princess Xin Nan. Sheng Chuling admitted he was intentionally "giving it a few more days" to prevent her from becoming "worse."

Later, Princess Xin Nan, armed with the new information, immediately reported Fu Rou and Prince Zhou's unauthorized departure from the palace to the Empress, hoping to see Fu Rou punished. The Empress, however, went directly to Consort Yan's palace, where Prince Zhou was present. She confronted Prince Zhou for violating palace rules by taking a court lady out without permission, implying his disrespect for both the regulations and herself.

Both Consort Yan and Prince Zhou immediately interceded for each other, with Prince Zhou gallantly offering to bear all blame to protect his mother. Moved by this display of filial affection, the Empress chose not to punish them directly. She merely admonished Prince Zhou against future transgressions and then asked Consort Yan to assist her in managing the increasingly challenging harem.

As her first task, the Empress instructed Consort Yan to implement stricter palace gate security, explicitly forbidding any monks or Taoist preachers from entering the palace without the Emperor's and her explicit consent. Consort Yan agreed to help. Fu Rou was also punished, made to kneel for violating palace rules by leaving with Prince Zhou. The Empress confronted her, expressing disappointment in her betrayal of trust but acknowledging it was a mistake rather than a crime.

While understanding Fu Rou's longing for her family, the Empress admonished her for taking advantage of her favor. She pardoned Fu Rou this time, but sternly warned her to be more disciplined in the future. She then instructed Attendant Wei to provide Fu Rou with balm for her bruised knees. Afterward, Prince Zhou gently carried the injured Fu Rou back to her residence, insisting on applying medicine to her bruised knees himself despite her protests.

He expressed his regret for having caused her trouble and shared his painful past: his wet nurse was executed for breaking palace rules, maids who were like sisters to him died mysteriously, and his mentor was reassigned, all after he had grown close to them. He confided that he had learned to distance himself from others, fearing that anyone he cared about would suffer. Fu Rou offered comfort.

Prince Zhou, however, dismissed her pity, declaring he had a plan to "fight back." He revealed his intention to expose the Crown Prince's inappropriate close relationship with the craftsman, Chen Ji, to the Emperor, believing this would serve as retaliation against the Empress. Fu Rou, concerned for Chen Ji's life, desperately knelt and pleaded with Prince Zhou to abandon his plan. She argued that while the Emperor might only reprimand the Crown Prince, Chen Ji would face severe punishment.

She appealed to Prince Zhou's inherent goodness, urging him not to let his cultivated character be corrupted by a desire for vengeance, stating that true happiness stemmed from kindness and mercy. Although Prince Zhou initially expressed his own deep-seated bitterness, he ultimately relented, agreeing to drop the matter for Fu Rou's sake. He helped her to her feet. Princess Xin Nan received a secret message from Sheng Chuling, arranging to meet at 3:00 p. m.

by the lake outside the city. Despite the Empress's newly tightened palace regulations, she was determined to go. Princess Xin Nan convinced the Crown Prince to take her out by fabricating a story about a dream involving Guanyin Bodhisattva. The Crown Prince, although exasperated, eventually agreed to take her, combining the outing with his own errands.

Concurrently, Master Da Ping and his disciple, Xu Chang, were denied entry to the palace by guards, citing the Empress's new rules forbidding unauthorized monks and Taoist preachers. An enraged Master Da Ping cursed the Empress for thwarting his ambitions. Princess Xin Nan managed to sneak out of the palace, disguised among the Crown Prince's entourage. The Crown Prince then took Chen Ji to a small, newly purchased residence called "Xian Yu Residence."

He explained that he bought it to provide Chen Ji with a home where he could build his own future, a gesture that deeply touched Chen Ji, who appreciated it as a gift from a friend rather than an official reward from the Crown Prince. They discussed plans for the house and decided to return to the East Palace for dinner and a game of Go. Meanwhile, Princess Xin Nan arrived at the lake, initially intending to appear angry.

However, Sheng Chuling's first words were to question her about Fu Rou's punishment. Princess Xin Nan defiantly admitted to being responsible, expressing no remorse and even wishing worse upon Fu Rou. Sheng Chuling angrily accused her of being "unfaithful," which Princess Xin Nan countered by mentioning seeing him with Fu Rou and the numerous gifts Fu Rou had made for him.

Sheng Chuling then clarified that Fu Rou was his "future eldest sister-in-law" and the items were intended for his elder brother. He chastised Princess Xin Nan for her unfounded accusations and for reporting Fu Rou to the Empress. Declaring their relationship over, he stated that her actions made it impossible for her to marry into his family.

Desperate to salvage their bond, Princess Xin Nan revealed that it was the Crown Princess Consort who had informed her about Fu Rou and Prince Zhou. News of this also reached Prince Han's family. Princess Consort Han expressed disappointment in the Crown Princess Consort, noting that their family had contributed significantly to her position and Fu Rou had also assisted her.

She was dismayed that the Crown Princess Consort had instigated Princess Xin Nan to report Fu Rou to the Empress. Prince Han clarified that Fu Rou's outing with Prince Zhou was motivated by her concern for Sheng Chumu's safety during his military expedition, as she sought news from Prince Zhou. Princess Consort Han worried that the Crown Princess Consort's foolishness might lead to further trouble and tarnish the Crown Prince's reputation. Prince Han agreed to speak with the Crown Prince the following day to offer a reminder.

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