Court Lady Episode 18 Recap, Plot

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Princess Xin Nan informed Fu Rou that Sheng Chumu had rejected the marriage proposal, and Fu Rou was delighted to hear it. The Princess also shared that the Emperor had not punished Sheng Chumu but instead had given him many nutritious tonics. Meanwhile, Lord Sun was furious, having learned that Sun Lingshu had recently caused trouble in the East Palace and repeatedly angered the Empress.

While he was scolding his wife, Sun Lingwei overheard and, unable to contain herself, revealed what Sun Lingshu had told her. Sun Lingwei explained that her sister was being bullied, and it wasn't her fault, but rather the Crown Prince who was at fault for his disgraceful behavior.

Sun Lingshu had been spoiled and arrogant since entering the East Palace, forbidding the Crown Prince from seeing other women even while pregnant, and even forcing an injured entertainer to perform for her own amusement, almost causing his death. Lord Sun was heartbroken to hear that the Crown Prince, the future ruler of Great Tang, was neglecting his duties for pleasure, finding his actions shameful. At the same time, the Empress feigned poor health before the Emperor, making him worried.

She claimed that her body was always fluctuating between good and bad, and subtly implied that the Crown Prince or other royal children might have angered her, though she quickly defended the Crown Prince. The Emperor, concerned, instructed her to rest and promised to visit whenever he had free time. Elsewhere, Lu Yingying, who had been commanded by the Empress to regularly visit the palace to converse, encountered Yan Zifang on the street.

She stopped him and returned the pearl he had given her, explaining that it was a shame to throw it away as it was formed from the blood and sweat of the oyster. She then told him she was getting married. Yan Zifang's response was a simple, indifferent "Congratulations," which angered Lu Yingying so much that she slapped him. He then told her she was lucky he didn't hit women.

Back at court, Sheng Chumu presented the newly revised city defense map to the Emperor, who was preoccupied with a censor's report accusing the Duke of Chang of bribery and selling official positions. The Crown Prince spoke in defense of the Duke of Chang, dismissing the censors as overly critical and quick to report without verification. The Emperor decided to summon the Duke of Chang for an explanation.

Before the Duke arrived, the Emperor read another memorial accusing a Taoist priest named Xu Chang of cursing the Empress. Sheng Chumu intervened, stating that Xu Chang was a charlatan disowned by his own sect. He merely flattered noble ladies in the palace, and after the Empress tightened palace rules, prohibiting him from entering, he likely held a grudge and cursed her. Enraged, the Emperor ordered Xu Chang's immediate arrest.

Later, the Empress, after being cheered up by Lu Yingying, gifted her a pair of jade bracelets as a wedding gift for her upcoming marriage to the Duke of Chang's son. The Duke of Chang, Fang Xun, distanced himself from Xu Chang, admitting only to hiring him for a ritual when his son was ill, but denying any deeper connection.

The Crown Prince claimed Prince Zhou was framing the Duke of Chang, but Prince Zhou countered that the Duke of Chang had been ungrateful, attributing his son's recovery from the Emperor's medicine to Xu Chang's magic and handsomely rewarding the sorcerer. Sheng Chumu confirmed that he had indeed heard of the Duke of Chang's dealings with Xu Chang. The Emperor, furious, condemned Fang Xun for corruption, colluding with a sorcerer, cursing the Empress, and treason.

He chastised the Crown Prince for being misled by such a man. Lord Sun then took the opportunity to reveal the Crown Prince's association with Chen Ji, a common entertainer, accusing the Crown Prince of neglecting his duties and turning the East Palace into a mess. Outraged, the Emperor demanded Chen Ji's head, warning that if the Crown Prince did not kill Chen Ji and repent, he would no longer be the heir apparent.

Fu Rou, delivering an embroidery piece, overheard the Emperor's command. She desperately searched for Sheng Chuling but found only Lu Yingying, reminding her of a past favor and entrusting her with the message. Lu Yingying then went to warn Chen Ji. She urged him to flee, explaining that the Emperor wanted the Crown Prince to kill him.

Chen Ji, however, refused to run, declaring that he would die for the Crown Prince, who had treated him as a true confidante, rather than allowing the Crown Prince to defy the Emperor's decree. He thanked Fu Rou for her friendship through Lu Yingying.

When the Crown Prince, accompanied by soldiers, arrived at Chen Ji's residence with the intention of telling him to escape, he found Chen Ji's lifeless body, having committed suicide with the dagger the Crown Prince had given him. Upon hearing that her father had reported everything to the Emperor and that the Emperor had ordered the Crown Prince to kill Chen Ji, Sun Lingshu was devastated. She realized it must have been Sun Lingwei who told her father.

Later, when the Crown Prince returned to the East Palace, distraught, he ignored Sun Lingshu, who was kneeling at the entrance. He entered his room and threw the blood-stained dagger at her feet, sarcastically congratulating her on getting her wish. Sun Lingshu cried, pleading that she was not to blame, and later regretted confiding in Sun Lingwei. She placed her hopes on her unborn child. The Emperor’s anger resulted in the execution of Chen Ji's entire entertainment troupe.

The Duke of Chang, Fang Xun, was banished to his family home, stripped of his position. Princess Consort Han, worried about the Han Royal Manor's connection to Chen Ji, decided to seek the Empress's forgiveness. Both Sun Lingshu and Princess Consort Han knelt outside the Empress's palace to plead their cases. The Empress, considering Sun Lingshu's pregnancy, allowed her to leave, but kept Princess Consort Han kneeling.

Sheng Chuling, seeing Princess Consort Han still kneeling, feigned a stomach ache to get away from his patrol duties and sought Princess Xin Nan's help. Princess Xin Nan then interceded with the Empress on Princess Consort Han's behalf, arguing that it was unfair to blame her entirely for everything that happened in the large Han Royal Manor.

The Empress eventually allowed Princess Consort Han to rise, but, as a subtle punishment, gifted Prince Han two beautiful women, instructing Princess Consort Han to take them back to the manor. Prince Han was reluctant to accept them but did so to avoid offending the Empress, then sternly warned the women against spreading rumors to the Empress. Yan Zifang demanded his favor from Sheng Chumu: to take Ma Hainiu out on a boat until she was satisfied.

During their outing, Ma Hainiu playfully splashed water on Sheng Chumu, leading to a scuffle that resulted in both falling into the water. Ma Hainiu pretended to drown with a leg cramp, and just as Sheng Chumu was about to give her artificial respiration, she kissed him, then declared their kiss, causing a flustered Sheng Chumu to flee. After the Duke of Chang’s downfall, Lu Yunj seized the opportunity to align himself with the Crown Prince.

He slyly suggested that Sheng Chumu's actions had contributed to the Duke of Chang's demise, hinting at a potential conspiracy with Prince Han, to undermine the Crown Prince’s trust in Sheng Chumu. The Crown Prince lamented the loss of his honest companions. Lu Yingying’s engagement to the Duke of Chang’s son was canceled. Recalling Chen Ji’s words about living true to one’s heart, she decided to pursue Yan Zifang.

She followed him on horseback, and when he noticed, he tried to scare her off by saying he was a former bandit and would ruin her to make Lu Yunj suffer. Undeterred, Lu Yingying kissed him, surprising Yan Zifang, who then released her and walked away. The Empress’s health continued to worsen.

When the Emperor visited her, she once again subtly complained about the Crown Prince's disappointing behavior, while simultaneously feigning that he had visited often, but she had sent him away because she was still upset on the Emperor's behalf. The Emperor, seeing her "filial" portrayal of the Crown Prince, expressed regret over the Crown Prince's actions but softened his stance on punishing him.

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