Court Lady Episode 22 Recap, Plot

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Linglong, jealous of Fu Yin, conspired with Lu Hanxing to ruin her. As part of the plot, Lu Hanxing cornered Fu Yin, intending to take advantage of her. He taunted her, promising she would "experience what true happiness is" and gloating that "once you are ruined, let's see if Young Master will still want you." Fu Yin desperately cried out, "Go away! Don't come close! Let me go!"

Just then, Lu Qi, having inquired about Fu Yin's whereabouts from Linglong who deceitfully claimed Fu Yin "goes out every night" and hinted at her seducing men, burst in, shouting, "Stop! Lu Hanxing!" He began to beat Lu Hanxing, who insisted Fu Yin "was willing." Lu Qi retorted, "I can't interfere?" Linglong then appeared, mockingly accusing Fu Yin, "No wonder you always yell that you're tired. So, you were secretly meeting with a man here? That's right.

I told Young Master about your shameless behavior. Young Master treats you so well. And yet you are meeting with another man here? How despicable." Fu Yin confronted Linglong, demanding, "Why did you plot against me?" Linglong replied, "Don't blame others for your wrongs." Enraged, Fu Yin struck Linglong, who retaliated by pushing her, causing Fu Yin to fall and her bracelet, a memento from her mother, to shatter.

Fu Yin sobbed, calling out for her mother, lamenting that she was not filial, failed to give her mother a happy life, and could not even protect the last thing her mother left her. She cried that she truly wanted revenge, but with her enemy right in front of her, she was helpless. Lu Qi, hearing Fu Yin's cries, halted his beating of Lu Hanxing, dismissed Linglong, and contemptuously threw his cloak at Fu Yin, calling her "shameless."

The sight of the cloak, coupled with a past memory of Lu Qi's promise that "If I like you, then you can have whatever you want," solidified Fu Yin's resolve. She decided to use Lu Qi's affection to exact revenge for her mother. She then went to Lu Qi's room for redress, becoming his woman. The following morning, Linglong was stunned to discover Fu Yin in Lu Qi's bed as she came to serve him.

Now in Lu Qi's favor, Fu Yin adopted a docile demeanor, leading Lu Qi to vow, "That bastard, Lu Hanxing. I will definitely make him pay." Lu Qi was then summoned by a servant who informed him that "Young Master Hanxing went to admit his wrongs," to which Lu Qi remarked, "That again?" Lu Hanxing was already prostrate before Lu Yunj, attempting to explain his actions by blaming drunkenness and the maid's beauty.

Lu Yunj, deeming it a minor youthful indiscretion, told Lu Hanxing, "It's not a big deal. Hurry and get up." Lu Qi interjected, reminding Lu Hanxing, "You knew that was wrong! And you're still saying that?" Lu Yunj, however, dismissed Lu Qi's concerns, stating, "He's your older cousin. You already beat him up. This matter will stop here, understood?" Lu Yunj then expressed his intention to find a wife for Lu Hanxing.

Seizing the opportunity, Lu Qi subtly suggested, "Father, I think Vice Minister Zhao's daughter is quite good," praising her background and upbringing as befitting "a demure wife." Lu Hanxing initially resisted, declaring, "I'm not willing. Lady Zhao is too ugly! If I marry her, the entire Chang'an will laugh at me!"

Lu Yunj asserted his authority, reminding Lu Hanxing of his late father's trust and threatening to remove his position as captain, telling him, "From now on, your position as captain is removed. I will let you go. You can marry whoever you want." Faced with the loss of the Lu family's protection, Lu Hanxing relented, promising, "I was wrong! If you want me to marry her, I will marry her!"

Satisfied, Lu Yunj then reiterated his intention for Lu Qi to marry a princess, emphasizing, "But the legal wife position must be saved for the princess." He unfavorably compared Lu Qi to Sheng Chumu, who "even dared to refuse His Majesty's arranged marriage," and warned Lu Qi against ever making a commoner his legal wife. Meanwhile, Fu Rou and Prince Zhou conversed by a pond.

Prince Zhou recounted a childhood memory of falling into the pond and almost drowning, only to be "saved by the crown prince." He nostalgically recalled their innocent bond, saying, "He saw I fell into the water and jumped in without a second thought." He then lamented how their relationship soured, pondering, "I often wonder. . . if I didn't survive that time, in his heart, would I always be that cute and obedient third brother?

I wouldn't be his enemy, Prince Zhou." He explained that the shift occurred due to "Taoist Priest Su, the one who is famous for physiognomy and is highly regarded by His Majesty." Taoist Priest Su's prophecy that Prince Zhou's "life is unfathomably valuable" instantly made him the Crown Prince's "competitor." Prince Zhou then spoke of a deeper pain, stating, "Death isn't painful. Change is the most painful thing.

Once you see this world become unrecognizable, once you see your childhood comrades become something you never dared to even imagine, that is real pain." Fu Rou responded, "I hope that we can do our best and prevent this world from becoming unrecognizable." Prince Zhou then confessed his affection for her, asking, "Do you know when I started liking you? It's since that time you helped Court Lady Situ. You are very stubborn.

You are never willing to let this world change you." He elaborated on the world's challenges, "There are many temptations in this world. And there are many trials. Even for those who don't want to be changed, who want to stay their true selves to the end, it is too difficult. Those who cannot keep going will slowly forget who they originally were. They'll do some things they would never have done before."

He concluded by earnestly urging her, "Fu Rou, promise me. Continue being yourself. Even though it seems you aren't sensible, I like you a lot. I really like you a lot." Rebel leader Hong Yide, previously released by Lu Yunj after taking bribes, had resurfaced and was now headed to Chang'an with intentions to expose Lu Yunj's corruption and seek revenge against the Emperor for the loss of his "family of sixty-odd members."

Fu Tao, tasked by Lu Yunj to capture Hong Yide in Guangzhou, captured one of Hong Yide's confidants. When Fu Tao's subordinate expressed concerns about General Lu not wanting the court to know Hong Yide was still alive, and fearing the matter would "blow up," the subordinate, confident in General Lu's strategy, insisted that "General Lu wants Hong Yide's head" and without evidence, the court could do nothing.

Under interrogation, the confidant initially claimed Hong Yide was in "a big cave in Yongle Mountain." However, in a private conversation with Fu Tao, the confidant revealed the truth: "The chief isn't in Guanzhou. He went to Chang'an. His family members are all dead. Going to Chang'an now, he has no intentions of coming back alive. He said he must do something big! He wants everyone to remember Hong Yide."

The confidant, fearing the repercussions, worried that if Hong Yide caused a stir, "General Lu accepting bribes and privately hiding rebels, everyone will know about it," and urged, "General Lu must send people to block Hong Yide, or else this will be bad!" Fu Tao, secretly seeking revenge against the Lu family, feigned cooperation but then murdered the confidant to ensure the information remained concealed, recalling a saying from his future brother-in-law, "the softhearted can't command the army.

An ambitious man must be willing to be tough." He then deliberately sent Lu Yunj's men to search Yongle Mountain, misdirecting their efforts while Hong Yide arrived in Chang'an, rallying his followers for revenge against the Emperor. Hong Yide declared, "I'm not afraid of death, but I am not willing! If I don't make that emperor pay, I will not rest in peace!"

While Yan Zifang and Ma Haihu were sightseeing in Chang'an, Ma Haihu spotted men attempting to abduct Lian Yan'er, a reformed courtesan who cried out, "Help! Let go of me!" Ignoring Yan Zifang's caution, Ma Haihu declared, "When we were pirates, we were cursed by people every day. Now, we are good people. . . Of course, we must step forward and be a hero!" He confronted the abductors, proclaiming, "General Zhenhai's Manor, Lieutenant Ma Haihu."

The abductors, Zhang He and the Prince Consort, scoffed at their "bandits' status," declaring, "You are just a bunch of savage pirates," and had their men beat Ma Haihu and Yan Zifang. The Prince Consort further taunted them, "A pirate who quits pirating and a prostitute who quits whoring. What a great match!" Chief Adjutant Xu arrived at the scene.

To avoid offending the powerful Zhang He and the Prince Consort, he arrested Yan Zifang and Ma Haihu, fabricating charges of them being "drunk and created trouble" and "caus[ing] a fracas with a prostitute." He then planned to publicly humiliate them by parading them through Chang'an. However, Eunuch Yu He, who was on an errand for Consort Yan, intervened.

He discreetly advised the Prince Consort that humiliating Yan Zifang, whose general position was "personally conferred on him by His Majesty," would be perceived as "teach[ing] His Majesty a lesson," potentially incurring the Emperor's severe displeasure. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the Prince Consort quickly ordered, "Forget it. Let them go. We'll let this go." Yan Zifang thanked Eunuch Yu He, who humbly replied, "Do not think too much about it. Things like this happen a lot.

In Chang'an City, if anyone doesn't have backing, then they will surely be bullied," subtly advising Yan Zifang to secure a powerful patron. Feeling dejected after the incident, Yan Zifang went to a tavern to drink. Lu Yingying, who happened to spot him, followed him inside. She brought him wine and, noticing his injuries, asked, "Who did you fight with?" He retorted, "I told you to stop looking for me."

She responded, "You did, but I don't have to listen to you." He then questioned whether she was merely amused by "be[ing] with a pirate who's looked down on, like me?" Lu Yingying then confessed, "Yes! I like you!" But Yan Zifang, without hesitation, responded, "But I do not like you," and walked away, leaving her heartbroken. Later, Fu Yin, feigning kindness, showed Lu Qi a portrait of Linglong wearing a "pearl garment," remarking, "She looks gorgeous in it."

Lu Qi, believing Linglong had stolen his sister's pearl garment, immediately ordered her to be beaten. Linglong desperately pleaded for help from a passing Lu Hanxing, but he coldly refused. In retaliation for his heartlessness, Linglong exposed Lu Hanxing, revealing that he not only stole the pearl garment and gave it to her, but also "kept half" of the valuables from the manor when Lu Yunj and Lu Qi were imprisoned.

Enraged by Linglong's "stealing" and "dishonesty," Lu Qi ordered her executed "according to the rules of the manor." However, he only pulled Lu Hanxing aside for a private reprimand. Fu Yin watched, horrified, as Linglong was hanged. She then confronted Lu Qi, demanding to know, "Linglong is dead. Why does Lu Hanxing get to live? Why didn't he get the punishment he deserved?" Lu Qi slapped her, stating, "Linglong is merely a maid.

Lu Hanxing, regardless of how disappointing he is. . . he's a Lu. He's still family. Also, remember this. . . You're just a maid, as well. Get lost." Princess Xin Nan's birthday arrived. She charmingly asked her father, the Emperor, for gifts, to which he playfully responded, "Has your father ever been stingy?" Consort Yan also presented gifts. Lu Yunj then offered his family's heirloom as a birthday gift. Princess Xin Nan hesitated, saying, "Then I shouldn't accept it."

The Emperor, however, declared, "Sheng Chumu didn't have the fortune to marry you. Lu Yunj's son, Lu Qi, is versed in both literature and military affairs. I intend to let him marry you." Lu Qi, present at the celebration, accepted the Emperor's decision. Later, a disconsolate and drunken Lu Hanxing wandered the streets, complaining about his family, "What family. . . would force me to marry a hideous woman? They scold me and beat me all they want.

In you people's eyes, I'm no better than a dog. All that for such a stupid pearl garment? I'm also a Lu. I should be entitled to get a share of what belongs to the Lu family, as well. Why do you always get to keep all the fancy stuff? Why do I always have to take the hit? Why?" He was then seized and abducted by masked figures.

Episode 21 Recap

Episode 23 Recap