Court Lady Episode 23 Recap
> Court Lady Recap
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Princess Xin Nan publicly refused the Emperor's arranged marriage, which greatly angered the Emperor and led to her confinement. A court lady expressed concern over Princess Xin Nan's disrespectful behavior, but the princess, deeply frustrated by the continuous pressure to marry after suitors like Sheng Chumu and Lu Qi, felt it was a problem for those of higher status to solve. Consort Yan, upon learning of the Emperor's anger, tried to pacify him by subtly mentioning Princess Xin Nan's birthday.
This made the Emperor recall Prince Zhou's upcoming birthday, to which Consort Yan revealed that Prince Zhou's birthday had already passed. She explained that she had deliberately kept this from him, attributing it to Prince Zhou's consideration to spare the Emperor worries over court affairs. Feeling remorseful and guilty towards Prince Zhou, the Emperor decided he must find a way to compensate him. Consort Yan seized this opportunity to suggest granting her son "a wish that two people share."
When the Emperor later questioned Princess Xin Nan about her refusal, she implicated Fu Rou, claiming Fu Rou knew the underlying reason. Summoned to the Emperor's presence, Fu Rou, initially bewildered, requested a private conversation with the princess. Alone, Princess Xin Nan frantically pleaded with Fu Rou for help, repeatedly calling her "Eldest Sister-in-Law" and emphasizing that her future with Sheng Chuling depended entirely on Fu Rou. Feeling cornered, Fu Rou agreed.
She devised a clever plan, instructing Princess Xin Nan to first invite the Grand Imperial Sire. Following this, Fu Rou explained to the Emperor that Princess Xin Nan's reluctance stemmed from her profound admiration and reverence for the Grand Empress Dowager, the Emperor's mother. Princess Xin Nan envied the Grand Empress Dowager's legendary and perfect marriage and had secretly vowed to find a husband who excelled at both military and civil matters, just like the Grand Empress Dowager's husband.
When the Emperor pointed out that Lu Qi also possessed such qualities, Fu Rou countered that Lu Qi had yet to pass the crucial "peacock screen test." As planned, Princess Xin Nan then brought in the Grand Imperial Sire, who regaled them with the romantic tale of how he had won the Grand Empress Dowager's hand by passing this very test, successfully shooting both eyes of an embroidered peacock.
Princess Xin Nan, seizing the moment, passionately appealed to the Emperor, asking him to set a similar test for her marriage to honor her grandmother. With the Grand Imperial Sire's encouragement, the Emperor reluctantly agreed. Princess Xin Nan was overjoyed, but Sheng Chuling, upon hearing about the test, worried that Lu Qi's renowned archery skills might lead to his success, as Lu Qi had previously matched Sheng Chumu's perfect score in an archery contest.
Sheng Chumu, however, reassured his brother to trust Fu Rou, advising him to accept the outcome without resentment even if her plan failed. Meanwhile, Fu Rou was seen meticulously working on the peacock screen, employing a special "piled stitches" technique and adding herbs to the embroidery, explaining that the peacock needed more feathers. Elsewhere, Lu Qi, while preparing for the test, asked Fu Yin if she was jealous of his impending marriage to the princess.
He then gave her a new bracelet, assuring her that although he couldn't choose his wife, he could choose whom to care for, implying his affection for her. On the day of the peacock screen test, the Emperor reminded Lu Qi of the test's solemn significance as a remembrance of the Grand Empress Dowager. Sheng Xiaojing arrived with Sheng Chuling, hoping to allow Sheng Chuling to participate, but the Emperor refused, instructing them to merely observe.
Yang Bai, an attendant, subtly attempted to have the screen moved closer to favor Lu Qi, but Cao Yangde, another attendant, declined, subtly acknowledging that Yang Bai might have received benefits from the Duke of Cai. Princess Xin Nan, anxious, demanded Lu Qi stand 200 steps away. However, Cao Yangde cited ancient lore, referring to the legendary archer Yang Youji, who could hit targets from 100 steps.
The Grand Imperial Sire supported the 100-step distance for its auspiciousness and to ensure the legend's continuation. The Emperor ultimately settled on 100 steps. Lu Qi, after a long pause, released his arrow but missed the target, much to Princess Xin Nan's relief and the Emperor's disappointment. Lu Qi insisted that the peacock on the screen had moved, but his explanation was dismissed, and his marriage with Princess Xin Nan was called off.
Yang Bai later informed Fu Rou that Lu Qi had missed, bringing her joy. Lu Qi reported to Lu Yunj that the peacock had moved, shaking its head continuously when he got close, suggesting foul play. Lu Yunj, finding the matter suspicious and believing Lu Qi's account, suspected Fu Rou of tampering with the screen, especially given her role in proposing the test and her background as a former Division Chief of Sewing and Embroidery.
He ordered Lu Qi to retrieve the embroidery for investigation. Fu Rou, upon learning that the discarded embroidery could not be found, grew worried, fearing it might fall into the wrong hands. Lu Yunj declared that if Fu Rou had indeed tampered with it, it would be a capital crime of deceiving the Emperor. He saw this as an opportunity to implicate the Duke of Lu's family, given Fu Rou's connections to Princess Consort Han and Sheng Chumu.
He tasked Lu Qi with having the most experienced embroiderers in Chang'an meticulously examine every thread of the peacock embroidery to uncover Fu Rou's actions. Meanwhile, Lu Hanxing, having been tied up in a forest by Hong Yide's men, recognized Hong Yide, the rebel leader whom Lu Yunj had previously released after taking bribes. Hong Yide, still bearing a grudge against Lu Yunj for suppressing his army and seizing his life's savings, was about to take revenge on Lu Hanxing.
Fearing for his life, Lu Hanxing disavowed any loyalty to Lu Yunj, presenting his visible wounds (from Lu Qi's beating over a pearl garment in the previous episode) as proof of the Lu family's mistreatment. He revealed that Lu Yunj had sent a letter to Guangzhou to arrest Hong Yide.
To save himself, Lu Hanxing offered to spy on the Lu Manor and the palace, but only on the condition that Hong Yide killed Lu Qi, which would make him the sole heir to the Duke of Cai's title. Hong Yide, convinced by Lu Hanxing's hatred, agreed to cooperate. Fu Yin, having overheard Lu Yunj and Lu Qi's conversation about investigating the embroidery, attempted to secretly destroy the evidence.
She offered to tidy the room while Lu Qi went to rest, but he instructed his steward to deliver the embroidery to the masters first, foiling her plan. Later, Lu Qi and Fu Yin shared an intimate moment. Lu Qi confessed his happiness at not becoming the princess's consort, as it meant he and Fu Yin could continue to be together, reiterating his choice to care for her.
In a separate conversation, Consort Yan urged Prince Zhou to pursue Fu Rou, claiming she had laid the groundwork with the Emperor. However, Prince Zhou firmly stated his unwillingness to use imperial power to force Fu Rou into marriage, asking his mother to respect his feelings. That night, Fu Rou, still troubled and sleepless over the missing embroidery, sought out Lady of Treasure Li at Huayin Pavilion for a game of Go.
Lady of Treasure Li, observing Fu Rou's distraction, correctly surmised her distress was related to the morning's peacock screen test. She mentioned Lu Qi's persistent complaint that the peacock had moved and, drawing a parallel to Fu Rou's past ingenious use of mermaid silk and sunlight in a dress, questioned how Fu Rou had achieved such a "miracle." Fu Rou hesitated to reveal her secret, fearing it would put Lady of Treasure Li in danger.
Meanwhile, Lu Qi had successfully gathered many renowned embroiderers from Chang'an, including the highly esteemed Master Zhang from Zhang's Embroidery Workshop, to scrutinize the peacock embroidery. Fu Yin, still present, felt immense anxiety, dreading that Master Zhang might uncover Fu Rou's trick, which would inevitably bring harm to her older sister.
