Court Lady Episode 26 Recap, Plot

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Lu Qi is appointed as the general to escort the Empress on her journey to Fengtian Temple, a task he considers a prime opportunity for recognition. He shares his good news with Fu Yin, giving her a kiss, which is witnessed by Lu Yingying who came to ask Fu Yin to weave knots. Meanwhile, Lu Hanxing secretly accesses Lu Qi's study, discovers the travel itinerary and security arrangements, and leaks this information to Hong Yide.

Hong Yide, whose family was killed by the emperor, plans to assassinate the Empress to inflict the same pain of loss upon the emperor. He also agrees to help Lu Hanxing kill Lu Qi, as Lu Yunj had confiscated all of Hong Yide's property. Hong Yide instructs his men to sharpen their blades, ready for a major attack. The Grand Imperial Sire confronts the Empress, accusing her of feigning illness to avoid dealing with Prince Liang's request for Fu Rou.

The Empress explains she is traveling to Fengtian Temple to ask Master Su to perform Daoist rites for the late Fifth Prince, Shi, whose death anniversary is approaching. This explanation appeases the Grand Imperial Sire, who had almost forgotten his son's anniversary. Praising the Empress's thoughtfulness, he decides to accompany her to Fengtian Temple, agreeing to address Fu Rou's marriage after their return.

Meanwhile, the Emperor, attempting to compensate Prince Zhou for unstated reasons, bestows upon him valuable gifts, including three rare yellow glazed porcelain inkstones and his personal jade-handled brush. Initially pleased, Prince Zhou's joy turns to dismay when he encounters Fu Rou, who confirms she is accompanying the Empress to Fengtian Temple.

He suspects the Empress is using Master Su to prevent his marriage to Fu Rou, realizing the Emperor's lavish gifts were likely a form of compensation for his impending disappointment. Prince Liang later learns of the Empress's plan to have Master Su read Fu Rou's fortune, believing it’s a tactic to prevent Fu Rou from being granted to him.

He complains to the Grand Imperial Sire, who, still grieving for Fifth Prince, chastises Prince Liang for prioritizing women over his deceased brother. The Grand Imperial Sire warns Prince Liang that if Master Su declares Fu Rou unfitting for him, he must abandon his pursuit. Upon learning the Empress is visiting Master Su, Sheng Chumu promptly travels to Fengtian Temple. He challenges Master Su, an avid chess enthusiast, to a game. Sheng Chumu quickly loses 107 consecutive games.

Despite his repeated losses, Master Su is captivated by Sheng Chumu's unconventional playing style and insists on more games, much to Sheng Chumu's frustration. During a meal, Sheng Chumu drinks heavily and, feigning drunkenness, reveals he possesses the Linglong Chess Manual. Master Su, whose lifelong passion is chess, immediately demands to see it.

Sheng Chumu seizes the opportunity to propose a wager: if he wins the next game, Master Su must grant him a favor; if he loses, the manual is Master Su's. Confident in his understanding of Master Su's style after so many games, Sheng Chumu believes victory is within his grasp. However, his eagerness to win leads him to an overly aggressive move, which Master Su, ever the master of strategy, turns into an opportunity for revival.

Sheng Chumu ultimately loses and, honoring his word, hands over the Linglong Chess Manual to a delighted Master Su. Lu Qi's handling of the travel arrangements immediately causes friction with General Cao, who requests to discuss the route. Lu Qi, however, insists on secrecy, asserting his authority as the primary general for the expedition and demanding to be called "General Lu."

He only provides General Cao with the outbound route, explaining it reduces the risk of leaks, much to General Cao's frustration, who needs the full itinerary to prepare provisions and logistics. As they journey, their path through Dacang Mountain is blocked by a landslide. General Cao criticizes Lu Qi for choosing a route prone to such hazards during rainy seasons. Dismissing General Cao's concerns, Lu Qi dispatches cavalry to clear the road.

After the path is cleared, the Empress, Grand Imperial Sire, and Prince Liang arrive at Fengtian Temple, where Master Su personally greets them. Inside Fengtian Temple, Daoist Master Yuan is meticulously refining an elixir. To ensure its success, he instructs his disciple to retrieve a treasured Daoist robe, the "Mighty Refinement Robe," left by his master. However, the robe, originally dyed with true indigo, has mysteriously turned red, an omen Master Yuan considers highly inauspicious for his elixir.

Fu Rou, who is strolling nearby after being dismissed by the Empress, encounters the distraught Daoist Master Yuan and his disciple. She deduces that the color change was caused by "five-flavor pills" for insect repellent, placed in the camphor wood box with the robe. She explains that the camphor wood, along with the turmeric and purple ziyou in the pills, reacted with the indigo dye over time in the sealed environment.

Fu Rou offers her expertise, skillfully preparing a mixture of herbs and, through a unique dyeing technique, restores the robe to its original blue color. Overjoyed, Daoist Master Yuan and his disciple are amazed by her abilities, but Fu Rou quietly departs before they can fully express their gratitude.

Later, Daoist Master Yuan's disciple finds Fu Rou and, as a token of thanks, gives her two of the ten newly refined elixirs, explaining they can "detoxify hundreds of poisons and save lives" and that Master Yuan will "shut down his cauldron" after this arduous refinement. The Empress first calls Fu Rou and advises her to stay put due to Prince Liang's unpredictable presence.

Later, Empress's eunuch reports that Master Su, despite requests, refused to manipulate his fortune-telling to separate Fu Rou from Prince Zhou, stating his integrity and defiance of authority. The Empress, undeterred and driven by her desire for stability for the Crown Prince, decides to give Master Su another chance, hoping he will genuinely find Fu Rou unsuitable for Prince Zhou.

Meanwhile, Prince Liang remains insistent on marrying Fu Rou, and the Grand Imperial Sire recounts a past incident where Master Su, then known as Su Heguan, correctly predicted misfortune for a noble's marriage, warning Prince Liang against defying Master Su’s advice. He states that if Master Su says Fu Rou brings ill luck, Prince Liang must give up. The next day, both the Grand Imperial Sire and the Empress ask Master Su to read Fu Rou's fortune.

Master Su initially declares Fu Rou possesses "excellent fortune," citing her "full forehead," "clear philtrum," and "thick and large earlobes." Prince Liang boasts, and the Grand Imperial Sire, urging the Empress to yield, agrees to grant Fu Rou to Prince Liang. The Empress reluctantly accepts. However, Master Su then interrupts, revealing he had only spoken "the first half."

Prompted by a flashback showing Sheng Chumu, who, after losing the chess game, revealed the Linglong Chess Manual he had given was incomplete and, as a condition for Master Su to obtain the full manual, had earlier extracted a promise from Master Su to fulfill a favor, Master Su changes his declaration. He states that while Fu Rou has excellent fortune, she is "mutually cursed" with any imperial man.

Using an analogy of a fish in water versus a tiger in water, he explains that Fu Rou's "strong fate in water" clashes with Prince Liang's "dragon son" (fire nature), predicting severe "obstacles in the matter of descendants." Concerned for his lineage, the Grand Imperial Sire immediately retracts his approval for Prince Liang.

When the Empress inquires about Prince Zhou, Master Su confirms he, as another "dragon son," is also unsuitable, much to the quiet relief of both Fu Rou and the Empress. Finally, the Empress privately presses Master Su about her own lifespan. Though he initially offers polite platitudes, she urges him to speak truthfully, expressing her deep concern for the empire's stability, the Crown Prince's future, and the suffering of the common people if she were to pass.

Hesitantly, Master Su reveals she has "less than three years" to live. He then suggests that Fu Rou, with her strong water and wood elements (water can grow wood), could "help improve the Empress's fortune" if kept by her side, promising she would be of "great help" in the future.

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