Court Lady Episode 28 Recap, Plot

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Lu Hanxing, seeing Lu Qi unconscious and vulnerable, prepared to end his life, but Fu Yin unexpectedly returned with Moli, forcing Lu Hanxing to release his grip. Fu Yin, distrustful of Lu Hanxing, ordered him out and strictly instructed Moli to stay by Young Master Lu Qi's side whenever she was absent.

Lu Hanxing, still harboring ill will, muttered to himself that when Lu Qi died, the entire Duke Cai manor would be his, and he would make Fu Yin suffer. Meanwhile, Lu Yunji, observing Lu Qi's severe injuries, decided that Lu Hanxing should proceed with his marriage to a woman from the Zhao family, believing it would "bring home good fortune" to Lu Qi.

Lu Hanxing initially resisted, claiming he couldn't think of his own marriage while his cousin was so sick, but Lu Yunji insisted it was precisely because of Lu Qi's critical state that the marriage was needed, promising to remember Lu Hanxing's favor. Elsewhere, Yan Zifang held Fu Rou captive. Fu Rou, remembering their childhood friendship, refrained from harsh words, explaining that she had always regarded him as a beloved older brother.

Yan Zifang became agitated, recounting how he had endured years of danger at sea, constantly fearing death, with the thought of Fu Rou, his "fiancée," being the only thing that kept him alive. He grew furious that now, with Sheng Chumu in her life, she only saw him as a brother. Fu Rou tried to clarify that she was a child when he left and that her father had canceled their engagement.

Yan Zifang, however, pulled out a longevity lock, declaring that as long as he possessed it, their engagement remained valid. During a struggle for the lock, Fu Rou accidentally scratched his face. Despite her pleas for release and her suggestion that he might simply resent losing what he considered "his," Yan Zifang stubbornly refused to let her go, admitting his resentment and asserting that she was the only one who reminded him of his carefree past and his parents' love.

Later, after drinking heavily and talking to himself about his claim on Fu Rou, Yan Zifang drunkenly fell from a tree. Meanwhile, Sheng Chumu and Prince Zhou desperately searched for Fu Rou. Prince Zhou, having seen tiger footprints and blood-stained clothes, believed Fu Rou had likely perished and was ready to give up. However, Sheng Chumu vehemently refused to accept this, vowing to search every inch of the mountain.

In his despair, he cried out, blaming himself for letting Fu Rou enter the palace and pleading for her spirit to appear. Fu Rou suddenly appeared before him. Sheng Chumu, disoriented, believed she was a ghost, fearing that the King of Hell's guards would take her away. He held her close, promising to protect her. Fu Rou gently comforted him, acknowledging his tireless search and telling him to rest.

When Yan Zifang awoke, he was startled to find Lu Yingying, not Fu Rou, lying beside him. Lu Yingying explained that she had followed him, intending to seek his help. While he was drinking outside, she had swapped clothes with Fu Rou, allowing Fu Rou to escape, after making Fu Rou promise never to reveal that Yan Zifang had held her captive, as it would lead to his death.

Lu Yingying then asked Yan Zifang to be her husband for just one day. He refused, questioning her resolve and stating he did not want to lose his sanity with her. She reminisced about a song they shared and expressed that, despite his rejection, she had no regrets, as she had at least spent one night with him and been true to her feelings.

As she prepared to leave, Yan Zifang called out to her, asking if she wanted the medicine to save her brother, Lu Qi. He revealed that Lu Qi had a brain hemorrhage and offered the medicine on the condition that Lu Yunji died before him. Lu Yingying was shocked and heartbroken, asking if even she could not dissolve the hatred in his heart. Yan Zifang dismissed her, calling her self-important.

Though she called him cruel and a coward for his inability to overcome his hatred, he threw the medicine at her, stating that if she accepted it, their paths would be completely severed. She even offered to renounce her identity as Lu Yunji's daughter and follow him anywhere, but Yan Zifang coldly walked away. The next morning, Sheng Chumu awoke to realize that Fu Rou was indeed alive.

He questioned her about the bloodstains on her uniform and the tiger footprints. Remembering her promise to Lu Yingying, Fu Rou fabricated a story about getting lost in the mountains, being found by a hunter's family who gave her clean clothes, and the bloodstains being from their hunting. Just then, palace guards arrived, calling for Division Chief Fu.

Sheng Chumu quickly pulled Fu Rou close, urging her to remain silent, seeing this as her only chance to escape the palace and be with him forever. Fu Rou hesitated, unwilling to abandon her parents and her responsibilities. Sheng Chumu pressed her, arguing that she would only remain a servant in the palace, vulnerable to figures like Prince Liang, and unable to truly be with her family.

When Fu Rou still refused, stating her duties, Sheng Chumu, saddened, concluded that he was not important enough to her and began to walk away. As the guards' calls grew closer, Fu Rou, making an impulsive decision, called out to Sheng Chumu and agreed to elope with him. In court, the Emperor commended Sheng Chumu for his timely rescue of the Grand Imperial Sire and the Empress, asking for suggestions on how to reward him.

Sheng Xiaojing argued that rescuing was Sheng Chumu's duty and no reward was necessary, but instead proposed punishing Lu Qi for his negligence. Lu Yunji offered to take the punishment on his son's behalf. Prince Liang, however, dramatically interrupted, proclaiming Lu Qi innocent and presenting a letter from the Grand Imperial Sire. The letter praised Lu Qi for his brave actions at Dacang Mountain, stating he had risked his life to protect them.

Prince Liang then brought in General Cao's subordinates, who testified that General Cao, Cao Yuan, had long resented Lu Qi. They claimed Cao Yuan, as Lu Qi's lieutenant, deliberately withheld information from local authorities about the convoy's route and then feigned an injury to abandon the convoy, implying he had leaked the route to the attackers. The Crown Prince also spoke in Lu Qi's defense, supporting the accusation against Cao Yuan.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation concerning the Grand Imperial Sire and Empress, the Emperor ordered Prince Zhou to thoroughly investigate the matter, with Prince Liang assisting. After the court session, Sheng Xiaojing, concerned by Sheng Chumu's absence, instructed Sheng Chuling to arrange a temporary leave from the Division of the Palace Gate Guard for Sheng Chumu and to tell Madam Sheng that Sheng Chumu had traveled to Guangzhou.

Sheng Chumu and Fu Rou indeed traveled to Guangzhou, where they quickly found themselves short on money due to Sheng Chumu's impulsive spending at a restaurant. Unable to pay, Sheng Chumu offered to work at the restaurant as a bouncer to settle their debt. Back at the Lu Manor, Lu Qi remained unconscious despite taking the lifesaving elixir. Fu Yin, worried, asked Lu Yingying about the remaining pills, learning there was only one left.

Lu Yingying explained that she had only one chance to acquire such a precious medicine, hinting at the high cost and her own unworthiness. In the palace, the Empress dined with her sons, reflecting on her dwindling lifespan, estimated at less than three years. She advised them to maintain harmony and support their father, which she considered her greatest blessing. The Crown Prince complained about Prince Zhou being tasked with the Dacang Mountain investigation, expressing his frustration with the Emperor.

The Empress sternly reminded him that as Crown Prince, impetuousness was a grave taboo. The Crown Prince then tried to persuade his mother to have Zhan Xuanzhi removed from the East Palace, complaining about Zhan Xuanzhi's harsh criticisms. However, the Empress refused, explaining that Zhan Xuanzhi, despite his unpleasant words, was beneficial for him, and that the Emperor had placed him there out of profound consideration for the Crown Prince's development, given his sheltered life. Meanwhile, Prince Zhou and Prince Liang proceeded to arrest Cao Yuan at his manor, ordering a thorough search of his property.

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