Court Lady Episode 31 Recap, Plot

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Lu Qi attempted to decline Prince Liang's proposal for Lu Yingying's hand in marriage, citing that such matters should involve parents' orders and a matchmaker's words, making a private discussion inappropriate. Prince Liang, however, grew angry, accusing Lu Qi of putting on airs and looking down on him. Lu Qi maintained that his father had already made arrangements for Lu Yingying's marriage, making her unable to serve His Highness.

As Prince Liang furiously smashed his wine cup, Lu Yingying arrived at the door, hoping to speak with Lu Qi about Fu Yin. Instead, she overheard her brother and father discussing the matter. Lu Qi explained to his father, Lu Yunj, that he had indeed refused Prince Liang, citing the prince's notorious reputation for mistreating women, which would condemn Lu Yingying to a lifetime of torment.

Despite Lu Yunj's worries about offending Prince Liang, who was currently assisting with the Dacang Mountain case, Lu Qi declared his sister's happiness was paramount, regardless of any severe consequences. Meanwhile, Hong Yide, celebrating his survival with his men, expressed profound gratitude to Fu Shui for twice saving his life. Fu Shui then brought Hong Yide's only surviving grandson, explaining that Hong Yide's trusted associate had been captured and confessed under torture, thus exposing the grandson and necessitating his rescue.

Moved by this act, Hong Yide pledged his unwavering loyalty and offered to repay Fu Shui, who then asked for a favor. Subsequently, Fu Shui delivered a bound Hong Yide to Yan Zifang as a significant gift. Yan Zifang was overjoyed, anticipating that Hong Yide's testimony would not only lead to Lu Yunj's downfall but also secure him three promotions.

Lu Qi's mole in Yan Zifang's mansion dispatched a letter to Lu Qi at Duke Cai Manor, warning him of Hong Yide's capture. This urgent letter was seen by Fu Yin, who recognized its military emergency signet. Upon reading its contents—a warning that Yan Zifang had captured Hong Yide and that Lu Qi needed to act quickly to avert disaster—Fu Yin recalled Lu Hanxing's dying words implicating Lu Qi in the Fu family fire. She then callously burned the letter.

When Lu Qi eventually returned, he presented Fu Yin with a popular beauty cream, misinterpreting her tearful apologies and self-deprecating remarks as merely pregnancy-related emotions. Upon her return to the palace, Fu Rou received lavish rewards from the Empress, including double pay, a first for a female official, and an invitation to lunch.

During their meal, Fu Rou spun a fabricated tale of being scared by a tiger, falling into a river, being rescued by a merchant ship, and waking up in Guangzhou due to illness. The Empress, however, was not easily fooled, noting Sheng Chumu's simultaneous disappearance and directly questioned if he had abducted her. Fu Rou immediately knelt, taking all the blame and vehemently absolving Sheng Chumu.

Instead of punishing her, the Empress granted Fu Rou a special token for unrestricted palace access. The Empress explained her leniency was due to Fu Rou's heroic actions at Dacang Mountain, where she saved the Empress, Grand Imperial Sire, and Prince Liang. She instructed Fu Rou to maintain the fabricated story if questioned. Later, Fu Rou, still puzzled by the Empress's benevolence, privately asked for clarification.

The Empress revealed that Fu Rou's most significant contribution was safeguarding the Grand Imperial Sire's life, thereby preserving the Emperor and Empress's opportunity to fulfill their filial duties. Meanwhile, Sheng Chuling, concerned for his missing brother, approached Fu Rou for news of Sheng Chumu. Prince Zhou quickly intervened, dismissing Sheng Chuling and later cautioning Fu Rou against revealing her elopement with Sheng Chumu, emphasizing that such a revelation would harm both of them.

Fu Rou, understanding the gravity of the situation, falsely told Sheng Chuling she did not know Sheng Chumu's whereabouts. During a court session, Prince Zhou reported on the Hong Yide case, noting that Cao Yuan's confession of leaking the route, obtained under torture, was questionable. The Emperor ordered a re-investigation of Fan Zhang, strictly forbidding torture.

Prince Zhou then attempted to recommend Zhong Yutang for an important post, but the Crown Prince intervened, exposing Zhong Yutang's unfilial act of marrying a concubine during his mother's mourning period. Consequently, the Emperor dismissed Zhong Yutang, appointing Dugu Deguan instead. Prince Zhou then revealed that Hong Yide, previously reported dead by Lu Yunj, was in fact alive and the true leader of the Dacang Mountain bandits.

Lu Yunj defended himself, claiming he believed a corpse resembling Hong Yide, complete with his armor and signet, confirmed by a captured guard, was the bandit leader, and that Hong Yide must have faked his death. Prince Liang, still angered by Lu Yunj's refusal of his marriage proposal to Lu Yingying, accused Lu Yunj of fabricating the report for personal gain. The Crown Prince attempted to defend Lu Yunj.

However, the Emperor chastised Lu Yunj for his negligence in properly verifying the body, noting Hong Yide's cunning nature. Seizing his opportunity, Yan Zifang dramatically announced Hong Yide's capture and presented his confession, implicating Lu Yunj in a bribery scheme that led to Hong Yide's secret release and the subsequent Dacang Mountain tragedy. Lu Qi tried to argue that Yan Zifang harbored a personal vendetta against their family, but Yan Zifang reiterated that Hong Yide himself confirmed Lu Yunj's complicity.

The Emperor, declaring that truth cannot be faked, ordered the immediate arrest of both Lu Yunj and Lu Qi for investigation. The Crown Prince also received a reprimand for defending Lu Yunj. Returning to his palace, the Crown Prince was further agitated by Zhan Xuanzhi's reprimand, following his father's earlier scolding. He sought solace at Chen Ji's grave, where he found Sun Lingshu weeping. She prayed for Chen Ji to protect the Crown Prince and restore his genuine happiness.

Suddenly, Sun Lingshu experienced severe abdominal pain, prompting the Crown Prince to urgently summon an imperial physician. At Cheng En Hall, the midwife reported the Crown Princess Consort's dire condition, asking whether to save the mother or the child. As the Crown Prince hesitated, the Empress arrived and immediately commanded to prioritize the imperial grandson. A palace servant who pleaded for the Crown Princess Consort's life was forcibly removed.

Fu Rou then bravely proposed a risky solution: to intentionally startle the laboring mother, potentially causing her to exert enough force to deliver the baby. Both the Crown Prince and the Empress, desperate, agreed to the plan. The Crown Prince staged a fake assassination attempt within Sun Lingshu's sight. Startled, Sun Lingshu pushed with all her might, successfully giving birth to a healthy baby boy, the imperial grandson. The Empress rejoiced at the news.

The Crown Prince then rushed to Sun Lingshu's side, explaining the ruse, and they lovingly admired their newborn son, Que'er. Later, the Crown Princess Consort received a visit from her sister, Sun Lingwei, who expressed deep remorse for past transgressions and feared she would never be forgiven. The Crown Princess Consort reassured her, admitting her own recent struggles. A maid confirmed Sun Lingwei's fervent prayers at Fu'an Temple for her sister.

The Crown Prince then brought Que'er in, and Sun Lingwei delightedly greeted her new nephew. The Emperor and Empress were ecstatic about the imperial grandson's birth, celebrating with a family banquet and planning a grand formal ceremony. Prince Zhou recommended Prince Han to organize the event. Although Prince Han initially tried to decline, citing his busy schedule at the Literature Hall, Consort Yan persuasively argued that his expertise in ancient rites made him the ideal candidate.

The Emperor agreed, assigning Prince Han the task. The Emperor also commended the Crown Princess Consort for her significant contribution and urged the Crown Prince to ensure her complete recovery. The Empress then highlighted Fu Rou's crucial role in devising the plan that saved both mother and child.

When asked how he wished to be rewarded for her numerous contributions, Fu Rou humbly but boldly requested the Emperor dispatch troops to suppress the rampant bandits in the Lion Mountain region of Guangxi Province, a plight she had learned about from an elderly man and his grandson during her travels. Impressed by her compassion and insight, the Emperor granted Fu Rou the unique "power to speak," allowing her to express her opinions freely before him.

The Crown Prince then toasted his father's wisdom and was reminded to mature into a wise Crown Prince for the Great Tang. Meanwhile, Lu Yunj and Lu Qi were imprisoned. Guards openly discussed Prince Liang's vengeful intentions, denying them proper meals and family visits. Lu Yunj despaired, believing their family was doomed, while Lu Qi furiously vowed retribution. Within Duke Cai Manor, servants whispered rumors of Lu Yunj's alleged collusion with Hong Yide, fearing the family's imminent downfall.

Lu Yingying confronted Fu Yin, lamenting that if Lu Hanxing were still alive, he would be working tirelessly to save their father and brother, pointedly asking if Fu Yin had considered this when she killed him. Fu Yin accused Lu Yingying of merely scolding her. Lu Yingying clarified she came to see her future nephew and vowed to prevent the child from being born without a father and grandfather.

Desperate to save her family, Lu Yingying approached Yan Zifang for assistance. He coldly rebuffed her, reminding her that their past relationship was irrevocably severed and he would not intervene. Lu Yingying expressed pity for his hardened heart, asserting her belief that a soft spot exists within everyone, regardless of their past. Yan Zifang simply dismissed her as naive. With no other options, Lu Yingying disguised herself as a stunning dancer from Jiangnan and debuted at Yanhui Tavern.

Prince Liang was immediately captivated and invited her to his table. She knelt, feigning an apology for a past "inadvertent mistake"—having admired him from afar on the streets of Chang'an but being too shy to reveal his identity to her family. Prince Han returned to his manor severely intoxicated and vomited, while Princess Consort Han diligently cared for him. He later blamed the Crown Prince for forcing him to drink, sensing the Crown Prince's recent displeasure towards him.

The next morning, as Prince Han recovered, he found Princess Consort Han embroidering a pomegranate, a symbol of fertility, and realized her deep longing for a child. She expressed her anxiety over not having conceived, especially compared to the Crown Princess Consort's recent delivery, feeling she had disappointed both Prince Han and the Empress. Prince Han reassured her, emphasizing their youth and strength.

Princess Consort Han also voiced her concern for Sheng Chumu, who had gone missing after searching for Fu Rou at Dacang Mountain. Prince Han confidently asserted that Sheng Chumu was clever and would surely be safe. He then offered to help her embroider the "One Hundred Children" pattern. At that very moment, a heavily intoxicated Sheng Chumu collapsed at the gates of Prince Han's Manor, discovered by the guards and brought inside.

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