Court Lady Episode 36 Recap, Plot

> Court Lady
> Court Lady Recap

General Sheng Chumu and Lu Qi swiftly led their armies to besiege Zhaozhou city. Lord Zhao's forces were repeatedly defeated by Lu Qi at the West Gate, prompting Lord Zhao to plan an escape through the East Gate. However, Sheng Chumu had already stationed his troops there. He had arrows shot into the city with messages attached, promising that anyone who held a white cloth and exited without weapons would be spared.

The messages also exposed Han Pengmao's illicit grain dealings, revealing the city's granaries were empty, urging the citizens to seize reserve grain if they did not surrender. Seeing this, many citizens, including commander Wang Peng and his men, surrendered, opening the East Gate. Lu Qi, after a fierce battle at the West Gate, was angered to learn that Sheng Chumu had captured the East Gate with such ease through cunning strategy rather than direct combat.

Lord Zhao, cornered, attempted to take his own life, wishing for a glorious end as he believed death was inevitable in Chang'an. Lu Qi, unwilling to bear the infamy of forcing a lord to his death, deferred the matter to Sheng Chumu. Sheng Chumu approached Lord Zhao, falsely claiming to carry a letter from Consort Xi. He then manipulated Lord Zhao by telling him that Consort Xi was implicated in his rebellion and would face execution if he died.

Sheng Chumu condemned Lord Zhao as unfilial for sacrificing his mother and entire family for a moment of personal escape. He urged Lord Zhao to surrender, return to Chang'an, and clear Consort Xi's name. Swayed by concern for his mother, Lord Zhao dropped his torch and was captured alive. Immediately, Sheng Chumu dispatched a messenger to inform Prince Han that Lord Zhao had been taken unharmed.

Sheng Chumu then joined Lu Qi to discuss the city's defense and the capture of Lord Zhao's remaining loyalists. During this discussion, Lu Qi secretly instructed Fu Tao to search Lord Zhao's manor for certain letters from the Crown Prince, which were not to fall into the wrong hands. Shortly after, Sheng Chumu and Lu Qi learned that Chen Xin had fled with three thousand elite troops.

Sheng Chumu quickly realized that with their main forces focused on the city, their main camp was vulnerable and Chen Xin was likely targeting Prince Han. Seizing the fastest horse, Sheng Chumu raced back alone to protect Prince Han. He arrived just as Prince Han's camp was surrounded by Chen Xin's forces, fighting desperately to defend Prince Han. When they were on the verge of being overwhelmed, Lu Qi arrived with reinforcements, forcing Chen Xin's retreat.

Sheng Chumu, exhausted and wounded, collapsed. Prince Han expressed deep concern for Sheng Chumu's injuries, worried about how he would explain it to Sheng Chumu's sister. The battle report soon reached Chang'an. The Emperor was greatly pleased to learn that Lord Zhao was alive and even praised the Crown Prince for his wise recommendation of the generals, though the Crown Prince himself seemed less than pleased.

Meanwhile, in Chang'an, the Emperor ordered a fall celebration for officials and noblewomen, primarily to lift the Empress's spirits. During the festivities, Lu Yingying overheard other noblewomen gossiping about her lack of favor compared to Consort Han, which left her feeling disheartened. She went to the river for solitude, where Yan Zifang approached her. He inquired about her treatment by Lord Liang, which she confirmed was poor.

Lu Yingying challenged Yan Zifang to either abandon everything and take her away or castrate himself to forever renounce women, offering her a psychological solace. Yan Zifang admitted he could do neither. As Lu Yingying turned to leave, she stumbled, and Yan Zifang caught her, noticing injuries on her hand. She angrily slapped him, declaring he was unworthy of her.

Meanwhile, Fu Yin, torn between her love for Lu Qi and the knowledge of his role in her mother's death, worried constantly about his safety. She prayed for his safe return, vowing to interpret his survival as a sign from her mother to let go of her hatred and move forward. When her maid, Jasmine, accidentally broke a jade bracelet, Fu Yin comforted her, reflecting on how beautiful things often break and can't be restored.

She expressed hope for a future with Lu Qi, embracing the idea of letting go of the past. Soon after, news arrived of Lu Qi's victory and imminent return to Chang'an, filling Fu Yin with joy. Fu Rou visited the Empress to report on Consort Xi's condition, finding Prince Qin practicing calligraphy there. Prince Qin requested a story, and with the Empress's approval, Fu Rou recounted the tale of Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin.

She imparted a lesson that great deeds should not rely on luck or transient impulses, and even revenge must be pursued through righteous paths to avoid ruining one's character. The Empress, impressed by Fu Rou's wisdom, instructed Prince Qin to henceforth address Fu Rou as his teacher, an honor Fu Rou received with humility. Later, Prince Han, Sheng Chumu, and Lu Qi returned to Chang'an to report their victory to the Emperor.

The Emperor greatly praised Prince Han's unexpected martial talent, bestowing upon him the character "Xian" (virtuous) as a supreme honor. Lu Qi also received rewards for his bravery. Sheng Chumu expressed a desire to return to the border, but the Emperor appointed him General Xuanwu, entrusting him with the crucial duty of guarding the Xuanwu Gate in Chang'an. After court, Prince Zhou informed Fu Rou of Sheng Chumu's return and then asked her to mend Consort Yan's torn sachet.

Sheng Chumu, witnessing this interaction, grew visibly upset and walked past them without acknowledging Fu Rou. The Emperor later visited Lord Zhao, who was deeply remorseful, weeping and repenting at the Emperor's feet. Moved by his son's sorrow and influenced by the Empress's plea for leniency, the Emperor considered using the "eight noble exceptions" to commute Lord Zhao's death sentence to exile and demotion to commoner, thus sparing his life. Lord Zhao was overjoyed at this prospect.

However, a guard soon brought a secretly intercepted letter from Lord Zhao, which revealed his continued plotting to contact loyalists for rescue and instructed them to obey the Crown Prince's orders. Enraged by this fresh betrayal and the implication of the Crown Prince, the Emperor confronted his son. Both Prince Han and Fu Rou quickly interceded for the Crown Prince.

Prince Han argued that Lord Zhao would frame the Crown Prince to retaliate against Prince Han for his capture and to destabilize the Great Tang. Fu Rou reminded the Emperor of the late Emperor's unwavering trust in the Crown Prince. The Emperor, though still suspicious, reluctantly decided to trust the Crown Prince once more. Turning to Consort Xi's fate, the Empress suggested demoting her to a concubine, believing she did not deserve her title after raising a rebellious son.

The Emperor agreed, concluding that Consort Xi should not be spared. However, Fu Rou boldly interjected, challenging the Emperor with the proverb, "When a son is not educated correctly, it's the father's fault." The Emperor was furious at Fu Rou's direct contradiction. Meanwhile, Lu Qi reported to the Crown Prince that his letters were not found in Lord Zhao's manor and were likely destroyed. The Crown Prince expressed hope that this was true.

Back at Lu Qi's estate, his spy, Yan Wei, whose cover was blown in Yan Zifang's manor, returned. Lu Qi was furious, accusing Yan Wei of failing to warn him about Hong Yide's capture. Yan Wei insisted he had sent a warning letter to Lu Qi's study, but Lu Qi had not received it. Suspecting an internal mole, Lu Qi ordered his housekeeper to summon everyone with access to his study for an immediate investigation.

Episode 35 Recap

Episode 37 Recap