Court Lady Episode 40 Recap, Plot

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Prince Han, intending to make the Crown Prince more alert, signed the memorial. Later, he saw an imperial physician leaving Princess Consort Han's room and, fearing she was ill, rushed to inquire. He was overjoyed to learn from her maid, Xiu'er, that Princess Consort Han might be pregnant. Though the imperial physician advised waiting another half month for confirmation, Prince Han was already convinced it was a certainty.

The Empress hosted a family banquet for Sun Lingshu's birthday, hoping to reconcile the Crown Prince and Prince Han. Originally, the Empress intended to keep a rare white mink cape for herself and gift a black one to Sun Lingshu as a birthday present, which Sun Lingshu accepted. However, upon learning of Princess Consort Han's possible pregnancy, the Empress was overjoyed.

When Princess Consort Han started coughing, the Empress, concerned she might catch a cold, immediately bestowed the white mink cape upon her, much to Sun Lingshu's visible jealousy. The Empress then inquired about the brothers' recent activities. Prince Han spoke of his work at the Literature Hall and its recent troubles, subtly implying the Crown Prince's suppression. He expressed reluctance to seek the Crown Prince's help, fearing it might backfire.

The Empress encouraged him, reminding him that the Crown Prince, as the elder brother, should naturally assist him. The Crown Prince, however, immediately turned on Prince Han, accusing him of disrespect and slandering him behind his back. Prince Han retorted, criticizing the Crown Prince for oppressing the Literature Hall, while the Crown Prince accused Prince Han of colluding with ministers to impeach him. Witnessing their bitter quarrel, the Empress was so enraged that she coughed up blood.

Both sons, horrified, quickly apologized. The Empress, heartbroken, declared that if they wished for her to witness their animosity, she might as well die. Prince Han, remorseful, began to hit himself, but the Crown Prince intervened, urging him not to further upset their ailing mother. The Empress then accused Prince Han of attempting to impeach his own brother, bitterly suggesting he might as well poison her.

Overwhelmed, Prince Han tearfully promised to tear up the impeachment memorial, while the Crown Prince admitted his harsh treatment of the Literature Hall and pledged to reverse his policies. They both swore to be united, promising to forever work as one and never forget their oath. Following the banquet, Prince Han returned home and destroyed the memorial, and the Crown Prince ceased his oppressive measures against the Literature Hall.

Although the Crown Prince believed Sun Lingshu would be understanding, Sun Lingshu remained resentful of Princess Consort Han. She tasked her maid, Shuang Xi, to discreetly bribe Master Wu, a local Daoist, to speak ill of Princess Consort Han before the Empress. Subsequently, the Empress summoned Master Wu to inquire about Princess Consort Han's unborn child. Prompted by Sun Lingshu's bribe, Master Wu falsely declared that Princess Consort Han would be barren and would bring ill fortune to her husband.

The Empress, furious at his words, dismissed him. Fu Rou quickly intervened, reassuring the Empress that Master Wu was a fraud who used scare tactics to solicit money. The Empress, regretting her hasty decision, agreed with Fu Rou. When Princess Consort Han heard of Master Wu's malicious predictions, she immediately suspected Sun Lingshu was behind it. Preferring to avoid further conflict, she decided to distance herself from Sun Lingshu.

However, Prince Han had already arranged for both families to pay their respects to the Empress together, believing it would cheer her up and aid her recovery. During their visit, the Empress brought up Sun Lingwei, Sun Lingshu's younger sister, and proposed a marriage alliance between the Sun family and Princess Consort Han's brothers, the Sheng family. Both Sun Lingshu and Princess Consort Han secretly opposed the match.

Sun Lingshu, considering the Sheng brothers to be good-for-nothing scions, deemed them unsuitable for her sister. Princess Consort Han, on the other hand, feared that if another Sun family member married into the Sheng family, it would cause further strife, recalling how Sun Lingshu's marriage to the Crown Prince had led to bitter conflict and even caused the Empress to cough blood.

To avoid the match, Prince Han claimed that Sheng Chumu suffered from a hidden illness, and Sheng Chuling was a drunken brawler who abused women. When the Empress inquired about the youngest Sheng brother, Prince Han struggled for an excuse. At this point, Sun Lingshu interjected, stating that Lingwei's marriage was already arranged. The Crown Prince corroborated this, revealing that Sun Tan, his father-in-law, intended for Sun Lingwei to marry Lu Qi.

Remembering Lu Qi's heroic actions at Dacang Mountain and acknowledging a debt of gratitude, the Empress, encouraged by Princess Consort Han, readily granted her imperial blessing to the union. Despite the Empress's decree, Sun Lingwei tearfully pleaded with her mother not to force her into the marriage, but her pleas were in vain. The Emperor, informed of Zhan Xuanzhi's death, summoned Du Ning to inquire about the circumstances.

Du Ning relayed Zhan Xuanzhi's dying words: "there is a treacherous villain in the East Palace, and Crown Prince must be protected." He then earnestly pleaded with the Emperor to search the East Palace and eradicate the evil, so Zhan Xuanzhi could rest in peace. The Emperor, however, refused, explaining that a search now, following previous attempts to impeach the Crown Prince, would only further erode the Crown Prince's authority.

Du Ning then requested to be appointed as an official in the East Palace to fulfill Zhan Xuanzhi's final wish, but the Emperor declined, stating that the Crown Prince needed to learn to discern people and face adversity on his own, even if he falls, he must courageously get back up and walk straight ahead. Du Ning left, disappointed.

Back in the palace, the Crown Prince complained to the Empress that during court, You Jianming had proposed his deposition due to his foot disability, and Prince Han stood by silently, offering no support. The Empress tried to clarify that it was You Jianming who spoke, not Prince Han, but the Crown Prince remained angry, feeling abandoned by his brother. He lamented that his foot injury had ruined his entire life.

The Crown Princess sent Princess Xin Nan away from the East Palace. Meanwhile, Prince Han returned to his manor, eager to share news from court, but found Princess Consort Han weeping. She revealed that the imperial physician had examined her again and confirmed she had never been pregnant, indicating a false pregnancy. Prince Han comforted his devastated wife.

The Empress, upon hearing of Princess Consort Han's false pregnancy, was deeply disappointed and began to wonder if Master Wu's ominous prophecy of barrenness was true. Fu Rou, ever the peacemaker, spoke kindly of Princess Consort Han, expressing her wish for harmony within the imperial family. The Empress, though troubled, also hoped for happiness for everyone.

Blaming Sheng Chumu for his disability due to insufficient protection, the Crown Prince accepted Fu Shui's suggestion to make Sheng Chumu's brother, Sheng Chuling, suffer the consequences. To this end, the Crown Prince invited Prince Liang to the East Palace for entertainment. The Crown Prince, now resolute and no longer "easy to take advantage of," allowed Prince Liang to command his guards for a fighting demonstration.

Prince Liang, recognizing Sheng Chuling as Sheng Chumu's second brother and recalling a past confrontation, ordered Sheng Chuling and another guard to fight his own men, demanding real blades for a more "exciting" spectacle. When Sheng Chuling refused to continue fighting for Prince Liang's amusement, Prince Liang had him tied up and mercilessly whipped. Just then, Princess Xin Nan arrived, intending to discuss her marriage prospects with the Crown Prince.

Seeing Sheng Chuling being brutally beaten, she rushed to his defense. Prince Liang, perceiving an intimate connection between them, accused Sheng Chuling of seducing the princess and continued to whip both of them as Princess Xin Nan shielded Sheng Chuling. The Crown Princess witnessed this but did not intervene. Enraged, Sheng Chuling broke free from his bonds, drew his sword, and pointed it at Prince Liang.

The Crown Prince arrived at this tense moment, and Fu Shui immediately slandered Sheng Chuling, claiming he had abducted Princess Xin Nan. The Crown Prince, thus misled, allowed his guards to continue attacking Sheng Chuling. The Empress, arriving unexpectedly, halted the escalating chaos. Princess Xin Nan quickly explained that Prince Liang had unjustly whipped Sheng Chuling, and she was beaten for attempting to stop him, with Sheng Chuling merely protecting her.

However, Prince Liang countered, alleging that Princess Xin Nan and Sheng Chuling were involved in an illicit affair and that she had shamelessly thrown herself upon him. The Empress, her face grim, ordered Princess Xin Nan to be escorted back to her residence and then turned to the Crown Prince for a full explanation.

Episode 39 Recap

Episode 41 Recap