Court Lady Episode 42 Recap
> Court Lady Recap
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
When Prince Han returned to his manor, he found Princess Consort Han dead. Unable to accept this reality, he desperately held her cold hand, speaking to her as if she were merely upset or chilled, asking for her beauty nurturing cream. Sheng Chuling arrived shortly after, finding his brother-in-law in denial, and knelt in grief, a gesture that only confused Prince Han further, who insisted his wife was still alive. Meanwhile, Fu Rou remained imprisoned in the Celestial Prison.
Prince Zhou visited her, informing her of Princess Consort Han's death. Fu Rou was filled with self-reproach, regretting her inability to persuade the Empress and her naive hope in Consort Yan. Prince Zhou defended his mother, Consort Yan, stating the Empress was responsible for Princess Consort Han's fate. Fu Rou, however, blamed both Consort Yan and the Empress, expressing deep disappointment in a palace where justice and truth seemed absent.
She declined Prince Zhou’s offer to help her escape, feeling that enduring hardship in prison would allow her to share Sheng Chumu's sorrow. At Princess Consort Han’s funeral, a distraught Sheng Chujun confronted Prince Han, accusing him of poisoning Sun Lingwei and then framing Princess Consort Han. He attempted to attack Prince Han with a knife, but Sheng Chumu intervened, kicking him to the ground and banishing him from Prince Han’s manor, forbidding him from ever returning.
Sheng Chujun passionately believed Prince Han was the true culprit and that Sheng Chumu was his accomplice. Before leaving, Sheng Chujun went to Sheng Chumu's study and stole a letter written by the Crown Prince to Lord Zhao. Sheng Chumu later realized the letter was missing and instructed his attendant to inform him immediately if Sheng Chujun returned. Later, Lian Yan'er revealed to Yan Zifang that Sheng Chujun had indeed stolen the letter from Sheng Chumu and had not returned.
She observed that Princess Consort Han's death had created a significant rift within the Duke of Lu State manor, a development Yan Zifang approved of, noting Sheng Chujun's deep love for Sun Lingwei fueled his conviction that Prince Han was responsible for both Sun Lingwei and Princess Consort Han's deaths, and that Sheng Chumu was complicit. The Empress, though still grieving, met with Prince Han, who feigned acceptance of her decision, stating he did not resent her.
He declared his new resolve to abandon his former indulgences in music and poetry, vowing to actively engage in state affairs as an honorable prince of Great Tang, sharing burdens with both the Emperor and the Crown Prince. The Empress, sensing his true intentions, called him "vile."
During a court session, the Emperor discussed the ongoing tax collection issues in the Sheng nation, noting that despite three years of tax exemption, corrupt officials were exploiting the populace, risking renewed civil unrest. The Crown Prince assured the Emperor he had already initiated an investigation. However, Prince Han interjected, accusing an official named Hu Ningwu of severe corruption, including extorting money, abducting women, and even murder.
He pointed out that the Ministry of Personnel had given Hu Ningwu a top rating and suggested that most of his ill-gotten gains had been given to Lu Yunj. The Crown Prince and Lu Yunj protested their innocence, but the Emperor, suspicious, ordered Hu Ningwu's immediate arrest and a thorough investigation by the Ministry of Personnel, dismissing Lu Yunj from the case. News of the heated court debate deeply saddened the Empress.
Later, Prince Qin visited the Empress, and her spirits seemed to lift. They discussed Fu Rou, with the Empress remarking on Fu Rou's intelligence and strong principles, questioning if such integrity could survive hardship. Prince Qin, however, confidently asserted that Fu Rou would remain true to her beliefs. Back in the East Palace, the Crown Prince raged about Prince Han's public confrontation.
Fu Shui, ever manipulative, suggested that if a new rebellion erupted in the Sheng nation, the Emperor would have no choice but to rely on Lu Yunj to quell it, thereby saving him from disgrace. That night, the Emperor decided to stay with the Empress, sharing a tender moment of reminiscence. The Empress, appearing frail, made two requests. First, she asked the Emperor to approve the marriage between Princess Xin Nan and Sheng Chuling. The Emperor agreed.
Second, she pleaded that if their sons were ever to fall into deep conflict and disappoint him, he would spare their lives. The Emperor, moved by her plea, promised to do so. The next morning, the Emperor awoke to find the Empress had passed away peacefully in her sleep. Overcome with grief, he cried out, and his servants were dispatched to inform the Crown Prince and Prince Han.
Following the Empress's death, Fu Rou was released from prison but demoted to a lowly servant in the Bureau of Servitude. When she attempted to inquire about the Empress's funeral arrangements, a callous official from the Bureau of Imperial Etiquette dismissed her, reminding her that she was no longer a respected female official. Princess Xin Nan mourned her mother's passing, blaming herself for causing her mother distress.
Sheng Chuling, having obtained the Emperor's permission to comfort her as her "exclusive guard," arrived and embraced her, reassuring her it wasn't her fault. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince was consumed by guilt over his mother's death. Sun Lingshu, however, twisted the narrative, blaming Prince Han for disrespecting the Crown Prince, forcing the Empress to intervene, and ultimately exacerbating her illness.
Prince Han, isolated in his sorrow, privately mourned both his beloved wife and his respected mother, hoping their spirits would find peace and never cross paths again. Elsewhere, Prince Liang complained about the national mourning preventing him from drinking wine. Yan Zifang offered him Weichuan Chicken Soup and shrewdly inquired about Prince Liang's allegiance in the conflict between the Crown Prince and Prince Han. Prince Liang, disliking Prince Han, declared his support for the Crown Prince.
Yan Zifang then suggested that the Crown Prince viewed Prince Liang more as a playmate than a confidant and offered to introduce someone who could help Prince Liang gain more influence. Yan Zifang then presented Sheng Chujun, who provided Prince Liang with the stolen letter from the Crown Prince to Lord Zhao. Prince Liang, realizing its potential, considered it a valuable asset for the Crown Prince. As Yan Zifang left, he noticed Lu Yingying being mistreated by Prince Liang’s servants, but dared not intervene, fearing to offend Prince Liang.
