Court Lady Episode 43 Recap, Plot

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Prince Liang, having obtained the Crown Prince's letters to Prince Zhao from Sheng Chujun, presented them to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was surprised to learn that these private letters had long been in Sheng Chumu's hands and expressed concern that if they were to reach the Emperor, it could suggest collusion with Prince Zhao and lead to severe consequences. He thanked Sheng Chujun for his help.

Prince Liang then explained that he had anticipated Sheng Chujun's value after his falling out with Prince Han and immediately sought him out. The Crown Prince, impressed, remarked on Prince Liang's unexpected astuteness beyond his usual leisurely pursuits, to which Prince Liang modestly replied that he possessed many unacknowledged strengths. Prince Liang also made sure to commend Yan Zifang for his significant contributions. Later, Prince Liang's mother confronted him about his treatment of Lu Yingying.

She noticed Lu Yingying had grown thin and criticized Prince Liang for favoring other women over his good royal consort. Prince Liang reacted defensively, accusing Lu Yingying of complaining about him. However, Lu Yingying quickly reassured Prince Liang's mother that Prince Liang treated her well. Prince Liang's mother then presented Lu Yingying with a cherished jade bracelet, urging her to wear it so it wouldn't fall into the hands of other "vixens" after her own passing.

Lu Yingying initially declined, acknowledging its value, but eventually accepted the gift. Fu Rou, having been demoted to a maid in the Bureau of Servitude, found herself targeted by other palace maids who criticized her work and accused her of not knowing the rules, asserting that her past favor by the Empress meant nothing now.

As Attendant Hu led General Sheng Chumu past, Sheng Chumu did not look at Fu Rou, while the other maids gossiped about Sheng Chumu's handsomeness, and Fu Rou gazed intently at his retreating figure. Just then, Prince Liang appeared and intervened in the maids' bullying. He rebuked the maids, calling them ugly and vicious, and ordered them away, dismissing their protests about not following Bureau of Servitude procedures.

Alone with Fu Rou, Prince Liang lamented his past infatuation with her, calling her dull. He then returned a pill he had "borrowed" from her, originally intended for his father. Fu Rou thanked him for intervening on her behalf, to which Prince Liang replied he was merely repaying a favor from Dacang Mountain. Fu Rou, surprised that he still remembered, graciously accepted the pill and his help.

Sheng Chumu reported his progress in training the Baiqi Cavalry to the Emperor, who praised his talent. Although Sheng Chumu wished to continue training in Dacang Mountain to further hone his troops, the Emperor, citing the turbulent situation in Chang'an, instructed him to return. The Emperor then offered the Forbidden Garden for their training, a vast area with ferocious beasts and a tiger yard.

Sheng Chumu initially objected, pointing out the Forbidden Garden's strategic importance bordering the Wei River, Chang'an, the palace, and the Chan and Ba Rivers, questioning the appropriateness of training there. However, the Emperor insisted that its vital location was precisely why it was the right place. Sheng Chumu bowed, vowing not to betray the Emperor's trust, and promised to train diligently. After Sheng Chumu departed, Prince Liang was summoned.

The Emperor sternly reprimanded him for instigating the Crown Prince to allow guards to stage fights for entertainment and for whipping Princess Xin Nan, his own niece. Prince Liang pleaded for mercy, reminding the Emperor of the Grand Imperial Sire's affection for him and begging for tolerance. As he humbly offered tea, the Emperor detected the smell of alcohol.

Enraged, the Emperor condemned Prince Liang for drinking during the national mourning period, especially after the Empress's recent passing, accusing him of being heartless despite her past kindness. Prince Liang tried to explain his grief, mentioning the Empress's gift of a statue of the Fertility Goddess at his wedding and how her death made him sleepless, leading him to drink to drown his sorrows.

The Emperor, however, cut him off, calling him an alcoholic and reminding him that grief was no excuse to break rules. The Emperor ordered Prince Liang to be sent back to his manor to reflect on his actions, warning him that this was his last chance to behave himself, otherwise he would face severe punishment. Returning to his manor, Prince Liang was consumed by self-pity and rage.

He lamented the Grand Imperial Sire's absence, feeling like a "punching bag" for everyone's frustrations. He lashed out at a concubine who tried to comfort him, accusing her of dishonoring his father and then attempting to strike her. Lu Yingying arrived and tried to soothe him, but Prince Liang, bleeding from an earlier self-inflicted injury, cruelly accused her of looking down on him and thinking of another man, further humiliating her before she retreated.

Meanwhile, Sheng Chumu visited Prince Qin, who was saddened by his master's disappearance and forced to read stories to himself. Sheng Chumu informed him that he had seen Fu Rou, now demoted to a maid in the Bureau of Servitude. At the Bureau, Fu Rou witnessed the harsh environment when a sick maid, Xiao Lu, was ordered to continue working.

Fu Rou kindly filled a kettle for Xiao Lu and served her a meal, reflecting on the coldness of the place. Xiao Lu, touched by Fu Rou's kindness, asked her to teach her how to read, which Fu Rou happily agreed to. Later, Fu Rou discovered her own meal had been eaten. To exact a subtle revenge, she casually remarked that a cockroach had flown into her bowl, causing the maid who had eaten her food to vomit in disgust.

As the maid angrily confronted Fu Rou, Prince Qin unexpectedly arrived, having rushed there after learning of Fu Rou's whereabouts. He respectfully greeted her as his master and, upon hearing she hadn't eaten, insisted on dining with her in the Bureau. Division Chief He and Supervisor Xu, concerned by Prince Qin's presence in such a lowly place, arrived to escort him away.

Prince Qin stubbornly refused to leave, but Fu Rou wisely advised him to consider the Empress's rules and avoid upsetting the Emperor by disrespecting Court Lady Wu (who upholds the Empress's rules). She used this as an opportunity to teach him a lesson about knowing when to advance and retreat. Taking her advice, Prince Qin agreed to depart.

Furious at Fu Rou's influence and presence, Division Chief He assigned her demanding tasks: to clean the entire dining hall, mend all the maids' torn clothes, and produce a year's supply of embroidered shoes, warning her of severe consequences if she failed. Fu Rou accepted all the tasks.

Unbeknownst to Fu Rou, Division Chief He and Supervisor Xu, plotting against her under the influence of Consort Yan, decided to send her to Qingzui Pavillion, a desolate palace, to be discreetly dealt with. There, Fu Rou discovered the imperial grandson, who had been moved there from Yicheng Pavilion to prevent him from catching the late Empress's illness, was left crying and unattended by his nannies. The nannies had abandoned him to drink tea in the back courtyard.

Fu Rou, pitying the child, entered to comfort him. Hearing footsteps, she hid, only to witness two men planning to murder the imperial grandson. Their plan was to suffocate the child, frame the nannies, and thus ensure the disabled Crown Prince's dethronement, clearing the path for a new Crown Prince and securing their own future wealth. Fu Rou bravely snatched the imperial grandson and fled, but the men pursued her.

She barricaded herself in a room, threatening to harm the child and herself if they entered, warning them that any visible wounds would lead to a thorough imperial investigation, exposing their plot. The men, realizing she was Fu Rou (formerly Division Chief Fu), initially tried to feign a misunderstanding and claimed they were acting on behalf of Prince Han, who sought revenge for his Princess Consort.

They attempted to persuade Fu Rou, citing her own grievances against the East Palace and suggesting she join them. Fu Rou, however, firmly refused to harm an innocent child, despite her sympathy for the late Princess Consort Han. As the men grew impatient and prepared to force their way in, Wei Song suddenly appeared, bearing a decree from the late Empress. The decree officially appointed Fu Rou as the Court Lady in charge of the Bureau of Imperial Etiquette.

Fu Rou, initially bewildered by this turn of events, recognized the Empress's handwriting. Wei Song explained that this entire ordeal was a test by the late Empress. She wished to confirm that Fu Rou's plea for Princess Consort Han was out of genuine justice, not an attempt to curry favor with Prince Han, and that despite her past conflicts with the East Palace, she could remain impartial and fair to all imperial princes.

Fu Rou, understanding the gravity of her new role, declared that she would simply uphold the established palace rules and act with unwavering impartiality. After leaving the East Palace, Yan Zifang went to Lu Yunj’s mansion. Lu Qi initially showed disdain, but Yan Zifang clarified he was there to offer advice.

After dismissing their servants, Yan Zifang informed Lu Yunj that Sheng nation was unstable and suggested he submit a memorial advising the Emperor to "be prepared for danger in times of peace." Lu Yunj questioned if this was the Crown Prince's directive, but Yan Zifang quickly stated it was his own idea, meant to protect the Crown Prince from suspicion. Understanding the delicate situation, Lu Yunj agreed and had Lu Qi see Yan Zifang out.

Lu Qi, still harboring old grudges, wanted to confront Yan Zifang, but Lu Yunj reminded him to prioritize the bigger picture, stating that anyone willing to help them was a friend, and that personal grievances should be put aside for now. He then instructed Lu Qi to keep a close eye on Yan Zifang. News soon arrived that the situation in Sheng nation had escalated into rebellion, with the newly appointed official Zhang Zhihui facing attacks from disgruntled citizens.

Recalling Lu Yunj's earlier, insightful memorial, the Emperor appointed him as the commanding general to quell the unrest. Prince Han attempted to recommend Sheng Chumu as deputy, but the Emperor dismissed the idea, telling Prince Han not to be seen as only promoting his brother-in-law and reiterating Sheng Chumu's duty to guard the Forbidden Garden.

Instead, the Emperor appointed Du Ning, a young and capable Administrator from the Ministry of Revenue, to supervise the army's provisions, instructing Lu Yunj to mentor him. Lu Yunj immediately understood that Du Ning was sent to monitor him. Du Ning quickly arrived at Lu Yunj's mansion. In the back courtyard, Fu Yin, playing with her child, caught a glimpse of Du Ning and hastily retreated.

Du Ning, noting the woman's familiar back, inquired about her, but a servant identified her as their young master's concubine, leading Du Ning to believe he was mistaken. Later, Lu Qi reassured Fu Yin that he would not be joining the expedition, as the Emperor wanted him to stay home with their child. He confirmed that his father, Lu Yunj, would lead the army, but also revealed that Du Ning was indeed a spy sent by the Emperor. Lu Qi ominously declared that if Du Ning proved disloyal, he would be killed.

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