Court Lady Episode 45 Recap, Plot

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Lu Qi confined Fu Yin to her room, claiming she suffered from a lunatic disease. He had the doors and windows sealed with wooden bars and strictly prohibited anyone from approaching the courtyard, except for a mute servant tasked with bringing her meals. Prince Liang, incensed by You Jianming's memorial urging the Emperor to send him to his fiefdom, ordered his men to beat You Jianming. Yan Zifang then appeared, helping the battered You Jianming.

You Jianming angrily accused Yan Zifang of coercing him into writing the memorial, which led to his beating. Yan Zifang, however, reminded You Jianming that his concubine and son were still in his custody and pressured him to continue impeaching Prince Liang, arguing that with the Emperor Emeritus and the late Empress gone, Prince Liang had no one to plead for him. Meanwhile, Sheng Chumu was deeply saddened by the news of Du Ning's death.

Before his departure, Du Ning had provided Sheng Chumu with a portrait of Zhan Xuanzhi's killer, entrusting him with the investigation. Sheng Chumu's aide Ye Qiulang reported that Zuo Qiuqin, an official from the East Palace, had purchased a farmhouse outside Chang'an where an unknown man, matching Du Ning's portrait, had been staying for two months.

This man was identified as Mao Shouping, a former East Palace guard who had disappeared three days after Zhan Xuanzhi's murder, now using the alias Mao Lu. Sheng Chumu lamented that Du Ning could not personally avenge his teacher. He then informed Prince Han that the East Palace was behind Zhan Xuanzhi's assassination and presented the evidence of Mao Shouping's whereabouts. Prince Han ordered Sheng Chumu to apprehend Mao Shouping the following day to thoroughly investigate the case.

However, as Sheng Chumu and his men captured Mao Shouping, assassins swiftly appeared and killed Mao Shouping with an arrow, silencing him. Sheng Chumu reported to Prince Han that their only lead was now lost. Prince Han expressed frustration at the elusive mastermind, questioning how long they would have to wait for justice. Prince Han then learned that the Emperor had fallen ill and quickly went to the palace to pay his respects.

The Emperor, learning of Prince Liang's violent act against You Jianming, was furious. He reprimanded Prince Liang for his lawless behavior and disrespect for imperial dignity, ordering him to "scram" from his sight. Shortly after, the Crown Prince presented a memorial from Lu Yunji detailing Du Ning's death.

The report stated that Du Ning was killed by assassins sent by the rebel leader Hong Ze, who had infiltrated Lu Yunji's camp to assassinate him, but instead encountered and killed Du Ning who bravely raised an alarm. All captured assassins committed suicide by poison, leaving no live witnesses. The Emperor was overcome with grief, blaming himself for sending a scholar like Du Ning into battle. He collapsed, prompting the Crown Prince to immediately summon an imperial physician.

Imperial Physician He informed the Crown Prince and Prince Consort that while the Emperor's stroke symptoms had improved after his previous stay at the Hot Spring Palace, his current grief and national stress had led to a critical relapse, necessitating further rest. He suggested the Emperor return to the Hot Spring Palace. The Crown Prince, recognizing this as an opportunity, declared his willingness to shoulder the responsibility of overseeing the country for his father's health.

Upon regaining consciousness, the Emperor asked Prince Han for his thoughts on Du Ning's death. Prince Han expressed deep sorrow for the loss of such a talented official, stating that Du Ning's premature death was a great loss to Great Tang. The Emperor then spoke to Sheng Xiaojing, lamenting that few of his old comrades who fought alongside him remained, only Sheng Xiaojing and Lu Yunji among others.

He explained that granting them titles and promoting their sons was his way of ensuring their loyalty and a peaceful conclusion to their service. Sheng Xiaojing responded with a fervent pledge of loyalty, vowing to eliminate any threats to the Emperor. Prince Han then requested permission to reside in the palace to personally attend to the Emperor's herbal medicine as a filial son.

Sheng Xiaojing supported this, and the Emperor, touched by Prince Han's filial piety, agreed, suggesting Wude Hall as his residence. The Crown Prince then arrived and reiterated the recommendation for the Emperor to recuperate at the Hot Spring Palace, which the Emperor accepted. He declared that while he was away, the Crown Prince would oversee national affairs and instructed Prince Han to move into Wude Hall upon his return.

The Emperor further bestowed upon Prince Han the titles of General of Left Martial Marquis and Prefect of Yongzhou, tasking him to assist the Crown Prince in governance. The Prince Consort, however, voiced concern that Wude Hall's proximity to the East Palace might be inauspicious, recalling that Prince Zhao Yuanqi, who once lived there, had cooperated with the First Prince against their enemies. The Emperor dismissed these concerns, emphasizing that he wished for his two sons to work together harmoniously.

Prince Han eagerly affirmed his desire to assist the Crown Prince. After the Emperor's departure, the Crown Prince, Prince Consort, and Prince Liang discussed Prince Han's growing disregard for proper hierarchy. The Crown Prince expressed his intention to "admonish" Prince Han by having him arrested and made to repent before the late Empress's spirit. At Dowager Consort Wang's banquet, Lu Yingying, still concerned about Prince Liang's potential exile from Chang'an, sought advice from Fu Rou.

Fu Rou, after praising Lu Yingying's unwavering kindness and dedication to Prince Liang despite his shortcomings, suggested that Prince Liang find a new patron: Dowager Consort Wang. Fu Rou reminded Lu Yingying of Prince Liang's propensity for trouble, but Lu Yingying vowed to share both joy and sorrow with her husband, willing to clean up his messes as much as she could. Prince Liang, having overheard their conversation, felt a mix of emotions.

After Fu Rou was called away to a meeting, Prince Liang approached Lu Yingying, asking if she could forget other men if he truly devoted himself to her. Lu Yingying responded with uncertainty, which Prince Liang optimistically interpreted as a positive sign. Later, at the banquet, Prince Liang, employing Fu Rou's suggestion, discreetly spoke to Dowager Consort Wang about his late fifth older brother, Shijun, who died young without an heir.

He expressed his deep sadness and his desire to petition the Emperor to adopt a son to continue his brother's lineage. Dowager Consort Wang, touched by his apparent thoughtfulness, encouraged him to pursue this before his supposed departure from the capital. Discovering the Emperor's plan to send Prince Liang to Liangzhou, Dowager Consort Wang personally interceded on his behalf.

The Emperor, recalling the Emperor Emeritus's dying wishes, relented and gave Prince Liang another chance, warning him that this would be his last. Prince Liang, profusely grateful, promised to behave. Meanwhile, King of Qin, noting the Emperor's absence at the Hot Spring Palace, proposed to Xiao Lu that they take a break from studying and play in the Forbidden Garden. Fu Rou, however, intervened, reminding them that the Emperor's absence did not excuse them from their studies.

She instructed them to memorize "The Great Learning" before granting them half a day off. As Fu Rou watched the children play after completing their task, Lady of Treasure Li approached, seeking a chat. Before they could converse, Fu Rou was summoned by an attendant to a meeting with Division Chief Sun, leaving her too busy to socialize. Sheng Madam was worried by Sheng Chujun's prolonged absence and urged Sheng Chumu to find him.

Sheng Chumu met with Sheng Chujun, who revealed that their apparent estrangement was a ruse to gain the Crown Prince's trust and investigate Sun Lingwei's murder. Sheng Chujun informed Sheng Chumu that the Crown Prince's inner circle planned to "take action" the next day, indicating a move against Prince Han, partly due to Prince Han's potential influence in Chang'an upon the Emperor's return, and partly due to the Crown Prince's anger over the late Empress's death.

Sheng Chumu expressed his understanding of Sheng Chujun's difficult role. Sheng Chujun, recalling how he convinced Sheng Chumu that Sun Lingwei was not poisoned by the Crown Princess Consort, had determined the killer was within the East Palace and had proposed the "hardship stratagem" to infiltrate it and seek revenge.

Sheng Chujun handed Sheng Chumu a "list of participants" related to the plot and specifically requested that in the impending action, Sheng Chumu ensure no harm came to Sun Lingwei's older sister, the Crown Princess Consort, as Sun Lingwei held her sister dear. Sheng Chumu advised Sheng Chujun to hide, as returning to the East Palace would be too dangerous.

Sheng Chujun initially agreed but then remembered he had left Sun Lingwei's peacock hairpin in the East Palace and decided to retrieve it. Elsewhere, the Crown Princess Consort, looking for her servant Shuangxi, overheard Fu Shui telling Eunuch Yu, Consort Yan's trusted aide, that he intended to "kill off Prince Han" behind the Crown Prince's back. Terrified, the Crown Princess Consort tried to flee to inform the Crown Prince, but Fu Shui confronted her.

She accused him of betraying the Crown Prince by colluding with Consort Yan's people. Fu Shui claimed he was merely helping the Crown Prince, explaining that "everyone has desires," and by satisfying Eunuch Yu's desires, he gained his cooperation. He insisted that their alliance was a secret and demanded her silence. The Crown Princess Consort refused, declaring her sole loyalty to the Crown Prince and her intention to reveal everything.

Fu Shui then closed the door and directly accused her, asking, "You poisoned Sun Lingwei, didn't you?" This shocking question was overheard by Shuangxi, who had just arrived at the hall.

Episode 44 Recap

Episode 46 Recap