Court Lady Episode 50 Recap, Plot

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Emperor Li took action on Liang Wang's dying wishes. He addressed Lu Yingying, stating that her mother-in-law, Dowager Consort Su, was gentle and timid, yet Lu Yingying constantly defied her and even neglected her care after she fell ill. Lu Yingying tried to protest, but the Emperor cut her off, pointing out that Liang Wang's dying words implicated her.

He then decreed that Lu Yingying was disrespectful to her mother-in-law, thus committing one of the seven misconducts for divorce, and was no longer Liang Wang's wife. He expelled her from the palace, allowing her to live or die on her own, ensuring Liang Wang's case would not involve her. As Lu Yingying was being escorted out, she tearfully expressed her belief that Liang Wang still hated her at the end.

Fu Rou, meeting her outside the palace, reassured her that Liang Wang wrote the confession to protect her and enable her to live a good life, imbuing his final moments with forgiveness and kindness. Later, Fu Rou thanked the Emperor for sparing Lu Yingying. The Emperor mused that Liang Wang, though once arrogant due to excessive indulgence from the Grand Emperor, had endured humiliation and confessed his sins, truly to protect Lu Yingying.

Regardless of whether his confession was genuine or merely intended to curry favor with or deceive the Emperor, as his brother, the Emperor was relieved that Liang Wang finally understood that loving a woman meant protecting her at all costs. Meanwhile, Ma Haihu, who had painstakingly crafted a comb, went to the agreed meeting place in the rain, eagerly awaiting Lian Yan'er. However, she never appeared. Distraught, he returned home to his older brother, Yan Zifang.

Yan Zifang falsely told Ma Haihu that Lian Yan'er had left Chang'an. When Ma Haihu refused to believe it, citing their promise, Yan Zifang elaborated, claiming that Sheng Chumu had forced Lian Yan'er to flee. He alleged that Sheng Chumu, like previous clients, saw Lian Yan'er as his exclusive possession, and she had gone into hiding to protect herself and Ma Haihu from Sheng Chumu's wrath.

Ma Haihu, fueled by this lie, concluded that if Sheng Chumu were dead, Lian Yan'er would return, and vowed to kill Sheng Chumu. Ma Hainiu, overhearing their conversation, secretly warned Sheng Chumu. When Ma Haihu later ambushed Sheng Chumu, Sheng Chumu was prepared and easily subdued him, revealing that he had been waiting. Ma Hainiu then emerged to plead for Ma Haihu, leading Ma Haihu to realize she had betrayed him.

Sheng Chumu, at Ma Hainiu's plea, allowed Ma Haihu to leave. Back home, a drunken Ma Haihu recounted his failed attempt to Yan Zifang, who scolded him for provoking Sheng Chumu and noted that Ma Hainiu's involvement complicated matters. Yan Zifang then ordered his men to find Lu Yingying, having learned the Emperor had released her. As Dowager Consort Wang's birthday approached, an attendant conveyed the Emperor's wish for a joyful celebration in her palace, Fu'an Palace.

Upon the attendant's suggestion, Dowager Consort Wang entrusted Consort Zhen with the decorations, specifically instructing her against extravagance or wasting treasury funds. Consort Zhen, finding this challenging, considered borrowing from the imperial treasury but was reminded that Consort Yan's approval was required. Unwilling to seek Consort Yan's help, she decided to use items from the obsoletes storehouse, which was not overseen by Consort Yan, on the advice of her eunuch, Yang Sheng.

Yang Sheng highlighted the virtue of using old items, referencing Prince Zhou's criticism of extravagance, suggesting it would earn Consort Zhen praise from both Dowager Consort Wang and the Emperor. Unbeknownst to Consort Zhen, Yang Sheng surreptitiously replaced some of the wooden poles intended for hanging decorations with yellow bronze ones, disguised with paint. That evening, Prince Qin visited the Emperor, who was reviewing official documents.

The Emperor, pleased by his son's presence, inquired if Prince Qin, if he truly hated someone, would secretly kill them for revenge. Prince Qin firmly replied he would not, as it would violate the law, even if he hated them so intensely that he might disregard legal boundaries. He quoted his teacher, saying, "Those who indulge in desire will hurt their nature," and vowed not to ruin his inherent goodness for momentary satisfaction.

The Emperor was deeply satisfied, expressing relief and praising Prince Qin's continued studies with Fu Rou. The following day in the imperial court, the debate over the Crown Prince's succession erupted. Some ministers advocated for Prince Qin, emphasizing his status as the late Empress's son and his filial piety and virtue, while others supported Prince Zhou, Consort Yan's son, citing his maturity and competence.

The Prime Minister, Qian Li, intervened, reminiscing about the late Empress's unwavering loyalty and support for the Emperor during difficult times, tearfully recounting her willingness to die with him and her enduring illness after bravely accompanying him during a crisis. He argued that Prince Qin, as the legitimate heir of such a virtuous mother, should not be forsaken despite the misdeeds of his older brothers, the former Crown Prince and Prince Han.

Later, as Prince Qin and Xiao Lu were reciting classical texts, a sudden downpour began. Xiao Lu left Prince Qin on the palace path to fetch an umbrella from Fu Rou. Fu Rou, concerned, hurried back with Xiao Lu, only to find Prince Qin missing from the path. They rushed to Fu'an Palace, where they discovered Prince Qin unconscious under a large tree.

Just as they carried him away, a bolt of lightning struck the very tree where he had been lying, and the concussion caused Dowager Consort Wang, who had just rushed out, to collapse unconscious. The next morning, rumors spread through the palace that Dowager Consort Wang had angered Heaven, incurring its wrath and celestial fire. The Emperor, seeking an explanation, questioned Fu Rou.

She dismissed the notion of divine wrath, offering a scientific explanation for lightning, citing ancient texts such as "Huainanzi" and Wang Chong's "Lunheng". She then reported that Prince Qin was indeed knocked unconscious by someone on the palace path the previous night and deliberately placed under the tree at Fu'an Palace. She suspected a malicious plot to kill Prince Qin, and if she had arrived a moment later, he would have been struck by lightning.

Consort Yan, however, dismissed Fu Rou's suspicions, suggesting Prince Qin was merely frightened by the thunder and fabricated the story. Leveraging the prevailing superstition, Consort Yan urged the Emperor to move Dowager Consort Wang to Qingxiu Temple, arguing it was a sign from Heaven. The Emperor agreed and appointed Consort Yan to manage the inner palace, with Fu Rou's assistance.

Fu Rou, witnessing eunuchs disrespectfully attempting to move the injured Dowager Consort Wang, intervened, reminding them that the Emperor's decree did not permit such behavior. Convinced that the lightning strike was no accident, Fu Rou and Wei Song investigated Fu'an Palace. During another storm, she brought the Emperor back to the ruined palace, demonstrating that lightning could be controlled as another bolt struck the palace.

She then revealed her discovery of yellow bronze rods, disguised as wooden poles with paint that had washed off in the rain. She explained that every area struck by lightning had one of these bronze rods, concluding they were the cause of Fu'an Palace's destruction, not divine wrath. The Emperor, enraged, ordered an immediate investigation into the source of the bronze rods. The investigation quickly pointed to Consort Zhen, who was responsible for the palace's decorations.

A palace maid, Wu Tong, testified that Consort Zhen, after becoming pregnant, was resentful that the Emperor continued to visit Consort Yan more frequently than her, and had often expressed a desire to assert her influence. Consort Zhen vehemently denied any intention to harm Prince Qin, claiming she only used wooden poles and did not know how they became yellow bronze. Consort Yan accused Consort Zhen of being malicious.

Fu Rou questioned Consort Zhen's capacity to orchestrate such a complex plot, pointing out that the flags and poles were supplied by the Directorate of Eunuchs. Consort Zhen immediately implicated Yang Sheng of the Directorate of Eunuchs. When Yang Sheng was brought before the Emperor, he publicly declared that he alone was responsible for everything, expressing profound gratitude to Consort Zhen for her "great kindness," before consuming poison and dying.

Before the Emperor could question any other eunuchs, news arrived that several more eunuchs from the Directorate of Eunuchs had committed suicide, seemingly to cover up the conspiracy and implicate Consort Zhen further. At this critical moment, news arrived that Dowager Consort Wang had passed away at Qingxiu Temple due to exacerbated injuries from the arduous journey.

Consort Yan seized the opportunity, urging the Emperor to punish Consort Zhen, arguing she was directly responsible for Dowager Consort Wang's death by providing the opportunity for Yang Sheng's plot through her decision to hang the colorful flags. Fu Rou quickly interjected, reminding the Emperor of the late Empress's rule: a pregnant concubine, even if guilty, should only be punished after giving birth.

She then proposed sending Consort Zhen to Qingxiu Temple to mourn and keep vigil for Dowager Consort Wang, allowing her to repent and safely deliver the imperial child. Consort Zhen readily agreed to this arrangement, and the Emperor approved. Later, Imperial Physician Yan visited a prisoner, likely the former Crown Prince. The prisoner inquired if Prince Han was responsible for the saddle that caused his leg injury. Imperial Physician Yan replied that Prince Han was not.

The prisoner then asked if the assassins planted during Prince Han's ambush were part of an agreed plan, to which Imperial Physician Yan clarified that Prince Han was only informed, not the instigator. The prisoner despaired at the bitter rivalry between brothers from the same mother.

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