Court Lady Episode 53 Recap, Plot

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Consort Yan was by the Emperor's side when he regained consciousness. Before he could speak, she grasped his hand, assuring him that she had followed his decree to let Prince Zhou temporarily handle state affairs and that everything was under control. The Emperor tried to say something but then fainted again. Everyone anxiously asked Imperial Physician He if he could use acupuncture once more.

Imperial Physician He explained that His Majesty's body was too weak and that forcefully using needles again could be fatal, so they had to abandon the idea. Fu Rou sought to leave the palace, but without Consort Yan's written permission, no one was allowed out. Fu Rou went to Dugu General for help. Dugu General, after confidently assuring her, suddenly coughed up blood and collapsed, incapacitated by illness.

With Dugu General incapacitated, Consort Yan appointed General Zhong as the new commander of the imperial guards. General Zhong pledged his loyalty to Consort Yan, and Fu Shui, who was present, recommended Yan Zifang as his deputy. Yan Zifang noted that Dugu General was highly respected among the imperial guards, so to effectively take over, they would need more than just the transfer order; they needed to establish authority by making an example of someone. Fu Shui suggested Sheng Chuling.

Sheng Chuling was with Princess Xin Nan when Yan Zifang arrived with his men and arrested him. Princess Xin Nan, enraged, went to Consort Yan's palace to demand an explanation. Consort Yan accused Princess Xin Nan of illicit relations with a guard and ordered Zhen Zhu, the princess's attendant, to be taken for interrogation. Zhen Zhu refused to speak and was brutally beaten to death with a cane by Consort Yan's orders.

Princess Xin Nan desperately stated that the Emperor had already granted her and Sheng Chuling a marriage, but Consort Yan dismissed this, asserting that with the Emperor unconscious, she was in charge. When Fu Rou learned the news and rushed to the scene, Zhen Zhu had already died. Fu Rou angrily rebuked Consort Yan for violating palace rules by using private torture.

Consort Yan nonchalantly acknowledged that she had been a bit "hasty" and ordered Zhen Zhu to be given a proper burial. Concerned that Consort Yan would target Sheng Chuling next, Fu Rou demanded to be present during Sheng Chuling's interrogation at the Office of Imperial Guards.

Consort Yan reluctantly agreed, but then, using the pretext that the Bureau of Imperial Etiquette had failed to properly supervise the princess, she ordered Court Lady Wu to be confined and Princess Xin Nan to be placed under house arrest. At this point, Yan Zifang reported to Consort Yan that Sheng Chuling had injured the guards and escaped.

Fu Rou was deeply disappointed in Yan Zifang, who retorted that since they had gone their separate ways, they would each follow their own path, and time would tell who would achieve success. With the palace now under strict lockdown, Fu Rou desperately sought a way to send messages outside. She ultimately adopted Princess Xin Nan's method: writing a unique code that only she and Sheng Chumu would understand on kites and releasing them from the palace.

Yan Zifang observed the kites and, recognizing the unusual symbols, suspected they were secret codes. Eunuch Yu, concerned about messages being transmitted, then requested Consort Yan to impose an immediate ban on kite flying in the palace, which she did. Sheng Chumu received the kite message and learned that Sheng Chuling was in trouble. That night, Sheng Chumu confronted Yan Zifang on the street, demanding to know Sheng Chuling's whereabouts.

Yan Zifang, realizing the kites were indeed used to relay information, told Sheng Chumu that if he wanted to know about Sheng Chuling, he must follow his instructions. He arranged for Sheng Chumu to meet him at Villa Fushui the following night at midnight, promising Sheng Chuling's safety if Sheng Chumu cooperated. Meanwhile, Fu Rou secretly summoned Lady of Treasure Li and inquired about her relationship with Concubine Qiao.

The next day, Lady of Treasure Li subtly influenced Concubine Qiao, whose daughter was Princess Yue Yang, by pointing out that if Consort Yan set such a cruel precedent, other princesses' futures would also be bleak. Concubine Qiao found this reasoning compelling and, with other imperial consorts, went to plead with Consort Yan for leniency for Princess Xin Nan. Consort Yan feigned compassion, claiming she only intended for Princess Xin Nan to reflect.

However, at that moment, an inner attendant arrived, bringing Princess Xin Nan and claiming a sharp blade had been found in her room. This blade was actually secretly given to Princess Xin Nan by Fu Rou, but everyone present believed it was a setup by Consort Yan. Princess Xin Nan vehemently denied the accusation, calling it a fabrication. After dismissing the other consorts, Consort Yan sent Princess Xin Nan to the Office of Imperial Guards for questioning.

Concubine Qiao, witnessing Consort Yan's ruthlessness towards Princess Xin Nan, grew even more concerned that her own daughter might suffer a similar fate, deepening her resentment towards Consort Yan. Shortly after Princess Xin Nan was taken to the Office of Imperial Guards, a fire suddenly broke out there. General Zhong reported to Consort Yan that Princess Xin Nan had been burned to death, claiming to have found only a charred body in her cell.

He attempted to shift the blame to Yan Zifang. Yan Zifang, however, countered by revealing that General Zhong frequently drank and stored large amounts of liquor in the best rooms, where Princess Xin Nan was held, and these spirits had fueled the fire. Worried about public opinion, Consort Yan expressed concern that Princess Xin Nan's death might be attributed to her.

Yan Zifang reassured her, stating that he had already imposed a gag order at the Office of Imperial Guards and would spread the story that Princess Xin Nan had committed suicide out of guilt, fearing exposure of her alleged schemes. Consort Yan then instructed Yan Zifang to handle Princess Xin Nan's funeral arrangements. Separately, the Crown Prince and King Han, who were confined and given meager rations, overheard whispers of Princess Xin Nan's death and were deeply saddened.

They also learned from eunuchs that the reduced food was a tactic to incite them to fight each other, leading to their mutual demise without Consort Yan bearing direct responsibility. Sheng Chumu arrived at Villa Fushui for the meeting. Yan Zifang demanded to know the whereabouts of Prince Qin and the secret codes used to communicate with the palace. Sheng Chumu insisted on seeing Sheng Chuling first.

Sheng Chuling was brought out, and as he walked a few steps away, Yan Zifang again demanded the information. Sheng Chumu then threw a written document towards him. However, Sheng Chumu had anticipated this: soldiers positioned at a distance shot arrows, destroying the document as Yan Zifang opened it. In the ensuing chaos, Fu Shui shot an arrow into Sheng Chumu as he shielded Sheng Chuling, causing Sheng Chumu to fall off the cliff.

Fu Shui's subordinates only found Sheng Chumu's sachet on the mountainside. Remembering Sheng Chumu's previous survival from a similar fall, Fu Shui remained cautious and ordered his men to continue the search for the body. He noted that while Sheng Chumu was supposedly eliminated, Prince Qin's whereabouts remained unknown, and Sheng Chuling had escaped.

Fu Shui decided to use the pretense of searching for the fugitive Sheng Chuling to conduct a more extensive search, as a direct search for a prince would cause too much upheaval.

Episode 52 Recap

Episode 54 Recap