Court Lady Episode 9 Recap
> Court Lady Recap
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Sheng Chuling feigned deep regret to Princess Xin Nan, claiming he had finally found a compatible maid, only for her to turn out to be an unattainable princess. He sweet-talked her with an expression of profound affection, lamenting that their "doomed relationship" should never have started if he had known her true identity.
He declared that he would forever treasure the fragrant tea at Prince Han's Manor and their sweet kiss in his heart, but their differing statuses meant they should not pursue anything further. As soon as Princess Xin Nan was out of sight, Sheng Chuling breathed a sigh of relief, realizing the close call and worrying she might report him to the Empress, prompting him to flee. Meanwhile, the martial arts competition continued with the archery segment.
Lu Qi impressed everyone by hitting the bullseye with all fifteen of his arrows. Not to be outdone, Sheng Chumu added a self-imposed challenge and still managed to hit the bullseye with all fifteen arrows. The Emperor, surprised by this display, asked about Sheng Chumu's identity, learning he was the notorious playboy. Lu Qi and Sheng Chumu advanced to the final round, a decisive match for the overall championship.
Shedding his earlier image of being easily beaten, Sheng Chumu fought fiercely against Lu Qi, gradually gaining the upper hand. With a final strike, he defeated Lu Qi, securing his victory. The Emperor then challenged Sheng Chumu to shoot an arrow through seven layers of armor, a feat of ancient archers. Sheng Chumu agreed to try, and with a single shot, successfully pierced all seven layers, much to the Emperor’s delight.
As the Emperor prepared to bestow a reward, Sheng Chumu attempted to ask for Fu Rou's hand in marriage, but Lu Yunj interjected, suggesting the Emperor give Sheng Chumu an opportunity to serve the nation. Taking Lu Yunj's advice, the Emperor appointed Sheng Chumu as General Ding Yuan, making him Lu Yunj's lieutenant general to jointly lead an expedition against the Sheng nation. This imperial decree was undeniable, and despite the Sheng family's reluctance, they could not defy the command.
When Fu Rou learned of Sheng Chumu's deployment, she became deeply worried. Earlier, Fu Rou had bet ten thousand taels on Sheng Chumu to win, creating a problem for Eunuch Cao, who was struggling to pay out such a large sum. Fu Rou approached Eunuch Cao, offering to forfeit her winnings in exchange for a small favor. With Eunuch Cao's help, Fu Rou managed to arrange a secret meeting with Sheng Chumu.
She expressed her deep concern for his safety under Lu Yunj’s command and implored him to return safely. Sheng Chumu promised to come back unharmed, noting with playful regret that since she entered the palace, he couldn't even hold her hand, hinting at more intimacy upon his return. Before they parted, Fu Rou gave him a sachet, which he promised to keep close as he departed with the army.
After Lu Yunj and Sheng Chumu left for the expedition, the Empress's birthday arrived. The Emperor hosted a banquet, where he praised Prince Zhou's governance of Zhou State, suggesting the Crown Prince should learn from him. This public commendation created a sense of crisis for both the Crown Prince and the Empress. Later, the Empress sternly admonished the Crown Prince, urging him to strive for excellence and ensure he left no room for Prince Zhou to gain an advantage.
Feeling distressed, the Crown Prince went to the outskirts to clear his head, where he met Chen Ji fishing by a river. Chen Ji, noticing the Crown Prince’s somber mood, attempted to withdraw, but the Crown Prince asked him to stay and continue fishing while he watched. After a day of fishing yielded only one fish, they roasted and shared it, a humble meal that lightened the Crown Prince's spirits.
He also gave Chen Ji a jade pendant as a reward. One night, tormented by nightmares about Sheng Chumu's safety, Fu Rou went to the palace garden to pray for his safe return under the moonlight. She was nearly apprehended by palace guards for wandering at night, but Prince Zhou intervened, claiming he had asked her to embroider a secret birthday gift for his mother.
He then instructed Fu Rou to visit him at Ling Xiao Pavilion the next day to collect medicine for her minor injuries. Despite Fu Rou’s attempts to politely decline, Prince Zhou insisted, citing the custom that one "dares not refuse" a lord's gift, and warned that refusing would be an act of defiance. The following day, Fu Rou went to Ling Xiao Pavilion as commanded. Prince Zhou, pushing his advantage, asked her to grind ink for him.
When Fu Rou hesitated, he reminded her of her transgression in the garden and subtly threatened to implicate her entire Administration Bureau if she did not comply, citing a past incident where an entire division was executed for the actions of a single palace maid. Under this pressure, Fu Rou reluctantly began grinding the ink. Meanwhile, Princess Xin Nan, unable to forget Sheng Chuling, planned to secretly leave the palace.
Despite Zhen Zhu's warnings about the Empress's punishment and the difficulty of sneaking out, Princess Xin Nan was determined to find Sheng Chuling, believing her brother, the Crown Prince, would help her. She dressed as a man and ventured out with Zhen Zhu, trailing Sheng Chuling after he left his manor. Upon spotting her, Sheng Chuling, wary of her, tried to evade her by entering the Yanhui Pavilion, a brothel.
The madam of the establishment quickly recognized Princess Xin Nan as a woman and had her detained. When a customer began to harass Princess Xin Nan, Sheng Chuling emerged to defend her, scuffling with the man. During the commotion, Princess Xin Nan, in a moment of panic, revealed her identity to the arriving police.
The incident soon reached the Empress, who severely reprimanded both Sheng Chuling for bringing the princess to a brothel and involving her in a brawl, and Princess Xin Nan for her recklessness. The Empress ordered Sheng Chuling to be taken away. Princess Xin Nan tried to defend Sheng Chuling, insisting it was her fault and he was only protecting her honor. Infuriated by her daughter's defiance, the Empress ordered Princess Xin Nan to be flogged ten times.
On the march, Sheng Chumu and Lu Qi exchanged barbs. Lu Qi offered Sheng Chumu wine, reminiscing about a previous drinking session, but Sheng Chumu declined, citing military discipline and fearing Lu Yunj would use it against him. He reminded Lu Qi that after their last shared drink, the Fu family's home was burned, hinting at potential misfortune for the Sheng family next.
Lu Qi then threatened that if Sheng Chumu refused good wine, he would later face "wine for punishment." Amidst these events, preparations for the Crown Prince's wedding were in full swing at the Administration Bureau, keeping everyone exceptionally busy. The Crown Prince eventually married, and his bride officially became the Crown Princess Consort, marking a significant royal event.
