Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty Episode 8 Recap
> Dreaming Back to the Qing Dynasty Recap
The ladies-in-waiting in the Palace of Accumulated Elegance were diligently practicing their etiquette, with Armo in charge emphasizing the strict rules governing every action, word, and even expression within the imperial palace. She noted that time would reveal who among them would rise to prominence. Soon after, Noble Consort Nalan and Consort De arrived for inspection. Rongyue, being Noble Consort Nalan's niece, was lavishly praised for her beauty and grace.
Consort De then turned her attention to Wei, noting her clear and elegant appearance, while Noble Consort Nalan added that Wei's eyes resembled theirs when they were young. Consort De also mentioned that several princes had spoken highly of Wei, praising her directness, courage, and sense of justice. After the empresses departed, Wei's friend, Zheng Chunhua, tried to reassure her. However, Rongyue, clearly jealous, made a biting remark to Wei, implying she was ambitious.
Wei, feeling that she had offended Miss Nalan, remarked on how quickly rumors spread in the palace. Late that night, the showgirls of the Palace of Accumulated Elegance were abruptly awakened and summoned by Armo in charge. She announced that Consort De's precious jade hairpin had gone missing after her visit earlier that day, and a palace-wide search had been fruitless. Armo warned that severe punishment awaited anyone found with the hairpin.
To everyone's shock, the hairpin was discovered in Yalaerta Wei's room. Wei vehemently denied the accusation, claiming she was framed. Rongyue, however, taunted Wei, accusing her of being caught red-handed and suggesting she believed herself a princess after Consort De's earlier compliments. Wei, unwavering, declared she would not admit to something she didn't do. Zheng Chunhua attempted to defend Wei, but Armo, insisting on palace rules, ordered Wei to kneel in the courtyard until she confessed.
Despite Zheng Chunhua's pleas for mercy, Wei accepted the punishment, even as a heavy storm began to fall. Meanwhile, Yinxiang, having just finished an important discussion with a minister about corrupt officials, found his thoughts turning to Wei, alone and vulnerable in the palace, expressing concern for her safety. Later, in the torrential rain, Zheng Chunhua again begged Wei to confess to avoid further suffering, but Wei steadfastly refused to admit to a crime she didn't commit.
The next morning, Yinzhen visited Consort De, who had woken early due to the stormy night. A servant reported that the jade hairpin was found in Yalaerta Wei's room, and she had been kneeling all night for refusing to confess. Consort De recognized the situation as a common palace trick and initially decided not to intervene, believing the palace to be an arena where everyone must fend for themselves.
However, Yinzhen, revealing Yinxiang's interest in Wei, persuaded his mother to show leniency. He volunteered to handle the matter himself, intending to use the opportunity to warn others. Back in the Palace of Accumulated Elegance, Rongyue continued to taunt the rain-drenched Wei, who, despite her suffering, maintained her innocence and stubborn resolve. When Wei still refused to confess, Armo, pressured by Rongyue's threats, ordered her beaten with a board.
Just as the punishment was about to commence, Yinzhen arrived, ordering the guards to help Wei up. He clarified that the jade hairpin was not stolen but had been a gift from Consort De to Wei. Yinzhen then sternly warned everyone present, particularly Rongyue, that any future attempts to frame or harm others would be met with severe punishment. Overwhelmed by the ordeal and her injuries, Wei collapsed into Yinzhen's arms.
After her ordeal, Wei awoke to find Yinzhen roasting oranges for her. He explained the medicinal benefits of the roasted fruit, attributing the unique remedy to his old wet nurse, claiming it was an exclusive secret unknown to others in the palace. Wei, recognizing the familiar feeling and the details about the secret recipe and Yinzhen's memory of making it for "only one" other person, grew convinced that Yinzhen was the one she had traveled three hundred years to find.
She directly asked him if they had met before, but Yinzhen dismissed her questions as baffling and suggested calling a doctor. Determined to get closer to Yinzhen, Wei waited at the Palace of Eternal Spring, hoping to see him. Instead, she encountered Yinxiang, who, with his usual playful teasing, quickly deduced she was there for Yinzhen. Yinxiang warned her that Yinzhen was a famously "Icy Prince" who disliked women who were too forward.
He then offered to help Wei understand Yinzhen better, suggesting she first get close to him as a way to approach Yinzhen. Wei, despite finding Yinxiang annoying, agreed to meet him at the south gate in the west of the palace at 5 a. m. the following morning to learn more about Yinzhen. Wei, agonizing over whether to meet Yinxiang, finally decided to go, bringing Zheng Chunhua along for courage, as she was scared to go alone with him.
When they arrived, they were surprised to find not only Yinxiang but also the Crown Prince. Wei apologized to the Crown Prince for her previous misunderstanding, which he graciously dismissed. The Crown Prince, upon meeting Zheng Chunhua, complimented her, noting her name perfectly suited her beauty, a "pretty woman at a young age." Yinxiang confirmed he had invited the Crown Prince because he anticipated Wei would bring Zheng Chunhua, assuring Wei that she could relax.
The four embarked on a horseback excursion into the countryside. After some time, the Crown Prince, citing a desire to enjoy the natural scenery, suggested Yinxiang go ahead to the lake, effectively splitting them into two pairs. The Crown Prince attentively cared for Zheng Chunhua, who was feeling unwell from the ride. He offered her a remedy of licorice tea and even suggested pressing her purlicue to relieve vertigo, apologizing when she found the gesture too intimate.
Zheng Chunhua, surprised by his knowledge of such common remedies, questioned how someone of his royal standing would know these things. The Crown Prince confided that despite his position, he endured strict training from childhood, even more so than his brothers, as their dynasty was founded on horsemanship. Lacking their natural talent, he had to practice relentlessly, often getting injured, and learned self-care rather than burdening others.
Zheng Chunhua admired his resilience, comparing him to a tenacious tree standing firm amidst turbulent waters. Enjoying the beautiful scenery of the countryside, Wei reflected on her modern life, where people were too busy chasing wealth to appreciate nature. She then playfully deduced Yinxiang's true ambition lay beyond the palace, in a life of freedom amidst nature, rather than court affairs. As her "reward," she questioned him about Yinzhen's preferences.
Yinxiang, true to his lighthearted nature, gave some genuine answers about Yinzhen's favorite walking spots (the field for practicing martial arts) and reading places (his own bedroom, though this might have been a playful jab). He then jokingly listed his own humorous "strange hobbies" like smacking lips and snoring, before revealing his real favorites like jasmine tea and Luofuchun wine, and that jasmine tea with chestnut cake was a perfect match. Their playful banter continued with teasing and lighthearted wrestling.
The conversation then shifted to the impending Grand Selection. In the Palace of Accumulated Elegance, Armo gave her final instructions, reminding the showgirls to always adhere to palace rules, regardless of their future status. Wei confessed her anxiety to Zheng Chunhua, revealing her true purpose for being there: not to become a consort or a lady, but to find the person she had traveled three hundred years to meet, a purpose Zheng Chunhua struggled to comprehend.
Wei expressed her strong desire to avoid being selected by the Emperor or any of the princes. That night, a mysterious note was slipped under her door, simply instructing her to "Feign illness."
