General's Lady Episode 23 Recap
> General's Lady Recap
Following their major argument, Meaty decides that Countess Yongning and General Chu Xiuming need a crisis to push them back together. The opportunity arises when Shen Jin’s eldest sister, Shu'er, invites her to her mansion. Bored and irritable, Shen Jin agrees to go. However, her other sisters, Shen Zi and Shen Jing, insist on joining. Worried they might cause trouble, Meaty accompanies Shen Jin, reasoning that an extra person could help if a fight breaks out.
At Marquess Yongle's Mansion, while Shen Jin and Shu'er are conversing, Shen Zi and Shen Jing begin to probe Shen Jin about Chu Xiuming. When she refuses to answer, they insult her mother, Side Concubine Chen. In response, Shu'er slaps Shen Jing. Shen Jing tries to mediate, but this only redirects Shen Zi’s anger toward her.
After Shen Jing points out that Shen Zi is merely jealous of Shen Jin’s title, an enraged Shen Zi slaps her own sister, cutting her face. Later, as Shen Jing waits for the imperial physician, Shen Zi continues to stubbornly defend her actions. Fed up, Shen Jin slaps Shen Zi, and the two argue fiercely. Shu'er's husband, Marquess Yongle, arrives to intervene. Soon after, Princess Rui and Marchioness Yongle arrive to find Shen Jin and Shen Zi still quarreling.
Princess Rui silences Shen Zi, declaring the matter will be settled back at their own mansion. Feeling wronged and unsupported, Shen Zi furiously shoves Shen Jin, who stumbles against a table and collapses in abdominal pain. At a palace banquet, the Emperor learns that an imperial physician has been urgently summoned for Countess Yongning. Hearing this, Chu Xiuming and Prince Rui immediately request to leave.
At the mansion, Chu Xiuming discovers that Shen Jin is pregnant and the fall has made her condition unstable, requiring complete bed rest. He tenderly comforts Shen Jin, begging her to return home with him. He also publicly declares that his mansion will have no further dealings with Shen Zi and vows to take revenge on anyone who harms his wife. Shen Jin is confined to her room in Prince Rui's Mansion for three days.
Her mother, Side Concubine Chen, watches over her, sewing baby clothes. When Princess Rui summons Side Concubine Chen to the main hall, she orders Meaty to make sure Shen Jin doesn't leave. The three mothers—Princess Rui, Side Concubine Xu, and Side Concubine Chen—gather before Prince Rui. Side Concubine Xu tearfully pleads her daughters' case, while Princess Rui, as the main wife, defends Shen Jin and Shu'er.
Side Concubine Chen kneels, passionately arguing that her daughter is being targeted out of jealousy now that her life has improved after suffering at the border. Throughout the confrontation, Prince Rui remains aloof, leaving Princess Rui to decisively uphold justice for Shen Jin. Seizing her chance, Shen Jin sneaks out of the mansion with Meaty. They go to a teahouse, but she is only allowed to drink plain water for the baby's sake.
Annoyed by Xiao Su's arrival and his affectionate behavior with Meaty, Shen Jin leaves, only to run into Chu Xiuming, who has been waiting for her. He embraces her, admitting how much he missed her. He follows her through the streets, but his overprotective nature frustrates her, as he prevents her from buying any street food, and vendors, intimidated by his presence, refuse to sell to her.
Chu Xiuming follows her to her fabric shop, where he corners her for a kiss. They are interrupted by an indignant Side Concubine Xu. Seeing the couple, whom she thought were fighting, acting so affectionately infuriates her, and she leaves in a huff. Once she is gone, Shen Jin playfully pushes Chu Xiuming away, teasing that she has no more use for him.
Meanwhile, Ruonan delivers supplies to the village where Chu Xiuyuan has established a school for the local children. After the children greet her, she realizes Chu Xiuyuan has quietly disappeared. Later, during a downpour, someone leaves a box of exquisite food outside Ruonan's shop. She smiles, knowing it is from Chu Xiuyuan, who watches her from the rain. After her day out, Shen Jin returns to Prince Rui's Mansion.
Although Side Concubine Chen is stern, she softens after Shen Jin apologizes and goes to get her food. The moment she leaves, Chu Xiuming appears with the preserved fruits Shen Jin had been craving all day. Later, while stargazing, Meaty tries to get Xiao Su to ask her a specific question, but the clueless Xiao Su cannot guess what she wants to hear.
