Jade's Fateful Love Episode 16 Recap
> Jade's Fateful Love Recap
With Liu Hong apprehended, Zhou Jingyuan grew wary. He arranged for Lin Su to quickly deal with Liu Hong and also demanded to meet with Su Nian and Lingxi to learn everything that had transpired in Liuzhou. Ashina Yueling was recognized for her meritorious efforts in disaster relief in Liuzhou. The Emperor rewarded her with a pair of jade Ruyi, nineteen bolts of fancy yarn, and nineteen bolts of silk fabrics.
He also invited her and the North Prince, Zhou Shiyu, to attend a family banquet in the palace the following day. Zhou Jingyuan was furious about Su Nian and Lingxi's failure. Lingxi, seeking to mitigate the repercussions, revealed that they had nonetheless gained important information: they discovered that the Princess and the North Prince seemed to possess a mysterious power, apparently able to foresee their actions and even find antidotes to poison.
Zhou Jingyuan, viewing this as possibly related to 'witchcraft' or the phenomenon of 'folding time' a Taoist Master had mentioned, invited the Taoist Master to attend the banquet the following day to observe the couple and uncover their secret. Yueling, recalling a previous unfavorable encounter with the Great Consort during her first visit to the palace, decided to prepare a thoughtful gift to improve the impression she left.
She specifically asked Qin Siyuan to accompany her to the West Market, hoping to find some meaningful Dongyu items. While browsing, Yueling was drawn by the aroma of shish kebabs at a small stall and paid the vendor for some. As she waited for the meat to cook, officials suddenly arrived to seize the vendors.
Due to laws prohibiting Dongyu people from doing business in the city, the vendor quickly fled with his stove, and Yueling and Qin Siyuan followed, running a considerable distance before they could finally enjoy the fragrant kebabs. Yueling questioned why the vendors had to run, and Qin Siyuan explained the Beishuo law stating Dongyu people were not allowed to trade in town, leading to jail time if caught. Yueling became annoyed, labeling the regulations as ridiculous.
The next day, Yueling attended the family banquet in the palace with her carefully chosen gift. Shortly after they were seated, Zhou Shiyu was separately summoned by the Great Consort for a private conversation. During their talk, the Great Consort proposed making the Dongyu Princess a concubine and suggested Zhou Shiyu choose another woman as his principal wife.
Zhou Shiyu immediately declined, firmly stating that he had long decided Yueling was his only wife and that he would marry no one but her. Meanwhile, Su Nian was filled with worry, having narrowly escaped death but unsure what troubles lay ahead, and feeling she had betrayed Xingyi. Xingyi went to the Fengyue Pavilion, pretending to seek the company of dancing girls.
Su Nian, dancing for the guests, displayed a look of displeasure towards him, which made Xingyi happy, confirming that Su Nian cared about him. He tried to speak to her later, knocking on her door. She opened it, but he confusingly stated she wasn't there before leaving, satisfied she still cared.
Back at the banquet, after Zhou Shiyu returned, Gao Luoyi confronted Yueling, calling her shameless for seeking Shiyu out in Liuzhou before they were married and saying she did not deserve to be at the palace banquet. Yueling tried to tolerate her insults, reminding herself of her mission.
When Gao Luoyi persisted, calling Dongyu people coarse and advising Yueling not to embarrass herself further, Yueling retorted that they should refrain from speaking to someone as coarse as her if it bothered them. Gao Luoyi called her brash. Zhou Shiyu stepped in, declaring his adoration for Yueling alone.
He then publicly punished Gao Luoyi for having previously confined Yueling in the abandoned palace and slandering her in the Great Consort's presence, grounding her for three months and ordering her to copy ten Buddhist scriptures. He warned her that further defiance and the Emperor finding out would lead to more severe consequences. Addressing other princesses present, Zhou Shiyu noted their idleness and ordered them also to copy ten scriptures for the Great Consort before they could leave the palace.
Yueling then presented her gift to the Great Consort: a hunting hat. She explained it was a unique Dongyu design with ear muffs, very practical for winter. Others present found the hat strange and cheap, mocking it as a foolish gift from someone with no taste. Zhou Zhixuan, however, came to Yueling's defense, remarking that while the Great Consort might have many fine hats, she likely lacked a truly practical, warm one, suggesting Yueling was more thoughtful than even Shiyu.
The Great Consort accepted the hat but cautioned Zhou Zhixuan not to interrupt when she spoke to Shiyu, citing the difference between lineal and collateral relations. Zhou Zhixuan muttered about her being old-fashioned. Zhou Jingyuan then suggested Yueling perform the Bowl Lamp Dance, noting the reputation of Dongyu's eldest princess. Zhou Shiyu objected, stating that as a guest, it was inappropriate for his wife to perform for entertainment.
Zhou Jingyuan persisted, implying Yueling was perhaps unable to perform the dance or looked down upon them. To save face for the Emperor and Zhou Shiyu, Yueling readily agreed, performing barefoot despite the impropriety. Her dance was widely praised as astonishing and beautiful. Pleased by the performance, the Emperor granted Yueling one wish, promising to fulfill it if it was within his current ability.
Yueling requested the abolition of the humble status imposed on Dongyu citizens in Beishuo and an end to their mistreatment, explaining that this status ruined their lives by affecting their freedom, marriage, and livelihoods. She argued that if her marriage, intended to bring peace, resulted in such injustice for her people, the marriage's purpose would be lost. The Emperor acknowledged her wise and brave plea, calling it a heartfelt concern for her people, which Shiyu seconded as his own wish.
However, the Emperor explained that abolishing such a deep-rooted system was a complex national matter, not as easily resolved as palace affairs. He promised to keep her request in mind and hoped it could be realized in the future. Yueling thanked him on behalf of her people, expressing hope for that day. As a gesture of goodwill, the Emperor offered Yueling a special palace pastry, Longxusu, since her wish could not be immediately granted.
Yueling ate a piece, found it delicious, and suddenly collapsed, dead from poison. Seeing this, Zhou Shiyu quickly ate a piece of the same pastry and also died. Moments later, both revived, having seemingly traveled back in time or undergone a form of temporal folding, finding themselves back at the banquet. Remembering her death, Yueling immediately demanded that the pastry be publicly tested for poison.
The Emperor dismissed her claim as a misunderstanding and ordered a small palace maid taken away as a suspect. Yueling insisted the pastry was poisoned and a public test was necessary to find the culprit. However, Lady Chen was ordered to take Yueling away, suggesting she was speaking wildly from drink. Yueling protested, asking why no one believed her or would test the poison publicly.
Lady Chen quietly advised her against making a scene, hinting that the assassination attempt was likely part of a complex scheme and that a public investigation would be problematic. She assured Yueling the Emperor would investigate secretly later. Yueling felt wronged and stepped out for air. After the banquet concluded, the Emperor told Zhou Shiyu he would secretly investigate the poisoning attempt and instructed him to console Yueling upon returning to the mansion. Zhou Shiyu then departed.
Gao Luoyi, who had been grounded, was visited by Zhou Zhixuan. She persuaded him to release her by suggesting Yueling's marriage to Zhou Shiyu would be Zhou Zhixuan's ultimate defeat and appealing to his rivalry with the North Prince. Zhou Zhixuan was swayed and released her. Gao Luoyi found Yueling outside and immediately began mocking her again, bringing up her pre-marital visit to Liuzhou and calling her shameless.
When Yueling ignored her, Gao Luoyi grabbed her, and they both tumbled down a set of stairs. Zhou Shiyu rushed to Yueling, lifting her into his arms and carrying her towards their carriage. Yueling asked him to let go, saying she was fine, but he insisted she needed care before she could walk herself. Gao Luoyi, also having fallen, complained that Zhou Shiyu did not check on her.
Seeing this, Zhou Shiyu requested the Emperor's permission to send Gao Luoyi and several other princesses to the Cold Palace to copy scriptures for the Great Consort, stating they could not leave until their task was complete.
