Jun Jiu Ling Episode 33 Recap
> Jun Jiu Ling Recap
At Ning Yunzhao's persistent request, Fang Jinxiu went to the medical hall to inform Jun Jiuling of his presence. Jun Jiuling, witnessing the anger of those around her and unable to explain the situation, publicly ended her relationship with Ning Yunzhao, stating they were fundamentally incompatible. This public display was part of a pre-arranged plan between Jun Jiuling and Ning Yunzhao.
To gain Chu Rang's complete trust and evade suspicion from other officials, Ning Yunzhao needed to publicly distance himself from those Chu Rang considered threats, including Zhu Zan, Lord Cheng, Ning Yunzhao himself, and Jun Jiuling. Jun Jiuling had warned him that this would involve public humiliation, but he accepted it, claiming he was accustomed to suffering as a "calamitous minister."
During their interaction, Ning Yunzhao playfully asked Jun Jiuling about her "marriage" to Zhu Zan, to which she confirmed it was fake. Later, when Zhu Zan, who was already feeling a touch of jealousy after seeing them talk, pressed her on the matter, Jun Jiuling clarified that while it was currently fake, its future was uncertain. After Ning Yunzhao departed and the others dispersed, Lu Yunqi appeared at the Jiuling Drugstore.
He informed Jun Jiuling that Prince Huai was ill and suggested she treat him. Zhu Zan, enraged upon seeing Lu Yunqi, mistakenly believed he intended to harm Jun Jiuling. Jun Jiuling intervened, promptly ordering Lu Yunqi away. However, she recognized that Lu Yunqi was using Prince Huai's illness as a threat, which could damage her Jiuling Drugstore's reputation. She instructed Zhu Zan to discreetly investigate.
Zhu Zan soon discovered that Huang Cheng intended to send Prince Huai to the imperial mausoleum under the pretense of him being afflicted by "evil spirits." Jun Jiuling quickly deduced that Huang Cheng's real target was not Prince Huai himself, but Lord Cheng. The scheme was designed to test Lord Cheng's loyalty: if he publicly opposed the plan to send Prince Huai to the imperial mausoleum, he would be branded as a supporter of the late emperor.
Despite her concern for her younger brother Prince Huai, Jun Jiuling prioritized preventing Lord Cheng from falling into this trap. She instructed Zhu Zan to tell Lord Cheng to remain silent during the morning levee. Instead, she would arrange to secretly meet Prince Huai herself to confirm his condition.
She firmly told Zhu Zan that she would make the difficult decision to protect Lord Cheng from unnecessary risk, knowing that Chu Rang had already decided to send Prince Huai to the imperial mausoleum and any opposition would be futile. Unexpectedly, Lord Cheng did not remain silent. Instead, he personally visited Prince Huai's mansion, accompanied by Zhu family soldiers, and had Jun Jiuling examine Prince Huai.
In the subsequent morning levee, when Huang Cheng proposed sending Prince Huai to the imperial mausoleum for "blessings," Lord Cheng publicly stated that Prince Huai was in good spirits and clear of mind, implying he was not afflicted. He even suggested that if "evil spirits" were indeed the issue, the imperial city or battle-hardened soldiers from his command would be more effective than the imperial mausoleum.
He then subtly referred to Jun Jiuling as "your heir's wife" to the court, reinforcing her connection to his family, thus directly challenging Huang Cheng's scheme without outright insubordination. With Prince Huai's matter resolved, Zhu Zan and Jun Jiuling found a moment of respite. They strolled through the streets, admiring lanterns and reflecting on their journey together.
Zhu Zan confessed his fears of missing her and lamented that she hadn't acknowledged him sooner in Zezhou, promising he would have protected her. Jun Jiuling explained that her dangerous mission in Zezhou meant she could not have involved him. She admitted that she initially tried to push him away but found herself constantly thinking of him, missing him when he was absent, and feeling a spark in her eyes when they met.
She described him as a "careless and casual person" yet one who always saved her from danger and even traveled from the North to show her a "Northland sand birch." She concluded that her most cherished days were those spent with him. As they passed a family of four, they both paused, longing for a similar life of companionship. Meanwhile, Chu Rang chastised Huang Cheng for his failed attempt to use Prince Huai.
He then summoned Lu Yunqi, unexpectedly learning that Jun Jiuling had extensively used Deshengchang's funds, virtually emptying its seventeen money shops, to aid Northern refugees and forge weapons and armor. Infuriated by this unauthorized expenditure and Jun Jiuling's growing influence, Chu Rang vowed to eliminate her. Under the pretense of rewarding Deshengchang's generosity, he immediately ordered Fang Chengyu, the head of Deshengchang, to be summoned to the capital for an audience.
Ms. Cao, fearing for the Fang family's sole remaining male heir, proposed going to the capital herself. However, Fang Chengyu, viewing himself as the family's pillar, insisted on going, asserting that he could not abandon his responsibility. He eloquently argued that the Fang family's true legacy lay in its enduring spirit, not just a male heir, and believed that his presence would honor the Emperor while showing the family's sincerity, especially as the court might underestimate the Fang family's women.
Simultaneously, Zhu Zan, aware of Chu Rang's intentions towards Jun Jiuling, sought Lord Cheng's counsel. His Twelfth Uncle had advised him that Chu Rang likely aimed to destroy the marriage alliance by eliminating Jun Jiuling. Lord Cheng then suggested that Zhu Zan should seize this opportunity to request an imperial reward for Jun Jiuling's contributions.
The following morning at the court, Lord Cheng formally reported Jun Jiuling's extensive efforts in aiding the Northern refugees and forging weapons, stating that she had used his name for convenience. Other officials quickly voiced their support, endorsing her merits. Although Minister Huang attempted to deflect credit back to Lord Cheng, other ministers quickly re-framed the narrative, praising Chu Rang's wisdom for enabling such deeds.
Faced with unified support, Chu Rang acknowledged the contributions of both Jun Jiuling and Lord Cheng, ultimately promoting Jun Jiuling from County Princess Shanyang to Prefecture Princess. Though this elevation somewhat restrained Chu Rang, Jun Jiuling expressed her concern to Zhu Zan that Lord Cheng's public support for her implicitly showed his lingering loyalty to the late emperor, which might lead to him being implicated or losing public favor.
Zhu Zan reassured her that he would protect her, implying that the true threat lay in the emperor's deep-seated fear of popular support, which sometimes surpassed even the fear of military power.
