Mengfei Comes Across Episode 4 Recap
> Mengfei Comes Across Recap
Noble Consort Ru, favored by the Emperor and confident in her intelligence, felt frustrated by her inability to conceive. Blaming her lack of pregnancy on fate despite her skills in palace intrigue, she instructed her maid, Lu Liu, to brew a fertility medicine. The resulting concoction smelled so repulsive that it even overwhelmed the rats in the kitchen, causing other maids to gag.
Initially refusing to drink it, Noble Consort Ru was persuaded by Lu Liu, who cited Doctor Xue's claim that the foul odor, though offensive to women, would be alluring to men. Determined to become pregnant, Noble Consort Ru drank the entire bowl, agreeing to continue drinking it three times a day for a month while attempting to become intimate with the Emperor.
Immediately after, Noble Consort Ru went to see the Emperor, but encountered Mengfei, Consort Yan, and other consorts on the way, and she verbally reprimanded them. After she left, the other consorts noticed an unpleasant smell. One consort, Xiaoguiren, said it was coming from Noble Consort Ru, while the food-loving Consort Qu identified the odor as stinky tofu.
Reaching Changji Palace, Noble Consort Ru asked Wu Weiyong, an attendant, about her scent, who struggled to maintain composure and could only describe it as "a little strange." The Emperor rejected Noble Consort Ru's request to see him, claiming to be occupied with books. As she walked through the garden, she encountered the consorts again, who abruptly stopped discussing a "smell" upon seeing her. After she left, they gasped for air, overwhelmed by the lingering odor.
Mengfei and her companions wondered what the smell was. Consort Yan revealed it was Doctor Xue's doing, the notorious seller of fake medicine, implying that Noble Consort Ru had been tricked. The consorts also noted the absence of birds on Yu Quan Mansion's roof, the daily noxious smoke, and the discovery of dead rats. They concluded that Noble Consort Ru was acting as a "lab rat," consuming Doctor Xue's overpriced and ineffective fertility medicine, finding her gullibility amusing.
After Ru TaiShi advised the Emperor about neglecting Noble Consort Ru, the Emperor decided to visit her. Excited, Noble Consort Ru greeted him, attempting to embrace him closely. However, the Emperor was overwhelmed by her strong odor and quickly left, saying, "Burn incense and take bath more frequently," and claiming he had urgent matters to attend to. Realizing her method was ineffective, Noble Consort Ru angrily threatened Lu Liu, demanding she find another way to get her pregnant.
Lu Liu then presented a book by Master Yang, a fengshui expert. She explained that Master Yang had developed a system based on room direction, interior design, and birth dates to aid conception, even citing a widow in Shi Li Bao Village who, intending to discredit him, followed his instructions and miraculously conceived. Enthusiastic, Noble Consort Ru immediately adopted Master Yang's methods.
When the Emperor visited again, she insisted on precise tea placement, hand-touching, and seating arrangements according to the book – facing a wall to the east. The Emperor found her increasingly bizarre and rigid adherence to "fengshui" exasperating, comparing it to "repenting practice." He eventually left, annoyed. Furious at her repeated failures, Noble Consort Ru issued a final warning to Lu Liu: find a working method or face dire consequences.
Lu Liu assured her that her new plan, involving Sai Yu Huan, would lead to pregnancy. Meanwhile, in Mengfei's palace, they discussed Sai Yu Huan, who had placed second to last in a beauty pageant but gained fame after being promoted by investors Doctor Xue and Master Yang, both known for their dubious practices. Sai Yu Huan was presented as a dancer but used paid audience members.
After gaining fame, she "whitewashed" her image with charity work and offered unlicensed "seduction crash courses" for wives. Mengfei commented that many gullible people would fall for her schemes. Applying Sai Yu Huan's "seduction tactics," Noble Consort Ru invited the Emperor to her palace again. She performed a seductive dance and attempted to feed him wine mouth-to-mouth. However, she missed repeatedly, drank several mouthfuls herself, and passed out from intoxication.
To appease Senior Advisor Ru TaiShi, the Emperor stayed the night in her palace. The next morning, Noble Consort Ru was thrilled, believing she had succeeded. Later, Lu Liu pointed out Noble Consort Ru's increased appetite and growing stomach, leading Noble Consort Ru to excitedly conclude that she was pregnant. She began conspicuously walking around the palace, subtly caressing her slightly protruding belly, leading everyone to believe she was indeed pregnant.
The other consorts discussed this, noting that the Emperor had only stayed to read books, suggesting that Noble Consort Ru was either gaining weight or deliberately faking her pregnancy. Upon hearing the rumors, the Emperor summoned Noble Consort Ru. She coyly admitted to increased appetite, a growing belly, and cravings for sour and spicy foods, hinting at pregnancy. The Emperor, suspicious, directly asked if she believed herself pregnant and when this supposedly happened.
Noble Consort Ru confidently pointed to the night he stayed in her palace. The Emperor corrected her, stating that she had passed out drunk and he had spent the entire night reading books, so no intimacy had occurred. To resolve the matter, he offered to have Liu Jinyan, the imperial physician, examine her pulse. Enraged and humiliated, Noble Consort Ru immediately turned and stormed out, slapping Lu Liu for misleading her.
