Rebirth For You Episode 6 Recap
> Rebirth For You Recap
After a night in the Introspection Chamber, Commandery Princess Jia’nan returned to the palace. The Grand Empress Dowager, feeling immense pity for Baoning, prepared her favorite dishes and dismissed the accusation that Baoning framed District Princess Qingyi. She ordered District Princess Qingyi to move out of the Three Abodes of the South and return to Lord Jian’s mansion, stating that she would no longer study with Baoning.
The Grand Empress Dowager reminded Baoning that it was her birthday, which also coincided with the death anniversary of her parents. She arranged a birthday banquet and asked Baoning to visit the ancestral temple to offer incense and speak to her parents. At the ancestral temple, Baoning assured her deceased parents that she was doing well with her grandmother. The Grand Empress Dowager summoned Gao Miaorong, a skilled physician from Jinxi, to treat Commandery Princess Jia’nan.
During the examination, Gao Miaorong recognized the distinctive scent of a sprain ointment on Baoning, realizing it was the same one she had prepared for Li Qian. This confirmed her suspicion that Baoning was the "friend" Li Qian had mentioned. After her consultation, Gao Miaorong politely declined any monetary reward, instead requesting that Commandery Princess Jia’nan use her influence to promote Li Qian, who was currently a third-rank armed guard.
Baoning, surprised by Gao Miaorong's deep concern for Li Qian, inquired about their relationship. Gao Miaorong explained that they had grown up together, leading Baoning to mistakenly believe they were betrothed. Feeling a pang of disappointment, Baoning then instructed her maid to discard the gilt perfume ball and ointment, asserting she couldn't help Li Qian. The Emperor Zhao Yi was furious about Empress Dowager Cao's decision to postpone the empress appointment and the punishment inflicted upon Baoning.
He suspected that Song Xianyi, a maid sent by Empress Dowager Cao, had uncovered his secrets. Overhearing Zhao Yi's order to eliminate her, Song Xianyi became terrified. Later, during Baoning’s birthday celebration with the Grand Empress Dowager and Zhao Yi, the Grand Empress Dowager offered Baoning any gift.
Baoning cleverly requested to attend Empress Dowager Cao's upcoming birthday banquet, explaining that as the future queen, she needed to show proper respect and maintain a good relationship with the Empress Dowager, especially after her recent punishment. Impressed by Baoning's "reason and thoughtfulness," the Grand Empress Dowager granted her permission. Zhao Yi then proposed that he would accompany Baoning to Longevity Hill the following day, offering to look after her.
Seeking urgent help, Song Xianyi approached Commandery Princess Jia’nan, revealing that Emperor Zhao Yi had a child with a former maid named Fang Yiru. She presented a letter from Zhao Yi bearing his private seal as proof, explaining that the Emperor now intended to silence her because she knew his secret.
Baoning acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, advised Song Xianyi to keep the letter, and promised to devise a plan to save her, though her original strategy regarding Fang Yiru was now complicated. Meanwhile, Jin Xiao, the eldest son of the Jin family, arrived in the capital to celebrate Empress Dowager Cao's birthday. Initially denied entry for lacking a travel pass, he was vouched for by Li Qian, the recently promoted third-rank armed guard.
After gaining entry, Li Qian hosted Jin Xiao at a restaurant, where they shared drinks and food, celebrating Li Qian's new position. The following day, as everyone prepared to depart for Longevity Hill, District Princess Qingyi deliberately secured a spot in Emperor Zhao Yi's carriage. Commandery Princess Jia’nan, unwilling to engage in a dispute, chose an alternative vehicle. Upon arrival at Longevity Hill, Li Qian discreetly sought out Baoning.
Baoning explained her presence was to create an opportunity for the Li family to firmly establish themselves as opponents of the Jiang family in the eyes of Empress Dowager Cao. Still feeling hurt and misled by the presumed betrothal between Li Qian and Gao Miaorong, Baoning returned the gilt perfume ball and the sprain ointment to Li Qian, curtly dismissing him from her presence.
Commandery Princess Jia’nan was greatly displeased to find her lodging at Longevity Hill unarranged by Min Zhou, Empress Dowager Cao's trusted eunuch. When she summoned him, Min Zhou sent a subordinate instead, then directly went to Emperor Zhao Yi to plead his case, hoping for leniency due to his association with the Empress Dowager. However, Zhao Yi, already annoyed by Min Zhou’s disrespect toward Baoning, ordered him to immediately apologize to her.
When Min Zhou attempted to explain that Baoning's preferred lodging, Qingshan Tang, was still being prepared for other titled women, Baoning's anger flared. She declared that she did not need his permission to choose her residence and commanded her attendants to throw him into the Qingxin Lake. Witnessing Min Zhou fall into the water, Li Qian promptly rescued him and sent him to the infirmary.
Afterward, Li Qian knelt before Baoning, acknowledging that he had intervened in a person she was punishing, and begged for her mercy. Baoning, however, rose and departed without a word. Li Qian remained kneeling, explaining to his subordinate Wei Shu that he could not get up until a high-ranking official like the Imperial Guards Commander Cao Guozhu interceded on his behalf. Wei Shu then went to find Cao Guozhu.
Upon learning from Wei Shu about Li Qian saving Min Zhou and being punished by Commandery Princess Jia’nan, Cao Guozhu immediately reported to Empress Dowager Cao. The Empress Dowager deduced that Baoning was merely retaliating for her own punishment. Recognizing a strategic opportunity to secure the Li family's loyalty, she instructed Cao Guozhu to deliberately delay assisting Li Qian, ensuring that Li Qian would understand that Empress Dowager Cao was the ultimate and sole source of support for his family.
After Cao Guozhu eventually "rescued" him, Li Qian clandestinely visited Baoning again. He informed her that he had successfully earned Cao Guozhu's trust. Baoning, still under the impression that Gao Miaorong was Li Qian's betrothed, gave him some medicine for his injured knee and teasingly told him to have his "little wife" apply it.
Li Qian quickly clarified the misunderstanding, explaining that Gao Miaorong was the niece of his father's military counsellor, an orphan who had grown up in their household and was, in fact, his sworn sister. Relieved and in high spirits after learning Li Qian had no fiancée, Baoning, much to Li Qian's flustered surprise, personally condescended to apply the medicine to his knee.
Having earlier promised to help Song Xianyi, Commandery Princess Jia’nan found an excuse to request her from Emperor Zhao Yi, bringing Song Xianyi under her protection. Baoning then advised Song Xianyi on a plan for survival, though she admitted she could only protect her temporarily. She suggested Song Xianyi inform Empress Dowager Cao about Emperor Zhao Yi's secret child with Fang Yiru, and then offer to become the nominal mother of the eldest son herself.
Song Xianyi, being Empress Dowager Cao's confidante and unable to bear children, would be an ideal choice to raise the imperial heir in the Empress Dowager's eyes, thus ensuring her own safety from the Emperor. Following this advice, Song Xianyi approached Empress Dowager Cao, proposing to raise the unborn child and pledging loyalty. Empress Dowager Cao, unwilling to allow Fang Yiru into the palace, saw this as an opportune moment.
She promoted Song Xianyi from Lady-in-Waiting to Talent Lady, giving her the official status needed to raise the imperial child. Shortly after, Empress Dowager Cao dispatched elite guards to bring Fang Yiru to Longevity Hill.
Aware of Empress Dowager Cao's intent to seize Fang Yiru, Baoning then met with Li Qian, instructing him about the operational signal: when the lanterns outside Cao Guozhu’s residence transformed into six-linked-pearl lanterns on the night of the action, it would signify Cao Guozhu’s elimination and signal Li Qian to proceed.
She explained that this was part of a larger scheme related to the Waterfowl Ship, which was developed from the previous Mechanical Craftsmanship Competition, now repurposed to facilitate a stealthy entry from the lakeside to eliminate Cao Guozhu during the birthday banquet.
Baoning then entrusted Li Qian with a crucial message to be sent back to the capital via carrier pigeon, emphasizing the urgency of ensuring Fang Yiru’s safe arrival at Longevity Hill on the night of the operation, before Empress Dowager Cao could get to her. Before Li Qian departed, Baoning reclaimed her gilt perfume ball and sternly told him to return alive. Subsequently, black-clad figures were seen infiltrating Fang Yiru's residence, eliminating her guards and abducting her, presumably on Baoning's orders to preempt Empress Dowager Cao.
