Royal Feast Episode 31 Recap
> Royal Feast Recap
Zhu Zhanji found Yao Zijin in the Yongning Palace, a place he also disliked. She had hidden Guo Guifei, and he was displeased, accusing her of sympathizing with Wei Wang's mother and son, fearing her actions would displease the Queen Mother. Yao Zijin countered that he had promised not to treat her as a servant, yet now he seemed to value an inanimate jar more than her.
She explained the difficulty of speaking truth to him, the supreme ruler, where even showing emotion freely was impossible. She reflected on how he desired her sincerity, but often reacted with anger when she spoke her mind, creating a dilemma. She expressed that she did not want to be a puppet. She then proposed that outside their private study, she would dutifully fulfill her role as a concubine, but within the study, they could be themselves, as they were before.
Zhu Zhanji wondered if she wouldn't prefer a carefree life as his favored concubine, but Yao Zijin asserted that years of being taught obedience had given way to her understanding in the Food Bureau that she was an individual with her own thoughts, even if they sometimes conflicted with his. She stated she could not return to her old self, yet this authentic self was truly who she was.
Zhu Zhanji acknowledged her desire for equality, warning her that such a relationship would bring different expectations and responsibilities, which he feared she might find too challenging. Their conversation cleared the air, and their misunderstandings were resolved. Meanwhile, Empress Hu began exhibiting strange behavior, clutching a doll at night as if it were an infant, crying and laughing, though she remembered none of it by day. A palace servant, fearing repercussions, secretly reported this to the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother, puzzled by the Empress's hysteria, wondered if she had pushed her too hard. Meng Shang Palace, however, suggested there might be a more complex, sinister reason behind it. Shortly after, Yao Zijin was conferred the title of Noble Consort. The decree praised her virtue and contributions, stating she was selected from a renowned family, had shown grace and sincerity, followed scholarly principles, and diligently aided the emperor.
She was elevated to this esteemed rank, entrusted with assisting in internal affairs and leading the other concubines. The members of the Food Bureau were filled with admiration for Yao Zijin’s good fortune. Yin Ziping genuinely rejoiced at the news, but Yuehua's face betrayed a strong sense of jealousy. Wu Zhaoyi, who had previously been openly antagonistic towards Yao Zijin, immediately knelt before her, seeking forgiveness for her past transgressions.
Yao Zijin gently helped her up, reassuring her that she bore no grudge. She then privately instructed a palace maid on the importance of broad-mindedness within the harem, where concubines often vied for favor. She emphasized that treating others with kindness and fostering an inclusive spirit would ultimately earn their sincere devotion, much like nurturing flowers with care would cause them to flourish and reciprocate. Whispers began to circulate that Yao Zijin was somehow responsible for Empress Hu's hysteria.
Soon after, Yin Ziping, along with Xue Lu and four other female attendants from the Food Bureau, was taken into custody by the Palace Rectification Department, as the imperial doctors suspected the medicated diet she prepared for the Empress was the cause. A servant, sent by Meng Shang Palace, implored Yao Zijin for help, conveying Meng Shang Palace's cryptic message: "He who tied the bell must untie it."
Understanding the hint, Yao Zijin immediately sought an audience with the Queen Mother. She confessed her involvement in a past incident where she diluted a supplement meant for the late emperor, explaining that this had led people to believe she was knowledgeable about medicine. She then pointed out the suspicious coincidence of Yin Ziping, her former colleague, being implicated in the Empress's current illness, suggesting a deliberate setup.
The Queen Mother questioned why Yao Zijin was implicating herself, but Yao Zijin insisted she was innocent now but would soon be wrongfully accused. Just then, Meng Shang Palace arrived, bringing with her a palace maid who stepped forward to accuse Sun Guifei of conspiring with Yin Ziping to harm the Empress, claiming she had witnessed it herself.
The Queen Mother, asserting that she only believed in concrete evidence, ordered both Yin Ziping and the accuser to be subjected to rigorous interrogation to uncover the truth. Leaving the Queen Mother's presence, Yao Zijin thanked Meng Shang Palace for her subtle guidance, which had helped her navigate the treacherous situation. She then directly asked why Meng Shang Palace had betrayed Guo Guifei in the past.
Meng Shang Palace admitted that Guo Guifei was never destined to become Empress, and her actions were simply a matter of choosing a strong patron for her own survival. Yao Zijin then warned Meng Shang Palace that despite her current preoccupation with wresting power from the inner eunuchs, the true source of the current turmoil within the Food Bureau lay not with external forces, but with internal strife.
While Yin Ziping remained imprisoned, Yuehua seized the opportunity to personally deliver meals to Qianqing Palace. She presented a selection of delicate pastries, carefully chosen for Zhu Zhanji's sensitive stomach. She then subtly praised almond tofu, a dish she claimed Yao Zijin had told her Zhu Zhanji disliked in its common form, but which Yin Ziping excelled at.
Using this as a pretext, Yuehua boldly pleaded for Yin Ziping's release, asserting that Yin Ziping would never dare to harm the Empress. When Zhu Zhanji inquired about the Empress's condition, Yuehua hinted at the Empress's illness, implying fault. Enraged by Yuehua's implication, Zhu Zhanji immediately went to confront Yao Zijin, demanding an explanation and asking if she had visited the Empress. Yao Zijin replied that she hadn't seen the Empress but had sent walnut crisp candy to her.
When Zhu Zhanji pressed her for any other information or confession, Yao Zijin simply suggested that he visit the Empress himself, believing his presence might uplift her spirits and aid her recovery. Displeased with her evasiveness, Zhu Zhanji dismissed her offering as insincere, leaving the candy and telling her to figure out his preferences herself.
Still angered, Zhu Zhanji then immediately ordered Cloud Boat to take over the investigation of the Kunning Palace incident, transferring all involved, including Yin Ziping, to Zhen Fu Si Prison and forbidding anyone from interfering until the truth was revealed. The official overseeing the case in Zhen Fu Si Prison expressed his difficulty to Zhu Zhanji, noting the involvement of both the Empress and the favored Noble Consort, with pressure from both the Queen Mother and the Emperor.
He remarked on the unusual defiance of the prisoners, who, unlike others, refused to confess. He explained that the Queen Mother had issued an edict prohibiting torture to prevent false confessions, tying his hands. He then subtly shifted the responsibility back to Zhu Zhanji, implying that by moving the prisoners to Zhen Fu Si Prison, the Emperor already had a plan. Zhu Zhanji admitted that the prisoners were stubborn, but he was determined to break them.
The official then conceded that even without solid evidence, a culprit would still need to be found to satisfy the authorities. That night, Meng Shang Palace confronted Yuehua, punishing her with a ruler. She revealed that she had suspected Yuehua all along and expressed her disappointment, accusing Yuehua of using despicable means to undermine Yin Ziping and warning her of the innocent people she would implicate. Yuehua initially denied any wrongdoing.
Meng Shang Palace, determined to uncover the truth, resorted to physical discipline, leading Yuehua to shockingly admit her actions. Unrepentant, Yuehua retaliated by threatening to expose her relationship with Meng Shang Palace to the Queen Mother, further claiming that Meng Shang Palace had instigated her.
She bitterly blamed Meng Shang Palace for her transformation, recounting how Meng Shang Palace had abandoned her own family to enter the palace and had stood idly by as Yuehua's master suffered, all to secure her position. Meng Shang Palace, heartbroken by Yuehua’s coldness, walked away in sorrow. Indeed, the hysteria was a calculated scheme orchestrated by Yuehua and Empress Hu, who harbored deep resentment towards Yao Zijin and conspired to frame her.
Yao Zijin, tirelessly researching the root cause of the Empress's condition, eventually focused on the "Jade Fruit", which was the skin of nutmeg. She determined that while nutmeg could be used medicinally, the hallucinogenic toxins were concentrated solely in its skin, not the kernel used in the Empress’s porridge. Furthermore, the Department of Medicine strictly controlled the dosage, making it impossible for the amount of nutmeg used to cause such severe symptoms.
Despite her findings, neither the accusers nor the imprisoned admitted their guilt. To unequivocally prove Yin Ziping's innocence and uncover the true instigator, Yao Zijin, faced with the reluctance of others to conduct trials and the silence of the medical women, courageously declared that she would personally test the medicine.
