Royal Feast Episode 33 Recap
> Royal Feast Recap
Yao Zijin remained silent in Yongning Palace, even as Purple Azolla excitedly noted the beautiful snowfall outside. Other concubines, who had set up a betting pool to see who could make Imperial Concubine Yao speak, found their efforts in vain. They were surprised by such audacious behavior. After quelling the rebellion, Zhu Zhanji returned to the palace.
On his way back, he released a majestic eagle he had raised since childhood, acknowledging that even beloved things must return to nature after their season. Eunuch Chen Wu then approached him with a secret report, stating that Prince Han (Zhu Zhanji's second uncle) had been frequently sending people into Zhangde, suggesting a possible plot to win over Prince Zhao (Zhu Zhanji's third uncle).
Zhu Zhanji questioned Chen Wu's assessment, noting that Prince Zhao had previously donated all his extensively stored salary rice to the Ministry of Revenue before becoming a vassal. He reasoned that if Prince Zhao intended to rebel, he would hoard provisions, not give them away, which indicated no ambition for rebellion.
Zhu Zhanji immediately issued a decree: Prince Zhao's 850 "shi" of rice in Beijing should be returned to the Ministry of Revenue, and Ping Jiangbo was to allocate grain from the Grand Canal transport to Zhangde to be returned to Prince Zhao in full. Upon returning to the palace, Zhu Zhanji immediately went to see Yao Zijin.
He was exasperated by her continued silence, having initially believed she was merely being stubborn or trying to force him to yield, like the Guo clan of old. He scornfully told her to never speak, even if Yongning Palace collapsed, confident she would not outlast him. Despite her being grounded, her living conditions in Yongning Palace remained luxurious, and other imperial concubines continued trying to coax her into speaking, hoping to win their gamble.
A eunuch, Chen Wu, finally confessed a secret he had heard from the Sun family: when Yao Zijin was a young woman, she had been taken to Pengcheng Bo Fu and lived there for half a year. Chen Wu hesitated to reveal more as it involved the Empress Dowager, but Zhu Zhanji insisted. The Empress Dowager, tending to her silkworms, grew frustrated when they fell ill, accusing her staff of negligence.
Despite their explanations of using peach leaf fire moxibustion and tender mulberry leaves, she instructed them to use dried autumn mulberry leaves mixed in to prevent further illness. She then inquired about Empress Hu, who was still ill, and Yao Zijin, who remained grounded. The Empress Dowager summoned Yao Zijin. When Yao Zijin appeared, still silent, the Empress Dowager asked if Yao Zijin resented her for favoring Empress Hu.
She then shared her thoughts, speaking of Empress Ren Xiao Xu, Zhu Zhanji's grandmother—a revered figure who, despite not being Zhu Zhanji's birth mother, earned respect by defending the capital in armor during Li Jinglong's siege. The Empress Dowager emphasized that Empress Xu never sought personal gain, always advocated for the common people, and profoundly impacted the nation's destiny.
The Empress Dowager expressed her long-standing search for a virtuous woman to stand by Zhu Zhanji, one who could respect, protect, and guide him—advising him against injustice, preventing extravagance, reminding him of people's suffering, and remaining loyal even if all others abandoned him. She revealed that Yao Zijin's own mother had brought her to the Empress Dowager, suggesting she might be this very person.
She impressed upon Yao Zijin the immense responsibility of those in the harem: to serve the well-being of the state and its people, a task as weighty as Mount Tai. She concluded by telling Yao Zijin to let go of her grievances and that her request was not a command but a plea. In the imperial kitchen, Steward Yin presented a dish called "Zilong takes off his robe," which was fried shredded eel.
She explained the poetic name, stating that peeling the eel was like a general taking off his armor, and frying it golden after coating was like a general wrapping himself in golden armor. While there, Zhu Zhanji received a clam shell, which Purple Azolla had secretly glued shut and sent to him as a hint. A palace servant, responsible for the items, confessed it was her fault.
Zhu Zhanji, recognizing the symbolic gesture, realized Yao Zijin's silence was not stubbornness but an actual inability to speak. He immediately returned to Yongning Palace and gently confronted her. Yao Zijin nodded, confirming his fears. Imperial Physician Sheng was summoned, who diagnosed her condition as rooted in emotional disharmony and "phlegm-fire stagnation," recommending Banxia Houpu Decoction and Flavored Sweet Orange Soup for gradual recovery. After the others left, Zhu Zhanji expressed profound guilt.
He realized that his act of grounding her might have triggered a past trauma, likely from her time imprisoned at Pengcheng Bo Fu. He was distraught, questioning why she never wrote down her condition, always prioritizing others' well-being over her own. He tearfully apologized for his misunderstanding and heartache, regretting his harsh words when he thought she was merely being defiant.
Purple Azolla, heartbroken to learn of Yao Zijin's suffering and silence, broke down in tears, blaming herself for not realizing her friend's plight. Yao Zijin, finally able to speak, comforted her, explaining that her silence was not due to Imperial Physician Sheng's medicine alone. She had suffered from speechlessness before entering the palace, burdened by a heavy heart and deep-seated fear of being imprisoned, especially a fear of the Empress Dowager.
However, meeting Purple Azolla and seeing her dedication had given her the strength to persevere. She apologized for keeping her condition secret, explaining that the Forbidden City could not tolerate a mute imperial concubine, and she didn't want to cause more trouble for the Emperor or worry Purple Azolla.
She revealed that after her visit to the Empress Dowager, she realized the Empress Dowager was not as terrifying as she imagined, understanding her as a mother figure with the well-being of the nation at heart. This realization lifted a heavy stone from her heart, gradually restoring her speech. Yao Zijin then wryly suggested that since she had been ill, she might as well let the Emperor worry a little, given how long he had kept her grounded.
She acknowledged that becoming the kind of woman the Empress Dowager described would be challenging, but now, she could finally step out of her "study" and face the world, having even met a new friend. Hardened by her recent ordeal, Yao Zijin summoned Meng Shang Palace and Su Yuehua. Yao Zijin directly confronted Su Yuehua, who denied any wrongdoing, accusing Yao Zijin of displacing her anger due to her own grounding.
Su Yuehua pleaded with Meng Shang Palace to intercede with the Empress Dowager on her behalf. Yao Zijin, however, stated that Yukuai had already confessed everything, revealing Su Yuehua's culpability. Yao Zijin explained that she had waited for Su Yuehua to admit her mistakes, but Su Yuehua remained stubbornly unrepentant, mistakenly believing she was safe because Yao Zijin had been grounded.
Yao Zijin declared her intention to send Su Yuehua to the Gong Zhengsi for punishment according to palace rules, despite Su Yuehua's protests that Empress Hu had initially taken responsibility for her own hysteria, not blaming Su Yuehua. In a shocking act, Meng Shang Palace stepped forward, asserting that the Shangshi Bureau, as a place of food preparation, should not harbor greedy hands. She demanded to personally administer punishment.
Despite Su Yuehua's protests and accusations, Meng Shang Palace resolutely took a knife and severed her own finger, declaring her willingness to sacrifice herself to give Su Yuehua a chance at redemption. Meng Shang Palace then tearfully explained to Yao Zijin that as the head of the Shangshi Bureau for many years, she was ashamed of the continuous disgraceful incidents.
She vowed to resign her position and seek atonement by caring for the old and sick palace staff in Anle Hall, acknowledging her failure to set a proper example. Yao Zijin then ordered Meng Shang Palace to be taken out, and pointedly told Su Yuehua that she hoped this sacrifice would make her understand a mother's painstaking efforts.
Han Ying, a female official who had followed Meng Shang Palace since childhood, was distraught by Meng Shang Palace's decision to resign and go to Anle Hall. She pleaded with her to reconsider, reminding her of all her hard work and saying she couldn't give up everything so easily, especially for Su Yuehua's mistakes. Meng Shang Palace clarified that her sacrifice was not for Su Yuehua, but for herself.
She confessed that in her pursuit of power for female officials and her fight against eunuch influence, she had made many mistakes and inadvertently set a wrong example for the Shangshi Bureau and the harem. She now understood that the corruption of the heart was far more destructive than the eunuchs' misdeeds. She asked Han Ying to take over her responsibilities, urging her not to be disappointed.
Meanwhile, You Yifan presented Zhu Zhanji with a meticulously crafted, impenetrable soft armor as a gift. Zhu Zhanji was pleased and showed it to Yao Zijin. She remarked that You Yifan's gift seemed rather paltry compared to the priceless treasures he had given to Emperor Taizong and the late Emperor. Yao Zijin then questioned You Yifan's motives, suggesting he was trying to compensate for something, and she rejected his perceived offer of restitution.
Su Yuehua then appeared, still defiant, speaking directly to You Yifan and questioning why some people received forgiveness repeatedly while she was condemned for a single mistake. She declared her innocence and challenged anyone to blame her.
