Royal Feast Episode 36 Recap
> Royal Feast Recap
Yuan Qi, facing accusations regarding the Internal Supervisor, desperately pleaded his innocence to Emperor Zhu Zhanji, who was infuriated by the situation. When the Empress entered Qianqing Palace and interceded on Yuan Qi's behalf, suggesting he might be innocent due to his overwhelming duties, Zhu Zhanji angrily denounced her words as "the benevolence of a woman" and dismissed her, despite her tearful plea to be heard.
As she left, the Empress lamented to her maid that despite her attempt to offer loyal advice for the Emperor's well-being and in consideration of Yuan Qi's long service, her words were always perceived as unpalatable, suggesting the Emperor simply disliked her. Enraged, Zhu Zhanji then ordered everyone to leave his presence. Moments later, Yao Zijin arrived in the Emperor's chambers, finding him in a furious state, complaining that he was the only one who was wrong.
She noted his physical discomfort and, despite his protests, insisted on summoning Sheng Tai Yi. As Zhu Zhanji rested, Yao Zijin ensured no one disturbed him. He confided in her, expressing the immense burden and difficulties he faced as the Son of Heaven, asking if she understood his plight. Meanwhile, Wu Zhaoyi wasted no time in spreading malicious gossip to the Queen Mother.
She recounted how Zhu Zhanji had smashed a cup in Qianqing Palace due to the Empress's direct counsel, claiming he instead favored flattering individuals like Sun Guifei, whom he held "in his heart." The Queen Mother, hearing this, promptly summoned Sun Guifei, who is Yao Zijin.
Upon her arrival, Yao Zijin explained her slight delay, mentioning she had encountered Sheng Tai Yi and learned of Zhu Zhanji's minor ailment, assuring the Queen Mother it was just a common cold and that the Emperor had wished to spare her worry. When the Queen Mother expressed concern that Zhu Zhanji's illness had gone unnoticed, Yao Zijin took responsibility.
The Queen Mother, acknowledging the Empress's prolonged illness had left Yao Zijin with a heavy burden, asked for her suggestions on delegating palace duties. Yao Zijin then put forth her ideas: she believed the Empress, now in good health, should resume managing the six palaces, despite the Queen Mother's reservations about the Empress's delicate constitution. Yao Zijin suggested that He Huifei, being experienced, could assist the Empress.
She further proposed leveraging other concubines' interests for palace administration; for example, Wu Zhaoyi, with her passion for incense, could oversee the crafting of the Xuande furnace, a project Zhu Zhanji was struggling with. Yao Zijin also advocated for the restoration of the old system where female officials oversaw the six bureaus, noting that power had shifted to corrupt eunuchs since Meng Shang Gong's authority was curtailed.
She specifically suggested Cao Jieyu to manage Shangyi Bureau, Jiao Noble for Shanggong Bureau, and Xu and Yuan for Shangfu Bureau, based on their individual talents and hobbies. She argued that assigning clear duties to the concubines and empowering female officials would reduce jealousy and maintain order in the harem, with only the Palace Justice Department remaining under the Empress's direct supervision. She even suggested annual reviews and changes if officials were incompetent.
The Queen Mother, echoing Yao Zijin's sentiment, agreed, even suggesting promotions for those who performed well, concluding that giving everyone a task would leave them no time for mischief. Yao Zijin then brought up the plight of the frontier soldiers in Kaiping Wei who lacked winter clothes and proposed using idle silk and cloth from the palace warehouses to help them. The Queen Mother approved this as well.
Wu Zhaoyi, who had been listening in, openly accused Yao Zijin of being hypocritical and feigning kindness for reputation. The Queen Mother severely reprimanded Wu Zhaoyi, threatening harsh punishment, and emphasized that she only cared about practical actions that benefited the harem. Later, the Queen Mother privately advised the Empress that while speaking truthfully to the Emperor was right, as a consort, she should learn to offer "kind words" rather than just "loyal and direct advice."
Meanwhile, Su Si Shan experienced recurring nightmares of her hands being severed, a deep-seated fear. She confided in You Yifan, expressing her profound distress and the lingering terror that someone might harm her again, stating she would not find peace until the hidden danger was removed. She tried to confess deeper feelings to You Yifan, but he stopped her, indicating he already knew.
Su Si Shan left disheartened, feeling that all her relationships, including with her mother, master, and friends, were illusory. You Yifan watched her depart with a sigh. Wu Zhaoyi, seeking an ally against Yao Zijin, approached Su Si Shan. Wu Zhaoyi pointed out that Su Si Shan, despite her superior culinary skills and background, had lost her position as Shang Shi because Sun Guifei favored Yin Ziping.
She also reminded Su Si Shan that the Empress had chosen Yin Ziping over her, making her a laughingstock. Wu Zhaoyi questioned if Su Si Shan truly accepted this injustice, offering her assistance to rectify the situation, and Su Si Shan readily agreed. A distressed Yuan Qi discovered that his team sent to Guangdong for procurement had not returned, fearing that his illicit activities might be exposed. He frantically searched Zhu Zhanji's desk for a memorial.
Unexpectedly, Wu Zhaoyi appeared, producing evidence that Yuan Qi had been exploiting the Emperor's name for personal gain by extorting wealth in Guangdong. Terrified, Yuan Qi knelt and pleaded for his life. They then conspired in hushed tones. As Wu Zhaoyi left, Yuan Qi bowed deeply in gratitude. You Yifan, who observed Yuan Qi's submissive farewell and his subsequent disoriented stumble, grew suspicious. Despite his worsening illness, Zhu Zhanji insisted on attending to state affairs.
Yao Zijin diligently cared for him by his bedside, even reading memorials to him. Zhu Zhanji, however, issued an order that all memorials from the General Administration Department were to be reviewed by Yang Shiqi before reaching Qianqing Palace, effectively curbing Yuan Qi's previous access and control. During this period, Yuan Qi, acting on Wu Zhaoyi's instructions, made several failed attempts to poison Zhu Zhanji.
In her own palace, Wu Zhaoyi meticulously prepared a new dose of poison, vowing to make Yao Zijin suffer. Later, Zhu Zhanji's beloved pet cat, Inkstone, fell gravely ill and refused to eat. Yao Zijin was deeply worried about the pet. The Empress, learning of Inkstone's condition, volunteered to take it and personally treat it, despite her maid's concerns about the potential blame if the pet did not recover.
The Empress, who possessed medical knowledge, retrieved her old medicine box and prepared a specialized medicine for Inkstone, explicitly warning that it was for the cat only and must not be ingested by humans. She instructed Yin Ziping to mix the medicine into Inkstone's food. Yin Ziping complied, then buried the medicine bottle under a peach tree for safekeeping, intending to report later. Unbeknownst to them, Su Si Shan witnessed Yin Ziping burying the bottle.
On the night of the Mid-Yuan Festival, Su Si Shan, while serving vegetarian meals, tampered with Yao Zijin's food. That very night, Yao Zijin began to vomit blood and collapsed. In the aftermath, a furious Zhu Zhanji confronted the Empress, accusing her of almost causing his death and now harming Yao Zijin. He confined the Empress to Kunning Palace, forbidding her from stepping outside without his command, ignoring her pleas for an explanation.
Wu Zhaoyi, seizing the opportunity, rushed to the Queen Mother, alleging that Yao Zijin and Yin Ziping had staged the poisoning as a "bitter ploy" to gain sympathy. The Queen Mother summoned Yin Ziping for questioning. Yin Ziping truthfully recounted how the Empress had given her medicine for Inkstone's pain, instructing her to put it in the cat's food and to ensure it wasn't accidentally eaten by people.
She had buried the bottle under a peach tree for safekeeping, intending to report later. However, after Yao Zijin's collapse, she rushed back to the peach tree only to find the medicine bottle missing. Yin Ziping defended the Empress's kind nature, asserting that someone had deliberately stolen the medicine to frame the Empress and sow discord between her and Yao Zijin. She implored the Queen Mother to intervene and protect the Empress. The Queen Mother acknowledged Yin Ziping's astute and logical words.
