Royal Feast Episode 4 Recap
> Royal Feast Recap
Following the previous night's incident, Yao Zijin was busy catching crickets to replace the one belonging to Zhu Zhanji, which had died after she accidentally knocked over its jar. Yin Ziping, while studying in a pavilion, mocked the crickets Yao Zijin caught, claiming they were too small and lacked the desired pure color. Despite the criticism, Yao Zijin secretly placed one of her seemingly unremarkable purple crickets on Zhu Zhanji's table.
To his attendant's surprise, this small cricket remarkably won six consecutive matches, even defeating the prized cricket of a general. Delighted, Zhu Zhanji mused that while rare talents are common, true connoisseurs who can recognize them are rare. Meanwhile, news spread that the Royal Guards were apprehending individuals who had entered the palace under false pretenses.
The investigation stemmed from a confession by Zhang He, who admitted to accepting bribes to allow impersonators into the palace during his time at the Ministry of Rites. Yin Ziping, who had entered the palace through impersonation herself, grew anxious. She tried to cast suspicion on Yao Zijin, pointing out to Su Yuehua that Yao Zijin’s diverse knowledge of everything from calligraphy to crickets was unusual for a well-bred maiden.
However, Su Yuehua dismissed this, asserting that such accomplishments were not uncommon for daughters from good families cultivated for imperial selection. Su Yuehua was more focused on the upcoming competition for a Zhang Shan position, as two posts were vacant in the Food Bureau. At the same time, Meng Ziyun was instructed by the Crown Princess to prepare light and nourishing food for Zhu Zhanji, who was suffering from a slight cold and sore throat.
One afternoon, Zhu Zhanji’s father, Zhu Gaochi, eagerly rushed to his son’s thatched cottage for a meal, hoping for a break from his strict diet. Zhu Zhanji understood his father’s intent and they shared a unique chrysanthemum hotpot, praised for its clear flavor and health benefits.
During their meal, Zhu Gaochi passionately denounced Han Wang’s proposal to verify disaster claims before providing relief, calling it a violation of the Great Ming’s ancestral precept to prioritize immediate aid for the flood-stricken regions. Zhu Zhanji, however, cautioned his impulsive father, reminding him that the Emperor was currently displeased with him and that a direct confrontation might backfire. He suggested finding someone favored by the Emperor to intercede on their behalf instead.
Soon after, the Royal Guards' investigation reached the Food Bureau. Meng Ziyun presented the roster of new palace maids to You Yifan, who questioned each cook. When it was her turn, Yin Ziping quickly interjected to answer for Yao Zijin, claiming they were both from Suzhou and that Yao Zijin’s culinary skills were unparalleled.
After leaving, You Yifan expressed skepticism to his subordinate, noting that Yao Zijin's official records listed her grandfather as a scholar and her father as a minor official, which contradicted Yin Ziping’s claims of her wide-ranging cooking talents. He immediately dispatched agents to Suzhou to thoroughly investigate her background, including who recommended, taught, and sent her to the palace. Zhu Zhanji, concerned about the Crown Princess Yu An’s illness, paid her a visit.
Yu An seemed detached and dissuaded him from calling an Imperial Doctor, citing ancestral regulations and her own medical knowledge from her physician grandfather. Zhu Zhanji agreed but urged her to seek help if she worsened, then took her half-eaten, sour orange and consumed it without hesitation. He earnestly questioned her emotional distance, reminding her of the courtesy name "Yu An" he had given her, signifying a wish for a lifetime of peace.
He movingly recounted his imperial grandmother's loyalty to his grandfather during the siege of Beiping and expressed his profound desire for her to be the one to accompany him throughout his life, leaving Yu An speechless. Following his visit, Zhu Zhanji developed a persistent cough. Despite taking medicine, he went to meet the Emperor. There, Zhu Zhanji cleverly guided the conversation from the Emperor's patched, frugal robes to the plight of flood victims, successfully advocating for relief efforts.
Though the Emperor recognized he was speaking for his father, he granted the request to open the granaries. Moments later, outside, Zhu Zhanji coughed up blood. Imperial Doctor Sheng, summoned in secret, confirmed he had been poisoned with a small, accumulating dose. When the doctor inquired about his recent diet of chrysanthemum hotpot and "Fairy Porridge," an attendant proposed arresting the responsible Food Bureau maid, but Zhu Zhanji ordered a discreet investigation.
Yao Zijin found Yin Ziping weak and suffering from a headache and helped her rest. When Yao Zijin questioned if the Dianshan position was worth such effort, a desperate Yin Ziping suddenly attacked her, strangling her with a rope. She angrily accused Yao Zijin of being foolishly kind, declaring that benevolence must have limits. Yao Zijin struggled, smashed a bowl, and used a shard to cut Yin Ziping’s hand, freeing herself.
As someone knocked, Yin Ziping pleaded with her not to expose her. Yao Zijin relented and opened the door to the Royal Guards, who had brought a witness named Yan Niang. Yan Niang claimed Yao Zijin bore a resemblance to a girl who had escaped from her house over a decade ago—a girl who was supposedly stubborn and untalented at the arts she was taught.
This matched information from You Yifan's investigation about a beggar's daughter from Suzhou who was sold as a "thin horse" and trained in various arts, aligning with Yao Zijin's documented skills. Believing they had found their impersonator, the Royal Guards apprehended Yao Zijin.
