Royal Feast Episode 40 (Ending) Recap
> Royal Feast Recap
As chaos threatened the Qianqing Palace, the situation abruptly changed. Prince Xiang and the Imperial Guards encircled the palace, followed by Zhu Zhanji's arrival with reinforcements. Zhu Zhanji captured the rebellious Prince Han and brought him to the Qianqing Palace, where he publicly exposed You Yifan’s manipulative scheme, revealing how You Yifan had used both Prince Han and Prince Zhao as mere pawns. Meanwhile, Chen Wu covertly rescued the Empress Dowager, who had been held hostage by You Yifan.
You Yifan had told Prince Zhao that Prince Han would be lured into the palace and eliminated so Prince Zhao could ascend the throne. Simultaneously, You Yifan had promised Prince Han that if he marched north, Zhu Zhanji would be framed for the Empress Dowager's murder, allowing Prince Han to become a virtuous king who cleansed the court. Confronted with his treachery, You Yifan unapologetically confirmed his actions.
He sarcastically reminded Prince Han, his adoptive father, of the 'kindness' shown when he was thrown into a wolf den as a child, only to be rescued later. You Yifan accused Zhu Zhanji of planning revenge against his own father, but Zhu Zhanji countered that the true aim was to cleanse the imperial court.
You Yifan then launched into a tirade, decrying the suffering of the common people due to endless wars, grand capital moves, and heavy labor, contrasting it with the perceived greed and incompetence of the imperial family members who clung to power and wealth. Zhu Zhanji, however, defended his imperial grandfather's relentless efforts, explaining that the late Emperor's actions were not for temporary gain but to secure the lasting prosperity of the empire.
He declared that while others might misunderstand his grandfather, he and You Yifan could not. Zhu Zhanji then announced his intention to spare You Yifan's life, stating that few truly understood the late Emperor's aspirations for a peaceful and prosperous era, and he wished You Yifan to witness the future grandeur of Daming firsthand.
Faced with Zhu Zhanji's magnanimity and his own conflicting emotions, You Yifan ultimately chose to die by welcoming Zhu Zhanji’s blade, but not before extracting a promise from Zhu Zhanji to never betray the great empire left by his grandfather. With You Yifan's death, the rebel forces swiftly surrendered. In the aftermath, the ongoing famine eased, with fewer people lining up daily for porridge. Fang Dianshan, diligently serving the disaster victims, confessed her long-held admiration for Chen Wu.
She explained that her unwavering commitment to her duties, symbolized by the "walls made of food" that protected many lives, had prevented her from pursuing her personal desires or aspiring to the highest position of Shang Shi, as her priority was always her promise and duty. Now, with the crisis settled and Meng Shang Palace's entrustment fulfilled, she could finally express her true feelings without regret. Chen Wu, who had long admired her, reciprocated her affection.
As she spoke, she oversaw the covering of newly delivered grains to protect them from rain. Meanwhile, the Empress Dowager tasked Meng Shang Palace, who shared a past with Prince Han, with delivering him poisoned wine. Meng Shang Palace, now reinstated and promised the unprecedented rank of Daming's only top-grade female official, prepared small dishes for Prince Han.
Prince Han lamented his lifelong struggles, his father's (Emperor Zhu Di's) decision to exile him to Le'an for the sake of his "precious grandson," and mused that his father might have deliberately left You Yifan as a "sword" to pierce him. He bitterly questioned Meng Shang Palace's years of protection culminating in the poison. Meng Shang Palace revealed her own past as a death row inmate and stated that she had fulfilled her lifelong wish and repaid her only debt.
With a sense of peace, she then drank the poisoned wine herself, declaring that she could finally accompany him and repay her half-life's affection. Following Meng Shang Palace's death, Moon Hua was released. Meng Shang Palace had pleaded with the Empress Dowager to exchange her merits for Moon Hua's life. The Empress Dowager commuted Moon Hua’s sentence to eternal hard labor and granted her the opportunity to bid farewell to Meng Shang Palace.
Overcome with grief, Moon Hua finally cried out, calling Meng Shang Palace "mother" and repeatedly apologizing. In recognition of the Food Bureau's exceptional contributions during the disaster relief efforts, the Empress Dowager issued an imperial decree. Yin Ziping was promoted to Daming Shang Shi. The other palace maids rejoiced and congratulated her.
Yin Ziping, who had always believed that true respect and the title of Shang Shi had to be earned through continuous culinary practice and impeccable character, was astonished by the unexpected promotion. She reflected on Concubine Yao's past words that someone with unaddressed negative traits would find it difficult to hold such a high position, implying the profound responsibility and moral integrity required of a true Shang Shi. Later, Yin Ziping, deep in thought, decided to leave the palace.
She penned a letter to Yao Zijin, explaining her departure. She expressed regret for not bidding farewell in person, fearing the reluctance it would cause. She reminded Yao Zijin of her own words—that true culinary mastery lay among the common people and required constant practice. Yin Ziping promised to see the beautiful world for Yao Zijin, walk the paths she hadn't, and fulfill the things she hadn't achieved, vowing to become the best chef in the world.
She wished Yao Zijin a lifetime of peace. Upon reading the letter, Yao Zijin, with a glass of wine, felt a deep sense of loss, reflecting on how some journeys begin and end with a single meal. Meanwhile, Yuan Qi was exposed for exploiting the populace in Guangdong under the guise of royal procurement. For his grave offenses, he was sentenced to Lingchi, and his accomplices to decapitation.
Despite pressure from his ministers to execute Prince Zhao as well, Zhu Zhanji refused, citing his duty to protect his only two remaining uncles for the sake of his imperial grandfather. A tearful Prince Zhao expressed profound gratitude, vowing to return his palace's three personal guards, exile himself to Fengyang High Wall, and live out his remaining years without any further ambitions.
Empress Hu, resolute in her decision, took out a vial of 'Red-crowned Crane' poison and prepared to write a memorial to resign from her position. She believed it was better to relinquish her title herself than to cause difficulty for the Emperor. Yao Zijin rushed in, urging her not to use the poison, but Empress Hu was firm.
She confessed to Yao Zijin that the many upheavals in the palace, especially the recent rebellion of Prince Han, had clarified her desires; she yearned for a life dedicated to healing the world with a medicine box, a dream cut short by her imperial role. She felt that her status as Empress, despite its grandeur, held no meaning for her now and pleaded with Yao Zijin for help.
When Zhu Zhanji arrived, Empress Hu directly stated that she was the Empress of Daming, but "there will be no more Hu Shanxiang in this world." Zhu Zhanji expressed concern about the Empress Dowager's potential fury and the inevitable criticism from officials. Yao Zijin boldly intervened, arguing that if Zhu Zhanji displayed compassion by allowing the Empress to pursue her true calling, he would be praised throughout history, while any criticism would fade with time, unlike his eternal good name.
She even challenged him playfully, suggesting that if he didn't allow Empress Hu to leave, there might be no Yao Zijin either the next day. Zhu Zhanji, after a moment of consideration, issued a decree: Empress Hu, citing chronic illness and childlessness, would be allowed to reside in Changle Palace, with all her former provisions maintained. However, no one was to disturb her without his express command.
Yao Zijin then teasingly asked about her own fate, to which Zhu Zhanji affectionately affirmed that she would always remain his wife and stay by his side, acknowledging that she was his eternal debt. He jokingly added that by keeping her close, she could repay the debt over a lifetime, to which she playfully reminded him that he also owed her. On the day Empress Hu departed the palace, snowflakes fell gently.
From inside her carriage, she took one last look at the Imperial Palace before finally breathing the outside air, her heart content in achieving her long-held desire. In the months that followed, Moon Hua regularly delivered food to the Shang Shi Bureau. She observed that Fang Dianshan had indeed become Shang Shi, efficiently managing all affairs with the cooks working together harmoniously. It reminded her of her early days in the bureau.
Zhu Zhanji and Yao Zijin continued to dedicate themselves to the welfare of Daming's people. In their leisure moments, they would paint and appreciate the scenery together. Wu Zhaoyi had received the Emperor's pardon and reunited with her family. Yao Zijin often wondered what Yin Ziping was doing outside the palace. Zhu Zhanji expressed concern that Yao Zijin might feel lonely confined within the palace walls. Yao Zijin reassured him, stating that accompanying him was a great joy in her life. They drew close, embracing tenderly, as vibrant flowers bloomed on the windowsill nearby.
