Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Episode 15 Recap
> Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Recap
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
- 71
- 72
- 73
- 74
- 75
- 76
- 77
- 78
- 79
- 80
- 81
- 82
- 83
- 84
- 85
- 86
- 87
The Emperor decreed that Noble Lady Yi's pregnancy would be overseen by the Empress, and Noble Lady Mei was to be moved to Anhua Hall so she could find peace through Buddhist chanting. He was determined to uncover the source of the recent palace rumors, suspecting that Eunuch Wang Qin might have been seen while secretly taking away Noble Lady Mei's deceased, deformed child.
However, the Empress defended Wang Qin, asserting that he had served His Majesty for many years with discretion and would not make such an error. A'Rou observed the numerous gifts being delivered to Noble Lady Yi's Jingyang Palace due to her pregnancy. Noble Lady Jia approached, noting how Noble Lady Yi, once merely a palace maid, and Noble Lady Mei, a pipa entertainer, had both risen quickly through imperial favor.
She flattered A'Rou, remarking on her beauty, superior to Noble Lady Yi's, and her father's influential position, suggesting that A'Rou too might achieve such fortune. A'Rou responded that Noble Lady Yi had the advantage of the Empress as a powerful patron, a luck she felt she lacked. Noble Lady Jia subtly fanned the flames of discontent, implying that Consort Xian, Ruyi, was actively preventing A'Rou's advancement and guarding against her, which further deepened A'Rou's existing resentment towards Ruyi.
Ruyi, meanwhile, expressed her deep concern to Suoxin about the rampant palace rumors. She worried about the Emperor's thoughts, given that only a select few, including herself, the Empress, Wang Qin, and Imperial Physician Qi Ru, had seen Noble Lady Mei's child. Suoxin tried to reassure her, but Ruyi knew the Emperor was already investigating. Separately, Noble Consort Hui pressed Eunuch Wang Qin for updates on the investigation, reminding him not to disappoint the Emperor or herself.
The Emperor later summoned Imperial Physician Qi Ru, acknowledging his long-standing discretion. When asked about the rumors, Qi Ru firmly denied any involvement, pledging to accept any punishment if he were found to have deceived His Majesty. Satisfied, the Emperor advised Qi Ru to avoid the palace for the time being and remain at his manor.
Ruyi and Hailan later witnessed palace servants being taken away, and Hailan explained that Wang Qin was acting on the Emperor's orders to apprehend those spreading the rumors. In Anhua Hall, Noble Lady Mei prayed to Buddha, pleading for revelation about who had harmed her and her child. The Empress Dowager visited her, and Noble Lady Mei tearfully lamented that palace residents were calling her child a "monster" and believed she was being framed.
The Empress Dowager, while unable to confirm the rumors about the child, urged Noble Lady Mei to cease her relentless sorrow, reminding her that the child was gone and the Emperor wished no further mention of it. She then revealed that Noble Consort Hui had suggested to the Emperor that Noble Lady Mei be allowed to commit suicide to join her child.
Though the Emperor had refused this time, the Empress Dowager warned that if the rumors persisted, his decision might change. Noble Lady Mei confessed that her suicide attempt was merely a ruse to compel the Emperor to visit her, as she felt abandoned. The Empress Dowager recalled bringing Noble Lady Mei from the South Office because of her strong character, emphasizing that dying so easily would negate all her efforts.
She advised Noble Lady Mei that while "many solutions exist in the house of Buddha," she must find her own path out of her current predicament. The Empress Dowager stressed that as long as Noble Lady Mei lived, she would have opportunities to regain favor and bear more children, and her ability to emerge from Anhua Hall and live up to the Empress Dowager's trust depended entirely on herself.
The Empress Dowager also quietly expressed her disbelief that Noble Lady Mei, despite her shortcomings during pregnancy, could have given birth to such a child as rumored. Ruyi was playing chess with Yonghuang when he commented on frequently seeing palace servants being led away. Ruyi advised him to focus on his studies. Soon after, Li Yu arrived with an imperial summons for Ruyi to attend the Hall of Mental Cultivation immediately, and alone.
Li Yu discreetly informed Ruyi that Wang Qin had already spoken with the Emperor, and the Empress was also present. At the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Ruyi greeted the Emperor and Empress. The Emperor instructed Wang Qin to repeat his findings. Wang Qin reported that his investigation indicated the rumors originated from Yanxi Palace. Ruyi immediately denied this, stating she had not uttered a single word to anyone after witnessing Noble Lady Mei's delivery.
Wang Qin then presented several palace eunuchs, who, under questioning, claimed they first heard the rumors about Noble Lady Mei's "dirty secret" while passing Yanxi Palace on the night she gave birth. When Ruyi pressed for details, they vaguely claimed it was too dark to identify the speaker but insisted the source was Yanxi Palace.
Ruyi dismissed their testimony as "unclear and groundless," maintaining her innocence, but Wang Qin continued to imply her culpability, which Ruyi denounced as a malicious attack. The Emperor, growing frustrated, declared a thorough investigation was necessary. The Empress then suggested that while she believed Ruyi hadn't acted intentionally, it would be "appropriate" for Ruyi to remain in Yanxi Palace during the investigation. The Emperor agreed to investigate but refused to confine Ruyi.
However, Ruyi, recognizing the precariousness of her situation, volunteered to confine herself in Yanxi Palace, stating she would "steer clear" of the controversy and trusting the Emperor to clear her name. The Emperor then instructed Li Yu to escort Ruyi back. As Li Yu escorted Ruyi, she observed Wang Qin's intense focus on the rumor investigation and suspected he might be neglecting his newlywed wife, Lianxin.
Sensing something amiss, Ruyi tasked Li Yu with discreetly visiting Lianxin to gather any potential information. Back in Yanxi Palace, Ruyi explained her self-imposed confinement to Hailan, reassuring her and instructing her to ensure Yonghuang did not worry. Ruyi philosophically remarked that "sometimes not going out isn't actually a bad thing." The Empress, Noble Consort Hui, and Noble Lady Jia discussed Ruyi's voluntary confinement.
Noble Consort Hui questioned the Emperor's trust in Ruyi, leading the Empress to muse that the Emperor was unpredictable and might even suspect both Ruyi and herself, but worried that his concern for Yonghuang might create a bias towards Ruyi. Noble Consort Hui then proposed that she raise Yonghuang, claiming Ruyi "lacked merit" and might "train him badly." She assured the Empress of her unwavering loyalty and promised not to "steal favors."
However, the Empress cautioned Noble Consort Hui against pressing the matter, as the Emperor was already preoccupied, and warned that her "rush" might lead her to act "out of bounds." Noticing the Empress's displeasure, Noble Lady Jia quickly intervened, excusing herself and Noble Consort Hui by claiming they had an appointment to visit Noble Lady Yi. The Empress approved, noting that visiting Noble Lady Yi would alleviate some of their worries.
Outside the palace, Noble Consort Hui chastised Noble Lady Jia for her interruption. Noble Lady Jia explained she had observed the Empress's annoyance and purposefully created an exit, adding that with the Emperor and Empress already burdened by the rumors, Ruyi's situation, and Noble Lady Yi's pregnancy, it was "not timely" to raise the issue of raising Yonghuang. Angered, Noble Consort Hui curtly told Noble Lady Jia to refrain from meddling in her affairs.
Later, while Noble Lady Jia served the Emperor, Wang Qin reported that the servants interrogated by the Office of Careful Punishment consistently pointed to Yanxi Palace as the source of the rumors. The Emperor, claiming fatigue, dismissed Wang Qin and instructed him to continue the investigation and report back in a few days.
Meanwhile, Noble Consort Hui frequently lingered outside Yanxi Palace, openly relishing Ruyi's confinement and hoping she would "never come out" so Yonghuang would "become my child sooner or later." Encountering Yonghuang returning from school, she tried to entice him to her Xianfu Palace with treats, implying Ruyi "won't be coming out." Yonghuang politely declined, asserting his intention to return to Yanxi Palace. Noble Consort Hui then offered to take him to the Emperor to request his adoption.
Yonghuang firmly stated that his Royal Father would inform him if such a decision were made, and he would not presume to question it himself. He declared it would be unfilial for him to deem his mother guilty before the Emperor had made a judgment, respectfully excusing himself. Later that night, a distressed Yonghuang visited Ruyi, recounting Noble Consort Hui's attempts and her assertion that Ruyi would not be released.
Ruyi comforted him, urging him not to be afraid and to focus on his studies while disregarding external gossip. Wang Qin encountered Lianxin as she returned from delivering a tonic to Noble Lady Yi. He apologized for neglecting her due to his intensive rumor investigation. Lianxin provocatively questioned his ability, as a mere servant, to "knock down" Consort Xian, especially given the Emperor's affection for her.
Wang Qin, in a moment of hubris, boasted that "a servant can't just have one master," revealing that "the Empress and Mistress Hui are both fond of me." Unbeknownst to him, Li Yu was hiding nearby and overheard this entire conversation. That evening, Wang Qin returned to find Lianxin uncharacteristically warm and inviting, having prepared food and wine. She affectionately encouraged him to take his "medicine," suggesting two pills instead of one.
When Wang Qin grew eager, Lianxin proposed a "new game" called "hidden kitten": she would hide, and he was to remain in the room until she called out, with the promise that if he found her, she would be "at his complete mercy." A delighted Wang Qin readily agreed.
As he searched, Lianxin, from her hiding spot, announced that someone from the Empress's palace had summoned her for an errand, implying she would be right back, and mischievously suggested he could follow if he "can't stand to wait." Wang Qin frantically urged her to stay. Inside Yanxi Palace, Ruyi calmly pursued her drawing, telling Hailan not to rush about her confinement, as she would "naturally go out" when the time was right.
Outside, Wang Qin, under the influence of the drug given by Lianxin, began to hallucinate and act erratically, eventually stumbling towards Yanxi Palace. He accosted Noble Consort Hui, mistaking her for Lianxin and making inappropriate advances. Noble Consort Hui screamed for help, and Ruyi, hearing the commotion, came to her palace gate. As eunuchs subdued Wang Qin, a hidden Lianxin was seen smiling.
Noble Consort Hui, outraged, confronted Ruyi, accusing her of mocking her and subtly implying Ruyi had orchestrated Wang Qin's actions. The Emperor soon arrived, and Noble Consort Hui tearfully recounted her humiliation, demanding justice. The Emperor ordered Wang Qin brought inside Yanxi Palace for interrogation to avoid a public spectacle. Inside, Wang Qin was doused with cold water but remained disoriented and incoherent. Li Yu suggested summoning Lianxin, as she was with Wang Qin and could clarify his condition.
When Lianxin arrived, Imperial Physician Qi Ru, who had examined Wang Qin, reported that he had not been drunk but had "overdosed on Ajisu pills," a banned "secret drug." Noble Consort Hui furiously accused Lianxin of complicity. Lianxin, in tears, recounted how the Empress had kindly arranged her marriage to Wang Qin for her companionship, but he had turned out to be "less than a beast."
She revealed that after taking the Ajisu pills, he would "beat, ridicule, and shame" her, threatening a fate "worse than being dead" if she ever spoke a word. To everyone's shock, Lianxin then exposed her body, revealing a multitude of fresh and old bruises and scars, substantiating her horrific claims.
