Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Episode 16 Recap
> Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Recap
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Lianxin stood before the Emperor, her body marked with gruesome injuries. She recounted that Wang Qin, not on duty that day, had immediately taken his medicine upon returning to their salon. Watching him from the window, Lianxin, terrified, had not dared to return. She believed the medicine took effect, and when he couldn't find her, he became enraged and ran out.
A eunuch, Jin Zhong, then reported finding a box of Ajisu pills in Wang Qin's room, which Imperial Physician Qi confirmed as a prohibited palace medicine. A eunuch added that Wang Qin had been bragging about his marriage since, relying on such "filthy things." Consort Hui, visibly shaken, demanded justice and insisted on Wang Qin's death for the humiliation she suffered.
However, the Emperor merely ordered Li Yu to gag Wang Qin with hemp cord, break one of his legs, and banish him from the palace to live as a beggar. He then dismissed Consort Hui to rest. As she left, Consort Hui cast a look of resentment at Ruyi. Ruyi interceded for Lianxin, emphasizing that Wang Qin was at fault, but Lianxin was an innocent victim who had served the Empress for years.
The Emperor agreed, pardoning Lianxin and annulling her marriage to Wang Qin. He offered her leave to visit her family, but Lianxin chose to remain at Changchun Palace to serve, stating she did not blame the Empress, who was unaware of Wang Qin's true nature. Lianxin then bravely revealed the truth about the rumors concerning Noble Lady Mei's child. She confessed that Wang Qin, after taking medicine and getting drunk, had spoken nonsensically.
She had been threatened by Wang Qin, who held her siblings' lives over her head, and thus dared not speak earlier. She explained that Yanxi Palace was on Wang Qin's route to their salon. That night, he lay by the road outside Yanxi Palace, rambling in his drunken state, which led others to believe the rumors originated from there, later twisted by Wang Qin to incriminate Consort Xian. Upon hearing this, the Emperor was furious.
He commanded that the hemp cord in Wang Qin's mouth remain even in death, ensuring he could never speak again. All eunuchs were to gather at the Office of Careful Punishment to witness Wang Qin's execution, as a warning against tainting the harem. The Emperor was deeply distressed that Ruyi had subjected herself to confinement in Yanxi Palace despite her innocence.
Ruyi assured him she did so to spare him from a difficult predicament and expressed her enduring trust in him, saying their bond was unparalleled in the harem. The next day, Consort Hui's maid informed her that the Emperor had sentenced Wang Qin to death by suffocation, and he had died the previous night. Consort Hui was relieved but still resented Ruyi for raising the First Prince, Yonghuang.
She believed the Emperor was biased and that she had been forced to devise a plan to discredit Ruyi and reclaim Yonghuang, which ultimately backfired. Reflecting on her childlessness, Consort Hui lamented that if she had a child, the Emperor would not neglect her. The Emperor had not visited Xianfu Palace for a long time, and Consort Hui had fallen out of favor due to the Wang Qin incident.
Meanwhile, in the Empress's palace, the Empress commented that Consort Hui had brought trouble upon herself by going to Yanxi Palace and being humiliated by Wang Qin, which explained the Emperor's coldness towards her. Noble Lady Jia further suggested that the Emperor's anger stemmed from the rumor about Noble Lady Mei's child possibly originating from Consort Hui, who had always been close to Wang Qin.
She concluded that Consort Hui’s persistence in trying to gain custody of Yonghuang, despite the Empress's care, revealed her disloyalty. The Empress expressed pity for Lianxin. Noble Lady Jia then lamented that Lianxin had failed to control Wang Qin, causing them to lose a valuable pawn. With Li Yu now by the Emperor's side, discerning his thoughts would be harder.
The Empress acknowledged her error regarding Lianxin but decided she could not let Lianxin leave the palace, fearing Lianxin would expose her attempt to use her to control Wang Qin. Instead, she would keep Lianxin serving outside her hall. Unbeknownst to them, Lianxin overheard their entire conversation, her heart growing cold. It was revealed that Ruyi had orchestrated these events. She knew the Empress valued rules and wouldn't spread rumors about Noble Lady Mei's child.
The only other possibility was Wang Qin, but he wouldn't act without instruction. Ruyi initially couldn't pinpoint the culprit until Consort Hui attempted to take Yonghuang. Ruyi then deduced that Consort Hui's desire for Yonghuang and her gloating outside Yanxi Palace implicated her. Collaborating with Li Yu and Lianxin, Ruyi extracted the truth from Wang Qin. This clever plan simultaneously taught Consort Hui a lesson, punished Wang Qin, saved Lianxin, and cleared Ruyi's name.
Ruyi explained to Aruo that her voluntary confinement allowed their plan to proceed smoothly as their adversaries would relax their guard. She was confident Lianxin would not betray them, as they merely revealed the truth without false accusations, and Lianxin's wish to be free from Wang Qin was fulfilled. Days later, Consort Hui, feeling unwell, sent for the Emperor. He only dispatched Imperial Physician Qi, which deeply saddened her.
She confided in her maid, lamenting that while the Empress, with her children, could always reconcile with the Emperor, she, being childless, could be easily ignored. She decided to write to her father, Gao Bin, asking him to intercede with the Emperor on her behalf. Empress Dowager learned of this and commented that Consort Hui’s approach was unsophisticated, while Consort Xian had won this round splendidly.
Imperial Physician Qi also reported that Consort Hui wished to change her medication, but the Empress Dowager dismissed it, stating it would make no difference. Later, Noble Lady Yi was found to be pregnant, and the Empress Dowager bestowed upon her a golden qilin lock, symbolizing a son. The Empress Dowager reminded the Empress that fostering imperial heirs was paramount, criticizing her for sometimes losing sight of important matters.
Noble Lady Jia interjected, praising the Empress for diligently ordering the Imperial Physicians to prepare fertility medicine for all the concubines. The Empress Dowager then revealed that celestial observations indicated an auspicious time for childbirth in the palace, specifically mentioning a bright star in the Northern Goddess constellation, foretelling a noble birth. She took this as a sign of great fortune for Noble Lady Yi's baby, emphasizing that no more misfortunes should befall the palace.
The Emperor assured her he understood and would ensure Noble Lady Mei's peaceful recuperation. The Empress proposed promoting Noble Lady Yi, and the Emperor agreed to elevate her to a Imperial Concubine after childbirth, regardless of the baby's gender. He then surprised everyone by suggesting Ruyi assist in managing the six palaces and also care for Noble Lady Yi. The Empress demurred, pointing out that Noble Consort Hui was still above Ruyi and might be displeased, and Ruyi was young.
The Emperor countered that managing affairs steadily did not depend on seniority, noting Consort Hui's poor health and absence. He instructed the Empress to guide Ruyi. The Empress, recognizing the Emperor’s displeasure, reluctantly agreed. After the meeting, the Empress confessed to the Emperor that the Lianxin incident was due to her oversight.
The Emperor advised her not to be too hard on herself, but to learn from the lesson, warning her against offending the Empress Dowager or causing unrest in the harem. Later, the Emperor visited Ruyi, who was poring over old ledger books. Ruyi praised the Empress's management, noting that harem expenditures had halved since the Emperor's ascension, with meticulous records. The Emperor commended Ruyi's astuteness and affirmed his decision to have her assist in managing the six palaces.
In the Empress's palace, the Second Prince, Yonglian, was dozing off during his studies, complaining about waking early. The Empress scolded him for being delicate, reminding him he was the first wife's son and should not fall behind. She made him stand by the door in the cold to awaken, despite the cool spring air. Yonglian began to sneeze, and the Empress, pained, brought him inside, calling him her only hope.
Elsewhere, Consort Hui watched a eunuch training a snake, appearing distracted. She warned him to be careful not to let the snake harm anyone, though the eunuch assured her it was non-poisonous. That night, the Empress mused to Sulian about her fears of losing her position and, consequently, her children and clan. Just then, a palace maid reported that Yonglian had caught a severe cold and was burning with fever.
Imperial Physician Qi informed the Empress that Yonglian had asthma, a congenital weakness, aggravated by stress, anxiety, and the cold. He assured her that with careful nurturing, Yonglian could lead a healthy life but admitted that if not managed diligently, they could only rely on divine protection.
The Empress, recalling her elder brother who suffered from the same ailment and couldn't ride or shoot arrows, despaired for Yonglian, fearing he would not be able to assist the Emperor as an imperial son. Ruyi, meanwhile, was embroidering, explaining to Aruo that one must remain calm both in and out of favor, like embroidery, where one wrong stitch can ruin everything.
She asked Aruo to take a jar of treasured scholar tree honey to Noble Lady Yi as a gift. Aruo expressed concern over the preciousness of the honey, but Ruyi explained that Noble Lady Yi's safe delivery would help the Emperor resolve his lingering sadness over Noble Lady Mei's child. As Ruyi drank her fertility medicine, she encountered Sanbao scattering lime powder to deter insects, as it was the day of awakening for insects.
Ruyi, carrying the honey, went to visit Noble Lady Yi, whose palace was being repainted in festive colors. Suddenly, Noble Lady Yi's scream echoed from her warm chamber. Ruyi rushed in to find a snake coiled on the floor, and quickly called for realgar powder.
