Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Episode 24 Recap
> Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Recap
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Cries for help from Ruyi's room in the Cold Palace alerted Ling Yunche, who rushed in to find Ruyi and Suoxin fending off numerous poisonous snakes. Ling Yunche, who happened to have realgar wine with him, sprayed it to drive the snakes away. Ruyi had been bitten, and Ling Yunche, recognizing the venom, quickly sucked it out while Suoxin retrieved water. He apologized for breaching propriety but emphasized that Ruyi's life was paramount.
He then instructed Suoxin to give Ruyi a Niuhuang pellet, a detoxifying compound, and apply mashed trumpet creeper leaves to the bite. Ling Yunche reassured them that the bite wasn't too deep and promised to inform Physician Jiang the next day. Suoxin expressed immense gratitude, acknowledging their good fortune that Ling Yunche was on duty. Ling Yunche, while commenting on the usual presence of snakes in the damp Cold Palace, noted the unusual quantity and suspicion.
He then investigated the room's exterior, discovering that roof tiles had been deliberately removed, suggesting the snakes were intentionally thrown in. He questioned Ruyi and Suoxin if they had offended anyone, but they remained silent. Ling Yunche left the remaining realgar wine and promised to return the next day with more realgar and lime powder for protection.
Ruyi, reflecting on this and a previous snake incident at Noble Lady Yi's palace, realized that even in the Cold Palace, their tormentors would not cease. Upon learning that Ruyi and Suoxin survived the snake attack, Noble Consort Hui angrily reprimanded Shuangxi for his incompetence, who in turn admitted to being a novice with poisonous snakes. Physician Jiang arrived to examine Ruyi, confirming that she was recovering well due to Ling Yunche's prompt actions, and had left detoxifying herbs.
He also conducted a check for her rheumatism. To his surprise, despite receiving treatment, Ruyi's and Suoxin's rheumatism showed no improvement, unlike other elderly residents in the Cold Palace. When Suoxin brought their meals, Physician Jiang immediately identified the food as "damp and chilling," unsuitable for their cold body types, and realized this was intentionally worsening their condition. Suoxin lamented that they had inadvertently paid for poison.
Ruyi, understanding this new malicious intent, decided they would feign ignorance, continuing to eat the food while Physician Jiang promised to find warm tonics to counteract its effects. Meanwhile, Noble Consort Hui, discovering Ling Yunche was Ruyi's rescuer, sent guards to beat him severely. During the assault, the guards vaguely stated their "Mistress has a prince," claiming Ling Yunche had offended her and warning him to stay out of others' affairs as a mere Cold Palace guard.
Zhao Jiuxiao found Ling Yunche afterwards and offered to help. Ling Yunche, however, refused to reveal that he and Zhao Jiuxiao were acting under the secret orders of Yu Hu Gugu, who had instructed them to protect Ruyi with their lives, come what may, and to keep her involvement strictly confidential. Zhao Jiuxiao lamented Ling Yunche's foolishness, but Ling Yunche insisted he couldn't have stood by and watched Ruyi die, especially given the Gugu's explicit command.
Ruyi presented Ling Yunche with a pair of embroidered shoe inserts she had sewn over two nights as a token of her gratitude for saving her life. Noticing his bruised face, she asked about his injuries. Ling Yunche reluctantly admitted he had been beaten by "a few junior guards" who claimed their "Mistress has a prince." Ruyi, however, saw through this obvious attempt to frame someone, understanding that such a clear statement was designed to deflect suspicion.
Meanwhile, Yu Hu Gugu informed the Emperor about the snake attack in the Cold Palace, confirming Ruyi was safe but the guard who saved her had been beaten by men claiming their master was an "Imperial Concubine from the palace who has a prince." Yu Hu advised the Emperor that this statement was suspiciously direct and likely a deliberate misdirection to muddy the waters. The Emperor agreed, ordering Yu Hu to intensify Ruyi's protection and continue the investigation.
The Emperor was also preparing for a trip to Yuanming Garden. The Empress Dowager declined to join due to travel and, concerned about the lack of attendants for the Emperor, sent Lu Muping, daughter of Deputy Minister Lu, to serve him. The Emperor merely glanced at the sixteen-year-old Lu Muping and briefly questioned her. Later, at Yuanming Garden, the Emperor received somber news: the Empress's uncle, Maqi, had passed away, leaving the Empress grief-stricken.
Worse still, Ruyi's father, Assistant Captain Naerbu, had died after falling into the water and being swept away by the tide during a dike inspection. Hai Lan, upon hearing of Naerbu's death, implored the Emperor to allow Ruyi to leave the Cold Palace to mourn. The Emperor refused, stating that Cold Palace inmates do not leave and fearing Ruyi would be in even greater danger if others discovered his leniency.
He instructed Hai Lan to wait until after the funeral arrangements were complete before informing Ruyi. To honor Naerbu's public service, the Emperor promoted him posthumously to "zuoling" and arranged for a decent funeral, dispatching Li Yu with compensation and money to the Ula-Nara household. The Empress, upon hearing of the Emperor's discreet care for Ruyi's family and his decision to shield Ruyi from the news of her father's death, grew consumed with jealousy.
Still reeling from the loss of her son Yonglian and her uncle Maqi, she felt increasingly isolated and burdened by her imperial duties. Believing Ruyi's alleged curses had caused her son's death, which then led to her uncle's demise, the Empress resolved that Ruyi too should experience the profound pain of losing a loved one and the "feeling of a living hell."
Ruyi soon received devastating news via a junior eunuch, falsely attributed to Noble Lady Hai: her father, Naerbu, had drowned while inspecting the dike. Overwhelmed with grief, Ruyi frantically called for Ling Yunche, imploring him to visit her family home to confirm the news. She waited anxiously at the Cold Palace gate through a heavy rain, refusing to believe her father was truly gone.
Ling Yunche returned and, though confirming the tragic loss, reassured Ruyi that the funeral arrangements were proceeding smoothly, and her mother and siblings were receiving support, with the Emperor, Noble Lady Hai, and Li Yu having sent money. Despite the reassurance, Ruyi was consumed by guilt, believing her confinement in the Cold Palace had led to her father's hardship and ultimate demise. She lamented not having heeded her aunt's advice.
That night, Ruyi suffered a vivid nightmare where her aunt, Qingying, harshly rebuked her for failing to protect herself and for dragging her family down, accusing her of causing their misfortunes and being unworthy of the Ula-Nara clan. Her aunt scornfully asked if Ruyi intended to "grow old and die in the Cold Palace." Waking from the nightmare, Ruyi's despair transformed into firm resolve: she declared to Suoxin that they must "think of a way to get out of here."
Unbeknownst to Ruyi, the Empress was orchestrating her torment. Satisfied that Ruyi was now grieving, the Empress ordered Zhao Yitai to deliver joss offerings and paper money to the Cold Palace, cunningly making it appear as if Noble Lady Hai had sent them.
Her maid warned that burning such items was a serious palace prohibition, but the Empress dismissed this, pointing to the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and Ghost Festival rites as a pretext to frame Ruyi's "filial piety" while ensuring the act could not be traced back to her.
She also instructed her maid to bribe Cheng Han, a eunuch close to the Empress Dowager, ensuring that the prohibited act would be reported to the Empress Dowager, who held a strong taboo against such practices. Later, Suoxin received a package through the food hole, which included offerings and paper money, with a note claiming it was from Noble Lady Hai's maid, not Ling Yunche. Ruyi found the offerings suspicious due to their unusual origin.
Meanwhile, in the wider palace, on Mid-Autumn Festival, the Emperor allowed all concubines to send offerings and burn paper boats to grieve for the dead, with the Empress leading the ceremony.
