Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Episode 26 Recap
> Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Recap
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During a lavish imperial banquet, the Empress Dowager's adopted daughter, Elder Princess Hengti, paid a visit, bringing great joy to her Royal Mother. The Empress, ever filial, presented specially made floral cakes to the Empress Dowager, who, while appreciative, subtly warned her against the palace's internal machinations. Later, the Empress Dowager introduced Yehe-Nara Yihuan, a young woman she had carefully groomed to perform for the Emperor.
Yihuan captivated everyone with her unique rendition of Li Qingzhao's poetry, opting for a serene recital rather than a boisterous dance. The Emperor, charmed by her elegant and unworldly demeanor, inquired about her background. Yihuan revealed she was the daughter of Shilang Yongshou from the Manchu Bordered Yellow Banner, and her name, "Yihuan," meant "joyous fulfillment of one's wish," carrying a romantic connotation. However, a collective gasp rippled through the concubines when Yihuan stated her family name: Yehe-Nara.
Imperial Concubine Jia immediately reminded everyone of the historical curse—that the Yehe-Nara clan, once destroyed by Nurhaci, vowed vengeance against the Aisin-Gioro dynasty even if only one woman remained. The Empress Dowager swiftly dismissed this as mere rumor, highlighting that the Yehe-Nara clan had long since pledged allegiance to the Qing Dynasty, and Yihuan's father served the Emperor. The Emperor concurred, even recalling a Yehe-Nara woman in his own lineage who had contributed to the dynasty.
He then praised Yihuan's poetic talent, comparing her skill in Han poetry to that of Noble Consort Hui and Ruyi, a comparison that noticeably unsettled the other consorts. Pleased, the Emperor bestowed upon Yihuan the title of Noble Lady. Later that evening, Noble Consort Hui, eager to entertain, suggested a fireworks display orchestrated by her father.
As the sky erupted in dazzling colors, Yihuan offered a contemplative thought: fireworks, though brilliant, are fleeting, and she preferred the subtle, eternal glow of stars. The Emperor was deeply impressed by her profound words, granting her the title "Shu" and assigning her to reside in Chuxiu Palace. But the festivities were abruptly interrupted when a eunuch frantically announced a fire in the Cold Palace.
Amidst the roaring flames, Ruyi and her loyal maid, Suoxin, huddled together, fearing for their lives. Ling Yunche, a palace guard, bravely defied warnings and rushed into the inferno, successfully rescuing them. The Emperor soon arrived and, upon seeing Ruyi safe, draped his own coat around her before departing. The next day, Noble Consort Hui, distraught that her fireworks had led to the Cold Palace fire, knelt outside Yangxin Hall to beg for forgiveness.
The Emperor, however, absolved her of blame, attributing the incident to strong winds and the dilapidated state of the old palace buildings. Meanwhile, the Empress was secretly furious that Ruyi had survived, her resentment fueled by her belief that Ruyi was responsible for the death of her son, Yonglian. Her maid, Sulan, advised caution, suggesting that punishing the Cold Palace guards immediately would draw suspicion.
Sulan added that if an investigation were to proceed, Noble Lady Shen would be the convenient scapegoat for having scattered kerosene near Ruyi's quarters. Elsewhere, Noble Lady Shen, relieved that the Emperor had decided not to pursue the matter, confirmed that her servant had been meticulous in spreading the kerosene. Imperial Physician Jiang attended to Ruyi in the Cold Palace. Ruyi, concerned for her rescuer, inquired about Ling Yunche’s well-being.
Jiang assured her that Ling Yunche was unharmed and had not been punished for his courageous act. Ruyi and Jiang both noted the unusual nature of the fire—how swiftly it spread and how only Ruyi's room was affected—concluding it was a deliberate act by someone capable of covering their tracks. Ruyi then expressed her concern for the pregnant Hailan and asked Jiang to diligently care for her.
She also requested Jiang to return the Emperor's coat, stating that the Cold Palace was an impure place unfit for imperial belongings. Later, Imperial Physician Jiang reported to the Emperor about Hailan's fragile health and the slightly weak condition of her fetus, recommending a special medicine to stimulate her appetite and improve her overall health. Despite initial concerns about administering medication during pregnancy, the Emperor expressed his trust in Jiang. Jiang then returned the Emperor's coat, relaying Ruyi's message.
The Emperor acknowledged he had intentionally given Ruyi the coat, knowing she was cold, but she had sent it back. Hailan, who was present, thoughtfully suggested that Ruyi, feeling abandoned, might have deemed herself unworthy of possessing imperial items. The Emperor affirmed his confidence in Jiang's care for both Ruyi and Hailan.
In a private moment, Imperial Physician Jiang discreetly gave Hailan a small packet of medicine, cautioning her to be precise with the dosage and to keep its existence a secret from Ruyi. Hailan, in turn, expressed hope that this covert plan would ultimately aid Ruyi and Suoxin. Hailan continued to demonstrate her unwavering loyalty to Ruyi, sending winter clothing for Ruyi and Suoxin, and financial aid to Ruyi's family manor.
Under the influence of the medicine, Hailan's appetite improved, and her pregnancy progressed rapidly. She secretly consumed the medicine, silently seeking forgiveness from her unborn child for her calculated actions. Meanwhile, the Emperor, having decided to acknowledge Noble Lady Shu by flipping her jade tag, instructed Imperial Physician Qi to prepare stable-fetus medicine for her and to assess her health for any suitable, no-expense-spared treatments. Soon after, Hailan developed disturbing symptoms: sores around her mouth, fever, anxiety, and restless dreams.
These symptoms were strikingly similar to those Imperial Concubine Mei had suffered years prior. The Emperor summoned Imperial Physician Qi, who initially found Hailan's pulse to be normal. However, Imperial Concubine Mei, recognizing the pattern, highlighted the alarming resemblance of Hailan's condition to her own past poisoning. Imperial Physician Qi's subsequent investigation confirmed that Hailan was indeed suffering from cinnabar poisoning, administered through a method identical to the one used on Imperial Concubines Mei and Yi.
Fortunately, due to Hailan's limited use of charcoal and different dietary habits, the toxins had not yet deeply affected her fetus. Frightened, Hailan questioned who sought to harm her unborn child. Imperial Concubine Mei again suggested Ruyi, but the Emperor quickly dismissed this, citing Ruyi's strict confinement in the Cold Palace and the fates of her former servants.
Hailan, with calculated shrewdness, then proposed that if Ruyi had been framed, the true perpetrator might still be at large within the palace, or their accomplices remained active, continuing to employ the same harmful methods. She vehemently urged the Emperor to launch a thorough investigation, specifically pointing out Noble Lady Shen, the key witness in Ruyi's case, as a suspicious figure who might have been bribed by the real mastermind.
The Emperor reassured Hailan that he would personally oversee the investigation, urging her to prioritize her health and the royal heir. Reflecting on the disturbing recurrence of such events, the Emperor decided to not only thoroughly investigate Hailan's current poisoning but also to reopen the past case of Imperial Concubine Mei's poisoning, an investigation he had been previously restrained from pursuing by the Empress Dowager.
In a poignant moment of introspection, the Emperor inquired with Head Eunuch Xu An about the process of creating a new jade tag for "Consort Xian," Ruyi’s former title. However, he quickly waved it off as a casual query when Xu An reminded him that her previous tag had been removed upon her demotion to commoner.
