Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Episode 29 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
After her time in the Cold Palace, Ruyi's mind was at ease and her health, including her rheumatism, showed significant improvement. She instructed Royal Physician Jiang Yubin to find a trustworthy person outside the palace to remove all the basil seeds from her bracelet, so she could wear it again without arousing the Empress's suspicion. Meanwhile, Yuhu came to Ruyi to discuss Ling Yunche's new assignment, as both Kunning Palace and Yuanming Garden required guards.
Ruyi suggested Kunning Palace, noting its peaceful and honorable status as the residence of the Emperor and Empress and a place of worship since the reign of Emperor Shunzi. Yuhu then revealed that even without Ruyi's plea, the Emperor intended to reward Ling Yunche. When Ruyi was sent to the Cold Palace, the Emperor had secretly instructed Yuhu to assign Ling Yunche and Zhao Jiuxiao to protect her life.
Ling Yunche, in particular, had saved her multiple times during unexpected events. Yuhu added that the Emperor's constant concern also facilitated Noble Lady Hai's ability to sneak Royal Physician Jiang into the Cold Palace, as the Emperor had made secret arrangements through Qi Ru. Ruyi was deeply moved, realizing the Emperor had cared for her all along. Later, Ruyi visited the Emperor in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
He showed her a painting he had finally retrieved from Lang Shining, remarking that even if he lost the painting, he would never lose the person it depicted, as she remained in his heart. The Emperor reminisced about Ruyi's earlier self, Qingying, who lived a carefree life, in stark contrast to Ruyi's arduous days in the Cold Palace.
He revealed he was aware of her every suffering, even seeing each of the three hundred sixty-two knots and one hundred twelve handkerchiefs she made before they were sold outside the palace. He said he saw them and knew she could bear through and had not despaired. He asked about the trumpet creeper vines he knew grew in the Cold Palace, and Ruyi confirmed they bloomed grandly every year, providing some solace.
The Emperor explained he had hoped she would be as resilient as those vines and had gifted her green plum powder because of her fondness for green plum blossoms, which Ruyi mentioned she had used that day. He then promised to hold her hand forever and be her constant support, stating that nothing was more precious than that unwavering bond.
Ling Yunche began his new duties at Kunning Palace, where he witnessed Yanwan being harshly scolded by a gugu for not collecting enough pine twigs for the New Year's prayer. The gugu accused Yanwan of laziness and used derogatory terms, calling her a "whore," despite Yanwan's tearful pleas that the branches were too high to reach. Ling Yunche approached Yanwan, offering to help her pick the branches.
Yanwan, still crying, expressed her shame and recounted how everyone in the floral house bullied her. She was surprised to learn that Ling Yunche was no longer in the Cold Palace but now worked at Kunning Palace, thanks to Consort Xian. She took his hand, tearfully admitting her past wrongs and insisting that only he had ever been sincere to her.
Ruyi and Suoxin were enjoying the white plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden when Imperial Concubine Shu (Yihuan) joined them briefly. Ruyi expressed her appreciation for white plum blossoms, whose beauty, she explained, was subtle and revealed only through careful observation, unlike the more obvious red ones. After Yihuan left, Ling Yunche, who had been waiting, approached Ruyi.
He admitted he had sought her out to ask a favor: to transfer Yanwan out of the floral room, where she was suffering and being bullied. He acknowledged Yanwan had abandoned him in the past but explained he pitied her current plight, especially after she tearfully admitted her mistakes. Ruyi told him that the floral house currently needed many staff members, but she promised to find a way to transfer Yanwan to a better place in the spring.
Ling Yunche expressed his profound gratitude. He later informed Yanwan of Consort Xian's promise, and Yanwan was overjoyed at the news. Meanwhile, the Emperor received news that Gui Duo, A'Ruo's father, had died after being struck by a rolling boulder during flood prevention efforts. The Emperor ordered Li Yu to provide one thousand liang in silver for Gui Duo's family's funeral expenses, regretting the loss of such a capable talent.
He also mentioned that the investigation into Consort Xian's unjust imprisonment was nearing completion, and the culprits would soon face punishment. At a spring banquet, the Emperor presented gifts to his concubines. He gave the Empress a box of Donghai pearls, acknowledging the Royal Mother's wish for them to have a legitimate child. The other concubines each received one Donghai pearl. However, A'Ruo, now Imperial Concubine Shen, found cinnabar in her gift box.
She questioned the gift, calling it poisonous and implying a mistake, but the Emperor stated that cinnabar, which turns to mercury in hot water, was "most appropriate" for her. He then commanded Yuhu to explain the situation. Yuhu reported on her investigation into the harm caused to Imperial Concubine Yi's and Imperial Concubine Mei's babies. She revealed that Xiao Lüzi, who had testified against Consort Xian, was dead.
His brother, Xiao Fuzi, and Xiao Anzi, both former servants of Consort Xian, were found living lavishly in their hometowns despite their harsh reassignments. Interrogations confirmed that A'Ruo had provided them with money. A'Ruo denied any contact with them or knowledge of their families. She claimed to have heard that Xiao Anzi had become mute during interrogation, but the Emperor countered that records from the Office of Careful Punishment showed no visits from her or her attendants, exposing her lie.
The Emperor then demanded that A'Ruo recount the events of how Consort Xian had supposedly harmed the imperial heirs. A'Ruo stammered, claiming the events were too terrifying to remember, only recalling Consort Xian adding cinnabar to charcoal and fish, but forgetting the details. Hai Lan, now Concubine Shu, immediately pointed out A'Ruo's previous detailed accounts.
She further argued that the cinnabar found in Consort Xian's chamber was in too obvious a spot, implying that someone with easy access, likely a maid, had planted it. Hai Lan also reminded everyone that A'Ruo had initially tried to prevent a search of Yanxi Palace. Imperial Concubine Jia then suggested that the attempts on Consort Xian's life in the Cold Palace could also have been A'Ruo's doing to silence her.
A'Ruo became frantic, denying everything and pleading that she was being framed. Consort Xian intervened, stating that A'Ruo lacked the capacity to acquire so much cinnabar or bribe so many people to frame her, suggesting a mastermind. A'Ruo glanced towards Noble Consort Hui, who quickly condemned A'Ruo as malicious and reckless for not considering her family's safety. Imperial Concubine Mei, realizing A'Ruo was responsible for her child's death, slapped her.
The Emperor ordered A'Ruo taken to a side chamber of the Hall of Mental Cultivation for further interrogation, with instructions to keep her alive. Consort Xian noted that the Emperor's long-held suspicions were finally coming to light, and many in the palace would have a restless night. Later that night, Noble Consort Hui, in a state of panic, visited the Empress, fearing A'Ruo would implicate them. The Empress's maid, Suolian, attempted to reassure her that A'Ruo was solely responsible.
A'Ruo was then forced to change into a maid's attire, protesting her innocence and demanding to see the Emperor. A palace maid delivered a message from the Empress and Noble Consort Hui, warning A'Ruo that the lives of her two younger brothers, the last male heirs of their family, depended on her silence, implying she should protect them.
The next morning, before the Emperor and Consort Xian, A'Ruo confessed to framing Consort Xian, stealing the cinnabar, harming the children, and bribing the eunuchs. However, she adamantly refused to name any mastermind, despite the Emperor's warning about the severe punishment for such crimes, including "nine familial exterminations." When asked about the arsenic poisoning in the Cold Palace, A'Ruo denied involvement.
But her maid, Xinyan, stepped forward to reveal that A'Ruo deeply hated Consort Xian and wanted to eliminate her, especially after seeing the Emperor keep Consort Xian's embroidered handkerchief. Xinyan urged A'Ruo to confess fully. Cornered, A'Ruo confessed to setting the fire and orchestrating the snake incident in the Cold Palace. She tearfully admitted her deep hatred for Consort Xian, claiming Ruyi had always suppressed her.
A'Ruo asserted that the Emperor had once favored her and taken her as a concubine, but Consort Xian had ruined her chances. The Emperor vehemently refuted this, stating he had never liked her and that she had deluded herself. A'Ruo then revealed her years of humiliation: despite appearing favored and being envied by others, she was always made to kneel on a thin sheet during "bed service" and was never truly touched by the Emperor.
She blamed Consort Xian for her plight. The Emperor countered that he had kept A'Ruo alive precisely so she could one day clear Consort Xian's name. He called A'Ruo a malicious schemer and the first to betray her mistress for glory. He again pressed her to name any accomplices, but she insisted she had acted alone. The Emperor then dismissed Consort Xian to the study and ordered everyone else to withdraw, intending to interrogate A'Ruo in private.
Later, the Emperor informed Consort Xian that A'Ruo still refused to name her instigator. He explained that while he didn't believe A'Ruo acted alone, he could not interrogate everyone in the harem without causing chaos. Thus, for the sake of stability, the investigation would conclude with A'Ruo's confession. He asked Ruyi to understand his difficult position as Emperor and master of the harem. Consort Xian assured him she understood and appreciated his efforts, feeling at ease in their honest relationship.
The Emperor expressed his hope that they would never be estranged again. Subsequently, Yuhu reported to the Emperor that A'Ruo's two younger brothers were being detained by Lord Gao. She also revealed that the money given to Xiao Fuzi and Xiao Anzi had actually originated from Noble Consort Hui, merely passing through A'Ruo's hands. Yuhu further noted A'Ruo's frequent visits to the Empress's palace and Noble Consort Hui's consistent obedience to the Empress, subtly suggesting the Empress's possible involvement.
The Emperor, wary of directly implicating the Empress, his official wife and the mother of Yonglian and Jingse, decided to permanently silence A'Ruo by making her mute. This punishment would serve for her deeds against Consort Xian and prevent her from implicating anyone else. He concluded that it was not yet the right time to deal with Noble Consort Hui. A palace eunuch then forced A'Ruo to drink a special soup, explaining that it would render her unable to speak or implicate others.
