Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Episode 35 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
Five-year-old Fifth Prince Yongqi, already studying and memorizing the "Three Character Poetry," proved to be highly intelligent. Later, Hailan confided in Ruyi that the Emperor seemed intent on naming Seventh Prince Yongcong as Crown Prince. Ruyi acknowledged Yongcong's status as the Empress's legitimate son made him a natural choice, but expressed concern for his health. Yongcong, barely a month old, had already begun taking medicine due to his delicate constitution, administered by his wet nurse with his milk.
Three months later, his condition had not improved; he remained lacking in vitality, susceptible to colds, and showed no signs of growth, causing deep worry for the Empress. Imperial Physician Qi, when summoned, confirmed that Seventh Prince was a premature baby with an exceptionally frail constitution, requiring meticulous care. He stated that while Yongcong might be fine if he could be raised past the age of ten, the years leading up to that were fraught with risk.
The Empress's mother, Madam Fucha, then inquired if the Empress could conceive again. Imperial Physician Qi regretfully informed them that the Empress's body was sensitive to both heat and cold, making another pregnancy extremely difficult, almost impossible. Thus, Seventh Prince was the Empress's sole hope. The Emperor was informed of the Empress's severe postpartum weakness. Given the numerous upcoming palace events—including the Longevity Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Double Ninth Festival—he realized she would be unable to manage the harem affairs.
On the night of the Qixi Festival, as they gazed at the starlit sky, the Emperor urged Ruyi to make a wish. Ruyi wished for an enduring future with him, "as long as it takes," to which the Emperor vowed they would never leave each other. He then proposed that Ruyi oversee the six palaces, recalling her past experience. Ruyi, feeling she lacked thoroughness, suggested Noble Consort Chun assist her.
However, the Emperor dismissed the idea, citing Consort Chun's gentle but soft-hearted nature and lack of opinion, deeming her unsuited for the complex tasks. Ruyi reluctantly agreed. As a special Qixi gift, the Emperor presented Ruyi with a unique rose-shaped lacquered hairpin, differing from the bergamot given to the Empress, the hydrangea to Noble Consort Chun, the gardenia to Consort Jia, the wild rose to Consort Yu, and the pearl orchid to Imperial Concubine Shu.
He personally placed the rose hairpin in Ruyi's hair, remarking that it symbolized their distinct and long-lasting affection. On the stormy night of the Zhongyuan Festival, also known as the Ghost Festival, heavy rain fell. Seventh Prince Yongcong began to cry inconsolably. The Empress, concerned that he might be seeing "filthy things" due to his clear infant eyes, immediately ordered for the Buddha statues from her shrine to be brought out.
Just then, news arrived from Qixiang Palace that Consort Jia was experiencing a difficult labor. The Empress, seemingly unconcerned, simply instructed the midwives and royal physicians to manage it, noting that Consort Jia had given birth before. Inside Qixiang Palace, a palace maid named Ying'er secretly rejoiced at Consort Jia's prolonged suffering. When instructed to fetch the Emperor, Ying'er expressed reluctance due to the storm and the likelihood of the Emperor refusing to come.
Nevertheless, she braved the heavy rain to reach Yangxin Palace. There, she was stopped as the Emperor was deep in discussion with Lord Gao Bin and had explicitly forbidden any disturbances. Eunuch Li Yu, seeing Ying'er drenched, instructed Jin Zhong to escort her back to Qixiang Palace. During their walk, Jin Zhong observed that Ying'er was frequently bullied. He then propositioned her, offering to help her ascend the ranks.
If successful, she would serve as his "stairs" to power; if not, they would find mutual comfort, ensuring she would no longer be abused. Overwhelmed by years of mistreatment, Ying'er knelt before Jin Zhong, desperately pleading for his help. By the time Consort Jia's Eighth Prince reached his full month, she was seething with indignation.
The gifts from the Empress and Emperor were strictly "by the rule," a stark contrast to the ten times greater bounty bestowed upon Seventh Prince Yongcong. Furthermore, while Yongcong had been personally named by the Emperor at birth, Eighth Prince's name, Yongxuan—meaning "second-class jade"—was only finalized by the Internal Affairs Bureau after a month.
Consort Jia was particularly angered by gossip among servants comparing Yongcong's birth on "Buddha's birthday" to Yongxuan's on the "Ghost Festival," believing it further fueled the Emperor's favoritism towards the frail Seventh Prince. As Consort Jia fumed, Ying'er brought hot ginger water for her postpartum care, but Jia, still enraged, berated Ying'er for failing to bring the Emperor during her labor and violently overturned the basin of water onto her, intensifying Ying'er's already deep resentment.
Later, as Ruyi passed through the Imperial Garden on her way to visit the Empress, she encountered Consort Jia, who, in a display of deliberate cruelty, began to torment and strike Ying'er in Ruyi's presence. Ruyi intervened, but Consort Jia dismissed it as merely disciplining her own maid. Just then, the Emperor arrived, intending to visit Seventh Prince Yongcong. Jin Zhong subtly prompted Ying'er, who then let out a pained groan.
The Emperor, hearing the sound, inquired about it, and Jin Zhong explained it was likely a palace maid who had been slapped and could not bear the pain. The Emperor ordered Jin Zhong to bring her forward. He observed that Ying'er was quite sharp and, standing beneath the trumpet creeper vines, bore a slight resemblance to Ruyi. Ying'er introduced herself as Ying'er, the name Consort Jia had given her, though her original name was Wei Yanwan.
Seeing the redness on Ying'er's face and the injuries on her arm, the Emperor rebuked Consort Jia for her abuse. He further chastised her for daring to name a maid "Ying'er," knowing full well that Ruyi's maiden name was Qingying, calling it "preposterous" and "offensive." Consort Jia hastily apologized, claiming it was an unintentional oversight. The Emperor then declared that Ying'er should revert to her original name, Wei Yanwan, and no longer needed to serve in Qixiang Palace.
Seizing the opportunity, Ruyi suggested that Wei Yanwan, being of marriageable age, be released from the palace and perhaps be granted a marriage to an imperial guard, as a form of comfort for her past suffering. However, the Emperor, finding Yanwan sharp, decided to keep her at Yangxin Palace as a palace maid. Ruyi then asked Yanwan directly if she wished to leave the palace and marry.
After a moment of hesitation, and a subtle nudge from Jin Zhong, Wei Yanwan expressed her desire to serve the Emperor, stating that since entering the palace, "everything is Your Majesty's." The Emperor then commanded Jin Zhong to take Wei Yanwan to Yangxin Palace to learn the rules, and ordered Consort Jia to return to her palace to repent, excusing her from paying respects to the Empress.
Ruyi felt a pang of sadness and frustration, lamenting the Emperor's evident favor for Wei Yanwan. The Emperor, however, explained that Consort Jia's ill-treatment of Yanwan was a deliberate attempt to humiliate Ruyi, and by bringing Yanwan to his side, Consort Jia would understand his true sentiments and refrain from further bullying. As Ruyi departed, she reflected on Ling Yunche's hopes for Wei Yanwan.
Although Yanwan had escaped Qixiang Palace, Ruyi realized that a future with Ling Yunche was now impossible for her. She instructed Suoxin to inform Ling Yunche, though with little hope that it would alleviate his pain. At Yangxin Palace, Jin Zhong reiterated to Wei Yanwan that merely being a palace maid, even in the Emperor's residence, offered no true advancement. Only by becoming one of the Emperor's concubines could she achieve a truly favorable path.
He advised her to change into a new outfit, dress beautifully, and present tea to the Emperor as a gesture of thanks, urging her to "seize His Majesty's heart nicely." Wei Yanwan entered the Emperor's chambers, thanking him for her rescue and for taking pity on her. The Emperor, while acknowledging her gratitude, stated he would have helped anyone in similar distress. Yanwan then reminded him of a previous encounter in the Imperial Garden, when he had spoken to her.
The Emperor recalled her serving First Prince Yonghuang at Noble Consort Chun's palace. Yanwan, delighted, further recounted that the Emperor had once told her she would find "bliss in the best hour." The Emperor, claiming to not remember saying this, cautioned her not to misunderstand his words. Yanwan, ever observant, remarked that his robes seemed loose and needed to be re-tailored.
She explained that she had once worked in the Clothing Warehouse Bureau and was intimately familiar with his measurements, confessing that she had entered the Forbidden City because of him, and merely seeing him, even from afar, warmed her heart. The Emperor, intrigued, suggested she measure him herself. At that moment, Jin Zhong entered, only to find Wei Yanwan's arms encircling the Emperor's waist. He immediately fell to his knees in shock.
The Emperor, unperturbed, commanded Jin Zhong to issue a decree: Palace Maid Wei Yanwan was to be promoted to Second Class Attendant Wei, granted residence in Yongshou Palace, assigned two palace maids, and was to serve him that very night. Yanwan, as she set off for her service, instructed Chunchan to send generous gifts to Jin Zhong and his maid Lancui, to ensure their loyalty. On her way to serve the Emperor, Wei Yanwan encountered Ling Yunche.
He asked if she had been forced into her new position, but Yanwan firmly stated it was her own choice. Ling questioned if her past declarations of wanting to return to him were merely a deception. Yanwan conceded that, at the time, marrying him represented her "best exit" and her most honest thought. Ling realized he had been nothing more than a convenient escape.
Yanwan explained that years of being harassed and bullied by Consort Jia had taught her that only she could truly save herself. Ling observed that she had changed, but Yanwan retorted that he had simply never understood her. She recounted her descent from a noble family into a lowly palace maid, enduring daily shame and servitude, a life she wished to escape. Ling warned her about seeking temporary favor, reminding her of Ruyi's own fall from grace.
Yanwan, now elegantly dressed, proudly contrasted her present attire with her past in the Clothing Warehouse Bureau, where she could only work with exquisite fabrics she was forbidden to wear. She revealed her choice to walk to her first night of service, rather than taking the customary Phoenix-Luan Spring Favor Carriage, was to "measure with her own feet" the distance from her former status as a palace maid to her future as a favored concubine.
Ling advised her to walk her chosen path well, hoping she would never come to regret it. Yanwan, in turn, declared, "As long as you don't block my path, I will walk very far and very well." Acknowledging her debt to him, she softly called him "Brother Yunche." Ling, however, formally addressed her as "Second Class Attendant Wei," severing their personal ties. With that, Yanwan continued on her path to the Emperor's chambers, leaving Ling Yunche to bid farewell to "Second Class Attendant Wei."
