Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Episode 43 Recap
> Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Recap
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Grand Master Anji's prayers are underway at Anhua Hall. Ai'er, a maidservant from the icehouse, seeks out An Duo, Grand Master Anji's disciple, to thank him for his past kindness. She confides that her days are difficult, constantly exhausted from work and enduring the harsh temper of her mistress at Qixiang Palace. An Duo reassures her that inner peace can make any day easy to bear.
Ai'er expresses that An Duo is the only one in the palace who speaks to her gently, making her feel that she is not a lowly servant. Hoping for a better next life, she asks An Duo to give her the Buddha beads from his wrist so she can feel his boundless benevolence. An Duo complies, giving her the beads and wishing her peace and blessings. Later, Noble Consort Jia notices a different maidservant delivering ice and inquires about Ai'er.
Upon learning Ai'er is busy praying at Anhua Hall, Noble Consort Jia scoffs, wondering what blessings a mere servant could possibly pray for. Her maidservant then comments on Ruyi's recent promotion to Imperial Noble Consort, observing that even the high-ranking Grand Master Anji is now "making connections" with her. She implies that a man and a woman "fawning for no reason at all" might be up to something improper.
Noble Consort Jia finds this thought intriguing and decides to send her own personally transcribed Buddhist scriptures to Grand Master Anji, rather than attending the prayers herself. After the prayers conclude, the Emperor announces his return to Yangxin Hall for court matters. As he prepares to leave, Ruyi stumbles, and Grand Master Anji quickly supports her, prompting the Emperor to caution Ruyi to be careful.
Once the Emperor departs, Noble Consort Chun's maidservant delivers a handwritten mantra to the Grand Master for the First and Third Princes. Grand Master Anji then presents Ruyi with special offering incense, which he claims brings infinite good blessings and benefits one's health. He also gives her an exquisitely made bronze incense censer and suggests she wear "seven treasures beads" for enhanced good luck and peace. A maidservant from Noble Consort Chun's retinue discreetly observes this exchange.
The Emperor later notices a large number of palace maids heading towards Anhua Hall. Li Yu explains it's a rare opportunity to hear the Grand Master recite scriptures for blessings. Jinchong adds that Grand Master Anji's handsomeness and wisdom make the maids particularly diligent in their attendance.
Uneasy with many outside men in the palace, even a monk, the Emperor emphasizes the need to avoid scandals and orders that Grand Master Anji be sent out of the palace as soon as the prayers are finished. Meanwhile, Ruyi observes the mutual affection between Suoxin and Physician Jiang. She joyfully declares that it would be a failing on her part not to grant them marriage.
She proposes that after the six-month mourning period for Empress Xiaoxian ends in the ninth month, she will arrange their wedding. Ruyi also encourages them to bring any future children to the palace often, expressing her desire to cherish them as her own foster children. Suoxin and Physician Jiang gratefully accept Ruyi's kindness. That night, Wei Wanwan releases numerous fireflies in Yongshou Palace, hoping to entice the Emperor. Her maidservant notes the Emperor's appreciation for an elegant atmosphere.
Indeed, the Emperor, hearing about the fireflies and Noble Lady Ling's fondness for them, decides to visit Yongshou Palace, charmed by the romantic display. Later that night, Ruyi is startled by a commotion in Yikun Palace. Sanbao reports that while drawing hot water, he saw an assassin dressed in white in the garden. His scream startled the intruder, who fled over the wall. Sanbao heard guards in pursuit but the assassin had already vanished.
Ruyi immediately instructs Sanbao to report the incident to the Emperor and request additional guards to search Yikun Palace and all six palaces, prioritizing the Emperor's safety. However, Ruyi finds it suspicious that the patrols, who had assigned shifts and were not scheduled to be present at that hour, arrived so quickly, especially if they were meant to be on "extra guard" due to her recent promotion.
The next day, the Emperor, after visiting Noble Consort Jia, summons Ruyi to Qixiang Palace. Before the Emperor and Noble Consort Jia, the Emperor questions Ruyi about her frequent visits to Anhua Hall. Noble Consort Jia states that while she also sends her transcribed mantras for prayers, she never goes personally, citing propriety due to Grand Master Anji being a man, despite his spiritual cultivation.
She insinuates that Ruyi must have a deep "affinity" with the Grand Master for him to gift her only the tribute incense and a "bead bracelet." Ruyi confirms receiving the incense but denies ever seeing a bracelet. Noble Consort Jia then calls for Zhenshuo, who claims to have witnessed Ruyi and Grand Master Anji behaving intimately, whispering closely, and that Anji personally placed a bracelet on Ruyi's wrist as a "token of their affection." Ruyi vehemently denies these accusations.
Noble Consort Jia then produces the bracelet along with a small, love-knot ornament and a love letter. She explains that these items were found by guards chasing the assassin the previous night and brought to her. Noble Consort Jia points out that the letter, written on red plum paper with gold splattering – paper exclusively used in Ruyi's palace due to her preference for plum blossoms – contains poetry expressing a woman's longing for her lover and mentions Suoxin.
Most crucially, the handwriting bears a striking resemblance to Ruyi's. Ruyi insists she did not write the letter but acknowledges the similarity in handwriting, explaining it was a unique style taught by Madam Wei that no other concubine could imitate. Noble Consort Jia presses her case, suggesting that the bracelet was a tool to lure the Grand Master (the "assassin") to Yikun Palace and that he dropped the items in his haste after Sanbao's scream.
Ruyi maintains her innocence, stating she was preparing for bed with Suoxin as her witness. The Emperor inquires about Grand Master Anji's whereabouts during the incident. Noble Consort Jia replies that Anji was locked in solitary cultivation on the second floor of Anhua Hall, but suggests his martial arts skills would make it easy for him to jump from that height.
Noble Consort Jia then proposes sending Suoxin to the Office of Careful Punishment for interrogation, given her name in the letter. Ruyi protests, but Noble Consort Jia challenges her to prove her innocence. The Emperor, however, states that the matter is still under investigation and does not yet warrant involving the Office of Careful Punishment, dismissing Ruyi back to her palace.
The Empress Dowager comments that the Emperor's cautious handling of the situation is prudent, as Grand Master Anji is a respected figure from the southern regions whom they cannot offend lightly. She instructs Fujia to discreetly monitor all palaces for any unusual activities and observe who enters and exits Anhua Hall.
The Emperor suggests that besides Ruyi, many other palace maids also admire the Grand Master, and perhaps the "monk" (Anduo) mistakenly entered Yikun Palace while trying to meet another maid. The Empress Dowager, perceiving the Emperor's protectiveness towards Ruyi, decides to use this incident to cleanse the harem and identify any palace maids behaving improperly. Ruyi, back in her palace, expresses her despair over the endless troubles.
She asks Suoxin to have Li Yu secretly examine the incriminating items for any irregularities. Soon after, Fujia arrives, announcing the Empress Dowager's order to search all six palaces for indiscreet maidservants. Suoxin, as the supervising palace maid of Yikun Palace, volunteers to have her own room searched first. Meanwhile, the Emperor consults Li Yu, who, despite lacking full information, states his belief that Ruyi is not capable of such an act, sensing the Emperor's own doubts.
The Emperor confides that Ruyi holds a unique bond with him, and despite the multiple pieces of evidence, he cannot fully believe she had a liaison with the Grand Master. He explains that he entrusted the Empress Dowager with the investigation because, despite her lack of excessive fondness for Ruyi, her Buddhist faith would ensure impartiality, and Ruyi's reputation is at stake, necessitating extreme caution. Fujia proceeds to Noble Consort Jia's palace for the search.
Noble Consort Jia grants permission, stating that if the Imperial Noble Consort's palace was searched, hers should be too. During the search, Fujia discovers distinctive Buddha beads on Ai'er's wrist. Recognizing their premium quality beeswax and masculine size, she realizes they are not suitable for a maidservant. Ai'er is apprehended and, under interrogation, confesses that she begged the beads from Grand Master Anji's disciple, Anduo, for blessings and has worn them constantly.
The Empress Dowager notes Anduo's recklessness in giving away personal items but dismisses the idea of him being the "assassin," as many saw him on light-keeping duty at Anhua Hall that night. She concludes that the assassin incident is unrelated to palace maids. She orders Ai'er to receive one hundred strokes of whipping as a public warning for all palace servants, and she reminds the Emperor that Ruyi's situation still requires his thorough investigation.
However, the Emperor reveals he has put away the "filthy items" provided by Noble Consort Jia, indicating his reluctance to further pursue Ruyi's case. The Empress Dowager challenges his avoidance, to which the Emperor suggests dealing with Ai'er first and limiting Grand Master Anji's movements. Noble Consort Jia, discussing the matter with Zhenshuo, acknowledges that the current evidence might not be sufficient to severely punish Ruyi.
However, she asserts that a pristine reputation is crucial for an Empress, and a woman entangled in "unclean rumors" cannot lead the nation. She reveals her plan: if the Emperor rigorously investigates Ruyi, it would sow discord between them, preventing Ruyi's ascent to Empress. If he chooses not to investigate, the rampant rumors would provoke objections from both the court and the harem, making it equally difficult for Ruyi to become Empress.
Seeing the Emperor's attempt to suppress the incident, Noble Consort Jia decides to "add some fire" to the scandal using Ai'er. That night, the Emperor is restless, troubled by thoughts of Ruyi and the Grand Master. In the prison, Ai'er weeps uncontrollably, consumed by guilt for inadvertently implicating Anduo. A jailer approaches her, suggesting a way to create a larger distraction to potentially spare Anduo.
During her public whipping, Ai'er dramatically cries out that her punishment for merely accepting Buddha beads is unjust, and then provocatively questions how her actions compare to those of the Imperial Noble Consort, causing a further uproar among the onlookers.
