Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Episode 53 Recap
> Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Recap
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The Emperor, engrossed in state affairs, felt dizzy and weary. His eunuch, Li Yu, urged him to rest and offered a calming tea prepared by Imperial Physician Jiang Yubin. Meanwhile, Empress Ruyi observed that the Emperor had been elevating many First-Class and Second-Class Female Attendants and frequently summoned concubines, which concerned her deeply for his health. Rong Pei then brought joyous news: Suoxin was pregnant.
Ruyi was delighted, instructing Rong Pei to ensure Imperial Physician Jiang took good care of Suoxin and not to rush back to duty. Noble Consort Chun soon arrived to convey her worries about the Emperor’s exhaustion and his lack of energy despite taking medicine. Ruyi promised to counsel him. When Imperial Physician Jiang Yubin examined the Emperor, he found his pulse normal but acknowledged the Emperor’s persistent fatigue.
Jiang Yubin explained he dared not use potent medicine for fear of harming the Imperial body, advocating for a slower, gentler approach. The Emperor, however, was frustrated by the slow progress and recalled the Late Emperor's use of deer blood mixed with wine. Jiang Yubin confirmed deer blood's efficacy but reiterated its strong nature and advised against it, leading the Emperor to dismiss him and demand more effective remedies, threatening his position.
Jinzhong, overhearing this, quickly informed Consort Ling (Yanwan) about the Emperor’s interest in deer blood. He emphasized that gaining Imperial favor was paramount before conceiving children. Later, Jinzhong presented the Emperor with milk tea prepared by Consort Ling, who he said was worried about his health. Jinzhong then mentioned Consort Ling had also prepared deer blood wine and subtly suggested the Emperor visit Yongshou Palace to try it. The Emperor, eager for a potent tonic, agreed.
At Qixiang Palace, Noble Consort Jia, who had been tasked with painting mantras on Tibetan prayer flags, felt nauseous from the smell of porridge offered by her maid, Lixin. Lixin suspected a pregnancy, noting Noble Consort Jia’s missed periods and nausea. Noble Consort Jia, recognizing the symptoms, was thrilled. She decided to conceal her pregnancy for now, fearing Ruyi, who saw her as an enemy, and vowed to wait until the fetus was stable before informing the Emperor.
She was determined to protect this child after the loss of her Ninth Prince. Unaware of Noble Consort Jia’s news, Ruyi overheard two ministers discussing the Emperor’s recent weariness and the lingering scent of alcohol. She sent Rong Pei to investigate. Rong Pei soon reported that while Imperial Physician Jiang had refused the Emperor's request for deer blood, Yongshou Palace was regularly obtaining fresh deer blood, suggesting Consort Ling was using it to curry favor.
Realizing the Emperor was currently at Yongshou Palace, Ruyi immediately went there. Upon arriving, Ruyi found the Emperor had summoned four consorts to serve him. Consort Ling, kneeling, feigned ignorance of Ruyi’s arrival. Ruyi demanded to know the Emperor's whereabouts. Consort Ling claimed he was drunk and asleep. Ruyi sternly accused Consort Ling of preparing deer blood wine for the Emperor. Consort Ling insisted she had tried to dissuade him, but he was resolute in seeking a quick remedy.
Ruyi rebuked Consort Ling and the other consorts for not admonishing the Emperor and instead indulging him, accusing them of having "ill intentions" and questioning if Consort Ling was ready to face the "crime of seducing her master." At that moment, the Emperor emerged, dismissing Ruyi's concerns and ordering everyone to leave. But the consorts remained kneeling. Ruyi asserted they knelt because they knew their wrongdoing, asking if the Emperor would let them off easily.
The Emperor retorted that Ruyi's severity caused fear. Despite his refusal, Ruyi, worried for his health, insisted he drink a sobering tonic. Enraged, the Emperor knocked the bowl, causing Ruyi to stumble. She expressed her heartbreak over his disregard for his health. The Emperor, tired, declared he would rest at Consort Ling’s palace and ordered Ruyi to return to her own palace to "reflect on her mistakes."
Ruyi, asserting that her direct speaking was not a fault, offered to kneel in punishment. The Emperor, viewing this as a challenge, angrily consented and re-entered with Consort Ling, leaving Ruyi to kneel. After a long period, Ruyi grew dizzy and collapsed. Hearing the commotion, the Emperor rushed out, ordering an Imperial Physician. The Emperor quickly drank a sobering tonic, concerned the alcohol fumes might bother Ruyi.
When Ruyi awoke, she was met with smiles and the news that she was pregnant. Overjoyed but incredulous after so many years, Ruyi learned from Imperial Physician Jiang Yubin that her first pregnancy had made symptoms subtle, but she was indeed several months along. The Emperor, placing Ruyi's care entirely on Jiang Yubin, threatened him with his life if anything went amiss. Alone, Ruyi felt a profound change in their relationship.
The Emperor, now remorseful, explained his weakness and his desire to break the Imperial Astronomer’s prophecy of a conflict with the Tenth Prince. Ruyi gently urged him not to be swayed by omens, reminding him of his prime and the need for proper care. She warned against quick fixes, citing the Late Emperor’s death from an overdose of elixirs. The Emperor accepted her words, promising to cherish his health and asking her to focus on their child.
As a penalty, he withdrew the jade nameplates of Consort Ling and the other concubines until their child was one month old, forbidding them from serving him. Ruyi affirmed that his improved health would be her greatest comfort. News of Ruyi's pregnancy reached Noble Consort Jia, who fretted over the timing, fearing her child would be overshadowed and hoping it would be a prince.
She decided to formally announce her three-month pregnancy to the Emperor, hoping to secure his affection for her unborn child. That night, a desperate Consort Ling attempted to stop the Emperor’s carriage, pleading her innocence, but the Emperor rebuked her for "seducing her master" and had his carriage proceed. Ruyi, meanwhile, felt a resolution to the tension between her and the Emperor, yet a new worry formed: his growing fear of aging and mortality.
Rong Pei reassured her that caring for the Imperial heir was most important. Noble Consort Jia's official announcement of her three-month pregnancy led the Emperor to lift her punishment. He also acknowledged his own health had improved with Imperial Physician Jiang Yubin's gentle remedies. The Empress Dowager, observing the sparse harem, proposed a maiden selection. The Emperor agreed but specified that the Ministry of Revenue and Imperial Household Department would manage it, excluding her involvement.
The Empress Dowager felt alienated by his suspicion and distance. Consort Yu (Hailan) and Consort Shu (Yihuan) visited Ruyi. Hailan noted that Ruyi’s strong sense of duty and affection for the Emperor often led to such palace disputes. Hailan then presented Ruyi with a collection of exquisite baby clothes, revealing she had sewn one each year since joining the palace, harboring a quiet hope for Ruyi's pregnancy. Ruyi was deeply moved.
Imperial Physician Jiang Yubin confirmed the Emperor's robust health, stating no more tonics were needed, only rest. The Emperor reflected on Ruyi's honest counsel, comparing her "ice and snow" nature that brings sobriety to others who merely offered "multi-colored decorations." Jiang Yubin also reported that the Tenth Prince, under Princess Consort Xian’s attentive care, was significantly healthier. The Emperor expressed relief, assured that both he and the Tenth Prince were well.
Consort Ling, now out of favor, faced neglect from the Imperial Household Department. Further compounding her distress, her mother and younger brother, Zuolu, came demanding money, leaving her feeling desperate and abandoned. During the maiden selection, several candidates favored by Fujia were quickly dismissed. The Empress Dowager learned the Emperor had set strict criteria: no daughters of influential officials, no daughters of officials from previous eras, and no daughters of overly low status. She remarked on the Emperor's intense caution. With Ruyi pregnant and unable to attend the final selection, the Emperor invited the Empress Dowager, but she, still feeling excluded, declined.
