Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Episode 59 Recap
> Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Recap
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Ruyi received a message from Li Yu and showed the note to Noble Consort Chun and Hai Lan. Hai Lan condemned Consort Ling's audacious and contemptible actions at the Mulan Hunting Preserve, insisting she should not be let off easily. Ruyi, however, did not dwell on the matter of Consort Ling, instead discussing Yongzhang's affairs with Noble Consort Chun.
Ruyi then gave Noble Consort Chun a pair of bottles depicting `qilins delivering children`, hoping for Yongzhang and his consort to safely extend the Imperial bloodline with a son. While Noble Consort Chun's maid lamented that the Emperor never displayed emotion when with Noble Consort Chun and wondered why he favored Consort Ling, Noble Consort Chun remained calm and decided to paint.
At the Mulan Hunting Preserve, Imperial Concubine Ying impressed the Emperor with her excellent archery skills, earning his praise. Imperial Concubine Ke, seeking to embarrass Consort Ling, suggested she also demonstrate her skills. Consort Ling claimed she was not good at archery, but the Emperor insisted she try. He personally taught her, but her arrow still landed on the ground.
Imperial Concubine Ke seized the opportunity to mock Consort Ling, suggesting she was only adept at `Kunqu` opera, which was merely a means to bewitch the Emperor. Later that afternoon, the Emperor decided to take Imperial Concubine Ying and Imperial Concubine Ke hunting, leaving Consort Ling behind due to her lack of archery skills. Back in the palace, Hai Lan discussed Consort Ling with Ruyi.
Ruyi stated that Consort Ling would stop at nothing to climb the ladder, pointing out that she pretended to be ill to return to the palace but instead went to the Mulan Hunting Preserve, which proved her inferior moral conduct. Hai Lan questioned how such a frivolous and crass woman could bewitch the Emperor.
Ruyi explained that Consort Ling's shallow nature was both her weakness and her strength because all her knowledge and thoughts had been unconsciously cultivated by the Emperor himself. Furthermore, her absolute compliance with the Emperor's desires, even after the deer blood wine incident, ensured his continued favor. She predicted Consort Ling would cause more commotion in the future.
While waiting for the Emperor to return from hunting, Consort Ling had been practicing archery all day until the skin on her fingers was raw. The Emperor, upon seeing her injured hands, was deeply moved and personally taught her how to shoot an arrow. Upon the Emperor's return to the palace, Consort Ling knelt at the gate of Yikun Palace and began slapping herself, much to the surprise of the palace servants.
Inside, she explained to Ruyi and Rongpei that this self-inflicted slapping was an advance repayment for the incident concerning Consort Shu and that she also sought punishment for secretly going to the Mulan Hunting Preserve, violating palace rules. Ruyi reminded Consort Ling that she had claimed a liver qi deficiency and was allowed to return to the palace to recuperate, not travel to Mulan.
Consort Ling claimed she feared she was gravely ill and would never see the Emperor again, which is why she risked death to go to Mulan. Now, under the Emperor's protection, she was miraculously healed. Ruyi, seeing Consort Ling’s willingness to accept punishment, ordered her to perform the `banzhe` punishment (bending forward and touching her feet) for four hours each day for a fortnight, and ordered Chunchan, who accompanied her, to be flogged thirty strokes.
Consort Ling, having been summoned to serve the Emperor that night, requested to begin her punishment the following day. Ruyi agreed, sending Rongpei to supervise her punishment at Yongshou Palace. That night, Consort Ling pleased the Emperor greatly. She then mentioned Ruyi's punishment, claiming she would be unable to serve him for the latter half of the next month. The Emperor understood that Ruyi needed to punish Consort Ling to maintain control over the harem.
He told Consort Ling to endure the punishment, promising to send Imperial Physicians to treat her. The next day, Consort Ling endured the painful punishment under Rongpei's watchful eye, while Imperial Physician Bao arrived with salves sent by the Emperor. Consort Ling later thanked the Empress Dowager for her guidance, which she believed helped her regain favor. The Empress Dowager, meanwhile, was furious about Dawachi's continued misbehavior.
She had predicted that the ambitious madman, who had killed Dorza to claim power, would not be restrained by marrying the Princess. Her words proved true when Dawachi pillaged the Dörbet Clan. The clan leader, Ceren, could no longer bear it and led his tens of thousands of people to surrender to the Great Qing, seeking protection. The Emperor, pleased by Ceren's return, conferred upon him the title of `Qinwang` (Prince of the First Rank).
He assigned Yongcheng and the Ministry of Rites to arrange a welcoming reception and instructed Yongqi to assist and learn. Jia Noble Consort, delighted by Yongcheng's growing favor, urged him to put extra thought into the arrangements to further impress the Emperor. Yongzhang, however, complained to Noble Consort Chun that the Emperor only assigned important tasks to Yongcheng, with Yongqi merely as a "prop," and felt overlooked. Noble Consort Chun worried for her sons' future.
After lessons, Yongcheng found Yongqi lost in thought. Yongqi expressed concern that the Emperor's generous treatment of Ceren, the Dörbet Clan `Qinwang`, disregarded the dignity of Princess Duanshu, Dawachi's wife. Upon learning of Yongqi's words, the Emperor angrily reprimanded him for prioritizing family matters over national affairs and for his "delusional" and inappropriate remarks, which could be misinterpreted as criticism.
The Emperor punished Yongqi by making him kneel outside Yangxin Hall for two hours and barred him from all matters concerning the Dörbet Clan. The Empress Dowager, learning of the incident, admired Yongqi for his upright character and ability to speak his mind, praising Ruyi and Hai Lan's parenting skills over Jia Noble Consort's approach of merely pleasing the Emperor.
Later that night, Li Yu brought Yongqi a cloak and secretly advised him that while the Emperor punished him for carelessness, he was more concerned about those who backstabbed their brothers. He implied that the Emperor's anger had dissipated towards Yongqi but had shifted to the person who reported him. With Yongqi temporarily out of favor, various concubines began to flatter Jia Noble Consort, believing Yongcheng was now the undisputed choice for crown prince.
The Emperor praised Yongcheng's efficient handling of affairs and decided to take him on a tour to Mount Changbai and Songhua River, including visits to imperial mausoleums. Jia Noble Consort suggested Yongzhang also accompany them, but the Emperor insisted on taking Yongcheng alone. The Empress Dowager, observing Yongcheng's rising favor, advised Ruyi to be more vigilant.
Jia Noble Consort, determined to secure the crown prince position for Yongcheng, instructed him to distribute valuable gifts from her clan (ginseng, rainbow satin, topaz) to senior ministers and their families, to garner support. Yongcheng initially hesitated, finding it conspicuous and troublesome, but Jia Noble Consort explained that these gifts were an investment for future political influence, drawing on her own experience of winning over the wives of officials.
She also planned to send a phoenix and peony necklace (originally from the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, gifted to her by her clan, and then presented to Ruyi) to Ruyi, as a gesture of respect to the Central Palace while furthering her ambition for Yongcheng. Yongcheng also mentioned attending his Fifth Uncle's (Prince He's) birthday banquet, which Jia Noble Consort encouraged, preparing gifts for him to bring.
News arrived that Yongzhang's Fujin was pregnant, delighting the Emperor with the prospect of another Imperial grandchild. He announced he would visit Noble Consort Chun that night. Ruyi, also happy for Noble Consort Chun, gifted her the necklace she had received from Jia Noble Consort to add to her blessings. On his way to Zhongcui Palace, the Emperor encountered several noblewomen entering the palace.
He was displeased to learn that they had first paid their respects to Jia Noble Consort before coming to Ruyi's palace, a clear breach of etiquette that reflected Yongcheng's growing influence. At Zhongcui Palace, the Emperor noticed the phoenix and peony necklace Noble Consort Chun was wearing. He pointed out that its phoenix and peony motifs were reserved for the Empress, advising her not to wear it again.
Noble Consort Chun explained it was a gift from Ruyi, who had received it from Jia Noble Consort. Li Yu then recalled that the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi had once presented the Emperor with an identical necklace, which was still in the storehouse, implying that Jia Noble Consort had obtained a matching, unauthorized piece. The Emperor became increasingly wary of Jia Noble Consort's connections.
Later, the Emperor summoned Yongcheng, but was informed that Yongcheng had returned drunk from Prince He's banquet and was still asleep, further increasing the Emperor's displeasure at his willfulness. Meanwhile, Yongqi met with Ruyi, presenting her with a book he had been compiling. He explained that after being advised not to draw attention to himself while Yongcheng was complacent, he began writing the book, `Jiaotong Shenggao`, both for self-preservation and to cultivate a calmer mindset.
Ruyi praised his wisdom in concealing his strengths and biding his time. Shortly after, Prince Xian's Fujin arrived to see the Emperor. She explained that she had visited Ruyi and then Qixiang Palace, where she received lavish gifts (a box of topaz and twenty bolts of rainbow satin) from Jia Noble Consort. Feeling uneasy and that the gifts were undeserved, she came to confess.
She revealed that Jia Noble Consort earnestly desired Yongcheng to become crown prince and had implored her to persuade Prince Xian to speak on Yongcheng's behalf. The Emperor, confirming that such lavish gifts were being distributed to other noble families, realized Jia Noble Consort was actively building a network of support for Yongcheng. He allowed Prince Xian's Fujin to keep the gifts as a token of her loyalty and sensibility.
In another part of the palace, Hai Lan's nephew, Zhaqi, repeatedly came to her for money, as he was a compulsive gambler. Hai Lan, with limited monthly allowance and expenses primarily for Yongqi, found it difficult to satisfy his insatiable demands, which he sometimes rudely pushed for, even suggesting she ask Ruyi. Consort Ling and her maid overheard this exchange and Consort Ling ordered her maid to discreetly investigate Zhaqi's background.
