Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Episode 61 Recap
> Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Recap
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On Consort Ling’s birthday, she believed the Emperor would certainly visit her Yongshou Palace that evening. She instructed her maid, Lancui, to hang camellia-scented pouches, knowing the Emperor favored the fragrance, and arranged for pottery to be displayed, hoping to delight him. Meanwhile, Imperial Concubine Ying, while conversing with Consort Ke, reflected on her favored status, attributing it to the support of the Mongolian Barin Clan.
She observed Consort Ling’s constant struggle for favor, noting that a woman without a strong backing, despite being favored, ultimately lacked confidence and stability, much like rootless duckweed. That evening, Consort Ling sang Kunqu for the Emperor. He praised her gentle and graceful temperament, her understanding nature, and the effort she put into serving him. Consort Ling sat in his arms, and he stated that her singing always brought him peace of mind.
However, the Emperor soon recalled his first meeting with Empress Ruyi, when they listened to “Over the Wall” together. He spoke fondly of Ruyi's wit and strong will, remembering how they had once snuck out to admire the city tower scenery. When Consort Ling offered to learn “Over the Wall” to sing for him, the Emperor declined.
He then announced his intention to visit Empress Ruyi, dismissing Consort Ling’s protests that it was her birthday and he should spend more time with her, stating he had already accompanied her long enough. Upon arriving at Ruyi’s palace late in the evening, Ruyi noticed the Emperor had been drinking and ordered hangover soup.
The Emperor expressed his deep worry about the ongoing war in Dzungaria and the safety of Grand Princess Duanshu, wondering if his soldiers and the princess were longing for home. Ruyi reassured him, emphasizing that the war had been meticulously planned and that the entire palace was praying for its success, ensuring that the war would proceed smoothly and Grand Princess Duanshu would return safely.
To further ease his mind, Ruyi shared the happy news that Imperial Concubine Ying was with child. The Emperor was delighted, calling it a blessing for Imperial Concubine Ying and an auspicious omen for the palace, instructing Ruyi to ensure the Imperial Physician provided her with proper care. He admitted that he only found true peace when he was with Ruyi. Soon after, news arrived of successive victories in Dzungaria and Dawachi’s renewed plea for peace.
The Emperor sought the Fifth Prince Yongqi’s opinion. Yongqi sagaciously pointed out that Dawachi’s peace overtures were clearly born of fear and a desire to regain lost ground, not genuine sincerity. He warned that granting such a cunning individual any leeway would surely backfire in the future. The Emperor commended Yongqi for demonstrating calm rationality in addition to his usual emphasis on personal ties, expressing his gratification.
He also learned that Yongqi, despite any past animosity with the Fourth Prince Yongcheng, frequently tutored the Eighth Prince Yongxuan. The Emperor praised Yongqi as a model for all princes and asked him to take Yongxuan to the Nanyuan regularly for riding and archery practice, as Yongxuan’s older brother, Yongcheng, had been distracted recently. The Fourth Prince Yongcheng visited Consort Jia, looking dispirited.
Consort Jia tried to encourage him, promising to arrange a prestigious marriage for him and advising him to look after Yongxuan. However, Yongcheng revealed that Yongqi was now teaching Yongxuan. Consort Jia became alarmed, fearing Yongqi harbored ill intentions toward her son. Later, as Ruyi and Consort Yu (Hai Lan) discussed Imperial Concubine Ying’s pregnancy, Consort Jia’s dog, Fugui’er, suddenly appeared, startling everyone. Rongpe immediately stepped forward to shield Ruyi and the others.
Imperial Concubine Ying, undeterred, told Consort Jia to focus on disciplining her own son rather than causing trouble. Consort Jia, in turn, mocked Imperial Concubine Ying’s pregnancy and then cruelly scoffed at Ruyi’s Fifth Princess, whose heart condition had flared up from the dog’s barking, suggesting that such a frail child was merely a burden to her parents. Outraged, Rongpe stepped forward and slapped Consort Jia, gripping her arm when Consort Jia attempted to retaliate.
Rongpe declared she was teaching Consort Jia a lesson on behalf of the Emperor and Empress for her vicious curses. Consort Yu also confronted Consort Jia, accusing her of spewing nonsense and cursing the Fifth Princess, threatening to take her directly to the Emperor. Consort Ling, observing the scene from a distance, noted Consort Jia’s profound humiliation and wondered what desperate actions she might resort to next. Unable to counter the accusations, Consort Jia angrily left.
Back in her own palace, Consort Jia seethed with resentment, feeling bullied by everyone and lamenting her sons’ lack of influence. That night, an attendant from Consort Ling’s palace stealthily tampered with the Eighth Prince Yongxuan’s horse saddle. The following day, as Yongqi was instructing Yongxuan in riding at the Nanyuan, Yongxuan’s pony suddenly bolted, throwing him to the ground. Yongxuan cried out in pain before losing consciousness and was rushed to Xiefang Hall.
Consort Jia arrived in a frantic rush, heartbroken by her son's pained groans. Seeing Yongqi kneeling by the bed, she immediately accused him of harming Yongxuan. Ruyi and Consort Yu arrived shortly after. Consort Jia, still distraught, pointedly accused Consort Yu of instigating Yongqi to conspire against Yongxuan. Ruyi defended Yongqi, but Consort Jia remained adamant, insisting Yongqi harbored malicious intentions.
Ruyi, recognizing Consort Jia’s bias, stated that if Consort Jia doubted her impartiality, the matter should be turned over to the Emperor. She then ordered Sanbao to take all the servants who had attended Yongxuan that day at Nanyuan to the Office of Careful Punishment for interrogation. The Emperor tasked Li Yu and Ling Yunche with thoroughly investigating the incident.
Ling Yunche went to the paddock and, upon examining the Eighth Prince’s saddle, discovered a silver needle cleverly hidden beneath the leather. Meanwhile, Ruyi, concerned for Yongxuan, visited Xiefang Hall with bone broth to aid in his recovery. However, Consort Jia angrily threw the broth to the ground, accusing Consort Yu's son of harming her child, and declared that Ruyi was no longer welcome in her palace.
Ling Yunche privately informed Li Yu about the silver needle, noting how covertly it had been placed, making it difficult to pinpoint the culprit. Both men realized that implicating the Fifth Prince would draw Consort Yu into the scandal and cast a shadow upon the Empress. To protect Ruyi from being entangled, Li Yu and Ling Yunche decided to conceal the discovery of the silver needle from the Emperor, instead reporting the incident as an unfortunate accident.
Ling Yunche instructed Zhao Jiuxiao to secretly remove the saddle from the palace. While they spoke, Ling Yunche’s wife, Maoqian, was secretly listening. Zhao Jiuxiao openly commented that the Fifth Prince was the most suspicious figure, given his proximity to Yongxuan during the accident, and observed that Consort Yu and the Empress would inevitably be implicated due to their connection to Yongqi.
Ling Yunche firmly dismissed any suspicion against the Empress, asserting his belief in her innocence and his desire to keep her out of such troublesome rumors, even if it meant forgoing a complete investigation. He decided to conclude the matter as a simple accident, reasoning that Consort Jia, being ill-regarded, would merely be mocked by others, and further investigation would only harm the imperial family. After they finished their conversation, Ling Yunche concealed the saddle.
Maoqian, who had witnessed his actions, later found the hidden saddle, discovered the silver needle, and also found a pair of boots that Ruyi had once given to Ling Yunche. That night, the Emperor summoned Consort Ling. She raised the palace rumors linking Yongxuan’s fall to Yongqi, subtly suggesting that the Fifth Prince had intentionally neglected the Eighth Prince at the paddock. The Emperor firmly dismissed these rumors, defending Yongqi’s good character and fraternal love, refusing to tolerate such criticisms.
However, Consort Ling then presented another possibility, hinting that, given Consort Jia’s "unfounded doubts," the incident could even be a "bitter trick" orchestrated by Consort Jia herself. She speculated that Consort Jia might have deliberately harmed Yongxuan to frame the Fifth Prince and advance the Fourth Prince’s prospects, sacrificing one son for the future of another. The Emperor sternly dismissed her "presumptuous thoughts."
