Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Episode 67 Recap
> Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Recap
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Ling Yunche, following Empress Ruyi's orders to investigate Zhaqi, reported his findings. He stated that he had seen Zhaqi entering and exiting the Wei Manor once, and also drinking and gambling with Consort Ling's younger brother, Zuolu. While he admitted to not having conclusive evidence, he assured Ruyi of his commitment to uncover the full extent of Zhaqi and Zuolu's relationship.
However, Ruyi decided to remove Ling Yunche from the investigation, explaining to Rong Pei that she did not wish to complicate matters for him, especially since the case involved Wei Yanwan and her brother, whom Ling Yunche had grown up with. She then instructed Rong Pei to summon Li Yu and Jiang Yubin to take over the inquiry.
Meanwhile, Consort Ling was with her mother, Madam Wei, who was expressing her fervent hope for Consort Ling to give birth to a prince, believing it would secure Consort Ling's path to becoming Empress. Madam Wei proudly recounted how a renowned fortune teller had prophesied Consort Ling's destiny as empress, claiming Empress Ruyi's fortunes were at an all-time low, making it possible for Consort Ling to usurp her position.
Consort Ling cautioned her mother to be more discreet with her words within the palace, but Madam Wei dismissed her concerns. Frustrated by her mother's unfiltered ambition, Consort Ling realized her family was more interested in the wealth and status she could provide than in her well-being. Her maid comforted her, reminding her that her true reliance should be on the child within her.
The maid also reported that Jinzhong had mentioned Consort Yu's continued refusal to confess, and Zhaqi, who was being tortured, was on the verge of breaking. Worried that Zhaqi might recant his testimony, Consort Ling ordered Jinzhong to ensure Zhaqi was dealt with. Later, a palace maid witnessed Madam Wei performing witchcraft in the side hall of Yongshou Palace and promptly reported it to Li Yu.
Li Yu then informed the Emperor that Zhaqi had died under torture, yet his confession remained unchanged, and Consort Yu still maintained her innocence. While the Emperor acknowledged the extensive evidence against Consort Yu, Li Yu revealed an even graver matter: the resurgence of witchcraft, a forbidden practice, spreading within and outside the palace, implicating Madam Wei. Imperial orders were swiftly issued.
Yuhu, the Emperor's personal attendant, was sent to escort Madam Wei, who had been invited by the Empress, to Yikun Palace. Madam Wei, brimming with arrogance due to her daughter's favor, attempted to command Yuhu, but was swiftly put in her place. Upon entering Yikun Palace, Madam Wei was awe-struck by its splendor. She impulsively tried to approach the Emperor, calling him "my precious son-in-law," but was stopped by Li Yu who reminded her of proper etiquette.
Ruyi questioned Madam Wei about her new residence and any connections to the Keliyete Clan. Madam Wei denied any association with Consort Yu's family, inadvertently revealing her familiarity with Consort Yu's surname, a detail Ruyi noted. Concurrently, Li Yu sent his subordinates to apprehend Zuolu and take him to the Office of Careful Punishment for interrogation. At Yongshou Palace, Jinbao, acting on imperial decree, proceeded to search Madam Wei's living quarters in the side hall.
Consort Ling initially resisted but relented when Jinbao confirmed the imperial order and warned her against jeopardizing her pregnancy. The imperial guards presented four cursed rag dolls, each inscribed with Empress Ruyi's precise birth date and riddled with silver needles, discovered buried in the four cardinal corners of the Wei Manor.
Madam Wei, startled, accidentally blurted out that such items should be kept hidden close to the body, before quickly retracting and feigning complete ignorance of Ruyi's birth date and the dolls. Li Yu explained that the dolls, with their swollen bellies and silver needles, were instruments of witchcraft, specifically designed to harm the cursed individual and their child, and to cause infertility—a heinous crime. Imperial Concubine Ying confirmed that the dolls had indeed been found at the Wei Manor.
Eunuch Jinzhong, overhearing the incriminating conversation, attempted to rush to Yongshou Palace to warn Consort Ling but was blocked by Sanbao, who enforced the Emperor's strict order against unauthorized entry or exit. Ruyi directly accused Madam Wei of using such vile means to curse her and her unborn child. Imperial Concubine Ying then exposed Madam Wei's lie about not knowing Ruyi's birth date, recalling that Madam Wei had sent Ruyi a birthday gift via Consort Ling earlier that year.
Pure Consort added that Zhaqi had confessed to witnessing Madam Wei creating these rag dolls, piercing them, and burying them at her manor to curse the Empress and her prince. Madam Wei, despite the mounting evidence, continued to deny all accusations, claiming Zhaqi was merely framing her out of jealousy and to avenge Consort Yu. Ruyi, Imperial Concubine Ying, and Pure Consort relentlessly challenged her inconsistent denials, but Madam Wei remained stubbornly unyielding.
Adding to the overwhelming evidence, Jinbao discovered another witchcraft doll hidden beneath a Buddhist statue in Madam Wei's residence at Yongshou Palace. Upon hearing about this and the identical dolls from the Wei Manor, Consort Ling was seized with panic and rushed to Yikun Palace to see the Emperor. At the same time, Ling Yunche presented Zuolu's confession to the Emperor.
Madam Wei tried to dismiss Zuolu's testimony as unreliable, suggesting he was tortured, but Ling Yunche clarified that Zuolu, out of fear, had confessed to drinking and gambling with Zhaqi, hearing Zhaqi's grievances against Consort Yu, and Zhaqi's intent to murder Tian Jun.
Crucially, Zuolu admitted to acting as a go-between, delivering silver notes from Consort Ling to Madam Wei, who then passed them to Zhaqi with instructions to deposit them and, if questioned, to claim they were from Consort Yu. Pure Consort concluded that this entire scheme was fabricated by Madam Wei and Consort Ling to frame Consort Yu.
Madam Wei continued her denials, but the physical evidence—the witchcraft doll found in her own room, combined with Zuolu's testimony and the dolls from her manor—left her utterly speechless. As Consort Ling frantically approached Yikun Palace, Jinzhong intercepted her, quickly explaining the dire situation and advising her to abandon her mother and brother to save herself, asserting they only saw her as a means to gain wealth. Faced with this desperate choice, Consort Ling decided to prioritize her own survival.
She entered Yikun Palace, feigning distress, and tearfully accused her mother of unimaginable acts like witchcraft and framing Consort Yu, blaming her for implicating herself and Zuolu. She implored her mother to confess for Zuolu's sake. Madam Wei, understanding the coded message, then took full responsibility, confessing to all crimes: framing Consort Yu, the witchcraft against Ruyi and her child, bribing Granny Tian, and every other misdeed.
She vehemently denied any involvement from Consort Ling or Zuolu, claiming she acted alone to protect Consort Ling, whom she portrayed as too weak to stand up for herself. Ruyi expressed skepticism, finding it hard to believe Madam Wei possessed the cunning to orchestrate such a complex plot, yet Madam Wei steadfastly insisted on her sole culpability.
Enraged by the revelations and Madam Wei's defiance, the Emperor condemned her for disrupting the harmony of the harem and murdering an imperial heir, ordering her immediate execution by poisoned wine. Consort Ling, in a desperate final plea, begged for her mother's life, but the emotional turmoil caused her to bleed and go into premature labor. Concerned for the imperial fetus, the Emperor ordered her immediate transfer for delivery, postponing any further investigation.
Ruyi informed the Emperor of her intention to personally retrieve Consort Yu from the Office of Careful Punishment, a decision the Emperor readily approved, acknowledging Consort Yu's wrongful suffering and agreeing that Ruyi's personal gesture would help calm unrest. As Madam Wei was led away for execution, she passed Consort Ling, who was being rushed back to her palace for childbirth.
Madam Wei, in her final moments, urged Consort Ling to protect Zuolu, the last male heir of their family, before collapsing from distress. Consort Ling promised to fulfill her mother's dying wish. Ruyi personally greeted Consort Yu at the Office of Careful Punishment. Consort Yu expressed profound gratitude for Ruyi's unwavering trust, yet remained deeply affected by the injustice.
Ruyi confessed that while the witchcraft was real, it was merely the "beginning" of a far more intricate and malicious plot orchestrated by Consort Ling and her family. She harbored strong suspicions about Consort Ling's innocence, given the conversation she had overheard, and vowed to pursue the investigation to avenge her deceased son, Yongjing. Meanwhile, in Yongshou Palace, Jinzhong anxiously prayed for Consort Ling's safe delivery, but her emotional distress made the labor difficult and prolonged.
Consort Yu learned that the Emperor had ordered Madam Wei's body returned to her family for burial and Zuolu banished to the border as a penal soldier. Yexin, Consort Yu's maid, deliberately went to Yongshou Palace to deliver this "good news" to Consort Ling, despite Jinzhong's attempts to stop her. Yexin loudly proclaimed that Madam Wei was dead and Zuolu exiled, intentionally causing further distress to Consort Ling.
After a day and a night of agonizing labor, Consort Ling finally gave birth to a princess. However, due to the prolonged and arduous delivery, she suffered severe postpartum hemorrhage and significant uterine damage, rendering her unable to conceive for at least two years. Jinzhong, who had fervently hoped for a prince, was visibly disappointed.
