Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Episode 76 Recap, Plot

> Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace
> Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Recap

Empress Ruyi, feeling troubled, went for a walk in the Imperial Garden where she encountered Consort Rong, Han Xiangjian. Ruyi commented on Xiangjian's growing mastery of palace decorum, but Xiangjian clarified it was out of respect for Ruyi, not mere protocol.

She expressed her longing to see the "cage" that confined her, acknowledging her expected elevation to a higher rank due to the Emperor's favor, but affirmed that in her heart, she would always think of her true beloved, Han Qi, and her homeland. Ruyi advised her to only speak such thoughts in her presence.

Han Xiangjian revealed that Ruyi was the only one in the palace who had shown her true sincerity, persuading her to live for her people, even if it was ultimately for the Emperor. She vowed to remember Ruyi's kindness and repay it someday. Soon after, Li Yu arrived with the Twelfth Prince, Yongji, who joyfully greeted Ruyi. Yongji mentioned that Consort Yu, Hailan, was taking good care of him.

Li Yu explained that the Empress Dowager was concerned about Yongji's trauma from the Mulan Hunting Preserve incident. Han Xiangjian then departed. Ruyi inquired about Ling Yunche, having not heard from him in a long time. Yongji added that Ling Yunche no longer escorted him and was now serving the Emperor directly, praising Ling Yunche for his good personality and for saving him. Li Yu quickly corrected Yongji, emphasizing that their safety was due to the Emperor's favor and protection.

After sending Yongji away, Ruyi pressed Li Yu for more details on Ling Yunche's situation. Li Yu confided that while Ling Yunche's rescue of Ruyi was a meritorious act, it had drawn too much attention, causing the Emperor to be displeased. Ruyi asked Li Yu to convey a message to Ling Yunche: he must remain calm and bide his time. Li Yu assured her he would relay the message.

Whispers and rumors about Ruyi and Ling Yunche began to circulate widely throughout the palace, with eunuchs and palace maids discussing them in hushed tones. A bodyguard, Zhao Jiuxiao, attempted to silence the gossipers, but the rumors persisted. Concerned, Consort Yu, Hailan, visited Ruyi, warning her of the widespread clamor. Hailan pointed out that while wise men might disregard rumors, most in the palace harbored ulterior motives.

Ruyi believed that if the Emperor didn't credit the rumors, they would simply fade away like a breeze. However, Hailan countered that if the Emperor did believe them, they would cease to be mere rumors. Hailan then proposed a solution: to divert the attention by spreading a new rumor, focusing on the past relationship between Ling Yunche and Consort Ling, Wei Yanwan.

Ruyi firmly rejected the idea, asserting that such an action would make them no different from the malicious individuals they sought to counter. After leaving Ruyi, Hailan was disheartened by Ruyi's inaction. Convinced she could not stand by while Ruyi was trapped by the rumors, Hailan secretly instructed her maid, Yexin, to proceed with the plan.

To alleviate the growing tension between the Emperor and Ruyi, the Empress Dowager arranged for them to watch an opera, "The Legend of the White Snake." She noticed their silent and preoccupied demeanor during the performance. The Empress Dowager specifically highlighted the scene where Lady Bai implored the monk Fahai to release her husband, Xu Xian, interpreting it as a plea for reconciliation.

She noted that men could be muddled and unfeeling, and Lady Bai, despite being a snake spirit, had to humble herself for her husband. The Emperor agreed, praising Lady Bai's sacrifices and Xu Xian's eventual realization. However, Ruyi countered that Lady Bai's efforts would have been in vain if Xu Xian had remained obstinate. The Empress Dowager observed their continued distance, pointing out the Emperor's recent absence from Ruyi's palace and their overall lack of communication, which worried Yongji.

Hoping to rekindle their affection, she then announced their favorite play, "Over the Wall." Yet, the Emperor promptly excused himself, citing urgent state affairs with incoming Mongolian nobles. Ruyi likewise found an excuse to leave, needing to offer prayers at Anhua Hall. The Empress Dowager, exasperated by their stubbornness, lamented her wasted efforts. She confided in her attendant her concern that their discord would be exploited by others in the palace, especially given the circulating rumors.

Meanwhile, Consort Yu, Eyinzhu, confined in Yonghe Palace and ordered to transcribe Buddhist sutras, was in a fit of rage, complaining bitterly about Ruyi. Her maid tried to calm her, reminding her that her father, Lord Gendun, had helped her escape harsher punishment for the recent assassination attempt and that the Emperor might soon forgive her due to the Khorchin tribe's influence. Just then, Li Yu arrived, bringing news of her release, which instantly delighted Eyinzhu.

New rumors began to spread, detailing the past relationship between Ling Yunche and Consort Ling, Wei Yanwan, suggesting they were childhood sweethearts from the same village. Ling Yunche was visibly distressed by these whispers, urging people not to involve Ruyi or Consort Ling, but his colleague warned him of impending catastrophe. The Emperor, feeling restless despite painting, asked Yuhu if she was referring to the circulating rumors. Yuhu confirmed the palace gossip involving Ruyi, Consort Ling, and Ling Yunche.

The Emperor inquired about Consort Ling and Ling Yunche's connection. Yuhu reported that both were from Shengjing and the same village; they had maintained contact early in their palace lives, with Consort Ling even visiting Ling Yunche in the Cold Palace, but their interactions had since ceased. The Emperor then noted that Ruyi and Ling Yunche seemed to have had more contact.

Yuhu explained this was natural, as she had assigned Ling Yunche, along with Zhao Jiuxiao, to guard Ruyi when she was banished to the Cold Palace, urging the Emperor to dismiss the rumors. Unconvinced, the Emperor stated that there was "no smoke without fire," recalling Ling Yunche's selfless act of saving Ruyi and Yongji at Mulan. He acknowledged Ling Yunche's courage but harbored deeper suspicions, ordering Jinzhong to summon Consort Ling.

Wei Yanwan, Consort Ling, grew increasingly nervous as rumors about her and Ling Yunche spread. Jinzhong arrived to summon her to Yangxin Hall, offering strategic advice: she must clear her name by frankly, yet lightly, discussing her past with Ling Yunche. He instructed her to be ruthless if the Emperor decided to punish Ling Yunche, even suggesting she push the blame onto Ruyi.

Furthermore, Jinzhong directed her to deliver the rumors concerning Ruyi and Ling Yunche to Ling Yunche's wife, Maoqian, hoping to uncover more incriminating evidence, and suggested using the newly unconfined Consort Yu, Eyinzhu, as the messenger due to her animosity towards Ruyi. Wei Yanwan agreed to visit Eyinzhu first, then the Emperor. Meanwhile, Rongpei informed Ruyi that Hailan's maid, Yexin, was busy spreading information.

Ruyi confronted Hailan, lamenting that while Hailan's actions might clear her name, Ling Yunche was still caught in the crossfire. Hailan, however, was resolute, declaring her willingness to do anything to protect Ruyi, even if it meant sacrificing Ling Yunche to punish Consort Ling. Ruyi was deeply displeased, emphasizing Ling Yunche's innocence and his repeated acts of saving her, stating he should not be a casualty in her conflict with Consort Ling.

Later, Wei Yanwan, following Jinzhong's counsel, appeared before the Emperor. She admitted her humble background and previous association with Ling Yunche, acknowledging their "childhood sweetheart" label, but clarified that they had become estranged to protect their reputations. She proclaimed her willingness to face any investigation, even offering Ling Yunche's life to dispel the rumors and protect the Emperor's reputation from her alleged involvement. Convinced by her seemingly magnanimous confession, the Emperor forgave her and ordered her to rise.

As Wei Yanwan was being excused, Consort Yu, Eyinzhu, dramatically burst into Yangxin Hall amidst a heavy snowfall, claiming an urgent matter concerning the Empress. Despite the Emperor's irritation, she insisted on an audience, asserting she had irrefutable evidence that Ruyi and Ling Yunche were having an affair. She presented Ling Yunche's wife, Maoqian, as her witness, whom she had brought into the palace for safety. Wei Yanwan subtly supported Eyinzhu by emphasizing the gravity of the situation.

Li Yu, having already been alerted to Maoqian's presence, had dispatched a eunuch to inform Ling Yunche and then summoned Ruyi to listen to the proceedings. Ling Yunche, having heard the news, rushed to Yangxin Hall and immediately prostrated himself before the Emperor, attempting to apologize for his wife's disturbance and urging her to leave. However, Maoqian vehemently refused, accusing Ling Yunche of trying to silence her because of his guilt.

Wei Yanwan commented on the visible discord between Ling Yunche and his wife, further fueling the accusation. Maoqian then shockingly claimed that Ling Yunche was obsessed with Ruyi, constantly calling out Ruyi's maiden name in his dreams. She even provided three specific dates over five years when these dream utterances occurred, insinuating an illicit affair. Ruyi, having arrived and heard the accusations from the Nuan Pavilion doorway, silently entered and greeted the Emperor.

Ruyi directly addressed Maoqian's claims about Ling Yunche's dream utterances, revealing her knowledge of the three specific dates. She explained that the first two dates marked the deaths of their children, Jingsi and Yongjing, while the third was the day the Emperor reprimanded her upon discovering Han Xiangjian's infertility.

She clarified that these were also days of profound sorrow for the Emperor, suggesting Ling Yunche's dreams, if true, were likely prayers for imperial comfort, not expressions of illicit love for her. She challenged Maoqian's baseless assumption that "Ruyi" in a dream specifically referred to her maiden name. Maoqian, undeterred, insisted she had more proof and presented a locked box belonging to Ling Yunche.

At this moment, Zhao Jiuxiao, a bodyguard, located Yongqi and urgently asked him to persuade his mother, Hailan, to intervene in the ongoing accusations against Ruyi. Maoqian, having pried open Ling Yunche's box, pulled out a pair of old boots. She highlighted the auspicious cloud pattern embroidered on them, claiming it subtly combined Ruyi's maiden name with Ling Yunche's family name, implying a secret affair. Consort Yu, Eyinzhu, provocatively asked Ruyi if she recognized the boots.

Ruyi readily admitted she did, explaining that her maid, Suoxin, had made them over a decade ago as a token of gratitude to Ling Yunche for saving her and Suoxin from a fire in the Cold Palace, an incident the Emperor was aware of. Eyinzhu dismissed this, arguing that Suoxin, as Ruyi's personal maid, would naturally corroborate any story to protect her mistress.

Ruyi then challenged the Emperor to compare the embroidery on the boots with patterns on his own old garments, which were typically her handiwork. Yuhu conducted the comparison and confirmed that the embroidery was indeed not Ruyi's. Despite this clear evidence, Eyinzhu persisted in her accusations, but Ruyi indignantly asked if saving a life now constituted a private affair.

Enraged by Eyinzhu's groundless slanders, the Emperor immediately ordered her to be dragged to the Office of Careful Punishment and left to her fate. Eyinzhu protested her loyalty in vain as she was forcibly removed. The Emperor, regretting his initial intention to foster a harmonious marriage, declared his role as the "villain" and ordered Ling Yunche to write a divorce letter for Maoqian, effectively ending their union.

Ling Yunche submissively accepted the decree, while Maoqian, seething with anger, was led away. Wei Yanwan, feigning humility, knelt to apologize for her inability to manage the imperial harem's concerns. The Emperor, dismissing her, ordered her to rest and then instructed Li Yu to ensure Maoqian was confined and silenced after the divorce, never to speak nonsense again.

As Ruyi attempted to leave, the Emperor stopped her, asserting that while Eyinzhu and Maoqian's accusations were reckless, there was "no smoke without fire," implying his continued suspicion. Ruyi acknowledged his lingering doubts, understanding that she had been summoned to endure humiliation. The Emperor expressed how the rampant palace rumors about her and Ling Yunche gnawed at him.

He recalled Ling Yunche's self-sacrificing rescue at the Mulan Hunting Grounds, noting the way Ling Yunche looked at Ruyi was not that of a mere servant. He questioned if Ling Yunche had developed inappropriate feelings for her while she was in the Cold Palace. Ruyi defended Ling Yunche, explaining his actions were merely fulfilling his duty as an Imperial Bodyguard, protecting his master and the legitimate heir.

The Emperor then accused Ruyi of speaking on Ling Yunche's behalf, suggesting her recent coolness towards him, since Yongjing's death and Han Xiangjian's arrival, was due to Ling Yunche. Ruyi, deeply disappointed, rebutted him sharply. She reminded him of his absence and his accusations of her cursing Yongjing after their son's death, and his preference for an astrologist's words over her own pleas that they were victims of attack. She declared she had nothing more to say and, ignoring his calls, left without looking back.

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