Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Episode 86 Recap
> Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Recap
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Imperial Noble Consort Yanwan approached the Emperor’s bed, but Imperial Physician Jiang suddenly appeared. Startled, Yanwan inquired about the Emperor's condition. Imperial Physician Jiang stated that he was incompetent and did not know when His Majesty would awaken. Yanwan then dismissed him to rest, leaving her alone with the seemingly unconscious Emperor. She called out to him several times, but receiving no response, she closed the door and began searching for the secret edict box.
Finding it empty, she produced a forged edict that read, "I pass the Imperial throne to the Fifteenth Son, Yongyan." Just as she was about to place it in the box, the Emperor suddenly appeared before her, revealing he had merely been testing her. He was enraged to discover she had already forged the imperial edict. Yanwan immediately knelt, claiming her actions stemmed from concern for the Emperor's grave illness and the stability of the country.
At that moment, Consort Yu Hailan arrived, accusing Yanwan of murdering the Fifth Prince, Yongqi. Hailan explained that Yanwan had bribed Hu Yunjiao to stay by Yongqi's side from the beginning, leading to his death. After Yongqi's demise, Yanwan used Hu Yunjiao's relationship with the prince to frame Ruyi. Yanwan vehemently denied knowing Hu Yunjiao or killing Prince Rong, accusing Hailan of slandering her in her grief. The Emperor demanded proof, and Hailan announced she had brought a witness.
Yanwan was visibly alarmed when Chunchan entered, as Yanwan had previously attempted to poison her. Chunchan clarified that she hadn't been missing but had narrowly escaped Yanwan’s assassination attempt. She declared her willingness to confess all of Yanwan’s crimes to the Emperor, something she would not have done even under torture if Yanwan hadn't tried to kill her.
Chunchan further revealed that Hu Yunjiao was actually Tian Yun'er, Grandma Tian's daughter, whom Yanwan had secretly housed for years before arranging her entry into Prince Rong's mansion. The sole purpose, Chunchan stated, was for Tian Yun'er to assassinate Prince Rong and frame both Ruyi and Consort Yu. Yanwan cried that Chunchan was fabricating lies and framing her. Hailan, anticipating Yanwan’s denials, then presented a second witness: Yanwan's own brother, Zuolu.
Zuolu testified that their mother had taken the blame for Gu witchcraft, which never harmed the Thirteenth Prince, and died for Yanwan. He also confessed that Yanwan had forced him to send silver notes to Zhaqi to frame Consort Yu. Yanwan countered that her mother had confessed her wrongdoing and was executed, and the case was closed; she accused Zuolu of being bribed to falsely accuse his own sister.
Chunchan corroborated Zuolu's account and added that the Thirteenth Prince was not the first; the Tenth Prince, Fifth Princess, and Sixth Princess had also been harmed by Yanwan, though her true target had been the Twelfth Prince. Wangchan, Yanwan's eunuch, also stepped forward, admitting he had been forced to carry out these illicit deeds. Enraged, the Emperor slapped Yanwan, accusing her of poisoning his children.
Yanwan tearfully denied it, asking why she would harm other princes when she had no children of her own at the time. Chunchan then revealed that Yanwan's ambition was not limited to becoming Empress, and she deeply resented Ruyi. Believing Ling Yunche harbored feelings for Ruyi, Yanwan sought to cause Ruyi distress and repeatedly used Ling Yunche's name to defame and frame her, when in reality, it was Yanwan herself who remained fixated on Ling Yunche.
Chunchan also implicated Yanwan in orchestrating Maoqian's false accusation against Consort Yu and Hu Yunjiao's dying testimony, all to separate the Emperor from Ruyi, depose the Empress, and seize the imperial title for herself. Hailan then presented a ring, claiming Ling Yunche had given it to her before his death as a token of affection between himself and Yanwan. Yanwan denied this, stating she had reported her acquaintance with Ling Yunche to the Emperor from the beginning.
Chunchan further exposed that when Yanwan was desperate for a child, she had attempted to use alluring incense to seduce Ling Yunche into siring an heir, but Ling Yunche's firm refusal had foiled her plan. The Emperor was furious at Yanwan's attempt to tamper with the royal bloodline. Yanwan continued to plead innocence, claiming she was being framed, and attributed her actions regarding the succession edict to Imperial Physician Jiang's false report of the Emperor’s dire illness and Wangchan’s instigation.
She accused Consort Yu and Ruyi of conspiring against her, using the Emperor’s health as a trap. Just then, the Empress Dowager arrived, scolding Yanwan for her cunning and for plotting to harm the legitimate sons. She revealed that she had found poisonous mushrooms in the Twelfth Prince's food, noting their slow-acting poison was designed to damage internal organs and was extremely difficult to detect. The Emperor, in a chilling command, ordered Yanwan to eat the mushrooms. Terrified, Yanwan refused.
Chunchan then confessed that after Prince Rong's death, Yanwan had instructed her to add these mushrooms to the Twelfth Prince’s diet, aiming for his sudden death to clear the path for the Fifteenth Prince's succession. She added that the Empress Dowager's personal care of the Twelfth Prince had prevented Yanwan from continuing her scheme.
The Empress Dowager dismissed Yanwan's claims of being framed, stating that if Yanwan had not harbored evil intentions, no one could have manipulated her into such heinous acts. The Empress Dowager then delivered a message from Ruyi, explaining that this entire situation was a "game," but one where each person's choices determined their path, and no one could blame others for their ultimate fate.
The Empress Dowager then produced a collection of prayer flags, explaining that Ruyi had personally crafted one for each innocent life Yanwan had destroyed. She instructed Fujia to display them. The Empress Dowager conveyed Ruyi's wish that before the Emperor pronounced his final judgment, Yanwan should face each flag, kowtow, and admit her guilt to every person she had killed.
Afterward, these flags were to be taken to Anhua Palace Hall for scriptures to be recited continuously, allowing the souls of the unjustly deceased to find peace. Yanwan continued to cry out, protesting her innocence. The Emperor, however, ordered his guards to force her to kowtow to each flag, specifically naming Ling Yunche, the Thirteenth Prince Yongjing, and the Fifth Princess Jingse.
From afar, Ruyi acknowledged that the villain had finally faced the consequences of her actions, but lamented that those who had departed would never return. The Empress Dowager departed, instructing that the prayer flags be taken to Anhua Hall, and Consort Yu escorted her, leaving the Emperor to determine Yanwan’s ultimate punishment. The Emperor ordered Yuhu to bring the Qianji drug, a potent poison.
Yanwan immediately begged for mercy, invoking the memory of her children, but the Emperor angrily dismissed her plea, declaring that she had no right to mention imperial heirs after her crimes. Yanwan then defiantly claimed she was forced into her actions, suggesting that no one in the palace had clean hands. Unwilling to listen further, the Emperor commanded the drug to be administered.
Yuhu explained that the Qianji drug caused agonizing pain, making the victim's body contort and pull at the head and feet, like a "dragging machine." After forcibly consuming the drug, Yanwan, with a chilling composure, asked the Emperor if he had misjudged her, or if she had merely learned too well from him. She stated clearly that he had never shown her genuine affection, and in return, he had never received hers.
She pointed out that out of all his concubines, only Ruyi was truly sincere, yet even Ruyi had been confined for cutting her hair because of him. Yanwan declared she welcomed death, seeing it as an end to her years of suffering. Infuriated by her continued defiance, the Emperor refused to grant her an easy demise. He ordered her to be dragged back to her palace, ensuring she would endure prolonged suffering. Yanwan was dragged back to Yongshou Palace.
Yanwan, still alive, discovered that the Emperor had given her an antidote. Chunchan and Wangchan then told her that the Emperor would ensure she continued to receive a daily dose of "soup" (a cycle of poison and antidote) to prolong her torment. Yanwan, in a fit of rage, cursed Chunchan and Wangchan for their betrayal. Meanwhile, the gates of Yikun Palace were finally opened. Many consorts and concubines, including Consort Yu Hailan, came to visit Ruyi.
However, Rongpei informed them that Ruyi was tired from the recent events and wished to see no one, not even Consort Yu. Later, Li Yu, now reinstated to serve the Emperor, arrived at Yikun Palace bearing the Empress's decree and imperial seal, sent by the Emperor. Ruyi refused to see him and instructed Rongpei to have Li Yu take the items back.
Li Yu reported Ruyi’s refusal to the Emperor, who then inquired what the Empress Dowager had learned from Ruyi during their earlier meeting. The Empress Dowager revealed Ruyi’s plan: to feign the Emperor's grave illness to expose Yanwan’s true intentions and test if she would indeed attempt to seize power. The Empress Dowager admitted she had kept this plan secret to ensure the full truth was uncovered.
She reflected on Ruyi's character, noting Ruyi's disregard for imperial favor, power, or even the title of Empress. Instead, Ruyi had only ever sought justice and a life free from injustice, maintaining this intention throughout her life. The Empress Dowager wondered who, between herself and Ruyi, was truly at peace. Later, the Emperor visited Ruyi in Yikun Palace, inquiring about her health. She confirmed she was feeling better.
He invited her to accompany him on the upcoming Mulan autumn hunt, but Ruyi declined, citing the fatigue of long journeys. He then asked her to oversee the affairs of the Six Palaces in his absence. The Emperor expressed regret for past wrongs and hoped she could forget them. Ruyi replied that she had already forgotten.
He then expressed his hope that upon his return from Mulan, she would accept the decree and seal that rightfully belonged to her, stating he would wait for her. Ruyi then asked the Emperor if he knew the saying "Lan Yin Xu Guo," which describes a marriage that begins beautifully but ultimately ends in separation. She reflected that in her youth, she felt sorrow reading about it, but now understood that "flowers bloom and petals fall in their own time."
She advised him to take care of himself during his autumn tour. Later, Li Yu asked the Emperor about the meaning of "Lan Yin Xu Guo," which the Emperor had written on his desk. The Emperor explained it referred to the initial beauty of a man and woman's marriage fading to eventual separation. He understood that Ruyi was deeply disappointed in him, and their relationship could never return to what it once was.
In Yikun Palace, Ruyi asked Rongpei to retrieve a painting of herself and the Emperor by Lord Lang. She took scissors, cut the painting in half, separating her own portrait from his, and then cast her half into a fire, watching it burn.
