Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Episode 9 Recap
> Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace Recap
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With the Emperor's renewed favor, Yanxi Palace received numerous gifts from the Internal Affairs Office, including precious fabrics, fur gowns, leather coats, and embroidered skirts. A'Rou, one of Ruyi's maids, proudly displayed the bounty, observing how quickly people in the palace recognized who was in favor. Ruyi, however, cautioned A'Rou not to let her happiness show too much.
The Emperor also sent Ruyi two rare green plum trees from Suhang, a gesture that deeply touched her as it showed he remembered her preferences. She expressed her joy, remarking that "the greatest thing in life is when two hearts know each other," and instructed her head eunuch, Sanbao, to care for the plums in the back court and to ensure no one bragged about them or caused conflict with Xianfu Palace.
Meanwhile, in the Empress's palace, her maid Su Lian observed that the Emperor's previous coldness towards Ruyi was likely a strategy to appease the Empress Dowager. She reminded the Empress that Wang Qin, the Chief Eunuch, had warned her to guard against Ruyi. The Empress, however, was wary of Wang Qin, considering him a "turncoat" who flattered both her and Noble Consort Hui, lacking genuine loyalty. She acknowledged his usefulness but found him slippery and difficult to control.
Wang Qin himself, witnessing Ruyi's rising favor and remembering his past offenses against her, felt compelled to seek the Empress's protection. The Emperor visited Second Class Attendant Mei, who feigned shyness due to the scars on her face and her recent conflict with Noble Consort Hui. She attempted to portray herself as a victim of her low status and Noble Consort Hui's cruelty, claiming the Empress had sided with the Noble Consort.
The Emperor rebuked her for daring to criticize the Empress but also offered reassurance, promising to protect her from others' contempt based on her background. After the Emperor departed, Second Class Attendant Mei revealed her true intentions to her maid: she was intentionally using leadwort to keep her injuries visible and appear more pitiable.
She declared that simple slaps were not enough to secure the Emperor's favor; she needed to present herself as so pathetic that it would enrage him, further destabilize the palace power dynamics, and she also arranged for Manzi to take the fall for the crime, ultimately not letting Noble Consort Hui's past slap be in vain. Separately, the Empress Dowager received clothes sent by the Empress.
She viewed this as a transparent attempt by the Empress to regain favor after displeasing the Emperor with recent palace issues. The Empress Dowager then revealed her own manipulative scheme: she had advised Second Class Attendant Mei to use leadwort, aiming to stir up "muddy water" in the Inner Palace. By creating chaos, she could then legitimately "take charge" of palace affairs, noting that Ruyi had already benefited from the ensuing disputes.
On New Year's Day, Ruyi noticed A'Rou wearing all four new winter clothes that were meant to be shared between her and Suoxin, leaving Suoxin in old attire. Ruyi promptly ordered A'Rou to return two sets to Suoxin, who reluctantly complied. Suoxin felt Ruyi didn't need to intervene, but Ruyi, aware of A'Rou's habitual covert mistreatment of Suoxin, stood by her loyal maid.
Later, at the New Year's feast with the Empress Dowager, Emperor, and various concubines and princes, the Empress Dowager lamented that the Emperor only had three sons and one daughter, Jingse. She stressed the importance of abundant heirs for imperial prosperity and emphasized that the first child born after the Emperor's ascension would be "even more precious."
She openly criticized the Empress's excessive frugality, which resulted in concubines appearing poorly dressed and Yonghuang, the First Prince, suffering from two colds due to inadequate staffing at Xiefang Palace Hall. The Emperor acknowledged the Empress's shortcomings, while gently suggesting she teach Princess Jingse proper decorum. Sensing the Emperor's displeasure, the Empress immediately ordered Su Lian to send additional staff to Xiefang Palace Hall for Yonghuang and Yongzhang.
During this time, the Empress's maid privately discussed with Momo Li that Yonghuang, the Emperor's eldest son by a concubine, was becoming increasingly ambitious and trying to outshine the legitimate Second Prince, Yonglian, a behavior Momo Li attributed to his late mother, Consort Zhe. The Empress instructed her maids to ensure Yonghuang's nannies guided him appropriately.
Later, as Suoxin prepared digestive snacks for the Third Prince, she encountered the First Prince, Yonghuang, who complained that his Third Brother had everything while he had nothing. Suoxin, feeling pity, offered him a snack. This interaction was observed by a maid from Noble Consort Hui's palace, who surmised that Ruyi was attempting to win favor with the First Prince given the Empress Dowager's regard for him.
Yonghuang voraciously ate the snack, revealing to Suoxin that his nannies did not allow him to eat enough and often left him unsupervised, warning her not to mention his secret snacking for fear of being scolded. Upon returning to Yanxi Palace, Suoxin recounted her encounter with Yonghuang to Ruyi, who suspected neglect and possible bullying by the staff at Xiefang Palace Hall. Ruyi decided to investigate the situation discreetly, cautioning Suoxin to keep it private.
Despite Hai Changzai's attempts to comfort her, Ruyi expressed her sadness over her own childless state. Driven by her inability to conceive, Noble Consort Hui's maid suggested she adopt First Prince Yonghuang. Her maid argued that this would elevate Noble Consort Hui's status as the eldest son's foster mother, especially since the Empress showed little interest in raising him, and the Empress Dowager highly valued Yonghuang.
The maid also alerted Noble Consort Hui to the fact that Ruyi's maid, Suoxin, had been seen interacting with Yonghuang, implying Ruyi might have similar intentions. Noble Consort Hui, determined not to let Ruyi gain such an advantage, resolved to secure the adoption of First Prince Yonghuang before Ruyi could. Three months later, Noble Consort Hui intercepted the Emperor's sedan, emotionally pleading with him to spend the night at Xianfu Palace, reminding him that her period of "punishment" was over.
The Emperor reluctantly agreed. Wang Qin was then dispatched to Yanxi Palace to inform Ruyi that the Emperor had changed his plans. A'Rou, angered by the late notice, vented her frustrations to Ruyi, criticizing Noble Consort Hui. Ruyi reprimanded A'Rou for her impudence, reminding her to be more discreet, as careless words could lead to trouble. Ruyi then dismissed A'Rou and called Suoxin for a private conversation.
Ruyi confided in Suoxin about the Emperor's unspoken burdens, specifically his persistent regret regarding his birth mother, Madam Li Jingui, who was a palace maid and remained without a proper identity or status. Ruyi expressed a desire to subtly "make it up" to the Emperor for this perceived deficiency in his life.
Suoxin strongly advised caution, warning that any direct attempt to elevate Madam Li's status could incur the Empress Dowager's wrath, cause the Emperor to lose face, and potentially lead to Ruyi's confinement in the Cold Palace. Ruyi conceded to not mentioning the birth mother directly but affirmed her quiet resolve to mend the Emperor's long-held sorrow, even if only "just a bit."
The following morning, Noble Consort Hui, still lingering by the Emperor's side, renewed her request for permission to raise First Prince Yonghuang, citing the loneliness of Xianfu Palace and her guilt over not providing the Emperor with a child. The Emperor, stating he would "think about it again," departed for the Imperial court session.
