Serenade of Peaceful Joy Episode 14 Recap
> Serenade of Peaceful Joy Recap
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Ministers accused Lü Yijian of corruption. While there was no direct evidence, Vice-Chancellor Wang Zeng publicly confronted Lü Yijian, pointing out that corrupt officials were promoted by Lü Yijian due to his focus on dismissing honest officials. Unable to refute, Lü Yijian requested his own dismissal from the capital. Zhao Zhen agreed, but the day after the decree, Wang Zeng sought Zhao Zhen, requesting to be demoted alongside Lü Yijian.
Zhao Zhen was initially furious, questioning if Wang Zeng doubted his judgment. Wang Zeng explained that as Vice-Chancellor, he had failed his duty in evaluating officials and allowed Lü Yijian to control state affairs. Understanding Wang Zeng's intention not to benefit from factional struggles and wishing to promote self-reflection among officials, Zhao Zhen agreed to Wang Zeng's request for dismissal. Separately, Liang Yuansheng was sentenced to two years of military exile.
Liang Huaiji, who had changed his name, refused to acknowledge him as his brother, having previously stated that upon entering the palace, he no longer had parents or brothers. Zhang Maoze informed Han Qi of Liang Huaiji's stance. Han Qi, understanding Liang Huaiji's wishes, chose not to interfere with Liang Huaiji or intervene in Liang Yuansheng's punishment, recognizing that despite being wronged, Liang Yuansheng had indeed violated the laws of the Song Dynasty.
In the teaching academy, other dancers, including Xu Lantiao, discussed Zhang Bihan. Xu Lantiao accused Zhang Bihan of fabricating stories to approach Zhao Zhen and ridiculed her for claiming to have met Zhao Zhen. Zhang Bihan, enraged and denying the accusation, poured a pot of hot soup over Xu Lantiao's head, leading to a fight. Despite injuring Xu Lantiao, Zhang Bihan maintained she had not lied. The incident reached Teacher Jia.
Zhang Bihan, feeling wronged and upset that Zhao Zhen didn't recognize her, refused to perform the new "Beauty Trims Peonies" dance at the upcoming palace banquet (also referred to as a private banquet or the Princess's 100-day banquet). Teacher Jia initially scolded Zhang Bihan but then realized Zhao Zhen had shown Zhang Bihan special attention, such as giving her his coat and listening to her for a long time.
Teacher Jia decided to leverage this to help Zhang Bihan win Zhao Zhen's favor. At the banquet, after the children's dance, Cao Danshu inquired why the new dance was not performed. Teacher Jia publicly explained that one dancer was injured and the other, feeling wronged, refused to perform, implying that Zhang Bihan was the one feeling wronged for Zhao Zhen.
Zhao Zhen recognized this and explicitly named Zhang Bihan, delighting Teacher Jia, who later directly asked Zhang Bihan if she liked Zhao Zhen. While eating, Zhao Zhen missed Cao Danshu's homemade venison jerky and wine. He sent a servant to request them. Cao Danshu only provided the wine, refusing to make the jerky but offering the recipe to the imperial kitchen, which Zhao Zhen understood as her still being upset with him.
At the subsequent banquet, Zhao Zhen attempted to appease Cao Danshu by smiling and being friendly, but she remained cold and unresponsive, focusing on the dancing and the princess, much to his frustration. Later that night, Zhao Zhen visited Kuning Palace, hoping to speak openly with Cao Danshu as before. However, Cao Danshu was still angry, spoke to him formally, and was excessively polite, making him uncomfortable. Zhao Zhen gently asked her not to be so stiff.
Cao Danshu then accused Zhao Zhen of publicly showing concern for Zhang Bihan after Cao Danshu had disciplined the willful dancer earlier, questioning if this meant her actions were wrong. Zhao Zhen understood her anger and tried to joke to lighten the mood, but Cao Danshu spoke harshly, emphasizing her anger by adhering rigidly to "palace rules," which irritated Zhao Zhen. He became enraged and left.
After his departure, Huar'er informed Cao Danshu that Zhao Zhen was bothered by her recent coldness but had still come to visit. Huar'er then advised Cao Danshu to soften her stance and appease Zhao Zhen, using her parents as an example, to prevent their marital relationship from deteriorating. Reflecting on Huar'er's words and wondering if she was too boring, Cao Danshu decided to take wine and her calligraphy (or other gifts) to find Zhao Zhen and appease him.
Just as Cao Danshu prepared to seek Zhao Zhen, Teacher Jia, having confirmed Zhang Bihan's affections, boldly brought Zhang Bihan to Zhao Zhen, using the pretense of "seeking forgiveness" to allow Zhang Bihan to express her grievances and win his favor. Zhao Zhen asked Zhang Bihan what she wanted to say in person. Emotionally, Zhang Bihan explained that she hadn't fabricated stories but was ridiculed for wanting to please Zhao Zhen, which she found intolerable.
Zhao Zhen found her words willful yet endearing. He helped her up, comforted her, telling her not to mind others' words, assuring her he wasn't mocking or belittling her, and promising he wouldn't forget her now that he recognized her. Delighted, Zhang Bihan immediately offered to dance for him, and Zhao Zhen watched, engrossed. At this moment, Cao Danshu arrived, bringing gifts to appease Zhao Zhen. She was somewhat angry to find him watching Zhang Bihan dance.
Learning that Zhang Bihan was a willful dancer who had forced an audience, Cao Danshu was very displeased. Zhao Zhen quickly explained that Teacher Jia and Zhang Bihan had come to apologize, but Cao Danshu questioned Zhao Zhen's decision to meet Zhang Bihan, asking if he wanted her to personally oversee the training of all the academy's dancers.
Understanding Cao Danshu's implication, Zhao Zhen immediately dismissed Teacher Jia and Zhang Bihan, sending them away to avoid further disturbance and spare Cao Danshu worry, intending to speak alone with his empress. After dismissing Teacher Jia and Zhang Bihan, Zhao Zhen and Cao Danshu began to speak, with Zhao Zhen yielding to Cao Danshu.
Cao Danshu, using a softened tone, asked if she was too rigid, managing the palace in a lifeless manner, and questioned if Zhao Zhen disliked her for this. She admitted she found Zhang Bihan lively and recalled that she herself wasn't always so conforming before entering the palace. Zhao Zhen then confided that he had no dissatisfaction with her. Before he could elaborate further, Funing Palace suddenly began to shake; the bookshelves trembled violently, indicating an earthquake.
Zhao Zhen immediately tried to shield Cao Danshu. Startled but acting rationally, Cao Danshu quickly called for guards to protect the emperor and herself. They moved to an open area outside the hall. After a brief moment of panic, Cao Danshu immediately began to manage palace affairs, instructing servants to check on all palaces for injuries and inspect beams for looseness.
