Serenade of Peaceful Joy Episode 33 Recap
> Serenade of Peaceful Joy Recap
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At night, Emperor Zhao Zhen confides in Empress Cao Danshu about state affairs, holding her hand. He tells her he desires to share his triumphs with her first, avoids her when he fails, but consistently thinks of her when worried, comparing it to his childhood reliance on Empress Dowager Liu E. Cao Danshu is pleased by his trust but finds the comparison to Liu E unsettling. As Zhao Zhen drifts to sleep, Cao Danshu remains by his side.
The following morning, Cao Danshu explains her purpose for coming: Princess Zhao Huirou, now seven, should no longer attend the palace school with the imperial clan boys. Zhao Zhen initially fears Zhao Huirou has been molested, but Cao Danshu clarifies her concern stems from the palace tutor Shi Jie's tendency to discuss current state affairs. She worries Zhao Huirou might misinterpret these discussions or speak carelessly, potentially leading to exploitation by malicious individuals.
Cao Danshu expresses her wish for Zhao Huirou to live a happy life as a girl, rather than prioritizing academic achievement. Zhao Zhen acknowledges his previous desire for Zhao Huirou to acquire extensive knowledge was perhaps ill-considered and grants Cao Danshu full authority over their daughter's education.
Meanwhile, Lian Zi, displeased by instructor Jia Yu-lan's influence and favor with Consort Zhang Bihan, discusses with Zhang Maoze his desire to present evidence against Jia Yu-lan to have her removed from the palace. However, Zhang Maoze, having been previously warned by Zhao Zhen, cautions Lian Zi against taking rash action. Emperor Zhao Zhen later discusses Fan Zhongyan's ten proposed reform measures with Cao Danshu. He also shows her an old letter from Yan Shu.
Cao Danshu realizes that Zhao Zhen's past reforms enabled her to study at an academy, which makes their conversation particularly enjoyable. Their pleasant conversation is interrupted by Zhao Huirou, who arrives to demand why she is no longer permitted to attend the palace school. Cao Danshu reiterates her reasons, promising to arrange for a Si Gong Ling to teach Zhao Huirou, even if less esteemed than Shi Jie.
Zhao Huirou, feeling wronged, mentions her own past experience of studying in an academy and insists on returning to the palace school. Zhao Zhen attempts to pacify her by reminding her that she never liked studying before. Zhao Huirou asserts that she has grown to like it now. When Cao Danshu presses her to articulate her reasons, Zhao Huirou cannot, feels foolish and misunderstood, and leaves upset.
Zhao Zhen expresses his concern and pity for Zhao Huirou, feeling that his efforts toward reform have inadvertently caused his daughter distress, and reflecting on his wish for a daughter free from the burdens of state responsibility. Cao Danshu misinterprets his words as resentment towards her, believing that her forced marriage to Zhao Zhen makes her another source of his unhappiness.
Zhao Zhen, angered by Cao Danshu's "loyal official" demeanor, remarks that the imperial harem now feels like the imperial court. Cao Danshu retorts that since their wedding night, Zhao Zhen has never treated her as a wife, only as the Empress of Song, forcing her to diligently fulfill the role of a capable Empress. Zhao Zhen is left speechless.
At this juncture, Jia Yu-lan's loud commotion about Princess Yao Yao's illness interrupts their argument, and Zhao Zhen immediately leaves to attend to his daughter. Earlier, instructor Jia Yu-lan had been playing with Princess Yao Yao in the garden. Yao Yao accidentally inhaled a scent from Jia Yu-lan's handkerchief, triggering an allergic reaction or asthma attack that caused momentary suffocation. Jia Yu-lan called for help.
Dong Qiuhe, passing by, swiftly used silver needles to stimulate acupuncture points and applied medicinal powder, alleviating Yao Yao's immediate symptoms. Imperial physicians then stabilized the princess, though her illness would require ongoing treatment. Yao Yao was sent back to Consort Zhang Bihan's palace. Zhang Bihan was extremely worried and angered that Yao Yao's condition required continued care.
Dong Qiuhe, whose presence Zhang Bihan only then fully registered, advised Zhang Bihan not to disturb Yao Yao and confirmed she had saved the princess. Suspecting Dong Qiuhe's motives, Zhang Bihan ordered Jia Yu-lan to offer Dong Qiuhe a reward. After Jia Yu-lan departed, Dong Qiuhe warned Zhang Bihan that Yao Yao's illness seemed to be caused by flower seeds or pollen and advised extreme caution from all caregivers.
Dong Qiuhe, who suffers from a similar asthma, found it unusual for Yao Yao to have such a severe attack in autumn, which is not the typical season for such ailments. She consulted an imperial physician, who, while commending her compassion, cautioned her against speaking carelessly about royal health matters, lest it cause a stir. Dong Qiuhe confirmed that Yao Yao's symptoms were identical to her own. Later, she secretly smelled the handkerchief Jia Yu-lan had used on Yao Yao.
The scent triggered her own severe asthma, from which she barely recovered using her medicinal powder, thus confirming her suspicion that the handkerchief was indeed problematic. Zhao Zhen went to Xiangluan Pavilion to comfort Zhang Bihan, promising to stay with her until the birth of her new child and to visit her daily.
Zhang Bihan was pleased but then, fearing that her excessive imperial favor was attracting jealousy and endangering Yao Yao, she offered to lower her own rank to "Meiren" (beautiful lady) and requested Zhao Zhen to visit other consorts, hoping this would ensure Yao Yao's safety and prevent her from an early death, like Princess Yue'er. Meanwhile, Jia Yu-lan, having discovered the cause of Yao Yao's illness, angrily confronted Xu Lan-shao.
Jia Yu-lan accused Xu Lan-shao of perfuming the handkerchief with paper mulberry pollen and of having many paper mulberry trees planted near Zhang Bihan's residence, which had caused Yao Yao's illness. Xu Lan-shao admitted to her actions without fear, even threatening Jia Yu-lan. Yang Huai-min intervened, scolding Xu Lan-shao and separating the two women.
Jia Yu-lan then declared that while she had covered up the true cause of the incident with Dong Qiuhe, if Xu Lan-shao ever harmed Yao Yao again, she would disregard any implications for Xia Song and fight Xu Lan-shao to the death. Yang Huai-min clarified that Xu Lan-shao's actions were merely a foolish act of personal vendetta, which he did not endorse.
However, he also reminded Jia Yu-lan of her own dealings with Xia Song and warned her to be careful not to give Zhang Maoze any leverage for investigation. Later, Zhao Huirou was despondent in her study. Liang Huaiji arrived, playfully teasing her about not memorizing her books, which only made her more upset. Seeing her distress, Liang Huaiji immediately knelt to apologize. Zhao Huirou, disliking his formal distance, cried, lamenting that no one loved her.
Liang Huaiji reassured her of the deep affection held for her by Zhao Zhen, Cao Danshu, and Miao Xin-he, adding that he himself was very fond of her. Zhao Huirou, still feeling skeptical, thought he was just trying to comfort her with lies. Liang Huaiji insisted that he never lied. Zhao Huirou then instructed him not to kneel to her when they were alone, explaining that she only expresses her anger and frustration with him, not with others.
