Serenade of Peaceful Joy Episode 36 Recap
> Serenade of Peaceful Joy Recap
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
A Censor Liang impeached Teng Zongliang before Zhao Zhen, accusing him of abusing power for personal gain. Fan Zhongyan immediately refuted the charges, stating he had a deep connection with Teng Zongliang and could guarantee his character and innocence of corruption. However, his defense angered other officials, with Zhang Dexiang arguing that Fan Zhongyan's personal assurance shouldn't negate investigations into other court officials.
Seeing the heated argument and Fan Zhongyan's determined protection of Teng Zongliang, Zhao Zhen stopped Fan Zhongyan from further debate and ordered an investigation into the matter, dispatching Yan Du to conduct it. Later, Zhao Zhen and Yan Shu visited Fan Zhongyan, who appeared to have packed his belongings as if preparing to leave the palace.
Yan Shu inquired about the reason, and Fan Zhongyan openly expressed his views on reforming the official system, criticizing those who, like Lü Yijian, feared new reforms and accused him out of self-interest. He firmly insisted on continuing "fierce medicine" to rectify the official system, believing that the "three redundancies" (excessive officials, expenses, and military) were too deeply entrenched to be eradicated in just a few months.
Zhao Zhen understood Fan Zhongyan's loyalty but, lacking time for prolonged debate, left Yan Shu to continue the conversation, promising to reflect on Fan Zhongyan's words. Yan Shu then told Fan Zhongyan directly that his reforms impacted many people's interests, and Teng Zongliang might be targeted not for actual official misconduct but because of his close association with Fan Zhongyan, as a means for others to retaliate.
Yan Shu advised Fan Zhongyan to consider the broader implications in court and society, not just strict right and wrong, and warned that speaking up for Teng Zongliang without evidence provided an excuse for others to accuse him of using reform to consolidate his own faction. Fan Zhongyan, while understanding Yan Shu's points, remained steadfast, declaring he could not conceal the truth for the sake of perceived fairness.
He vowed to find evidence to prove Teng Zongliang's innocence and affirmed that he governed based on performance evaluations, unafraid of slander, trusting that Zhao Zhen knew whether he was fit to rule. In the palace, Zhang Bihan gave birth to another daughter, but her health deteriorated, leaving her unable to serve Zhao Zhen in bed for a year or more, and rendering her incapable of conceiving again. She often felt unwell, drowsy, and unaware of Zhao Zhen's visits.
Yang Huaimin, having bribed the Imperial Hospital for this information, deemed Zhang Bihan to have lost her "utility value." She summoned Jia Yulan (also referred to as Jia Jiaoxi) to prepare for this development. Initially, Jia Yulan suspected Yang Huaimin of seeking a new patron and threatened to abandon her.
Yang Huaimin softened her tone, explaining her true intent: to find someone who could keep Zhao Zhen's attention while also being acceptable to Zhang Bihan, as Zhao Zhen wouldn't keep visiting Xiangluan Pavilion if Zhang Bihan could not serve him. Jia Yulan sought out Xu Lantiao (also referred to as Lan Tiao). Lan Tiao, seeing her opportunity, immediately expressed her ambition, asking if Jia Yulan wanted her to serve Zhao Zhen in Zhang Bihan's place.
Lan Tiao admitted that every woman in the palace harbored such ambition. Jia Yulan was hesitant due to Lan Tiao's clear ambition, fearing it could harm Zhang Bihan. Lan Tiao assured Jia Yulan that she had given up on Zhao Zhen, merely wishing to leverage Zhao Zhen's favor for Zhang Bihan to help when Zhang Bihan was unable, and believed that by becoming Zhang Bihan's person, she could gain some favor from Zhao Zhen.
She stated that helping Zhang Bihan was helping herself. Jia Yulan was persuaded by Lan Tiao's arguments. Meanwhile, Zhang Bihan heard palace rituals and asked Jia Yulan about them, learning they were for the deceased Third Prince, who had died suddenly of acute illness. Zhao Zhen had planned to promote Concubine Zhu before this tragedy. Zhang Bihan became worried about her own recently born daughter.
Jia Yulan reassured Zhang Bihan, highlighting her good fortune in having a safe mother and child, and revealed that Zhao Zhen had named her daughter Youwu. Jia Yulan subtly mentioned Lan Tiao to Zhang Bihan. Unexpectedly, Zhang Bihan, without showing jealousy, suggested calling Lan Tiao into the inner chambers to serve Zhao Zhen when he visited Xiangluan Pavilion, realizing her own severe illness prevented her from attending to him.
Jia Yulan explained that Zhao Zhen, after checking on Zhang Bihan, often returned to Funing Palace or visited Miao Xinhe, implying the need for someone to keep him company. Zhang Bihan quickly understood and agreed, surprising Jia Yulan with her lack of resentment. Separately, Han Qi discussed the Fà nlóu (Alum Tower) bidding with Liang Yuansheng.
Zhang Lihua privately hinted to Han Qi that the Fà nlóu manager was connected to Jia Changchao, and the merchant surnamed Chen, introduced by the manager, was linked to Xia Song. Han Qi noted this information. Liang Yuansheng, who understood the Fà nlóu's complexities, including its accumulated tax debts caused by foul play, shared his knowledge and analysis with Han Qi. He planned to gather funds within ten days to bid for the Fà nlóu, aiming to take over the "mess."
On his way back from Fan Zhongyan's residence, Zhao Zhen instructed Zhang Maoze to thoroughly investigate the Fà nlóu affair, including the background of the merchant surnamed Chen (who conspired with the Fà nlóu manager) and who intended to acquire the Fà nlóu, specifically the merchant aiming to buy it at a low price.
Late at night, Zhang Maoze reported to Zhao Zhen that Liang Yuansheng was gathering money to buy the Fà nlóu and revealed Liang Yuansheng's true identity as a child of the Liang family. Zhao Zhen confessed that he already knew Liang Yuansheng's background. This revelation prompted Zhao Zhen to reflect on his own birth mother, Li Lanhui. Zhao Zhen expressed deep regret for not visiting Li Lanhui on her deathbed and for not showing filial piety during her lifetime.
He felt great remorse, envying Liang Yuansheng's ability to avenge his mother. Zhao Zhen had been diligent for years, fearing any impropriety, yet natural disasters persisted, and his imperial children repeatedly died. Zhao Yuanyan even suggested that these deaths were divine retribution for Zhao Zhen's failure to honor his birth mother. Zhang Maoze tried to console Zhao Zhen, suggesting Zhao Yuanyan's words stemmed more from personal animosity than truth, and were not credible.
