Serenade of Peaceful Joy Episode 38 Recap
> Serenade of Peaceful Joy Recap
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Fan Zhongyan defended Teng Zongliang, arguing his fault was minor and urging Zhao Zhen not to condemn him severely. Meanwhile, Zhao Zhen learned Di Qing had entered the capital privately and was very angry, particularly blaming Fan Zhongyan for advocating for Teng Zongliang while Di Qing entered illicitly. Fan Zhongyan explained that Di Qing's private entry was for public matters concerning Waterluo City, not personal ones, and that Di Qing was willing to take responsibility.
Zhao Zhen granted Di Qing an audience. Di Qing clarified the situation of Waterluo City, advocating for its continued construction and stating he was moved by Liu Hu's dedication, even though they usually conflicted. He expressed willingness to share any punishment with Liu Hu. Zhao Zhen, after hearing Di Qing and reflecting on some words from Zhao Huirou, decided to show leniency.
He acknowledged Teng Zongliang, Liu Hu, and Di Qing as capable ministers whose contributions to the nation outweighed their faults, outlining their respective merits and demerits. He pardoned Liu Hu, allowing him to continue the Waterluo City project, and ordered Teng Zongliang and Liu Hu to be released, demoting them one rank to continue their previous duties. Zhao Zhen personally helped Di Qing up, commended his "innocent heart" for acting on public matters despite entering privately, and rewarded him.
Despite this, Fan Zhongyan feared Zhao Zhen still suspected them of forming factions and planned to request to patrol the border the next day to personally implement new policies. Palace maids Bitao and Ying'er played hide-and-seek with Fourth Princess Yao Yao. Bitao led Yao Yao into a secluded storage room or a secluded room, hiding her in a cabinet or wardrobe, and hid herself nearby.
After waiting for a while, Bitao opened the cabinet/wardrobe to find Yao Yao frothing at the mouth, having suffered an asthma attack and suffocated to death. Zhao Zhen returned to the inner palace after court and was deeply grieved by the news. Zhang Bihan, already in poor health, suffered a hemorrhage due to extreme grief, but imperial physicians managed to stabilize her condition in the chaotic Xiangluan Pavilion.
Zhao Zhen, enduring his sorrow, questioned palace maids, including Jia Jiaoxi, Xu Lantiao, and Jia Yulan, about the incident. Their tearful and overlapping accounts prevented him from assigning blame, leading him to conclude it was an accidental death. Zhao Zhen was overcome with grief, believing his children's successive misfortunes were due to Li Lan Hui's spirit blaming him for being unfilial.
He visited Li Lan Hui's mourning hall or guarded the ancestral temple alone, repenting and repeatedly kowtowing, wishing for a way to compensate and ensure his children's safety. His profound sorrow led him to cease court for seven days. Ouyang Xiu was displeased by this, believing Zhao Zhen was letting personal grief interfere with public duties, and tried to rally Yan Shu, Zhang Dexiang, and other Hanlin Academy officials to persuade Zhao Zhen, but found no support.
While resting, Miao Xinhe reminded Zhao Zhen that Li Lan Hui's greatest concern was her brother, Li Yonghe, whose family was now honored. Zhao Zhen, feeling he hadn't sufficiently rewarded Li Yonghe, believed this might be why Li Lan Hui was displeased, and ordered his maternal uncle, Li Yonghe, to be summoned to the palace for further enfeoffment.
Meanwhile, Wang Gongchen, feeling that Zhao Zhen's lenient punishment of Teng Zongliang (whom Wang Gongchen had impeached) implied his impeachment was wrong, defiantly staged a hunger strike, wall-facing at home, complaining and demanding demotion. Zhao Zhen noticed Wang Gongchen's absence from court and learned of his protest.
Jia Changchao explained Wang Gongchen's reasoning: that Teng Zongliang's destruction of evidence was wrong, and if Zhao Zhen did not punish Teng Zongliang, then Zhao Zhen was wrong, hence Wang Gongchen's self-punishment and request for demotion.
Zhao Zhen was furious upon reading Wang Gongchen's memorial later, understanding that Wang Gongchen was using the concept of an "enlightened ruler" or "benevolent ruler" and ancestral laws to corner him into a dilemma, knowing Zhao Zhen could not severely punish him for violating ancestral laws. Although angry that he could not kill Wang Gongchen, Zhao Zhen eventually compromised. He decided to further demote Teng Zongliang's official rank by two levels, using this action to alleviate pressure from his officials.
Wang Gongchen's wife, Xue Yuhu, was anxious about her husband's defiance. When Yang Huaimin arrived, she nervously expected a decree of punishment, but he was there to invite her to the palace to accompany Zhang Bihan. Zhang Bihan, heartbroken and depressed after Yao Yao's death, told Xue Yuhu she wanted to follow her daughter but resolved to recover after seeing Zhao Zhen by her bedside, looking at her with pity and sadness.
Despite the conflict, Zhao Zhen also agreed to Fan Zhongyan's request to go to the border, specifically Shaanxi, to personally implement new policies as a patrol commissioner. Separately, Zhao Huirou and her younger brother, Zui Xinglai, played outside or in the garden all day, specifically hide-and-seek. Upon returning to the palace, a nanny or attending servants noticed mosquito bites or a large swelling/welt behind Zui Xinglai's ear, and Zhao Huirou was also itchy.
That night, Zui Xinglai suddenly lost appetite, vomited several times, and refused to eat. Miao Xinhe panicked and quickly summoned imperial physicians to diagnose his condition. Zhang Maoze sought Zhao Zhen, reporting that he had investigated rumors of Shi Jie and Fu Bi secretly plotting rebellion. He presented Shi Jie's handwritten letter and highlighted suspicious points, though Zhao Zhen believed Shi Jie, even if having rebellious intentions, lacked the capability.
Zhao Zhen, already feeling pressured by court officials, became furious and scolded them for cornering him in various ways. After handling these official duties and his outburst, Zhao Zhen decided to visit Zhang Bihan in Xiangluan Pavilion. He also instructed Liang Huaiji to deliver a small toy to Zui Xinglai and Zhao Huirou in Yifeng Pavilion.
On the way, or during his visit to Zhao Huirou and Zui Xinglai, Zhao Zhen informed Liang Huaiji that he had spoken with Ren Shouzhong and decided to promote Liang Huaiji to high-ranking officer (gaoban) and assign him to Yifeng Pavilion to specially serve Zui Xinglai, expressing many expectations for the young prince.
