Serenade of Peaceful Joy Episode 46 Recap
> Serenade of Peaceful Joy Recap
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Emperor Zhao Zhen, having just evaded his censor Si Ma Guang, returned to Funing Hall for lunch and asked his attendant Lan Tiao to comb his hair. Lan Tiao was astonished to hear that someone had impeached Empress Cao Danshu. Zhao Zhen explained that Si Ma Guang had submitted fifteen articles of admonition, with fourteen criticizing Zhao Zhen's own conduct and only one targeting Cao Danshu.
He noted the irony that his attendants, including Lan Tiao and Liang Huaiji, seemed more concerned about the Empress's impeachment than his own, leading him to lament that he was not performing as well as Cao Danshu. Si Ma Guang's complaint accused Cao Danshu of failing to properly discipline her nephew, Cao Ping, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old who was known for his dissolute behavior, frequently visiting entertainment quarters and being popular with courtesans.
Zhao Zhen initially considered this an overreaction, deeming Cao Ping's actions merely "not conforming to rules." In the palace, Empress Cao Danshu observed Princess Zhao Huirou's continued fondness for Cao Ping, even recalling his past portrayal of Hou Yi. Cao Danshu began to scold Cao Ping about past events, but Miao Xinhe interceded on his behalf. Zhao Huirou, along with Cao family's two young masters, including Cao Ping, then went to the rear garden to play Cuju/Chuiwan.
Cao Danshu instructed Liang Huaiji to accompany and look after Zhao Huirou. Cao Ping's exceptional ball-playing skills captivated many female guests, drawing their cheers. Zhao Huirou, feeling a bit envious, requested Cao Ping to teach her, and he invited her to join the game. Later, Zhao Zhen attended a palace banquet, where he met his imperial aunt, Wei Guo Da Zhang Gong Zhu.
She requested his permission to adopt her late husband's illegitimate daughter as her legitimate heir, hoping this would allow the girl to find a good husband. While Zhao Zhen expressed sympathy for his aunt's predicament, stemming from her consort's misconduct, the provided summaries present conflicting outcomes: one states he agreed to her request, while the other states he denied it.
Following this, Zhao Zhen discussed the Wei Guo Da Zhang Gong Zhu's unfortunate marriage with Cao Danshu, reiterating his pity for her. After assisting Zhao Zhen, Lan Tiao went to serve Zhang Bihan. She informed Zhang Bihan about Si Ma Guang's impeachment of Cao Danshu and Zhao Zhen's displeasure regarding it.
Zhang Bihan, who had initially shown no interest in attending the palace banquet, was greatly pleased by this news and decided to attend, intending to use the situation to her advantage. At the banquet, Zhang Bihan deliberately brought up Cao Ping, mentioning his dissolute affairs circulating in the marketplace. She insisted these were not mere rumors and questioned Cao Ping's absence.
She also observed that Zhao Huirou was not her usual self, clinging to Zhao Zhen, but was instead playing with Cao Ping. Zhao Zhen, growing annoyed with Zhang Bihan's persistence and increasingly worried about Zhao Huirou, became angry and rushed to the rear garden, with Cao Danshu following him. Upon reaching the rear garden, Zhao Zhen witnessed Cao Ping intimately teaching Zhao Huirou how to play Cuju/Chuiwan, their hands touching. Zhao Zhen's face turned ashen with anger.
Miao Xinhe tried to diffuse the situation by suggesting they were just children playing, but Zhao Zhen remained silent. Under Cao Ping's guidance, Zhao Huirou swung the ball, accidentally striking Li Wei, who was watching nearby, on the head, leaving him dazed. Later, Li Wei and his family met Zhao Zhen. When asked about his head injury, Li Wei, understanding it was Zhao Huirou, secretly protected her by claiming he had accidentally bumped into a tree.
Pleased by Li Wei's honesty and quiet loyalty, Zhao Zhen recalled a promise he had made years ago. He granted Li Wei the unique privilege of addressing Zhao Huirou directly by her given name, a gesture that greatly delighted Li Wei. After the guests departed, Zhao Zhen vented his fury in front of Miao Xinhe and Cao Danshu. Cao Ping's "frivolous and dissolute" conduct convinced Zhao Zhen that he was unsuitable.
He expressed deep concern that his naive and beloved daughter, Zhao Huirou, might be deceived by such a person and suffer a lifetime of unhappiness, similar to his imperial aunt, Wei Guo Da Zhang Gong Zhu, who had married an unworthy consort. Cao Danshu attempted to suggest postponing Zhao Huirou's marriage for a few years, but Zhao Zhen, now in a towering rage, refused to listen.
He warned Cao Danshu to discipline Cao Ping properly and threatened severe repercussions, even the extermination of a consort's entire family, if Zhao Huirou were to marry someone like his imperial aunt's consort. Miao Xinhe's further attempts to calm him by stating they were all just children were rebuffed by a stern Zhao Zhen. Zhao Zhen's intention to marry Zhao Huirou to Li Wei left her deeply unhappy.
When Liang Huaiji brought her things, she confronted him, asking if he was there to persuade her to accept the marriage. Zhao Huirou openly expressed her disdain for Li Wei, based on rumors that he was not handsome or clever. She questioned how he could even accompany her in composing poetry, highlighting her belief that he was stupid and ugly.
In contrast, she openly confessed her infatuation with Cao Ping, believing him to be a bright and talented scholar, certainly skilled in poetry. Liang Huaiji could only laugh at her complaints. Meanwhile, in Western Xia, ruler Yuan Hao was assassinated by his son, Ning Lingge, plunging the state into disarray with two warring factions vying for power: one supporting Ning Lingge, and the other, Yuan Hao's posthumous son.
In Chongzheng Hall, Emperor Zhao Zhen deliberated with his ministers on this crisis. Wen Yanbo proposed supporting Yuan Hao's posthumous son as a means to weaken Western Xia. However, Wang Gongchen vehemently opposed this, arguing it would be an unrighteous act, contrary to the dynasty's principle of governing with benevolence, and that they should not scheme against orphans and widows.
Intervening in their heated debate, Zhao Zhen lamented that Yuan Hao, despite his unrighteous deeds, had sons to inherit his legacy, while he, who governed with benevolence, had tragically lost his own young children. The ministers, taken aback, quickly knelt to console him, assuring him of future imperial heirs due to his youth. Zhao Zhen seized this moment to reject earlier proposals for him to adopt a son from the imperial clan, leaving the ministers with no room to object.
In the midst of these events, palace intrigues continued. Yang Huai Min grew suspicious and uneasy about Zhang Maoze's recent multiple visits to Fanlou, initially suspecting he was searching for someone named Bit Tao. He chastised his subordinates for not monitoring Zhang Maoze more closely. However, he then incidentally learned that a palace eunuch, Yan Xiu, and Cao Danshu's maid, Ling'er, were romantically involved.
Recognizing a potential opportunity, Yang Huai Min instructed his men to prioritize watching Yan Xiu for the time being and to momentarily disregard the Fanlou matter. Separately, Yang Huai Min directly confronted Zhang Maoze, asking if he was investigating the suspicious death of a person named Yao Yao. Zhang Maoze, in a shrewd response, stated that the matter fell under Yang Huai Min's jurisdiction and he would not interfere.
When Yang Huai Min pressed him, noting Zhang Maoze's review of all archives related to Yao Yao's death, Zhang Maoze claimed he was merely researching medical principles. He then skillfully reminded Yang Huai Min about the three-year fruitless search for an escaped palace maid, effectively silencing him. Meanwhile, Xia Song, frustrated that Wang Gongchen's intervention had prevented his appointment as Chancellor, shared his ambitions with Jia Jiao Xi.
He informed her that Lan Tiao was pregnant and revealed that Zhang Maoze had reopened the investigation into an old incident involving the Goushu flower. Jia Jiao Xi expressed sadness over Xia Song's complaints and Zhang Bihan's diminished ambition, which limited her ability to assist their schemes.
Xia Song reassured her, sharing his calculated plans and promising her a future of influence and comfort, even giving her a piece of jade, which evoked a sense of guilt in Jia Jiao Xi.
