Serenade of Peaceful Joy Episode 48 Recap
> Serenade of Peaceful Joy Recap
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Amidst an emergency where rebels had breached the palace, Emperor Zhao Zhen initially believed it was a minor disturbance caused by a few desperate individuals, but acknowledged the need for further investigation. Zhang Maoze offered to investigate, but Empress Cao Danshu refused, insisting he remain by Zhao Zhen's side for safety, a decision Zhao Zhen accepted. Both then agreed that palace attendants should be dispatched to gather information, though Cao Danshu was hesitant to deplete the already scarce staff.
Dong Qiuhe, a palace attendant, immediately volunteered to scout ahead. Cao Danshu, reluctant to send Dong Qiuhe alone, asked for other volunteers. She declared that she would cut a lock of hair from each person willing to risk their lives to protect the emperor, promising future rewards based on this mark after the crisis. Inspired by Dong Qiuhe, many eunuchs and palace maids from Kuning Palace stepped forward.
Cao Danshu instructed the volunteers, including Dong Qiuhe and others under Zhang Fuduzhi’s command, to capture the rebels if they surrendered, but to kill those who resisted. Zhang Fuduzhi was also advised to consider Dong Qiuhe's opinions when appropriate. After they departed, Zhao Zhen, observing Cao Danshu's visible anxiety, proposed a tea competition to calm her. Though her heart was uneasy, leading her to lose, Cao Danshu found Zhao Zhen unusually composed.
He explained his calm, stating that death was a simple matter, and he was prepared to face it with her. Cao Danshu, however, expressed that while the Song dynasty could do without her as Empress, it could not lose Zhao Zhen, asserting her willingness to die for him rather than see him harmed. Zhao Zhen then confided that despite his chronic illness and lack of heirs, he had already made arrangements for the succession, reassuring her.
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Zhang Bihan, brought by Liang Huaiji. Zhang Bihan had left Funing Palace in distress to find Zhao Zhen, and Liang Huaiji, unable to stop her, had followed to protect her. Zhao Zhen went to comfort Zhang Bihan. Meanwhile, Cao Danshu severely reprimanded Liang Huaiji for his rashness in bringing Zhang Bihan to Kuning Palace, fearing it could reveal Zhao Zhen's location to the rebels and endanger him.
Acknowledging Liang Huaiji as someone Zhao Zhen highly valued, Cao Danshu decided to let Zhao Zhen determine his punishment. Meanwhile, Dong Qiuhe and Zhang Fuduzhi's team reached the back hall of Funing Palace, where they located the rebels responsible for setting fires and committing murders. Dong Qiuhe instructed her companions to throw firecrackers into the room, creating confusion. Under the cover of the explosions, the attendants rushed in and quickly subdued the four rebels, one of whom was Yan Xiu.
Zhang Fuduzhi returned to Kuning Palace to report that only four rebels were involved, all heavily intoxicated and disoriented. Three had been killed, and one, Wang Sheng, had escaped. Zhang Fuduzhi presented the personal belongings of the three killed rebels. Among them, Cao Danshu discovered a letter written by Ayi to Yan Xiu. Enraged, she ordered Ayi to be brought before her.
Ayi tearfully pleaded for mercy, confessing to private communication with Yan Xiu but vehemently denying any knowledge of the rebellion. Cao Danshu declared that private communication with an imperial guard was a capital offense according to the law. As Ayi continued to beg for her life, Zhang Bihan emerged from an inner room.
She made sarcastic remarks, and having inadvertently learned of an association between Dong Qiuhe and Cui Bai (a painter who had depicted Dong Qiuhe prominently), she subtly implied that other palace staff might also be involved in illicit affairs, suggesting further investigation within Kuning Palace. Cao Danshu, ignoring Zhang Bihan's veiled accusations, turned to Zhao Zhen, reminding him that she had ordered all palace ladies to remain in their respective pavilions during the crisis.
She questioned whether Zhang Bihan, by appearing in Kuning Palace, considered herself exempt from the Empress's directives. Zhang Bihan, relying on Zhao Zhen's favor, retorted that her sole concern was Zhao Zhen's safety, and she was willing to face any consequences for disregarding the Empress's orders. Seeking to diffuse the escalating tension, Zhao Zhen intervened.
He suggested leniency for Ayi, provided it was confirmed she had no part in the rebellion, reasoning that if she had been complicit, the rebels would have already known his whereabouts in Kuning Palace. He then instructed Zhang Bihan to return to Xiangluan Pavilion immediately and not interfere with the Kuning Palace staff's affairs, with Liang Huaiji escorting her.
Meanwhile, Jia Yulan, relieved to hear of Yan Xiu's group's demise but concerned about the escaped rebel, Wang Sheng, felt at ease upon learning that Yang Huaimin was in charge of the pursuit. After Zhang Bihan's departure, Yang Huaimin arrived, reporting that while no seditious letters were found in the imperial guards' quarters, items belonging to Kuning Palace were discovered in Yan Xiu's residence. He presented these to Zhao Zhen.
Zhao Zhen, seemingly understanding the implications and wishing to shield Cao Danshu from any involvement, dismissed the items, stating that since Ayi was confirmed not to be involved in the rebellion, these discovered items were irrelevant. He ordered them to be burned immediately, even admonishing Yang Huaimin for bringing them. Cao Danshu, however, firmly reiterated that Ayi's private communication with an imperial guard was punishable by death.
Zhao Zhen attempted to persuade her to be lenient, arguing that law should sometimes yield to human compassion, even suggesting caning as an alternative. This greatly angered Cao Danshu. Unmoved by Zhao Zhen's pleas, Cao Danshu returned to her chambers, donned her full formal Empress regalia, and with renewed authority, sternly requested Zhao Zhen's assent to execute Ayi according to imperial law.
Zhao Zhen, still hoping to spare Ayi, continued to argue for leniency, but Cao Danshu remained resolute, unwilling to set a precedent by pardoning Ayi, which she believed would undermine her ability to govern the imperial harem. As they stood at an impasse and the time for morning court approached, Ren Shouzhong reminded Zhao Zhen of his duties. With no other option, Zhao Zhen reluctantly permitted Cao Danshu to proceed with Ayi's punishment.
Before leaving, he gravely questioned Cao Danshu whether her lifelong reliance on rules and regulations in their confrontations had truly brought her what she desired. Cao Danshu did not respond. Following Zhao Zhen's departure, Cao Danshu ordered Ayi to be dragged away for execution. She then commanded the Imperial City Division to ensure the capture of the escaped rebel, Wang Sheng. After these events, Cao Danshu dismissed her attendants, remaining alone in her palace, consumed by sorrow.
Dong Qiuhe entered to call Cao Danshu for breakfast. Cao Danshu, still worried about Dong Qiuhe, offered to send her out of the palace early to procure spices, hoping to distance her from potential repercussions. Dong Qiuhe reassured Cao Danshu not to worry, asserting that Zhao Zhen would protect both her and those around her.
Cao Danshu, somewhat perplexed, listened as Dong Qiuhe explained that Zhao Zhen's actions – burning Yang Huaimin's package without a glance and repeatedly pleading for Ayi's life – were all done to protect Cao Danshu. He wished to prevent her from being implicated in the rebellion and to shield her from accusations of being heartless. Hearing this, Cao Danshu broke down in tears, realizing that despite their constant arguments, she and Zhao Zhen deeply cared for each other.
At morning court, numerous officials, including Xia Song, lauded Zhang Bihan's courage during the previous night's crisis, praising her actions in protecting Zhao Zhen as a major merit. They requested her elevation to a higher rank, with some even proposing that she be made Empress, replacing Cao Danshu. Zhao Zhen deferred the decision, stating it would be discussed another day. Upon hearing this, Zhao Huirou grew concerned that Zhao Zhen's favoritism towards Zhang Bihan might lead to Cao Danshu's deposition. Liang Huaiji advised Zhao Huirou against making such speculations, but Zhao Huirou, in a fit of anger, refused to listen and her resentment towards Zhang Bihan intensified.
