Serenade of Peaceful Joy Episode 49 Recap
> Serenade of Peaceful Joy Recap
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Learning of ministerial suggestions to make Zhang Bihan empress, Zhao Huirou angrily confronts Liang Huaiji. She accuses Zhao Zhen of hypocrisy, forcing her to learn etiquette while tolerating Zhang Bihan's arrogance and disregard for it. Zhao Huirou questions if Zhao Zhen's refusal to marry her to Cao Ping was a calculated move to depose Empress Cao Danshu.
Liang Huaiji, promising honesty, is shocked by her suspicion and insists that Zhao Zhen loves Zhao Huirou most and would always choose the best husband for her, adding that Zhao Zhen trusts Cao Danshu despite recent tumultuous events. Zhao Huirou, however, expresses deep misunderstanding of Zhao Zhen and adamantly refuses to acknowledge Zhang Bihan as Empress, even if she ascends to that position. Zhang Bihan, meanwhile, is fiercely ambitious despite her ill health, determined to secure the empress's title.
She sends gifts to the wives of Wang Gongchen and Wen Yanbo, inviting them to the palace, and openly declares her ambitions to Jia Yulan. She instructs Xu Lantiao to inform Zhao Zhen that she is pregnant, asserting that she will claim Xu Lantiao's child as her own, secure Xu Lantiao's position, and not interfere with any future children Xu Lantiao may have.
When Xu Lantiao expresses confusion, explaining she had not deliberately concealed anything, Zhang Bihan dismisses her explanation, threatening her with the same dire fate as Ling if she does not comply. Zhao Zhen suspects the previous night's palace rebellion, which involved forbidden army soldiers who consumed intoxicating drugs like Wu Shi San, is connected to the common folk's Miyi Cult. He summons Wen Yanbo, who is tasked with suppressing a rebellion in Beizhou, to discuss both matters.
Zhao Zhen shares his collection of Miyi Cult manuscripts that manipulate the populace, instructing Wen Yanbo to study its origins to understand how commoners turn into rebels and how to prevent it. He also asks Wen Yanbo to investigate if the palace mutiny was drug-induced, similar to the rebels' behavior.
Dong Qiuhe reports to Cao Danshu that Yang Huaimin, acting under a secret order to kill Wang Sheng without mercy, disregarded Cao Danshu's explicit command and dismembered Wang Sheng during his capture. With Wang Sheng and the other three rebels dead, the mastermind behind the rebellion can no longer be identified.
While the relevant supervisors of the Imperial City Department were demoted and exiled from the capital, Yang Huaimin, who was on duty that night and should bear significant responsibility, was merely demoted and allowed to remain in the palace. This leniency causes widespread dissatisfaction in the palace, with many suspecting Zhao Zhen's bias towards those connected to Zhang Bihan.
Yu Jieyu, discussing the unusual situation with Miao Xinhe, notes that Yang Huaimin is privately close to Xia Song, suggesting Xia Song may have advised him. She also observes that the new censor, a recommendation of the demoted Wang Gongchen, is friendly with Zhang Bihan. Zhao Huirou accidentally overhears this conversation, further fueling her belief that Zhao Zhen is unfairly favoring Zhang Bihan. She considers going to Funing Palace in anger but decides to clear her mind instead.
In Funing Palace, Liang Huaiji reports to Zhao Zhen that He Tan and others impeached Yang Huaimin for dereliction of duty. Zhao Zhen then asks Liang Huaiji to honestly assess the consequences of thoroughly investigating the palace rebellion. Liang Huaiji analyzes that Yang Huaimin's killing of Wang Sheng prevented further investigation into potential collusion between palace guards and Beizhou rebels, thus allowing blame to be shifted to the Imperial City Department.
He also notes that if Wang Sheng had lived, a full investigation could uncover ambiguous evidence, destabilizing the court. With witness Ling already executed, Cao Danshu might not be able to clear her name, and such an investigation could cause turmoil in both court and harem, potentially implicating innocents. Liang Huaiji, expressing concern, speculates that someone might be attempting to frame the Empress.
Zhao Zhen, while acknowledging Cao Danshu understands him best despite their divergent paths, agrees with Liang Huaiji's conclusion that a thorough investigation would be detrimental, as it could damage Cao Danshu's reputation with ambiguous evidence, and even implicate Zhang Bihan as the instigator, leading him to decide against a deep investigation.
As Dong Qiuhe's departure from the palace approaches, Xiu Niang, questioned about Dong Qiuhe's relationship with painter Cui Bai and fearing another attempt to frame both Dong Qiuhe and Empress Cao Danshu, cautions Dong Qiuhe to be extremely careful and minimize contact with outsiders. Dong Qiuhe, realizing Zhang Bihan had previously seen a painting Cui Bai made for her in her room, quickly hides the painting and other items intended for her wedding.
Jian Guan Wang Zhi, alongside Xia Song and others, attempts to implicate Empress Cao Danshu in the rebellion by alleging collusion between a palace maid, specifically targeting Dong Qiuhe, and painter Cui Bai, demanding a thorough investigation into illicit connections within the Central Palace. Zhang Maoze, alerted to Wang Zhi's actions, quickly summons Dong Qiuhe.
He then orchestrates a diversion: he has his subordinate, Liao Zi, "accidentally" drop a copy of the imperial edict from Empress Guo's deposition—a document Zhang Maoze had personally transcribed and which Xia Song had purportedly requested—in front of Grand Councilors Chen Zhizhong and He Tan. Zhang Maoze correctly anticipates that these officials, unwilling to see palace instability or Zhao Zhen replace a virtuous empress with a favored concubine connected to court factions, would intervene.
As expected, Chen Zhizhong and He Tan immediately rush to Chongzheng Hall to confront Zhao Zhen. In Chongzheng Hall, He Tan pointedly accuses Wang Zhi of using a supposed private affair involving a palace maid to maliciously implicate the Empress and destabilize the court, calling for severe punishment. Chen Zhizhong and his allies urge Zhao Zhen to thoroughly investigate Yang Huaimin, while Wang Zhi and Xia Song continue to press for an investigation into adultery within the Empress's staff.
Zhao Zhen, feeling a headache and citing lack of sleep, ends the discussion prematurely, showing no intention of pursuing charges against the Empress. After leaving Chongzheng Hall, Dong Qiuhe finds Zhao Zhen and requests he fulfill a long-standing promise to her. Later, Zhao Huirou, feeling upset, encounters Cao Ping in the garden. He sings for her, then leaves upon Liang Huaiji's arrival. Liang Huaiji then earnestly advises Zhao Huirou not to misunderstand Zhao Zhen.
After a deep conversation with Zhao Zhen, Liang Huaiji becomes even more certain of Zhao Zhen's understanding and trust in Cao Danshu. Zhao Huirou, trusting Liang Huaiji, accepts his explanation and no longer doubts Zhao Zhen's intentions towards Cao Danshu.
