Serenade of Peaceful Joy Episode 5 Recap
> Serenade of Peaceful Joy Recap
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Cao Danshu was forced into her wedding chamber, but her husband, Li Zhi, was terrified and dared not approach her. Cao Danshu advanced on the nervous Li Zhi, cornering him. Amused by his timidity, she ground ink for him at a desk and instructed him to write a divorce agreement. She stated that after they both signed, she would leave the Li family.
Having signed the divorce papers, Cao Danshu happily left the Li family estate, still dressed in her wedding attire. On her way back to the Cao family in the capital, which was a long journey, she encountered Zhang Maoze, whose carriage had broken down while he was on his way to fetch Sheng Gugu, who had served Li Lanhui, from the palace. Cao Danshu requested a ride, and Zhang Maoze agreed to give her a lift.
Meanwhile, news of Li Lanhui's death reached Lü Yijian. Fearing that improper handling of the funeral would damage the crucial mother-son relationship between Liu E and Zhao Zhen, Lü Yijian rushed to the palace. After hearing from Ren Shouzhong that Liu E's initial arrangements were not in line with proper etiquette, Lü Yijian worried about future retaliation from Zhao Zhen. When Lü Yijian arrived, Liu E dismissed Zhao Zhen.
Lü Yijian advised Liu E to consider the future of the Liu clan. Liu E, initially skeptical that Zhao Zhen would turn against her for Li Lanhui, whom he had barely met, insisted on her own funeral arrangements and argued heatedly with Lü Yijian. However, Zhao Zhen, feeling immense guilt for not attending to Li Lanhui during her life or visiting her when she was gravely ill, desired a grand funeral for her.
Lü Yijian reminded Liu E that Zhao Zhen's feelings for Li Lanhui were merely guilt, while he deeply cherished Liu E's years of nurturing. He urged Liu E not to let the death of a palace concubine harm her bond with Zhao Zhen. Liu E listened to Lü Yijian's counsel, ceased insisting on her own way, and agreed to a lavish funeral for Li Lanhui, which finally pacified Zhao Zhen.
Later, Liu E announced to her ministers at court her intention to wear a "gunfu", the emperor's ceremonial attire, for the ancestor worship ceremony in February. The ministers, concerned that this move hinted at her ambition to usurp imperial power and emulate Empress Wu Zetian, strongly opposed it. Xue Kui boldly challenged Liu E, questioning the capacity in which she intended to worship ancestors in the emperor's robes.
Zhao Zhen, displeased with Liu E's actions but unwilling to argue in court, intervened by asking the ministers to discuss the matter further and hastily ended the morning session. After court, Zhao Zhen obtained Liu E's medical records from Zhang Maoze. Liu E was gravely ill with worsening asthma, unable to sleep even with increased medication, and doctors were helpless.
Zhao Zhen believed Liu E, possibly not surviving the winter, desired to wear the "gunfu" not to seize power or defy him, but as a dying wish to express long-suppressed ambitions from her youth. He also believed she wanted to gauge if Zhao Zhen's feelings for her were solely fear, devoid of filial affection, or, as he explained to Yan Shu, she simply wished to account for her ten years as regent to her ancestors.
Understanding Liu E's thoughts, Zhao Zhen sought Yan Shu's help to find a way to fulfill Liu E's wish without violating ancestral rites. Following their discussion, Zhao Zhen convened the relevant ministers in Chongzheng Hall. Yan Shu, proposing Zhao Zhen's idea, suggested modifying Liu E's "gunfu" to distinguish it from the emperor's attire. Lü Yijian and the other ministers were satisfied with this compromise, and their objections ceased. The public's perception of the matter differed from the court's.
Fu Bi, frustrated that his numerous memorials opposing Liu E wearing the emperor's attire had been rejected, discussed his grievances with Han Qi at a restaurant. Han Qi, however, learned from a waiter that the common people held Zhao Zhen in high regard for his filial piety. They praised him for inviting renowned doctors to treat Liu E and for granting a general amnesty across the land for her recovery.
The common folk did not see Liu E wearing the "gunfu" as a major issue, viewing it simply as an expression of Zhao Zhen's filial devotion. As Liu E's illness worsened, Zhao Zhen dismissed all servants and personally attended to her, combing her hair and feeding her medicine. Seizing this private moment, Liu E expressed her deep-seated grievances and dissatisfaction.
She accused Zhao Zhen of secretly wishing for her death so he could bring Li Lanhui back, only for Li Lanhui to die first. She also interpreted Zhao Zhen's general amnesty as a calculated move to reinstate her former opponents who had once sought her removal. Zhao Zhen earnestly explained his genuine desire for her recovery and clarified that the amnesty was intended to resolve past animosities.
He also reassured her of his agreement for her to wear the "gunfu" for ancestor worship, which finally silenced Liu E. In the Mingdao 2nd year, after wearing the modified "gunfu" for ancestor worship, Liu E's condition deteriorated further. Despite the doctors' best efforts, she could not speak, only tearing at her clothes. The ministers, interpreting this as her wish not to be buried in the "gunfu", requested Zhao Zhen to change her into empress attire.
Only then did Liu E peacefully close her eyes and pass away. As Zhao Zhen mourned Liu E, Zhao Yuanyan burst into the mourning hall, angrily berating the ministers. He accused Liu E of clinging to power even after Zhao Zhen's coming of age and specifically condemned her for wearing the "gunfu" for ancestor worship.
Zhao Zhen attempted to restrain him, but Zhao Yuanyan became increasingly agitated, making extreme accusations that Liu E had poisoned Li Lanhui before her death to prevent Zhao Zhen from meeting his birth mother.
