Serenade of Peaceful Joy Episode 56 Recap
> Serenade of Peaceful Joy Recap
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
Zhang Maoze told Fan Zhongyan that the matter of Zhang Yaozuo had now settled. Zhang Yaozuo ultimately received the position of Xuanhuishi, but it was an honorary title without real power, and Zhang Yaozuo was explicitly forbidden from entering the two political councils. Zhao Zhen also wanted to transfer Fan Zhongyan back to the capital to serve as Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.
However, Fan Zhongyan shook his head, saying that he was inherently upright and not suitable to be an executing minister. After many years, Fan Zhongyan finally understood why Zhao Zhen had not used iron-fisted methods to suppress those who opposed the new policies back then. Han Qi was recalled to the capital by Zhao Zhen. After ten years away, Han Qi gradually understood Zhao Zhen's intention in sending them to govern various regions.
Han Qi bowed and thanked Zhao Zhen for his admonitions. Zhao Zhen helped Han Qi up and affirmed the political achievements of him and his colleagues. " "" To practice the konghou, Zhao Huirou asked Liang Huaiji to learn the flute and play a duet with her. As the two were practicing in the bamboo forest, Cao Ping, hearing the music, approached from one side of the forest.
He praised their perfect coordination but lamented that they unfortunately made a mistake at the end of one piece. Cao Ping only realized it was Zhao Huirou and Liang Huaiji when he came closer. Seeing Cao Ping, Zhao Huirou quickly hid behind Liang Huaiji, asking Liang Huaiji to relay a message for her.
Liang Huaiji approached Cao Ping and said that Zhao Huirou was Zhao Zhen's eldest daughter, and Cao Ping was Cao Danshu's nephew; both held noble statuses, and their every action should conform to propriety. After returning to the palace, Zhao Huirou questioned Liang Huaiji if he deliberately bullied her by intentionally omitting the phrase "unlike a courtesan." Liang Huaiji refused to admit it, only saying that he accidentally forgot that sentence.
Zhao Huirou herself knew that for several years she had been angry with Cao Ping because of Lu Yingniang, the zither player from the music academy. Being so petty indeed diminished her status, but she was simply very petty. Whenever she thought of Cao Ping playing "Qingping Le" with the female zither player from the music academy that day, she would get angry and sad. Liang Huaiji didn't know what to say and could only quietly comfort her.
At Zhao Zhen's birthday banquet, Zhang Bihan arrived late and deliberately wore the lantern brocade previously sent by Wen Yanbo's wife, showing it off in front of everyone. Zhao Zhen, however, said that while the dress was beautiful, it was too extravagant and told Zhang Bihan not to wear it again in the future. Zhang Bihan was not angry; she merely reassured Zhao Zhen that she would never wear that dress again.
Soon after, Zhao Huirou performed the konghou at the banquet to celebrate Zhao Zhen's birthday. Li Wei's mother, Lady Yang, had long recognized Zhao Huirou as her future daughter-in-law and boisterously praised her. Zhao Huirou felt somewhat embarrassed; having grown up in the palace, she had never encountered such a coarse lady. Zhang Bihan, however, deliberately stirred up trouble, asking Zhao Zhen about Zhao Huirou's wedding date in front of everyone.
Zhao Huirou was unwilling to marry Li Wei, so naturally, she showed a poor expression. Cao Danshu, worried about Zhao Huirou's mood, found an excuse for her and sent her back to Yifeng Pavilion to rest. Zhao Huirou, however, did not return to Yifeng Pavilion but instead went back to the bamboo forest. To her surprise, Cao Ping had not left either and had been waiting in the bamboo forest for her return.
Zhao Huirou was somewhat happy, but still stubbornly told Cao Ping not to get too close to her. As the two were talking, it suddenly started to rain. Cao Ping took off his outer garment to shield Zhao Huirou from the rain and escorted her back to Yifeng Pavilion. Cao Ping mustered his courage and asked Zhao Huirou why she had been avoiding him for the past few years.
Zhao Huirou naturally refused to state the real reason, only saying that since they had grown up, they should maintain a respectful distance. Cao Ping grabbed Zhao Huirou's hand and said that Zhao Zhen had betrothed her to a piece of rotten wood; would Zhao Huirou then lock her entire life into that rotten wood? Zhao Huirou became somewhat angry, shook off Cao Ping, and returned to her room.
Cao Ping, however, did not leave; he stood outside the door and began to play the flute. Hearing the flute music and seeing Cao Ping outside the door, Zhao Huirou also began to reflect on what Cao Ping had said. Zhao Huirou was deeply conflicted, and also felt sympathy for Cao Ping standing in the rain outside, so she asked her maid to take an umbrella to Cao Ping.
When the maid delivered the umbrella and saw Cao Ping still intending to play the flute, she couldn't help but tell him the reason for Zhao Huirou's anger. Lu Yingniang from the music academy came to Yifeng Pavilion to assist Zhao Huirou with her zither lessons and explained the full story of playing a duet with Cao Ping several years ago.
It turned out that Lu Yingniang had approached Cao Ping to talk about music theory after seeing him sad, and they had not arranged to play together in the bamboo forest. Only then did Zhao Huirou become happy. In the Fanlou restaurant, Wen Yanbo and others hosted a welcoming banquet for Han Qi's return to the capital. Di Qing, however, suddenly arrived uninvited and pleaded with Han Qi at the banquet, hoping he would spare his former subordinates.
Han Qi did not agree and even scoffed at Di Qing for lacking imperial examination credentials. After the banquet, Wen Yanbo was somewhat displeased with Han Qi's behavior and did not understand why Han Qi did that. Han Qi, however, said that the size of Di Qing's individual official position was not important; what was important was that Zhao Zhen, despite the opposition from the entire court, appointed Di Qing to a crucial post.
Han Qi learned from the failure of the new policies that only policies accepted by the majority could be better implemented. Therefore, Han Qi believed that Zhao Zhen's obstinacy was wrong, regardless of whether the matters Zhao Zhen insisted on were right or wrong. Zhang Bihan left the banquet early. Zhao Zhen, concerned about her health, had a sedan chair prepared to send her back.
Zhang Bihan looked at the pouring rain but suddenly ordered it to stop, stepped out of the sedan chair, and began to dance in the rain. This dance exhausted all of Zhang Bihan's strength. Zhang Bihan passed away at the age of thirty-one. After Zhang Bihan's death, Zhao Zhen accepted Wang Gongchen's suggestion to posthumously honor Zhang Bihan as empress.
