Serenade of Peaceful Joy Episode 61 Recap
> Serenade of Peaceful Joy Recap
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Zhao Huirou, after her enfeoffment ceremony, donned her wedding dress and tearfully bowed to Zhao Zhen and others before marrying Li Wei in a grand ceremony. The wedding procession passed the Fanhuan tower. Afterwards, she returned to the palace to bid farewell to everyone. Cao Danshu and Miao Xinhe then accompanied Zhao Huirou to the Li family before returning to the palace. Miao Xinhe, particularly saddened, cried, saying palace rules only allowed Zhao Huirou to return occasionally.
Zhao Zhen expressed his unease and paternal sadness before Li Lan Hui's portrait. From the Fanhuan tower, Liang Yuansheng watched the bustling wedding procession and saw Liang Huaiji by Zhao Huirou's carriage, finding him strikingly familiar and suspecting he was his brother, Liang Yuanheng. He later invited Zhang Maoze to the Fanhuan tower, pleading with him to reveal Liang Yuanheng's whereabouts, but Zhang Maoze consistently claimed ignorance.
Upon arrival at the Li family, Zhao Huirou cried, wanting to chase Miao Xinhe for more time. Yang Shi rushed out to stop Zhao Huirou, misunderstanding her tears as pretense and trying to wipe them. Zhao Huirou, disgusted, resisted and dodged Yang Shi's touch. Liang Huaiji then blocked Yang Shi from approaching. A palace attendant intervened, reminding Yang Shi that the princess could only meet her after three days, and had Zhao Huirou taken for touch-ups, thus separating them.
At the wedding banquet, Liang Huaiji, heartbroken by Zhao Huirou's marriage and his deep feelings for her, drank alone until he was very sad and then drunk. He cried, feeling like he had lost his beloved. That night, he dreamt of Zhao Huirou, called her name, and woke up startled to find her by his side. Liang Huaiji questioned her presence, and Zhao Huirou revealed she had not consummated the marriage with Li Wei.
She refused to let Li Wei touch her, instructing attendants to guard her door, though Li Wei appeared even more nervous than she was. She found a special reason for Li Wei to sleep elsewhere in the room. After Li Wei fell asleep, Zhao Huirou left her room and, unknowingly, entered Liang Huaiji's. Liang Huaiji, though happy, did not show it. Zhao Huirou felt uneasy in her new, unfamiliar environment and only found peace when she saw Liang Huaiji.
Seeing her distress, Liang Huaiji suggested they practice the konghou in the garden. Meanwhile, eunuchs serving the princess openly discussed and mocked Li Wei's appearance, character, and perceived sexual impotence for not consummating the marriage. Yang Shi, furious that Li Wei had not consummated the marriage, scolded him as useless, insisting that as husband he was the wife's guide and should have slept with Zhao Huirou regardless of her willingness.
To force consummation, Yang Shi gave Zhao Huirou's wet nurse, Han Shi, a piece of white cloth, instructing her to place it on the princess's bed and stating she would collect it the next day. Han Shi was very uncomfortable, explaining that this custom was not for princesses and fearing it would anger Zhao Huirou, but Yang Shi ignored her and forced the cloth upon her. Unsure how to proceed, Han Shi sought advice from Liang Quanyi and Liang Huaiji.
Liang Huaiji recognized that Zhao Huirou would perceive this as a grave insult and feared a conflict. As they discussed how to explain the situation to Zhao Huirou, she entered, having overheard their conversation and understood Yang Shi's intentions. Zhao Huirou told them not to worry, took the white cloth, and declared she had her own way to handle Yang Shi. Zhao Huirou summoned Yang Shi.
When Yang Shi warmly greeted Zhao Huirou and asked about her living arrangements, asserting herself as Zhao Huirou's mother, Zhao Huirou pointedly called her "sister-in-law." Jiagingzi then clarified, explaining that according to palace regulations, Yang Shi's seniority should be lowered one rank, and she could no longer refer to herself as Zhao Huirou's mother.
Jiagingzi further emphasized that the Princess's Residence was a gift from Zhao Zhen, making Zhao Huirou its rightful owner, and Yang Shi, merely residing there with Li Wei, could not claim to be the hostess. Zhao Huirou then asserted her authority, stating that she was the master of her own residence, and Yang Shi was merely a guest.
Unable to refute, Yang Shi, frustrated and feeling no joy as a mother-in-law, was further humiliated when Zhao Huirou had the white cloth returned to her as a "welcome gift." Feeling deeply insulted, Yang Shi complained profusely to Li Wei, scolding him as useless, and declared her intention to go to the palace to report Zhao Huirou to Zhao Zhen and Cao Danshu, to see if Zhao Zhen would intervene regarding Zhao Huirou's refusal to sleep with Li Wei.
Liang Quanyi, upon hearing of this, rushed to the palace, intending to explain on Zhao Huirou's behalf. Shortly after Yang Shi departed for the palace, her path was blocked by Di Qing's funeral procession. Enraged, she cursed Di Qing and declared that her family's men would not be bullied in such a manner. It was revealed that Zhao Zhen had been ill for several months, unable to attend court.
During this period, full court ministers and censors seized the opportunity to relentlessly impeach Di Qing, even going to his home to pressure him. Di Qing, already sick, died young amidst this storm. Zhao Zhen was deeply troubled by Di Qing's death, feeling he had lost a highly meritorious general and was indebted to him, especially for his unparalleled contributions in defending the western border.
He furiously summoned all the impeaching chancellors and censors to Chongzheng Hall, reprimanding them for ceaselessly criticizing and ultimately driving Di Qing to his death during his own severe illness. Zhao Zhen accused the censors of trying to restrain him and believed they discriminated against Di Qing because he was a military general not selected through imperial examinations. Sima Guang, however, denied this.
He logically countered Zhao Zhen, arguing that the ministers were not wrong, and Zhao Zhen's insistence on appointing Di Qing as Shu Mishi had created the grounds for their impeachment. Sima Guang further explained that Di Qing's lack of formal education prevented him from fully understanding the censors' advice, leading to his frustration, subsequent illness, and death. Zhao Zhen was enraged by Sima Guang's words, and his already poor health worsened.
Seeing Zhao Zhen's intense anger, Fu Bi quickly advised that since Di Qing was deceased, they should heavily compensate his family and extend imperial favor to his son, thereby demonstrating the court's regard and regret.
