Serenade of Peaceful Joy Episode 68 Recap, Plot

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Lady Yang and Liang Huaiji got into a scuffle, and she fainted. Liang Huaiji helped Lady Yang up and quickly called nearby servants to rescue her. After Lady Yang woke up, she didn't understand why Liang Huaiji saved her, thinking that he was afraid of Zhao Zhen's punishment. Liang Huaiji said that he didn't hate Lady Yang, nor did he hate anyone.

Even if it had been someone else in the room who didn't come out, he would have gone in to save them. Lady Yang didn't believe Liang Huaiji could be so kind, but Liang Huaiji said that Lady Yang had reason to hate him, but he had no right to hate her. Lady Yang couldn't help but weep and complain, saying that no one would willingly harden their heart to be a villain without reason.

Lady Yang pleaded with Liang Huaiji to persuade Zhao Huirou properly, so that the two of them would keep their distance in the future, stop causing trouble, and live their lives peacefully. Li Wei entered the palace to ask Zhao Zhen to let Liang Huaiji stay in the Princess's Residence, promising that no one in the Princess's Residence would ever leak this matter.

Zhao Zhen wanted to help Li Wei up, but Li Wei kowtowed and said that he had one more request, asking Zhao Zhen, Cao Danshu, and others to agree to let him take Jiaqingzi as a concubine. After Zhao Huirou woke up, she saw Liang Huaiji and explained to him that she didn't set the fire on purpose.

When she woke up, she always felt surrounded by walls, and she wanted to burn those walls down so she could see Liang Huaiji. As the two were talking, Miao Xinhe and Li Wei entered the room. Zhao Huirou was a little angry when she learned that Li Wei was going to take Jiaqingzi as a concubine, thinking that Jiaqingzi was sacrificing herself for her. But Jiaqingzi said that she truly loved Li Wei and was willing to marry him.

Zhao Huirou suddenly felt a little envious of Jiaqingzi, because at least Jiaqingzi could be with the person she loved, honorably, for the rest of her life. The fire in the Princess's Residence indeed attracted the attention of the court officials. Sima Guang also learned that Liang Huaiji had returned to the Princess's Residence, so he submitted a memorial requesting Zhao Zhen to banish Liang Huaiji from the capital.

Zhao Zhen, worried about Zhao Huirou, did not heed Sima Guang's memorial. However, Sima Guang refused to give up and repeatedly submitted memorials demanding Zhao Zhen punish Liang Huaiji. During the Lantern Festival, Zhao Zhen, accompanied by his imperial harem and court officials, watched the lanterns and scenery from upstairs.

Zhao Zhen and Zhao Huirou enjoyed watching female sumo wrestling, but Sima Guang felt that female sumo was indecent, constantly blocking his view and refusing to watch, and even demanded that Zhao Zhen cancel the female sumo event. Zhao Zhen wanted Sima Guang to take his seat first and discuss the matter later. Sima Guang was relentless, even demanding that Zhao Zhen immediately issue an imperial decree to prohibit female sumo wrestling.

Zhao Huirou was a little angry after hearing Sima Guang's words and couldn't help but retort, fabricating Emperor Taizong's views on female sumo wrestling. She criticized Sima Guang for harboring indecent thoughts, seeing only the immodesty of exposed women, while she herself saw a wonderful sumo match. Zhao Huirou's words were astonishing, but Sima Guang questioned her fabrication of Emperor Taizong's words, asking if there was any written record of such statements from Emperor Taizong.

Zhao Huirou could only bite the bullet and say that these words were in the "Veritable Records of Emperor Taizong." Sima Guang, however, said that he had studied the "Veritable Records of Emperor Taizong" several times and had never seen this instruction.

Zhao Zhen, fearing Sima Guang's deeper resentment towards Zhao Huirou, quickly intervened to mediate, telling Sima Guang to conduct another thorough investigation and submit another memorial, while he himself would also carefully consider how to both retain the female sumo wrestling event and prevent it from becoming extravagant. After Zhao Huirou returned to the palace, she asked Zhao Zhen if Sima Guang would not let her and Liang Huaiji go. Zhao Zhen did not answer.

Zhao Huirou continued, saying that she would return to the Princess's Residence and fulfill her duties as an imperial daughter, but in this life, she would no longer have romantic relationships, nor would she have children of her own; she would only have Liang Huaiji. Zhao Zhen understood Zhao Huirou's feelings and decided the next day to let Liang Huaiji return to serve by her side.

However, after Sima Guang learned of this, he again requested an audience with the Emperor outside Funing Palace. Zhao Zhen, helpless, told Liang Huaiji to accompany Zhao Huirou back to her residence first, then summoned Zhang Maoze and deliberately had Han Qi draft an imperial edict to demote Zongshi out of the capital.

Previously, Zhao Zhen had already issued a decree appointing Zongshi to supervise the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, which indicated Zhao Zhen's intention to make Zongshi the imperial heir. However, Zhao Zhen's revocation of this order at this time would certainly alarm Zongshi and unsettle the officials. Han Qi was anxious after learning of this and intended to seek an audience with the Emperor at Funing Palace.

Zhang Maoze then told Han Qi that Zhao Zhen was meeting Sima Guang in Er'ying Pavilion. Sima Guang, citing scriptures and historical precedents before Zhao Zhen, demanded that Zhao Zhen properly discipline Zhao Huirou. Zhao Zhen, however, just listened silently, ignoring Sima Guang's remonstrances. As Sima Guang was speaking incessantly, Han Qi entered the hall for an audience.

After Han Qi learned that Zhao Zhen intended to demote Zongshi, he put aside the matter of Zhao Huirou and also advised Zhao Zhen not to hesitate further on the choice of imperial heir. Zhao Zhen feigned a look of difficulty and asked the two of them to think of ways to persuade Zongshi. Liang Huaiji returned to the Princess's Residence and said that unless ordered by an imperial decree, he would not leave the Princess's Residence a single step.

However, he could no longer enter Zhao Huirou's room. Liang Huaiji thought that in the future, he would watch Zhao Huirou from a distance, protect her, and perhaps in this way, he could accompany her for a longer time. Ouyang Xiu was worried about the matter of the imperial heir and suggested to Han Qi that they jointly remonstrate with Zhao Zhen.

Han Qi, however, said that how could Zhao Zhen not know the various implications of this in his heart? Zhao Zhen favored Zongshi but was unwilling to issue an edict to establish him as the heir, which must also be due to Zhao Zhen's own fears. Ouyang Xiu didn't understand what Zhao Zhen's fears were, but Han Qi speculated that Zhao Zhen was afraid that the officials would not tolerate his unwavering personal feelings, repeatedly remonstrating and pressuring him.

Episode 67 Recap

Episode 69 Recap