Serenade of Peaceful Joy Episode 8 Recap
> Serenade of Peaceful Joy Recap
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In the first year of Jingyou, following the departure of Chen Xichun, Cao Danshu was formally selected as the Empress candidate and prepared for her grand wedding to Zhao Zhen. On the wedding day, Cao Danshu was filled with anticipation for Zhao Zhen, happily dressing up. Meanwhile, Zhao Zhen was uninterested in the marriage, seeing it as a forced duty. He delayed changing into his wedding attire, busy with state affairs and reviewing trivial memorials, including some concerning Fan Zhongyan.
His other concubines had breakfast with him to celebrate the wedding. Cao Danshu endured complex palace rituals from early morning, step by step entering the palace. It was only after Zhang Maoze's persuasion that Zhao Zhen reluctantly agreed to groom himself and change. Although unwilling, he followed protocol, dressed, and received blessings from his ministers.
After a tiring day of rituals, Cao Danshu finally completed all formalities and became Empress, yet she could not see Zhao Zhen, leaving her feeling disappointed. As she waited alone in her palace, Deng Baoji comforted her, reporting that Huai Province was suffering from a disaster, and Zhao Zhen had urgent memorials to approve daily, suggesting this was why he was absent.
Cao Danshu, embodying the broad-mindedness required of an Empress, expressed her understanding and forbade anyone from disturbing Zhao Zhen, knowing the importance of state affairs. However, Zhao Zhen was not handling state affairs but chatting with Zhang Maoze. Zhang Maoze informed him that the ministers were delighted with the Empress selection, having drunk in celebration. Zhao Zhen felt the ministers had chosen Cao Danshu based on their preferences, not his, and he had no interest in her.
Zhang Maoze suggested bringing Chen Xichun back later, acknowledging Zhao Zhen's affection for her. Zhao Zhen, while fond of Chen Xichun, understood she was not suitable for the palace and that forcing her to stay would ultimately harm her. He also believed the ministers chose the "ugly-reputed" Cao Danshu because they feared he would become corrupt due to Chen Xichun's beauty.
Zhang Maoze defended Cao Danshu, stating that rumors of her ugliness might be false and that she was a woman of both literary and martial talent, possessing both virtue and ability. He attempted to remind Zhao Zhen that her "ugly reputation" might just be a rumor, but Zhao Zhen was indifferent.
Resistant to the arranged marriage, he disliked Cao Danshu, feeling gloomy and angry, and was unwilling to meet her, as he did not wish to favor an Empress chosen by his ministers. Zhao Zhen instructed Zhang Maoze to invent a reason for Cao Danshu to retire early and not wait for him. When Zhang Maoze arrived, Cao Danshu, aware that Zhao Zhen would not come, preempted his fabricated excuse.
She maintained her composure, acting as a dignified and virtuous Empress in front of everyone. Despite her sadness, she still reminded her servants to send light dishes to Zhao Zhen. Zhao Zhen wandered alone in the garden, and in the snow, that night. He encountered a young girl, Zhang Bihan, who was crying and cursing because her pet rabbit had died.
Seeing she was fatherless, Zhao Zhen attempted to comfort her, first by saying the rabbit went to heaven, which she did not believe. He then continued to comfort her "like an adult," and she cried on him. Zhao Zhen spent the night comforting Zhang Bihan. Meanwhile, Cao Danshu spent the night alone in Kunning Palace, in her sleeping chambers, where her illusions and beautiful dreams were shattered.
She grew increasingly disappointed and couldn't help but cry, regretting her "beautiful dream" and admonishing herself not to believe in "heaven-sent beautiful dreams." In her anger, she threw away a small wooden person she had carved. Zhang Maoze, sensing her sadness, persuaded her from outside her door to eat and specifically brought her favorite mutton shortbread. Cao Danshu recognized Zhang Maoze as someone she knew from before and then ate the night snack.
Zhang Maoze tried to comfort her and speak on Zhao Zhen's behalf, but Cao Danshu interrupted, stating she understood that her position as Empress was chosen by ministers, not by Zhao Zhen's will, and that she was mentally prepared not to force his affection. Zhang Maoze was left speechless. Cao Danshu was very grateful to Zhang Maoze for being with her during her most vulnerable and sad moments.
The next morning, Zhao Zhen returned to his sleeping quarters after being with Zhang Bihan and then visited Cao Danshu. Cao Danshu offered him light dishes and porridge and bowed. Zhao Zhen was surprised by her beauty, realizing she was not ugly as rumored, which left him speechless. Cao Danshu arranged his meal, which he found satisfying.
When she asked Zhang Maoze to retrieve a brazier, Zhang Maoze found the small wooden person Cao Danshu had thrown away and carefully picked it up. Zhao Zhen enjoyed his breakfast and was pleased with Cao Danshu's dignified demeanor. After finishing his meal, he apologized to her for the previous night.
Cao Danshu, still maintaining a cold and distant attitude, replied that she understood his busy state affairs and, noting he had not slept, advised him to return to Funing Hall to rest. Zhao Zhen, left speechless and feeling slighted, had no choice but to leave. After Zhao Zhen departed, Miao Xinhe and other concubines came to pay their respects to Empress Cao Danshu, bringing gifts. Cao Danshu reciprocated with generous gifts, sharing her home-brewed wine and dried meat with them.
They conversed happily, finding Cao Danshu to be different from ordinary women. Meanwhile, Zhao Zhen discussed state affairs with Han Qi and Fu Bi. Ouyang Xiu was reassigned to the Warm Pavilion, and Su Shunchin passed the imperial examination and became an official. Zhao Zhen was very pleased, feeling he had many capable talents at his disposal. Han Qi presented Fan Zhongyan's poem from Tonglu Commandery.
Zhao Zhen praised the poem, admiring Fan Zhongyan's unrestrained writings despite his dismissal from the capital, and believed that these individuals could lead a new literary trend. He then asked Han Qi to prepare a puppet show about "Governor Fan persuading flower-collectors" to be performed for Lu Yijian in a few days.
