Song of Youth Episode 41 Recap
> Song of Youth Recap
Imperial Physician Li’s wife and son are brought before the Emperor, where Imperial Physician Li continues to accuse Sun Youzhen of poisoning the First Prince. Lin Shaochun suspects the family is either coerced or impersonating the real family, noting the son is mute and the wife cannot describe Imperial Physician Li’s distinct features. She requests three days to investigate, which the Emperor grants, subsequently jailing Imperial Physician Li and confining Sun Youzhen.
Lin Shaochun visits Imperial Physician Li, urging him to reveal the truth to protect his family. Imperial Physician Li requests red water chestnuts cake, a coded message to confirm his family’s safety. Liang Jingguan, realizing Imperial Physician Li's true intention to see the person who makes the cake, orchestrates for Consort Pan to help Madam Li (disguised as a palace worker) meet Imperial Physician Li in jail. Lin Shaochun learns of Madam Li's presence in the palace.
Princess Zhaohua identifies Madam Li as she exits but allows her to leave without confrontation. Lin Shaochun then attempts to intercept Madam Li, but masked assassins sent by Jia Fengyuan abduct Lin Shaochun. Jia Fengyuan intends to kill her, but Liang Jingguan prevents this, keeping Lin Shaochun as a hostage. Su Yingxue secretly witnesses these events. As the three-day deadline approaches, Lin Shaochun is still missing. Consort Pan takes the opportunity to slander Lin Shaochun to the Emperor.
Sun Yulou desperately seeks help from the Prince of Nan'an Commandery, who, fearing implications for his own family, advises Sun Yulou to flee. The Princess of Nan'an County is distressed but helpless. The Emperor orders Sun Youzhen's execution. Princess Zhaohua feigns illness and recounts a dream warning against killing that day, attempting to delay the execution, but the Emperor remains resolute.
Just as Sun Youzhen is about to drink the poisoned wine, the Emperor, moved by her final words, intervenes and spares her temporarily. Meanwhile, Su Yingxue drugs the guards holding Lin Shaochun. Lin Shaochun refuses to leave without Imperial Physician Li's family. To create a diversion, Su Yingxue sets fire to the backyard. Jia Fengyuan, upon discovering the fire, moves Imperial Physician Li’s family to Lin Shaochun's room. Lin Shaochun prepares servant clothes for herself and Madam Li.
They drug their guards, hide Madam Li’s son in a commode, and escape amidst the chaos. Back in the room, Su Yingxue confesses to Jia Fengyuan that she freed them, then poisons herself. She tells him she couldn't stand by while Lin Shaochun, who had previously saved her, was in peril, and urges him to leave official life and find their son in the countryside before she dies in his arms. Lin Shaochun brings Madam Li to the Emperor.
Imperial Physician Li testifies, exposing Jia Fengyuan's conspiracy to frame Sun Youzhen. The Emperor, in a rage, banishes Jia Fengyuan to the frontier, imprisons Consort Pan in the cold palace, and pardons Imperial Physician Li for his coercion. Despite the Emperor's efforts to reconcile, Sun Youzhen, profoundly affected by her near-death experience, chooses to dedicate her life to Buddhism. Sun Yulou and Lin Shaochun return to the Sun family, where they are joyfully welcomed, including by Shen Qingyao.
Sun Xun hosts a celebratory banquet. Sun Yulou goes to bring Sun Xiaoxian back from the countryside. However, he finds Sun Xiaoxian content and happy with her rural life and a newfound compatible companion, and allows her to remain there. Later, Liang Jingguan kidnaps Nanny Chang and Xiao Ya’s family, then sends a letter to Lin Shaochun. Lin Shaochun meets Liang Jingguan, where she sees a raving Jia Fengyuan being escorted away for banishment.
Liang Jingguan then reveals a "truth" about Lin Shaochun's father, Lin Yuandao. He claims that Lin Yuandao, Jia Fengyuan's father, and Liang Jingguan himself had conspired to expose Sun Xun, but Sun Xun outmaneuvered them. He states that Sun Xun framed Jia Fengyuan's father, leading to his public suicide and the family's ruin, and that Lin Yuandao was also ultimately killed by Sun Xun after feigning loyalty. Lin Shaochun, though skeptical, is deeply troubled by Liang Jingguan's claims and vows to investigate Sun Xun if he is indeed her father's murderer.
