Story of Kunning Palace Episode 4 Recap, Plot

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> Story of Kunning Palace Recap

Jiang Xuening remembered how Yan Lin had been the first to kill Zhou Yinzhi when storming the palace in her past life. She never imagined she had been the one to bring that viper to Yan Lin’s side. As she left, Jiang Xuening felt uneasy — had she made a mistake visiting Zhou Yinzhi? Remembering Zhang Zhe’s advice in her past life made her even more anxious.

Zhou Yinzhi was surprised by Jiang Xuening’s actions — she shouldn’t have known he had a favorite horse. To eliminate any loose ends, he killed the horse himself. Shen Zhiyi, inspired by Jiang Xuening’s words, came to terms with her scar and no longer tried to hide it. The emperor was gravely ill, beyond medical help. The Empress Dowager, saddened by the emperor’s childlessness, said the country couldn’t go a day without a ruler.

She told Xue Shu to inform her father to begin preparations to appoint Shen Jie as the crown prince. Once Shen Jie became emperor, to ensure the continued prosperity of their clan, the Empress Dowager would do everything in her power to make her niece, Xue Shu, the empress. That day, Xie Wei came to the emperor to request permission to tutor Shen Zhiyi. Soon, the list of companions for Shen Zhiyi in the palace was released.

Madam Meng was furious to see Jiang Xuening’s name and caused a scene, accusing her of scheming. But Jiang Boyou explained that the list was personally approved by the emperor and reassured Jiang Xuehui. Jiang Xuehui pretended to be understanding. She later brought gifts to see Jiang Xuening, expressing regret that she wouldn’t be entering the palace due to fate. But Jiang Xuening loathed her. Four years ago, she hadn’t been so emotionless like a fake saint.

Jiang Xuehui had stolen her status and enjoyed years of luxury, knowing the truth even back then, yet never once asked about her birth mother, Wan Niang. Before her death, Wan Niang had given Jiang Xuening the family heirloom bracelet to pass on to Jiang Xuehui, but Jiang Xuening never did — Jiang Xuehui didn’t deserve it. Jiang Xuehui finally snapped, saying Wan Niang was her birth mother, but she had dragged the Jiang family into disgrace.

She was just trying to protect herself and never thought of revenge. That surprised Jiang Xuening — maybe Jiang Xuehui really was the best candidate for empress. Jiang Xuening was frustrated that she had tried to avoid Shen Zhiyi, yet still ended up being selected to enter the palace. Zhou Yinzhi and Yan Lin had grown close recently.

Jiang Xuening overheard something about Zhou Yinzhi from Yan Lin and quickly warned him that Zhou Yinzhi was ruthless and to be cautious. But the naïve Yan Lin didn’t take it seriously and casually tossed her a bag of peeled pine nuts, knowing she liked eating them but not peeling them. Jiang Xuening found out that Yan Lin had asked Shen Zhiyi to add her name to the list. He even proudly boasted about it to her.

Since Xie Wei loved music, Yan Lin took Jiang Xuening to buy a zither and bought a 3,000-tael one with a grand gesture. While he was away, You Fangyin came to apologize to Jiang Xuening, who noticed fresh emotional wounds on her and advised her to change her fate and live for herself for once. Xie Wei had people monitoring Jiang Xuening. He had helped Yan Lin get her into the palace for his own reasons.

Jiang Xuehui had lit a nameless eternal lamp for four years, and when she left the temple, she brushed past Shen Jie in the crowd. Four years ago, they had met outside the temple. Shen Jie had caught a glimpse of Jiang Xuehui through the carriage window and kept her handkerchief ever since. Jiang Xuehui seemed to hear a familiar voice but didn’t think much of it.

The selected companion readers were You Yue, the daughter of the Director of the Bureau of Astronomy Fang Miao, the daughter of the Marquis of Dingyuan Zhou Baoying, and Jiang Xuening. You Yue flattered Zhou Baoying but looked down on Jiang Xuening, though to Jiang Xuening, they were all familiar faces. The remaining two were Xue Shu and Yao Xi, daughter of the Minister of Personnel. In her past life, Xue Shu had become Shen Jie’s imperial consort.

The girls had to pass an exam to become companions. Jiang Xuening ran into the strict and fearsome Palace Matron Su again and decided to deliberately mess up the test in front of her to get disqualified. Yan Lin, worried that Jiang Xuening wouldn’t pass, dragged Shen Jie to steal the answers but was caught by Xie Wei. Despite Jiang Xuening making obvious mistakes in front of Su, the palace matron didn’t make things difficult and treated her kindly.

Shen Zhiyi came by afterward and asked Jiang Xuening to make incense for her. Jiang Xuening deliberately spilled the incense burner again, but Shen Zhiyi saw her through rose-colored glasses — she genuinely liked Jiang Xuening and wanted her in the palace. Jiang Xuening could only smile bitterly, while You Yue looked at her with even more hatred. Xie Wei asked Yan Lin if he was really sure the one he loved felt the same. But Yan Lin didn’t think that mattered. With no way to manipulate Palace Matron Su, Jiang Xuening set her sights on Xie Wei instead.

Episode 3 Recap

Episode 5 Recap

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