Story of Yanxi Palace Episode 15 Recap
> Story of Yanxi Palace Recap
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During the offering ceremony, the Emperor and his officials gathered to partake in the traditional distribution of sacrificial meat. Following ancient customs, the Emperor questioned Prince Yi Hongxiao about the historical significance of sharing plain boiled meat, reminding him that it symbolizes the hardships endured by their ancestors. Although Hongxiao correctly recited the tradition's origins, the Emperor, upon inspection, discovered that salt had been added to Hongxiao's portion.
Outraged by this blatant disrespect for ancestral traditions, the Emperor immediately ordered Hongxiao's arrest, stripping him of his position as a Guard of the Gate of Celestial Purity and handing him over to the Imperial Clan Court. The Emperor then issued a stern warning to all present, decrying the decadence of some descendants who viewed the sacred tradition as a burden and cautioning them against squandering the empire built by their forefathers.
He then commanded that all imperial bodyguards and guards also have their portions checked. To Wei Yingluo's surprise, Fuheng's portion was found to be untainted, thwarting her original plan to implicate him. As she privately expressed her relief that Fuheng had not brought the spiced salt, Fuheng confronted her, revealing he had deduced she was responsible for Prince Yi's downfall. Wei Yingluo readily admitted her actions, asserting that despite her humble origins, she would not allow herself to be bullied.
She declared that even an ant could shake an elephant and that those who oppress others will eventually be oppressed themselves. Fuheng explained that he had discarded the spiced salt not because he suspected her, but because he refused to disobey ancestral teachings. He then asked if her repeated schemes were because she believed he was involved in Ah-Man's death.
When Wei Yingluo confirmed this, Fuheng vehemently denied any wrongdoing, swearing on heaven that he never harmed her sister and offered his own life with a dagger to prove his innocence. Wei Yingluo, taking the dagger, stabbed him in the chest. Immediately after, she expressed regret for not being able to kill him, fearing the repercussions for her father and her inability to remain in the Palace of Eternal Spring.
Soon after, the Empress summoned Wei Yingluo, with Mingyu lamenting that Yingluo was in serious trouble. The Empress, appearing angry, initially scolded Yingluo but then, surprisingly, expressed her own displeasure with Prince Yi for framing Yingluo, admitting she had also wished for his punishment. Yingluo, surprised that Fuheng had not revealed she stabbed him, then learned from the Empress that he had merely sent a letter describing her as "extremely audacious" and asking the Empress to discipline her.
The Empress explained that the Emperor likely welcomed the incident to warn other officials who secretly tampered with the sacrificial meat. As punishment, the Empress ordered Yingluo to copy the word "forgiveness" one hundred times. When Mingyu complained about the leniency, the Empress explained her actions were consistent with her teachings, then strictly warned Mingyu and Erqing to keep the matter secret.
Later, the Empress, feigning concern for Fuheng's injuries sustained during "martial-arts practice," sent Wei Yingluo to deliver ginseng soup to him. Upon arrival, Yingluo playfully questioned the nature of Fuheng's injury and offered to seek revenge on his behalf, which he calmly dismissed. After delivering the soup, Yingluo prepared to leave, but Fuheng stopped her, pressing her on why she had not told the Empress that she was the one who injured him.
He reiterated his innocence regarding Ah-Man, claiming his conscience was clear. Still skeptical, Yingluo was unmoved until Fuheng explained that he had heard the rumors about Ah-Man but had never met her, which was why he initially denied knowing her. He also clarified that the jade pendant was one he had lost and did not know how it came into her possession.
Yingluo, after listening intently, tentatively accepted his explanation, warning him of severe retribution should he ever be caught in a lie. As she turned to leave, Fuheng halted her again, observing her changed demeanor. He confessed that he had suspected her from the beginning but, after witnessing her kindness towards a stray dog, he had chosen to deceive himself, admitting that he, not she, was the one who had been deceiving.
Wei Yingluo apologized for hurting him, but Fuheng playfully insisted he would only accept "action" as an apology and asked her to feed him the soup. As she did, he probed deeper, asking if her shallow stab was due to fear of repercussions or a hint of genuine feeling for him. Their intimate moment was interrupted by a guard's joking comment, prompting a flustered Yingluo to quickly depart.
Meanwhile, in the Palace of Receiving Celestial Favor, Fourth Prince Yongcheng, recently separated from his birth mother, Consort Jia, expressed his distress by refusing medicine and crying for her. Consort Jia frequently visited, weeping loudly and lamenting Yongcheng's apparent weight loss, thereby insinuating that Consort Xian was mistreating him. Consort Xian maintained her composure and tried to coax Yongcheng into eating. Shortly after, Yongcheng developed a high fever.
Consort Jia burst into Consort Xian's palace, dramatically accusing her of making Yongcheng sick and demanding her son back, even kneeling before the Emperor when he arrived. Noble Consort Gao also interceded on Consort Jia's behalf, subtly suggesting Consort Xian lacked experience and proposing that she herself could raise Yongcheng. As Consort Jia frantically urged to take Yongcheng away, Consort Chun arrived with Imperial Physician Zhang. Zhang diagnosed the Fourth Prince with an illness caused by "cold qi."
Consort Jia seized the opportunity to again press the Emperor to let her take Yongcheng back. Consort Xian, feeling guilty, meekly stated she would not object. However, Consort Chun sharply intervened, pointing out that allowing Jia to take the prince now would only confirm the false rumors of mistreatment.
Consort Chun then questioned how Yongcheng could have caught a "cold" when he was heavily bundled, citing a saying that children thrive best when slightly hungry and cool, suggesting over-bundling could lead to illness. Consort Xian's maid then revealed that the wet nurse, against instructions, had secretly fed Yongcheng rich, stimulating foods like chicken and fish soup.
Under interrogation, the wet nurse confessed that Consort Jia had ordered her to intentionally over-bundle and overfeed Yongcheng to induce a fever, all so she could reclaim him from Consort Xian. Consort Jia vehemently denied the accusations, desperately trying to frame Consort Xian and Consort Chun. Enraged by Jia's cruelty towards her own son, the Emperor stripped her of her title, demoted her to a 'Lady', and banished her to the Northern Three Yards.
Consort Jia pleaded with Noble Consort Gao for help, but Gao, witnessing Jia's ruthlessness, publicly disavowed her. Noble Consort Gao then asked the Emperor if she could raise the Fourth Prince, arguing that Consort Xian was inexperienced. The Emperor, however, refused, praising Consort Xian's genuine sincerity and affirming that Yongcheng would remain under her care. Noble Consort Gao, accepting the decision, then complimented Consort Chun on her extensive knowledge of medicine.
