Story of Yanxi Palace Episode 23 Recap
> Story of Yanxi Palace Recap
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Fu Heng confronted Wei Yingluo, stating he disbelieved rumors and wanted to hear from her directly if she wished for his demise. Wei Yingluo retorted that if she genuinely believed he was the culprit, she would have already used poison rather than waste time on words. She then proved her innocence by explaining that she had already disposed of the poison Noble Consort Gao gave her in the garden, noting the patch of grass where she poured it had withered.
Yingluo then admitted to the Empress that Noble Consort Gao had summoned her and demanded she poison both the Empress and Fu Heng. Gao had fabricated a story, claiming Fu Heng had violated Yingluo's sister, Wei Yingning, and that the Empress had the girl killed to cover up the scandal. The Empress vehemently denied the accusation, asserting both her own integrity and Fu Heng's.
Wei Yingluo affirmed her trust, stating she was not so easily deceived and had never doubted them. She explained that she only kept the empty medicinal pouch as a constant reminder of her vow to find her sister's true killer. Though the Empress offered to aid the investigation, Wei Yingluo politely declined, insisting on using her own methods.
Later, Consort Chun expressed her concerns about Wei Yingluo to the Empress, describing her as reckless and unpredictable, and advised against keeping her close. The Empress, however, praised Wei Yingluo's growing composure and righteousness under her tutelage, reaffirming her decision to cultivate the maid.
Consort Chun then pointedly remarked to the Empress that while loyal servants like Erqing and Mingyu had served for years, the unconventional Wei Yingluo had somehow captured her strongest favor, questioning if their long service meant less. Meanwhile, Fu Heng pressed Wei Yingluo for answers. She presented his court belt and acknowledged she didn't believe he was the perpetrator.
However, she pointed out that while a jade pendant might be lost, a court belt is not so easily misplaced unless intentionally removed. She theorized that on the night of the incident, a royal relative attending the banquet had donned Fu Heng's uniform to move through the palace undetected and assaulted her sister. The eunuch witness, she surmised, was too intimidated by the Imperial Guard uniform to get a clear look.
She accused Fu Heng of protecting the true culprit, obstructing her investigation under the guise of helping. Fu Heng admitted he was trying to protect "her" from the danger of pursuing such a powerful figure. When she demanded the man's name, Fu Heng refused, leading to a bitter argument. In anger, Wei Yingluo confessed to having put dishwater in his tea earlier as revenge for his secrecy, expressing regret for not using real poison.
She vowed to find the murderer herself. Elsewhere, the Emperor visited Consort Xian and the Fourth Prince, Yongcheng. He relayed a proposal from Yongcheng's maternal grandfather to send Concubine Jia's younger sister to the palace to care for the prince. Understanding the Emperor's deference to the prince's blood relatives, Consort Xian gracefully agreed, asking only for permission to visit often.
Later, she explained to her maid that the Emperor, despite his apparent indifference, cared deeply for Yongcheng and that his decisions were made to protect the boy from court politics. That night, when Yongcheng cried out, Consort Xian rushed to his side barefoot, injuring her foot. The Emperor, who was present, witnessed her genuine maternal devotion and was so moved that he cancelled the plan to move the prince, instead ordering more support for Consort Xian's household.
During an errand, Wei Yingluo learned that the Emperor was hosting a tea banquet for all the influential princes and imperial relatives in the Imperial Garden. Seizing the opportunity, she attended. At the event, the royals complained about Prince Hongzhou's outrageous behavior, such as commissioning his own coffin and assaulting a minister. Hongzhou, reveling in the attention, then played a prank by pretending the "Sanqing tea" was poisoned, causing panic before revealing his trick with a laugh.
The others were furious but dared not challenge the Emperor's favored younger brother, whose past feigned illness was rumored to have paved the way for the Emperor's ascension. That stormy night, Wei Yingluo enacted her plan. Using reflective glass shards on a palace wall, she created the illusion of a ghostly figure as the royals were returning home.
The prank caused panic, but Hongzhou's reaction was extreme; terrified, he was convinced a real ghost connected to his past transgression was haunting him. Fu Heng observed this and later confronted Wei Yingluo, having deduced her trick with the glass and flickering light. He warned her not to target Hongzhou, as the Emperor would protect his brother from anything short of treason. Unsettled, Hongzhou believed someone was digging into his past.
Fu Heng confronted him, laying out the facts: on the night of the assault, Fu Heng was away, but his uniform, belt, and jade pendant had been left at the Guards' Office. Fu Heng then accused Hongzhou of taking his uniform that night. Cornered, Hongzhou was brought by Fu Heng to face Wei Yingluo.
In the Empress's presence, Hongzhou confessed to the drunken assault but swore he was not involved in her death, claiming he had tried to find her afterward but she had already left the palace. Wei Yingluo retorted that his actions directly led to her sister's death and disgrace, preventing her from being buried in the family's ancestral tomb.
Hongzhou offered compensation: a promotion for their father, Wei Qingtai, to a position as an internal manager, and, most importantly, to take Wei Yingning's memorial tablet into his household, posthumously making her his concubine. This act would grant her an official status, clear her name, and allow for a proper burial. Wei Yingning's father, who had been brought to the palace, pleaded with his daughter to accept for the family's honor, threatening to disown her if she refused.
When Wei Yingluo looked to the Empress for guidance, the Empress stated that this was a decision she could not make for her. For the sake of her sister's peace and her family's future, a heartbroken Wei Yingluo conceded and accepted Hongzhou's terms.
