Story of Yanxi Palace Episode 40 Recap
> Story of Yanxi Palace Recap
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After the tragic loss of her son Yong Cong, the Empress was overwhelmed by grief, descending into a state of profound despair. She confronted the Emperor, lamenting that her entire life as the Empress—a life of caution, virtue, and self-sacrifice—had brought her nothing but pain. In her anguish, she declared she no longer wished to be the Empress and tried to leave to find her deceased son.
Unable to calm her, the Emperor ordered her to be restrained, reminding her of her duties as his wife and the motherly model of the Great Qing, stating she had no right to act unruly or abandon her responsibilities. Meanwhile, Supervisor Li reported on Yong Cong's funeral arrangements. The Emperor, heartbroken, intended to personally preside over the mourning.
However, an urgent military report arrived from Viceroy Zhang Guang Si of Chuanshan, detailing the Greater Jinchuan's Tusi, Slob Dpon, attacking other kingdoms. Prioritizing the nation's welfare, the Emperor regretfully delegated Yong Cong's funeral to Prince He and summoned his military ministers. Er Qing, learning that both the Emperor and Fu Heng were occupied with the emergency, remarked on the coldness of men.
Seeing an opportunity to "add fuel to the fire" and make Fu Heng suffer by hurting his sister, she decided to visit the Empress. Under house arrest by Fu Heng, she used her pregnancy as leverage, ensuring no one would dare stop her. The Emperor later confronted Fu Heng, who had been visiting the Empress instead of attending to state affairs.
He expressed his disappointment, reminding Fu Heng that his rapid promotion was a reward for talent that should be used in service to the nation. Fu Heng pleaded with the Emperor to allow the Empress to leave the palace to recuperate, but the Emperor sternly refused.
He asserted that as the ruler of the Great Qing, he must prioritize state affairs above all else, declaring that even if all the women in the palace were to die, he would still attend to his duties. He decreed that the Empress could never leave the palace; even in death, she would remain the Empress of the Great Qing.
Er Qing arrived at Changchun Palace, persuading Ming Yu to let her enter by claiming she, as a close family member, could offer comfort. After Er Qing's departure, the Empress, having lost all hope, calmly requested her favorite glutinous rice cake from Ming Yu, a task she knew would take a long time, effectively sending her away.
Alone, the Empress walked onto the palace wall, reflecting on her life's mistakes: being born a free spirit yet marrying into the imperial family, losing her true self to become a model Empress, and naively believing in the Emperor's love. Mourning her inability to protect her sons, she felt she was no longer worthy of being a mother.
Realizing the world was merciless and her faith in the Emperor was shattered, she murmured that she could no longer wait for Wei Yingluo. With a sense of release, she affirmed that she would no longer be the Empress, but simply Fuca Rong Yin, and then leaped from the wall, ending her life. Upon returning to the palace, Wei Yingluo was met with the ominous sound of the death knell.
Ming Yu tearfully confronted her, scolding her for her delayed return and explaining that the Seventh Prince had died in a fire, an event that drove the grief-stricken Empress to jump from the turret. Entering the silent Changchun Palace, Wei Yingluo saw the Empress lying peacefully in her coffin. When the Emperor arrived and ordered her to be dressed in elaborate ceremonial attire, Wei Yingluo argued that the Empress would have preferred a simple departure.
The Emperor, however, coldly insisted the Empress had been cowardly and useless in taking her own life, declaring he would never forgive her. Wei Yingluo passionately defended the Empress, revealing that she had risked her life to bear the Seventh Prince not to secure her own position, but to fulfill the Emperor's desire for a legitimate heir. She accused the Emperor of being cold and detached, questioning if his heart was made of ice.
Enraged by her defiance, the Emperor sentenced Wei Yingluo to commit suicide and be buried with the Empress. Ming Yu vehemently protested, but the order was stopped by Supervisor Li, who presented a final letter from the Empress. The Emperor read her last words, which mentioned only Wei Yingluo, describing her as loyal and unyielding and asking the Emperor to grant her freedom.
Deeply hurt that she left no words for him, the Emperor recognized the depth of her resentment and decided to honor her final wish. He ordered the true cause of death concealed, attributing it to illness, and banished Wei Yingluo to Yuanming Garden to guard the Empress's memorial portrait indefinitely. The Empress's death was a victory for Consort Xian, who grimly snuffed out the final candle representing her vanquished enemies.
Shortly after Wei Yingluo's banishment, Yuan Chunwang appeared in Yuanming Garden, having arranged his own transfer to be with her. He reminded Wei Yingluo of their promise to stay together through all hardships and urged her to remember the great sacrifices he had made for her.
