Story of Yanxi Palace Episode 48 Recap
> Story of Yanxi Palace Recap
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Following his reconciliation with Wei Yingluo, the Emperor, having returned from the battlefield, still harbored a "thorn" in his heart regarding her past with Fu Heng. Wei Yingluo, anticipating this, deliberately engineered a plan to be seen with Fu Heng, provoking the Emperor's jealousy and forcing a confrontation. Now, feigning a mix of grievance and affection, she tearfully explained that despite her humble origins, she understood loyalty and had only one master and husband.
Initially chastising her, the Emperor admitted his concern for her, acknowledging she was unique. He confessed his misunderstanding and offered to compensate her for the gardenias he had removed from her palace. Wei Yingluo, however, revealed they were used to deodorize commodes, prompting him to promise better ones. She then showed him her hands, covered in chilblains from embroidering, and lamented how his cold treatment left her vulnerable.
Pained, the Emperor swore to protect her and, when pressed, vowed to execute anyone who spread rumors about her again. Satisfied, Yingluo embraced him. Fu Heng later shared drinks with Qing Lian, explaining that he had willingly participated in Yingluo's meticulous plan. He detailed her strategy: first, using the thieving eunuch Xiao Quan Zi to implicate Noble Consort Chun in a stolen goods scheme, and second, waiting for Concubine Jia to become complacent before exposing her.
But the crucial third step was using him, Fu Heng, to pull the "thorn" from the Emperor's heart. He explained that as an emperor and a man, the Emperor could not tolerate a consort's past with another man, especially his own brother-in-law. By provoking the Emperor's jealousy and forcing the issue, Yingluo made him experience failure, jealousy, and deep concern for the first time.
Fu Heng concluded that she would no longer be just a favored concubine, but the woman the Emperor truly cherished. Though Qing Lian felt he was being unfairly used, Fu Heng insisted he was willing to do anything for Yingluo. Meanwhile, after being shown Fu Heng's closeness with Qing Lian, a furious Er Qing swore not to give up on him.
Elsewhere, the Emperor tried to teach Wei Yingluo to paint orchids, but she openly declared her preference for more "vulgar" art. She playfully mocked him for stamping over forty seals on a cherished painting, comparing them to unsightly medicinal plasters. Though initially angered, the Emperor was quickly disarmed by her charm. He playfully threatened to punish her by making her copy his poems a hundred times.
After some banter, she agreed, but only if he gifted her his rare Wujin inkstone. He relented, only to watch in dismay as she used the precious item to sketch a mantis. The palace eunuchs were astonished, noting that only Yingluo dared to treat the Emperor like an ordinary person. Later, Noble Consort Chun made several attempts to invite the Emperor to her palace.
On one occasion, he was on his way to see her when a kite bearing the lyrics of a Yuan Dynasty song diverted him to Yanxi Palace. During a subsequent visit to Chun's palace, while she was pleading her case about the stolen goods, he was again distracted, this time by the sound of unique, musical Kongming lanterns.
Intrigued, the Emperor abruptly left Noble Consort Chun and found Wei Yingluo, who explained her clever use of paper drums and metallic reeds. When she urged him to return to Chun, the captivated Emperor refused, instead carrying her to Yanxi Palace to admire the moon, leaving a sky full of musical lanterns. Observing this, the Empress mused that Noble Consort Chun would surely have a sleepless night.
With Wei Yingluo once again the center of the Emperor's attention, jealous consorts complained to the Empress about her "vulgar" methods, such as using an entire tree's worth of green plums to make wine for the Emperor. Noble Consort Chun, when asked for her opinion, coldly dismissed the others as less skillful before raising an administrative matter about tribute goods. Shortly after, a decree announced Wei Yingluo's promotion to Consort Ling.
Noble Consort Chun was visibly furious, a reaction the Empress observed with satisfaction, now certain Chun would be an ally against Yingluo. Later, Chun confronted Fu Heng, demanding to know why he endured such "heart-piercing pain" for a woman she felt was her inferior. Fu Heng coldly reminded her of her status and left. In the court, Fu Heng and Hong Zhou debated the case of An Ning, a corrupt customs supervisor.
Fu Heng demanded execution for embezzlement, but Hong Zhou argued that the funds were used for unofficial staff expenses. Fu Heng countered that this set a dangerous precedent of burdening the people, but the Emperor, citing the complexity of the situation, only rebuked An Ning. Afterward, Fu Heng confronted Hong Zhou, revealing he knew of An Ning's hidden wealth and criticizing him for letting a personal grudge against him interfere with state affairs.
Meanwhile, Er Qing plotted against Qing Lian, staging an incident where Qing Lian appeared to push young Fu Kang An into a pond. Having convinced the Old Mistress of Qing Lian's ill intentions, she had her sold while Fu Heng was away. Upon his return, Er Qing feigned mercy, claiming she had arranged a good marriage for Qing Lian. Believing her, Fu Heng agreed.
Days later, while passing through the market, Fu Heng was horrified to find Qing Lian being brutally beaten. He rescued her, learning she had been sold to an illegal brothel. The steward then revealed Er Qing's full deception: Qing Lian was taken from a bridal sedan and forced directly into the brothel. Enraged, Fu Heng rushed to Qing Lian's side, only to find she had swallowed gold to commit suicide. In her dying moments, she confessed her love, acknowledging his heart was with another and that her only wish was for him to hold her hand as she passed away.
