Story of Yanxi Palace Episode 53 Recap
> Story of Yanxi Palace Recap
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Wei Yingluo received a heartfelt farewell from Noble Lady Yu. Noble Lady Yu confessed that her schemes against Noble Consort Chun were a desperate measure to avenge her best friend's death and repay the kindness shown by Wei Yingluo and the late Empress, who had even saved the Fifth Prince's life. She explained that to gain Noble Consort Chun's trust and gather evidence, she had to appear to be Wei Yingluo's enemy.
She feared that if the Emperor knew her true intentions, he would have suspected Wei Yingluo of collusion. Noble Lady Yu expressed her regret for the deception but affirmed it was the only way she knew to help the Empress's cause. As she departed the palace, she bowed to Wei Yingluo, entrusting the Fifth Prince to her care, and Wei Yingluo assured her that she understood her maternal feelings. Later, Wei Yingluo was seen making kites.
The Emperor arrived, admonishing her to stop due to her injured hands and the dangerous bamboo strips. He then offered to teach her the qin, even retrieving his prized instrument, "Sound of Moon Dew," from the Summer Palace for her. However, Wei Yingluo stubbornly refused, insisting on continuing her kite-making, which visibly frustrated the Emperor, causing him to leave abruptly.
Ming Yu later questioned Wei Yingluo's choice, pointing out the suspicion it would draw given Noble Consort Chun's death by kite thread. Wei Yingluo, however, declared her intention to do the opposite, believing that avoiding kite-making would still lead to suspicion. The Emperor, infuriated by Wei Yingluo's lack of explanation and her seemingly indifferent attitude, expressed his frustration to his attendants, even instructing them to turn her away if she came to apologize.
His anger grew when Wei Yingluo literally shut the door on him at Yanxi Palace, refusing to see him. Frustrated by Wei Yingluo, the Emperor sought solace in the Imperial Garden. There, he encountered Nalan Chun Xue, who was patiently waiting for an epiphyllum to bloom, admiring its rarity and reciting poetry. The Emperor was taken by her demeanor, and when the flower finally bloomed, he decided to enjoy the evening with her.
He even sent Li Yu to retrieve the "Sound of Moon Dew" qin from Yanxi Palace, instructing him to break down the door if necessary, intending to use it while appreciating the moon with Nalan Chun Xue. Ming Yu, witnessing this, desperately urged Wei Yingluo to reconcile with the Emperor, especially since Nalan Chun Xue had prepared a new song for him. However, Wei Yingluo remained unconcerned, simply stating her desire to rest.
Despite having retrieved the qin for Nalan Chun Xue, the Emperor did not spend the night with her. Instead, in the dead of night, he went to Yanxi Palace and began playing the qin, waking Wei Yingluo. Annoyed, she questioned why he wasn't with Nalan Chun Xue.
The Emperor, frustrated but still seeking reconciliation, admitted to breaking countless rules and contradicting himself many times for her sake, warning her that he feared he might truly harm her if she continued to test his patience. Wei Yingluo directly asked if he suspected her of killing Noble Consort Chun, to which he firmly replied no. He explained his anger came from her unwillingness to explain herself, which he perceived as indifference to his feelings.
Wei Yingluo then advised him to return to Nalan Chun Xue to avoid causing her further resentment. Upon this reminder, the Emperor dispatched Li Yu to dismiss Nalan Chun Xue and present her with the blooming epiphyllum as a consolation, choosing instead to remain at Yanxi Palace for the night. The Empress sought to discuss the annual Ritual for the Silk God with the Empress Dowager.
Citing recent droughts and locust plagues, the Empress Dowager suggested cancelling the costly ceremony, contrasting it with the grandeur of the late Empress Rong Yin's events and expressing displeasure that the Empress had pre-arranged everything before seeking approval. The Empress, however, argued that performing the ritual was crucial to inspire the populace during difficult times, especially since all preparations were already complete.
Angered by the Empress's perceived overreach and "abuse of authority," the Empress Dowager publicly reprimanded her, dismissing her with coldness despite the Empress's apologies. Later, Prince He learned of the Empress's humiliation. Outraged by the perceived unfairness—especially linking it to the Emperor's lingering grief for the late Empress and the Empress Dowager's anger over Lord Naerbu's death—Prince He vowed to personally manage Lord Naerbu's funeral and intercede with the Emperor.
He promised to ensure the Ritual for the Silk God proceeded as a long-standing tradition, thus safeguarding the Empress's dignity. On the day of the Ritual for the Silk God, during the inspection of the mulberry-picking tools, the Empress noticed that a silver hook and special basket had been prepared for Wei Yingluo.
An official explained this was a direct order from the Empress Dowager, approved by the Emperor, even though Wei Yingluo's current rank did not permit the use of silver, which was reserved for Noble Consorts. Nalan Chun Xue seized this opportunity to complain to the Empress, warning her that such preferential treatment could inflate Wei Yingluo's ambition, potentially turning her into another Noble Consort Gao.
The Empress, however, revealed to her trusted attendant that she understood Nalan Chun Xue's true motive—to provoke her due to the Emperor's favoritism towards Wei Yingluo. The Empress further explained that the Empress Dowager's actions were a deliberate attempt to challenge her, fueled by anger over her father Lord Naerbu's death and the Empress's decision to proceed with the grand ritual, assisted by Prince He, which had deepened the Empress Dowager's displeasure.
The Empress saw the grand ceremony as vital to reaffirm her position and prevent her clan from being undermined. Yuan Chun Wang, enjoying Wei Yingluo's trust and authority in Yanxi Palace, became an object of resentment for Xiao Quan Zi. Xiao Quan Zi began secretly following Yuan Chun Wang, hoping to find fault with him. He trailed Yuan Chun Wang to the Imperial Hospital, where Yuan Chun Wang was conversing with Physician Ye.
They discussed the dilemma of numerous worm-eaten medicinal herbs in the storeroom, which were unfit for the palace but too valuable to discard. Yuan Chun Wang proposed an "old palace practice"—selling the damaged herbs outside the palace at a discounted price, assuring Physician Ye that higher-ups often turned a blind eye.
During this exchange, Physician Ye subtly reminded Yuan Chun Wang to convey a message to Wei Yingluo, implying she should reconsider something, suggesting Wei Yingluo was secretly taking some form of medicine. Later, Yuan Chun Wang intentionally brewed this medicine in a way that Xiao Quan Zi would discover him. Meanwhile, Ming Yu was diligently working on an embroidery piece. Wei Yingluo observed, advising her to pour her heart into the craft.
Realizing Ming Yu was embroidering a purse for Hailancha, Wei Yingluo suggested she instead make a headwear for his mother, emphasizing that the gesture of sincerity was what truly mattered. Later, when Yuan Chun Wang brought medicine to Wei Yingluo, Xiao Quan Zi dramatically intervened, loudly accusing Yuan Chun Wang of poisoning the tonic and swearing his loyalty to Wei Yingluo. Wei Yingluo, however, dismissed his frantic warnings and calmly drank the medicine, affirming her trust in Yuan Chun Wang.
After sending Xiao Quan Zi away with a minor punishment, Wei Yingluo revealed to Ming Yu that the entire incident was orchestrated. She had instructed Yuan Chun Wang to openly prepare the medicine, knowing Xiao Quan Zi would report it, all to demonstrate her profound trust in Yuan Chun Wang and deter Xiao Quan Zi from further attempts to cause trouble or frame him. She also subtly implied the medicine was crucial for her.
Elsewhere, Er Qing, confined to a Buddhist shrine, continued to harbor resentment, venting her anger by tormenting her serving maid with cruel acts. Fu Qian arrived, attempting to persuade her to abandon her schemes. He showed her a letter she had sent to her family, explaining that her efforts were futile as her elderly grandfather and her brother-in-law, Fu Heng, who was away at war, would not dare to intervene on her behalf.
However, Er Qing remained unyielding, declaring her intention to attend the Ritual for the Silk God in five days as the wife of a first-ranked duke. She adamantly stated that if her own family wouldn't help her, someone else surely would, refusing to be confined to the shrine indefinitely. Chamberlain Wu reported to the Emperor on the recent acquisition of furs from Kyakhta.
The Emperor, after instructing the best pieces to be sent to the Empress Dowager and the Empress, inquired about furs suitable for women. Upon hearing about an exquisitely beautiful snow fox fur adorned with silver quills, he immediately commanded it be sent to Yanxi Palace for Wei Yingluo.
When Nalan Chun Xue later spotted Chamberlain Wu and inquired about the furs, she was informed that the prized fox fur had already been designated for Wei Yingluo, with other pieces to follow for the remaining palaces. Feeling slighted and relegated to receiving "leftovers," Nalan Chun Xue took out her frustration on her attendant, Hu Po, punishing her for an apparent misstep. Back in Yanxi Palace, Wei Yingluo was seen gazing at the luxurious fox fur.
Yuan Chun Wang observed her, remarking on the Emperor's profound affection and undeniable favoritism, but then added a cryptic observation, suggesting that despite his intelligence, the Emperor remained unaware of what Wei Yingluo was doing behind the scenes.
