Story of Yanxi Palace Episode 54 Recap
> Story of Yanxi Palace Recap
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Following the recent reconciliation with the Emperor, Wei Yingluo's reserved nature continued to puzzle those around her. Yuan Chunwang remarked to her that he understood her seeming indifference, as he believed they were both cold-hearted people who could not be warmed by anyone. Meanwhile, the Emperor became vexed upon seeing Hailancha with a hand-embroidered pouch, sarcastically commenting on its shoddy needlework. He scoffed at women for wasting time on such trivial crafts.
Just then, Supervisor Li arrived with a hat that Wei Yingluo had personally made for him. Li explained that she had immediately used the precious furs the Emperor had sent to craft it, a sign she was always thinking of him. Despite his earlier disdain, the Emperor was secretly pleased and immediately put on the hat. Later, Mingyu and Zhenzhu found Hu Po, a maid from the laundry bureau, collapsed and brought her to Yanxi Palace.
Wei Yingluo coldly ordered her away, stating her palace was not a shelter. Desperate, Hu Po begged for mercy, promising to reveal a crucial secret in exchange for her safety. Intrigued, Wei Yingluo listened as Hu Po recounted the true events leading to the late Empress Fuca's death.
Hu Po revealed that on the night the Empress died, Erqing had privately confessed to her that she had become pregnant after the Emperor, in a drunken state, had an affair with her. Hu Po knew this was true because she had found Erqing's undergarment while cleaning the side chamber after the Emperor's drunken night. The devastating revelation, combined with her grief over losing her son, completely broke the Empress's spirit, leading her to take her own life.
Consumed by fury, Wei Yingluo vowed to make Erqing pay. Though the Emperor sent numerous delicacies and even a private chef from Suzhou to please Yingluo, she remained detached. After Supervisor Li left, she angrily smashed the dishes, furious at both Erqing for the final blow and the Emperor for his role in the late Empress's tragedy. Soon after, Erqing sought an audience with the Emperor, falsely accusing Fuheng of mistreating her and questioning the parentage of their son, Fukang'an.
Swearing the child was Fuheng's, she begged the Emperor to intervene. The Emperor, coldly stating there was "no connection" between them, nevertheless agreed to consider her plea. As Erqing left the Emperor's study, her distressed expression shifted to one of triumph, a change that stunned Supervisor Li. Meanwhile, Wei Yingluo had arranged for Erqing to be lured to Changchun Palace under the guise of attending the Silkworm Ceremony.
Intercepted by Yuan Chunwang, Erqing was brought before Wei Yingluo at the late Empress's memorial tablet. Erqing remained defiant, threatening to expose secrets that could ruin Yingluo's favor with the Emperor. Dropping all pretense, Erqing sadistically confessed everything. She admitted to manipulating Fuheng into their marriage by threatening Yingluo's life and revealed her long-festering jealousy.
In a crazed rant, she boasted about deliberately telling the late Empress about her pregnancy with the Emperor's child, sarcastically calling it a "great comfort" for the grieving mother. Mingyu furiously called her a lunatic, more despicable than Noble Consort Chun. Deeming Erqing beyond redemption, Wei Yingluo presented her with three choices for her death: a rope, a dagger, or poison. When Erqing refused, an enraged Mingyu forced the poison down her throat.
During the Silkworm Ceremony, the Emperor noticed both Wei Yingluo and Erqing were missing and rushed to Changchun Palace, arriving to find Erqing dead. He confronted Yingluo, who calmly stated that Erqing had to die for driving the late Empress to suicide. Conflicted and wanting to protect her, the Emperor began to say things were not as she imagined, but he was interrupted by the arrival of the new Empress.
A palace servant immediately stepped forward and confessed to the murder, absolving Yingluo. The Empress swiftly took control, orchestrating a cover-up: it would be announced that Erqing, overcome with grief, had committed suicide. She arranged for the body to be secretly returned to the Fuca mansion and for the news to be suppressed for seven days. She then declared Yingluo was "gravely ill" and ordered her back to Yanxi Palace.
After the Emperor departed, the Empress smugly noted that Yingluo's reckless act had surely cost her the Emperor's favor. However, Yingluo revealed she understood the Emperor would never have punished Erqing himself, as she was his former lover. Seeing the Empress's lack of surprise, Yingluo accused her of masterminding the entire situation—sending Hu Po to her, arranging the ceremony to bring Erqing into the palace, and predicting that Yingluo would kill her.
The Empress simply dismissed her, telling her to go "rest." Later, Yingluo told Mingyu that while they had been manipulated, she had no regrets, as justice for the late Empress was served. Alone, the Emperor was haunted by fragmented memories of his drunken night with Erqing, tormented by his actions that led to the death of the woman he truly loved. As whispers spread through the palace, it was clear that Yingluo's vengeance had indeed cost her the Emperor's affection.
