Story of Yanxi Palace Episode 58 Recap
> Story of Yanxi Palace Recap
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After witnessing the Empress Dowager's carriage depart, the Emperor was consumed with guilt. However, this was all part of the Empress Dowager's plan. She revealed to Wei Yingluo that she had faked her illness, explaining that it was the only way to make the Empress lower her guard, win the Emperor's compassion, and emerge victorious.
She disclosed that while the Empress bribed the Imperial Physician, her own attendant, Aunt Liu, was a medicinal expert who used a simple needle trick to create the illusion of a stroke. The Empress Dowager knew she had to leave the Forbidden City after the "truth" was revealed, as her sudden departure would maximize the Emperor's guilt.
The Empress Dowager praised Yingluo's cleverness in using Qing to tell the Emperor a story about his birth mother but criticized her methods as "too soft," noting that Yingluo's overconfidence had deeply offended the Emperor. She explained that taking Yingluo to the Yuanming Garden was a strategic move; remaining in the Emperor's sight would only increase his annoyance. Instead, distance was necessary to make him "think of you and miss you, yet be unable to reach you."
Awed by the Empress Dowager's shrewdness, Yingluo dared to ask about the death of Madam Qian, the Emperor's birth mother. The Empress Dowager evasively listed the chain of custody for a key letter, implicating others but not herself, before coyly asking, "What do you think?" leaving Yingluo deeply unsettled. Upon learning of the Empress Dowager's departure with Wei Yingluo, the Empress acknowledged her defeat in this round but remained unconcerned, confident that opportunities for revenge would come later.
Yuan Chunwang, however, was agitated by Yingluo's departure and urged the Empress to eliminate her, warning that a "weed not fully uprooted" would surely become a major problem. The Empress, noting the Emperor's deep concern for the Empress Dowager, deemed any immediate action too risky.
She believed Yingluo, by following the Empress Dowager, was forfeiting her own chance at imperial favor and predicted that by the time she returned, the palace's power dynamics would have shifted, leaving her with no place. Despite her move to the Yuanming Garden, Wei Yingluo maintained a connection with the Emperor by sending monthly letters under the guise of reporting on the Empress Dowager's health.
The Emperor quickly saw through the ruse, noting that the letters, while starting in the Empress Dowager's voice, would inevitably pivot to describing Yingluo’s own activities. He grew frustrated with her transparent attempts, at one point ordering the letters to stop because they "upset" him, yet he continued to read them.
Li Yu later explained to another eunuch that this was the Empress Dowager's strategy: by refusing to see the Emperor but allowing Yingluo to write, she ensured he remained informed and, despite his anger, would have to acknowledge Yingluo's efforts. During this time, the Empress Dowager's health genuinely fluctuated; she caught a cold that confined her to bed, and Yingluo fell ill while caring for her, news that further stoked the Emperor's concern.
In the Forbidden City, backed by the Empress's full support, Yuan Chunwang's authority in the Imperial Household Department grew immense. The Empress became pregnant and gave birth to two sons, Yongji and Yongjing, solidifying her status. One day, Yuan Chunwang noticed an embroidery servant with a striking resemblance to Wei Yingluo. A subordinate, hoping to curry favor, arranged for the girl to serve him. However, her meekness disappointed Yuan Chunwang.
He struck her and demanded she fight back, but she only begged for mercy. Distraught, he lamented that he couldn't even inspire hatred in her, unlike Yingluo, and dismissed the "quail-like" servant, warning the subordinate to never meddle in his affairs again. Years passed. The Empress Dowager continued to have Yingluo write to the Emperor, ensuring their bond didn't fade.
Though still outwardly annoyed, the Emperor's concern for his mother compelled him to read the letters, which rekindled his feelings for Yingluo. When Yingluo briefly stopped sending them, he immediately inquired about the missing letter, revealing she still occupied his thoughts. Meanwhile, news arrived of a great military victory; Fuheng's army had captured the enemy leader and would soon return. The Emperor, overjoyed, ordered a grand celebration to welcome the heroes.
One year later, the Empress Dowager urged Wei Yingluo to return to the Forbidden City. She warned that life is like "rowing upstream; if you don't advance, you fall behind." If Yingluo delayed any longer, the Emperor might truly forget her. Mingyu confirmed that the Emperor had not replied to her letters in three months, forcing Yingluo to confront her complacency. Meanwhile, Fuheng returned from the battlefield a hero.
After paying respects to his late father with his mother, he went directly to the Yuanming Garden. He informed Yingluo that Erqing was dead, stating bluntly that she "deserved it" and he felt no guilt. He then urged Yingluo to return to the Forbidden City immediately, warning her of a new woman whose presence threatened to undo all her hard work.
He described this newcomer as the embodiment of every virtue—"beautiful, loyal, humble, righteous, and brave"—and revealed that for the past three months, the Emperor had not thought of Yingluo at all. This woman was the daughter of a governor, whom the Emperor had personally named Chenbi. His words spurred Yingluo into action. Wei Yingluo promptly packed, bid farewell to the Empress Dowager, and returned to the palace.
She had barely arrived at the restored Palace of Everlasting Joy when Yuan Chunwang summoned her on the Empress's orders. The Empress proposed an alliance against the new favorite, Imperial Concubine Shun. She highlighted Shun's powerful ancestry and the unprecedented favor the Emperor showed her. Wei Yingluo initially scoffed at the offer, but the Empress was unfazed, arguing that in the palace, there are no permanent enemies, only common interests.
She predicted that without her help, Yingluo would soon be sent back to the Yuanming Garden in defeat, confident that Yingluo would change her mind once she saw Shun for herself. As predicted, after witnessing Imperial Concubine Shun's captivating grace, Yingluo returned to the Empress and accepted the alliance. Mingyu was puzzled by Yingluo's change of heart.
Staring at her reflection, Yingluo lamented that her own face looked clever and scheming, whereas she wished she had Shun's "pure, flawless, gentle, and amiable" face that inspired immediate affection. She explained that the most dangerous woman in the harem is one who seems completely innocent, as such a woman can effortlessly capture a man's heart, especially a complex man like the Emperor.
When Mingyu teased that she was jealous because she had fallen for the Emperor, Yingluo denied it, claiming her actions were driven by "a woman's dignity" and "competitiveness." To initiate their plan, the Empress suggested that the inexperienced Imperial Concubine Shun be sent to Yingluo to learn palace etiquette. The Emperor, though hesitant to burden Shun with strict rules, agreed it was a thoughtful idea.
He also expressed concern for Yingluo's health, noting her self-neglect while serving the Empress Dowager, and ordered an imperial physician to attend to her. The Empress, her plan in motion, mused to her attendant that their success now depended entirely on Wei Yingluo's abilities.
