Story of Yanxi Palace Episode 66 Recap
> Story of Yanxi Palace Recap
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After Emperor Qianlong returned to the palace, he asked Supervisor Li if he had detected a raw, fishy smell from the Empress. When Li claimed he hadn't, the Emperor revealed his suspicion was linked to her desire for eternal youth, a sentiment he dismissed as human nature, ordering Li not to investigate. Later, the Empress confided in her lady-in-waiting, Zhen'er, that she would be consuming human placenta at night and insisted it remain a secret.
She also lamented her duty as the Empress, the legitimate mother to all the princes and princesses, which required her to oversee their conduct lest she be blamed for their shortcomings. That evening, the Emperor confronted Wei Yingluo about the Empress's concerns, chastising her for her carefree and indulgent parenting. He claimed her behavior made their children the envy of all the other princes and princesses, who now wished for a similarly lenient mother.
He criticized her for allowing Princess Zhao Hua and Princess Zhao Yu to shirk their duties and Yongyan to neglect his studies. Wei Yingluo countered that as a mother, she simply wanted her children to experience a brief, happy childhood, especially since the princesses were destined for political marriages.
She explained that Yongyan had been frail and sickly as a child, and her only wish was for his health and happiness, not for him to become the most accomplished or intelligent prince. The Emperor argued that royal princes must be diligent, but their discussion soon turned into playful bickering, during which he accidentally sprained his back. As Wei Yingluo massaged his back, she lovingly chided him for his childishness.
Wei Yingluo urged the Emperor to name Yongqi, the Fifth Prince, as the Crown Prince, allowing her son, Yongyan, the Fifteenth Prince, to live a carefree life. She argued that Yongqi was the most outstanding and admired among all the princes, making him the obvious heir. While the Emperor called her unambitious for her own son, he tacitly agreed with her assessment. Meanwhile, Yongqi also grew concerned about Wei Yingluo's indulgence of Yongyan.
While acknowledging Yongyan's poor health in his youth, he insisted that the now-healthy boy could not remain uneducated and offered to personally tutor him. A guilty Wei Yingluo accepted his offer. Yongcheng, the Fourth Prince, brought gifts from Suzhou for his foster mother, the Empress, but Zhen'er informed him she was unwell and resting. As he was leaving, Yongcheng overheard Zhen'er advising Yongji, the Twelfth Prince, to visit the Empress more often to cheer her up.
This confirmed Yongcheng's suspicion that the Empress would always favor her biological son. Resentful, he resolved to make Yongqi, the Emperor's favored son, suffer a public humiliation. He believed that by making Yongqi look foolish, he could finally earn the Emperor's respect and his foster mother's approval. This was all part of an elaborate scheme by Yuan Chunwang, who had instructed Zhen'er to ensure Yongcheng overheard her conversation with Yongji.
During a formal weapons demonstration, Yongqi argued for the adoption of modern firearms, pointing out the flaws of the domestic matchlock muskets, which were unreliable in wind or rain. To prove his point, he prepared to demonstrate with a musket borrowed from the barracks, but the weapon exploded upon firing, severely injuring his leg. From a distance, Yuan Chunwang watched with a faint smile.
Physician Zhang informed the Emperor that the injury to Yongqi's right leg was severe, affecting the meridian. He warned that Yongqi would likely never walk normally again, noting that such musket accidents were common and often fatal, making Yongqi lucky to be alive. Suspecting foul play, Wei Yingluo investigated at the musket barracks. Fu Heng explained that user error was the most common cause of such accidents, but Wei Yingluo remained unconvinced, citing Yongqi's meticulous nature and extensive training.
She also questioned why his regularly used musket had been damaged just before the demonstration, forcing him to use an unfamiliar one. When the Empress visited the recovering Yongqi, Wei Yingluo pointedly remarked that catching the culprit was more important than simply offering condolences, implying the incident was no accident. The Empress dismissed her claim, insisting it was a tragic mishap. After the Empress left, Wei Yingluo found Yongqi pretending to be asleep to avoid the sorrowful visitors.
He confessed that he knew his leg was likely crippled and that he had been deliberately targeted. However, he refused to pursue the matter, reasoning that a disabled prince could not inherit the throne. He explained that an investigation would inevitably implicate one of his brothers, and he could not bear to make the Emperor, who had already lost a son, suffer another loss.
He admitted to his own feelings of bitterness and envy but prioritized the stability of the family and the dynasty above his own justice. The Empress later tried to comfort the Emperor, reiterating that Yongqi's injury was an accident. However, the Emperor's cold and distant demeanor revealed his deep suspicion of her. His distrust became palpable when he dismissed her offers of company.
Meanwhile, Yongcheng grew increasingly agitated after the Emperor confined all the princes to the palace, fearing his own misdeeds would be exposed. Under Yuan Chunwang's orders, Zhen'er brought Yongcheng fermented glutinous rice balls, a favorite dish from his childhood. Just as he was touched by the gesture, Zhen'er tearfully "confessed" that the food was poisoned.
She claimed the Empress had orchestrated Yongqi's "accident" and now intended to kill Yongcheng, clearing the path for her own son, Yongji, to become the heir. Devastated by his foster mother's apparent betrayal, Yongcheng was heartbroken. Simultaneously, the Empress confronted Yuan Chunwang about Yongqi's injury. He feigned innocence but subtly implicated Yongcheng. At the same time, Fu Heng reported to the Emperor that Yongcheng's eunuch, Jin Zhong, had secretly entered the Imperial Armory and damaged Yongqi's personal musket.
Fearing repercussions, Jin Zhong had confessed, revealing Yongcheng's order. Driven by Zhen'er's deception, Yongcheng frantically burst into the Emperor's presence. He accused the Empress of attempting to poison him and of orchestrating the musket explosion that crippled Yongqi. He confessed to the lesser crime of having Jin Zhong damage Yongqi's old musket out of jealousy, hoping only to make him look foolish. He swore, however, that the new musket's explosion was entirely the Empress's doing. The Empress, horrified at being framed by the son she had raised, tearfully denied the accusations, proclaiming her innocence.
