Story of Yanxi Palace Episode 68 Recap
> Story of Yanxi Palace Recap
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The Fifth Prince, Yong Qi, expressed his deep weariness with being confined in his residence. He relayed that Consort Ling had threatened to tear down his quarters if he did not face reality. Citing Consort Ling's belief that the famed Physician Ye was in Jiangnan, Yong Qi requested the Emperor's permission to join the southern tour, hopeful that the physician could cure his leg injury. The Emperor, relieved to see his son's spirits lifted, gladly consented.
At Yong Qi's urging, the Emperor also agreed to permit the Empress, his mother, to accompany them. Later, the Twelfth Prince, Yong Ji, excitedly informed the Empress that the Emperor had approved her participation in the southern tour. While initially overjoyed, the Empress's mood soured when Yong Ji revealed that his own three-hour vigil on his knees had been fruitless, whereas Fifth Brother's brief plea had immediately swayed the Emperor.
Yong Ji’s genuine admiration for his brother’s influence only intensified the Empress’s anger, reinforcing her belief that she and her son held little significance to the Emperor. Meanwhile, a minor collision between a young eunuch and the Fifteenth Prince, Yong Yan, provided the opportunity for the eunuch to discreetly swap Yong Yan's writing brush. Shortly after, Consort Qing sincerely apologized to Consort Shu for her past mistrust and proposed they raise Yong Yan together, putting an end to their animosity.
Consort Qing mentioned how much Yong Yan loved the new brush and inkstone from Consort Shu, and that he planned to show them to Master Liu, a connoisseur of fine stationery. Their conversation was cut short by the alarming news that Yong Yan had suddenly fallen gravely ill and was rushed back to Yanxi Palace. Consort Ling, Wei Yingluo, revealed that Yong Yan had been poisoned; the bristles of his new brush had been steeped in a toxin.
Yong Yan, who had a habit of moistening the brush tip with his mouth, ingested the poison. He was saved from a fatal dose only because Master Liu, admiring the brush, had borrowed it midway through his writing. Consort Qing and Consort Shu immediately accused each other.
Consort Shu, while admitting she sent the stationery, vehemently denied poisoning it and, realizing she was being framed, pointed out the plot’s flaw: if the person who gifted the items was the primary suspect, it was clearly a setup. She highlighted the recent misfortunes of the princes, suggesting that with the Fifth and Fourth Princes incapacitated, the Twelfth Prince stood to gain the most if Yong Yan was also harmed.
Consort Qing and Consort Shu insisted on reporting the matter to the Emperor, but Yingluo urged caution, noting the clumsiness of the plot was uncharacteristic of the meticulous Empress. Dismissing Yingluo’s prudence, Consort Shu went directly to the Empress Dowager. After hearing Consort Shu’s report, the Empress Dowager summoned the Empress.
Reminding the Empress that she had endorsed her for the position after Empress Xiaoxian Chun’s death, the Empress Dowager accused her of ambition and of harming the princes to advance the Twelfth Prince. She commanded the Empress to kneel for the duration of a burning incense stick as punishment.
Though deeply wronged, the Empress could not protest as the Empress Dowager warned her that henceforth, any harm that befell any prince or princess would be blamed on her, regardless of the true culprit. Yuan Chun Wang informed Hong Zhou of the Empress's humiliation, framing it as Wei Yingluo's scheme to corner her. He insidiously suggested that Hong Zhou follow the example of the former prince regent, Dorgon, and seize power for himself.
Hong Zhou was horrified by the treasonous suggestion, but Yuan Chun Wang pressed on, arguing he was acting in the best interests of Hong Zhou and the Empress, challenging him to be a hero for his clan rather than a submissive subject. Later, Fu Heng confronted Hong Zhou, warning him to cease his association with the Empress and his secret dealings with palace eunuchs like Yuan Chun Wang.
Feeling exposed, Hong Zhou retorted by taunting Fu Heng about his lingering affection for Wei Yingluo. This provoked Fu Heng, who realized Hong Zhou harbored secret feelings for the Empress. Enraged at being discovered, Hong Zhou attacked Fu Heng. Just as the Emperor arrived, Fu Heng deliberately allowed Hong Zhou to strike him down. The Emperor, furious at Hong Zhou's brazen behavior, publicly punished Fu Heng with a six-month salary cut to preserve the dignity of the Aisin-Gioro clan.
Privately, however, he severely reprimanded Hong Zhou, reminding him of past transgressions, such as staging his own "living funeral," and how he had always protected him. The Emperor issued a final warning: any further misstep would be met with severe consequences, their brotherhood notwithstanding. Seeking to mend the rift, Hong Zhou visited the Empress Dowager and shared nostalgic childhood memories, reminding her of the deep bond he shared with the Emperor.
Swayed, the Empress Dowager successfully persuaded the Emperor to forgive his brother. Seizing the opportunity, Hong Zhou volunteered to oversee the preparations for the southern tour, which the Emperor approved. As he was leaving, Hong Zhou, having forgotten his snuff bottle, returned and overheard the Emperor telling the Empress Dowager of his plan to elevate Wei Yingluo to Imperial Noble Consort, effectively giving her control of the harem.
The Empress Dowager advised against it, arguing it would undermine the current Empress, and suggested they revisit the matter after the tour. The Emperor agreed, but confessed his complete loss of trust in the Empress due to the repeated harm that had befallen his sons. Yuan Chun Wang immediately relayed this devastating news to the Empress, who was shocked by the Emperor's intent to strip her of all power.
She arranged a secret meeting with Hong Zhou, initially hoping only for his help in preventing Wei Yingluo's promotion. However, Hong Zhou proposed a more radical solution: assassinate the Emperor during the southern tour and place her son, Yong Ji, on the throne. Horrified at first, the Empress was gradually swayed by Hong Zhou's arguments about her and her son's bleak future, and she reluctantly agreed to the treasonous plot.
The Empress confided in her lady-in-waiting, Zhen, that she intended to conspire with Hong Zhou. Zhen reported this to Yuan Chun Wang, who, to ensure the Empress could not back out, instructed Zhen to steal an item from the Empress's jewelry box as leverage. Meanwhile, Fu Heng warned Wei Yingluo to be cautious, revealing his suspicion that Hong Zhou and Yuan Chun Wang were planning a rebellion.
He also informed her that he was being dispatched immediately to repel a surprise Burmese attack near Simao City. Acknowledging the danger, Yingluo entrusted palace affairs to his watch and sent her eunuch, Xiao Quan Zi, on a covert investigation. Three days later, the imperial southern tour commenced, with the Emperor and his consorts setting off on dragon boats to admire the scenery of Jiangnan.
