Story of Yanxi Palace Episode 9 Recap
> Story of Yanxi Palace Recap
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Consort Xian's mother knelt before her, pleading for her to save her brother, who faced dire consequences for breaking the law. Consort Xian, however, steadfastly upheld her father Naerbu's teachings, which emphasized caution and adherence to the law. She calmly stated that her brother should face his punishment and that she would accompany him on his last journey if he were condemned.
Infuriated by her daughter's unwavering stance, her mother slapped her and stormed out, declaring Consort Xian would no longer have a mother if her brother was executed. Alone, Consort Xian reflected that she could not betray the Emperor or her father's principles by intervening. Meanwhile, Physician Zhang informed the Empress that she was suffering from stagnant heat in her lung meridian due to exposure to cold.
He then shared his concerns about Noble Lady Yu, explaining that she frequently experienced dizziness and was emotionally and mentally unstable due to excessive worry, which gravely threatened her unborn child. Despite her own illness, the Empress insisted on sending gifts to Noble Lady Yu. She instructed Ming Yu to send ginseng from the imperial warehouse to Yonghe Palace, and Ming Yu, in turn, entrusted Wei Yingluo with this task.
Consort Xian continued to write calligraphy, focusing on words about law and respect for the ruler, trying to calm herself and reaffirm her commitment to justice. Pure Consort visited her, noticing the tear stains on Consort Xian's letter, which blurred the words, revealing her deep inner turmoil. Pure Consort recounted the story of King Zhuang of Chu to illustrate the importance of upholding law regardless of personal ties.
She pressed Consort Xian to seek the Empress's help, suggesting it would not only save her brother but also earn her a virtuous reputation. Consort Xian, however, firmly rejected this, stating she would not beg anyone. She explained that the Emperor had already made an example by executing a high-ranking official, and sparing her brother would imply that bribery was acceptable, inciting public resentment.
Pure Consort found Consort Xian's dedication naive, but Consort Xian reiterated her resolve to act with a clear conscience and asked Pure Consort to leave. She later confided in her attendant that seeking the Empress's help would mean aligning herself with the Empress's faction, drawing her into the treacherous palace power struggles, something she was determined to avoid. Upon arriving at Yonghe Palace, Wei Yingluo was horrified to find a eunuch strangling Noble Lady Yu.
Acting quickly, she grabbed a flower vase and struck the eunuch, knocking him unconscious. Noble Lady Yu was already in a coma. Wei Yingluo attempted to escape to seek help but encountered Noble Consort Gao and her retinue outside. With no other option, Wei Yingluo fled back into Noble Lady Yu's room and locked the door. Realizing Noble Consort Gao's men would break in, Wei Yingluo desperately set the curtains on fire.
The flames quickly spread, and shouts of "Yonghe Palace is on fire!" drew immediate attention. Fu Heng arrived with guards to put out the fire. Noble Consort Gao, seeing the opportunity, ordered her guards to seize Wei Yingluo, accusing her of attempting to murder Noble Lady Yu. However, Fu Heng intervened.
Wei Yingluo swiftly accused Noble Consort Gao, explaining she had discovered the eunuch trying to kill Noble Lady Yu, fought him, and was forced to hide and set the fire when Noble Consort Gao appeared. Noble Consort Gao dismissed Wei Yingluo's account as suspicious. The eunuch was revived with water. He immediately accused the Empress, claiming she had ordered him to kill Noble Lady Yu out of resentment for her pregnancy after losing her own son.
He detailed how he was placed in Yonghe Palace and revealed that Noble Lady Yu had sent her attendants away to secretly make offerings to Concubine Yi on her forty-ninth day, creating an opportunity for him to strike. The Empress, who had arrived to investigate, was shocked by the accusation. Despite Fu Heng's threats, the eunuch remained defiant, eventually biting his tongue and committing suicide. Noble Consort Gao seized on this, portraying the Empress as a ruthless murderer.
Wei Yingluo, however, cleverly countered, pointing out three distinct wounds on the eunuch's body: a hairpin mark on his neck, a blunt trauma on his head from a vase, and a bruise on his forehead from hitting the ground. She questioned why the Empress would send her to stop a murder she herself orchestrated, arguing it was contradictory.
She further highlighted that she had brought ginseng for Noble Lady Yu, whereas Noble Consort Gao had arrived with an aggressive group of eunuchs but no gifts, looking more like an avenging party. Cornered, Noble Consort Gao was forced to apologize to the Empress, who dismissed her. Under medical care, Noble Lady Yu regained consciousness but was deeply traumatized, screaming and appearing disoriented. Later, Fu Heng brought medicine for Wei Yingluo's wounds.
Maintaining a respectful distance, he asked her to apply the medicine herself. He then inquired why she had risked her life by setting the fire. She explained it was the only way to draw attention, as cries of murder would be ignored, but a fire would bring everyone running. He was surprised by her audacity. Wei Yingluo admitted her bravery stemmed from having the Empress as her backer, likening herself to a fox borrowing the majesty of a tiger.
This elicited a rare laugh from Fu Heng. Wei Yingluo then revealed that she was raised by her older sister, A'man, and directly asked Fu Heng if he knew her. Fu Heng briefly froze before denying any knowledge of her. The incident deeply angered the Empress, who was appalled by Noble Consort Gao's audacity. Her attendants suggested reporting everything to the Emperor, but the Empress pointed out that with the eunuch dead, there was no witness.
More importantly, she revealed Noble Lady Yu had committed a grave offense by secretly performing a memorial ceremony for Concubine Yi, a severe breach of palace rules that could be interpreted as a curse. Noble Consort Gao had exploited this vulnerability. To protect Noble Lady Yu and her unborn child, the Empress decided to keep the matter quiet, though she worried Noble Consort Gao would now seek revenge on Wei Yingluo.
Back in her palace, Noble Consort Gao furiously lashed out at her attendants and blamed Concubine Jia for the failed scheme, regretting not exposing Noble Lady Yu's secret ritual directly. Concubine Jia pacified her by noting that Noble Lady Yu was now mentally unstable and no longer a threat. Just then, a Pekingese dog, a gift from her brother, was presented to her.
Pleased with the lively animal, Noble Consort Gao named it Snowball, and Concubine Jia flattered her about her family's immense power and influence. Later, Fu Heng and Wei Yingluo observed Snowball being treated with more reverence than a servant. This led to a discussion on the Emperor's political strategy of 'divide and conquer' in handling the factions of Ortai and Gao Bin.
Meanwhile, Madam Zhang learned from an attendant about the severity of the deceased eunuch's wounds, noting that Wei Yingluo had fought with surprising ferocity. As she tended to Wei Yingluo's injuries, Wei Yingluo confided her growing suspicion of Fu Heng. She explained that he had denied knowing her sister, A'man.
Wei Yingluo reasoned that her sister, being loyal to her lover, would only have kept Fu Heng's valuable jade pendant if he were an enemy who had wronged her, solidifying her belief that he was connected to her sister's death.
