The Lady in Butcher's House Episode 34 Recap
> The Lady in Butcher's House Recap
After discovering the truth behind the Nanjiang incident, Prince Ning went to see the Crown Prince, hoping to clarify the Crown Prince's involvement in the matter. However, the Crown Prince grew furious, accusing Prince Ning of maliciously slandering Grand Preceptor Fu without proof. After speaking, the Crown Prince began coughing uncontrollably, appearing extremely weak. Prince Ning then withdrew and discussed the situation with Jia Xiang and others.
He noted the Crown Prince's clear protection of Grand Preceptor Fu and the unfamiliar attendants around him, suspecting the Crown Prince had a hidden illness he wished to conceal. If this was the case, their investigation would become much harder, as the Crown Prince might perceive Prince Ning as an enemy. Therefore, besides continuing to gather evidence against Grand Preceptor Fu, they also needed to quickly uncover the nature of the Crown Prince's illness.
Gao Zheng suggested checking medical facilities in the city, but Xu Qingjia deemed it unnecessary since a secret illness wouldn't be treated by well-known doctors. Xu Qingjia then inquired about Gao Zheng and Yu Niang's relationship, learning that Gao Zheng intended to propose to Yu Niang on her upcoming birthday. The next morning, Xu Qingjia informed Hu Jiao of the upcoming proposal before heading to a fabric store to buy luxurious cloth.
Meanwhile, Ge Sang snuck into a room in search of Yu Zhongliang's letter. She found a cabinet locked and left. Unbeknownst to her, Hu Jiao and Yu Niang had already observed her suspicious behavior. The two women then conspired to lure Ge Sang out, fabricating an excuse to leave the shop and create an opportunity for her to steal the letter. Zhou Ming'an did not burn Yu Zhongliang's letter. Instead, he carefully preserved it, considering it a valuable asset.
He explained to Ge Sang that he knew too many of Grand Preceptor Fu's secrets and feared suffering the same fate as Qian Chengyu. Thus, the letter served as a talisman for his own survival. He then gave Ge Sang Withered Grass Powder, a potent poison from the Thievery Sect, ordering her to find an opportunity to eliminate Xu Qingjia, Hu Jiao, Gao Zheng, and Yu Niang.
Ge Sang initially hesitated, reluctant to involve the two women, but after Zhou Ming'an's stern reminder about the consequences of disobedience, she complied, proceeding to place the poison in a censer. Separately, Prince Ning summoned Cui Wulang, tasking him with another mission related to Grand Preceptor Fu’s manor.
Jia Xiang had discovered that on the first and fifteenth of each month, before the palace gates closed at the Hour of You, someone from Grand Preceptor Fu’s residence would send an item into the palace through Eunuch Zhang. Cui Wulang was instructed to investigate this discreetly. On Yu Niang's birthday, Gao Zheng proposed to her, presenting her with a deer antler comb, a cherished heirloom from his parents.
Overcome with emotion and in the presence of Xu Qingjia and Hu Jiao, Yu Niang tearfully accepted the comb and Gao Zheng's proposal. After the celebratory dinner, Hu Jiao helped a slightly inebriated Xu Qingjia back to their room. Both felt an itch on their necks, dismissing it as mosquito bites.
Meanwhile, Cui Wulang followed Grand Preceptor Fu’s associate and uncovered the secret of the Grand Preceptor's frequent purchase of expensive medicinal herbs, which were delivered to the palace almost monthly. Though he couldn't discern the identity of the ailing person from their conversation, Cui Wulang managed to acquire some of the herbs and brought them back to Prince Ning's residence. Imperial Physician Liu examined the herbs and confirmed they could be used to treat consumption, also known as tuberculosis.
Imperial Physician Liu's revelation clarified the severity of the Crown Prince's illness. Jia Xiang explained that a royal heir afflicted with consumption would typically lose eligibility for the throne, and ministers would urge the Emperor to name a new successor. This explained why Grand Preceptor Fu and the Crown Prince were so desperate to conceal the illness. However, Grand Preceptor Fu’s official salary couldn't possibly cover such a continuous supply of costly medicine, indicating his extensive corruption.
Given the delicate relationship between Prince Ning and the Crown Prince, the final decision on how to proceed rested with Prince Ning, who ultimately resolved to meet with the Crown Prince for a direct conversation. Xu Qingjia and Jia Xiang, both astute individuals, did not immediately object to Prince Ning's decision. Afterward, they surmised that Prince Ning intended to express his loyalty to the Crown Prince and declare he had no ambition for the throne.
Xu Qingjia believed Prince Ning was overly optimistic, asserting that unless he intentionally sabotaged his own future, the Crown Prince would never truly feel secure. Despite Xu Qingjia's thorough reasoning, Jia Xiang, drawing on his own experience, advised him that officials, especially those in high positions, must consider the greater good, emphasizing that saving a hundred people differs from saving just one.
