The Legendary Life of Queen Lau Episode 16 Recap
> The Legendary Life of Queen Lau Recap
After Duan Yunzhang was recognized by citizens in the street, Jinfeng suggested he change into more inconspicuous clothes. When Duan Yunzhang opened his arms, Jinfeng mistakenly thought he wanted a hug and reluctantly leaned in, only for him to tug her hair, clarifying he wanted her to help him change.
Later, at a restaurant, Duan Yunzhang ordered several expensive dishes, but Jinfeng intervened, replacing them with four vegetarian options and reminding him that the imperial treasury was empty, so he must be thrifty. When their food arrived, Duan Yunzhang offered a bite to Jinfeng, who briefly felt a flutter of romance before realizing he merely wanted her to test the food for poison. Once she confirmed it was safe after a countdown, he began to eat.
The pair then explored the bustling street market, watching shadow puppets, where Jinfeng playfully remarked that one of the rat puppets resembled Duan Yunzhang. Despite Duan Yunzhang's preference to eat back at the palace, Jinfeng insisted they try Yangchun noodles, ignoring his complaints about the dust. Jinfeng enthusiastically walked on stilts, having a great time. Meanwhile, Liu Baiyu observed Duan Yunchong sleeping soundly at his desk after copying texts.
Noticing his exceptionally ugly handwriting, she sat down to correct his work. Realizing he was feigning sleep, she threatened to draw a pig's nose on his face if he didn't wake up. Duan Yunchong immediately sat up, and Baiyu couldn't help but laugh at the ink smudges on his face, prompting him to grumble about her being less kind than he thought. Later, while browsing a stall in the market, Jinfeng separated from Duan Yunzhang.
A large box suddenly plummeted from above, narrowly missing her head. Duan Yunzhang, quick as lightning, pulled her out of harm's way. In that moment, Jinfeng couldn't help but feel he was incredibly dashing. Back at the palace, Liu Baiyu was stunned to learn from Fengyue that the Emperor and Empress had ventured outside. That night, Duan Yunzhang struggled to clamber over the palace wall, urging Jinfeng to hurry down.
To his surprise, Jinfeng simply walked through the palace gate, which was unlocked. Immediately after their return, Su Jingtang and a contingent of guards arrived. When confronted by the Empress Dowager about their unauthorized outing, Duan Yunzhang took full responsibility, insisting that Jinfeng had no part in it and that she should only punish him. He argued that his trip outside had taught him valuable lessons that he could not learn within the palace walls.
Duan Yunzhang further contended that although she was not his birth mother, he regarded her as such, but felt she perpetually viewed him as incapable, destined to be Liu Xie's puppet if he ever relaxed his guard. Angered, the Empress Dowager ordered his cotton clothes removed, revealing rashes on his skin. Her demeanor softened as she expressed concern for his cotton allergy, reminding him he could only wear silk. She admitted understanding his desire for fun after strenuous study.
However, she still punished Jinfeng to sweep the Buddha Hall for two days for failing to safeguard the Emperor's health, and ordered Duan Yunzhang to stay indoors, apply medicine, avoid certain foods, and not let it affect his upcoming examination. After they departed, a bewildered imperial concubine remarked on the leniency of the punishment.
The Empress Dowager, frustrated, lightly struck Li, her attendant, revealing her true anger stemmed from Duan Yunzhang's mention of her not being his birth mother, which she believed Jinfeng had orchestrated to drive a wedge between them. She resolved to endure the situation until after the examination. Returning to his chambers, Duan Yunzhang questioned Su Jingtang about the assassins, learning they had escaped and were still at large.
He found it perplexing that they hadn't made a move despite his and Jinfeng's lengthy outing and instructed Su Jingtang to deploy more men to keep watch. Concurrently, Liu Xie received intelligence that assassins from the Xiyue Empire had infiltrated the palace that day, deeming their timing "timely." That night, as Jinfeng swept the Buddha Hall, she mused on her prayer not to come in last in the exam.
Observing the partially burnt candles being replaced due to palace rules, an idea sparked within her, and she dispatched Sufang to carry out a task. Elsewhere, Duan Yunchong confided in Chai Tiezhou and Su Jingtang about Duan Yunzhang's exam phobia, explaining that he became dizzy and faint during examinations, leading to his consistent failures. Duan Yunchong proposed a "perfect plan" to help Duan Yunzhang pass: stealing the answers. Unbeknownst to them, Liu Baiyu overheard their entire conversation.
After discussing with Fengyue, who pointed out that if Jinfeng helped the Emperor, she would become a powerful figure behind him, Baiyu decided to turn their plan against them, noting Sufang's recent suspicious behavior, which she suspected was connected to Jinfeng. Later, Sufang delivered a specially prepared candle from Jinfeng to Duan Yunzhang as he was studying. Duan Yunzhang, initially finding Jinfeng's "methods of provocation" childish, eventually had the candle lit.
He slept exceptionally well that night, so much so that he overslept and was nearly late for his examination the next morning. At the exam hall, Liu Xie, noting Duan Yunzhang's absence, wondered if he had given up, as he usually submitted empty answer sheets every year. Duan Yunzhang arrived just in time, hurried by Chai Tiezhou and others cheering him on.
During the exam, Duan Yunchong attempted to pass a note to Duan Yunzhang, but Jinfeng swiftly intervened, tearing the paper to shreds. At lunchtime, Liu Xie announced a half-hour break, strictly prohibiting whispering to prevent cheating. Chai Tiezhou presented lunch for the Emperor and Empress. Duan Yunzhang ignored his meal, but Jinfeng grabbed and swapped their dishes. Resigning himself, Chai Tiezhou muttered that they would now have to rely on Su Jingtang's plan.
Outside the examination hall, Su Jingtang deliberately instigated a fight with Liu Er, the officer on duty, drawing attention. Upon being informed of the commotion, Liu Xie left the hall. Following his departure, Grand Tutor Wei and two other examiners feigned illness and excuses to leave, subtly creating an opportunity for Duan Yunzhang. Seizing the moment, Duan Yunchong hurried to Duan Yunzhang's desk, attempting to pass him the answers.
Jinfeng fiercely blocked him, arguing that cheating was unacceptable and violated exam rules. As they struggled, Liu Xie unexpectedly returned. He spotted a crumpled paper ball beneath Duan Yunzhang's desk and accused him of cheating. Grand Tutor Wei picked it up, recognizing its 'disorderly' and 'ugly' handwriting as Duan Yunchong's. Duan Yunchong immediately denied it was his.
Furious, Duan Yunzhang retorted that Liu Xie was framing him, stating that throughout his life—from his studies to his marriage and appointment of the Empress—Liu Xie had orchestrated everything. He declared that Liu Xie's 'dirty tricks' to impede his reign had gone too far, and their long-standing animosity must end today. Liu Xie, with a smirk, asserted his power to harm Duan Yunzhang in many ways.
He claimed to have poisoned Duan Yunzhang's daily tonics with a "youth-and-age herb" that would be fatal in 100 days without an antidote. Duan Yunzhang, unfazed, revealed he had never consumed the tonics. Jinfeng, however, gasped in horror, admitting she had drunk them. Liu Xie then claimed the Xuan paper he sent Duan Yunzhang was also laced with poison, causing swelling in seven days and death in ten.
Again, Duan Yunzhang said he had never touched the paper, but Jinfeng frantically confirmed she had. Finally, Liu Xie alleged he had coated the railings near the examination room with a highly toxic substance before the exam, claiming instant death upon contact. Duan Yunzhang, pulling out a pair of gloves, proudly declared he had anticipated Liu Xie's schemes, accusing him of capital crimes for attempting to poison the Empress and the students.
At this, Liu Xie revealed that his poison claims were all a lie. He then criticized Duan Yunzhang for his constant suspicion and preparedness for deceit, equating it to his own cunning. Liu Xie then openly declared his true intention: to seize the Duan family's reign and conquer the Donghao Empire. As the tension escalated, the Empress Dowager arrived. She immediately instructed Duan Yunzhang to apologize to Liu Xie.
Duan Yunzhang, however, asserted that he would run ten laps not as an admission of cheating, but because Liu Xie's cunning had inspired him to no longer fear him. Liu Xie then examined the crumpled paper ball and compared it to Duan Yunchong's exam paper, pointing out inconsistencies and a misspelling. He then declared that this proved the paper ball was not written by Duan Yunchong, but added that this didn't prove the Emperor hadn't read it.
The Empress Dowager praised Liu Xie for his insight. Liu Xie, turning back to Duan Yunzhang, criticized him for being easily flustered and failing to spot such an obvious flaw, questioning his readiness to govern the country. Jinfeng interjected, arguing that an exam had nothing to do with the fate of the country. Liu Xie countered that for the Emperor, this examination was precisely about the country.
Duan Yunzhang conceded, acknowledging the lesson learned and stating he would run the ten laps without complaint. He defiantly promised Liu Xie to witness how he would prove himself worthy of the throne, then strode out of the hall. Jinfeng watched him leave, an unexpected thought crossing her mind: she found him a little charming.
