The Legendary Life of Queen Lau Episode 18 Recap
> The Legendary Life of Queen Lau Recap
After being teased by Yu Changya, Jinfeng returned to the palace feeling annoyed. Yu Changya, confident that Jinfeng was fated to be his, planned to use equipment arriving from the Western Region in three days to make her beautiful. Meanwhile, Liu Xie visited Duan Yunzhang in Xuanchen Hall, where Duan Yunzhang pressed him to hand over the Imperial Seal so he could officially ascend to the throne.
Liu Xie, however, refused, stating he wished to teach Duan Yunzhang another lesson: "One should never have a harmful intent, but one should always be on guard." Duan Yunzhang's companions were angered by Liu Xie's recalcitrance. That night, with the help of Duan Yunchong and others, Duan Yunzhang sneaked into Taihe Hall to retrieve the Imperial Seal.
Realizing that he was the Emperor and the seal was rightfully his, Duan Yunzhang took off his mask, feeling he shouldn't be "stealing" his own property. After some searching, they found the seal, only to discover it was a foul-smelling counterfeit, making it clear Liu Xie had played a trick on them. Jinfeng, back in her palace, was anxiously awaiting Duan Yunzhang’s visit, contemplating her growing feelings for him. Instead, Liu Xie arrived.
He told Jinfeng that while her mother couldn't visit the palace, he would arrange for Jinfeng to return home to visit after Duan Yunzhang's enthronement. Jinfeng, worried that Yu Changya might intercept her, requested Xuan (Duan Yunzhang) to accompany her.
Liu Xie agreed but detailed the arduous process Duan Yunzhang had to undergo before taking the reins: first, "being beaten," which involved immersing himself in clear water for three days and three nights for purification while being massaged by eunuchs; second, "being green," requiring a seven-day vegetarian diet to cleanse his inner body; and third, "being touched," where the imperial robe was precisely measured by hand to fit him perfectly.
Before leaving, Liu Xie presented Jinfeng with a large box, claiming it was a gift for her performance in the examination and instructing her to give it to His Majesty. Jinfeng was suspicious of the gift. Later, Sufang reported that the Empress Dowager was very pleased with Jinfeng's cotton rose candles and had ordered them distributed to all palaces. Hearing that some were destined for Baiyu in the Western Warm Palace, Jinfeng decided to deliver them herself.
Baiyu, however, was dismissive. Jinfeng confronted her, pointing out that Baiyu’s supposed love for Duan Yunzhang had nearly ruined him. Baiyu retorted that Jinfeng was clearly in love with the Emperor herself. This observation surprised Jinfeng, but she soon embraced her feelings, resolving to proactively win Duan Yunzhang's heart. With the enthronement ceremony drawing near, Duan Yunzhang was desperate for the Imperial Seal. He and his companions, Chai Tiezhou and Xiao Tang, discussed where Liu Xie might have hidden it.
Duan Yunzhang also wondered why Jinfeng hadn't responded to him and if she truly had no feelings for him. In Xiangluo Hall, Jinfeng grew impatient with Duan Yunzhang for not having thanked her since the exam results were announced. She decided to take initiative and "win his heart." As she asked Sufang for stationery, she opened the box Liu Xie had given her and discovered that it contained the real Imperial Seal.
That evening, Baiyu's mother warned her not to upset Liu Xie, emphasizing their precarious position without his support. Baiyu apologized for her misjudgment. Duan Yunchong, caught eavesdropping outside her room, apologized to Baiyu. He explained that he had asked her to confess for her own good, believing that a beautiful appearance without a good heart leads to no good end. Baiyu angrily accused him of being uneducated and wrong in everything he said and did, then stormed back inside.
Returning to Chonghua Hall, Duan Yunchong pondered why Baiyu was so upset, and it suddenly dawned on him that he might have fallen in love with her. On the day of the enthronement ceremony, Duan Yunzhang was still anxious about the missing Imperial Seal. To his surprise, Jinfeng appeared and presented it. Upon seeing the inscription on the seal's base—"Together, the Emperor and the Queen can achieve great success"—Duan Yunzhang was deeply moved, and the enthronement ceremony proceeded successfully.
At Lingshu Academy, Yu Changya was delighted by the arrival of his new equipment from the Western Region. Jinfeng burst in, furious, accusing him of ruining her reputation. She showed him posters he had plastered on palace walls, depicting a beautified image of her under the title "Beauty Recipe of the Palace," claiming eternal youth. Many palace maids, realizing they had been tricked after seeing the real Jinfeng, were now demanding refunds from Yu Changya.
He corrected Jinfeng on the term "purity" versus "reputation" and assured her that with his efforts, the advertisement would "become a reality." He even suggested they elope if his beauty plans failed. Jinfeng confessed she had fallen for someone: "His figure is like a noodle," she described, "a little thin indeed. His face is like a white bun—solid, full, and heavy.
His personality is like corn, each layer clearly separated, genuine, nothing false, and the kernels are sweet and suitable for all ages. He’s still like a three-year-old Laobaigan Wine—the longer it is, the better it tastes." Yu Changya was touched, believing she was describing him, but Jinfeng clarified, "It's His Majesty!" Unwilling to give up, Yu Changya warned Jinfeng that after enthronement, the Emperor's desire to control would increase.
He would "brainwash" her, make her believe everything he said was right, forget his vows, and take concubines as he pleased. Leaving Lingshu Academy, Jinfeng was disheartened when she saw a line of twenty-odd beautiful women being led past, fearing Yu Changya's predictions were coming true. Duan Yunzhang, contemplating new consorts, chose to keep one named Mo Mu, despite her plain appearance.
He explained to Su Jingtang that an emperor could use her looks to ward off misfortune, just as the legendary Yellow Emperor did. At Qintian Pavilion, Jinfeng approached Prince Longyue, asking him to teach her the song "Husband and wife are birds of the same forest." Later, in the imperial court, Jinfeng sang the lively tune. The ministers tried to stifle their laughter, and Duan Yunzhang had no choice but to dismiss the court.
Back in Xiangluo Hall, Jinfeng told Sufang that her singing was part of her "brainwashing" strategy, the first of the "Thirty-Six Stratagems of Love." Sufang then recalled her mother's advice: to win a man's heart, one must first satisfy his appetite. Jinfeng, seeing the wisdom in this, enthusiastically declared that Sufang had earned a great deal of credit. Chai Tiezhou invited Duan Yunzhang to the Imperial Kitchen for lunch, promising a surprise.
Jinfeng, who had learned to cook, presented the meal to Duan Yunzhang, claiming she had made it all herself. Duan Yunzhang complimented her much-improved cooking, even saying it was better than Chai's. Chai, hiding behind the stove, could no longer contain himself and emerged to reveal that the food was not prepared by Jinfeng. Jinfeng quickly corrected him, asserting it wasn't his cooking either.
Late that night, Duan Yunzhang had a craving for grilled fish, roast chicken, and prawns but decided against disturbing Shuan. Shuan reminded him of his own earlier decree that his word was law and not to be questioned, a statement Duan Yunzhang then denied having made. Meanwhile, Jinfeng felt uneasy about Duan Yunzhang's lack of a reaction. Sufang encouraged her, saying that such efforts required "hard work" and persistence, and would eventually yield results. Inspired once more, Jinfeng exclaimed that Sufang had earned yet another credit.
