Episode 27 recap: Princess Rou Jia secretly plotted.
Shen Jinghong congratulated Princess Rou Jia for avenging her mother's death. Princess Rou Jia expressed her gratitude to Shen Jinghong for his assistance, and Shen Jinghong stated that without Princess Rou Jia, he wouldn't be where he is today. Princess Rou Jia mentioned that once everything is accomplished, Shen Jinghong would become the prime minister, superior to all others. Shen Jinghong responded that he wanted Princess Rou Jia's heart more than the position of prime minister.
Princess Rou Jia revealed that she had been imitating the late emperor's handwriting and that it would come in handy now. She mentioned that the Jishan Hall had collected a lot of intelligence for her, and she had obtained information about Yun Xiang Yue. She used her name to establish a fictitious tomb, which prompted Liu Yan to investigate the past.
Princess Rou Jia sought cooperation with the Third Prince of Beiliang, proposing a marriage alliance. She knew that the Empress Dowager would go along with it, considering her own interests. By accepting the proposal, Princess Rou Jia could gain a better reputation, as she sacrificed herself for the country. She knew that Liu Yan would oppose such actions, but surprisingly, the Emperor did not say anything, which disappointed Princess Rou Jia and made her realize that even family affection couldn't be relied upon.
Princess Rou Jia knew that Mu Zhuohua was on her side and anticipated that he would come to her once he learned about the marriage alliance. She planned to make Mu Zhuohua see the Beiliang people packing their belongings, and he would inform Liu Yan. Once Liu Yan investigated, he would discover the news of the Beiliang King's illness, leading to negotiations with the Third Prince and ultimately abandoning the marriage alliance plan.
When Princess Rou Jia first saw Xue Xiaotang, she recognized him immediately. She intentionally let Xue Xiaotang see the portrait she painted, which made Xue Xiaotang devoted to her. Princess Rou Jia couldn't let Xue Xiaotang hide, so she lured him out, and Xue Xiaotang exposed the Empress Dowager. The only thing she didn't anticipate was that the Emperor, in order to ease the conflict between the Empress Dowager and Liu Yan, drank poisoned wine himself, which made the Empress Dowager extremely angry. Shen Jinghong congratulated Princess Rou Jia for avenging her mother's death, and Princess Rou Jia expressed her gratitude to Shen Jinghong for his assistance.
Years ago, when Shen Jinghong was bullied, it was Princess Rou Jia who helped him. Princess Rou Jia acknowledged that it was difficult for someone from a humble background to rise to power when influential families held sway. She advised Shen Jinghong to study hard and climb higher positions to change everything.
Shen Jinghong wished to always be by Princess Rou Jia's side, but she said it was not possible at the moment. She had to stay close to Liu Chen, who would surely value her. Princess Rou Jia repeated that once everything was accomplished, Shen Jinghong would become the prime minister, superior to all others. Shen Jinghong responded that Liu Chen could also grant him the position of prime minister, but what he truly desired was Princess Rou Jia's heart.
Princess Rou Jia said she didn't have a heart, but Shen Jinghong believed she did. Shen Jinghong wrote a fake testament, and Princess Rou Jia mentioned that she had been imitating the late emperor's handwriting, which would come in handy now.
Previously, Princess Rou Jia's mother saved a eunuch who wanted to repay her. He passed the fake testament to be read aloud. When the testament was announced, it declared the Second Prince as the emperor, and the Second Prince was pleased to hear it.
Liu Yan stated that the late emperor had told him about writing two testaments, with the other one hidden in a secret compartment near his bed. The other testament revealed that the Crown Prince should be the emperor. Now, with two conflicting testaments, people argued over their authenticity, and some suspected that Liu Yan had switched the testaments. Liu Yan stated that if they wanted to switch the testaments, he wouldn't leave the other one untouched.
Liu Yan claimed that this was the work of the Beiliang faction, to provoke their conflict and let the Second and Third Princes stay in his residence. Princess Rou Jia initially wanted Liu Chen to eliminate the other two princes, but now that Liu Yan had attributed the matter to the Beiliang faction, her plan couldn't be executed.
Liu Chen ascended the throne, and Liu Yan secretly visited him. Liu Chen told Liu Yan not to bow, but Liu Yan believed that etiquette should not be abandoned, and Liu Chen should learn how to be an emperor. Liu Chen initially thought the Second Prince should be responsible for this matter, but Liu Yan disagreed. Furthermore, the late emperor did not want to see their brotherhood strained.
Liu Chen suggested finding an opportunity for the Second and Third Princes to leave the capital and stay away from the court.
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