Episode 35 recap: Liu Yan said that Mu Zhuo Hua was Liu Chen's mistress.
Rou Jia Gong Zhu expressed her lack of understanding towards Zhen Guo Da Chang Gong Zhu. She was so close to that position back then, but she didn't have the courage to step up. Rou Jia Gong Zhu stated that she was not Zhen Guo Da Chang Gong Zhu and that she would not be content with staying in that small corner of Jiangnan.
On this side, Liu Chen hosted a banquet for his officials. A eunuch came over to remind Liu Chen that he should go and toast the Empress Dowager. Although Liu Chen was reluctant to deal with the flattery and scheming of those women, he had to go. The Empress Dowager had summoned all the noble ladies in the capital, hoping that the Emperor would find someone he liked. A young lady came to toast Liu Chen, but he completely ignored her.
The Empress Dowager was also displeased and asked Liu Chen what he really wanted. Liu Chen thought of Liu Yan, even though he didn't know why he remembered her. The Empress Dowager thought that since Liu Chen didn't have any intentions, she would let it go. Ye Mu Zhen came over to toast Liu Chen on behalf of Beiliang.
Liu Chen could only accept and drink it. Mu Zhuo Hua's clothes were wet from being splashed by Gong Nv, and she said she had another set of clothes in the Ministry of Revenue. Gong Nv asked Mu Zhuo Hua to wait in the side hall while she went to get the clothes. Liu Chen realized that something was wrong and went to the side hall to rest, but he didn't expect Mu Zhuo Hua to be there.
Liu Chen was drugged, and Mu Zhuo Hua was surprised to see him. Mu Zhuo Hua wanted to leave but found that the door was locked. The Empress Dowager and Rou Jia Gong Zhu arrived, and palace attendants came to report to the Empress that there was a man and woman inside the Warm Pavilion. The Empress Dowager was furious and said she wanted to go and see who was defiling the palace. When they arrived, only Liu Chen was there, throwing a tantrum and saying that he didn't care about himself. Ye Mu Zhen thought that only Liu Yan would dare to act this way.
Mu Zhuo Hua and Liu Yan went back and realized that it had been really dangerous today. Fortunately, Liu Yan arrived in time.
When Liu Yan noticed that Mu Zhuo Hua was missing, she found it strange and went to look for her. Sun Yun Yun intercepted Liu Yan on the way and expressed her willingness to become Liu Yan's concubine. Liu Yan outright refused, saying that she didn't want to mistreat Mu Zhuo Hua.
Liu Chen told Mu Zhuo Hua not to waste her efforts and that he would open the door when he recovered. Mu Zhuo Hua thought that by then, the person who wanted to frame them for having a private relationship would also come to catch them, and someone would be jealous. Only then did Liu Chen realize that Mu Zhuo Hua had already found someone she liked. Mu Zhuo Hua said that this person understood her, respected her, and recognized her talent. In fact, she had liked him for a long time.
Liu Yan happened to arrive at the door and overheard their conversation. Mu Zhuo Hua wanted to give Liu Yan a formal status and asked Guo Ju Li to go out and prepare something. Mu Zhuo Hua was surprised to see Guo Ju Li come back with two ducks and didn't know why he bought them.
Guo Ju Li explained that they were substitute geese because he couldn't find real geese. He could only find the two ducks that looked the most similar. Mu Zhuo Hua wanted to make clothes for Liu Yan when the chief steward came to inform her that someone had accused her. Mu Zhuo Hua rushed over, and the ministers claimed that Mu Zhuo Hua and Liu Yan had a private relationship. According to the law, Mu Zhuo Hua could no longer hold an official position.
Liu Yan received the news and hurried over, admitting that she indeed had a private relationship with Mu Zhuo Hua. She was Mu Zhuo Hua's mistress because she knew Mu Zhuo Hua's aspirations and didn't want to restrict her with marriage. Since Mu Zhuo Hua hadn't married, she naturally hadn't violated any laws.
Liu Chen punished Liu Yan to kneel in the ancestral temple for two hours and docked Mu Zhuo Hua's salary for a month. Others felt that the punishment was too light, but Liu Chen declared that the matter was settled. Some ministers thought that Liu Yan had brought shame to all men, and Mu Zhuo Hua asked Liu Yan if she would regret it. Liu Yan naturally wouldn't.
Mu Zhuo Hua returned to the Ministry of Revenue, and everyone felt that Mu Zhuo Hua and Liu Yan were deeply in love but couldn't be together due to the law. They were grateful for that.
Mu Zhuo Hua is not only intelligent with extremely high standards, but also has the ability to recognize and understand people.
People always say that the prince is ruthless, resembling the fearsome Yama, capable of scaring children. They also spread negative news about the prince's defeat in the Battle of Juma River, highlighting the losses and setbacks.
However, Mu Zhuo Hua doesn't believe it. She questions the events of that battle and instinctively believes that the prince is a kind-hearted person with courage and strategy.
In addition to the prince, Mu Zhuo Hua is also a loyal fan of the princess. Her admiration for the princess began with a chance encounter in her childhood.
She knew the princess long before she met the prince. The princess's words inspired and encouraged her to strive for greater things and help others.
When they met again as adults, despite knowing that she was being used, the princess still saved Mu Zhuo Hua from being chased and surrounded.
Mu Zhuo Hua was deeply grateful. Besides the prince and the princess, Mu Zhuo Hua had a circle of friends who were like sisters to her, including the powerful individuals around her, Zhi MoZhi Jian by the prince's side, the fallen sisters on the flower street, and the later triumvirate.
These were all friends that Mu Zhuo Hua carefully cultivated and befriended. If placed in the present day, Mu Zhuo Hua would truly be an extraordinary HR professional. She knows how to assess and utilize people, and understands the art of compromise and concession.
She is kind-hearted and never judges a person based on their background. Her kindness and sincerity ensure that Mu Zhuo Hua will never lead an ordinary and uneventful life; she is destined to achieve remarkable and earth-shaking events.
After all, she has already gathered so much support around her up until now.
The Empress Dowager is truly domineering.
I understand that it's not easy for someone like you, who has contributed to the royal family, to see your own descendants face difficulties. However, they are all of royal blood, and you shouldn't harm others' offspring in order to protect your own.
Moreover, your son already rules over the entire kingdom. Are you so afraid of others harboring intentions to seize the throne that you must eradicate them before they become a threat?
As a result, outsiders have benefited while your own soldiers and interests have been sacrificed. How do you justify this?
Perhaps it's because we fail to grasp the scheming nature of this old lady, how she plans for the future of her descendants. Maybe she has a narrow vision, only seeing what is near and fearing threats to her son's position.
She's even someone who observes religious practices. Have you noticed that more and more people like her turn to religion because they have committed so many wrongs that they can't find peace at night? They hope that through their constant prayers and recitations, they can save themselves and atone for their sins, as if this will bring them inner peace and safety.
If all evil deeds could be absolved in this way, it would be terrifying. Everyone would simply make mistakes, knowing that they can find redemption through faith.
Do good people turn bad, or do bad people simply grow old? I believe it's mostly the latter. Even if bad people age, their nature is difficult to change. Regardless of the misfortunes they encounter in life, they still have their own considerations and boundaries when it comes to distinguishing right from wrong.
And those who are inherently bad are unlikely to find the path of righteousness. Just like the Empress Dowager, when the princess talks about her, there is clearly a deep-seated resentment. So, she is undoubtedly an example of a bad person growing old.
The prince is fond of Zhuo Hua. It's unclear whether it's because she deliberately or unintentionally entangles him, or because of her intelligence, or perhaps because of her beautiful appearance.
In any case, the prince has fallen into the depths of love and cannot extricate himself. However, as a man, he always has doubts. He worries that the woman he loves is not interested in him but rather the external factors that elevate him, such as his appearance, status, or wealth.
Isn't it the same in reality? Many young men focus on establishing their careers before settling down. They believe that only after gaining social status and wealth are they deserving of love and relationships.
They are reluctant to let women go through the hardships and bitterness of life together with them. Instead, they hope to achieve success first and then enjoy the fruits of victory with their beloved women.
However, once they achieve success, they find themselves surrounded by women, and they struggle to discern their true intentions.
They encounter demands for gifts, cosmetics, houses, cars... These blatant requests for love make them unsure whether the women truly love them or their wealth.
On one hand, they are paying for things, while on the other hand, they have doubts in their hearts. Gradually, after being deceived several times, their hearts become numb. They start to believe that all women are materialistic and that true love doesn't exist. It's all about mutual benefit and putting on a show.
They think they should pursue the hottest women, drink the strongest alcohol, so that their lives appear perfect. After all, they can afford it, so why not indulge?
Love becomes a joke, a mismatched concept. But is love just a story?
No, love is everywhere; it depends on whether you put in the effort.
Look at the way the Empress Dowager sits high and punishes Zhuo Hua. Just by looking at her, you can tell she's a stubborn person. The more people plead for mercy, the more she takes delight in refusing to relent.
Even when everyone else has given in, just to spare Zhuo Hua's life, her three grandsons speak up, her granddaughter speaks up, and even her own son speaks up.
The more they plead, the more arrogant she becomes, and the more severe the punishment becomes. Perhaps it's precisely because the Empress Dowager is ruthless that the Prince subtly speaks in reverse, saying on one hand that the punishment is too lenient and should be investigated, while on the other hand, emphasizing Zhuo Hua's status as an official of the court.
He outwardly supports the Empress Dowager's actions while arguing his case and presenting the facts. He is merely stating these arguments but intentionally taking the Empress Dowager's side.
The Empress Dowager is not a fool. With the Prince's words, she naturally knows that she is the one without a valid argument, but she can't step down.
Fortunately, at this moment, the granddaughter of the Emperor arrives. The Emperor's granddaughter is also a ruthless person, who doesn't bother with reason. She just comes to see the Empress Dowager and advises her to take care of her own health, warning against getting too angry and damaging herself. That's a way out for the Empress Dowager.
With this back and forth, the Empress Dowager, looking at those who have spoken up, can no longer persist. She also can't just strike them all down, as it would leave her without a defense when they refute her later.
So, she reluctantly backs down. Looking at the Buddha beads in the old lady's hand, almost crushed from her grip, you can tell how angry she is. She envies everyone speaking up for Zhuo Hua and resents that Zhuo Hua, in the end, didn't bow down and apologize.
There are many such ruthless people in life, and dealing with them requires a reverse approach, just as it is with this type of person.
Zhuo Hua explored her grandfather's garden and accidentally encountered the prince when she climbed over a wall. The prince captured her with his large hand, leaving a crimson mark on her neck.
It turns out even people in ancient times knew how to grow strawberries, but they misunderstood the situation quite naturally. Coincidentally, Zhuo Hua had a scheduled dinner the next day.
The attendees were all obnoxious men, seemingly refined and elegant, but eager to make a big deal out of her gender, like sour Confucian scholars.
In order to establish her authority, Zhuo Hua reluctantly agreed to attend.
As the top scholar, he must be concerned about the princess, but the princess also sympathizes with Zhuo Hua. So, as the top scholar, he naturally has to protect Zhuo Hua with all his might.
However, due to a series of unfortunate events, people who spread gossip witnessed their interactions and started spreading rumors about the two of them.
These rumors are truly terrifyingly audacious.
It turns out the tongues of ancient people were quite long, with one person telling three, and three people telling a whole group.
Soon, everyone knew about Zhuo Hua and the top scholar, as an enamored couple.
What's even more frightening is that the next day, this gossip was printed into books and widely circulated.
The affair between the top scholar and the second-ranked scholar, it's truly a fascinating topic, a fresh masterpiece that hasn't been seen before.
Upon hearing this news, the prince couldn't sit still. He acted out of jealousy and refused Zhuo Hua at the door several times, without even giving her a chance to explain. Actually, the most captivating episode was when the top scholar brought hairpins for the princess.
The prince couldn't help but show his tenderness towards Zhuo Hua, preparing many bitter medicines for her to drink.
Is this a sweet form of punishment?
Is it too exhausting for a woman to bear so much and accomplish great things? Originally, her adventure and courage were only focused on uncovering her mother's background.
Later, after getting to know the prince, it became an incidental task to unravel the prince's emotional knots, and to uncover the truth behind the Battle of Juma River, who set the trap and what the secrets were.
Can such a delicate girl be so brave? In our society, more and more girls are no longer following the conservative path of being a good wife and mother, but instead taking on the role of challenging the strong in life.
Is this about overturning the rules of the world?
Does it mean that when women become powerful, they no longer need to have children and carry on the family legacy, and can single-handedly raise the banner of prosperity for their entire family and country?
As for household chores, taking care of children, comforting both sets of parents, and even the most difficult task of giving birth, let the men handle it all.
Haha, it doesn't sound bad, does it?
Let's switch roles and experience it for ourselves. I may not know how many of our female compatriots are still among the top 100 companies now, but I do see more and more women around me occupying high positions in both their families and careers.
They are gradually gaining a voice, making their own decisions, and taking a stance. I think this is a positive phenomenon. Women may be more delicate and sensitive, but so what? It doesn't mean that they are incapable of achieving great things.
Zhuo Hua has set a good example, so let's follow suit. We men are also willing to take on responsibilities at home and cook a delicious meal.
The general's only daughter, drifting through half of her life, sought nothing more than to live a good life. She exhausted all her strength to survive, evading the pursuit of enemies and striving to acquire skills.
In the midst of the glitz and glamour, she sought a livelihood, only desiring to live peacefully and end her life in such a manner. However, even such a humble wish couldn't be fulfilled.
She ended up dead, betrayed by a traitor, not through a blatant assassination.
The Empress Dowager was truly ruthless, willing to sacrifice others' lives and disregard her son's pleas in order to secure her own offspring's position and maintain her own stability in power.
Survival in the royal court is not easy. Those with talent must strive to win the favor of the Emperor, hoping to one day ascend to the throne.
One must seek reliance and find protection to avoid the schemes of siblings and the calamities of the world.
Is the life of the Queen's son the most fortunate? Not necessarily. If he is cunning enough, he can do whatever it takes for the sake of the country, employing any means necessary while enjoying the fruits of his labor.
But this Emperor lives in constant fear and anxiety, worrying about battles on the border every day and guarding against his own mother's machinations against his brothers.
Can such a life be called happiness?
Just as she was about to rise to the top, she perished in the prime of her youth.
What was the point? Perhaps it was the relentless pursuit of revenge that kept her going, or else why not lead a peaceful life in a small village?
Oh, humans, there's no need to be too exceptional. Being average is enough. Isn't it exhausting to be constantly striving and fighting? In the end, if you lose your life, what good is it all for?
Zhuhua has always been independent based on her own abilities. She first molded herself into an overlooked transparent figure and then did everything she could to acquire knowledge.
Once her wings were fully grown, she began planning an escape. Escaping for the sake of achieving academic success is quite unusual and not often seen in many stories.
Nevertheless, it's still an engagement she made. Zhuhua's runaway this time is also intertwined with this arranged marriage.
Zhuhua, who successfully escaped to the capital city, didn't have an easy time.
In order to disguise herself, she first rented a house in the Flower Street to seek shelter. Initially, she intended to focus on studying for her exams.
However, fate had other plans. Have you ever seen a maid who earns more money than their master and keeps them plump and well-fed?
Well, Zhuhua is one such maid.
She first helped her sisters who were engaged in the profession of selling smiles by providing them with medicine, and in the process, she earned enough to support both herself and her servant.
Later on, due to a fortuitous encounter, she crossed paths with the legendary Lord of the Underworld. The lord became Zhuhua's final reliance and support.
Apart from the lord, there's also the princess who can be counted as one. The princess's life hasn't been easy either. She has also endured a lot of hardships since childhood, evident from the bite marks on her wrist and the desolate look when mentioning the Empress Dowager.
The princess isn't all glamorous and lofty; she also has many hidden struggles. I haven't grasped the character of the princess accurately, so I'm not sure if she has always been a fragile dependent or if she eventually starts doing things for the people's welfare.
Perhaps there will be significant hidden plotlines and arrangements in the later stages. As individuals, we shouldn't fight alone. When we find someone we can confide in, we entrust ourselves to them.
Joining forces with strength is the right choice.