Episode 16 recap: Empress Xuan confronted Concubine Shufei and Consort Lizhao.
Soon, it was time for the moon-viewing gathering, and Zhao Ruoji approached. Shufei called her and claimed that her hand was injured, preventing her from peeling chestnuts, so she asked Zhao Ruoji for help. Zhao Ruoji knew that Shufei wanted to punish herself because she hadn't participated in the poisoning plot, implying that if Shufei couldn't accomplish something, Zhao Ruoji couldn't either.
Consort Lizhao came over and expressed her desire to play a game with Zhao Ruoji. The punishment for losing was that Zhao Ruoji had to guess which hand of Consort Lizhao was hiding something. Zhao Ruoji answered that neither hand had anything. Consort Lizhao declared that Zhao Ruoji guessed correctly and commanded her to shine her shoes, claiming that someone useless like Zhao Ruoji wouldn't even have the opportunity to shine her shoes in the future.
The Empress and the Holy One arrived, and the Holy One announced that he had good news. He called Empress Xuan over and revealed that her health had fully recovered, which was the cause for celebration that day. Empress Xuan presented lapis lazuli powder as evidence that Shufei intended to harm Consort Lizhao. The imperial physician confirmed that he had found the same lapis lazuli powder in the food consumed by Consort Lizhao a few days ago.
Empress Xuan asked Shufei why she had done such a thing, and Shufei explained that the people on Consort Lizhao's side were numerous and bullying them, even targeting her and her son. Empress Xuan presented Consort Lizhao's jade pendant, claiming that everyone on her side possessed the same pendant. The Holy One expressed his disdain for factionalism and private interests.
Comments(Episode 16)