Episode 17 recap: The Empress reprimanded Zhao Ruoci.
Empress ignored Consort Lizhao's plea for mercy and didn't pay attention to her. Consort Lizhao and Consort Shufei asked Zhao Ruoci to speak on their behalf, but Zhao Ruoci quickly stated that she was merely an onlooker. Afterward, the Empress called Zhao Ruoci and asked if she had any involvement in the matter. Zhao Ruoci claimed that she was insignificant and couldn't possibly be responsible for so much.
The Empress pointed out that both Consort Lizhao and Consort Shufei had begged Zhao Ruoci for mercy, and she had achieved so much. The Empress saw Zhao Ruoci as someone with potential, but they didn't consider winning her over. Zhao Ruoci suggested that they might have thought they were doing well recently, so they asked for her help, but it had nothing to do with her. The Empress ordered a slap as a lesson for Zhao Ruoci.
Knowing that Zhao Ruoci was summoned by the Empress, Liu Rufan worried about her and waited anxiously. Finally, she saw Zhao Ruoci return. Liu Rufan informed Zhao Ruoci that the Empress had been pretending to be sick because her family was from a military background, and gaining power would make the Emperor wary. Now that Consort Xuangui had emerged, the Empress became extremely concerned and stopped pretending to be sick.
The Empress gathered everyone and discussed the matter of the Third Prince. Consort Shufei could no longer raise the three children, so they needed to find someone else. The others thought Zhao Ruoci would be a good choice.
Comments(Episode 17)