Episode 32 recap: A Mai was conferred the title of Imperial Noble Consort.
A Mai prepared to enter the palace but was stopped. She told them that she was no longer the Marshal of the Northern Army, and they didn't need to address her as Marshal Mai anymore. Prime Minister Lin told Lin Ze Rou that she is the Empress and should assume the responsibilities of managing the six palaces. Lin Ze Rou wanted to keep Xiuer in the palace, and A Mai decided to stay as well since Lin Ze Rou was so enthusiastic about it.
Lin Ze Rou picked up the little tiger on the Shang Yi Zhi table and asked if she could have it. It was a gift from A Mai to Shang Yi Zhi. A Mai told Lin Ze Rou that the item held great significance for her, but she could make one for her in the future if she wanted.
Shang Yi Zhi issued an edict conferring the title of Imperial Noble Consort upon A Mai. A Mai clenched her fists in anger. Shang Yi Zhi placed a letter and the tiger into a box and instructed Mu Bai to deliver it to A Mai. As Mu Bai left the palace, he ran into Lin Ze Rou, who noticed the tiger and asked if it was for her. Mu Bai informed her that he was delivering it to A Mai as per orders.
Mu Bai told A Mai that he was ordered to go to the Duke Sheng's residence. Lin Ze Rou asked if she could accompany him. After reading the letter from Shang Yi Zhi to A Mai, Lin Ze Rou brought the items to the Duke Sheng's residence. Lin Ze Rou told A Mai that as long as she held the position of Empress, she would be the only one allowed to accompany the Emperor.
She informed A Mai that she brought her a congratulatory gift. When A Mai saw the woven grass tiger, her heart ached, and she dismantled it. Lin Ze Rou didn't give A Mai the letter from Shang Yi Zhi but returned it to her along with the token of their love as a gift from herself.
A Mai angrily entered the palace and stormed into the main hall, where she met Shang Yi Zhi. A Mai asked him why he did this, and Shang Yi Zhi told her that he didn't want her to leave. A Mai asked him why he cut off his own wings, and Shang Yi Zhi told her he hadn't and that if she wanted, she could still live in the Duke Sheng's residence.
A Mai didn't say anything and left directly. Zhang Da Jian, who was by the Emperor's side, informed Lin Ze Rou that she should go to rest as the Emperor wouldn't come today. Lin Ze Rou told him that she had arranged a house and fields in Xuzhou in his name and had brought her father and younger brother there, and they were living well now.
After hearing this, Zhang Da Jian asked her how he could help her. Lin Ze Rou asked him why the Emperor didn't come today, and Zhang Da Jian told her that the Emperor had left the palace.
A Mai went to the camp of the Northern Army and had a drink with Tang Shao Yi and Wang Qi. They were all very happy. When Shang Yi Zhi arrived, they quickly left. He asked A Mai why she didn't invite him when she had good food. A Mai was drunk and asked Shang Yi Zhi why he came. Shang Yi Zhi asked her why she was avoiding him when he had already made his intentions clear.
A Mai sadly said that he was already married, so why was he still bothering her. Shang Yi Zhi drank alone to drown his sorrows, and he looked at the moon in the sky as if he saw A Mai's face. Lin Ze Rou was troubled because A Mai became the Imperial Noble Consort. She went to discuss a solution with Prime Minister Lin, who told her that as long as she could see the Emperor, it would be enough.
Prime Minister Lin told Lin Ze Rou that as long as she stayed for one day, the position of Empress would be hers. Lin Ze Rou confined Xu Xiu Er in the palace to force A Mai to enter. A Mai had no choice but to enter the palace for Xu Xiu Er's sake. Shang Yi Zhi was delighted to see that A Mai decided to enter the palace, but she didn't pay any attention to him and just held onto Xu Xiu Er as they left.
Lin Ze Rou ordered her maids to tell the Emperor not to tire himself out and to visit the harem when he had time. As soon as the Emperor arrived in front of A Mai's hall, she immediately closed the door upon seeing him. Qi Yu was practicing slingshot in the imperial garden, and he accidentally hit Noble Consort Ning with a stone. Noble Consort Ning sought the Empress's intervention, and the Empress severely punished Qi Yu.
A Mai heard that it was Qi Yu who had accidentally hit Noble Consort Ning while practicing slingshot in the imperial garden. She understood that children should be punished when they make mistakes, but seeing Qi Yu being punished so severely, she couldn't help but confront the Empress. The Empress was infuriated by A Mai's arguments and fainted.
Everyone quickly called for a physician to examine her. After the diagnosis, the physician hurried to inform the Emperor that the Empress was pregnant. A Mai felt relieved upon hearing the news. She went to bid farewell to Shang Yi Zhi and told him that she had been thinking a lot recently. She realized that she didn't belong there. Shang Yi Zhi was still trying to persuade A Mai to stay, but she revealed her scar-covered back, telling the Emperor that only she knew who she truly was when she saw those scars.
A Mai is both a lucky star and a wise strategist for Shang. Without her guidance, Shang would be a clueless fool. It's understandable that he doesn't suspect Prime Minister Lin because of his kindness. After all, it's the perfect alliance between Lin and the eldest princess that helped Shang secure his position.
He still loves A Mai, you can tell by how he lowers his voice and follows her lead in front of her. But he's no match for palace intrigues and power struggles. Shang's influence in politics is still weak, and he needs to go through another palace coup to grow.
And the one who will come to save him is definitely A Mai. A Mai joining the military is equivalent to fulfilling Shang's destiny. Who says A Mai doesn't love Shang? They love each other and have become indispensable to each other through life and death.
But the future developments will make them become people from two different worlds. Because A Mai, with her military background, despises scheming and power struggles. The love she desires is pure and unique. It's inevitable that she will eventually leave Shang, but she will silently protect him in her heart!
This is true love.