Episode 9 recap: The Emperor was once again forced to press the jade seal.
Fang You suddenly started vomiting blood by the roadside, and the people from the Ministry of Justice also arrived at the scene. The Imperial Guards and the Ministry of Justice fought over the possession of the body, even drawing their swords in confrontation. The soldiers of Prime Minister Xiao had entered the palace without being summoned, which Yan Zhangyun reminded him was an affront to the Imperial authority. Prime Minister Xiao tried to frame the former subordinates of the Qin family for his son's crime of selling counterfeit cinnabar powder, in an attempt to manipulate the Emperor again.
To satisfy the Empress Xiao's desire for a child, the Emperor publicly ordered her to undress. Chu Yue was asked by her mother to entertain customers, but she cried and said she was Yan Zhangyun's woman and would not serve others. Yan Zhangyun promptly sent the monthly silver and showed concern for Chu Yue. Seeing this, the mother tactfully withdrew. At this time, Xiao Qiangzi, who had been tracking Yan Zhangyun, arrived at the brothel and directly scolded Yan Zhangyun for betraying his duty as a commander.
Yan Zhangyun scolded Xiao Qiangzi the eunuch for his audacity, and Xiao Qiangzi's true female identity was exposed by the mother. Xiao Qiangzi, wanting to take revenge on Yan Zhangyun, had deliberately set traps in his room. Later, Xiao Qiangzi reconsidered, as Yan Zhangyun had saved him before, and did not want Yan Zhangyun to be harmed. Xiao Qiangzi went back to warn Yan Zhangyun about the traps and confess that his Sect disciple had come to kill Yan Zhangyun, but Xiao Qiangzi did not want to do it himself after getting to know Yan Zhangyun as a good person.
Seeing the sincerity of Xiao Qiangzi, Yan Zhangyun struggled to control his own emotions. He knew he could not indulge in such sentiments when Chu Yue and Uncle Lei were still suffering. Yan Zhangyun trained himself tirelessly as a reminder. Outside the room, Xiao Qiangzi kept apologizing, but Yan Zhangyun was observing from a distance, unwilling to face Xiao Qiangzi and striving to suppress his feelings for her.
Fang You appeared on the streets in a frenzy, shouting that he would ascend to immortality, then collapsed on the road vomiting blood. At this time, A Cheng and the Imperial Guards happened to be there, while the Ministry of Justice people also rushed to fight over the body. Prime Minister Xiao came to question Yan Zhangyun for removing Fang You's body without permission, and the two argued, even bringing the matter to the Emperor.
The Emperor had learned of the situation in advance and hid in the Empress' quarters to avoid the two. Prime Minister Xiao and Yan Zhangyun went to the Empress' palace, but Xiao Qiangzi threatened them with the crime of disturbing the Emperor and Empress, forcing them to desist.
Xiao Quanzi resolutely prevented Prime Minister Xiao, and the Emperor was very pleased. But soon after sitting down, Prime Minister Xiao returned to the palace with a blank imperial edict, citing the will of the previous Emperor to claim the right of "executing first, then reporting." His incessant chatter reminded the Emperor of how Xiao had used this tactic to harm the Qin Yan family in the past, and the Emperor was once again forced to affix the imperial seal.
That night, Xiao Quan gave his father the list of people involved with the Zhu Yinfen powder. Prime Minister Xiao, for the sake of his only son, was willing to frame the loyal ministers to protect him. Xiao Quan told his father that he was now the one with all the power, but he disdained such a position - he wanted to occupy the highest seat. Prime Minister Xiao did not expect his son to scheme for power and the throne, and warned him not to ruin the generations of loyal service of the Xiao family.
Prime Minister Xiao spent the night writing on the blank imperial edict. The saddened Emperor drank heavily, lamenting that he had been a mere puppet since childhood, and wondered if Qin Yan's spirit in heaven resented him. Yan Zhang Yun, standing by, recalled their childhood pact and comforted the Emperor, urging him not to give up and that he would regain all that was lost.
Resentful of Prime Minister Xiao, the Empress Dowager personally brought a nourishing medicine to the Emperor. The Emperor, disheartened, consumed the medicine and angrily ordered the Empress Dowager to undress and fulfill her wish to share his bed. The body of Fang You was taken away by the Ministry of Justice, and Yan Zhang Yun was not angered, but felt that the fox's tail would soon be revealed.
When the Emperor awoke, he asked Xiao Quanzi if his actions last night were too excessive. Xiao Quanzi listed the Emperor's many mistakes, and the Emperor realized his errors. Considering his status, he did not want to lower himself to apologize, and instead planned to make amends through the Empress Dowager's wish.
The Empress Dowager had long wanted to return to her natal family, and Wei Tian Jiao and Xiao Quanzi escorted her there. Xiao Quanzi planned to steal the Zhu Yinfen list that night. While the Empress Dowager was at the Xiao residence, her heart remained with the Emperor. Xiao Quanzi assured her not to worry too much, as the Emperor had many attendants.
Xiao Quan came to the courtyard to chat with the Empress Dowager's sister, and Xiao Quanzi took the opportunity to take his leave. The brother had given his sister a fragrant sachet as a fourteenth birthday gift, which the Empress Dowager had kept at home because the Emperor disliked that scent.
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