Episode 26 recap: Wu Tian transformed into the Shadow Knight to protect Rong Er.
Yu De Fu still wanted to transport the treasures using the swill cart, with a secret compartment installed underneath. Yu De Fu was worried that a mishap might happen, so he decided to transport the treasures on the same day. However, Rong Er was watching the swill cart the whole time, and they did not have a chance to make their move. Yu De Fu ordered his men to keep a close eye on Rong Er, and to continue adding opium to Qing Er's medicine, intending to eventually use Qing Er as a pawn.
Duan Kang Tai Fei had been taking medicine due to health reasons, but the medicines made her feel increasingly unwell. Rong Hui Tai Fei went to visit her, examined the prescriptions she had been taking, and prepared a better remedy to bring to her. However, Rong Er took the prescription that Rong Hui Tai Fei had written down and went to the Imperial Pharmacy to collect the herbs, but the pharmacist, Qian De Hai, said he was too busy to prepare the medicine. Since Rong Er had good knowledge of herbs and medicines, he decided to collect the herbs himself. But when he got there, he found that there was a shortage of certain common herbs, which shocked the Empress Dowager when he reported it back to her. To avoid delaying Duan Kang Tai Fei's medication, Rong Er decided to go out of the palace to prepare the medicine himself.
Yu De Fu sent people to follow Rong Er, intending to eliminate her as soon as she left the palace. Wu Tian discovered the pursuers and secretly protected Rong Er from behind. Rong Er told Liu Shou Gui that even common herbs were in short supply at the Imperial Pharmacy, let alone the rare ones. Liu Shou Gui told her there were two possibilities: someone was deliberately making things difficult for her, or someone was stealing and replacing the herbs. Rong Er wanted to report this to the Empress Dowager, but Liu Shou Gui warned her that her grandfather had been banished from the palace because of similar issues, and advised her not to get involved.
On the street, Rong Er saw that Li Tai Feng had reopened the Five Feng Pavilion, renaming it Moon Pavilion. When Rong Er and Liu Shou Gui went to collect the herbs, they found the prices to be very high, and the shop owner claimed the herbs came from the palace. Rong Er still managed to collect seven prescriptions at a cost of 10 taels of silver.
As Rong Er hurried back to the palace to prepare the medicine for the Empress Dowager, the pursuers who had been following her prepared to kill her. But at the critical moment, someone shot darts to take out several of the pursuers, and Rong Er saw Li Qi rushing in, while Wu Tian was secretly protecting her from behind.
Li Qi hurriedly returned to the palace with Rong Er. Yu Gong learned that Rong Er had been rescued by Li Qi, so he had people waiting at the palace gate to arrest her as soon as she entered. Now the Emperor was strictly enforcing the rules, and palace maids who did not return before the hour of the dog (7-9pm) would be in violation. They were just following the rules, so the Emperor could not say anything.
At the palace gate, the eunuchs tried to arrest Rong Er, but Li Qi protected her from being taken. However, Yu Gong then intervened and arrested both of them, saying that palace maids and guards were not allowed to privately meet. They had violated palace rules, so they were taken to the Shen Xing Si (Judicial Court).
At the Shen Xing Si, Yu Gong said the Emperor had already gone to bed, and he believed in the innocence of Rong Er and Li Qi. He would inform the Emperor in the morning, and they would surely be released. Li Qi thanked Yu Gong.
Then, Rong Hui Tai Fei arrived at the Shen Xing Si, saying that Duan Kang Tai Fei was unwell, so she had allowed Rong Er to go out to fetch medicine, and had asked Li Qi to accompany her for safety. Both Duan Kang Tai Fei and she were aware of this, so there was no need to bother the Emperor. She demanded that Rong Er and Li Qi be released immediately, as Duan Kang Tai Fei was waiting for the medicine. Yu De Fu had no choice but to release the two.
Rong Hui Tai Fei asked Rong Er why she was with Li Qi. Rong Er told the Tai Fei that she had been attacked on her way back to the palace, and Li Qi had rescued her.
Later, when Puyi visited Rong Hui Tai Fei, he heard that the imperial medicine hall was missing many ingredients. He ordered Yu De Fu to investigate. Puyi also asked Li Qi why he was with Rong Er, and Li Qi told him that Rong Er had been attacked outside the palace, and the matter with Sun Yi Ren may not be over, as there could be others behind him. The Emperor had ordered Li Qi to look into this.
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