Episode 29 recap: The Forbidden City has changed hands, and the young emperor has been ruthlessly expelled.
Rong Er has been pretending to be drunk to avoid the situation. Li Qi hugs Rong Er, saying he's afraid that if Rong Er flies too high, he won't be able to hold on to her. Rong Er can no longer suppress her feelings and confesses to Li Qi, saying that if she survives this time, she will marry him. Li Qi reports to Puyi that Rong Er had previously obtained the medicine from the Yicao Pavilion, and the staff there said the medicinal materials came from the palace. He went to the palace to find Qin Dehai, but found that he had not been in the palace for two days and could not be found at home either. Puyi says that his unexplained disappearance must be a problem, and instructs Li Qi to investigate the matter.
Liu Er, worried about Rong Er's situation, and Yumei, both feel that there is something suspicious about the Yicao Pavilion, so they watch it from the outside. Li Qi discovers them and warns that it's too dangerous to act rashly. Liu Er says he must help Rong Er, no matter how dangerous it is, and Li Qi tells him that to help Rong Er, they must start from the Yicao Pavilion.
Liu Er pretends to be someone introduced by Qin Dehai to buy palace medicines at the Yicao Pavilion, but the proprietor pretends not to know and sends him away. After that, the proprietor sneaks out, wanting to find Qin Dehai to confirm the matter. Li Qi and Li Yuemei follow him and find Qin Dehai's hiding place, overhearing their conversation about the medicine. Li Yuemei questions Qin Dehai about stealing the medicinal materials from the palace to sell in his shop. Li Qi says that the medicine Rong Er obtained was from the Yicao Pavilion, and Qin Dehai's crime of plotting against the Empress Dowager is not small. Qin Dehai says they have no evidence and are slandering him. Li Qi presses Qin Dehai, saying that as a mere pharmacist, if he reveals the mastermind behind this, the Emperor may still spare his life. Suddenly, someone at the door shoots a dart, killing both Qin Dehai and the proprietor.
Li Qi reports this matter to Puyi. Puyi originally wanted to release Rong Er, but Jing Yi Tai Fei refused. Li Qi brings Rong Er to the palace, and the imperial physicians conclude that there is indeed a problem with the medicine formula. Jing Yi Tai Fei orders Rong Er to be arrested and taken to the Shenjing Department. Rong Er tells the Emperor that the ointment was made by her alone, and has nothing to do with the people in Chonghua Palace, and she is willing to take full responsibility.
Just as the guards were about to take Rong Er away, Rong Hui Tai Fei came with a prescription, saying that the one she had copied was an ancient method for nourishing the body, and that this prescription would not cause any problems. Jing Yi Tai Fei remained unconvinced, saying that this did not prove anything. Li Qi requested to take a look at the prescription, and after reviewing it, he stated that the prescription had been altered. Jing Yi Tai Fei suggested that Rong Hui Tai Fei herself might have altered the prescription. Li Qi proposed to divide the xuan paper into three layers and check the bottom two layers for any traces of alteration, and the examination revealed no signs of changes. Moreover, an imperial physician presented a test report proving that the tonic medication was just a regular nourishing ointment. It was concluded that Jing Yi Tai Fei's death was due to the worsening of a cold, and the truth was finally unveiled.
The group was puzzled by the large amount of Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis) in the medication dregs and prescription. Li Qi informed Puyi that this was likely the doing of Qian De Hai, and that Qian De Hai's assassination by a hidden arrow was probably the work of a behind-the-scenes mastermind. Li Qi pleaded with Puyi to conduct a thorough investigation.
Yu De Fu promptly knelt down and begged the Emperor for punishment, and Jing Yi Tai Fei pleaded on his behalf. Rong Hui Tai Fei insisted that the inner court matters should be handled strictly. The two engaged in a heated argument, which Puyi quickly intervened and stopped, deciding to punish Yu De Fu with a month's salary deduction and offering compensation to Rong Er.
Rong Er, cleared of all charges, collapsed from exhaustion. Li Qi went to visit her and inquired about her previous statement of wanting to marry him, to which Rong Er evasively responded. Meanwhile, Feng Yuxiang modified the imperial preferential policy and surrounded the Forbidden City, forcing Puyi to leave. Qing Er took advantage of the chaos to sneak into the Imperial Pharmacy and obtain opium. Jing Yi Tai Fei and Rong Hui Tai Fei both demanded to commit suicide for the nation. Puyi, in a state of panic, inquired the Regent Prince on what to do, and the Regent Prince advised him to follow the will of the court.
Comments(Episode 29)