Episode 16 recap: Zhou Shi Yu brought Yue Ling into the palace.
The Prime Minister Zhou Jing Yuan was depressed because the Northern Prince had escaped unharmed, so he ordered his subordinates to thoroughly investigate the Northern Prince's situation in Liuzhou. Su Nian and Ling Xi reported back to Prime Minister Zhou Jing Yuan, but he was furious that they had failed again. Ling Xi discovered that the Northern Prince and Yue Ling had dark powers, always able to predict events in advance, and even able to find antidotes when poisoned.
The Prime Minister told the Taoist priest to observe the situation with Zhou Shi Yu and the princess, with a determined look. The Emperor rewarded Yue Ling greatly for her effective relief efforts in Liuzhou, and had her accompany the Northern Prince to a banquet in the palace. Xing Yi saw the many brocades and silks and immediately had a new idea. Yue Ling knew of his feelings for Su Nian and asked if he would need a bridal gift prepared when he went to the capital.
Yue Ling went with Qian Qian and the Young Master Shiquan to the street to select gifts, but when they saw the roasted mutton skewers, Qian Qian and Yue Ling couldn't walk any further. Suddenly, soldiers arrived and the merchants fled. Yue Ling learned from Young Master Shiquan that the edict of Northern Shuo prohibited the Eastern Yu people from engaging in commerce, and she criticized the lack of human touch in the law.
Yue Ling dressed up beautifully to accompany Zhou Shi Yu to the palace. Zhou Shi Yu saw her mysteriously hiding a gift and reassured her not to be nervous, as the Empress Dowager was a benevolent person. Ling Xi was pleased to have avoided punishment, but Su Nian was saddened by having deceived Xing Yi. Ling Xi felt that Xing Yi was already on the opposing side, while Su Nian thought it was time to resolve the matter.
The Empress Dowager summoned Zhou Shi Yu alone and said there were rumors that Yue Ling lacked decorum and mixed with the commoners. Zhou Shi Yu decided that Yue Ling would be his queen, and the Empress Dowager agreed to let Yue Ling become a concubine, with another selected as the queen. Zhou Shi Yu was determined to only marry Yue Ling.
When Yue Ling was alone, Gao Luo Yi mocked her again, but this time the Northern Prince overheard and settled both old and new grievances, punishing Gao Luo Yi for locking Yue Ling in the palace and spreading rumors about her to the Empress Dowager.
Su Nian deliberately drank with guests in front of Xing Yi, but Xing Yi did not get angry. Instead, he brought some ladies to drink with him, wanting to test Su Nian's feelings. When he saw Su Nian return to her room, he immediately chased after her, but Su Nian did not want to see him, and Xing Yi mistakenly thought Su Nian was jealous, believing she had feelings for him.
Yue Ling took Qian Qian and the Young Master Shiquan to the streets to select gifts, as they had failed to observe the proper etiquette during their last visit to the palace. Qian Qian and Yue Ling saw the roasted mutton skewers and could not resist them. Suddenly, the soldiers arrived, and the vendors fled hastily. Yue Ling learned from the Young Master Shiquan that the edict of the Northern Shuo prohibited the Dongyu people from engaging in commerce, and Yue Ling lamented the lack of humanity in the law.
Yue Ling accompanied Zhou Shi Yu to the palace, dressed beautifully. Zhou Shi Yu noticed that she was discreetly hiding a gift, and he reminded her not to be nervous, as the Empress Dowager was a kind-hearted person. Ling Xi was satisfied that she had not been punished, but Su Nian was saddened by the fact that she had deceived Xing Yi. Ling Xi believed that Xing Yi was already on the opposing side, while Su Nian thought it was time to resolve the matter.
The Empress Dowager summoned Zhou Shi Yu to the palace alone, and rumors spread that Yue Ling lacked proper etiquette and mingled with the commoners. Zhou Shi Yu was convinced that Yue Ling was his future queen, and the Empress Dowager, seeing his affection for her, agreed to make Yue Ling his concubine, while the position of the queen would be given to someone else. Zhou Shi Yu was determined to marry only Yue Ling.
Gao Luo Yi mocked Yue Ling again when she was alone, but Yue Ling, not wanting to lose her composure in the palace, restrained herself. The Prince of the North overheard these comments and decided to settle both the old and new grievances, as Gao Luo Yi had kept Yue Ling confined in the palace and spread rumors about her bad temper to the Empress Dowager. As a result, Gao Luo Yi was ordered to copy sutras in the Buddhist hall as punishment.
Su Nian intentionally drank with a guest in front of Xing Yi, who did not get angry but instead brought some girls to drink with him, trying to test Su Nian's feelings. Seeing Su Nian immediately retreat to her room, Xing Yi mistakenly believed that Su Nian was jealous, confirming his belief that she had feelings for him.
The Prime Minister wanted to embarrass Yue Ling by asking her to perform the lantern dance in public, but both the Emperor and Zhou Shi Yu spoke up for her. Yue Ling gracefully agreed to dance, captivating the audience with her elegant movements. She then took the opportunity to request the Emperor to abolish the lowly status of the Dongyu people.
Suddenly, Yue Ling collapsed on the ground, poisoned. Zhou Shi Yu, seeing this, also ate the dragon's beard candy on the table and fell to the ground. Under the protection of their jade pendants, they both regained consciousness. Yue Ling, seeing a palace maid bring the dragon's beard candy, grabbed her hand, claiming it was poisoned. Zhou Shi Yu, noticing the Emperor's signal, asked Yue Ling to rest first.
In the Empress's palace, the Empress comforted Yue Ling, assuring her that the Emperor would investigate if someone had indeed poisoned her. Feeling dejected, Yue Ling left the palace alone. Fate had other plans, as Yue Ling encountered Gao Luo Yi again. Gao Luo Yi was jealous of Zhou Shi Yu's close relationship with Yue Ling, and the two got into a heated argument. Yue Ling accidentally tumbled down the stairs, but fortunately, Zhou Shi Yu arrived in time to save her from harm.
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