Episode 21 recap: The relationship between Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan has improved.
The Queen, with the experience of one who has been through it all, tells Li Rong that all the love and joy are but fleeting clouds before the might of power. Since Pei Wen Xuan returned from the Butterfly Valley, he has been cold and distant towards Li Rong, and later even proposed leaving the princess's residence, leaving Li Rong anxious and desperately pleading for him to stay.
However, Pei Wen Xuan did not truly intend to leave. He was employing a strategy of retreating to advance, of feigning rejection to gain acceptance, and he indeed thoroughly won over the princess's heart and mind. The next morning, when Jing Lan came to serve Li Rong, she found Li Rong and Pei Wen Xuan in each other's embrace, and Tong Ye even rushed in in a panic, claiming Pei Wen Xuan was missing, only to find him in the bed with his young master.
Afterwards, Li Rong personally went to the prison and ordered them to release Lan Fei that night. Shang Guan Ya, seeing Li Rong still busy at the Surveillance Office, stayed behind to chat with her. She advised Li Rong that if she wanted to separate from her husband, she should do it early, but if she truly liked him, she should hurry home and clear things up.
Shang Guan Ya felt that Li Rong was usually decisive in her actions, but when it came to matters of the heart, she always tended to avoid them, which would only push the beloved one further away, and by the time she regretted it, it would be too late.
Hearing this, Li Rong felt somewhat angered. She said she didn't care about others, nor did she need others to care about her. All she wanted in this life was power and status, and naturally, there would be people surrounding her.
But after saying that, she felt a bit of regret for having shared these thoughts with Shang Guan Ya.
On the way home, Li Rong recalled the events of her previous life. She had seen her mother's lonely figure lingering at the North Yan Tower at night, and the women in the palace who had been promised but then separated for various reasons. She remembered her mother's warning: Emotions are but fleeting clouds before the might of power.
Therefore, she dared not hope for love, and always lived with pride.
Back at the princess's residence, she saw Pei Wen Xuan waiting for her there, his attitude cold and formal, making her very uncomfortable. She suddenly realized that her own sensitivity, suspicion, and selfishness were hurting the man who had such high expectations of her. So, as Pei Wen Xuan was about to leave, she called out to him, apologized, and asked him to give her a bit more time.
Pei Wen Xuan approached her, responding gently and accommodatingly, as if a gentle breeze had brushed across her heart, smoothing out all the pain and estrangement. That night, Pei Wen Xuan chose to sleep in the study, wanting to retreat in order to completely win Li Rong's heart.
On the other side, Rou Fei privately found Su Rong Qing, wanting to collaborate with him to have Su Wang appoint him as the Prime Minister.
But Su Rong Qing had something he needed Rou Fei's help with. When Xie Lan Qing learned that Lin Fei Bai had been detained by the Censorate, he was very unhappy, and ended up being stopped by Su Rong Qing's carriage, who offered him a strategy.
Li Rong had Shang Guan Ya secretly release Lin Fei Bai, and Shang Guan Ya told her that the Xie family's steward had gone to Rou Fei's Ming Le Palace, fearing they would team up to deal with the Censorate.
Li Rong indicated that the emperor's fondness for Rou Fei was merely a means to check the Empress, and unless Rou Fei and Su Wang lost their value, the emperor would not abandon them.
Pei Wen Xuan went to the palace to see the emperor, presenting a white jade hairpin, hinting that it was related to Rou Fei.
The emperor was furious, and that night he severely punished Princess Hua Le and warned Rou Fei not to be cunning.
After returning home, Pei Wen Xuan directly slept in the study, and Li Rong felt it was unfamiliar, so she planned to go find him. As a result, she was caught in the act by Pei Wen Xuan, and the two then returned to the room to rest.
The next day, Jing Lan saw them embracing and was delighted. Tong Ye, who couldn't find Pei Wen Xuan, rushed in, only to see him on the bed, and everyone laughed.
Pei Wen Xuan, on the emperor's orders, took over the case of embezzlement of military funds, and Li Rong told the Censorate personnel to assist him.
Pei Wen Xuan was curious why Li Rong had so much confidence in the Su family, and Li Rong recalled seeing Su Rong Qing when they were young, feeling that although he was young, his thoughts were advanced and he had aspirations.
Soon after, Li Rong learned of the news that Lin Fei Bai had been arrested, so she had Shang Guan Ya prepare evidence to counterattack Xie Lan Qing.
Sure enough, Xie Lan Qing went to make an accusation, saying that Li Rong had hired someone to kill, but Li Rong was already prepared, personally confronting Lin Fei Bai, and letting everyone see if there was any resemblance between them.
Comments(Episode 21)