Episode 29 recap: Shi Yikuan Slaps the Empress
In Episode 29, Cui Xing Zhou receives a command from the emperor but hesitates to return to the palace, causing the Prince of Northern Zhou to panic. The prince fears the emperor might think he is deliberately keeping Cui Xing Zhou from coming back. He constantly urges Cui Xing Zhou to return quickly, but Cui Xing Zhou is troubled; he knows that returning means he must marry Princess Wuhua, which he does not want.
At this critical moment, the prince's youngest son has an accident while riding. The horse bolts, and the boy's cries for help echo through the woods. Without hesitation, Cui Xing Zhou rushes to save him, but he ends up injuring his leg badly in the process. The prince, alarmed, quickly summons the imperial physician, Zhao Quan.
Zhao Quan examines Cui Xing Zhou’s injury and, while he understands the nature of the injury, he exaggerates the severity, claiming that Cui Xing Zhou might have trouble walking in the future and even implying it could affect his ability to have children. A palace servant, delivering a royal edict, overhears this and reports back, leading to Cui Xing Zhou being bedridden and unable to return to the palace.
With no other option, the servant heads back to relay the situation. Meanwhile, Cui Xing Zhou is worried about Liu Mian Tang, so he asks Zhao Quan to deliver a message to her, telling her to wait for him. Zhao Quan goes to her, but despite her concern for Cui Xing Zhou, Liu Mian Tang, wanting to do what’s best for him, resolutely avoids seeing him. She doesn’t want him to defy the emperor because of her.
Zhao Quan also inquires about He Zhen's whereabouts, to which Liu Mian Tang responds with a mysterious smile, reminding him to take food supplies when he goes to find He Zhen. Zhao Quan, interested in locating He Zhen, hurriedly heads to the address she provided.
Meanwhile, He Zhen has deliberately chosen a remote location to test Zhao Quan. After a series of misadventures, Zhao Quan finally finds He Zhen, and they manage to clear up their misunderstandings.
Back at Liu Mian Tang’s home, turmoil arises as someone comes to propose marriage—an old acquaintance with a questionable reputation. This man had nearly married Qing Ying in the past but had to flee due to gambling debts. Now, it’s unclear where he found the courage to come back and make another proposal.
Liu Mian Tang's uncle deliberately brought up the gambling debts, but to everyone’s surprise, the other party quickly paid off the debt and even added a hundred acres of good farmland. Liu Mian Tang sensed something was amiss, but her grandfather was impressed by the suitor's family background and readily agreed to the marriage.
Upon hearing this news, Cui Xing Zhou was as anxious as a cat on a hot tin roof. He sent someone to investigate and discovered that Sui Wang was behind the scenes, plotting against Liu Mian Tang. Cui Xing Zhou quickly gathered his troops to rescue her. Liu Mian Tang had already sensed the danger and had moved with her bodyguards, but she still couldn't escape.
After a fierce battle, Cui Xing Zhou managed to drive away Sui Wang's men. Although Liu Mian Tang didn’t greet him warmly, just seeing her brought a sweetness to Cui Xing Zhou's heart.
As for Shi Yikuan, after becoming the father-in-law of the emperor, he started to get carried away. He submitted three memorials in a row, seeking to enjoy privileges in the ancestral temple. The emperor was quite annoyed, and the palace servants whispered that he was unworthy. However, the emperor was playing a strategic game, deliberately accommodating Shi Yikuan's ambitions to use him as a counterbalance against Sui Wang.
Shi Xue Ji, now the empress, finally got a chance to visit her family and brought gifts for her sisters. Yet, her half-sister remained as spoiled as ever, complaining that the gifts were too light. Shi Xue Ji held her tongue, but when her father, Shi Yikuan, arrived, he slapped his legitimate daughter, which brought Shi Xue Ji a sense of relief.
Then, Shi Yikuan asked why Shi Xue Ji hadn’t replied to his letters and inquired about the ancestral temple matters. When Shi Xue Ji kindly advised him not to trouble the emperor over superficial fame, Shi Yikuan slapped her again, instantly causing her face to swell.
That slap shattered any remaining affection she had for him.
Comments(Episode 29)