episode 19 spoilers ahead

19/96!

1.The Emperor visits Wu Meniang because he is curious: if she knows why he is ignoring her, then why is she making all these efforts to see him? She explains that even if she knows his reasons, her love is her own business (this scene is a bit dramatic but it looks pretty)

2.He invites her to Ganlu Hall to dance the Prince of Lanling. Her entire face just lights up. However, in Ganlu Hall, Xu Hui is performing the Prince of Lanling dance. (I feel a bit bad for Xu Hui who is being used by the emperor like this)(his goal seems to be to make Meniang hate him)(and ruing their friendship, pretty messed up). Meniang comes in, is naturally shocked, and the emperor takes Xu Hui in his arms and flatly tells Meniang that she is replaceable and anyone can fill her shoes.

3.Meniang runs away after saying she won't approach him anymore (oh I love the cliché-ness!) and it is pouring rain (of course) and her make up does not run (of course). She very prettily collapses on the edge of the lake and then a eunuch returns to the emperor and reports that Menieng has thrown herself into the pond. The emperor rushes to see her...

4.Elsewhere, we see Consort Yang who wants Menieng healthy (I think her survival ensures Yang's survival as it prevents Wei from overtaking the harem)

5.The emperor rages at the doctors who are doing their best. Consort Yang intervenes and soothes his anger and tells him Menieng will be fine. He thanks her and then she is dismissed. The emperor removes his outer robes and carries Menieng into a hot bath with tons of petals (it is a really pretty scene)--it seems the steam bath is to help her body, which has lost a lot of heat.

6.Elsewhere, Consort Wei is tending to her flowers and talks to them like they are her enemies (for example, a rose is too pretty and overstepping its boundaries, so she clips it) however when she learns Menieng is alive she destroys some plants (where doesn't she have eyes?). She sends a message to Prince Wei that Consort Menieng must be killed at once.

7.Meanwhile, Menieng awakens. Consort Yang is beside her. Menieng explains she did not try to kill herself, that she was irresponsible and ran out into the rain and because she was outside too long, she collapsed from the cold. Consort Yang believes her, knowing that Menieng is not the type to resort to those kinds of foolish antics for attention. Menieng apologizes but asks if the emperor came to see her. Consort Yang lies (the emperor probably ordered her to lie).

8.Elsewhere, the emperor is in bed, surrounded by doctors. We learn he is healthy but became ill since he went into the steam bath, and now his body has 'too much heat in it' (not even sure what that means). Everyone continues to wonder why he cares for Menieng.
I can answer that. 1)Have you seen her? 2)Have you SEEN HER? 3)She is so lovely she could make a gay man want her or straight woman want her--that's how lovely she is and she's written to be perfect but likable COME ON that is a tough balance to achieve when your audience is mainly women

9.Meanwhile, Menieng visits the emperor who is asleep (only she could get away with bull dozing her way into his chambers--somehow I think this is like a capital offence but we will ignore it) and lovingly strokes his face and tells him that she 'felt his presence' when she was ill but everyone says he was not there. She says she knows he is deliberately distancing himself from her out of concern. She sighs and then leaves. The emperor (who we all know was faking) awakens and touches his face and is visibly happy with her words//he seems to be falling more in love with her.

10.Meanwhile, we cut to Xu Hui who is doing the Prince of Lanling dance, alone, and the music has an ominous sound. She is presented like someone on the edge of snapping--almost like she has an obsessive kind of love. (this should be comparable to Consort Wei; Consort Yang I don't know if she loves the emperor, however, Menieng I think would gladly share the emperor with Xu Hui because she loves him and wants him to be happy....Xu Hui is envious of someone being number one is heart. Menieng wasn't jealous of Xu Hui, who was dancing, more like offended that the emperor would have her do something that is special to them and then trample on her feelings)

11.Meanwhile, Prince Wei is hosting a celebration in honor of the emperor giving him a commission for his completion of the epic Journal of Geography. He is meeting ministers, is all smiles (he is like a politician you see on t.v.). He sends an invitation to the crown prince, who has been drinking (surprise) and is extremely annoyed about the invite. He shows up, and proceeds to make scene....

12.The emperor receives word that the crown prince is on his way to see Prince Wei (and drunk)(I wonder who tipped him off...) The emperor arrives just in time to see the crown prince kicking the Journal and pouring wine on it while Prince Wei looks the picture of upset. The emperor lectures him in front of everyone, humiliating him, and then reads out an edict that awards Prince Wei 3,000 taels of silver, permission to expand the library, and to hire scholars at his discretion. (I hate to say it but the crown prince is not behaving like a crown prince, more like an angry and insecure child, and he is playing right into Wei's hands, and he knows this but he can't seem to do anything right. he's a bully himself)

--I respect Prince Wei's meticulous scheming. He doesn't resort to murder but instead, kind of like Othello, uses peoples fears and insecurities and manipulates them so that they act on their own accord. Consort Wei could become this if she weren't so hotheaded/emotional. She is also so used to being unchallenged that she is becoming sloppy while Prince Wei is playing his game very carefully, and safely--

13.Later, the emperor has a dream in which Menieng and her horse are asking him to run away with her and leave behind the palace. He is about to go but states men call his name. Distracted, he looks back, and when he turns back, she is gone, frightening him. (I think this speaks to the weights of responsibility that are holding him back from pursuing her 100%) He awakens, startled. Perhaps because of the dream, he orders that Menieng join him on his trip to Lishan.

14.Xu Hui continues to bribe a eunech and learns that her name is not on the list to accompany the emperor. She also learns that Consort yang will not be going because of illness but Menieng will be...making her anxious.

15.Elsewhere, Consort Yang meets with her son, Prince Wu, and tells him to stay close to Menieng. She believes 'something will happen' on the hunting trip. He is confused and wants to know why she changed her mind (recall, earlier she warned him to stay away from her). She does not elaborate. (I wonder if she is going to set up an attack and have her son save her, earning the attention of the emperor?)

16.Meanwhile, Crown Prince is practicing archery (it is deliberate, I think, that he continues to almost hit the target, but miss it, as if saying he is just not able to hit his goals the way Wei is able to) and is looking forward to the trip to Lishan (it sounds like he goes regularly) however he receives a message from the emperor that he is not to come and should study. This upsets him, and he chooses to drink, party, and act recklessly (I hate to say it but he is not able to handle criticism or competition; Prince Wei probably would make a better emperor he is smarter and more confident and he knows how to handle the courtiers HOWEVER the crown prince has the loyalty of many of the generals who dislike the courtiers)

17.Xiao Q, meanwhile, is aware of the emperor leaving with Meniang, throws a tantrum and is set to confront him when her aunt arrives. Xiao Q has consistently shown respect and fear of her aunt, who has slapped her (as she does today) to get her under control. Her aunt again tells her that it won't be long before they win, and that she loves Xiao Q (I think Xiao Q is a disposable tool for her. her horrible experience in the harem as a young woman combined with her inability to have children as a result has made her bitter and hateful, and I don't blame her. she doesn't let anyone into her heart and all she has is the desire to dominate others, almost a kind of way to get revenge on the people in power who did this to her)

--Things are heating up! What will happen on the way to Lishan? How will the courtiers act since the emperor is unable to distance himself from Meniang? When will Xu Hui betray Meniang (it's a matter of when, at this point, I think). Is Consort Yang to be trusted yet (probably not).

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