ep 2 spoilers ahead

2/96!

RECAP: Able Consort has hung herself; Noble Consort exhibits all the qualities (ruthless, ambitious) one might need to dominate the Inner Palace/Harem

1.We open with the girls receiving a lecture on how to improve their dancing (they are practicing the Masque Dance to Honor the Late Empress). Here they learn that the Able Consort Liu has hung herself. The girls express shock but the instructor tells them that this is their opportunity. Also, whoever leads this dance has, based on tradition, gained an audience with the emperor (Competition will be fierce as they must compete with one another to gain the coveted position of lead dancer)

2.In the next scene, the Pure Consort (recall, she was the one accused) encounters Noble Consort & a sobbing Virtuous Consort in the gardens. Noble Consort apologizes (in a really unapologetic way) and Pure Consort replies that the Able Consort was the one who suffered. As Pure Consort walks by she turns and gives Noble Consort a look with daggers in her eyes. These two clearly do not get along.

3.This sums up the politics quite well: Noble Consort tells Virtuous Consort to stop crying, after all 'what's one more body?' (I love her! so wicked, so good at what she does! reminds me of Cersei Lanister)

4.In the next scene, the emperor enters the memorial service for Able Consort and finds Pure Consort burning paper for Able Consort's memory (I have no idea if Pure Consort is as she appears or if this is part of her game). The emperor has her stay, and it is like a mutual support kind of scene where he acknowledges he knows that the harem is dangerous and she insists that nothing matters, as long as he is well (a virtuous woman only cares about the emperor, after all)

5.Back to Noble Consort who is such a boss! She is checking her reflection however the sobbing from Yeting Palace annoys her so she tells Chong-gong (a guard? eunech?) to find a way to cut their tongues out (is that an over-reaction?). She also tells her maid to tell her niece, Xiao Quiang that she will arrange a meeting between her and the emperor

6.Both Ru Yi and Xiao Quiang are among the girls who master the dance. They are asked what the dance means. Xiao Quiang (the writers make her seem so unlikable) gives a predictable answer (shout out to Prince of Lanling!) however Ru Yi's answer seems to be more depth and makes her sound more intelligent, and the instructor seems to appreciate it. I don't think the appreciation is from the answer, but from Ru Yi's creativity which can make her stand out (if you want the emperor to like you wouldn't you want to send him a unique girl instead of a regular?)

7.Noble Consort's maid is willing to use very rare and expensive ginseng root as a bribe to the dance instructor to have her niece selected but the instructor seems to not care and basically tells her to go away then she brings up an incident to blackmail her (Noble Consort is smart!)

8.Meanwhile, Ru Yi is talking to Xu Hui (the latter seems to have given up and says she is not a good dancer and she should not practice. is this who she really is or a game face?)

9.bwahahahahaa I'm sorry, Xiao Quiang's mannerisms are so exaggerated...it is so obvious she is picking on Ru Yi because she feels like she is competition....as Xu Hui says 'Xiao Quiang is despotic she must have the backing of someone'....lolz Ru Yi says one cloud can't hide the sun, I take it that means her bad behavior can't hide the more dazzling Ru Yi

10.Both Ru Yi and Xu Hui are sent to do the laundry and then must wait for a letter from a consort lady (they can't afford to offend anyone) meanwhile upstairs the contest begins. As they wait they try to ask where the consort lives but the girl there can't speak...because she has no tongue. They get back as the contest ends--Xiao has the audacity to call Ru Yi a coward for not being there (makes me so mad!) and the other girls are mad Ru Yi wasn't there because now Xiao (who is extremely disliked) is the lead Prince Lanling...

11.Meanwhile, Purse Consort learns that Ru Yi was not selected. She very quickly surmises that the instructor must have been blackmailed since she has never accepted bribes before. But she has a plan. She expresses pity for Xiao Qiang because her aunt will treat her as another Consort Liu (well when you look at it like that I do pity her)

12.(This is kind of amusing) Ru Yi winds up in front of Chengqing hall (entry prohibited) it is late at night. She starts darting around the hall to avoid being seen by some servants (she is probably not supposed to be out or here)

13.Meanwhile Xiao Quiang is supposed to see the emperor, but he isn't there! He's getting drunk! He is thinking back to Empress Wende, whom he cared for, and repeats that the dance is about regrets (precisely Ru Yi's answer). He is on his way out and he looks at Ru Yi, who has snuck in and is performing the dance even though know one is there to see it (she thinks) and there is a contrast between her simple outfit and Xiao's garish over the top red outfit--

14.It is a very romantic scene as the lonely emperor seems to be falling in love with her instantly. She doesn't stop dancing to bow (i'm not sure if she is aware of his identity). He picks her up and she looks kind of like a little princess. She plays a little coy/hard to get as she continues to dance with him, not allowing him to interrupt the dance by kissing her. He grabs her shoulder, and this frightens her. She runs away. But still looks so pretty like a dream.

15.Back to Noble Consort. Her servant girl is voicing some concerns about Xiao being sent into the palace, and views it as an insult since she has a low birth. But the Noble Consort reminds her that her father and brothers are dead. That only her Uncle remains as a single minister at court, and that their family power is waning. Xiao is basically a back up plan.

16.The emperor wakes up in his bed. Apparently he got plastered and his servants carried him back. He is updated: he learns Xiao knelt waiting for him all night, that she is also the niece of Noble Consort...and that Empress Wende's mask is missing meaning he did not hallucinate the beauty dancing. he issues orders to quietly find the thief (the guy in charge of this task does not know the meaning of quietly)

17.Xiao is upset about being ignored however when she learns they are looking for a thief she clearly sees this as an opportunity...

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