episode 21 spoilers ahead

---And Here Xu Hui a.k.a. Jieyou Xu Confirms What We've Been Dreading: She Hates Meniang...

1.The Emperor meets with Fuji and discusses the incident with Li Xiao. He is extremely distraught because he understood Li Xiao to be loyal, having served him well for ten years (hence why he selected him for such an important task). Fuji explains that perhaps Li Xiao misunderstood when the emperor talked about taking care of Meniang in 3 months time...and so he acted on his own. The emperor reads between the words and asks if Li Xiao was acting under Fuji, however Fuji 'wouldn't dare'. The emperor is so angry he tells him to get out.

2.Elsewhere, Prince Wei or is it Wu (they look so similar to me, sorry) I think it is Wei, is angry that Crown Prince saved Meniang. He must now try to light another fire in the Eastern Palace (a.k.a. set him up). His servant suggests that he find a courtier who is reliable but expendable and have him mention the Wu prophecy and suggest that the only way to address it is to impeach the crown prince. Prince Wei says that will only start the fire in their backfire but his servant points out that the Crown Prince has a strong tendency to panic and reveal his worse traits when he is frightened (all true). They go with this plan.

3.Elsewhere, the Crown Prince has written a very good apology that he plans to present at morning assembly and humble himself before the courtiers and emperor, earning respect and showing he has grown.

4.At the Morning Assembly, a minister points out that perhaps now is a good time to face the rebel army in the North now that they have been successful in the desert. But the emperor says they cannot afford two campaigns back to back and points out that the Sui dynasty was made so weak it fell because they tried (and failed) to conquer the rebels in the North.

5.Before the Crown Prince can speak, Zhang Yuanji speaks: he basically says the crown prince is inept and worthless and perhaps the only way to clear up the issue of the prophecy is in impeaching him. This inspires outrage in everyone, and he looks around for support (I feel so bad for him; I strongly think whoever told him to do it made it sound like he would be completely safe and it was the right thing to do; he was thoroughly used). The emperor has him placed on death row. The meeting is ended and the crown prince is unable to deliver his apology (awww...circumstance keeps turning against him...if he were more ruthless he could turn it around but he cannot...)

6.A furious crown prince returns and immediately wants to send a letter to the emperor calling for Menieng's death. His tutor, Chancellor Wei, stops him. He explains to him that is the worse thing to do because Meniang is doted on by the emperor and is even liked by Pure Consort Yang. He explains that she has the harem behind her, and that is something he will need to succeed. he also points out that if he kills people every time they slander him he will, basically, be a worthless tyrant. The crown prince calms down however he proposes he cannot enter the harem how can he contact her. Crown Princess steps in to help.

7.Elsewhere, Fuji is speaking to the emperor and they are discussing the incident in morning meeting. Fuji reports that it is strange. He does not believe that Wei Zhangsun is behind this (that is Consort Wei's Uncle,I think) but is someone more smart and clever. he says whoever put Yuanji (the man on deathrow up to this) is working to undermine the crown prince in a manner similar to how Sui was undermined. The emperor says that whoever is responsible deserves to be executed...

8.Crown Princess visits Meniang. She immediately guesses the reason for her coming: the incident that occurred during the meeting. She tells her that the crown prince must want her dead and hate her. (This is very blunt, meaning the crown princess must prove to her if this is not true). Crown Princess is just as blunt: she tells her that initially the crown prince wanted to write to the emperor to have her executed, but he changed his mind after speaking to Chancellor Wei. She explains that they believe that only in protecting (uniting) with Meniang can they stand against the forces who are trying to undermine both of them. Meniang is persuaded (she's so grown up, beginning her own plots and schemes! However, historically Wu was known to have schemed a great deal. But the show puts her in a more favorable light. Instead of appearing ambitious for power, she is painted as someone forced to act out of self defense.)

9.Meniang tells the Crown Princess that when Master Li (the Taoist monk) died , he had not finished the prophecy but only had a name. She tells her to tell Chancellor Wei that they should finish the prophecy, and he will know what that means (very cryptic)

10.Chancellor Wei more than understands her message. He visits the emperor and reports on the crown prince. He explains that the crown prince is filled with fear because the emperor put Yuanji on death row instead of executing him and believes he is considering taking away his conferment. The emperor essentially says yes I have thoughts, but not that, and the crown prince maybe shouldn't be crown prince if he is so easily frightened. Chancellor Wei explains to him that he believes someone at court is using the prophecy, now a double edged sword, to target the people the emperor cares for (today it is Cairen Wu, tomorrow the prince). He then gives him a name: it is a Commander Wu (also a Duke) who served ad Xuanwu Gate and is called 'Lady Wu' by his friends. The emperor seems happy with this and tells him that he 'leaves it to him' and that this man shall be switched to an Inspector...

-I assume they plan on having this guy be the real 'Wu'?-

11.The emperor speaks to Fuji, and Fuji understands the plan, supports it, but is worried that Cairen Wu will have a son, and that might interfere with succession. The emperor is annoyed and tells him she will not become pregnant by him and so he need not worry. He gives him explicit orders to not harm her.

12.Consort Yang is walking with her personal servant and explains she is happy to see that Menieng is thriving under her nurturing. She has developed into a balanced woman capable of controlling the harem because she is not weak (like Consort Yin) and she does not use her power cruelly (like Consort Wei). She is happy to see she is learning how to manage on her own, and views her movement with the crown prince as an act of securing her position. She laments the fact that her son could not use the opportunity of saving Menieng to his advantage. She hopes Menieng is sentimental and will choose to support Wu over the crown prince.

13.Elsewhere, Prince Wei binge eats because his plot to impeach the crown prince has failed. He realizes that Menieng is now a threat, that Consort Wei was not short sighted, since Menieng now enjoys the attention of the emperor, is favored by Consort Yang, and has the Eastern Palace on her side. He needs to kill her. His plan? To use someone close to her (Xu Hui!)

14.Xu Hui is directly approached by Prince Wei, who essentially points out that Menieng has risen while her position stagnates and that as long as she is around, the emperor will never look her way. He tells her to seek out Mo Gong Gong in the laundry if she should want to work with him...

15.Menieng meanwhile pleads on behalf of Xu Hui and is successful in getting the emperor to take her back into the library as an assistant, since she knows how much Xu Hui loves him (this just makes her seem so nice and benevolent--I am skeptical this would have happened in real life but it makes for a more likable and sympathetic female lead)

16.Xu hui, menieng, Consort yang, and Prince Wei have lunch (I thought men were not allowed in the harem, however she is his son, and there is a eunuch present throughout the entire dinner). menieng dances around the topic of Wu and basically remains neutral, stating all the princes have their pros and cons and they should focus on happiness. Afterwards, Yang talks to her servant and says that Menieng has essentially said she supports the crown prince by not committing to anything. They do however point out that things seem different between her and Xu Hui...

17.On the way back, Menieng repeatedly asks Xu Hui if she is mad at her or if she has angered her. Xu hui evades answering her but Menieng wants to know why she is ignoring her/avoiding her (well, I will say this: Menieng is likable. but she is so perfect that it is difficult to confront her head on. Many people struggle with confrontation, and menieng is a skilled conversationalist and very clever, perhaps even without realizing it. Someone like Xu Hui might feel inferior, especially upon realizing that she is getting scraps--if they maybe talked about it like adults like, hey, I feel like you get all the attention and I feel inferior yadayadayda they might get through it....but that is not what happens. And Xui Hui is so wrapped up in all the exiting things happening to her that she can't even name a reason for Xu Hui being mad--notice how she never says 'Listen, I know you love the emperor and I've been monopolizing him. I love him too, that's why, but I want to make sure you see him too because I love you too. Nope. She says 'what did I do wrong' which puts it all on Xu Hui to be the 'mean one' and point it out' It means that Xu Hui will be extremely upset because even if Menieng hasn't done anything wrong she is completely insensitive to Xu Hui and unable to notice/see that her behavior has hurt her)

And of course this won't justify the inevitable betrayal that we now can see Xu Hui will take part in, but we can at least see that maybe it could have been prevented, or talked out.

18.Our episode ends with Xu Hui, looking crazy, staring into a mirror, talking to herself as she essentially sobs and says she hates Menieng and her hypocritical kindness and believes she can't have the emperor with her there and shatters the bracelet (she also says she hates that she is disposable)--I think it is interesting the director used a mirror. Because Zheng Wanyan (recall they were a trio of friends) hated looking in the mirror and believed that Menieng was a barrier to her success in the harem, because the emperor only saw her, now Xu hui is the same way (this is like a lesson against trying to have 100% attention of the emperor; share the love otherwise the others go crazy with jealousy) however Xu Hui keeps staring into the mirror, I wonder what she is seeing?

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