ep 3 spoilers ahead

3/96!

Last Episode Recap: Xiao Quiang won the night with the Emperor only he did not show up; Ru Yi performed the dance under the moonlight and before the emperor no less (neither knows the other's identity); the palace guards are looking for the thief who stole Empress Wende's mask...

1.We open to Ru Yi who is who has returned to Chenqing hall (I still cannot figure out if she is extremely brave or extremely stupid). Perhaps she is hoping to capture a glimpse of the mysterious man she danced with? The emperor is there, and nearly catches her, but Xu Hui saves her in the nick of time. For reasons unknown, Ru Yi does not return the mask that she has stolen in spite of it being the perfect opportunity to do so. She instead keeps it. Xu Hui, an outstanding example of practicality and safety, reminds her that she could be killed just for entering the prohibited hall but that is not enough to phase our heroine.

2.Xiao Q. spies Ru Yi pulling out a brocade box. For reasons unknown to the audience, Ru Yi does not put it away but leaves it on her bed, in plain site. (I question the smarts of this girl). Unsurprisingly, Xiao Q. plots to bring down Ru Yi again (this is the harem, after all). During the formal presentation of the Prince of Lanling dance, Ru Yi will dance the lead. Her mask is taken, and the only mask she can wear is the Empress Wende mask she stole.

3.The emperor and all three consorts watch the show unfold. They are naturally shocked that she is wearing the mask, and Ru Yi is shocked to learn that the man she danced with is the emperor. She is ordered to remove the mask, and then questioned in front of everyone: Did she know she committed a capital offence? No.

4.Noble Consort Wei, who is in charge of the inner palace, naturally has the right to punish her. She tells Ru Yi that if she can come up with a poem praising Empress Wende in seven paces, she will pardon her. Ru Yi says she will try it but then admits she cannot. For reasons that defy common sense, Ru Yi blurts out that she actually finds the empress pitiful. This shocks everyone. Ru Yi is locked up, and will be punished severely.

5.Later, Virtuous Consort expresses regret that she did not stand up for the girl and let her fall into Noble Consort's clutches. Her position, we learn, is tenuous because (for reasons unknown) something happened that put her in a position where the emperor chose to spare her life and that of her brother. We also learn she is the mother of Prince Qi, and part of her collusion with Noble Consort is to protect her son.

6.In prison, Ru Yi is mistreated by the eunuch who tries to extort money before feeding her. Ru Yi displays a very plucky spirit when she is able to inspire enough fear in him to drive him off. Later, he returns with her favorite foods. Although she rejects them, we learn that they were sent by Virtuous Consort. Then, in a surprising shock, the emperor choses to summon Ru Yi to his chambers.

7.The emperor summoned her to ask her a question. He wants to know why she found the empress pitiful. Ru Yi, never one to avoid being audacious, asks a question first and wants to know if she will get killed for answering his question truthfully (I don't blame her) she also wants to know if he danced with her that night ,and he explains he was not dancing with her that he merely caught her because she fell (uh-huh).

8.Ru Yi explains that she found the Empress Wende pitiful because she spent many lonely nights away from the emperor--how else could she have found the time to compose so many volumes on etiquette in between raising 7 kids and running the harem? She must have been extremely lonely. Ru Yi then says that she believes the emperor feels regret for not cherishing her while she was alive. (This seems to be a fair assessment)

9.The emperor says 'You think you are smart, right?' and then punishes her to live in Chenqing hall, to clean it, and to copy the entirety of the Examples for Women (the show reports it is 10 volumes but Wikipedia states it is 30 volumes).

10.The Noble Consort Wei stays up late waiting for the emperor but is surprised to learn that he is not coming because he normally plays chess with her when he is upset. She learns first of Ru Yi's sentence, something that she sees as a reward because no one, not even the consorts, are allowed to set foot in Chenquing palace, and Ru Yi will be able to have access to the original copies of Examples for Women. She is then enraged to learn that the emperor did not come see her because he was busy seeing Ru Yi. This is an insult to her and it also makes her plot to move her niece into the palace that much more difficult.

11.Noble Consort bitterly reflects on how fickle men are, how this proves that they will always fall for someone else, and she considers her next move as it is likely that others will see Ru Yi as a rising star and align themselves with her, including the other consorts who do not like her (I really like Noble Consort's character).

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