Zhen goes back to her residence and sees the plants are replaced with nice ones. Zhen says she only needs to do her duties and serve the emperor well. She can't influence how YZ will think. If he is served well, he will care about what she cares about. YZ seems to have stopped suspecting Zhen's involvment in Shen's case.
The new head Jiang ZhongMin sees YZ to ask how to distribute the "LuoZi Dai" eyebrow pencil. Jing Pin is playing chess with him. This year, they only got 3 as a tribute from Persia.
YZ, "Why are you asking me over such a trival matter?"
Jing Pin smiles, "Monks are plenty and porridge is little. To prevent consorts from fighting over it, it is better that YZ rewards it. Jiang is new but he is quite smart."
YZ, "The Empress is the head of the harem, she has to have one. Wan Guiren looks the best in YuanShan Dai, give one to her. And the last..." he hesitates.
Jing Pin, "I don't draw eyebrows, so your majesty does not need to consider me."
YZ, "Huafei likes to draw her eyebrows long, so give it to her then. The other concubines can use Tong Dai since there are no more LuoZi Dai left."
Jiang takes his leave.
YZ, "Actually, I should give you one LuoZi Dai, to thank you for letting me know there is poison in Shen's food, thus preventing another drama in the harem."
Jing Pin smiles and said, "Your majesty said to forget the issue, why thank me?"
YZ takes her hand.
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Huafei is given her LuoZi Dai. She grumbles that she is only given one as normally she is given 3 in the past years. Guizhi tells her that one is given to the Empress, and the other to Wan Guiren. Huafei loses her temper immediately.
Huafei, "Zhen Huan that slut again. Yesterday night she seduced YZ to her chambers, today I got laughed at by Qifei that lowly maid. Today she steals my LuoZi Dai. The empress has one, no matter what she needs to be given face. But what sort of thing is this Zhen Huan?
Cao Guiren tries to calm Huafei down and says she will try to think of a scheme to get Zhen Huan.
Huafei, "Zhen Huan is just a small Guiren. She can take down Huang Guiquan in a series of small steps. Where is there space for you to think of any scheme? You exhausted your brains only to get rid of a Shen Meizhuang, but Zhen Huan's position is not affected at all. In fact her position is rising by the day. How am I to trust you again?"
Cao Guiren panicked and kneels down, "Niangniang please understand, when I got into the palace you have been taking care of me. I am absolutely loyal to you."
Huafei mutters, "I naturally know that. Otherwise how would you have been allowed to exist until now? I have used so much efforts to regain YZ's favor, I can't let the slut harm me again."
Huafei suddenly smiles sweetly at Cao Guiren and helps her up. "Meimei, why didn't you bring the princess over to play? Must the princess only play at YZ's?"
Cao Guiren, "The princess was sick last night. She is staying indoors other than seeing the emperor."
Huafei,"Even thou you are her birth mother, but your status is just a little Guiren. The princess is sick, it is inconvenient for you to take care of her. Bring her here to convalesce." She turns away after demanding for the princess.
Cao Guiren is extremely anxious and pleads, "Niangniang, the princess cries at night, she will disturb your sleep. If niangniang likes, I will bring her over any time."
Huafei ignores her, "Why aren't you carrying her over now? Bring the nanny too."
Guizhi goes to carry out Huafei's orders.
Huafei, "Oh? Are you afraid I will harm the princess?"
Cao Guiren, "I don't dare. I only feel that niangniang likes the princess so much, so I am very grateful."
Huafei says snidely, "That's best then. Don't you forget, if not for me, once the princess was birthed, she would have been taken away to A-ge Suo (the nursery). You would not have been allowed to take care of her daily anyway. Since the princess is with me, you will have lots of free time. Use your time to help me solve my troubles instead."
Cao Guiren is swallowing her tears.
"I understand." Cao Guiren steps up and helps Huafei to fix her hair.
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Zhen is with An doing embriodery. Jinxi comes in and asks Zhen away on the pretext of trying out the Luozi Dai. Jinxi passes her a note from Shen given to them by FangRuo momo. Shen tells her to preserve her favor and help An to gain YZ's favor too. Zhen laments that Shen is still caring for her despite her own situation. Jinxi says Shen is right since An is the only one they can arm now who will dependably be on their side.
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Cao Guiren runs into Songzhi who is carrying Wenyi back to Huafei. Wenyi is crying and Cao Guiren is distressed at why Wenyi is not covered with an umbrella under the hot sun. Songzhi is not very polite and brushes her off, and reminds her that Wenyi is fortunate to be taken care of by Huafei. Songzhi impatiently tells Cao Guiren to be grateful instead of picking at things. Cao Guiren has to back off and be very polite to Songzhi even thou she is a maid. Songzhi leaves.
Cao Guiren laments, "I have always been obedient to her, helping her to come out with strategems. But she even wants to take my child. This type of life where we have to live under a master and cannot decide our fates, when can it end?"
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At night, Wenyi cries and Huafei is unable to sleep due to the noise. She throws a tantrum and summons the nannies for a scolding. The nannies tell her it cannot be helped as the princess may be distressed in unfamiliar surroundings. Huafei tries to placate the princess for a while and gets impatient. She gets the sedative drug and feeds it to Wenyi. The nannies protest that the drug is for adults and she threatens them to keep this quiet. Songzhi does not dare to say anything even thou she knows it is wrong. Huafei instructs them to drug Wenyi every time she cries.
The nannies meet Cao Guiren in secret. When YZ comes, Huafei will pretend to be a doting parent in front of him. When YZ is not around, she will ignore Wenyi. The nannies are not supposed to have salt in their diet so they can produce good breastmilk, but Huafei does not care to make arrangements. As milk is not that good, Wenyi is not familiar and cries constantly at night. Huafei then feeds the sedative drug to Wenyi, which is surely harmful to health especially at such a young age.
At this point Cao Guiren tears up. "What can I do? Whenever I visit, she refuses to let me see the princess. When I ask about anything, she will feel offended and say I don't trust her. I can't do anything now no matter how much I yearn for it. If you didn't tell me about all these, I would never have known. She is so happy at getting her way now, she will never let go."
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Huafei is with YZ having dinner. He comments that she has dark eye circles now and that Wenyi seems very sleep nowdays and does not like to play and laugh. Huafei panics and kneels down and asks for forgiveness for not being able to take care of the princess well. YZ suggests sending back Wenyi to Cao Guiren.
Huafei, "Cao Guiren has been unwell and unable to manage a few things at a time, so she sent Wenyi here. If we send her back, I'm afraid Cao Guiren will be unable to recover from her sickness properly."
YZ does not say anything.
Songzhi, "Your majesty is unaware, the princess is sleepy in the daytime because she is awake at night crying. Huafei has been taking care of her until her eyes are so red."
YZ, "In that case you have worked hard, get up."
Huafei, "The princess is young, it's natural that she cries. But I think that as this place is all females, the "yin" element is too strong, so she can't sleep well at night. If we are able to get more "yang" to stay here..."
Su Peisheng looks at Huafei with a closed look on his face. It's like he's thinking, "Oh playing tricks again." YZ takes the hint but it is obvious he is not that happy.
YZ, "Tonight is the 16th, I will stay here with you. Su, go tell Wan Guiren to sleep early."
Huafei glances at YZ and is very pleased with herself. "Your majesty, do taste the turtle soup."
When they are turning in, YZ comments that Wenyi is not crying. "Didn't I say, only your majesty's Emperor yang element is able to supress the yin here, so the princess does not cry anymore."
YZ is pleased and chuckles. A thunderstorm starts at this point.
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Zhen is in bed and afraid of the thunder. She can't sleep. Huanbi is here to comfort her. Zhen is feeling bad, not just at the thunder. She sobs, "At this point, I guess Huafei is having relations with YZ. So many things happen in this short time. I'm so weary." She dismisses Huanbi and lies down to despair.
After a while, YZ suddenly appears at Zhen's bedside. Zhen is surprised and embraces him tightly.
YZ, "Huanhuan, it is me. I was about to sleep, and the thunderstorm started. I remember you are afraid of thunder."
Zhen, "It is raining heavily outside, Si lang does not need to come all the way here."
YZ, "Because the thunderstorm is so fierce, so I do not want you to be scared."
Zhen, "Si lang is at another place, since you don't see me, you do not need to worry."
YZ, 'The eyes can't see but the heart can see."
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Huafei is sitting on her bed and she is heartbroken. Songzhi symphathises and tries to get her to rest.
"YZ has never been like this. He has never been like this before." Huafei cries sadly, and then turns to fury. "Kill her."
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The empress is mediating with her buddhist prayer beads, and informed by her maid that YZ has left Huafei in the middle of the night to go to Zhen.
The maid says happily, "Huafei also has today's upcommance."
Empress, "Old love is good, but can't win over new love. My insult of the earlier years, she has also tasted it today."
Maid, "Last time, when YZ was with niangniang, she used tricks to trick YZ to go to her. But now, YZ willingly went away himself."
Empress, "What is the use of forcing someone to stay with you when his heart is not there?"
She instructs her maid to send a screen as a gift to Zhen, and orders her to get rid of the scented sandalwood. Since such scents are processed, they will get a worldly taint, and not as good as the natural scents of fruits and flowers.
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An visits Zhen and gifts her some clothes with her embriodery.
An, "Lingrong feels that rather than embriodering a crow that sits around and waits for favour, I would rather a spring peach blossom that blooms in the imperial garden, to enjoy the rain, so that this luxurious silk is not wasted."
Zhen replies pleasantly, "The peach trees are full of peach blossoms. Meimei will make a harmonious and orderly home."
In this exchange, An is hinting that she is ready to be presented to the Emperor, and Zhen is replying that she consents.
Zhen wants to do a makeover for An. She dresses An in light cool colours instead of bright colours to make her stand out. Huanbi looks on with a sour look on her face.
Zhen and An goes to the garden to put their plan into action.
An gets cold feet again and seeks some reassurance.
Zhen, "If I were to recommend you to the emperor in the ordinary way, that is alright too. It is just that even if YZ were to consummate the relations with you, he will not remember you and likely to dump you after a few days. That will wrong you for your whole life."
YZ and the empress are strolling along the garden. They hear a woman singing.
劝君莫惜金缕衣劝君惜取少年时。花开堪折直须折,莫待无花空折枝。
An and Zhen are trying to lure the emperor but Huafei shows up instead.
Huafei, "Wan Guiren, when did you know how to sing? I am surprised."
Zhen, "Niangniang your praise is unwarranted. I do not have such talents. The lovely voice belongs to An Daying."
Huafei looks at An with contempt, like looking at dirt on her shoe, "I was wondering who it was. So it is An Bihuai's daughter. A guilty official's daughter should be hiding indoors to reflect on their mistakes, yet come out to attract attention, so devoid of shame."
An says meekly, "This concubine's father is not a guilty official."
Zhen, "An Daying's father has been released and reinstated to his official duties. He is not a guilty official."
Huafei, "Getting released does not always mean one is innocent. Wan Guiren should know the reasons very well. It's no wonder that a small Daying does not know the rules, but why did Wan Guiren not teach her manners, respect and shame?"
Zhen thinks and says smilingly, "It's just a song. How does it connect with manners, respect and shame?"
Huafei, " "Pluck the flower when it is in bloom." She sings it this way, isn't she asking for a man's attention, and asking to be plucked?"
Zhen, "This song's name is called "Jin Lu Yi", its meaning is to tell people to treasure their moments. It's not the meaning that niangniang said."
Huafei finally loses her patience and tries to force her way, "Wan Guiren knows how to argue very well. It's a pity that women who are obedient are considered virtuous, and not wanting to win argument. Wan Guiren does not follow the womanly virtue and offend your superior."
Zhen and An kneels since she is using her status to control them.
An, "Wan Guiren does not mean to offend niangniang, please forgive her."
Huafei, "Asking for forgiveness after you have made a mistake, isn't it too late? Since I am the head of the concubines, I shall use my best ability to teach both meimei the regulations that you should follow! Attendants..."
YZ has been observing the scene. He steps in at this point and claps. Huafei has to hurridly kneel to greet him.
YZ "The person singing has a lovely voice." He steps up and helps Zhen up while Huafei remains kneeling and looks on. He tells Huafei to get up too.
"Well? Why are you unhappy today?"
Huafei, "This is broad daylight, and she is singing such songs in the garden."
YZ chuckles and asks the empress, "What do you think?"
"An Daying's voice is like from the heavens." Huafei gasps and is surprised. She didn't expect the empress to support An.
YZ "Raise your head. What is your name?"
An, "An Lingrong."
Huafei, "When you address the emperor, you have to say, "Your concubine" as a form of respect."
Empress smiles and says, "Looks like you and An Daying will have a lot of opportunities to meet in future. You can teach her slowly, there will be lots of time in future."
Zhen dismisses herself and An goes with her. An looks back and YZ is mesmerised. The empress says, "I like An Daying's song very much. Get her back to sing for YZ and me again." YZ looks at her and smiles.
Su catches up with Zhen and An. He conveys that An, and not Zhen is summoned. Zhen and An pause to consider the change. Zhen smiles then and encourages her to go. An then kneels down to convey her gratitude to Zhen and goes to YZ towards her new promising future.
The empress retains Huafei on a pretext while YZ strolls along the garden with An. Huafei has a sulky look on her face while the empress looks pleased.
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Zhen is moping in the garden. She is sad and depressed that her beloved man is about to have another woman.
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At night, An is singing to YZ in his chambers. Prince Guo comes to fulfil his chess appointment with YZ. He is blocked by Su Peisheng. Prince Guo comments that YZ has gotten another "Lady of Amazing Voice" who is even better than the last one.
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An is back in her residence. She fondles her flower embroidery and cries. Baojuan was waiting for her, but she did not take the carriage back and preferred to walk instead.
Before, when I walked on the pavements, I always had to look down and be cautious at all times. Now I have become a real xiaozhu, so I want to experience what is the difference. So I walked. The difference is before, I only saw the pavement, and did not notice that the scenery of the palace is so pleasing.
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Zhen is trimming her plants. Jinxi commented that Zhen does not seem too happy that An has found favor with YZ.
"It is an expected event. Naturally there is no surprise."
An comes to visit.
Huanbi remarks sourly, "An xiaozhu is different now. You don't need to come over everyday."
An looks chastised at her words and Zhen, displeased, sends Huanbi away to get tea.
An quickly asks, "Jiejie do you blame me?"
Zhen, "Of course not. I am very happy for your accomplishment. I am the one who made it happen, how will I blame you?"
An, "If jiejie is unhappy in any way, Lingrong will not see YZ anymore!"
Zhen laughs. "You're speaking like a child. I am considered half your matchmaker. How can the bride not see the groom because of the matchmaker?"
Huanbi arrives and sets An's tea down with a bad attitude and a sour look.
Zhen asks about An's new clothes. This material is Suzhou's luminous silk, it will shimmer when a person moves. Huanbi glances at An's clothes jealously. Every year, very limited amount of the material will only be sent as tribute. YZ has given it all to An.
"Yes it was all given to me. But I don't dare to use such good stuff. I only took one for myself, and gave one to Empress and Huafei. The other two, I'm giving them to jiejie. I heard that during the Tang dynasty, this is made by Gaochang country (Qara-hoja, ancient Xinjiang) and sent to Tang as a tribute. It doesn't get wet in the rain. Now we have acquired the skills to do that. But I do not know if it's true if it is really resitant to water."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaochang
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Huanbi and Liuzhu are tending to the plants in the courtyard. Huanbi remarks that An didn't come to visit for a few days and Liuzhu replies it's too hot to walk. The empress even told everyone not to go pay their respects for these few days. Huanbi then comments that as long as YZ comes then it's alright.
Liuzhu, "Xiaozhu yearns for him, why are you doing that too?"
They laugh and chase each other. Jinxi comes out and tells them to act with decorum. She is being sent by Zhen to give An some tonics and medicines.
Huanbi, "Xiaozhu is taking care of her more than she is taking care of Liuzhu and me."
Jinxi is shocked, 'You have been talking more and more overboard. You can't do that."
Huanbi, "Okay okay. She is An Changzai already, we are just maids." She turns and goes in rudely.
Jinxi and Liuzhu are taken aback. Liuzhu smooths it over by saying Huanbi has always been spoiled by Zhen and treated as a sister. These few days she has been slacking and disappearing. Liuzhu promises that Zhen and her will tell Huanbi off in private and apologises to Jinxi.
Zhen has a talk with Huanbi. "I want to ask you something. Lingrong did not offend you, why must you always make a sour face to show her?"
Huanbi, "Xiaozhu don't you think that she is a small villian who has gotten her way and trying to show off to us? First it's the silk material, then it's jewellery and hairpins, it's not like we haven't seen it before!"
Zhen, "Shut up! I only asked you a simple question, but you went on a rant. She is YZ's new favorite concubine. YZ naturally will give her lots of gifts, why must she hide it or swallow it?"
Huanbi is subdued and grumbles, "Previously it has always been Xiaozhu who gives her gifts, what does she think she has?"
Zhen says exesperatedly, "It doesn't matter what she has. She is an imperial concubine. Don't you forget your status, don't create trouble."
Huanbi agrees reluctantly, "Ok."
Zhen is appeased and says, "You always like to throw your little tantrums. Out of the two Suzhou silk outfits, I've picked one out for you. Remember, don't flaunt it around."
Huanbi is finally happy at being given such a luxury item.
Zhen sends her to get a chestnut snack and looks apprasingly at Huanbi as she runs off happily.
End of episode 16