Legend of Zhen Huan recap episode 7 甄嬛传 甄環傳 第7集
It is raining and Zhen is awaiting in vain with Liuzhu by the swing for the date with “Prince Guo”. Yu passes by the garden and looks at them standing by the swing from afar.
After the meeting with the Dowager in which he was very distracted, YZ rushes to the swing while it is still raining. Su Peisheng reports that he indeed had checked earlier and there was no one around. YZ catches a chill.
Zhen plays her zither. It is obvious she is feeling frustrated and is showing signs of missing “Prince Guo”. (Tidbit: In the book, she has indeed fallen for him from their encounter.) Liuzhu reminds her that she shouldn’t have gone to fulfil the date. The consequences will be dire if someone makes a big issue out of it.
An visits Zhen. An says she, unlike other concubines, does not need to take care of the emperor when he is sick. Shen has to standby the emperor’s side and it is very awkward with Huafei there as well. Huafei has been attending the emperor without rest.
Shen is dismissed by Huafei as she wants YZ to herself.
A few days later, YZ recovers. He talks about the imperial garden with Huafei. He fibs that he went there as he was trying to get nice flowers for the Dowager.
Huafei saucily said, “People in the know would say that Your Majesty is fillal. People not in the know would say that the imperial’s gardens have some vixens and have hooked you.”
YZ cooly replied, “These words shows your pettiness. You do not study much but are quick to shoot your mouth off. Very well, you have been very dedicated in taking care of me these few days and must be tired. Go back to rest.”
After Huafei is gone, YZ jumps out of bed and rushes to the imperial garden immediately, changing to normal clothes instead of his emperor’s robe. The scene is shot in a way that he is doing something secretive and he does not want her to know he is meeting another woman.
————————–
It is raining and Zhen is awaiting in vain with Liuzhu by the swing for the date with “Prince Guo”. Yu passes by the garden and looks at them standing by the swing from afar.
After the meeting with the Dowager in which he was very distracted, YZ rushes to the swing while it is still raining. Su Peisheng reports that he indeed had checked earlier and there was no one around. YZ catches a chill.
Zhen plays her zither. It is obvious she is feeling frustrated and is showing signs of missing “Prince Guo”. (Tidbit: In the book, she has indeed fallen for him from their encounter.) Liuzhu reminds her that she shouldn’t have gone to fulfil the date. The consequences will be dire if someone makes a big issue out of it.
An visits Zhen. An says she, unlike other concubines, does not need to take care of the emperor when he is sick. Shen has to standby the emperor’s side and it is very awkward with Huafei there as well. Huafei has been attending the emperor without rest.
Shen is dismissed by Huafei as she wants YZ to herself.
A few days later, YZ recovers. He talks about the imperial garden with Huafei. He fibs that he went there as he was trying to get nice flowers for the Dowager.
Huafei saucily said, “People in the know would say that Your Majesty is fillal. People not in the know would say that the imperial’s gardens have some vixens and have hooked you.”
YZ cooly replied, “These words shows your pettiness. You do not study much but are quick to shoot your mouth off. Very well, you have been very dedicated in taking care of me these few days and must be tired. Go back to rest.”
After Huafei is gone, YZ jumps out of bed and rushes to the imperial garden immediately, changing to normal clothes instead of his emperor’s robe. The scene is shot in a way that he is doing something secretive and he does not want her to know he is meeting another woman.
————————–
Yu is hanging by the swing area. She sees Zhen at the swing and attempts to call Zhen over to pay respect to her, as she loves to to throw her weight around. However, it turns out that Zhen is higher ranked and thus Yu has to pay respects to Zhen instead. She gives a half-hearted curtsy to Zhen.
Zhen opens with “Yu Daying has the inclination to enjoy the garden today?”
Yu is being her arrogant self and sarcarstically said, “I have to serve the emperor, unlike you Wan Changzai, who has lots of free time. Do take my advice. Since sister Wan has a medical condition, don’t come out to walk about, in case whoever comes into contact with you, gains your misfortune.”
Zhen is unfazed, “Thank you for your reminder. I have some advice for you too. I heard that the emperor likes people who have good manners. But when Daying saw me, you did not pay formal respects, it must be that you are not familiar with the rules of ettiquete of the palace. My maid will demostrate. Our other sisters have praised Daying for being clever, so please do what Liuzhu demostrates and pay your formal respects to me.”
Yu decides to cast away the last veneer of politeness. She angrily says “You are just a Changzai who has not even met the emperor, you are not fit to ask me to pay respects to you!” She slaps her maid who hesitately says to Yu that a Changzai is really higher ranked than Daying.
Zhen is shocked at Yu’s behavior.
“Wan Changzai, do you really think that your rank denotes your status? Whoever the emperor dotes on, is of higher status! Without the emperor’s favor, even with a high rank, a concubine is still considered cheap! Also, you are just one small rank higher than me. How dare you order me around. ”
YZ has arrived and had silently witnessed the later part of the exchange. He can’t take it anymore and says
“What if it is me who order you to pay formal respects to Wan Changzai? Why are you here?”
Yu is startled and very nervous at being caught by YZ witnessing her bad behavior. “I heard that Your Majesty likes to come to the imperial garden recently, so I thought that the scenery must be really nice here… so I came to take a look.”
YZ said calmly, “You are not being honest.”
Yu is caught out. “I just want to be near Your Majesty.”
YZ asked “Why are you so informed about my movements?” (It’s very subtle in the show but seeing as how Yu had saw Zhen earlier, she must have suspected something and shared it with Huafei, causing Huafei to speak of vixens in the garden to YZ. It’s a subtle hint to the audience at how information travels between the concubines.)
Zhen is shell shocked at finding out that “Prince Guo” is actually YZ. She pays her respects haltingly.
YZ said to Zhen in a gentle manner, “I did not deliberately ignore our date. Even thou I was sick these few days, I am thinking of you. Did you come to wait for me?”
To Yu, he was very strict, “You are up to your old ways. Looks like the Dowager went too easy on you.”
Yu quickly apologized to Zhen and begged for mercy. Zhen is taken aback, and thus asks the emperor to be lenient to Yu.
YZ said, “Since Wan Changzai asks for leniency for you, I will have to give her face. But you did not learn from your previous lessons, you are really irksome. ”
Yu is hence demoted to Guan Nuzi rank and thrown out of Zhongcui Gong. Su Peisheng is instructed by YZ to “Send her to somewhere I can’t see. ”
YZ also promotes Zhen to Guiren since Yu snubbed Zhen about the ranking issue.
Zhen is apprehensive about the promotion since she hasn’t even served the emperor yet. She says she has not earned any credit or merit and it is very out of the ordinary and actually out of bounds of the rules. YZ insists she accepts the promotion. He is being extra ingratiating to her.
“Rise, do not keep kneeling, you will tire yourself out.”
Liuzhu runs back to Suiyu Xuan and informs the others of the developments.
YZ explains to Zhen he was about to come for the date when he was called away. Zhen also says she came to fulfil the date with him too, and asks why did he lie to her about his identity. YZ says he does not want her to be frightened because of his status. He wants to have a frank conversation with someone which is a rare experience for an emperor as people will normally watch what they say to him.
He carries Zhen back to Suiyu Xuan in his arms.
Zhen’s servants are lined up to greet the emperor and Zhen. Everyone is delighted to see that Zhen has caught the attention of the emperor. In the background, we see that Huanbi is unhappy that YZ chats with Liuzhu instead of her.
YZ sets Zhen down and rearranges her manpower. He got to know that the supervising eunuch Kang Luhai job hopped to Li Pin, and so Xiaoyunzi is subsequently promoted to the supervising eunuch here. Many new servants will be given to Zhen and sent to Suiyu Xuan.
—————–
The empress is informed of new developments by Jianqiu. On Yu, she says her fate is expected but it came faster than expected. She wants her to be watched in case she makes trouble.
On YZ breaking the rules and promoting Zhen, she is not surprised too.
“Rules are set by our ancestors. Ancestors are the son of heaven, and the son of heaven is the Emperor. She is not an ordinary person, this will happen sooner or later anyway. ”
————-
Lots of gifts are sent to Suiyu Xuan and there is a festive mood, much like the first few days when Zhen entered the palace. Xiaoxiazi is sent to bring YZ’s special flute as a gift to Zhen. Zhen is pleased at the romantic sentiment behind the gift as they met while she was playing a flute.
An and Shen visits, and An pays her respects to Zhen formally. An says she has to go through the formalities before letting her hair down and chatting normally.
Shen warns Zhen to beware of jealous people as many people will be scrutinizing her as she is very high profile now. Zhen shares her worries she will have the same ending as Yu, and drag down her family into trouble.
——————–
Yu is dispatched to an old place with lots of cobwebs. She takes it out on her maid. The eunuch refuses her bribe as she has a bad rep and has insulted Xiaoxiazi and made things difficult for him before. She is resentful of her fate and throws tanturms.
————-
Huang Guiquan sends the monthly allowances to Huafei. He gives a little more money to her and flatters her while doing it. Huafei hints to him to pick some “good” servants for Zhen. As in, spies.
Huafei sends some snacks to Zhen. It is made by her personal kitchen and she has the reputation of having the best cooking in the palace. Zhen is wary and does not eat it.
Jinxi and Zhen discuss about favor. Too much favor from the emperor and a concubine will incur jealousy. Too little and a concubine will be bullied by everyone instead. Jinxi reminds Zhen that her, Shen and An are viewed as one gang. She also reminds her that their fathers’ official posts and favor from the emperor are important and directly influence each other, using Huafei as an example. She will have no choice about her circumstances unlike other normal commoner girls.
Zhen speaks about her wishes. She wished for a faithful husband whom she can grow old with, but her husband is the emperor who has so many concubines. It is an impossible wish to fulfill. Jinxi offers an alternative, wish for love and care, the next best thing, rather than fidelity since it cannot be helped.
Doctor Wen attends Zhen. She instructs him to “cure” her within a reasonable time, about 1 month. If she is not cured in time, YZ may get another doctor to attend her and discover the scheme of her fake illness. Wen is sad at her having to finally have sexual relations soon with the emperor but complies.
Huang Guiquan brings a batch of new servants to Zhen. She gives a subtle warning that she holds him responsible if they are not good. She sends them for training. Huang brings a small eunuch as a scapegoat and blames his department’s former inattentiveness on him. Liuzhu is angry and rebukes them for their fake apology. Huang escapes with excuses.
Zhen adomishes Liuzhu as her scolding Huang can be seen as arrogance by others now that she has the emperor’s favor. She does not want that type of reputation. She is wary and dispatches the new servants to do menial labours and does not allow them to touch items that belong to her. She sets Jinxi and Xiaoyunzi to keep a watch on the new servants.
Xiaoxiazi comes to inform Zhen that YZ will be visiting in the afternoon and asks her to prepare to welcome him. Liuzhu wants her to change into nice clothes but she doesn’t want to, she thinks wearing home clothes is better for the atmosphere.
Suiyu Xuan welcomes YZ. He likes Zhen’s casual attire which is not too gaudy. He remarks that her maid is dressed like her too, a breath of fresh air. Huanbi is singled out and Zhen says she is her personal maid. YZ makes a casual remark “Huanbi? No wonder she is wearing green.” (In mandarin, “bi” means teal green.)
Huanbi is extremely pleased to be singled out and thinks she caught the attention of the emperor. Xiaoyunzi chats with her and says her brows and eyes look like Zhen. Huanbi’s head is in the clouds.
Zhen serves YZ tea made with dew water she had collected from lily pads last summer. YZ asks if she is used to living in Suiyu Xuan, which is rather far from many places. She replies she likes the quiet.
YZ is enchanted by Zhen.
Zhen opens with “Yu Daying has the inclination to enjoy the garden today?”
Yu is being her arrogant self and sarcarstically said, “I have to serve the emperor, unlike you Wan Changzai, who has lots of free time. Do take my advice. Since sister Wan has a medical condition, don’t come out to walk about, in case whoever comes into contact with you, gains your misfortune.”
Zhen is unfazed, “Thank you for your reminder. I have some advice for you too. I heard that the emperor likes people who have good manners. But when Daying saw me, you did not pay formal respects, it must be that you are not familiar with the rules of ettiquete of the palace. My maid will demostrate. Our other sisters have praised Daying for being clever, so please do what Liuzhu demostrates and pay your formal respects to me.”
Yu decides to cast away the last veneer of politeness. She angrily says “You are just a Changzai who has not even met the emperor, you are not fit to ask me to pay respects to you!” She slaps her maid who hesitately says to Yu that a Changzai is really higher ranked than Daying.
Zhen is shocked at Yu’s behavior.
“Wan Changzai, do you really think that your rank denotes your status? Whoever the emperor dotes on, is of higher status! Without the emperor’s favor, even with a high rank, a concubine is still considered cheap! Also, you are just one small rank higher than me. How dare you order me around. ”
YZ has arrived and had silently witnessed the later part of the exchange. He can’t take it anymore and says
“What if it is me who order you to pay formal respects to Wan Changzai? Why are you here?”
Yu is startled and very nervous at being caught by YZ witnessing her bad behavior. “I heard that Your Majesty likes to come to the imperial garden recently, so I thought that the scenery must be really nice here… so I came to take a look.”
YZ said calmly, “You are not being honest.”
Yu is caught out. “I just want to be near Your Majesty.”
YZ asked “Why are you so informed about my movements?” (It’s very subtle in the show but seeing as how Yu had saw Zhen earlier, she must have suspected something and shared it with Huafei, causing Huafei to speak of vixens in the garden to YZ. It’s a subtle hint to the audience at how information travels between the concubines.)
Zhen is shell shocked at finding out that “Prince Guo” is actually YZ. She pays her respects haltingly.
YZ said to Zhen in a gentle manner, “I did not deliberately ignore our date. Even thou I was sick these few days, I am thinking of you. Did you come to wait for me?”
To Yu, he was very strict, “You are up to your old ways. Looks like the Dowager went too easy on you.”
Yu quickly apologized to Zhen and begged for mercy. Zhen is taken aback, and thus asks the emperor to be lenient to Yu.
YZ said, “Since Wan Changzai asks for leniency for you, I will have to give her face. But you did not learn from your previous lessons, you are really irksome. ”
Yu is hence demoted to Guan Nuzi rank and thrown out of Zhongcui Gong. Su Peisheng is instructed by YZ to “Send her to somewhere I can’t see. ”
YZ also promotes Zhen to Guiren since Yu snubbed Zhen about the ranking issue.
Zhen is apprehensive about the promotion since she hasn’t even served the emperor yet. She says she has not earned any credit or merit and it is very out of the ordinary and actually out of bounds of the rules. YZ insists she accepts the promotion. He is being extra ingratiating to her.
“Rise, do not keep kneeling, you will tire yourself out.”
Liuzhu runs back to Suiyu Xuan and informs the others of the developments.
YZ explains to Zhen he was about to come for the date when he was called away. Zhen also says she came to fulfil the date with him too, and asks why did he lie to her about his identity. YZ says he does not want her to be frightened because of his status. He wants to have a frank conversation with someone which is a rare experience for an emperor as people will normally watch what they say to him.
He carries Zhen back to Suiyu Xuan in his arms.
Zhen’s servants are lined up to greet the emperor and Zhen. Everyone is delighted to see that Zhen has caught the attention of the emperor. In the background, we see that Huanbi is unhappy that YZ chats with Liuzhu instead of her.
YZ sets Zhen down and rearranges her manpower. He got to know that the supervising eunuch Kang Luhai job hopped to Li Pin, and so Xiaoyunzi is subsequently promoted to the supervising eunuch here. Many new servants will be given to Zhen and sent to Suiyu Xuan.
—————–
The empress is informed of new developments by Jianqiu. On Yu, she says her fate is expected but it came faster than expected. She wants her to be watched in case she makes trouble.
On YZ breaking the rules and promoting Zhen, she is not surprised too.
“Rules are set by our ancestors. Ancestors are the son of heaven, and the son of heaven is the Emperor. She is not an ordinary person, this will happen sooner or later anyway. ”
————-
Lots of gifts are sent to Suiyu Xuan and there is a festive mood, much like the first few days when Zhen entered the palace. Xiaoxiazi is sent to bring YZ’s special flute as a gift to Zhen. Zhen is pleased at the romantic sentiment behind the gift as they met while she was playing a flute.
An and Shen visits, and An pays her respects to Zhen formally. An says she has to go through the formalities before letting her hair down and chatting normally.
Shen warns Zhen to beware of jealous people as many people will be scrutinizing her as she is very high profile now. Zhen shares her worries she will have the same ending as Yu, and drag down her family into trouble.
——————–
Yu is dispatched to an old place with lots of cobwebs. She takes it out on her maid. The eunuch refuses her bribe as she has a bad rep and has insulted Xiaoxiazi and made things difficult for him before. She is resentful of her fate and throws tanturms.
————-
Huang Guiquan sends the monthly allowances to Huafei. He gives a little more money to her and flatters her while doing it. Huafei hints to him to pick some “good” servants for Zhen. As in, spies.
Huafei sends some snacks to Zhen. It is made by her personal kitchen and she has the reputation of having the best cooking in the palace. Zhen is wary and does not eat it.
Jinxi and Zhen discuss about favor. Too much favor from the emperor and a concubine will incur jealousy. Too little and a concubine will be bullied by everyone instead. Jinxi reminds Zhen that her, Shen and An are viewed as one gang. She also reminds her that their fathers’ official posts and favor from the emperor are important and directly influence each other, using Huafei as an example. She will have no choice about her circumstances unlike other normal commoner girls.
Zhen speaks about her wishes. She wished for a faithful husband whom she can grow old with, but her husband is the emperor who has so many concubines. It is an impossible wish to fulfill. Jinxi offers an alternative, wish for love and care, the next best thing, rather than fidelity since it cannot be helped.
Doctor Wen attends Zhen. She instructs him to “cure” her within a reasonable time, about 1 month. If she is not cured in time, YZ may get another doctor to attend her and discover the scheme of her fake illness. Wen is sad at her having to finally have sexual relations soon with the emperor but complies.
Huang Guiquan brings a batch of new servants to Zhen. She gives a subtle warning that she holds him responsible if they are not good. She sends them for training. Huang brings a small eunuch as a scapegoat and blames his department’s former inattentiveness on him. Liuzhu is angry and rebukes them for their fake apology. Huang escapes with excuses.
Zhen adomishes Liuzhu as her scolding Huang can be seen as arrogance by others now that she has the emperor’s favor. She does not want that type of reputation. She is wary and dispatches the new servants to do menial labours and does not allow them to touch items that belong to her. She sets Jinxi and Xiaoyunzi to keep a watch on the new servants.
Xiaoxiazi comes to inform Zhen that YZ will be visiting in the afternoon and asks her to prepare to welcome him. Liuzhu wants her to change into nice clothes but she doesn’t want to, she thinks wearing home clothes is better for the atmosphere.
Suiyu Xuan welcomes YZ. He likes Zhen’s casual attire which is not too gaudy. He remarks that her maid is dressed like her too, a breath of fresh air. Huanbi is singled out and Zhen says she is her personal maid. YZ makes a casual remark “Huanbi? No wonder she is wearing green.” (In mandarin, “bi” means teal green.)
Huanbi is extremely pleased to be singled out and thinks she caught the attention of the emperor. Xiaoyunzi chats with her and says her brows and eyes look like Zhen. Huanbi’s head is in the clouds.
Zhen serves YZ tea made with dew water she had collected from lily pads last summer. YZ asks if she is used to living in Suiyu Xuan, which is rather far from many places. She replies she likes the quiet.
YZ is enchanted by Zhen.