ep 23 spoilers ahead!

23/96!

1.We open to morning court. The emperor would like to know where the crown prince is. Someone suggests he is out hunting (this is like saying 'the crown prince would rather play than take on serious matters of state'). This greatly angers the Honorable Wei (Tutor). He calls this man out for slandering the crown prince with no evidence.

2.Fortunately, a guard announces that the crown prince is just outside. Court is dismissed, and the crown prince enters...carrying a box (I cannot emphasize how sad this is, that his father ordered him to essentially kill his lover. I think it makes the emperor something of a hypocrite, because was he not going to allow Meniang to live by having her flee the country? But the person with the power gets to make all the rules...) The prince offers it up like a trophy and promises to turn over a new lead (essentially). His father congratulates him for finally acting like a crown prince.

3.Meanwhile, Crown Princess learns that Chengxin is dead and is so happy that she decides to throw a celebration. She also learns that the courtiers were impressed with the crown prince's display of authority (essentially it is a good sign because it means he is choosing to put the state before all else, including personal attachments).

4.Elsewhere, Meniang (looking almost like she is in withdrawal from drugs, I am not sure if she is still recovering from her arrow wound or if this is from stress) goes to the private candle room and lights her first candle for General Li (this would be the man who was killed as the Lady Wu). She apologizes to his spirit (this doesn't sit very well with me if only because he literally stood no chance; it isn't like fighting to survive in the harem when you know you are in a battlefield....maybe I am wrong)

5.Meanwhile, Xiao Q is very pregnant. She manages to slip out of her palace and spies on her aunt in her garden area. She is happy to hear her discuss how happy she is that Xiao Q is pregnant...until she learns that her Aunt plans to kill Xiao Q and adopt the child as her own (very common--a midwife or doctor would use a knife and make a cut in the right spot and you essentially bleed to death). This horrifies and shocks Xiao Q, who never once thought her Aunt would plot against her (she has had a big reality check and needs to find some friends fast unfortunately she alienated just about everyone in the harem, probably just as her Aunt wanted. Wei must have been planning this since she entered)

6.Consort Wei receives an invitation from Crown Princess to attend her party. She has been hiding Xiao Q to 1)Keep her under her thumb but 2)to bring her out at the right time. She believes this is the best time to show her around, so no one speculates about the pregnancy or her intentions. She can play the part of adoring Aunt (she is so wicked but I really like her character). Xiao Q hopes to find the time to meet up with her old friends (remember the two girls who were always following her around?)

7.At the party, Xiao Q breaks her bracelet and while the maids frantically pick it up she sees her friends. But before getting there she over hears them talk--one has been promoted to Cairen, the other is a Jieyou, and they both talk about how much they hated sucking up to Xiao Q and how she is only good for the connection to Consort Wei--they also wish she and her child dies in birth (close call there...) Menieng and Xu Hui walk by, overhear it, and defend the child as innocent. Xu Hui also condemns them and says that while the girls did not get along it is in the past and they never held a grudge. (Is there hope for Xiao Q? How ironic to ask Menieng for help...)

--CRUEL IRONY: Xu Hui states that the palace is full of backstabbers like them...to Menieng....I can't wait to see her taken down...they say they lowest circle of hell is reserved for traitors...--

8.Xiao Q is able to use the high emotions of a pregnant woman to disguise her tears but she is feeling pretty hopeless. She is being watched by her Aunt and seeks to speak to Meniang. Unfortunately, she runs into Xu Hui first. She is able to get Xu Hui to come visit her, under the guise of starting a new beginning (man, bad luck to get Xu Hui...)

9.When Xu Hui visits, Xiao Q is able to get the servants to wait outside while she speaks to Hui. She writes on the table that the walls have ears. They retreat somewhere secluded and Xiao Q begs her for help and explains her situation. Xu Hui tells her that she came to the wrong person, that she couldn't support her against Consort Wei who is too powerful. She then (and this is pretty messed up), with an empathetic voice, repeats how awful it is by clearly explain that Xiao Q can look forward to a painful death, her child being taken away and never knowing her, and no one mourning her death (Xu Hui was always this twisted?) she then tells her that she could survive if she aborts the baby...(I am certain this is a capital crime) and she might be able to help her there, but she has to let her know what she decides. Consort Wei's people arrive only to walk in on a (staged) argument between the girls. This reassures Consort Wei that Xiao Q has no one to depend on her but her.

(Random: I kind of think of Dr. Evil when I see her petting that cat.)

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