The Empress of China Episode 28

episode 28 spoilers ahead

28/96!

1.Emperor discusses with his servant, Wang De, how he has learned that Hou pillaged and allowed his men to take concubines (wasn't that the norm back then?). he also thinks he is too close to the crown prince and he is aware he has been pretending to be drunk. He plans to make him a Minister in order to keep an eye on him and to also reduce his clandestine meetings with the crown prince. I believe he has him arrested to send a message.

2.General Hou is arrested by guards at a brothel and he appears to be quite drunk. Meanwhile, the servant girl's body is found. Xu hui, Meniang, and Rui'an are at the morgue. She seems to have drowned. They dismiss her head injury as being due to the rocks (rather, Xu Hui supplies that info) but Rui'an believes she was murdered. He begs to go to her room and look for clues. With Meniang there, Xu Hui has no choice but to relent. While going through the room, he notices that the candlestick he gave her has gone missing....(!)

3.the emperor visits the general who is suddenly sober. He tells him he wanted to see him away from the prying eyes of the courtiers and offers him a position of minister. Since the emperor himself is offering, he can't really refuse. He appears gracious and accepts it. During this meeting he says that the Li Xuchang rebels may have been related to Sui/Consort yang but the emperor dismisses this since that has been taken care of.

4.The emperor visits a dying Zheng Wei and he promises to honor his service by having one of his daughters marry his son. He also tells him if he will depose the prince (but we don't get to see it)

5.Crown prince burns veneration people and he explains to his wife why he was so close to Chengxin. She laughs and bitterly says she wished he told her sooner. The paper is for his shifu, who he knows even into death tries to help him (referring to the message about the coffin)

6.Soldiers are watching the new Minister Hou (he is putting on an act) while a white cofin carrying Zheng Wei goes through the city. Crown Prince knows he will revolt. Xu Hui runs to the emperor and tells him the crown prince will revolt, and the emperor says 'let's see what happens' (he has to know)

7.Menieng decides to see if she can dissuade the crown prince. Xu Hui tells her that is not a good idea but she does it anyways (I agree with Xu Hui. That is pretty dumb)

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