The Glory Episode 16 Recap, Plot

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Imperial Concubine Miao was startled but felt grateful to Zhuang Hanyan for saving her. She believed that Zhuang Hanyan had returned good for evil and asked Fu Yunxi, who was skilled in solving cases, about what had truly happened today. Fu Yunxi took out a handkerchief and pointed out that it contained herbs that could frighten horses. However, Ruan Xiwen was completely unaware of this.

Imperial Concubine Miao speculated that only someone from the inner residence could have swapped the handkerchief. She immediately suggested dealing with the matter on Ruan Xiwen’s behalf, but Ruan Xiwen refused. Imperial Concubine Miao then summoned Zhuang Hanyan and ordered her to kneel and extend her hand, which made Ruan Xiwen cry out in fear, worried that Imperial Concubine Miao would punish her. Instead, Imperial Concubine Miao took out a jade bracelet.

Back in the day, when she was still unmarried, she had won a horseback riding competition against Ruan Xiwen because Ruan Xiwen had let her win, which had earned her this bracelet. Imperial Concubine Miao considered it only fitting to return it to its rightful owner and handed it to Zhuang Hanyan. In private, Ruan Xiwen and Imperial Concubine Miao drank tea together, with Ruan Xiwen personally brewing tea for her.

Imperial Concubine Miao reproached Ruan Xiwen for never revealing the secret to her tea-making skills. However, Ruan Xiwen candidly stated that she had no special secret—she simply brewed tea according to her mood. Imperial Concubine Miao also blamed Ruan Xiwen for deliberately letting her win back then, which ultimately led to her entering the treacherous imperial palace. Though she had survived many dangers there, she had been permanently deprived of the ability to bear children.

She claimed that everything she had suffered was the result of Ruan Xiwen’s intentional concession. But Ruan Xiwen believed that the competition was merely a pretense and that the real purpose was selecting a consort. Everyone had known this at the time, and she had not schemed against Imperial Concubine Miao. She had simply seen that Imperial Concubine Miao was determined to win, so she had decided to grant her wish. While they were arguing, Lord Tan arrived.

Imperial Concubine Miao deliberately had Lord Tan examine Ruan Xiwen’s leg injury. After carefully checking, Lord Tan discovered that Ruan Xiwen was actually capable of walking. It was due to a hidden scheme and years of suppression that had kept her from walking for so long. Ruan Xiwen suddenly broke into tears, realizing that all the doctors Zhuang Shiyang had hired over the years had deceived her.

Imperial Concubine Miao was also displeased, feeling that Ruan Xiwen, despite being clever all her life, had still fallen victim to such a cruel scheme. Lord Tan offered to visit every day to treat Ruan Xiwen, assuring her that as long as she let go of her resentment and gradually relaxed, she would be able to walk again. Imperial Concubine Miao was genuinely happy for Ruan Xiwen, knowing that once her legs recovered, she would regain her freedom.

Wiping away her tears, Imperial Concubine Miao prepared to leave but instructed Ruan Xiwen that by next year, when they met again, she must stand up from her wheelchair and kneel before her in greeting. Only then would their contest be settled. Overwhelmed with emotion, Ruan Xiwen wept. Zhuang Hanyan later sought out Zhuang Yushan in private and revealed that she was behind everything. However, she had deliberately not exposed the truth before Imperial Concubine Miao to keep leverage.

She also urged Zhuang Yushan not to destroy herself for a man who did not love her. But Zhuang Yushan refused to back down and showed no fear. Sitting in the pavilion, Ruan Xiwen gazed at the thousands of lights outside. Madam Chen urged her to return home, but she remained unmoved, forcing Madam Chen to withdraw. At that moment, Yuwen Changan appeared before Ruan Xiwen and handed her an old keepsake from the past.

Upon opening the box, she found old betrothal letters and wedding gift lists. Unfortunately, the destined couple from back then had never been able to be together. Yuwen Changan expressed his desire to have closure with Ruan Xiwen and hoped that she could find a place where she belonged. He did not wish to pressure her but simply waited for her answer.

Meanwhile, across the way, Zhuang Hanyan watched everything from a distance, feeling both happiness and sorrow for her mother. Fu Yunxi approached Zhuang Hanyan from behind and admired her for having made the right gamble. Likewise, Zhuang Hanyan was impressed by how Fu Yunxi had managed to summon Imperial Concubine Miao with just a few words.

She now realized that Imperial Concubine Miao and her mother were neither enemies nor old friends—they were simply two women who shared the same fate, having both married the wrong man. Fu Yunxi asked Zhuang Hanyan about her plans and whether she longed for a lifelong love with one person. Zhuang Hanyan, however, believed that emotions were fickle and had never placed her happiness in the hands of a man.

She was not opposed to marriage, but to her, marriage was not about romance and growing old together—it was about finding a safe haven, a place where she would no longer have to suffer from instability. At that moment, fireworks lit up the night sky. Zhuang Hanyan looked up at the fireworks, while Fu Yunxi looked at her and suddenly declared that he could give her everything she desired. However, the sound of the fireworks drowned out his voice.

When Zhuang Hanyan asked him to repeat what he had said, Fu Yunxi remained silent and simply walked away. Watching his departing figure, Zhuang Hanyan smiled. Lord Tan visited daily to perform acupuncture on Ruan Xiwen, instructing Fu Yunxi to move around frequently rather than stay curled up in his wheelchair. He assured him that as long as he remained determined, his condition would improve, though he could not guarantee how long recovery would take.

Fu Yunxi insisted that Lord Tan keep his treatment a secret and tell others that he was merely recuperating. Every day, Zhuang Hanyan and Madam Chen accompanied Ruan Xiwen in her rehabilitation. Though she often fell, she got up again and insisted on doing it herself. Zhuang Hanyan felt distressed for her mother and wished to take her away, but Ruan Xiwen could not bring herself to leave, as she was worried about Zhuang Hanyan. Meanwhile, matchmakers arrived with proposals.

Ever since Imperial Concubine Miao had given her the jade bracelet, many influential families had sent marriage requests for Zhuang Hanyan. However, Ruan Xiwen was uninterested in these proposals—her only concern was whether Zhuang Hanyan had feelings for Fu Yunxi. She advised Zhuang Hanyan not to make love her only support but also not to reject love out of fear. She hoped that Zhuang Hanyan would have a life of her own and not become someone else’s accessory.

Ruan Xiwen suspected that Zhuang Shiyang had already noticed the unusual bond between Fu Yunxi and Zhuang Hanyan and feared their growing closeness, so he would likely try to marry off Zhuang Hanyan as soon as possible. Sure enough, when a suitor came to propose, Zhuang Shiyang was about to accept when Fu Yunxi arrived. He deliberately brought up an old case implicating Zhuang Shiyang, making the suitor fear involvement and quickly withdraw.

Satisfied with his success, Fu Yunxi left, but not before glancing at Zhuang Hanyan, who was secretly watching from the shadows. Meanwhile, Young Master Xue was drunkenly boasting at a restaurant that he possessed a love token from Zhuang Hanyan. The news reached Fu Yunxi, who immediately taught him a lesson. The Xue family then pleaded with Zhuang Hanyan to forgive their son.

At that moment, Fu Yunxi arrived, returned the handkerchief, and expressed relief that Zhuang Hanyan’s reputation had not been tarnished. However, Zhuang Hanyan instantly recognized that the handkerchief was not hers. Seeing the room filled with marriage proposals, Fu Yunxi offered to help her select a suitor. He criticized each one, while Zhuang Hanyan countered by listing their strengths, frustrating Fu Yunxi so much that he jokingly suggested she marry them all as live-in husbands.

After meeting Zhuang Hanyan at a banquet, He Wenshen could not forget her and learned that she planned to visit a temple. He rushed to meet her there. Hearing this, Fu Yunxi heeded his subordinate’s suggestion to stage a robbery so he could play the hero. However, Zhuang Hanyan saw through the ruse and threw a stone at the hiding Fu Yunxi, forcing him to flee.

When he returned, his subordinates could not help but laugh at the bruise on his face. To his frustration, Zhuang Hanyan even sent him a box of powder to cover the bruise, infuriating him. Having observed everything, Ruan Xiwen was convinced that Fu Yunxi had feelings for Zhuang Hanyan. However, Zhuang Hanyan believed that if he truly cared, he should have already spoken up. Just then, He Wenshen arrived, and Zhuang Shiyang had already arranged their engagement.

Shocked, Zhuang Hanyan rushed over to stop it, but Zhuang Shiyang refused to listen. At that moment, Fu Yunxi appeared and publicly accused Zhuang Shiyang of double engagement. He brought out a twenty-year-old marriage contract and tore up the agreement with He Wenshen. He Wenshen proposed that if Zhuang Hanyan annulled her prior engagement to Fu Yunxi, then their marriage could proceed. He confessed his feelings for her, but Zhuang Hanyan rejected him. Sitting nearby, Fu Yunxi smiled subtly.

Seeing He Wenshen leave, Fu Yunxi also turned to go. But Zhuang Hanyan stopped him and demanded to know his true intentions. Fu Yunxi openly admitted that everything he had planned was for her. He understood that she only desired wealth and power—things he could provide. He proposed that Zhuang Hanyan become his wife, while he would be her strategist, ensuring that she became the most distinguished lady in the capital within a year. Zhuang Hanyan asked why he had chosen her.

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