The Glory Episode 5 Recap, Plot

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The officials of the Hanlin Academy, having accepted bribes from Lord Pei in private, now feared that these unlawful actions would be exposed by the newly appointed Minister of Justice, Fu Yunxi, which could cost them their positions and even implicate their families. They turned to Zhuang Shiyang for help, hoping he could use his connection as Fu Yunxi’s father-in-law to plead on their behalf and quell the impending storm.

Faced with their pleas, Zhuang Shiyang felt deeply conflicted and was ultimately forced to admit that he, too, had once shown favoritism in the imperial examinations at Pei Dafu’s request. As night fell, Zhuang Shiyang gazed at the famous painting hanging on the wall—a piece he had cherished all his life. However, he knew it had now become a leverage used by Pei Dafu to threaten him. Keeping it any longer would bring disaster upon the Zhuang family.

Resolute, he decided to confess everything to Fu Yunxi, including the bribery scandal. Kneeling before Fu Yunxi, Zhuang Shiyang revealed how Pei Dafu had exploited his obsession with art to make him turn a blind eye during the examinations. Fu Yunxi helped his father-in-law up, stating that he had long suspected Pei Dafu. Though Pei appeared to be incorruptible on the surface, the origins of his immense wealth were dubious, defying all logic.

At that moment, Zhuang Hanyan quietly entered the study, intending to ask Fu Yunxi about his true purpose in traveling to Danzhou. Unexpectedly, she stumbled upon this scene and hid in the shadows, secretly listening to their conversation. She was deeply unsettled when she learned that Fu Yunxi's journey was to investigate Pei Dafu’s hidden wealth.

But what shocked her even more was when Fu Yunxi spoke of a baby girl taken to Danzhou seventeen years ago, recounting her tragic fate. Zhuang Hanyan’s heart pounded—she refused to acknowledge that she was that ill-fated child. However, just as she tried to suppress her fears, Fu Yunxi suddenly exposed the scar on her arm. At that very moment, Zhuang Yushan arrived and witnessed the scene, storming off in anger. The guards were puzzled by Fu Yunxi’s actions.

They couldn't understand why he was secretly supporting Zhuang Hanyan while simultaneously inciting Zhuang Yushan’s jealousy and resentment toward her. But Fu Yunxi knew that true strength was forged through adversity. He wanted Zhuang Hanyan to learn to protect herself rather than rely on others. Yet, to his surprise, Zhuang Hanyan was far from the fragile woman he had assumed. She not only sensed his true purpose in visiting Danzhou but also displayed an intelligence and foresight beyond his expectations.

Filled with resentment, Zhuang Yushan secretly ordered the servants to hide a smallpox-infected pillow in Zhuang Hanyan’s quarters. Fortunately, Chai Jing happened to witness this and grew increasingly anxious for Zhuang Hanyan’s safety. However, Zhuang Hanyan did not retreat; instead, she took the initiative by burning the pillow and instructing Chai Jing to investigate the truth at the Southern Medical Hall.

As the Lunar New Year approached, Zhuang Yushan, eager to please their grandmother, spent a fortune to acquire a rare fox-fur cloak. However, Zhuang Hanyan, unaware of New Year customs, had not prepared any gifts and instead requested the cloak from their grandmother. Though hesitant at first, the elderly woman ultimately gave the cloak to Zhuang Hanyan, albeit with a heavy heart. Seeing this, Zhuang Yushan was furious and stormed off.

After obtaining the cloak, Zhuang Hanyan devised a plan—she intended to use Doujia powder to infect herself with smallpox, thereby gaining immunity. She sent Chai Jing to uncover the mastermind behind the scheme while she waited for the right moment. Before long, Zhuang Hanyan contracted smallpox. Upon hearing the news, Zhuang Shiyang hurriedly summoned Doctor Wu from the Southern Medical Hall.

While questioning Zhuang Hanyan about any new items she had come into contact with, Doctor Wu specifically mentioned the pillow. Taking the opportunity, Zhuang Hanyan pointed out that she had only received a fox-fur cloak. When Doctor Wu examined the cloak, he indeed found traces of smallpox. Doctor Hu arrived soon after, apologizing to Zhuang Shiyang, claiming that one of his apprentices had unknowingly sold a smallpox-infected pillow, prompting him to rush over to treat Zhuang Hanyan.

Although he had not seen the pillow himself, he discovered that the fox-fur cloak carried the virus. Their grandmother was relieved that she had not kept the cloak herself, or else she would have been the one to suffer the consequences. Learning the truth, Zhuang Yushan finally confessed to their father, admitting that she had acted out of jealousy because she loved Fu Yunxi and could not bear to see Zhuang Hanyan take him away.

The revelation left the elderly woman furious—she never imagined her granddaughter could be so ruthless. Seizing the moment, Zhuang Hanyan, now gravely ill, bid farewell to her family. Her frail appearance and weak voice made their grandmother’s heart ache. However, rather than blame Zhuang Yushan, Zhuang Hanyan claimed it was her own fault for insisting on taking the fox-fur cloak.

This led their grandmother to suspect that Zhuang Hanyan had known all along that the cloak was contaminated with Doujia powder and had deliberately taken it to protect her. Zhuang Hanyan then expressed her sincere wish to return to Danzhou, hoping her grandmother would stop calling her a “barefoot ghost.

”Zhuang Yushan, growing increasingly irritated with Zhuang Hanyan’s feigned weakness, attempted to approach her but was caught off guard when Zhuang Hanyan dramatically collapsed, making it impossible for her to defend herself. As a result, she was once again placed under house arrest. Meanwhile, Zhuang Hanyan was taken back to the courtyard by her mother.

It was only the second time she had seen her mother, yet she had finally achieved her long-cherished wish of living under the same roof as her. Late at night, Zhuang Hanyan was summoned to the main hall, where Nanny Chen handed her a box of medicinal ointment that could both cure smallpox and neutralize Doujia poison—proof that her mother had already seen through her plan.

Her mother then presented her with a sum of private savings, intending to send her away. However, Zhuang Hanyan resolutely refused, using her illness as an excuse to stay. She remembered her aunt’s words—her temperament was exactly like her mother’s when she was young. Seeing that her daughter was determined to remain in the capital, Ruan Xiwen ordered Nanny Chen to place a bell on Zhuang Hanyan’s ankle, both as a punishment and a form of surveillance. Yet, Zhuang Hanyan had already steeled herself—she was determined to gain a foothold here and become a true noblewoman.

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