My Destined Consort Episode 23 Recap
> My Destined Consort Recap
At the Peace Banquet, the lantern festival organized by Shen Jiangli was lively and festive. She had carefully planned every detail. Not to be outdone, Shen Qilan, upon seeing the many lanterns Shen Jiangli had made, created lotus lanterns for blessings. Shen Jiangli, inspired by the occasion, also made sky lanterns and painted delicate flowers on the one prepared especially for the princess. Chu Ya caught the scent of a luxurious fragrance and asked about it.
Shen Jiangli explained that it was made with a specially infused incense. Chu Ya, delighted, moved to light it, but suddenly, half of her palm was burned by the flame. Seeing the red, blistered wound, the East Zhou envoy, the Grand Madam, was furious and immediately scolded them for their poor hospitality. Shen Jiangli was punished and confined indoors.
Back at her quarters, she asked her grandmother if the punishment was too harsh, but her grandmother said that since this was East Zhou territory, they had to show strength or others would think they were easy to bully. This was a chance to assert authority. Just then, Shen Qilan came to visit. Chu Ya found it strange—there was usually no interaction between them, yet it was only Shen Qilan who came.
Being sharp-minded, Chu Ya still agreed to meet her. Shen Qilan pretended to plead on Shen Jiangli’s behalf but subtly hinted that something was wrong with the lantern Shen Jiangli gave Chu Ya. All the other lanterns lit just fine—only Chu Ya’s had a problem. Chu Ya replied that the matter was already in the governor’s hands and she trusted the governor to make a fair judgment. When Lu Jingming heard that his wife was unjustly implicated, he rushed home.
Shen Jiangli told him that she had noticed white phosphorus on Chu Ya’s lantern that night. White phosphorus ignites at very low temperatures and would burn a hand if sprinkled on the lantern. Lu Jingming believed they needed solid proof, but Shen Qilan was a prime suspect. Ever since Chu Ya saw Lu Jingming, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. When she met him again at the Lu residence, she became convinced he was her destined one.
Lu Jingming had come to thank her regarding the matter with Shen Jiangli, and Chu Ya immediately brought up how he had once saved her five years ago. She had fallen into enemy hands, and Lu Jingming, upon seeing her—just a helpless young woman—had stepped in to rescue her. Later, during the wars between their states, Chu Ya questioned why he kept attacking West Zhou. Lu Jingming was puzzled—wasn’t it always West Zhou that started the conflicts?
Their conversation turned into a dispute, but soon they both began to wonder: had they been misled all along? Chu Ya promised to investigate the matter thoroughly in West Zhou. Originally, Chu Ya was scheduled to leave East Zhou, but she deliberately delayed her departure by several days, claiming she wanted to find a suitable husband in East Zhou. The elder of the Lu family, the governor of East Zhou, gladly approved.
He remarked that all three of his sons were already married, but Chu Ya dismissed the formalities, saying they didn’t matter to her. Shen Qilan, picking up on the hint, recalled that Chu Ya had recently asked her many questions about the Lu family’s eldest son. Could it be that she had her eye on Lu Jingshu?
Wanting to avoid further entanglement with Chu Ya, Shen Qilan cleverly requested time off from her mother-in-law, pretending to be unwell and in need of rest. Shen Jiangli received the task of looking after the East Zhou princess. When she learned Shen Qilan had taken leave, she grew suspicious. Shen Qilan always rushed to take advantage of good opportunities—why would she now suddenly back off? Shen Jiangli began to suspect there was more to the situation.
Sure enough, not long after, Chu Ya openly confessed her admiration for Lu Jingming, boldly stating that she had stayed in East Zhou to find the man who had once saved her life. Lu Jingshu’s mother, upon hearing that Chu Ya was planning to choose a husband in East Zhou, began to consider her options. She called in Shen Qilan and advised her to create more chances for Lu Jingshu and Chu Ya to interact.
Currently, Chu Ya was the only one in East Zhou holding real power. If she could be matched with Lu Jingshu, it would surely benefit his career.
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