Episode Summary
Han Yan exposes corruption to clear Fu Yunxi's spy identity, sparking deadly power struggles. Fu plots against poisoner Zhuang Shiyang while Zhuang Yushan escapes Prince Qi's abuse through violent defiance. Multiple assassination schemes collide as characters race toward explosive confrontations.
Spoiler Alert
The Glory S1E28: Poison Plots & Palace Intrigue (Contains MAJOR spoilers!)
Let's raise a toast to Han Yan's huge courtroom win this week – but don't celebrate too soon. Our girl just pulled off the ultimate mic drop at the Imperial Palace, finally exposing He Wenshen's corruption and clearing Fu Yunxi's name as a wrongly accused spy. The Emperor wasn't messing around – He gets demoted to Ying Tian Fu faster than you can say "career suicide."
Cut to our tortured hero Fu Yunxi, barely conscious and covered in prison wounds. Han Yan's nursing him back to health with some serious "I'm-definitely-not-in-love-with-you" energy. When he wakes up thinking she's his solo savior? Girl's quick to share credit with Zhou Ruyin and that clutch letter from the late Minister Wen's wife. (Side note: The Dali Temple gossip chain remains undefeated.)
But here comes the messy part – turns out Fu's "fatal" poison was administered by none other than Han Yan's own father Zhuang Shiyang! Our heroine's playing 4D chess by keeping this from the Emperor, hoping to squeeze an antidote from dear old dad. Fu? He's all "let the toxic patriarch burn" energy, convinced his years-long poisoning can't be cured.
Cue the most awkward family reunion ever when Zhuang Shiyang slithers into Fu Manor with a very sus antidote deal. These two deliver Shakespeare-level verbal sparring – Fu's icy threats vs Zhuang's slimy bargaining. But Han Yan's not buying daddy's lies either: "That 'antidote' is probably rat poison with glitter," she basically says.
Meanwhile at Prince Qi's palace... yikes. Turns out the prince has a creepy obsession with Han Yan, leading to a WILD domestic violence scene when Zhuang Yushan (Han's sister/worst stepsister ever) tries to block his advances. The prince's whip comes out, Zhuang Yushan throws mad shade about his dead wife, and suddenly we're rooting for the villainess? Plot twist!
Midnight scheming alert: Fu Yunxi's sending damning evidence against Zhuang Shiyang to the Emperor via his right-hand man Mu Feng. But with his health failing, is this a suicide mission? Our man's literally coughing up blood while planning his final chess move.
The episode's chaotic finale serves:
- Zhuang Yushan's fake tea service escape (girl smashed a teapot on Prince Qi's head like a BOSS)
- A'zhi's adorable grave visit with Han Yan (we don't deserve this pure child)
- Fu's dramatic carriage dash towards the palace (why do all heroes leave without saying goodbye?!)
- Multiple assassination plots (Prince Qi's goons vs Zhuang Shiyang's spies – place your bets!)
The Real MVP: That random jade lock Zhuang Shiyang keeps fiddling with. We see your Chekhov's gun, writers.
Most Likely to Die Next Episode: Everyone. Literally everyone. The way these characters are playing with poison, blades, and imperial politics? We're stocking up on tissues.
P.S. To the costume designer: We need to talk about Zhuang Yushan's hairpin loss during her escape. That better be symbolic and not product placement for Ming dynasty accessories.
