Episode Summary
Shen Qilan fakes a pregnancy and miscarriage, successfully framing Wang Danling, who is punished. Shen Jiangli uncovers Qilan's deception, while Danling remains ignorant of the full scheme. Family secrets surrounding the death of Shen Jiangli's mother are also revealed.
Spoiler Alert
"My Destined Consort" Episode 16: Pregnancy Drama and Schemes Exposed
So, things are getting real messy in the Lu family estate. Ever since Shen Qilan announced her pregnancy, she's been living the high life, even getting to eat at the same table as Wang Danling – something that never happened before. Danling is seething with jealousy, especially seeing Lu Jingxiu doting on Qilan and even the mother-in-law being nice. Danling finds a little comfort in the fact that she is the one who brings the medicine for Qilan, thinking she can manipulate things once Qilan has the kid.
Qilan, playing the sweet, obedient girl, drinks the tonic right in front of everyone. But soon after, BAM! Intense stomach pains and bleeding. Panic ensues, and Qilan immediately points the finger at Danling, accusing her of sabotage. Jingxiu's mom realizes that Qilan drank the tonic Danling gave her, and she brings the most reliable doctor to figure out what happened.
Turns out, Danling did mess with the medicine. The doctor confirms that the ingredients were altered and would definitely cause a miscarriage if taken long-term. Jingxiu and his mother are horrified – they realize Danling is a straight-up villain.
Danling, caught red-handed, tries to play it down, claiming she only increased the dosage slightly and didn't intend to cause that much harm. But admitting to tampering at all just confirms the doctor's findings. Jingxiu is furious, giving Danling the death stare. Danling begs for forgiveness, reminding him of their marriage. Qilan, sensing Jingxiu might waver, starts crying about her lost baby boy, who would have been born healthy and followed in Jingxiu's footsteps.
Qilan's emotional manipulation works like a charm. Jingxiu, completely played, immediately orders Danling's title to be stripped and banishes her to guard the ancestral tombs. Danling's father, hearing the news, rushes to the Lu family estate to speak with the head of the family. The head of the family is the governor of Dongzhou, and he hates infighting, and he doesn't give Danling's father any face.
Danling is a mess, regretting everything. Jingxiu confronts her, saying he could forgive her past actions, but this child was his first, and incredibly important. He'd hinted at this before, but she still betrayed him. Danling, full of remorse, begs for another chance, but Jingxiu storms out.
Meanwhile, Shen Jiangli, Qilan's sister, visits to offer condolences, bringing some nourishing gifts. As she enters Qilan's courtyard, she sees a maid sneaking out with a basin of clothes, looking flustered. Jiangli notices bloodstains on the clothes. Then, she finds discarded medicine dregs in the flowerbed and puts two and two together.
Inside Qilan's room, Jiangli offers to take her pulse, but Qilan refuses, making Jiangli suspicious. Jiangli realizes that Qilan was never pregnant and that she faked the pregnancy. Jiangli tells Danling that Qilan used medicine to fake the pregnancy, and then used her period to fake the miscarriage.
As Jiangli leaves the Lu family estate, Lu Jingming is waiting for her. Jiangli reflects on how Danling doesn't even realize why she's in this situation – she's a victim of her own desires and obsessions. Jingming comforts her, saying that whatever happens to Danling and Qilan, they chose their own paths.
Finally, Qilan celebrates her victory over Danling. Her mother visits, revealing that Shen Jiangli is investigating the truth behind their mother's death. Qilan's mother had used some tricks against Jiangli's mother to protect herself and gain favor.
