Episode Summary
Zou Yiniang's actions lead to tragedy and reconciliation. Shen Jiangli and Lu Jingming confront past misunderstandings, while family pressures mount regarding heirs.
Spoiler Alert
"My Destined Consort" Episode 19 Recap & Spoilers:
So, Zou Yiniang is still causing trouble even behind bars. The woman's got nerve! She's pushing Shen Qilan to break her out, and Qilan, bless her heart, is promising to do whatever it takes to free her mom.
Shen Jiangli and Lu Jingming have a serious heart-to-heart after the whole Zou Yiniang fiasco. Jiangli's feeling betrayed by the ruthlessness of it all, especially since Shen Qilan is involved. Apparently, power and status can really mess with people's morals.
Cue a stormy night, and Shen Qilan shows up at Shen Jiangli's door, begging for mercy for her mother. She's clutching at Jiangli's clothes, pleading sisterly love. Jiangli, though, isn't having it. She reminds Qilan that she was orphaned young because of schemes like this. Where was the mercy for her mother? Harsh, but fair. She has her maids escort Qilan away.
Desperate, Qilan turns to the eldest brother, hoping he'll intervene. He feels bad, but points out that murder has consequences, and their father, the governor, wouldn't budge. So, Qilan visits Zou Yiniang in jail one last time. Zou Yiniang, finally realizing the gravity of her actions, takes her own life that night.
Shen Qilan locks herself in her room for two days straight. Lu Jingxiu tries to comfort her, but she tells him through the door that she doesn't blame him – it was all Zou Yiniang's fault.
On a brighter note, Yan Yan is back at the Lu family estate thanks to Yu Lan! Shen Jiangli is overjoyed. With Wang Danling out of the picture, Lu Jingming wants Yan Yan to call him "Father" right away. Yan Yan is a little hesitant, so Lu Jingming cooks up a plan. They decide to stage a fake stomach ache caused by "almonds", which sends Shen Jiangli into a panic.
With Yan Yan conveniently out of the room, Lu Jingming and Shen Jiangli finally get a chance to talk about the past five years. Turns out, Lu Jingming did try to see Shen Jiangli, but Wang Danling's spies drugged her and made it seem like she was saying disrespectful things. Lu Jingming, believing the lies, gave up on her. He now realizes he was too quick to judge.
Lu Jingming then opens up about his life on the battlefield. He reveals that he lost his master and a loyal female comrade because of his arrogance and refusal to listen to advice. Shen Jiangli is touched, realizing that his abrupt departure on their wedding night wasn't a personal slight, but a matter of urgent military duty. They clear the air and promise to make up for lost time.
Later, at a Lu family banquet, the governor starts pressuring his sons to produce heirs. Lu Jingxing and Yaoyao deflect, saying the elder brothers should go first. Lu Qingqing almost spills the beans about Yan Yan's presence in Lu Jingming's household, but thankfully, Lu Jingxing and Yaoyao manage to shut her down.
After the banquet, Lu Jingming's mother corners Shen Jiangli, begging her to give Lu Jingming a child. Feeling the pressure, Shen Jiangli agrees to consider it, but wants to discuss the matter of revealing Yan Yan's existence with Lu Jingming first.
