Be My Princess Episode 12 Recap
> Be My Princess Recap
In a serene courtyard, Mu Tingzhou patiently instructed Ming Wei on the art of brewing tea. When Ming Wei playfully suggested they clink cups, Mu Tingzhou paused, his mind flashing back to the palace. He remembered teaching the Princess the same ceremony and how she, too, had wanted to clink cups. In the Ning Dynasty, such a gesture was reserved for spouses, which had caused him, as the Grand Tutor, to hastily withdraw.
Back in the present, swayed by his feelings, Mu Tingzhou did not refuse Ming Wei's gesture. Later, Xiao Zhao confronted Mu Tingzhou about his stubborn refusal to let Ming Wei film a kissing scene. He argued that since they were stuck in the modern world, adhering to ancient etiquette was pointless.
He reminded Mu Tingzhou that Ming Wei was a professional actress who would eventually marry, and while he could block a kissing scene now, he couldn't prevent her from finding a suitable partner forever. Pressing further, Xiao Zhao asked if Mu Tingzhou felt anything beyond anger—like jealousy or a desire to replace Chen Zhang—when he saw the on-screen kiss.
Mu Tingzhou denied it, but his darting eyes and the way he ravenously ate a piece of bread to hide his discomfort told Xiao Zhao everything he needed to know. Mu Tingzhou later asked Ming Wei if she harbored feelings for Chen Zhang. She flatly denied it, quoting his own advice that actors must separate their performance from personal emotions.
When Mu Tingzhou, adhering to outdated patriarchal views, questioned how she could tolerate physical contact if she disliked Chen Zhang, Ming Wei challenged him. She pointed out that besides her parents, he was the only one who treated her like a princess; to everyone else, she was just a rookie actress. She passionately explained that acting allowed her to experience different lives, a journey she deeply valued.
To be a good actor, she asserted, one couldn't arbitrarily alter scripts based on personal preferences. Moved by her conviction, Mu Tingzhou stood and declared he would no longer obstruct her. Overjoyed, Ming Wei impulsively hugged him, causing him to lose his balance. They tumbled backward, landing with their faces inches apart. As they recovered, Ming Wei teased him about his tense muscles.
He complained that the actor Mu Tingzhou's body was to blame, weakened by numerous injuries from years of demanding work. Ming Wei defended the actor's dedication, noting his Best Actor award was well-deserved. She then offered him a massage, revealing her family ran a martial arts club and she was skilled in such techniques. Feeling much better afterward, Mu Tingzhou expressed regret that he hadn't "awakened" sooner to protect her, blaming himself for her past hardships.
Ming Wei reassured him that she and her brother were always loved by their parents and never had to depend on others. The next morning, Mu Tingzhou prepared a lavish breakfast for Ming Wei. As she got ready for the day's filming, which included a rain scene, she clutched her stomach in pain and took a painkiller for her period.
During the shoot, Wang Yingying seemed to deliberately sabotage the scene, forcing Ming Wei to fall repeatedly in the simulated downpour. Watching from the sidelines, Mu Tingzhou was overcome with heartache. Later, while discussing the script, Mu Tingzhou and Chen Zhang found rare common ground, agreeing that the stepmother character should appear more pathetic and humiliated to create a more satisfying arc for the modern audience. Afterward, Wang Yingying subtly threatened Chen Zhang, warning him to stop helping Ming Wei.
Once the grueling scene was over, Mu Tingzhou scooped the drenched Ming Wei into his arms and carried her to the car. He had thoughtfully prepared warm brown sugar water for her. As he carefully dried her hair and skin, the close proximity created an intimate and charged atmosphere.
The household staff, observing them, speculated that the real Mu Tingzhou had fallen for Ming Wei during filming, and his amnesia was a subconscious manifestation of his desire to protect his "Princess" as the Grand Tutor. Back home, after ensuring Ming Wei drank a medicinal soup and gently blow-drying her hair, Mu Tingzhou knelt before her.
He proposed marriage, explaining that while he was fifteen years her senior, they were stranded in an unfamiliar world where he couldn't trust anyone else to care for her. With the legitimacy of marriage, he could look after her without causing gossip, especially after incidents like the rain scene. Ming Wei was initially surprised, but her expression quickly fell into disappointment.
That night, Ming Wei tossed and turned, questioning if Mu Tingzhou truly loved her or if his care was born purely from a sense of duty. She sadly concluded that his memory would eventually return, and he would revert to being the aloof Best Actor. Their time together would become a fading dream, and she would no longer be his Princess, just an admirer from afar. The next morning, a tense silence hung between them at breakfast.
Mu Tingzhou, noticing her avoidance, worried she disliked him, seeing him as an "old man" unworthy of her. In a decisive move, he announced that from now on, he, not Xiao Zhao, would be driving her to and from the set.
