Different Princess Episode 21 Recap
> Different Princess Recap
Hua Qingge finally managed to get rid of Mo Yu, the personal maid Ji Chu had assigned to her. She had initially suspected Mo Yu was a veteran assassin sent by Ji Chu, but quickly realized she was merely an overzealous matchmaker, making her presence a nightmare. As Hua Qingge ventured out, she overheard Ji Chu discussing secret arrangements for "tomorrow's" action, assuring someone that everything was ready. Intrigued, she followed, discovering gunpowder residue on the ground.
She was horrified, realizing Ji Chu might be planning something major, possibly even a rebellion, after previously thinking he would abandon his violent ways post-revenge. She rushed to a warehouse, found a large quantity of black gunpowder, and frantically doused it with water. Hiding, she overheard people confirming the operation for "tomorrow," a date she quickly connected to the Empress's upcoming tea party.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiyao was preparing to enter the palace when she encountered Ji Yun, who invited her to accompany him. Other young ladies at the entrance were dismayed by Lin Xiyao's presence, especially given her attire as a coroner. They questioned her invitation and called her "ominous" for her profession. Ji Yun, however, was unfazed and escorted her inside. Hua Qingge also arrived and found Ji Wan'er complaining about Gong Yeqi ignoring her.
Hua Qingge consoled Ji Wan'er, suggesting that an early introduction to family might be intimidating, especially given Ji Wan'er’s "intimidating" family background. Ji Wan'er admitted she had planned to introduce Gong Yeqi to her mother at the tea party. Hua Qingge then left to join Ji Chu for the event, reminding Ji Wan'er to look after Lin Xiyao.
Ji Chu, upon seeing Hua Qingge, reminded her that her main task was to maintain their public display of affection, stating that his affection was not merely a show. Hua Qingge, for her part, decided to go along with the "public display of affection" to prevent the "arch-villain" Ji Chu from causing trouble.
At the tea party, which was secretly arranged for Ji Yun to find a potential bride, other young ladies continued to speak ill of Lin Xiyao, deeming her presence "ominous" because she handled corpses. Lin Xiyao explained that she had just completed an autopsy for a headless female corpse case and had rushed straight to the palace without time to change. When the gossip continued, Hua Qingge and Ji Wan'er stepped forward to defend her.
Just then, the Duke Dingguo arrived and shockingly announced that Lin Xiyao was his long-lost daughter. He recounted how, years ago, while he was fighting on the border, Lin Xiyao's mother brought her to find him. They were attacked by bandits, and while her mother's body was found, Lin Xiyao disappeared without a trace. He had recently learned that she was adopted by an old coroner. Lin Xiyao was taken aback but acknowledged the resemblance to her mother.
She still found it hard to accept the sudden revelation. Hua Qingge seized the opportunity to praise Lin Xiyao, helping to secure the Empress’s favor. The Empress, too, expressed her admiration for Lin Xiyao, calling her elegant and talented, and invited her to visit the palace more often. Separately, Du Wenshu, disguised as a guard, was discovered and apprehended within the palace.
An unknown figure in black, who had been waiting to rendezvous with him, quickly retreated upon seeing Du Wenshu's capture. After the banquet, Ji Chu escorted Hua Qingge away. Ji Yun offered to accompany Lin Xiyao home. Lin Xiyao was still grappling with her newfound identity. She expressed to Ji Yun that having been alone since her foster father’s death, the sudden appearance of family left her unsure how to feel.
Ji Yun empathetically listened, suggesting a stable place is eventually needed. She thanked him for his comfort and invited him to call her by her given name, Xiyao. Ji Yun admitted that the tea party was merely to appease his mother. When Lin Xiyao asked about his standards for a Crown Princess, he replied that character and shared interests were more important than background.
Lin Xiyao, impressed by his unconventional views, confessed her admiration for him, believing it was better to express feelings openly rather than let them fade. Ji Yun remarked that she was also very different from other women. Back at Prince Lv's Residence, Hua Qingge was surprised to learn that Ji Chu's "secret plan" was actually a successful trap to capture Du Wenshu. She was still puzzled by the purpose of the black gunpowder. Ji Chu then revealed his "surprise": fireworks.
To her dismay, the fireworks sputtered out after only one burst. Hua Qingge realized she had accidentally ruined them earlier, mistaking them for part of a nefarious plot. Ji Chu, seizing the moment, confessed his feelings for her. Hua Qingge was stunned, having never expected him to harbor such emotions. Ji Chu asserted that he always gets what he wants and would await her response.
Later, Ji Wan'er brought Hua Qingge a rare book of patterns to help her search for a specific totem. Hua Qingge explained she was looking for it to identify who was framing Ji Chu. Ji Wan'er teased Hua Qingge about her growing concern for Ji Chu, which Hua Qingge awkwardly denied.
Ji Chu interrogated Du Wenshu, who refused to name his mastermind, claiming his actions against Prince Qi were merely due to personal dislike and a desire to eliminate a public threat. When Ji Chu pressed him about the distinct tattoo on his body, Du Wenshu dismissed it as a "prank" done out of boredom.
Ji Chu found it hard to believe that someone as pragmatic and indifferent to fame and fortune as Du Wenshu would commit such acts for mere "pranks," especially since he was caught in the palace, and vowed to uncover the mystery. Using the book Ji Wan'er provided, Hua Qingge identified the symbol from Du Wenshu's tattoo. It was the "Red Luan Constellation Sign," a Fuyu totem symbolizing a life-and-death covenant and everlasting loyalty between lovers.
She noted it was similar yet subtly different from the "Tiger Thorn Totem" associated with an ancient Fuyu assassin organization that had vanished years ago. She shared her findings with Ji Chu, revealing that both totems originated from Fuyu. Hua Qingge further deduced that Du Wenshu was a "strategist" in Fuyu, a third-grade minister. Ji Chu was shocked that such a high-ranking official would become a lowly note-taker in Liang.
He immediately ordered his subordinate, Xiao Yan, to investigate all past strategist records in Fuyu. Ji Chu noted Hua Qingge's diligence in helping him find the totem, remarking that it proved her feelings for him. Hua Qingge, still reluctant to admit her emotions, insisted she was simply being "helpful."
