Different Princess Episode 3 Recap
> Different Princess Recap
Lady Wuxue, having finally acquired her Rainbow-Colored Dress, cherished this last opportunity. Ji Yun had helped her retrieve the dress from the maid, Nuo, ensuring Nuo was merely asleep. As Lady Wuxue performed her final dance, Hua Qingge, disguised as Qing, observed her, lamenting internally that Lady Wuxue had put on the dancing dress after all, indicating her own failure to prevent the tragedy.
After the performance, Hua Qingge, determined to prevent Lady Wuxue's suicide, proposed to Ji Yun and Lady Wuxue that the three of them should stay together and drink until dawn. Ji Yun's attendant expressed concern that Hua Qingge was disrupting their plan, fearing Lady Wuxue might change her mind. Ji Yun, however, was confident, stating that "No one can say no to eternal beauty," revealing that eternal beauty was the secret of the Rainbow-Colored Dress.
Hua Qingge continued her efforts to drink with them, boasting of her ability to "never get drunk" in her own world. However, after only a few sips of wine, Hua Qingge collapsed. Lady Wuxue and Ji Yun then discussed Hua Qingge, with Ji Yun remarking that despite her "little secrets," Qing was a kind girl, a sentiment Lady Wuxue agreed with, adding that all girls have their own small secrets.
Ji Yun then asked Lady Wuxue where she obtained the Rainbow-Colored Dress. Lady Wuxue presented him with a brocade box, requesting he accept her "little secret." The next morning, Hua Qingge awoke, disoriented, instinctively reaching for her phone before recalling her predicament within the novel's world. She realized Lady Wuxue was supposed to die last night. Believing she might have altered the plot, she noted the unusual quietness of her current location, Qinya House.
However, her hopes were dashed when she saw Nuo, the maid, hurriedly packing and leaving. Following her instincts, Hua Qingge rushed to the Rumeng House (the brothel), where a crowd had gathered, buzzing with news. She overheard them discussing Lady Wuxue's death and how the crown prince, Ji Yun, was the prime suspect, as he was the only one present at the crime scene when the body was discovered.
This confirmed that Lady Wuxue's death location had indeed shifted from Qinya House to Rumeng House. Meanwhile, Ji Chu, despite his attendant's belief that their plan was proceeding smoothly, felt otherwise. Prince Qi, Ji Feng, spoke to his mother, Imperial Consort Wei, about the crown prince, Ji Yun, alleging Ji Yun's secret relationship with Lady Wuxue and her murder. Ji Feng, driven by his own affection for Lady Wuxue, declared his intent to investigate Ji Yun and avenge her death.
Imperial Consort Wei, disappointed that Ji Feng's focus was on Lady Wuxue rather than his ambition, reminded him to seize the opportunity to impress the Emperor. Simultaneously, His Majesty expressed his severe disappointment to the empress that the crown prince, whom he had appointed to head the East Office to uphold justice, was now embroiled in a murder scandal involving a courtesan. Imperial Consort Wei and Ji Feng then arrived, with Ji Feng reiterating the crown prince's failings.
Imperial Consort Wei, feigning concern for the crown prince, suggested that Ji Feng should temporarily take over the East Office and investigate the case to clear Ji Yun's name, subtly pushing her son's agenda. The empress, supporting the idea, convinced the hesitant Emperor to appoint Ji Feng to investigate the case, giving him the chance to prove himself. Ji Feng readily accepted, promising to swiftly uncover the truth.
Ji Yun, attempting to examine Lady Wuxue's body, was intercepted by Ji Feng, who had now been appointed acting head of the East Office. Ji Feng, feigning regret, informed Ji Yun that "all are equal before the law" and that he should be imprisoned. However, out of "respect" for their brotherhood and to avoid disgracing the royal family, Ji Feng decreed that Ji Yun must remain confined to the Crown Prince's residence until the case was resolved.
Ji Yun congratulated Ji Feng on his new position, urging him to investigate diligently. Ji Feng, in turn, sharply rebuked Ji Yun for his hypocrisy, accusing him of a secret liaison with Lady Wuxue, and ordered the guards to escort Ji Yun back to his residence. Witnessing Ji Yun's arrest, Hua Qingge, still in her male disguise as Qing, realized she needed to help clear his name to alter the novel's original plot and return to her own world.
She recalled that in her story, the female lead, Lin Xiyao, was meant to investigate this case, so Hua Qingge decided to team up with her. She then encountered a note taker from the East Office, who told her that Lin Xiyao had left two hours ago but still hadn't arrived at the crime scene, which was only a half-hour journey away.
The note taker mentioned Lin Xiyao's notorious lack of direction, and Hua Qingge suddenly remembered adding that "sense of direction" flaw to Lin Xiyao's character to make her more interesting. Realizing Lin Xiyao was simply lost, Hua Qingge went to find her. Upon sensing Lin Xiyao's "aura," Hua Qingge greeted her, claiming to be a friend of the crown prince.
Lin Xiyao, who had seen Hua Qingge before, seemed to suspect a different kind of relationship between her and Ji Yun and largely ignored her. Hua Qingge, seizing the opportunity, declared she was going to the dance room to investigate, and Lin Xiyao silently followed. Just then, Ji Chu arrived. He confronted Hua Qingge, suggesting her involvement in the case since she had snuck into Lady Wuxue's room the previous night.
Hua Qingge, playing into her male persona, deliberately teased him, calling him "Handsome" and playfully accusing him of also being involved. She purposefully placed her sweaty hand on him, knowing his germaphobia. She then correctly identified him as Prince Lyu, admiring his good looks and emphasizing their "affinity" due to their names sharing similar color meanings.
Ji Chu's attendant worried that "Qing" might be the missing Hua Qingge and that her exposing Ji Chu's attempt to kill her could be detrimental. Ji Chu, however, dismissed these concerns, revealing that he had tried to kill Hua Qingge to disrupt the alliance between Liang and Fuyu. He reasoned that since the palace authorities had ignored Hua Qingge's disappearance to maintain peace, she was merely a discarded pawn.
He decided to let Hua Qingge investigate the case to help Ji Yun, believing it would "kill two birds with one stone." Hua Qingge, realizing Ji Chu's unpredictable nature, recommitted to helping Lin Xiyao save Ji Yun, hoping to form a "Good People Will Be Safe Union" to unite against Ji Chu. When Hua Qingge attempted to enter the crime scene, she was stopped.
She tried to claim she was Lin Xiyao's friend, but Lin Xiyao, trying to maintain professionalism, denied knowing her. As guards confronted Hua Qingge for trying to barge in, Ji Chu arrived and surprisingly intervened, shielding Hua Qingge from harm. Hua Qingge, ever the provocateur, then jokingly accused Ji Chu of saving her because he wanted her to "repay him with her body."
Ji Chu, clearly annoyed, retorted that while he was "brilliant and mighty," she was "not considered a beauty." Following Ji Chu, Hua Qingge entered the dance room, the site of Lady Wuxue's death. There, Chang Xun, the Command of The Guards, greeted Prince Lyu and showed him to the crime scene. Lin Xiyao had already begun her autopsy, meticulously noting details such as Lady Wuxue's flushed face, cherry-red lips, constricted pupils, and soft limbs, appearing as if alive.
Hua Qingge silently wondered if this perfectly preserved appearance was Lady Wuxue's ultimate wish. Lin Xiyao concluded that Lady Wuxue most likely died from charcoal burning. When Prince Lyu asked about Prince Qi's (Ji Feng's) opinion on the case, Chang Xun reported that Prince Qi was currently at the East Office.
