Different Princess Episode 30 Recap
> Different Princess Recap
The Empress was sewing bridal shoes for Ji Wan'er and, while watching young palace maids playing, she was reminded of her own youth, reflecting on how quickly time had passed and how her legitimate daughter, Ji Wan'er, was now of marriageable age. The Emperor arrived and observed the finished bridal shoes, complimenting her exquisite needlework.
He told her he understood her sadness over Ji Wan'er's impending distant marriage, knowing the deep bond between mother and daughter, and sought to console her. The Empress, appearing emotional, remarked on her aging and how hearing his heartfelt words brought tears to her eyes. The Emperor then reaffirmed that she was the only one by his side, to which the Empress pledged her eternal companionship.
Ji Wan'er’s maid, Ru Jiao, urged her to put on her shoes to avoid catching a cold and to stop crying, reminding her that marriage was a joyous occasion. However, Ji Wan'er lamented that she no longer had the freedom to follow her heart. She reasoned that if she couldn't marry the one she loved, it didn't matter who she married, whether it was Prime Minister Li or anyone else.
Resigned to her fate, she asked Ru Jiao to bring the bridal shoes, and found them to fit perfectly. Hua Qingge, recently released from confinement, went to Jingzhi Library, which she found neglected. She then sought out Ji Chu and pleaded with him to help Ji Wan'er, who was to be married off to the Southern Realm the next day, emphasizing his love for his sister.
Ji Chu explained that given the current situation, he was powerless, as marriages in the imperial family were beyond one's control. He stated that Ji Wan'er was not only his sister but also the Princess of Liang. Hua Qingge accused him of being heartless for giving up on Ji Wan'er without trying. She declared her intention to find Gong Yeqi and ask him to take Ji Wan'er away.
Ji Chu stopped her, revealing that Gong Yeqi would not take Ji Wan'er away, as he was willing to abandon her without hesitation for the sake of revenge. Hua Qingge expressed her dismay, feeling that Ji Wan'er did not deserve such treatment. Ji Chu then asked Hua Qingge to trust him and leave the matter to him. Lin Xiyao visited Ji Yun, expressing her concern for Ji Wan'er's impending distant marriage.
She told Ji Yun that she considered Ji Wan'er a sister and could not bear to see her marry so far away. Ji Yun admitted he also did not wish for it. Lin Xiyao then asked if convincing the Empress would make a difference, but quickly apologized for putting Ji Yun in a difficult position.
Ji Yun confessed that if he had a choice, he would wish for Ji Wan'er not to be a caged bird in the palace in her next life. The next day, as Ji Wan'er prepared for her distant marriage, she made a solemn three-fold bow, expressing regret that she could not serve her parents in their later years, acknowledging herself as unfilial, and thanking them for giving her life and raising her.
From afar, the Empress lamented, feeling sorry for Ji Wan'er. An attendant announced it was time to depart. As the carriage began to move, Ru Jiao asked if Gong Yeqi would come, but Ji Wan'er only sighed. Ji Wan'er then instructed Ru Jiao to take one last look at Liang, believing they might never see their homeland again, and asked her to scoop up some soil as a keepsake.
On the way back, Hua Qingge wept in the carriage, distressed about Ji Wan'er's sacrifice and regretting the many things left unsaid. She worried that it was their last meeting, especially given her unpredictable return to her own world. Ji Chu comforted her, offering to take her to see Ji Wan'er if she wished. True to his word, he took her to catch up with the wedding procession.
Hua Qingge tearfully apologized to Ji Wan'er for not being able to help her. Ji Wan'er reassured Hua Qingge that she had nothing to apologize for, then turned to Ji Chu, urging him to take care of himself and assuring him she was no longer a child and could manage. Seeing that Gong Yeqi had not come, Ji Wan'er admitted she shouldn't have held onto hope.
She handed Ji Chu a farewell letter for Gong Yeqi, instructing him to deliver it only if Gong Yeqi showed up, otherwise to burn it. An attendant then pressed Ji Wan'er to depart to avoid missing the auspicious time. Ji Wan'er departed, while Ji Chu held a tearful Hua Qingge. Unbeknownst to Ji Wan'er, Gong Yeqi had indeed come to see her off, but hid in the shadows, unable to face her directly, knowing this parting was forever.
Later, Ji Chu approached Gong Yeqi and mentioned that he knew Gong Yeqi had seen Ji Wan'er off. Gong Yeqi, feigning disinterest, tried to leave, but Ji Chu stopped him and gave him Ji Wan'er's farewell letter. Gong Yeqi took the letter and later, while drinking alone, initially tore it but then immediately regretted it and reread it.
In her letter, Ji Wan'er spoke of their encounters, reflecting on the inexplicable heartache she felt upon first meeting him, which she later understood to be the stirrings of love. She absolved him of any debt, seeing through his carefree facade to acknowledge that he was not heartless. She likened their relationship to "Zhuangzi's dream of the butterfly," an indistinct yet cherished experience, and declared no regrets over their shared "dream."
She concluded by wishing him well, accepting that their fate, whether happy or sad, was unavoidable. Reading her heartfelt words, Gong Yeqi was overcome with tears, wishing for a next life where he would not forsake her again. The Emperor gazed at a painting, remembering Imperial Consort Xian on the anniversary of her death. He had secretly hidden her portrait in the imperial library, indicating her enduring place in his heart.
He silently pondered if she would blame him, knowing he could not openly honor her on her special day. Later, Ji Chu and Hua Qingge were together when Hua Qingge asked Ji Chu if he remembered the day. He replied that he did, as it was the anniversary of his mother, Imperial Consort Xian's, passing. That night, Ji Chu was tormented by a nightmare, reliving a traumatic childhood memory.
In his dream, he saw his mother, Imperial Consort Xian, comforting him with a lullaby after his father scolded him, reassuring him of his father's high expectations. The dream then shifted to a terrifying scene where his mother was taken away by guards, and he screamed, perceiving them as demons. Waking with a start, he found Hua Qingge by his side, who gently asked if he had a nightmare, to which he replied that he dreamt of his mother.
Remembering the lullaby Imperial Consort Xian used to sing to comfort a young Ji Chu in the novel, Hua Qingge softly began to sing the same children's rhyme: "When the green willows sway, play the diabolo. When the willows wither, play the jianzi. When the willows lush, play the spinning top." Ji Chu, surprised, asked how she knew the rhyme, and she continued to sing, hoping to ease his distress.
