Different Princess Episode 34 Recap
> Different Princess Recap
Lin Xiyao visited Ji Wan'er, who was delighted to see her old friend. Ji Wan'er happily showed Lin Xiyao their home, including where Gong Yeqi works on his herbal medicine, her collection of classics, and their plans to convert a room into a children's bedroom when their child grows older. She expressed how content she was and then asked Lin Xiyao how she had been. Lin Xiyao assured her that she was doing well.
Lin Xiyao apologized for the pain her fake death had caused but explained it was a desperate measure. Ji Wan'er understood and was relieved to know Lin Xiyao was still alive, expressing joy at their reunion. Ji Wan'er commented to Lin Xiyao that it must have been difficult for her and Gong Yeqi to finally be together, suggesting that Gong Yeqi must have truly let go of the past. Lin Xiyao's hesitant reaction made Ji Wan'er suspicious.
Ji Wan'er explained that she still had a knot in her heart about why Gong Yeqi had pushed her away initially and pressed Lin Xiyao to reveal the secret. When Gong Yeqi returned, carrying a rabbit for Ji Wan'er, he found her distraught. Ji Wan'er declared her intention to leave, revealing that she knew the Empress was responsible for the massacre of his entire family.
She questioned why he had married her despite this, given that it was the reason he had initially tried to push her away. Gong Yeqi embraced her, assuring her that the past was behind him and that he had truly let it go. He believed the Empress's house arrest was a just punishment for her.
He emphasized how precious their current peaceful life was, a life he had never even dared to imagine before, and promised that everything would be fine. Ji Wan'er, deeply moved, sobbed in his arms. Later, Lin Xiyao, feeling uneasy, confessed to Ji Yun that she had inadvertently revealed the Empress's past actions concerning Gong Yeqi's family to Ji Wan'er during her visit.
Ji Yun reassured her, stating that it was a truth Ji Wan'er and Gong Yeqi would eventually have to confront. He believed that if either of them couldn't let go, there would be no peace in their future, so it was good that Ji Wan'er knew in advance.
Lin Xiyao still felt she had spoken out of turn, but Ji Yun told her not to blame herself, trusting that Gong Yeqi's sincerity meant he would take good care of Ji Wan'er. Ji Yun reflected that with Ji Chu and Gong Yeqi having reconciled and the Empress confined to atone for her past misdeeds, this was indeed the best possible outcome.
His Majesty, having been too busy with official duties to keep his promise to Ji Yun, finally prepared to visit the Empress. He was pleased to hear that Ji Chu had volunteered to guard the border, noting that it fulfilled Imperial Consort Xian’s last wish. He expressed hope that after his abdication, Ji Yun and Ji Chu would live in peace.
Upon entering the Empress's chamber, he found her transcribing the Heart Sutra as an act of penance for her sins. Noticing the dim lighting, he ordered more candles and some food and wine to be brought. The Empress expressed surprise that he had come to see her. His Majesty explained he was fulfilling his promise to Ji Yun and seeing her one last time out of consideration for their many years of marriage.
He assured her she would be well-fed and clothed for the rest of her life in confinement but firmly stated that their marital bond was now completely severed. The Empress admitted her actions were due to her being confused and that she deserved her fate, lamenting that she had also dragged Ji Yun down with her.
His Majesty then confronted her, recalling her elaborate plan to create the illusion of a demon fox, which caused him to mistakenly believe Imperial Consort Xian was a demon. He accused her of causing Imperial Consort Xian's unjust death and harming Ji Chu for many years. The Empress conceded that what was done could not be changed. She announced that this would be their last meal together, symbolizing all their past entanglements in the wine.
She vowed to recite sutras daily for Imperial Consort Xian and pray for Prince Lv. When His Majesty initially refused to drink, the Empress offered to drink alone, passionately declaring her genuine love for him over the past two decades. She stated that all her wrongdoings were simply to win his affection and desperately asked if he had ever truly loved her, even for a moment.
After a long pause, His Majesty agreed to drink the last cup with her, and she thanked him. The Empress then reminisced about her early days in the palace, how His Majesty had built a special courtyard for her to play shuttlecock. She recounted how, during His Majesty's marriage proposal trip to Fuyu, she was the one playing shuttlecock, not her elder sister who was originally meant for the marriage alliance with Liang.
She remembered him complimenting her as graceful and that it was the moment he "took root" in her heart. As the Emperor began to succumb to the poison, he realized the truth and accused her. The Empress, Hua Yunni, calmly confirmed the poisoning, assuring him it would not be fatal but would leave him permanently bedridden and without sobriety for the rest of his life. She declared she would stay by his side forever.
As the Emperor collapsed, his head eunuch cried out that he had already prepared a decree to abdicate in favor of the Crown Prince. The Empress remarked that this simply saved her some effort and ordered the room to be cleaned up. Meanwhile, Ji Chu was enjoying a sweet moment with Hua Qingge, discussing their upcoming move to the beautiful frontier. Hua Qingge playfully agreed to follow him, saying meeting him was the result of accumulating much good luck.
Ji Chu asked if she would stay with him forever if their story never ended, referring to her earlier statement about leaving when the story concluded. Hua Qingge, with a hint of her modern background, pointed out a "one-kilowatt bulb" in the vicinity. Suddenly, an attendant rushed in to inform Ji Chu of a grave situation at the palace. Hua Qingge felt an ominous sense that the "real finale" was upon them.
Ji Chu rushed to his father’s chamber, pushing past guards, only to find the Emperor comatose and unresponsive. He was enraged at the Empress for harming His Majesty. Just then, Ji Yun arrived, telling his mother not to worry and accepting the throne, stating he had "no way back." The Empress expressed her relief that Ji Yun understood the situation.
Ji Yun then confronted Ji Chu, declaring that this was their last time to speak as brothers, and from tomorrow, he would be the emperor and Ji Chu the subject. Ji Chu condemned Ji Yun's hypocrisy and his choice to defend "this evil woman," finding it even more disappointing. Ji Yun retorted that he had always tolerated Ji Chu in the past, hoping they could get along, but Ji Chu had always pushed him and trampled his goodwill underfoot.
Ji Yun declared he would no longer tolerate it and defended his actions as protecting his mother. Ji Chu questioned him about their father, who had been prepared to abdicate and pass the throne to Ji Yun. He asked why Ji Yun could not wait even a few days. Ji Yun dismissed this, asserting that since his father had already decided to abdicate, it made no difference if it happened a few days early.
Ji Chu warned Ji Yun that he would regret his actions today. As Ji Chu attempted to leave, he was surrounded by guards. Ji Yun, however, intervened, telling the guards to back off. He explained to his mother that killing Ji Chu in the palace right before his coronation would invite criticism.
While acknowledging Ji Chu's cunning, Ji Yun confidently stated that with Liang's Dingguo Army under their control and the Southern territory's troops being out of reach, Ji Chu posed no threat. The Empress instructed her maid, Pin Yan, to see Ji Chu out of the palace. The Empress then praised Ji Yun for being "clear-headed." Ji Yun expressed that he had lost so much, and protecting his mother was his "last wish."
The Empress corrected him, reminding him he had the entire Liang empire and would become "a great ruler," assuring him that everything would be fine. Ji Yun agreed and excused himself to prepare for his coronation, asking his mother to care for their father.
After Ji Yun departed, the Empress instructed Pin Yan to relay a message to Duke Dingguo, emphasizing that because the Crown Prince was merciful, the commander's token should not be handed over to him until all matters were settled.
