Different Princess Episode 5 Recap
> Different Princess Recap
Ji Feng questioned Ji Yun about who had attacked him. Ji Yun confirmed he saw the assailant and revealed it was Lady Wuxue, who subsequently committed suicide. When pressed by Ji Feng for the reason behind her suicide, Ji Yun remained silent, citing a promise to Lady Wuxue to keep her secret. Lin Xiyao, the coroner, then presented her findings, stating that Lady Wuxue died from charcoal burning in the lounge, but her body was found in the dance room.
Lin Xiyao questioned how a deceased person could move her own body and how the Crown Prince was found with her. To clarify this, Lin Xiyao called for Nuo, Lady Wuxue's maid. Lin Xiyao directly accused Nuo of moving Lady Wuxue's body from the lounge to the dance room after her death, implying it was a suicide.
However, Nuo vehemently denied this, stating that Lady Wuxue was too beautiful and loved by too many people to ever take her own life. Nuo dramatically reversed her testimony, pointing an accusing finger at Ji Yun, declaring him a sanctimonious prince who deceived and cruelly murdered Lady Wuxue.
Nuo then implicated Hua Qingge, accusing her of being a woman of unknown origin who had caused Lady Wuxue much sadness since her arrival, stating that Ji Yun was having an affair with "Qing." Ji Yun, however, stated that he treated Hua Qingge like his younger sister. Hua Qingge, suspecting Ji Chu's involvement, subtly questioned Nuo about her escape from the ruined temple and if she was held captive.
Nuo lowered her head and glanced at Ji Chu, refusing to answer. Knowing this implicated Ji Chu, Hua Qingge decided to expose Nuo's lies. She presented the medicine dregs from Lady Wuxue's belongings to Bei Wanshu (Ji Wan'er). Bei Wanshu identified the herb as "Yinbing," a beauty and anti-aging medicine with a severe cold toxin that, with long-term use, would lead to organ failure and death, manifesting as purple spots on the body in its late stages.
Lin Xiyao confirmed the presence of such spots on Lady Wuxue's corpse. Hua Qingge then confronted Nuo, accusing her of chronically poisoning Lady Wuxue. Hua Qingge explained that Nuo's motive stemmed from an incident where Lady Wuxue, out of jealousy for Nuo's beauty and popularity, had slashed Nuo's face and forbade treatment, leaving a permanent scar.
Hua Qingge further accused Nuo of exacerbating Lady Wuxue's condition by sealing the doors and windows while Lady Wuxue warmed herself with charcoal, thereby ensuring her death, and then framing Ji Yun. Initially, Nuo denied everything, portraying herself as a victim. However, Hua Qingge revealed Nuo's secret practice of stepping on gold dust in the dance room out of jealousy for Lady Wuxue's dancing, pointing to gold-dusted footprints at the scene as evidence.
Overwhelmed, Nuo broke down and confessed that Lady Wuxue had indeed committed suicide, and she had only moved the body to the dance room. Hua Qingge had deliberately provoked Nuo to extract the full truth. Ji Feng then questioned why Nuo had lied and framed Ji Yun, but Nuo simply claimed she knew nothing. Ji Chu quickly retaliated, questioning why Lady Wuxue had drugged and kept Ji Yun by her side.
Hua Qingge understood that Ji Chu's actions were intended to threaten her into committing suicide to frame Ji Yun, though she lacked concrete evidence to state this openly. Ji Chu further cast doubt on Hua Qingge's identity, reminding everyone that she had publicly claimed him as her master. He then produced a purported love poem written by Lady Wuxue to Ji Yun, painting Ji Yun as a heartless man who deeply betrayed her.
Hua Qingge recognized this as another one of Ji Chu's schemes to frame Ji Yun. Ji Chu intensified his pressure, forcing Hua Qingge to choose between protecting Ji Yun or herself. An imperial decree then arrived, announcing Ji Yun's removal from his position as head of the East Office due to misconduct, with Ji Chu temporarily taking over the role. After being stripped of his position, Ji Yun expressed concern for Hua Qingge, whose knees were injured from kneeling.
He invited her back to his residence for treatment, but Hua Qingge politely declined, worrying that her continued presence would only bring him more trouble from Ji Chu. Ji Yun then asked why she hadn't revealed the true reason for Lady Wuxue's suicide during the trial, and Hua Qingge replied that she intended to keep Lady Wuxue's secret. Ji Chu then approached, asserting his claim over Hua Qingge, reminding her that she had publicly declared herself his person.
Hua Qingge tried to humble herself and ask for release, but Ji Chu insisted she could serve as the lowest-ranked maid in his residence. Ji Yun interceded, stating Hua Qingge was his friend and he was taking her for treatment. Ji Chu countered, citing Hua Qingge's public declaration and accusing her of faking her identity and colluding with Ji Yun.
He then ordered Hua Qingge's arrest for disturbing the court and her imprisonment, stating that Lady Wuxue's case would be retried the next day, and also ordered Ji Yun to return to his residence under house arrest. Ji Chu told Ji Yun that after 15 years, he still hadn't learned to grab what he wanted by any means necessary. Ji Yun retorted that Hua Qingge was not an object.
Hua Qingge, asserting her autonomy, chose to go with Ji Chu, believing it was the best way to protect Ji Yun from Ji Chu's machinations, telling Ji Yun that she was not to be trifled with. Meanwhile, Lin Xiyao's subordinate discovered a dossier revealing that Gongsun Xu, a legendary dancer from forty years ago renowned for her Luo Shen Dance, was the owner of the Melodious Serenity Abode.
Lin Xiyao deduced that Lady Wuxue and Gongsun Xu were the same person, meaning Lady Wuxue was much older than her apparent twenty-three years. She realized Ji Yun had been helping to conceal this profound secret. A letter left by Lady Wuxue to Ji Yun, which he had only recently seen, was revealed. In it, Lady Wuxue, who once was Gongsun Xu, lamented a life bound by beauty, seeking liberation through death.
She also mentioned having disfigured her daughter, Gongsun Nuo, to prevent her from suffering a similar fate, and asked Ji Yun to look after her after her death. Ji Feng, deeply affected by Lady Wuxue's death, expressed his sadness. Ji Wan'er questioned Ji Yun's actions regarding the Glamour Neon Dress and his reluctance to view Lady Wuxue's body. Ji Wan'er remarked that Ji Yun's gentle nature made his actions puzzling.
Ji Feng then complained that his own mother often forced him into things, and some matters were not his to decide. Hua Qingge was subsequently brought to Ji Chu's residence. Ji Yun's guard reported that for now, Hua Qingge was safe in Ji Chu's residence, as Ji Chu would not act rashly until he confirmed her true identity, although the guard acknowledged Ji Chu's ultimate goal was to kill Hua Qingge.
In her luxurious room at Anxiang Hall, Hua Qingge wryly commented on Ji Chu's generosity. Ji Chu appeared, stating that she was worthy of such arrangements and inviting her to visit him in Xuanyu Hall, which was adjacent to her room, if she recalled anything about Hua Qingge. Hua Qingge, while feigning casualness, internally recognized the danger, knowing that once Ji Chu discovered her true identity as Hua Qingge, he would undoubtedly try to kill her again. Later that night, as Hua Qingge slept, she was startled awake by a sudden gust of wind, suggestive of a demon.
