Different Princess Episode 9 Recap
> Different Princess Recap
Ji Wan'er encountered Gong Yeqi and expressed her desire to spar with him in chess. Gong Yeqi, however, made an excuse, stating he needed to leave for the banquet. Before his departure, he sprinkled a fine powder onto Ji Wan'er's face, causing her to see numerous colorful butterflies. When Hua Qingge found Ji Wan'er, she was smiling and laughing at thin air.
Hua Qingge awoke her, but Ji Wan'er had no recollection of what had transpired, only remembering a peculiar fragrance. Ji Wan'er recalled having read about drugs that induce hallucinations, but she couldn't remember who she had met. Hua Qingge, recognizing the bitter-scented fragrance, identified it as a rare herb called Butterfly Jiegeng. When ground into powder and inhaled, it induces temporary hallucinations and memory loss upon awakening.
Hua Qingge deduced that Gong Yeqi had administered the drug to Ji Wan'er, intending for her to forget their encounter. Later, in the Grand Hall, Imperial Consort Wei deliberately called Ji Chu and Hua Qingge forward, aiming to expose Hua Qingge as a fake and reveal some flaw. To her surprise, the empress expressed her longing for Hua Qingge, addressing her affectionately.
Imperial Consort Wei, however, remained suspicious of Hua Qingge's identity, suggesting that as a woman from Fuyu, Hua Qingge should be skilled in singing and dancing, and requested a performance of Fuyu's Dance of the Dreams. Hua Qingge found herself in a predicament, as she was adept at climbing rafters but not at dancing, and had only heard the name "Dance of the Dreams" mentioned in a novel.
Despite this, the empress also urged her to perform, stating that refusal would be an act of deception against His Majesty. Ji Yun, determined to protect Hua Qingge because he believed her true identity would be detrimental to her if known by Ji Chu, watched anxiously. Hua Qingge then walked to Ji Yun and invited him to dance with her. She had taught him some duet moves days prior, and he readily agreed, having seen them dance together before.
As they gracefully danced together, many officials in the hall murmured about the impropriety of the married Princess Consort Lv holding hands with the Crown Prince, a scene that stirred a pang of jealousy in Ji Chu. The dance concluded, but Imperial Consort Wei seized the opportunity to find fault, claiming the dance was not Fuyu's Dance of the Dreams, and therefore, Hua Qingge could not be the true Fuyu Princess.
The empress, however, defended Hua Qingge, explaining that while most girls from Fuyu were indeed graceful dancers, her niece Qing was an exception. Instead of delicate dances, Qing preferred wielding swords and spears, having grown up learning martial arts. To prove her point, the empress instructed Hua Qingge to let Imperial Consort Wei feel her hands, revealing the thin layer of calluses on her right palm and finger pads, a mark of her extensive sword training.
Although Imperial Consort Wei was visibly displeased, she had no retort. The empress further explained that she had allowed the dance challenge to proceed to publicly affirm Hua Qingge's identity and prevent further doubts. Hua Qingge inwardly realized that her true identity was now confirmed, which might lead to more troubles in the future, but she felt it was worth it if it meant protecting Liu Xiang from being framed by Ji Chu.
Next, Imperial Consort Wei called Ji Feng and Liu Xiang forward for their engagement ceremony. As they prepared to exchange gifts, a silver needle was discreetly pricked into Liu Xiang's neck. Liu Xiang felt a pang of pain but dismissed it. Suddenly, she became acutely unwell, her eyes turning red and her hair turning white. Hua Qingge, recalling that Liu Xiang's "demon poison" should have been resolved, was shocked. The court erupted in screams of "Monster!"
, as Liu Xiang, seemingly consumed by a malevolent force, began to approach Ji Feng. Hua Qingge, ignoring her own safety, rushed to Liu Xiang's side, pleading with her not to give in to the transformation. However, Liu Xiang, now in a monstrous state, gripped Hua Qingge's neck, lifting her off the ground. At that critical moment, both Ji Chu and Ji Yun appeared, collaborating to rescue Hua Qingge from Liu Xiang's grasp.
Afterward, His Majesty tasked Ji Chu with investigating the monstrous incident thoroughly. Hua Qingge realized that Ji Chu was exploiting Liu Xiang's misfortune, using the incident as a pretext to reopen the cold case surrounding his own mother, Imperial Consort Xian. His Majesty, haunted by the events, recalled the first time he met Imperial Consort Xian. He had been captivated by her beauty and her mesmerizing dance performance during his birthday celebration.
However, shortly after her dance, Imperial Consort Xian suddenly collapsed, her hair turning white and her eyes red, causing everyone to cry out "Monster!" In that chaos, General Wei Zhao shot an arrow, killing Imperial Consort Xian. Back in the present, His Majesty confided in his attendant, Li De, wondering if he had wronged Imperial Consort Xian. Li De reassured him that Prince Lv's investigation would soon bring the truth to light.
That night, Ji Feng suffered nightmares, reliving the horrific sight of Liu Xiang's transformation, with Imperial Consort Wei trying to comfort him. Liu Xiang's father sought out Imperial Consort Wei, pleading for her help to clear his daughter's name from the monstrous allegations, noting that she was now imprisoned in the Eastern Court. He reminded Imperial Consort Wei that they were "in the same boat," hinting at a shared secret from the past.
Imperial Consort Wei assured him she would handle the matter, but cautiously, implying a long-term plan. Meanwhile, Ji Chu's subordinates confirmed that the files on Hua Qingge, Princess of Fuyu, indeed recorded her martial arts training since childhood, corroborating the empress's statements. Ji Chu acknowledged that Hua Qingge was indeed his imperial consort. His subordinate then inquired if they should eliminate her, but Ji Chu, after a moment's thought, ordered them to prioritize the investigation into his mother's case first.
The subordinate also noted a recent change in Ji Chu's demeanor, unsure if it was for better or worse. Ji Chu, perhaps recalling a past moment of Hua Qingge being drunk and complimenting his appearance and smooth skin, instructed his subordinate to continue observing, cautioning against jumping to conclusions due to too many unknowns.
