Fake Princess Episode 25 Recap
> Fake Princess Recap
Li Che was deeply uneasy about Chang Le's month-long absence, feeling that something inauspicious was about to happen. Gongsun Mo tried to comfort him, pointing out that Chang Le was a capable former brigand and would return soon. However, Li Che remained worried, noting the uncanny similarity between Chang Le's departure and his mother's death. Just then, the Emperor made a surprising and unprecedented visit to the Crown Prince's residence.
Li Che, taken aback, acknowledged it was his first visit since he moved out of the Palace. The Emperor, after dismissing Gongsun Mo, asked Li Che if he felt he had been an unfit father. He confessed to constantly watching over Li Che and knew the recent framing incident at the inn was an attempt to usurp the throne. He then reassured Li Che that he had never considered anyone else for the Crown Prince's position.
He admitted his shortcomings as a father and husband, apologizing for past grievances, especially regarding Yujun's death and the Shen family's contributions. The Emperor praised Li Che's intelligence and ability to protect himself, noting how he had become more sedate and mature since marrying Chang Le. Li Che, overwhelmed, thanked his father for his silent support over the years.
The Emperor announced his plan to host a family banquet soon to declare Li Che as his successor, warning all others against coveting the throne. He advised Li Che to prioritize the common people, a sentiment Li Che's mother had also shared. Li Che promised not to disappoint them. Meanwhile, Li Heng visited Master Pang's shop to retrieve a box he had previously deposited.
When asked why he was taking it back so soon, Li Heng stated that "a hundred years is too long" and that getting the box was merely the first step, while thinking of Zhu Yan. He then went to see Liu Xiangguo, his maternal grandfather, to request a special drug called "Thousand-day Sleeping Liquor," which could render a person a "walking dead," only capable of eating and sleeping, completely unconscious and unable to speak.
After obtaining the drug, Li Heng commented that Nong Ying was "just too timid" before leaving. Later, at a family banquet in the Empress's Qing Ning Palace, Li Heng presented pastries to the Emperor and Empress. The Empress expressed her joy at the rare family gathering. The Emperor noted her concern for Li Che, which she affirmed as her duty. The Emperor mentioned his recent visit to Li Che and Chang Le, stating they were doing well.
When the Empress questioned his unannounced departure, the Emperor retorted that he didn't need to report his whereabouts. He then revealed his intention to make Li Che his successor, expressing a desire to visit his other sons in their fiefs once he retired. He proposed granting Li Heng the largest and best fief in Pei Country, acknowledging Li Heng's capabilities.
The Empress, however, voiced her concern that Li Che was too young to be declared Crown Prince and urged the Emperor to reconsider. The Emperor questioned her judgment, asserting his deep understanding of his sons and his awareness of who was behind Li Che's framing, though he chose not to pursue it further. Li Heng interjected to shift the conversation away from state affairs, urging them to try the pastries.
The Emperor then sincerely apologized to Li Heng for the Zhu Yan incident, acknowledging his previous ignorance of Li Heng's feelings for Consort Hui (Zhu Yan). He hoped Li Heng would not harbor resentment. As the Emperor and Empress consumed the pastries, they suddenly collapsed. Li Heng confessed to the Empress that he had poisoned them both, explaining that it was the only way to avoid suspicion.
He asked if she was pleased with his newfound ruthlessness, fulfilling her desire for him to be decisive. The Empress, with her last conscious breaths, affirmed her satisfaction, seeing an "emperor-like quality" in him, and warned him never to trust anyone. Li Heng acknowledged her words before calling for guards, feigning distress over the Emperor's collapse.
During this time, Zhu Yan had covertly gone to Li Che's residence, taking all his letters and leaving a bottle of medicine in his letterbox. Doctors examining the Emperor and Empress stated they were like sleeping but couldn't be woken, suspecting an unusual, unknown poison. Li Heng then publicly suggested that the poisoned pastries had come from the Crown Prince's residence.
While many ministers found this unbelievable, Liu Xiangguo argued that all possibilities should be explored for the Emperor and Empress's recovery and proposed a search of the Crown Prince's residence. The ministers agreed. They stormed into Li Che's residence, where he was shocked and distressed to hear about his parents' condition. He vehemently denied sending any pastries. Liu Xiangguo insisted on a search to clear his name. Li Che, confident in his innocence, agreed.
During the search, a suspicious bottle of medicine was discovered among Li Che's personal belongings. Li Heng immediately ordered Li Che's arrest. As the ministers deliberated the crisis, Liu Xiangguo proposed that Li Heng temporarily take charge of court affairs until Li Che's innocence could be proven. With these matters settled, Li Heng's first act was to rush to Xiyan Pavilion and rescue Zhu Yan.
After ensuring Zhu Yan was safe, Li Heng left with Liu Xiangguo to attend to other matters. Liu Xiangguo voiced concern that Zhu Yan would eventually uncover the truth, but Li Heng insisted he had his own plans for her. Meanwhile, Zhu Yan's father, Lord Zhu, defying guards, managed to reach his daughter. He revealed the entire situation: Li Che's imprisonment by Li Heng, the poisoning of the Emperor and Empress, and Li Che being framed.
He implored Zhu Yan to save the Crown Prince. Zhu Yan, realizing the implications of being called "Miss Zhu" and the speed of her release, pressed her father for the full story. Elsewhere, Nong Ying confronted Liu Xiangguo, demanding the Huoyu lilac as per their agreement. Liu Xiangguo reneged, attempting to have her arrested and killed, planning to frame her for hiding the poison in Li Che's residence and ensuring Gongsun Mo's demise without her help.
Nong Ying tried to bargain, offering to keep Gongsun Mo from returning to the capital if she received the antidote. Li Heng intervened, stopping Liu Xiangguo and agreeing to Nong Ying's request. He gave her the Huoyu lilac, instructing her to tell Gongsun Mo that he would not be harmed if he refrained from interfering in Li Heng and Li Che's affairs. Liu Xiangguo warned Li Heng that his leniency would lead to future trouble.
Back with Zhu Yan, her father explained that Li Heng's misunderstanding of Li Che might stem from Xiao Baisheng, a miraculous individual capable of imitating any voice, whom Liu Xiangguo had forced Lord Zhu to help in mimicking Li Che's voice. He again urged Zhu Yan to convince Li Heng to release the Crown Prince.
Zhu Yan expressed her doubt, believing Li Heng's hatred for Li Che was too deep, and questioned if Liu Xiangguo was truly behind Li Heng's actions. She recalled Li Heng stating that Li Che had "talked tough" to him that night in Pingle City, but admitted she was unconscious and hadn't seen Li Che herself. Simultaneously, Li Lv approached Li Heng, intending to visit Zhu Yan.
Li Heng, dismissing Li Lv's frivolous nature, asked him for a significant favor: to become Emperor. Li Lv was stunned, claiming he was not suitable and playfully threatening Li Heng for "tricking" him. Li Lv was about to ask Li Heng to release Li Che when a servant urgently reported that Zhu Yan was refusing her eye treatment. Li Heng immediately rushed to her side.
Li Lv then finished his thought, stating he wanted Li Heng to release "brother three," Li Che. Zhu Yan confronted Li Heng, asking if he had personally seen Li Che in Pingle City or only heard his voice. Li Heng admitted he had only heard a voice. Zhu Yan insisted that he had misunderstood Li Che, reiterating her father's story about Liu Xiangguo, Xiao Baisheng, and the mimicked voice.
Li Heng, however, dismissed her father's account, believing Lord Zhu had misunderstood his grandfather, Liu Xiangguo, and maintained his stance that Li Che would not be released. He told Zhu Yan to focus on her recovery. Zhu Yan then challenged him, stating that if the Li Heng she once loved had changed, she would rather remain blind and only remember the person he used to be.
She pressed him, reminding him that the former Li Heng would never poison his father, frame his brother, or harbor such boundless ambition. Li Heng, trying to calm her, passionately declared that he had not changed, that he only desired her, and that he was merely cooperating with Liu Xiangguo to save her. He promised to deal with all matters swiftly and then leave with her forever. Zhu Yan made him promise not to hurt anyone. He agreed, but with a chilling caveat: "All can be set free, except Li Che."
