Fake Princess Episode 26 Recap
> Fake Princess Recap
Li Heng revealed to Li Lv that he had no interest in the throne. His plan was for Li Lv to feign killing both Li Heng and Yan'er, which would make Li Lv a great hero, saving the country from suffering, and his ascension to the throne would be a natural outcome. Li Heng added that he and Yan'er would then live in seclusion. Li Lv was shocked at the idea of killing Li Che (the "Third Brother").
Gongsun Mo awoke disheveled, asking "Know-all" what he had done. " Know-all" explained that he had thoroughly unblocked Gongsun Mo's meridians to help him absorb medicine more easily, making him feel more comfortable. Nong Ying then arrived with the Huoyu lilac. Gongsun Mo, feeling his condition improving, confessed that he had been afraid to get close to her before, fearing his imminent death. Now, with a chance to live, he wanted to marry her once he fully recovered.
Nong Ying happily agreed. " Know-all" then explained that while the medicine could cure him, its strong toxicity meant he would experience fever, sweating, intermittent comas, and severe pain for two days as his body absorbed it. " Know-all" left, entrusting Nong Ying to care for Gongsun Mo. Li Che, imprisoned and weakened, became furious upon hearing Li Heng's threats to harm Chang Le.
He desperately pleaded with Li Heng not to hurt her, suggesting their long-standing conflict might be based on a misunderstanding and offering his own life instead. Li Heng dismissed Li Che's pleas, accusing him of past threats to seek revenge and cause him to lose his loved one. Li Heng declared his intention to torture Li Che by making him experience the pain of losing someone he loved.
Li Heng's guards later reported that the Crown Princess had indeed left the capital. Li Heng decided to publicly announce Li Che's execution, knowing Chang Le would return, thus falling into his trap. As expected, Chang Le, upon hearing the news, rushed back to the capital to save Li Che. Despite "Know-all's" warning about Liu Sheng's numerous scouts, Chang Le was determined. She was ambushed and captured by Liu Sansi, who mockingly stated he had been waiting for her.
Gongsun Mo eventually awoke from his coma, feeling hot and sticky but delighted to find his hands sweating, a sign the medicine was working. He playfully pulled Nong Ying into the courtyard, demonstrating his recovered martial arts skills and proudly declaring he was once a general. He lovingly called her "wife," much to Nong Ying's joy, and promised to give her a grand wedding with a bridal sedan chair upon their return to the capital.
However, Nong Ying, impatient, expressed a desire to marry immediately, suggesting they take heaven and earth as their witnesses. Gongsun Mo, after a moment's hesitation, agreed. Their intimate moment was interrupted when Brother Qin arrived with urgent news about Li Che's predicament. Upon learning of Li Che's capture, Gongsun Mo immediately wanted to return to his family residence, believing his father would have more information.
Nong Ying strongly objected, citing spies planted around the residence by Liu Sheng and Li Heng, and Gongsun Mo's recent recovery. Gongsun Mo grew suspicious, questioning how Nong Ying knew about the spies if even Brother Qin didn't. Under his persistent questioning, Nong Ying confessed that she was responsible for hiding the medicine at the Crown Prince's residence and apologized for her actions.
Gongsun Mo passionately stated that as the Crown Prince of Pei Kingdom, Li Che's safety was paramount, and he would rather die a thousand times than let anything happen to him. Feeling the weight of her actions, Nong Ying declared that since the trouble began because of her, she should be the one to resolve it. She then acupointed Gongsun Mo, immobilizing him, stating she wouldn't let him face any more danger and would handle the situation herself.
Meanwhile, Nianer, disguised, successfully infiltrated Liu Sansi's Prime Minister residence and rescued Chang Le. During their escape, Nianer revealed Chang Le's true lineage: she was the daughter of General Duan Jin, and the real Liu Yuyao was her elder sister. Nianer herself was Chang Le's aunt. Nianer explained that during the massacre of the Duan family, Chang Le was taken by another aunt, while Nianer herself saved Yuyao.
After suffering a miscarriage, Nianer raised Yuyao as her own, naming her Liu Yuyao. Nianer stated she had named Chang Le 'Chang Le', hoping she could live an ordinary, happy life, but fate had intertwined her with Liu Sheng and made her the Crown Princess. Chang Le acknowledged her marriage and urged Nianer to focus on rescuing Li Che.
They then rendezvoused with Brother Qin and Nong Ying at the Crown Prince residence, which they deemed the "safest place" due to its unexpectedness after being sealed. They discussed the urgent need to save the Emperor, who was poisoned and in a coma, to prove Li Che's innocence. Nong Ying revealed that she had secretly kept some of Liu Sheng's poison, hoping it could be useful, and again expressed guilt for her role in Li Che's capture.
A plan was devised. Liu Sansi's wife suddenly fell ill, appearing to be in a coma. Liu Sansi mistakenly believed she was poisoned by Thousand-day Sleeping Liquor and went to retrieve the antidote. However, his wife's maid was Nianer in disguise. As Nianer seized the antidote and tried to escape, Liu Sansi realized the deception. During the ensuing confrontation, Nong Ying was severely wounded while protecting Nianer and Brother Qin. She urged them to prioritize saving the Emperor.
Brother Qin and Nianer took the injured Nong Ying to Gongsun Mo's cottage. There, a bleeding Nong Ying confessed her real name, Shuang Shuang, and pleaded with Gongsun Mo for forgiveness for working for Li Heng, asking him to marry her. Gongsun Mo, telling her he never blamed her, agreed to marry her immediately, promising she would live. They performed a simple wedding ceremony, taking heaven and earth as their witnesses.
At the execution ground, Li Che was brought to be beheaded. Chang Le, who had arrived to observe the situation, attempted to intervene as the executioner raised his sword. Li Che subtly signaled her not to act, but she bravely rushed forward, leading to both of them being bound for execution. Simultaneously, at the palace, Liu Sansi, with a large contingent of soldiers, tried to prevent the Emperor from being saved.
Nianer and Brother Qin valiantly fought Liu Sansi's men, reminiscing about their old fighting days. As Li Che and Chang Le prepared for their final moments, they confessed their feelings for each other, with Li Che promising to marry her in their next life. Just as the executioner prepared to strike, Nianer and Brother Qin arrived, wielding an imperial edict.
The edict, from the now-awake Emperor, denounced Li Heng for poisoning his parents (the Emperor and Empress), framing Li Che, and disrupting the court. It ordered Li Che's release and instructed him to apprehend Li Heng. Liu Sansi questioned the edict's authenticity, given the Emperor's supposed coma, but Nianer declared that the Emperor was awake and anyone could verify it in the palace. Li Che and Chang Le were immediately untied, and Li Che, with a determined gaze, declared he had more important things to do: capture Li Heng.
