General and I Episode 16 Recap
> General and I Recap
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Chu Beijie, Prince Zhenbei, watched in disbelief as Bai Pingting, having confessed to crafting poison, devising the Liang Army's strategy, and ordering the murder of the two princes, collapsed after he struck her with his sword. He quickly cast aside his weapon and caught her falling body. As she lay dying in his arms, Bai Pingting whispered that "it's good this way," before her breath faded.
A eunuch confirmed to the Jin Emperor that Bai Pingting had a profusely bleeding wound on her chest, leaving no doubt of her demise. The Emperor then announced to his officials that Prince Zhenbei had avenged the princes, earning him another great merit to be rewarded after the national mourning period. Prince Zhenbei then pleaded with the Emperor to release Ze Yin, emphasizing that Ze Yin was a patriot who bravely risked his life to save a friend.
He suggested that Ze Yin should be allowed to escort Bai Pingting's body back to her hometown for burial, asserting that such an act of magnanimity would earn the Emperor widespread praise from the commoners and move the court officials. The Emperor, feeling satisfied that the princes' deaths were avenged and noting the auspicious snowfall, decided to show clemency and granted Ze Yin's release.
As Ze Yin carried Bai Pingting's "body," Prince Zhenbei subtly instructed him to take good care of her. Outside the palace walls, the divine physician's carriage, carrying his disciple Zui Ju, was already waiting. Zui Ju quickly received Bai Pingting and departed. Ze Yin hoped that Bai Pingting would turn misfortune into a blessing and find peace and health. Meanwhile, Minister Zhang's second batch of medicinal pills for the Emperor was nearly depleted, and the Emperor's health was rapidly deteriorating.
Noble Consort Zhang, speaking with her father, Minister Zhang, reflected on the Emperor's worsening condition and the death of the two princes, believing he was barely holding on. She was particularly pleased that Prince Zhenbei's beloved Bai Pingting had brought him such immense suffering. They discussed how to proceed without irrefutable evidence against Prince Zhenbei that the Emperor would believe. Minister Zhang suggested they should not attack Prince Zhenbei directly to avoid raising suspicion.
Instead, he proposed a more insidious plot to lure Bai Pingting out. If Prince Zhenbei refused to kill her, their men would kill them both, and the Emperor would be slain in the ensuing chaos. If Prince Zhenbei did kill Bai Pingting, they would ensure all witnesses were their own men, kill the Emperor along with Prince Zhenbei, and then frame Prince Zhenbei as the murderer.
Minister Zhang assured his daughter that no matter how they died, the state of Great Jin would soon welcome the coronation of a new prince. When Noble Consort Zhang wondered how there would be a new prince since she hadn't borne any children, Minister Zhang cryptically replied that if they decreed there was one, then there would be. Later, Noble Consort Zhang visited the ailing Queen at Yongyan Palace. Dismissing all servants, her demeanor changed dramatically.
She mockingly commented on the Queen's thinness and lack of beauty, attributing the Emperor's nightly visits to her own chambers. She then derided the Queen for the Sima family's broken lineage and the absence of an heir, holding the Queen responsible and questioning her right to face the ancestors. The Queen, bewildered by the Noble Consort's sudden shift, asked if she was confused. Noble Consort Zhang vehemently stated she was not, revealing her deep-seated resentment.
She had been forcibly brought into the palace as a teenager due to her father's political standing, sacrificed for power struggles, robbed of love and the right to live a lifetime with her beloved. She expressed her disdain for having to feign smiles for the "old man" (the Emperor) while respectfully addressing the man she loved (Prince Zhenbei) as a mere prince.
She confessed to trying to accept her fate, believing that by fawning over the Emperor, she could earn his affection, but discovered that the Emperor only had eyes for the Queen. Overwhelmed by jealousy, she declared her hatred for them all, wishing they would die and never be reincarnated. The Queen called her insane. Noble Consort Zhang then asked the Queen how she thought the princes died, before confessing that it was neither Bai Pingting nor Prince Zhenbei, but herself.
The Queen, horrified, tried to call for help, but Noble Consort Zhang stopped her, stating it was too late. She declared that the Queen could not die undignified and that her family of four would soon reunite. Noble Consort Zhang later received a forged decree, seemingly from the Queen, temporarily entrusting her with the phoenix seal and harem management. The successive deaths of the princes and the Queen dealt a heavy blow to the Jin Emperor.
Fortunately, Prince Zhenbei stepped in to manage the funeral arrangements. As instructed by the Emperor, he announced a seven-day suspension of court sessions to comfort the people and give the Emperor time to grieve. Prince Zhenbei then rode swiftly with Chu Moran to the divine physician's abode to check on Bai Pingting. Zui Ju greeted him warmly, explaining to Chu Moran that while Bai Pingting wasn't fully saved, she wasn't dead either, thanks to their utmost efforts.
She stressed that any further delay in treatment, or even a slight deviation in Chu Beijie's sword stroke, would have been fatal. Prince Zhenbei, seeing Bai Pingting still unconscious, asked when she would awaken. Zui Ju, candidly, stated it was uncertain, possibly tomorrow, possibly never. Chu Moran, seeing Prince Zhenbei's distress, pulled Zui Ju away to give them privacy. Outside, Zui Ju expressed her confusion to Chu Moran, asking why Prince Zhenbei would both kill and save Bai Pingting.
Chu Moran explained that the act of killing Bai Pingting was precisely to save her, highlighting the precision of Prince Zhenbei's sword in that critical moment. In Bai Lan, Princess Yaotian held her first court session, with Prime Minister Gui Changqing performing a solemn kowtow. After initial courtesies, the Prime Minister suggested that Princess Yaotian marry soon and bear an heir to ensure Bai Lan's lasting prosperity. He recommended his own son, Gui Yan, as a suitable candidate after much consideration. However, Princess Yaotian declared that she already had someone in mind: Prince He Xia.
