Go Princess, Go! Episode 34 Recap
> Go Princess, Go! Recap
Inside the imperial palace, the imperial concubines, due to Qi Sheng's long absence from the palace, neglected their appearance and became undisciplined. The Emperor and Empress finally returned to the palace, and received a warm welcome from their subjects. Yang Yu came to Daming Palace to confess his sins to Qi Sheng; it turned out that he had received a letter from Yang Yan, stating that Yang Yan was escaping beyond the passes with the Ninth Prince.
Qi Sheng had not yet decided how to deal with the Ninth Prince and Yang Yan. He was worried that court officials would petition for their execution, but Qi Sheng was mindful of the Grand Empress Dowager's old age, and given that Yang Yan was Yang Yu's son, he couldn't bring himself to execute them. Yang Yu was deeply moved by Qi Sheng's benevolence and generosity. The Ninth Prince and Yang Yan endured wind and dew, looking utterly dishevelled.
The Ninth Prince felt extremely guilty for implicating Yang Yan in his suffering. He planned to return to Shengjing to confess his crimes; he intended to use his own life to secure the safety of others. Zhang Pengpeng felt uneasy whenever she thought of the Ninth Prince. She felt that everything the Ninth Prince did was because of her, and she couldn't bear it. The Ninth Prince and Yang Yan returned to Shengjing to surrender themselves.
The Ninth Prince was determined to die, taking all the blame upon himself before Qi Sheng. Upon hearing this, Zhang Pengpeng ordered Lv Li to prepare delicious food and go see Yang Yan. In prison, Yang Yan sarcastically remarked that Zhang Pengpeng couldn't remain faithful to one person. Zhang Pengpeng, however, didn't understand why they had returned after having successfully escaped.
Yang Yan accused Zhang Pengpeng of throwing herself into Qi Sheng's arms, which led to the Ninth Prince being possessed and defecting to the enemy. Zhang Pengpeng felt deeply pained hearing Yang Yan's tearful accusations. She could understand the Ninth Prince's actions and admitted that she felt she had let him down. Yang Yan urged Zhang Pengpeng to go see the Ninth Prince, but Zhang Pengpeng said she wasn't ready. Zhang Pengpeng got heavily drunk with Yang Yan in prison.
Upon returning to Xingsheng Palace, she saw Qi Sheng waiting for her. Qi Sheng knew she had gone to see Yang Yan, but he did not punish Yang Yan. He could understand Zhang Pengpeng treating Yang Yan like a younger brother, and he also understood her concern for Yang Yan's uncertain fate. Qi Sheng told Zhang Pengpeng that the Ninth Prince's reason for returning to the capital to confess his crimes was to avoid implicating others.
Zhang Pengpeng declared her loyalty to Qi Sheng, and hoped that Qi Sheng would spare the Ninth Prince's life. During the morning court, Qi Sheng decreed that the Ninth Prince Qi Han be spared the death penalty. He was demoted to a commoner and exiled to Lingnan. Yang Yan was conscripted into the army in Beimoh for five years. Zhang Pengpeng went to visit Qi Han. Qi Han said he had been waiting for Zhang Pengpeng.
Zhang Pengpeng returned the ruyi scepter that the Ninth Prince had given her to Qi Han. She also told Qi Han that many things in the world are predetermined and cannot be forced. Qi Han watched Zhang Pengpeng's resolute departing back, and tears of sadness streamed down his face. Before leaving the city, Qi Han entrusted someone to return the ruyi scepter to Zhang Pengpeng. Zhang Pengpeng, however, did not see him off. She felt it was better for them to go their separate ways. Dressed in white, Qi Han, with a lingering reluctance for Zhang Pengpeng, rode his horse away from Shengdu.
