Good Bye, My Princess Episode 1 Recap
> Good Bye, My Princess Recap
In the 23rd year of Tientong's reign, King Qu Wencheng of Xi State, alongside his consort Princess Mingyuan, a political alliance princess from the Li Empire, formally requested a political marriage with the Li Empire. At this same time, the Li Empire faced political turmoil. Crown Prince Li Chengji, having exposed corruption in the civil service examinations, directly confronted the Emperor, arguing that he was neglecting imperial laws to shield corrupt officials.
Enraged, the Emperor ordered Li Chengji to depart immediately for Xi State to propose marriage, then proceed to the Western Border Protectorate General Office, forbidding his return until he had earned military merit. As Li Chengji prepared for his journey, which he viewed as an exile, the Fifth Prince, Li Chengyin, requested to accompany him. Empress Zhang Meiniang interceded, arguing that Li Chengyin was too young and acting emotionally.
The Second Prince, Li Chengye, also known as Prince Xuande, appeared to support Li Chengyin, noting his deep affection for his brother, but cautioned that the borderlands were harsh. Upon hearing Li Chengyin's firm decision to train in the border regions, the Emperor assented.
Before their departure, Li Chengji warned his younger brother about the dangers and urged him to reconsider, but Li Chengyin insisted on accompanying him, citing Li Chengji's kindness and a preference for the freedom of the frontier over the constant reprimands from the Empress in the palace. Meanwhile, in Xi State, the Ninth Princess, Xiaofeng, was enjoying a spirited horse race when she almost fell from her horse. Her master, Gu Jian, swiftly intervened, saving her.
Later, Xiaofeng playfully gifted Gu Jian a silk ball, a marriage proposal in Central Plains tradition, and asked if he would marry her; he affectionately called her a silly girl. Xiaofeng then learned of her impending marriage to a prince from the Li Empire. King Qu Wencheng was already making extensive preparations for her dowry, but Xiaofeng pleaded with her mother, Queen Ashinayun, not to send her away.
Infuriated by her defiance, the King ordered guards to confine Xiaofeng to her chambers. Desperate, Xiaofeng begged Gu Jian to take her away. Gu Jian regretfully refused, stating he could only do so if she were not the direct lineal princess of Xi State. Heartbroken, Xiaofeng accused him of breaking his promises and vowed to thwart any Central Plains prince who dared to marry her.
In the Li Empire, Consort Mingyuan received news that the Fifth Prince and Crown Prince had reached Tiegen Mountain, three days' journey from Yanzhi City. She informed Chai Mu, the leader of the Submerged Dragon Envoys, of her unease and asked him to meet the princes. As Li Chengji and Li Chengyin traveled, they were ambushed by assassins, and Li Chengji was tragically killed by Danchi assailants.
In Xi State, Queen Ashinayun, believing Mingyuan had orchestrated the marriage, ordered her trusted aide, A'Du, to assassinate Mingyuan. However, Gu Jian intervened, explaining to A'Du that to protect Mingyuan from further plots, Xiaofeng must leave, thereby removing the cause of the Queen's animosity. He then approached Xiaofeng, offering to take her away. She agreed, and Gu Jian instructed her to wait for him at Parting Sand Dunes, promising to join her in three days.
Meanwhile, Pei Zhao, son of the High Xiaoqi General, arrived at the scene of the assassination. Stunned by the carnage, he sealed the area and sent an urgent report to the capital. At Parting Sand Dunes, Xiaofeng waited anxiously for Gu Jian. Instead, she discovered a badly wounded Li Chengyin. Out of kindness, she decided to save him, tying him to a tree for her safety while he was unconscious.
Upon regaining consciousness, Li Chengyin was hostile, suspecting she was sent to kill him. Xiaofeng, annoyed, leveraged his need for water to make him agree to three conditions for his release. Li Chengyin eventually claimed to be a merchant from the Li Empire who had been robbed. Believing his story, Xiaofeng released him, promising to help him get revenge and boasting that her master, Gu Jian, was the most powerful man in the world.
She then tried to use her signal arrow to summon him, only to realize she had lost it. Soon after, they witnessed the Danchi King's grandson, Yimoyan, with a large group of captives and goods that Li Chengyin recognized as his brother's. Yimoyan then met with Gao Xian, the Protectorate General of the Western Border.
Their conversation revealed an illicit agreement where Yimoyan would raid the border for plunder while Gao Xian gained military merits, a practice known as "raising bandits to enhance one's own standing." Gao Xian, however, abruptly informed Yimoyan their cooperation was suspended. After Gao Xian left, Yimoyan sensed someone hiding nearby. Xiaofeng revealed herself, addressing Yimoyan as her cousin. After a brief exchange, she promised to return to Xi State and he departed.
Xiaofeng then returned to find Li Chengyin gone, leaving behind a cloth scrap with the words, "See you in three days." Alone, Li Chengyin encountered Chai Mu, who escorted him to the Western Border Protectorate General Office at Consort Mingyuan's request. Meanwhile, Gu Jian found a wandering Xiaofeng and apologized for his delay. As they prepared to leave, the King's soldiers surrounded them, pleading for the princess's return to save their own lives, forcing Gu Jian to concede.
In the Li Empire, the Emperor was informed of Li Chengji's assassination by Danchi people and vowed revenge, unaware that his Second Prince, Li Chengye, had orchestrated the attack. Furious that Li Chengyin had survived, Li Chengye ordered his men to lie in wait at the Western Border Protectorate General Office and kill his brother on sight. At the office, Li Chengyin was met by Pei Zhao and introduced to General Gao Xian.
Gao Xian feigned concern, but Li Chengyin remained guarded, remembering the General's collusion with Yimoyan. Back in the Xi State palace, King Qu Wencheng admonished Gu Jian but tasked him with guarding Xiaofeng. When the King tried to strike his defiant daughter, Queen Ashinayun intervened. The King confined Xiaofeng to the palace until her wedding day.
As the family argued, an attendant rushed in with news: ambassadors from both the Li Empire and the Shuobo State were in the deliberation hall, each proposing marriage to the Ninth Princess. The Queen was shocked by the unexpected dual proposals.
