Good Bye, My Princess Episode 10 Recap
> Good Bye, My Princess Recap
The scene opens with General Gao Xian pressing the King of Xi State, Qu Wencheng, to finalize the political marriage for his daughter, Xiaofeng. Qu Wencheng, powerless, urges Xiaofeng to escape, a futile attempt for which Xiaofeng blames herself.
Accusing the king of rebellion, Gao Xian threatens Xiaofeng: if she agrees to the marriage, he will report to the Li Emperor that the King of Xi State is mentally unstable, thus sparing him from official repercussions and allowing him to retain his title. Gazing at him with hatred, Xiaofeng accuses Gao Xian of being responsible for her mother's death. Gao Xian dismisses her accusation and has her escorted to her palace.
There, a new maid informs Xiaofeng that her mother, the Queen, has been buried in the royal tomb. Her father has been suffering from alternating periods of lucidity and madness ever since. Xiaofeng remarks that she prefers her father to remain confused, as it seems more peaceful for him. Annoyed by the constant surveillance, Xiaofeng receives a hidden letter from a maid who previously served her mother.
The letter, from her father, warns her that Gao Xian is not the genuine marriage envoy and harbors malicious intentions. It instructs her to find the true envoy, Duke An, and declare her willingness to marry the Li Empire's Crown Prince as the only way to ensure her safety. After deep contemplation, Xiaofeng resolves to genuinely marry into the Li Empire, rejecting A'Du's suggestion to flee.
She explains that escape is pointless, as Li Chengyin would relentlessly pursue her and threaten her family. She believes marrying into the Li Empire is the only way to protect her father and the people of Xi State, especially after Li Chengyin allied with Shuobo to destroy Danchi. Meanwhile, Duke An expresses his outrage upon learning that Gao Xian has imprisoned Xiaofeng, driven the King to madness, and provoked the Queen into taking her own life.
Xiaofeng creates a diversion, allowing A'Du to slip out and meet Duke An. He then facilitates the escape, arranging for Xiaofeng and A'Du to be disguised and hidden among a changing guard shift, while another maid, Dimo, takes their place. As Duke An's caravan departs with Xiaofeng, it is ambushed by Gao Xian and his soldiers. Gao Xian falsely accuses Duke An of palace robbery to justify a search.
Despite Duke An's protests, Gao Xian asserts his authority, revealing he knows Xiaofeng is with them. Xiaofeng emerges and confirms her intention to marry the Crown Prince, urging Duke An to take her to the Emperor. However, Gao Xian insists her departure requires a grand ceremony and demands her return.
When Duke An defiantly refuses, Gao Xian orders his subordinate, Yuan Tong, to write a fraudulent report claiming the entire envoy troupe, including Duke An, was massacred by sand bandits with no survivors. Shortly thereafter, Li Chengyin receives an imperial decree to return to the capital.
Before he leaves, Gao Xian presents a bound Xiaofeng to him as a "great gift," revealing that his father and the Empress have instructed him to arrange the marriage to bolster Li Chengyin's position in the struggle for the throne. Li Chengyin confronts Xiaofeng, who vehemently accuses him of orchestrating the deaths of her grandfather and mother and driving her father mad.
She declares she would marry anyone, even the lowest slave, who would help her kill him, refusing to marry him despite her agreement to the political union. When an infuriated Li Chengyin threatens her, Xiaofeng challenges him to kill her, vowing to exact revenge for Danchi if she lives to become the Crown Prince's consort.
Gu Jian enters, explaining that the Crown Prince is dead and all their actions were to secure the position for Li Chengyin, making her planned revenge futile. Seeing them together, Xiaofeng scoffs at having been played for a fool. Recalling Gu Xiaowu's promises, she demands that Li Chengyin kill Gu Jian, wanting him to suffer the guilt of killing a loved one as she has.
Li Chengyin refuses, taking all the blame and insisting Gu Jian was only trying to protect her. Xiaofeng sarcastically remarks on their deep bond before dismissing them. Following the confrontation, Gu Jian expresses his regrets to Li Chengyin. As they step away, A'Du seizes the opportunity to help Xiaofeng escape. Guards quickly discover their absence and give chase. Li Chengyin orders his men to recapture her but to ensure she is not harmed.
As Xiaofeng and A'Du flee, they are nearly caught, but Gu Jian appears, kills their pursuers, and urges them to run. When he catches up to them, A'Du attacks him, calling him a traitor for his role in Danchi's destruction. Burdened by guilt, Gu Jian offers no resistance. Deeply disillusioned, Xiaofeng throws the whistle he once gave her off the cliff. Seeing her hatred, Gu Jian allows A'Du to strike him, sending him falling into the chasm below.
A'Du, though injured, pulls Xiaofeng along as Li Chengyin closes in. Their path leads them to a cliff above the fabled River of Oblivion. As Xiaofeng edges toward the precipice, a frantic Li Chengyin pleads with her to stop. Lost in despair, Xiaofeng recalls a time when Gu Xiaowu promised to catch a hundred fireflies for her.
Li Chengyin desperately promises her a good life and the safety of Xi State if she returns, then threatens to have the entire state buried with her if she jumps. A'Du retorts that destroying Xi State would destabilize the Li Empire's borders. With a final declaration that she wishes to forget "Gu Xiaowu" and all her suffering for eternity, Xiaofeng plunges into the river. Without hesitation, Li Chengyin leaps in after her, vowing to forget with her.
