Good Bye, My Princess Episode 13 Recap
> Good Bye, My Princess Recap
Xiaofeng, accompanied by Princess Yongning and Princess Luoxi, observed the imperial princes engaging in a traditional Li Empire custom known as the winding stream party. Luoxi explained that after the Spring Bathing ritual, participants sit by a river, placing wine glasses upstream to float down. Whoever a glass stops in front of must drink and improvise a poem. Xiaofeng, finding poetry daunting, initially refused, but upon learning that the penalty was merely a drink, her spirits lifted.
The imperial princes and princesses then took their seats. While the Crown Prince Li Chengye, the Fifth Prince Li Chengyin, and Zhao Sese effortlessly composed elegant poems, Xiaofeng’s spontaneous, rhyming verses amused everyone. Feeling embarrassed, Xiaofeng was comforted by Yongning, who reminded her it was just a game. Zhao Sese also offered words of encouragement, though Yongning's demeanor towards her remained cool.
Later, Yongniang, Xiaofeng’s loyal maidservant, reminded A'Du of the importance of always prioritizing the Ninth Princess's interests, especially given Xiaofeng's status as the future Crown Princess consort, cautioning that any misstep could implicate her mistress. Next, the princesses moved to an archery competition. Having grown up on horseback, Xiaofeng easily won. As the loser, Zhao Sese was tasked with retrieving arrows from the lake by boat. Intrigued by the boat, which she had never seen before, Xiaofeng impulsively jumped aboard.
The boat immediately tilted, sending both Xiaofeng and Zhao Sese into the water. Li Chengyin witnessed the scene and immediately plunged into the water, instinctively swimming towards Xiaofeng and bringing her to shore. Meanwhile, the Crown Prince, Li Chengye, came to Zhao Sese's aid. Both women were unharmed, though Zhao Sese appeared visibly upset. Later, a confused Xiaofeng asked A'Du why Li Chengyin had saved her instead of Zhao Sese.
Elsewhere, Li Chengyin discussed the incident with Pei Zhao, expressing confusion over why his first instinct was to save Xiaofeng, noting that he also experienced a strange headache whenever he saw her. A physician examined Li Chengyin, attributing his recurrent fever to an unhealed internal injury sustained while pursuing Danchi troops in the northern plains. Zhao Sese arrived at Li Chengyin's residence with medicine.
He apologized to her for his actions at the lake, but Sese graciously accepted his explanation, understanding that saving the Crown Prince's official fiancée was a politically safe choice that would prevent any scandalous rumors about their own relationship. Soon after, Xiaofeng visited Li Chengyin to thank him for saving her. As she approached, he inexplicably experienced a sharp pain in his chest and a throbbing headache, nearly falling from a ladder.
Startled, Xiaofeng quickly left, leaving both of them bewildered. Xiaofeng and A'Du later ventured out of the palace to acquire the best grape wine from Mi Luo’s drinking house for a medicinal concoction. Pei Zhao, noticing their departure, secretly dispatched a trusted follower to watch over them. Concurrently, Li Chengyin met with his strategist Chai Mu, revealing that his petition to compile the Western Border annals was a ruse to obtain a special badge allowing access to various departmental records.
He intended to scrutinize documents related to the Crown Prince, hoping to uncover misconduct, starting with Li Yan, who had controversially moved from Assistant Minister of War to a less prestigious but potentially lucrative position within the Ministry of Revenue. While strolling through the streets, Xiaofeng realized A'Du was gone. Suddenly, Gu Jian appeared and introduced himself, but Xiaofeng had no recollection of him.
Gu Jian claimed they were once lovers who had planned to elope, but a twist of fate, compounded by a head injury Xiaofeng sustained in a bandit attack, caused her to forget him. He explained that after searching for half a year, he had finally found her. Reluctantly, Xiaofeng agreed to let Gu Jian accompany her to buy the wine on the condition that he help her find A'Du afterward.
They arrived at Mi Luo Drinking House to find Mi Luo distressed. She explained that two young lords, Gao Zhen and Zhao Shixuan, were causing a ruckus at the Singing Jade Brothel, fighting over the renowned courtesan, Miss Mingyue, leaving no one to deliver her wine. Xiaofeng volunteered to take the delivery, with Gu Jian by her side. At the brothel, they encountered the famous Mingyue, and Gu Jian was stunned to recognize her.
After Xiaofeng chastised the two lords for their boorish behavior, Mingyue calmed the situation. Later, she privately reunited with Gu Jian, revealing her true identity as Yan'er, but insisted on being called Mingyue, as she no longer felt worthy of her former name. Xiaofeng, overhearing their conversation, expressed her sympathy and questioned why Mingyue remained in such a place.
That night, Gu Jian met with Chai Mu, reporting that he had seen Yan'er, now known as Mingyue, working as a courtesan. Chai Mu was shocked to learn she was alive. Gu Jian clarified that he had not revealed Chai Mu's existence to Mingyue. Meanwhile, Xiaofeng, using the procured wine, brewed a cold-dispelling medicine with aged ginger, which she personally delivered to Li Chengyin. He insisted his cold had healed, but Xiaofeng urged him to try the concoction.
As she spoke, Li Chengyin again suffered a severe headache and chest pain. Xiaofeng then offered to be his friend and asked what he desired as a thank-you gift for saving her life twice. Still reeling from his symptoms, Li Chengyin stated he needed more time to consider his request, and Xiaofeng left him to rest.
