Good Bye, My Princess Episode 16 Recap
> Good Bye, My Princess Recap
As Li Chengyin is tasked with investigating the counterfeit coin case with Xiaofeng, they walk through the bustling streets of the capital. Xiaofeng openly expresses her envy for Li Chengyin and Zhao Sese, believing they truly share mutual affection. Li Chengyin, in turn, speaks favorably of the Crown Prince, but Xiaofeng’s spirits dampen, as her only destiny is to marry him.
Li Chengyin then leads Xiaofeng to the Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas, suggesting they seek help from Buddha regarding their stagnant investigation. Xiaofeng draws an ominous fortune stick, and the temple's master advises them that while their destinies are intertwined across three lives, nothing should be forced. Li Chengyin dismisses the master's words, not believing in predestined relationships.
Inside, Li Chengyin explains that all of the empire's copper, aside from that used for official currency, is allocated for casting Buddha statues. Xiaofeng points out the discrepancy: with so many counterfeit coins in circulation, there couldn't possibly be enough copper for the statues. When the temple's supervisor, Li Yan, approaches them, a bored Xiaofeng casually taps a nearby Buddha statue, which emits a muffled sound. Li Yan's expression changes to one of panic.
Alarmed, Xiaofeng withdraws her hand and leaves with Li Chengyin. Outside, Xiaofeng shares her theory with Li Chengyin: the statues must be made of other materials and merely plated with copper, saving the precious metal for counterfeit coins. Meanwhile, Li Yan reports Xiaofeng’s actions to his superior, the Crown Prince, Li Chengye. Alarmed, the Crown Prince immediately orders the counterfeit coin operation at Tongchang to be shut down and for Li Yan to lay low.
When Li Chengyin delays reporting their findings, an impatient Xiaofeng scales a palace wall to find him, twisting her ankle in the process. Li Chengyin carries Xiaofeng into a room and carefully massages her injured ankle. He explains that the sound from the statue is not conclusive evidence and reporting it without proof would be slander. Xiaofeng tries to go to the Emperor herself, but Li Chengyin restrains her.
As she watches him, a familiar scene of him tending to her foot flashes in her mind, bringing tears to her eyes. Defying Yongniang's advice to rest, Xiaofeng slips out of the palace, intending to ask her friend Milo for help. Instead, she finds Gu Jian waiting for her. He gives her a signal arrow, promising to appear whenever she launches it.
To prevent her from involving Milo, Gu Jian takes her to a workshop where they confirm her suspicions: the statues are made of clay and only plated with copper. Unable to keep the secret, Xiaofeng complains to the Grand Empress Dowager about Li Chengyin concealing the truth. Later, Li Chengyin is summoned by the Emperor, who calmly inquires about the case's progress. Li Chengyin claims to have no leads, but Xiaofeng interjects, revealing the deception of the fake Buddha statues. Enraged, the Emperor orders both Li Yan and the Crown Prince to be summoned, leaving Xiaofeng bewildered as to how the Crown Prince is involved.
