Good Bye, My Princess Episode 19 Recap
> Good Bye, My Princess Recap
Following Chai Mu's investigation, it was discovered that Li Yan had audaciously established a copper coin forging workshop near the practice arena of the Tongchang Suwei Army, the private guards of Elder Prince Zhong. This explained why their earlier search in the city yielded nothing. However, as Li Yan and the Crown Prince had already closed the workshop, Chai Mu devised a plan to inform the Emperor: he arranged for commoners to discover the illicit coins near the arena.
An Imperial Censor subsequently reported this strange discovery, noting that the coins subtly differed from government-issued ones. The Emperor immediately recognized the connection to Elder Prince Zhong's private forces and grew deeply suspicious. Meanwhile, Xiaofeng had awakened and was determined to visit Li Chengyin, who was imprisoned in the Court of Judicial Review for allegedly poisoning her. She firmly believed in his innocence and felt compelled to question him personally.
However, security was stringent, with even the Empress having been denied a visit. In desperation, Xiaofeng used the signal whistle Gu Jian had given her, recalling his promise to appear whenever she needed him. Gu Jian arrived, acknowledging that the whistle was not intended for such a request, but nonetheless agreed to help. He then led her into the Celestial Prison, where royal relatives were temporarily held, while he stood guard outside.
Inside, Xiaofeng brought Li Chengyin warm snacks, a gesture that deeply moved him. She expressed her belief that he had been framed, pointing out the suspicious timing of their troubles immediately following their investigation of the Crown Prince and Li Yan. Xiaofeng offered to intercede with the Emperor on his behalf, but Li Chengyin declined, urging her to prioritize her own recovery.
He admitted his own rashness and eagerness to gain leverage against the Crown Prince had led him to use her to expose the fake copper coins, thus implicating her in the dangerous affair. Xiaofeng, however, blamed herself for acting carelessly and inadvertently alerting their enemies. Li Chengyin then warned her about the dangers of the inner palace, emphasizing that she must protect herself now that he could not be by her side.
Upset that he seemed resigned to his fate, Xiaofeng left her cloak with him before discreetly slipping away. The Emperor praised the Crown Prince, Li Chengye, for his recent improvements in reviewing memorials. He then broached the topic of Xiaofeng's poisoning, noting Li Chengye's silence on the matter. Li Chengye feigned disbelief that his "Fifth Brother," Li Chengyin, would commit such an act.
When the Emperor pointed out that Li Chengye was the intended target, the Crown Prince magnanimously declared that he would not blame his younger brother and asked for a lighter sentence. The Emperor commended his broad-mindedness, but then, with a subtle shift in tone, inquired about the death of the previous Crown Prince, Li Chengji. A visibly uneasy Li Chengye deflected, dismissing any renewed suspicion as insubordinate since the case was officially closed and attributed to the Danchi people.
He concluded by stating that Li Chengji's spirit would not wish to see his brothers fighting. The Emperor’s investigators discovered that Chan'er's impoverished family had suddenly moved into a luxurious mansion, suggesting a secret benefactor. Knowing that no lie could withstand three days of torture, the Emperor personally interrogated Chan'er. He cruelly informed her that the Crown Prince had broken his promise and murdered her entire family, leaving their bodies in the wilderness.
In her frantic grief, Chan'er confessed the Crown Prince’s role, crying out that he had promised to keep her family safe. Having extracted the truth, the Emperor ordered Chan'er’s execution. He then publicly announced Li Chengyin’s sentence: his death penalty was commuted, but he was to be banished to Qian Province for life, never to return to the capital. Distraught by the sentence, Li Chengyin's mother, Zhang Meiniang, tearfully embraced him, urging him never to give up hope.
Later that night, she secretly met her uncle, Gao Yuming, pleading with him to save her son and prevent the Crown Prince from ascending the throne. Gao Yuming, a shrewd strategist, agreed, believing that helping Li Chengyin now would ensure his obedience in the future.
He suspected that if the Crown Prince and his faction were truly guilty in the death of the previous Crown Prince Li Chengji, they would try to destroy evidence, especially with the case being brought up again. He deduced their first move would be to destroy the records of Batuer, the alleged assassin. Acting quickly, Gao Yuming retrieved Batuer's file from the Court of Judicial Review, finding only a portrait and a few vague notes, which he found highly suspicious.
Li Chengyin met with his maternal grand-uncle, Gao Yuming, expressing his profound gratitude and pledging his future obedience if he could remain in the capital. Gao Yuming showed him Batuer’s portrait from the sparse file, explaining his suspicion about Batuer's true role in Li Chengji's death and Li Yan's involvement in escorting the supposed assassin. Li Chengyin recalled his father's earlier interrogation which had implicated him in his elder brother's death, confirming the Emperor's underlying doubts.
At Li Chengyin's suggestion, Gao Yuming instructed him to write to his maternal cousin-uncle, Gao Xian—who was involved in the original questioning at the Western Border—and order him to personally deliver all Batuer-related documents to the capital, protecting them at all costs. News quickly reached the Crown Prince, Li Chengye, that Gao Xian was heading to the capital, reportedly splitting his entourage into nine masked groups to evade detection.
Li Chengye ordered elite soldiers to guard all nine city gates, vowing to execute Gao Xian for treason if he attempted to enter without an imperial decree. Meanwhile, Pei Zhao asked Gu Jian to persuade A'Du to provide a credible testimony about Batuer. Pei Zhao explained that evidence from the Gao family would lack credibility due to their ties to Li Chengyin, and only a neutral witness like A'Du could convince the Emperor of Li Chengye's schemes.
Gu Jian attempted to persuade A'Du by highlighting the grave danger Xiaofeng would face if Li Chengyin was not saved, but A'Du remained resistant. Despite the heavy security, Gao Xian successfully reached Li Chengyin and delivered the crucial documents. He impressed upon Li Chengyin the great risk he had taken, urging him to remember the Gao family's sacrifice.
Just as they were exchanging the documents, assassins sent by Li Chengye ambushed them, having tracked them down by intercepting a courier's dispatch. Fortunately, Gu Jian and Pei Zhao appeared unexpectedly, joining forces to help Li Chengyin and Gao Xian fight off the attackers and escape.
