Good Bye, My Princess Episode 21 Recap
> Good Bye, My Princess Recap
Unnamed officials discuss the Grand Empress Dowager's decisive intervention regarding the Prince Zhong family. They note that while Prince Li Yan and the Crown Prince's crimes could have led to the complete annihilation of their clan, the Grand Empress Dowager, in just three statements, merely stripped them of their official positions, sparing all lives. This outcome is compared to a parent publicly disciplining a child to prevent further external retribution.
In a private conversation, Gao Yuming expresses his perplexity and bitterness that the Emperor chose to spare the Prince Zhong family but showed no mercy to his own son, Li Chengye. His son, Kun'er, remarks that Li Chengye’s death is cause for celebration, but Gao Yuming clarifies that he is merely lamenting the Emperor's ruthless heart. Later, the Emperor visits the Grand Empress Dowager, urging her not to fret over her health.
However, she is deeply distressed, tearfully questioning why he could be so heartless towards his own kin. The Emperor defends his actions, stating that Li Chengye should have anticipated the consequences when he first embarked on his path. He asserts that a severe punishment was necessary to make an example, preventing future imperial princes from rebelling and attempting to overthrow their father, thus ensuring the stability of the Li Empire.
The Grand Empress Dowager retorts that she understands the brutality of power struggles but believes the Emperor's "survival of the fittest" philosophy, which allowed fierce competition among his sons, is what led Li Chengye to his fate, claiming the Emperor was responsible for spoiling and teaching him such ways. The Emperor denies fault, blaming Li Chengye's prejudiced heart and deviation from the righteous conduct expected of a sovereign.
The Grand Empress Dowager presses on, pointing out that the Emperor himself gave Li Chengye power and insists he should have chosen a mild-mannered imperial prince to avert such a tragedy. The Emperor concludes the tense discussion by urging her to rest, emphasizing the distinct realms of the inner palace and the imperial court. Afterward, Chai Mu finds Li Chengyin brooding.
Li Chengyin reveals his deep remorse, admitting he never intended to force his second brother into rebellion or cause his death. He reflects that the Crown Prince position held little significance to him before his journey to Xi State, yet it has since caused immense bloodshed. Chai Mu initially remarks that the rebellion stemmed from Li Chengye's own stubborn personality. However, Li Chengyin remains inconsolable over Xiaofeng's near-fatal involvement.
In response, Chai Mu asserts that Li Chengyin's soft heart, particularly his partnership with the Ninth Princess to investigate a case and his defense of her, exposed his weakness to Li Chengye, thereby endangering Xiaofeng. Chai Mu warns him that he will face far more formidable enemies and advises him to become merciless, stressing that only with a heart as unyielding as stone can he become impenetrable and effectively protect those he cherishes.
In her chambers, Xiaofeng refuses to eat, still shaken by the recent violence. She questions Yongniang whether every person who becomes Crown Prince must rise by stepping on the blood of others. Later, Xiaofeng confides in A'Du, speculating that with the Crown Prince gone, she might not have to marry. Delighted by this possibility, she decides to write a letter to her father, requesting to be brought back to Xi State.
The Emperor later convenes his imperial princes for a game of Go. He observes Prince Yun's overly cautious play and Prince Rong's aggressive but shortsighted approach. When asked to contribute, Li Chengyin humbly declines, but when pressed, he quickly assesses the "bent four in the corner" situation, declaring the game unwinnable. After the princes depart, the Emperor asks his attendant, Cao Ji, for his assessment.
Cao Ji praises Li Chengyin's balanced strategy, noting that he had the opportunity to save the game but chose not to, demonstrating his intelligence and foresight. The Emperor concurs, recognizing Li Chengyin's potential to shoulder great responsibilities, but adds that it remains to be seen if he possesses the ambition to compete for the throne. Subsequently, Li Chengyin decides to visit Xiaofeng, despite having an engagement with Zhao Sese.
He finds Xiaofeng and casually mentions he was merely passing by after leaving the Grand Literature Library, a detail Xiaofeng points out is geographically inaccurate. Li Chengyin then tells her that he may not be able to visit the palace as often in the future. Xiaofeng attempts to return a complex "kongming lock" to him, stating her dislike for such intricate things.
Li Chengyin declines to take it back, comparing the Eastern Palace's deceptive simplicity and inherent complexity to the lock. He advises her to protect herself and never to trust others easily within its treacherous confines. Xiaofeng, with a hint of suspicion, asks if that warning extends to him as well. Later, Xiaofeng visits Empress Zhang, who shows her a fox stole sent as a congratulatory gift from Xi State for her marriage.
When Xiaofeng questions this, pointing out the Crown Prince was dethroned, the Empress clarifies that she is destined to be the Crown Princess Consort of the Li Empire, regardless of who the next Crown Prince may be, and instructs her to simply await her marriage. Distraught, Xiaofeng insists that she only wants to return home. That evening, Xiaofeng seeks solace at the Mi Luo Drinking House.
She tearfully confides in Mi Luo and Gu Jian, likening herself to a fox stole being repeatedly gifted from one place to another and lamenting her lack of agency over her own fate. She expresses her deep yearning for her parents and her desire to remain on the grassland instead of being forced into marriage. Meanwhile, Yongniang, discovering Xiaofeng's departure, dispatches Pei Zhao to find her.
Pei Zhao goes to Mi Luo Drinking House, where Mi Luo demands he drink a jug of his potent "Fall in Half a Jug" wine before she will answer. After Pei Zhao complies and becomes visibly drunk, Mi Luo deceptively claims Xiaofeng was not there. As a disoriented Pei Zhao leaves, Mi Luo mutters that Xiaofeng was indeed there and was taken by Gu Jian, whom she trusts to keep her safe.
Moments later, Pei Zhao encounters Li Chengyin, who is on his way to meet Zhao Sese. Pei Zhao informs him of Xiaofeng's disappearance, and Li Chengyin abandons his appointment to join the search. They soon find Gu Jian carrying a heavily intoxicated Xiaofeng. Li Chengyin moves to take her, thanking Gu Jian. As Li Chengyin attempts to leave with Xiaofeng, Gu Jian confronts him, declaring that no one can take her.
He asserts that Li Chengyin has already achieved his goals and Xiaofeng no longer wishes to remain, flatly stating that he cannot take her. However, Li Chengyin successfully brings Xiaofeng back to her residence. There, the still-intoxicated Xiaofeng clings to him, demanding not to be left alone and asking for water, calling him by his name, Li Chengyin.
He scolds her for getting so drunk and tells her that the palace is her home, but Xiaofeng tearfully denies this, asserting that Xi State is her true home. She laments that she is treated like a fragile object on display, ultimately interchangeable and uncared for. Li Chengyin reassures her, promising to care for and protect her. However, Xiaofeng, in her drunken haze, pointedly tells him, "You're Li Chengyin. You belong to Zhao Sese."
