Good Bye, My Princess Episode 25 Recap
> Good Bye, My Princess Recap
On the spring of the twenty-fourth year of Tiantong, the Crown Prince Li Chengyin married Princess Qu Xiaofeng of Xi State, who was conferred as Crown Princess. On the same day, Zhao Sese, daughter of the North Subduing Marquis, was conferred as Lady of Excellence.
The entire Li Dynasty rejoiced, and the grand wedding ceremony saw Li Chengyin and Xiaofeng bowing to Heaven and Earth, to the high altar, and to each other, sealing their union with nuptial wine amidst the congratulations of court officials. Despite the joyous occasion, Xiaofeng’s face held no smile, bearing no memory of having once bowed to this same man when he was known as Gu Xiaowu. Simultaneously, Zhao Sese arrived at Qingluan Palace.
Her maid remarked on the less festive atmosphere, noting it was only cheerful due to the Crown Princess’s wedding, and lamented that the Empress had deliberately insisted on Zhao Sese’s marriage taking place on this day to remind her of her place. Zhao Sese, however, remained unfazed, declaring that as long as Li Chengyin’s heart belonged solely to her, the title of Crown Princess held little importance. Meanwhile, Li Chengyin and Xiaofeng entered the bridal chamber.
As Li Chengyin approached, Xiaofeng subtly drew a dagger, prompting him to turn and leave without a word. At the Mi Luo Drinking House, Gu Jian sat lost in thought. He asked Mi Luo if she had ever loved anyone, to which Mi Luo replied that loving someone was too tiring and tormenting. Gu Jian agreed, his eyes filled with sorrow.
He confessed that he once believed he would find Xiaofeng and give her happiness in a next life, but now realized that even if life were to restart, the outcome would remain unchanged: she would still be by Li Chengyin’s side. He worried that Xiaofeng would eventually recall their shared past, a memory he knew would be devastating for her.
He understood that he could not give her happiness, even if he were to take her away, realizing that for some things, there is only one chance to choose, and a single missed moment could mean an eternity of regret. Having been rebuffed by Xiaofeng, Li Chengyin sought solace in drink, becoming completely intoxicated.
He stumbled towards Qingluan Palace to find Zhao Sese, who was pleased by his arrival, believing his presence in her quarters on his wedding night indicated his true affections lay with her. Xiaofeng, on the other hand, stood alone in the desolate night, gazing at the moon, her heart aching with longing for her distant homeland.
Unbeknownst to her, Pei Zhao stood in the shadows nearby, playing a melancholy tune on his flute, his solitary figure adding to the somber scene. The next morning, Li Chengyin departed Qingluan Palace at dawn to accompany Xiaofeng to pay their respects to the Empress. Having spent a sleepless night exposed to the cold, Xiaofeng, suffering from a high fever and a weakened state, collapsed during the ceremony. The Empress immediately inquired about Xiaofeng's condition.
Li Chengyin casually stated he had been at Qingluan Palace all night and was unaware of how Xiaofeng had fallen ill. Angered by his blatant disregard for propriety on his wedding night, the Empress accused Zhao Sese of bewitching the Crown Prince. She decreed that Zhao Sese be confined to Qingluan Palace for half a month, forbidding any visitors, including Li Chengyin.
He attempted to defend Zhao Sese, but the Empress’s stern warning of a harsher punishment compelled him to back down and accept his error. Later, Xiaofeng remained unconscious in her chambers. Li Chengyin quietly sat by her bed and covered her with a blanket. Suddenly, Xiaofeng awakened, swiftly pulling out a dagger and cutting his hand. Li Chengyin concealed his injury and angrily accused her of faking her illness to secure Zhao Sese’s punishment.
Overwhelmed by rage, he commanded the Palace Pharmaceutical Service not to treat Xiaofeng and warned that anyone who dared to bring an imperial physician to her would face severe consequences. Meanwhile, Zhao Sese calmly received the Empress’s decree of confinement. Her maid, Jin'er, complained about the injustice, noting Li Chengyin himself had initiated the visit.
Zhao Sese, however, reaffirmed her perspective, asserting that the Empress's attempts to suppress her would only deepen Li Chengyin’s affection, and his care was all she truly desired within the Eastern Palace.
