Good Bye, My Princess Episode 28 Recap
> Good Bye, My Princess Recap
Following a bitter argument, Xiaofeng handed all her custom-made Bathing the Buddha Festival attire to Li Chengyin, telling him to give it to Zhao Sese. Although Li Chengyin hadn't intended for their conflict to escalate this far, he impulsively took the garments and delivered them to Zhao Sese. That evening, Xiaofeng, looking at her reflection, resolved not to attend the festival. She planned to feign a relapse of an old illness if the Emperor and Empress questioned her absence.
Yongniang tried to dissuade her, but Xiaofeng was adamant, stating she preferred to yield the opportunity to Zhao Sese to avoid constant disputes with Li Chengyin. On the day of the Bathing the Buddha Festival, Zhao Sese accompanied Li Chengyin while Xiaofeng remained in her palace, officially citing illness. In reality, she was confiding in A'Du about strange, vivid memories that had been troubling her.
While the imperial physician dismissed them as nightmares, Xiaofeng felt they were too real, unlike the Empress's stories about encountering desert bandits, of which she had no recollection. She felt certain she had forgotten something profoundly important and was determined to remember it. Knowing Xiaofeng was bored, Gu Jian took her and A'Du to the bustling temple fair. Xiaofeng, intrigued by a Persian sorceress offering fortune-telling, eagerly approached, with Gu Jian following.
The sorceress dramatically proclaimed that Xiaofeng and Gu Jian shared a bond across two lifetimes, both fated to end tragically, and urged them to separate. Xiaofeng dismissed it as a scam and left to find A'Du. Gu Jian, however, stayed behind to hear more. The sorceress told him that he carried a heavy burden of sin and was destined to suffer the agony of a thousand arrows piercing his heart.
Gu Jian smiled, acknowledging the truth in her prediction of his suffering. He affirmed, however, that he had no intention of dying and was resolved to live a long life, as he would gladly endure any pain for Xiaofeng's happiness. Later, as people bought turtles to release into the river for good fortune, Xiaofeng and A'Du discovered that unscrupulous merchants were secretly recapturing the released turtles to resell them.
Incensed, Xiaofeng publicly confronted the merchants, using a white cloth she had tied to one of the turtles as proof to expose their deceit. Enraged, the merchants and their accomplices chased Xiaofeng and A'Du through the crowded market. After a frantic chase, the two managed to fight off their pursuers. As Xiaofeng was triumphantly gloating, Pei Zhao arrived with guards to apprehend the merchants.
Xiaofeng was surprised to see him, but Pei Zhao awkwardly gestured toward the city's Vermilion Bird Tower, revealing that the Emperor and Empress were observing the festivities from above. Mortified, Xiaofeng had no choice but to follow Pei Zhao back to the palace. Upon their return, an irate Empress demanded an explanation. Li Chengyin and Xiaofeng immediately fell into a heated argument, each blaming the other.
Li Chengyin accused Xiaofeng of feigning illness to embarrass him, while Xiaofeng retorted that he had taken her ceremonial dress for another woman. Their bickering only deepened the Empress's displeasure. Ultimately, the Empress concluded that Zhao Sese had bewitched Li Chengyin, causing Xiaofeng to act out of grievance.
When Li Chengyin tried to defend Zhao Sese, the Empress grew angrier and punished Zhao Sese by confining her to Qingluan Hall to kneel and recite Buddhist scriptures for a month, twelve hours each day. Unable to protest, a seething Zhao Sese accepted the punishment. After the others departed, the Empress, Zhang Meiniang, gravely warned Li Chengyin against doting exclusively on Zhao Sese, reminding him that Xiaofeng was the legitimate Crown Princess Consort.
Li Chengyin gave a perfunctory agreement, but the Empress sensed he was no longer as pliable as before, fearing she was losing her influence over him. Feeling guilty for getting Zhao Sese punished, Li Chengyin visited her in Qingluan Hall. Moved by his deep affection and concern, Zhao Sese wept, feeling her suffering was worthwhile. Later, Li Chengyin confided in Pei Zhao, expressing regret for implicating Zhao Sese.
He then revealed his new plan: to stage a public confrontation at Xiaofeng's residence, Bearing Graces Hall. He intended to act like a tyrant and bully Xiaofeng, ensuring everyone would believe he was entirely at fault. This way, any future mistakes Xiaofeng made would be blamed on his mistreatment, thereby protecting her. With a cold expression, Li Chengyin stormed into Bearing Graces Hall, demanding justice for Zhao Sese.
In a calculated fit of rage, he forbade anyone in the Eastern Palace from speaking to the Crown Princess Consort, threatening to have the tongues of any disobedient servant cut out before reassigning them to hard labor.
