Good Bye, My Princess Episode 46 Recap
> Good Bye, My Princess Recap
Xiaofeng shared with A'Du her profound sense of fortune, believing she had only A'Du as family in the Central Plains until she found Gu Xiaowu again. She expressed deep gratitude to heaven for allowing her to rediscover and remember him, feeling she could ask for nothing more.
Observing the night sky, she noted that even with so many stars, they weren't as bright as those in Xi State, and voiced her happiness by repeatedly saying Gu Xiaowu's name, anticipating her imminent return to Xi State. Elsewhere, Li Chengyin confided in Pei Zhao, questioning if Xiaofeng was taken or if she deliberately left.
Despite Pei Zhao's assurance of Xiaofeng's safety and his observation that her stubborn nature sometimes inadvertently helped them, Li Chengyin confessed his desire for her to remain carefree, not embroiled in their affairs. He wished for her to stay in the Eastern Palace, always there to bicker and argue with him, and wondered aloud if she disliked Shangjing and yearned for Xi State.
As the Shangyuan Festival approached, Xiaofeng expressed a desire to stay for the festivities, particularly to enjoy a grand meal at Mi Luo's Drinking House. Gu Jian, while concerned about their prolonged stay, conceded to her wish, reasoning that the large crowds during the festival could offer better cover for their escape through the Bearing the Heaven Gate. He probed Xiaofeng, asking if she still harbored feelings for Li Chengyin.
Xiaofeng vehemently denied it, asserting that since she believes he is Gu Xiaowu, she cannot allow anyone else in her heart. When Gu Jian hypothetically asked, "What if I wasn't Gu Xiaowu?" , Xiaofeng insisted he was, citing his resemblance to the man in her dreams and the distinct scent of Xi State about him. She didn't want a hasty, undignified departure, wishing instead for a proper farewell to Shangjing.
Gu Jian agreed to leave right after the festival, vowing to remain by her side forever. Meanwhile, Gao Yuming's son reported a breakthrough: the Grand Tutor they sought had committed suicide, his body recently discovered. Gao Yuming suspected the man knew they were coming, reinforcing his belief that a powerful figure was orchestrating a deliberate scheme against them.
He instructed his son to write to Gao Xian, suggesting that only he could resolve the matter by winning favor with the Emperor. Concurrently, Gao Xian secured 20,000 taels from undistributed military salaries, hinting at a new scheme now that Danchi was eliminated. He then dispatched a secret message to the Shuobo King, inviting him for a drink. Soon, Zhao Jingyu received alarming news: the Shuobo Tribe had swiftly conquered three cities, overwhelming the Western Border Protectorate General Office.
Puzzled by Gao Xian's actions, Zhao Jingyu opted for caution, ordering his army to hold position and await instructions from Shangjing. The Emperor received Gao Xian's urgent memorial, blaming sandstorms and a lack of rations for the military setback. Enraged by the belated report, the Emperor questioned Gao Xian's competence. Gao Yuming knelt and publicly sought severe punishment for his son, admitting his own failure as a father and as Head of the Cabinet.
However, Pei Zhao intervened, highlighting Gao Xian's extensive border warfare experience and assuring the Emperor that with additional supplies, victory was achievable. The Emperor, acknowledging Gao Yuming's loyalty, promoted Gao Xian to Far Subduing Generalissimo and granted the requested supplies. Later, in private, the Emperor expressed his frustration to Mingyue, feeling like a figurehead unable to control his empire. Mingyue reassured him of his divine right as the Son of Heaven, whose position could not be swayed.
Elsewhere, Xi Qingzhuo confronted Zong Huan about the stalled investigation into the imperial civil examinee case. Zong Huan explained that the Emperor had implicitly halted the inquiry due to the urgent situation in the northwest, which necessitated reliance on Prime Minister Gao. Zong Huan asserted that he was merely biding his time, unwilling to recklessly jeopardize the last hope for exonerating the innocent scholars. Relieved, Xi Qingzhuo realized Zong Huan was not aligned with the Gao family.
Zong Huan then requested Xi Qingzhuo to compile a list of names and send it via a trusted aide, enabling him to dispatch agents to Bingzhou for a thorough investigation. Li Chengyin informed Chai Mu of his suspicion that Gu Jian would use the Shangyuan Festival's crowds to flee with Xiaofeng. He detailed his strategy: heavy troops would guard all city gates, especially the Bearing the Heaven Gate, the sole route back to Xi State.
He tasked Pei Zhao with handling Gu Jian, ensuring he did not fall into others' hands, while Li Chengyin himself would retrieve Xiaofeng. He declared his resolve not to tolerate Gu Jian's continued recklessness, hinting at extraordinary measures if necessary.
Li Chengyin also sent a secret message to Zhao Jingyu via Chai Mu, instructing him to investigate the connection between Gao Xian and Shuobo, sensing that Gao Xian's long-running scheme of "nurturing bandits" to gain military power was coming to a head. Li Chengyin then reported to the Emperor on the lack of progress in finding Xiaofeng. The Emperor ordered the Court of Judicial Review to re-interrogate all major criminals in Celestial Prison to reassert imperial authority.
When asked who should accompany him to the city tower for the festival, the Emperor suggested Zhao Sese, to placate the powerful Zhao family. Yongniang, deeply loyal to Xiaofeng, brought a dress for Zhao Sese to wear. She pointedly remarked that the auspicious gown, originally custom-made for the Crown Princess, must be returned to Bearing Graces Hall afterward.
Zhao Sese dismissed it as "just a piece of clothing" and suggested Yongniang's "rules" were better suited for those from the Western Border who lack etiquette. Yongniang stoically maintained her duty and left. Zhao Sese then complained about the gown's aged appearance and ill-fitting waistline, demanding immediate alterations. Later that evening, Pei Zhao sat drinking alone at Mi Luo's Drinking House, somber over Xiaofeng's disappearance.
He lamented that the Feather Forest Guards had searched the city without success and shared his quiet hope that Xiaofeng could find true peace by leaving Shangjing. Unbeknownst to him, Xiaofeng, Gu Jian, and A'Du soon entered the same establishment. Xiaofeng confided in Mi Luo, declaring her intention to return home to Xi State and bid a final farewell to Shangjing.
She affirmed her resolve to return to her own world, free from the sorrows of Shangjing and the Eastern Palace, and cheerfully stated she would continue to drink and joke, having found the most important person to her. She raised a toast to Mi Luo, unaware that Pei Zhao was just rooms away, and they missed their chance encounter. As the Lantern Festival celebrations reached their peak, Li Chengyin, accompanied by Zhao Sese, ascended the city tower.
He placed a decorative hairpin on Zhao Sese, a traditional festive gesture. From the bustling crowd below, Xiaofeng, dressed in men's clothing, also received a hairpin from Gu Jian but decided to keep it rather than wear it. She then gazed up at the tower, her expression tinged with melancholy, as she saw Li Chengyin standing tall against the night sky.
Onlookers in the crowd, mistaking the couple for the Emperor and Noble Consort Mingyue, murmured about the Noble Consort performing the Empress's ceremonial duties and how her official appointment seemed imminent. Xiaofeng, with Gu Jian and A'Du, melted back into the joyous throng, a silent observer of the life she was about to leave behind.
