Good Bye, My Princess Episode 51 Recap
> Good Bye, My Princess Recap
Pei Zhao brought Xiaofeng back to the Eastern Palace, and Li Chengyin immediately confronted Zhao Sese, accusing her of arranging Xiaofeng's escape. Zhao Sese admitted it, claiming she acted to ease his burdens, as she believed Xiaofeng was unworthy of his affection. Enraged, Li Chengyin saw through her schemes and told her such an act was a capital offense. Xiaofeng interjected, falsely claiming she had begged Zhao Sese for help and asking that she be punished instead.
Li Chengyin silenced her, scolding her for her naivety. Zhao Sese then declared that Xiaofeng had never loved him, confessing her indifference and preference for escaping. Li Chengyin retorted that even if Xiaofeng didn't love him, his heart belonged solely to her. When Zhao Sese asked about her own place in his life, he coldly revealed she had only ever been a tool.
Devastated, Zhao Sese realized her long-held love was a cruel deception, recounting her devotion since their first meeting. She acknowledged her defeat, not to Qu Xiaofeng, but to her own all-consuming love for him. As a heartbroken Zhao Sese departed, Xiaofeng remarked with pity that Li Chengyin had just lost the person who loved him most.
Later that evening, as snow fell, Yongniang found Xiaofeng, reminiscing about her arrival at the palace, her childhood illness, and her feverish calls for "shanzi," the Xi State word for mother. Yongniang urged her to be less willful, a promise Xiaofeng readily made as Yongniang’s hands reminded her of her own mother's. Nearby, Li Chengyin played a sorrowful tune, and Xiaofeng approached him. He confessed that while he could betray anyone else, he never wanted to betray her.
Xiaofeng retorted that he was unworthy of love, citing his cruelty toward Zhao Sese and asserting that power, not love, was his true desire. Li Chengyin insisted Xiaofeng was his only wish, but she questioned his sincerity after his past betrayals and asked if he would kill her if she threatened his throne. He evaded, then refused when she asked if he would abandon his power to die with her.
Believing only her death would convince him, Xiaofeng expressed her anguish that she wasn't the one in his heart. Then, in a stunning turn, she kissed him and confessed her heart had always held him. Overjoyed, he begged her to repeat it. She affirmed her feelings, then said she was saying goodbye to "her Gu Xiaowu." As he rejoiced, the powerful sedative she had applied to her lips took effect, and he collapsed, unconscious.
A'Du appeared, confirming their plan had worked. Dressed in black, Xiaofeng and A'Du prepared to slip out of the Eastern Palace but were met by Yongniang, who was waiting with a lantern. Fearing Yongniang would raise an alarm, A'Du incapacitated her with an acupuncture point lock. Unable to speak, Yongniang looked at Xiaofeng with reluctance and gestured toward the ground, where she had dropped a bag of golden leaves.
Tears welled in Xiaofeng's eyes, realizing Yongniang had come to help her escape. She tearfully embraced Yongniang in farewell. Xiaofeng decided it was safer for Yongniang to be found incapacitated, apologizing for leaving her in the cold.
They reached Mi Luo's Drinking House, where Mi Luo outlined the escape plan: they would blend in with a Goryeo merchant caravan leaving the next morning through the heavily guarded West Gate, operating on the principle that the most obvious route would be the least suspected. The next morning, Li Chengyin awoke to find Xiaofeng gone. He furiously ordered Pei Zhao to seal all city gates, search everyone leaving, and post Xiaofeng's portrait everywhere.
During his search, Pei Zhao visited Mi Luo's tavern. Mi Luo, sensing Pei Zhao's conflicted feelings, confirmed Xiaofeng had been there but had already left. Meanwhile, Xiaofeng and A'Du passed through the gate with the caravan. Once outside, the merchants extorted them for more money, and Xiaofeng reluctantly paid them off with a golden leaf. Fearing capture, Xiaofeng and A'Du abandoned the caravan and continued toward Xi State alone, spotting "wanted" posters along the way.
Despite A'Du's suggestion to find another route, Xiaofeng insisted on pushing through the Jade Pass, accepting that death was a possibility. At the pass, they found Pei Zhao on guard. Hearing him play his hichiriki, Xiaofeng approached. Pei Zhao urged her to return, warning that Li Chengyin would pursue her to Xi State and escalate the conflict. Xiaofeng, however, declared her intent to live for herself.
She confronted Pei Zhao, reminding him that three years ago, he tried to help Gu Xiaowu stop her from jumping into the River of Oblivion, and now he was helping Li Chengyin bring her back—making it clear she knew he remembered everything. Appealing to him as a friend, Xiaofeng asked him to let her pass. Visibly conflicted, Pei Zhao ordered the gate opened. Just then, Li Chengyin arrived, frantically ordering the gate closed.
A'Du charged through, but Xiaofeng was trapped inside. In despair, Xiaofeng scaled the high city wall. Below, Li Chengyin desperately pleaded for her to come down. She retorted that his heart was colder than hers. He begged her to admit she had loved him, even a little, but she insisted she had only ever loved Gu Xiaowu, who was now dead.
Confused, Li Chengyin asked why she fled if she didn't love him, noting her coldness began even before Gu Xiaowu died. Xiaofeng expressed envy for his ability to forget, lamenting that she remembered what she wished to forget. She asked what he had forgotten, but before he could understand, she declared she was forgiving him and releasing them both from their shared fate. As Li Chengyin screamed in confusion, Xiaofeng leapt from the wall.
Pei Zhao and other guards restrained a frantic Li Chengyin from following. As Xiaofeng plummeted, his lost memories flooded back: meeting her as Gu Xiaowu, catching fireflies for her, their wedding, and her vow to forget him forever. Overwhelmed by the truth, Li Chengyin screamed, coughed up blood, and collapsed. Far below, A'Du galloped into position and caught Xiaofeng, and the two rode away.
