Good Bye, My Princess Episode 8 Recap
> Good Bye, My Princess Recap
An envoy from Khan Tömür arrived to inform Qu Wencheng, the King of the Western State, that his daughter, Xiaofeng, was to be married in Danchi. Qu Wencheng was furious, lamenting that he, her own father, was the last to learn of her impending wedding. Soon after, Duke An, an envoy from the Li Empire, arrived to confront Qu Wencheng.
Duke An angrily accused him of deceiving both the envoy and the Li Emperor by secretly arranging the princess's marriage in Danchi, stating that such an act jeopardized the alliance between their two countries and was a grave offense. Acknowledging his fault, Qu Wencheng repeatedly apologized, claiming Xiaofeng had run away to Danchi on her own. He then desperately tried to appease Duke An by offering two other princesses of marriageable age for the political alliance.
Duke An, however, reiterated that the Emperor specifically sought a direct-line princess and vowed to report the entire situation to the Emperor, leaving Qu Wencheng to nervously await the imperial decree. Meanwhile, Xiaofeng, unaware of the looming danger, was deeply in love with Gu Xiaowu. She teased him about being jealous of her master, Gu Jian, and earnestly confessed that he was the only one in her heart.
They exchanged lighthearted jokes, solidifying their mutual affection and her complete trust in him. Elsewhere, the Empress, Zhang Meiniang, expressed her concern to her uncle, Gao Xian, that Prince Xuande was steadily gaining power. She worried that if Prince Xuande were to monopolize all military achievements, it would significantly jeopardize Li Chengyin's prospects for succession. Gao Xian, however, appeared less concerned, assuring her that Li Chengyin was not incapable, but merely chose not to contend for power aggressively.
Zhang Meiniang then reminded her uncle to urge his son to provide more support for Li Chengyin at the Western Border Protectorate. At the Protectorate, Prince Xuande received the Li Emperor's decree for war against Danchi. He learned that Li Chengyin, currently absent while eradicating desert bandits, was to marry Xiaofeng in two days.
Recognizing this as a golden opportunity, Prince Xuande decided to launch the attack on the wedding day, when the entire Danchi tribe would be present and least prepared. He instructed his general, Li Yan, to relay the plan and stressed the ultimate objective: to present Khan Tömür's head to the Emperor. Meanwhile, Sir Chai, one of Li Chengyin's own men, discussed separate tactical arrangements.
He revealed a secret map provided by Li Chengyin that showed two direct routes to the Danchi royal tent, aiming to secure significant military honor for the Fifth Prince during the campaign. As the wedding day arrived, Xiaofeng and Gu Xiaowu walked a path adorned with footprints and pebbles, symbolizing their shared journey. The Danchi people were immersed in joyous celebration, their defenses significantly relaxed for the grand occasion.
As the newlyweds celebrated, a chilling report broke the festive atmosphere: the Shuobo army was advancing from the east. Khan Tömür, confident in Danchi's strength with over a hundred thousand troops and tens of thousands of cavalry, dismissed the threat, ordering the Lilu King of the Left to lead 30,000 cavalry to confront them.
Unbeknownst to him, this was part of a larger trap set by Prince Xuande, whose forces would coordinate with Shuobo to first attack the Eastern Camp, drawing out Danchi's main forces and leaving the Western Camp vulnerable. A second report soon confirmed that both camps were under attack, with enemy forces now moving towards the royal tent.
Amidst the chaos, Gu Xiaowu was covertly approached by his subordinate, Hu Xiao, who confirmed that Prince Xuande had launched the attack ahead of schedule and informed him of Pei Zhao's location. With this intelligence, Gu Xiaowu understood the day of battle had arrived. Gu Xiaowu bravely volunteered to lead the vanguard, requesting 30,000 cavalry from Khan Tömür. Though the Khan had reservations, Heshi vouched for Gu Xiaowu’s tactical prowess.
Convinced, Khan Tömür granted permission and ordered Yi Moyan to accompany his new brother-in-law. Xiaofeng voiced her fears for Gu Xiaowu’s safety, but her grandfather calmly reassured her that Shuobo's forces were no match for Danchi's elite army and that reinforcements were nearby. Just before deploying, Gu Xiaowu secretly instructed a subordinate to poison Danchi's warhorses.
As Gu Xiaowu rode with Heshi and Yi Moyan towards the approaching armies, he suddenly spurred his horse, galloping directly towards Pei Zhao and the enemy lines. To Heshi and Yi Moyan's utter shock, Gu Xiaowu entered the enemy ranks without resistance. He accepted a helmet from Pei Zhao and donned the Li Empire’s battle armor. It was at this devastating moment that they realized the horrifying truth: Gu Xiaowu was a spy.
A scout reported that Danchi had fallen into a devastating ambush: a massive coalition of 300,000 Li Empire and Shuobo soldiers had been concealed behind the vanguard. Simultaneously, Danchi’s warhorses, having been poisoned, collapsed, rendering their cavalry defenseless against the overwhelming enemy charge and leading to immense casualties. Enraged and pale, Khan Tömür understood a spy had orchestrated this betrayal. He ordered all remaining Danchi warriors to don their armor and fight to the last.
With tears streaming down her face, Xiaofeng helped her grandfather arm himself, comprehending the doom that had befallen her people. On the battlefield, the devastation was complete; Heshi and Yi Moyan were killed, and the land of Danchi was ravaged, all a direct consequence of Li Chengyin’s calculated treachery.
