Practice Daughter Episode 21 Recap
> Practice Daughter Recap
Bai Ye visited Douzi, who was confined in the Eastern Palace. Douzi had been upset for two days and two nights. Bai Ye explained that the Crown Prince knew her true identity as the Shengdong Princess, which was why he had her confined.
Bai Ye urged her to leave the palace with him immediately, warning that her life was in danger if she remained and that her presence could endanger the Crown Prince and even lead to the destruction of Jixi, according to the prophecy. Douzi found the idea that she, a seemingly weak woman, could destroy a country ridiculous. She expressed unwavering trust in Nangong Yao, stating she would never harm him, even if it cost her own life.
Bai Ye, frustrated and hurt by her dismissal of his concern and feelings for her, reminded her that he had predicted this outcome when the Crown Prince was young, long before he even met her. He promised to protect her for the rest of his life if she would just leave with him. Douzi refused to leave, insisting that Bai Ye ask Nangong Yao to see her instead.
Seeing her resolve and feeling like an outsider in her relationship with Nangong Yao, Bai Ye became resentful, feeling justified in breaking them apart. Bai Ye dramatically interrupted the court session, announcing that he had found the Shengdong Princess from the prophecy and that the prophecy was about to be fulfilled. He revealed the princess was Mei Yushan, which caused an uproar, especially from Grand Chancellor Mei, Mei Yushan's father.
Bai Ye clarified that it was not the Grand Chancellor's daughter but the Shengdong Princess who had swapped bodies with Mei Yushan using the Moon Spirit Pearl, explaining that the person currently in Mei Yushan's body was the princess, while the Grand Chancellor's true daughter was now the maid. Nangong Yao, seeing Bai Ye's determination to prevent his marriage, publicly accused Bai Ye of being driven by jealousy.
Bai Ye retorted that his past predictions had always come true, and this one would be no exception, even claiming he had seen the Crown Prince die by the princess's hand. At Chongwen Academy, news of the body swap and the accusation against Mei Yushan (Douzi) spread rapidly. While some students, like Su Ruomei and Zhuang Yangyang, didn't always get along with Douzi, they found the idea of her trying to kill the Crown Prince unbelievable.
Huang Yuanyuan and even the Eighth Prince, Pin, agreed, pointing out Douzi's lack of martial skills and intelligence. They decided to put aside their usual bickering and work together to prove Douzi's innocence, visiting her in prison later. Meanwhile, Liu Jiao incited several officials to gather outside the Eastern Palace, shouting demands for the execution of the "evil girl."
Inside, Douzi heard the commotion and became increasingly angry, feeling the officials who had caused her parents' deaths were now unjustly blaming her. Overwhelmed by frustration, she began smashing objects in the room to vent her feelings. While destroying items, Douzi accidentally cut her arm, crying out in pain. Zuo, hearing the cry, rushed in and then reported the injury to Nangong Yao. Nangong Yao hurried to Douzi's room and personally tended to her wound.
Douzi, still upset by her confinement, urged him to just kill her rather than keep her locked up. Nangong Yao chided her for her outburst, trying to explain his actions were for her safety and that he was hurt by her words during the Mid-Autumn Festival when she also prioritized the "bigger picture."
He reflected on his deep feelings for her since they met at Chongwen Academy and explained that knowing she was the person from the prophecy left him with no other choice but to confine her for her own protection and the stability of Jixi. Douzi questioned if he truly believed she would harm him and the country. As the ministers continued their protest outside, Commander Pei arrived at the Eastern Palace gate with a warrant to arrest Douzi.
Nangong Yao and Dongxi blocked the entrance, declaring that anyone who attempted to force their way in would be opposing the Crown Prince himself. A tense standoff ensued until the Empress arrived with her own retinue. Nangong Yao, unable to defy his mother, reluctantly allowed Douzi to be taken. The Empress interrogated Douzi in Huacai Hall, demanding to know if she had approached the Crown Prince with evil intentions to fulfill the prophecy.
Douzi defiantly denied the accusations, mocking the Empress's inability to discern good from evil. Angered by her insolence, the Empress ordered her slapped, but Douzi still refused to confess. Nangong Yao arrived as an official publicly suggested dethroning the Crown Prince and installing the Eighth Prince to protect the country. Nangong Yao dismissed the official's words, arguing that the Eighth Prince, despite his virtue, was too kind to handle the widespread corruption.
He asserted his own capability to rule decisively and declared he would prioritize the country's interests. To everyone's astonishment, Nangong Yao then walked to a guard, took a sword, cut off a lock of Douzi's hair and then a lock of his own hair, intertwining them. Nanbei then loudly announced that the marriage ceremony between the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess was complete, leaving the assembly in shock. Following the chaotic events, Douzi was imprisoned.
Su Ruomei, Zhuang Yangyang, Huang Yuanyuan, and the Eighth Prince Pin visited her, offering her support and some much-needed comic relief. Douzi was touched by their visit. After they left, Nangong Yao appeared. He apologized for making her suffer and reaffirmed his feelings for her.
He confessed that he had Dongxi investigate her background and her three fathers, confirming that she was unaware of her true identity, which solidified his belief in her innocence, a belief he claimed he never truly doubted. He explained that the situation in the palace was chaotic, and he intended to secretly arrange for her to leave the palace temporarily to avoid the danger.
He promised to weaken the palace defenses to facilitate her escape the following night and bring her back once he had resolved the situation. He then left, telling her to look at the moon whenever she missed him, as they would be looking at the same moon no matter where they were.
