The Princess Wei Young Episode 12 Recap
> The Princess Wei Young Recap
After receiving the Emperor's generous rewards, Weiyoung entrusted them to her mother, Lady Zhou, for safekeeping. She then thoughtfully distributed parts of the bounty to her relatives, gifting a pair of pearl hairpins to share with Changru to symbolize their sisterly bond, an auspicious jade ruyi to the Old Madam, and calming spiritual incense to Lady Zhou. When they were alone, Lady Zhou discreetly informed Weiyoung that someone wished to see her and led her to a secluded inner room.
To Weiyoung's shock, she found Ziyan, covered in bruises and barely clinging to life. Lady Zhou explained that after hearing servants whisper that Li Minfeng had been frequently beating Ziyan, she discovered Ziyan discarded in a grave, still faintly breathing. As Ziyan was Weiyoung's maid, Lady Zhou secretly brought her back. Seeing Weiyoung, a tearful Ziyan begged for forgiveness.
She confessed her deep regret, realizing too late that First Madam Chiyun Rou would never tolerate the child in her womb and that Li Minfeng's affection had been a cruel deception. Ziyan understood then that only Weiyoung and Baizhi had genuinely cared for her. She expressed a desire to repay Weiyoung in her next life before passing away in Weiyoung's arms. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Li furiously confronted his son, Li Minfeng, for causing yet another death.
Li Minfeng remained arrogant, dismissing Ziyan as a "low-life servant" who "deserved it" for helping Weiyoung ruin his plans, and even callously questioned if the child was his. Enraged by his son's cruelty and the public scrutiny their family now faced, Prime Minister Li threatened to banish him from the manor if such an incident recurred. Chiyun Rou later advised Li Minfeng not to provoke his father further, assuring him she had already managed the repercussions of Ziyan's death.
Li Minfeng confidently stated that as his father's only son, he would surely regain his post and his status as the "glorious First Young Master of the Li family." Unbeknownst to them, Weiyoung and Li Minde overheard their entire conversation. While Minde worried about Minfeng's potential comeback, Weiyoung, seething with anger, vowed that she would ensure his "glorious days" would instead be a "glorious shame," determined to avenge Ziyan.
For the grand banquet celebrating Weiyoung's conferment as Princess of Anping, Li Changle hid in her room, too ashamed to face anyone. Chiyun Rou scolded her for her weakness, insisting that if Changle didn't attend, she would forever have to endure Weiyoung's triumph. She pulled Changle up, urging her to groom herself to appear more spectacular than ever, reminding her that a woman's greatest weapon is her beauty, and that Changle, her daughter, deserved only the best.
As they entered the banquet hall, Li Changle's stunning appearance captivated the guests, momentarily overshadowing the event's purpose. Later, as Weiyoung sat alone in a garden pavilion, Prince of Nan'an, Tuoba Yu, appeared behind her. His sudden call startled Weiyoung, causing her to nearly fall into the pond. Tuoba Yu reached out to steady her, almost tumbling into the water himself.
Witnessing this, Li Minde felt a twinge of discomfort and quickly approached, using the excuse that everyone was looking for Weiyoung to guide her away. Once they were alone, Li Minde admonished Weiyoung for conversing with Prince of Nan'an, warning her that princes are manipulative and indifferent to human lives. The conversation turned playful when Weiyoung questioned why Minde had never called her "Older Sister."
He retorted that he looked down on her because she constantly made him worry, and thus hadn't earned the title. Weiyoung presented her own idea for the evening's entertainment. She explained that given the large number of people still displaced by the recent disaster, she found it improper to arrange for songs and dances. Instead, she had arranged for the release of prayer lanterns after the banquet to pray for the flood victims.
Her innovative and compassionate suggestion was well-received by the guests. After the banquet, as the guests released their lotus lanterns into the pond, a bamboo raft suddenly drifted into view, bearing the lifeless body of Ziyan. Prime Minister Li immediately ordered the body brought ashore. Weiyoung publicly confronted Li Minfeng, questioning why Ziyan, his concubine, would have committed suicide.
She pressed him, asking if he dared to swear before the prayer lanterns that Ziyan's death had nothing to do with him. As Li Minfeng stammered, the lanterns surrounding Ziyan's body began to explode, terrifying those with guilty consciences. Weiyoung inwardly confirmed her plan's success; she had arranged for saltpeter to be placed in the candles to ensure a dramatic, public exposure of Li Minfeng's true nature and seek justice for Ziyan.
In the Crown Prince's Mansion, Prince of Gaoyang, Tuoba Jun, pondered his perplexing feelings for Weiyoung. He admitted to his guard, Chengde, that despite being angry with her, he felt an uncontrollable instinct to protect her when she was being bullied. He marveled at how a single glance from her could erase all his frustrations, then questioned Chengde about the nature of love, only to grow more exasperated by his guard's inexperience.
Under Weiyoung's deliberate propagation, the story of Li Minfeng's cruel abuse of his concubine spread throughout Ping City. The Emperor, outraged by Li Minfeng's official misconduct and private cruelty, ordered him exiled to the border army, never to return to Ping City without imperial consent. The Emperor also redirected his anger towards Prince of Nan'an, Tuoba Yu, for having recommended Li Minfeng.
Tuoba Yu later confided to his aide that he had only recommended Li Minfeng to curry favor with the Prime Minister. He suspected Li Minfeng had been "set up," falling victim to a woman's cunning plan. He mused that some women are like pearls covered in dust—unremarkable at first, but revealing their magnificence upon closer understanding. He noted Weiyoung's unique ability to devise clever solutions, gain the Emperor's admiration, and defeat her opponents, concluding she was a very interesting person.
As Li Minfeng was being escorted into exile, Chiyun Rou frantically blamed Weiyoung for ruining her son's name and future, lunging at her only to be stopped by Li Minde. On his journey, Li Minfeng was ambushed and assassinated by Jun Tao. In his dying breath, he revealed that Chiyun Rou was the one who had poisoned the Great Liang royal family and that the real Princess, whom Weiyoung impersonates, was supposed to be dead.
Enraged by his cowardice, Jun Tao killed him, declaring his blood would commemorate the souls lost in Great Liang. Upon hearing of Li Minfeng's death, Weiyoung felt a sense of closure, knowing Ziyan's killer had been punished. She then performed a Great Liang custom, lighting candles to honor the spirits of her Royal Father and Royal Grandmother. The Prime Minister's Manor was engulfed in a somber atmosphere, with Chiyun Rou weeping constantly.
Li Minde asked Weiyoung if she had orchestrated the events at the banquet. Weiyoung admitted she had ensured Li Minfeng's evil deeds were exposed to get justice for Ziyan. She acknowledged that Chiyun Rou would suspect her but remained unafraid, as Chiyun Rou had always sought to harm her. Li Minde reassured Weiyoung that he would protect her.
He then presented her with a small wooden carving of her likeness he had made himself as a congratulatory gift for her new title. Weiyoung was genuinely touched, thanking him for the most thoughtful gift she had received in a long time.
