The Princess Wei Young Episode 17 Recap
> The Princess Wei Young Recap
Seventh Concubine desperately pleaded with Chiyun Rou to see Weiyoung, but Chiyun Rou repeatedly insisted that Weiyoung was gravely ill. She claimed that the Old Master had ordered Weiyoung to be confined to Junlan Courtyard to prevent her from infecting others. Seventh Concubine, distressed, begged to be allowed even a single glance at Weiyoung, offering to be confined herself if necessary.
As Chiyun Rou dismissed her demands, a servant announced that Tuoba Jun, the Prince of Gaoyang, had arrived with an Imperial Physician to examine Chiyun Rou, a favor reportedly bestowed by the Crown Princess. Chiyun Rou was puzzled by Tuoba Jun's sudden appearance. Under her mother's persistent questioning, Changle reluctantly admitted that she had previously taken Weiyoung's treasured folding fan to Tuoba Jun.
Understanding the implications, Chiyun Rou immediately instructed Chunming to carry out a task while she grudgingly prepared to receive the physician. Chunming, holding a white silk sash, led several strong house guards towards Junlan Courtyard, intent on carrying out Chiyun Rou's order to hang Weiyoung. After the Imperial Physician confirmed Chiyun Rou's health was stable and only required rest, Tuoba Jun inquired about Weiyoung, having heard she was unwell.
Prime Minister Li and Chiyun Rou quickly intervened, claiming Weiyoung had already been seen by a doctor and was well enough not to trouble the Imperial Physician. However, Seventh Concubine burst forth, pleading with Tuoba Jun to save Weiyoung, insisting her circumstances were dire. Despite Chiyun Rou's attempts to silence her and brand her as irrational, Tuoba Jun rushed to Junlan Courtyard, where he found Weiyoung hanging from a beam. He quickly cut her down, saving her life.
A shaken Chiyun Rou explained that Weiyoung had been confined after they discovered a man's folding fan in her possession, and she refused to reveal its origin. Chiyun Rou claimed Weiyoung then tragically attempted suicide due to distress. Tuoba Jun asked Weiyoung if this was true. Knowing that revealing the truth about the witchcraft incident would implicate her Grandmother and Seventh Concubine, Weiyoung reluctantly confirmed Chiyun Rou's fabricated story, stating she had been too rash.
Tuoba Jun then stunned Chiyun Rou by revealing that the fan was his, explaining that Weiyoung had hidden it because of him. He ordered Jun Tao, Weiyoung's maid who had been captured, to be released. Shortly after, a servant identified Li Changru as the one who had secretly sent the letter seeking help for Weiyoung.
Li Changru, upon meeting Tuoba Jun, confirmed her involvement and asked him to conceal it, hinting that Chiyun Rou and Changle were indeed responsible for Weiyoung's plight. Tuoba Jun observed Li Changru, noting her quiet demeanor compared to the more prominent Changle. Meanwhile, Chiyun Rou scolded a distraught Changle, lamenting that Tuoba Jun's involvement had ruined their plans to eliminate Weiyoung.
Changle, in turn, realized that Li Weiyoung had likely manipulated her by making her believe the fan was from a lover, knowing Changle would seek out Tuoba Jun and inadvertently involve him. Despite their setback, Changle worried that Tuoba Jun's actions, including gifting Weiyoung his fan, indicated his feelings for her. Chiyun Rou, however, speculated that Tuoba Jun's affections might prove to be a curse rather than a blessing for Li Weiyoung.
Back in Junlan Courtyard, Weiyoung showed deep concern for her recovering maid Baizhi, whom she regarded as a sister. Reunited with Jun Tao and determined not to let those who cared for her be harmed again, Weiyoung resolved to fight back. Weiyoung later went to Tianyi Restaurant, a location Tuoba Jun had subtly indicated to her.
On her way, she wrestled with internal conflict, realizing she had inadvertently dragged Tuoba Jun into her troubles despite her reluctance to involve him further. Upon meeting Tuoba Jun, he pressed her for the truth about her injuries and the incident, convinced she was hiding something. Weiyoung, trying to push him away, claimed her family had punished her due to suspicions about her virtue and that she had merely used his influence to save herself.
Tuoba Jun, frustrated by her pretense, confessed his deep concern and affection for her, revealing how terrified he had been when he believed she was dead. Weiyoung coldly rejected his feelings, stating she didn't like him at all. To emphasize her rejection and make him give up, she claimed she had only kept his fan because it belonged to her "savior" and had intended to return it, then callously tossed it aside.
Tuoba Jun, heartbroken by her words, left in sorrow. Soon after, Li Minde returned from ancestral worship and learned from his mother, Lady Zhou, about the witchcraft accusations and Weiyoung's confinement and abuse. He angrily confronted Weiyoung, upset that she hadn't confided in him, asking if she wouldn't have told him if his mother hadn't informed him. He declared his resolve to protect her from Chiyun Rou, promising to return all the pain she had inflicted.
In the royal court, the Emperor praised Prince of Dongping, Tuoba Han, and Prince of Gaoyang, Tuoba Jun, for their efforts in disaster relief. Tuoba Han was lauded for personally visiting the affected areas, while Tuoba Jun was commended for his smooth and orderly management of relief efforts. Privately, Tuoba Han expressed his resentment to Prince of Nan'an, Tuoba Yu, complaining that he had to humble himself to win praise while Tuoba Jun effortlessly gained the Emperor's favor.
Tuoba Yu, subtly fueling the rivalry, agreed about the Emperor's perceived favoritism towards Tuoba Jun. Tuoba Yu's subordinate later voiced frustration that Tuoba Han received all the credit for the disaster relief work, much of which Tuoba Yu had managed. Tuoba Yu explained his strategy: as someone of lower status, his best approach was to work diligently without claiming credit, allowing the Emperor to see his true abilities over time.
He planned to subtly manipulate Tuoba Han, who he believed lacked a grand strategy and was easily swayed, to make mistakes that would lead him to lose the Emperor's trust. Once Tuoba Han and Tuoba Jun were weakened by their rivalry, Tuoba Yu intended to use his accumulated strengths to seize power, concluding that "the one who has the last laugh will have the best laugh."
Concerned about Tuoba Jun's future, Chiyun Rou visited the Crown Princess, subtly implying an improper relationship between Weiyoung and Tuoba Jun, claiming that Weiyoung had been found with Tuoba Jun's fan. The Crown Princess, who had high hopes for her son, was determined to prevent any entanglement between him and Li Weiyoung. When confronted by his mother, Tuoba Jun defended Weiyoung, explaining that the "love token exchange" was merely a misunderstanding due to his lost fan, which Weiyoung found.
He vehemently denied any impropriety, assuring his mother that Li Weiyoung held no feelings for him. Relieved, the Crown Princess emphasized her desire for Tuoba Jun to marry someone beautiful, intelligent, and of high status who could assist him in his ambitions, unlike the lower-status Weiyoung. She then tried to persuade Tuoba Jun to pursue the throne, reminding him that the position rightfully belonged to him as his father was the Crown Prince.
However, Tuoba Jun, wary of the dangers and unwilling to use political marriages for power, rejected his mother's ambitions, stating his mind was made up and he wished her not to bring it up again. The Crown Princess, however, persisted, believing that only by seizing the throne could they truly be safe from their enemies.
