The Princess Wei Young Episode 21 Recap
> The Princess Wei Young Recap
Upon hearing the news that Imperial Guard Li, Li Minde, was assassinated while handling family matters, the Ninth Princess was distraught and refused to believe it, questioning how someone with his formidable martial arts skills could be killed. Tuoba Jun assured her he had already sent people to search for Li Minde and offered to go to the Prime Minister's residence himself. The Ninth Princess insisted on accompanying him.
At the Prime Minister Manor, they learned that Li Minde’s mother, Lady Zhou, was critically ill and had been constantly asking for her son. Tuoba Jun expressed his guilt, having promised Li Minde he would look after his family, a promise he felt he had failed. Tuoba Jun could not leave the Prime Minister Manor without seeing Li Weiyang. He found her looking thin and exhausted from constantly caring for Lady Zhou and worrying about Li Minde.
Concerned, Tuoba Jun instructed Baizhi to ensure Li Weiyang ate and rested properly, even if it meant being persistent and enduring Li Weiyang's frustration, as he understood that she could only truly express her emotions in front of those she trusted. Li Weiyang, though outwardly composed, was deeply moved by his words, yet internally conflicted, wondering why he was so kind to her and feeling sadness, knowing he might never understand her heart.
Meanwhile, the presumed deceased Li Minde, having fallen into the water, was rescued by Commander Jiao, who had been following him. Under the care of his attendant, Ping'an, Li Minde slowly recovered. He felt suspicious about the assassination attempt and worried about his family. Despite his wounds, he insisted on returning home immediately. Upon arriving at the Prime Minister Manor, he was devastated to learn that his mother had passed away. Overwhelmed with grief, he fainted in the memorial hall.
Witnessing Li Minde's return, Chiyun Rou cursed her incompetent subordinates for failing to eliminate him, fearing that Minde would become another ally for Li Weiyang against her. Li Minde, overcome with guilt, believed his mother's condition worsened and ultimately led to her death because she worried about him. He drowned his sorrows in alcohol, neglecting himself. Unable to bear witnessing his self-destruction, Li Weiyang confronted him.
After a heated exchange, Li Weiyang dramatically grabbed a sword and threatened to take her own life if he continued his self-pity, which finally made him sober up. She implored him to honor his mother's wish for him to be an outstanding, righteous, and dauntless man. Li Minde confessed that he felt useless for failing to protect his family. Elsewhere, the Prince of Nan'an, Tuoba Yu, again approached Li Weiyang, asserting himself as a powerful figure she could rely on.
He stated that while he could directly ask the Prime Minister for her hand, he admired her and wished for her to willingly join him. Li Changru, overhearing their conversation in the garden, was deeply disturbed. She resolved to prove her worth to the Prince of Nan'an, convinced she was more valuable than Li Weiyang and determined to become his woman.
In the Prince of Dongping Manor, Tuoba Han, with the guidance of his tactician, Jiang Zuo, learned that a previously surveyed stone mine was, in fact, a valuable silver mine. Jiang Zuo advised him to secretly appropriate it to secure financial power, which Tuoba Han believed would enable him to control the imperial court's finances and challenge Tuoba Jun. Tuoba Han was concerned about the hundreds of Liang slaves working there, as their deaths would raise suspicion.
Jiang Zuo then formulated a plan. Tuoba Han deliberately spread rumors among the Liang slaves that they would soon be exterminated. Fearing for their lives, the slaves, led by an older brother among them, killed the guards and fled overnight, unwittingly playing right into Tuoba Han's hands. He then ordered his men to capture and kill the escaped slaves, justifying it as retribution for their rebellion.
Back at the Prime Minister Manor, Chiyun Rou was agitated upon learning from Chunming that Li Xiaoran had ordered her confinement, preventing her from leaving. Despite her current predicament, she remained determined to eliminate Li Weiyang. Chunming then informed Chiyun Rou that Imperial Physician Shen had retired and returned to his hometown, but not before chopping off two of his fingers. Chiyun Rou coldly remarked that he was lucky to have kept his life, implying her husband's leniency.
Chunming then voiced her concern for Li Changle, who was at the farm with no attendants or money, fearing she would be bullied. Chiyun Rou, however, dismissed the idea of sending help, stating that Li Changle had lost to Li Weiyang repeatedly because she had lived too comfortably.
Chiyun Rou asserted that she wanted Li Changle to suffer immense hardship and torture to break her temperament and arrogance, preparing her for the challenges she would face independently, especially given that Chiyun Rou felt she herself did not have long to live. Meanwhile, Li Changle, now a mere exile, was struggling with the harsh realities of farm life, being rebuked and told to draw her own bath by the other slaves.
Li Minde confronted Li Weiyang, having deduced that his mother's death and even his own assassination attempt were connected to Chiyun Rou. Li Weiyang confirmed his suspicions and advised him to request a separation from the main family after the mourning period, emphasizing it was his mother's last wish to see him live away from the family's entangled affairs. Li Minde challenged her, asking if she would escape her enemies if her own family were harmed.
Li Weiyang admitted she would not. Li Minde then declared that Li Weiyang was the only person he could truly trust in the world. Later, Li Minde went to a forest and played his flute to summon Commander Jiao, instructing him to help him assassinate Chiyun Rou. He devised a plan for Commander Jiao to stage an attack on the Prime Minister Manor, drawing away the household guards, while Li Minde himself would exact revenge for his mother. Shortly after, commotion broke out in the manor as assassins were spotted, leading to a pursuit.
