The Princess Wei Young Episode 28 Recap
> The Princess Wei Young Recap
Li Changru pays a visit to the Prince of Nan'an, Tuoba Yu, bringing him personally made snacks. She subtly attempts to gauge his true feelings for Li Weiyang, mentioning that the Lady of Bright Deportment has invited several young ladies to the palace for a birthday celebration, which her mother jokingly suggested might be a way to choose a consort for him. Tuoba Yu admits his royal mother might indeed have this intention.
Li Changru confesses her long-standing devotion to him, but Tuoba Yu asserts that love is not important to him; what he values most is loyalty. Li Changru then questions why he previously expressed interest in marrying Li Weiyang, suggesting that with Li Weiyang's personality, she could never truly be loyal to him. When asked how she knew of this, Li Changru claims she accidentally overheard their conversation at the prime minister's manor.
Tuoba Yu then clarifies that while Li Weiyang certainly has her own value, she cannot compare to Li Changru in terms of loyalty, emphasizing that in his heart, Li Changru is truly different. Back at Ruyi House, Li Changru examines a portrait that she previously retrieved from Li Minfeng. Although the face on the portrait of the Northern Liang Princess was destroyed by Weiyang, Li Changru notices a birthmark on the left arm identical to Li Weiyang's.
Realizing Li Weiyang is indeed Xin'er, the Princess of Northern Liang, Li Changru concludes that if this identity were ever exposed, Li Weiyang would surely face death. Li Changle visits the Crown Princess at the Crown Prince's manor, feigning deep concern for Tuoba Jun's safety. She offers to help grind ink for the sutras the Crown Princess is copying to pray for Tuoba Jun's safe return.
While there, Li Changle's maid, Tanxiang, subtly asks her mistress in front of Qiuyi, the Crown Princess's personal maid, why Li Changle had not informed the Crown Princess that she risked her life to save Tuoba Jun at the hunting grounds. Li Changle, pretending to be humble, replies that she had promised Tuoba Jun not to mention it, not wanting to force him into a marriage against his will since he seemed to favor Li Weiyang.
After Qiuyi reports this conversation to her, the Crown Princess becomes even more convinced of Li Changle's profound devotion, concluding that Li Changle's love for Tuoba Jun far surpasses Li Weiyang's. She resolves to ensure Tuoba Jun does not disappoint Li Changle and decides to ask His Imperial Majesty to grant their marriage as soon as Tuoba Jun returns.
Meanwhile, Li Minde and Jun Tao tirelessly search for Li Weiyang, with Li Minde vowing not to rest until she is found safe. Commander Jiao eventually informs Li Minde of Li Weiyang's whereabouts. Rushing to the location, Li Minde witnesses a tender moment between Li Weiyang and Tuoba Jun. He sees them playfully chasing each other, holding hands, and exchanging matching stones as tokens of affection, promising to look at them whenever they miss each other.
Overwhelmed with heartache, Li Minde runs off into the forest. Princess Tuoba Di, who was also searching, finds a distraught Li Minde and tries to comfort him, noticing his injured hand. However, Li Minde, consumed by his emotions, pushes her away and tells her to leave him alone. Despite his harsh words and refusal of her help, Tuoba Di remains concerned, even as he tells her she can do whatever she wants with the information.
Tuoba Jun safely returns to Ping City and immediately greets his Imperial Grandfather and Royal Mother, expressing regret for causing them worry. His Royal Mother, the Crown Princess, promptly urges the Emperor to grant a marriage between Tuoba Jun and Li Changle, extolling Li Changle's beauty, intelligence, gentleness, and virtue, emphasizing her deep devotion to Tuoba Jun. Tuoba Jun, however, firmly refuses, stating he already loves someone else and will never marry Li Changle.
This sparks a heated argument in front of the Emperor. The Crown Princess disparages Li Weiyang, asserting that she is inferior to Li Changle in every aspect and does not truly care for Tuoba Jun. Tuoba Jun defends Li Weiyang, assuring his Imperial Grandfather that Li Weiyang does indeed have him in her heart.
The Emperor, surprised by the Crown Princess's description of Li Changle, as it differs from his own perception, asks Tuoba Jun if Li Weiyang is the woman he has been trying to woo. Ignoring the Crown Princess's further attempts to belittle Li Weiyang’s background, the Emperor decides to summon both Chiyun Nan and Li Changle to the palace to observe Li Changle himself before making a final decision regarding the marriage.
Upon Li Weiyang's return to the manor, her grandmother, the Old Madam, and her biological mother, the Seventh Concubine, are immensely relieved, expressing their deep concern for her well-being. Other relatives, like Li Changxi and her sister, express astonishment that Li Weiyang survived such a high fall. Li Changru approaches Li Weiyang, feigning deep concern and highlighting her own "motherly" care. While speaking, she discreetly examines Li Weiyang's unique birthmark.
Li Changru then subtly probes Li Weiyang about her interactions with Tuoba Jun and, more specifically, her feelings toward the Prince of Nan'an. Li Weiyang frankly states she has no romantic interest in the Prince of Nan'an, nor does she understand or wish to understand his intentions. Hearing this, Li Changru shows a clear sign of relief. The Crown Princess remains unyielding in her determination for Tuoba Jun to marry Li Changle, disregarding all his pleas.
Tuoba Jun directly confronts her, questioning why she insists on forcing him to marry someone he does not love. The Crown Princess asserts that marriages are traditionally decided by parents and matchmakers, not personal preference. She continues to laud Li Changle’s compassionate character while criticizing Li Weiyang as cold and unfeeling. She even reveals that she knows Li Changle secretly saved Tuoba Jun's life, implying Tuoba Jun should be obligated to her.
While Tuoba Jun acknowledges Li Changle's life-saving act and expresses gratitude, he firmly states that he will repay her in a different way, not by marrying her. Shortly after, Li Changle arrives at the palace to visit Tuoba Jun. The Crown Princess encourages her son to spend time with Li Changle.
Li Changle then presents Tuoba Jun with a safety charm, explaining she obtained it from a temple after kneeling and praying for three days and three nights, hoping to protect him after his recent accidents. Tuoba Jun, however, gently but firmly refuses the charm, stating he fears he will only disappoint her and cannot accept her offering. Li Minde, preparing to fulfill his promise to return to Rouran with Commander Jiao, approaches Li Weiyang.
He asks for the jade hairpin from her hair as a keepsake, claiming he has a special use for it. Li Weiyang, unaware of his true intentions, teases him about having a new love interest and offers him a different, finer hairpin, but Li Minde insists on hers. He then asks if she would miss him if he were to suddenly disappear, causing Li Weiyang to become anxious and scold him for making such a joke.
Meanwhile, Commander Jiao arrives to remind Li Minde of his commitment to return to Rouran, mentioning that the Khan is awaiting him. Princess Tuoba Di, who was secretly watching them, overhears this revelation. Realizing Tuoba Di knows Li Minde's true identity, Commander Jiao attempts to kill her to ensure secrecy. Li Minde, however, intervenes and protects Tuoba Di, refusing to allow innocent lives to be taken to hide his identity.
Grateful for being saved, Tuoba Di solemnly vows that she will never reveal his secret as the Rouran Khan's son, promising to keep it between them. She asks if he will ever return to Wei after going back to Rouran, to which he replies that he does not know. Li Changle presents herself before the Emperor, meticulously portraying a gentle, virtuous, and filial daughter.
She claims to have spent three months at a Taoist temple, praying daily and fasting for her ailing mother's recovery. Chiyun Nan and the Crown Princess actively support her narrative, with the Crown Princess elaborating on Li Changle's profound worry for Tuoba Jun's safety, stating she had even spent three days and nights without sleep praying for a protective amulet for him and that Tuoba Jun had accepted it.
Touched by Li Changle's apparent devotion and selflessness, the Emperor observes her weight loss and is visibly impressed, praising her kindness and suggesting she deserves a reward. Li Changle humbly replies she only did what was her duty. Later, she visits her mother, who is ill in bed.
Li Changle confidently reassures her mother, declaring that she has successfully secured the support of both the Crown Princess and the Emperor, making her ascent to the position of imperial grandson's consort imminent. She urges her mother to recover quickly so she can personally witness her marriage to Tuoba Jun, recalling her mother's past advice to utilize any available person and seize every opportunity.
Tuoba Jun leads Li Weiyang to a special, secluded spot from his childhood, revealing that she is the only person other than his late royal father who knows of its existence. He describes his father as a stern figure who often disciplined him harshly.
As a child, whenever he felt sad or had no one to talk to, he would sneak to an old tree there and make wishes, which he claims miraculously came true, recalling a specific wish for a special sword. Later, he discovered a bell in his father's study, realizing that his stern father had secretly placed it and had been silently looking out for him.
Tuoba Jun laments that he only fully understood his father's profound, benevolent love when his father was already gravely ill and passed away, causing him deep grief that he tried to escape through travel. He tells Li Weiyang that it was only after meeting her that he truly understood what he wanted in life: to be with her and his Royal Mother forever.
Addressing his Royal Father in Heaven, Tuoba Jun declares that he has brought his beloved Li Weiyang to this meaningful place, vowing that they will face all future dangers together and remain united until they grow old, never parting.
