The Princess Wei Young Episode 43 Recap
> The Princess Wei Young Recap
Tuoba Yu took Li Weiyang's hand, asserting that she could only be his woman in this life and any other ideas should be abandoned. From a distance, Tuoba Jun observed their intimate exchange, his heart heavy. He considered approaching Weiyang to reveal that Tuoba Yu had conspired to kill his royal mother, but his aide restrained him, urging patience to avoid showing weakness to the Prince of Nan'an.
The aide reminded Tuoba Jun of the deaths of the Crown Princess and Crown Prince Jingmu, emphasizing that he needed to gain more power before confronting Tuoba Yu. Despite his deep concern for Weiyang's safety, Tuoba Jun understood the need for strategic patience. He later confronted Tuoba Yu directly, expressing his disappointment and declaring that he would make Tuoba Yu pay for the harm he had caused Weiyang.
Meanwhile, Li Minde reprimanded Princess Anle for her disrespectful behavior towards the princesses of Great Wei at the banquet. Anle retorted that the Wei princesses had provoked her first by calling the Rouran people "ruru" behind their backs, and she insisted on stirring up trouble to assert herself. Minde cautioned her that such actions would not earn respect and that they needed to act cautiously.
Li Minde then heard that Princess Tuoba Di was refusing to eat, distraught over the impending marriage alliance with Rouran. Li Minde, also known as Prince Yuanlie, arrived to console Tuoba Di, assuring her that he had already spoken to officials to advise against the marriage. He even offered to take her away if the alliance could not be stopped. Tuoba Di, deeply in love, eagerly agreed to abandon everything to be with him.
After Li Minde left, his guard, who had been following him, warned him against becoming too close to Tuoba Di, suggesting she could be used, and reminded him of the crucial task entrusted by the Khan. Li Minde, however, warned his guard not to harm Tuoba Di, stating they were friends. He also questioned why his guard allowed Princess Anle to cause such a scene, fearing it could ruin the marriage alliance.
Princess Anle, incited by Li Changru, stormed into the Palace Laundry Service, accusing Li Weiyang of insulting Rouran by calling them "ruru." Anle ordered her attendants to smash everything, undeterred by Weiyang's protests that she had never said anything disrespectful. Weiyang, perplexed, wondered who was spreading such malicious rumors about her. Li Changru's maid later confirmed to Changru that Princess Anle's outburst had made Weiyang her enemy, ensuring that any future mishaps involving Anle would fall under Weiyang's suspicion.
Li Changru then feigned concern for Weiyang, visiting her at the Laundry Service. Weiyang confirmed she was unharmed and expressed her continued determination to perform well before the Emperor, hoping to gain an opportunity to request a re-investigation into Baizhi's death. She stated her unwavering resolve to find the murderer and make them pay.
Weiyang then subtly mentioned Li Changle's shamelessness, recounting how Changle had tried to shift blame by suggesting Changru was also present in the palace on the day Baizhi died and implying Weiyang should suspect her. Changru appeared flustered, but Weiyang quickly reassured her, claiming she would not fall for Changle's attempts to sow discord and trusting Changru implicitly. Unbeknownst to Weiyang, Changru inwardly gloated, anticipating the unfolding drama.
Upon learning of Anle's behavior at the Laundry Service, Tuoba Di decided to help Weiyang, challenging Anle to a competition. They agreed that if Tuoba Di lost, Weiyang would receive fifty cane lashes, but if Anle lost, she would no longer bother Weiyang. Despite Tuoba Di's best efforts, Anle, more skilled in combat, emerged victorious. Anle promptly ordered her men to carry out the punishment on Weiyang.
Tuoba Di watched in distress, unable to intervene due to their wager, until Li Minde arrived and stopped the beating. Li Minde chastised Tuoba Di for her reckless actions, causing the princess to flee in tears. Weiyang then explained to Li Minde that Tuoba Di's actions were driven by her deep affection for him and her desire to protect Weiyang, believing it would please him. Li Minde seemed to reflect on this, but did not explicitly reciprocate Tuoba Di's feelings.
He later confronted his sibling, Anle, warning her not to harm Weiyang again. Soon after, Princess Anle slipped away from her guards, which Li Changru, who had been secretly observing, immediately capitalized on. Changru signaled her maid, who used a kite to direct hired individuals to lure Li Weiyang away. Weiyang was approached by a maid named Qiuye, who claimed to be from Consort Liu's palace and tried to lead her to a remote area.
Sensing something was amiss, Weiyang quickly left, only to coincidentally encounter Li Changru. Weiyang described the strange encounter to Changru, unaware that it was part of Changru's elaborate scheme. Changru feigned concern and suggested they take a walk together, ensuring Weiyang would be her unwitting alibi. The Wei Emperor, informed of Princess Anle's disappearance, ordered a full palace search.
Meanwhile, Changru confidently told her maid that Anle's body would soon be discovered, reiterating her mother's belief that she must not become a concubine. She then sought out Li Changle, who initially resisted involvement but was quickly reminded by Changru that the matter concerned both of them if it involved Li Weiyang. Shortly after, the lifeless body of Princess Anle was found in a well, clutching a waist badge from the Palace Laundry Service.
The Rouran envoy immediately pointed to Weiyang, who had a missing waist badge and a prior dispute with Anle, as the prime suspect. Weiyang vehemently denied the accusation, suggesting her waist badge had been stolen to frame her. She claimed to have been with Li Changru in the eastern passageway and a maid named Qiuye at the time of Anle's disappearance. However, investigations revealed no maid named Qiuye in Consort Liu's palace.
When Li Changru was summoned, she initially faltered and gave conflicting accounts of her whereabouts, claiming she was in the Imperial Garden, then the Palace Laundry Service, despite Weiyang's attempts to prompt her with the correct location. Under pressure, Changru eventually betrayed Weiyang, stating she had not seen her and was instead with Li Changle, the Princess Consort of Gaoyang, in the Imperial Garden. Li Changle corroborated Changru's story, sealing Weiyang's fate.
Weiyang was once again imprisoned, finally realizing that Li Changru was the true culprit behind Baizhi's murder. In a fit of rage, Tuoba Yu confronted Li Changru, accusing her of defying his earlier warning not to harm Li Weiyang. Changru denied involvement, but Tuoba Yu saw through her lies, recognizing her ruthless ambition and her collusion with Li Changle. Changru, however, brazenly threatened Tuoba Yu, implying she possessed damaging information that the Emperor would find "very interested in."
Tuoba Yu dismissed her, declaring her nothing more than a slave, and warned her that if anything happened to Weiyang, she would pay with her life. He revealed that Weiyang was the only woman he trusted and could truly entrust his life to. Changru, in a desperate attempt to gain his affection, reminded him that her schemes and hardships were solely to help him achieve his dreams and that she, not Weiyang, should be the one he cared for most. Tuoba Yu, however, remained unmoved by her pleas.
