The Princess Wei Young Episode 51 Recap
> The Princess Wei Young Recap
Prince of Nan'an successfully persuaded the Emperor to confine Prince Yuanlie to the inn, ostensibly for his safety amidst city unrest and to discuss a trade treaty. A Central Attendant delivered the news to Prince Yuanlie, who realized he was effectively under house arrest. Prince of Nan'an later told his subordinate, Cheng'an, that this confinement would hinder Tuoba Jun, making it difficult for him to find evidence within three days, effectively crippling him.
Li Minde presented the Princess with a thoughtful gift, but she sensed that he and others were concealing something significant from her, particularly concerning Li Weiyoung and the Emperor. Pressing him for answers, the Princess learned the shocking truth: Prince of Nan'an was responsible for the death of the Crown Prince. Li Minde admitted they had kept this secret from her, fearing she couldn't handle such a devastating revelation, given the Crown Prince's kindness towards his siblings.
The Princess expressed concern for Tuoba Jun, acknowledging the gravity of a "grudge for killing one's parents." Li Minde warned her that Tuoba Jun would not easily drop the matter, and even if they wished to, Prince of Nan'an would not allow them peace. He strongly advised the Princess to stay out of the conflict and feign ignorance.
The Princess then revealed that she had also received an imperial decree confining her to the inn, expressing suspicion about the true motives behind it and wishing to confront the Emperor. Li Minde reassured her, suggesting that Prince of Nan'an was behind the decree, which he believed could not be easily reversed. He also pointed out that the confinement might actually be safer for her, though it meant she could no longer assist Li Weiyoung and Tuoba Jun.
The Princess observed his concern for Li Weiyoung, to which Li Minde stated that Li Weiyoung was his older sister and always would be. The Princess then lovingly teased him, suggesting that if Li Weiyoung was Li Minde's sister, she was also hers, and she would take good care of Li Weiyoung. Li Minde then playfully reminded her of his past promise for them to be together forever.
Meanwhile, Tuoba Jun had confined Li Changle to the Crown Prince Manor, prompting her to lament his perceived cruelty. Her attendant suggested they seek revenge for their General, to which Li Changle, feeling isolated, wondered how she could align with Prince of Nan'an while imprisoned. Separately, Li Minde expressed worry over Li Weiyoung's fate if evidence wasn't found, fearing the Emperor might condemn her to death.
Simultaneously, Prince of Nan'an vowed to destroy Tuoba Jun, instructing Cheng'an to closely monitor the situation and secure control. He also noted that while Li Changle was confined, a woman driven by hatred was capable of anything, implying she could still be useful. Shortly after, Hongluo, formerly serving Chiyun Nan, pledged allegiance to Prince of Nan'an, offering her services to avenge her deceased master.
Tuoba Jun and Li Weiyoung arrived at the Minister of Imperial Clan Affairs' Manor to search for evidence. Tuoba Jun admitted he initially didn't expect to find anything and only reopened the case to distract Prince of Nan'an, but he stressed the importance of a thorough search, insisting they couldn't let go of any clues. Li Weiyoung, refusing to leave his side even if they failed, discovered a missing jade stone in a hidden compartment.
This led them to a secret chamber containing an account book and a letter from Zhou Ming. The letter revealed that the ledger implicating Crown Prince Jingmu in corruption had been falsified by Yuan Yi, a trusted aide of Prince of Nan'an. Yuan Yi, before being silenced by Prince of Nan'an, confessed that the Crown Prince had been framed. Armed with this crucial evidence, Tuoba Jun realized his father's innocence, and Li Weiyoung insisted they immediately inform the Emperor.
Tuoba Jun and Li Weiyoung gained an audience with the Emperor, where Tuoba Jun presented the evidence proving his father, the Crown Prince, had been framed by Prince of Nan'an. He explained that the Minister of Imperial Clan Affairs had secretly preserved the ledgers, which ultimately led to his family's massacre by Chiyun Nan on Prince of Nan'an's orders.
Enraged, the Emperor condemned Prince of Nan'an's heartlessness and expressed deep regret for misjudging his son, admitting he had wronged the Crown Prince. He immediately ordered Prince of Nan'an's arrest and declared he would kill him. However, Li Weiyoung quickly intervened, warning the Emperor that Prince of Nan'an's power was too vast, and a hasty arrest would only incite a rebellion.
The Emperor, startled, acknowledged his own oversight in granting Prince of Nan'an such extensive influence, regretting that he had been deceived by Tuoba Yu's feigned humility and loyalty. Tuoba Jun then proposed a strategy: lure Prince of Nan'an to the palace under false pretenses and apprehend him before he realized their plan, asserting that seizing Tuoba Yu would prevent anyone else from acting rashly.
The Emperor entrusted Tuoba Jun with this critical task, eager to confront Prince of Nan'an himself to understand his betrayal. Tuoba Jun immediately began preparing to lure Prince of Nan'an into the palace for capture at midnight, aiming to prevent any complications. He told Li Weiyoung to remain in the palace, promising her that once the chaos subsided, he would ask the Emperor for their marriage, vowing they would be together forever.
Later, while in the palace, Tuoba Jun and Li Weiyoung encountered the Chief Eunuch, Zong Ai, late at night. Zong Ai explained he was going to the Royal Kitchen to prepare a nerve-calming soup for the unwell Emperor. Tuoba Jun, after commending Zong Ai's apparent loyalty, told him to return to the Emperor's side while he handled the Royal Kitchen.
However, immediately after Zong Ai departed, Tuoba Jun instructed his guards to closely monitor the Chief Eunuch and prevent him from communicating with anyone, stating it was a necessary precaution during this critical time. Unbeknownst to anyone, Zong Ai, the Chief Eunuch, later entered the Emperor's sleeping chambers. He stealthily reached under the Emperor's pillow, attempting to retrieve the account book hidden there.
However, the Emperor, feigning sleep, instantly grasped Zong Ai's hand, exclaiming his shock and dismay at the betrayal of someone so close to him. Zong Ai was left speechless. Preparing for the midnight capture, Tuoba Jun organized his forces and coordinated with the Imperial Guards, emphasizing the need for vigilance against Prince of Nan'an's potential uprising. He also ordered surveillance on Prince of Nan'an's manor, receiving reports that all was quiet.
Confident, Tuoba Jun declared the following morning would be Prince of Nan'an's day of reckoning. As planned, Tuoba Jun received a summons to the Emperor's library, only to walk into a trap. An imposter, disguised by Hongluo to resemble Prince of Nan'an, confronted him, mocking Tuoba Jun's naivety after Tuoba Jun's forces attempted to arrest the supposed Prince of Nan'an based on evidence of his crimes.
The imposter then ordered Tuoba Jun's capture, revealing that Tuoba Jun had been betrayed by his own wife, Li Changle, who leaked his plans. Tuoba Jun, realizing his defeat, defiantly stated the Emperor would not let the imposter get away. The imposter declared his intent to force the Emperor's abdication.
Tuoba Jun vowed to protect his Imperial Grandfather, but was taken away as the real Prince of Nan'an finally revealed himself, gloating over his victory and claiming the nation for himself. When the Emperor failed to appear for Morning Court, Li Weiyoung entered his chambers and discovered him fatally stabbed on his bed. She immediately called for help, and the dying Emperor, with his last breaths, revealed that Zong Ai, who worked for Prince of Nan'an, was his assassin.
He then declared Tuoba Jun, the Prince of Gaoyang, as his successor, expressing regret for not having believed Tuoba Jun and Li Weiyoung earlier, and entrusted the royal thumb ring to her. As the Emperor passed away, Prince of Nan'an and his forces breached the palace. Li Weiyoung confronted Prince of Nan'an, fiercely accusing him of patricide and ordering the Emperor's assassination through Zong Ai.
Prince of Nan'an coldly warned her to be careful, then ordered her capture and gentle handling. He then knelt by his deceased father's side, declaring his ambition to unify the north and south and build the greatest empire of the Tuoba clan, promising to prove himself the most outstanding son. At the inn, the Princess experienced a disturbing nightmare, foreshadowing ill events.
She discussed her fears with an attendant, questioning whether Li Weiyoung's safety might come at the cost of Tuoba Jun's. The attendant reminded her of Prince of Nan'an's numerous misdeeds, stating that family ties shouldn't excuse his deserved punishment. Shortly thereafter, Cheng'an arrived with soldiers, accusing Prince Yuanlie of conspiring with Tuoba Jun in rebellion and ordering his immediate capture, regardless of whether he lived or died.
The Princess bravely intervened to protect Prince Yuanlie, sustaining severe injuries in the process. She then urged Prince Yuanlie to escape with her. Li Weiyoung awakened to find Li Changle present in what Li Changle now referred to as "your palace," boasting that she would soon be named a State Defending Princess once Prince of Nan'an ascended the throne.
Li Weiyoung confronted her, realizing Li Changle was the traitor who had leaked Tuoba Jun's plans, leading to Prince of Nan'an's sudden attack. Li Changle readily admitted her betrayal, callously stating that others' deaths were preferable to her own and questioning if Tuoba Jun or Li Weiyoung would have shown her mercy.
When Li Weiyoung warned of karma for their regicide and rebellion, Li Changle scoffed, asserting that karma was for losers and gloating that Prince of Nan'an now controlled the entire palace and Tuoba Jun. She defiantly declared that she had abandoned love and would now only live for herself. Li Weiyoung condemned Li Changle's heartlessness, reminding her of her past cruelties. As the confrontation intensified, Prince of Nan'an or his attendant suggested killing all of them to eliminate future threats.
