The Princess Wei Young Episode 52 Recap
> The Princess Wei Young Recap
Tuoba Yu sought out Li Weiyang, demanding to know the late Emperor's final words. Weiyang defiantly informed him that the throne was passed to Tuoba Jun, and defying him, called Tuoba Yu a traitor and rebel who had committed regicide to usurp the throne, stating he was illegitimate and would be condemned by all. Tuoba Yu, asserting his claim to the throne, questioned her defiance.
When Weiyang refused to lie for him, Tuoba Yu ordered guards to seize members of the Prime Minister Manor, including Weiyang’s Grandmother, Mother, and a girl named Changxi. He threatened to kill them one by one if Weiyang did not comply. Despite her family's pleas for her not to yield, Weiyang, unable to bear the thought of them dying, ultimately agreed to announce whatever Tuoba Yu desired, on the condition that he never harm her family again.
Meanwhile, Li Minde arrived at Jun Tao's hiding place, carrying an injured Princess. He revealed that the palace was in chaos, and both Li Weiyang and Tuoba Jun were likely under Tuoba Yu’s control. The Princess, severely wounded from helping Minde escape, feared she was dying and urged him to find another woman to marry if she passed. Minde vehemently refused, promising that she was and would always be his only wife.
He gave her a bracelet he had acquired, expressing his unwavering devotion and kissing her repeatedly. Despite their hopes, the doctor later reported that the Princess's recovery was uncertain, left to the will of Heaven. At the Celestial Prison, Tuoba Yu visited Tuoba Jun. Tuoba Jun accused Tuoba Yu of being inhumane and murdering their Imperial Grandfather, vowing he would never get away with it.
Tuoba Yu chillingly countered that as Tuoba Jun was his prisoner, he had no power to stop him. Tuoba Yu admitted that Zong Ai, his long-time confidant, was responsible for the late Emperor's death, though he denied directly committing the act himself. He then declared that history is written by the victors, stating the Crown Prince died from anxieties and indignation, and the Emperor from illness.
He also taunted Tuoba Jun by claiming Li Weiyang had willingly helped him alter the late Emperor's will, even hinting at a fabricated intimacy between himself and Weiyang. Tuoba Jun dismissed these claims as despicable lies, reminding Tuoba Yu of his earlier crime of killing his own mother.
Unfazed, Tuoba Yu announced his impending ascension to the throne and his plan to make Weiyang his empress, inviting Tuoba Jun to their wedding feast, which Tuoba Jun vehemently stated would never happen. Later, before the gathered officials, Tuoba Yu addressed the imprisonment of Prince of Gaoyang, announcing that Tuoba Jun had colluded with Rouran to plot a rebellion.
To support his claim, Princess Consort of Gaoyang (Li Changle) was brought forth, presenting a secret letter to prove Tuoba Jun's treason. Despite some officials' skepticism, the evidence was deemed conclusive. Tuoba Yu then declared that the late Emperor had left a verbal decree regarding his successor, and called for Imperial Attendant Li (Li Weiyang).
Weiyang, under duress, stated that the late Emperor had passed away from a sudden illness and, as instructed, testified that the throne was bequeathed to Prince of Nan'an (Tuoba Yu). When questioned further by Lord Gao about proof, Weiyang presented the late Emperor’s jade stamp as a token of verification. Convinced by the evidence, the officials accepted Tuoba Yu as the new Emperor.
Although Tuoba Yu released Li Weiyang's Grandmother and Mother, Weiyang was alarmed to learn that Tuoba Jun had been framed for rebellion and imprisoned. She confronted Tuoba Yu, accusing him and Li Changle of villainy and threatening to expose the truth to the public.
Tuoba Yu scornfully dismissed her threat, reminding her that after her public announcement about the imperial decree, no one would believe her if she suddenly claimed to have lied, and he could simply kill anyone who did believe her. Tuoba Yu then took Weiyang to the Celestial Prison to witness Tuoba Jun undergoing torture. Weiyang pleaded with him to stop, arguing that he had already obtained the throne. Tuoba Yu shamelessly retorted that he had not yet obtained her.
Seeing no other way to save Tuoba Jun, Weiyang agreed to marry Tuoba Yu, but only if he met three conditions: first, to clear her royal father's name, proving he was not a traitor; second, to never again trouble the people of the Prime Minister Manor; and third, to release Tuoba Jun. Tuoba Yu readily agreed to all her demands, but added his own condition: Weiyang must marry him willingly.
In a heartbreaking final visit, Weiyang brought water to Tuoba Jun and removed his blindfold. Tuoba Jun, disoriented, asked if Tuoba Yu had forced or harmed her. Weiyang avoided answering directly, instead stating that this was her last visit and she would soon become Tuoba Yu's empress, forever severing their connection.
Despite Tuoba Jun’s desperate pleas for her to persevere and not give up, Weiyang insisted she was tired and could no longer continue, explaining that their love had brought too much pain to others and that she was forced to act to save her family and Tuoba Jun himself. She cruelly told him that their fight against Tuoba Yu was over and that he had lost completely.
She claimed that Tuoba Yu, as the new emperor, could give her everything she desired, while Tuoba Jun, now a mere prisoner, could offer her nothing but a "rotten stone." She asserted that history would record Tuoba Yu as the rightful emperor, while Tuoba Jun would be remembered as a traitor who colluded with Rouran. To completely crush his spirit, she even claimed that for an instant, she had truly fallen in love with Tuoba Yu.
Overwhelmed by her words, Tuoba Jun descended into a state of mental instability. Shortly after, Li Changle visited the deranged Tuoba Jun in prison, relishing in his downfall. She gloated about his pathetic state, reminding him of how he had abandoned her, and declaring that his current suffering was divine retribution. She delighted in the fact that he was finally experiencing the pain of being discarded, just as she had. Ignoring his distraught cries, Li Changle ordered the guards to brutally beat him, forcing him to drink wine, while she mocked his incoherence.
