The Princess's Gambit Episode 1 Recap
> The Princess's Gambit Recap
Beiyuan and Qi are neighboring nations, with ceaseless border wars plunging the people into misery. Now, the king of Beiyuan is gravely ill, the crown prince is still a child, and the empress has taken over as regent. She orders Princess Jiang Taohua to enter into a political marriage with Qi to promote peace between the two nations. Should she defy this order, it will be deemed treason.
Jiang Taohua had been confined to the Cold Palace for eighteen years and never imagined she would one day walk out alive. Though this marriage alliance may not be ideal, it means survival. All the torment she endured—she swore to repay every bit of it. A fire breaks out in the Cold Palace, and both the crown prince and Jiang Taohua vanish. Under orders from Empress Lv, the guards search for them.
The two hide in a broken bamboo basket, using ashes sacks they had prepared to block the blades, allowing them to escape unharmed. The crown prince doesn't understand why his father would agree to a political marriage, but to Jiang Taohua, none of it matters anymore. Ever since her father handed power to Empress Lv, everything ceased to matter to her.
Just as they’re about to escape, the prince, Jiang Changjue, accidentally knocks over a stick, causing a wooden rack to collapse and make a noise. Jiang Taohua urges him to flee, but his leg is injured and he can't move. Left with no choice, she allows herself to be captured by Empress Lv, claiming responsibility and volunteering to go through with the marriage alliance in hope of securing peace.
The empress dowager does not reprimand her but warns her to send timely updates, maneuver among the noblewomen without revealing anything, and understand that if anything happens, no one will come to her aid—it will all depend on her own fate. Jiang Taohua agrees, asking only for her younger brother Jiang Changjue’s safety in return. Thinking of this, Jiang Taohua regains her composure and heads decisively to Qi, hoping her brother will remember their promise when they meet again.
On the way to Qi, she and her maid Qingtai gather information about the four sons of the King of Qi. She is to marry the fourth prince, Mu Wuyin, who is unloved by the king and was sent to a remote palace at the age of four to fend for himself. Qingtai worries he may not be able to protect Jiang Taohua. The current crown prince Mu Wugou’s maternal family is the most powerful noble house.
The second most powerful, the Qin family, supports Qin Concubine's son Mu Wuhen. These two fight viciously both in court and beyond. The fourth prince has no backing—any misstep could doom the woman who marries him. The Left Chancellor, Shen Zaiye, comes from humble origins but once saved the King of Qi. Though only just thirty, he is said to be ruthless and is deeply trusted by the king.
He is a critical figure in the struggle for the crown prince position. At this moment, Shen Zaiye is at Lord Peng’s residence. He confiscates the household and finds copper coins, but Peng Si refuses to confess and accuses Shen Zaiye of framing him. Shen orders his men to force-feed Peng Si freshly boiled sweet dumplings to compel a confession.
When Peng Si curses Shen Zaiye as a vile official, Shen doesn’t deny it but tells him he’d better talk now or risk implicating his whole family. Left with no choice, Peng Si bows his head. Shen Zaiye’s guard, Zhan Lu, is confused—Peng Si isn’t corrupt, so why frame him?
Shen Zaiye explains that while Peng Si may not be greedy for money, he indulges in exploiting women, which is reason enough for punishment, and could be used to draw out those truly behind the scenes. As Jiang Taohua’s entourage arrives at the gates of Qi, they are denied entry until after sunset. She bears it in silence. Mu Wuyin is meanwhile playing with birds, seemingly unconcerned about the marriage alliance.
Shen Zaiye follows a trail of poetic clues to Zuimeng Pavilion, aware someone is luring him there but unfazed—no weapon or fire can deter him. While waiting outside the city, Qingtai and Jiang Taohua notice the sky growing darker. Qingtai thinks she hears wolves but can’t believe it. Suddenly, wolves come charging, scattering the entourage in terror. With horses and carriages attacked, Qingtai shields Jiang Taohua as they hide.
Remembering wolves fear fire, Jiang Taohua orders torches lit and demands the gatekeepers open the city gate or risk blame for their deaths. The guards, pressured, open the gate. But once inside, wolves appear in the city too, chasing them. Jiang Taohua and Qingtai flee into Zuimeng Pavilion. Qingtai stays behind to cover her. As Jiang Taohua catches her breath, someone appears behind her and teasingly asks if she likes this “gift.”
Wandering swordsman Xue Ran appears before Shen Zaiye—he was the one who lured him here. Previously, Shen’s men investigated counterfeit coins and tried to question some coachmen, but all poisoned themselves, save one—Xue Ran. Fearing death upon return, Xue Ran sought Shen out, offering the painting Sunlight over a Thousand Peaks which contains hidden clues. In exchange, he asks Shen to protect his entire family. Shen agrees to send someone to escort them out the next day.
But he suddenly notices movement outside the window and dashes out in pursuit. Upon hearing that the princess encountered wolves, Mu Wuyin rushes over, only to find Mu Wugou beating Qingtai, demanding to know the princess’s whereabouts and blaming her for failing to protect her mistress. Mu Wuyin pleads to go care for the princess instead of punishing her maid.
Though he looks down on his brother raised in the remote palace, Mu Wugou agrees, saying that since it’s his wedding day, he will allow him to help search. Shen Zaiye chases the eavesdropper into a room but realizes he’s been drugged with aphrodisiac powder. Jiang Taohua, also affected, walks out from behind red curtains. Not wanting to lose her virginity to a stranger, she attempts to kill Shen Zaiye.
He flips her over and pins her down, recognizing her as the princess. Realizing he’s being framed, he makes a desperate decision—pretend she’s an assassin and chokes her. Just as Jiang Taohua is about to suffocate, Qingtai and others rush in. When Shen Zaiye sees Mu Wugou arrive, he understands the situation. At court, officials call for Shen Zaiye’s dismissal. The King of Qi ignores them, knowing they’re stirring trouble and framing him.
Shen Zaiye adds fuel to the fire by presenting a counterfeit coin, speculating that those making the most noise may be linked to it. The king declares this currency issue a threat to the state and calls for a thorough investigation. But with such rumors now involving the princess, the marriage alliance cannot proceed. Although the king knows the princess is innocent, he can’t allow her to marry the fourth prince and instead instructs him to choose another noblewoman.
Shen Zaiye is ordered to deliver the decree. Jiang Taohua realizes the outcome but is determined to meet the king. She cannot be sent back—doing so would doom both herself and Jiang Changjue. From now on, she will rely on her own strength to protect her brother.
