The Princess's Gambit Episode 2 Recap
> The Princess's Gambit Recap
Shen Zaiye quickly led men to the inn to deliver an imperial decree. At the gate, Wuyin stopped him and pointedly asked if the princess was to be sent back to Beiyuan. Wuyin accused Shen Zaiye of making a mistake and letting a woman bear the consequences. He expressed his dislike for such schemes but refused to let others be harmed.
Wuyin declared he would go to the palace to plead with Emperor Qi, but Shen Zaiye dismissed this as childish behavior. Just then, cries of the princess attempting suicide echoed from inside the room. Wuyin rushed in and saved the princess. Wuyin blamed Shen Zaiye for everything. Shen Zaiye offered his medical skills for immediate treatment. After some hesitation, Wuyin agreed. Shen Zaiye inserted silver needles into Jiang Taohua. Qingtai protested, pointing out that Shenting was a fatal acupoint.
Shen Zaiye countered that some acupoints could also save lives, and whether she lived depended on fate. Shen Zaiye prepared to insert a second needle into Renying, an acupoint that could cause paralysis, testing Jiang Taohua. With no other choice, Jiang Taohua woke up. She covered her face, attempting to hide her discomfort, which Shen Zaiye saw as pretense. Jiang Taohua had an audience with Emperor Qi and proposed marrying Shen Zaiye to salvage the situation.
Shen Zaiye immediately objected, but Jiang Taohua stated that her only concern was the outcome of the peace negotiation, not who she married. Wuyin also expressed his agreement, suggesting it was more appropriate for Shen Zaiye to marry her since he was responsible for her predicament. Shen Zaiye further argued that it would be unfair for Princess Jiang Taohua to become a concubine in his household.
Jiang Taohua insisted she would not be wronged and knelt, stating that if the marriage alliance could continue, the incident would not be pursued, and the previously negotiated terms would remain unchanged. Emperor Qi promptly agreed. Shen Zaiye had no choice but to obey the decree.
Wuyin requested permission to thoroughly investigate the incident, but Emperor Qi decided not to pursue the matter further, instead granting Wuyin a plaque allowing him to move out of the temporary palace and establish his own residence. Shen Zaiye did not understand why Jiang Taohua insisted on marrying him, a minister. Jiang Taohua claimed she fell for Shen Zaiye at first sight, a declaration Shen Zaiye scoffed at.
He reminded her of their first meeting, where she had held a hairpin to his neck. Jiang Taohua feigned a docile and sweet demeanor. Shen Zaiye warned her that he already had a wife and concubines, and many other women outside. Jiang Taohua smiled, indicating her acceptance.
Shen Zaiye did not believe Jiang Taohua was sincere in marrying him, knowing her reputation for navigating the complexities of the palace and concluding she was far from the seemingly weak person she appeared to be. After returning, Jiang Taohua was seized by a eunuch dispatched by Lv. The eunuch reprimanded her for deciding to marry Shen Zaiye without permission.
While Jiang Taohua explained her reasoning, leaving the eunuch momentarily speechless, he still allowed her poisoning to take effect without providing the antidote as punishment for her unauthorized actions. Peng Si died in prison. Zhan Lu, following Shen Zaiye's orders to secretly monitor those who contacted Peng Si, had compiled a list of names. For Shen Zaiye, Peng Si's death had served a purpose. He ordered further investigation based on the list.
He also instructed them to find Xue Ran's painting, Sunlight over a Thousand Peaks. His Highness, also concerned about the painting, was angry that Xue Ran had not been killed along with others. He killed a subordinate for incompetence. Meng Huaijin intervened, urging His Highness to calm down and focus on the immediate task of finding the painting before it fell into Shen Zaiye's hands. Realizing the urgency, His Highness immediately ordered a thorough search for Xue Ran.
Yang Wanqing, the shopkeeper of Lan Boutique, arrived to take measurements for Jiang Taohua's wedding dress. Eunuch Ren had already sent instructions warning Jiang Taohua not to let anyone detect signs of her poisoning, or Changjue's life would be in danger. Despite feeling unwell, Jiang Taohua endured the measurements. Yang Wanqing noticed a peach blossom mark on Jiang Taohua's arm and inquired about its origin.
The mark was a result of the poisoning, but Jiang Taohua claimed it was a birthmark. Observing Jiang Taohua's weak state, Yang Wanqing suspected she was poisoned and offered to find a renowned physician who could help. Jiang Taohua declined. Yang Wanqing's persistence, however, revealed to Jiang Taohua that she was actually sent by Lv. Jiang Taohua warned Yang Wanqing that if she pressed further, Jiang Taohua might die, making it impossible for her to fulfill Lv's tasks.
Yang Wanqing acknowledged Jiang Taohua's cleverness and agreed to deliver the antidote and Lv's instructions monthly. Lv's command was to find Sunlight over a Thousand Peaks. At Shen Residence, Qin Jieyu and Duan Yunxin, two concubines, were complaining to the official wife, Meng Zhenzhen. They argued that Jiang Taohua, being a princess who sought the marriage herself, should not be treated with high regard.
They urged Meng Zhenzhen not to put up red decorations and to ensure Jiang Taohua understood the position of a concubine. However, Meng Zhenzhen did not follow Shen Zaiye's instruction for simplicity. She ordered red decorations to be put up and the main gate opened to welcome Jiang Taohua. The two concubines caused a scene, demanding the decorations be taken down, insisting that concubines must use the side entrance and should not have red decorations.
They intended to intimidate Jiang Taohua upon her arrival. As Jiang Taohua's sedan arrived, several servants deliberately tried to obstruct her. Qingtai intervened and fought back. Qin Jieyu emerged and slapped Qingtai. Jiang Taohua offered a polite apology. Inside, Shen Zaiye was aware of the situation but did not intervene, believing Jiang Taohua brought it upon herself. Qin Jieyu had expected Jiang Taohua to wear a red wedding dress, intending to deny her entry on that basis.
However, Jiang Taohua alighted from the sedan wearing a pink dress. A servant suggested Jiang Taohua use the side entrance. Jiang Taohua subtly directed Qingtai, who then slapped the servant as a lesson. Left with no grounds to object, Qin Jieyu fell silent. Hearing of this, Shen Zaiye found Jiang Taohua's ability to endure such humiliation noteworthy. Upon entering the house, Jiang Taohua offered tea to Duan Yunxin and Qin Jieyu.
Qin Jieyu attempted to deliberately overturn her tea cup, but Jiang Taohua held it firmly, preventing it from spilling. Qin Jieyu was forced to perform the customary exchange of gifts. Jiang Taohua exchanged subtle barbs with Qin Jieyu, referencing "Lessons for Women". When it was time to offer tea to the official wife, Meng Zhenzhen, Jiang Taohua was required to kneel. As she knelt, she discovered needles placed on the kneeling cushion. Jiang Taohua endured the pain and knelt. Shen Zaiye was informed about the events in the inner court and observed how Jiang Taohua would handle the challenges.
