The Princess's Gambit Episode 20 Recap
> The Princess's Gambit Recap
Qingtai worried that Jiang Taohua might never wake up after falling, so she was relieved when she finally did. However, Jiang Taohua seemed to have lost some of her recent memories. As Physician Lin examined Jiang Taohua, Mu Wuyin entered, urging the physician to be thorough. Jiang Taohua found Mu Wuyin familiar and recalled the scene of her marriage procession and Mu Wuyin playing the zither from a rooftop.
After sending Qingtai and Physician Lin away, Mu Wuyin mentioned the significant expense incurred to save Jiang Taohua and asked how she would repay him. Jiang Taohua, believing she was already married to him since she was in his residence, asked how he wished to be repaid. Mu Wuyin, seeing her apparent amnesia, deliberately stated that they were indeed engaged, but the wedding date had not yet been set.
He also told her that he had given her the name Miss Meng upon her arrival, which she initially disliked but accepted. Mu Wuyin then instructed Qingtai to stay hidden in the adjacent side room after serving Jiang Taohua's meals each day and to be careful not to raise any suspicion. He threatened that if she disobeyed, he would not provide the antidote for the Jiangtao pill, which would result in Miss Meng's death.
Qingtai obediently went to the side room. There, she recalled Jiang Taohua's earlier instruction to send her to the Third Prince's residence if her plan failed. Although she did not fully understand Jiang Taohua's intention, Qingtai followed her orders. From that day on, Qingtai only brought food to Jiang Taohua before quickly leaving. She spoke little, claiming she was helping in Mu Wuyin's alchemy room to repay his kindness.
Jiang Taohua, now called Meng, found Qingtai's sudden change in behavior strange and suspected there was another reason behind it. Meanwhile, Mu Wuyin received a visiting card from Shen Zaiye. Later that evening, Mu Wuyin went to Jiang Taohua to test her. He accused her of having scandalous relations with other men since arriving in Yujing, claiming this was why their marriage had not yet taken place.
Jiang Taohua, recalling fragmented memories of incidents involving Shen Zaiye, believed she had been framed and immediately knelt, apologizing. She declared that if she ever saw that man again, she would tear him limb from limb. Mu Wuyin then revealed the man's name was Shen Zaiye, planting hatred towards him in her mind. Shen Zaiye arrived at Mu Wuyin's residence, stating his purpose was to reclaim Princess Chengping, who he believed was residing there.
Mu Wuyin had Qingfeng summon Miss Meng. Qingfeng reported that she was feeling tired and wished to rest. Mu Wuyin was annoyed and wanted to have her brought out by force, but Shen Zaiye stopped him, saying he was willing to wait and enjoyed the tea. He waited all day. As night fell, Jiang Taohua finally appeared before Shen Zaiye. Shen Zaiye was momentarily stunned by her appearance and his gaze followed her.
However, Jiang Taohua did not seem to recognize him and denied being Jiang Taohua, insisting her name was Meng. Shen Zaiye pleaded with her to return with him, but she accused him of being rude. Shen Zaiye, saddened by her apparent resentment, accepted her wishes and sat down as she requested.
While Jiang Taohua served him roasted beef, Shen Zaiye noticed that the peach blossom mark on her arm had vanished, confirming that her poison was cured, which brought him some relief amidst his sadness. He recognized the dish, roasted beef with cumin, as one he had deliberately prepared for her before, leading him to believe she was faking her lack of memory. Mu Wuyin found a reason to leave the room.
Jiang Taohua confronted Shen Zaiye, accusing him of harming her. Shen Zaiye showed her a protective charm he carried and explained that searching for her across Yugui Mountain and every medical hall was proof of his efforts, and that harming her was not his intention. Jiang Taohua told him not to seek her out again, stating she was engaged to Mu Wuyin and asking him to respect that and not trouble her further.
As she turned to leave, Shen Zaiye stopped her. Jiang Taohua had flashes of fragmented memories involving Shen Zaiye. She told him she came from Beiyuan and lived in constant fear, never having harmed anyone but being repeatedly harmed herself, and reiterated her desire for him to keep his distance. Mu Wuyin returned and, seeing Shen Zaiye's seemingly humble demeanor towards Jiang Taohua, felt his previous high regard for Shen Zaiye was unwarranted.
Shen Zaiye picked up the protective charm Jiang Taohua had dropped and left silently. Jiang Taohua felt an unexpected pang of sadness, as if she could sense his pain. Upon returning home, Shen Zaiye realized that Jiang Taohua's poison had been cured while other Beiyuan spies had succumbed to it. He speculated that the antidote might be in Mu Wuyin's possession.
Shen Zaiye decided to find a way to obtain the antidote and ordered Zhan Lu to conduct a secret investigation. He also instructed Zhan Lu to send a team to Beiyuan to search for the Jiangtao pill antidote. Shen Zaiye later consulted Imperial Physician Bai about the Jiangtao pill poison, identified by the peach blossom mark, and about treating amnesia, learning the poison was potent and amnesia often psychological.
Jiang Taohua, despite feeling inexplicable sadness when she saw Shen Zaiye's pain, tried to rationalize it as a consequence of his supposed past persecution against her, as Mu Wuyin had suggested. She decided to put such thoughts aside and focus on completing the marriage alliance and ensuring the safety of her brother, Changjue. A Beiyuan delegation arrived in Yujing, led by Vice Minister Wang Yuanqi.
Zhan Lu intercepted them and demanded they be inspected upon entering the city, angering Vice Minister Wang, who protested that they were envoys, not prisoners. Mu Wuyin observed this scene, angered by Shen Zaiye's handling of the delegation. At that moment, a woman's voice from behind questioned if he still cared about serious matters. Mu Wuyin turned, and through a thin veil, saw the woman, his eyes showing excitement.
