The Princess's Gambit Episode 21 Recap
> The Princess's Gambit Recap
Mu Wuyin was heard erupting in anger inside his chamber. Servants outside discussed that the outburst was due to Shen Zaiye detaining the Beiyuan delegation. Jiang Taohua, concerned this situation might lead to her being sent back to Beiyuan, concealed herself in a container of fruit and managed to sneak out to investigate. At Shen Zaiye's location, he was interrogating members of the Beiyuan delegation about Jiang Taohua.
When questioned, those who had mistreated her in Beiyuan were quick to distance themselves, recounting their cruelty towards Princess Chengping and her young brother Changjue in the Cold Palace. They described depriving her of food, leaving only chili water, beating the soles of her feet with a cane, throwing centipedes and scorpions into her room, slapping her, docking her allowance, and denying her medicine.
One servant confessed to forcing her to kneel on ice during winter when she complained of the cold while in Empress Lv's presence. From outside, Zhan Lu saw Jiang Taohua nearby and discreetly ordered a side gate opened to allow her entry. Jiang Taohua was able to overhear Shen Zaiye's interrogation of the final three individuals.
These were palace servants who had shown kindness to Jiang Taohua when she was a child, providing her with charcoal and medicine when Changjue was ill and she had been denied help after being forced to kneel. They pleaded for release, stating they had only pitied the innocent child and had no further contact or involvement with her. Shen Zaiye did not punish them but instead rewarded them with gold, expressing gratitude for their compassion towards Jiang Taohua.
The servants became emotional, expressing happiness that she had finally found someone who cared for her. Overhearing their words, Jiang Taohua was left confused about her relationship with Shen Zaiye. Fearing discovery, she quickly departed but dropped a handkerchief. Zhan Lu entered and informed Shen Zaiye of Jiang Taohua's presence. Shen Zaiye rushed out but only found her handkerchief, feeling a sense of sadness that she had seemingly avoided him.
Jiang Taohua disguised herself as a servant to re-enter Mu Wuyin's residence. Encountering Qingfeng, she claimed to be lost while trying to find the prince. Qingfeng offered to escort her to Mu Wuyin. When she met the prince, Jiang Taohua fabricated a story about forgetting to pay her respects daily due to her muddled state and apologized for coming late. Mu Wuyin dismissed the need for such formalities in the future.
After she left, Lv Yuanhua appeared beside Mu Wuyin and warned him that Jiang Taohua was cunning and not to be trusted easily, advising him to be extremely careful. Mu Wuyin agreed to follow her advice. Mu Wuyin then instructed Qingfeng to send Qingtai out of the residence and place her under guard, explaining that with Lv Yuanhua present, it was safer to separate Qingtai and Jiang Taohua.
He noted that Jiang Taohua cared deeply for the maid and keeping Qingtai alive could prove useful later. Later, Jiang Taohua questioned Qingfeng about Qingtai's whereabouts and well-being. Qingfeng confirmed Qingtai was alive but refused to reveal her location, stating he could not tell her anything more even under duress. Jiang Taohua deduced from his demeanor that Qingtai was indeed alive but still missing.
Meanwhile, Wei Wuxia presented Li Jiaohan's policy essay to various officials exiting the court session, hoping for their attention, but was ignored. Shen Zaiye, passing by, took the essay, praised it as an "excellent treatise," and noted that unfortunately, there was "no one at court today with the eye to recognize such talent." He inquired about Li Jiaohan's background, learning he had no official rank and came from a farming family.
Enlightened by Shen Zaiye's implicit suggestion, Wei Wuxia sought out Gao Yuan, the Vice Minister of Personnel, who had not attended court that day. Gao Yuan was impressed by Li Jiaohan's essay. However, given Li Jiaohan's lack of official rank, Gao Yuan proposed starting by helping him gain an initial rank before pursuing further promotion, which he felt would be a more feasible approach given the power of the noble clans at court.
Their conversation was overheard by Meng Huairui, Gao Yuan's disciple. Meng Huairui secretly sought out Li Jiaohan, introducing himself as Gao Yuan's representative sent to connect with him. He praised Li Jiaohan's talent and Gao Yuan's appreciation but suggested that the current essay was too broad and might cause opposition from noble families.
He proposed Li Jiaohan write a "concise, sharp political essay" instead, which would be easier to present to the emperor to showcase his talent without causing undue controversy. Li Jiaohan readily agreed and began writing immediately after Meng Huairui provided the necessary brush and ink. After Li Jiaohan finished and left, Meng Huairui expressed his frustration with the length and revealed his intention to copy the essay for his own use.
Shen Zaiye held Jiang Taohua's handkerchief, pondering whether she had overheard his interrogation of the Beiyuan delegation and what her thoughts might be. Zhan Lu reported that Mu Wuyin had left his residence by carriage, and Jiang Taohua was not with him. Late that night, Shen Zaiye came to Jiang Taohua's room.
He told her he was there to solve her troubles, promising to avenge every wrong, humiliation, and threat she had suffered, and to ensure Changjue's safety, until the poison affecting her was removed. Jiang Taohua was shocked by how much he knew about her circumstances. She questioned the true nature of their relationship, asking if they had been intimate upon her arrival in Yujing.
She could only recall being promised to Mu Wuyin, remembering him playing the zither and his smiling face, as well as her first encounter with Shen Zaiye where he had warned her not to trust anyone. Conflicted, she told him to leave. Shen Zaiye brought up Qingtai, who Jiang Taohua mentioned had been helping in the alchemy room. Believing that finding Qingtai would reveal the truth, Shen Zaiye offered to search the residence, and Jiang Taohua insisted on accompanying him.
They searched various areas, including a side room, the alchemy room, and the furnace room, but Qingtai was nowhere to be found. Shen Zaiye reassured Jiang Taohua that she could always trust him, despite her fear. Jiang Taohua then thought to search Mu Wuyin's bedchamber. As they searched, she remembered seeing copper coins there previously, finding it odd for a prince to possess and carefully store such items, which aroused suspicion.
As patrolling guards approached, Shen Zaiye quickly moved to distract them, telling Jiang Taohua to keep herself safe while he drew the guards away. Watching his back disappear into the darkness, Jiang Taohua felt a piercing pain in her chest and wondered why seeing him always caused such sadness. With Shen Zaiye gone, Jiang Taohua used the copper coins to manipulate a hidden mechanism, which she recognized as a Bagua formation.
Figuring out the reverse sequence starting from the 'Si' (Death) gate, linking it to the Kun palace which symbolizes the feminine and potentially Mu Wuyin's relationship with his sister, she successfully opened a secret chamber door. Inside, the chamber was decorated lavishly, like a bridal chamber. On the bed, she discovered a bracelet that she recognized as belonging to Lv Yuanhua. Meanwhile, Mu Wuyin and Lv Yuanhua stood on a mountain peak, gazing out at the capital of Qi. Mu Wuyin promised Lv Yuanhua that all the land visible to them would one day be her dominion.
