The Princess's Gambit Episode 28 Recap
> The Princess's Gambit Recap
Following the imperial exam results, Emperor Qi expressed satisfaction with the top scholar, Li Dian, and credited Prince Mu Wuxia with identifying such talent. While acknowledging Prince Mu Wuxia's abilities, the Emperor felt he still lacked decisiveness and needed more experience. Consort Lan concurred, suggesting that with training, Prince Mu Wuxia would become a capable leader, a suggestion the Emperor readily agreed with.
Meanwhile, Prince Mu Wuyin remained troubled by the lack of a reply from Empress Lv since he withdrew from the imperial exam, feeling responsible and believing he must have disappointed her. Elsewhere, Empress Lv, also known as Shao Yuanhua, upon receiving news of the exam results and Prince Mu Wuxia gaining Emperor Qi's favor, was vexed by Prince Mu Wuyin's failure in executing their plan.
When informed, via a letter from Prince Mu Wuyin, that Shen Zaiye was investigating "Ah Hua" (referring to herself), Empress Lv became enraged, viewing it as a direct challenge. Unable to directly attack Shen Zaiye in the capital, she decided to lure Shen Zaiye, Jiang Taohua, and Prince Mu Wuxia out of the city.
Believing Emperor Qi would seek opportunities for Prince Mu Wuxia to gain merit, she ordered her spies near the Qi-Beiyuan border, close to Luocheng, to pose as bandits and cause unrest. She also intended to make use of Jiang Changjue. Qingtai, who had been searching for Jiang Changjue, located him at the exile camp near the border. She observed he was wearing a guard's uniform but could not move freely within the camp.
Deciding against a direct meeting, she planned to follow him secretly. At the camp, Jiang Changjue was seen assisting the exiles, intervening when one inmate named Liu was mistreated. Commandant Deng Xiao, who oversaw the camp, was displeased by Jiang Changjue's actions, particularly his help in secretly sending away children of exiled officials after removing their slave status.
Deng Xiao confronted Jiang Changjue, stating that the place was an exile region, not a charity, and accused him of helping those framed by Empress Lv. Deng Xiao revealed that someone wanted something from Jiang Changjue and scoffed at his claim to be the King's son, suggesting the King had forgotten him. After Jiang Changjue remained defiant, Deng Xiao ordered him strictly confined, forbidding anyone to release him without his command.
Jiang Changjue denounced Deng Xiao's disloyalty and service to Empress Lv. Prince Mu Wuyin summoned Jiang Taohua ("Dream Girl") and showed her a severed finger, which triggered a painful childhood memory of her and Jiang Changjue in the Cold Palace, where he burned his finger protecting a fire from the wind. Mu Wuyin told Jiang Taohua that Jiang Changjue was in danger at Luocheng, facing military punishment for breaking rules and did not have much time left before execution.
Feigning kindness, he offered to send her to see him before his impending execution, mentioning Luocheng. He pointedly suggested she take Shen Zaiye along, hinting at shared demise on the path to the underworld. Jiang Taohua immediately realized the true target was Shen Zaiye. Mu Wuyin pressed her to leave immediately, warning her she would only find a corpse if she delayed.
Upon receiving news of Jiang Taohua's hurried departure from Prince Mu Wuyin's residence towards the North Gate, Shen Zaiye suspected something was wrong and pursued her. Shen Zaiye caught up to Jiang Taohua, insisting he would handle her affairs regardless of their importance. Jiang Taohua tried to push him away, reminding him of his past cruelty, torture, and the lack of trust between them.
She confirmed she had regained her memory since he saved her from the lake, stating she had always believed his cruel nature was the real him and finding his current display of affection ridiculous. She argued they were strangers now and she didn't need to explain herself, asking how she could make him leave.
Shen Zaiye countered, saying their past mistrust and constant guarding against each other had led to their misfortunes and he now wanted to help her overcome her difficulties and earn her trust by listening to her troubles. She maintained their connection was over and she needed to hurry. Shen Zaiye guessed Jiang Changjue was in trouble, a suspicion she confirmed while trying to dismiss his involvement and his insistence that she couldn't save Jiang Changjue without him.
He persisted, revealing that although he had never met Jiang Changjue, he considered him like a brother, as he had few close relatives in the world. Unwilling to abandon him in danger, Shen Zaiye ordered his subordinate, Wu Jiang, to follow with their men. Jiang Taohua inwardly wondered how to get rid of him. Receiving confirmation that Shen Zaiye had followed Jiang Taohua towards Beiyuan, Prince Mu Wuyin planned to influence Emperor Qi to dispatch Prince Mu Wuxia as well.
During a visit to deliver pills, Mu Wuyin downplayed his own ambition, claiming he only wished to seek enlightenment, while subtly suggesting Emperor Qi rely on Prince Mu Wuxia, whom he praised for talent but mentioned noble families considered him too gentle.
Emperor Qi agreed that Prince Mu Wuxia was strong in literature but needed military experience and decided to send him to the border to quell bandits, emphasizing this was an opportunity for merit and promising heavier responsibilities upon his safe return. When Mu Wuxia was summoned, he appeared hesitant, admitting his lack of practical military experience and fearing embarrassment.
Emperor Qi brushed aside his concerns, stating the bandits were minor and assigning the experienced Commander Dong Lang to assist and guide him. Emperor Qi secretly entrusted Dong Lang with a confidential letter outlining the Emperor's true intentions: Dong Lang was to oversee the operation, and the mission's purpose was primarily for Mu Wuxia to accumulate military merit.
Upon learning of the bandit situation and Prince Mu Wuxia's impending mission, Xiang Qingying confronted him as he prepared to depart, offering to join as his strategist and personal bodyguard. Mu Wuxia refused, citing the danger and his responsibility towards her, even mentioning how he would explain to Shen Zaiye if she got hurt. Despite her assertion of her fighting skill, he remained firm.
As Prince Mu Wuxia's forces prepared to move, Prince Mu Wuyin watched his departure and sent a carrier pigeon to Empress Lv. Empress Lv received the news that Shen Zaiye and Jiang Taohua were heading towards Luocheng and Mu Wuxia was being lured to the border by the Third Prince's design.
She ordered her subordinate, Cui Wei, to immediately go to the border to create chaos and lure Mu Wuxia into Luocheng, instructing Cui Wei not to fully trust the Luocheng commandant, Deng Xiao. Emperor Qi's forces received reports that the bandits were fleeing towards Beiyuan's Luocheng and needed to be intercepted in Qi territory. Prince Mu Wuxia ordered his men to pursue immediately with limited rest, aiming to intercept them within Qi's borders.
Just as they were leaving, Xiang Qingying appeared in military attire. Mu Wuxia reiterated the seriousness of the mission, but ultimately, concerned for her safety, he ordered her to serve as his personal bodyguard, keeping her close. Back at Luocheng, Jiang Changjue was now missing. Commandant Deng Xiao ordered his men to search everywhere for him.
Cui Wei arrived and confronted Deng Xiao, accusing him of letting Jiang Changjue escape despite the Empress needing him for future use and warning him against double-dealing. Cui Wei demanded Jiang Changjue be produced before dark that day, or Deng Xiao's position would change. Meanwhile, Zhan Lu found Qingtai and pressed her for Jiang Changjue's whereabouts, doubting her claims.
Qingtai insisted she did not know where he was but that he had indeed gone missing, trying to deflect by claiming she was looking for relatives and that Jiang Changjue was her kin as the Princess's brother. Zhan Lu remained unconvinced and continued to follow her. Jiang Taohua and Shen Zaiye paused their journey near Luocheng.
Shen Zaiye offered her provisions and tried to reassure her that Jiang Changjue would be fine before they reached the city, having cared for her throughout their travels. Jiang Taohua observed his genuine care and decided she could not allow Shen Zaiye to risk his life for her and Jiang Changjue, believing he deserved a peaceful life in the capital. While Shen Zaiye went to gather firewood, she took both horses and rode away.
Upon his return, Shen Zaiye found the horses gone, realizing her intention to leave him behind. Entering Luocheng, Jiang Taohua was spotted by a gate guard who recognized her from his time in the palace. The guard reported her presence to Commandant Deng Xiao, who confirmed her identity as the Chengping Princess and suspected she had come for Jiang Changjue. Seeing this as a perfect opportunity, Deng Xiao exclaimed that her arrival was timely. He ordered his men to follow her and report when Jiang Changjue appeared, planning to capture both of them together and ensure they would not leave the city alive.
