The Princess's Gambit Episode 31 Recap
> The Princess's Gambit Recap
Near Luocheng, Zhan Lu believed Shen Zaiye had perished and repeatedly apologized to Princess Jiang Taohua for failing to protect him. Jiang Taohua desperately searched through the rubble hoping to find Shen Zaiye, finding a fragment of his clothing that sent her into heartbroken sobs. She cried out his name, lamenting that she had so many things left unsaid. Suddenly, Shen Zaiye appeared nearby and softly called out Jiang Taohua's name.
Jiang Taohua looked up, and Shen Zaiye assured her he would listen patiently to everything she wanted to say. Jiang Taohua ran towards him and collapsed into his embrace, and he held her tightly. Empress Shao was furious, berating her subordinates for their incompetence in letting Shen Zaiye and the others escape. Just then, Mu Wuyin arrived. Hearing that Mu Wuyin was still alive brought some relief to Empress Shao, but she still blamed him for their failure.
Mu Wuyin, visibly sad, questioned Empress Shao about his true significance to her, asking if he was merely a pawn, as Jiang Taohua had suggested. Empress Shao retorted that she had always been devoted to him and wanted to give him the best, but admitted that things he had given her had caused her to be envied and tormented.
She recounted how the Qi Palace had brought her nothing but humiliation, things she felt Mu Wuyin, spoiled by his father, could never understand. Empress Shao softened. Mu Wuyin promised he would give her everything she desired, but stated he would do it his way. He then knocked her unconscious, declaring that having given her what he wanted, she must now give him what he desired.
Mu Wuxia and Xiang Qingying bade farewell to Shen Zaiye and Jiang Taohua, departing ahead of them. Jiang Taohua revealed she knew Shen Zaiye was Mu Wuxia's cousin, having seen their identical handkerchiefs, and expressed concern about Mu Wuxia returning to face potential turmoil, wondering if Shen Zaiye was at ease about it.
Shen Zaiye stated he believed Mu Wuxia was no longer the naive child he once was, having faced many challenges, and that he was looking forward to finally having peaceful time with Jiang Taohua. Xiang Qingying entrusted her brother, Mu Wuxia, to Jiang Taohua, who reassured her that it was she, Jiang Taohua, who was being cared for by Xiang Qingying. Jiang Taohua helped Shen Zaiye tend to his injuries.
She opened up about her past avoidance, admitting she had feared her misfortunes would burden him but realized now how much regret her silence had caused. Seeing him alive, she felt grateful that fate had been kind to her this time. She stated she no longer wished to live a life of forced compromise, feeling that even one day spent genuinely with him was worth a hundred years lived otherwise.
She showed him the hairpin he had sent her, clutching it tightly in her hand. They shared a deep embrace. Jiang Changjue and the others successfully located the last barrels of saltpeter and bitumen, which helped calm the people and earned him their support. Reconstruction efforts in the city were being organized under Changjue's direction.
Jiang Taohua found some "xi guo", or vinegar fruit, for Shen Zaiye, mentioning it was the only fruit they could find in the barren area and that Changjue had described the bitter fruit in a letter. Shen Zaiye commented on the hardships Changjue must have endured. Shen Zaiye then proposed they leave immediately for Hao Du, the capital of Beiyuan, to find a root cure for the Jiang Tao pill.
At this point, Zhan Lu arrived with news that Empress Shao and Mu Wuyin had returned to Yujing. Fearing they might be attempting to seize the throne and endanger the Fourteenth Prince, Jiang Taohua urged Shen Zaiye to return to Yujing at once, believing that capturing Empress Shao would make finding the cure much easier. Upon returning to Yujing, Mu Wuyin was summoned to the Qi King, who was suffering from withdrawal and demanded his medicine.
Mu Wuyin lied that the cauldron had exploded and was under repair, offering only half a pill salvaged from the ruins. He then suggested the King move to his Qingxiu Temple to ensure prompt access to medicine as soon as it was ready. Although suspicious, the King, controlled by his addiction, agreed. Seeking an alliance with Mu Wuyin, Right Chancellor Meng Zhongyan proposed that Mu Wuyin marry his daughter, Meng Zhenzhen.
Mu Wuyin accepted the proposal, seeing it as a way to solidify the Meng family's position by making them "one family." However, Meng Zhenzhen vehemently opposed the idea, having resolved not to be dependent on men. She highlighted her own efforts for the family compared to the lack of achievement by male relatives through official exams.
She argued against the marriage, warning her father that relying on Mu Wuyin could make the Meng family powerful in-laws but eventually disposable once their usefulness ended, like a bow put away after the bird is caught. Meng Zhongyan dismissed her arguments, prioritizing the family's position and threatening to replace her with other family members, even removing her identity from the clan records, if she did not comply.
Jiang Taohua urged Jiang Changjue to return to Qi with them, assuring him of Shen Zaiye's protection. However, Changjue had his own plan. He intended to seize the opportunity presented by Empress Shao's absence from Beiyuan to return to Hao Du, prune Empress Shao's faction, and revitalize the Jiang clan's state. Jiang Taohua was touched by his growth and recalled his childhood quote about high position bringing heavy responsibility, which he had learned from Qian Mochen.
Changjue reassured her that he was no longer the child needing her protection. He stated he would assess the situation with Qian Mochen in Hao Du, willing to forgo past grievances if he received support, but ready to settle both old and new scores if not. Shen Zaiye praised Changjue's character, acknowledging his benevolence (aiding refugees), courage (rescuing from fire), righteousness (surrendering without implicating others), and wisdom (helping rebuild the city), noting that Qi would gain a formidable adversary.
Changjue expressed his desire for peace between Beiyuan and Qi. He entrusted Jiang Taohua to Shen Zaiye's care before leaving on his own. As Jiang Taohua and Shen Zaiye prepared to depart, they felt a pang of reluctance to leave the area. Shen Zaiye promised that once they captured Empress Shao and found the cure, they would return to this place and stay as long as she wished.
Meanwhile, in a secret room, Mu Wuyin brought Empress Shao a red wedding dress. When Empress Shao awoke, she found her feet bound and the room decorated like a bridal chamber. She was visibly frightened. Mu Wuyin gently applied medicine to her leg wound, telling her their wish was about to come true.
Empress Shao, feigning calmness, suggested he summon the master from Lan Yi Pavilion, renowned for treating external wounds, to heal her ankle scar and ensure a perfect wedding. Mu Wuyin revealed he had killed the master, along with all her Beiyuan spies in Qi, stating he needed to break her wings so she would remain by his side and become his wife.
Empress Shao erupted in fury, telling him she would never marry him and that she hated being suppressed and manipulated, urging him to kill her instead. Unmoved, Mu Wuyin declared he was driven mad by her actions and that the moment the city gates closed, he realized he needed the highest position to truly possess her.
He chillingly stated that even if she died in five days, he would marry her corpse, wanting the whole world to know she was his unique woman. Witnessing his intensity, Empress Shao was terrified, and tears streamed down her face. Upon their return to Yujing, Mu Wuxia and Xiang Qingying intended to see the Qi King but learned he had not held court for many days and that Mu Wuyin and Empress Shao were already in Yujing.
Realizing the danger, as Yujing was under their control, they changed their plans and decided to seek refuge as advised by Shen Zaiye. Right Chancellor Meng Zhongyan reported to Mu Wuyin that they had lost track of Shen Zaiye and that Mu Wuxia had not returned to the capital. To lure Mu Wuxia out, Mu Wuyin decided to stop administering medicine to the Qi King.
