The Princess's Gambit Episode 6 Recap
> The Princess's Gambit Recap
After observing Yuetao's departure, Jiang Taohua and Qingtai followed her. Qingtai threw a small stone, startling the nervous Yuetao, who dropped her food box. From it fell a double-layer box, leading them to believe the painting "Sunlight over a Thousand Peaks" was inside. Prince Wugou insisted on taking Xiang Qingying for discipline, but Chancellor Shen refused, creating a standoff.
At that moment, Eunuch Wen, the attendant of His Majesty, arrived bearing gifts for Xiang Qingying, praising her as clever and likable, having previously gained Consort Lan's favor. Seeing this, Prince Wugou dared not press the matter and offered Xiang Qingying a gift. Chancellor Shen extended his hand and, before Eunuch Wen, Prince Wugou handed his personal jade pendant to him. Jiang Taohua and Qingtai intercepted Yuetao at the gate as she attempted to leave.
They recovered the double-layer box and found the "Sunlight over a Thousand Peaks" painting inside. Jiang Taohua quickly studied the painting, committing its details to memory. As someone approached to seize the painting, Jiang Taohua saw Chancellor Shen arriving and deliberately loosened her grip, allowing the painting to fall into a nearby brazier where it was instantly consumed by flames. Enraged, Chancellor Shen lunged at Jiang Taohua, threatening her.
She asserted that she had memorized the painting's contents and could replicate it, warning that if she died, the painting would be lost forever. Chancellor Shen tested her by asking her to draw a picture, and she reproduced it flawlessly, astonishing him. Jiang Taohua then presented three conditions as terms for cooperation, but she found she could not easily manipulate Chancellor Shen.
He pointed out there were numerous ways to investigate Prince Wugou and find his weaknesses, beyond just this painting. He then revealed that if he were to inform Prince Wugou of Jiang Taohua's exceptional memory, it would inevitably incite Prince Wugou to kill her, causing Jiang Taohua to break out in a cold sweat. Afterward, Chancellor Shen met with Meng Zhenzhen, who requested repudiation. However, Chancellor Shen tore up the divorce document.
He told her he was aware of her past actions but understood she was constrained by her family, so he would not pursue the matter. Nevertheless, he decreed that effective immediately, Meng Zhenzhen was confined to the residence under the pretense of illness, prohibited from leaving, seeing visitors, or managing household affairs. Shortly after Chancellor Shen left, Meng Zhenzhen received a gift from her brother.
Seeing it brought her to tears, as everyone else was focused on Chancellor Shen's ceremony with the princess that day, but only her brother remembered it was her birthday. Xiang Qingying was seen secretly eating leftovers and crying. Wei Wuxia noticed her and remarked that a lady like her shouldn't need to eat scraps. Xiang Qingying explained she didn't want to bother the servants who had gone to rest.
Wei Wuxia admitted he had eaten similar things before, and they conversed briefly. When someone came looking for Xiang Qingying, she was startled and quickly threw the food towards Wei Wuxia before running off. Returning to his residence, Prince Wugou felt triumphant. He was pleased that while he hadn't obtained the painting, neither had Shen Zaiye, considering it a victory. He rewarded everyone and ordered all remaining counterfeit money in the treasury to be released.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Shen was with His Majesty, who criticized him for his lack of progress in the counterfeit money case, especially as grain prices had soared, making even a bowl of congee unaffordable for ordinary citizens. His Majesty suggested handing the case over to Prince Wugou.
Chancellor Shen requested a month to investigate the source of the counterfeit money, but His Majesty gave him only half a month, warning that if he failed, he must give the case files to Prince Wugou and accept punishment. With the painting destroyed, Prince Wugou became more audacious, releasing even more counterfeit money, which began appearing even among street vendors. Zhan Lu suggested that to quickly solve the counterfeit money case, Jiang Taohua's replicated painting was necessary.
Although reluctant, Chancellor Shen considered agreeing to Jiang Taohua's three conditions. Around this time, Jiang Taohua sought an audience with Chancellor Shen. She explained she had identified a crucial element in the painting and sent Qingtai to investigate, but Qingtai hadn't returned and she feared she was in danger. She asked Chancellor Shen for help, offering to drop her three conditions in exchange.
Chancellor Shen refused, remarking that Qingtai's disappearance simply indicated they were investigating in the right direction but still declined to assist. Jiang Taohua then turned to Xiang Qingying for help. She showed Xiang Qingying the symbol she found related to the painting, and Xiang Qingying identified it as the sign of the Jinyin Gambling House.
Jiang Taohua suggested they go there together, fabricating a story that Qingtai had snuck out to play and she was afraid to tell Chancellor Shen, begging Xiang Qingying for help getting out of the residence. Xiang Qingying agreed and helped Jiang Taohua climb over the wall. However, they immediately encountered Chancellor Shen and Zhan Lu who were just emerging.
Xiang Qingying urged Jiang Taohua to flee while she covered their escape, but when she looked back, Jiang Taohua had already vanished without a trace. Chancellor Shen then took Xiang Qingying back into the residence. Meanwhile, Jiang Taohua arrived at the Jinyin Gambling House. Wearing a mask, she posed as an attendant. The first floor was filled with music, dance, and gambling; the second floor was for higher-stakes gambling; and the third floor was a restricted area, the forbidden zone.
Jiang Taohua intended to find a way to access the third floor. A gambler stopped her and ordered her to pour wine. While pouring, she recognized a familiar scent, Boshan incense, on a masked man; the same scent she had smelled in Chancellor Shen's study, confirming his presence. Chancellor Shen won repeatedly at the gambling table, causing other players to leave. He stopped playing and attempted to exchange his chips for gold, but was told only silver was given out.
He noticed the weight of the silver was unusual, confirming his suspicion that counterfeit money was being distributed from this location. Jiang Taohua carefully observed the layout, realizing her only chance to enter the third floor was during the attendants' shift change. Seeing several attendants enter the third floor, she followed closely, blending in to gain access. Once inside, she explored other areas, discovering silver wires that suggested mechanisms or traps, indicating something important was hidden there.
A patrolling guard spotted Jiang Taohua, but she managed to casually dismiss his suspicion. Unbeknownst to her, Chancellor Shen had secretly infiltrated a hidden room within the gambling house. He discovered that access to the treasury required a specific jade pendant. As he emerged from the room, Jiang Taohua saw him and teasingly commented that it seemed both of them had found nothing that night.
