The Princess's Gambit Episode 7 Recap
> The Princess's Gambit Recap
Chancellor Shen Zaiye expressed surprise at how effortlessly Jiang Taohua moved through the gambling den, likening her to a heroine. He found it perplexing that a noblewoman who lived a secluded life possessed such skills. Jiang Taohua, however, attributed her success to luck and simple tricks.
Shen Zaiye, who had encountered many people in his ten years as an official, remarked that he had never met anyone like her – a princess who was humble, wise, and skilled at playing dumb. Jiang Taohua, knowing Shen Zaiye was interested in more than just gambling money but also investigating the exchanged funds, revealed her knowledge of the gambling house's layout, servant shifts, and routes, offering to provide this information.
She proposed they work together, suggesting that Shen Zaiye's inability to act alone in scouting the treasury meant he needed someone to buy him time. Acknowledging the high risk, Shen Zaiye questioned why she would undertake such a dangerous task for just a maid. Jiang Taohua clarified that Qingtai was not merely a maid but family to her. Moved by her declaration, Shen Zaiye offered to teach her Chupu the following day.
The next day, Shen Zaiye began teaching Jiang Taohua the game of Chupu, explaining the rules, the five throwing sticks, and how points determine movement on the board. He revealed that Prince Wugou was the owner of the Jinyin Gambling House. He outlined their plan: Jiang Taohua was to win consistently to draw Prince Wugou out for a duel. With all attention on them, Shen Zaiye could investigate the treasury.
He found Jiang Taohua quick-witted, capable of analyzing game probabilities based on previous throws, unlike others who relied solely on luck. He praised her good memory and potential to do very well in the gambling house with more training. They played, and despite Jiang Taohua's strategic analysis predicting her win, Shen Zaiye repeatedly won by throwing optimal combinations like Lucai. When she accused him of cheating, he dismissed what she thought she saw, stating only the final result mattered.
He explained that her current skills were sufficient for ordinary gamblers but not for their target. He emphasized the need to control winning and losing to attract Prince Wugou and tasked her with learning to control the dice using wrist force and listening skills within three days, combining this with her calculation abilities to delay Prince Wugou. During practice, Jiang Taohua struggled to find the right touch.
Shen Zaiye guided her hand, instructing her to relax her palm but use force in her palm and finger roots, and to feel the movement. With his assistance, she finally managed to shake the dice as intended. Shen Zaiye then pointed out that while her technique might become proficient, her expression could betray her. He prompted her to recall the gamblers she had seen, noting that although they wore masks, their eyes were revealing.
Thinking back, Jiang Taohua realized that true gamblers had eyes filled with greed, a stark contrast to her own analytical gaze. Shen Zaiye agreed, stressing that Prince Wugou was paranoid, cunning, and cutthroat, and even a small flaw could ruin their plan. She understood that looking like a novice while having expert technique would raise suspicion.
Shen Zaiye then mentioned that Prince Wugou was addicted to gambling and women, suggesting that the clever tactics Jiang Taohua had previously used on him (Shen) could be effective against Prince Wugou. Jiang Taohua took offense at this remark, perceiving it as an insult, and ended the training session, stating she would leave. Shen Zaiye commented that he had no interest in women with ill intentions, to which she retorted that she also avoided scheming people.
Later, as they prepared to go to the gambling den, Shen Zaiye asked Jiang Taohua if she had reconsidered, warning her that this action would draw her into his conflict with the heir and offering her the chance to withdraw. She affirmed her resolve. They traveled by waterway, with Shen Zaiye explaining their cover as rich merchants newly arrived in the capital, requiring entry through the main gate.
He mentioned how the gambling house's entry methods and even its location changed periodically due to the owner's vast wealth. He reassured her he would provide support discreetly once inside. News confirmed Prince Wugou had been frequenting the den recently. Jiang Taohua's mission was to continuously win games until she forced Prince Wugou to challenge her. Upon arriving at the gambling den, Jiang Taohua began to play Chupu and quickly accumulated wins.
After she won her eighth consecutive game, a servant reported her success to the owner, Prince Wugou. Recognizing her skill, Prince Wugou decided to confront her and try to break her winning streak. Meanwhile, Shen Zaiye, seeing the plan unfold, ordered Zhan Lu to proceed with the next step. Separately, Prince Wuhen, the Second Prince, attempted to recruit Prince Wuyin (also known as Meng Huaijin or Wei Wuxia), the Third Prince, to his side.
Prince Wuyin expressed disinterest in the conflict between Prince Wuhen and Prince Wugou. At that moment, Zhan Lu arrived with a message from Shen Zaiye for Prince Wuhen, hinting at a significant matter concerning Prince Wugou at the Jinyin Gambling House and presenting it as a "great gift" for Prince Wuhen to collect. Believing there was an interesting situation unfolding involving Prince Wugou, Prince Wuhen eagerly invited Prince Wuyin to accompany him to the gambling den to observe.
Prince Wuyin, though reluctant, agreed to go. After winning several rounds against various players, Jiang Taohua found herself facing Prince Wugou. Having seemingly achieved her initial goal of attracting his attention, she attempted to leave. However, Prince Wugou stopped her and proposed continuing their game with a higher stake. She suggested wagering his highly valuable jade pendant. Prince Wugou agreed but proposed changing the game to a simpler guess of Big or Small, claiming other games weren't his forte.
Jiang Taohua accepted, inwardly noting that Shen Zaiye hadn't trained her in dice throwing for Big or Small, meaning she would have to rely on luck. As she made a move during the game, her arm was momentarily visible, revealing her peach blossom mark. Prince Wugou noticed the mark and found her appearance captivating, desiring her for himself.
While Jiang Taohua continued to play and delay, Shen Zaiye was shown entering a secret area, the treasury, examining its security measures, including a system of bells that would trigger if touched. Jiang Taohua checked a burning incense stick, a silent signal indicating the limited time Shen Zaiye needed, and focused on drawing out the game with Prince Wugou.
As the game of Big and Small progressed, Jiang Taohua became distracted and began to lose rounds, causing onlookers to believe her luck had run out. Feeling the pressure, she decided to make a final, large bet on 'Big'. Just as Prince Wugou was about to declare his victory and demand her surrender, a servant whispered news to him. Startled, Prince Wugou prepared to leave. Jiang Taohua quickly stopped him and proposed a single, winner-take-all bet, wagering herself.
Prince Wugou, acknowledging her striking appearance, asked her worth. To everyone's astonishment, she declared her value to be 500,000 taels of gold, an amount equivalent to the worth of a city and vastly exceeding the compensation from Beiyuan. Prince Wugou, swayed by her beauty and the immense stake, accepted the bet. Observing from above, Prince Wuhen and Prince Wuyin expressed skepticism that Prince Wugou could actually afford such a sum.
Jiang Taohua, anxious and uncertain about her final bet, anxiously awaited Shen Zaiye's return. Just as she was about to declare her choice, Shen Zaiye appeared behind her and subtly pointed towards 'Big'. Following his silent instruction, she confidently declared her bet on 'Big'. The dice were revealed, resulting in 'Big', and Jiang Taohua won the staggering 500,000 taels of gold. Receiving further confirmation regarding the treasury intrusion, Prince Wugou immediately accused Jiang Taohua and her companion of being involved.
Shen Zaiye stepped forward, swiftly knocked off Prince Wugou's mask, revealing his face to the surprised crowd, and then escaped with Jiang Taohua amidst the ensuing chaos. Prince Wugou furiously ordered his men to find and kill them. Meng Huaijin (Prince Wuyin) attempted to calm Prince Wugou, suggesting they retreat to a private room due to the commotion.
However, Prince Wugou, convinced Jiang Taohua and her accomplice were still within the building and linked to the treasury theft, adamantly ordered a thorough search, vowing to find them even if it meant digging three feet deep. Meanwhile, Zhan Lu located Qingtai in the prison cells and brought her food, explaining that the upheaval at the gambling den had created an opportunity for him to find her. He gave her some stolen meat buns.
At the gambling den, the search intensified. Prince Wugou's orders were relayed: find the woman with a peach blossom mark on her arm and her accomplice, and kill them on sight. Soldiers began lining people up and checking their arms for the mark. Jiang Taohua realized she was the target.
Knowing the temporary markings on her arm could not be easily washed off, she urged Shen Zaiye to escape, offering to stay behind and distract the soldiers, recalling his brother's sacrifice to save him in the past. Shen Zaiye refused to leave her side and pulled her away to hide. While they sought refuge in a room, Prince Wuhen and Prince Wuyin discussed their strategy, with Prince Wuhen content to let the chaos escalate, hoping to ultimately reap the benefits.
Back in the room, Marquis Xinyang and the wife of General Weiyuan were also hiding. Prince Wugou and his men entered the room and discovered them. Prince Wugou pulled General Weiyuan's wife out from behind a cabinet and then kicked off Marquis Xinyang's mask, revealing his identity. He warned Marquis Xinyang to cooperate or face consequences similar to General Weiyuan. Prince Wugou then ordered a detailed search of the room, specifically targeting the cabinets. Shen Zaiye pulled Jiang Taohua into a large cabinet just as the soldiers began their search.
