My Sassy Princess Episode 19 Recap
> My Sassy Princess Recap
When confronted with evidence brought forth by Shen Yu, Duke Lu vehemently denied any wrongdoing, declaring his unwavering loyalty to Wei. However, Crown Prince Liu Wang then summoned Lu Mingshan, Duke Lu's illegitimate son, who arrived with an account book detailing Lu's corrupt dealings and a land contract showing where stolen treasury silver was hidden within Yigu territory.
Lu Mingshan, disdainful of his family, sought to escape his humble status and expose his grandfather's immense crimes, including colluding with Yigu to steal official silver and framing court officials. Enraged, Duke Lu attacked Lu Mingshan, but Liu Wang swiftly ordered Duke Lu's arrest and interrogation. Liu Wang then declared the Xu family innocent, announcing that the truth of the Jiangzhou case would be revealed to the world.
Regarding the stolen silver now located in Yigu, Liu Wang expressed his dilemma: retrieving it openly would be impossible, and a secret operation risked being caught and accused by the greedy Yigu. At this moment, Xu Shijin arrived, offering to alleviate Liu Wang's worries. She revealed that Shen Yan had already secured the silver. Though realizing Xu Shijin had already outmaneuvered him by securing the silver, Liu Wang listened as she outlined her plan, acknowledging her strategic brilliance.
She suggested using Lu Mingshan to send a message to Tuoba Lie, falsely stating that the Wei escort team, while accompanying Princess Liu Ling, was secretly transporting the stolen silver back to Wei. Xu Shijin reasoned that Yigu, being poor and in need of military funds, would surely attack the escort team to seize the vast sum, thus revealing their disloyal intentions towards Wei.
This would create a legitimate cause for war, providing Liu Wang with the military achievement needed to solidify his claim to the throne. Despite Liu Wang's suspicion of her shifting loyalties, Xu Shijin maintained that her priority was Liu Ling's happiness with Shen Yan, arguing the plan would achieve mutual benefits for Liu Wang and the couple. The message quickly reached Tuoba Lie, who, upon arriving at the location provided by Lu Mingshan, discovered the silver had already been moved.
Annoyed, he returned to his camp and ordered his general, Mu Kun, to prepare a banquet for the Wei soldiers, with the wine secretly laced with a powerful sedative. However, just as Tuoba Lie and his Yigu soldiers celebrated their impending victory, news arrived that Shen Yan and Liu Ling had escaped. Tuoba Lie ordered a pursuit, only to find that his horses had been drugged, leaving them weak and unable to run, a clear trick by the Wei people.
As Shen Yan and Liu Ling attempted to flee, they were surrounded by Yigu soldiers who knew the terrain. Shen Yan urged Liu Ling to go ahead, but she steadfastly refused to leave him, declaring she would follow him no matter what. Understanding her resolve, Shen Yan held her hand, prepared to face the battle together. Meanwhile, Luo Fan gave Ling Bi a hairpin he had bought earlier, and she wore it, sharing a heartfelt moment with him.
Before the fight could truly begin, Yuan Zhelin arrived with a group of martial artists, swiftly neutralizing the threat and rescuing Shen Yan and Liu Ling. Yuan Zhelin declared his debt to Liu Ling repaid and announced his return to a life of freedom in the martial world. As they traveled, Liu Ling asked Shen Yan if the chaotic events, including their ambush, were part of his plan.
Shen Yan confirmed they were, revealing that Xu Shijin had provided him with the map of the silver's hiding place when he went to Jiangzhou to find Liu Ling. While Liu Ling had been delaying the imperial procession, Shen Yan had used that time to instruct his men to secretly move the silver.
He jokingly added that the silver was Xu Shijin's wedding gift to them, subtly hinting that Liu Wang would bestow a marriage decree upon them, which Liu Ling initially disbelieved. Upon their return to Yejing, Shen Yan and Liu Ling immediately sought an audience with Liu Wang. In the palace, a eunuch announced the imperial edict, formally bestowing Princess Peace, Liu Ling, upon Shen Yan, the Commander of the Beidian Administration.
Liu Ling, overjoyed and slightly disbelieving, repeatedly confirmed the news with Shen Yan. With Liu Ling dismissed to prepare for her wedding, Shen Yan detailed Yigu's hostile intentions and Mu Kun's disrespectful behavior during the escort. The ministers, convinced by Shen Yan's report, supported an attack on Yigu, while Liu Wang expressed feigned sorrow over the inevitable suffering of the common people, earning praise for his compassion.
Liu Ling, radiating happiness, was met by a weary-looking Xu Shijin in the palace corridor, whose weariness was due to her constant worry for Liu Ling's safety. Xu Shijin, overjoyed for Liu Ling, escorted her to the Palace of Peace, a residence specially granted by the Emperor for Liu Ling's wedding preparations. Liu Ling found the six-month preparation period too long but was comforted by Xu Shijin, who explained the extensive imperial protocols involved.
Xu Shijin also mentioned that the marriage was personally requested by Shen Yan's mother, and the Emperor intended to use this grand wedding to stabilize public morale. Xu Shijin then revealed that her family's injustice had finally been cleared, and she planned to leave Yejing for the south after Liu Ling's wedding. Liu Ling was saddened but understood Xu Shijin's desire for a peaceful, simple life away from the capital's complexities.
Liu Ling tearfully bid her farewell, making Xu Shijin promise to write and keep her updated on her well-being. Later, Shen Yan visited the disgraced and imprisoned Duke Lu. He pressed Duke Lu about the death of Zhang Yun, the former Princess of Guangping. Duke Lu, with a cold smirk, revealed that his daughter, Lu Qian, had personally pushed Zhang Yun into the lake.
He then taunted Shen Yan with three rhetorical questions, hinting at Prince Guangping's deep involvement in embezzling the stolen silver (40% of which was taken as a price for his assistance), his suspicious behavior in hastily concluding Zhang Yun's death as an accidental drowning, and his long-held resentment towards the late King for stripping him of military power.
Duke Lu darkly prophesied that Shen Yan, now entangled in these affairs and soon to become Prince Guangping's son-in-law, would meet a terrible end. Meanwhile, at the Dingbei Duke Mansion, Duke Dingbei anxiously awaited Liu Ling's return, despite his family's pleas for him to rest. Upon Liu Ling's arrival, he was immensely relieved and overjoyed to see her safe. He declared his intention to bestow his entire personal fortune as her dowry, including valuable furniture, gold and silver ornaments.
Liu Ling, concerned for his worsening health, tried to dissuade him, but he insisted, expressing his desire to secure her future before his impending death, fearing that Prince Guangping and his own "useless" son would bully her. Shen Yan arrived, and together they paid their respects to the old Duke.
Duke Dingbei's spirits lifted significantly with Liu Ling's presence and the confirmation of her forthcoming marriage, though he expressed lingering fear of unforeseen changes before the wedding, which was set for six months later.
