Episode 28 recap: Jiang Xue Ning saves the princess opportunistically.
When Madam Jiang learned that Old Jiang had accused Xue Yuan, she angrily questioned him, asking what had gotten into him. Right at that moment, Jiang Xue Hui took the initiative to come forward and apologize, explaining to her mother that Xue Shu was targeting the Jiang family mainly because she was running for the position of princess. Upon hearing Jiang Xue Hui's words, in order to protect herself, Madam Jiang didn't want Jiang Xue Hui to withdraw from the selection. However, Jiang Xue Hui mentioned Jiang Xue Ning's words and explicitly told her mother that she and Shen Jie were deeply in love and she didn't want to give up this opportunity.
Madam Jiang didn't expect her usually obedient eldest daughter to defy her wishes, which infuriated her and she left in a huff. The maidservant informed Jiang Xue Ning about this, and Jiang Xue Ning felt that this was the real Jiang Xue Hui. When Xie Wei went to Tongzhou military camp, he told Yan Ning that if they wanted the old general to return, they needed the right moment, which would be when there is another conflict at the border.
Recently, the neighboring Da Yue Kingdom had just sent friendly documents to Da Qian Kingdom. However, to the Emperor's surprise, they suddenly invaded the border. Upon receiving the report from the frontier, Xie Wei believed that Da Yue Kingdom must have noticed that there was no general leading the frontlines of Da Qian Kingdom. Xue Yuan was delighted upon hearing this news and volunteered to lead the troops to the frontlines. However, Zhang Zhe believed that Xue Yuan was negligent in military affairs and, being a disgraced individual, he was not suitable to be the general. Zhang Zhe recommended Yan Mu to the Emperor, but it seemed that the Emperor was dissatisfied with both candidates.
After the morning court session, Lv Xian noticed that Xie Wei didn't have a smile on his face and asked him what was wrong. Xie Wei didn't tell him about the court affairs. Lv Xian felt that Xue Yuan's voluntary request must have another purpose. Xie Wei had already guessed Xue Yuan's intentions. Xue Yuan wanted to lead the troops to the frontlines to expand his private army and prepare for rebellion. Naturally, the Emperor wouldn't let him have his way. However, Xie Wei didn't expect Zhang Zhe to recommend Yan Mu. For the Emperor, Yan Mu was also a formidable opponent. After much effort, the Emperor had just taken away Yan Mu's military power and naturally wouldn't return it to him.
Xie Wei met with the princess, but she suddenly started drinking excessively. Jiang Xue Ning was puzzled by this. Suddenly, a maid informed her of a piece of news: in order to pacify the conflicts at the border, the Emperor wanted the princess to marry into Da Yue Kingdom. Upon hearing this news, Jiang Xue Ning thought about the tragic fate of the princess in her past life and wanted to persuade the princess to refuse. However, the princess sadly replied that she had no choice.
To prevent the princess from marrying into another kingdom, Jiang Xue Ning sought Xie Wei's help. However, Xie Wei suggested playing chess with her and began explaining the principles of chess. Through Xie Wei's explanation, Jiang Xue Ning suddenly understood the concept of taking advantage of the situation.
News quickly spread in the streets and alleys that the princess was going to be married off, and people were discussing it. The conflict at the border was originally caused by the Xue family, so it should have been Xue Shu who was sent for the marriage alliance, and the princess should not have been sacrificed.
In order to rally more people to speak up for the princess, Jiang Xue Ning found a fake Xue Dingfei and spent a large sum of silver to have him handle the matter. The fake Xue Dingfei informed Xie Wei about this, and while they were talking, Zhou Yinzhi suddenly came to complain to Xie Wei. He was being suspected by Xue Yuan and didn't know what to do. Xie Wei reminded him that since he had chosen to abandon the darkness and join the light, he should help find evidence of Xue Yuan's crimes.
Governor Gu didn't expect them to find evidence of Xue Yuan's crimes so quickly. Zhang Zhe felt it was normal because when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Not all the members of the Xingwu Guards were loyal to Xue Yuan. Xue Yuan was feeling restless at home, and Xue Ye had caused him more trouble. Unable to bear it, Xue Ye had beaten a group of scholars who criticized the Xue family. The situation became even more unfavorable for the Xue family. After teaching Xue Ye a lesson, Xue Yuan decided to go with the flow.
When Xue Shu learned that her father wanted her to be married off, she hurriedly went to plead with her aunt. However, because of her repeated mistakes, the Empress Dowager was already disappointed in her. The Empress Dowager not only didn't show any mercy to her desperate pleas but also scolded her to leave. As Xue Shu was leaving the Empress Dowager's palace, she was silently shedding tears. Suddenly, she saw a gecko that had self-amputated its tail and escaped. Inspired by the gecko, she suddenly had an idea. If she was destined to be a chess piece, then she wanted to be the most prestigious chess piece in the world. So she took the initiative to offer herself to the Emperor, offering to help him eradicate the power of the Xue family. The Emperor then bestowed her the title of concubine.
Jiang Xue Ning didn't expect Xue Shu to change sides and align herself with the Emperor. But in doing so, the princess would still have to go through with the marriage alliance. Once the two countries went to war, the princess would be the first to die. After hearing Jiang Xue Ning's words, Xie Wei asked her in confusion how she knew that the two countries would go to war.
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