Episode 26 recap: The Crown Prince died trying to save Yu'er.
Shenghua brought Shang Yizhi to the temple to burn incense and pray. Shang Yizhi told his mother that he felt guilty in his heart, so Shenghua suggested that he come here often. Just as Shang Yizhi and Shenghua were about to leave, they ran into Prime Minister Lin and his daughter Lin Ze Rou. Shenghua wanted to have a conversation with Prime Minister Lin, so she asked Shang Yizhi to take Lin Ze Rou for a walk.
Prime Minister Lin expressed gratitude to Shenghua for making tea, but Shenghua felt that her simple cup of tea couldn't express her gratitude for Prime Minister Lin's secret assistance in saving Shang Yizhi and the Dingnan Mansion. Prime Minister Lin informed Shenghua that the Crown Prince's house arrest had been lifted. Shenghua expressed her hope that the father and son could reconcile peacefully. Shenghua asked Prime Minister Lin if he thought Shang Yizhi was worthy, but Prime Minister Lin admitted his failing eyesight and deferred the judgment to his daughter.
When Shang Yizhi saw Lin Ze Rou holding a book on divination, he asked if she also liked it. Lin Ze Rou told him that she was doing it for him and that she had heard about his years of battles on the battlefield, so she came specifically to pray for his safety. Mr. Yang discreetly handed Shang Yizhi a note, and after reading it, Shang Yizhi went to inform the Crown Princess that he was there on the Crown Prince's orders to take Yu'er away.
Shang Yizhi brought back some snacks for A Mai, who asked him how his visit to the temple went. Shang Yizhi jokingly said that it wasn't as good as A Mai's appearance. A Mai asked him what was better than her appearance, and Shang Yizhi quickly corrected himself, saying that the monks in the temple didn't look as good as her.
As soon as the Crown Princess saw the Crown Prince return, she eagerly asked about Yu'er. The Crown Prince told her that he hadn't seen Yu'er all day. The Crown Princess then informed him that Mr. Yang had just come and taken Yu'er away in his name. The Crown Prince insisted that he hadn't sent anyone to take Yu'er. Just as they were talking, Mr. Guo arrived and informed the Crown Prince that if he hurried to the Kangwang Mansion, Yu'er could be safely brought back.
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince immediately ordered his men to restrain Mr. Guo. He reassured the Crown Princess not to worry and that he will bring Yu'er back safely himself.
The Crown Prince arrived at the Dingnan Mansion, and the Princess Royal immediately understood that he had come to find Shang Yizhi. The Princess Royal quickly sent someone to call Shang Yizhi, and the Crown Prince told him and A Mai that Yu'er had been kidnapped. The Kangwang Prince had bribed people around him to take Yu'er away.
The Crown Prince knelt down and begged Shang Yizhi and A Mai to quickly find a way to save Yu'er. A Mai told him that she considered herself half of Yu'er's mentor and that she would not sit idly by. The Princess Royal told the Crown Prince not to worry and let Shang Yizhi and A Mai come up with a plan.
The Crown Prince arrived at the Kangwang Mansion, and the Kangwang Prince asked if he had brought the seal. The Crown Prince asked about Yu'er's whereabouts. The Kangwang Prince told him that as long as he handed over the seal, he would safely return Yu'er to him. The Kangwang Prince believed that the Crown Prince had gained the Emperor's favor through despicable means and showed him some letters, claiming that they were used to deceive the Emperor's affection by substituting a fake child for the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince looked at the letters in the Kangwang Prince's hand and knew they were all fake. The Kangwang Prince said that precisely because they were fake, the Crown Prince should sign them to make them real. Meanwhile, A Mai and Shang Yizhi were trying to find out where Yu'er was. The Kangwang Prince told the Crown Prince to quickly sign the letters; otherwise, Yu'er's life would be in danger.
The Crown Prince told him that he wouldn't sign those letters today. Even if Yu'er died, the Kangwang Prince wouldn't escape responsibility. But if he did sign those letters, the Kangwang Prince would use them against him and Yu'er would still die. The Crown Prince then asked the Kangwang Prince what he would do in his place, and the Kangwang Prince told him that he hoped he would ruthlessly kill Yu'er. The Kangwang Prince and his men watched as time ticked away, and they played the emotional card with the Crown Prince, telling him not to hesitate and to sign the letters quickly.
A Mai and Shang Yizhi found Yu'er, and the Crown Princess also reported the situation to the Emperor. Mr. Yang came to inform the Kangwang Prince that Yu'er had been rescued, and people from the palace had arrived. When the Crown Prince heard this news, he told the Kangwang Prince that he would never betray the Emperor, even if it meant his own death. After saying this, the Crown Prince coughed up blood and died.
I haven't read the original work, so I can't comment on how well this drama adaptation was done. But from a purely dramatic perspective, this drama is pretty good.
Especially the relationship between Xiaohouye and A Mai. I understand that for fans of the original work, my comments might not be pleasing, but I'm just a viewer.
Seeing these two people meet, understand each other, and fall in love, I deeply feel the hardships they've faced. Especially when I saw the Crown Princess, for the sake of the world and the overall situation, conspiring with Prime Minister Lin to marry his daughter to Xiaohouye, I felt even more heartbroken.
There's a line in the drama that I remember clearly. Xiaohouye says, "If I can't protect Shishu, how can I protect you in the future?" A Mai responds, "We're not about who protects whom, we protect each other." Do you all understand this sense of destiny?
It's about two people trusting each other, one being an emperor who protects the world, and the other being a general who fights on the battlefield for the other.
What kind of shared life-and-death emotional bond is that! But now, they have to let go of their feelings for the deeper and darker power struggle - how heart-wrenching it is.
And as insiders of the plot, they are still unaware, while we, as viewers, have already glimpsed their tragedy. And this is exactly where I want to speak up for this adapted drama.
A good drama captivates and makes us empathize with the characters' fate. I feel that this drama achieves that, making it a success. I also hope that everyone won't get caught up in whether the adaptation aligns with the original work.
This drama itself is not solely focused on small emotions and love, but excels in portraying the destiny of a nation and its people. Only in this way can it be considered a fine masterpiece.