Episode 15 recap: Sun Xiang faked her death to escape marriage.
The emperor regarded Sun Xiang as exceptionally intelligent and beautiful, so he publicly announced her betrothal to the Crown Prince and bestowed upon her the title of Consort. Yuan Ming Yu strongly opposed this decision but failed to change the emperor's mind. Yuan Ming Yu apologized to Sun Xiang, who felt helpless and without any recourse. They were dealing with the highest-ranking officials in the land, so there was no way to reason with them.
Sun Xiang stated that if the Crown Prince used force, she would choose to die with Yuan Ming Yu. Yuan Ming Yu felt responsible for dragging Sun Xiang into this situation, but Sun Xiang remained indifferent. Ever since Sun Xiang's failed assassination attempt on Yuan Ming Yu, she had always believed Yuan Ming Yu to be a person of high moral principles. However, seeing her later helping the people affected by disasters, risking her life for Ye Shao and even establishing schools for women, Sun Xiang realized that Yuan Ming Yu was a princess with a strong sense of righteousness. She felt that she had contributed to this outcome and had no regrets.
Yuan Ming Yu decided to plead with the emperor again. When she learned that Sun Xiang did not want to marry the Crown Prince, the emperor scoffed at her. Who wouldn't desire power? If Sun Xiang wasn't a person driven by vanity, why would she stay by Yuan Ming Yu's side? Yuan Ming Yu had no response, but she made it clear that if the emperor didn't grant her request, she would kneel indefinitely.
The emperor saw this as a threat and left in a huff. Yuan Ming Yu knelt for a day and a night until she collapsed from exhaustion. Third Princess Yuan Ming Yi saw her in that state and had her sent back to her residence. When Yuan Ming Yu woke up, she saw Ye Shao guarding her. Since the emperor refused to change his mind, Ye Shao suggested a plan for Sun Xiang to fake her death using medicine to deceive the emperor and the Crown Prince.
Comments(Episode 15)