Episode 3 recap: The Yue Ling Princess Prepares to Escape
Yue Ling discovered the evil of Beishuo and requested that Zhoutingyu be by her side at all times for protection, even binding him with ropes when they rested so that Zhoutingyu had to sleep on the ground. Zhoutingyu felt guilty about involving him in this conflict.
Xingyi, limping, reached the Princess's residence, looking like a beggar. The guards of the Northern Prince, Linmu, saw this and felt sympathetic towards him. Xingyi was angry that they had left him behind, but Linmu explained they had to hurry back to the capital and sent a small team to search for him.
Xingyi did not want to hear the explanation and directly went to the Princess's residence to complain. Yue Ling, seeing her brother return safely, no longer pursued the matter. Xingyi wanted Yue Ling to leave, but Yue Ling planned to observe the situation and would only leave if that would prevent war between the two countries.
Linmu investigated the assassins from the Rouofeng Gate and found they had hidden poison in their mouths, promptly killing themselves when caught. Zhoutingyu knew these people were actually after the Northern Prince, not the Princess, and suspected someone in court was behind it. He was still waiting for the messenger to return with news about Yue Ling's identity.
In the court, the Southern Prince mentioned that the Northern Prince had almost caused the betrothal Princess to lose her life, and wanted the Emperor to punish him. But the Northern Prince felt the Southern Prince was manipulating the Emperor, and the two argued. The Emperor pardoned the Northern Prince, as the safe return of the Princess was a good thing. The Emperor planned to grant the Princess the title of Empress Consort, but the Chancellor Zhou Jingyan defiantly wore his sword to court, which was highly disrespectful.
The Emperor was afraid of Zhou Jingyan's power and could only tolerate it. Zhou Jingyan believed the Princess of Dongyu was not worthy to be the Emperor's Consort, and suggested marrying her to an imperial relative instead. The Southern Prince eagerly volunteered, but Zhou Jingyan thought the Northern Prince should marry her as a reward for his efforts.
After court, the Northern Prince approached Zhou Jingyan, knowing he must have ulterior motives in arranging this marriage. Linmu reported that Yue Ling was a false Princess, but the Northern Prince warned him that after the marriage, Yue Ling would be the true Queen.
The Chancellor secretly discussed with the officials, who flattered him, not understanding why he wanted the Northern Prince to marry the Princess. But Zhou Jingyan was consolidating his own power, and if the Princess died in the Northern Prince's palace, Zhoutingyu would be in trouble.
Yue Ling received the imperial decree to marry the Northern Prince. Xingyi was displeased, believing the title of Empress Consort was different from Queen. But Yue Ling thought the abundant gifts were a good sign for Dongyu, so she prioritized the bigger picture.
After settling the Princess and Duer, Qianqian returned to the capital to meet the Yue Ling siblings. Yue Ling decided to escape. Linmu brought sweets for Xingyi and overheard their escape plan, so he reported it to the Northern Prince.
The Southern Prince heard the Princess was the most beautiful in Dongyu and wanted to marry her. His subordinate Yang Xu suggested getting close to the Princess and making her favor him, so he could propose to the Emperor.
As Yue Ling's group prepared to leave the capital, they encountered a playboy harassing people. Yue Ling wanted to intervene, but saw the Southern Prince heroically save the day. Yue Ling then challenged the Southern Prince to a duel, giving him two black eyes and making him look quite disheveled.
The Southern Prince invited Zhoutingyu to the Fengxue Pavilion to talk. Zhoutingyu did not want to get involved, but heard Yue Ling had also gone there, possibly to escape, so he agreed to the meeting.
Yue Ling took Xingyi to the Fengyu Pavilion, where she recognized the dancing courtesan Su Nian as the gatekeeper who had previously kidnapped her. She told Yue Ling, but Yue Ling did not believe her.
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