Episode Summary
Following his abduction by Jiang Yunqing, Yue Chi (disguised as Consort Yue) is imprisoned by the furious Empress Dowager. To counter political rumors and save his ally, Emperor Huo Jingheng personally breaks Jiang Yunqing out of the dungeon. After reaffirming their trust, Huo Jingheng stages a dramatic act in court to quell the ministers' anger. He then tasks a reluctant Yue Chi with devising a plan to fake "Consort Yue's" death to eliminate his disguise permanently. The episode ends with the sudden, suspicious reappearance of Princess Wenrou, the long-lost daughter of a deceased war hero, who insists on staying in the palace.
Spoiler Alert
A Prime Minister's Disguise Episode 17 Recap & Spoilers: A Reckless Rescue and a Ghost from the Past
The episode opens with the court in turmoil. The Empress Dowager is incandescent with rage after learning that "Consort Yue" (Yue Chi in disguise) was abducted by Jiang Yunqing. Without hesitation, she has her guards seize Yue Chi and throw him into the heavily fortified imperial dungeon. When his subordinate, Wei Zhang, reports the dire situation, Emperor Huo Jingheng wants to intervene, but the Empress Dowager's personal guard has the prison on lockdown, making a rescue attempt seem impossible.
Huo Jingheng secretly summons Yue Chi to the palace to discuss the crisis. [1] Meanwhile, their enemy Yi Qingyun sees his chance to strike. He starts a vicious rumor that Yue Chi, the former prime minister, was not only engaged to the previous dynasty's princess, Jiang Yunqing, but was also hiding her. The gossip spreads like wildfire, painting Yue Chi as a traitor with ambitions to overthrow the Da Ning Dynasty.
The political pressure mounts. Knowing the court officials would demand Yue Chi's head, Huo Jingheng strategically skips the morning assembly. This forces the indignant ministers, led by a weeping Official Ouyang, to take their grievances directly to the Empress Dowager. She confronts Huo Jingheng with a mountain of petitions, but the Emperor decides to play for time, letting the situation cool down.
However, Huo Jingheng has a much bolder plan in mind. To protect Yue Chi and preserve their fragile alliance, he takes matters into his own hands. That night, he personally leads Yue Chi to the imperial dungeon and breaks Jiang Yunqing out. The move is audacious, and when the Empress Dowager finds out, she is furious, scolding Huo Jingheng for choosing the most reckless and foolish solution imaginable.
Yue Chi is overcome with guilt and gratitude. He recalls a time when he opposed Huo Jingheng regarding the "General Gu affair," yet now the Emperor is risking everything for him. Shaken, Yue Chi stays home from court for several days, claiming to be ill. Huo Jingheng, seeing through the excuse, pays him a personal visit. He finds Yue Chi drinking and takes a moment to teach a young boy, Xiao Shuo, how to use a slingshot. The Emperor then reaffirms his absolute trust in Yue Chi, pledging that they will protect the Da Ning Dynasty together. Deeply moved, Yue Chi renews his commitment to their partnership.
To quell the dissent among the ministers, Huo Jingheng puts on a masterful performance in court. He dramatically offers to take his own life to atone for the scandal, a gesture that shocks the officials into silence. Official Ouyang quickly backpedals, stating that the priority should be capturing the fugitive, not punishing the Emperor. For now, the crisis is averted.
The danger to Yue Chi's identity, however, is greater than ever. Huo Jingheng gives him a new, grim assignment: come up with two viable plans within three days to stage the "death" of Consort Yue. Only by eliminating the character he is playing can Yue Chi safely shed his disguise. Yue Chi laments that he would have been better off just staying home sick.
Just as one fire is put out, another sparks. A long-lost figure from the past, Princess Wenrou, suddenly reappears. She is the daughter of the Prince of Beijun, a war hero who fought alongside Huo Jingheng's family to establish the dynasty but died in battle. The Emperor and Empress Dowager are immediately suspicious of her timing. The princess explains that she was abducted by human traffickers years ago and was saved by an old woman. Only recently did she learn of Huo Jingheng's ascension to the throne and find a way to reveal her identity. While Huo Jingheng feels obligated to care for her, he is wary. His suspicion deepens when Princess Wenrou declines a private manor and insists on staying in the palace to serve him and the Empress Dowager. Though he agrees to let her stay for now, Huo Jingheng makes it clear he has no intention of adding her to his harem. Her mysterious return adds a new, unpredictable element to the palace's already treacherous politics.
