Episode Summary
In the final episode, the defeated Northwest Army retreats to Fengming Mountain, where Huo Jingheng and Yue Chi arrive with reinforcements. A conflicted Yi Qingyun is confronted by Jiang Yunqing, who has poisoned herself to escape his control. While attempting to rescue Ling'er from the enemy camp with the help of a young soldier, Xiao Shuo, Huo Jingheng is ambushed by Jiang Yunqing; Xiao Shuo dies saving him, and Ling'er falls from a cliff during the escape.
The final battle erupts at Fengming Mountain. As casualties mount, Jiang Yunqing prepares to detonate explosives on the city wall. However, General Pei, a former friend, foils her plan by secretly disarming the bombs after taking Yi Qingyun hostage. Defeated, Jiang Yunqing leaps from the wall to an unknown fate. The war ends, and peace is restored. Yue Chi departs, while Huo Jingheng and Ling'er, now the Empress, finally begin their life together.
Spoiler Alert
A Prime Minister's Disguise Episode 24: Recap & Spoilers
The final episode of "A Prime Minister's Disguise" picks up in the immediate, brutal aftermath of the previous episode's battle. The Northwest Army, under the command of the elderly General Du, has suffered a crushing defeat and is forced to retreat to the strategic stronghold of Fengming Mountain. Just as their situation seems hopeless, Emperor Huo Jingheng and the former Prime Minister Yue Chi arrive with reinforcements, joining General Du to mount a last stand.
Meanwhile, a deep internal conflict plagues Yi Qingyun, the crown prince of the neighboring Li Kingdom. He is torn, unwilling to hand over such a disastrous military situation to his nephew and successor, Yi Xin. Jiang Yunqing, the former princess, senses his hesitation and confronts him, leading to a volatile escalation of their conflict. She reveals a devastating secret: she has already taken a slow-acting poison that has robbed her of her five senses, a final, desperate act to ensure she can never be controlled by him again.
A Desperate Gambit, A Fateful Choice
The standoff between Jiang Yunqing and Yi Qingyun is fraught with tension. Jiang Yunqing produces a medicine box, a clear signal that she is prepared to die, severing her ties to him completely. In a last-ditch effort to reach her, Yue Chi plays a bone flute, a symbol of their shared past. But the woman he once knew is gone; she decisively throws the flute into the water, demonstrating that her heart and emotions will no longer dictate her actions.
While this drama unfolds, Huo Jingheng undertakes a perilous mission. With the help of a young soldier named Xiao Shuo, he disguises himself and infiltrates the enemy camp, determined to rescue Yue Ling'er. He finds her frail and gaunt, his heart aching at her condition. During the infiltration, he discovers that Xiao Shuo has stolen the commander's seal, hoping to use it to desert and escape the horrors of war. Huo Jingheng tries to reason with him, explaining that the reality of war is far more complex than a simple escape.
An Escape Cut Short by Tragedy
Under the cover of darkness, Huo Jingheng and Ling'er attempt to flee, guided by Xiao Shuo through a hidden path. Their escape is violently interrupted by an ambush led by Jiang Yunqing. She lets loose a fatal arrow aimed at Huo Jingheng, but Xiao Shuo, in a final act of bravery, throws himself in front of the Emperor, sacrificing his life. Enraged by the escape attempt, Jiang Yunqing gives a chilling order: kill them all. In the chaotic flight that follows, Ling'er loses her footing and plummets from a cliff. Wei Zhang is dispatched to lead the search, focusing his efforts on a farmhouse at the base of the mountain where she may have been found.
The Final Battle for the Da Ning Dynasty
At Fengming Mountain, the final, bloody battle commences. Huo Jingheng and Yue Chi lead the formidable Qilin Army and the soldiers of the Da Ning Dynasty against the enemy forces. The battle is made more tragic as they find themselves fighting against General Pei, a once-trusted friend now on the opposing side. The fighting is merciless, and casualties mount quickly. Wei Zhang, old General Du, and countless loyal soldiers fall in the brutal melee.
High above on the city wall, Jiang Yunqing prepares her final act of destruction. She has rigged the ramparts with explosives, intending to detonate them and die with the Empress and Crown Prince. Yue Chi pleads with her, but his words fall on deaf ears. In a shocking turn, General Pei kills a guard named Ying and takes Yi Qingyun hostage. Seeing the bloody stalemate and the futility of more fighting, Yi Qingyun orders his troops to stand down. However, his soldiers, fearing for his safety, ignore the command and continue to fight.
In that critical moment, General Pei makes a secret move. Unseen by Jiang Yunqing, he covertly disarms the explosives, single-handedly preventing the catastrophic loss of life she had planned.
A Bittersweet Peace
Her plan thwarted, Jiang Yunqing leaps from the city wall. Her ultimate fate is left unknown, a tragic end that leaves Yue Chi heartbroken. With her fall, the battle grinds to a halt, and the war is finally over. Huo Jingheng and Yue Chi have successfully defended the Da Ning Dynasty, securing a hard-won peace.
In the aftermath, a weary Yue Chi expresses his desire to resign from his official duties and requests permission to leave for a time. Huo Jingheng grants his friend's request. In a quiet, final moment, Huo Jingheng visits a temple and retrieves the bone flute that Jiang Yunqing had cast into the water. He reflects on their tragic story, lamenting that they could have spent their lives together but were torn apart by their opposing duties and destinies.
The series concludes with a note of hope and happiness. Yue Ling'er is named Empress, and she and Emperor Huo Jingheng are finally able to share a future together, building a new era of peace for the kingdom.
