Episode Summary
The Crown Prince's plot to kill the miners backfires when Shen Zaiye ambushes his assassins and exposes the conspiracy. This leads to the Crown Prince being stripped of his title by the enraged King of Qi. When Shen Zaiye attempts to implicate the Meng family, the King protects them, demonstrating that Shen is merely a tool at his command. To save the family's reputation and appease the throne, Meng Huaijin commits suicide in prison after a final farewell with his father. The episode ends with Shen Zaiye showing increasing tenderness toward Jiang Taohua, inviting her to a palace event and elevating her title to "Princess."
Spoiler Alert
The Princess's Gambit Episode 14: A Prince Falls, A Family Sacrifices
The fallout from the attempt on Shen Zaiye's life continues as Jiang Taohua recovers from her injury. Meng Zhenzhen is troubled, aware that Taohua suspects her involvement and is increasingly jealous of the affection Shen Zaiye shows for Taohua.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince makes a fatal error. Convinced of his own cunning, he orders his men to find and eliminate the miners who are evidence of his illegal silver mine. However, this plays directly into Shen Zaiye's hands. Shen has already moved the miners to safety and lays a trap for the Crown Prince's would-be assassins. After capturing them, Shen Zaiye sets off a signal flare, exposing the entire conspiracy to everyone at the royal hunt.
Meng Huaijin confronts the still-arrogant Crown Prince, who brazenly admits to his actions. Furious and desperate, Huaijin throws a drink in the prince's face, telling him it's too late for schemes. Just then, the King of Qi's soldiers arrive to take the Crown Prince into custody.
In the grand hall of the court, the King of Qi is presented with the evidence of his son's treason. Enraged, he officially strips him of his title as Crown Prince and has him dragged away. Seizing the moment, Shen Zaiye presses his advantage, demanding that the Meng family also be punished for backing the conspiracy. However, the King becomes evasive and abruptly adjourns the court. The message is clear: Shen Zaiye is a useful weapon, but one that the King alone controls.
To save the family from complete ruin, a painful sacrifice is made. The family patriarch, Meng Zhongyan, visits his son Meng Huaijin in prison for a heartbreaking farewell. To protect his family and give the throne an acceptable resolution, Meng Huaijin takes his own life, leaving behind a final letter for his sister, Meng Zhenzhen.
In court, Meng Zhongyan accepts blame for his son's actions, but the King of Qi publicly absolves him, declaring that the family tree has simply been pruned of a "dead branch." The Meng family is spared further retribution, leaving Shen Zaiye to swallow his anger and bide his time.
The episode closes on a softer note. Shen Zaiye visits Jiang Taohua, bringing her favorite snacks from the North Garden and inviting her to an upcoming flower-viewing party at the palace. In a final, significant gesture, he instructs his attendant, Zhan Lu, to no longer refer to her as "Lady Jiang," but as "Princess."
