Episode Summary
Pressured by her father to poison Shen Zaiye, Meng Zhenzhen orchestrates a failed public attempt at a royal banquet to free herself from her family's manipulation. Her father resigns to save her, and Shen Zaiye uses the opportunity to divorce her, further elevating Jiang Taohua's status. The episode ends with Meng Zhenzhen revealing her true motives to Jiang Taohua, who reflects on her own lack of freedom.
Spoiler Alert
"The Princess's Gambit" Episode 15 Spoilers: A Calculated Sacrifice
In the wake of his brother's death, Meng Zhongyan pressures his daughter, Meng Zhenzhen, to poison her husband, Shen Zaiye. Grieving and resentful of her father's cold-hearted political maneuvering, Zhenzhen is torn. She still harbors feelings for Zaiye, but recognizes her powerless position in his household, especially as he increasingly favors Jiang Taohua. Deciding to take control of her own fate, she agrees to the plot, knowing she must be the one to "exit the game."
Meanwhile, Shen Zaiye's affection for Jiang Taohua deepens. He instructs his staff to address her as "Princess" and lavishes her with expensive gifts for an upcoming palace banquet. He even treasures the broken arrow that struck her when she protected him, storing it with his most valuable possessions. Though his aide, Zhan Lu, finds his devotion to an "outsider" unusual, Zaiye insists Taohua is different, believing her intelligence allows her to understand his intentions without words.
At the palace banquet, the Meng family's fall from grace is palpable, as they are seated in a lowly position while the Qin family is celebrated. Zaiye insists Taohua sit beside him, further highlighting her elevated status. When a nervous maidservant serves tea, Zaiye, anticipating a scheme, cleverly introduces special poison-detecting glazed cups, a gift to the King of Qi.
As predicted, the plot unfolds. Meng Zhongyan, seeing his daughter's panic, realizes she has poisoned the tea. He attempts to create a diversion by feigning a heart attack and knocking over the teapot, but the plan is already exposed. The cups reveal the poison in front of Taohua. The maid confesses she was coerced by Meng Zhenzhen, who promptly admits her guilt, citing jealousy over Zaiye's affection for Taohua as her motive.
To save his daughter's life, Meng Zhongyan resigns from his powerful position as Right Prime Minister. Seizing the opportunity, Shen Zaiye requests a divorce from Meng Zhenzhen, framing it as a way to prevent future conflict. The King of Qi agrees.
Later, Meng Zhenzhen reveals the truth to Jiang Taohua. The public poisoning attempt was a deliberate act of self-sabotage, a desperate gambit to free herself from her family's control and become a "discarded piece" no one could use. She expresses her envy for Taohua's perceived freedom, admitting that she, like Shen Zaiye, is a rational person who must weigh emotion against family duty. Today, she finally chose herself.
As Zhenzhen walks away, Taohua reflects that she isn't truly free either, but merely another version of Meng Zhenzhen, bound by her own circumstances. The episode closes with both Jiang Taohua and Shen Zaiye finding themselves on the same bridge, silently watching a brilliant display of molten iron fireworks in the night sky.
