Episode Summary
In this episode, Jiang Taohua and Shen Zaiye, after a near-fatal misunderstanding, finally confess their feelings for each other and commit to facing their future together.Meanwhile, Jiang Changjue demonstrates his growth by launching his own campaign to reclaim Beiyuan, and Mu Wuyin begins to manipulate the King of Qi to consolidate his power and draw out his enemies.
Spoiler Alert
"The Princess's Gambit" Episode 31 Spoilers
Believing Shen Zaiye has perished, a distraught Zhan Lu apologizes profusely to Jiang Taohua for failing to protect him. Refusing to accept his death, Jiang Taohua frantically searches through the rubble. Her hope turns to despair when she finds a torn piece of his clothing, and she breaks down, crying out his name and lamenting all the words she never had the chance to say. Just then, Shen Zaiye appears nearby, softly calling her name. In a tearful reunion, she rushes into his embrace, and he promises to listen to everything she has to say.
Meanwhile, Lu Yuanhua is furious with her subordinates for letting Shen Zaiye and the others escape. Her anger is interrupted by the arrival of Mu Wuyin. While she shows a flicker of emotion at seeing him alive, she quickly admonishes him for his failure. A hurt Mu Wuyin questions if he has only ever been a pawn to her. Lu Yuanhua recounts the suffering and humiliation she endured in the Daqi Kingdom, things he never knew. He promises to give her everything she desires, which seems to soften her. However, he suddenly strikes her unconscious, declaring that while he will give her what she wants, he will also take what he wants from her.
After parting ways with Mu Wuxia and Xiang Qingying, Jiang Taohua and Shen Zaiye share a tender moment. She acknowledges that Shen Zaiye is Mu Wuxia's cousin and expresses concern for the dangers he might face upon his return. Shen Zaiye, however, has faith in his cousin's newfound maturity. As Jiang Taohua tends to Shen Zaiye's wounds, she finally confesses her true feelings. She admits she had been pushing him away to protect him from her troubles, but their recent ordeal has made her realize she wants to live freely with him, even if it's just for a day. She clutches the hairpin he carved for her, and they share a passionate kiss.
Elsewhere, Jiang Changjue successfully finds the last of the saltpeter, winning the people's support as he begins to lead the city's reconstruction. The group learns from Zhan Lu that Mu Wuyin and Lu Yuanhua have gone to the capital, Yujing. Fearing they intend to seize the throne, Jiang Taohua convinces Shen Zaiye that they must return at once, believing that capturing Lu Yuanhua is the key to finding the cure for the "Jiangtao Dan" poison.
Back in Yujing, Mu Wuyin manipulates the ailing King of Qi, who is dependent on his elixirs. Claiming the furnace was destroyed and only one pill remains, Mu Wuyin persuades the suspicious but desperate king to move into his residence for a steady supply of the cure. To solidify his power, Mu Wuyin agrees to an alliance with Meng Zhongyan, which will be sealed by his marriage to Meng Zhenzhen. Despite her objections, her father, Meng Zhongyan, is willing to sacrifice anything for the family's position.
Jiang Taohua tries to persuade her brother, Jiang Changjue, to return with them, but he has his own plan. He intends to use Lu Yuanhua's absence to launch a surprise attack on Beiyuan and reclaim what is rightfully theirs. Impressed by his growth, Jiang Taohua watches as he departs alone after entrusting her care to Shen Zaiye.
The episode takes a dark turn as Mu Wuyin reveals his true intentions for Lu Yuanhua. She awakens to find herself a prisoner in a secret chamber, decorated like a bridal suite with her feet bound. Mu Wuyin calmly tends to a wound on her leg, telling her their dreams are about to come true. When she tries to trick him into calling for the head of the Lanyi Pavilion, he chillingly informs her that he has already killed the Pavilion Master and eliminated all of her spies.
Upon their return, Mu Wuxia and Xiang Qingying learn that the King has not held court for days and that Mu Wuyin and Lu Yuanhua are in the capital, forcing them to alter their plans. The episode concludes with Mu Wuyin deciding to cut off the King's medicine supply, a cruel tactic to lure Mu Wuxia out of hiding.
