Episode Summary
In a calculated move, Mu Wuyin forces the King of Qi to abdicate by withholding his medicine, planning to seize the throne and marry Lu Yuanhua.
Spoiler Alert
"The Princess's Gambit" Episode 32
The situation grows dire as Mu Wuxia learns of the devastating floods in the south and drought in the northwest, furious that his brother, Mu Wuyin, is ignoring the crises. Mu Wuyin's only focus is on his plot with Lu Yuanhua to seize the throne. The tension escalates when Li Dian reports that the King of Qi intends to stay at Mu Wuyin's monastery. Sensing a trap, Mu Wuxia immediately summons Wang Xi to strategize.
Joined by a concerned Xiang Qingying, Mu Wuxia decides he must see the King at once. He knows the King, despite his interest in medicinal elixirs, is a pragmatic ruler who would never abandon his duties for spiritual retreat. Li Dian reveals a secret passage—a doggy door—that will allow them to sneak into the heavily guarded monastery.
Inside, they find the King's chambers and witness a chilling scene: Mu Wuyin is withholding the King's medicine, blackmailing him for an edict of abdication. Wracked with pain from his addiction, the King relents and writes the decree. After Mu Wuyin leaves, Mu Wuxia confronts the King, promising a rescue in exchange for an edict authorizing him to mobilize the Capital Guards. The desperate King agrees.
Meanwhile, Mu Wuyin presents the abdication edict to Lu Yuanhua, offering her the entire kingdom as a bride price to make her his queen. Visibly moved, Lu Yuanhua calls him "San Lang" and accepts his proposal, prompting him to finally remove her shackles.
Mu Wuxia and Shen Zaiye meet to share intelligence. Shen Zaiye points out a critical flaw in Mu Wuxia's plan: the edict to mobilize troops is missing the Imperial Seal. Jiang Taohua, who had previously snuck into Mu Wuyin's secret chamber, reveals she saw a marriage contract between him and Lu Yuanhua. Realizing Meng Zhenzhen is being set up as a pawn, Jiang Taohua rushes to warn her.
The plan to counter the coup splits into two fronts. Mu Wuxia confronts General Zhou, the commander of the Capital Guards, while Shen Zaiye rallies his former subordinates, including General Yao Jing. Though Shen Zaiye successfully persuades his men to join his cause to protect the king, General Zhou refuses to obey Mu Wuxia's edict without the seal. Mu Wuxia, undeterred, leads him to the training grounds where Shen Zaiye has already gathered the army. Impressed and cornered, General Zhou agrees to help, on the condition that he sees the King first.
On the day of the wedding, as a bridal sedan carries Meng Zhenzhen to the palace, Mu Wuxia is simultaneously dressing Lu Yuanhua in a red wedding gown, personally veiling her and leading her into the grand hall. At the same time, Meng Zhongyan cruelly taunts the captive King with his medicine, forcing him to grovel. When a loyal eunuch tries to intervene, Meng Zhongyan kills him without hesitation.
Just as all seems lost, Shen Zaiye and his soldiers storm the location, capturing Meng Zhongyan. Mu Wuxia frees the King, but is taken hostage by Meng Zhongyan's remaining guards. In a tense standoff, Shen Zaiye reveals he is Mu Wuxia's cousin and offers to trade places.He uses a handkerchief to create a diversion, then fatally strikes the guard with a concealed dart. The cousins share a brief, heartfelt reunion before Shen Zaiye insists on heading to the palace alone, telling Mu Wuxia to protect the King.
Hiding inside Meng Zhenzhen's sedan, Jiang Taohua and Qingtai warn her that she is a decoy who will be killed once she enters the palace, replaced by the real bride. They expose Lu Yuanhua as the notorious Empress Lü of Beiyuan. Though initially disbelieving, Meng Zhenzhen is convinced to let them accompany her. Their warning proves true when a palace maid attacks Meng Zhenzhen upon her arrival, only to be swiftly killed by the vigilant Qingtai. Grateful and horrified, Meng Zhenzhen agrees to cooperate.
In the main hall, Mu Wuyin proceeds with the wedding ceremony, holding Lu Yuanhua's hand and proclaiming the abdication edict to the assembled officials. Forced by the surrounding soldiers, the court begins to bow. But just as the Imperial Seal is about to be used, Jiang Taohua bursts in. She dramatically exposes the bride's true identity, revealing to the shocked court that the woman beside Mu Wuyin is not Meng Zhenzhen, but Empress Lü of Beiyuan.
