Episode Summary
In this episode, Qian Mochen tests Jiang Taohua's character before giving her the king's true edict, which names her brother, Jiang Changjue, as the heir. When Lu Yuanhua's forces attack, Qian Mochen sacrifices himself to allow Taohua and Shen Zaiye to escape through a secret passage. It is revealed that the "Jiangtao Dan" poison afflicting Taohua has no cure, and its creator, Meiling, is the very woman Taohua saved. Shen Zaiye volunteers to be poisoned to test antidotes. After Taohua rescues and reunites with her brother, they learn that Qian Mochen is also dying from the same poison. They discover that Lu Yuanhua's plan to execute Qian Mochen is a trap with an imposter, and they devise a new plan to find the real Qian Mochen while Shen Zaiye continues to risk his life for a cure.
Spoiler Alert
"The Princess's Gambit" Episode 35: A Test of Heart and a Race Against Time
Though she doesn't trust him, Jiang Taohua follows Qian Mochen to retrieve a crucial document: the late king's final edict. It’s revealed that Qian Mochen had already visited the King of Beiyuan after Jiang Changjue's return to Haodu, urging him to write the edict naming Changjue as his successor. The king was hesitant, worried about his own future, but Qian Mochen persuaded him by pointing out the edict would only take effect after his death. Aware of Lu Yuanhua's malicious intent, the king knew he could only rely on his children. He agreed and had a eunuch fetch the Imperial Seal (Yuxi). As he wavered, Qian Mochen forced his hand, pressing the seal onto the document. To ensure no other edicts could be legitimized, Qian Mochen then deliberately chipped a corner of the Imperial Seal, a fact he kept hidden from Taohua.
Qian Mochen leads Taohua to a secret chamber but insists she enter alone. Inside, she finds a harrowing setup: the edict is suspended by a thread over a burning brazier. The other end of the thread is tied to an elderly woman. If Taohua takes the edict, the woman will be killed; if she saves the woman, the edict will be destroyed. Qian Mochen callously advises her that the old woman is near death and not worth saving. However, Taohua chooses compassion, rescuing the woman and declaring that even without the edict, she will ensure her brother, Jiang Changjue, ascends the throne. She demands that Qian Mochen find a doctor for the woman.
Moved by her unwavering kindness, Qian Mochen reveals this was all a test to see if she had retained her goodness after her many trials. He gives her the real edict. Taohua, struggling to understand his sudden change of heart, finds it difficult to thank him sincerely. Even with the edict in hand, she cannot believe their father ever truly cared for them. Qian Mochen tries to reassure her, but she knows her father's true nature too well.
Just as they are about to leave, Lu Yuanhua, having learned of Qian Mochen's meeting with the king and seeing the damaged seal, realizes what has happened and sends men to capture him. At the same time, Shen Zaiye arrives and helps fight off the first wave of attackers. Qian Mochen urges Taohua and Shen Zaiye to escape through a secret passage, choosing to stay behind because Lu Yuanhua's forces have captured his household. He assures a worried Taohua he can escape on his own before resolutely turning away.
Qian Mochen's subordinate, An Chu, leads Taohua and the others through the passage, which emerges into the very Cold Palace where she and her brother suffered for years. The revelation infuriates Taohua, who feels Qian Mochen watched them endure misery like stray dogs despite having this escape route. An Chu explains that when Qian Mochen forced her to take the "Jiangtao Dan" poison, it was a desperate measure to save both her and her brother's lives. He was unaware at the time that the poison had no cure.
At this moment, the old woman Taohua saved speaks up, introducing herself as Meiling, the doctor who created the Jiangtao Dan. She confirms there is no complete cure but, grateful to Taohua for saving her, vows to develop one. The only obstacle is a missing key ingredient, a rare herb called "Yinghuo."
To help Meiling test potential antidotes, Shen Zaiye volunteers to take the poison himself. After ingesting it, he collapses, coughing up blood from the intense pain. The experience gives him a profound understanding of the agony Taohua has endured every moment they've been together.
Meanwhile, Taohua meets with Hu Yun, a guard loyal to Yue Zhongcheng, to thank him for secretly helping Jiang Changjue and to plan their next move. Their plans are complicated when Lu Yuanhua, after whipping Qian Mochen, announces his public execution in three days to lure Jiang Changjue out of hiding.
While reading the public notice, Jiang Changjue is followed into an alley and nearly captured. Taohua arrives just in time to save him. She reunites him with Hu Yun's guards and presents him with the edict. With this, he is the rightful king, and she leads the others in kneeling and pledging their allegiance.
After Taohua explains how she obtained the edict, Jiang Changjue understands why Lu Yuanhua wants Qian Mochen dead. When Taohua suddenly clutches her chest in pain, he realizes she is also afflicted with the Jiangtao Dan poison. Overcome with guilt, he wants to confront Lu Yuanhua for the antidote immediately, but Taohua stops him, insisting they focus on rescuing Qian Mochen.
An Chu falls to his knees and reveals another shocking truth: Qian Mochen is also dying from the Jiangtao Dan poison. Everything he has done was to protect the siblings. His final order to An Chu was that if he were captured, they must not attempt a rescue. Deeply moved, Taohua vows to save him anyway. Shen Zaiye, however, suspects a trap. He has Hu Yun scout the prison during a meal delivery. Hu Yun observes that the prisoner eats with his right hand, but Taohua knows Qian Mochen is left-handed. They realize it's an imposter set up to bait them. Shen Zaiye quickly formulates a plan to locate the real Qian Mochen.
As they prepare for the rescue mission, Zhan Lu pleads with Shen Zaiye to stop testing the antidotes, fearing it will weaken him for the fight ahead. But Shen Zaiye persists, hoping that each test will give Meiling another chance to create the cure, especially since Lu Yuanhua may not possess the rare Yinghuo herb. Watching from a window as Shen Zaiye spits up blood in agony, Taohua's heart aches, and she swears to make Lu Yuanhua pay for all the suffering she has caused.
