The Princess Royal Episode 24 Recap, Plot

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Early in the morning, Pei Wenxuan set up a sign outside his residence to recruit talent, but by noon, no one had come. In contrast, the Su family residence was bustling with activity. Su Rongqing went to great lengths to attract talent, even inviting Prime Minister Su to oversee the process. Pei Wenxuan noticed Su Rongqing’s changed attitude towards selecting talent through the imperial examination, seeing it as a deliberate opposition to him. Thus, he had Tong Ye use monetary rewards to attract scholars. As expected, many scholars eagerly signed up.

While Su Rongqing was teaching Su Wang, Concubine Rou suddenly arrived, informing him that Pei Wenxuan had changed his strategy, causing them significant impact. Su Rongqing reminded Concubine Rou that as long as their people were safe, the rest could be left to him. That night, Su’s father approached Shangguan Xu to discuss the selection of the chief examiner. Shangguan Xu pointed out that due to the emperor's severe crackdown on noble families, the chief examiner could not come from such a family. Therefore, they needed someone of humble origin but under their control.

Hearing this, Shangguan Ya immediately informed Li Rong. Li Rong was surprised, as Su Rongqing hadn’t cared about this in their previous life. Normally, this year's imperial examination would produce many talented individuals, filling Pei Wenxuan’s ranks. But Su Rongqing's sudden intervention made Li Rong realize that Pei Wenxuan’s position needed to be rapidly elevated.

Li Rong then summoned Liu Hangchun from the Ministry of Personnel, first employing both threats and inducements before recommending Pei Wenxuan. Although Liu Hangchun was known for his lustful nature, he was shrewd and quickly understood, expressing that whether the consort could join the Ministry of Personnel as an official depended entirely on his own abilities and that he would handle it impartially. Knowing Liu Hangchun would remain unbiased, Li Rong felt reassured, confident that Pei Wenxuan’s talents were more than sufficient for the role.

Meanwhile, Su Rongqing had people monitoring the Princess's mansion and, upon learning that Li Rong had privately summoned Liu Hangchun, decided to make use of the situation, instructing someone to deliver a note to Concubine Rou. Su Ronghua brought Shangguan Ya some items, making her very excited. Initially, she thought they were autographs of the handsome men in the capital, but found they were all self-praises and names of Su Ronghua, causing Li Rong to burst into laughter.

With the Su family's recommendation, Wang Houwen of the Ministry of Personnel included Pei Wenxuan’s name on the supplementary list and specially marked it. Liu Hangchun quickly informed Li Rong, who breathed a sigh of relief. Though she was helping Pei Wenxuan, she felt very fulfilled. Jing Lan noted that Li Rong must have fallen for Pei Wenxuan, given how much she cared without expecting anything in return.

The next morning at court, Wang Houwen announced Su Rongqing’s appointment as the new Minister of Justice and Pei Wenxuan’s promotion to Assistant Minister of Personnel. Initially expecting a sixth-rank position, Pei Wenxuan was stunned to hear he was now a fourth-rank official, fainting on the spot amidst the chaos.

Li Rong quickly calmed down, walked briskly to Pei Wenxuan’s side, and requested the emperor to allow Pei Wenxuan to rest in a side hall while summoning the imperial physician. The physician informed Li Rong that Pei Wenxuan needed to avoid overexertion and refrain from sexual activities for the time being. Blushing, Li Rong stayed silently by his side.

News of Pei Wenxuan’s fainting soon spread. When he awoke, he was worried about the list, but Li Rong reassured him, saying she didn’t have the power to make him an Assistant Minister. Su Rongqing had deliberately pushed for Pei Wenxuan’s appointment to incite opposition among the court officials and cause the emperor to distrust and distance himself from the princess. Regardless of the Inspectorate’s power, once the emperor had doubts, Li Rong’s political path would end.

After the morning court session, Liu Hangchun approached Li Rong to apologize. She didn’t blame him much, knowing that Concubine Rou had orchestrated the matter behind the scenes. The emperor was very unhappy about Pei Wenxuan’s appointment as Assistant Minister, so Li Rong personally went to see him, requesting to revoke Pei Wenxuan’s position and explaining that someone was trying to sow discord between them.

Though Concubine Rou admired Su Rongqing’s abilities, she was wary due to his representation of noble family interests. To gain her trust, Su Rongqing promised to give the Inspectorate as a gift. Far in the northwest, Xun Chuan wrote to Li Chuan, sharing her current situation and naming the sword she was given “Hongyu,” symbolizing her fluctuating fate like a feather in the chaotic world, yet she was able to seize her destiny and achieve her aspirations thanks to the prince and princess.

Soon, the emperor discovered Concubine Rou’s involvement in the matter and overheard Princess Hua Le speaking ill of Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong, which infuriated him. He dismissed everyone and slapped Concubine Rou, warning her that she was just a tool and any betrayal would not be tolerated. After the emperor left, Concubine Rou, filled with resentment, ordered someone to procure a slow-acting, colorless, and tasteless poison sent by her family.

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