The Princess Royal Episode 39 Recap, Plot

> The Princess Royal
> The Princess Royal Recap

As the day broke, the grand hall became vast and chilly, illuminated by the bronze palace lanterns with vermilion birds holding pearls standing on both sides. Without Fu Lai's guidance, Li Rong could easily spot the golden throne at the end. Fu Lai respectfully presented an imperial edict, the prominent words "Regent Princess" suddenly made Li Rong feel disoriented. Fu Lai explained that the emperor always cared for the princess, even if it wasn't apparent, his intentions remained.

Only then did Li Rong truly understand the loneliness of being in a high position. Soon, a group of people hurried into the palace, led by Su Rongqing, followed by Xiao Ming, Concubine Rou and her daughter, as well as many heads of families including Wang and Gu, using the excuse of purging the court to remove Crown Prince Li Chuan.

Li Rong ordered the edict to be read, stating that the Crown Prince did not enter the palace last night and the emperor was in good health. Their forceful attack on the city was an act of treason. This statement caused a significant change in their expressions. If Li Rong was acting as regent, with power comparable to the emperor, they would not dare to offend her rashly.

If Li Chuan was not in the palace and the emperor was still alive, their attack today would appear ridiculous. The crime of murdering the emperor would be questioned when in power, but once they lost their power, it would lead to the extermination of their families. Seeing their hesitation, Su Rongqing proposed to negotiate with Li Rong personally and dismissed the idle people.

Pei Lixian worried about unexpected changes, even Princess Hua Le was uncertain whether the emperor was still alive. Concubine Rou arranged for her brother Xiao Qian to guard the city gate to prevent Pei Wenxuan and his people from entering the city for rescue. If the emperor was indeed alive, she would find a way to kill him and frame Crown Prince Li Chuan.

Pei Wenxuan ordered the control of the families of Su and Gu, hearing that Li Rong had gathered all forces within the palace, indicating that the emperor was alive. She needed to preserve the remaining forces to buy time for Li Chuan to find an opportunity to counterattack the city. Soon, Xun Chuan led troops back to the capital for support.

Pei Wenxuan instructed Yuan Feiyu to immediately lead a thousand soldiers to the city tower to coordinate with Xun Chuan in opening the city gates. He also ordered Pei Xiao to take the Wang family members into the Princess's residence and guard it. Li Chuan, seeing the signal lantern released by Pei Wenxuan, returned to the palace with Xun Chuan.

Meanwhile, Li Rong and Su Rongqing sat on the ground, boiling water and making tea, seemingly chatting like old friends, yet with an air of confrontation. Su Rongqing stated that he did not come for revenge. Li Chuan could have lived; in this coup, he could have been executed for treason and then lived under a different identity. However, due to Li Rong's actions today, Li Chuan had no chance of survival.

Su Rongqing lamented that they were ultimately on opposing sides. Similarly, Li Rong reminisced about the Su Rongqing who was not tainted by power, who held the lofty ambition of the Su family to live for the people and die for the country. But now, the aristocratic families were harmful to the people and the country, yet Su Rongqing wanted to protect them.

In Li Rong's view, the northern expedition years ago was indeed a bit hasty, but if it weren't for the aristocratic families' exploitation and corruption, the military funds would have fully supported the northern expedition. Even though the southern floods depleted the national treasury due to the northern expedition, if the flourishing aristocratic families had paid taxes, the national treasury would not have been so empty.

Previously, Su Rongqing believed that as an emperor, Li Chuan should not favor only one woman. If Su Rongqing truly loved someone, how could he tolerate sharing a bed with others? Thus, Li Rong told Su Rongqing that he blamed everything on Li Chuan, but the current situation was not the fault of one person. Su Rongqing retorted that although there were corrupt aristocrats, there were also corrupt commoners. Even among the factional struggles, aristocrats were involved.

It was human nature, not related to the aristocracy. Everyone thought the aristocrats were at fault. For so many years, during famines, the Su family provided relief; during wars, Su family members went to the battlefield. The Su family cared for the people, yet they were falsely accused and exterminated. On the other hand, if Li Chuan was not at fault, how could Shangguan Ya and Su Ronghua be at fault?

Just because of the imperial identity, the royal family could act recklessly. The royal family was equally guilty. Ultimately, Li Rong and Su Rongqing held different views and could not be allies, unable to return to the past. At this moment, Pei Wenxuan led a large number of troops to attack the city. Lord Wang intended to take Li Rong hostage but was stopped by Su Rongqing. Knowing the disparity in military strength, Li Rong decided to leave with them.

Below the high platform, Pei Wenxuan approached step by step, unafraid even when pointed at by arrows. On the other side, the army was at the city gate. With Li Chuan's order, the sound of cannon fire and battle cries filled the air, and the emperor's laughter in the bedchamber was mournful. Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Rong, stating that he came either to die with her or to take her home.

Then he took out the family emblems of many ministers, persuading them to surrender for a slim chance of survival. He declared that Su Rongqing could not represent the Su family. Su Minzhi had long been controlled by him, and the true eldest son of the Su family, Su Ronghua, had already defected to the Crown Prince.

If they wanted to survive, the only way was to support the Crown Prince and promote the imperial examination system while abolishing the recommendation system completely. However, Su Rongqing and others refuted Pei Wenxuan, promising to give everyone a satisfactory explanation, and ordered him to be taken down. Seeing this, Pei Wenxuan pushed Li Rong into the hall. Before Li Rong could react, the door slammed shut. Outside, Pei Wenxuan fought with a small number of soldiers.

Li Rong pleaded with Su Rongqing to spare him, but Su Rongqing ignored her and left, making her fearfully cry, praying for Pei Wenxuan's survival.

Episode 38 Recap

Episode 40 Recap

Related Posts