Hail to the Princess – Jiang Yixuan, Chen Qiuling

Gu Rong is a woman disguised as a man. The emperor has ordered them to choose a son to marry into the imperial family. Gu Rong cannot let others know that she is disguised as a man, so she can only pull her close friend, Lord Yun, Li Xiao, and ask Li Xiao to marry her. Shen Mengchui, Gu Rong, and Li Xiao have grown up together since childhood and are now watching the drama unfold.

Li Xiao says she can marry Gu Rong, but she has a condition: Shen Mengchui must come to the mansion as a side concubine to protect Gu Rong completely. Shen Mengchui can only agree.

Here is the country of Luli, a place ruled by women, and with the help of the Grand Master, it has become a respected nation. When the Grand Master died, he left a prophecy: "Six daughters will be born, and the world will perish." So the emperor ordered that any family that gives birth to six daughters must kill one. Unexpectedly, General Gu, the first military commander, happened to have six daughters and could only raise the youngest one as a boy, that is, Gu Rong.

When Gu Rong was a child, she was very beautiful, and the princesses liked her a lot. Li Xiao, who had no power or influence at that time, was bullied by other princesses, and it was Shen Mengchui and Gu Rong who saved Li Xiao. Shen Mengchui discovered that Gu Rong was disguised as a man, and the three became good friends.

Li Xiao shows Gu Rong the information about various princesses, saying that before presenting tea to the palace tomorrow, Gu Rong must memorize all this. Gu Rong is very frustrated when she sees so much information.

Gu Rong's mother mentioned that she still had some concerns about Gu Rong. Gu Rong's third sister said that since Gu Rong has already married, the rumors about her being a woman should die down for a while. Besides, among their generation in the Lu family, the smartest one is Gu Rong, so their mother doesn't need to worry.

Li Xiao, accompanied by Shen Mengchui and Gu Rong, arrived at the harem to present tea. Upon learning that Gu Rong rarely interacts with male relatives, they wanted to make things difficult for Gu Rong. However, although Gu Rong had not met them before and had not memorized the information, she had heard a lot of gossip before.

Gu Rong noticed that a man's headpiece was particularly precious and understood that he was the Crown Prince's consort. She also observed a man whose mouth never stopped moving and who frequently looked at Ji Houzhizhi; he was probably Ji Hou's lickspittle, sent by the Northern Territory to marry. Gu Rong saw someone who appeared delicate, likely from the South, the Princess of Heng. There was also someone who seemed to be from the brothels, the Princess of Kang, who gained King Kang's favor through her musical skills.

Li Xiao expressed that passing the toast was not the end of the world. Soon, there would be the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, where all the princesses would showcase their talents. Gu Rong wanted to decline due to illness, but Li Xiao mentioned that Princess Kang had attended the banquet with a severe cold before. Li Xiao wanted to teach Gu Rong, but Gu Rong didn't know anything about music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. After Li Xiao tried to teach for a while, Gu Rong still hadn't learned anything.

Soon, the day of the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet arrived. Li Xiao, accompanied by Gu Rong and Shen Mengchui, entered the palace. Li Xiao mentioned that she was the only one who brought a side concubine and advised Shen Mengchui to dress modestly, not too ostentatious.

While chatting in a pavilion, when the Crown Prince approached, a young eunuch accidentally bumped into him. The Crown Prince was about to take the eunuch out to punish him, but Prince Heng felt it was better to let the matter go, considering it was the Empress Dowager's birthday. He allowed the young eunuch to leave.

Everyone presented their congratulatory gifts, and Li Xiao also gave a gift. The Crown Prince mocked Li Xiao, saying that since she married into the Gu family, her gifts had become presentable. Soon, it was time for the princesses to showcase their talents, and after others had performed, it was Gu Rong's turn.

Li Xiao mentioned that Gu Rong had caught a chill while practicing dance recently, and the Emperor suggested skipping her performance. However, there were insinuations that Gu Rong seemed like a woman. The Emperor then instructed Gu Rong to dance. Gu Rong took out a sword from a nearby guard and performed a sword dance in the hall. Afterward, it was stated that Gu Rong's act was disrespectful, but the Emperor didn't let the criticism continue.

Gu Rong also scattered peach blossom petals around, creating a beautiful scene. The fallen petals quickly formed the character for "longevity" on the ground, pleasing the Empress Dowager. The Emperor, too, was pleased and announced a generous reward for Princess Yun (Gu Rong).

Originally, when Li Xiao was teaching Gu Rong, she mentioned that "walls have ears" and told Gu Rong that the Empress Dowager's favorite activity was sword dancing under the peach blossom tree. Li Xiao advised Gu Rong not to worry about how to present a dance; instead, she should perform what she excelled at. The Empress Dowager would surely be pleased. Shen Mengchui only then realized that Gu Rong and Li Xiao had already discussed this.

Shen Mengchui noticed Jin Wang Li Lu sitting across from them and was momentarily stunned. In his youth, Shen Mengchui had approached Li Lu, asking if he could marry her. Li Lu had expressed a preference for good-looking boys who smiled without showing their teeth, not someone like Shen Mengchui. Gu Rong, observing this, remarked that Shen Mengchui had been unrequitedly in love for more than a decade and still hadn't forgotten.

The Empress Dowager mentioned a recent locust plague and decided to sell the birthday gifts to fund disaster relief efforts. She suggested sending Li Xiao to assist with disaster relief, and Shen Mengchui understood that it was because the Northern Territory was harsh, and this task was both arduous and unappreciated. Therefore, nobody wanted it, and they assigned it to Li Xiao.

The Crown Prince argued that Li Xiao had limited experience and couldn't use disaster relief as a training ground. He volunteered to go instead, and the Emperor agreed. The Crown Prince also suggested using Li Xiao and General Gu to suppress the rebellion in the South, a proposal that the Emperor also approved.

Gu Rong received rewards and suddenly became highly sought after. An attendant informed Gu Rong's party that the Crown Princess wanted them to join the Empress Dowager in offering prayers and invited them to go together.

The Crown Princess invited them to join the Empress Dowager in praying at the temple, and Li Xiao's group went along. Gu Rong felt her feet were getting numb, and Li Xiao advised them to behave, mentioning that the relationship between Master Huiming and the Empress Dowager was excellent, and the Empress Dowager held Master Huiming in high regard. Master Huiming called Gu Rong over and expressed that Gu Rong's older sister had always wanted a son but had only given birth to daughters. If he were still alive, he would surely be fond of Gu Rong.

During the meal with the Empress Dowager, Gu Rong mentioned that she had never met her grandmother and regretted it. Now that her mother and sister were going to the border, she felt very reluctant to part with them. Li Xiao suggested a nearby Lingyu Temple, known for its spiritual efficacy, and Gu Rong wanted to go there for prayers. The Empress Dowager was pleased and agreed to go together.

At Lingyu Temple, there were many mosquitoes at night, and the Empress Dowager couldn't sleep. She went for a walk with Gu Rong and unexpectedly witnessed the Crown Prince and Princess Heng having an affair. The Empress Dowager was furious. Shen Mengchui returned and told Li Xiao's group about the incident, but they already knew.

Gu Rong mentioned that on the day of the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, Shen Mengchui noticed that Princess Heng looked flustered. When she went to find Shen Mengchui, she saw the Crown Prince nearby. When Gu Rong interacted with the various princesses, she overheard some gossip. Despite King Heng's absence, Princess Heng frequently went out.

Gu Rong learned about the affair between Princess Heng and the Crown Prince. Intentionally feigning distress, she pretended to seek solace at Lingyu Temple. She also caused the mosquitoes on the Empress Dowager's side, leading the Empress Dowager to come out and accidentally discover the Crown Prince and Princess Heng. Shen Mengchui, surprised by this revelation, questioned why Gu Rong was in such a hurry to deal with the Crown Prince, as the Crown Princess had been good to them. Gu Rong explained that unless the Crown Prince fell from power, Li Xiao couldn't ascend to the throne.

Shen Mengchui was astonished, and even Li Xiao hadn't anticipated that Gu Rong harbored such intentions. Li Xiao clarified that his opposition to the Crown Prince was due to the Crown Prince sending Gu Rong's mother and sister to the front lines, clearly targeting the Gu family. Gu Rong asserted that only with Li Xiao as emperor could she regain her status. She emphasized that among the female candidates, everyone else was either hot-tempered or lacked competence, while Li Xiao genuinely cared for the realm. With Li Xiao as emperor, Luli Country could prosper.

Li Xiao mentioned his connections in the court, and Gu Rong added that she was also there, while Shen Mengchui affirmed his support. Li Xiao's people uncovered evidence that the Crown Prince had sold the jewels meant for disaster relief. Seizing the opportunity, they informed the magistrate of the capital, who confirmed the truth and reported it to the Emperor.

Enraged upon learning this, the Emperor ordered the removal of the Crown Prince, demoting him to the title of "Yu Wang." Gu Rong, Li Xiao, and Shen Mengchui were pleased when they learned of this outcome.

Li Xiao had someone secretly send a handkerchief to Princess Heng, which had the location of where Prince Heng was meeting someone. Princess Heng hurried there and indeed found Prince Heng with several men. She was furious but was pulled away by Prince Heng's guards.

Shen Mengchui came back to inform Li Xiao's group about this incident. He mentioned that now that the Crown Prince had been deposed, Prince Heng was in a similar situation, and they felt fortunate. Gu Rong expressed disbelief, feeling that they had been deceived by a prophecy. Shen Mengchui then learned that Gu Rong and the others were behind this.

Shen Mengchui was concerned about their next steps, fearing they might target Prince Jing. He felt that Prince Jin had no chance of winning and wasn't vying for the throne but rather aiming for a divine position. Gu Rong believed that Prince Jing's relationship with them over the years surpassed any ambitions.

Shen Mengchui left first, and Li Xiao asked Gu Rong if she hadn't thought about confessing her feelings to Shen Mengchui. Gu Rong recalled her previous statement about wanting to marry into Lord Yun's mansion, believing her future happiness depended on it. She felt that after hiding it for so many years, it was better left unsaid.

Prince Duan invited all the princesses to his mansion to gather, and his consort prepared a pool for them to soak in. Gu Rong was very worried. Shen Mengchui mentioned that Gu Rong wasn't feeling well and couldn't soak in such a pool.

Unexpectedly, Shen Mengchui's clothes were taken off by Princess Duan, and he had no choice but to go down and bathe with the princesses. Gu Rong watched from the side. Jing Wang's chambermaid, Xiao Lizi, came over to join them, apologizing for being late. Princess Duan reassured Xiao Lizi and urged him to quickly join the bath. Gu Rong, upon seeing Xiao Lizi, was surprised by the exotic charm of this beautiful young man. Shen Mengchui, not expecting that Prince Jing had a chambermaid, felt very heartbroken.

Shen Mengchui went to the bridge, thinking he wasn't inferior to Xiao Lizi, and wondering why Prince Jing preferred Xiao Lizi over himself. Gu Rong happened to come by and, thinking Shen Mengchui might be considering jumping into the river, quickly stopped him. Gu Rong pointed out that even though Shen Mengchui wasn't skilled in the arts or had any special abilities, he was still a hero. Shen Mengchui was pleased to hear this and asked Gu Rong to praise him more.

Prince Duan and the sisters arrived at the garden and noticed two people on the bridge acting intimately. Prince Duan wanted to go take a look, but Li Xiao pretended to cough and claimed she might have caught a cold. They decided not to go over, and Li Xiao went to her room to rest.

As Li Xiao returned, she noticed someone acting suspiciously outside. She urged the person to walk faster, but Li Xiao ended up being hit on the shoulder by something.

Li Xiao's subordinates investigated and found that the item came from western Yunnan. For many years, there has been only one buyer in the Central Plains, which is Yulian Pavilion. Li Xiao instructed them to go back for now. Shen Mengchui mentioned that this place is the top assassin organization, very formidable. Gu Rong thought it was likely orchestrated by Prince Duan since only someone with considerable influence could engage such an organization. She suspected that the day Li Xiao received the reply was arranged by Prince Duan.

A eunuch arrived to announce that there were bandits in Jingzhou, and Li Xiao was ordered to pacify them. If they thought Li Xiao was recently injured, someone would come to ask him to go, intending to make Li Xiao defy the imperial order, arousing the Emperor's suspicion. Li Xiao proposed going with Gu Rong, suggesting that their similar builds would allow him to wear a mask and fight in Li Xiao's stead, ensuring no one could recognize him.

Li Xiao disagreed, deeming it too dangerous. Shen Mengchui set up a test for Gu Rong, stating that if she passed, he would help persuade Li Xiao. Unexpectedly, Gu Rong quickly passed the three challenges, leaving Shen Mengchui feeling quite frustrated.

Shen Mengchui came to see Gu Rong, expressing concern that she would soon be going to battle, and he worried about her causing trouble for Li Xiao. Gu Rong said she was concerned about Shen Mengchui staying alone and feared something might happen. If Shen Mengchui decided to be with Li Xiao, she asked him to write to them.

Time quickly passed, and it had been seven days. Prince Duan's consort invited all the princesses to gather at the residence to celebrate the first birthday of the little crown prince. Shen Mengchui played mahjong with the princesses, and luck was on his side. He won a lot, taking all the gold from the princesses. Prince Duan's consort wore a ring, claiming it was crafted by a top artisan and was invaluable.

Shen Mengchui took out a string of rings from his pocket, stating he could buy one for just two taels of silver. He bought a whole string, irritating Prince Duan's consort. Shen Mengchui took all the gold he won, and the other princesses mentioned that Li Xiao might not return alive from the current campaign, so Shen Mengchui's arrogance might be short-lived.

Gu Rong noticed that Li Xiao's previous injuries had almost healed, but now they seemed to have worsened. She asked Li Xiao about today's medicine, and he mentioned that he had finished the medicine a few days ago, and there was none left. Gu Rong hurriedly offered to find medicine for Li Xiao. A deputy general reported that there were some enemy forces near Mount Buzhou, but the terrain was treacherous, and they hadn't located them.

Gu Rong went out dressed as a woman, finding this attire comfortable. She bought many delicious foods, feeling relieved that she didn't have to eat grass anymore. When Li Xiao's deputy general saw Gu Rong, he was very surprised, and she quickly clarified that he had mistaken her for someone else.