Hail to the Princess Recap, Plot, Synopsis

Hail to the Princess Synopsis

In the matriarchal kingdom of Liulian, facing both internal and external challenges, the royal counselor proclaimed, "The world will perish if six daughters are born."

Coincidentally, General Gu gave birth to six daughters. In order to save the youngest daughter, the Gu family falsely claimed to have a son. Their daughter, Gu Rong, of marriageable age, disguised herself as a man and married "good friend" Lord Yun together with her childhood friend Shen Mengchui.

From then on, this formidable trio joined forces and embarked on a struggle for the throne.

Hail to the Princess Recap

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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.

Li Xiao also came over, mentioning that Gu Rong was being mischievous again, unexpectedly dressing up in women's clothing. Gu Rong explained that she found it boring staying in the military camp, so she came out for a change. The deputy general realized he had misunderstood the situation, surprised by the affection between the lord and lady, and quickly left.

Li Xiao felt fortunate to have a sister like Gu Rong, thinking it was karma from a past life. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, Li Xiao hosted a banquet for the soldiers in the camp, and Gu Rong had her share of drinks. The concubine of Prince Jing, Xiao Lizhi, approached Shen Mengchui, explaining that her sister, Jian Wenxiang, had offended the little princess of Duke Anguo.

Xiao Lizhi heard that Shen Mengchui's second sister had a good relationship with the little princess of Duke Anguo and hoped that Jian Wenxiang could seek help from Shen Mengchui's second sister to plead with the little princess. Shen Mengchui said he couldn't help, and Xiao Lizhi mentioned that if Shen Mengchui refused, she would kneel in supplication.

On Li Xiao's side, their food supplies were raided by the enemy. Gu Rong said she would go and reclaim them. Upon arriving, Gu Rong and her group felt tired and decided to pick mushrooms in the area and roast them for everyone. When they thought it was time to leave, Xiao Ding revealed they had arrived and held a sword to Gu Rong's neck. Despite the sword at her neck, Gu Rong remained calm.

Xiao Ding suddenly collapsed, realizing that the mushroom he had eaten earlier was poisonous. Li Xiao and her team rushed over, and everyone was delighted to learn that they had won the battle. It turned out that Gu Rong and her group had already discovered the conspiracy of Xiao Ding and intentionally turned the tables, bringing their people here.

Earlier, when Gu Rong's group was roasting mushrooms, they released smoke as a signal for Li Xiao's group. Li Xiao quietly approached with her people. After Xiao Ding fell poisoned, Li Xiao and her team emerged.

Shen Mengchui, accompanied by A Jia, arrived at the other courtyard. A Jia felt that Shen Mengchui's heart was genuinely kind and was willing to wade into this mess. Shen Mengchui told A Jia not to tell Gu Rong and the others; otherwise, they might say he was overly sentimental.

Inside the house, there was a woman who thought she had informed Shen Mengchui about the timing but didn't expect him to come early. Shen Mengchui entered the room and saw a woman inside. There was another woman on the table, indicating that something had happened.

Shen Mengchui felt he should run immediately, but the woman said he had promised to save her. Shen Mengchui then realized that the woman was Jian Wenxiang. As he tried to escape, A Jia knocked him out. Just then, Lord Yun arrived and was also knocked out. Jian Wenxiang placed the knife used to kill the princess in Shen Mengchui's hand.

The Chief of the Grand Court brought Shen Mengchui over and questioned him about why he wanted to kill the Little Princess and injure the Quiet Prince. The Chief urged him to confess. Shen Mengchui insisted that he didn't commit murder or harm the Quiet Prince and had nothing to confess. The Chief asked if Li Xiao had instructed him, but Shen Mengchui denied it. The Chief ordered the use of torture and questioned if it was the Queen of Lord Yun who instructed Shen Mengchui, to which he also denied.

Although Shen Mengchui was subjected to torture, he continued to deny the accusations. Gu Rong received the news and valued it greatly. Being framed and arrested, she was extremely anxious and hastily wanted to return to the capital to save Shen Mengchui. Li Xiao quickly knocked out Gu Rong, feeling that he couldn't let her act recklessly. Shen Mengchui was imprisoned, while the Quiet Prince, due to his weak health, wasn't detained but went home.

The Emperor interrogated Shen Mengchui, with Duke Anguo present. Duke Anguo claimed to know that the Quiet Prince wasn't the murderer of his daughter, but he wasn't sure if Shen Mengchui was responsible. The Emperor asked the Chief of the Grand Court what he saw at that time, and the Chief, citing old age, admitted he didn't see clearly. The Quiet Prince also arrived, stating that the Little Princess had invited her and two consorts to the courtyard, but she never showed up. When she went to check, she found someone attacking the Little Princess, but it wasn't Shen Mengchui.

Later, it was stated that everyone held different opinions, and the situation was unclear. It was suggested to temporarily suppress Shen Mengchui and wait for new evidence before a further trial. Li Xiao returned to the capital to meet the Emperor.

Li Xiao stated that Shen Mengchui was her consort, and she knew very well what kind of person he was. She firmly believed that Shen Mengchui could not have killed the Little Princess. It was then suggested that since Shen Mengchui, as a consort, didn't make such statements, perhaps someone wanted to frame him and destroy his marriage. Li Xiao emphasized that, in her and the Queen's hearts, Shen Mengchui was just like them.

Li Xiao pointed out that the wound on the Little Princess was inflicted from bottom to top, but Shen Mengchui was taller than her, so it was impossible for him to have made that wound. The Emperor decided to conclude the matter. Li Xiao asserted that someone was framing Shen Mengchui, and she had already knocked out Gu Rong to prevent her from going to the Grand Court to rescue him. Li Xiao mentioned that this time, surprisingly, it was the Quiet Prince who informed her of this news.

The Quiet Prince requested Li Xiao and Shen Mengchui to come over. Li Xiao asked Shen Mengchui to leave first, as she needed to talk with the Quiet Prince. The Quiet Prince was aware of Shen Mengchui's feelings and expressed that while she didn't like him, she still hoped for his well-being. Li Xiao conveyed that Gu Rong was very angry this time and warned Shen Mengchui to be prepared. Shen Mengchui felt that Gu Rong shouldn't be back so soon.

Shen Mengchui didn't expect to encounter Gu Rong upon his return. However, instead of scolding him, Gu Rong immediately embraced him upon seeing his injured hand. Gu Rong noticed Shen Mengchui's injuries, to which he downplayed the significance. Gu Rong insisted that the matter was far from over and vowed to avenge Shen Mengchui. Shen Mengchui held onto Gu Rong, and Li Xiao mentioned how Gu Rong rushed back upon hearing about Shen Mengchui's troubles, leaving Gu Rong feeling quite frustrated.

Li Xiao believed that Lord Yun's influence had become stronger, especially with the Emperor being ill. The subsequent power dynamics were more significant, making it possibly inappropriate to investigate further at this time. Shen Mengchui shared this sentiment. Gu Rong, displeased, asked if Shen Mengchui thought that investigating further might lead to the involvement of the Quiet Prince. She pointed out the strained relationship between the Quiet Prince's consort and Shen Mengchui, emphasizing that the trap was so obvious that Shen Mengchui failed to see it.

Gu Rong, in anger, walked away, and every subsequent encounter with Shen Mengchui showed her displeasure. Li Xiao asked Shen Mengchui if he intended to stay angry with Gu Rong, and Shen Mengchui replied that it was Gu Rong who chose not to acknowledge him. Li Xiao inquired if Shen Mengchui had considered how Gu Rong would be once her identity was restored, and Shen Mengchui believed she would be the way he liked.

When Gu Rong came to see Shen Mengchui, she mentioned Li Xiao's comment about her being meddlesome, expressing the belief that Shen Mengchui was too kind, and they had confidence in his character.

Li Xiao came over, and Gu Rong quickly pretended to be drunk. Shen Mengchui was about to kiss Li Xiao, but unexpectedly, Gu Rong suddenly pretended to be drunk. Seeing Li Xiao approaching, Shen Mengchui quickly stood up. Li Xiao learned that Gu Rong got drunk after only half a pot, realizing that she was pretending. She mentioned that when Gu Rong was drinking with the generals before, she could handle several pots without getting drunk. Unable to hide it any longer, Gu Rong had to wake up. While Shen Mengchui drank on the side, Li Xiao asked what Gu Rong wanted, and she expressed her desire to freely walk outside while dressed in women's clothing.

Li Xiao asked about Shen Mengchui's feelings, and Gu Rong suggested that Li Xiao let Shen Mengchui go and marry him herself. Li Xiao's subordinate arrived, and Li Xiao instructed him to keep an eye on the suburban villa. They now knew the whereabouts of Jian Wenxiang. Gu Rong was delighted with this information, believing that finding Jian Wenxiang would help clear Shen Mengchui's name.

Shen Mengchui's grandmother was a formidable martial artist, but since Shen Mengchui's mother and sister lacked martial talent, the grandmother could only pass on her sword skills to Shen Mengchui. Shen Mengchui expressed the intention to join Gu Rong and others in confronting Jian Wenxiang. Upon arriving, they encountered several black-clad individuals outside. These individuals were here to protect Jian Wenxiang.

Shen Mengchui and the others went upstairs and engaged in a fight with the black-clad individuals under Jian Wenxiang's command. They quickly dealt with these individuals and entered the room to meet Jian Wenxiang. Gu Rong insisted that Jian Wenxiang write a letter stating that she falsely accused Shen Mengchui. Jian Wenxiang, coerced by them, agreed to write the letter.

Jian Wenxiang finished writing quickly, and Shen Mengchui put away the knife held at her throat. Suddenly, a group of people appeared. Jian Wenxiang mentioned that even if she wrote the letter, she didn't know if Shen Mengchui and the others could leave with it. Gu Rong allowed Jian Wenxiang to act on her own behalf but warned against harming Shen Mengchui. A person named A Jia was also present and unexpectedly killed Jian Wenxiang, expressing regret and apologizing before the group of black-clad individuals left.

Shen Mengchui was puzzled and didn't know whose person A Jia was. He remarked that Jian Wenxiang's death was too easy for her and considered it as a resolution to her determination through death. The Chief of the Grand Court stated that Jian Wenxiang was coerced by the Quiet Prince to frame Shen Mengchui and also killed the Little Princess. A thorough investigation was needed. Jian Wenxiang then ingested poison, claiming responsibility for all the actions and absolving the Quiet Prince.

Shen Mengchui went to buy milk tea, but there was nothing left in the milk tea shop. He noticed the Quiet Prince's mark in the shop, finding it strange that even though everyone was dead, the Quiet Prince still had the mood to run a milk tea shop.

In the middle of the night, Shen Mengchui sneaked into the milk tea shop but found nothing. Gu Rong and Li Xiao also arrived, stating that they had noticed something was off with Shen Mengchui and followed him here. Gu Rong mentioned that Shen Mengchui thought it was easy to enter the Quiet Prince's place. If they hadn't helped knock out the guards at the door, he wouldn't have been able to get in.

Li Xiao revealed that while the Quiet Prince publicly ran a milk tea shop, it was, in reality, a gambling den, and that's where he got much of his money. Gu Rong handed Shen Mengchui a set of women's clothing, instructing him to change into it.

They arrived at the gambling den and started playing together. Li Xiao spoke a few words to Shen Mengchui, who then approached a woman reading a book. He wondered how she could concentrate on reading in such a noisy place. The woman admitted that she couldn't actually read, but the owner said the ancient book she carried was crucial, so she had to keep it with her.

Li Xiao and the others entered a room and searched for a while. They found a mechanism, and after opening it, a hidden chamber appeared. Inside were numerous jewels, and Li Xiao suggested that these were the gambling funds acquired by the casino. Gu Rong believed that with Li Xiao's command, they could empty the place in half a day. However, Li Xiao emphasized that the most crucial task now was to find the account books.

Gu Rong and the others found a set of books, a total of 13 volumes, but upon counting, they realized that one book was missing. Li Xiao found it strange to have a set of books among these treasures, suspecting that there must be something wrong. Shen Mengchui remembered the woman who was reading at the entrance and thought that the missing book must be the one she had.

Shen Mengchui went out, knocked out the woman, grabbed the book from her hands, and confirmed that it was indeed the missing account book. Moreover, it had the name of Lord Yun written on it, indicating that Lord Yun was also implicated, the mastermind behind all this. Gu Rong and the others were surprised; they hadn't expected Lord Yun, who had given up the position of the Crown Prince, to be involved in such matters.

Someone approached from outside, and the woman was starting to wake up. Gu Rong and the others quickly ran out, and Li Xiao mentioned there was a back door they could use. However, the people outside had blocked the back door. Li Xiao and the others fought with them, managed to defeat them, and successfully left.

Gu Rong believed that now that they had the account books, they could bring down the Quiet Prince. Li Xiao carefully examined the writing and found that the handwriting here was identical to the Quiet Prince's. Li Xiao stated that she had seen the handwriting of the Quiet Prince before, and the stroke habits were indeed the same.

Shen Mengchui couldn't believe that it was actually done by the Quiet Prince. He wanted to retrieve the account books for another check, only to find out that the books had been dropped during the previous fight. Gu Rong said she would go and pick up the account books, making sure that Shen Mengchui saw the true face of the Quiet Prince. Li Xiao wanted to stop her, but Gu Rong walked fast, and she couldn't be stopped.

As a result, when Gu Rong returned to the gambling den, she was surrounded by a group of people. Gu Rong hadn't expected an ambush here. She declared her strength, urging them to leave and sparing their lives. However, these people attacked directly. Shen Mengchui and the others rushed over and fought with them.

They initially thought they had dealt with everyone, but unexpectedly, someone suddenly jumped up and threw a sword. Gu Rong pushed Shen Mengchui aside and took the hit herself. clutching her chest, she fought back. Shen Mengchui urgently held Gu Rong. He recalled the moments they shared, and in agony, he let out a loud cry.

The Quiet Prince was also outside, and someone assured that Yulian Pavilion would eliminate all obstacles for her. Shen Mengchui took care of Gu Rong, who finally woke up, realizing that she had survived. Gu Rong pulled Shen Mengchui over and kissed him. Li Xiao also came over, saw them, but didn't disturb them.

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