The Princess's Gambit Episode 14

Crime and punishment

Once again psycho prince refuses to restrain himself. He also arrogantly wants to present his good deed to Meng so he chooses to not inform him prior but to celebrate after the fact. The chancellor has baited him by letting him know the rescued miners are close and quite confident the prince will retaliate. As expected, soldiers come planning to do a quick slaughter and leave. They find, however, that the chancellor has other plans for them. As they round up the prince’s guards they signal the camp that something important is amiss and the emperor is forced to respond. He and Meng patriarch had a meeting at beginning of episode. They expect to continue forward with their plans and grow as a united family. Tonight’s events altered that course, but apparently did not keep it from moving forward. The chancellor goes in with his report and the emperor has all the rote responses of deposing the crown prince. What he did not completely anticipate was being directly questioned in court as to the punishment of the Meng family. It was clear he considered the matter closed and just as clear that the chancellor did not. Here is where we see where psycho prince got some of his mannerisms. They were much more restrained, but the hate and contempt on his face towards chancellor and his question was very plain. As he thinks about it the Meng patriarch takes things into his own hands. His son knew when the crown prince wanted the celebratory toast that his life was over. For the first time he allowed his contempt for the prince’s actions to be much clearer. Even then the prince had it barely dawn on him that he had lost his way to the thrown. He failed to see that he had successfully brought about the death of the one person willing to put up with him and even like him. The thoughtfulness of his last letter to sister and his final request to his father. He was a very good son to the end. I was actually surprised that the father allowed some sentiment in the visit. But, like all power seeking politicians, he did not hesitate to sacrifice his own son for family position. The daughter has to be even more unsure of her place now. The father assigned both of his children horrid tasks. But for all his hate of the chancellor, he treated the daughter better. His son was stuck covering for a feckless coward that cost him his life. I would like it to haunt both fathers for awhile but they are already deciding their next course of action. Both of these fathers despise the chancellor and would be a lot more active if they knew who he really was. The chancellor is angry his plan was thwarted in booting Meng family from court. But, as he said to his aide, he is only as sharp a blade as the emperor allows. He now knows the degree the Mengs and emperor are aligned so that is at least more intel. He too is devising his next course of action as are both princesses in his household. It will be interesting to see the next moves by our players.

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