The Princess's Gambit Episode 31

Episode 31: This is what we call humiliation.

The highlight of this episode is what happened to Empress LV. From a powerful woman who manipulated everyone, what she abhors most happened, being humiliated by the powerful. She, who was just a maid and reached this high position, she always wanted to put all the powerful under her feet. But what she also did was humiliate and trample on the poor masses, without any feeling. This prince, was his pawn, now he reversed the position of power between the two of them. He is a sadistic, insensitive madman, because the only person he thought loved him, was nothing for him. All the machinations that this prince has made, including destroying the health of his own father little by little, are still in progress. The plan is to throw the heroes into his web.
About political angles & schemes:This is present throughout the drama (and the heroes manage to manage this throughout the drama, going through dangers. And now at 31, it seems to me that the villains have the advantage.), but the heroes have already won a game and deceived them.

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Who is the true mastermind?

Loved this episode. Finally back to the intrigue that first made this drama so interesting. For the empress, it was satisfying to see a viper’s skin crawl at her own creation. She had been so used to unchallenged manipulation that she didn’t have a backup plan if it failed. All of her efforts have been reduced to ash and the child she thought her puppet has returned the favor in spades. For the third Prince, he is hauntingly vile but at least not a complete mindless prat in the empress’ absence of planning. He has taken her role and pushed back to make her the puppet in the scheme to be his possession dead or alive. It is a macabre way to go about things but suits their style. The Meng family has always been part of the royals. Their plotting and scheming has most likely been going on for generations with the emperor enjoying the benefits of their schemes. This episode exemplifies just how harsh and hopeless a woman’s lot can be in a man’s world no matter the social status. It does not matter how intelligent or capable a woman is, the bottom line here is they are used as alliances and breeders and seen worthless otherwise. I am almost nauseous that Meng patriarch gladly would replace the name of his most faithful son to that of that POS fake scholar’s branch that are openly a disgrace to their clan. That he uses this threat to pawn off his daughter to third prince is beyond disgusting. She will get along with him better, but her fate will always be uncertain and decided by whatever male is in charge. Even as the faithful daughter she is despised. The 4th Prince and sis have been rerouted to a safe location and while aide and bodyguard are in danger, they knew it was coming and were prepared. Ya gotta smile at the empty carriage loaded up with arrows. The chancellor, love his mind. He has the pieces in place for a level playing field of wits over who will become next emperor. It is a bit sad the consort saw the changes but didn’t recognize it as addiction. There is no telling how her fate will fall. The Beiyuan prince is setting himself up to put his family back in charge. He is getting to take care of the people. Here I am hoping the drama has a better ending for him than comments I’ve seen from those that have read the book. This would be a far better ending for everybody if his position is re established. Ms Meng has outlined exactly the fate of her family if her father’s plan comes to fruition via the third prince. But once again, the power hungry politician is willing to delude himself rather than trust a woman to be leader of the family. His shortsightedness will cost all of them. I am just hoping she survives the fallout. The 4th prince is disappointed the chancellor won’t fess up to his true identity. But the chancellor probably feels the prince is more safe without that acknowledgement. The princess has finally confessed her true feelings. This would have been received much better by all several episodes ago. It would have been a much better watch to be let in on all the machinations going on behind the scenes than make Princess look like a stubborn incapable piece on the board for so long. That aside, the chancellor was surprised that she had known for awhile his relationship to 4th Prince. Their minds are finally attuned by choice, and things are finally back to being more interesting. I am looking forward to next episodes with much more anticipation and enthusiasm.

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