The Princess's Gambit Episode 32

Wedding day reveals

I have to give kudos to Zhang Zheng Yang for his performance as emperor. He does an excellent job begging for his next fix and has shown a broad range of emotions from cunning leader and father of princes, to a broken and desperate shadow of himself. He has now been reduced to the decrepit junkie at the mercy of his suppliers. Third Prince is more soothing in his approach to get him to abdicate throne while Meng patriarch openly mocks and laughs at him thinking his daughter has empress wrapped up and he’s in charge of the imperial guards. 4th Prince managed a visit to get a military decree from his father but unfortunately it lacks the seal. So now he and chancellor will have to get the military to respond based on the writing alone. Something the general is not inclined to do. He is not a coward, but he sticks his neck out for the seal, not for writing he can’t confirm belongs to the emperor. He will act only if he sees the emperor in person to know this has his approval. There is a showdown with the imperial guards and Meng says it is too late and that even the emperor cannot change the abdication. While he is being led away, that Meng POS that fancies himself the eldest son now takes 4th Prince hostage. It is now that the chancellor reveals his true identity and asks to be taken hostage instead. With the kerchief as camouflage, he slings a knife through that wretch’s throat and finally permanently shuts him up. The gals have gone to tell Ms Meng the truth and that her life is in jeopardy. They have the wedding certificate because Princess knows she’s just not gonna take her word for it. She is still not completely convinced because she has no reason to think her life in jeopardy from her chess companion. But she accepts the offer to let Princess and bodyguard hide in the room to see how things would play out. Our favorite bodyguard intervened with their plan and Ms Meng is truly grateful for her life. Meanwhile third Prince has the court behind curtains while he is basically sworn in as new emperor. The swords at their throats convince the scholars to bow and accept it. He is eyeing the new scholar in particular who is smarter than many of them and disinclined to bow for him. As things progress, the Princess and her guard enter to challenge the identity of the bride. It is now revealed to be Hua and not Meng daughter. Too bad patriarch Meng missed that. The best of his clan was almost strangled in a back room and his entire clan would have been erased to cover it up. He has no idea how poorly he judged his situation. But since the edict was read, and he wears the crown, other than removing her as his bride….can this be rescinded? Or is it a done deal? My last question is why didn’t chancellor want his identity revealed to father Meng? What plan does he have in store if third prince is officially now emperor?

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Episode 32: Two long-distant cousins are reunited

If it's for episode 32 that I just watched out of 36 episodes in total (an excellent episode), I know the rest of the episodes will be wonderful.
Everything in this episode was great. The two long-separated cousins met (in a moment between life and death, with the cousin showing himself as he always was to his younger cousin. It was beautiful to see), and heroic Shen Zai Ye with his black costume is great. The test to gain the trust of two armies. One in charge of the 4th prince, the other in charge of Shen Zai Ye, it was elegant and charming to watch. The emperor finding in his son Wuxia a loyal son to trust was sweet too.
The glances and the hand in hand between Shen Zai Ye and Jiang Tao Hua was nice. The 6 friends together at the table to solve all the problems together. Princess Jiang Tao Hua's play playing with the 3rd prince's psyche, disrupting Empress Lv's plans, saving her rival, Meng Zhen Zhen, was formidable.
Shen Zai Ye looking into the eyes of his old enemy, Minister Meng Zhong Yan. Shen Zai Ye fighting with his sword, flying across the roof and pointing his sword at this evil old man. Shen Zai Ye had blood on his neck, but he was not injured. This episode wasn't at all tiring. And Jiang Tao Hua uses his wits to defeat his enemies and help his beloved Shen Zai Ye buy time.
PS:
The scene in a hall full of red curtains, and the ministers whispering that they could not bow before the third prince, to receive him as the new emperor, and the soldiers intimidating the ministers two or three times to bow and accept (because that would be equivalent to a signature). This scene was also great, and there is that honest minister who always gives advice to the heroes standing out in the scene too. It's good that this drama does not devalue any character.

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