EPISODE 45
Ziwei and Erkang have an extensive talk about the whole “Xiaojian’s enemy” business.
In the end, all the tension and potential danger make Ziwei realize that their plan to move to Dali is the best plan because even though Xiaojian agrees to leave the matter alone now, there’s no telling what he might do in a moment of anger. So it’s best to keep Xiaojian and the emperor in different corners of the country.
A bit later in the episode, the emperor visits the kids at their place. Xiaojian is there this time. Oops.
Face-to-face with the emperor, you can bet Xiaojian doesn’t feel so good. He stares and gapes and after a while, his arm jerks. We don’t know if he was going to attack the emperor or was just too bored and decided to prank them all, but the other kids moved the emperor out of there faster than lightning, all right.
Erkang even issues a quiet warning to Xiaojian.
The emperor, trusting his kids unconditionally, tells Xiaojian that any sibling of Xiaoyanzi is his child. I don’t think Xiaojian likes that but alas, what can he do before such benevolence.
The emperor then moves on to have a short conversation with Xiaojian about what he has planned for the future, so and so. Erkang watches Xiaojian very closely behind his back.
Lastly, the emperor asks Xiaojian whether he wants a job in the capital city. Xiaojian makes a long speech about how he’s already too used to being a lone traveller. And the emperor is like: ok, your loss.
Next, the emperor talks to Ziwei and Xiaoyanzi. Man, he sure says a lot today.
He gives the two girls a pair of “death-free” golden passes. Each one can save a person from the death penalty three times, even if the emperor himself wants to execute them.
It’s one of those things that’s only granted to people who have made great contributions to the country — like a war general who lost a limb trying protect the borders or something like that. The emperor hands them out to Ziwei and Xiaoyanzi like candies. It cracks me up so much that Erkang and Yongqi get nothing.
And that does it for Ziwei. I’m going home! She says.
Ziwei says she’s coming home with the emperor. She doesn’t want to leave him so soon her when entire life purpose a year ago was to find her father. Yes, thanks for keeping the main theme of Season 1 going, girl. Sorry, Dali. Sorry, Erkang.
Erkang is like a little shocked, but he seems to have seen this coming.
Then, Xiaoyanzi follows suit.
To be honest, I don’t think this makes that much of a difference to Erkang and Yongqi. And about Ziwei and Xiaoyanzi’s decision to go home, it wouldn’t be a good choice in real life, but it makes sense in the context of this drama.
Feeling indignant, Xiaojian goes out for some fresh air. Erkang, once again, finds him and gives him a gentle warning. Stop it with the sudden movements or you’ll scare everyone to death.
When Xiaojian goes back inside, he thanks the emperor for giving Xiaoyanzi a loving home and bows out of this “father vs brother” contest. He knows he can’t win.
This is why Princess Pearl is such a good drama. It doesn’t lose sight of its main themes and it knows not to include any poorly written plot twist about Xiaoyanzi’s parents’ enemy. It stays fixed on the topics of family and forgiveness. Cause I’m telling you, if this was a drama made nowadays, we’d get another 20 episodes of forbidden-love angst between Xiaoyanzi and Yongi. Maybe one of them would even jump off a cliff, who knows.
Homeward! Our big family couldn’t be happier. When they arrive at the palace, Qing’er and Lady Ling greet them. I’m not going to lie, after so many episodes of these kids living a free and glorious life outside, the palace looks a little dull and suffocating.
The next day, they all visit the empress dowager to apologize for… existing, I guess. But the dowager is like: forget it, forget it, I’ve always just wanted to be an ordinary grandma to you. Whaaat… what happened? That was a complete 180. She even lets Qing’er hang out with them that night.