Episode 5 of The Princess Royal follows Pei Wenxuan as he faces a dangerous test of loyalty from Emperor Li Ming, while Princess Li Rong begins taking decisive steps to protect her younger brother and weaken the powerful Yang family. Having agreed to consider marrying each other again for political reasons, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan must now prove that their alliance can survive the deadly struggles of the imperial court.

The episode begins when Emperor Li Ming summons Pei Wenxuan for a private audience. The Emperor is aware that Pei Wenxuan rescued Li Rong from Yang Quan’s attempted abduction and spent the night alone with her. Although this incident could damage the princess’s reputation, the Emperor is more concerned about the political implications of her marriage.

Pei Wenxuan understands that the Emperor is suspicious of the Empress’s intentions and decides to use those concerns to his advantage. Rather than immediately defending himself, he kneels before the Emperor and dramatically begs for his life.

His unexpected behavior catches the Emperor’s attention.

Pei Wenxuan explains that although he rescued Li Rong from danger, spending the night together could create a scandal. He claims that Empress Shangguan Yue wants him to conceal the incident and allow Yang Quan to take credit for rescuing the princess. According to Pei Wenxuan, the Empress is determined to arrange a marriage between Li Rong and Yang Quan to strengthen the Crown Prince’s political position.

Pei Wenxuan argues that because he interfered with this arrangement, the Yang family may attempt to kill him. His apparent fear is carefully calculated to convince the Emperor that he is an innocent young scholar caught between powerful political factions.

Emperor Li Ming listens closely, recognizing that Pei Wenxuan understands the political dangers surrounding the imperial family.

The conversation soon turns to the Yang family’s military power.

For generations, the Yang family has commanded troops along the northwestern frontier, giving them enormous influence over the dynasty’s defenses. Their position has become so powerful that people openly compare their authority with that of the imperial family.

Pei Wenxuan explains that the Yang family’s repeated military campaigns have allowed them to demand money, soldiers, and supplies from the imperial treasury. However, despite receiving substantial resources, they have failed to eliminate the threats along the border.

He points to a particularly suspicious defeat in which the Yang family’s army of fifty thousand soldiers lost two cities to an enemy force of only twenty thousand.

Pei Wenxuan suggests that these defeats were not simply the result of military incompetence. Instead, he suspects that the Yang family has secretly cooperated with enemy forces, using staged conflicts to maintain its military importance and obtain additional resources from the imperial court.

The accusation is extremely dangerous because it challenges one of the dynasty’s most influential military families.

The Emperor initially rebukes Pei Wenxuan for speaking so boldly, but his reaction is partly a test. He has already begun investigating the Yang family’s activities and recognizes that the young scholar possesses unusual political insight.

Pei Wenxuan continues explaining that allowing the Yang family to establish a marriage alliance with the Crown Prince’s supporters could threaten the throne itself.

His reasoning impresses Emperor Li Ming.

Recognizing an opportunity to weaken the Yang family without openly revealing his intentions, the Emperor offers Pei Wenxuan a dangerous assignment.

He asks whether Pei Wenxuan would be willing to kill Yang Quan as a betrothal gift in exchange for marrying Princess Li Rong.

The proposal places Pei Wenxuan in an extraordinary position. Successfully eliminating Yang Quan would demonstrate his loyalty to the Emperor and strengthen his claim to become the princess’s husband. However, failure could result in his own death.

Pei Wenxuan accepts the mission, fully aware of the risks.

After he leaves, the Emperor secretly instructs his chief eunuch to ensure that the mission succeeds. If Pei Wenxuan fails, he is to be silenced so that the Emperor’s involvement remains hidden.

Meanwhile, Li Rong visits her younger brother, Crown Prince Li Chuan, to explain the political dangers surrounding the Yang family.

Li Chuan is deeply troubled by his father’s treatment of him and his sister. He cannot understand why the Emperor views his own children as potential political threats.

Li Rong patiently explains that their father’s decisions are influenced by his fear of powerful aristocratic families. If she marries Yang Quan, the Emperor may interpret the marriage as an attempt to strengthen the Crown Prince’s military influence.

Such an alliance could place both siblings in danger.

Li Chuan wonders whether their family would be happier if he were not the Crown Prince. His words reveal how little he desires the political struggles associated with his position.

Li Rong is moved by his sincerity.

Remembering the bitter and suspicious ruler her brother became in their previous life, she silently promises to protect his innocence for as long as possible. She assures him that she will handle the dangerous political matters herself.

Before leaving, Li Rong takes a valuable sword belonging to the Crown Prince, intending to give it to Pei Wenxuan.

Elsewhere, Yang Quan reports his unsuccessful meeting with the Emperor to his family. He explains that Emperor Li Ming refused to approve his marriage to Li Rong and subsequently summoned Pei Wenxuan for a private audience.

Yang Wan immediately recognizes the danger.

If both the Emperor and Empress are willing to accept Pei Wenxuan as the princess’s husband, the Yang family’s hopes of gaining influence through Li Rong may be destroyed.

Yang Wan refuses to accept this outcome.

Believing that Pei Wenxuan is the principal obstacle to their ambitions, she decides that he must be eliminated before he can secure the marriage.

Meanwhile, Li Rong encounters Pei Wenxuan after his meeting with the Emperor.

She presents him with the Crown Prince’s sword as a token of gratitude for saving her life and as a symbol of their political alliance.

Pei Wenxuan immediately understands the significance of the gift.

The sword represents more than personal appreciation. It indicates that Li Rong and Li Chuan are prepared to support him as he confronts the Yang family.

Li Rong also arranges for additional men to assist him.

Their exchange is brief but meaningful. Although the former couple continues to hide its emotions behind teasing and calculated remarks, both recognize that they are once again working toward a common goal.

Soon afterward, Pei Wenxuan becomes the target of an assassination attempt.

Yang Quan’s men ambush him in the streets, intending to eliminate him before he can interfere further with the family’s political plans.

However, Pei Wenxuan has anticipated the attack.

With the assistance of Tong Ye and the men supporting him, he turns the ambush against his attackers. During the confrontation, Yang Quan is killed.

The death of a member of the powerful Yang family sends shock waves through the capital.

Su Rongqing arrives with officials from the Ministry of Justice, but by the time they reach the scene, Yang Quan is already dead. Pei Wenxuan and Tong Ye have disappeared into the surrounding streets.

When Yang Wan learns of Yang Quan’s death, she becomes furious and recognizes that the family’s position in the capital has become extremely dangerous.

She orders members of the Yang household to prepare to leave Huajing and sends urgent information to her father at the frontier.

At the same time, she arranges for informants to monitor the Emperor’s movements, fearing that the killing may be part of a larger campaign against her family.

While the Yang household prepares for a political confrontation, Li Rong makes her own preparations.

Using an offering of flowers as an excuse, she visits the imperial palace and requests an audience with her father.

The Emperor is occupied with government officials, so Li Rong waits patiently outside his chambers.

Soon afterward, Pei Wenxuan arrives at the palace, pretending to be frightened and distressed.

Li Rong immediately recognizes that his behavior is an act. Having known him for decades, she understands that he is deliberately presenting himself as an inexperienced young man overwhelmed by circumstances.

When the Emperor finally summons Pei Wenxuan, Li Rong insists on accompanying him.

Inside the imperial hall, Pei Wenxuan kneels and announces that he has accidentally killed Yang Quan while defending himself against an assassination attempt.

The revelation shocks the assembled officials.

Members of the Pei family become especially frightened because they understand that killing a member of the Yang family could provoke retaliation against their entire household.

Pei Wenxuan’s uncles quickly attempt to distance themselves from his actions, insisting that the family knew nothing about the incident.

Pei Wenxuan continues his performance, declaring that he deserves punishment for killing a member of a family responsible for defending the dynasty’s borders.

However, the Emperor uses the incident to challenge the Yang family’s reputation.

He angrily questions why a family that has repeatedly failed to defend the frontier should be permitted to abduct a princess and assassinate an imperial official in the capital.

The Emperor’s words place the assembled ministers in a difficult position.

Defending the Yang family could make them appear disloyal to the throne, while supporting an investigation could threaten the interests of the powerful aristocratic clans.

Li Rong carefully observes the officials’ reactions, recognizing that the political struggle has entered a new stage.

The Emperor eventually allows the incident to become the basis for a broader investigation into the Yang family’s conduct.

After the officials leave, he asks Li Rong about her feelings toward Pei Wenxuan.

Li Rong responds cautiously, praising Pei Wenxuan’s intelligence and character while allowing her father to believe that she is willing to marry him.

The Emperor appears satisfied with her answer.

Although he presents himself as a concerned father who wants his daughter to choose a suitable husband, Li Rong understands that his approval is also influenced by political calculations.

Later, Li Rong meets Pei Wenxuan outside the imperial hall.

Their conversation quickly becomes tense when Pei Wenxuan learns that she intends to involve Su Rongqing in the investigation of the Yang family.

Pei Wenxuan questions her decision, reminding her of the suspicions surrounding Su Rongqing’s actions in their previous life.

Li Rong refuses to abandon her judgment simply because Pei Wenxuan distrusts him.

She insists that Su Rongqing’s position and connections could be useful during the investigation.

Their disagreement reveals that although they have agreed to cooperate, the emotional wounds from their previous marriage remain unresolved.

Pei Wenxuan is particularly frustrated by Li Rong’s continued willingness to trust Su Rongqing.

Li Rong, meanwhile, resents what she perceives as Pei Wenxuan’s attempts to control her decisions.

Despite their argument, they remain committed to confronting the Yang family.

Back at her residence, Li Rong begins investigating the people who may have helped Yang Quan arrange her attempted abduction.

Her inquiries reveal that one of her maids secretly communicated with Yang Quan and accepted money from him.

The maid had been promised that she could become Yang Quan’s concubine once he married the princess.

Li Rong is deeply disappointed by the betrayal.

Rather than viewing the maid as a simple political enemy, she recognizes that the young woman allowed herself to be manipulated by promises of love and social advancement.

Drawing on the painful lessons of her own previous life, Li Rong warns her about the dangers of placing her entire future in the hands of a man.

Although the betrayal is serious, Li Rong decides not to execute the maid.

Instead, she orders her to leave the palace and spend the remainder of her life in a temple.

The decision demonstrates Li Rong’s determination to exercise power differently during her second life. She is still capable of harsh judgment, but she also understands how emotional vulnerability can lead people into disastrous choices.

Meanwhile, Su Rongqing discusses the Yang family’s situation with his father.

He questions whether the Su family should continue supporting the Yang household now that its political position has become increasingly unstable.

His father explains that the issue extends far beyond one family.

The Yang family’s downfall could weaken the entire aristocratic political structure, threatening the privileges and influence of other powerful clans.

For this reason, the Su family believes that protecting the Yang family is necessary to preserve the broader interests of the nobility.

Su Rongqing listens carefully, recognizing that the investigation could place him in conflict with both his family’s political obligations and Li Rong’s plans.

The following morning, imperial officials gather outside the palace for a court session.

Li Rong arrives and searches the crowd for Pei Wenxuan.

When he finally appears, he looks exhausted after spending the night dealing with the consequences of Yang Quan’s death.

Li Rong notices his fatigue and allows him to rest his head against her shoulder while they wait.

The gesture is small but significant.

Despite their constant arguments, Li Rong instinctively cares for Pei Wenxuan’s well-being, and he accepts her kindness without protest.

For a brief moment, their relationship resembles the affectionate partnership they once shared before political conflicts destroyed their marriage.

Inside the imperial court, Emperor Li Ming raises the issue of the Yang family’s misconduct.

Several ministers attempt to defend the family, arguing that its military contributions should be considered before any severe punishment is imposed.

Others remain silent, unwilling to risk becoming involved in a confrontation between the throne and the aristocratic clans.

The Emperor then summons Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan to provide testimony.

Their appearance places them at the center of the political confrontation.

Pei Wenxuan accuses Yang Quan of attempting to abduct the princess and later trying to assassinate him. Li Rong supports his account, confirming that Yang Quan’s actions endangered her safety.

However, the ministers argue that Yang Quan’s personal crimes should not automatically implicate the entire Yang family.

Pei Wenxuan challenges this reasoning, suggesting that Yang Quan would never have dared act so recklessly without the protection of his powerful relatives.

He also raises concerns about the Yang family’s military failures and rumors of its dealings with enemy forces.

The confrontation becomes increasingly tense as the officials recognize that the Emperor may be preparing to challenge the Yang family’s control over the northwestern military.

Episode 5 ends with Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan standing together against the powerful interests protecting the Yang family.

Although they have successfully eliminated Yang Quan, their actions have triggered a much larger political struggle. The Yang family still possesses enormous military influence, and several powerful aristocratic clans are determined to prevent its downfall.

The episode represents a major turning point in Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan’s second lives. Their cooperation is no longer limited to avoiding an unhappy marriage or protecting each other from immediate danger. They are now actively attempting to reshape the political future of the dynasty.

At the same time, their growing closeness suggests that the emotional connection they once shared has not entirely disappeared. Their arguments reveal lingering jealousy and mistrust, but their instinctive concern for one another hints that their second marriage may develop differently from the first.

With the Yang family’s fate hanging in the balance and Su Rongqing caught between family loyalty and imperial politics, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan must prepare for consequences that could change the entire kingdom.