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| What the Ending of The Princess’s Gambit Really Means — And Why It’s Not a Dream |
Tencent Video’s The Princess’s Gambit has finally wrapped its 36-episode run, and while the ending gave us closure, fans are still left with mixed feelings. Political marriages, deadly poisons, secret alliances and emotional betrayals – this C-drama had all the right ingredients, but the execution? Let’s just say not everyone’s walking away satisfied.
Here’s a deep dive into that twisty finale, what it all meant, how the characters ended up, and what fans really think.
🌸 Quick Recap The Princess's Gambit Episode 36 and the Final Moves
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In the final episode, Princess Jiang Taohua and Shen Zaiye pull off their most dangerous scheme yet – exposing the Crown Prince’s crimes and finally dismantling the corrupt power structure at court. After surviving betrayal after betrayal, near-deaths, and a whole palace full of enemies, the two finally take down their main opponents.
But even victory comes at a cost.
Shen Zaiye falls into a coma after being gravely injured, and Taohua is left waiting — not knowing if he’ll ever wake up.
The Queen (Empress Lu), defeated, tries to justify her actions one last time in a dramatic confrontation… and instead of killing her outright, Taohua listens. That choice alone left many fans yelling at their screens.
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| Final Episode Script: A Happy Ending |
The final reunion comes in the softest moment of the whole series: under the peach tree, Shen Zaiye appears behind Taohua, and the two embrace. Their last words?
“When did you wake up?”
“The eighth time Qingtao asked you to remarry.”
Sounds sweet? Maybe. But let’s be honest — most of us were still distracted by Taohua’s immaculate makeup, fresh hair braids and spotless outfit, despite the city having just been razed to rubble. Fantasy, indeed.
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💔 What The Princess's Gambit Ending Actually Means
Despite being marketed as a “happy ending,” this finale leaned more bittersweet than bliss. The central theme of The Princess’s Gambit was always survival — not romance — and that holds true until the end. Taohua and Zaiye win, technically, but neither gets the quiet life they once dreamed of.
Yes, he wakes up. Yes, they reunite. But what’s missing is the payoff — the peace, the breath of fresh air, the countryside escape we were all promised. That last hug felt more like “we survived the war” than “let’s start our forever.”
The writers cut out a scene where Taohua jokes about remarrying because Zaiye was in a coma — and frankly, fans were glad they did.
The tone was way off, especially considering the weight of their relationship by that point. The final product, while flawed, gave a cleaner emotional arc than the original script.
🧑🤝🧑 Characters Wrapped: Where Everyone Landed
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🌸 Jiang Taohua (Meng Ziyi)
From powerless pawn to power player, Taohua was a survivor through and through. Her palace smarts saved her time and again, and while her romance with Shen Zaiye blossomed later than expected, her growth was clear. Meng Ziyi’s performance, though criticised for being emotionally flat at times, did deliver in key scenes — especially during emotional climaxes.
🧧 Shen Zaiye (Liu Xueyi)
Undoubtedly the MVP of the series. Cold, calculating, and quietly conflicted, Liu Xueyi brought depth and nuance to a character that could’ve easily been one-note. Fans wanted him to lean fully into his villain arc — as in the novel — but the drama softened him once again into the "secret softie" trope. Still, Liu’s performance stood out, and many are calling for him to get actual antihero roles next time.
👑 Empress Lu (Lv Hou)
The mastermind villain. Her ambition knew no bounds, and her manipulations drove most of the story. While her ending lacked poetic justice (Taohua lets her ramble instead of taking her out), she remained one of the strongest and most consistent characters.
🧊 Mu Wuyin (Gong Zijing)
The ultimate beautiful disaster. Cold, elegant, and totally unhinged by the end, his love-hate dynamic with Empress Lu was dark but compelling. Fans called him “the drama’s biggest tragedy,” and it’s not hard to see why.
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🧠 Honourable Mentions:
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Qingtao & Zhanlu – the true power couple if you ask some viewers. Their chemistry, loyalty and quiet development stole scenes, even with limited screentime.
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Mu Wuxia & Xiang Qingying – the weakest romance, flat and rushed. Could’ve been cut entirely, and nobody would notice.
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Fourth Prince – noble but overshadowed. More useful as a plot device than a real contender.
Let’s just say… it’s a mixed bag.
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Positive:
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“Liu Xueyi carried this entire drama on his back. Give him better scripts!”
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“The novel is incredible, and the show had potential. I still loved the ride.”
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Negative:
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“Not them giving Taohua 70 braids and high-end makeup after a war. Be serious.”
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“I just wanted one (1) scene of them living peacefully, is that too much?”
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Neutral:
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“It’s not a dream ending, but it might as well be. Cute, but emotionally hollow.”
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“Glad they cut the joke scene. Tone would’ve been all over the place.”
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The Princess’s Gambit played a long, twisty game of palace intrigue, with scheming consorts, shifting alliances, and high-stakes romance. It gave us clever plots, strong costume design, and a standout male lead… but fell short of giving fans the emotional closure they craved.
Still, for all its flaws, it kept us watching, guessing, and feeling something right up to the last scene. It wasn’t the perfect ending — but it was an ending. And for some of us? That’s enough… until the fanfics drop.