The costume Chinese drama The Princess Royal, featuring Zhao Jinmai and Zhang Linghe, released its final set of episodes on July 13, 2024. As seen in the official trailer, the series follows the story of Li Rong (Zhao Jinmai) and Pei Wenxuan (Zhang Linghe) as a miracle gives them a second chance at life, after they fall victim to conspiracies and pass away. Viewers in the previous installments see the couple gradually falling in love again. Meanwhile, episode 40 focuses on Li Rong’s ascension to the throne.
In the final episode, Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan are reunited. The former breaks down in tears as soon as she sees the latter at her doorstep. Meanwhile, she is accompanied by Li Chuan and Zhenzhen.
Furthermore, Li Rong comes to know from Zhenzhen that General Qin Lin has successfully killed Xiao Su, has taken over his troops, and will soon return to Huajing. She also reveals that it was Qin Lin who ordered Zhenzhen to leave everything and come to Li Rong’s rescue.
Meanwhile, Consort Rou and Su Rongqing comb through the Emperor’s palace, looking for the imperial jade seal. Rou seems to have gone berserk with rage and threatens the Emperor with a knife to his neck after finding out that he won’t hand his throne over to her son, Cheng. The Emperor strictly tells her that even if she manages to acquire the seal, Cheng will never be the king. They simply do not possess what it takes to run a country. Rou stabs the Emperor in the heart. Stricken with pain, he finally reveals where the seal is hidden.
The Princess Royal episode 40 ending spoilers
Rongqing takes the seal out of the hidden compartment. But before they can flee from the spot, Li Rong, along with Wenxuan, Li Chuan, and Zhenzhen, arrive. Li Rong can not believe that Rou hurt her own husband in front of her children. She promises to let them go if she doesn’t kill the Emperor. Ruayue, Rou’s daughter, falls on her knees and begs for mercy in front of Li Rong.
Rou reveals how the Emperor never loved her. He always despised her because of her low background. In a fit of anger, she advances toward Li Rong to attack her. But right before she could harm her, Rou is taken down by Zhenzhen, who shoots an arrow through her heart. After Rou passes away, Ruayue loses her mind.
Do Zhang Linghe & Zhao Jinmai end up together?
While all this is going down, Wenxuan goes after Rongqing. A terrible fight breaks out between them. Wenxuan and Rongqing both reveal that they have hated one another for a long time. As their fight gets more aggressive, they stab each other at the same time. Wenxuan doesn’t understand why Rongqing is still struggling to give up when he knows he can not get out of this unharmed. He sided with the noble families, even after knowing that they were in the wrong. They even brought in a fake Li Cheng to fulfill their mission.
Rongqing reveals that he has nothing to lose. He loved the princess more than anyone and had no choice but to stand still and watch as she married Wenxuan. The fight comes to an end after Wenxuan puts his sword through Rongqing’s heart.
What happens in The Princess Royal episode 40’s ending?
Meanwhile, the princess arrives there. She refuses to even look at Rongqing at the fight but takes pity on him as he is on his deathbed. Rongqing finally reveals that he fell in love with her after he met her at the imperial study when he was ten years old. In his dreams and reality, he has only loved her. Li Rong promises to reform the system and create a society where discrimination does not exist. Then, Su Rongqing sets the palace on fire, along with himself.
After the Emperor’s death, Li Chuan sits on the throne. After three years, he leaves everything behind to travel to the north with Zhenzhen. Li Rong ascends to the throne to rule as the monarch, and Wenxuan becomes her right chancellor. The series ends with the couple marrying each other.
All 40 episodes of The Princess Royal are available to stream on Netflix, Youku, and Viki.
