Title	Goodbye My Princess
Credit	Beijing Hualu Baina Film & TV Co., Ltd.
Media	Chinese Drama
Genre	Romance, Historical, Tragedy
Year	2019
Character Type	1 Yandere and 2 Obsessive Characters

The story of Western Liang’s ninth princess Qu Xiao Feng, as she changes from a naïve girl to brave woman, following the events after she was appointed for a political marriage to the Crown Prince of Li Dynasty.

SPOILERS AND PERSONAL OPINION

Goodbye My Princess depicts the journey of Qu Xiao Feng, and her relationship between Li Cheng Yin and Gu Jian, both extremely important characters in her life. As a bright and carefree girl, Xiao Feng was needlessly embroiled in cruel political schemes, causing her immense suffering. As she grew through her bitter experiences, she eventually decided to bear the cost of peace for her kingdom, and between the nations.

As the ninth princess of Western Liang, Xiao Feng had always led a pampered and worry-free life. Her mother, the queen, had always doted on her. The king loved the playful daughter, and the same could be said for her grandpa, the ruler of Dan Chi. She had a servant and best friend, Ah Du from Dan Chi, who was always by her side. Xiao Feng is surrounded by people who loved and cared for her. Since young, she had also grown up with Gu Jian, whom she had a master-disciple relationship with.

Xiao Feng had a crush on Gu Jian. So when she overheard the news of her political marriage with the crown prince of Li Dynasty, she was extremely opposed to it. She begged for Gu Jian to bring her away to avoid the marriage, and they almost went through with it had there not been delay on Gu Jian’s part, which enabled the first meeting of Xiao Feng and Li Cheng Yin.

During their chance meeting, Xiao Feng saved Li Cheng Yin and nursed him back to health after he was nearly assassinated. In an attempt to gain the crown prince’s position after the death of his older brother, Li Cheng Yin liaised with Gu Jian’s master, Chai Mu to plan a invasion of Dan Chi, the territory which had long been in tension with the Li Kingdom.

To achieve their plan, Chai Mu ordered Gu Jian to re-introduce Li Cheng Yin to Xiao Feng. Although Gu Jian was unwilling, he eventually caved in to his master’s demands and the pressure from his own circumstances as the sole survivor of Gu family’s massacre. Gu Jian had been instilled the notion that he should never grow close to Xiao Feng due to his position, despite his evident love for her. While Li Cheng Yin slowly earned the pure-hearted Xiao Feng’s trust, Gu Jian pushed Xiao Feng away from himself and towards Li Cheng Yin.

Eventually, their plan succeeded and Xiao Feng showed Li Cheng Yin into the well-hidden Dan Chi, and allowed him to explore the territory. Taking this chance, Li Cheng Yin memorized the direction into Dan Chi, collaborated with various parties to invade Dan Chi, and jeopardized Dan Chi from within. By this time, Xiao Feng and Li Cheng Yin had already fell for each other. Yet, Li Cheng Yin went on with his plan.

On Xiao Feng and Li Cheng Yin’s wedding day, troops came into Dan Chi and took over the territory. As a result of the invasion, Xiao Feng’s dearest grandpa, uncle, friends, and fellow clan members were all murdered. Worse, Xiao Feng witnessed the beheading of her grandpa under the hands of Li Cheng Yin himself. Xiao Feng realized that she had been made used of by Li Cheng Yin, and utterly broke down.

The bad things didn’t end here, however. Li Cheng Yin and his supporters tried to keep Xiao Feng with him so that she can be brought back to Li Kingdom for the political marriage. In the process, the queen of Western Liang got cornered into committing suicide, and the king was driven mad. Xiao Feng couldn’t bear the tragedy any longer, and ended up jumping into the mythical Wang Chuan River, which can allow all sorrows to be forgotten. Li Cheng Yin followed after her in a failed attempt to prevent her jump.

They were later rescued by Pei Zhao, Li Cheng Yin’s loyal general, and brought back to Li Kingdom together. Both had lost the memories of the events that had happened in Dan Chi, and of each other. Xiao Feng had lost all her memories of the tragic events, including the downfall of Dan Chi, the murder of her close ones, the betrayal of Gu Jian, of Gu Jian himself, and also everything related to Li Cheng Yin.

By the hands of fate, Xiao Feng and Li Cheng Yin slowly got to know each other once again, this time in Li Dynasty, and they once again began to fall for each other. Eventually, Li Cheng Yin was slated to be the crown prince, and Xiao Feng to be married to him as the crown princess to seal the ties between Western Liang and Li Kingdom. All this while, Xiao Feng was kept in the dark of the horrors that had happened back in her homeland.

While they loved each other, Xiao Feng begin to doubt her decision, as she witnessed for herself how cold-hearted the entire Li palace was, and how each person must be as heartless to ensure their survival in the palace. Li Cheng Yin in particular was especially cruel. And as Xiao Feng gradually became aware of the past, and finally regained her memories of everything that had conspired, she could not bear to remain in the palace any longer.

Her struggle to leave the palace brought upon death for Gu Jian, who gave everything up to Xiao Feng in an attempt to redeem himself and bring Xiao Feng happiness once more. Eventually, her fleeing back to Western Liang accelerated the already growing tension between Western Liang and Li. As her close ones left her one by one, including Ah Du, who had always been by her side, Xiao Feng decided to sacrifice her life to prevent war between the two nations, and ensure long-standing peace.

Goodbye My Princess is seriously one of the most tragic drama I have watched. In the first ten episode when the impending betrayal of Li Cheng Yin and Gu Jian approaches, I could not bear to watch knowing the suffering the pure Xiao Feng will face. And when it actually happened, I was bawling my eyes out.

Then the time came where Xiao Feng lost her memories and was able to regain her bright and cheerful nature again. During this time I was able to take a little break and get rehydrated after the prior water loss.

And then the tragedy struck again and Xiao Feng had to recover all her memories plus suffer things that were much worse. So, I spent the last few episodes emptying out my tissue boxes once again.

I cried the hardest when Gu Jian died, as he really suffered almost as much as Xiao Feng did. What’s worse was that he never expressed his hardships, and endured it all by himself. Gu Jian had never truly lived for himself. The first half of his life he gave to his master and his ploy, and the rest he gave to Xiao Feng. I truly wished he will have a good ending, but from the way things progressed in the film, I knew that it simply wasn’t possible.

Here, I should also dedicate a paragraph to the scumbag Li Cheng Yin, who really has the worst character any male lead can possibly have. Never in a drama did I hated a male lead as much, and nothing he did to hurt those around him was excusable. He was simply a selfish man. Do read the rest of my posts to uncover his bastardly deeds, as well as my overflowing hatred for him.

I really recommend watching this drama. It is obviously well-produced and high in budget. Everything from the costume to the settings was beautiful. The plot is very unique and elaborate. The story is far from cliché, and the progressions are logical, even if the outcome is not the best we hope for. The drama may seem long, with a total of 55 episodes. But I guarantee that the watch will definitely be worth it.

CHARACTER SPOILERS