Spoiler warning: this article reveals the ending of the drama Royal Betrothal, including the deaths of key characters, the political resolution of the war, and the final scene.
Royal Betrothal Ending Explained: The Peace Agreement and Yin Qing
The final episode of Royal Betrothal resolves the military conflicts between the nations and establishes the region’s new political order. The story answers the remaining questions surrounding the war against Zhongwan and reveals the fate of Meng Tinghui and Ying Gua following the devastating losses on the battlefield.
The drama brings its major storylines to a definitive close, eliminating the remaining military threats and using a time jump to confirm a period of stability for the surviving characters.
Di Nian’s Death and the End of Beijian
The episode begins with Beijian’s defeat. During a surprise attack on Jinxia Pass, Di Nian lights the warning signal and holds off the numerically superior enemy forces to buy time. The series confirms that he dies in battle before reinforcements arrive.
His wife, Zhili, receives the news of his death while waiting for him to return. In response to the loss, Ying Gua orders the complete destruction of Beijian’s remaining forces, putting an end to the threat posed by the faction.
The Peace Proposal for Zhongwan
With Beijian defeated, the next conflict is expected to be against Zhongwan. However, Meng Tinghui intervenes diplomatically to prevent another war. Ying Gua formalizes a peace agreement under which Zhongwan is recognized as a “state within a state,” bringing an end to political interference and ensuring the return of its territories. In addition, slavery is abolished, and Situ Xue leads the newly freed people back home.
Yin Qing, however, refuses to accept the terms. His stated goal is to conquer Daning, restore Zhongwan’s rule, and place Meng Tinghui on the throne as empress. When he orders the army to attack, Zhongwan’s soldiers refuse to advance, fully aware of the devastating cost of another war.
Yin Qing and Situ Xue’s Sacrifice
The military stalemate is ultimately resolved through a deliberate plan by Yin Qing. He pretends to take Meng Tinghui hostage, holding a dagger to her neck. The story reveals that the maneuver is intended to create a pretext that will free Tinghui from her obligations to Zhongwan.
Yin Qing deliberately throws himself onto Tinghui’s weapon. Believing that he is genuinely attacking her, Ying Gua orders the archers to fire. Yin Qing is struck by the arrows and dies on the spot. The drama then confirms that Situ Xue, remaining loyal to the general until the end, takes her own life immediately afterward.
The Time Jump and the School in Shazhou
The story then jumps forward three years. The epilogue confirms that the peace agreements have remained intact. Among the supporting characters, Yan Fuzhi expands his businesses with the empire’s support, while Zhili dedicates herself to raising the son she had with Di Nian.
The ending ultimately focuses on the main characters. Meng Tinghui has moved to Shazhou, where she works as a teacher at a girls’ school. Ying Gua travels there to find her, and the series ends with the two reuniting in a kingdom finally at peace.
They promise to meet again the following year to release lanterns onto the river, symbolizing both the enduring nature of their relationship and the stability of the peaceful future they helped create.