Original subtitles

♫ By the riverside ♫

♫ I sow a seed of karma ♫

♫ Forlorn fates intertwine ♫

♫ Written in the stars ♫

♫ Should your passion smolder out ♫

♫ Will you give up on your ideal world? ♫

♫ Our past can only be entrusted to memories ♫

♫ I'm mooning over you ♫

♫ Amidst loneliness ♫

♫ Berthed in sleepless nights ♫

♫ You're my desire ♫

♫ That teems underneath ♫

♫ I'm drowned in your beautiful eyes ♫

♫ I'm mooning over you ♫

♫ Next to the Three-life Stone ♫

♫ I cross the Bridge of Forgetfulness ♫

♫ Gazing at moonlit nights ♫

♫ The moon appears brighter because of you ♫

♫ Leaning against the tower, it returns my gaze ♫

♫ Gazing at moonlit nights ♫

♫ The moon appears brighter because of you ♫

♫ Leaning against the tower, it returns my gaze ♫

[The Legend of Anle] [Adapted from a novel by Xing Ling]

[Episode 18]

If you wish to play weiqi, Your Highness,

you could have called me.

Why put yourself in a difficult spot?

The black and white weiqi pieces are like water and fire.

It's hard to see which has the advantage.

Are you on the black or the white side?

Don't talk when watching a weiqi game.

Your Highness.

You must be thinking of Anle and Miss Di, right?

What is it?

Your Highness, do you remember that during the Crown Princess selection,

there was a candidate called Zhong Jing who didn't attend?

A few days ago, the Zhong residence was on fire,

and everyone in the family, about a dozen of them,

all perished in the fire.

How did this happen?

Who knows?

I heard that it was a servant called Zhong Hai

who set the residence on fire.

Zhong Hai's wanted posters

are being delivered to every county as we speak.

Jiangnan is a rainy region,

and it's winter now.

Something's fishy about the fire.

There must be a hidden truth behind this.

Who was so confident

that he was the culprit?

[Lingxiang Pleasure House]

We will cover up Di Cheng'en's error.

She replaced me when I was supposed to be imprisoned for ten years

and humiliated by the Empress Dowager.

I should help her

obtain the luxurious life she desires.

Why do you need to be responsible for someone else's decision?

She's just another victim of circumstances.

I can't ruin someone else's life

because of my revenge plan.

What we should do now is to find Zhong Hai.

Otherwise, once Di Cheng'en's identity is completely exposed,

all our preparations would go down the drain.

Don't worry.

Your plan is about to work.

Do you know

what was on my mind when I saw Anle?

Back then, if Ziyuan wasn't sent to Dai Mountain,

maybe she'd be living a carefree life

while traveling all over the world.

Official Luo.

I'm counting on you to find Zhong Hai.

Don't worry, leave it to me.

Your Highness, since you're here,

why don't you come in and have some tea?

This stove

is obviously not lit up for me.

Your Highness, you have so many servants at your beck and call.

You don't need me to do such things for you.

You and Ren Anle knew about Zhong Hai,

and you discussed it in private.

Why didn't you inform me?

Your Highness, you're a busy man.

As palace officials, both Official Ren and I

are obliged to share your burden.

But since it's about work,

why did you meet at Lingxiang Pleasure House

instead of the Court of Judicial Review?

I found out that this case

is linked to Marquis Zhongyi.

He's hunting down the survivors of the tragedy.

Still, I must ask you a question.

Is your aggressive attitude

fueled by the Zhong family's case

or my private meeting with Ren Anle?

Luo Mingxi.

I visited Di Cheng'en earlier today.

I saw her handwriting.

It was similar to her handwriting when she was eight.

Her handwriting is sharp,

just like her personality.

I'm sure you're more familiar with it than I am.

However,

it's been ten years.

Ziyuan is already an adult,

so why is her handwriting still the same and hasn't improved?

I guess it's because

her torturous imprisonment in Dai Mountain

killed her interest to practice calligraphy.

Her handwriting is still the same,

so why has her temperament completely changed?

- In fact... - Your Highness.

I should remind you

that no matter what you suspect,

worldly emotions have no place in the imperial family.

You should always remember

who you should protect

and who you should let go.

If the past ten years not only changed her temperament

but also the entire person...

If I'm marrying the wrong person,

what should I do?

Even if you are,

a decision made cannot be undone easily.

Even if you regret it,

as the Crown Prince,

you need to honor your promise.

Time isn't waiting for me.

I need to make Anning divulge the truth from years ago.

[Ren's Residence]

Young Lady.

I've found Zhong Hai.

He's here sooner than I expected.

But he's good at sneaking.

I lost him when I was tailing him.

Anyway, Young Lady, why are you so certain that Zhong Hai would come to the capital?

You made Official Luo

distribute his wanted posters all over the nation.

I thought he'd be hiding in a cave by now.

Zhong Hai is a loyal soldier and servant.

If he feels wronged, he'd never live it down.

The wanted posters didn't offer any rewards.

We distributed them

to remind him that someone is going after him so that he'd be cautious.

Secondly, we provided a false portrait

and details about his accent

so that he can remain hidden.

Thirdly,

the poster is jointly issued by the Court of Judicial Review.

Everyone knows that the Court is a place of justice and integrity.

I'm sure he'll understand

that coming to the capital is his real way out.

I see.

Still, the capital is so big.

What should we do next?

He's had a tumultuous journey, so he's definitely

hiding in the grubbiest alleys in the city.

Yuanshu, remember to keep a close eye.

Yes, Young Lady.

[Marquis Zhongyi's Residence]

What?

Zhong Hai is in the capital,

and you still haven't caught him?

We're literally keeping a bunch of useless soldiers at home!

It's all because of you!

You've put our entire family in danger,

and you still have the cheek to complain?

My Lord, I'm afraid Zhong Hai is in the capital

to voice his grievances.

If this gets out of hand...

The Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice

are waiting for me to land myself into trouble.

Deploy all our men.

We must find Zhong Hai.

Yes, My Lord.

As long as Zhong Hai isn't caught,

someone might discover this.

After the New Year,

get lost from my house!

Father. I...

If Zhong Hai is really here to voice his grievances

like what you said,

then without the family's protection,

I'd become a wanted criminal.

I cannot risk the whole family because of you!

You have no say in this!

Father!

I...

Mu Qing.

Yes?

I'd like to take a bath.

Prepare some warm water for me.

Sure.

The water is ready.

Your body tends to be weak in winter,

so I added some mugwort in the bathwater

to prevent cold qi from entering your body.

Mu Qing.

You've been taking care of me all these years.

Was it sincere?

I have always stayed by your side.

You know whether my concern

is genuine or fake.

I only believe what I see.

All right.

The water is about to turn cold.

Even if I fall sick, you'll take care of me.

Once you join the Crown Princess selection, your life would be at risk.

Since you're already ill, you shouldn't go.

Mu Qing, you'd always stand behind me, right?

[Inform me if Di Cheng'en meets anyone else other than the Crown Prince.]

How ludicrous I am.

I actually tried to tame a dog

that wags its tail at someone else.

[Caiwei Pavilion]

Your Highness, catch it!

Let's see how you can catch this!

Sorry, sir!

[Nanlu's Guide to Sword-fighting]

Sir. I will take this book.

Official Ren.

I'm sorry, but someone has ordered this book.

Who's got such a keen eye for this book?

I've been searching for this.

You've been searching for it too?

In the past, Ziyuan always lost to me when we practiced sword-fighting.

She heard that this book would make her a master sword-fighter,

so she badgered Marquis Jing'an to buy it.

To make her happy,

I've been searching for this book for ten years.

So, you ordered this book for Miss Di?

Someone later confirmed

that this guide is merely hogwash and nonsense.

It's been ten years.

The world out there has changed,

and Ziyuan...

She no longer enjoys sword-fighting.

I bought this book

just for my keepsake.

Your Highness, you've finally reunited with Di Ziyuan after ten years,

and I'm happy for you.

So,

are you trying to snatch this book from me again?

This time, I'm not going to show you mercy and let you steal my love.

Your Highness, you don't have to.

You are the Crown Prince, and I am your subject.

A subject does not fight with their master.

If you like it,

it's yours.

Take it as a gift

for accompanying me to Jiangnan.

I accompanied you to Jiangnan

as it's part of my duties as a court minister.

Your Highness, you don't need to feel indebted to me.

However, since it's a present from you,

I have to accept it.

Your Highness, are you following me

because you can't bear to part with this book?

Your Highness, since you've already made a promise,

you shouldn't be going back on your word.

Of course.

Your Highness, since you gave me a book,

I should give you another in return

as a token of my appreciation.

Miss. Looking for books?

I'll take this one.

Okay.

[Love Stories in the Crown Prince's Residence]

I hope that you and Di Cheng'en will enjoy a happy life

and grow old together, like what the book says.

Ren Anle.

You resemble someone I once knew.

I am not someone or anyone else.

I told you a long time ago

that I am the one and only Ren Anle in this world.

I know.

Perhaps the one I once knew has become too unfamiliar,

so I'm having illusions lately.

Illusions are but a figment of one's imagination.

I have decided not to pine for you anymore, Your Highness.

I also have no interest

in becoming the Crown Princess now.

Your Highness, I hope you can move on from the past.

My Lord.

Come in.

My Lord.

Miss Di placed a red umbrella

in front of the gates.

The flowers that I've been watering for years

are finally about to bloom.

I hope

that the descendant of the Di family

won't disappoint me.

[Residence of the Princess]

I heard that you were often picked on

by the Imperial Concubine as a child.

But who would know

that the timid, weak girl back then

would become a general

defending the nation's borders?

My mother passed away early.

No one looked after me as a child.

The people in the palace tend to side with those wielding power.

The Imperial Concubine was a bully,

but no one stood up for me.

Until...

Your Highness. Anning is the Eldest Princess of Jing.

Only the Empress Dowager and the Emperor can punish her, not you.

- You... - Anning, let's go.

Ziyuan taught me

that Heaven only helps those who help themselves.

However, fate has been unfair to her.

The bloodstained tiles

in the Di family's ancestral hall remain tainted

even after ten years.

Out of 132 members of the Di family,

only Ziyuan is still alive.

The Han family ruined her life.

I feel sorry for her.

Luckily, she's now the future Crown Princess,

which is a happy ending after a long torment.

But I don't understand

why you didn't want her to enter the palace.

You knew that someone in the palace wanted her dead?

No one wants her dead.

It's just that my grandmother dislikes her.

I'm worried that she'd give her a hard time in the palace.

There is clear evidence that the Di family committed treason.

As a descendant of the Han family,

instead of hating her,

you sympathize with her?

That's because I believe in Marquis Jing'an.

He wouldn't commit treason.

People are unpredictable, though.

As a descendant of the Di family, Marquis Jing'an

was indignant when the Hans became the sole imperial family,

so he deployed 80,000 men away from Jingnan without permission

and colluded with Northern Qin to start a rebellion.

You were still young back then.

You wouldn't know what they were fighting for.

Besides, you've only met him several times.

Why are you so certain that he wouldn't commit treason?

Marquis Jing'an killed himself to prove his innocence.

He was an honest man and the Emperor's friend since young.

He wouldn't deploy the soldiers for no reason. Unless...

Did you know

how the 80,000 men

from the Di troops died?

They were quashed by rolling boulders

and arrows from everywhere.

Before the soldiers could even yell,

they had already turned into a mess of blood and flesh.

The golden sands at the foot of Qingnan Mountain were dyed red for a thousand li.

Can you imagine how tragic it was?

Enough! Say no more!

While you toss and turn in your bed every night,

do you hear the Requiem playing by your ear

and imagine how 80,000 men were brutally slaughtered?

I told you to say no more!

General. Is everything alright?

Yes.

You may leave.

Yes, General.

Marquis Jing'an deployed the soldiers

because he received a secret letter

penned in handwriting similar to that of the Emperor.

Who sent the letter?

Princess.

I believe that both you and I don't want anything bad to happen to Ziyuan.

But now, only you can save her

and prove the Di family's innocence.

You want me

to tell everyone the truth?

Yes.

Luo Mingxi.

I am the Princess of Jing.

80,000 men of the Di troops died a wrongful death.

Your family owes them justice.

Do you want Ziyuan to end up like your former servant Liangxi,

turning into a cold, lifeless corpse mysteriously someday...

Enough!

- I will protect her. - Princess.

- Now... - Enough.

Lengbei.

Show our guest out.

Official Luo. The general would like to rest.

Please leave now.

Princess.

I hope you will consider what I have told you just now.

As long as you're willing,

80,000 men of the Di troops will rest in peace,

and Ziyuan will live her days

happily and peacefully.

Farewell.

This winter night is as cold

as the day the Di family was exterminated.

How I wish to return to the Northwest

so I can kill our enemies

and die on the battlefield.

It's better than dealing

with the scheming people here.

Your Highness.

You always tell me to stay focused while studying,

but now, even though you're sitting at your work desk,

your heart has wandered off to Anle's side.

Ridiculous. Give it back.

Your Highness.

Can't you just follow your heart and live the way you want?

Give it back.

Here.

Unfortunately, what is done cannot be undone.

The palace is holding a New Year's Eve banquet,

and Di Cheng'en is cordially invited.

[Invitation]

[Jingxin Hall]

Your Majesty.

The guest list for the New Year's Eve banquet has been confirmed.

It's the same people every year.

Just give the orders for the preparations.

Your Majesty.

This year, Di Cheng'en will be attending too.

What?

His Majesty invited her.

The Emperor?

Oh, Emperor.

I can cooperate

with any of your plans

except for this.

You've crossed the line.

This is a family banquet.

No one from the Di family can come.

Why did you call me over

at this hour?

I just wanted to ask

how your plans are proceeding, Your Highness.

I have obtained some intelligence.

What about Di Cheng'en on your side?

Di Cheng'en has agreed to ally with us.

However, we'll need your help to ensure

that she becomes the Crown Princess safely.

Tell me more.

Tomorrow's New Year's Eve banquet

is the best opportunity for us to act.

[Invitation]

[To Di Cheng'en]

Since the Crown Prince insists on his ways,

the Empress Dowager is now desperate to get rid of Di Cheng'en.

Still, the banquet will be held in the palace.

It won't be easy for us to infiltrate.

However, Di Cheng'en has to remain safe.

We have to save her, but not by our own people.

Since the Princess refuses to reveal the truth,

we need to give her a push.

Make sure this message

reaches Anning.

Yes, sir.

[Yuanshui Pavilion]

Mu Qing?

Is that you, Mu Qing?

Miss Di.

The owner of the red umbrella has a message for you.

The water is perfectly warm.

Mu Qing.

Thank you.

I think it's best

that you don't attend the banquet.

I know how to deal

with my own matters.

The Empress Dowager dislikes you.

You weren't invited

out of their goodwill.

I know the Empress Dowager better than you do.

I don't need you to remind me.

I'm taking a bath now.

Just wait and see.

I'm going to become the Crown Princess.

Young Lady, you look gorgeous in this dress.

- Really? - Yes.

All right.

Lengbei?

You're a princess too.

Don't yell for no reason and embarrass our people.

It's your fault.

Why did you scare me from behind?

Yes.

I am timid and jittery.

I can't hold a candle

to Princess Anning, whom you're protecting.

Don't attend the banquet at the palace tonight.

Why not?

I'm not eager to become the Crown Princess anymore,

so can't I just go there and enjoy myself?

You promised me that you'd listen to me.

I was even planning to have fun with Anning.

You can see her every day,

yet you won't let me meet her.

You know what?

Many things are not as simple as you think.

The palace banquet may sound fun,

but there is danger lurking everywhere.

I just don't want you to get hurt, understood?

I won't go, then.

I heard that the banquet

will be serving many delicious desserts.

What a pity.

Don't worry.

When I visit you next time,

I'll bring some desserts for you.

Lengbei.

I know you get along well with Princess Anning,

but when things turn dangerous,

you have to take care of yourself.

Princess.

I believe that both you and I don't want

anything bad to happen to Ziyuan.

But now, only you can save her and prove the Di family's innocence.

Ziyuan.

I'm sorry.

I can't do it.

Your Highness. The warm water is ready.

Got it.

"Tonight's New Year's Eve banquet.

Di Cheng'en will be in danger."

[Yuanshui Pavilion]

You look beautiful today.

After tonight,

everything will get better.

Tonight's banquet is dangerous.

How so?

You have to believe me.

Everything I do is for your own good.

Good?

Mu Qing.

You're right.

They're inviting me to join their banquet.

Isn't that good?

Marquis Zhongyi is looking for Zhong Hai?

Yes.

They've been searching for quite some time.

Apparently, it has something to do with the Marquis's son.

Follow the Marquis's men discreetly

and act accordingly.

Since Marquis Zhongyi wants to kill Zhong Hai to silence him,

we need to help him

complete the job.

Yes, My Lord. How wise of you, My Lord.

Your Highness.

Today is New Year's Eve.

Can't you cheer up? Smile.

I guess it's better that you don't smile.

Are you afraid that Miss Di would be humiliated at the banquet tonight?

Things are different now.

No one would dare to do so.

Not necessarily.

Ye!

What is it? You're all flustered.

I received a note that said Ziyuan will be in danger.

Many members of the imperial family will be attending.

Grandmother won't give her a hard time in public.

Rest assured.

Grandmother sees her as a foe and threat.

She won't treat her kindly. Let's enter the palace now.

Ziyuan needs us.

Sure. Let's enter the palace now.

We're riding the horses.

[Ren's Residence]

Young Lady!

I found Zhong Hai.

- Where is he? - Wuliu Street.

He's been pursued by Gu Yunnian's men.

You guys...

[Servant of the Zhong family, Zhong Hai] Who are you guys?

Kill him!

Out of my way!

You're ganging up on one person?

I'd love to see who dares to take him away from me.

Let's go!

Come on, let's go.

Go.

Come on.

Run!

Fire!

- There's a fire at Wuliu Street! - There's a fire at Wuliu Street!

Run!

Ye. The banquet is about to start.

Yeah.

Let's go.

What a disaster.

I heard Official Ren stormed into the fire!

- Really? - How could this happen?

The fire is still blazing!

It's so dangerous. How could she storm in alone?

Does she have a death wish?

Anning, go to the palace now.

Your Highness.

Stay safe. You have to save Anle.

Only I can save Ziyuan now.

Are you okay? I'll get you out.

We can't get out now. We're trapped.

Don't give up just yet.

Let me check your injuries before we plan our next step.

My injuries aren't as serious as the fire.

How could you still joke around at this time?

You're made of flesh and bones.

You're here to save me, after all.

Have you thought about what would happen if I were here any later?

How much longer must you make me worry?

Your Highness, if you don't want to get worried, you didn't have to come.

I am a mere palace official.

You're not a mere palace official.

To me, you are the one and only Ren Anle.

♫ If I bet my all on it desperately ♫

♫ I know my heart will be uneasy ♫

♫ I give up on my light and hide it under a bushel ♫

♫ You're the moon in my heart ♫

♫ I can't dream to own you ♫

♫ But I'm willing to forsake my life for you ♫

♫ I'd go the distance for you ♫

♫ May the light stay with you ♫

♫ Romance aside ♫

♫ I fight for your destiny alongside you ♫

♫ You're my dream from the bygone youth ♫

♫ Arriving at the end of my life ♫

♫ I bear no regrets. But when we reunite in our next life ♫

♫ Will you still remember me? ♫

♫ I've concealed my yearning for you ♫

♫ And guarded your smile ♫

♫ Please don't leave me in oblivion when we part ways ♫

♫ I'd go the distance for you ♫

♫ May the light stay with you ♫

♫ Romance aside ♫

♫ I fight for your destiny alongside you ♫

♫ You're my dream from the bygone youth ♫

♫ Arriving at the end of my life ♫

♫ I bear no regrets. But when we reunite in our next life ♫

♫ Will you still remember me? ♫