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 32]

Hurry and tell me.

Where's the commander's tally?

General!

General. I, Bai Zheng, seek an audience.

Come inside.

What's the matter?

I just remembered that I missed out on some names for the name list.

I came here to deliver the updated name list.

You can keep that first.

However, General needs to take a break due to fatigue.

She'll order me to retrieve it if it's necessary.

- However, this is an emergency. General... - The General will decide

whether it's an emergency or not.

Yes, sir.

[Lingxiang Pleasure House]

Before the fire,

Mo Shuang sent her servants away on purpose.

She stayed in her room alone.

That means our analysis was correct.

There's more to the fire in Sifang House than meets the eye.

I predict

that Princess Mo Shuang is still alive.

Sir.

Your Highness.

We received a letter from Jingnan.

[Soldiers of Anle Abode will cross the territory to defend the state from invaders. Di Ziyuan]

If my prediction is correct,

I assume Ziyuan is insisting on heading to the battlefield.

The Northwest is facing a crisis now.

Anning is fending off the invaders alone.

She wouldn't be Di Ziyuan if she could just sit idly by.

Linlang,

prepare my carriage. I will enter the palace.

Yes, sir.

I will join you.

All right.

[Qingnan City Outpost]

It's useless.

I've sent all of your subordinates away.

Once the drug takes effect,

you won't be able to get up.

Lengbei,

it's not too late for you to turn back.

The weather here is cold and dry.

I bought osmanthus hair oil in the marketplace.

Remember to apply it to your hair after washing it.

You deceived me

and used me.

You can drop your pretense now.

I used you

because you were vital to my plan.

Jing is your motherland.

There are plenty of innocent people in Qingnan City.

Why are you betraying your nation?

You...

You're not from Jing?

Anning,

I'll ensure your safety

as long as you listen to me.

You can still enjoy all the fame and fortune you like in the future.

What do you think?

General,

Leng said you were sick and that you needed to rest and recuperate.

I prepared some soothing incense for you.

General. General?

[Soothing incense]

You disgust me!

She's so stubborn.

[Yuchen Hall]

- Greetings, Your Majesty. - Greetings, Your Majesty.

You two may rise.

Luo, you may go ahead.

Your Majesty, I came here under Di Ziyuan's request.

As it was an emergency, she was unable to come here personally, Your Majesty.

Bring it to me.

[Soldiers of Anle Abode will cross the territory to defend the state from invaders. Di Ziyuan]

Your Majesty, please allow Di Ziyuan to lead Anle Abode

to cross the territory and defend the state from invaders.

Your Majesty, the Di family has never revolted.

I also believe that the Di family is still loyal to Jing.

Since Jingnan is one of Jing's territories,

Anle Abode is part of your forces as well, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

I also think that we should send Anle Abode there.

Explain yourself.

Right now, our borders are facing a crisis. We don't have enough soldiers.

Anle Abode is experienced in warfare. They can serve as our vanguard unit.

Your Majesty, not only do I hope that you can send Anle Abode to the borders,

but I also hope that you can

allow me to go to the battlefield myself so that I defend Junxian City as well.

That won't do.

You're the Crown Prince. How could I allow you to take such risks?

There are three reasons.

First, judging from the current situation,

we don't have enough time to gather all of the officials and come up with a thorough plan.

Second, ever since Marquis Zhongyi's death,

there's no one in the imperial court

who can command the various factions of Jing.

If I head there personally, we can avoid panic

even when military orders weren't relayed in time.

Third, Junxian City is the choke point of Jing's reinforcements.

Reinforcements and food supply will be stored there.

As the Crown Prince of Jing, I can boost their morale and rally them to our cause more easily.

Luo, you may leave first.

Yes, Your Majesty.

But have you considered this?

You're my only son.

Your Majesty, I once told you

that my only wish was to assist you in your rule

so that Jing could prosper forever.

Back then, I was also the late Emperor's eldest son.

I was supposed to be the official Crown Prince.

However,

the late Emperor never trusted me.

That's why I had a hard time

when I was serving the imperial court.

Han Ye,

you're my eldest son.

What I had lost back then,

I'll give it all to you.

Although I've let down countless people in this life,

I've spent all of my effort on you alone.

If you still remember your duty as a son,

you'd better return from the Northwest in one piece.

Farewell, Your Majesty.

Young Lady, everyone is ready.

And Han Ye, the Crown Prince of Jing, will march to the Northwest personally

as the commander.

Young Lady.

I expected that to happen.

I'm setting off to the Northwest even when I'm in Jingnan.

As the Crown Prince of Jing,

he'll surely lead by example.

Young Lady, we finally withdrew ourselves

from all the mess in the capital after so much effort.

Why are we heading back again?

I understand your concerns.

But don't worry. I know what I'm doing.

This time,

I will head back with the remnants of the Di Troops,

work together with the Han family, and fight against Northern Qin.

Although the path ahead might be treacherous,

we're still the children of Di Troops.

Our predecessors had spent their painstaking effort on this very land.

Their goal was to achieve world peace so that the people could live peacefully.

Mo Shuang's death has brought forward the invasion of Northern Qin.

Now, only Qingnan City and Junxian City

are capable of defending the Northwest border of Jing.

Qingnan City can still put up a struggle.

If Qingnan falls, Jing will fall too.

Once Jing falls, Jingnan will fall too.

I'm joining this battle for both our nation and our home.

Young Lady, don't worry. I'll go wherever you go.

Don't leave me behind.

You two can join me if you don't fear death.

However, I'm actually joining this battle

due to my selfish desire.

Anning is my best friend.

Now, she's in a pinch.

I can't just sit idly by.

There's Han Ye too.

Both of them have been part of my life.

I can't just ignore them,

and I can't forget about them.

[It's been long since we parted. Only now do we get to know each other.]

Ziyuan,

although we've parted ways,

I never expected us to be reunited in such a chaotic period.

In the future, you and I,

the Han family and the Di family,

I wonder how things will turn out for us.

Official Leng, I've never seen General doing her rounds lately.

And you brought her meals into her room yourself.

Is she sick?

General is fine.

It's just that she's been reading the reports sent from the army lately.

I reported to General about the news we received from our spies.

However, she never got back to me.

I have some new ideas to discuss with General today.

General just fell asleep.

She said no one was to enter her room without permission.

If not, they shall receive military punishment.

[Lingxiang Pleasure House]

I shouldn't have let you know where I was staying.

You're finishing my fine tea here.

This batch of tea smells more fragrant.

I'll take it with me.

Did I say that I was going to give it to you?

I'm not taking it for free.

I know you dislike bitterness when you take medicine.

It's a trade.

So, you're trading a box of preserved fruits for my top-grade tea?

Is this what you mean by being a gentleman?

Ren Anle is unreasonable

while you're a cunning fox yourself.

Even a gentleman like me

will be influenced somehow, you know?

So, it's my fault now?

The flower bud has a bluish hue, like a piece of jade.

It's elegant and beautiful.

I assume it's beautiful when it blooms.

This is the Flower of Longing I planted for Ziyuan.

The Flower of Longing is rare to see even in Jingnan.

It's even harder to grow it in the capital.

The things you do for Ziyuan suit her the best.

Compared to you,

the gifts I sent to Dai Mountain

only represented my wishful thinking.

Han Ye,

I've watched over Ziyuan for ten years.

Now, she's heading to the battlefield.

If anything happens to her,

I will never let you off.

Don't worry.

I'll surely protect her with my life.

However,

if I do die on the battlefield,

please keep watching over Ziyuan.

You mustn't die.

If you die out there,

the top-grade tea I gave you would be wasted.

[Capital]

[Jingnan]

[Qingnan City Outpost]

Our soldiers are ready to go.

However, the soldiers of Jing are still defending the city.

Your Highness, please make haste.

Once the commander is gone, Qingnan City will be ours.

Your Highness, all of us want to avenge the Princess.

We won't let the Princess' sacrifice be in vain.

I will make sure the Northern Qin's plan can proceed smoothly.

Your Highness.

Wouldn't it be great if you were just a princess?

You look better with makeup on.

Heed my advice.

It's not too late for you to hand over the commander's tally.

You know Northern Qin inside out.

You're from Northern Qin,

aren't you?

Your Highness, you're intelligent indeed.

If that's the case, you should understand this.

With our current military strength,

even if we do take down Qingnan City, we can only rule over the Northwest.

Jing has plenty of other territories.

Why must you guys insist on defending the Northwest?

Defending our territory from invaders

is the principle I abide by as a citizen of Jing.

I will protect Jing's borders with my life.

You want the commander's tally

so that you can relay a fake military order and force Jing to pull out of Qingnan City.

I won't let you get your way.

You're as stubborn as always.

How can I ensure your safety if you insist on doing this?

General, I have an emergency to report. May I enter?

General is unwell. She's resting.

However, this is an emergency. General has to make a decision right now.

What emergency?

Please follow me.

What kind of emergency is it?

Lengbei is a spy! Arrest him!

Bai Zheng,

you shouldn't frame me when you're the spy here.

He's the true spy.

I'm the General's personal bodyguard.

Are you all defying my orders now?

Bai Zheng, how dare you frame me when you're the traitor here.

We'll know who the spy is once we go inside!

He has the General under his control! Go and save the General!

I said the General needed to take a break due to fatigue.

No one shall go inside!

Lengbei is a spy.

Kill him.

General, are you okay?

I'll definitely kill him myself.

[Han]

General, have some medicine.

General, you were drugged by him for some time.

And you never took any food.

It's common for you to experience weakness in your limbs.

Also, your anxiety affected your health.

You need to rest and recuperate.

The battle is more important.

The safety of Jing is more important than my life.

How's the defense in Qingnan City?

General, I increased the number of defending troops as per your previous order.

According to our scouts,

the Northern Qin Army hasn't made any moves yet.

However, I've instructed them to be on standby.

Increase the number of patrols.

The Northern Qin Army

might launch a sneak attack at any time.

Yes, General.

General, I failed my duties.

I didn't discover that Lengbei was holding you hostage.

Please punish me.

Get up.

He's been with me for five years.

Even I couldn't tell that he harbored such wild ambitions.

It wasn't your fault.

I need to write to Luo Mingxi

and ask him

to investigate Lengbei's background.

[Northern Qin Outpost]

This is His Majesty's oral edict.

Mo Bei, as the Prince of Northern Qin,

you failed to kill the Princess of Jing even when you'd remained undercover

beside her for a long time.

You're useless.

Not only did you delay our plan, but your identity was also exposed.

You fool!

Northern Qin is different from Jing.

You're not my only son.

In Northern Qin, strength means everything.

Only the person who renders first-class merit has the right to inherit my throne.

As for you,

you'd better watch out.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Highness, you're injured. Please get up.

I was just relaying His Majesty's edict.

Your Highness, please forgive me.

I know. Thank you for the trouble.

His Majesty is paying a lot of attention to the battle in Qingnan City.

Your Highness, please practice caution.

Please put in a good word for me then.

Your identity is unique, after all.

I can only do my best.

[Lingxiang Pleasure House]

Sir,

[Qingnan City requests] the letter has been

[a thorough investigation of the spy of Northern Qin] delivered.

Good.

Let's hope that Princess Anning will receive the letter as soon as possible.

We have limited forces in Northern Qin.

However, we found out about Lengbei's background in such a short time.

Linlang, it must've been tough on you.

It's my duty.

This time, we utilized all of our secret connections in Northern Qin

before we could locate the maidservant who was serving his mother.

Only then did we figure out his true identity.

Lengbei. Mo Bei.

Who would've thought

that he was the Prince of Northern Qin?

Although he's a prince,

he has been given the cold shoulder because he's not the illegitimate son.

His identity and background remained hidden.

That's why we found nothing

when we tried to look into him at first.

However, he endured humiliation

to achieve his goal.

With that determination and scheming,

the world will be in danger

if he becomes the Emperor of Northern Qin.

Lengbei remained undercover beside Princess Anning for many years.

It's indeed hard to know one's true colors.

I'm sure Princess Anning was heartbroken

when she found out about it.

Don't worry.

Anning doesn't act based on her emotions.

She was just unwary of Lengbei.

But now that she knows about Lengbei's true identity,

I'm sure she's the first person

who wants to kill him.

Linlang,

pack up my belonging for me.

Sir, where are you going?

Mo Shuang's death has caused

the battles in the Northwest to escalate.

Northern Qin will definitely launch a huge-scale invasion.

Han Ye and Ziyuan are in Junxian City.

However, Qingnan City only has Anning.

And she was betrayed by Lengbei.

It's difficult for her to fend off the invaders.

His Majesty has already appointed me as the Commander of the Palace Guards.

I am to depart immediately to provide reinforcements to Anning.

[Capital]

[Junxian City]

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

I, Tang Shi, the main commander of Junxian City,

am here to greet Your Highness.

Spare the formalities.

How's the situation in the borders?

Your Highness, right now, only Qingnan City

and Junxian City haven't fallen among the cities in the Northwest of Jing.

Qingnan City is the most important military pass in the Northwest border area.

If it falls,

Northern Qin can pass right through. The consequences will be dire.

Besides, Junxian City

is the largest supply pass.

We have to defend it

to buy enough time for Qingnan City.

Your Highness and Princess Anning

shoulder the fate of Jing.

A war will begin soon.

All of us shoulder the fate of Jing.

But look at our current morale.

How can we defend the city like this?

Everyone,

I'm the Crown Prince of Jing.

I'm here to defend the city under His Majesty's order.

His Majesty?

You're the Crown Prince?

- It's the Crown Prince! - The Crown Prince is here!

Since I'm here,

I will surely defend the city together with you all.

The city can only co-exist with its people.

Protect our land and our people!

Your Highness, we shall go through thick and thin with you!

Your Highness, we shall go through thick and thin with you!

General, Official Luo wrote back.

So, his name is Mo Bei.

A prince of Northern Qin.

Why would a prince be willing to go undercover and be a bodyguard for so many years?

His mother was a palace servant.

Therefore, he wasn't favored by the Emperor of Northern Qin.

And he was despised due to his lowly background.

This land

will be engulfed by the flames of war soon.

It's all my fault.

General,

this isn't your fault.

General, we received another letter.

This is great!

Ye has arrived at Junxian City.

Ziyuan is on her way too.

Bai Zheng, boost the morale of our troops.

Once Luo Mingxi and his reinforcements are here,

we'll definitely win the war.

Yes, General!

[Yuning City]

Once a war breaks out,

many people will lose their homes and shelters.

I wonder how Anning is doing.

We must end this war as soon as possible to prevent further casualties.

You're right.

Speed up our march.

Yes, ma'am.

[Northern Qin Outpost]

Your Highness, your wound is...

It doesn't matter.

Reporting in!

Your Highness,

Han Ye, the Crown Prince of Jing, has already arrived at Junxian City.

Di Ziyuan will also arrive soon.

Qingnan City was built on rugged terrain.

It's easy to defend and hard to invade.

Now, Di Ziyuan's army from Jingnan is approaching us as the vanguard unit.

If they rendezvous with the Jing's army,

it'll be difficult for us to win.

We mustn't let Di Ziyuan arrive at the borders.

Yes, Your Highness.

[Junxian City Military Camp]

Your Highness. What did they say?

Northern Qin wishes to ambush Ziyuan.

If so, Anle is...

I'll back her up. Wen Shuo, defend Junxian City for me.

Okay.

Your Highness, please be careful.

Your Highness, we've gathered our troops. We're just awaiting your orders.

Have you spread the news?

Yes, Your Highness. Everything is just like what you've predicted.

Gather all of our troops.

It's time to attack Qingnan City.

Yes, Your Highness.

Anning, your wish is now granted.

Find someone to replace him!

Brothers! Hang in there!

Brothers!

Men die for their states!

Today,

even if we were to be reduced

to the last soldier,

we must never let the Northern Qin Army

conquer Qingnan City!

Reinforcements are on their way!

Once they arrive,

we'll definitely turn the tides

and achieve victory!

General.

- General. - Rest well.

Rest well.

- General. - Sit down.

General. Have some water.

Bai Zheng,

how many soldiers do we have left?

Now, we have less than 1,000 of us.

General!

What are you doing?

General, please issue a retreat.

With our current strength, we won't be able to stop Northern Qin

even if we fight with our lives on the line.

I will never retreat.

You should get up.

But, General,

you're more than a general.

You're also the Princess of Jing.

That's precisely why I cannot retreat.

If I retreat now,

our morale will be gone.

But, General,

Official Luo's reinforcements haven't arrived yet.

I'm afraid...

They will come.

Ziyuan,

have you reached Junxian City?

Will I be able to stand in front of you

as the carefree princess I was once the war is over

and Qingnan City is defended successfully?

General, we intercepted a secret letter from Northern Qin.

General. What's wrong?

Ziyuan was ambushed.

How can we defend the city without any reinforcements?

All the more reason why we have to defend Qingnan City

when we don't have reinforcements.

Once Official Luo's army

and Ziyuan's army from Jingnan are here,

we'll definitely be able to defeat Northern Qin.

We have to buy time

for them.

Yes, General.

Reporting in!

Sir, we received a secret letter.

"Jingnan Army was ambushed by the Northern Qin Army on their way to Qingnan City."

We will turn back!

Sir, Qingnan City is right ahead. Where are we going?

Di Ziyuan is trapped in Junxian City. We shall rescue her.

Sir,

we're to provide reinforcements to Qingnan City under His Majesty's order.

I'm afraid we cannot follow your orders without an official military order.

General Anning is stationed at Qingnan City.

They can still hold the invaders up for a few more days.

However, Official Di doesn't have the time to do so.

This is a military order!

His Majesty appointed me as the Commander of the Palace Guards.

My duty is to deploy troops and dispatch generals.

Don't blame me for giving you military punishment if you don't follow my order!

Let's go!

Young Lady, you're hurt.

I'm fine. The Northern Qin Army is strong indeed. Let's continue!

Yes, Young Lady!

Ziyuan, be careful!

Watch your back!

- Thanks. - Don't mention it.

♫ 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? ♫