Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Fighting for love]

[Episode 23]

I saw it. She is a woman.

All you know is drinking.

It's all my fault.

I leaked General Mai's identity.

And I killed He Chao.

I'm truly unforgivable.

Zhao Zhong,

don't worry.

Young Marquis will find a way.

Sir, how do you want to punish Zhao Zhong?

Our country has its law,

and the military has its rules.

I'm afraid Zhao Zhong will have to pay with his life.

I... I disagree.

Yes.

Our country has its laws and the military has its rules.

I understand what you said.

But we humans also have emotional bonds.

Zhao Zhong is our brother.

He has been loyal all these years.

He did kill He Chao.

But we can't just kill him

just because one of our men died.

If we don't kill Zhao Zhong,

I'm afraid we can't make others convinced.

You have a point.

How about this? Let's make a compromise.

As long as we keep him alive,

you can punish him however you want.

Let me think about it.

I know

you and Marshal Shang came from Shengdu together.

You have shared weal and woe.

You are like brothers.

What has happened has happened, don't blame yourself too much.

How can I not blame myself?

Young Marquis has always been good to us.

I've always kept it in my heart.

I made a big mistake because of drinking too much wine.

I feel guilty towards Young Marquis.

I feel guilty towards him.

Guard Zhao, have you heard of the story of the cuckoo?

Please enlighten me.

Once upon a time,

there was a poor family.

The family consisted of an old mother

and two sons.

The eldest son was called Du Da.

He was about 30 years old.

The youngest son was called Du Er.

He was 19 years old.

Both of them made a living by selling illegal salt

to support their old mother.

Du Da had much strength.

He could carry 150 kg each time with a carrying pole.

Du Er had less strength.

He could only carry over 50 kg each time with a carrying pole.

The money he made was only enough for supporting himself.

One day,

Du Da accidentally dropped the salt carrying pole

and killed someone.

He was arrested by the government and was on death row.

Du Er went to visit him.

The two of them cried so hard.

Du Da told his brother

to take good care of their mother.

But Du Er said

he should replace him to die.

If he died, he would be the only one who would die.

If Du Da died, the three of them would die.

He didn't have much strength and couldn't earn much.

He couldn't support their mother.

In the end, they could only starve to death.

Later, Du Er really replaced his big brother to die.

Their mother was able to live a peaceful life.

And Du Er's soul turned into a cuckoo

and cried day and night.

Who did this?

Mr. Xu.

Young Marquis, you can't.

You can't.

-General. -What's wrong, Mu Bai?

Mr. Xu forced Zhao Zhong to kill himself.

Young Marquis.

General!

Stop him!

[City Guard Mansion]

Young Marquis.

Xu Jing.

Young Marquis, what are you doing?

Get out of my way!

Calm down.

Young Marquis.

Calm down.

Don't move!

Stop him!

Back off.

-General. -Young Marquis.

Get out!

Xu Jing,

you killed him without my permission.

I'm going to kill you.

If killing me

can ease your resentment in your heart,

I deserve to die.

But I have something

to tell you.

Let me ask you.

Which soldier doesn't have a wife, a child, parents,

and siblings?

They have risked their lives

and gone through hardships with you.

Why?

Not just because you are kind

and loyal.

More importantly,

they hope one day,

everyone in Nanxia can live a happy life

and enjoy peace and prosperity.

Nanxia is facing internal and external problems.

Millions of Beimo's soldiers are approaching the city,

trying to take our land.

All the soldiers are watching you.

Marquis Dingnan is watching you in heaven.

If all you know is being indecisive,

emotional, and ignorant,

you would

let the soldiers who died on the battlefield down.

You would fail Zhao Zhong's loyalty to you.

I have a few final words for you.

Those who want to achieve success

have to bear the burdens.

An imperial edict has been delivered.

The Zhenbei Army

has defeated the enemy bravely and recovered the lost territory.

I feel really relieved.

I hereby reward you according to your contributions.

Shang Yizhi, Marshal of the Zhenbei Army,

is appointed as a first-rank general.

General Mai Sui is appointed as the third-rank General Yunhui.

Tang Shaoyi, the cavalry lieutenant,

is appointed as the fourth-rank General Zhenwei.

Others who have gained merit are promoted by one rank.

Shi Dachun, the former Guard General of Yuzhou, defected to the enemy.

He shall be beheaded.

Marquis Dingnan shall supervise the execution

and take his head back to Shengdu to report.

The responsible department shall carry out the execution. Respect this.

Your Majesty.

Shi Dachun defected to the enemy

to protect the people in the city.

You gave an order to behead him.

I still think it's inappropriate.

According to the law,

those who defect in war

shall be executed along with their nine clans.

But he did it for the people.

That's why I have spared his nine clans.

If I don't punish traitors severely,

everyone in the military could learn from them.

Then what's the use of the law?

The people of Yuzhou just had a rough time.

They still don't trust the court very much.

A single stone cast into water could create countless ripples.

If the people become resentful...

He is just a guard general of a city.

Why would his death make the people resentful?

Stop talking about this.

He must be killed.

Your Majesty,

although this can weaken the strength of the Zhenbei Army,

it can't undermine its foundation.

Your Majesty,

I really don't understand why you are doing this.

I don't think

the special envoy sent to Yuzhou

was killed by the Beimo people.

You think Marquis Dingnan did it?

Either he kills him,

or he bears the name of a rebel.

It depends on his choice.

Alright, stop talking.

Try the new tea I made. Come on.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Nice tea.

General Shi is devoted to the people of Yuzhou.

How could His Majesty treat a loyal official like this?

Don't worry, Uncle Shi.

We can definitely

come up with a perfect idea.

It's not that simple.

What His Majesty wants is not General Shi's life,

but the Zhenbei Army's loyalty.

The Zhenbei Army was transformed from the Qingyu Military Coalition.

Half of the soldiers were General Shi's men.

Now His Majesty has ordered Young Marquis

to supervise the execution of General Shi.

I think it will affect the prestige of Young Marquis in the army.

If Chen Qi attacks us again by that time,

we may not be able

to resist the Beimo Army's attack.

Then His Majesty can punish Young Marquis.

This move allows him to kill two birds with one stone.

Uncle Shi,

give me a few more days.

I will come up with a solution.

I'm tired.

I want to rest for a few days.

Don't come to me if there's nothing important.

General.

What do you plan to do

about General Shi's matter?

I plan to burn my bridges.

You insist on disobeying the order.

Actually, the soldiers know

without Uncle Shi,

the Qingyu Military Coalition wouldn't have come this far.

And we wouldn't have had 100,000 soldiers.

If anything happens to me or Uncle Shi,

the soldiers of the Qingyu Military Coalition

won't just sit and watch.

So this time,

I plan to take them with me.

You plan to use the 100,000 soldiers as the bargaining chip

to threaten His Majesty?

Although I will go to the palace alone to negotiate with His Majesty,

our 100,000 soldiers

will wait outside the city.

This indeed can be a threat to His Majesty.

That's right.

Don't you think there is a kind of balance

between us and His Majesty now?

If there is a balance, there will be restrictions.

Only with restrictions can we have a bargaining chip.

The core of this time's negotiation

is Uncle Shi's life.

No.

There must be a way.

Honey,

is there really no way to turn the tide?

We can't disobey His Majesty's order.

No.

There must be a way.

There must be a way.

Young Marquis.

I'm going to beg Young Marquis.

Honey. Honey.

I'm going to be frank with you.

Young Marquis

is trying to solve the problem.

So don't go to cause him trouble now.

You are not lying to me, right?

This is about disobeying His Majesty's order.

Young Marquis is taking a great risk

since he has agreed to help.

If the information is leaked, not just us,

everyone in Marquis Dingnan's Mansion will be implicated.

So I didn't tell you.

Really?

Have I ever lied to you in my life?

Just pretend that you don't know.

Don't tell anyone else.

I'm not stupid.

Why would I tell others?

All right, stop talking about this.

I'm hungry.

I want to eat golden patties made by you.

Wait a minute. I'm going to make some.

[I, Shi...]

I remember the Huainan Army was under your father's command.

Are you familiar with any general?

You want to take a drastic measure to deal with the situation?

The Zhenbei Army

should kill enemies.

When facing our comrades,

we should try to negotiate.

It's best not to fight.

I'll try.

Marshal Shang, I want to talk to you alone.

Marshal Shang, do you want to start a rebellion?

Since the emperor is fatuous and conscienceless,

we might as well replace him, right?

But it's not the right time now.

How can we succeed if we act in a hurry?

Besides,

you can't ignore

Princess Shenghua's safety, right?

It's just a temporary idea.

I didn't want to fight for it.

Now I have no choice.

This is not a wise decision.

You can't do this.

Mr. Xu, stop talking.

I've decided.

I just want to make this

as a souvenir for you.

Honey,

you have decided to give up your life long ago.

You lied to me

about asking Young Marquis for help.

Honey,

we can't disobey His Majesty's order.

You're so cruel.

Honey,

I'm sorry.

[Beimo]

Okay, let's do this.

Okay.

Let's go!

Okay.

Report.

Marshal Shang,

General Shi is here.

Uncle Shi.

Marshal Shang, are you going to fight your way back to Shengdu?

I said I would protect you.

Come with me.

No matter what it is, we'll talk about it after I come back.

Come with me.

Uncle Shi.

Young Marquis, you are here.

Come and sit.

Let's drink. Come on.

Good wine.

Why haven't you drunk?

If you want to persuade me to give up the plan,

there's no need to say it.

Back then,

your father saved my life on the battlefield.

Since then, I had followed him wholeheartedly.

Marquis

was loyal and nostalgic.

He was always the first one to come forward no matter what happened.

We all admired him,

except in one aspect.

Do you know how we thought of him

in private?

No.

We all said

he was afraid of his wife.

So are you.

Uncle Shi, you are afraid of your wife too.

I…

People can't speak ill of others behind their backs.

Otherwise, they may easily embarrass themselves.

Marquis died.

I didn't say goodbye to him for the last time.

It's not that I didn't want to. It's that I couldn't.

Because I have to help him

finish his unfinished journey

and unfinished things.

Before Marquis went to Shengdu,

he made a detour to Yuzhou.

We met privately. Right here.

Right where we are sitting.

Marquis

wanted me to repay his kindness with my life.

He said for other people, a son should pay his father's debts.

But for him, he wanted his son to inherit what I owed him.

He asked me to protect you with my life.

I promised him.

So, Uncle Shi,

when I first came to Yuzhou to borrow food,

you pretended to refuse me.

No, I meant it.

I only have one life.

I can save you once,

but I can't save you forever.

I wanted to see if you had the ability to protect yourself,

if you could get out of trouble on your own,

and if you deserved me entrusting my life to you.

I have to say

you have.

So,

I want to help you do one last thing.

[Letter of Apology]

What is this?

Your Aunt Shi doesn't have many relatives.

After I die,

you should help me take care of her.

Uncle Shi,

don't joke with me.

I'm not joking.

Listen.

Keep this well.

Why don't you understand?

From the moment the imperial edict was delivered to Yuzhou,

the result has been decided.

Do you know why His Majesty

asked you to supervise the execution?

Why?

Because you are actually the one

he wants to kill.

I'm guilty of treason.

If you don't kill me,

everyone in the Zhenbei Army would become my accomplice.

You would become the marshal of the rebellious army.

Do you know the result of bearing this name?

Marquis Zhongyong's army has been waiting at the southern bank of Wanjiang River.

That means His Majesty is waiting for you to make a choice.

Uncle Shi, I understand what you said.

But the situation is slightly different now.

Mai and I have made full preparations

for this battle.

We can definitely defeat the Huainan Army.

Alright, stop talking.

You really...

Don't let Aunt Shi see this.

Otherwise,

it'll be too late even if you don't want to die.

How come you still don't understand?

Uncle Shi, what's wrong with you?

Don't worry about me. Listen to me.

From the moment you take the initiative to send an army,

you'll become a real rebel.

The people who greet you with smiling faces now

will treat you as a beast by that time.

You should know that you can't win alone.

You are not strong enough yet.

It's reckless to start a rebellion now.

Do you really want everyone in the Zhenbei Army

to die because of your recklessness?

What on earth did you eat?

And this isn't the real crisis.

When you take my head

to Shengdu to report,

that will be the real beginning.

You have to do this.

Because the Zhenbei Army is your most trusted army.

Only by getting more political support

can you take back what belongs to you.

I don't want it.

-I don't want anything. -You have to.

Uncle Shi.

Listen to me.

This is the last thing I can do for you.

If you don't want to let me down,

be a good emperor in the future.

Remember,

as an emperor,

you must be determined.

Uncle Shi.

Uncle Shi.

Uncle Shi.

Uncle Shi.

Young Marquis.

Young Marquis.

Time to eat.

Young Marquis.

Young Marquis.

Have some food, Young Marquis.

He hasn't eaten anything for two days.

Leave it to me.

You haven't eaten anything for two days.

Come and have some.

Look at yourself now. Don't you feel guilty towards Uncle Shi?

I feel guilty towards him.

Uncle Shi chose to do that

to better protect you.

He counted on you

to achieve what he couldn't achieve.

You are so dispirited.

You indeed are guilty towards him.

I can't protect Uncle Shi now.

That means I can't protect you in the future.

It's not you protecting me or me protecting you.

We protect each other.

We still have a long way to go.

We can't fall here.

Mr. Xu is still waiting for us.

Get up and have some.

His Majesty summoned Marshal Shang back to Shengdu because he has ulterior motives.

We have to take precautions.

Marshal Shang is in charge of the Zhenbei Army.

His Majesty has some scruples.

He won't use the same methods as before.

But Marshal Shang doesn't have a trustworthy man in the court.

It seems quite dangerous.

I'm afraid our precautions may not be effective.

General Mai is right.

That's why

I have a suggestion.

Sir, please go ahead.

Choose one between the crown prince and Prince Kang.

Do you mean we should form an alliance with a prince?

His Majesty only has two sons:

the crown prince and Prince Kang.

The crown prince is sentimental but mediocre.

If he wants to succeed the throne successfully,

I'm afraid he'll have to work harder.

Prince Kang is ambitious.

He hasn't got along with the crown prince for long.

Both of them need military power urgently.

Marshal Shang, why don't you take the chance to choose one to form an alliance?

In this way, you can ask for his protection

to solve the current problem.

Also, you can take advantage of his power to take root in the court.

You can gain many benefits.

Sir, you're resourceful.

This is a great idea.

I wonder which one you prefer

in your heart.

Marshal Shang, what do you think?

I prefer the crown prince.

The crown prince once wanted to kill you.

Why do you still want to choose him?

He did want to kill me.

Because in his eyes,

whether I want to compete for the throne or not,

I'm an obstacle on his way to succeed the throne.

But when the Beimo Army came,

he decided to let me go in the end.

It means the crown prince is righteous

and prioritizes the bigger picture.

He's not like the current emperor,

who is fatuous.

So I think if he ascends the throne,

he will be a wise emperor.

You made a good choice.

The one who will ascend the throne in the future

will definitely be the current crown prince.

Why are you so sure?

Actually, the successor His Majesty wants the most

is not the crown prince,

but the crown prince's eldest son, Qi Yu.

The crown prince was able to outshine Prince Kang

because of his son.

Qi Yu is still in his childhood,

but he's very smart.

He is favored by His Majesty.

Before His Majesty dies, he will clear all obstacles

for the crown prince to make sure he can ascend the throne.

Since you've decided to choose the crown prince,

Marshal Shang, who do you want to take with you?

The situation in Shengdu is unknown.

It's not proper to take too many people.

Mai, Bai, and I

will go first.

Guards can just follow us closely.

As for the army,

I plan to let Tang Shaoyi lead the army temporarily

and let you be in charge of the affairs.

Sir, what do you think?

After you leave for Shengdu,

Marshal Shang, General Mai, you must be very careful.

Keep in touch with Yuzhou anytime.

I'm going to make arrangements now.

Since you've decided to leave,

you should go visit Mrs. Shi, right?

I really don't know

how to face Aunt Shi.

Let's go now.

Mrs. Shi, look.

The flowers over there are blooming so well.

Let's go there.

Mrs. Shi,

Young Marquis is here to visit you.

Aunt Shi.

You don't have to do this.

Mrs. Shi,

we're going to leave with Mr. Shi.

Aunt Shi,

you'll be my family from now on.

Uncle Shi died because of me.

No matter what happens,

I'll protect you for the rest of my life.

Are you leaving today?

Tomorrow.

Take good care of... him.

Xiu'er,

take good care of Mrs. Shi.

Have they arrived?

Your Majesty, they will arrive soon.

Tell them to continue to keep an eye on them.

If anything happens,

report to me immediately.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

there is one more thing.

Stop.

Leave.

Go ahead.

According to the secret report,

there is another group of people in Yuzhou

keeping an eye on Marquis Shang.