Original subtitles

=To Love or To Defy=

=Episode 21=

Shouldn't he be thinking about how to deal with us?

Who's worth all the effort?

Could it be...

Have you thought of something?

Nothing.

Just some unrealistic fantasies.

You may leave now.

I want to be alone.

Aye.

Promise me.

If that day really comes,

please bury my name

here as well.

Di Shiqi might be here,

but Sprout

never will.

I don't know

how you ended up here,

but don't worry,

I'll find your mother,

rescue your sisters,

and

get your revenge.

(Why is the soil so loose?)

(Di Shiqi)

Sprout,

are you still alive?

(Qi-Wei Border Post)

Your Highness,

the gifts we received

are three times the reported amount,

and the number of soldiers has doubled.

Why did Wei decide to send more gifts for no reason?

The Wei envoy said he'd come

and explain it.

He should be here soon.

The Wei envoy has arrived.

I'm Sai Qi, the envoy of Wei.

Hello, Envoy Sai.

Please rise.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Envoy Sai,

you initially planned twenty carriages.

Now there are sixty or seventy.

Why is this?

Your Highness,

our king hadn't received the letter,

so the quantity was

decided by Prime Minister Li.

Our king learned about Abi Ya's crime

and felt sorry,

so he decided to prepare this with utmost respect.

Hope you can accept them.

He's so generous.

Thank the King of Wei.

However, it differs from the reported number.

I should send a letter to my father.

Of course.

We'll wait at the post station.

There's one more thing.

Please go ahead.

During this period,

can the Wei Army retreat 20 miles?

Your Highness, is this necessary?

In peacetime, unless permitted,

armies must keep a 20-mile distance.

I'm sure you also know this.

I haven't received my father's order,

yet you're so close.

Are you planning to declare a war?

I wouldn't dare.

I'll order them

to withdraw.

Thank you, Envoy Sai.

Who?

Your Highness, I'm Sai Qi.

If there's anything, come tomorrow.

Your Highness,

I'm here

to tell you

that our army

has retreated to Qingfeng Mountain.

Besides, I have my own reason.

I hope you can like me.

Envoy Sai, please behave yourself.

Your Highness.

Your Highness,

I want no title.

I just hope

if I make you happy,

you can be closer to Wei.

Envoy Sai, please don't.

I've already fallen for someone.

Besides, the peace between Qi and Wei are not up to us.

In a world dominated by men,

you've become

the envoy of Wei,

which means you're exceptional.

If you're smart,

why not focus on state affairs?

Prosperity brings peace.

The incense...

What's wrong, Your Highness?

Why are you...

Are you into me?

You're from the Shadow Palace.

What are you talking about?

I don't understand.

Sprout...

Tian Shi'er.

Long time no see.

Di Shiqi,

I knew you were alive.

You finally escaped from this living hell.

Why come back?

Wait for someone.

Could it be

for this man?

No.

Forget it.

Save your little secret

for the master.

Just wait here.

After I finish him,

I'll take you to Master.

Tell me,

why do we risk our lives

for our master?

It's because we want to

cure the Ink Poison

and leave, isn't it?

Is this the antidote?

Let us go.

Otherwise, I'll destroy it.

This can ease the Ink Poison.

No wonder Master adores you.

Sprout!

Stay back!

If you come closer,

you'll never see me again.

No matter what you're doing,

tell me, and I'll help you.

Please.

Please let me see you one more time.

So,

you're not Princess Abi Ya

but the Shadow Palace's 17th Di Assassin.

Yes.

Great.

Ouyang Heng, the master of the Shadow Palace.

Your Majesty,

I'm willing to be your sword

to eliminate the Shadow Palace.

You're dying.

How can you defeat them?

Please fake my death so that I can get out.

Why should I trust a humble servant?

If I fail,

you may take my life.

Even if you don't,

the Crown Prince will not spare me.

You overestimated your worth.

Your Majesty,

I was brought up by the late queen,

so I know how the Xie Family controls the court.

Vixen!

How dare you talk about politics?

Your Majesty.

I've been working for the Shadow Palace.

I know the entanglements of the Crown Prince,

the Guardian Duke, and Prime Minister Li.

This might be risky, but we'll catch them off guard.

Perhaps I can help you

eliminate some

unwanted forces in the court.

Okay.

I grant you a fake death.

But after you leave,

you must kill the Guardian Duke.

If you fail,

you must finish yourself

and frame everything on the Crown Prince.

Otherwise,

not just you,

everyone involved in this

must die.

I understand.

I'd never get others involved.

Sprout!

I'm sorry.

- Yuan! - Your Highness!

- Yuan! - Your Highness!

Your Highness, are you alright?

I'm fine.

Why are you here?

His Majesty received your letter

and asked my father to send me here.

However, the Guardian Duke told His Majesty

this was a crucial diplomatic matter,

and he must come in person.

I knew he was up to no good,

so I followed along.

Oh, I see.

No wonder the Guardian Duke came.

I know how to help you.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Someone from the Shadow Palace tried to attack me.

But I know what to do now.

Let's get changed.

Sir, your tea is ready.

Oh, no.

It's a trap.

Consort Wei, long time no see.

Take her dagger away,

or she'll hurt herself.

What magic do you have?

Why did His Majesty help you fake your death?

Why is the Crown Prince so obsessed with you?

Never mind.

I'll send you back to the Crown Prince.

Guardian Duke,

you seem quite disappointed

to see me alive.

Your Highness,

I'm surprised that you showed up

with this assassin.

I've heard rumors about you and Consort Wei,

and they turned out to be true.

- Guardian Duke. - Your Highness,

I wish I could keep the secret.

However, I'm His Majesty's loyal servant.

I have to report your conspiracy with Consort Wei

to His Majesty.

Guardian Duke and his guards were attacked by the Shadow Palace

and died immediately.

Your Highness,

we're surrounded by Guardian Duke's men.

They look like the Wei Army.

He really betrayed our country.

Luckily, I have a plan.

Let's go.

♪Dreaming of a meeting♪

♪A gust of wind, a thought♪

♪See you in the dust♪

♪Hiding pain and sorrow♪

♪A promise to keep♪

♪Words that I can't say♪

♪Longing for you♪

♪But can't♪

♪Reveal the truth♪

♪May stars grant you light♪

♪Yet fate shows twists and turns♪

♪No fear of recklessness♪

♪Or obstacles♪

♪But fear the endless night♪

♪Wish to go on an adventure with you♪

♪Yet trapped in a cage♪

♪One day, we'll meet again♪

♪And be together till death do us part♪