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[Shadow Love]

[Episode 21]

[General's Residence]

It's so spicy.

Do people here all like such strong liquor?

The air here is damp,

so the liquor naturally has more kick to it.

Of course, it can't compare

to the fine wines of Wuling Mountain.

Senior.

I was expelled from Wuling Mountain long ago.

I don't deserve

to be called your senior anymore.

Come,

Senior,

have a seat.

Alright,

you sit too.

Here.

Thank you.

How is Godfather doing these days?

The old man…

has passed away.

Six months after you left,

one day,

he went into the forbidden area to refine medicine.

He was gone for several days

and still didn't return.

When we finally found him,

he had already been murdered.

Have you found out who did it?

This was found near his body.

Apart from this,

there are no other clues.

I never thought

that after I was expelled from the sect

for practicing forbidden techniques,

I'd never see him again.

Senior,

why have you come to Lucheng?

And how did you know I was at the General's Residence

to invite me

to meet you here?

Let me ask you first—

where is Jade Linglong now?

How do you…

know about that?

I've long heard that Lucheng has a man in black

who can fight against 10,000 soldiers alone.

Such power,

I believe,

must be related to the sacred Jade Linglong from the mountain.

But Wuling Mountain

has always stayed out of worldly affairs.

Why would it serve in the army?

So I came to investigate

and quickly discovered

that this man in black

is actually a shadow puppet created by Jade Linglong

and is hiding within the General's Residence.

Am I right?

Senior, your analysis is spot on.

Actually, on the day Godfather was killed,

Jade Linglong went missing from the mountain.

I led our people to search everywhere,

but there was no trace of it.

Only recently

did I finally track it here.

I didn't expect you

to be better informed than me.

The shadow puppet

created by Jade Linglong

will surely bring disaster to the world.

Although I've been expelled from the sect,

I still owe it a debt of gratitude.

I thought

if I could return Jade Linglong

before it caused chaos,

perhaps Godfather might forgive me

and allow me to serve by his side again.

I never expected that he was already…

Since you know so much,

you must have been lurking in Lucheng for quite some time.

What progress have you made?

That shadow puppet is extremely powerful.

I set traps again and again,

but he easily escaped each time

and even injured me.

I know that with my strength alone,

it'll be difficult to subdue him.

Fortunately, you appeared in time.

If we work together,

-we will… -If we work together?

Wouldn't that mean pushing him to his death?

That shadow puppet hasn't fully merged with Jade Linglong yet.

If he loses his mind,

his chaotic power will be devastating.

If we don't take him out now,

he'll definitely become a greater threat in the future.

I've already met this person.

Though he shows signs of losing control,

he isn't beyond control.

The situation

hasn't reached that point yet.

We are both healers.

How can we carelessly take someone's life?

You're just the same as back then.

You haven't changed at all.

Fine.

Let's

think this through.

Li,

is Zhang San's son

going to get married?

Yeah.

The bride is quite pretty.

Sir,

mind stepping aside?

You're blocking the way.

Sir!

Murder! Murder!

The man in black killed someone!

The man in black killed someone!

Help! The man in black killed someone!

Master,

everything is done.

Once dawn breaks,

news that the man in black slaughtered civilians

will spread throughout the city.

Very good.

Now let's see

how my compassionate junior

will react to this.

[General's Residence]

I thought you were some reclusive master.

Turns out—

you're actually a despicable scoundrel

who attacks from behind.

You dare to talk back?

Several murders have occurred in the city,

with extremely brutal killing methods.

A survivor saw with his own eyes

that the man in black did it.

Black armor, masked face, defeating the Yao Army—

isn't that exactly you?

After committing such brutal crimes,

what do you have to say for yourself?

I didn't kill those people.

You still try to deny it?

I told you before

that shadow puppets can lose control

and become totally unreasonable.

Who knows if you were sleepwalking at night

and killing people unconsciously?

The same mask

can be bought anywhere.

Besides,

I've been at the General's Residence day and night.

Everyone can testify to it.

You, on the other hand,

have been skulking about.

I suspect you're the one plotting behind the scenes,

trying to frame me.

We of Wuling Mountain act with honor and integrity.

I'd never stoop so low.

Since you didn't witness it yourself,

how can you be certain

that I'm not being framed?

Enough talk.

Come back to Wuling Mountain with me.

Be good,

and come back to Wuling Mountain with me.

Why didn't you kill me?

You think one small favor

will clear you of suspicion?

Believe what you want,

but remember this:

this matter

stays between us.

It concerns no one else.

Watch me closely,

and see if I'll become

the cruel, ruthless monster you claim I'll be.

If you disregard human lives

for your own selfish desires,

I won't let you off either.

He could've taken my life

but held his hand.

He really doesn't seem like the type to kill innocents.

Could it be

it really wasn't him?

Then who could it be?

No.

I can't just take his word for it.

If the situation gets out of control,

the consequences would be unimaginable.

It seems

the Kongqing Water is still necessary.

Better safe than sorry.

Good thing my fan is fine.

Shuang is still in danger.

I can't abandon her.

Don't you understand?

Right now, for her,

you are the greatest danger.

Don't worry.

You won't lose me that easily.

Actually,

I cherish my life

more than anyone else does.

The Emperor is incompetent,

and Prince Li is cruel.

Neither is fit to rule the country.

But the Crown Prince is different.

He is benevolent

and magnanimous.

If we do our best to protect him,

perhaps Taijin

will still have a glimmer of hope.

And the common people

might live better lives.

Shuang, don't worry.

No matter what,

I'll make sure your wish comes true.

This…

What's going on?

His Highness said

he has no appetite.

Prince Li just came to throw his weight around,

and now Your Highness can't even eat?

If things get worse in the future,

what will you do then?

Besides enduring it,

what else can I do?

My mother was of humble origins.

Prince Li has never seen me as a brother.

After Father named me heir,

he only saw me as a thorn in his side,

eager to get rid of me.

Though I bear

the title of Crown Prince,

my hands are tied.

Who knows?

I might even lose my life one day.

You play go?

That was a brilliant move.

It broke the deadlock

I'd struggled with for days.

Perhaps

Your Highness's go skills are just terrible.

Or perhaps

Your Highness has trapped yourself.

Your resentment shows

your heart's still alive.

But unfortunately,

all you do is wallow in self-pity.

How do you know

you don't have a winning move?

Prince Li targets you at every turn

only because you're the obstacle on his path to the throne.

No matter how you try to avoid him,

he won't let you go.

Constantly giving in

will only leave you with fewer and fewer options.

Since being the Crown Prince can't keep Prince Li in check,

have you ever thought of

taking the throne?

Though I'm heir to the throne,

I'm never dead-set

on ascending the throne.

If you don't fight,

someone will surely find a way to eliminate you.

Your Highness holds a high position

but not much power,

which makes you a perfect target.

Prince Li dares to push you around now.

If he truly ascends the throne one day,

your situation

will only be

more humiliating

and more miserable than it is now.

Do you realize

the consequences of such treasonous words?

I'm merely speaking the truth.

As the Crown Prince,

you're the rightful heir.

Building your strength

to counter Prince Li

is both your duty

and your right.

But now you're being trampled underfoot

like mud.

Do you really want

to be bullied like this your whole life?

Living like your right hand,

never seeing the light of day.

Prince Li's influence at court runs deep.

He carries a lot of clout.

How can I possibly compete with him?

If I fail,

do you have any idea

what price I'll pay?

By yourself,

perhaps you can't make it.

But…

I can be your ally.

Who…

exactly are you?

The man

in

black.

Yin,

the Kongqing Water

can only be refined through both orthodox and unorthodox techniques.

It is the only thing

in this world

that can counter Jade Linglong.

Today, you and I are joining forces.

It feels like

it's predestined.

Senior,

though you can use forbidden techniques,

there's no guarantee of success.

After we activate this furnace together,

if anything unusual happens,

we must stop immediately.

Alright.

Though refining the Kongqing Water is dangerous,

to suppress the power of Jade Linglong,

you and I

must take this risk.

After the elixir is initially formed,

I'll need to refine it for 49 more days.

Then,

I'll give the Kongqing Water to you.

I hope you'll use it wisely.

Your Highness,

haven't you already guessed it?

You just admitted it like that?

Aren't you afraid I'll…

You won't.

The man in black

is a powerful ally.

Your Highness has already reached a dead end.

You can't refuse me.

Nothing escapes your eyes.

When people lose their rationality,

it's hard to control their instincts.

But you've already done well,

hiding your edge to survive.

Not too foolish.

Why do you want to help me?

Prince Li is cruel by nature.

If the country

fell into his hands,

it'd surely become a living hell.

Shuang

named me Jin'an

with the hope

that Taijin would enjoy lasting peace and prosperity.

This is her lifelong wish.

Now it seems

you're the only one

who can fulfill her wish.

What should I do?

His Highness had men bring these gifts

from Lucheng

especially for Your Highness.

His Highness cares so much for you.

Worthless junk.

Take them away.

Wait.

His Highness is so thoughtful,

sending a letter to me from so far away.

I heard he was attacked not long ago.

Is everything alright now?

Rest assured, Prime Minister.

With General Li's protection in Lucheng,

His Highness is safe and well.

However...

Speak freely.

Since Prince Li arrived in Lucheng,

he has been making things hard for His Highness.

Though General Li wishes to mediate,

she doesn't dare to intervene

because Prince Li is too powerful.

Not only was the attack brushed aside,

but His Highness was publicly humiliated.

Had we known,

it would've been better to stay in Yunjing

than suffer such indignity.

I've spoken out of turn.

Please forgive me, Prime Minister.

Is that

what you think,

or what His Highness thinks?

His Highness

never said it outright,

but in private, he often misses Yunjing.

His Highness also told me

that despite being the Crown Prince,

he's often disrespected.

In this world, the only one he can rely on

is you, Prime Minister.

Looks like His Highness has learned something

during his trip to Lucheng.

Go back and tell him

I've seen his improvement.

As for the matters mentioned in the letter,

I'll handle them all properly.

Thank you, Prime Minister.

Recently,

news has come from Yunjing.

The steward of Tian Huailiang, a director in the Ministry of Personnel,

and the sedan bearer of Zhao Qingsong from the Ministry of Rites

quarreled in the marketplace.

It even escalated into a public brawl,

alarming the authorities.

Both Tian Huailiang and Zhao Qingsong

work for Prince Li.

After this happened,

many people had a good laugh.

These people side with Prince Li

for profit alone.

Unfortunately,

too little meat for too many wolves.

When the spoils aren't divided equally,

rifts are inevitable.

Officials need to keep up appearances,

but their servants,

with just a bit of goading,

lose their composure.

It's a pity

that after just a few days,

the two of them

made peace in person.

But it makes sense.

They've been allies for years.

Their ties run deep.

How could a minor attempt to sow discord

turn them against each other?

No rush.

Plant a few more seeds

of discord in their hearts.

When the time comes,

their alliance can collapse

in an instant.

Every weakness of your enemy

is an opportunity for you.

By the way,

your father-in-law, the Prime Minister,

truly values you.

All these matters were handled efficiently.

Perhaps before long,

you'll be able to rise with this momentum

and rival Prince Li.

But I still don't quite understand.

How could just a few letters

make Ji Lan trust me?

Who said he trusts you?

The Emperor has only two sons.

The Prime Minister's daughter married you.

He has no choice.

But you—

you wallowed in the past,

being hot and cold with the Ji family.

You almost missed this winning move.

If you show willingness to work with them

and demonstrate that you share their interests,

they'll feel more secure

and place their bets

on you.

So,

you want me to please Ji Tianjiao

as a way

to win favor with both her and her father

and show loyalty?

A crown prince who can be manipulated

is hard to resist.

Moreover, in their eyes,

what matters most

is your title as heir.

If you use this to your advantage,

you'll have

a greater chance of success.

The more I tie myself to the Ji family,

the further I drift from Shuang.

That is

part of your plan too, isn't it?

You've seen through me.

I'm just an ordinary man, not a sage.

Since I'm helping you,

I should get something out of it.

You're quite frank.

If I had met you sooner,

perhaps

we could have been friends.

Since we're friends,

Your Highness,

will you give me a handicap?

You just agreed?

The royals know no mercy.

Remember this:

once a wolf has its prey in its jaws,

it never lets go easily.

Your every act of mercy

will only be repaid with your enemy's cruelty.

Your Highness.

What were you thinking?

Why did you bring His Highness out here?

It's not his fault.

I was feeling bored in the residence

and asked him to accompany me for a walk.

I see.

It was my oversight.

I'm getting tired.

I'll go back and rest.

Since you have some free time today,

Jin'an,

keep General Li

company for me.

Farewell, Your Highness.

His Highness is so kind,

giving me time off to accompany you.

Though it's partly

to show goodwill,

I still

appreciate it.

Prince Li is watching like a hawk,

yet you don't seem to care at all.

You're scolding me.

You're scolding me.

Though you're scolding me,

what I feel more than anything

is your concern for me.

So frivolous.

You really are asking for a beating.

It hurts.

Scoundrel.

Why are you staring at me?

Is there something wrong

with my face?

I want to remember you.

I want to imprint you in my mind.

I want to paint your portrait.

That way,

I won't have to fear forgetting you.

Forget me?

Why would you forget me?

I've already forgotten many people.

All my memories of the past

are gone.

Sometimes, I suddenly fear

that I'll forget you too.

If that day ever comes,

it'd mean you're heartless.

When that happens,

no matter how far away you are,

I'll find you.

It's a deal.

It's a deal.

How are Tian Huailiang and Zhao Qingsong these days?

Both men have served as officials for years.

They know what to do.

They're important court officials,

yet over a few servants,

they've caused such a stir.

Troublesome fools.

But I think

these two officials may have

some friction in court,

but why did this happen precisely

when Your Highness left the capital?

I'm afraid

someone has been plotting behind the scenes.

Who do you suspect?

There are few in court

bold enough to oppose Your Highness.

The Li family

tops the list.

Your Highness,

could it have been the Crown Prince?

It doesn't seem like his doing.

You're right, Your Highness.

However,

even if the Crown Prince didn't order it,

it's possible that he sees this

as an opportunity

to turn the tables.

Your Highness,

you should stay cautious.

Yes, I must be cautious.

The day of the ritual draws near.

It's time to observe their movements.

If the right opportunity arises,

we'll take the Crown Prince's life.

General,

Prince Li's men are here.

Greetings, General.

What brings you here, Steward Bao?

I'm here with a message from Prince Li.

The weather has been excellent lately,

perfect for hunting.

Surely the borderlands here

have beasts

that are rare in the capital.

Prince Li invites the Crown Prince

to go hunting

tomorrow.

His Highness is in such a good mood.

But the Crown Prince is still recovering.

-I'm afraid… -General.

Prince Li has made up his mind.

If the Crown Prince is

willing to go, fine.

If not,

he has to force himself to go.

Besides, with his weak constitution,

he should get more sun

and exercise more

to strengthen his body.

I'll take my leave.

Oh, by the way,

General,

if you're

free tomorrow,

you're welcome to join us.

You too.

The Crown Prince is truly unfortunate

to have such a brother.

He can't live a single day in peace.

Your Highness!

Muyang,

I was shooting a lame deer.

I also want to see

what you'll catch today.

There are no animal sounds nearby.

It seems this hunt of Prince Li's

has another purpose.

Protect His Highness.

Stop.

Behind us!

Your Highness.

Li Shuang,

how dare you?

You're holding Prince Li hostage.

Don't you fear the execution of your entire family?

As expected of the General of the North.

I truly admire you.

If you and the Changfeng Army

are willing to follow me

and help me secure the throne,

I'll give you

a high position in the future.

The Crown Prince is the legitimate heir,

the only successor to the throne.

When was it ever your turn?

The Changfeng Army is loyal and righteous.

How could we conspire with traitors?

At this point,

are you still going to back down?

Stand up.

You're a prince.

Only by standing tall

will you not be trampled on.

You're the Crown Prince,

but now you're being trampled underfoot

like mud.

Do you really want

to be bullied like this your whole life?

I am the Crown Prince.

How dare you rebel against me?

Su Muli,

you have repeatedly

defied the Crown Prince.

That's already terrible disrespect.

And now, under the guise of hunting,

you plot to assassinate His Highness.

Isn't this treason?

It's a misunderstanding, Your Highness.

The borderland

is full of bandits.

The assassination

was truly a misunderstanding.

After I return,

I will thoroughly investigate

and give Your Highness an explanation.

What does Prince Li think?

I…

I was careless

and offended Your Highness.

Please forgive me.

You're my brother,

so I'll let it go today.

But remember:

whether you accept it or not,

I'm the only Crown Prince of Taijin.

Let's go.

[General's Residence]

Freshly made ginseng chicken soup.

Have some

to calm your nerves.

How did you

feel today?

When I saw Prince Li's eyes,

I felt as if I'd fallen into a frozen cave.

But…

I haven't felt so free in a long time.

It's just that…

to him,

I'm nothing but a lowly person.

If I dare resist,

it means falling out with him.

The days ahead

will only get harder.

No matter what you do,

he won't let you off.

Rather than thinking about

how to please him,

you should consider

how to plan for yourself.

Today at the hunt,

you didn't expose those assassins' identities,

which already let him save face.

Besides,

you carried yourself as the Crown Prince,

making him wary of crossing you.

You've done very well.

Really?

But today

you also offended Prince Li.

He'll never let it go.

That's

not for you to worry about.

Drink your soup

and get some rest.

Your Highness,

it's late.

You should get some rest.

Su Muyang is so despicable!

He actually used the title of Crown Prince

he stole from me to lord it over me.

And Li Shuang—

she openly defied me

and protected Su Muyang.

The Crown Prince

holds an empty title

with no real power.

He barked so loudly today

only because he had backing.

But Li Shuang truly commands an army.

If she really joins hands with the Crown Prince,

it'll be even harder to deal with him.

I hoped Li Shuang

could read the situation and pick the right side.

Since Su Muyang

dared to lord it over me,

he shouldn't blame me for what happens next.

Your Highness,

I've heard something.

In this city,

there's a Sixu Clinic.

Its female owner, surnamed Lu,

is a close friend of Li Shuang.

Since they like meddling so much,

let's give them

more than enough to meddle in.

Fire! Someone help!

Put out the fire!

Hurry up!

Fire!

Help!

Fire!

Someone help!

Boss, you've worked hard.

Have some tea.

Nanxing,

did something go sour in the kitchen?

Boss,

your daily Five-Animal Exercises

really came in handy.

That's amazing.

Lu Xin.

Thank goodness you're fine.

I lost the clinic,

and I lost Nanxing too.

How did you get so badly hurt?

I brought Mo Yin with me.

He'll treat you in a moment.

-What are you doing? -How dare you!

Step aside!

Here is the imperial dagger.

You guys,

hand over the Crown Prince immediately!

Go inform General Li.

-Let's go. -Let's go.

Your Highness.

Your Highness,

no matter what happens,

don't go out.

Prince Li has come while General Li is away

and even brought the imperial dagger.

Your Highness should hide for now.

The imperial dagger?

How is that possible?

That's Father's personal possession,

a national treasure.

I saw it with my own eyes.

Prince Li

wouldn't dare forge such a thing.

Your Highness,

the Crown Prince went out with General Li.

He's not here.

Your Highness,

we couldn't find the Crown Prince.

Where is he hiding?

Tell me,

and you'll be rewarded.

I'm just a maid at the General's Residence.

The whereabouts of my masters

are not for me to know or decide.

If you wish to find the Crown Prince,

you may have to wait for General Li to return.

You're using her authority to pressure me?

I wouldn't dare.

You don't know where the Crown Prince is,

but you

surely know about the man in black.

Who is he?