Original subtitles

[Shadow Love]

[Episode 35]

You made a round trip to Wuling Mountain,

created rubbings of some paintings

and delivered them to Prince Annan's Mansion

within just two days?

[Prince Annan's Mansion]

Since you can enter and exit Prince Annan's Mansion with ease,

why don't you just kill him?

If he dies,

Li Shuang will be heartbroken.

You care about Li Shuang,

so you'll be upset too.

Then why should I hurt him?

Besides,

his death won't necessarily

bring a lasting peace between the two countries.

Then why did you create those rubbings?

You think he'd show mercy to Shuang

for the sake of those flimsy sheets of paper?

I had to try that,

since Li Shuang

refused to leave.

If Jin'an can recall so much as a tiny fragment of memory,

then Li Shuang's noble intentions

may really make a difference.

But with Jade Linglong detached from his body

and all his memories gone,

how is it possible to remind Jin'an

of the past with just a few paintings?

Everything one has experienced

must be somewhat etched in one's heart.

Though Jade Linglong once controlled his body,

it never truly changed his heart.

If this doesn't work,

I'll rescue Li Shuang myself.

I'm here for all that may happen.

Don't you worry.

You used to stay

out of all worldly affairs.

War,

poverty,

life and death—

you were never involved.

What exactly turned you

into a man of compassion as you are now?

I'm doing all this for you.

Don't you see?

You volunteered to help Li Shuang out,

but she declined to leave with you.

So, you chose to hole up in this inn all day, sighing,

with no idea of flexibility

or changing your approach.

How foolish of you.

I lived in Wuling Mountain for years

in isolation from the world,

so I didn't know much about people's suffering.

On that day

when Jin Wujian led an attack against Wuling Mountain

and caused numerous casualties

in a real bloodbath,

I suddenly realized

that war and slaughter

could only bring perpetual hatred

and grief.

I just remembered one thing.

Speaking of Jin Wujian,

Shuang specifically asked me to tell you

that when she was confined,

someone

gave her a bottle of a drug

named

Brain-Devouring Powder.

That day, someone came

and gave me a bottle of Brain-Devouring Power.

Li Shuang...

didn't make a move?

Your Highness's spy personally witnessed that.

I thought she was smart,

but as it turns out,

she's a hopeless fool.

If Prince Annan learns of the Brain-Devouring Powder,

he'll surely conduct a thorough investigation.

Your Highness,

what should we do?

Investigation?

Only if he lives long enough to see that happen.

When Li Wei's troops arrive at the city gate,

Duan Aodeng will go confront them by all means.

Arrange archers now.

Whether there will be a fight or a truce,

he must

die on the battlefield.

[Imperial Kitchen]

You said you'd take me somewhere nice.

I thought we'd find clues about the Brain-Devouring Powder.

But instead, we just sneaked into the imperial kitchen

for free food and drinks.

You want some? It's delicious.

I've told you all the clues I know.

You already searched every corner

of this vast imperial palace,

but couldn't find anything.

I nearly starved to death.

Jin Wujian is dead already.

Why keep investigating

the Brain-Devouring Powder?

It is truly a rare drug.

Now that it's involved,

there must be something fishy going on.

Although Jin Wujian is dead already,

we still need to find the mastermind behind all this,

or Wuling Mountain

may get in danger in the future.

Yummy.

Are you crazy?

We're in the imperial palace of Yao State,

not the backyard of your house.

Won't you be spotted

if you get out like this?

So what if I'm spotted?

What can they do to me with their lousy martial skills?

You're able to escape,

but I'm not.

It'll be perfect if you get caught.

That way, I can be rid of a burden.

Who is it?

Who's in there?

Who?

Someone is here.

Where is this person hiding?

Let's go.

Help! There are assassins!

Guards!

Catch the assassins!

Catch the assassins!

We're safe now.

Who would've known

there's such a magnificent place

in the imperial palace of Yao State?

Everything here is made of gold.

These wealthy nobles

should really improve their imperial kitchen's cooking.

The food is terrible.

Even the popular restaurants in Lucheng can do better.

Is this also made of gold?

I saw you eat quite a lot.

Plus,

didn't you

steal much food as well?

You think everyone's like you?

You're basically subsisting on air.

I get hungry easily.

Of course I need to keep snacks at hand.

I nearly starved to death just now.

If I accidentally

faint from hunger,

who will be there to help me?

Careful!

I'm afraid this is a dead end.

There's no way in. It's so dark here.

All's brightened up.

The light's too strong.

Can you dim it?

I'm fine with how it is now.

Why is there a hidden chamber?

That's a human, right?

Can you put it out now?

It seems he's still alive.

We just strayed into this place.

We mean no harm.

How may we address you, sir?

I think he's been tortured here for a long time.

Focus on our goal.

We shouldn't waste time talking to him.

Let's go.

Are you silly or what?

In this huge imperial palace,

a secret chamber was built under the ground

just to confine a dying man.

Don't you find it suspicious?

Perhaps he has the clues

we're looking for.

Do you understand human language?

Have you heard of a poison

called Brain-Devouring Powder?

You're locked up here

and badly tortured.

Is all of this

Duan Aodeng's doing?

I'm afraid we won't

get an answer even if we keep asking.

Maybe

he's speech-impaired.

It's time we left.

We'd better not cause trouble.

Hold on...

Who was it?

General, I thought you were a true heroine

who'd know how to weigh things out best.

That's why I wanted to save your life.

But now,

I'm deeply disappointed in you.

Your plan was to make me commit a murder.

Even if things had gone as you wished,

you'd still take my life.

Killing Prince Annan or not

wouldn't make a difference, would it?

You think he'd be grateful to you

for showing him mercy?

General, maybe you haven't heard

that your father Li Wei has led an army to this very place.

As we speak,

he and your beloved man

are locked in mortal combat.

Your Highness,

those are our soldiers who got captured.

Prince Annan,

here we meet again.

Li Wei,

after hiding behind your daughter for so long,

you finally have the guts to face the blood feud between us.

Assassinations and sneak attacks are indeed disgraceful acts.

But for the safety of Taijin,

I'd do everything in my power

and resort to any means necessary.

If I were in the same situation again,

I'd repeat what I did without mercy.

"Any means necessary"—of all the nerve!

Now that you said so,

I'll avenge my brother

with my own hands.

The Changfeng Army

is strictly disciplined.

They'd never choose an individual over the greater good.

You think you can use me

to coerce my father into surrender?

Dream on.

I aim for more than his surrender.

Today,

neither Duan Aodeng nor Li Wei

can leave the battlefield alive.

Soft-hearted lady,

I'll have you see the devastating outcome

of your own merciful acts.

Don't worry.

I'll end your life in person afterwards,

so you can reunite with them in hell.

What are you waiting for?

Draw your sword out!

What stunt are you pulling now?

I came here

to seek peace

instead of new conflicts.

Taijin and Yao State

were at war for decades.

There were too many killings and lost lives.

During this year,

stability has been gained

in the border area and among the people.

This is a precious time of peace.

In this case,

why must we start a war again

and plunge the people into dire straits?

Prince Annan,

if you agree to sheath the sword,

I, Li Wei,

will return all the captured soldiers of Yao State

to you immediately.

Our two countries

will be on good terms ever after.

Think about it.

If Yao State strengthens its army

and wages war again,

it is the people of Yao State

who will suffer and agonize, right?

You're responsible for my brother's death.

Now, you're threatening me with Yao soldiers.

If I give you the satisfaction now,

won't it be too easy for you?

I'm liable for your brother's misfortune.

If my death can bring about

a reconciliation

between the two countries, and peace and prosperity

to the people,

I will gladly lay down my life.

Father!

Shuang,

don't be afraid!

Why the rush?

This great show

has just begun.

Shoot!

Father!

Prince Annan, what do you mean by this?

You're openly protecting the general of the enemy army.

Are you planning for

a revolt?

Li Wei came here

to negotiate peace.

For two countries at war,

their envoys are not to be harmed!

Li Wei is unforgivable

for killing the late emperor!

By colluding with Taijin

and committing treason,

Duan Aodeng has dishonored the late emperor.

Execute him now!

Father!

Father!

Father!

Shoot them to death!

Father!

It's no secret to me

that you're Duan Aodeng's woman.

I don't care if you two are putting on an act for me today,

or if you've truly broken up.

What I'm sure is that you care about him

and you can't bring yourself to kill him.

You'll have to pay a price

for your affection.

Why did you...

For the people of Taijin and Yao State,

I'm ready to forfeit my life.

Prince Annan,

the blood feud between us

is finally...

ended today.

Open your eyes and watch.

All the deaths down there today

are caused by you.

I only beg you...

to spare Shuang's life,

now that mine is to be taken.

Let her

leave...

here

safely.

Father!

Father!

Shoot!

Keep up!

Let go of me!

I'll have all of you torn into pieces!

Let...

Let go of me!

This woman disregarded military discipline

and killed soldiers of our own.

She'll be kept in the military prison

and punished according to the military law.

Back off!

I am the Empress Dowager,

the real sovereign of Yao State.

Prince Annan, you're just a nobody.

How dare you order to punish me—your superior?

You've known me for many years.

I'm sure you're aware of my arrogance.

I'll decisively execute those

who have committed capital offenses,

despite all hindrances.

Li Wei...

Li Wei caused the late emperor's death.

Revenge was justified, as it linked to the nation's dignity.

Did I do anything wrong

by ordering to shoot him?

And you have the gall to mention my brother.

If you hadn't plotted a murder

and taken my brother out of the palace,

he wouldn't have been assassinated.

In the interests of the now emperor and the court,

I meant to spare your life.

Little did I expect you to be blinded by greed

at the nadir of depravity.

Li Wei came alone

to seek peace.

Behind him stood

the captured soldiers of our army,

who shed blood for our country.

They came back alive from Taijin

only to be killed by their compatriots.

Were you really trying to kill Li Wei,

or to take that opportunity

to eliminate your political opponents?

You can't prove that.

This is pure slander and blatant defiance against sovereignty.

I personally witnessed what you did.

The Brain-Devouring Powder you gave to Li Shuang

is also proof.

Prince Annan, what's your relationship

with this female general?

When Li Shuang was in captivity,

you visited her abode multiple times

to dine and play the qin

with her.

You even

stayed there overnight.

You're a traitor colluding with

the female general of the enemy country.

Now, you're even framing me with a random bottle of poison.

You've sinned against Yao State.

Being powerless and alone,

I knew I couldn't fight you off,

so I ordered to shoot you on the battlefield.

How was I wrong?

Why are you laughing?

Because

I'm surprised I can live to see

such intense infighting

in the imperial court of Yao State.

Trying to protect him, aren't you, General?

Months ago,

Yao State and Taijin had a battle in Lucheng.

Prince Annan barged into our own military camp alone

to slaughter soldiers

and slay several generals.

That was why the Changfeng Army stayed unscathed.

General Li,

have you already forgotten it?

That's right.

The man standing right in front of you now

is

exactly the terrifying man in black.

What?

The man in black?

How can that be possible?

Uncanny.

If it really was him...

Despicable rebel,

how dare you impudently and openly

put me on trial?

Impossible!

Prince Annan would never betray our country!

Yes.

But the then reports from the battlefield

described the man in black

as an intrepid warrior—

I assume in today's world,

only Prince Annan can be a match for him.

When the late emperor passed away,

we all thought you suddenly died

from excessive grief.

But as it turns out,

you just faked your own death and fled.

Today, in the presence of all the officials,

do you dare to say

where you went

and what you did

in the year you vanished?

The man in black...

was me.

But I lost control of my body at that time

and completely forgot my identity as Prince Annan.

Now that Prince Annan has confessed candidly,

today,

in the name of the Empress Dowager,

I'll uphold justice for all.

Guards,

take Prince Annan down.

Put him in the Imperial Prison

for an impending execution.

Li Shuang, the female general of Taijin,

shall be executed too.

Everyone has to

pay the price for what they've done.

I'll take full responsibility

for everything I've done.

But before I'm punished,

I must rid the nation of this vile woman who harmed the late emperor

and killed our countrymen.

Even an upcoming death

can't stop you from spewing false allegations.

Is there any proof of

your accusations?

What are you dawdling for?

Take him down!

I am living proof.

Ze?

Greetings

to Your Majesty.

Greetings to Your Majesty!

Long live Your Majesty!

Is this a rebellion?

Who are you kneeling to?

Only my son Yu is the Emperor of Yao State!

Get up, all of you!

Get up!

Get up!

Honey,

you waited a long time

for this day, didn't you?

That day,

you lied about Aodeng being in danger and lured me out of the palace.

You attempted to gain control of me through dark magic.

When Aodeng risked his life to save mine,

he fell victim to your evil magic.

In the past year,

you kept conspiring with villains to jeopardize him.

Today, you venomously aimed to kill him again.

You already took the reign of Yao State.

Why did you have to persecute him?

Because I hated him.

Though we had got married,

he still only saw my sister as your wife.

What about me?

Then, I killed my sister,

cast the Love-Binding Curse on you

and finally gave birth to Yu.

I thought though I might not have your heart,

at least my son Yu would be the ruler of Yao State.

But one day, as I passed by the imperial study,

I overheard you

talking about giving the throne to Duan Aodeng.

Why?

Yu is your own son.

Why can't you accept him?

The one Ze can't accept

is you.

He who stands in my way

must die.

Your father's body

has been sent back to the city.

You can go bid him farewell now.

I didn't kill him,

yet he died because of me.

Your father

saved my life.

In the future,

if you want blood for blood,

I won't try to get away.

He exchanged his own life

for a reconciliation between our two countries.

Unjustifiable bloodshed and sacrifices

are what he would hate to see.

Father,

in all these years,

I always referred to you as "Grand General,"

and rarely called you "Father."

But in my heart,

I truly envied Ting

having a close father-child bond

with you without worries.

Although I bear the family name of Li,

I'm not really related to you by blood.

I feared that I wasn't qualified.

I lacked courage.

During these years,

I thought

I could repay you for raising me

by fighting enemies

bravely on the battlefield.

You treated me

as your own daughter the entire time,

but I was so opinionated

that I chose to keep a meaningless distance from you

and let all the beautiful moments

slip away.

I never regretted

being a female general

and fighting on the battlefield.

But now I do regret

not being a good enough daughter to you.

If there is a next life,

I hope you'll lead a peaceful and joyful life.

♪ Before my eyes ♪

♪ Your lines are still clear ♪

♪ Scattered about, they sigh ♪

First, I wish you good health,

♪ Reflecting moments etched deep inside ♪

longevity,

♪ Life's long journey drifts by ♪

and eternal happiness.

♪ How can we hope to return to days gone by? ♪

♪ In a moment of thought ♪

♪ Every thread of longing grows wild ♪

♪ Hesitant to brush aside ♪

♪ I'm afraid your face will be blurred ♪

Second, I wish you every success,

♪ For all the fervor ♪

♪ And reluctance tied to these memories, our ways have parted ♪

safety in battles

and lasting joy.

♪ All I ask ♪

♪ One promise, I will follow without hesitation ♪

♪ All I pursue ♪

♪ Joys and sorrows ♪

♪ Stake my whole life ♪

♪ On this ♪

Third, I wish you to be freed of worries,

♪ Stepping on the frost ♪

the Changfeng Army be formidable,

♪ Take a glimpse at the sweet memories ♪

♪ They accompany me in this long journey of life ♪

and the country be prosperous.

♪ Distances don't bother me ♪

♪ The memories will linger on ♪

♪ I hope my love will finally find you ♪

♪ I hope my prayers will be answered ♪

♪ Let me hold your hand ♪

♪ Wish us to be an ordinary couple ♪

♪ May we walk pass the hustle and bustle ♪

♪ To the end of the world ♪

Over all these years,

you've been carrying the mission and honor of the Li family on your back.

♪ Stepping on the frost ♪

♪ I'm ready to salvage the tattered world ♪

Everything you've done

serves the interests of Taijin and its people.

♪ My passion is like blazing flames ♪

It is time for you to do

♪ No obstacle can hold me back ♪

what you actually want.

♪ This love leaves me no regret ♪

♪ May the world be filled with romance ♪

♪ May people be with their beloved ones ♪

♪ Holding your hand, I'll pray for peace ♪

♪ No regret, no sorrow ♪

♪ When the gilding wears off ♪

♪ We'll still be together ♪