Original subtitles

[Fated Hearts]

[Episode 17]

This is the first time

I've ever given a girl a gift.

You cannot refuse it.

Then I suppose I should be honored.

Should I

give you a generous gift in return?

After my mother passed away,

everyone close to me,

those I trusted,

either left or betrayed me.

I've long been used to

hiding how I really feel.

But with you,

I don't feel the need to hide anything.

You know what?

You were the first person

who ever said you'd protect me.

You were also the first to tell me

I didn't have to

lick my wounds alone.

I'm truly happy…

to have met you in this life.

What's gotten into you?

Are you feeling emotional

because of your sister's wedding?

Save these sweet words

for your own

wedding night.

Alright.

It's a deal then.

♪ Arrows skim through fleeting light ♪

♪ In the blink of an eye ♪

♪ Scattering among clouds and mist ♪

♪ I fall off a cliff ♪

♪ My wings, in an instant ♪

♪ Shatter into sand ♪

♪ Who once laughed at frost ♪

♪ Riding across the world with ease? ♪

♪ And who was swept away toward ♪

♪ That muted darkness? ♪

♪ Who once ♪

♪ Melted me with a gaze like a river? ♪

♪ You're the answer in my heart ♪

♪ I have resolved ♪

♪ To ignite a body of sparks ♪

Yixiao,

♪ Like arrows, falling like rain ♪

have you ever thought about

what kind of man you want to marry?

♪ Reaching with burning intensity ♪

♪ Take down the setting sun as my heart ♪

♪ Fold the heaven and earth to make my wings ♪

♪ If fate shows no mercy ♪

♪ Then don't blame my recklessness ♪

♪ I suddenly realize ripples are spreading ♪

♪ Melting the frost, lingering in my heart ♪

♪ The light between your brows ♪

♪ Is the kind of bloom ♪

♪ That I love the most ♪

♪ I truly feel I can forgive it all ♪

♪ The sky's vast and the road's long, but with you by my side ♪

[Happiness]

♪ The twists and turns don't count ♪

♪ I can tell with tears that I have not lived in vain ♪

Your Highness,

it's getting late.

Do you plan to sit with me until dawn?

Princess, if you're tired,

you may go to bed first.

I know you still

can't let go of Fu Yixiao.

But I believe that one day,

I'll take her place in your heart.

Actually, I've prepared

a gift for you.

Tonight,

I'm willing to help you leave Susha.

What did you say?

No one would expect us

to run away on our wedding night.

With this,

our escape should go smoothly.

[Su]

Do you know

what this will cost you?

If I don't make sacrifices,

how can I ever

replace Fu Yixiao?

Princess Xiyang,

I can give you

the status and honor befitting the Princess of Zhennan.

But I'll never

love you.

You don't have to do this for me.

I don't want to owe you anything.

You don't owe me anything.

I'm doing this willingly.

[Happiness]

There are too many people here.

Let me take you somewhere.

Enjoy.

Didn't you always complain

that the food at my manor

was too bland?

Today, I'll treat you to some tasty meat.

Is there no meat

at the First Prince's Residence?

The roasted meat at my place

can't compare to this.

The roasted meat here

is the best in all of Yujing City.

But you're hardly ever in Yujing.

How do you know

where to find good food?

I didn't know.

Yao told me.

You specifically asked him about it?

Don't you usually

prefer light food?

Why are you adding so many spices?

You like spicy food, don't you?

Besides spicy food, you also enjoy drinking.

Aside from garlic,

you're not picky at all.

You remember all that?

When did you notice?

You've been at my place

for a while now.

If I couldn't

even pick up on that,

how could I command an army?

Since you're so observant,

do you also remember what Lu Ke

and Yun Fang like to eat?

They...

Eat while it's hot.

It won't taste as good once it's cold.

How is it?

It's really good.

Here.

You're so thoughtful.

I assume you've cared for

plenty of other women before.

Yes.

I've traveled far and wide

and met all kinds of people.

Naturally, I've crossed paths with many women.

Some of them

said they wanted to stay and serve me

to thank me for saving their lives.

I couldn't drive them away,

so I just let them stay.

They were completely obedient to me.

Sounds like your years on the battlefield

were a little too easy.

What do you mean?

I've saved quite a few people

on the battlefield too.

Some of them were

handsome, down-on-their-luck scholars.

Like you, I was very kind.

If they wanted

to offer themselves in return for my kindness,

I brought them all home.

They were perfect

for teaching

Fang and Shunzi.

It saved me a fortune on tutors.

Alright, stop making things up.

I was joking just now.

There weren't that many women

on the remote battlefields.

But I wasn't lying.

Fang told me himself—

I really did save

four or five broke scholars

and bring them home

to tutor the kids in reading and writing.

S-Seriously?

I don't remember any of that.

But Fang wouldn't lie to me.

Stop eating.

I was messing with you.

You actually believed me?

I knew I shouldn't have trusted you.

Why are you looking at me like that?

I'm just thinking about the rumors

that the First Prince of Susha

is ruthless and bloodthirsty.

Looking at you now,

I find those rumors ridiculous.

Not entirely.

Remember I told you

when I was young,

anyone who tried to hurt me

ended up dead by my hand?

Even back then,

the palace was full of rumors

that I was bloodthirsty.

Later, I went to war

and stained my hands with even more blood.

More and more people

came to

fear me.

The common folk

don't fear you.

They respect you.

The Vajra Defender looks scary.

That's why he subdues evil.

Without the commander

of the Feng Battalion who intimidates the enemies,

Susha wouldn't be

as peaceful as it is now.

It's rare to hear you

praise me.

Of all the people I've met,

you're the only one—

before and after

your memory loss—

who's never shown

even a hint of fear toward me.

Didn't you say we're the same kind of people?

When two of a kind meet,

what's there to be afraid of?

[Yujing City, Susha Kingdom]

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

What is it?

News from the Princess's Residence—

last night, Her Highness left Yujing

with Xia Jingshi in secret.

Xiyang...

Why would Xiyang leave Susha

with the Prince of Zhennan?

Your Majesty,

I'll send men after her immediately.

No.

First Prince…

Tell the First Prince he must bring them back!

Yes.

[Jingming Garden]

Greetings, Your Highness.

I failed in my duties.

Please punish me.

Your Highness,

when changing shifts

this morning, they found

the guards on duty last night

had all been drugged.

The Princess and Xia Jingshi were gone.

Everyone leave.

Leave.

Your Highness.

What did the gate guards say?

Around a quarter past midnight last night,

the Princess and Xia Jingshi

used an imperial token to leave the city.

An imperial token?

Xia Jingshi...

he must be heading back to Jinxiu.

To return to Jinxiu,

the fastest route

is straight east—

through Xishu City, around Mount Changlong,

then past Guxi,

Liaochuan, and Fengyang

to reach the border.

They left at a quarter past midnight,

so by now,

they're probably

almost at Guxi Town.

I know very well how fast

Xia Jingshi's horses run.

[Guxi Town]

Send word immediately via carrier pigeon

to the guards at all the checkpoints

in Guxi, Liaochuan, and Fengyang.

Tell them to stop those two along the way.

Gu Yu, Yun Fang,

you're coming with me right now.

If we travel day and night,

[Yujing Border]

we might catch up with them.

Lu Ke,

go to the barracks

and gather

a squad of elite riders.

Before they reach the border,

they'll definitely

pass through the bamboo forest outside Fengyang.

If we don't make it in time,

you'll intercept them there.

I'm coming with you.

I can handle this myself.

Wait for me in Yujing City.

[Feng]

Take this token.

With it,

you can command

all the guards in the manor.

No one will stop you

no matter where you want to go.

Don't worry.

He's just going after Xia Jingshi

and Feng Xiyang.

It shouldn't be dangerous.

Wait.

Xia Jingshi burned all his bridges

when he fled Susha.

He must've expected Feng Suige to come after him.

Feng Suige is in danger.

[Fu Yixiao] [Feng Suige] [Guxi Town]

[Liaochuan Town]

[Fu Yixiao] [Feng Suige] [Liaochuan Town]

[Liaochuan Town]

[Liaochuan Town]

We asked some travelers.

They just saw a carriage

heading toward the bamboo forest.

It's definitely Xia Jingshi's carriage.

Lu Ke's team should be there already.

Your Highness,

it's them!

Why is he here?

Attack!

Beyond the bamboo forest is the border.

They may have

crossed the border already.

Your Highness,

what should we do next?

Your Highness!

What happened to you all?

Why are you so late?

All our horses collapsed on the way.

We ran for over two hours

to get here.

Someone must have poisoned the horses!

Looks like Xia Jingshi is prepared.

Once they leave Susha,

they'll head straight for Jinxiu's Zhennan Pass.

[Zhennan Pass] [Beiyan Pass]

They have to pass through Qixia Valley on the way.

[Qixia Valley]

[Zhennan Pass]

We'll take a shortcut

to intercept them at Qixia Valley.

-Yes. -Yes.

There's a carriage over there!

Go!

Halt!

This is Susha's border checkpoint.

Who's inside the carriage?

Get out for inspection.

[Su]

This is an imperial token granted by His Majesty.

To see this is to see His Majesty.

[Su]

Let us through immediately!

Yes.

Let them through!

Let's go!

If we go any further, we'll be out of Susha.

Princess, you can still turn back now.

I promised to take you out of Susha.

I won't go back on that.

It's just that

I've let my brother down.

Weiran,

Feng Suige won't let this go.

Keep moving at full speed.

We must return to Zhennan Pass as soon as possible.

Yes.

Go scout ahead.

If anything seems off,

send up a smoke signal.

Yes!

Your Highness,

someone has already headed for Qixia Valley.

I found a lot of hoofprints

near the valley.

Feng Suige's men must be ahead.

He knows we'll have to pass through

Qixia Valley on our way back.

They must be waiting ahead

to stop us.

Qixia Valley

is easy to defend but hard to breach.

If Feng Suige and his men

are lying in wait there,

we may not escape unharmed.

[Zhennan Pass] [Beiyan Pass]

[Qixia Valley] [Zhennan Pass]

[Beiyan Pass]

Forget Zhennan Pass.

Change course northward.

We'll head for

Jinxiu's Beiyan Pass.

Your Highness,

but Beiyan Pass isn't part of the southern frontier.

If we go there,

the border troops will only

take us to Shengjing City.

You left Susha without permission.

That's already disobeying the imperial edict.

If you're taken to Shengjing,

you'll be completely defenseless

with little chance of survival.

If I had a choice,

I wouldn't go to Shengjing either.

But if we continue forward,

Feng Suige will stop us for sure.

Better to take my chances in Shengjing

than be locked up in Susha.

Let's go.

Yes.

This way.

Once we get through the gorge ahead,

we'll reach Jinxiu's Beiyan Pass.

Princess, you can rest easy now.

Feng Suige?

Wait.

If Xia Jingshi suspects

we're lying in wait at Qixia Valley,

[Beiyan Pass]

he'd rather detour

to Jinxiu's Beiyan Pass

than risk being stopped by me.

You and Yun Fang

take your men and head to Qixia Valley.

Gu Yu, come with me.

Yes.

Xia Jingshi!

With me here,

none of you are getting away.

Attack!

Brother,

please let us go.

I'm begging you, just let us go!

Don't come any closer!

Xiyang, put the knife down!

Leave!

Or I swear I'll die right here!

Don't be foolish, Xiyang.

Listen to me.

Put the knife down.

Brother,

all my life,

you've always spoiled me.

Why can't you

let me

follow my heart just this once?

How could you expect me to stand by and watch

as you're trapped in an enemy country?

His Highness is my husband.

Going back to Jinxiu with him

is only natural.

He'll treat me well.

Xiyang,

I've never begged you for anything.

Let this be the first time.

Please, come home with me.

No.

Xia Jingshi!

If you're a real man,

get out here now!

Stop pushing me.

Do you really want me to die?

Xiyang!

Brother!

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Don't hurt my brother!

Brother!

Brother!

If you still see me as family,

let us go.

Everyone,

retreat!

Your Highness.

Stop!

Let them go.

Princess, you'd better think this through.

There's no turning back from here.

If you want to stay,

get off the carriage now.

There's no turning back for me now.

Wherever you go,

that's where I'll be.

Your hand recovery

will take time.

Even though you've regained

some strength in your left hand,

you mustn't overexert it,

or this hand will be permanently damaged.

Your Highness,

Military Advisor Xiao is injured.

Shall we stop ahead to rest for a while?

Alright.

Greetings, Prince of Zhennan.

Your Highness,

these are the soldiers stationed at Beiyan Pass.

The Emperor has been informed

of your unauthorized departure from Susha.

Please, Prince of Zhennan,

return with us to the capital to see His Majesty.

Fine.

I ordered you to guard Yujing City

and watch over the royal villa.

And this is how

you all fulfilled your duties?

How impressive.

Here in Susha,

the Prince of Zhennan comes

and goes as he pleases.

What use are any of you to me?

Your Majesty, please forgive us.

We deserve death for letting

the Prince of Zhennan escape.

But…

But what?

Are you trying to say I've wrongly accused you?

I wouldn't dare.

It's just that

the Princess had an imperial token.

As a city gate official,

I didn't dare defy it.

What did you say?

The Princess must have

stolen Your Majesty's token.

That's how she was able

to leave Susha

without resistance.

The Princess is young and reckless.

Please don't be angry, Your Majesty.

She actually...

Your Majesty!

Leave!

Or I swear I'll die right here!

You're awake.

You fell asleep here all alone.

I was afraid you'd get cold, so I made a fire.

Drink this.

It'll warm you up.

Didn't I tell you

to stay in Yujing City?

Why are you here?

I had nothing to do, so I came.

But how did you know

we were heading

for Jinxiu's Beiyan Pass?

After leaving Yujing,

I was heading toward Pingling City,

but on the way,

I saw

carriage tracks leading toward Beiyan Pass.

I figured it was Xia Jingshi's carriage,

so I followed.

Once they pass this desert,

they'll reach Jinxiu's border soon.

By now, Xiyang is

probably already

on her way to Shengjing.

When our mother died,

Xiyang was only four.

I swore then

that I'd protect her for life.

But now I realize—

no matter what I do,

no matter how hard I try,

it never seems to be enough.

You didn't do anything wrong.

You did everything you could.

It was her decision.

She already seemed off

on her wedding day.

I should've noticed then

that she'd made up her mind

to leave with Xia Jingshi.

If I had stopped her then,

she wouldn't

have ended up like this.

She had made up her mind.

But even if you had seen it coming,

what could you have changed?

All I can do now

is pray she'll be happy.

That's wishful thinking.

Someone who could've

brought himself to kill you—

how could he ever

make my sister happy?

I knew fully well

that Jinxiu would be

a living hell for her.

And yet as her brother,

I could only watch

as she walked straight

toward ruin.

She's the Princess of Susha.

How is she supposed to fend for herself

in Jinxiu all alone?

Whatever the future holds,

at least she's safe now.

The two nations just made peace.

Xia Jingshi

wouldn't dare harm her.

Don't think too much.

We'll head back

to Yujing at first light.

I haven't asked you—

you shot all those arrows

from so far away today.

How's your hand?

It's fine.

I didn't use much strength.

Don't lie to me.

It's too windy here.

Let's go back to the tent.

Let me see.

What's wrong?

Nothing. Let's just go.

Don't move.

It's really fine.

Stop looking.

You call this fine?

It's really fine.

Can you even move your hand?

Don't make a fuss.

It'll heal in a few days.

Did you forget

what Lord Ling told you?

I couldn't care about that.

I couldn't just stand by

and watch you get hurt.

And I can't just stand by and watch you

become a wreck

trying to protect me.

So what if I'm a wreck?

You think I'm a wreck now

and despise me?

Feng Suige, listen carefully.

Even if I become a wreck,

I won't regret it.

Because I've long had a thing for you.

♪ The rain drifts endlessly ♪

♪ The old dream burns the heart ♪

♪ Dreams sink into ruin ♪

Have you ever thought about

♪ Missing the warmth of your palm ♪

what kind of man you want to marry?

What kind of man I want to marry?

♪ Awaiting dusk ♪

Actually, that night,

I saw the words

♪ Shadows take root in the mountain pass ♪

on the lotus lantern.

I also wish

I could grow old with the person

♪ In just a moment, tears stained ♪

beside me.

And that person

is you.

♪ Amid the bustling sound of wind and rain ♪

As much as I hate to admit it,

♪ Who laughs at me, heart cold as the desert? ♪

I can't lie to myself.

♪ Dreams turn through a lifetime ♪

As long as I'm alive,

♪ Who sighs for me, enduring separations? ♪

I won't let anyone

hurt you.

Even if I become a wreck,

even if I'm down to my last breath,

I'll never break that promise.

♪ Lost in the wilderness ♪

♪ I've been looking for you ♪

♪ Even if the wilderness is boundless ♪

♪ We won't separate ♪

♪ In the dark night, I look back ♪

♪ Amid despair ♪

♪ A stick of incense, a drop of tear, an inch of ash ♪

♪ Gathered and parted, all for you ♪

♪ You and I silently recite ♪

♪ This love will never perish ♪

♪ I search for you, yet cannot find you ♪