Original subtitles

(Episode 3)

He knows that I don't get involved in state affairs.

Yet, he invited me to a banquet with court ministers.

Then why does Your Highness look so worried?

I wonder if I'll have the chance to see the Crown Prince.

Zi Ang, take care of your wound first.

I'll have your dinner brought here.

I'll take my leave now.

Huo Ying.

Send a servant to the Crown Prince's manor.

Deliver a message for me.

I invite him to to meet me at Shengding House.

I will be waiting until he comes.

Come!

Great!

- Great! - Wonderful!

- Great! - Awesome!

Come!

Sir, the incense has burned out.

Do you want to light another one?

Light another one.

Bring me a new bottle of wine too.

All right.

(Country)

Crown Prince.

Grand Master.

Let's call it a day.

(Country)

Summon the Imperial Physician.

How could you be so careless?

- Bring me the zither in my room. - Yes.

I happened to find...

a nice ancient zither a few days ago.

I wanted to give it to you on your birthday.

You can have it today.

Thank you.

But I've used this zither for a long time.

I don't want to replace it.

I'll give you this string then.

My teacher said I'm useless because I never study.

I figured you thought the same too.

To each his own.

If I rule this country one day,

I'll surely be suffocated.

If you aren't here...

to play the zither to help me relax,

what will I do?

The Crown Prince's triumphant return...

shows imperial dignity.

No matter where Your Highness went,

the East Yue Kingdom was overpowered.

Your Highness is truly remarkable...

on the battlefield.

His Majesty must be pleased.

Both Your Highnesses care so much about His Majesty.

The Crown Prince is out fighting for the country,

while the Sixth Prince relieves His Majesty's worries.

On His Majesty's birthday last month,

he arranged the ancient tune...

of the "Cloud Water Lullaby".

His Majesty even rewarded His Highness...

with the mountain river brocade.

Mountain river brocade?

Shu He.

Why are you so quiet?

Aren't you going to congratulate me?

I've been worried about your safety.

Seeing that you're back safely now,

I was just so happy...

that I didn't think of congratulating you.

Do you only care about my safety?

So Father gave you a gift.

Why don't you show it to me?

Show me the brocade that Father gave you...

as a congratulatory gift to me.

I've prepared a gift for you.

Please come to the lake, Your Highness.

Is this song...

your congratulatory gift for me?

Young Master Xiao has been waiting for you.

He has reserved the entire second floor.

No outsiders will disturb you.

This way, please.

I thought you wouldn't come.

Shu Qian.

Is this song...

your congratulatory gift for me?

How did we end up like this?

I remember that you said...

when you rule the country,

you hope that I'll be by your side.

But why do you think that I'll be your enemy now?

You haven't come out for a long time.

I was scared that you...

Zi Ang.

Why are you here?

- I... - Are you following me?

You only nearly escaped death two days ago.

I'm worried if you're out here alone, you...

Have a seat.

Waiter, bring me another bottle of wine.

I'm sorry, Zi Ang.

I can't keep you company tonight.

Shu He, you've had too much to drink.

Let me take you home.

What?

A prince can't get drunk...

or be indecent, right?

Shu He, you know that's not what I meant.

Do you know who I'm waiting for?

The Crown Prince.

I waited for him all night.

No.

I waited for him for years.

If we were born into an ordinary family,

the Crown Prince and I would probably be close.

I've never doubted his ambition.

I just want to know...

if he still remembers this string.

This old string is my gift to you.

Congratulations to Your Highness for protecting our country's peace.

All I care about is music, chess, reading, and painting.

I can't be of help to Your Highness.

It's getting late.

I'll take my leave.

Since then,

I never touched the Yearning Zither...

or played “Linjiang Immortal” again.

Zi Ang, have you heard "Linjiang Immortal"?

My brother doesn't understand me.

But you love your little brother.

You miss him and think of him.

I'm sure you can understand me.

I thought that as the imperial family,

you wouldn't have any worries.

Since I was little, countless people have been telling me...

what I should do...

and what I shouldn't do.

Come to think of it,

the time we were together when we were children...

was the first time I could be Xiao Shu He.

I didn't have to be the Sixth Prince.

Shu He.

Shu He.

You're drunk.

Let me take you home.

But I don't blame anyone else.

I've been blessed with good things.

Yes.

At least, your favorite music, chess, books, and paintings...

can relieve your worries.

I'm talking about you.

We were able to meet again.

There were even times when I almost lost my life,

but you risked your life to save me.

Isn't that a precious gift?

You're exaggerating.

I believe that if our positions were reversed,

you wouldn't stand by and do nothing either.

My teacher said that one must have clean hands and a calm heart...

when playing the zither.

I remember the first time I saw you.

You were wearing white and blue.

Your outfit today...

doesn't look good on you.

I don't want to shoot arrows.

I can't aim accurately.

Who says you have to know archery as a prince?

I want to be a musician.

Shu He.

Shu He.

When everything is settled,

I'll tell Xiao Shu He the truth and apologize.

Your Highness.

Move aside!

Your Highness has been searching for four hours.

How about...

Useless!

You're all useless!

Your Highness, the autumn water is cold.

You can't do this.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

There's nothing in the box.

There's nothing?

How can it be empty?

Where's the string?

Why is there no string inside?

This is fate.

Xiao Shu He, this is fate.

It's not up to you or me.

If Xiao Shu He gets in the way of our plan,

we shouldn't keep him.

Why do you look so troubled?

Today is Huai Yi's birthday.

I wonder where he is now.

Is there anyone who can make him birthday noodles?

Sometimes, I envy you and your brother.

You have such a deep bond.

I'll be honest with Your Highness.

I actually envy you.

At least, you can still see your brother.

What are you going to do after you find Huai Yi?

We've had enough ups and downs in the past few years.

If I can really find Huai Yi,

I want to give him a peaceful life.

I want to see him get married and have children.

Perhaps this way,

I'll be able to let go of my hatred.

I could always tell...

that Huai Yi is a blessed kid.

With my help,

we'll surely find him.

I'm just afraid that the abbot...

might not be able to find a young monk...

in the vast South Hui Kingdom.

Drink this for your hangover.

Once you drink this medicine,

your headache will go away.

I waited for the Crown Prince all night at Shengding House.

You had already expected His Highness not to come.

Don't be like this.

I didn't expect...

that His Highness would really think that I'd be his enemy.

I guess you drank with Zi Ang all night.

I must say, you're the one who knows me best.

So?

Has Duan Zi Ang slipped up yet?

What do you mean?

Did Huo Ying tell you?

That day when we were bathing,

I took the chance to look at his whole body.

I didn't find the mark of the Red Shadow Guards.

You looked at his whole body?

You're always so inappropriate.

Even so,

Shu He,

don't trust others so easily.

Shen Song.

I've decided to give up on our plan.

What do you think about Zi Ang?

You two are kindred spirits.

That's hard to come by.

But his sudden appearance was too suspicious.

We can't trust him easily.

You know me the best.

Of course, you know that I'm suspicious of him.

We hadn't met for so many years.

It wasn't easy for us to meet again.

Who doesn't have their own burdens?

If he really has an ulterior motive,

he has had so many opportunities these past days.

He could've done something already.

Why would he do all this?

He said he has let go of his hatred.

I'm willing to believe him.

In that case,

Your Highness is giving up the chance...

to hold Prime Minister Gu back.

In the end,

he's just someone...

who wants to make up for what he couldn't do...

for his little brother when they were young.

My own brother treats me so cruelly,

but Zi Ang, a childhood friend, understands me so well.

He was even willing to save me.

If I really use his reputation to stir up a commotion,

what kind of person would that make me?

How am I different from those conspiring officials...

in the court?

If you insist on embracing a sharp blade,

Shu He,

you have to be prepared to be hurt by the blade in the future.

I didn't expect that an abbot like you...

has to worry about accounting too.

Someone needs to care for the food and incense...

of the 300 monks in the temple.

Seeing that Your Highness with this account book here today,

I suppose you have a big request.

All right.

Since you're so straightforward,

I won't beat around the bush.

I'm sure...

you only want the two of us to know about this account book.

Please look out...

for the person in this portrait.

The root of all suffering...

is greed.

Your Highness.

Be careful of your own karma.

What brings Your Highness here in person?

I have a favor to ask.

Is that so?

I'm looking for someone.

I shouldn't be bothering you with such a trivial matter,

but I don't make friends with the court ministers.

I don't know who can help me.

Who is it that Your Highness is so concerned about?

It's someone from General Duan's family.

He converted to Buddhism 10 years ago.

His whereabouts are unknown now.

The Duan family?

Are you here to ask for my help...

or to teach me a lesson?

Why don't you be more direct?

You're a smart man.

I don't think I have to spell everything out for you.

You've used this to threaten me repeatedly.

Are you that confident in yourself?

You don't have to be like this.

If I really have other motives,

I wouldn't be here today.

Although I don't have to attend court sessions,

it's not hard for me to meet with my father.

Your Highness is too impatient.

You should check your sword carefully...

before wielding it.

It could be a double-edged sword.

You just told me to be straightforward.

Why are you suddenly talking in riddles?

Your Highness is hosting an important guest...

in your manor lately.

- That's right. - His surname is Duan.

He was the one who saved Your Highness years ago.

Does Your Highness know...

how Young Master Duan has avoided...

the purge of the Duan manor all these years?

You can tell me.

When the Duan Manor was raided back then,

Duan Zi Ang narrowly escaped.

After that, he was sent to the Ji North Kingdom.

He was chosen to be trained to become a Red Shadow Guard.

He probably sneaked back to the South Hui Kingdom...

because of a mission.

Prime Minister Gu, you're still the same.

You really know how to tell stories.

Whether it's a story or not,

it's not up to you or me.

The point is what His Majesty will think...

when he finds out.

Besides,

an assassination attempt on the Crown Prince...

is punishable by death.

Prime Minister Gu.

Your Highness, don't panic.

I'll help you find the person you want.

However,

Your Highness has to do me a favor too.

No one can stay in the manor tonight.

Understood.

Shu He always gets himself drunk...

at times like this.

Do we still have to watch over His Highness tonight?

Tonight?

Tonight,

there may be someone else who will watch over him for us.

What must I do...

to live up to your expectations?

I really can't mingle with those ministers.

I remember everything clearly.

They didn't hesitate to harm you like that...

just to gain wealth and splendor.

Who is it?

Your Highness.

It's me.

It's getting late.

Your shoulder hasn't recovered yet.

You should go back and rest.

I didn't mean to peep.

I just saw the fire,

so I came to check it out.

You should go back now.

Are you hurt?

I'm fine.

Since you're not going to sleep,

why don't you sit with me?

I'm sorry.

I embarrassed myself in front of you.

Don't say that, Your Highness.

Is Your Highness...

paying tribute to your mother?

She died in disgrace.

The one who framed her is still alive and well.

Zi Ang, tell me.

Should I cherish my life and stay away from the court?

Or should I fight for power to avenge my mother?

I...

What should I do?

Your Highness should know my background.

My father fought countless battles for the country.

There were many times when he almost died.

In a stick of incense's time,

everything was gone.

At least Your Highness can still choose...

whether to fight or not.

No matter what choice Your Highness makes,

a mother wouldn't blame her beloved son.

Zi Ang, won't you think...

that I'm a hypocrite?

Why do you say that, Your Highness?

I always pretend to be indifferent,

but I never actually let go of my hatred.

I've never been able to tell anyone the truth.

Your Highness values everything greatly.

Your Highness has never hurt anyone.

I admire Your Highness a lot for that.

Actually,

as long as you follow your heart,

it doesn't matter if you're lying or not.

Aren't you afraid of being deceived?

If that person has his or her reasons,

it's not unforgivable.

You're drunk.

Don't cry anymore.