Original subtitles

(Episode 5)

Please forgive me for the offense.

Who are you?

Greetings, Your Highnesses.

Mr. Shen.

I had forgotten that my brother...

has an elegant friend like you.

It is an honor...

that Your Highness remembers me.

Are you looking for something?

Prime Minister Gu is here.

Crown Prince Shu Qian,

I have something important to speak to you about.

Please come with me to my manor.

What is so urgent?

Why don't I visit you tomorrow?

I shouldn't keep Your Highnesses...

from catching up.

But this matter is very urgent.

Catching up?

This way of catching up...

is unheard of to me.

Aren't Your Highnesses just catching up today?

If His Majesty hears about this,

what would His Majesty think of Your Highnesses?

Prime Minister Gu is right.

Since Prime Minister Gu wants to see you,

I won't keep you, Shu Qian.

Huo Ying,

see Prime Minister Gu and His Highness off for me.

I'll invite you to my manor to catch up another time.

Let's go.

Where is Zi Ang?

Zi Ang.

You need a few more days to recover.

I'll prescribe some medicine tomorrow...

to help you regulate your qi and blood.

Thank you so much, Shen Song.

You promised me.

You can't go back on your word.

Greetings from Gu Yuan Shan, Your Majesty.

May Your Majesty be blessed with good health.

Prime Minister Gu.

When we were young,

you always said...

that pride harms and humility benefits.

What a pity.

Although I understand this,

my sons do not.

Father,

the Ji North spy liaison point that I shut down two days ago...

is only a few miles away...

from Shu He's residence.

Let me ask you.

You searched the residence yesterday.

What was the result?

The Ji North spy was very cunning.

- I believe... - I'm asking about the result.

What was the result?

Shu He, tell me.

Father,

I just joined the imperial court.

I don't understand the ways of the court yet.

What Crown Prince Shu Qian did...

must have been for my safety.

I beg you, Father.

Please don't blame Crown Prince Shu Qian.

Although your brother pleaded for you,

you still need to reflect on yourself.

Shu He,

I've arranged your marriage for you.

Princess Wen Jing of Ji North has admired you for a long time.

I've agreed to a marriage alliance with the Ji North Kingdom.

Considering the date,

the marriage alliance delegation should be on its way.

They will arrive soon.

Your Majesty, please do not do this.

Ji North has been eyeing our kingdom...

for a long time!

This is as good as inviting a wolf into our home!

It might cause big trouble.

Please reconsider, Your Majesty!

Father, I'm still young and immature. I'm afraid...

I've made up my mind. There is nothing more to say.

Shu Qian,

I am putting you in charge of this matter.

We'll hold a poetry and wine banquet at Shu He's residence tomorrow...

to welcome the delegation.

Make no mistakes.

- Yes. - Your Majesty.

Do not do this.

Leave.

- I will take my leave. - I will take my leave.

This is ridiculous!

Ji North has gone too far.

How could Father be so foolish?

Your Highness,

although the blade is sharp,

it will break easily if it is too unyielding.

Retract your claws and go with the flow.

That is the best strategy.

Prime Minister Gu,

did you already know about this?

Your Highness, if you don't trust me,

what's the point of my staying here?

Forget it.

The marriage alliance delegation is already on its way.

If I make another mistake,

I'm afraid my position in Father's heart...

will be in jeopardy.

Your Highness,

Prince Shu He is still inexperienced.

He might not be able to see through this.

This marriage alliance with Ji North...

is an opportunity to support Prince Shu He.

Secondly, it is an opportunity to plant spies in our court.

It kills two birds with one stone.

However, for our kingdom,

nothing good will come out of it.

Then why did Father agree to it?

Your Highness,

this marriage alliance...

will exempt the South Kingdom...

from half the annual silver tribute to the North Kingdom.

But once this precedent is set,

I'm afraid there will be no hope for the revival of South Hui.

What do you mean?

Why don't we...

kill two birds with one stone...

and reap the benefits?

Greetings, Your Highness.

Commander Huo, you were so impressive yesterday.

When you confronted the Imperial Guards,

did you consider the phrase,

"When the clever rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked"?

Shu He can reward you for guarding the manor.

But can he give you Rhino Horn Pills?

Your Highness, you are wise.

I am loyal to you.

I will never betray you.

Plant this in the secret compartment of Xiao Shu He's study.

After the job is done,

I'll give you the antidote for the Blood Dove.

Prince Shu He...

has no intention of harming you.

A mere Shadow Guard has no right to worry about a prince.

Don't forget...

the feel of the Blood Dove's effects.

When your intestines rupture,

you will be no better than a stray dog.

I accept your command.

You may leave.

Remember to clean up the bloodstains.

Don't stain Shu He's study.

The marriage alliance delegation will arrive tomorrow.

Don't let the crown prince ruin the marriage alliance...

between Prince Shu He and the princess.

Marriage alliance?

Plant this in the secret compartment of Xiao Shu He's study.

Don't forget the feel of the Blood Dove's effects.

You know the best places for some peace and quiet.

So you're hiding in this paradise.

But you still found me.

Amateur recluses hide in the wild.

Expert recluses hide in the city.

Shu He,

you can't hide forever.

Princess Wen Jing of the Ji North Kingdom.

Eunuch Huo relayed His Majesty's verbal decree.

Tomorrow's marriage alliance poetry meeting...

must be held according to the old customs...

of South Hui.

I don't have a choice.

You say that...

like a brokenhearted man who has been torn from his beloved.

Why do you have to say it so plainly?

If you really want to leave,

I heard that the abbot of White Cloud Temple...

has a secret medicine that can fake one's death.

Is it because of Zi Ang?

After just a few months with him,

you're ready to give up on what you've been planning for years.

Do you know...

why I love this place?

Because of the plum blossoms here?

When I was in trouble as a kid,

Zi Ang brought me here.

After the incident at General Duan's residence,

he went missing.

Zi Ang.

Zi Ang!

Zi Ang!

Every time I come here,

I'm reminded of the old days.

His whereabouts have been exposed.

If he stays at the manor,

I'm afraid more trouble will come.

Why don't you ask Zi Ang to stay here for the time being?

That's a good idea.

But this is just a temporary measure.

The delegation is coming.

There will be opposition in the imperial court.

We need to think carefully...

about what we should do next.

The marriage alliance delegation will arrive tomorrow.

Don't let the crown prince ruin the marriage alliance...

between Prince Shu He and the princess.

Why are you drinking alone?

Your Highness is busy.

How do you have time to bother with me?

The crown prince searched the manor last night.

Knowing him,

he won't stop at that.

What does he want?

What does it have to do with you and me?

I'm afraid...

he will cause more trouble.

With the crown prince's incompetent men?

No matter how strong you are,

you're no match for the elite troops under the crown prince's command.

I have a villa in the suburbs.

You can hide there for a few days.

Hide?

How long is a few days?

Ten days?

Half a month?

Or after you and Princess Wen Jing are married?

Did Shen Song tell you?

A marriage between the North and the South Kingdoms...

can stop the war.

I don't need Shen Song to tell me such a big thing.

What an incredible achievement.

Soon after you get married,

you will be accomplished.

Why should I stay by your side?

I just wonder if Princess Wen Jing...

will be willing to live in seclusion...

and wander the world with you.

I am a prince of the South Kingdom after all.

Xiao Shu He.

Do you really want to marry Princess Wen Jing?

So what if I do?

So what if I don't?

Who would care?

In the end,

you think I am no different from them, don't you?

Who's the man on the horse?

I heard he is the Crown Prince of Ji North.

He collected so much tax from us...

and took so much money from us.

He doesn't look like a good person.

- Hit him. - Get lost!

Your Highness, why did you personally come on this trip?

What are you doing? Put it down!

The people can be made to follow,

but they cannot be made to understand.

It's just blind loyalty.

When dynasties change,

only the people will suffer.

Your Highness is kind.

But I'm curious.

This Xiao Shu He managed...

to make the loyal Red Shadow Guards feel ill at ease.

Interesting.

Shen Song.

I have a favor to ask of you.

Have a seat.

Escort Zi Ang to the villa in the suburbs.

Your Highness, all your convoluted thoughts...

are hidden deep in the pear grove.

Does he know?

He only thinks I'm obsessed with fame...

and that I want to make a name for myself...

by ending the war between the two nations.

Love is stronger than a golden jade locket.

I've never seen you care so much about someone.

It's fine.

I just want to protect him.

If it were anyone else,

when have you ever cared about what others think of you?

Don't let others see...

those bloodshot eyes of yours.

Shen Song, do you know...

why His Highness chose to have his villa...

in such a remote place?

Back in the day, His Highness used to stay here...

to escape the turmoil in the imperial court.

There's nothing special about this place.

But when the pear blossoms bloom,

the view is quite elegant.

If His Highness loves pear blossoms,

why aren't there any planted at the manor?

His Highness once said,

"Over pear blossoms in a courtyard, a nebulous moon hangs."

"Through willow catkins by a pond, a gentle breeze flows."

Pear blossoms shouldn't be trapped within the palace walls.

His Highness's thoughts...

are truly...

Do you also prefer pear blossoms?

I...

I'm a martial artist. I have no appreciation for these things.

Pear wood is suitable for making arrow shafts though.

Don't take it from this pear tree.

It's Shu He's precious treasure.

There is no one around for ten miles.

Zi Ang, you can be at ease here.

I shall take my leave.

Thank His Highness for me.

I'll teach you.

There are pear blossoms outside.

Shall I pick some for you?

Shu He.

Shu He.

This time,

I can't lose him again.

The marriage alliance delegation from Ji North has arrived.

Today, Ji North is forming an alliance...

with us through marriage...

and burying the hatchet.

It is worth celebrating.

(Princess Wen Jing, Ji North Kingdom)

(Chen Zi Yong, Crown Prince of Ji North Kingdom)

After the wedding,

the two states will have a friendly alliance.

I hope this will allow us...

to resolve our differences...

and work together for long-lasting peace.

Your Majesty is wise.

The marriage alliance...

can exempt the South Kingdom from paying their annual tribute...

and save the people from the ravages of war.

It's a good strategy to govern the country.

However,

there has been a lot of talk lately.

A ruler should love his people.

The people should live in peace and prosperity.

It's for the good of the world.

Now that the two states are united,

we can bring back a prosperous era for the people.

Shu He's words please me.

Today is a joyous day.

Play the music.

Father,

Zi Yong,

I've long heard that the garden in Shu He's manor is beautiful.

Would you like to see it with me?

Shu Qian,

go ahead if you wish.

How did it go?

Your Highness,

it's...

It's done.

You're not useless after all.

Your Highness.

The Rhino Horn Pill.

Are you making a request to me?

I wouldn't dare.

Commander Huo, what are you doing here?

Please forgive me, Your Highness.

I didn't know you were here.

I'm sorry for offending you.

Mr. Shen.

Why didn't you show up...

at today's marriage alliance poetry meeting?

I'm just a commoner...

and a part of the martial arts world.

I don't dare to show off...

in front of His Majesty and Your Highness.

I see.

I had thought that you...

and Commander Huo...

were meeting to enjoy the garden.

How peculiar.

It's just a chance encounter.

I don't know why Your Highness is in such a remote area.

Now that is peculiar.

Why is he in the manor?

I was reckless.

The Blood Dove acted up again yesterday.

I asked His Highness to grant me the medicine.

Is the poison acting up again?

How can this be?

I'm fine right now.

There are too many eyes in the manor today.

We'll talk later.

The poetry meeting is over.

Let the banquet begin.

Father,

I heard that Shu He...

has a new swordsmanship prodigy in his residence.

Why don't you invite him to provide some entertainment?

We can also show our guests from the Ji North Kingdom...

a glimpse of the heroes of the South Kingdom.

Father, you have sound judgment.

I do have a friend in my residence.

However, he was injured while protecting me.

It would be difficult for him to see Your Majesty.

Father, allow me to report.

I sealed off the mill on East Street two days ago...

and captured a number of Ji North spies from there.

One of them escaped injured...

and fled into Shu He's residence.

I wonder if that has any connection to your guest.

Preposterous!

Shu He,

is it true what the crown prince said?

There was an intruder the night before.

But the guest fought him off.

I was afraid of worrying Your Majesty.

That's why I didn't report it.

Shu He, if you have nothing to hide,

why don't you invite this person?

Could it be...

that the guest's identity can't be revealed?

All right.

Today, important guests from Ji North are present.

We must get to the bottom of this.

I'll relay the order right away.

But that person is badly injured.

I'm afraid...

Shu He,

important guests are here today.

He's just a guest.

If you can't hand him over,

the reputation of South Hui will be damaged.

If you hand over a different person,

that is the serious crime of deceiving the emperor.

Think about it carefully.

Here I am.

I am Duan Zi Ang.

Greetings, Your Majesty.