Original subtitles

=Glory Back=

=Episode 19=

You once vowed you'd never become a concubine.

Does that vow still hold true?

It absolutely does. I won't become Your Majesty's partner,

nor yours.

You already know?

Lord Gu, I see you as an ally and also as a friend.

Beyond that, I have no other feelings for you.

Setting aside that for now,

His Majesty clearly falls for you now. What will you do to turn him down?

If you don't want to, I have a way to make you withdraw safely.

Your Majesty, shall I inform Noble Consort Wan?

No need.

You hide first.

I'll go see Feng Qing.

You are just a chess attendant. I could ask His Majesty to grant a marriage.

Are you crazy?

Don't worry. I just want to get you out of the palace.

I will never force you.

Let go first. Let go of me!

Let go!

Were you just lying?

Until I find out the true culprit of that fire, I won't leave.

You hide now!

Greetings, Your Majesty.

No formalities.

Your injuries are not yet healed. Sit down and talk.

Your Majesty, I've been lying for days. I wish to go outside for some air.

Perfect. Let's go to the courtyard for a game of chess.

Are your injuries better?

Thank you for Your Majesty's concern. My injuries are no longer serious.

You play meticulously, yet dare to take risky moves.

Just like your temperament.

However, carefully consider before placing each piece.

Don't let yourself get hurt again.

How can every step be perfectly considered? Just like this game.

Your Majesty's white pieces here have been captured.

Except you and the late Empress,

no one dares to crush me on the chessboard.

You truly spare me no face.

As a chess attendant, how could I deliberately go easy?

Your Majesty is benevolent and will surely not blame me.

Your Majesty, greetings. Two days hence is the Ghost Festival.

I've been preparing the memorial ceremony for the late Empress these days.

Thank you for that.

The late Empress favored sweets. Make more of them

and present them during the memorial.

I made a few varieties and brought them for Your Majesty.

For the chestnut paste cakes, put some honeyed ginseng juice.

For the layered cakes, be sure to add plenty of jujube filling.

Yes.

(He remembers all these tiny details about the pastries I liked.)

What a pity!

The painting I made for Qing has been damaged by insects.

That was her favorite painting while she was alive.

Otherwise, it could have been hung during the memorial ceremony.

I will seek out a painting restorer and try my best to restore it.

(Xiao Luo, you care so much about that painting.)

(Is it out of lingering affection, or are you deceiving yourself?)

His Majesty wanted to hang the painting in the center of the mourning hall.

But the most crucial part was destroyed.

I wish I could find someone to restore it and remedy this regret.

There's always a way, Your Highness. Don't be anxious.

Greetings, Your Highness.

How dare you come here? The late Empress's mourning hall is not a place for you.

Your Highness, I also wish to help.

The arrangements for Qing's mourning hall are not for outsiders to interfere with.

Please leave.

Her Highness tells you to leave. Do you dare defy her?

You insolent servant!

Her Highness kindly took you in,

yet you imitate the late Empress and play chess with His Majesty.

You sly servant!

You...

Your Highness,

whether you believe it or not, I've never intended to seduce His Majesty

or harm you.

Your Highness, if you want me to leave, I shall take my leave now.

(Spirit Tablet of the Late Empress Gu of Ning)

I won't get treatment anymore! You leave!

Alright, Wan.

Qing, I don't want treatment anymore.

Receiving acupuncture every day, yet my leg still doesn't improve.

As soon as the weather turns cold, it aches piercingly.

Alright.

If I hadn't stopped Xuan from climbing the snowy mountain to pick snow lotuses,

you wouldn't have fallen into the ice crevice trying to save me

and got your leg frostbitten.

Qing, don't say that.

If it meant saving you, not just this leg,

I would give you even my life.

Don't say such things.

No matter what it takes, I will definitely cure your leg.

By the way,

I made you a sachet.

Inside are herbs that activate blood circulation and dissipate stasis.

Carry it with you.

Thank you, Qing.

Your embroidery is so exquisite.

I had one that wasn't embroidered well, but got snatched away by Xuan.

This one with better embroidery suits you more.

It's so beautiful.

(No matter how Wan treats Feng Qing,)

(the blood ties between her and Gu Qing will never change.)

(It was me who's confused.)

♪A personal feud starts a sad story♪

(Since she wants to restore the painting,)

(then let me help her.)

♪Wake to see once more♪

Your Highness,

are you missing the late Empress?

She protected me since I was young.

Now that she is gone,

I cannot even discipline a maid who imitates her chess playing.

Please don't grieve, Your Highness.

If the Empress saw you like this, she would surely be heartbroken.

I have prepared ginseng soup for you. I will fetch it now.

♪Once a lonely sail, without a guiding light♪

Your Majesty's painting skills are not as good as mine.

The cuff should be drawn like this.

You painted a chess player.

Yet I painted the chess master.

(Xiao Luo.)

(No matter how much genuine affection you had for Gu Qing, I don't care now.)

(I will help you remedy this regret and settle the past.)

(Let's just say it's for our past affection's sake.)

♪Among a vast sea of people, faintly seeing the old self♪

♪Drawn to you, I've never forgotten. Nothing can keep me from flying♪

♪Fate may not fulfill our wishes, but I just hope you are well♪

Your Majesty, you didn't sleep at all last night.

Perhaps return to the palace and rest?

(These past few nights, once I closed my eyes,)

(Qing shook off my hand and walked away.)

(Is she blaming me for not even being able to restore a painting?)

(Why is she sleeping next to Qing's portrait?)

(Oh no. I intended to leave quietly after restoring it.)

(Now it's too late.)

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Why are you here?

I know Your Majesty and Noble Consort Wan

have been troubled by this painting lately.

It happens that in my youth, I learned from an old master who restored antiques,

so I gave it a try.

You...

You dare touch my painting?

Do you think I wouldn't dare kill you?

Guards! Today I...

(It's exactly the same.)

(She restored it exactly like the strokes Qing added.)

(How is this possible?)

You did well in restoring the painting. What reward do you want?

I ask for nothing.

Noble Consort Wan wanted to restore this painting for Your Majesty.

I only wanted to help her.

That simple?

The past is gone, but the future is yet to come.

Your Majesty, I only hope you remember Noble Consort Wan's sincere intentions.

(Why is her tone and attitude also so much like Qing's?)

You may leave.

I take my leave.

♪Earthly entanglements, ever-changing, helpless yet♪

♪No right or wrong♪

♪Spring passes, autumn returns, places remain but people change♪

I want to see Master Zhang.

♪Again and again, I've been trying to break through fate's heavy siege♪

♪How many can return♪

You, lift your head.

(Flowers bloom and wither in their own time.)

Fate is beyond human control.

I don't pluck flowers

(because I can't bear to disrupt their brief bloom.)

Flowers bloom and wither in their own time. Why pluck it then?

I'm giving you one last chance.

Do you have anything to say?

I've been wronged.

♪A personal feud starts a sad story♪

(Qing always unconsciously did that)

(when she's impatient.)

♪Wake to see once more♪

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Master Zhang.

Is it possible for the soul of the dead to possess a different person?

The world is full of mysterious things.

But the possibility of soul transmigration is very small.

Unless...

Unless what?

Unless there is a karmic connection between the two.

(A karmic connection that unites heaven, earth, and human.)

♪A dream is but a single thought, shattered at a touch♪

Investigate any connection between Feng Qing and Gu Qing.

Investigate everything!

Yes.

(Today is the Ghost Festival, Qing.)

(Only now can I attend this memorial ceremony for you.)

My lord, the time for the memorial is almost here.

Noble Consort Wan sent someone to ask you to go half an hour earlier

for a chat.

Okay.

Your Highness.

♪Once a lonely sail, without a guiding light♪

♪With the warmth you lent me, how could I fear loneliness♪

♪Day and night together, sharing joys and sorrows♪

♪Searching all under heaven, my heart won't change♪

♪Fate in haste, looking back countless times, you swayed for me♪

♪Among a vast sea of people, faintly seeing the old self♪

♪Scenery along the way, looking back, love finds its echo♪

♪Watching the bustling world together, we write more verses♪