Original subtitles

[A Dream Within A Dream]

[Episode 15]

I'm Song Yimeng.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Kneel.

It's late,

and I'm tired.

So I won't beat around the bush.

You're already engaged,

yet you're tangled up with a prince,

even pitting Rui and Heng against each other.

Tell me.

What exactly are you and your family plotting?

Your Majesty,

please don't misunderstand.

My father raised me to steer clear

of political factions.

My engagement to Chu Guihong

was arranged years ago.

The rumors about the Seventh Prince and me

are completely baseless.

[Exceptional Love]

You're a woman,

and women should have womanly virtues.

Since you're engaged,

you should

stay at home,

do some embroidery,

and read a book or two.

You dressed to the nines

for the fancy banquet in the capital.

You just wanted to attract attention, didn't you?

Not everything that goes wrong

is a woman's fault.

What a sharp tongue!

Today, two princes drew swords against each other

all because of you.

Everyone saw it,

and you're still trying to deny it.

Are you trying to start

a war between the two princes?

Take her away

and give her 20 strokes.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Hold on!

Your Highness,

what are you doing

barging into the Imperial Study?

Your Majesty,

everything that happened

was entirely my fault.

I knew

she was already engaged,

but I still pursued her.

I was the one who had those books made

and circulated.

I also begged Mother

to issue a marriage decree

for us.

I didn't set you up.

The marriage decree came from Mother.

What's that got to do with me?

None of this has anything to do with Miss Song.

Your Majesty,

please punish me instead.

Very well.

In these 28 years,

my seventh son

has never

made a single mistake—

flawless in every way,

not once

giving anyone anything to use against him.

Yet now here you are, kneeling and admitting guilt

all for the sake of a woman.

Fine.

Then tell me.

Aside from the Song family behind her,

what makes her so special?

Your Majesty, you loved the late Empress

not because of the Chu family behind her.

How dare you speak out of turn

about the Emperor?

Listen,

her engagement was arranged long ago.

It cannot be changed!

Be it ruler or subject,

in this world,

everyone must follow the rules.

I wouldn't dare to break the rules.

You wouldn't dare?

You drew your sword against Rui

at the musical banquet.

How was that following the rules?

It was because

he insulted the Gao family

and my mother.

The law of Great Jing makes it clear:

those who turn on their own kin

must be imprisoned and executed.

But today,

I won't kill you.

The hand you used

to dislocate Rui's arm—

cut it off.

What?

You want to

defy my order?

This is treason!

Your Majesty,

everything that happened today

was my fault.

His Highness had nothing to do with it.

Besides,

the Eighteenth Prince also wounded the Seventh Prince.

What's this?

You're a prince,

and now you're scared

and need a woman to plead for you?

Your Majesty,

as you wish.

Your Highness.

[Exceptional Love]

Your Highness!

No, Your Highness!

I was just joking.

Why take it so seriously?

Or do you want the whole world

to call me a cruel tyrant who maimed his own son?

I…

I wouldn't dare.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

the Noble Consort fainted in her chambers.

She's delirious

and keeps calling for

the Seventh Prince and Miss Song.

Your Majesty,

I'll answer for this another day

and accept whatever punishment you see fit.

But now,

my mother has suddenly collapsed.

Please, Your Majesty,

let me go to her.

Get lost.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

I shall take my leave.

Your Highness,

please go and see her.

Mother!

Your Highness.

Mother!

What's this?

Her Ladyship said

Your Highness and Miss Song should go to bed.

Open the door!

My Lady,

how did it go?

My Lady,

they didn't let go

of each other's hands the whole way.

Heng.

I've done

all I can for you.

The rest

is up to you.

Master.

Where is she?

The palace attendants said

Her Ladyship summoned Miss Song

midway.

Then send someone

to inquire at Noble Consort Gao's place.

I did.

The maids there said

Miss Song had already left the palace

and gone home.

Master,

that's impossible.

If she had really gone home,

Zhixia would've sent word.

She…

she…

she must still be in the palace.

Something must've happened.

Don't panic.

No one enters the palace at night unless summoned.

Let's wait a bit longer.

Just as I thought.

Don't waste your energy.

This is Her Ladyship's plan.

What do you mean?

A classic costume-drama scene.

The male and female leads

end up stuck in a room,

forced to bond.

Since Her Ladyship came up with this idea,

there's no way

we're getting out of here tonight.

How do you know that?

Of course I know.

It's a classic scene.

I've played it out

more times than I can count.

You know what?

We might as well just go with it.

Wait.

You're a young lady…

alone in a room with a man.

Shouldn't you behave with propriety?

I…

It's too tight.

What's wrong with making myself more comfortable?

Why are you so nervous?

I...

You didn't seem this nervous

when you spread the rumors.

Now you're afraid I'll take advantage of you?

Why would I be afraid?

What do I even have for you to take advantage of?

Then explain this—

what was that marriage decree from Her Ladyship all about?

And just now, in front of the Emperor,

you took all the blame for me.

What was that supposed to mean?

Also,

I really want to know—

if His Majesty hadn't stopped you just now,

would you really have cut off your hand?

I was just gambling,

like I've been doing

all my life.

Gambling that if I obey and behave,

I'll be let off one more time.

Well then.

Looks like

the fake couple in "Exceptional Love"

has made its way to the Emperor.

I gotta say, you're pretty bold,

daring to touch the Emperor's sore spot.

I've already told you,

this whole thing wasn't my doing.

You think I'm dumb enough

to risk being accused of treason

just to…

to play a fake couple with you?

Are you out of your mind?

That does sound absurd.

Fair point.

So you saved me

just because of...

Don't think I don't know

why you helped me.

You're overthinking it.

I helped you

only because of

the rules you mentioned.

The rule that when the female lead

is in danger, the male lead must save her.

Miss Song, you're really clever.

Brilliant, even.

You…

What are you doing?

What do you think I'm doing?

Going to sleep.

It's already 10 PM.

You want me to stay up all night?

Does a workaholic like you even need sleep?

Even the King of Hell

has to sleep.

But this place is so big.

Why do you have to

sleep on the bed?

Well, if not here,

am I s-supposed to

sleep on the floor?

But if you sleep here,

where am I supposed to sleep?

Wherever you want.

Didn't you just tell me

to go with

the flow?

You…

[Seventh Prince's Mansion]

Guard the mansion.

I'll go bring His Highness back!

[Seventh Prince's Mansion]

General Chu.

Guard the mansion.

I'll go bring Yimeng back.

[Qianyu Mansion]

You all head back first.

[Guangde Gate]

I'll go bring Yimeng back.

[Xumian Hall]

Why is it getting colder and colder in here?

Let…

Let go of me!

Let go of me!

Get off me!

Forget it.

I'd rather freeze to death

than deal with him.

In a sweet romance script like this,

you've got to tread carefully.

One wrong move,

and you'll fall right into a cliché plot.

None of this has anything to do with Miss Song.

Please, Your Majesty,

punish me instead.

Fine.

Then tell me,

apart from the Song family behind her,

what makes her so special?

Your Majesty, you loved the late Empress

not because of the Chu family behind her.

You…

You can't sleep either?

Not with all that noise you're making.

I…

What do you want?

Apply the ointment.

For you?

The wound is on your back.

Isn't that a bit improper?

I took care of my wound as soon as I left Waning River Crescent.

It's for you.

So you do have a conscience after all.

Song Yimeng,

do you have to be so frivolous?

What's wrong?

Your Highness,

didn't you just say

you weren't afraid I'd take advantage of you?

Now you're afraid?

Weird.

Where did you

get this ointment?

I bought it on the street.

Your Highness,

you went to Waning River Crescent to buy it?

So what?

By the way,

let me ask you something.

Isn't the annual musical banquet

usually held

in the bamboo grove outside the city?

Why was it held at Waning River Crescent this year?

Are you planning something

against Waning River Crescent?

I'm a prince.

Why would I be bothered by a bunch of nobodies?

But you—

you've gotten so close to that martial-world guy—

Li Shiliu.

Don't tell me

you've got a thing for him.

I...

Are you kidding me?

He's from the martial world.

I'd never fall for someone like that.

Why are you blushing?

I…

I'm not blushing at all.

You're mistaken.

Look at you—

you're stammering.

All flustered.

It's obvious that you like him.

I know.

You're just trying to trick me into

telling you who I like, aren't you?

Let me be clear.

There is no way I'll marry you.

No matter how many betrothal gifts your mother sends,

no matter what tricks you pull,

it's never happening.

Got it?

I told you already.

That was all my mother's doing.

I knew nothing about it.

Don't tell me you think

I arranged for us to be stuck here

together tonight.

Well, who knows?

I knew it.

You're impossible

to reason with.

Excuse me?

What do you mean?

Me? Unreasonable?

Make it clear.

I'm saying you're unreasonable.

I've helped you again and again,

never once asking for anything in return.

At the musical banquet,

I stepped in to help you,

and what did I get?

You teamed up with Chu Guihong

and turned against me.

I didn't plan to hold it against you.

What more do you want?

I...

You what?

Say it!

What more do you want?

Now you're the one feeling wronged?

What?

Can't I feel wronged?

Of course I feel wronged.

That ridiculous musical banquet.

I said

I wasn't going; I said it over and over,

but my father forced me to go.

Fine, I went.

But what did you do there?

You talked nonsense

in front of everyone.

Did you consider my feelings?

Did you?

And your father!

You were the one arguing and fighting with the Eighteenth Prince.

Why was I the one who had to kneel all night?

You know what?

My knees are red now.

Red and swollen,

hurting like hell.

It's not just my knees.

My whole body aches.

I'm also cold and hungry.

What did I do to deserve this?

The more I think about it, the angrier I get.

Fine.

It's all my fault.

I'm sorry.

Is that how you apologize?

You're not sincere at all.

Come on, don't push your…

Sorry.

I shouldn't have dragged you into this.

I shouldn't have pulled you into politics.

I shouldn't have

let you face others' criticism.

I didn't handle it well.

But from now on,

I won't let anyone hurt you again.

Now,

go sleep

on the bed.

I'll sleep here.

But if you dare wake me up again,

I'll kill you.

[Xumian Hall]

Fugui?

Your Highness!

Why are you…

Your Highness,

I searched for you all night.

I was worried sick.

I thought something had happened to you.

Your Highness!

Wait,

what on earth are you wearing?

I willingly ruined my image

just to be reunited with you!

What did I do

to be reunited

with a bearded maid like you?

I can't believe this.

Get up now.

Entering the palace without permission is a crime.

Dressing up as a maid only makes it worse.

I...

Let's talk outside.

Yimeng.

Yimeng.

Yimeng.

C-Chu Guihong?

Go, go, go.

Get in.

Get in.

Chu Guihong.

Yimeng,

are you okay?

Why are you…

Nan Heng.

You spent the night alone with her.

Don't you think you need to explain it?

Why should I explain anything to you?

You…

Alright, alright,

enough.

Stop fighting.

You want to attract even more attention?

Chu Guihong,

you need to leave.

If someone finds you here, there'll be serious trouble.

He...

Yimeng.

Yimeng.

Yimeng.

My father?

Yimeng.

Oh no.

If my father sees us like this,

he'll definitely get the wrong idea.

Come on,

you need to hide.

Hide.

Don't make this harder for me.

Stay hidden, alright?

You…

We all snuck in without permission,

so no one rats anyone out.

A palace maid,

a guard…

Throw in a eunuch,

and we've got a full lineup.

Yimeng.

Father.

Yimeng.

Father.

Why are you here too?

And why

are you dressed like this?

I thought I just

heard the Seventh Prince's voice.

Is he here too?

No,

I'm the only one in this room.

You didn't leave the palace all night.

Did something happen?

Did someone plot against you,

set you up,

and lock you in here?

N-No.

It was Nan Heng?

That scheming snake.

It has to be him!

Stop.

L-Let's not stay here.

Come on,

let's go home.

His Majesty is here!

Crap.

Why is His Majesty here?

Seal off the whole place.

No one is allowed near.

Yes.

We're done for.

Yimeng.

Yimeng,

go chat with His Majesty for a bit.

I need to hide.

Father, no, no!

Don't go in there!

Don't go in there!

You…

You…

Mr. Song,

you're welcome to join us.

It's so screwed up.

Song Yimeng!

Your Majesty,

what a surprise.

You're here too.

How dare you

not kneel at the sight of His Majesty?

Guards!

Wait.

Don't call the guards.

Please don't.

I'll kneel,

I'll kneel.

Don't kneel!

Your Highness.

It's Her Ladyship.

She...

Greetings, My Lady.

What did you say?

I asked her not to kneel.

Song Yimeng is my daughter-in-law.

I won't let anyone bully her.

Daughter-in-law?

Ridiculous!

She's been engaged to Chu Guihong since childhood.

I personally approved that match

when Lord Qianyu was still alive.

Noble Consort,

are you ignoring my promise?

Back then, my engagement to Prince Pingyang

was arranged by the late Emperor.

But once Your Majesty took the throne,

you threw all that aside and brought me into the palace

just to get heirs

and keep the Gao family in check.

If you could break

the late Emperor's promise,

why can't I break yours

for Heng's sake?

How can you compare the two situations?

Why not?

You ruined my life

for your own selfish desires.

And now,

you want to ruin Heng's life too.

I won't allow it!

Wasn't she

a gentle, weak consort in the script?

Why has she suddenly changed so much?

Are you insane,

Gao Changrong?

How dare you speak to me like this

for a girl from the Song family?

I've wanted

to say this for a long time.

I've held back for decades.

All I've ever wanted

is for Heng to be safe and happy.

But what about you?

What have you done?

Shall I list every injustice

Heng has suffered,

right here in front of Miss Song?

Fine.

Since you've made up your mind,

don't blame me for…

What will you do?

The Gao family and I

are determined to make

Miss Song our family.

Farewell, Your Majesty.

Gao Changrong

has been my consort for over 30 years,

always quiet as a mouse.

But look at her now!

Your Majesty, please calm down.

Your Majesty,

Mr. Song is here.

Let him in.

Mr. Song.

Your Majesty.

You old fox,

what brought you here?

I'm exhausted today.

I don't have time for your mind games.

The medical texts say

fatigue stems from blocked qi.

Your Majesty, you're troubled and stressed.

Of course you feel tired.

I've come today

to bring you a miraculous remedy.

My Lady,

I thought you died in the palace.

If you had died,

I wouldn't go on living.

My Lady,

I'll serve you

in this life and the next.

Alright, alright.

You've been crying all day.

Yingqiu.

Come on.

Aren't I alive and well?

If you keep crying like this,

people will think I'm actually dead.

My Lady,

the Seventh Prince used to stir up rumors

even when nothing happened between you two.

And now that you two spent the whole night alone in a room,

he's suddenly gone all quiet?

I just don't believe that a bad guy

can suddenly turn good.

With insight like that,

saving you was worth it after all.

Here,

try this.

It's brewed with mountain spring water.

Thank you.

Sit up straight.

Eyes forward.

Use three fingers

to hold the cup steadily.

Observe the color.

Smell the aroma.

Taste the tea.

Let the flavor sit on your tongue for a bit.

Don't gulp it down.

It ruins the good tea.

You heard me.

You know nothing about music, art,

poetry, or etiquette.

If you go out as my elder sister,

I'll definitely be embarrassed.

Song Yiting,

if I've offended you somehow,

you could just tell me.

Why are you suddenly talking about etiquette?

Look at you—

shaking over one cup of tea.

Then yesterday,

at the musical banquet,

how did you have the courage

to say such bold things?

What did I say?

"Exceptional Love"

and "Illusory Dream"

are just made-up nonsense!

I'm telling you,

if anyone dares gossip

about me behind my back again,

I won't go easy on them.

I used to think

you were just like everyone else

in the capital,

dreaming of

marrying a powerful man.

But yesterday, I realized

you're actually

not bad.

So today,

I came to warn you.

As soon as Father returned from the palace,

he told Mother to prepare your dowry.

He said His Majesty gave the order—

you're getting married next month.

What?

Next month?

[Qianyu Mansion]

About our wedding date,

I was planning to talk to you about it,

but you came to me first.

You like kapok flowers.

They bloom in spring,

but that's still a while away.

So I had the Imperial Astronomical Bureau

pick the nearest auspicious date.

I'm sorry.

I didn't understand

my feelings at first.

But now I do.

This

was left to you by the late Empress.

I can't accept it.

If you don't like this jade pendant,

I'll get you something else.

The Eighteenth Prince just gave me a great piece of jade.

I'll use it to make something

with kapok flower patterns for you.

What do you say?

Chu Guihong.

I...

I don't want to get married.

Don't worry.

All the required gifts

and rituals—

we won't skip anything.

It has nothing to do with that.

Or would you prefer to

have the ceremony somewhere else?

I remember…

I can't marry you!

Yimeng.

We've been engaged

for 18 years.

There were so many times

when I almost died.

What kept me going was the thought of you waiting

for me in the capital.

If you haven't thought it through,

I can wait.

I've waited so many years already.

However long it takes,

I'll wait for you.

Chu Guihong,

don't wait anymore.

The Song Yimeng you love

isn't me.

Do you understand?

At first, I thought

maybe

we could be together.

But as time passed, I realized

we were not from the same world.

That night during the Lantern Festival,

you did what you thought was right.

And that, more than anything,

proved how wrong

we are for each other.

[To Pingrong, from Song Yimeng, addressed to Chu Guihong]

These

are all the letters we exchanged.

1,632 of them.

You say the person I love isn't you.

Then who is it?

Tell me.

Yimeng.

This marriage

was decided by both His Majesty and Mr. Song.

If we go against the imperial edict

and anger the Emperor,

it could cost countless lives.

So

please don't overthink this, okay?

In the future,

I'll treat you really well.

I...

Yimeng!

A gathering of heroes,

talents from everywhere,

and the brightest minds under one roof.

Legendary generals and commanders,

talents emerging one after another,

all marvel at Chief's unmatched presence.

What does that mean?

Explain it.

Something new I picked up from Yao Qian.

You don't like it?

Everyone, get out!

Wait,

Chief.

Yesterday, Chu

and that consort both wanted Miss Song.

We can't just sit around and do nothing.

We're waiting for

your further instructions.

I said get out.

Didn't you hear me?

But…

Get out!

What's wrong?

Who upset you this time?

Go burn every last copy

of "Exceptional Love."

From now on, I don't want to see

a single copy of it in the capital.

What happened?

Chu Guihong was right.

He really does love Song Yimeng.

If we marry,

the original plot will still play out.

But if we break up

and go against the imperial edict,

could something else go wrong?

Whoever solves this riddle

will get 1,000 taels of gold.

What's this?

Take a look.

1,000 teals of gold!

[Clues to decode this message will be rewarded at Waning River Crescent.]

Keep hammering.

Keep hammering.

Turn your rage into strength.

Keep this up and you might actually

learn the method of weapon forging.

Whether I'd learn it or not, I don't know,

but if you keep talking,

I swear I'll smash your head in

with this hammer.

The wedding is on the 18th of next month.

That's only a few days away.

What do you plan to do?

It's their wedding.

What's it got to do with me?

If you mean that,

why are you so upset?

Am I upset?

Am I upset?

Which eye of yours saw me upset?

Fine, you're not upset at all.

Wipe your sweat.

Actually,

the Emperor is pushing for this marriage

because he's thinking of naming an heir.

If the Song family won't side with you,

just give up

and try something else.

Why should I give up?

Then what are you going to do?

His Majesty has made it clear

that he's backing Nan Rui

and shutting the door on you.

Are you planning to defy him and steal the bride?

Listen,

until they're married,

I've still got a chance.

A chance of…

of winning the Song family back.

Sure,

of course,

you still stand a chance.

You just can't get over Song Yimeng.

What does this have to do with her?

We've been planning this for so long.

If we give up now,

all our efforts will be wasted.

You just can't get over Song Yimeng.

Give me a break.

When did I ever mention Song Yimeng?

I brought her up.

I brought her up.

Anyway,

we can't give up on winning over the Song family.

Also,

there've been a lot of eyes

on the prince's manor lately.

I'll be meeting Chancellor Gao at Waning River Crescent.

Go make the arrangements.

Don't let a single word get out.

Understood.

What are you looking at?

You…

Song Yimeng, Song Yimeng.

You just can't get over her.

She's getting married?

Stop talking nonsense.

No way Miss Song would marry someone else.

Anyone who tries to steal Chief's woman

is asking for death.

Exactly.

Like I said,

pretty women can't be trusted.

Chief treated her so well,

and she still chose

the rich general.

Yeah.

Just wait and see.

She used to come by all the time.

Now we'll probably never see her again.

Yunlong, Shanhu.

Where's Li Shiliu?