Original subtitles

[A Dream Within A Dream]

[Episode 18]

I've thought it through.

Song Yimeng is my legitimate wife,

whom I went to great lengths to marry.

That makes Mr. Song

my father-in-law.

It is only right that I take punishment

on behalf of my father-in-law.

In that case,

I'll grant your wish.

Eunuch Liu.

Carry out the punishment.

♪ I leave the book aside, though I haven't finished reading it ♪

♪ I know one day I can have a glimpse of the ending ♪

♪ Life is unpredictable ♪

♪ Who can get rid of perplexity ♪

I want to make a bet with you.

[One hour ago]

♪ And find the answer he yearns for? ♪

Don't you want to know

how much Heng truly cares about Song Yimeng?

♪ I let the wind stir my pages of the past ♪

♪ Let brush and ink depict my adventures ♪

♪ Let's see how many ways fate can shape my life in ♪

♪ Let the moonlight shine on the lines about love and hate ♪

♪ Let me bang my head against a brick wall ♪

♪ If this is my destiny, I'll accept it ♪

Your Majesty,

the thirty lashes are complete.

♪ Wind, be with me in the quest for an ideal ♪

♪ Brush and ink, stand with me on the cliff ♪

♪ My heart measures the waves I've cleaved ♪

Didn't you say

my birthday is in ten days and that no blood

should be spilled until then?

♪ Setting sun, help me weather through the big snow ♪

♪ I'll wait till the next chapter to get sorrowful ♪

♪ Every word resonates with me like dancing notes on the paper ♪

But now

there's blood.

What punishment do you deserve?

[Never Tired of Learning]

So you're saying

His Majesty did this to take your military command?

It's just a marriage.

He would never bear the charge

of killing a minister over this.

But how did you figure that out?

If you'd lived under someone's thumb

since the age of nine,

you'd understand him too.

Your Highness.

Be careful. It's hot.

You saved Mr. Song today.

I'm sure he'll agree to this marriage.

In this case,

not only will you have to go to your fief,

but also deploy 10,000 soldiers to the east.

Your power will be greatly weakened.

Go and get Li Shiliu's clothes.

Your Highness,

you're badly injured.

Where are you going?

Isn't someone on a hunger strike to resist the imperial order?

I need to go and see

what she's up to.

Aren't you on a hunger strike to resist the imperial order?

Mr. Li?

Mr. Li,

I knew

you still consider me a good friend.

Right?

How have you been?

Well,

did Nan Heng give you a hard time?

I see.

No.

Nan Heng didn't give me a hard time.

He knows our Waning River Crescent

is searching for the method of weapon forging.

So,

he just wants to cooperate with me.

That's good.

Mr. Li, don't just stand there.

Come, have a seat.

Here, sit down.

Mr. Li,

your clothes look great.

Where did you get them made?

Take me with you next time.

Shangguan He had someone make them.

If you like them...

No need.

No need.

Let me explain.

Mr. Li,

you don't need to explain to me.

Didn't I tell you last time?

I understand.

I understand everything.

What do you understand?

Shangguan He and I...

Let the past

be the past,

alright? Let's not talk about it anymore.

Mr. Li,

there's actually

something very important

I want to discuss with you.

[The 4th day of Pingrong Battle]

But, Junior General,

you've already sent out so many carrier pigeons.

If Seventh Prince were willing to send troops,

[Scout of Qianyu Army]

they would have come by now.

How could it still be like this?

What happened back then

was my fault.

I shouldn't have doubted him

and left him alone in the cold palace.

As long as he can help me this once,

I'm willing to atone

for my past mistakes,

no matter the cost.

I'm...

begging him.

[The 6th day of Pingrong Battle]

Is it the Junior General's fault

that he refused to help?

If he hadn't pinned his hopes on that God of Death,

we could have tried other tactics long ago!

We wouldn't have been besieged like this!

Chu Guihong,

the Song family is in trouble today.

Why don't we put aside our old grudges

and deal with this together?

What do you say?

I've thought it through.

Song Yimeng is my legitimate wife,

whom I went to great lengths to marry.

That makes Mr. Song

my father-in-law.

It is only right that I take punishment

on behalf of my father-in-law.

What?

Even you are laughing at me now?

What did I teach you?

Horses

are meant to be ridden

and used by people.

Get up!

Father?

Father!

Foolish boy,

life is long.

[Years ago on a battlefield at the frontier]

A single success or failure doesn't make or break a hero.

Look.

These are all your soldiers,

your backbone.

Sooner or later,

I'll hand Yulong and Qianyu Army

over to you.

The battlefield in the capital

is much tougher than this.

In the future, when you assist Rui in dealing with Nan Heng,

you must completely let go

of your past friendship.

You're

loyal and righteous,

but your loyalty and righteousness are holding you back.

Do you remember that book?

Father,

Nan Heng said

he already burned the Qianyu Military Manual.

Didn't you also send people to search for it?

Why don't you believe it?

Promise me,

if one day

you find Nan Heng still has that thing,

you must destroy it completely.

It contains the method of weapon forging.

Do you hear me?

Chu Guihong,

if anyone dares bully you in the future,

just tell me.

I'll take care of them for you.

You're just bragging.

I'm the one who's been dealing with the eunuchs for you.

Killing Nan Heng again?

Mr. Li,

calm down.

We're not killing him—

we're exposing him.

You see,

Nan Heng wants to search for the method of weapon forging with you.

You must have evidence that he has been secretly researching the forbidden method.

If we hand this evidence

to His Majesty,

his rebellious ambition

will be fully revealed.

By then, we won't even need to act—

he'll be doomed.

Our engagement

will collapse on its own.

Rebellious ambition?

Even now,

your opinion of Nan Heng

hasn't changed at all?

It has.

I know

he's not just a one-dimensional villain.

He's a living person.

Also, his suspicion,

cunning,

and ruthlessness

all have reasons behind them.

Since I was nine,

I was banished to the cold palace,

bullied,

and left hungry.

If it weren't for being trapped

in the cold palace all those years,

and for every time he fought desperately

on the battlefield

only to be treated unfairly afterward,

he wouldn't have become the Nan Heng he is today, I think.

Since you understand all this,

why do you still want to harm him?

How is that harming him?

He's the one who wants to find the method of weapon forging.

And rebellion is something he will definitely attempt in the future.

It's true that I want to expose him early

to save my own life,

but I also want to prevent

more people from getting hurt.

Why can't you understand,

Mr. Li?

You'd rather believe in vague fate

than trust a living, breathing person.

How do you expect me to understand?

Besides, from what I've seen,

Nan Heng has been sincere with you.

How could he possibly kill you?

Mr. Li, why are you acting so strange today?

Why do you keep defending him?

Am I wrong?

Maybe he doesn't want to kill me,

but I will definitely die because of him.

This is the rule.

It's fate.

Then break the rule

and destroy fate.

You don't understand.

This fate can't be destroyed.

The iconic scene will inevitably happen.

Right now,

we can only use the rule

and strike first.

But have you thought about this—

if his search for the method of weapon forging becomes public,

His Majesty will be enraged,

and Nan Heng will die.

Or do you simply...

not care whether he lives or dies?

I...

Not really.

I just...

It's just that...

♪ I leave the book aside, though I haven't finished reading it ♪

It's just that...

you're even cruel

and more ruthless than he is.

♪ I know one day I can have a glimpse of the ending ♪

♪ Life is unpredictable ♪

♪ Who can get rid of perplexity ♪

♪ And find the answer he yearns for? ♪

Mr. Li.

♪ I let the wind stir my pages of the past ♪

Mr. Li.

Mr. Li.

♪ Let brush and ink depict my adventures ♪

Mr. Li.

♪ Let's see how many ways fate can shape my life in ♪

♪ Let the moonlight shine on the lines about love and hate ♪

If I had a choice,

I wouldn't want anything to happen to him either.

♪ Let me bang my head against a brick wall ♪

♪ If this is my destiny, I'll accept it ♪

♪ Wind, be with me in the quest for an ideal ♪

♪ Brush and ink, stand with me on the cliff ♪

♪ My heart measures the waves I've cleaved ♪

♪ Setting sun, help me weather through the big snow ♪

♪ I'll wait till the next chapter to get sorrowful ♪

♪ Every word resonates with me like dancing notes on the paper ♪

What are you two doing here?

Who is it?

Shangguan, you're finally here.

Last night, Chief Master came back from the Song Residence

and locked himself in all night.

He spent the whole night sharpening his blade?

No.

I'd rather he did that.

There's no sound from inside—

it's eerily quiet.

Yunlong and I are worried.

Do you think Chief Master might…

You two go and do something else.

I'll handle this here.

Forget it.

Why are you sitting here without a word?

You're injured, and you drank that much.

Do you want to die?

I see.

You went to see someone last night,

and she upset you again.

She doesn't care whether I live or die.

But that's not surprising.

I should have expected it.

Then why are you so down?

I told you,

this game of playing two roles

will only trap you.

See?

Just as I thought.

So what should you do now?

Cut off all your feelings for her

and get rid of her?

Unfortunately, she can kill me,

but I can't kill her.

I know.

Even if you could,

I know you couldn't bring yourself to do it.

But I have to remind you.

About the engagement,

you finally seized it

from Chu Guihong.

If you act on impulse

and think about giving it up now,

everything you've done will be for nothing.

How did you become so haggard

after just one day apart?

Don't mention it.

Mr. Li's words

nearly broke me.

I need to eat something and recover.

Oh, Master…

He came back from the palace last night

with a dark face

and refused to see anyone.

We couldn't even get the chance to plead with him.

My father

is still not giving up.

He's trying everything he can to break off the engagement.

What a pity.

He won't get what he wants.

How do you know?

It's a fixed setting that Nan Heng

wants the Song family's power, even if he dies.

I'd better

save my strength

and figure out how to convince Mr. Li to help me.

[Gentle Breeze]

Your Highness,

you're finally back.

Mr. Song has been

waiting for quite a while in the residence.

Your Highness.

I didn't know you were visiting.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Please, sit.

Your Highness, you're too polite.

You...

took the punishment for me,

so of course I should come and thank you.

These are some medicines I prepared

for your lash wounds.

Please accept them.

Thank you.

I assume you didn't come

just to deliver medicine? Indeed not.

I'm here because I have something

I'd like to ask you, Your Highness.

Your Highness,

what you did outside the Imperial Study yesterday—

how much of it was sincere,

and how much was out of self-interest?

You are a sensible man,

so I won't beat around the bush.

If I had no selfish motives,

I wouldn't insist on marrying her.

If I had no sincere feelings,

I wouldn't have willingly clipped my own wings.

Your Highness,

please forgive my words,

but the path you're on is dangerous.

One wrong step,

and there's no turning back.

If one day you lose power,

fall from a prince to a prisoner,

are forced to live under someone's thumb,

stripped of freedom—

or worse,

lose your life—

how will you protect Yimeng?

Your Highness.

Yimeng lost her mother young.

She may seem carefree,

but she carries everything in her heart.

In the future, if you succeed,

she'll be trapped in the palace forever.

If you fail,

her life will be in danger.

As her father,

I can't accept her

marrying into such a future—

let alone

living in constant fear

for the rest of her life.

Therefore,

I beg you, Your Highness,

please let her go.

If you agree to break off the engagement,

I'll owe you a great debt,

and I will repay it.

Please rise.

I understand

everything you've said.

In fact, on my way back just now,

I was wondering

whether I should let go of my obsession

and let her go.

But I just can't.

Everything I did before was to protect myself.

But in the future,

I want to clear the misunderstandings between her and me

and even become her lifelong partner.

I also promise you

that I will do everything I can

to keep her safe for life.

Of course,

I want to ask her opinion too.

I want to give myself

one last chance.

So, I'm afraid I can't

grant your request.

Protect His Highness!

Hurry, protect His Highness!

What are you laughing at?

What are you laughing at?

This is the honorable Seventh Prince's Residence.

Guarding it

is our duty as royal guards.

Stay alert.

You guys,

go check over there.

Yes.

I was so scared.

What was that?

Wait for me!

Rong Hua,

let's go.

[Song Residence]

Just let me see Miss Yiting.

Although Mr. Song wasn't saved by me yesterday,

I did play a part.

Does Miss Yiting know about this?

Just go back.

Back where? Back where?

Come on. Since she doesn't know,

you have to tell her first.

Our lady said

it's absolutely impossible between you two.

Please stop bothering her.

When did I...

How is this bothering?

Come on.

Open the door first.

Open the door.

Yiting?

Yiting!

It's...

[Song Residence]

What are you waiting for?

Hurry up and call me Mother-in-law.

Are you Mrs. Song?

Greetings, Mrs. Song.

Come on, come on.

Here.

Take this.

Here is Song Yiting's full schedule for this month.

Your Highness,

I have high hopes for you.

This is as far as I can help.

From now on,

don't let me down.

I will...

No.

Thank you, Mother-in-law.

Alright, alright.

I'll go in now.

Goodbye.

Miss Yiting,

the trendiest fabrics and dresses

in our shop

are all here.

Take a look

and see which style you like.

I'll go with whatever you decide.

After all, it was my mother

who arranged for me to have these clothes made.

There's no need to pretend to ask for my opinion.

Madam did it for your own good.

In the capital's noble families, every young lady

has several proper dresses prepared in advance,

so she's ready for the new year

and the chance to find a good husband.

Find a husband?

Will a girl die

if she doesn't?

Now that my measurements are done,

I'll leave now.

Miss Yiting,

wait.

Here's an umbrella for you.

Yiting,

what a coincidence

running into you here today.

It must be fate.

Perfect timing—

I just booked a banquet at a restaurant.

Miss Yiting, please…

Eighteenth Prince,

in just three days,

we've run into each other 21 times.

Do you think I'd believe that?

Are... are there really that many times?

No matter what tricks or methods

you used,

let me make it clear to you today.

I don't like men like you

who only listen to their father

and spend their days doing nothing worthwhile.

Stop wasting your energy.

Yiting...

Yiting!

Jixiang,

stop her!

Eighteenth Prince,

what are you doing?

Do you have any manners or shame?

Come on.

I don't mean to offend you.

But there's one thing

I must tell you.

You asked me before

why I wanted to get married.

I thought about it for a long time

and finally figured it out.

It's not because of my father,

nor because I want to compete with Heng.

It's because

it was my mother's last wish.

She was the former empress of Great Jing.

You have to listen to her, right?

Yiting,

Yiting!

Come on.

My nanny told me

my mother hoped that when I grew up,

I would marry an educated woman.

Someone I can talk to

and connect with,

so we can live in harmony.

And my mother also said that

if I marry a girl,

I must love her with all my heart for life.

Enough!

Stop following me.

Yiting!

Yiting!

Don't worry.

Even if you and my mother both fell into the river,

I'd save you first!

Cherries!

Cherries!

Fresh cherries!

Cherries!

Sir,

want some cherries?

Are they sweet?

Just try one, sir.

How is it?

Sweet.

But not as sweet as you.

Cherries!

Cherries!

The rain is too heavy!

Run!

Are you okay?

We're fine.

Don't get wet.

Here.

Thank you, sir.

Be careful!

Stop!

Whose carriage is being so rude?

My brocade robe

is a new style from Jiangnan.

Pay up!

You pervert!

This Song Yiting

is so arrogant

and disrespectful.

There I was, a handsome and charming man,

standing right in front of her,

yet she called me a pervert.

Is there such a handsome pervert

like me?

Ridiculous.

It's just a robe.

I'll give you the money

to buy another one.

Is the robe important?

What matters is my whole outfit

and the mood of strolling in the rain.

Just you wait.

I'll pull her down from that pedestal.

Let me remind you,

she's Song Yimeng's sister.

Don't mess with her.

She's not even your sister-in-law yet,

and you're already meddling.

I've already checked.

Song Yiting was born to Mrs. Zhou

and isn't close to your Yimeng.

Whether they're close or not, she's still a Song family daughter.

Don't forget,

the matter after you saved her last time

isn't over yet.

Don't cause me any trouble.

If there's nothing else, go back.

Use the back door.

I always use the back door.

Also,

am I the one causing her trouble?

It's that woman who keeps bothering me.

What can I do?

Haven't I told you

not to touch things in my study?

You...

Don't go too far in provoking me.

If you really dislike me,

fine, I'll quit being the Second Master.

Just send me back to prison.

Let's go now.

It was not you?

There's a thief?

[Righteousness and Virtue]

[Three days later]

It took you three days

to find the secret room.

General Chu,

you are useless.

Tell me,

what are you looking for?

Nothing.

There are bandits in the capital.

While chasing the bandits,

I stumbled in here by accident.

Even before His Majesty,

I'll say the same.

Chasing bandits to the Seventh Prince's Residence?

That excuse

is way too clumsy.

Whatever you say.

If you leave,

you will never get

what you want.

You came here three days ago

but you were careless

and left a trace.

So I had Fugui watch secretly.

For three days straight,

you searched my entire residence.

But the place you came to most

was this study.

So I think...

this is what...

you're...

[Qianyu Military Manual]

looking for.

Nan Heng,

the Qianyu Military Manual belongs to the Chu family.

Give it back to me.

If I remember correctly,

you personally gave it to me

19 years ago.

Give it back to me!

I gave it to a friend back then.

Now,

you're no longer a friend of mine.

Come to think of it,

once you give something away,

how can you take it back?

And I'm curious.

Why do you want this book so badly?

Is there any secret

hidden in it?

It's none of your business.

And you have no right to know.

Fine.

In that case,

I'll just...

Nan Heng,

this is the only thing my father left me!

He's dead.

You killed him!

You keep saying I killed him.

Do you have any proof?

My biggest regret in this life

is trusting you wrongly

and having a friend like you who abandoned me in my most critical moment!

I abandoned you?

When I was trapped in the cold palace,

who abandoned me?

♪ I leave the book aside, though I haven't finished reading it ♪

I will find the evidence

♪ I know one day I can have a glimpse of the ending ♪

for the past.

From now on,

I will be more ruthless than you

until the day you kneel before me begging for mercy.

♪ Life is unpredictable ♪

Fine.

♪ Who can get rid of perplexity ♪

I'd like to see

♪ And find the answer he yearns for? ♪

just how ruthless you can be.

♪ I let the wind stir my pages of the past ♪

♪ Let brush and ink depict my adventures ♪

♪ Let's see how many ways fate can shape my life in ♪

♪ Setting sun, help me weather through the big snow ♪

♪ I'll wait till the next chapter to get sorrowful ♪

♪ Every word resonates with me like dancing notes on the paper ♪