Original subtitles

[A Dream Within A Dream]

[Episode 21]

I know that

this method of weapon forging

involves your identity as a prince

and must not be leaked.

But she's a young lady after all,

and such a good one at that.

Do you really expect me to torture her

or silence her by killing?

What I meant is that...

No, don't talk yet.

Listen to me.

You know who Song Yiting is.

Song Yiting is Song Yimeng's younger sister.

If Song Yimeng's sister dies,

do you think she won't investigate?

And do you think she won't find out it's you, Li Shiliu, behind it?

I...

So I think the top priority now

is to get the blade back

instead of assigning blame.

Tomorrow is the last day of the three-day deadline.

Do you really have to get someone killed at this critical point?

Are you done?

When did I ever say

I wanted to kill Song Yiting?

Or in your eyes,

am I just someone who takes lives lightly,

commits all kinds of evil,

and is beyond redemption?

No, it's just

I've heard Song Yimeng say those things about you

so many times that I got influenced.

That's not what I meant.

Let me tell you,

I'll be blunt upfront.

If you get the blade back

and handle the aftermath properly,

we can put this matter behind us.

But if you can't get the blade back

and cause me any more trouble,

I won't lay a hand on Song Yiting,

but I make no promises about not dealing with you.

Understand?

I understand.

You can get me out of jail,

and you can throw me back in.

Don't worry.

I've already angered her today.

I won't go see her tomorrow, either.

The moment the three-day deadline is up,

I'll go collect it immediately.

Why wait for three days?

Go tomorrow.

Understood.

Wait, since when did you

start caring so much about a woman?

I... I...

I...

You're not in love with her, are you?

Of... Of course not.

That's for the best.

As your older brother,

let me tell you something.

This is the folly of love...

The weakness of heroes.

Good that you understand.

But for a worthless man like me,

my spirit's even weaker.

My Lady.

Please take a rest.

No matter how many paintings you make,

you can't change Mr. Li's mind.

I'm not painting these

for him,

but to remind myself

how foolish I've been.

I thought if I put my sincere heart out there,

it would definitely lead to something.

The way he saved me that day

keeps lingering in my mind.

Every time I think of it,

I make a painting.

73 paintings.

I thought

I had truly fallen for him.

My Lady!

However many paintings I used to think of him,

I'll need just as many to forget him.

If one isn't enough,

then I'll tear up another!

My Lady!

My Lady!

My Lady.

These...

These are all your hard work!

Stop tearing them up.

Please stop.

He's just an ordinary man.

What makes him any different

from the others?

I, Song Yiting, will never be trapped by love.

There are thousands of rivers in this world,

so why settle for just one ladle?

[Seventh Prince's Mansion]

He's had two bowls already this morning.

Good appetite suggests good mood.

If he's in such a good mood,

could it be because of Yiting?

This dish is too salty.

Pickled vegetables are supposed to be salty, okay?

Being so picky,

could it be he had a fight with Yiting?

You're not eating?

Is it not to your taste?

Or is it because

you fed me medicine yesterday,

you're expecting me to feed you today in return?

I'd rather not,

lest I soil Your Highness's clothes again.

You've been in the palace for 10 days now since Mother brought you in.

Now that you've finally come out,

why not visit your family?

Don't you miss them?

Trying to get rid of me so soon,

can't wait to see Yiting, huh?

What's with that face?

I was just wondering

why Your Highness

suddenly started caring about my family.

After we get married,

your family

will be my family too, right?

I knew it,

you're up to something.

By the way,

does your sister have someone she likes?

I heard she's quite picky,

and hasn't settled on an engagement yet.

What kind of man does she like?

You scumbag,

already trying to make a move?

Why did you slam the bowl?

What's wrong?

Well, Your Highness.

I-I suddenly have a stomachache.

You're having a stomachache?

I can't take it anymore.

My stomach hurts too much.

Your Highness.

Please enjoy your meal without me.

I'll head back first.

Get an imperial physician to check on you.

Have you heard?

Song Yimeng has moved into the Seventh Prince's Residence.

They haven't even gotten married yet,

and she's already moved into his residence.

How inappropriate.

That one

always acts outrageously.

When has she ever cared about propriety?

I also heard that

she once went to a pharmacy

to buy that kind of medicine for the Seventh Prince.

Really?

She really has no shame at all.

Yiting. Yiting.

You know the inside story best.

Tell us,

how far have they gotten?

Yiting?

Yiting.

What's wrong?

You seem distracted.

Are you in a bad mood?

You missed the gathering

the other day as well.

Did something happen?

Are you feeling unwell?

You're not sick, are you?

I know!

Not seeing me for days

has made her lovesick.

As for Miss Yiting's ailment,

I

[Bamboo Mist, Rippling Moon]

understand it best.

Your Highness.

Please, no need for formalities.

What brings you here, Your Highness?

I'm here

to court you, Miss Yiting.

Yiting.

His Highness is here for you.

Yiting.

As for the question you asked me before,

I now have a new answer.

I've come today

to tell you in person.

Your Highness.

What answer do you have?

I believe that

marriages should be based on mutual affection

and natural attraction.

Miss Yiting's talents and beauty

are merely external qualities.

What I truly love

is your heart.

Then tell me, Your Highness,

in your eyes,

what is my heart like?

You refuse to be bound by conventional etiquette

or commit yourself carelessly to marriage.

You resent being controlled by your parents,

and wish to escape what others call fate.

You reject others' advances

because you feel that

they only love your appearance,

and no one has ever asked

who you really are.

But Yiting,

I am different from others.

The reason I like you

is simply because you are you.

If you love poetry and painting,

I like you.

If you love splendor and prosperity,

I like you.

Even if you're from

every walk of life

or a mere commoner,

I still

like you.

Yiting.

I want to marry you.

From now on,

I'll be the one to like you,

and you

just need to be yourself.

His Highness is...

Proposing to you?

Yiting,

isn't this

exactly what you've always wanted to hear?

Your Highness,

please come with me.

Tell me,

who taught you to say that?

No, I...

No, I...

No one taught him.

Those were all His Highness's sincere words.

Yiting.

I've liked you for so long after all,

so I should've picked up some insights by now, right?

Besides,

today I was just overcome with emotion,

so I poured everything out at once.

Seeing you doubt me like this,

it kind of hurts my feelings.

Really?

I'm sorry.

I was overthinking.

It's alright.

Yiting! Yiting!

Don't. Don't!

Wait, what are you doing?

Yiting, stop!

Wait, Yiting!

Yiting.

Can I... Can I still explain myself?

Let go.

It's over, Jixiang.

I'm done for, Jixiang.

It's all over.

Liu Huaiyi.

What do you mean by that?

Am I wrong?

Song Yiting

clearly wants to be the prince's consort.

But she has to play hard to get,

making the Eighteenth Prince beg for her attention.

When it comes to playing hard to get the way she does,

no one else can compare.

Yiting is not that kind of person.

That's because she's good at pretending,

acting all innocent and unworldly.

But among all the unmarried ladies in the capital,

she's the one

who knows best how to catch men's attention.

Why else would the Eighteenth Prince notice her?

Liu Huaiyi.

Talking behind her back,

what kind of friend are you?

Alright, alright.

Stop arguing.

We've been friends for so many years.

It's not worth ruining our friendship

over something so trivial.

We may consider Song Yiting our friend,

but she might not feel the same way.

All these years,

she's been looking down on us.

Has she ever truly respected any of us?

I'll tear your mouth apart!

You...

Alright, calm down, Ruru.

You're angry at me?

You're the most pathetic one, Jia Ruru,

following Song Yiting around all day

like some echo,

yet understanding nothing.

This whole scene today

was clearly planned by Song Yiting in advance!

All sweet and sisterly in public,

but backstabbing in private.

Miss Liu, you truly

live up to your reputation as a noble lady.

Who is it?

This is between us friends.

Who are you to lecture me?

Matters between friends

are indeed not my place to comment on.

However, I believe

that in relationships,

sincerity is most valuable.

She prepared new clothes and new jewelry

just for today's gathering.

Even if you cannot repay this friendship

in kind, you shouldn't treat

sincere feelings like they're worthless.

Now I get it.

Just another one defending her.

One's a prince,

the other's a charlatan like you.

Song Yiting really is something.

There's no man she can't seduce.

Are you alright?

Who exactly are you?

Just a stranger who couldn't stand by and watch injustice.

You...

Well done!

Beautifully done!

Good job!

Mister.

Would you like to come in for some tea

and rest for a while?

Why did you come anyway, Mr. Li?

Just passing by.

Out of the entire wide capital,

you just so happened to "pass by" right here?

If you were just passing by,

why did you bother

getting involved and defending me?

After all, we've known each other for some time,

so it's only right that I defend you a bit.

Besides, it's really unfair of them

to say such things about you behind your back.

I was talking about the Eighteenth Prince.

Those things the Eighteenth Prince said,

you taught him to say them, didn't you?

You clearly know me well,

yet you deliberately anger me

and push me away.

Why?

Knowing you and liking you

are two separate things.

You're the most special

and wonderful girl I've ever met.

Even if I don't have feelings for you,

you still deserve to be appreciated

and treated well.

You're lying.

You just said

that in relationships,

sincerity is most valuable.

Then, Li Shiliu,

please honestly tell me,

have you ever had feelings for me?

If even half a word is a lie,

may heaven strike you down.

I,

Li Shiliu,

have never had feelings for you.

Say it again.

No matter how many times I say it, it won't change.

Li Shiliu

has never had feelings for you.

So you pushed me toward the Eighteenth Prince,

taking advantage of when you discarded me

to let him approach me?

You've misjudged me.

I, Song Yiting, am not someone who can't accept defeat.

I just felt that I hurt you,

and if there could be someone who truly cared for you

by your side,

you might feel better.

Stop deceiving yourself.

You just wanted to make yourself feel better.

In your eyes, I'm nothing more than

a piece of clothing

or a piece of jewelry.

But even if you don't like me,

what right do you have to push me onto someone else?

I never thought of you that way.

Li Shiliu.

You love to lecture others,

but you're not worthy.

You teach others that

marriages are about mutual affection and

natural attraction,

but you yourself don't understand what love is at all.

You tell others

not to disregard true feelings,

yet you have no heart at all.

I used to like you

because I thought you were different from others.

But from now on,

I won't like you anymore,

because I despise you

even more than anyone else.

I'm sorry.

Don't bother.

Tomorrow at noon,

at Zijin Pavilion outside the city,

I'll return what you asked for.

Please kindly

bring back my paintings too, Mr. Li.

Don't soil my belongings.

She... He... He...

They...

They're a real couple?

What about me?

What am I to her?

Probably just a laughingstock who copied Mr. Li's love lines

yet failed in your confession.

Nonsense!

It must be that Li Shiliu.

He... He must have deliberately played me,

making me look foolish in front of Yiting

and paving the way for himself.

I'm the auspicious sign of the Great Jing.

How could I be treated so unjustly?

Just you wait.

I must prove to Yiting

that Li Shiliu,

he... He's not such a good person either.

Either?

Did I say "either"?

[Gentle Breeze]

Father?

[Song Residence]

Madam...

You'd better explain to me

what this is about.

Whose portrait is this?

What do you mean by that?

What happened to Song Yiting?

Yimeng,

there are some matters

I shouldn't have troubled you with,

but I don't know what's gotten into Yiting lately.

Maybe it's because she's fallen for someone,

she wouldn't listen to her mother

about marrying the Eighteenth Prince,

and the whole family is in chaos because of this.

Oh no.

She's already fallen in love with him.

Father, don't worry.

I'll see this matter

through to the end.

Chief.

Miss Song is here.

What brings you here today?

Mr. Li.

You really need to help me this time.

Please.

Spit it out!

Who exactly is that man?

I...

I really don't know.

Fine.

If she refuses to talk,

I won't keep

this wretched life of hers!

Beat her!

Stop beating her!

Stop it!

My Lady.

Stop this at once!

Mother!

What are you doing?

You're asking me?

I should be asking you what you're doing!

I heard from the doorman

that you've been calling for carriages every day

just to meet a man in secret!

Did I raise you

just so you could degrade yourself

by associating with some scum?

My relationship with him is proper and respectful.

And he's not some scum you make him out to be!

Proper relationship?

How dare you say

something so improper!

Are you trying to anger me to death?

So what do you call proper behavior?

Dressing myself up

to parade before sons of noble families,

is that proper behavior?

If it were the Eighteenth Prince today,

forget about secret meetings,

even if I had an improper affair with him,

you'd still thank our ancestors for the blessing

and wish everyone in the capital knew about it!

Are you trying to anger me to death?

You should know that

if this ever gets out,

your reputation

will be completely ruined!

Reputation is like a shackle,

which deserves to be discarded like tattered shoes.

Shannai,

let's go.

Impossible.

That's impossible.

I know

it sounds ridiculous.

But last time

when I predicted the fire,

didn't it happen as I said?

Right now, Nan Heng is really planning to kill Song Yiting.

Mr. Li.

I really need you to help me.

Otherwise, Yiting will be done for.

Everything needs evidence.

As far as I know,

between Nan Heng and Song Yiting, there's absolutely no...

Anyway,

this must be a misunderstanding.

How could it be?

When it comes to romance,

do you think you know more than I do?

I...

Mr. Li.

Let's not argue about this right now,

okay?

I can tell at a glance

if a man has ulterior motives

toward a woman.

For example, from the way Nan Heng looks at Yiting,

it's obvious he's up to no good.

But the way you look at me

is merely friendly, Mr. Li.

You...

You...

What are you doing?

Do you believe that I like women now?

So,

you were

kissing me just now?

You still don't believe me?

♪ Look at the sky, flowers bloom and fragrance fills the air ♪

♪ The sound of heartbeats resonates in the passing time ♪

♪ Look at the way you're going, destiny has it all planned out ♪

♪ We lead remarkable lives in this mundane world ♪

Do you believe me now?

So, I don't want

to hear any more of that talk

about us being friends from you anymore.

Didn't you say

you understand romance better than I do?

Then tell me,

what does this

make us?

Well...

I think...

What we have between us isn't friendship.

It's not friendship.

But who

kisses with a mask on?

Chief really went for it.

He actually kissed her.

Let's see if he dares to kiss her without the mask.

What's wrong?

Drowning your sorrows alone?

Shanhu has filled me in

on what's been going on these past few days.

What?

You want to blame me for messing things up again?

Go ahead.

You fell in love?

Just days ago, I was teasing you

about how Song Yimeng had you completely smitten.

Look how the tables have turned.

It's only been a few days,

and now you're the audience,

while I've become

the performer.

Your little drama

isn't worth my time and effort to watch.

But the question is,

if you like her,

why don't you go win her back?

Why sit here brooding?

And then what?

Live happily ever after with her?

Or one day when my identity is exposed,

I'll drag the entire Waning River Crescent

and her into this mess?

Don't overestimate yourself, okay?

As if my Waning River Crescent needs your concern.

You're right.

I have no right to think so highly of myself.

I haven't forgotten that

you and I

are also just part of a deal.

That's true.

Do you remember who I was three years ago?

Three years ago,

you were a famous hero in Jiangnan, Shangguan Baihe,

known as Mr. Shangguan.

Within half a month,

you committed more than 10 major thefts.

I led 2,000 Xuanjia Army soldiers,

mobilizing forces from three provinces and six cities,

yet still failed to catch you.

But later,

you were exposed because

a friend betrayed you.

Back then, I, Baihe, trusted the wrong person

and fell into a trap,

with no way out.

In the end, I had no choice but to

break my wings to survive.

Are you blaming me,

for clipping your wings

and trapping you in this small Waning River Crescent?

Yes.

I hate you, the mighty Seventh Prince, to the core

for not letting me die.

[Three years ago]

The Ministry of Justice has issued their verdict.

You've been sentenced to immediate execution,

which will be carried out tomorrow.

It's been seven days.

You come every single day.

Could you give a dying man one day of peace?

If I were you,

I'd try my best to find a way out of here alive

to see what color blood runs in someone

who would betray their companion

for 2,000 taels of gold.

The person you speak of who betrayed their companion

is both an enemy

and a friend to me.

Your enemy framed you,

betrayed you,

and kept all the riches for himself,

yet you still consider him a friend.

It seems you deserve your fate.

Someone like you,

born into privilege,

could never understand what kind of life

he and I lived before.

Wrapped in horsehide upon death,

licking blood from blade edges,

and entrusting your back to comrades.

This prince believes the past you speak of

wasn't much harder than this.

"This prince"?

Who are you?

Who I am doesn't matter.

What matters is

you're still alive.

As long as we're alive,

we should cherish every single day.

Friends gone? So be it.

Path blocked? Carve through mountains.

But if your life is gone,

that's truly the end.

Here's to shady friends.

Alright.

To disreputable companion.

Heart like wood and stone,

utterly cold and unfeeling.

You're not speaking from the heart.

However, I never expected

you'd be troubled by love.

Like master, like man.

When it comes to being troubled by love,

you, Chief, are the true expert.

I can't hold a candle to you on that.

But the point is,

I never pushed the person I love

into someone else's arms.

Besides,

the lady doesn't even like Nan Rui,

yet you think you're doing her a favor.

That blabbermouth Shanhu,

telling everything.

What does this have to do with Shanhu?

You have only yourself to blame.

You not only messed it up,

but you also broke the lady's heart.

I was a prisoner

who should have died long ago.

There's no way I could fall in love with a lady from a noble family.

Chief,

don't you understand?

It doesn't matter whether I understand.

What matters is,

does Song Yiting understand?

Whether she understands or not doesn't matter,

because the person she likes isn't the real me.

Then tell her

what you're really like beneath the mask.

So, if Song Yimeng knew

what you're really like beneath that mask,

how would she feel?

I...

See?

This Li Shiliu's outfit

has really caused quite a bit of trouble.

All the frustration in your heart

stems from Song Yiting.

Why not just ask her out

and tell her

everything that's on your mind?

This way,

you won't have any regrets in the future.

What if I don't want to go?

If you don't go,

then the crane in your heart

will remain trapped in your mental prison,

and you'll be left with nothing but your title.

Tomorrow at noon,

let me borrow

Li Shiliu's outfit one more time.

That's more like it.

Here.

Tomorrow,

bring both the Qianyu Moon-Cleaving Blade

and yourself with your heart intact

back to me.

Understand?

Come on.

Success awaits you.

[Xiyue Pavilion]

My Lady.

I'm sorry.

It's all my fault for being careless

and letting Madam find out.

It doesn't matter anymore.

He wouldn't be with me anyway.

He'd rather push me to someone else

than admit he has feelings for me.

In his eyes,

I'm nothing.

If you see it so clearly,

why do you still have to love him?

I know exactly what I'm doing.

I don't need others preaching to me.

If you're here as our parents' messenger,

please leave.

Song Yiting,

you've always been so strong-willed.

Why would you fall for someone like him?

Don't you know what kind of person he is?

Deep and calculating,

and secretive in his actions.

Do you know how many dirty secrets

he's hiding?

Yes, he's deep and calculating,

and secretive in his actions,

but if he hadn't experienced

all the hardships of life in his early years

and struggled to survive,

why would he be this way?

Fine.

You can ignore all that,

but do you know he's approaching you

with ulterior motives?

Of course I know.

If it weren't for what he wants,

he wouldn't agree to meet me.

You know all this

and still let him take advantage of you?

A blade in hand

can either kill

or save the world.

I trust my judgment.

I won't be wrong about him.

What're you talking about, saving the world?

Don't be fooled by his twisted logic

and false words.

Beneath his mask,

he's nothing but a complete villain.

But who's not wearing a mask in this world?

In the capital,

who's not scheming

and chasing fame and fortune?

And who

would ever show

their true self to others?

It's actually him

who lives freely and authentically,

without restraint.

I really can't get through to you.

Please, I'm begging you,

alright?

Don't get involved with him.

In this world,

you can fall for anyone,

anyone but him.

Why not him?

Just because he's not the Eighteenth Prince,

he doesn't deserve to be loved?

That's not what I meant.

Then why are you trying to dissuade me?

And what gives you the right

to interfere in my life?

Song Yiting.

I really don't know

how to explain this to you.

But please believe me,

being with him

will really put you in danger.

I'm going to bed.

You should leave.

Song Yiting!

You'll die!

Guihong!

Guihong!

Guihong.

Guihong.

Something terrible has happened.

It's a disaster!

Your Highness, please calm down.

Take your time and tell me slowly.

Listen,

yesterday, I saw

Yiting and Li Shiliu

together,

and they seemed quite close.

So I immediately

had someone investigate

this mysterious Li Shiliu.

I've already investigated him.

His background is clean,

with nothing suspicious.

Yes,

that's what I just found out.

But I wasn't convinced,

so I looked into the people around him,

and guess what I found?

He...

Come here.

Listen,

there's someone called Shangguan He with him,

who's a death-row prisoner that escaped from prison!

Search thoroughly!

Yes!

Search!

Yes!

Who dares!

General Chu, you're certainly

in a fiery mood this morning.

Bringing the Qianyu Army here with you,

what are you planning to do?

I'm not here to trouble you today,

but for him.

May I ask, Mr. Chu,

what business do you have with me?

Three years ago,

in Jiangnan Province,

Mr. Shangguan

was accused of a serious crime

and faked his death to escape.

Do I need to say more?

Rong Hua.

Wait!

Though we at Waning River Crescent are just nobodies from the martial arts world,

you can't just take someone away

with a few words.

Li Shiliu.

I'm here on official business on behalf of the capital prefecture's office.

How dare you obstruct me?

So what if it's the capital prefecture's office?

Unless I give the word,

you're not taking anyone away.

What if I insist on taking him away?

You're welcome to try.

[Big Fortune]