Original subtitles

[A Dream Within A Dream]

[Episode 30]

The defeat at Pingrong Battle

plunged the country into sorrow.

Gao Changyin and his followers colluded

[Gao Residence]

to execute schemes.

[Gao Residence]

They caused the deaths of 20,000 Qianyu soldiers.

[Sealed by the capital prefect Chu following a royal command]

Such unpardonable crimes

are grounds for confiscating their property,

exiling them to the northern borders,

and stripping them of their official ranks and titles.

All officials shall

take this as a warning.

Thank God I took the Seventh Prince's side.

[Yan Gate]

[Five days later]

Your Highness must be here to see me off.

How is the Noble Consort?

I heard from the prison guards

that she fainted upon hearing the news about me.

Before coming here,

I visited Mother.

She was in shock,

but now she is fine under the care

of royal physicians.

Glad to hear that.

I feel the most guilty toward her

of all people.

When she was weak and little,

I should've taken good care of her

as her older brother.

However, for the glory of the Gao family,

I sent her to the palace

and subjected her to a lifetime of misery.

Uncle, during these years,

you've done more than enough for Mother.

Your Highness

hates my guts, right?

You did take control of my life,

but you also gave me warmth

and kept me company.

You are a father figure

and a mentor

to me.

Without you,

I wouldn't have become who I am today.

Maybe

I won't live the way that you expect,

but I promise you

I will become a strong person,

and that I will protect

Mother and the Gao family.

Rest assured, Uncle.

Off you go.

Just go.

"To repay the Emperor's trust,

I'll wield my sword and fight till I die."

I, Gao Changyin,

have no regrets.

Go play.

Your father's love

and Chu Guihong's companionship

will quickly vanish.

Giving them your heart

is giving them the right to hurt you.

Without them,

you can still become a strong person, Heng.

Wield the sword in your hand

to fight for

your own future on the battlefield.

In this world,

only Mother and Uncle genuinely care about me.

I must become a strong person

to protect Mother and the Gao family

in the future.

[Improve Daily]

The vile in office would

erode the court's integrity.

The evil in control would

threaten the nation's wellbeing.

The defeat at Pingrong Battle

was largely attributed to Gao Changyin and his illegal acts.

He is now dead, upon consuming

a poisoned drink as requested.

But

my heart still aches

[Pure of Heart]

for the wrongful deaths

of 20,000 Qianyu soldiers,

who were pillars of the state.

I hereby bestow the highest honor on them

and order them to be buried properly.

Lanterns will be released in memory of them in the city today.

To console the martyrs' spirits,

their stories will be imparted to the commoners.

Capital citizens may attend

said memorial services

to pay their respects.

Han Sihu,

your death is avenged.

You can rest in peace now.

Mian,

the murderer of you and your fellows has been executed.

There are no wars

to fight in heaven.

My dear brother, rest in peace.

If there is a next life,

let us be

guardians of Great Jing

and the people again.

As the saying goes,

"The dead are gone,

and the living shall move on."

You are different

from Gao Changyin.

You did fail your supervisory duties,

but you've cleared the names of the dead soldiers.

You shouldn't be held back

by the aftermath of this incident.

I understand.

But the problem

did arise because of me.

Is this how you managed to fool everyone,

by pretending to be guilty?

Chu Guihong,

the case about Pingrong Battle is closed.

What more do you want?

What do I want?

I want the real culprit to pay a price!

Can't you see?

The real culprit has been executed.

Why are you still after Nan Heng?

A kind of wolf on the plains

would leave the sheep's bones

before the dog house

after attacking the sheep pen.

Then, the wolf

would hide somewhere

to watch the hound being beaten to death by its owner.

I am not a wolf,

and my uncle was not a hound.

All I want now

is to make amends.

You killed your close kin

to conceal your errors.

How dare you talk about making amends!

What can you do to make up for your wrongs?

Then what do you want me to do?

I wish my father stood right here.

I wish those 20,000 Qianyu soldiers came back alive.

I wish you were dead now.

But can you make

these wishes come true?

Chu Guihong,

I'm tired of explaining to you.

I'll pay you

on behalf of the Gao family for

what my uncle owed you and the 20,000 Qianyu soldiers.

Nan Heng,

don't do anything stupid.

Do you think your false heartiness

can make me forgive you?

Nan Heng, listen up,

there's nothing you can do

to change the fact

that we're enemies.

Jixiang,

do you think the dead can receive

these lanterns on the river?

When I was little,

I used to set lanterns on the river.

Back then,

I prayed to my dead mother,

hoping that I could win Nan Heng once.

But my prayers were never answered.

I was so frustrated at those times.

Now that I think of it,

I actually feel quite grateful.

[To my mother]

[To my mother in heaven: May Great Jing be in peace forever]

Heng is better suited to be the crown prince.

Well, I know I've let you guys down.

But forcing me into this role

won't bring good to Great Jing,

will it?

Jixiang,

I'm telling you,

I'll also get paid for just being a prince.

I promise

you'll get your monthly salary

in full or even more.

If Heng

h-has the guts to deny me

that money,

I-I'll beg him

or yell at him. I...

H-He has to give me money.

He... Anyway...

If you can't be promoted

to the position of chief steward,

will you still work for me?

Your Highness,

that position is usually

filled by an eunuch.

I'm not an eunuch.

Jixiang.

Jixiang,

just listen,

t-t-this...

Anyway, I mean...

Let's go.

Put the lanterns

on the river.

[To my mother in heaven: May Great Jing be in peace forever]

How many lanterns

do you want to release?

I'll do it with you.

10?

We can make it 15 if you want.

50 is also fine if necessary!

No need.

I have no family.

But to honor Qianyu soldiers,

we should at least release 100 lanterns, right?

No need for that either.

I don't know any of them.

Why do you have to be a buzzkill?

I have an idea.

You can set one on the river for me.

Right?

Write something from your heart.

I mean things you feel too embarrassed

to put in a letter or express to me.

Write them on a lantern then!

Don't go away.

We're not finished here!

Jixiang!

Oh, you.

Why are you so shy?

Slow down. Wait up!

Look at you,

acting like a stubborn donkey now.

Jixiang!

[Gentle Breeze, Pleasant Weather]

Enough.

You can't even handle

your own love life.

Stop giving me lectures.

Instead of nagging here,

you should go to Yiting's place

and draw paintings with her.

I'm not giving you lectures.

I'm doing this for my own good.

Which of these two

looks prettier on me?

Think about it.

Chief is leaving,

and I've lost my

hard-earned job.

Knock it off.

You're a huge slacker.

Would you happily take on a job?

Besides,

losing that job is just perfect.

Yiting is waiting for you, isn't she?

The Song family is wealthy.

Being her husband,

my friend,

will at least

save you 20 years of hard work.

Sponging off a woman

is not as satisfying as earning my own bread.

As the saying goes,

"Getting in one's way to wealth is committing murder."

Look,

Miss Song,

you've saved my life once.

It's only a virtuous act to do it again.

Don't worry, Shangguan.

Your chief won't be able to leave.

The plots are set.

No characters can escape their fate.

What's more,

I don't respond well to those

who fish for sympathy.

So drop the act.

Which dress looks better on me?

The blue one.

It makes your skin look fairer.

[Quietly Observe]

Your Majesty,

the registered Xuanjia soldiers

amount to 23,600.

The registry has been handed over to the Ministry of War.

This is the command token.

Please take it back, Your Majesty.

Rise, and we'll talk.

The late Empress's death

was not your fault.

It was not.

You didn't purposefully

lead her to that path.

I didn't.

Why did you never

explain it in all these years?

I did once.

When I was little...

I'm sorry.

Forget it.

I know you've always resented me.

I dare not.

You keep the command token.

When we

planned for a setup to trap Gao Changyin,

you promised to return your military power

to me if our efforts failed.

Now, we have succeeded.

Gao Changyin has been executed as well.

I give you my word

that the whole thing

is over now.

I won't pursue it further.

Many thanks, Your Majesty.

In fact, I'm not

afraid of being held accountable.

I've come to understand one thing.

What is it?

My uncle

caused innumerable deaths

and committed severe crimes

out of

his greed for power.

I was involved.

My hands are no cleaner than his.

Therefore,

I'm no longer qualified to

compete for what doesn't belong to me.

Do you mean you want to

retire from the army

and quit your job?

Condemn yourself

all you want in your own mansion.

But don't you ever

think of resigning.

To tell you the truth,

I will

not only make you stay,

but also give you

this.

Open your eyes and look carefully!

[The Seventh Prince Nan Heng is qualified to be the crown prince]

[Imperial Edict]

Crown prince?

Your Majesty...

I met with Rui last night.

He said

he was inferior to you in all areas

pertaining to

managing the country.

He also said

that he always had

my attention when he was upset.

Meanwhile,

nobody cared for you

when you were unfairly treated.

You were demoted to be a commoner

for the theft in Jiangnan Province.

Today,

it is time I promoted you to be the crown prince.

Your Majesty.

A criminal as I am doesn't deserve

this position.

Rui is

pure of heart.

He will make a benevolent ruler.

A benevolent ruler?

With that thick head of his,

can he shoulder a ruler's responsibility?

If you are to compensate for the Gao family's doings,

you shouldn't give up your military power.

I'm not the one

you should compensate.

Correct your wrongs

for Great Jing and the people instead.

Get up.

Take these things,

and leave.

Goodbye, then.

You like Song Yimeng, don't you?

Your Majesty,

I do like Song Yimeng.

I see.

You may go now.

Yes.

[Quietly Observe]

Are you waiting for me?

Not really...

Since you've said it out loud,

I might as well

a-a-admit

I'm waiting for you.

What's the matter?

I...

I...

Heng,

I owe you an apology.

I was wrong about you

in all these years.

I shouldn't have mistaken you for the killer of my mother,

or treated you

with hostility.

If you're still mad at me,

I can let you have

my mansion,

the jade kylin and the luminous pearl

Father gave me.

I don't need those.

Are...

Are they not enough?

Or is it Jixiang what you want?

Don't take him away.

Look,

I can give you anything,

except for Jixiang.

I mean,

you don't need to give me anything.

Your mother

did die because of the Gao family.

You had every reason

to be mad at me.

I knew I was right.

You're most suited to be

the crown prince.

Come here.

I have a question.

Why did you generously let me me have that position?

You see,

you are pure of heart.

I believe you'll treat the people right.

Pure of heart?

Doesn't it take more to make

a good emperor?

Do you think

I'm smart enough?

Heng,

to be honest,

although I'm the chosen one

and an amazing person,

I'm really not

cut out to be the crown prince.

The crown prince

should not only be compassionate,

but also be intelligent enough to fight the evil

and to protect the people of Great Jing.

Am I qualified in that respect?

Apparently not.

Right?

But you're different.

In these years,

Father,

Guihong

and I

all needed an outlet to vent

our anger at Mother's death.

You

were the only outlet.

We hated you

and picked on you.

But you still managed to eliminate the evil chancellor

and restore justice to the people.

A man like you

is truly the best candidate

for the throne.

Alright.

Sometimes, I really don't know

what smart guys

like you are thinking.

You keep mulling

and mulling over a tiny issue

like this.

In the end, it is we little fools

who sort it out.

You're no fool.

You're a prince of Great Jing.

If anyone

dares to call you a fool,

I'll make him regret it.

H...

Heng,

well,

can I ask you something?

Ask away.

I was deeply moved just now.

But...

Can I address you

in a more respectful way after some time?

Doing it now will make me feel guilty

about Guihong.

Of course you can.

Really?

You've agreed to it?

That's great!

Alright.

Here, Heng.

Come on.

Drink up!

Guihong, what you said

has reassured me.

The two of us will

stand in unity to achieve our goals.

Even if there were 10 or 100

more Nan Hengs,

they wouldn't be our match.

Right?

Stand in unity...

Nan Heng wouldn't be our match...

But what about now?

Men's minds easily change.

What is there to hold onto?

So be it.

To live is to look forward.

Nan Heng has pleaded guilty.

Nothing else

matters now.

General Chu,

there is a new

imperial edict.

Are you saying

Chief has become the crown prince?

So Song Yimeng was right.

Of course!

Yan, Huang,

go prepare a feast.

Today, let's have

a proper celebration.

-Yes! -Yes!

I still don't get it.

Chief is the crown prince now.

But what does that have to do with us?

Is your brain filled with hay?

Think about it.

What does it mean to be the crown prince?

It means to be the second most esteemed person in the country.

We Nightwalkers used to be

nobodies from the martial arts world.

We felt inferior when we saw Qianyu soldiers.

But from now on...

From now on?

They will feel

inferior to us instead.

Bring it in!

Why are you presenting us

these uniforms?

As the crown prince's most valuable asset,

I'm obligated to share His Highness's burdens.

Now, His Highness

has become the crown prince.

It's inappropriate

for you to be around him.

Look,

though I feel reluctant,

I'll still let you join Xuanjia Army.

For the sake of our past friendship,

I'll allow you

to start as the lowest-ranked military cooks.

Mr. Fugui,

what do you think

you're doing,

talking in your dream?

You're not even

intelligent to be a Nightwalker.

I'm the second master of the Waning River Crescent.

Why would I join Xuanjia Army?

Xuanjia Army needs

someone useful, like Yunlong and Shanhu.

As for you...

Do you mean I'm not qualified?

You are not.

I am.

You are not!

Are you suggesting

you're more needed by Chief?

[Song Residence]

Stop.

Come back.

Put it down.

Mrs. Li,

you've been in a fight with Chief for a long time.

Isn't it time to make up?

My dear brother-in-law,

try reflecting on yourself

before lecturing others.

When do I get to attend

Yiting and your wedding?

The next month,

assuming no accidents.

When did I say I'd get married?

We'll wait till after you marry His Highness.

When did I say I'd get married?

You're getting married soon.

Stop making a fuss.

The imperial edict designating the crown prince has been issued.

Will it be long before

you two get engaged again?

Right.

I have to leave

before those plots happen.

Hesitation

leads to disasters.

Yiting,

take good care of our father.

I have to go now.

You stop.

Come back.

Eat with me.

[Righteousness and Virtue]

[Imperial Edict]

Your Highness,

is Miss Song the reason

that you want to decline the edict?

What makes you say so?

Miss Song

has always thought of you as a bad person,

while you have always

tried to prove you're a good person.

For that,

Your Highness

executed Chancellor Gao,

uncovered the truth

and pretended to hand over the command token.

Now, it is the best time

for Your Highness to continue acting like a real gentleman

by declining the crown prince's position.

Did I make

an inaccurate analysis again?

I should've added you to the list of exiles,

besides Chancellor Gao's supporters.

Your Highness...

Your Highness,

there is a letter from Mr. Shangguan.

Bad news, Chief.

Song Yimeng is leaving again.

[Nan Heng] [Chu Guihong]

[Nan Heng]

[Slacker Escape Plan]

If I didn't know about Nan Heng's temperament,

I would assume

you liked Yimeng instead.

She's so high-maintenance.

I can't handle a girl like that.

You like gentle and gracious girls then?

It sounds familiar. How come?

You see,

the point isn't what kind of girls I like.

-The point is... -The point is

that you're curious

about the secret Yimeng is hiding.

That's right.

Want to find it out?

Leave it to me.

Yiting!

Shangguan.

What brings you here?

What is this place?

What are you hiding here?

Does it have something to do

with you refusing to marry Nan Heng?

How is that possible?

Yiting, you're overthinking it.

This is where I usually...

This...

Miss Yiting.

Mr. Shangguan.

Why are my paintings here?

I...

I'm about

to leave, aren't I?

Before that,

I thought I should at least

fix you two up.

Yunlong, Shanhu!

Yunlong, Shanhu!

Over here!

Guys, put whatever you're doing aside!

His Highness has an important task

for you.

[Premises for sale]

Yingqiu,

thanks to you,

they didn't find out my secret.

You did a great job.

After working for me for so long,

you've really smartened up.

You'd hate to let out your secret.

Of course I would help you cover it up.

My Lady!

My Lady!

Bad news.

The Waning River Crescent...

There's shocking news about it.

Since the Seventh Prince is the crown prince now,

he is determined to disband the Nightwalkers

and sell the premises of the Waning River Crescent.

My Lady,

please go and see what is happening.

I have to check it out.

Hold on, My Lady.

My Lady,

Mr. Shangguan tried to persuade you not long ago.

Now, the Seventh Prince plans to disband the Nightwalkers.

It all sounds fishy too me.

Could there be a trap?

Speak your mind.

What kind of trap?

Think about it, My Lady.

It's a typical plot in storybooks

that when the romance between a woman and a man is challenged,

their loyal servants would offer help.

Given the way that the people

of the Seventh Prince work, could they be

luring you to the Waning River Crescent?

You have a point.

Well...

Since when have you become so clever?

My Lady,

you speak of the script all the time.

Even a knucklehead such as myself

has learned something.

Shall we go to the Waning River Crescent or not?

I'm begging you.

If you lend me 800 taels,

I'll do anything you ask me to,

including marrying you.

You shun me

when you don't need favors.

But when you do,

you humbly beg me.

Why?

Do I look like a pushover to you?

I-I wouldn't think of you that way.

Then in your heart,

am I a girl you can't communicate with?

It seems like

the Waning River Crescent really is in trouble.

Yiting,

during all this time,

I've never mentioned how much I love you,

but the unsaid words are deeply

buried in my heart.

If I am to marry you,

I'd better have a decent job first.

Otherwise, how can I face your parents?

If the Waning River Crescent is disbanded,

I will go on to be

a homeless nobody from the martial arts world.

I'm fine with

such a hard life,

but I can't let you suffer with me.

Say your lines!

I know

I've always given you the cold shoulder.

But if I didn't love you,

why would I, a useless man,

have put up with such tedious practice

of the four arts for so long?

It is true that the Waning River Crescent is in trouble.

It is also true that I want

to be with you.

Call we a coward or a wimp

as you please.

Now that I've poured my heart out...

Move.

Didn't you say it was just an act?

Why did you

add a kissing scene?

Anything wrong with it?

You don't get to

decide the entire act.

For plucking my heartstrings with those words,

you had to pay a price.

I didn't play at full strength,

yet you were already overwhelmed.

Mr. Shangguan,

you're just a glorified hero.

Wait...

Hurry! She's here!

What can we do now?

Chief doesn't want us anymore.

Can somebody help us?

Chief is abandoning us.

Where can we go?

Can somebody help us?

We're left in the lurch!

Shanhu.

Mrs. Li!

Mrs. Li, you finally came.

Please help us!

Chief is chasing us away.

But where else

can we go?

Right, guys?

Yes!

Where is he?

Over there.

-Over there. -Over there.