All language subtitles for J2VVZq_Ashes.to_.Crown_.E18_eng

SAY NO TO PIRACY, SUPPORT ORIGINALS

ADAPTED FROM XI XING’S NOVEL
QUEEN CHU ON QIDIAN.COM

It was that imperial decree

that allowed Her Highness
to successfully negotiate peace

with the Lord of Xiaonan.

Now that she's come here
to show her gratitude,

it's evident she's realized

she wouldn't achieve anything
without your support.

Since Her Highness recognizes
your capability,

this overture is probably
an attempt at an alliance.

True power lies only in your own hands.

With Chu Ling dead,

the Yunzhong Prefecture
stands defenseless against its enemies.

Even with Zhong Changrong in command,

the Northern Desert
and the Xiaonan Prefecture

are waiting to strike.

A mere treaty is hardly enough
to hold them back.

Back then, Xie Yanfang
defied my deployment order.

Yet, in the relief of Xiaonan Prefecture,

he seized the moment
and siphoned off the spoils.

With the tides shifting,

one must think thrice
before forming any alliance.

LOTUS PAVILION

Her Highness is corrupting
the noble ladies of the Capital,

encouraging them
to parade themselves in public

and organize the Chu Mansion
Literary Gathering.

It is utterly laughable.

What self-respecting scholar would attend?

Mr. Jing, you truly amuse me.

Why are men free
to enjoy literary pursuits,

yet women are denied the same privilege?

Could it be you fear
being outdone by women?

Such bold words.

Mr. Jing, we host this gathering
to let talent shine,

unlike you and your fellow scholars

who are nothing but incompetents
who slander behind closed doors.

Talent is not something
one can claim as their own.

Your boasting means nothing here.

Good.

Let's compete today so all may witness

your true mettle.

Very well.

But if you lose,
stop slandering our gathering

and never stop others from attending.

Challenge accepted.

Such insolence from a woman.

Please enlighten me on Weiqi,

calligraphy, and other finer arts.

Tang, can you actually play Weiqi?

I learned a little from Jiang before.

That's enough to best him.

What could you possibly learn
from a woman?

Shall we continue?

So what if you can play Weiqi?

It's merely a trifling pastime
for women to occupy themselves with.

-Exactly.
-Indeed.

Let us compete in calligraphy instead.

I have spent my time
immersed in literature.

Fine by me.

That's not what I stake my life upon.

So calligraphy is merely a pastime for me.

HIGH TIDE EBBS. FULL MOON FADES

This is truly impressive.

Right.

In fact, it rivals Mr. Jing's work.

She has clearly applied herself.

Look, she's even varying her strokes.

Quite impressive.

Calligraphy is not about
who writes the fastest.

-Indeed.
-Exactly.

Mr. Jing, it is not about who writes
the most either.

-Indeed.
-She certainly talks tough.

Such clever wordplay.

-Indeed.
-Exactly.

Mr. Jing,

do you even have the nerve
to keep slandering our literary gathering?

Best of three.

There is no need for a third round.

Why further embarrass yourself?

If you refuse to accept this, Mr. Jing,

you are welcome to attend
the Chu Mansion Literary Gathering,

where we can have a proper contest.

-Go.
-You're not afraid of her, are you?

-True!
-Don't worry.

-Yes.
-Take her on.

Let us see it.

Such beautiful handwriting.

Tang.

Does it not trouble you
to have humiliated Minister Jing's son?

I was only being high-profile

so they would not underestimate
the Chu Mansion Literary Gathering.

Mr. Jing has a bit of a reputation,

so after this spectacle,

many will surely come
to the gathering to watch the show.

I have honored what Zhao entrusted to me.

Let's go.

A literary gathering?

What are you planning this time?

Who is it?

Mr. Zhang, it's me.

Young… Young Master.

I came to see you.

Take a seat.

During the ancestral hall trial,

you were the only one
who did not name me as the arsonist.

I am grateful for that.

I am but a servant.

What standing do I have
to point fingers at you, Young Master?

You need not keep this on your mind.

I shall skip the liquor.

It's alright,

but can you tell me

if the child brought out
from the Wei Village

is still alive?

CHU MANSION

My parents are settled
at the Qiaoshan Academy

and seem to be in much better spirits.

And the yamen even allotted them
a plot of land.

You may keep the land,

but Uncle must accept
at least a hundred students

without charging tuition.

You want Father

to use the proceeds from this land
to instruct and enlighten?

He will earn far greater prestige
by serving the people thus.

Father will surely agree.

However, he has never paid attention
to financial matters.

Mother will surely regret
this costly venture.

This is a lesson to them both.

Perhaps they will be more cautious
in their future dealings.

Once greed takes hold,
it becomes a trap set by others.

You are indeed insightful.

By the way,

your competition with Mr. Jing
at the teahouse proved quite effective.

Many people have become interested
in the literary gathering.

That owes entirely
to your brilliant planning.

However, Zhao, most people
are hoping to see us fail.

They claim that female scholars
must have ulterior motives

and that this gathering
is merely a ploy to secure a good match.

Why must they speak so harshly?

Let them talk.

Their words mean nothing anyway.

They are merely men
whose pride has been bruised,

seeking to salvage their dignity.

On the day of the literary gathering,
we will show them who the true fools are.

CHU MANSION LITERARY GATHERING

Mr. Jing was careless and lost at Weiqi,

which has made you all
insufferably arrogant.

Today, I will show you what true shame is.

Careful with your words.

The board will decide.

Fine.

And if you lose, what then?

If I lose,

I will write a statement of defeat
and never play Weiqi again.

What is that pathetic statement worth?

Does one of your ilk
deserve a seat at a board like this?

Mr. Peng, those are bold words indeed.

What kind of talk is that?

I do not feel
that what I said was improper.

If Your Highness
insists on flaunting your power,

I shall offer my apologies.

If Miss Zhou loses,

I will write a statement
of defeat with her.

Do you accept this wager?

Zhao.

Your Highness, why go to such lengths?

Because you are a woman, and so am I.

If they look down on women,
they look down on all of us.

So this is the real intention
behind Your Highness

leading these women
to host a literary gathering.

To back them up, huh?

No. I only want to tell you

that a woman's move on board
can also decide the fate of the world.

Zhao, what game are you playing, exactly?

If they win through sheer luck,
that is one thing,

but should they lose,

are you truly prepared
to write a statement of defeat?

It does not matter.
I am not afraid of losing.

So what if I have this title?

Women have never held their respect.

Even holding a high position
does not make them truly respect me,

so there is nothing to fear.

They come from scholarly families,
so they will not lose.

Even if we lose, it does not matter.

With each competition,
we draw closer to victory.

And once we win, today's efforts
will not have been in vain.

As I said before,

the purpose of this gathering
is to demonstrate that women

are capable of standing as equals to men.

-She won.
-Incredible.

Amazing.

How impressive.

We are taught

from childhood to read, write,

-Isn't that great?
-and master the Six Arts,

yet we are also told
that all such learning serves

to secure a good marriage,

to support our husbands,
raise our children,

and please our husbands' families.

-Bravo!
-But today,

we seek no one's favor.

We are fighting for our own reputation.

Your Highness, a letter from His Lordship.

Father says

the turmoil in the Capital
continues without pause

and I should wait with patience.

And yet

every move he ever taught me
was built to kill.

His Lordship still cares for you,
Your Highness.

Tie Ying, grind the ink.

Yes.

Are you writing back, Your Highness?

I'm writing to Deng Yi.

Mr. Deng?

He helped us flee the Capital,

and yet Chu Zhao never moved against him.

There must be some pact between them.

The way things stand,

he and we may no longer
share the same side.

Whether we are or not doesn't matter.

What he owes me…

comes before all else.

Your Highness.

Since when do you bother
with such formalities?

I hope I'm not interrupting.

I came across a jade disc
and wanted to give it to you.

Smooth to the touch, flawless in color.

A rare piece indeed.

My gratitude.

Your Highness, please.

Your Highness comes at such a late hour.

I can only assume
it is a matter of urgency.

I've received word

that the Northern Desert King
has turned back.

There may be movement on the frontier.

I heard

you once tried to send a trusted general
to Yunzhong Prefecture,

only for Mr. Xie to block it
with the Grand Princess Token.

Your concern for Yunzhong moves me,

which is why I've come

to discuss the appointment
of Guard General with you.

What do you think of Xie Yanlai?

You're locked in a contest
with the Xie Clan,

and yet you'd hand command
of the frontier troops

to one of their own?

I warned you before,

the Imperial Guard's authority
must never be entrusted so lightly.

And now the frontier troops
are in Xie Yanlai's hands once again.

Do you truly trust him,

or are you counting on Xie Yanfang
not daring to touch him?

Xie Yanlai serves me
and has nothing to do with the Xie Family.

Your Highness may say so,
but to the rest of the world,

he is a Xie.

If the day comes when Xie Yanfang
forces him to choose,

Your Highness,
what do you think he would do?

He would choose me.

Since Your Highness has made up your mind,

I won't press further.

I only hope that when victory
comes from the frontier,

the glory won't end up adorning
someone else.

You worry too much.

The jade is fine.

It just needs the most delicate of hands.

She actually went to Deng Yi.

Yes. They talked in private
for quite some time.

Seems Chu Zhao already sees me as a rival

and means to use Deng Yi to restrain me.

Their next move

should be to put Yanlai
in command of the frontier troops.

If the military authority
falls to the Xie Clan,

it is actually advantageous.

No.

Yanlai has changed.

Fortunately,

I still have a more obedient lapdog.

Mr. Xie, your foresight
is truly remarkable.

Though a piece be small,

if used well, it can still stir
the winds of change.

Have you met with Xiao Xun lately?

He's a hostage.

It wouldn't be proper for me to visit him.

As Grand Mentor,

you must extend your compassion to all,
be they the common folk

or the officials of the court.

Keeping such a deliberate distance
from him

will raise suspicions.

Your Highness has made clear
I should stand with you.

Why test me?

Unless

there's been talk about me?

Nothing of the sort.

Just making conversation.

Your Highness, I give everything I have

to the State of Chu, to my last breath.

My loyalty is absolute.

I know where your loyalty lies.

It's late.

I should not keep you any longer.

As for the appointment of the commander,

I hope you will give it
further careful consideration.

Do not rush into a decision.

Mr. Deng,

Her Highness and you
have gone your separate ways.

I know.

In this game,

the isolated stone
is always the first to fall.

We must plan ahead
and do what we must to survive.

Mr. Deng, this is a letter from Mr. Xiao.

My divination has progressed considerably.

I finally understand what it means
for greatness yet to emerge.

And I've never thanked you
for your guidance.

FERRYMAN’S LODGE

These palace robes are such a bother,
so stiff and confining.

They're nothing like the simple clothes
I wore before.

Clumsy as you are,
how could you serve our lady?

Give it to me.

Le, take her to change
into something lighter.

She need not dress like a palace maid.

Cold mask, warm heart.

You're just like your mother,
Your Highness.

Mother? Whose mother?

Your Highness's mother?

Also my aunt.

Don't ask any more.

I once read Her Highness's fortune.

The divination showed
her mother was still alive.

I thought I had misread
the cracks in the tortoise shell.

You can read fortunes? That accurately?

Cast one for me too, would you?

No.

Fine.

Alright, I'll do it.

Well?

A letter from afar.

You can tell that from the bones?

I used my eyes.

Your Highness, a message
from the dispatch rider.

It's from Xie Yanlai.

What is it?

Jiu discovered shards of incendiary jars
in the Wei Village ruins,

bearing part of a cargo mark.

Incendiary jars?

Someone used them to set fires?

Xinsi, Fourth Month.

Danqiu Horse Administration.

Contract Three.

What does that mean?

Danqiu refers to the Xiaonan Prefecture
stud farm.

This came from Xiaonan Prefecture.

Mr. Deng is thoughtful,
looking out for Your Highness.

I've heard that someone has been
investigating the Wei Village in secret.

But after the village was burned,

all the cargo records
from Xiaonan Prefecture were destroyed.

There's no way to uncover the truth.

Yet I worry someone won't let this go

and will seize the chance
to stir up trouble.

Your concerns are not without merit.

Go and keep close watch.

Nothing can come to light.

If that fire at the Wei Village

ever gets traced back to us,

the charge of colluding
with the Northern Desert

would finish us for good.

Understood.

Still expecting your father to rescue you?

Xiaonan Prefecture can barely stay afloat.

As his stone, you are certainly spent.

Your Highness came all this way
only to offer such hollow mockery?

No.

I came to tell you
that I could choose not to kill you,

but I could also keep you in the Capital,
a hostage until your last breath.

I know your father sent you a letter.

Do you really think
he wants to rescue you?

This letter appears to offer reassurance,
but it is meant to keep you here.

If you attempt to flee,

you prove that Xiaonan Prefecture
plotted this all along,

committing treason
and deceiving His Majesty.

Do you know what he said to me
in Xiaonan Prefecture?

"I have one wife and three concubines,

-with seven children in total--"
-Enough.

What?

Are you furious?

Helplessness feels awful, doesn't it?

Your Highness.

Why back me into a corner like this?

You're pressing so relentlessly
just to hear me say

that I want to go back
to Xiaonan Prefecture, aren't you?

But I won't say it.

I like this courtyard.

Small and delicate.

Your Highness, I wish you
confined to these walls forever.

Let's see whether you're destined to rise…

or doomed to fade away.

CHU MANSION

Zhao, Jiang was brilliant,

besting one scholar after another
at the Chu Mansion Literary Gathering.

A triumph for women indeed.

Jiang's mastery of Weiqi

was always meant
to shine on a larger board.

All these years of dedicated study,

and now the world finally understands

the board makes no distinction
between men and women.

By the way, I heard

Mr. Deng has been withholding
military honors

from the Battle
Against the Northern Desert,

leaving the court rife with speculation.

Do you know what game he is playing?

What else could it be?

The only one he means
to hold back is Xie Yanlai.

With the Guard General post vacant,

every ambitious eye in court
is set upon it.

Do you really think
he would stand with you?

Your Highness,

are you considering sending
Xie Yanlai to guard the frontier?

Yunzhong Prefecture
is a key stronghold on the frontier,

and he was the one
Father and Mr. Zhong chose.

But he comes from the Xie Family,

and Deng Yi has always been wary of them
holding military power,

not to mention

over a fortress like Yunzhong.

So…

I'm going to force the issue at court.

Mr. Deng,

why is Xie Yanlai absent
from the list of honors

for the Battle
Against the Northern Desert?

Breaking through Yingzui Valley

and dealing a heavy blow
to the Northern Desert King.

Do these not deserve
the highest commendation?

Moreover, he was personally recommended
by the late General Chu

as the most qualified successor
for Guard General.

The post is of critical importance
and cannot simply be dictated.

If it were a hereditary title,

the person most fit
to lead the frontier troops

would be Your Highness.

Unfortunately, as you cannot
hold the post yourself,

someone else must take the place.

Furthermore,

when Your Highness appointed Xie Yanlai
as Imperial Guard Commander,

he deserted his duties.

According to the law,
he should be executed.

How could there be any rewards?

Mr. Xie, do you remember

that if Xie Yanlai

had not detected the unrest
in Xiaonan Prefecture,

Xiao Xun's blade would already
be at His Majesty's throat?

Why are you so bent
on castigating Commander Xie?

Even if Your Highness orders my death,

I must speak.

The law is absolute
and cannot be overturned.

Xie Yanlai defied imperial orders,
and that is a fact.

If he is not severely punished,

I fear others will follow suit,

and the court will descend into chaos.

What is your take on this?

By law, he deserves death.

XIE RESIDENCE

Yanlai has returned to the Capital?

But strangely,

from the You hour the day before yesterday
until the Zi hour last night,

he left no trace.

Our people lost him.

This is interesting.

He is not by Chu Zhao's side
but chooses to move alone.

Something serious must be happening.

No matter. Keep watching him.

How is the court?

Mr. Xie, your plan was brilliant.

You feigned illness
and absented yourself this morning.

The court has indeed seen stirrings.

Her Highness requested
that Xie Yanlai be named

Guard General on the grounds
of his military achievements.

How did Mr. Deng react?

He immediately claimed

Xie Yanlai had abandoned his duties
and should be executed.

If he actually kills Yanlai,

Her Highness will surely not let it go.

But if Her Highness grants the title,

our military power
will grow even stronger.

A true dilemma.

There is one more thing.

Deng Yi has met with Xiao Xun
three times recently,

always after the Zi hour.

Interesting.

Mr. Deng usually knows
how to read the wind.

Why cling to a dead branch now?

Perhaps Xiao Xun
has something else planned?

Should we take precautions in advance?

Let us wait and see.

Do not alert him.

Understood.

Her Highness has arrived.

Your Highness.

Yanfang, your health comes first.

There's no need for such formalities.

It seems nothing escapes
Your Highness's keen eyes.

I am deeply honored by your visit.

Please, this way.

Your Highness, Yanlai
is indeed important to you,

but are you not afraid that Deng Yi
will seize this opportunity to strike?

Xie Yanlai is your brother.

Deng Yi is clamoring for his blood,

yet you sit here with your hands folded?

Your Highness truly misjudges me.

As his elder brother,

I have shouldered so much
for Yanlai since we were children.

The Xie Family has stood for a century.

I cannot let his reckless behavior

endanger the entire clan.

I want to save him more than anyone,

but now…

my hands are tied.

Tied?

Your acting now matches
your mastery of the game.

Shouldering for him, you say?

You are fully aware
that he never set fire to the Wei village.

Yet why did you allow this crime
to be placed upon him?

It was to use this as leverage

to restrain the most dangerous threat
within the Xie Family.

You know.

Regardless,

Xie Yanlai holding military power
is beneficial to the Xie Family.

I hope you will lend your support.

She has changed anyway.

Why are you still awake?

I don't want to sleep.

Every time I close my eyes, I think
of Mr. Deng's outburst in court today.

He says Uncle Yanlai should be killed,
but I do not want to kill him.

Rest assured.

Tomorrow in court,

I will make everyone realize
who is truly worthy of trust.

You have a plan?

You will see tomorrow. Go to sleep.

You have returned.

I have.

Have you found any clues?

I have uncovered some details
about the Wei Village incident,

but it involves many parties.

I need to conduct
a more thorough investigation.

Is it related to the incendiary
jar fragments you sent back?

You went back to Gaoyang
to investigate the Bloodburn Pill,

so how did it lead to the Wei Village?

I did not find the Bloodburn Pill
in the Xie Family's medicinal storage.

Instead, I discovered that Xie Yanfang
is using a type of medicine

to keep a child alive.

A child?

Xiang?

Although I have not found
where he is hidden,

I believe he is alive.

Xie Yanfang keeping him hidden

must have something to do
with that fire back then.

That incendiary jar fragment

clearly bore the caravan mark
of Xiaonan Prefecture.

The oil was definitely from there.

Yet, the mark left at the scene
belongs to the Cangmu Stronghold.

It's a blatant frame-up.

You mean someone wanted to use that fire
to force my mother out?

What secret

does the Cangmu Stronghold have
that requires such drastic measures?

It must be your mother's identity
as a Northern Desert general.

If someone intended to use that fire

to provoke an imperial investigation
into the Cangmu Stronghold,

your mother's identity
would certainly be exposed.

Your father would have been accused
of deceiving His Majesty

and stripped of his position.

This must be
the Northern Desert King's doing.

A scheme this interconnected
cannot be executed without an insider.

Xiao Xun left no loose ends.

I need concrete evidence.

Is there anything I can do?

Zhao,

this matter involves
far more than you know.

It touches on your mother
and your origins.

So you must do nothing.

Should you be discovered,
disaster will follow.

Zhao,

what happened at Wei Village
matters greatly to both of us.

I will get to the bottom of it,

but I will investigate with care
and ensure Xie Yanfang remains unaware.

Zhao,

I have heard about what happened at court.

If you truly insist on defending me,

Mr. Deng will certainly weaponize
my unauthorized absence against you,

and he might even force you
to step aside from governance.

But you earned your military merits.

I used to seek only to die
on the battlefield for a moment's glory,

but now, I only want to live long enough
to keep one person safe.

Who is that person?

General Xie, you might as well be clear.

Would you ever lie to me?

Never.

Zhao.

By the moon itself,

I never will.

My father wished you to take command
of the frontier troops.

Would you do it?

For you and the General,
there's nothing I wouldn't do.

But you must promise me
never again to put yourself in harm's way

to deal with Deng Yi alone.

Tomorrow at court,
I'll fight for it myself.

I petition again
for Liang Qiang's appointment.

It cannot be allowed.

Your Highness, your persistent meddling
in state affairs

is strictly prohibited
in the inner palace.

I implore you, Your Highness,

to withdraw
to the Grand Princess's Residence

and never again interfere
in affairs of state.

I, Xie Yanlai,

pay my respect to Your Majesty
and Your Highness.

DILIGENT AND VIRTUOUS

I pledge my life on my duty.

Within half a year… I shall claim
the Northern Desert King's head.

Should I fail,
let military law take its course.

Mr. Xie.

You would align yourself with him?

Since Yanlai has set his heart upon it…

I shall spare no effort in his aid.

Your Highness, please do not consent.

If the Northern Desert marches upon us,

the frontier will descend into turmoil.

We cannot risk another war.

Cowardice.

But if we take the King's head,

will it not be the time
to proclaim our might?

-We cannot go to war!
-We must.

NORTHERN RAIDERS INVADE. I BEG TO FIGHT.
IF FAIL IN SIX MONTHS, I SHALL BE PUNISHED

I grant it.

What?

General Xie is hereby ordered

to hold Yunzhong Prefecture
and assume the Guard General's Seal.