Original subtitles

(Respect copyright)

♪Memories hold you back from fulfilling your dreams♪

♪Only by moving forward can you find reunion♪

♪Endings only mark new routes♪

♪It's all part of the scenery♪

♪To the horizon's call♪

♪Your journey hasn't started♪

♪Towards mountains, chase the stars bright♪

♪Let time embrace you and wash away the past♪

♪Put every twist behind you♪

♪Drift leisurely through time♪

♪Make headway against the wind♪

♪Let mountains bow to your pace♪

♪Rush towards a life without regret♪

♪Let your nature burst free♪

=The First Jasmine=

=Episode 38=

Someone!

Help!

Your Majesty!

What's wrong, Your Majesty?

Someone!

Your Majesty!

Your Highness,

there's noise from the Empress Dowager's chamber.

Someone!

Hurry up!

Get out, you wretched creature!

Drive it over there!

Get out!

Move aside!

Move now!

Get it out!

Get it out!

Hurry!

Thank you, Princess Ding.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

that creature came out of nowhere

and startled you.

I've sent people to inspect every opening in the palace,

and I've doubled the night patrols.

It shall never happen again.

Alright.

The weather turns warm.

It just strayed in.

You may leave.

Yes.

Have a seat.

When I was young,

I experienced a terrible drought.

The court imposed heavy taxes at that time,

taking away the last of the grain seeds needed for survival.

The people had nothing to eat.

The grass roots and tree bark were long gone.

Everything that could be eaten,

be it birds, beasts,

snakes, or bugs,

was taken too.

I have heard

since His Majesty ascended,

with your help in governance,

the court decreed the Disaster Year Tax Reduction.

When disaster hits, relief comes first

with taxes cut and granaries opened.

Countless have been saved.

Your governance speaks of true virtue.

I often think to myself,

although the drought that year was a natural disaster,

the dead were piled up everywhere.

Wasn't it also a man-made calamity?

Farmers toil all year round,

but they can't feed themselves.

They pay their taxes

but receive no protection in times of disaster.

Where exactly does the crux

of all these problems lie?

You perceive clearly.

The people's misery

comes not just from nature's whims

but more from deep-seated systemic flaws

and official corruption.

You reformed the tax system,

purged corrupt officials,

and initiated waterworks,

a true service to the people.

However,

even the greatest merits

cannot outweigh innocent deaths

and lifelong grief.

Merits and faults are distinct.

The justice in this world

has never been simply weighing merits against faults.

A few days ago,

Duke Hua entered the palace

and asked me if the Lishan tragedy

was my doing.

Don't tell me

you think the same way.

The people of Lishan

did die of an acute illness.

They also died by their own obsessions.

However, the three-year blockade

lacking in food and medicine

is also a fact.

Are you blaming me?

Everyone has their own path.

The same was true for Lishan.

Once the path was chosen,

they had to bear its consequences.

You should know

that your mother was my dearest friend,

and Master Qingyun

was my honored master.

After leaving Lishan,

I was full of fervent hope,

desiring to cleanse the murky world.

But

as vast as the world was,

where was the sky for a woman to spread her wings?

With no path for me in the court,

I entered the palace directly,

determined to carve out

a path of transformation here at the summit of power.

You have lofty ambition.

I deeply admire.

Transformation indeed requires great courage.

Yet between gain and loss,

the scales are not easily balanced.

What do you think I have lost?

Only your heart can answer that.

My grandfather said

that every single thing one does

and every step one takes in life

has its own gain and loss.

Before Master Qingyun passed away,

did he leave any final words?

My grandfather fell ill too suddenly,

leaving no last words.

But I remember,

during a Mid-Autumn Festival,

after my grandfather had some wine,

he was pacing beneath the moonlight,

reciting two lines of poetry:

"May the moonlight reach every corner,

so all may live in brightness and peace."

Was it the poem I wrote in my youth?

Yes.

My grandfather once said

the poem is bold in vision

and deep in compassion,

a fine piece indeed.

But he also said

that the highest truths are easier to know than to follow.

Just like the moon hangs high

and shines upon all,

yet across the vast land,

every hill has its own shadow.

If one's original intention cannot be consistently upheld,

the spirit in the poem

will be no more than a castle on paper

or the moon in a pond.

Your Highness,

Li Duo has ended his own life.

Early in the battle,

Mo Jingli fled with his elite troops.

If they go into hiding like this,

I am afraid we won't find them soon.

He won't hide like this forever.

Pass my order! Make sure to find him!

Yes!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

A great victory!

A victory at Luoxia Pass!

Prince Ding set an ambush at Jueyun Brook,

wiping out Mo Jingli's main rebel force.

Mo Jingli is on the run.

They are currently pursuing him.

How many men do we have left?

Your Highness,

we've only got about 300 to 400 elite men with us.

However,

quite a few of our troops are scattered.

If we can rally them all,

our numbers can be larger.

Your Highness,

Prince Ding has captured many of our men.

He's still leading a massive manhunt.

Secret scouts report

that their search perimeter is closing in on this area.

I am afraid...

Search for our remaining men.

Get ready to move.

- Yes. - Yes.

Your Highness, right over there.

Are you alright?

The conditions are crude.

Just

have a bite.

Your Highness,

the taro is really delicious.

You should try some too.

You eat it.

I have more here.

One summer,

the weather was really hot.

Father took us out to play.

Ye Li and I planned to go to the lake to pick lotus roots.

There were huge red carp in the lake.

Both of us scrambled to see them.

The boat was rocking violently.

I accidentally bumped into her.

And she actually

fell into the lake with a splash.

She stubbornly insisted that I apologize.

I refused.

I didn't do it on purpose.

She was just floating on the water like a duck.

She swam and swam.

In the end, she swam ashore by herself.

After we got back, she caught a cold

and sneezed for a very long time.

Why are you telling me this?

I am not smart,

and I'm not good with words.

I thought about it.

In all the time I have been with Your Highness,

it seems like only when I talk about that thing

does Your Highness seem a little happier.

(Do you remember things)

(from your childhood?)

I recall one incident.

One year,

we spent months together in Hangzhou.

The weather was quite hot.

(We decided to charter a boat)

(to pick lotus roots in the lake.)

Enormous red carp swam beneath!

Like this big!

Both Ye Li and I leaned over to see,

but the boat rocked violently.

I accidentally bumped into her,

(and she tumbled right into the lake.)

(Such a ridiculous sight.)

(She bobbed like a duck on the surface.)

(She persistently)

(demanded an apology, though.)

(Guess what happened next?)

She caught a chill afterwards,

sneezing endlessly.

Your Highness,

to see you again

is wonderful.

Didn't you say it'd just be a few days?

Why were you delayed for so long?

Her Majesty kept me for a few more days.

Is everything alright at home?

Yes.

Everything is well.

You're back safe. That's all that matters.

Steward Cui, go prepare lunch.

Yes.

Your complexion looks quite good.

Indeed, it does.

The palace is nurturing.

I even feel like I have gained a little weight.

Aunt, now that you're back, you're staying, right?

I can't say for sure.

Your Highness, you're back.

Li,

you have no idea.

These past few days,

the palace rewards have been non-stop.

It's because Xiuyao

won another big victory on the battlefield.

His Majesty was extremely pleased.

These days, the palace

hasn't stopped sending rewards.

Look at your room. It can barely hold any more.

Steward Cui is having everything catalogued.

Look,

they can barely keep up.

And look at that fabric.

It is truly dazzling.

Wash up first, and we will have lunch soon.

Right,

I put the letter from Yao for you here.

Thank you, Ms. Wen.

Wuyou,

let's go.

(Li,)

(read this as if we met.)

(Your letter reached me.)

(Reading it over)

(eases my heart somewhat.)

(The frontier is bitter,)

(especially so lately.)

(A few days ago, a light sleet fell.)

(Though not a chi deep,)

(the roads became muddy, making travel difficult)

(and adding to our troubles)

(amid the ceaseless march.)

(I wonder how the climate is in the capital)

(and how your health is.)

(Two days past, we chased rebels to Cang Ridge,)

(and I chanced upon a strange fruit.)

(It was blood crimson)

(and glistened brilliantly.)

(Jin picked it and ate it.)

(Its taste was peculiar,)

(a mix of sourness and astringency with an earthy flavor.)

(Upon asking the local elders,)

(they said this fruit is called 'Red Pearl,')

(and they brew wine with it.)

(Thinking of your curious nature,)

(you might wish to taste it.)

(I ordered Jin to get two jars of it.)

(Once the dust settles,)

(I will have a swift horse deliver it to the capital.)

(Li,)

(being away too long,)

(my longing for you)

(deepens daily.)

(My feelings for you)

(are deeper than ever.)

(Please take care.)

(Please do.)

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Please rise, Duke.

Alright.

Duke,

I overheard your conversation

with my mother that day.

These past few days,

I haven't slept a single peaceful night.

I repeatedly question myself

whether I'm worthy or not.

Your Majesty,

past matters,

whatever twists and darkness they may hide,

all old wounds and festering sores.

What our country needs now

is not for Your Majesty to dwell on the past,

repeatedly seeking answers and feeling guilt.

The state

cannot withstand another upheaval.

Please sit, Duke.

Alright.

But Duke,

if I am truly incompetent

and ultimately unfit to be a ruler,

then even with remorse,

it benefits none.

I am so muddled and incompetent.

I listened to Li Duo's slander,

causing the military authority at Suixue Pass to be lost.

I even repeatedly suspected Prince Ding,

chilling the hearts of the loyal and the able.

That Your Majesty can speak these words

actually makes me

feel suddenly gratified.

This shows

that Your Majesty has a scale in your heart,

weighing the gravity of the state

and measuring

the gains and losses of a ruler's virtue.

Gains and losses?

But I only see loss, not gain.

I lost a strategic pass

and the trust of my army.

Even more, I lost the clear judgment

a ruler should possess.

Your Majesty,

do you know

that when the late emperor first took the throne,

he also misjudged the situation at the border,

resulting in the loss of three cities?

At that time, the late emperor,

just as Your Majesty is now,

confined himself to the inner palace

and missed court for three days.

My father...

Indeed.

The late Empress Dowager

asked the late emperor one question:

"Would Your Majesty rather spend three days here in self-reproach

or

spend thirty years governing diligently,

in exchange for a peaceful and tranquil realm?"

Your Majesty,

just now,

you asked

whether you were worthy.

I will answer you frankly.

That Your Majesty is here today,

worrying for your ministers,

feeling guilt towards your officials,

and reflecting on your faults for the sake of the realm

is

the very foundation of being worthy.

Thank you, Duke.

Your Majesty.

I am young and inexperienced.

I still need the support of my elders.

I earnestly request that you stay by my side

to advise and guide me often

and help me stabilize the court.

What say you?

Your Majesty,

I

appreciate your trust and esteem.

However,

this old frame of mine

has been weary in both heart and strength.

I am afraid I can no longer bear the heavy burdens of the court.

Nowadays, there are many capable officials in the court.

People like valiant Prince Ding

and capable Gu Zheng

can all share Your Majesty's burdens.

What Your Majesty must do

is to use the wise and able

and gather collective wisdom

to overcome the difficult times together.

Your Highness,

look. Aren't they beautiful?

Where is this place?

I was in the carriage the entire way here.

I have almost lost all sense of direction.

This is Qingshi Township.

Qingshi Township?

I have never heard of it.

Just a small, remote border town.

Not many households here.

The land is not very fertile either.

In earlier years,

there was once a jade mine here.

It drew quite a lot of people.

Later,

the jade was nearly all mined out,

so it was abandoned.

Even the official roads and posthouse built at that time

have also

been abandoned by now.

How does Your Highness know all this so clearly?

Because this is

my mom's hometown.

She was born and raised here.

As she played the guqin well

and had some good looks,

she was sent into the palace

as a palace maid.

By chance,

she gained my father's favor

and gave birth to me.

She must have been a very wonderful woman.

Wonderful?

I actually

don't remember much.

She passed away when I was four years old.

I grew up in the Eastern Palace.

Although I was a prince,

even the lowliest servants

could humiliate me at will.

Later,

I thought of a way.

If I could become the disciple of a powerful

and renowned master,

and with him as my backing,

my days

might become easier to bear.

So,

I begged my father

to send me to Lishan to recuperate.

In reality,

I wanted to become Headmaster Xu's disciple.

But Headmaster Xu refused to accept me.

He was such a wise man.

He must have

seen through me at a single glance.

Fortunately,

I quickly found another way,

Li.

Li is Headmaster Xu's own granddaughter.

If I could marry her,

the entire Lishan

would stand behind me.

At that time, Li

was still a naive and innocent little girl.

With just a few small tricks,

I easily gained her trust.

She treated me very well,

so I wrote to my father

and requested the marriage.

At that time, my father

was in a life-and-death struggle with Guo Jin.

Presumably,

he also coveted the power of Lishan.

The marriage

was very easily arranged.

Li probably

still doesn't know all this to this day.

See?

I am just this kind of cold-hearted,

calculating person.

I calculated people's hearts,

calculated the benefits,

and calculated every move on the chessboard.

But I simply didn't calculate

that amidst all these schemes,

I lost my own heart.

I fell in love with her.

What I expected even less

was that my aloof and lofty father

would fall from power so early,

perishing in that towering inferno,

causing my entire game to fall apart.

I'm sorry

to let you hear all this,

adding to your pain.

No,

I am very glad

that Your Highness would share your heart with me.

You really are a silly girl.

You shouldn't have come to my side,

let alone

be dragged into the bottomless whirlpool.

I have never been good to you.

I am not a good person, either.

In the end,

I have brought you to this sorry state,

yet I can't compensate you at all.

No,

Your Highness has not harmed me.

It was my own choice.

I chose to follow Your Highness.

I don't want riches and titles.

Nor do I want grand mansions or other estates.

I only want to be with Your Highness forever.

From now on,

let us live here

in Your Highness's mom's hometown.

We can farm together

or run a small business together.

I have learned how to grow flowers.

We can tend a field of flowers together.

I'll always be by Your Highness's side.

Always.

Forever.

A person like me

was born to struggle against fate.

Once I set foot on this path,

there is no turning back.

Your Highness,

- don't make me leave. - My lady.

- Your Highness. - Don't go.

I'm begging you!

Let me go!

- Let me go! - My lady!

- What are you doing? - Your Highness!

Your Highness, don't go!

- Let me go! - Your Highness!

I am the one who let you down.

If fate allows it in the future,

we may perhaps meet again.

If our fate is truly exhausted,

then live the rest of your life well.

I don't want that, Your Highness.

Your Highness! Your Highness!

- Don't go, Your Highness! - My lady!

Your Highness, don't go!

- Let me go! - Let go!

- Your Highness! - Let go!

- Your Highness! - My lady!

Let go of me!

- Your Highness! - Let go!

Let go!

- Your Highness! - Let go now!

- Your Highness! - Let go!

- Let me go! - Let go!

- Your Highness! - My lady!

- My lady! - Your Highness!

My lady.

Her Majesty has arrived!

Yanqi.

I'm discussing state affairs.

Please return, Mother.

The hour is approaching.

I must go to court now.

State affairs are heavy.

Later,

I'll go pay you my respects.

Your Majesty,

Prince Ding's army has reclaimed Yunzhou and Shuozhou

and crushed the rebels.

They'll return in triumph soon.

This is the kind of victory we haven't had for a long time.

Prince Ding is valiant.

He is truly the pillar of the state.

Indeed.

Prince Ding has not failed the heavy trust of Your Majesty.

He's truly a blessing for the nation.

He hasn't disappointed my hopes.

He shall be rewarded.

Prince Ding, Mo Xiuyao, is hereby granted an honorary title.

His sister-in-law, Ms. Wen, is titled State Lady.

Mo Wuyou

is restored to the imperial clan and re-ennobled.

Princess Ding, Ye Li,

is titled First-Rank Princess

and bestowed 1,000 bolts of silk.

In five days,

from Danque Avenue to the Imperial Way at Chengtian Gate,

let there be performances and lanterns

to welcome Prince Ding's return.

- Your Majesty is wise. - Your Majesty is wise.

Everyone!

Fellow townsmen!

Today is not only a joyous day for our Prince Ding's Mansion

but also a joyous day for our country.

- Bravo! - Bravo!

Let us share the joy!

Hand out the candies.

Everyone, share the joy.

Come on, everyone, share the joy.

Come on.

Halt.

Show me the papers.

Alright.

Go on.

Yes.

Your Highness.

All set?

Your Highness,

fire oil has arrived in bulk,

and the kindling's ready too.

They are hidden and concealed.

What about the men we left in the capital?

They are all standing by.

In three days,

the lantern festival to welcome Prince Ding will begin.

And in four days,

Prince Ding will return.

We will act in three days.

Yes.

At that time,

the city's troops will surely be pulled to maintain order.

Once the city falls into chaos,

that will be the time for our operation.

Good.

In three days,

let's rise in the chaos, storm the imperial city,

and take the little emperor's life!

For the blood of the Eastern Palace,

justice must be served!

Looking to buy something, sir?

Is Ye Li here?

You are our shop owner's?

I was previously a clerk here.

A clerk?

She is not here.

We are closed. Please come back tomorrow.

My lady,

let's go.

(Shende Shop)

Yusheng.

Waiting long?

Are you hungry?

Let's go eat something.

Alright.

Red Fox, lead ten squads of guards

to set fires on the major streets of the capital.

Throw the entire city into chaos

within the shortest time possible.

Understood.

We have our own men at Changxing Gate.

They will poison the other guards tonight

and ensure Changxing Gate remains sealed shut tonight

to prevent the three battalions

from getting word of the fire and coming to the palace's aid.

At the stroke of midnight,

His Highness will lead the most loyal warriors

to storm the imperial palace together with us

and slay the wretched Empress Guo Jin and the child emperor, Mo Yanqi.

Win or lose, rise or fall,

all rests on this one move.

We may not see tomorrow's sunrise.

None of us may survive.

But we will use their lives

to avenge my father and brother

and honor the loyal souls of the Eastern Palace.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Can't you just not go?

Just take Her Highness and leave.

Find some place where no one knows you

and live a peaceful life.

Or...

or if you don't like Her Highness,

just leave on your own.

The world is vast. There's always a place for you.

Whether you are an emperor,

a prince,

or just a commoner,

you will always be my lord.

I just want you to live well.

I'm begging you.

Qingbao,

let go of me.

Don't try to stop me.

I haven't lived like a man.

At least when I die,

I can die as a man.

Then let me stay with Your Highness.

On the road to death,

I can still hold a lantern for you.

Silly Qingbao,

you have to live to collect my body.

And also,

remember to find that little girl.

She won't survive

on her own.

Take care of her for me,

will you?

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Bravo!

Mom, come here.

There's a fire-breather!

Hurry!

Be careful.

Stay away from the fire.

They are so amazing.

- Bravo! - Bravo!

- Bravo! - Bravo!

- Bravo! - Bravo!

Amazing!

This lantern festival

is truly unprecedented in its grandeur.

It's wonderful.

The last time it was so lively

was in the first year of Jinghe, when Huaixi was pacified

and the late emperor granted amnesty

and held a lantern festival to welcome Heiyun Cavalry back.

If only

Xiuwen could see this day...

Ms. Wen.

Let's not talk about it.

This should be a happy day.

- Bravo! - Bravo!

Indeed.

If only they could see it.

Fire!

Move aside!

- Move aside! - Make way!

Fire over there!

Fire!

Run!

- Bravo! - Bravo!

Let's go.

Truly amazing.

Fire!

Don't go there!

Fire!

Take Ms. Wen and Wuyou back to the mansion.

Aren't you coming with us?

I'll go see what's happening.

Don't worry, Ms. Wen.

I have shadow guards.

Then you must be careful.

Go ahead.

Fire!

Fire!

Fire!

Fire!

(Preview)

Do you want to be emperor that badly?

So many people have died in the city

and the streets run red.

Are you, who treat the people as weeds,

fit to rule the realm?

Li.

Run!

At this point,

nothing and no one in this world can stop me.

Not

even you!

Order the vanguard

to enter the city.

♪Memories hold you back from fulfilling your dreams♪

♪Only by moving forward can you find reunion♪

♪Endings only mark new routes♪

♪It's all part of the scenery♪

♪To the horizon's call♪

♪Your journey hasn't started♪

♪Towards mountains, chase the stars bright♪

♪Both joy and grief make the trip worthwhile♪

♪Trying to catch up to your own lost shadow♪

♪Within the wilds, echoes thrive♪

♪Clear mind leads to a clear path♪

♪Be grateful to your losses♪

♪Make your steps weightless♪

♪Towards mountains, chase the stars bright♪

♪Let time embrace you and wash away the past♪

♪Put every twist behind you, drift leisurely through time♪

♪Make headway against the wind, let mountains bow to your pace♪

♪Rush towards a life without regret♪

♪Let your nature burst free♪

♪Unbound by form♪

♪Let your nature burst free♪

♪Unbound by form♪