Original subtitles

♪ The white sail came too late ♪

♪ Where did he go? ♪

♪ Snow veils the mountains ♪

♪ Love endures beyond life and death ♪

♪ A black chess piece ♪

♪ Whose game did he stumble into? ♪

♪ All his life, there's no escape ♪

♪ In ten thousand years, what will still remain? ♪

♪ Will anyone still love with an unchanging heart? ♪

♪ I will remember ♪

♪ Those days long past ♪

♪ As the wind drifts with the white sail ♪

♪ Ten thousand years ago ♪

♪ Did you once walk this shore? ♪

♪ Why can't our bond be severed in this life? ♪

♪ I am lost yet willing ♪

♪ Still I love you with a steadfast heart ♪

♪ Until all things fade away ♪

♪ The stars will remember us ♪

[Love & Crown]

[Adapted from the novel "My Queen" by Xie Lounan]

[Episode 11]

The best effect of birth-control tea

lasts only three days.

So this is what you call keeping me safe?

Yes.

Well.

♪ Snow veils the mountains, love endures beyond life and death... ♪

Then it must be to go along

with His Majesty's wishes.

♪ All his life, there's no escape ♪

♪ Faint fireflies fade into late autumn ♪

♪ I am foolish, I believe, and I am still waiting for you ♪

♪ Where has the message in the bottle drifted to? ♪

♪ Who is reading this heart? ♪

♪ In ten thousand years, what will still remain? ♪

♪ Will anyone still love with an unchanging heart? ♪

♪ I will remember those days long past ♪

♪ As the wind drifts with the white sail ♪

♪ Ten thousand years ago, did you once walk this shore? ♪

♪ Why can't our bond be severed in this life? ♪

♪ I am lost yet willing, still I love you with a steadfast heart ♪

♪ Until all things fade away... ♪

Why?

If you truly wish to ask me,

then I shall tell you.

I cannot have

a child of the Ling bloodline.

Liar.

♪ The silent tide ♪

♪ Carries away every answer ♪

♪ The chessboard is etched with rust... ♪

Liar!

♪ Never once gave up... ♪

Which words of yours are true, and which are false?

♪ A fate of ten thousand years all our love and wrongs... ♪

You push me away ten paces,

then pull me back again.

Do you truly find this amusing?

♪ The stars will remember us ♪

[Wuying Hall]

Your Majesty.

You may return.

There is no need to administer the needles today.

Why does Your Majesty not tell Her Majesty the truth?

Why not tell her

what manner of cruel man her father is?

Ling Xuefeng has always showered her with affection.

How could she possibly accept such a truth?

Must all of this

fall upon Your Majesty alone?

I am used to it.

Your Majesty has grown used to Her Majesty's many misunderstandings.

So used, even,

that you would give up the life-saving cure.

Is this the sincerity Your Majesty speaks of?

Regarding the Frost Reed,

I hope the Imperial Preceptor will never mention it again,

especially before the Empress.

If I discover

that you defy my will,

do not blame me for showing no mercy.

Yes,

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Song Lanxi, the lady-in-waiting, seeks an audience.

Miss Ling.

It is me.

Zhong Lin.

What...

What has happened?

It truly is you.

So much has happened in so little time.

I told you that Bai Chifan

was never anything good.

Cangcang.

Why don't we return to Southern Chu?

We can restore Fenglai Pavilion.

Restore Fenglai Pavilion...

Can I still become the Ling Cangcang I once was?

Of course you can.

Why wouldn't you?

You are the famed heroine everyone speaks of.

Xiao Qianqing...

Would he even let you go?

Why should I care?

He certainly can't stop me.

I cannot leave yet.

There is something I must do.

What is it?

You said His Majesty gave Her Majesty birth-control tea?

Yes.

Rumors are already spreading in the palace.

They say...

They say what?

They say His Majesty

does not want the Empress to bear a child of the Ling bloodline.

Xiao Huan is out of his mind!

Father.

If this continues,

Cangcang will be doomed sooner or later.

She will not.

A man at death's door

is hardly worth fearing.

Xianxue.

Contact Cangcang at once.

She must be heartbroken right now.

This is our best chance

to obtain the Moon-Eclipse.

Yes, Father.

[Brush and Ink]

Wait.

Xianxue.

I know you worry for Cangcang.

As her father, so do I.

If you wish to truly protect her,

then you must first

become stronger.

Master.

No...

Your Majesty.

What troubles you?

Another nightmare?

It is nothing.

Your Majesty's health has only just improved.

You are still vulnerable to outside chills.

You have stayed inside the chambers for days.

You should at least go out and take in some sunlight.

Well.

[Wuying Hall]

Your Majesty.

I have already done as ordered

and deliberately leaked the news to Grand Tutor Ling.

May he restrain himself,

and cease using Cangcang again.

But I have just learned

that Her Majesty has left the palace

and headed toward the hot-spring palace residence.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

We greet Your Majesty.

[Lingquan Palace]

Your Majesty is not in a rush to depart, right?

If not,

I would like to accompany Your Majesty in a game of chess.

Would that be agreeable?

My chess skills

were all taught by the Grand Tutor.

Today, Grand Tutor may judge for yourself

whether I have improved.

In recent days,

I heard a curious tale.

It is said that the magistrate of Mixian

tried a peculiar case.

Two women,

both claiming a single infant.

Each insisting the child was her own.

Your Majesty.

If this case were left to you,

how would you judge it?

Let the two women

each take one of the child's hands.

The infant is frail

and cannot endure such struggle.

To keep the child unharmed,

the one who lets go first

must be the true mother.

Your Majesty is indeed wise.

Victory and defeat lie between a single thought.

Because she could not bear it,

she chose to let go.

But whether that is victory or defeat,

in truth,

it is difficult to say.

Your Majesty grew careless.

Your teachings,

I have taken to heart.

I also remember

Grand Tutor once taught me...

Pride must not rise,

the heart must not overflow.

As for where the blossoms fall,

nothing is certain yet.

Your Majesty is indeed

the finest student I have ever taught.

This strike, sharp and decisive,

is fine play.

It is Grand Tutor's teachings that were fine.

But Grand Tutor need not worry.

In me,

there will never be a woman's softness.

- Hongqing. - Yes.

Grand Tutor is weary.

Escort him to the side hall to rest for the night.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Have you decided?

Will you truly retrieve the Moon-Eclipse?

You are right.

Only if the Moon-Eclipse is in my hands

will it be safest.

I must destroy it myself.

Only then can I ensure it never harms the world again.

Master...

You wished for this as well,

did you not?

Cangcang!

Cangcang, are you all right?

We must leave first.

We will destroy the Moon-Eclipse later.

Go.

Your Majesty.

The assassin who threatened the Empress has been seized.

This was found on his person.

He did not threaten me.

I summoned him.

Are you certain

you have not been deceived by this thief?

The one who deceived me...

Was it not you?

Your Majesty speaks the sweetest words,

yet does the things that hurt me most.

I was a fool.

Time and again I let you deceive me,

and still believed you.

Cangcang.

I warned you long ago.

You should never trust him.

Take him away.

Yes.

I told you the fault is not his.

This matter has nothing to do with him.

The fault lies with me.

The one who deceived me...

Was it not you?

Your Majesty speaks the sweetest words,

yet does the things that wound me.

I was a fool.

Time and again I let you deceive me,

and still believed you.

What brings you here?

I heard

one must not drink while soaking in the hot spring.

If you have something to say,

you may speak plainly.

If one drinks this wine,

it will make one

lose all sense and restraint

and lose all control.

For Luo Xianxue,

you dare tease me?

It is from the heart.

Very well.

Just now,

did you not say it was from the heart?

Let him go.

Let him go?

I wish nothing more than to have him torn apart.

Yet you ask me to spare him?

Then let me hate you.

For Luo Xianxue,

you truly dare to do anything.

I will not kill you.

After all,

I cannot let the Ling clan

follow me to the grave.

[Emperor's Seal]

Peace to Your Majesty.

Open the door.

Yes.

Luo.

Cangcang.

Release him.

Without His Majesty's order,

I dare not.

This is His Majesty's order.

Yes.

Cangcang.

Luo, go now.

Do not return.

You are not leaving?

Let us leave together.

I cannot leave.

Nor can I go.

But you are releasing a major criminal.

He will not spare you easily.

I promised to keep you safe,

so I must do so.

As for me,

you need not worry.

I have my own way.

There is no time. Go.

[Lingquan Palace]

Please punish me, Your Majesty.

Good.

Very good.

I defied Your Majesty's decree.

I ask for punishment.

My empress,

you have nothing to explain?

Nothing.

The Empress has failed in virtue.

Return to the palace and remain confined for three days.

Kneel and copy the scriptures in repentance.

I accept the decree.

And give thanks for the grace.

Do you think

I will spare Luo Xianxue?

♪ Sky so vast ♪

♪ The fading dusk sinks into the river ♪

♪ The wild geese cry long ♪

♪ Tonight my homeland feels as distant as a foreign shore ♪

♪ Snow so white ♪

♪ Bare branches haunt the empty lanes ♪

♪ Half the city in rain half in ruin ♪

♪ Only the dying sun sinks to the western frontier ♪

♪ The azure battle flag ♪

♪ Burning through the war flames for you ♪

♪ Honouring the fallen of our land ♪

♪ Looking back across the ends of the earth ♪

♪ Countless loyal spirits drift with no place to return ♪

♪ The ancient chronicles stand vast and cold ♪

♪ Etching only a half lost chapter ♪

♪ Buried beneath the drifting sand ♪

♪ Each word strikes with solemn weight ♪

♪ Let love and hate both fade away ♪

♪ The dragon patterned sword breaks ♪

♪ Still faintly warm with blood ♪

♪ A few strokes of history's ink ♪

♪ Bury the boy I once was ♪

♪ Who lifts a rusted half broken arrow ♪

♪ And knows it once belonged to yesterday ♪

♪ Shot at the moonlight? ♪

♪ Singing to the boundless sky ♪

♪ As tears fall in countless lines ♪

[Xijiang]

[Qi]

Soldiers, hear my command!

Swear to defend Great Qi with your lives!

[Ling Jueding, Governor of Jiangzhou] Swear to guard the border to the last!

In the ninth year of Yongxi,

Kumor, Prince of Xijiang,

resented the census decree,

and marched to besiege Jiangzhou.

Ling Jueding, Governor of Jiangzhou,

led the troops in defense,

and repelled the foe again and again.

But Kumor's advance was relentless.

Jiangzhou was in peril.

Governor Ling Jueding reports,

Kumor rejects the census decree,

and has surrounded Jiangzhou.

Jiangzhou is in danger.

My ministers,

what counsel have you?

Your Majesty.

Kumor harbors ill intent.

Jiangzhou lies barely a thousand li from the Capital.

If left unchecked,

the danger may reach the Capital itself.

So I propose

Your Majesty dispatch troops to aid Jiangzhou.

I disagree.

A report came from Xuzhou yesterday.

The locust plague has not yet passed.

The autumn harvest in Xuzhou has already suffered greatly.

In my view,

the plague must be

our foremost concern at present.

What does this have to do with aiding Jiangzhou?

Before the troops set out,

provisions must be prepared.

I once reviewed the state granaries

with Minister Xing regarding the disaster relief.

Minister Xing knows this matter best.

Your Majesty,

as for the stored grain,

we have less than eight hundred thousand dan left.

If we reinforce Jiangzhou,

Xuzhou's relief may have to be delayed.

If Your Majesty sends troops to Jiangzhou,

the Capital's guards must be mobilized.

Xuzhou is barely a thousand li away.

If the people there cannot be appeased,

and unrest follows,

the Capital will be left vulnerable.

Grand Tutor Ling,

what say you?

In my view,

Your Majesty should send aid,

and reinforce Jiangzhou.

And what of Xuzhou?

Xuzhou holds but disaster victims.

But Jiangzhou

is the land of Great Qi.

General Ling Jueding

won fame from youth,

commanding the entire Western Garrison.

To defend Jiangzhou

is hardly beyond him.

General Ling guards Jiangzhou for Your Majesty,

loyal and steadfast.

Grand Tutor Ling,

what are you implying?

No one trusts General Ling

more than I do.

Else why would the command tally

rest in his hands to this day?

Would you not agree, Grand Tutor Ling?

Indeed,

Your Majesty.

Xuzhou is in crisis.

I cannot ignore it.

Yet Jiangzhou must be held.

Otherwise,

even General Ling's life would not absolve him.

This matter is difficult.

I shall ponder it for two more days.

We await Your Majesty's decree.

The Imperial Preceptor says

Your Majesty is gravely ill and must rest.

No one may enter.

Commander Li.

You've no idea how chaotic it is outside.

One group after another is demanding entry.

I can't hold them off.

They're either imperial kin,

or high ministers of court.

Not a single one I dare offend.

You mustn't offend any of them.

So the one you can offend is me?

Your Majesty,

I would never dare.

Then hurry back out and face them.

I...

Well.

So Your Majesty claims illness

only to hide here in Nanrong Palace for peace and quiet.

Are you saying

that I'm not ill?

Your Majesty is ill indeed.

Then Your Majesty must rest

as a sick man should,

and not burden your mind.

Though Your Majesty is here,

the thoughts

are still in turmoil.

This does no good for Your Majesty's ailment.

This is a critical time.

I cannot relax for a moment.

I must save Jiangzhou's soldiers and people.

Yet I cannot abandon the people of Xuzhou either.

Behind Ling Xuefeng,

stands an entire host of noble clans.

I know this all too well.

If I don't force his hand,

he'll surely abandon Xuzhou

to protect Jiangzhou.

I

Must take this gamble with him.

His Majesty has feigned illness and hidden in Nanrong Palace.

I expected it.

Why aren't you peeling the grapes?

These mare-milk grapes must be eaten with the skin

to keep their crispness.

I'll take the rest with me.

You've only just sat down and already you're leaving.

Didn't I report everything to you earlier?

I strongly opposed sending troops in court.

His Majesty seemed inclined to agree.

That Ling Xuefeng looked quite distressed.

Ling Jueding holds the military power.

If he loses his standing in this campaign,

Ling Xuefeng will be as if cut from his right arm.

Naturally His Majesty will be pleased.

So you think

His Majesty would abandon Jiangzhou?

What is it?

You don't think so?

Mother,

what are you imagining?

If Jiangzhou falls,

who could bear such infamy for all time?

Ling Jueding has guarded Jiangzhou for years.

There is no one who knows that land better.

His Majesty would never strip him of command at such a time.

Then why stage all of this?

The people of Xuzhou are people all the same.

What did you say?

Nothing.

Mother is wise.

I shall take my leave.

Is

The Empress's confinement not yet lifted?

Yes.

With Jiangzhou in peril,

as the older sister of Young General Ling,

how could she not know?

And if she knew His Majesty refused to send reinforcements,

what would she think then?

Your Majesty,

Aunt Chan has arrived.

Your Majesty is confined and copying sutras.

It must drain your spirit.

The Empress Dowager pities you,

so Her Majesty prepared medicinal dishes

and sent me to deliver them.

Thank the Empress Dowager for her kindness.

I must continue copying.

Aunt Chan may go.

Perhaps Your Majesty hasn't heard.

Something has happened in Jiangzhou.

What did you say?

[Nanrong Palace]

Move aside.

I must see His Majesty.

Your Majesty!

I know you're inside!

Come out!

Your Majesty!

Why will you not send aid to Jiangzhou?

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

It seems the Empress

already knows of Jiangzhou.

Since Your Majesty has chosen this political gamble,

you must lay down your stake.

Your Majesty,

you must not soften because of the Empress.

What lies between me and the Empress

needs no comment from you.

Did the Grand Tutor

send you to seek me out?

My father?

What has this to do with him?

I came on my own.

It has nothing to do with my father.

My father would never use me as you do.

I was just about to leave the palace.

Come with me.

Come out!

Luo?

You managed to find this place.

I told you

that I would never spare you.

If you want to kill him, kill me first.

Cangcang.

You are my empress.

Why would I kill you?

Cangcang.

You sought me out today

to urge me to send troops to Jiangzhou

and save your brother, Ling Jueding.

Yet now

you risk your life to protect Luo Xianxue.

My dear,

you certainly care for many people.

I am the only one you never hold in your heart.

I once held you in mine.

How did you treat me then?

We truly cannot go back?

From the very beginning,

there was only deceit between us.

In that case,

if you kill Luo Xianxue with your own hand,

I may consider sending aid to Jiangzhou.

You're mad.

If you will not strike,

I can do it for you.

Do you mean to save Luo Xianxue,

or your brother, Ling Jueding?

Xiao Huan!

You are a sovereign.

How can you trifle with lives?

Yet you force me to send troops without heed.

Is that not also

treating other lives

as trifles?

Jiangzhou and Xuzhou

are both part of my realm.

The Grand Tutor forces me to choose,

so I shall show him

the weight of that choice.

♪ Who walks lone through storm and snow ♪

♪ Reading every warmth and chill ♪

♪ Of the heart? ♪

♪ Who stands proud against a thousand weights ♪

♪ Grace only a mask he wears? ♪

♪ My blade sweeps the heavens ♪

♪ Blood once drenched ♪

♪ My armor and charging steed ♪

♪ I know what it means to let go ♪

♪ When to step in, when to hold back ♪

♪ A broken blade cuts through ♪

♪ Years of winter and summer ♪

♪ Enemy flags burn to ash like gauze ♪

♪ Yet my heart still bears the scars of rise and fall ♪

♪ I'm willing to wield my sword with you and burn the waning moon ♪

♪ I'm willing to brave all storms with you, boiling with passion ♪

♪ I'm willing to break my wings and become the blade in your hand ♪

♪ I'm willing to write with you this torn, enduring page of history ♪

♪ I'm willing to travel thousands of miles, seeking your ambition ♪

♪ I'm willing to give my life to keep you safe for a lifetime ♪

♪ I'm willing to sing through every farewell and wait for you another thousand years ♪

♪ I'm willing to live and die with you, my one and only wish in this lifetime ♪