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 16]

Minjia.

Cangcang?

What brings you here?

Nothing much is happening in camp,

so I came out to stretch my legs.

Perfect timing.

I was just about to brush the horses.

Come on.

I'll help you.

I bet

you still have feelings for him.

If you truly didn't care,

you wouldn't sound so bitter.

You say you've moved on,

but you still hold grudges.

If you ask me,

your anger

comes from love.

Mr. Bai,

you're here too?

What a coincidence.

Are you both here to help me brush the horses?

Then come on,

let's do it together.

Stop hiding.

The more you hide, the more it shows you still care about him.

Her Highness sent me over

to grab two more brushes.

Understood.

I've long heard General Kumor

is the most respected general in Xijiang.

Now, I know the tales are true.

Of course.

Our general is the finest under heaven!

Ever since he joined the army,

he's gone on rounds every night,

rain or shine,

never missing a single day.

General Kumor

is the pride of Xijiang!

Here you are.

Thanks.

Cangcang,

why are you still here?

Didn't Preceptor Du take you away?

Preceptor Du?

She never meant

to take me with her.

And wasn't that what you ordered?

She had no intention of taking you?

Cangcang,

in your eyes,

am I really that kind of man?

In my eyes,

you only come to me when you want something.

That's who you are.

Who knows this time

what you're really after.

I'll find a way to get you out of here.

No need.

I have my own reasons for staying.

Don't trouble yourself.

The court is swamped with affairs.

Your Majesty should return soon.

Let's go.

Yes, General.

- The horses ran off! - Go after them!

So there was a mechanism.

Cangcang?

As expected.

It's me.

What are you doing here?

If I'm not mistaken,

we're here for the same thing.

There are mechanisms here.

I'll handle it.

[Military Deployment Map]

With war about to break out,

we must tighten our defenses.

If you see anyone suspicious,

report it at once.

Yes, General!

Take the map and go.

- I'll go out and draw him away. - No need!

All units on alert!

Take some men and come with me!

Yes, General!

That signal arrow just now

must've been fired

from the snowy peak a few li away.

It must be the signal for a sneak attack.

Ling Jueding just took a spin outside the city

without making any real move at all.

The enemy is clearly trying to throw us off.

What are they really up to?

The Military Deployment Map!

♪ Sleepless wind and frost ♪

♪ Stir awake ♪

♪ The last faint glow ♪

♪ You ask me ♪

♪ If I've lived out ♪

♪ The dreams of childhood ♪

♪ Who has passed this way ♪

♪ Burned bright in youth... ♪

If the map is gone,

Kumor will surely lock down the whole camp.

Then it won't be so easy

to get the map out.

♪ When our story... ♪

[Military Deployment Map]

♪ May tomorrow's homeland ♪

♪ Be awash in morning light ♪

[Patrols, Crossbowmen]

♪ When our story ♪

♪ Is sung again in spring... ♪

I'll find a way to get the map out.

So you really stayed for this.

Do you know how dangerous this is?

Leave the map to me.

I'll get it out.

No way!

It's already really dangerous for you here.

We can't risk you getting hurt!

So you are worried about me?

I don't care about you.

I just know

an empire can't go a day without its emperor.

Cangcang,

if one day,

I'm no longer here,

will you still hate me like this?

Don't jinx it.

Scoundrels live long.

You are not dying.

What if I really did?

If...

If you really died,

I wouldn't even visit your grave.

So you'd better stay alive for me.

Let go of me.

I promised

to deliver this map to Ling Jueding.

Once I get Kumor's Military Deployment Map,

I'll find a way

to leave it

in the woods three li outside the enemy camp.

There's a cluster of three stones.

You can send men there to check every day.

I will not fail Your Majesty's trust.

Once I have the map, I'll send out the troops at once

and wipe out Kumor's rebel forces in one strike.

No.

That's not the outcome I want.

Kumor's revolt this time

is entirely because of the snow disaster in Xijiang.

The people there can hardly survive

and had no choice but to rebel.

Which shows

Kumor is also a lord speaking up for his people.

So,

what you must do

is work with the Xiaoxing Guards

to end this war

with the least possible bloodshed.

I understand,

Your Majesty!

So you two had this planned all along.

That's right.

So that signal arrow just now

was also part of your secret coordination?

You could call it that,

and a bit of luck too.

Just how many things are you still keeping from me?

Ever since I got here,

you've barely even looked at me.

I didn't get the chance to say anything!

With your brains, Mr. Bai,

if you really wanted to tell me,

you'd have a hundred ways.

I'm afraid from the very start,

you never meant to tell me at all.

Good thing our ideas still line up.

Guess we're a bit on the same wavelength.

Who's on the same wavelength with you?

Cangcang!

Your Highness.

I've already turned in for the night!

My brother just said

Ling Jueding wants to launch a sneak attack

and told me to check on you.

Cangcang!

Cangcang, are you all right?

You...

you two...

Your Highness,

staring at us like that isn't exactly proper,

right?

So sorry!

I'll stop bothering you.

Get out.

Kuminjia just left.

If I walk out now,

won't that prove we were faking it?

If you ask me,

I should stay here a little longer.

Only then will people believe

our little act was real.

I'm only playing along like this

because of the situation.

Don't read anything into it.

Don't get the wrong idea.

What are you trying to say?

I'm saying

since there's no going back for us,

let's stop clinging to each other.

♪ Sky so vast... ♪

I'll help you get the map out.

Stay away from me after this.

♪ The wild geese cry long... ♪

If you want to stay here, then stay.

I'm leaving.

It's cold outside.

This is your tent.

I should be the one to go.

♪ 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 ♪

I'm saying

since there's no going back for us,

let's stop clinging to each other.

Mr. Bai,

why the long face?

Where's Cangcang?

Didn't you two get back together?

Get back together?

If only it were that easy.

You were fine just yesterday.

How come she doesn't like you again today?

It's my fault.

Cangcang once said

she wanted to visit Xijiang

for the most beautiful grasslands

and the most beautiful snow mountains.

She wanted to ride across them with me.

But I promised her

and never kept that promise.

When we brought it up last night,

she got mad at me.

Then just go.

What's so hard about that?

The General ordered

that we're not allowed to leave the camp.

We're in a truce right now.

What's the big deal?

You've got me anyway.

I'll go with you both!

Cangcang still holds it against me.

She won't agree.

Mr. Bai,

you really don't understand women at all.

Cangcang,

Mr. Bai and I are going hunting.

Do you want to come?

You're going out hunting?

Yeah.

Just the two of us.

This is actually the perfect chance to get the map out.

Cangcang,

don't you want to come with us?

You ride and shoot so well.

You're no less skilled than us grassland folk.

Well?

My hands are itching for a match anyway.

Dare to have a contest?

Contest in what?

Hunting, of course.

Whoever wins,

Mr. Bai has to wait on them tonight.

How about it?

Fine.

Very well.

Then tonight,

just let him wait on you.

Do you actually like him or not?

Last night, I saw you two...

sharing the same bed.

So do you really not care,

or are you jealous?

Who says I'm jealous?

What she means is,

alive or dead,

I'm hers all the same.

She'd never get jealous.

Hey...

When did I ever say that?

You want her to see right through us?

All right,

I'm just teasing you.

I don't need him waiting on me anyway.

Let's go!

With all these soldiers tailing us,

I have to shake them off

to get the map out.

Your Highness,

are we really just hunting like this?

Why?

Do you really want that contest?

Of course.

I need to prove myself to Cangcang.

You really are persistent.

Cangcang,

what do you think?

If we really do compete,

he might not even be a match for us.

All right.

In that case,

let's have ourselves a contest.

Mr. Bai,

if you win,

I'll be the witness to you two.

But if your skills fall short,

then from now on,

stop clinging to our heroine Cangcang.

Deal.

What are the rules?

Couldn't be simpler.

Within an hour,

whoever brings back more game

wins.

What about the hunting range?

Go wherever you like.

But if you're not back in an hour,

your catch won't count no matter how big it is.

All right.

Then let's begin!

Start the clock!

Cangcang's so nervous about the result.

Looks like she's really not into you.

You're doomed.

Your Highness,

we only just started.

Don't write me off so quickly.

What if I win?

All right.

I'll be waiting to see.

Lin Cangcang,

if you lose,

I'm going to set you up with Mr. Bai.

It's a bit early

to be calling it now.

Kumor,

what are you doing here?

I had some free time today.

I heard you were out hunting here,

so I came to take a look.

Where's Mr. Bai?

He...

I just saw him chasing after a young deer.

Guess he's really desperate to win.

The match isn't over yet, right?

Your Highness,

you've got five kills,

and Miss Lin has five as well.

Didn't expect you to be this good.

Now it all depends on Mr. Bai.

He still isn't back.

If Kumor discovers our plan...

Mr. Bai,

how did you do?

With an hour out there,

I'm sure you brought in quite a haul.

Here,

take a look.

With this much game,

Kumor won't suspect

he had time to do anything else.

Your riding and archery are impressive.

You have my respect.

Your Highness,

how exactly are you planning to help me?

No matter how she helps,

I'm not into you.

I'll go talk to her for you.

I didn't expect you

to be a real hunter.

You flatter me.

I had to give it my all

just to please Cangcang.

Ever heard the saying,

"Forced love never turns out sweet"?

Cangcang gave up on you long ago.

And have you ever heard,

"Sincerity can move

even stone"?

You really are stubborn.

You're just as stubborn as I am.

Mr. Bai,

what do you mean by that?

You refuse to pull your troops back.

Isn't that stubbornness too?

You're just a wandering swordsman,

yet you dare lecture me on war?

Aren't you afraid I'll start doubting who you really are?

All I'm saying is,

you're not a man who kills for pleasure.

Whether it's your soldiers

or the common folk,

you value

every life.

But if you insist on not withdrawing,

once you go to war with Great Qi,

many lives will be lost.

Since the status verification system was put in place,

generations of hard work from Xijiang folks

vanished overnight!

Then came a year of disaster,

with corpses of the starved all over the land.

You think I want to fight?

If my people could just live in peace,

who would choose to live by the blade?

War

is never the best choice.

For me, the best choice is letting my people

live better lives.

But war will

only make more innocent people die.

Have you ever considered

ending this peacefully?

The weak are meat for the strong.

Only the fittest survive.

Even if I were willing,

would that rotten emperor agree?

You won't know unless you try.

Bai Chifan,

you're undermining the troops' morale!

I wouldn't dare.

I just feel

if you truly put your people first,

then it's worth taking the long view.

During this time,

you must not use your inner force!

If the poison reaches your heart,

even I may be powerless to save you.

I've already lost so much time.

There's barely any left to hunt.

But if I come back empty-handed,

it will surely arouse suspicion.

It's only late autumn in the Central Plains,

but it's already winter out here.

Today's bitter cold

means a blizzard is coming.

Cangcang has to leave this place as soon as possible.

Eat up!

Fill it up!

Guys! The meat's here!

Hurry up!

Drink up!

Have a drink!

Another one!

Down it!

Drain it!

Here!

Pour it!

Mr. Bai!

Get over here!

Deputy General Zhang got us the best cuts of meat!

Have a drink!

Smells amazing!

Coming!

Fill it up!

Fill my cup!

Come on, have another piece!

Cheers!

Cheers!

Minjia,

sit here.

Okay.

Come for more when you're done!

This is mutton boiled in ice water.

It's how we grassland folk eat it.

Come and try.

How come there's suddenly so much mutton?

The General's supplies have arrived?

Should be.

No idea.

Whatever, let's eat!

General!

Deputy General Zhang,

I said

no one was to harass the common folk!

Why did you disobey my orders?

Spare us, General!

General,

Deputy General Zhang really had no choice.

Our supplies are almost gone.

The soldiers have been living on plain rice porridge for days.

If this keeps up,

before we even reach the walls,

our morale will be crushed!

Deputy General Zhang has defied orders.

Twenty lashes!

Let that be a warning!

Yes, General.

Men, hear my order!

The meat you're boiling right now

was all seized from the villagers!

Whatever you've eaten,

you'll pay back in full!

The rest

goes back exactly as it is!

Supplies are already on the way.

Starting tomorrow,

I'll send a small unit out

to hunt every day.

I give you my word:

I won't let any of you starve!

But from this day on,

if anyone dares bother the people again,

I will not let it slide!

Yes, General!

You want my poison?

Ying,

is there any way

to make some poison or powder

that will infect the locusts

but leave the flowers unharmed?

And the poison has to spread fast.

Spread to the Emperor?

No,

spread to other bugs.

So you want a poison or powder

that kills the insects

but not the flowers...

is that it?

Exactly!

You're really clever.

No.

I don't have anything like that.

It's fine.

I was just asking.

But I can try to mix something.

But Qianqing,

you have to promise me one thing.

Let's hear it first.

Relax.

This time,

I'm not after the Emperor's life.

Your Highness.

His Highness asked me to help you

with an experiment that will benefit the realm.

Let's begin.

At this time of year,

how are there still fireflies?

All these bugs

are dusted with my glowing powder.

Pretty, aren't they?

They are.

Do you like them?

Let's stay here and watch,

see how long it takes

before they all...

one by one...

one by one...

die out!

The three days are up.

Your Highness, please give the order at once

to release grain to Jiangzhou.

You truly live for the country.

You worry day and night over Jiangzhou.

Aren't you afraid you'll work yourself sick?

Easing Great Qi's troubles

is simply my duty.

As a subject of the realm,

I trust Your Highness feels the same.

Of course.

What did that memorial from Xuzhou

say again?

Ah yes, I remember.

It claimed the Governor of Xuzhou

had the disaster under control

and all was well.

Yet the reports I received say

the Xuzhou officials

neglected their duties

and the disaster is long out of hand!

If Your Highness has doubts,

you can send people to investigate.

But the army grain for Jiangzhou keeps being delayed.

If you ignore the lives of the border troops,

I'm afraid you cannot shrug off the blame.

So what you mean is

that we must settle the matter

of Jiangzhou's grain today?

We must.

Very well!

Bring ink and brush.

Eunuch Feng,

what's today's date?

Your Highness,

it is the ninth year of Yongxi...

All right.

I remember now.

Zhong Lin,

if you don't get back soon,

I'll lose this whole game.

Urgent dispatch from Xuzhou!

[Memorial from the Governor of Xuzhou]

[Locust plague has left the people starving and displaced.]

Mr. Song, you must be weary from the road.

Please, rise.

Thank you.

Your Highness,

the locust plague in Xuzhou is severe.

The prefecture office was slow to respond,

leaving the people without grain and refugees on the move.

Neighboring prefectures have already been affected.

Soon,

this tide of refugees

may even reach the Capital.

How dare he!

- Indeed. - That's deceiving the throne!

Just as I thought.

The Governor of Xuzhou is bold indeed

to lie in a report to the throne!

Someone took the chance

to collude with the Governor

to seal the city off for a time.

No one was allowed in or out,

hoping to grind Xuzhou down

into a dead city!

I have fulfilled my duty

and brought back the Governor's letter of confession.

[Memorial from the Governor of Xuzhou]

The proof is here.

Grand Tutor Ling,

do you have a plan to deal with this?

That brat Xiao Qianqing went behind my back,

and turned the tables on me in court.

He only did this to force my hand

into raising grain for him.

My Lord,

sacrificing the Governor of Xuzhou as a pawn

won't really hurt our foundations.

It's just that

the army grain for Jiangzhou...

It really can't be delayed any longer.

And the grain merchants?

None of them can raise grain on short notice?

No, My Lord.

Which one

complained the loudest about his troubles?

Mr. Wan of Wan's Rice Shop.

He claims he's taken a huge loss.

I see.

Fine.

You'll pay him a visit yourself

and bring Mr. Wan...

a little "comfort".

Yes, My Lord.

[Wan's Winery]

[Wan's Rice Shop]

Your Highness,

Grand Tutor Ling has secured grain this morning.

Together with the surplus in the national granary,

it's enough to cover Jiangzhou and Xuzhou's needs.

Forcing him to show his hand...

all my scheming was worth it.

By the way,

any news from Jiangzhou?

♪ 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 ♪