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 22]

I love your baked pears the most.

Your mother made them better.

I can never get them to taste like hers.

That's not true.

I like your pears

better than anyone's.

Oh, yes.

Jueding sent a letter.

He mentioned your trip to Jiangzhou.

That journey

must've been hard on you.

Not at all.

I promised you and Mother

I'd look after Jueding

and make sure nothing happens to him.

Good.

Very good.

By the way,

the day after tomorrow is your mother's death anniversary.

Come home and pay your respects.

All right.

Since Your Majesty plans to return home,

there will be many things to prepare.

This old minister

will take his leave now.

Father...

the pears aren't done yet.

I'll bake some for you next time.

Father...

[Ling Manor]

[Writing]

My Lord.

Young Master Xianxue has returned.

Where is he?

He found out

that we poisoned the Young Lady.

I love your baked pears the most.

Father...

the pears aren't done yet.

It seems...

they already know the truth.

My Lord,

then won't he

be a danger to us?

He knows too much.

Kill him!

Your Majesty!

Who's there?

My own empress can't even recognize me?

If I really hadn't recognized you,

I would've started swinging at you already.

Why are you practicing swordplay blindfolded?

With my eyes covered,

I can sense the shifts in the air around me,

and my sword work can improve.

You're working this hard

because you're afraid I can't protect you?

Don't say that.

I'm the proud leader of Fenglai Pavilion.

When it really counts,

I can protect you too!

You're right, Leader Ling.

My apologies.

Since...

you're easy on the eyes,

I'll let you off.

Is my empress flirting with me?

Can't I?

You can.

The day after tomorrow

is your mother's death anniversary.

I can go back with you.

I think...

I'd better go alone.

There are things I have to face on my own.

I can't keep running away.

Don't worry.

I'll take good care of myself.

All right then.

[Ling Manor]

Cangcang,

you're back.

Father.

I didn't see you just now,

so I came to look for you in your study.

The crack on this inkstone reminds me of the past.

When I was little,

I knocked it over by accident.

I was scared to death,

since

it was your favorite inkstone.

Back then,

your mother risked her life to shield you

and spared you a beating.

I never thought

you still remembered that.

Of course I do.

Your mother said,

"It's just a crack.

It still works fine."

I never thought

I'd keep using it all these years

and still not throw it away.

Father,

let's go visit Mother.

All right.

Every year,

you set out her favorite green plum wine

for Mother.

That's right.

Your mother loved her wine.

Whenever she got tipsy, she'd dance with her sword.

I can never forget...

[Spirit tablet of the late Lady Shen of the Ling clan]

how she danced

with her sword beneath the plum tree.

Every little thing about her,

every memory,

I still remember.

Enough of that.

Look what I've prepared for you.

I knew you were coming today,

so I went to the kitchen early

to bake you some pears.

See? They're still warm.

Hurry, eat them.

I just don't know

if this batch tastes

anything like your mother's.

Father,

on our way back to the Capital,

we were ambushed.

The assassin...

was Luo.

These days,

I've been thinking,

thinking for a long time.

When I saw you again,

what should I say,

how should I begin,

what should I ask?

Go ahead and ask.

If I do,

will you answer me?

Will you tell me the truth?

I will.

You know,

in front of your mother,

I never lie.

Father,

did you

put Lovesickness Powder into my pear blossom honey?

I did.

And did you...

also poison it?

I did.

So...

when you kept calling me Cangcang,

calling me your precious daughter,

was any of that real?

Cangcang!

I was absolutely certain

His Majesty would save you!

But you say an emperor is heartless.

If you really believed he'd save me,

is he heartless or not in your eyes?

To you, Father,

whether he's heartless or not

depends on which answer helps you.

And whether you love your precious daughter

depends on whether she hinders your grand plans.

Isn't that right?

Cangcang,

you... you have to believe me.

Sometimes,

I have no choice but to weigh and choose.

And everything I've done...

was for our Ling clan!

You've already made your choice!

You chose

to be a ruthless Grand Tutor,

even at the cost of your daughter's life.

Didn't you?

Cangcang...

I have my own reasons!

The hunger for power is endless.

Stop saying it's for me,

for the Ling clan,

for Jueding.

If you stop now, it's still not too late

to turn back!

Your Majesty,

you want to teach me how to live?

I can never repay

all you've done for me.

I only beg you:

if you don't stop now,

there'll be no turning back.

Very well.

So when Your Majesty went to my study,

you were looking for evidence?

Did you really think no one else would expose you?

You mean Luo Xianxue?

He treasures you like his own life.

For your sake,

he can tell you certain things.

But do you really think

he could come back alive?

What did you do to him?

Luo is the foster son

you raised from childhood.

And you still wouldn't spare him.

So tell me, Father...

what will you do with your precious daughter?

Kill me?

How could I bear to?

"Her Majesty

has returned home to mourn her late mother.

Overcome with grief,

she has fallen gravely ill

and will remain here

for a time". That is all.

Do you really think

His Majesty will let you live?

With Your Majesty in my hands,

he won't dare act rashly.

You chose him

because in your heart

he's a man of feeling and honor, isn't he?

Yet he hurt you and lied to you!

He even killed the master you loved most.

And now he wants to kill your father!

And yet

you still choose to stand with him?

From beginning to end,

I never meant to kill you.

Did you think

that by getting rid of Luo Xianxue,

you could erase your ties to the Lingbi Sect

and the proof of your treason and regicide?

I have far too much evidence

of your crimes in my hands.

Sir,

do you recall a move you taught me at chess?

"Drive in a wedge

and shatter the formation."

So, you used Luo Xianxue as that wedge

to lull my pieces into dropping their guard?

That's right.

If Luo learned you once poisoned Cangcang,

he'd dig out the truth.

But you would never leave

a piece you couldn't control.

So,

I let him go on purpose.

While you were busy purging your own ranks,

I could tighten the net I'd cast.

Secretly forging weapons,

skimming off grain,

rigging prices,

controlling intelligence...

[Letter] As an elder of two reigns,

you've spent years weaving your power.

To wipe it out in one stroke

is no easy task.

Sir,

for this day,

I've been planning for many years.

Since it's come to this,

kill me or punish me as you please.

I told you,

I've never once thought of killing you.

I'll spare your life

and spare the entire Ling clan.

I will not

allow my empress

to have a traitorous father

and a rebel family.

What did I always teach you?

Remove the threat completely.

You never soften your heart.

Letting me go today

might just be...

your greatest mistake.

♪Who♪

♪ Walks lone through storm and snow ♪

♪ Reading every warmth and chill ♪

♪ Of the heart? ♪

♪ Who... ♪

Sir,

take care of yourself.

Let's go, Cangcang.

♪ My blade sweeps the heavens... ♪

Cangcang!

♪ 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 ♪

My Lord,

we failed to kill Young Master Xianxue.

We await your punishment.

He's no longer

the Luo Xianxue he once was.

He asked me to bring you a message.

Speak.

He said...

Go back and tell my foster father

he saved my life and raised me.

More importantly,

he's Cangcang's father.

Hurting him is hurting Cangcang.

That's something

I would never do!

After a lifetime

of reading hearts,

in the end,

it was he who taught me a lesson.

True.

No one in this world

can escape love.

Once you care,

you grow a weak spot.

[Nanrong Palace]

Wash it carefully.

There's a smell.

You're the purest soul in Great Qi.

How could there be any smell?

Madam.

I never imagined

that one day

I'd drink tea personally brewed by you.

Nor did I imagine

that one day

you'd dare come see me.

I haven't forgotten

who forced my mother to her death.

The situation left us no choice.

The late Preceptor died for the sect.

It was not one man's doing.

We're both smart enough.

Spit out

what you came to say.

All right.

Tell me, to this day,

do you still believe

you'll serve His Majesty alone all your life?

What are you getting at?

Here's a letter.

It holds a secret I've kept

for the imperial family for over ten years.

You can read it.

Read it on your own.

When you've finished,

think carefully

about what I just said.

It smells wonderful.

This top-quality jasmine tea

really does have a pure, lofty aroma.

But once you taste it,

it's fierce and overpowering,

nothing like its calm, desireless scent.

Madam, you know what?

You are the late Emperor's daughter.

"All living beings are trapped in love and hate.

Though I serve as Imperial Preceptor,

I cannot escape it either.

I only pray my child can escape this crisis

and grow up safe.

My child truly carries imperial blood.

I swear on my life!"

Is this blood-letter

telling the truth?

Nanrong...

Nanrong...

No wonder I'm so unwelcome in the world! [♪ "Nanrong" here means unwelcome.]

[Changhe Gate]

What great matter is this?

I've served

through two reigns as Grand Chancellor,

blessed with wise rulers.

I rode to war with the late Emperor,

and helped Your Majesty

open this golden age.

That is enough

for one lifetime.

Now that I am old,

I wish to retire to the hills

and lay down my burdens.

I humbly ask Your Majesty

to grant this request.

Granted!

May Your Majesty

set your heart for Heaven and Earth,

give the people a sure foundation,

carry on the teachings of the sages,

and open an age of peace for all time!

May Great Qi

endure for generations,

its realm forever secure!

I kiss the ground in thanks

for Your Majesty's grace!

A power in his own age,

pillar of two reigns,

he retires just like that.

Strike now,

or he'll be a threat later.

[Qi]

[Fuguang Hall]

I still remember

it was right here

you waited for me in the snow.

You said you'd make me Grand Chancellor

and make Cangcang your empress.

I've done

everything I promised.

Your Majesty is true to your word.

You'll always do exactly as you say.

I promised to spare your life

and protect the Ling clan.

I'll keep my word.

No need to remind me again.

Then I have worried too much.

I wish Your Majesty and Her Majesty good health.

From this day on,

I only wish to find

some quiet place of retreat.

I will not return

to this palace again.

[Ling Manor]

By His Majesty's command,

I am here to escort you to Deer Courtyard.

Thank you, General.

[Refuge in the Dharma Realm]

Sir, what did you pray for?

To retire in peace.

Nothing more.

And what do you wish for, General Lu?

Only that the one in my heart

stays safe and well.

So, you're a man of feeling too.

[Wuying Hall]

Madam, you don't look well lately.

You seem very pale.

I have an urgent matter and must see His Majesty.

Is His Majesty really not here?

I know...

he hasn't wanted to see me lately,

but this time it's truly important.

Please, I beg you.

Madam,

His Majesty truly isn't here.

Eunuch Feng,

where is he?

Where is he?

Madam,

forgive this old servant.

His Majesty truly isn't here.

[Wuying Hall]

Your Majesty...

Madam,

shall I summon the imperial physician to take a look at you?

Physician Li is in the palace.

No need...

No need...

No need...

Madam,

the wintersweet in the imperial garden is in full bloom.

Why not go and have a look?

Cangcang,

it's all over now.

I often wonder

if we had never begun,

would things be different?

Don't.

There are no what-ifs.

Everything

has already begun.

Sky so vast, wild plains so wide...

My mother named me Cangcang [♪ "Cangcang" means vast.]

hoping that in this vast world

I could live free and easy.

If she could see me like this now,

what would she think?

Father said

when you were fourteen,

you waited for him all night at Xishi Gate.

It wasn't quite all night.

I knew he would enter by Xishi Gate,

so I went there at the Yin Hour to wait for him.

That day,

snow was falling thick,

and it was bitterly cold.

Your Highness,

you've always been frail.

Why suffer the cold here to wait for me?

Sir, is your daughter

named Cangcang?

Your Highness,

I do have a girl named Cangcang.

She's eight this year,

and terribly mischievous.

Sir, are you willing

to betroth her to me as my future empress?

Your Highness,

do you know what you're saying?

Today,

I stand here in snow,

waiting for you.

I know exactly what I'm saying.

Your Highness, rise!

Teacher,

please accept my bow!

If one day, I ascend the throne,

I will make you the Grand Chancellor,

and make Cangcang my empress.

Get up!

You must be cold...

So,

how did your father see that day?

Father said our engagement

was a deal struck ten years ago.

He was being kind.

Ten years ago...

what right did I have

to bargain with Grand Tutor?

I was only clinging

to a last lifeline.

Father also said

that you from ten years ago

were no different from the man he is now.

No.

Back then, I only wanted to live.

Cangcang,

I am indeed a chess player.

All my life,

I've been playing the game,

weighing gain and loss with every move.

But taking you as my wife

is the best thing

all my plotting ever won me.

And hiding my true origins

was just another move in your game?

He's weighed gains and losses...

♪ 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 ♪