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 26]

The baby...

How is the baby?

Cangcang,

don't worry.

Take good care of yourself.

We'll have another child one day.

♪ 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... ♪

I failed to protect him...

♪ Half the city in rain half in ruin... ♪

It was my fault.

I failed to protect you both.

♪ The azure battle flag ♪

♪ Burning through the war flames for you ♪

♪ Honouring the fallen of our land... ♪

I don't blame you.

You said...

we'd have another child someday.

As long as...

♪ Buried beneath the drifting sand... ♪

we...

♪ Let love and hate both fade away... ♪

we're still together,

we'll get through this.

I'm all right.

♪ 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 ♪

The Empress is awake.

Good.

She reminded me

that I only have one brother, you.

And that brother

once risked his life

to bring me lifesaving medicine from far away.

So, Your Majesty,

for the sake

of the loyalty I once showed you,

please spare Ying's life.

Rise.

Go to Wuying Hall and pass on my order

and bring Xiao Ying back to the cold palace.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Everyone has someone they care about.

I know you care about Xiao Ying.

But indulging her

isn't truly loving her.

I understand.

As for this matter,

I won't just let it slide.

Why did Xiao Ying change so suddenly?

Why did she never show any sign before?

I believe

none of this is a coincidence.

There must be someone

pulling the strings behind her.

I will get to the bottom of this.

Even if it was my mother who ordered it,

I will not cover for her.

Good.

I expect you to give me an answer.

Ying,

what is going on?

Li Hongqing is just a guard commander.

He's not worthy of you.

The dead are gone.

Why would you seek revenge for him?

Has someone been filling your head

and leading you astray?

This must all be Xiao Huan again!

It's his plot!

What did you say?

The Empress suffered a grave wound

while saving His Majesty.

And the baby...

could not be saved.

Sir...

Sir!

Your Majesty,

the Imperial Father-in-law is in trouble.

Your Majesty,

the Imperial Father-in-law suddenly collapsed.

How is he now?

He's awake now,

but... not doing well.

Is everyone at Fayun Temple useless?

For now, don't tell the Empress.

Her body can't take any more.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Bring Ling Xuefeng back to the Capital.

Find him the best imperial physician.

Do everything you can to save him.

If anything goes wrong,

at least let father and daughter

see each other one last time.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Qianqing,

what did His Majesty say about this?

Will he have Ying executed?

Ying,

tell me the truth.

Did someone egg you on

to try

to assassinate His Majesty?

You don't need to ask her.

She's still not herself.

I'll have someone send calming soup

so she can get some real rest.

This time,

you were wrong.

When you do something wrong,

there is always a price to pay.

Qianqing, what are you saying?

I wanted to pay that price for you.

But His Majesty is right.

Always indulging you...

is not truly loving you.

Qianqing...

the flower is about to bloom...

The flower is about to bloom...

The flower is about to bloom...

Qianqing,

what are you doing?

I've cut her inner channels.

She can never refine poison again.

Qianqing,

are you out of your mind?

I'm not!

I was the one running away before.

Ying had a miserable childhood.

No one ever taught her right from wrong.

But in this world,

no one can spoil her forever.

Ying...

forgive me...

forgive your brother.

Qianqing!

Xiao Qianqing!

Ying...

it's all right.

It's all right now.

From now on,

you can't make poison.

I'll keep you company in other ways.

I will always...

always stay by your side.

Xiao Qianqing,

tell me,

are you afraid of Wuying Hall now?

Mother,

did you

have anything to do with this?

What did you say?

Did you order Ying

to try to assassinate His Majesty?

Is this how you speak to your mother?

In this palace,

who but you would dare think that way?

Yes!

I wish he would just die right now!

But...

do you really think

I would send Ying to do it?

Her mind is not sound.

She is beyond my control.

If anything went wrong,

Xiao Huan would suspect me first!

Why would I set myself on fire?

And if Xiao Huan survived,

I,

The whole Liu clan,

and you included,

would all be buried with her!

And today,

you question me for Xiao Huan's sake.

Qianqing,

has your heart

already turned to him?

Have you forgotten

the humiliation I suffered back then

and how coldly I was treated?

[Prince of Yuzhang's Manor]

Xiao Qianqing,

I'm back!

Zhong Lin!

I found it!

This method really works?

It has to work.

Though Gold Incense is colorless and tasteless,

the red flying ants that grow on dead branches

of thousand-year-old golden nanmu

will swarm straight to it.

They can sniff it out even from ten zhang away.

I managed to get two of them.

We can give it a try.

You've really helped me a lot this time.

If we can prove my mother is innocent,

I'll make sure she credits you with great merit.

I'm not doing this for your mother.

I'm doing it for you and Ying,

and for Cangcang.

Her baby is just gone.

Whoever is behind this,

I'll drag them out into the light.

The Emperor just lost his temper.

His anger at you

was just anger at himself.

Once we catch the culprit,

things will work out.

I know.

Besides,

even if he keeps his distance from you,

you still have me.

Right?

Zhong Lin,

if one day I leave this place

and never return,

who would you choose

between Ling Cangcang and me?

If Cangcang is safe and happy,

that's all I wish for.

As for me,

of course I'll go wherever you go.

I go where my man goes!

Your Majesty.

In the future,

Ying can never refine poisons again.

The venomous insect she used this time

is called Dual-Pupil.

It can rapidly draw out a person's inner power,

but it does severe damage to the mind.

Right now,

Ying only recognizes me.

Whatever I say,

she doesn't really understand.

I can't get any answers out of her.

But on the day she attacked,

her mind was clear.

That's what Dual-Pupil does.

Once it forces out all your potential

and unleashes your power,

you quickly become dull and witless.

Your Majesty,

though my mother raised Ying,

she would never make her

use a secret art that ruins her own body.

If my mother chose to use Ying,

she'd be setting herself on fire.

She's not that foolish.

I truly believe

the one pulling Ying's strings

must be someone else.

I will find them.

But Xiao Ying can't say anything now.

How will you find them?

She finished

breeding this insect long ago.

She even bragged about it to me.

But to get this kind of insect into the body,

you have to take Gold Incense

for several days in a row.

This stuff is highly addictive.

It's worth a fortune.

It's contraband.

It should never appear

inside the palace.

So you already have a plan?

Within five days,

I will get to the bottom of this

and give you an answer.

[Upright and Honorable]

Sir, please don't be angry.

We've been setting this up for so long,

and Xiao Huan is still alive.

On top of that,

I've even lost a grandchild I never met.

How am I supposed to calm down?

But you use this chance to return to the Capital.

And I've helped you quite a bit.

Now that you're back,

we can finally aim for bigger things.

I've already lost my grandchild.

I just want to go back

and see my daughter.

Are you thinking of backing out?

Don't forget:

the Empress losing her child

was partly your doing.

Do you really think you still have a way out?

Commander of the Capital Patrol Office,

Zhang Heng,

please come out.

I heard you two have never gotten along.

Because of you,

Mr. Zhang was demoted three ranks.

He had to start over as a lowly clerk in the North City Patrol

before climbing back up to commander.

And even as commander,

he gave you no end of trouble.

Years ago, he stopped your carriage,

saying you were too extravagant

that your carriage exceeded your rank.

If Sir had really wanted to make things hard for me,

could I have risen safely to commander?

The one playing the game

will sometimes place a hidden piece.

And that hidden piece

often sits at the most critical spot.

Truly,

he is a masterful piece.

Right now,

I've turned the key hidden piece

face up for you to see.

Do you still think

I would back down?

General Lu,

let me remind you of one thing:

the Imperial Preceptor is sacred and untouchable.

The last Imperial Preceptor had a secret affair

and I personally carried out

her sentence of death by fire.

Inside here are red flying ants.

They love the scent of Gold Incense.

If someone has come into contact with it,

even a dozen days later,

the red flying ants can still sniff it out.

This register lists everyone

who has entered or left the cold palace recently.

Once we test them with the ants,

the one behind it all is sure to be exposed.

[Cold Palace Entry Log]

Wufu.

Yes.

Summon Lu Qi.

Yes.

Wait.

Why isn't Lu Qi's name

on this register?

He's Li Hongqing's right-hand man.

That doesn't make sense.

He could've had contact with Xiao Ying too.

That day, the situation in Wuying Hall was deadly dangerous.

Yet he showed up late,

saying he'd suddenly taken ill.

How could it be such a coincidence?

Lu's family has been loyal for generations.

He's an upright man,

even a bit stubborn.

It's hard to believe he'd be bought off.

We'll know

as soon as we test him.

Summon Lu Qi!

Yes.

That's roughly what happened

in the cold palace that day.

It was my failure in duty.

I didn't notice anything unusual about the princess.

It's not your fault.

Any news of Li Hongqing?

None yet.

I've sent more men

to search for Commander Li.

All right.

You may go for now.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Put someone on him.

Check everyone

he came into contact with.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

I'll look into this myself.

I want to see who's really behind this,

whether they're man or ghost.

Your Majesty,

is something weighing on your mind?

Here,

have a candied fruit.

Your Majesty,

have you found the real culprit

behind the princess?

We have a lead,

but nothing is certain yet.

You said

you would never keep anything from me.

All right.

I promise you

I won't hide anything.

But you have to rest

and fully regain your strength.

Otherwise, how can I feel at ease

telling you all these troubles?

I'm almost fully recovered.

Even Physician Li says so.

I can run and jump now.

See for yourself...

All right!

I know.

I know you're back on your feet.

Promise me

that whatever happens,

we'll face it together.

All right.

General Lu.

Open the gate.

Your Highness.

Open the gate.

Trinkets!

Trinkets! Take a look!

Kites! Have a look!

Take a look!

Mother,

which of these two

looks better?

Wrap them up.

- Got it. - Ladies.

Take your time and look around.

Not bad.

Sir, another bowl!

Miss, have a look.

How did Zhang Heng, commander of the Capital Patrol Office,

and Lu Qi, deputy commander of the Imperial Guards,

end up together like that?

[Imperial Assembly Patrol]

[Lu Qi, deputy commander of the Imperial Guards]

[Zhang Heng, commander of the Capital Patrol Office]

The Imperial Assembly patrol

was always handled by Li Hongqing.

Now,

his fate is unknown

and he still hasn't returned.

So the duty has fallen to Lu Qi and Zhang Heng.

Someone's plotting something at the Imperial Assembly?

But who is behind it all?

Lu Qi was the one

who escorted Ling Xuefeng back.

You mean

Ling Xuefeng still won't give up his ambitions?

But Zhang Heng has always been his sworn enemy.

That's why I trusted him so deeply

and put the Capital's defenses in his hands.

But thinking about it now,

if Ling Xuefeng really wanted to block him,

how did Zhang Heng

rise so smoothly to commander?

Could Zhang Heng

have been Ling Xuefeng's secret piece all along?

So,

from Shi Yan's incident,

to Li Hongqing leaving the palace,

to Xiao Ying's attack,

and even Zhang Heng and Lu Qi colluding now,

it was all within his design.

If this really is Ling Xuefeng's work,

his scheming runs too deep

for anyone to see through.

I'll go arrest Zhang Heng and Lu Qi right away,

then find a way to call off the Imperial Assembly.

No need.

I want to see

what he plans to do

at the assembly five days from now.

[Linghe Hall]

Your Majesty.

It's so late.

Why are you still up?

I just saw Zhong Lin and Luo.

Luo said

you told Zhong Lin to bring him here.

Luo Xianxue helped Hongqing save Shi Yan.

I think

he did it all for you.

Calling them into the palace now,

what for?

I want them to protect you.

Since what happened to Hongqing,

there are so few people in the palace I can trust.

I believe

the two of them

would risk their lives to guard you.

Your Majesty,

I'm so scared...

He really

still hasn't given up?

As long as I'm here,

he won't succeed.

What do you plan

to do with him?

Ling Xuefeng's crimes

are unforgivable.

I will never spare him.

But rest assured,

the innocent

will not be dragged down.

[Wuying Hall]

[Wuying Hall]

Everything is ready.

If we fail,

we die trying!

All officials of the Imperial Assembly, enter the hall

and pay respects to His Majesty!

Proceed!

At the dawn of a new year,

all things are made new.

We pray Your Majesty

receive Heaven's blessing

and share in its glory!

Stow your tablets!

Kneel!

All hail!

Long live Your Majesty!

You may all rise!

Present your tablets!

By Your Majesty's grace,

in the ninth year of Yongxi, Great Qi is rich and strong.

In the southern provinces, the land is fertile and the waters full.

Though we faced locust plague,

the damage was slight.

Every home has grain stored.

The people are all well fed.

At best, fields yield two dan of grain per mu.

As for the remaining details,

[Memorial] I've set them out in full

for Your Majesty's review.

Such prosperity

is thanks to all you ministers.

What Great Qi seeks

is not short-term gain.

I hope you will all work as one,

abolish outdated rules,

and push forward new policies.

Let the brave know righteousness,

and the wise cherish benevolence.

We will heed your teachings!

Imperial Preceptor Du has prepared Tusu wine for everyone.

Let's all raise a toast

to Great Qi's future,

with fair winds and timely rain,

and a peaceful, prosperous people!

How could this cup of wine

possibly go

without me?

Ling Xuefeng,

you dare commit treason!

So you've been planning this for a long time, Sir.

Since you've come today,

I'm sure

you have plenty to say.

Of course.

Today I came

to ask just one thing:

Without the full support

of the Ling clan and me,

what right or ability did you have

to sit securely on the throne?

So,

you want to take it for yourself?

I have no wish to usurp you.

But I have already received an imperial edict.

It states His Majesty is gravely ill with a cold illness,

and thus

he has passed the throne to the prince in the Empress's womb.

He orders me to bear the imperial seal,

ascend to the Taiji Hall,

assist the new emperor,

share in handling state affairs,

and oversee the realm and armies.

This minister

dares not refuse.

Why didn't I know

about this edict?

Because...

during today's court session,

you will suddenly be taken ill

and die.

You're that sure

everything will go your way today?

The hearts of men are with me.

Good.

Very good.

So,

you'd planned ahead all along.

I've already spent the night

replacing the Imperial Guards with my own men.

In fact, I could've taken down

the Capital Patrol commander earlier.

But...

I wanted to see

just how many people in this court

truly stand

on your side.

Now that you've seen it for yourself,

allow me

to send Your Majesty on your way.

♪ 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 ♪