Original subtitles

ADAPTED FROM THE NOVEL MY QUEEN BY XIE LOUNAN

She doesn't remember anything.

She doesn't remember Li Hongqing.

Like this,

do you really think she'll ever be happy?

Qianqing…

I remember now.

I wanted to go with you…

outside the palace.

We must never let Xiao Ying remember!

Madam, Xiao Ying has never seen you.

No.

No…

He's so smart.

He's bound to pick up on some clue about me.

We can't let Xiao Ying live.

She has to die!

Rest easy, Madam.

She may not make it through.

Xiao Ying couldn't kill him.

Ling Xuefeng couldn't kill him.

Why does he always slip away?

Looks like I'll have to do it myself.

Ever since he seized that little witch,

Qianqing hasn't set foot in Xuanguang Hall.

This son of mine would toss me aside

for some lowborn woman!

His Highness must be busy with state affairs.

Busy with what?

If he spared even half a thought for proper duties,

I wouldn't have to worry like this.

These flowers need trimming.

You are right, Your Majesty.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

This is Rest Incense I've prepared myself.

Your Majesty may find it useful these days.

You've personally made incense for me?

If I remember right,

this is the first time in five years.

I was disrespectful before.

Please punish me, Your Majesty.

REST INCENSE

Don't say that.

Everyone in this palace knows

you are His Majesty's man

and that you are wary of Xuanguang Hall,

so you keep your distance.

I understand.

Prince of Yuzhang's loyalty to His Majesty far surpasses mine.

I was narrow-minded before.

Preceptor Du, why would you say that?

His Highness has given his all to assist His Majesty.

Now Great Qi stands secure,

and His Majesty holds power firmly in hand.

Yet His Highness chose to withdraw at his peak,

indifferent to rank and reward, a true example to the realm.

All of this is thanks to Your Majesty's kindness

and wise guidance.

You may speak freely.

About His Highness stepping back, what exactly did he do?

So Your Majesty truly didn't know?

Then I've overstepped by speaking out of turn.

His Highness is so upright and selfless

that he's given both his royal seal and his command token to His Majesty.

His loyalty is pure enough.

I'm ashamed by comparison.

I shall take my leave.

Ask Qianqing to see me! At once!

Yes, Your Majesty.

So,

you handed over your royal seal and your command token just like that?

You decided this on your own

and couldn't even be bothered to tell me?

Of course you would object.

But I've already thought it through.

As a prince,

you feel nothing for the throne.

And now, you've even handed over

your command token and seal?

If I don't lay these burdens down,

where else can I ever find true freedom?

Qianqing…

how many times have I told you?

Your brother, Xiao Huan, is extremely calculating.

If you hand these over today,

tomorrow could be the day we die!

I've already made up my mind.

Beat me or punish me, whatever you wish.

You ungrateful son!

Do you know what it has cost me to live to this day?

The late Emperor

lavished all his affection on that shady woman of unknown origin.

He even made her empress.

When she died,

he made her sickly son crown prince.

Our Liu clan has served loyally for three generations,

a house of high rank.

How am I any worse than her?

And you,

how are you any worse than that sickly wretch?

What has gotten into you all?

Have you all gone mad?

Qianqing,

Xiao Huan is not your brother.

He's someone who could take your life at any moment,

your enemy!

In all the prices you've paid,

does that include Ying?

You… You're talking nonsense again.

Deep down, we both know

what really happened with that fire at Luling Palace!

You were so harsh on my imperial brother

that the palace servants dared to abandon their posts,

and that led to the fire.

If not for you, Ying would never have ended up like this!

How dare you!

Why did the late empress suddenly die of a mysterious illness?

Why was her son born with cold poison?

Mother,

do you dare look into these things?

There is a limit to this kind of wild talk!

Mother,

do you love Ying?

And have you ever loved me?

Do you think everything I've done was to hurt you?

Maybe you did.

But the day comes

when we can no longer be tools in your battles,

you'll stop loving us, don't you?

You…

Mother, you've spent your whole life trapped in this palace.

I don't want to repeat your fate.

This palace

is nothing but a gilded cage.

Have you ever truly been happy here?

Ying included.

She was completely innocent,

yet still got dragged in!

I've thought it through.

Once Ying recovers,

I'll take her away from here at once,

back to Southern Chu.

- What's wrong? - Nothing.

Did you argue with your mother? She hit you?

News sure travels fast with you.

Zhong Lin…

I'm in a bad mood, and my wound hurts.

When I was little, I got beaten a lot too.

And I was terribly afraid of pain.

After enough beatings, I eventually got used to it.

This is my own special salve.

It works wonders! It eases the pain right away.

Zhong Lin, thank you

for staying by my side when I was at my lowest.

Don't worry.

I've already made up my mind.

I'll take you and Ying away from here.

We'll travel the world together, free and unrestrained.

Travel the world, free and unrestrained…

All right.

We'll go together!

The Empress Dowager is here!

My dear Ying, what are you doing?

Move aside! You're blocking my sun.

Ying, look at me.

Mother's here to see you.

Mother?

Does "Mother" mean my mom?

Yes.

You look so fierce.

I don't want you as my mother.

I like the fun, pretty Empress.

I want her to be my mother.

My brother likes her too.

She even promised to cure me.

I'll get better soon.

She wants to treat you?

- Hongqing… - How could she cure anyone?

She definitely doesn't mean well.

You mustn't believe the Empress's lies.

Ying, do me a favor, will you?

Help me talk some sense into your brother.

Tell him to take back his royal seal.

All right?

Are you listening to me?

Help me persuade your brother to take back his seal.

Do you understand?

Do you or don't you?

Ying, I'm talking to you!

Do you understand? Listen to me!

Xiao Huan, save me!

Ying…

Mother, what did you give Father to drink?

What did you give Father to drink?

What are you talking about?

Ying?

Your Majesty, time to take medicine.

You…

What did you give Father to drink?

Tell me… Ying…

has she remembered everything?

We really can't let her remember.

We can't let her remember!

Li…

Hong…

Qing…

Dear Hongqing…

I remember you now.

Heavens above, you're finally awake!

Where am I?

This is Lujiao Village.

When we went up the mountain to chop wood,

we saw you hanging from a tree.

You were barely breathing.

So the two of us carried you back.

The village physician said you wouldn't make it.

Didn't expect you to be this hard to kill!

Was I unconscious?

- Yeah. - How long was I out?

About…

a full fifteen days!

That's right, fifteen days.

Don't get up! Just rest…

You just woke up.

Your body's still too weak. What are you trying to do?

Please take me to Fenglai Pavilion.

For saving my life,

I'll see that you're well rewarded.

But Li Hongqing is dead.

- Even if the flower blooms… - Don't say that again!

There's no one left to protect you.

That day…

someone told me…

Hongqing was dead.

No one would take me to see the flowers.

He gave me a box…

Inside was some incense…

Was it Gold Incense?

That scent was so familiar…

What did it smell like?

Medicine…

It was some medicinal incense…

It was some medicinal incense…

Today, when Father was struck by that arrow,

he uttered some strange word.

NANRONG

Is it really you?

Your Majesty.

It's rare to see you so distracted. What are you thinking about?

I was thinking that once all this is over,

I want to leave the palace with you and roam the martial world again.

Sounds good.

Your Majesty's word is law.

Why don't you put it in writing as a vow?

All right.

Then for my empress, I'll write a vow.

BE OUR PROOF

"Cangcang and Chifan's vow:

to cross mountains and rivers, and roam the martial world together.

This shall be our proof."

You must remember this, Your Majesty.

Cangcang,

the one behind it all might really be her.

But her roots in the palace run deep.

If I move against her, she'll strike back like mad.

Only by sending you away safely can I risk everything.

I'm sorry.

Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress,

there's news from Physician Li.

What news?

The man at Fayun Temple is already improving.

He should wake up very soon.

Really?

That's wonderful!

Ling Xuefeng is about to wake up. You should be by his side.

There's a thousand-year lingzhi kept in the palace.

It can strengthen one's vital energy.

It's extremely effective for patients who have just woken up.

Have Wufu bring it when you go.

Thank you, Your Majesty. Then I'll go at once.

Cangcang…

What's wrong? Can't bear to leave me?

Yeah. I can't.

When I come back,

will you still remember your vow?

I will.

Of course I will.

Once we find the one behind it all, you'd better keep your promise.

All right.

Then we'll leave the palace together,

wandering around and roaming the martial world again.

Where did you get this Golden Snake hairpin?

It's something my mother left me.

She said if I was ever in danger,

I could use this hairpin to seek help from the Lingbi Sect.

The mighty Imperial Preceptor of Great Qi

would turn to the Lingbi Sect?

It seems your ambition is no small thing.

We rely on the support of all you stewards,

so this is no more than you deserve.

Ms. Yan,

I'm old and plagued by illness. I only wish to go home soon.

Such generous gifts, I'm really not worthy of them.

Oh?

Compared with all the bribes

you've taken over the years,

these hardly count as anything.

Madam, Ms. Yan, I've been framed!

I've been framed…

Your crimes are written out clearly right there.

Did you really think your little schemes

could ever fool the Madam?

Guards!

Spare me, Madam!

Spare me, Madam!

Du Tingxin, how dare you deal with palace staff without permission?

Du Tingxin!

Du Tingxin!

Anyone else here have something to say?

From now on,

we will follow only you, Madam!

With absolute loyalty!

- With absolute loyalty! - With absolute loyalty!

Eunuch Li…

You've served in the palace a long time.

Hearing that from you puts my mind at ease.

We've been short-handed all over the palace lately.

I've already chosen new people to fill the gaps.

Appoint them one by one according to what's written there.

Understood.

Before long,

Madam, you'll have both the harem and the court

in the palm of your hand.

Ying, remember:

After you and your brother leave the palace,

give this jade pendant to him.

My brother's taking me out of the palace?

That's right.

I hope you can both stay safe.

Leaving this place may be the best choice for you.

I just hope all of this is just my suspicions.

Suspicions?

Suspicions about what?

Whether someone who grew up with me

is really the culprit.

The culprit behind that medicinal incense?

All right. Put this jade pendant away.

Your brother isn't easy to handle.

If I gave it to him myself,

he'd pester me with a hundred questions.

So I'm giving it to you instead.

If you ever run into any danger,

go to Fenglai Pavilion for money or for people, as much as you like.

Ying,

everything that's happened is already in the past.

I hope you and your brother can both find happiness.

I'm sorry…

I don't know why,

but I suddenly wanted to say that to you.

Ying,

with your brother,

hurry and leave this cold, lifeless place.

I hope you will both be happy and carefree.

And you?

Won't you cure me?

It hurts you too much. Let's stop.

Then what about Hongqing?

I'm so close to remembering him.

I want the treatment… I want the treatment…

I want to see Hongqing clearly!

I want the treatment…

I want the treatment!

Treat me now!

If you won't treat me, I'll treat myself!

Xiao Ying, calm down!

I want to see Hongqing clearly…

I want to see Hongqing clearly!

I want the treatment…

I want to see Hongqing clearly…

All right!

I'll treat you.

Stop!

Your Majesty, how can you be so cruel?

Please spare our Ying. Are you trying to kill her?

What are you talking about?

I saw it with my own eyes.

Stop torturing Ying.

Your Majesty, I beg you.

Please let Ying go.

Take it out on me.

Just stop tormenting her, please!

Ying, we won't treat you anymore.

You won't suffer like this anymore.

Come on. Let me help you over.

Let's go rest.

Ying?

- Ying? - Mother…

it hurts so much…

What's wrong? Ying?

It hurts…

Ying, are you all right?

Ying.

Move aside! Don't touch her!

Are you all right, Ying?

Ying!

Ying!

Ying!

- Ying! - Ying!

- Ying! - Ying, wake up!

Ying!

Ying, please wake up! Ying!

Ying!

Ying! Ying!

Ying!

- Ying, wake up. Ying! - Ying!

Ying!

Xiao Huan!

You killed my dear Ying!

Ying!

SHUTONG HALL

Ying.

Ying.

Wake up…

It's… it's me.

Ying.

Look…

the flowers are about to bloom.

You said… they're called Blaze Blossom…

and they're dazzling.

You said when they bloomed,

you, Zhong Lin, and I

would return to Southern Chu.

Do you still remember all that?

I've already planned to take you and Zhong Lin.

We'll leave this place together,

roam the martial world together,

and go find your dear Hongqing together.

We'll bring him along, all of us together.

Didn't you say you missed him so much?

Please wake up…

Don't scare me like this…

Ying.

- Xiao Qianqing… - I'm begging you, snap out of it.

- Xiao Qianqing, wake up! - I'm here…

- Ying is dead! - I'm here… Don't touch me!

She's not dead…

Ying loves studying strange little medicines.

This might… might just be one she was trying out.

She's tricking us.

Ying… Ying is just playing a trick on us…

- Xiao Qianqing! - Ying…

Wake up now!

It was Xiao Huan who killed her!

At last, I'm back.

CHANGHE GATE

Aren't you supposed to be on duty at Wuying Hall?

Why are you standing guard here?

Your Highness?

What happened?

Where is the Princess?

Where did you go?

They all said you were dead.

You should've stayed dead. What did you come back for now?

How could you die?

So, Princess Ying…

died to force out the Dual-Pupil insect.

To get her memories back,

she suffered pain no ordinary person could bear.

I promised Princess Ying

I'd protect her for life…

You're both such hopeless fools.

Get out.

Get out of my sight!

Put her down.

What, do you think

I'm the sort who fears death?