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 30]

Zhong Lin...

Right now,

you're all I have left.

Silly guy,

you still have His Majesty besides me.

He treats you like his own sibling.

- Of course he... - Enough.

My mother and Ying

were killed by his own hands.

You're saying

the Empress Dowager and the Princess died by His Majesty's hand?

That's impossible.

He's not that kind of man.

There must be some mistake.

I saw it with my own eyes.

How could there be any mistake?

What I hate is,

I treated Xiao Huan like a brother,

but he was never truly sincere with me.

No,

that can't be.

His Majesty may be deep and hard to read,

but he's someone who values love and loyalty.

I can see

he's sincere toward you.

Besides, there's still Cangcang.

She would never allow that...

Are you speaking up for them now?

You said you'd always stay by my side.

It was all a lie!

Just go.

No,

that's not what I meant...

What's wrong with you?

Are you hiding something from me?

I told you to leave! Can't you understand?

I don't want to see you right now.

Fine...

I'll go.

Then take good care of yourself.

Your Highness, what a temper.

You just chased Princess Zhong Lin away like that.

Aren't you afraid you'll hurt her?

What,

even my private affairs

need you to meddle in them?

I wouldn't dare.

But Princess Zhong Lin

is the Empress's most trusted friend.

If you let me have someone keep an eye on her,

maybe

we'll learn where Her Majesty is.

Preceptor Du,

I'll remind you once more:

you're overstepping.

I've thought it through.

I want the throne,

and I want to take everything from Xiao Huan.

Until I achieve that,

Preceptor Du,

you are not to interfere with me.

You don't trust me?

And do you trust me?

You and I are merely using each other.

But do me a favor, don't anger me,

or I might turn on you.

Your Highness's temper

is still as reckless and rash as ever.

I only wanted to remind you

that Princess Zhong Lin

is the key.

I'll give you one last warning.

She's mine.

I don't need your help with her.

Good.

Otherwise, if Princess Zhong Lin

acts rashly,

even you won't be able to protect her.

Are you speaking up for them now?

You said you'd always stay by my side.

It was all a lie!

Are you hiding something from me?

I told you to leave! Can't you understand?

What on earth are you hiding from me?

Did something happen to His Majesty and Cangcang?

Xiao Qianqing,

don't stray from the right path

and do something you'll regret.

Talk.

Who sent you?

Are you with the Prince of Yuzhang?

[Qinglin Court]

Your Highness.

You were sent by Prince of Yuzhang too?

His Highness is worried about your safety.

He even sent more men to keep an eye on me.

Xiao Qianqing,

what exactly are you trying to do?

[Qinglin Court]

The Prince ordered you to watch me.

Did he also tell you to watch me sleep?

I'm tired now, so hurry up and get lost!

Cangcang!

Keep your voice down.

Cangcang,

promise me.

No matter what happens,

as soon as you see the warning arrow fly,

you must put your own safety first.

This is bad.

Something's happened in the palace.

Xiaolan.

Your Highness, I'm here.

Get some hot water ready.

I need a medicinal bath!

Cangcang.

Go ahead.

Hang in there.

Does it hurt?

Xiaolan.

Why is this water so cold?

Yes, Your Highness.

I'll go get you hot water right away!

Xiaolan is from Fenglai Pavilion.

Don't worry.

What on earth is happening in the palace?

Why is he here?

Prince of Yuzhang?

What...

what is going on?

Where is His Majesty?

What is this supposed to mean?

His Majesty was suddenly taken ill with a cold.

He is now bedridden.

The imperial physicians have been summoned,

and he has been moved to the retreat to recover.

During this time,

all state affairs

will be handled by me.

Your Highness,

do you have an imperial edict or at least His Majesty's word on this?

His Majesty fell ill so suddenly.

We wish to see Her Majesty

to show our concern.

Seeing how suddenly His Majesty fell ill,

Her Majesty panicked,

worried herself too much,

and fell ill herself.

She has gone with His Majesty to the retreat.

How can you officials just see her whenever you like?

Mr. Lin, do you not trust me?

I'm only worried about His Majesty's health.

We respectfully ask Your Highness to govern on His Majesty's behalf!

We respectfully ask Your Highness to govern on His Majesty's behalf!

We respectfully ask Your Highness to govern on His Majesty's behalf!

We respectfully ask Your Highness to govern on His Majesty's behalf!

Sharing His Majesty's burdens

is only what I ought to do.

By His Majesty's decree:

[Linghe Hall] His Majesty is unwell

and has gone with Her Majesty to recover at the retreat.

Linghe Hall is sealed.

No one is allowed to leave the hall without cause.

Await further orders.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Madam?

- Madam? - What's going on...

with His Majesty?

Aside from letting Eunuch Feng serve him up close,

he won't say a word

about the Empress's whereabouts

and where the Imperial Seal is.

Nothing at all.

He's already my prisoner,

so why does he still act so high and mighty?

He won't even beg for mercy once.

Does he really think that stubborn backbone of his

leaves me helpless?

Madam...

ordinary methods

probably won't work on him anymore.

Trouble grows with time.

We might as well

let the Lingbi Sect make a move.

They have plenty of ways

to make people wish they were dead.

They can definitely force him to hand over the Imperial Seal

and write an edict to pass on the throne.

All right...

You left me no choice.

Today, Xiao Qianqing took the throne to act as regent.

His Majesty still hasn't appeared.

Cangcang,

what are we going to do?

Princess Ying and the Empress Dowager's deaths

shattered Xiao Qianqing.

He wouldn't really team up with Du Tingxin...

I have to see Xiao Huan.

Don't panic, Cangcang.

You're badly hurt.

Heal up first.

I'll make inquiries for you.

So you're the one behind Du Tingxin.

Saintess?

I thought you took orders from the Ghost King.

The Ghost King?

Trying to pry words out of me?

[Dragon–Phoenix Blessings]

Cangcang,

you're still wounded.

You must take care of yourself.

Only once you've recovered can you save His Majesty.

Zhong Lin,

I'm lucky to have you.

Thank you.

Come on, what are friends for?

If you're in trouble,

I would never just stand by.

But with how things are now,

even I don't see any chance of winning.

You've already helped me enough.

Let it stop here.

What if...

I can get you in to see His Majesty?

You know where he is?

The Hot Spring Retreat.

The Hot Spring Retreat?

I'm afraid Du Tingxin

has already laid a trap there.

I'll help you.

Then you must remember:

when you're dealing with Du Tingxin,

you must not be reckless.

Be careful with everything!

You too.

If you really see His Majesty,

don't lose your head.

Wait until reinforcements arrive before you act.

His safety is still in their hands.

I won't take any reckless risks.

I can't stay out for too long.

Someone will come for you soon.

Be careful in all things.

All right. You too.

Bai,

are you all right?

Saintess,

the stone man lost.

I underestimated him.

Your Majesty...

what happened?

- Someone tried to assassinate you? - I'm fine.

Du Tingxin might've joined forces with the Saintess of the Lingbi Sect.

Their tricks truly are strange,

and their methods vicious.

Your Majesty,

then...

you should leave this dangerous place at once.

Hear me out first.

I suspect the one behind all this

is Du Tingxin herself.

If I'm right,

she's already preparing a palace coup.

When that happens,

she'll try every way she can to win you over

and make you her puppet emperor.

If I turn out to be right,

remember this:

you must not refuse her.

You have to pretend to work with her.

On her own,

she could never pull off a coup.

Only by stalling for time

can we discover who's really behind her.

Only by ripping them out root and branch

can Great Qi

know lasting peace.

This aroma is...

Naiguo tea.

Perfect timing.

Have a taste.

Delicious!

Add two more dates.

You haven't slept in days, have you?

Get some sleep.

Zhong Lin...

I...

I'm afraid to sleep.

Whenever I close my eyes,

I see Ying.

She tugs at my sleeve,

this tiny little thing

following me everywhere.

In the blink of an eye,

she's grown into a graceful young lady.

But suddenly she's lying in a coffin.

No matter how I shout,

how I call her name,

she never answers me.

Just a few days ago,

she said once we left the palace,

we'd go see the sea of flowers.

She said

she'd grow up sensible and well-read,

learn to be dutiful and considerate.

She even said

she'd see me off at the end of my days.

Zhong Lin,

do you think one day

you'll leave me too?

I won't.

All right,

stop thinking about it.

Close your eyes

and get some sleep.

Xiao Qianqing?

Xiao Qianqing?

[Xiao Qianqing]

If you want to be mad at me,

then be mad.

But being angry for a while

is better than regretting it later.

Don't you think?

At noon today,

Du Tingxin is to visit Prince of Yuzhang's Manor.

You can check the East Hall of the Hot Spring Retreat.

[Prince of Yuzhang's Manor]

Is His Highness in?

His Highness is not in,

but Princess Zhong Lin is.

Madam,

please.

Preceptor Du.

His Highness suddenly had urgent business at the palace

and ordered me to wait here for you.

Please sit and wait a while.

I've long heard

that you're unrivaled in tea and incense.

I wonder

if this Yunwuqing tea today

suits your taste.

Since His Highness is busy,

I'll see him another time then.

His Highness does have matters to discuss with you.

Then I'll go into the palace to see him myself.

No need for that.

What?

I'm actually the one who wanted to see you.

Why would we

need to meet?

His Highness and I are already engaged.

I wanted to see you

of course because of him.

Then why go around him to come to me,

even going so far as to steal his seal and stamp it in secret?

His Highness is keeping secrets with you,

yet won't tell me.

It worries me.

You're a woman too.

You should understand

there are some things

you have to see with your own eyes

before you can be at ease.

Our Princess Zhong Lin

really is wholeheartedly devoted to His Highness.

Hearing you say that,

I'm almost a little envious of him.

If you had to choose between His Highness

and Ling Cangcang,

Your Highness,

who would you choose?

Do you know

what kind of lonely, desperate situation

His Highness is in right now?

If he's deceived again,

how much more would he suffer?

My feelings for His Highness are love,

and Cangcang and I are like sisters.

Mind your words, Preceptor Du.

That's not something I have to choose between.

I see.

Since you won't say anything,

then forget it.

You may go, Preceptor Du.

Don't think that with a few tricks,

Ling Cangcang will get to see him.

What do you mean by that, Preceptor Du?

You search over there.

Everyone else, come with me!

Yes, sir!

Zhong Lin,

do you know what you're doing?

Looks like

[To Du Tingxin, personally] this letter

wasn't really Your Highness's intention.

You swear up and down you won't leave me,

yet you steal my seal

and scheme behind my back!

We'll talk later.

Save it!

So you were lying to me,

coaxing me,

and betraying me all the same.

I've had enough

of that.

You've misunderstood me.

That's not what I meant.

Then what did you mean?

Isn't this fake letter proof enough

that you betrayed me?

I didn't betray you!

I...

Fine.

So you believe her, not me?

Guards!

Your Highness.

Take her back to her room.

Without my permission,

she's not to take a single step outside.

Yes, Your Highness.

Now that Your Highness has returned,

you must know

this was just a ploy to lure you away.

I'll go with you

to the retreat right now.

What,

for something this minor,

Your Highness still doesn't trust me?

Today I've tasted betrayal to the fullest.

I owe all of this

entirely to my imperial brother.

I will make sure

he pays me back double.

[Lingquan Palace]

It's been days,

and I finally get to see you, Prince of Yuzhang.

Why did you put that thing on him?

Are you asking me?

Yes!

I'm asking you.

Why did you put something like that on him?

So what if I did?

I even want to kill him.

Didn't Your Highness promise me

that how to deal with him

would be entirely up to me?

However you want to torment him to vent your anger,

I won't interfere.

But this thing...

no.

Take it off him.

If not for this iron chain

that even blades can't cut,

our emperor would've escaped already.

Your Highness, have you gone soft?

So you've forgiven His Majesty so soon?

I only want him to taste betrayal to the fullest.

But no matter what he's done,

he's still of the imperial bloodline.

The dignity of the imperial house

is not yours to trample.

This is where I draw the line.

It seems Your Highness only acts on emotion

and has no real ambition or resolve for great deeds.

I misjudged you.

Xiao Qianqing,

my throne

can be yours.

What did you say?

If I swore

that I absolutely did not kill Xiao Ying,

would you believe me?

No.

You can have my throne,

but I have one condition.

Your Highness must not listen to him!

What condition?

I want

to die with dignity.

Your Highness...

Silence!

If you still remember I was once your elder brother,

then on the Empress Dowager's funeral day,

let me die with dignity

on Phoenix Terrace.

His Majesty has already been moved

from the Hot Spring Retreat back to the palace.

They say he'll attend the Empress Dowager's grand funeral rites.

[Dragon–Phoenix Blessings]

Miss Zhong.

- Miss Zhong. - Miss Zhong.

Zhong Lin,

are you all right?

I'm late, Miss Ling.

It took me some time to shake the people tailing me.

As long as you're safe. Sit.

Everyone, sit.

Now

that I've gathered you all here,

I'm sure you know why.

The Capital is in turmoil.

Fenglai Pavilion

must share His Majesty's burdens

and stand with Great Qi through this crisis.

Yes!

In my letter I've instructed Shi Yan

that within five days,

he is to lead our followers from all branches in a coordinated strike.

When the time comes,

I'll need you all waiting outside the city

to help him slip into the Capital.

Yes!

Thank you.

You left the Imperial Seal with me

because you already foresaw all this?

[Spirit tablet of Empress Dowager Liu of Great Qi]

Seal the coffin!

Kneel!

Bow!

Rise!

Bow again!

Rise!

You may stand!

♪ 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 ♪