Original subtitles

What do you make of

what happened today?

Xiao Wuyi and Xie Jiayu

were targeting Li Lejun from the start.

Li Lejun really did plot against the Princess.

But Xiao Wuyi and Xie Jiayu may have framed her

as well.

Your Majesty means

there is a third Phoenix Heart Token—

the one Empress Wenxi once gave Xiao Ju.

Then, where is the Princess's

Phoenix Heart Token now?

Li Mao.

I underestimated him.

Just now, when Li Lejun was arrested and imprisoned,

he didn't say a word in her defense.

Li Mao.

Xie Jiayu.

Xiao Wuyi.

See?

Things are getting interesting.

[Key to the Phoenix Heart]

[Episode 19]

You came from the lowest ranks of society yourself.

Since you decided to take this position,

you should have a more compassionate heart

and a greater sense of purpose.

Little beggar.

Come on.

Eat slowly.

Where is your family?

They're dead.

Where are you from?

Qizhou.

Where are you going?

Jiankang.

Who is it?

I am here to bring Your Highness a calming herbal tonic.

You again.

Still haven't given up?

Then stay.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Smile more.

You look like her only when you smile.

What's wrong?

[Xuanzheng Hall]

Mother never brought me to the palace in the past.

She said there is nothing fun.

Today is my first time here,

and it's true that there's nothing fun.

I never want to come here again.

Okay.

Then don't.

You just gave Cui Jun's Phoenix Heart Token

away like that?

Don't worry.

Since I dared to give it away,

I can get it back.

I'll get the Cui family's mine first.

Let's go home.

Not burying Her Highness

until Li Lejun was captured—

was that a promise to her?

Do souls really exist

after death?

She will know.

As long as you believe,

she exists

and will know.

Is this how you

commemorate your parents?

Maybe I shouldn't say that.

I've never met them,

but I get curious, too.

Just like when you listen to a story,

you'd wonder how the person in the story

is related to you.

But in this world,

you can't empathize without experiencing it yourself.

So I can't say it's commemoration.

The Xiao family gave me everything.

The power in my hands,

the ambition I uphold,

the bonds I hold dear,

and the mission I bear.

Whether glory or disgrace,

none of this has anything to do with Crown Prince Wenxi.

I am looking for the Phoenix Heart Token

for the minerals behind it,

which can be used to make caltrop fireball

to serve Ye.

The path I chose

was never in the court.

I just want to be Xiao Wuyi.

That night,

you saw me arguing with Her Highness.

That was what we were talking about.

I never wanted to implicate her.

Who says we stand alone?

We share weal and woe.

I see.

No wonder Mother said

you have a good name.

But now the Cui family has fallen,

and Mother has passed away.

Only the Xiao family is left.

You control the Beifu army.

Prince Jing'an's Household will become even more threatening in their eyes.

Your identity

might not be hidden anymore, either.

It should be them

who are afraid

that I will admit to being Crown Prince Wenxi.

[Prince Jing'an's Mansion]

Your Highness!

Auntie Xie!

You're back.

I made Auntie's favorite wild-green flatbread today.

I'll accept your black iron.

But actually,

there is something I want more.

What do you want?

Your courage.

Courage?

Being kind and soft-hearted is not your fault.

Don't let past betrayals

make you completely lose the courage to trust others.

You still have new friends,

and you will have a new home.

Actually, before I went to Lingfeng Fort,

I had never really seen suffering.

I grew up in the Xie family

and was raised by Mother.

I thought I was oppressed

simply because I had no say in my own marriage.

Only later did I realize

that there is

no true haven of peace

and simplicity in this world.

Master once asked me,

"Where is the martial arts world?

And where are the ends of the earth?"

Now,

I understand.

It's always been like this in chaotic times.

Beneath the feasts and revelry lie blood and tears.

It is already difficult to stay alive.

Okay.

I promise you.

I'll still have faith in others.

I also promise you

that I will help you uncover the secret of the Phoenix Heart Token,

find the connection between the token and the mine,

and help you create the caltrop fireball.

Do you know what

your promise means?

Kindness is not a mistake.

♪ What's the cost of going against the wind? ♪

But kindness without power

is no better than weakness.

♪ Knowing you, knowing me, we live up to our promises ♪

This applies to individuals,

and it applies to nations as well.

♪ Aligning the traces of our conviction ♪

Ye needs Beifu,

otherwise peace is just empty talk.

♪ As long as I'm with you ♪

And Beifu needs the caltrop fireball

♪ The journey can stretch on forever ♪

to deter enemies or noble families,

♪ Even if it puts my life on the line ♪

even

♪ I shall never forget ♪

it may bring uncontrollable energy.

♪ Let me dash toward where you are ♪

Words alone are not enough.

So let's deter them with power.

♪ To seek out my own sanctuary ♪

Xiao Wuyi.

♪ Life hurries by, yet you alone ♪

Let me be your strongest support.

♪ Illuminate me with your blazing radiance ♪

You and me—

♪ Let me burn with courage as I forge ahead ♪

Let's go together.

♪ Your hand in my hand ♪

♪ Our love knows no bounds of time or space ♪

♪ Two hearts together until the end of time ♪

♪ Let me burn with courage as I forge ahead ♪

♪ Your hand in my hand ♪

♪ Our love knows no bounds of time or space ♪

♪ Two hearts together until the end of time ♪

What's wrong?

You walking in here without saying a word

is scarier than when you stumble in

covered in blood.

You said before that the blood stasis in my brain

would affect my lifespan.

You'll go blind in two or three years,

and you'll die within three to five years.

Can you help me live longer?

Didn't you say

three to five years was enough?

Why do you suddenly want to live longer?

Can you or not?

Yes,

as long as you listen to me.

If it's a key,

what does it unlock?

It would still require all 4 pieces put together.

Cui Jun only had one piece

and found one of the mines.

This means it's not a key,

but the totem itself.

The Phoenix Imperial Seal was reforged into the form of the Vermilion Bird,

with its head and tail forming a complete whole.

What secret lies within this totem?

Yuanji?

I'm really seeing things.

How could it be Yuanji?

My Lady,

drink it while it's warm.

It clears heat and improves vision.

I just got these herbs from Qing Long.

From Qing Long?

What's wrong with his eyes?

It's because of Cui Jun's kidnapping.

Qing Long was in charge of keeping the key.

He said the key was never lost.

Even when sleeping,

he kept it close to him.

But the lock

had no signs of being pried.

Qing Long said that unless he was blind,

it couldn't have happened without him knowing.

Yuanji.

What's wrong with the Heir's Consort?

She is the Empress Dowager's niece.

Why are you saying such strange things, My Lady?

Of course, she

is the Empress Dowager's niece.

No.

That's not right, Xie Jiayu.

How could you think that?

Yuanji treats you so well.

How could she?

I told you I'm already thinking of a way.

Her Majesty misses her sister.

[He Yuanji's Father] [He Yuanji's Mother]

She invites your mother to the palace for a chat.

She'll be back in a few days.

I just came to inform Your Highness.

The Empress Dowager has gone too far.

Over the years,

Her Majesty let you stay at Prince Jing'an's Mansion

without doing anything,

only to deliver a fatal blow today.

No matter what,

you are a member of the He family.

The lives of hundreds of people in your family

are in Her Majesty's hands.

You'd better weigh your options carefully.

I already helped Her Majesty kidnap Cui Jun.

How can I get the Phoenix Heart Token now?

You figure it out yourself.

I heard Your Highness

has been visiting Zhengtong Bookstore frequently lately.

Is there someone there who reminds you of an old acquaintance,

someone you still hold dear?

If you refuse to find a way,

Her Majesty will find one herself.

The place where Cui Jun was held

was His Highness's hidden house in Jiankang.

No one could escape from there,

and no one even knows it exists.

Cui Jun lost a hand,

yet he vanished into thin air.

It's like something out of a ghost story.

There is only one key

to the hidden house in the world,

and His Highness entrusted it to me.

I swear upon Heaven

that I never leaked the key,

nor did I help Cui Jun escape.

On the day of the palace banquet,

His Highness traded the Phoenix Heart Token for the Cui family's mines.

The noble families didn't get a share.

They thought they had suffered a loss,

so they joined forces to accuse His Highness,

saying his reform of Beifu was for himself.

These old geezers

are clearly making a fuss over nothing

to frame His Highness.

He really didn't do it himself?

Oh, Lady Xie.

Alright.

Calm down.

I believe it wasn't him.

But it's indeed quite suspicious.

Hiding the person on purpose

to see how everyone reacts.

Would you call this a feint or taking advantage of the chaos

in military strategy?

Not this time.

Then Xiao Wuyi

just going to let them frame him?

Hasn't His Highness always been like this?

He never cares what others say or think.

My Lady,

the Heir's Consort is indeed not in the mansion.

Outsiders had no chance to get near it,

but what if it was someone inside?

Anmin.

You went to the bookstore again?

I found another

extremely precious ancient book today.

Right,

I also found some ancient books on canal building.

They were left by craftsmen who followed Li Luhai

when they built the Qin Canal in the past.

You currently hold

the position overseeing the construction of the new canal.

These books

might also be very important to you.

I'll have them copied and sent to you.

I didn't expect you to keep it in mind.

But it's chaotic outside these few days.

You should go out less.

Got it.

Yuanji.

Is there anything else?

Bring more people with you when you go out.

Okay.

I'm not playing Go with you.

You're even worse at Go than Father.

I'm in a bad mood.

Play a game with me.

Rather than spending your time here,

why don't you just be honest with her?

It's been five years.

Anmin, you really know how to drag things out.

You—

Xiao Wuyi.

She is your Consort.

You never care about having a bad reputation,

but she's a woman.

Can she not care?

If I tell her,

how can she gain a foothold in Jiankang?

She is not as pedantic as you.

You.

What is this?

I've already given her the divorce paper.

She is free now.

Don't blame me for not reminding you.

If you don't make a move soon,

they might rekindle their old flame,

and you'll regret it when it's too late.

Liu Zhaolin is really...

The Heir's Consort has gone out again?

Yes, she just left.

Quick, take off your clothes and give them to me.

The old rules.

Do exactly as you did before.

No matter who comes later,

just pretend to be me.

[Zhengtong Bookstore]

I didn't expect Your Highness

to have such insight and literary talent.

I am impressed.

You flatter me, sir.

Thanks to

the books you copied for me last time,

I benefited a lot.

But I still have a few doubts here.

I hope you can explain them to me.

Confucius said,

"Zilu, do you understand what true knowledge is?

To know what you know, and admit

what you do not know—

that is true wisdom."

Have you ever been to Yingzhou?

No.

Why the question?

It's just that you look

exactly like a friend of mine.

He was from Yingzhou.

Is it Mr. Pei?

Yes.

He has passed away.

I see.

The Pei family in Yingzhou is a prominent family.

Young Master Pei must also come from a prestigious family

and be a man of extraordinary talent.

I am just a commoner,

and dare not compare myself with him.

Yuanji is meeting her lover here?

Sorry to interrupt.

Nanxing?

Your Highness, My Lady is missing.

She suspects

that the Heir's Consort might be involved in Cui Jun's disappearance.

Today, when the Heir's Consort went out,

she followed her.

I knew it was related to her.

Why did she get involved?

Your Highness, you really knew it?

I didn't know you knew.

When Lady Xie asked me,

I even said with absolute certainty that you didn't know.

At 5 p.m.,

the Heir's Consort had already returned.

But My Lady hasn't returned yet.

Where are the Shadow Envoys?

My Lady found a way to unlock the secret of the Phoenix Heart Token.

But she needs the Shadow Envoys to leave the city to confirm it.

The ones who should be here are absent.

And the ones who shouldn't be here are running around.

If you want to see Xie Jiayu alive,

bring all the Phoenix Heart Tokens to Antai Gate.

My little lady,

you've been drugged.

Don't waste your energy.

Cui Jun, why did you kidnap me?

I once had an eagle

named Mingdi.

I found it when I was tending the herd as a child.

It was shot by a hunter

and was dying.

I saved it.

Since then, it has always been with me.

But since I came to Southern Ye,

it's been 20 years.

I've never seen it again.

It must be dead.

Or it was caught by someone,

cooked, and eaten.

Or its feathers were

plucked one by one

to make a fan.

Don't bother.

Stop!

Take one more step,

and this little girl is dead.

Jiayu!

Cui Jun,

let her go.

Xie Jiayu is just a woman.

Whatever happens

has nothing to do with her.

How could the woman cherished by both His Highness and the Regent

have nothing to do with this?

Put your weapons down!

You brought the Phoenix Heart Token, right?

Of course.

Cui Jun,

even if you get the tokens,

you won't be able to escape.

Who said I'm escaping?

Xiao Wuyi,

you and Xie Jiayu put on

a good show.

The token used to frame Li Lejun

belongs to the Xiao family, right?

And Her Highness's token

is still in Li Mao's hands.

It's yours.

As long as you let her go,

I will trade my life for hers.

It seems Prince Qi really cares for you.

He didn't hesitate at all.

Xiao Wuyi,

what about yours?

I do have the Phoenix Heart Token.

But what if I don't give it to you?

Little girl.

Prince Qi is a good choice.

Xiao Wuyi is no good.

In his eyes,

you're not even worth a token.

Wuyi.

Yaoyao is in his hands.

Whoever you choose to die today will die.

I won't choose.

Choose one.

One is willing to give up the Phoenix Heart Token for you.

The other doesn't care about you at all.

Xiao Wuyi.

I...

Let me go!

Jiayu.

Make a choice.

No one will blame you.

Ashina Qi.

Why make things difficult for her?

I will naturally give you the Phoenix Heart Token.

You used the Phoenix Heart Token to drive a wedge

between the court and its ministers.

Since that's the case...

Xiao Wuyi, stop!

I will choose for you!

I will take...

Prince Qi's life.

Good.

If you kill him,

I'll let this little girl go.

Prince Qi,

didn't you say

you're willing to trade your life for hers?

I'll grant your wish.

Xiao Wuyi, stop!

Xiao Wuyi, I knew I was right about you.

You really have no respect for the ruler or your father!

Xiao Wuyi!

He is the current Regent.

This is the Antai Gate.

Are you trying to rebel?

Stop talking.

If Xiao Wuyi really wants to rebel,

are you going to fight him to the death?

Xiao Wuyi,

if you dare to shoot,

it will be an act of regicide.

Tell me,

who kidnapped you?

Mingdi.

It has always been here.

It's here to take me home.

Mingdi.

My Mingdi.

Xiao Wuyi

still didn't bring out the Phoenix Heart Token.

Li Mao is still not as calm and steady as Xiao Wuyi.

That arrow aimed at Prince Qi was always meant to be fired.

Now, everyone in the court

saw Xiao Wuyi shoot an arrow at Prince Qi.

Such disloyalty and treason...

what a pleasant surprise.

Your Majesty, by releasing Cui Jun,

you have achieved two goals at once.

It's truly brilliant.

Really brilliant.

Her Majesty

doesn't want to keep dragging this out with you

and is willing to give you two ways out.

One,

die right now.

The other,

let you out.

Out?

As a secret agent of Northern Qin,

you've done so much.

You just want to see Ye in chaos, right?

Now, Her Majesty is willing to give you this chance.

Your Majesty,

are you still going to get rid of Prince Qi?

I think

it's better to win him over.

Look at Li Lejun. She used to pretend to be so obedient and harmless.

And now?

Whether it's Li Mao or Li Lejun,

they are nothing but wolves in sheep's clothing.

It's fine that they have yet to fully spread their wings.

But, if the day comes

when Li Mao uses the Beifu Reform

to establish his own authority,

where would you and His Majesty

stand?

Young Lord Xiao,

[Ziji Palace]

Her Majesty is angry.

Not only because you pointed your arrow at Prince Qi today,

breaking the rules of a subject,

but also because you and Lady Xie

committed the crime of deceiving the throne.

How is this deceiving the throne?

Lady Xie,

His Highness Prince Qi has already handed over

the third Phoenix Heart Token.

His token

is the one Li Lejun took from Her Highness.

Then where did the Phoenix Heart Token that appeared

at the palace banquet come from?

You and Young Lord Xiao, in order to catch the murderer,

even dared to use Her Majesty as part of your plan.

Isn't this deceiving the throne?

Xiao Wuyi,

do you plead guilty?

Your Majesty,

the Phoenix Heart Token from that day

was indeed granted by Empress Wenxi to my father

and passed down to me.

To catch the murderer,

I used Your Majesty.

I plead guilty.

But Xie Jiayu was only acting out of concern for her mother.

She meant no harm.

And the injustice she presented was not a false accusation.

Please show mercy, Your Majesty.

I am willing to take the punishment for Lady Xie as well.

Such devotion.

Then I will grant your wish.

You shall

take her flogging as well.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

No, I plead guilty, too.

Let's split it half and half.

You shouldn't take the beating all by yourself.

Start it.

Begin the punishment.

Xiao Wuyi!

Lady Xie,

if you stop it,

it will not only be deceiving the throne

but also defying an imperial decree.

Continue.

Xiao Wuyi!

No!

No!

Do you understand what it means to be ruler and subject?

You were born to be a ruler.

If you refuse to become Crown Prince Wenxi

and sit on that throne in Jiankang Palace,

choosing instead to remain a subject for life

even with Beifu Army in your hands,

you will still be feared and restrained by others all your life.

Your every move will be constrained.

If I sit on that throne,

will I be free from constraints?

With the noble families controlling the military,

whoever sits in that position

will inevitably be constrained.

That's why I established Beifu,

an army that doesn't belong to the noble families.

I want countless common-born talents

to have the chance to make their mark and find a place in this world.

Even if the noble families

can never truly be suppressed,

I still want to bring fresh blood

into Ye's court.

There are many things I need to do,

but I don't have much time left.

What do you mean?

I was injured at Jiuzhang Plain,

and my lifespan is compromised.

Heaven didn't give me more time.

Heaven's will abandoned me 25 years ago.

What I seek is not that throne.

If I don't want the Beifu Army

to disappear with my death,

I must do more things,

rather than merely sitting above everyone else

and negotiating with the noble families.

You trust Prince Qi

and are willing to support him?

Perhaps as Xie Jiayu's husband,

he is not satisfactory to Your Highness.

But I know he has ambition.

What if one day

you find he doesn't deserve it?

In your future actions,

can you spare a little thought for yourself?

Today,

you actually aimed your bow

at Mao in public.

Are you worried about Mao?

I'm not joking with you.

Neither am I.

In the past,

I heard many rumors about you.

Because of them,

I was very afraid of you and doubted you

when I first entered the mansion.

If it weren't for the fact that

we've been through so many things together later,

I wouldn't have gotten to know the real you.

And I wouldn't have

fallen for you.

What did you say?

I mean,

Xiao Wuyi,

I'm in love with you.

If we are merely traveling the same road,

when our paths diverge, we must part ways.

Xiao Wuyi,

I don't just want to walk the same path as you.

I want to walk it

to the very end with you.

So from now on,

could you please think about yourself a little?

If you have a good reputation,

even if you make mistakes in the future,

people will still believe you.

Wouldn't it be easier to achieve your goals?

Look how good the Grand Tutor is at deceiving people.

Everyone says you are smart,

but why do I think you are foolish?

In the court,

someone must play the villain,

and someone must play the savior.

I've already chosen someone to play the good side.

I don't mind playing the villain.

Have you ever thought about your own ending?

Although I don't like reading,

I've read many storybooks.

Throughout history, subjects

who love playing the villain like you never end well.

Yes.

So I dare not expect to keep you by my side.

What if I insist?

Can you

take better care of yourself?

You told me to treat this place as my home

and promised Mother to keep me safe.

But I know what you're thinking.

You would simply arrange a hundred or so guards,

and if something happened to you or the Xiao family in the future,

they would escort me away. Am I right?

I don't want to rely on you like this.

Then what do you want?

What if I don't want to be the wife of the infamous Demon Xiao,

but the wife of a hero?

I want you

to live a long life,

to live in peace,

to leave behind an honorable name,

and to be remembered by all.

You are making things difficult for me.

That's right.

I insist on doing so.

Will you listen to me?

♪ Let me dash toward where you are ♪

♪ To seek out my own sanctuary ♪

♪ Life hurries by, yet you alone ♪

♪ Illuminate me with your blazing radiance ♪

♪ Let me burn with courage as I forge ahead ♪

♪ Your hand in my hand ♪

♪ Our love knows no bounds of time or space ♪

I...

♪ Two hearts together until the end of time ♪

I'll try.

Then I promise you, too.

♪ Let me dash toward where you are ♪

I will always choose you

and trust you.

♪ To seek out my own sanctuary ♪

In the future,

♪ Life hurries by, yet you alone ♪

treat this place as your own home.

♪ Illuminate me with your blazing radiance ♪

♪ Let me burn with courage as I forge ahead ♪

♪ Your hand in my hand ♪

♪ Our love knows no bounds of time or space ♪

♪ Two hearts together until the end of time ♪

Yaoyao.

Since you've made your promise,

no matter who tries to take you away in the future,

♪ Let me burn with courage as I forge ahead ♪

I will never let you go again.

♪ Your hand in my hand ♪

♪ Our love knows no bounds of time or space ♪

♪ Two hearts together until the end of time ♪