Original subtitles

[Episode 23]

What is this?

Her Highness found this while organizing Prince Li's belongings.

[To Mo Jing Li. Li Mountain Academy]

- Your Highness. - Where is Princess Ding?

Your Highness, she is in her room.

I see.

Your Highness.

I've noticed something strange.

What is it?

You get back and the first thing you do is go find Princess Ding?

Is that strange?

Your Highness.

Isn't that Lady Su over there?

I haven't been back home for a long time.

I forgot how damp and cold Great Chu is at night.

I wasn't careful and caught a cold.

I remember there were two intertwined trees here

when I was a child.

Why is there only one left now?

I don't remember. Perhaps it withered away.

In the end, nothing lasts forever.

I ran into Lady Wen by chance last night.

I didn't mean to interrupt so abruptly.

Given my current status, I shouldn't have seen you again.

After seeing Princess Ding yesterday, I found her dignified and elegant.

I heard she is a descendant of Li Mountain.

She must be extraordinary.

Your Highness, you've suffered hardship these years.

Now, seeing that you are living a good life with Princess Ding,

I feel very relieved.

You are serving Princess Ling Yun now.

Is it okay for you to stay out all night?

Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.

Lady Wen has sent someone to the guest house.

She said I ran into an old friend and took a few days' leave.

I... I've been away for too long.

Lady Wen must be looking for me.

Your Highness, I'll take my leave.

Li.

How was your day?

I went to check on the shops. It went well.

Your Highnesses. It's time for lunch.

Let's go to eat.

[Prison]

Things have already come to this.

Are you still going to deny it?

This is a frame-up!

It's Cangbei's plot to drive a wedge between His Majesty and us!

It doesn't matter.

You will talk sooner or later.

Prince Ding! Prince Ding!

You're framing me!

I want to see Marquis Muyang!

I want to see Marquis Muyang!

I want to see Marquis Muyang!

[Marquis Muyang's Mansion]

Things happened so suddenly that day.

I had to make our spies in the palace carry out the arrest.

I didn't expect Prince Ding's legs to have already recovered.

- It was my fault for-- - Enough!

What's done is done.

What's the use of saying this now?

I don't mean to blame you.

Mo Xiu Yao is scheming and calculating.

Even I was fooled by him, let alone you.

But the situation is critical now.

Zhang Heng Yuan is not a tough man.

He won't last long in Mo Xiu Yao's hands.

Once he talks, we'll all die with him.

What do you want me to do, Marquis Muyang?

I want you to sneak into Jingzhao Prefecture's prison and kill him.

Jingzhao Prefecture is heavily guarded.

- I'm afraid... - There is no other way.

Don't worry.

I've taken care of everything after this for you.

After this is done, leave immediately.

Go to Yun Chuan and lie low.

I've already prepared a new identity for you there.

You'll have houses, land, and money.

Once everything is settled,

I will bring you back to the Capital rightfully as my adopted son.

Adopted son?

Yes.

Although I never told you during these years,

I've always been caring for you.

You are my own son.

We share the same bloodline.

I won't bear to see you live away from home, unable to claim your place.

I promise you, after you return from Yun Chuan,

you'll never live by the sword again.

But given the current situation,

you're the only one I can trust.

Rest assured, Marquis Muyang.

I will kill Zhang Heng Yuan.

Are you still calling me Marquis Muyang now?

Be careful.

I'll wait for you to come back.

Yes.

Zhao Ting.

Marquis Muyang.

Follow him. If anything goes wrong, leave no one alive.

Yes.

Father.

What exactly happened at the palace?

Does it have anything to do with us?

Was Zhang Heng Yuan arrested for embezzlement?

And did the Emperor and the Empress Dowager give you a hard time after you stayed?

Enough. Stop asking so many questions.

I can kill the person you asked Qin Cang to kill as well.

- Shall I go to see-- - Nonsense!

You can't get involved in any of such bloody business.

- Why? - No reason.

Just do as I say.

You just said to leave no one alive.

Are you planning to kill Qin Cang, too?

Father.

He is your son.

Remember this.

You are my only son.

[Jingzhao Prefecture]

Fire! Quick, there's a fire!

Fire! This is bad! Fire!

Hurry and put out the fire!

You guys, go get some water!

Fire! Fire! Hurry!

Qin Cang?

Marquis Muyang sent you to save me, right?

Hurry and open the door.

Hurry and let me out. Hurry!

No!

You're not here to save me.

Marquis Muyang sent you to silence me.

I didn't say anything...

Marquis Muyang, why?

Who's there?

Someone! A murder!

The killer is over there! Catch him!

Who is it?

Marquis Muyang sent me to pick you up.

How did it go?

Is Zhang Heng Yuan dead?

Qin Cang!

He's going to kill you! Run!

Qin Cang!

Qin Cang!

Qin Cang!

Qin Cang!

They couldn't have gone far. They must be nearby.

Spread out and search!

Go that way!

Check inside there!

[Marquis Muyang's Mansion]

Marquis Muyang. Zhang Heng Yuan is dead.

Qin Cang's identity has been exposed. I have already...

You summoned me to the palace early this morning

since you knew Marquis Muyang would pretend to apologize again, right?

All these years, every time he causes trouble, he puts on this same act.

I feel tired of that.

Was it really his own son who died at Jingzhao Prefecture last night?

Even a vicious tiger doesn't eat its own cubs.

Marquis Muyang is hopeless.

What good does it do him to go to such extremes?

I remember I taught you before,

"Attack the enemy while protecting oneself."

Marquis Muyang never learned that.

And look at you, you're just the same.

Your Majesty, you never go easy on me.

Marquis Muyang! Marquis Muyang!

Please let me tell Her Majesty first!

Marquis Muyang!

Your Majesty, you were right.

You may all leave.

Marquis Muyang. Please let me tell Her Majesty first!

Marquis Muyang.

Your Majesty.

I'm here to beg for forgiveness and the death penalty.

Marquis Muyang, why is that?

What happened at Jingzhao Prefecture last night was my doing.

You were in such a hurry to silence him that you even killed your own son.

What Zhang Heng Yuan knew was enough to shake your very foundation.

Did his collusion with Cangbei have anything to do with you?

Absolutely not.

Everything I did was for Your Majesty's sake.

Marquis Muyang, watch your words.

Zhang Heng Yuan and Lu Chang Fu have served me for many years.

They've done many things for me.

Your Majesty knows it better than anyone.

I was worried Zhang Heng Yuan would talk nonsense in prison

and reveal things that would tarnish Your Majesty's reputation,

or I wouldn't have resorted to such a ruthless plan.

For Your Majesty and this nation,

I've made many enemies all these years.

There are very few I can trust.

Now, they've all been killed by those treacherous ones.

Until last night,

even my own child was not spared.

If so, Marquis Muyang, accept my condolences.

Let go of the past?

The past?

How can I let go of the past?

I'm afraid you've forgotten.

Qin Cang's original surname was Zhou.

His name was Zhou Lang.

Only because his mother was the daughter of an Eastern Palace attendant,

and I didn't want Your Majesty to have concerns,

I hid Zhou Lang's identity for years.

Because I believed Your Majesty was a true, wise ruler,

and I was willing to fully support you, so I married Lady Kang.

Shut up!

What's the use of telling me this now?

If you truly loved your son,

why did you make him do your dirty work for you?

And why did you send someone to kill him?

It's been eight years.

Prince Ding has become more composed,

while you, blinded by power, became arrogant and foolish.

Foolish?

I have exhausted my mind and drained my very blood.

Didn't I do all this for you, Your Majesty?

For the sake of our Great Chu?

A wise man covers his flaws.

A foolish man exposes them.

Times have changed.

Marquis Muyang. You should keep up with the times.

Your Majesty sits high above.

You have the ultimate power.

Of course, your hands never got bloody.

But what about my hands?

My hands are stained with filth, blood,

and all the dirty deeds back then.

By saying times have changed, you think you can wipe everything away?

Marquis Muyang.

Don't forget.

You made these choices after weighing the pros and cons.

You sided with me back then not because you were loyal to me.

It was because you knew what you'd get, and you thought it was worth it.

You don't need to pretend to be loyal to me now.

[Linjiao Villa]

You're always too busy to see me.

What brings you to my lonely villa today?

An old friend just returned from Lingnan and brought these Tuoluo cakes.

I heard your ancestral home is in Lingnan,

so I thought you might miss this taste of home.

I immediately brought them to you, and I hope you would like them.

You are so thoughtful.

They indeed make me miss my home.

You seem to have something on your mind today.

What do you think of Marquis Muyang?

Since you asked, I will be honest with you.

Marquis Muyang looks arrogant, but lacks real skills.

A stubborn one invites betrayal.

A narrow-minded one digs his own grave.

He will soon meet his end. There is no future in him.

He'll soon meet his end? Well said.

His schemes are an open book to you.

None of them can be hidden from you.

No wonder Her Majesty likes you so much.

But I've been stuck in old ways like a fool.

Consort Dowager, you're being too harsh on yourself.

I'm just an idle outsider.

I observe the game as an onlooker, so I dare to offer my humble opinions.

If I said anything inappropriate, please forgive me.

The Su family hasn't died out yet.

Her brother, Su Huai Zhong, is doing silk business in Huaizhou.

He buys fine silk from Songzhou and Bozhou.

I heard that this year, he even took orders from Persian caravans.

Her sister, Su Zui Chan, married an attendant of the Jingzhao Office.

He handles registration and land disputes in the west of the Capital.

Her mother's former maid,

Wu, is now the head chef at Xiangyun House.

The Jinglv Pastry you loved so much was made by her.

I see.

Thank you, Brother.

What are you doing?

I'm working.

You're about to dig a hole in that table.

Are you going to stay here forever?

I'm not in your way.

You're an assassin.

But now you're serving here. Don't you have any ambition?

Mind your own business.

Is Princess Ding here?

She's over there.

Your Highness. Something happened to Lady Yu Sheng.

Princess Ding hasn't returned yet?

Your Highness, not yet.

Did she leave a message?

No. No, she didn't.

[To Mo Jing Li. Li Mountain Academy]

Thank you, Princess Ding.

I didn't expect you to come in person.

My senior brother cherishes you a lot.

When you're in trouble, I won't just stand by and watch.

You're very kind.

No wonder you'd care for someone like me.

He is my patron.

I am his confidante.

We understand one thing.

Everyone is here for fun, so don't take anything too seriously.

Especially those things that are impossible and out of reach.

Young Master, am I right?

Now that you're fine, I'll be leaving.

Take good care of yourself.

If he troubles you again, send someone to Shende House to find me.

Thank you, Princess Ding.

What that lady said was wrong.

What's wrong?

As long as you are set on it, you should go for it.

If you don't try, how would you know if it's possible?

Princess Ding.

Princess Ding.

We finally found you.

Why are you here?

You haven't returned at this late hour. His Highness was worried sick.

He sent everyone out to find you.

Please come back with me now.

You may all leave.

Yes.

Say something.

About what?

Where did you go?

I went to fight.

Where did you go to fight? And why?

I went to a brothel.

You?

A brothel?

I rushed back as soon as I was done.

Ye Li.

I really don't understand you.

You always go to places I don't know.

You always do things that I don't understand.

Do you even know your current identity?

Do you know it's dangerous for a woman to go out alone at night?

Do you know how it feels to wait for you, only to be met with nothing?

You even went to a brothel to fight.

Who did you fight with?

What if it were a desperate killer?

What if something happened?

It was not a desperate killer.

Ye Li!

I thought after we lived together, you would understand my feelings.

I thought you felt the same way.

But you...

Have you ever taken this marriage to heart?

Perhaps we still don't know each other very well.

We do.

What?

We do know each other.

I know you never gave up all these years.

I know you can't stand your family and the Heiyun Cavalry being wronged.

I know you want to reopen the case and get rid of Marquis Muyang.

I know that you know me, too.

You know I am never a woman trapped in the room.

You know I left the mountain for a reason.

You know the deaths of Lv Cheng and Lu Chang Fu were related to me.

You also know that

I have liked you for a long time.

I won't do it again.

I'm sorry for making you worry.

Li.

Li.

Did you have a nightmare?

I dreamed I was all alone, walking on a desolate road.

There was nothing around.

It was pitch black.

It's okay. It was just a dream.

I seem to have similar dreams often.

I'm always so scared when I wake up.

I'm here.

I won't let you be alone anymore.

Really?

I promise.

No matter what happens in the future,

I will never leave you or let you be alone.

We won't leave each other in life or death and share both fortune and woe.

I believe you.

Is it fun?

Yes.

Do you feel hot?

Yes.

That day was extremely hot as today.

The stone blocks by the street seemed ready to melt under the sun.

The cicadas chirped louder and louder as if they would wake the dead.

It's so hot.

My Lady.

It's truly so hot.

Is everything ready?

Yes.

After Mo Xiu Yao saved me, I returned to the Capital with Mother.

But after I left him, I somehow often dreamed of him.

Qing Shuang said it was because I'd fallen for him.

I didn't quite understand, so I tried to see him again.

I heard he was working for the Duke of Huaguo.

Duke of Huaguo happened to return to the Capital for Madam's birthday.

He would return with them as a personal guard.

I wanted to see him, but I didn't dare tell Mother.

So I secretly hired an escort carriage and took the bumpy ride out of the city.

Duke of Huaguo's army was stationed at Changding County camp.

Changding County wasn't too far from the Capital.

- We can't go through. - On horseback,

- We can't go through. - it only took about two hours.

But I had bad luck.

- The roads were washed out days ago. - Let's go.

The main roads were blocked, so we had to take the back roads.

The heat was dizzying.

- I almost drank up all the fruit drink. - Here, My Lady.

But my throat felt like it was on fire.

My legs felt like lead, and I could barely take another step.

But my heart felt like it was on fire.

- Let's go. - Let's go.

It drove me forward.

I had a question that I had to ask him in person.

Perhaps my information was wrong.

By the time I arrived, they had already broken camp.

I didn't get to see him.

Now I realize, it only takes hours from the Capital to Changding County.

But in my memories of that summer, that road felt so very long.

The sound of the cicadas was so loud.

Can I ask you a question?

Go ahead.

The day we first met, there were so many people there.

Why did you pick me and put me on your horse?

Did you have feelings for me back then?

You were only about this tall back then.

Your face was a mess of snot and tears.

Why would I have feelings for you?

There was no snot!

Prince Ding, Princess Ding.

What are you doing here?

Waiting for you to open the door.

Please come in.

[On the Next Episode]

I was indeed engaged to her.

But back then, we were both very young.

We'd barely seen each other.

Then things changed, and we lost touch.

If I ever got in your way, would you kill me too?

Yao.

Let's make a bet.

Tomorrow at noon, the sun will disappear.