Original subtitles

[Episode 39]

Get out of the way! Hurry!

- Move aside! - Move aside!

- There's a fire! - Fire!

Run.

- Impressive! - Impressive!

- Impressive! - Impressive!

- Let's go. - That's incredible.

- Go! - Fire!

- There's a fire! - Run!

Escort Sister-in-law and Wu You back first.

- Yes. - Aren't you coming with us?

I'll go see what's happening. Don't worry.

The secret guards will protect me.

Then you must be careful.

Go.

- Fire! - Fire!

- Fire! - Fire!

Fire!

Something's wrong.

Fire!

- Fire! - Fire!

- Fire! - Help!

Fire! Don't go that way!

Hurry!

Fire!

- Run! - Hurry!

Run!

Qing Yu!

Where's Li?

Her Highness had the guards take us home.

We don't know where she went.

But she has secret guards protecting her.

- Fire! - Run.

Yu Sheng. Take them to Xiangqi House for safety.

- I'll go look for Li. - All right. Be careful.

Everyone, follow me. Hurry!

Hurry!

Who's there?

It's you.

Setting fires everywhere and slaughtering the innocent.

Is this the great cause that your master wants to achieve?

This has nothing to do with you.

Leave now. Or die.

We'll see who dies.

Are you all right, kid?

You're courting death!

Run!

Are you all right?

- Where are you going? - Mingde Hall.

Stop!

Mo Jing Li is leading the rebels. They've surrounded Mingde Hall.

Swords show no mercy. What can you do there?

I am the Emperor.

Should I cower behind these palace walls and let rebels massacre my people?

Should I wait until they come for me?

Don't!

Qi Er, you cannot go.

If anything happens to you, what would become of me?

Mother, I now rule on my own.

You said it yourself.

Once I rule independently, all matters will be mine to decide.

Your Majesty, Duke of Huaguo has brought troops to protect you.

He sent me to tell Your Majesty that Great Chu will be safe.

Dispatch the palace elite guards to support them.

Yes.

We traveled day and night, arriving a day earlier than planned.

Yet we are still late.

Pass the order.

Find a place to set up camp.

We will enter the Palace tomorrow.

Yes.

Your Highness.

I heard His Majesty held a three-day lantern festival to welcome you back.

Perhaps people are celebrating and cheering.

That's why it's a bit noisy.

Your Highness!

A secret message just arrived.

The city is in total chaos.

Fires are breaking out everywhere.

Tell them I've arrived early. Have them open the gate.

Yes.

Prince Ding, Mo Xiu Yao, returned in triumph from suppressing the rebels.

He must report urgent military intelligence to His Majesty immediately.

Our general said that,

by imperial decree, Prince Ding may only enter tomorrow.

Can you inform the Palace immediately?

General, please wait.

We will report right away.

Thank you.

Open the gate!

The evil Empress Dowager Guo Jin usurped the throne

and burned the Eastern Palace, defying Heaven and the people.

Prince Li, heir to the late Emperor, acts under Heaven's mandate

to slay the evil Empress Dowager and restore the imperial order!

Lay down your arms and surrender now!

What are you waiting for?

The traitor, Mo Jing Li, has desecrated the Palace.

His crime is punishable by death.

Soldiers, hear my command!

Defend the Palace to the death!

Slay the rebels!

- Yes! - Yes!

Loyal souls of Great Chu, fight with me to the death!

Stubborn fools. Charge!

- Charge! - Charge!

Sui Xin!

Your Highness, something is wrong in the city.

Order the vanguard to prepare to enter the city.

What?

Your Highness, you must not.

You are leading a massive army.

Entering the city without a decree is...

That is treason.

Your Highness, have you forgotten the late Prince Ding's incident?

Your Highness, the situation is still unclear.

We must not repeat the same mistakes.

Prepare an elite unit.

They'll enter the city with me.

- Yes. - Your Highness.

Escort Duke of Huaguo out.

Yes.

Li, be careful.

Mo Jing Li, do you want to be the Emperor that badly?

The city is already littered with corpses.

Blood is flowing like a river.

You treat the people as nothing.

Tell me, do you deserve to rule the realm?

Do you deserve to sit on this throne?

Li, don't stop me.

So what if I do?

Do you want me dead?

There's no turning back for me.

As things stand now, nothing in this world can stop me.

Not even you!

Li, step aside!

Impossible.

Then don't blame me.

Mo Jing Li.

It's all over.

Mo Jing Li, stop your desperate resistance.

You killed Yuan Fang, murdered the Princess of Cangbei,

and brought chaos to both states.

To usurp the throne, you set fires and slaughtered civilians.

Such crimes cannot be tolerated by Heaven!

The winner takes all.

No need for more words.

I, Mo Jing Li, will never surrender!

Fire!

You haven't changed at all.

Still the same as before, cowardly and hypocritical.

Always hiding your own filth behind noble-sounding words.

After enough time, you actually start to believe

that you are an innocent person who values loyalty and justice.

Your Highness.

Don't you find yourself ridiculous when you say these things?

Li!

Mo Jing Li.

I truly loathe you.

So stay away from me.

These seven stars connect together.

Count them.

One, two...

Look!

Did you catch it?

I caught it. Look!

All my life, fate has been unkind to me.

Whatever I wanted, I had to fight for it myself.

Li, was I wrong?

Li, why did you place your stone here?

The white stones are in a weak position.

To advance alone only invites destruction.

It is better to join forces with neighboring stones,

turn danger into safety, and plan for the whole board.

Well said.

The Go board has 19 lines,

intersecting at 361 points.

With 180 black and white stones each,

only when connected do they form a game.

All things in the world are just like this.

A lone tree, cut off from the forest, will see its roots rot.

A lone star, cut off from the galaxy, will see its glow fade.

A person, cut off from others, will wither in spirit.

All things in existence depend on one another.

No one can live their life as a lone stone.

Li, remember this.

Don't let yourself become an isolated stone.

Your Highness, are you awake?

It'll be too late if you don't get up now.

It's good that you're awake. Let's get you washed.

Lady Wen is already waiting outside.

Since Mo Jing Li's failed coup, five months have passed.

The court inevitably went through another purge.

But with Gongshu Yang and Mo Xiu Yao mediating,

the court didn't suffer much turmoil.

The Capital soon returned to peace.

Last New Year's Eve, the Empress Dowager fell ill.

When I saw her again, she had aged significantly.

She summoned me to the Palace, but remained silent for a long time.

She just sat outside the Anqing Palace,

watching the setting sun on the horizon.

Your Highness.

Duke of Huaguo told me the Emperor knows what she did in the past.

But no decree has been issued yet.

Between family ties and the law,

the balance is indeed hard to gauge.

So I told the Duke,

"Let's wait a bit longer. Give His Majesty more time."

Mo Xiu Yao went to Suixue Pass again.

The rebel remnants are still at large.

He's leading troops to clean up the mess.

And I...

Your Highness, I remember you had three straw figures.

Did you throw them all away?

Can I not wear this many hairpins today?

Does Your Highness have a headache again?

Too many accessories feel so heavy.

But you're going with Lady Wen to Jinchang House for a fitting.

You need to be properly dressed to match the clothes.

By the way, Lady Wen specifically asked for a hairstyle

that is dignified, elegant, noble, and breathtakingly beautiful.

Li.

Li, hurry up. We're going to be late.

Almost done.

If I hadn't ordered the best fabric at Jinchang House,

I wouldn't have rushed to wake you.

This batch is very expensive.

Many ladies in the Capital can't even get it.

I think it's better for you to try it on in person.

Sister-in-law has made new friends lately.

She often enjoys tea and flowers with them and engages in small talk.

She's probably afraid that with Mo Xiu Yao away, I would feel lonely.

Wherever she goes, she always wants to take me along.

But honestly, I don't want to go.

Because I have a headache.

Madam Zhao is hosting a banquet in a few days.

I thought I should return the favor, so I'll have an outfit made for her too.

That's why I asked her to join us.

After the fitting, let's go have some tea.

Li, did you hear what I just said?

I heard you.

Yao has been at Suixue Pass for almost five months.

During these five months, unless I insist,

you never leave the house, shutting yourself up in this room.

You're so young, yet you can endure such loneliness.

Lately, you've done nothing but eat and sleep.

You should have gained weight.

Why does your little face look even thinner?

Let's go.

Sister-in-law.

After I see you to the shop, can I go back and wait for you at home?

I don't need to try on my outfit.

How can that be?

You must try it on.

It needs to be altered.

It only looks good when it fits perfectly.

Madam, you're here.

This must be Princess Ding.

She is absolutely stunning, perfectly suited to Yun Brocade.

Thank you. Has Madam Zhao arrived?

Yes, she's been here for a while.

Lady Wen. Your Highness.

The shop has received many new styles today.

- Let's go have a look. - Really?

Li, let's go.

When did you arrive? Have you been waiting long?

Not long. I just got here myself.

Look.

This fabric...

Don't get it dirty.

Place your stone there, and it becomes isolated.

But that's what the chess manual teaches.

Look.

Li.

Li, come on.

It's your turn to try on clothes.

- Why are you staring at that? - This is pretty.

I like it.

If Your Highness likes it, just take it.

Let's go try on the clothes first.

We'll come back for it later.

Let's go.

[Qingfeng Mingyue Tower]

Princess Ding is here!

- You must sit here. - Come, sit down.

Let me introduce everyone.

Madam Gao, Madam Liu, Madam Wang, and Madam Zhao.

Come! Why are you so late? We've been waiting for you.

- Madam Zhao. - You've met her.

- Please sit. - Yes.

Come on.

- Cheers! - Cheers.

Please.

It smells so good.

Here, have some more.

Look at this hair accessory. It's so pretty.

Li, it's time to eat.

- It's time to eat, Li. - All right.

Your Highness.

Your Highness, the tea is ready.

Steward Cui.

Princess Ding's breakfast should be light.

All right, I'll arrange it.

There's still some left.

Go put it away.

Yes.

Li.

Sister-in-law.

What's been the matter with you lately?

You've been so absent-minded.

Why do you always take this pot of flowers with you?

I like it.

Yao will be back soon.

It's been hard on you these past months.

If he hadn't gone to Suixue Pass, we could have brought him back.

Bring him back?

Yes.

But Suixue Pass is indeed quite far.

I'll go bring him back.

I want to see Mo Xiu Yao.

I don't know when the line snapped.

I was just drifting through time.

Neither truly awake nor truly dreaming.

Dazed and muddled.

Like a stranded rock.

Like a lone stone on a chessboard.

But just now, my foggy mind was struck by a single thought.

Go find him.

Go now.

Just like when I was a child, leaving on a whim.

But that time, I didn't find him.

What about this time?

I don't know.

But I still want to ride the fastest horse,

galloping through the wind,

crossing thousands of mountain ridges,

over a world laid out like a chessboard.

Faster. Even faster.

Fast enough to trail a long line behind me,

reconnecting me with this world.

Once things are settled here,

Jin and I will head back to the Capital.

We won't return to Suixue Pass with you.

Yes, Your Highness.

From now on, I'm leaving Suixue Pass in your hands.

Deter Cangbei and guard the frontier.

It is a heavy responsibility.

You must not cease vigilance.

Rest assured, Your Highness.

I, Wang Su Wu, will do my utmost to guard the peace of the pass

and live up to your trust.

Has there been no letter from home lately?

No.

No wonder Your Highness has been so eager to return.

You haven't heard from Princess Ding.

Mo Xiu Yao!

Mo Xiu Yao!

That is Princess Ding.

How did you get here?

It's so far. This is reckless.

But I wanted to bring you home.

Give me your hand.

Maybe I should do it myself.

The other one.

Is that Suixue Pass out there?

Weren't you here when you were little?

I was too young back then.

I don't remember the way.

You don't remember the way,

yet you dared come all alone from the Capital.

This is Guima Fortress,

still a hundred miles from the Suixue Pass camp.

If we hadn't happened to set up camp here today,

you'd have been sleeping in the wild tonight.

Wolves howl everywhere at night.

Perhaps there would have been bandits too.

Then I'm really lucky.

But I missed you.

The chaos in the Capital had just ended when you left.

We haven't seen each other for so long.

Didn't I write letters back to you?

That's not the same.

In the Capital, I wasn't happy.

Qing Yu styled my hair in heavy buns daily.

It made my scalp ache.

Sister-in-law was afraid I'd be lonely, so she often took me to banquets.

Those ladies love to talk about clothes, jewelry,

and trivial family matters.

None of it interests me.

Isn't there still a shop to visit?

Han Ming Xi left.

I'm not familiar with the new workers.

Tang Zi Xiao is too capable.

Even more so than Senior Brother Wei Zhuang.

If I go there, I feel like I'm in the way.

Then you really shouldn't go.

Senior Brother Li isn't in the Capital either.

He's traveling the world with Lady Yu Sheng, living a carefree life.

I haven't seen him in a long time.

So you came to find me.

Yes.

To be with you, to stand on the lines,

and not let myself become a lone stone.

What lines? What lone stones?

What strange things are you saying?

I just missed you.

That is no excuse for this, all right?

Traveling such a long distance and risking your life alone.

What if you ran into bandits on the way?

What would I have done?

They are no match for me.

I know.

Promise me. Don't just agree to my face

and forget my words the moment you turn around.

I promise.

You're just placating me.

My friends, come!

It's rare for us to be this happy.

Let's have a toast!

- Come on! - Cheers!

- Everyone, come on! - Bottoms up!

Your Highness, try this. I made it especially for you.

- It's delicious. - Thank you, General Wang.

Delicious!

Let me pour you a drink.

It tastes so good.

His Highness often spoke of Your Highness.

Seeing you today, riding a thousand miles alone,

I, Wang Su Wu, truly admire you.

I am also quite moved.

It's a rare reunion.

I toast to Your Highnesses.

May you grow old together and never be parted.

I'll drain this cup.

Your Highnesses, please drink as you wish.

Your Highnesses.

I'm drinking water today.

W-Water?

With her.

Drink water with me?

Can't I have some wine?

You rode all day.

You need to rest.

I rode all this way, and I don't even get a sip of wine?

Cheers.

Shall we dance?

- Great! - Come on, everyone.

Come on!

General Wang.

Do you want to dance too?

Sure. Let's dance!

Come on, let's dance!

Bravo!

Nice!

Bravo!

[On the Next Episode]

I'm going on a long journey to travel the world and live freely.

Before I left the mountain, there were four people I wanted to kill.

- Where do I rank? - Fourth.

Well, now is a good opportunity.

If any student from a humble family sincerely wants to study,

we'll pay their tuition in Li's name.

A good chef doesn't always make a good teacher.

What do you mean?

Let's have a match.