Original subtitles

=Tigers Sniff the Rose=

(Based on the novel of the same name by Yiren Kuikui)

=Episode 23=

A little stone stele

hardly conveys my sincerity.

I've already ordered

my 100,000 Central Circuit troops at the border

to join me in wishing Your Majesty

a long and prosperous reign.

This...

How...

General, I appreciate

the gesture.

Forgive my boldness, Your Majesty.

May I

take a look at that tablet?

Your Majesty,

perhaps

we should let Scholar Yan have a try.

Very well.

Yan Shang!

The inscription on General Meng's tablet

has faded with age.

However,

I've studied regional scripts since childhood

and know a little about them.

Perhaps

I could try reading it aloud.

Your Majesty,

why not

let the third-place scholar give it a try?

Very well.

No wonder General Meng said

this tablet was a hundred years old.

He was right.

This is

an imperial edict from a century ago,

issued by Emperor Shengzu, founder of Huai.

"Compared to Huai,

the Central Circuit is but a single prefecture.

You should respect our might and appreciate our mercy,

and seek peace rather than conflict.

Otherwise, when our imperial army marches,

blood will flow for miles.

Our emperor, in his boundless mercy,

has forgiven your insolence.

You would

do well to think twice!"

Brilliant!

Absolutely...

Absolutely brilliant!

What a joke!

Back then, the Meng ancestors pledged allegiance and paid tribute.

That's when Emperor Shengzu issued this edict.

He even displayed their letter of surrender atop Shenwu Gate.

Today,

your 100,000 troops are far away in the Central Circuit,

but that letter of surrender

is right here in Taiji Palace.

Would you care to see it, General Meng?

That won't be necessary.

Enough.

There's no need to bring up the past.

General, don't take it to heart.

Yan, despite your young age,

you're already a scholar of remarkable learning.

Bring him a seat.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Could you really read those characters?

Not a single one.

You've got some nerve.

North Jing joined the Central Plains dynasties ages ago.

They've long shared our language and script.

Before that, they had a spoken language but no script.

How could they have a script of their own?

Your Majesty,

since you're pleased with my gift,

I have another favor to ask.

Go ahead, General.

When Princess Danyang married into North Jing,

it was a great honor you bestowed on my uncle.

Now that I've succeeded him as military governor of the Central Circuit,

I'd like to ask Your Majesty

to grant me the same honor.

General, are you asking...

By North Jing custom,

a wife follows her husband in death,

and a son succeeds his father.

My uncle raised me like his own son.

So I beg Your Majesty

to grant me Princess Danyang's hand.

Father,

since this concerns my marriage,

I have something to say.

Speak.

I'm not opposed to marrying again.

But I spent quite some time in North Jing,

so I know a few of their customs.

The northerners value martial skill.

A suitor often has to fight for a bride's hand.

Only the winner earns the right to marry her.

And whom would you like me

to challenge, Princess Danyang?

It's the perfect time for a hunt.

Since General Meng has made his request,

why not have him compete

with the other suitors here?

Whoever wins,

I'll marry him.

Wanyao,

have you thought this through?

Please grant me this, Father.

Very well.

Winter has been rather dull.

This should liven things up.

Warriors from every territory may join the hunt.

And if it leads to an extraordinary marriage,

that would make quite a story.

If you gentlemen truly wish to compete against me,

I'll gladly accept the challenge.

But there's something you should know first,

so you won't feel cheated after the contest

and regret all that effort.

You may not be aware,

but Princess Danyang

once had an abortion in North Jing.

She'll never

be able to bear children again.

Now that you know the truth,

does anyone still want to challenge me?

Your Majesty,

I'd like to challenge General Meng!

Your Majesty,

I'd like to compete too!

Unbelievable!

You're a woman.

You want to marry the Princess too?

I'm not doing this for the Princess.

I'm competing

to show everyone

whether you people of North Jing

are as brave as we are in Sheng'an!

Mind your manners!

General Meng,

my daughter is young and headstrong.

(Zhao Zongze, Zhao Lingfei's Father) Please don't take offense.

(General of the Left Imperial Guard) Please don't take offense.

General Zhao,

your daughter has shown admirable spirit.

Your Majesty,

why not let her compete?

Permission granted.

Your Majesty,

I have a young officer under my command

named Jian Hua.

He's young and handsome,

with exceptional fighting skills.

He'd be a worthy match for the Princess.

(Mu Xianqing, Military Governor) He could compete as well.

Your Majesty,

(Qiu Shuo, General of Tiger Might) I'd like to join the winter hunt too!

Since Zhao Lingfei is allowed to compete,

I suppose this competition

isn't just about marrying Wanyao.

And as Wanyao's older brother,

I'd also like to test

General Meng's fighting skills.

Excellent!

With even the Crown Prince joining us,

whether I win or lose,

this trip will have been worthwhile.

Since it's a competition,

we should establish the rules first.

Why don't we

tie a golden bell around a deer's neck?

All who signed up today will hunt it.

Whoever claims the deer

will decide whom Princess Danyang marries.

How does that sound?

Father,

it seems I have no choice but to compete too.

It seems Princess Danyang

is determined to have a say in her own marriage.

Cheng'an,

let's give her that chance.

As Your Majesty wishes.

Very well.

Ten days from now,

we'll hold a winter hunt at the royal hunting grounds.

All those who've signed up,

along with the promising young people of Sheng'an,

may participate.

I'm curious to see

who will

ultimately

claim the deer.

Your Majesty is wise!

♪We weren't born for sacrifice. Love isn't meant for silent suffering♪

♪Nor wed for the sake of any kingdom♪

♪Cold as a blade, yet peerless as a bloom♪

♪Who dares make me bow down in the dust?♪

♪With sacrificed innocence and a soul snowbound♪

♪If the road is blocked, I'll fight my way through♪

♪Cut down the crowd, strike down the proud gods♪

♪Break through Hell's gates♪

♪If I could meet my former self again♪

♪Don't be afraid, I'll become a demon for you♪

♪Through fire, I'll turn the dark towers bright as day for you♪

♪Though this world is hard to cross, I'll lead you through♪

♪I dare face the unknown, with my sword in hand♪

♪Slay wolves, tame tigers, breach the city gates♪

♪Slay wolves, tame tigers, breach the city gates♪

♪They gave me this life without asking me♪

♪If I can't decide what to do with it♪

♪I might as well use it to light a fire and burn the darkness into daylight♪

♪You're my princess, and I'll take you away♪

♪In this life, we'll bow only to flowers♪

♪Fierce and radiant, red lips and dark eyes♪

♪Together we'll climb the city walls♪

How can we examine her if she won't let us in?

We still have to report back!

Exactly!

Of course!

Who's that?

What's he doing here?

No idea.

♪Mourn the blooms of youth; Mourn my bridal hair♪

♪Mourn the blooms of youth; Mourn my bridal hair♪

Your Highness.

It's me.

Your Highness.

You're drunk.

Did you see them?

Those people outside

include Lord Yu's men

and the Crown Prince's.

They claim they're here for a routine checkup.

It's only been a few hours since Meng Zaishi said those things.

They couldn't even wait one night

to find out if he was telling the truth.

What about you?

Yan Shang.

Don't you have anything you want to ask me?

There's only one thing I want to ask.

Should we curse Meng Zaishi first,

or your brother?

I'll curse them right along with you.

What he said was true.

I can't have children anymore.

What a coincidence.

A fortune teller once told me, when I was little,

that I was destined to have no children.

I was worried you'd reject me over it.

Who knew

we'd end up in the same boat?

Your Highness,

I'll never let you marry Meng Zaishi.

All right.

I'll keep rising through the ranks

until I can be your bargaining chip,

so no one can ever control you again.

Yan Shang.

Thank you.

Your Highness,

between you and me,

there's no need for thanks.

Don't worry.

I'll take good care of myself.

(If I could kill once,)

(I can kill again.)

(Meng Zaishi's neck)

(can't be any tougher than his uncle's.)

(But Yan Shang,)

(I can't drag you into this danger.)

(Your Highness,)

(do you want Meng Zaishi dead?)

(I'll find a way to make it happen.)

(Those hands of yours)

(should never have to do that again.)

Forgive us, Your Royal Highness.

We couldn't see the Princess.

We were turned away.

You drank plenty at the banquet.

What?

Planning to drink yourself into a stupor again?

Before she left for North Jing,

we told each other everything.

Then we spent three years apart.

When we met again,

she didn't say a word

about what happened in North Jing.

It's not just that she no longer wants to marry me.

She doesn't even see me as a friend anymore.

And it took me until today

to realize that.

You're reading too much into it.

If she really

went through something like that,

of course she wouldn't want to tell her friends and family.

Since she won't let

the imperial physicians near her,

I think

I have my answer.

Yang Si,

go to her residence tomorrow.

Find out everything you can about this.

Your Highness,

you're even more heartless

than I thought.

You and I may not believe the prophecy about her,

but plenty of others do.

Whether she can bear a future ruler

matters to a great many people.

The fate of the empire is at stake.

Why are you getting so worked up?

Stop playing the devoted lover.

She's your sister, for God's sake!

As...

you command,

Your Royal Highness.

(Hongwen Hall; Pursuit of Wisdom; Quiet Contemplation)

(Shi, Xun, Yu, Qing)

(Of all these people,)

(I suspect only Meng Zaishi)

(truly has his heart set on that deer.)

(Shi)

(Qing)

(Mu Xianqing.)

(Would he rather claim the deer,)

(or take Meng Zaishi's life?)

(Shi, Xun, Yu, Qing) (Which would please him more?)

(Qiu Shuo joined the hunt)

(on Yu Cheng'an's orders.)

(What exactly is Yu Cheng'an planning?)

(Could it be...)

(The Crown Prince might be in danger?)

(But why would the Crown Prince)

(volunteer to take part?)

(He's always kept his abilities hidden)

(and never dared show his strength before Lord Yu.)

(Why step into the spotlight now?)

(Xun) (What's he really after?)

(Shi, Xun, Yu, Qing)

Yan Shang.

(Shi, Xun, Yu, Qing)

What...

are you writing?

(Shi, Xun, Yu, Qing) Aren't these

the most powerful figures at court right now?

You can't just write their names down like that!

I was thinking about tomorrow's winter hunt.

We're accompanying His Majesty,

and these powerful men

are usually way out of our reach.

If I could bring a gift and use this opportunity,

which one should I approach?

Cui Ren,

give me some advice.

You're getting ahead of yourself.

They search you from head to toe before you enter the hunting grounds.

They even check inside your topknot.

You won't get anything past them.

Besides,

these men

are all far too powerful for us to cozy up to.

Then again,

you're different.

Why not use your connections with Princess Danyang?

Cui Ren...

Look at you.

You've already got every advantage,

yet you're still racking your brains to advance your career.

How are the rest of us, just collecting our salaries, supposed to get by?

You don't have to feel awkward.

I'll tell you myself.

What Meng said

was all true.

Wanyao...

Now you know everything.

You can leave.

I have a question of my own.

If I claim the deer,

who would you want to belong to?

I only want to belong to myself.

When it comes to archery and riding,

even against Meng Zaishi,

I'd still stand a chance.

Don't worry.

I'll help you. I promise.

Your Highness!

Yang Si, you're here too!

Zhi.

What's the dog for?

I asked her to come.

I've brought Your Highness a prized hunting dog

to help you hunt the deer.

Lingfei,

thank you for standing up for me at the birthday banquet.

And now you've come to my rescue again.

I just couldn't stand

that brutish soldier from North Jing.

I just spoke up in the heat of the moment.

I've always been quick to speak my mind.

I hardly did anything.

Please don't mention it again, Your Highness.

Zhi.

Sniff.

Here's some dried meat.

Zhi.

Go on.

I found this forehead ornament when I came in.

Looks like it belongs to this lady.

Here you go.

Thank you, Miss.

Is there a way

to keep Zhi from rushing straight at a target,

and have her follow at a distance

without the prey noticing?

You mean tracking?

Then give her this command.

Track!

Track!

Lingfei, thank you so much.

I heard Lord Yu arranged for the deer and golden bell.

They've already been taken to the hunting grounds.

Your Highness,

Yang Si,

could you two get

some droppings from that deer?

A few hairs would work too.

Or failing that,

even some straw from its pen.

No problem.

Here.

Stop!

Mr. Chen.

Oh, it's you, Wenji.

What brings you here?

This is a special Golden Bell Crisp from the Imperial Cuisine Service.

I was ordered to deliver it to Lord Yu.

Could you present it to him for me?

That would be just as good.

Why'd you spill it?

You clumsy fool!

Clean it up, now!

If you get Lord Yu's shoes dirty,

you'll pay for it!

How are things with the Prince of Jin lately?

Everything is as usual.

Is his secondary consort's pregnancy progressing well?

The imperial physician checks her pulse every ten days.

But there have been unusual developments at the Eastern Palace lately.

Who's there?

Lord Yu,

I was only here by chance.

I never meant to eavesdrop.

But just now,

I did overhear you and Mr. Wei.

I won't deny it.

I know I deserve to die.

I leave my fate in your hands.

Enough.

Stop trembling.

If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead already.

(Hidden Talent and Virtue)

Thank you, Lord Yu.

You're a man

of learning,

and you're quick-witted.

But understand this.

To survive here,

you must listen more and talk less.

That's how you'll secure your future.

I'll take your advice to heart, Lord Yu.

My lips will be sealed.

Lord Yu.

Chen Lian

has always been a bully.

Don't dwell

on what happened tonight.

I'm fortunate to have your favor, Lord Yu.

Things like this

are bound to happen.

You know,

eunuchs have all had hard lives.

(Hidden Talent and Virtue) Those who've suffered

shouldn't look down on or undermine one another.

But you must understand,

how many people

can truly live by that?

I understand, Lord Yu.

Have you ever thought about leaving the Imperial Cuisine Service?

Whether I can leave there

is entirely up to you, Lord Yu.

Since

you haven't given the word yet,

I...

I would venture to guess

that you wish to

test and train me further.

I remember you telling me

that you once

planned to take the imperial examinations.

But something happened,

and you became a eunuch instead.

What happened?

Your family fell on hard times?

One day,

I came across a young woman

being bullied by a thug.

I couldn't stand it,

so I stepped in to reason with him.

But the thug

attacked me with a knife and mutilated me.

Was the attacker

brought to justice?

Yes, Lord Yu.

Justice caught up with him.

That man

got what he deserved.

You certainly have a noble heart.

No.

It wasn't because

I'm particularly noble.

It's just that the woman's name

sounded like the name of someone I love.

Hearing that thug harassing the lady with that name,

I just couldn't swallow my anger.

Now that you're a eunuch,

that's all in the past.

Let it go.

I imagine the woman you loved

must have found someone else by now.

Whether I'd become a eunuch or not,

she already belonged to another man.

The woman I love

has always been

of a different social standing than me.

Wang Qing!

Yes, my lord.

Go to the Imperial Cuisine Service

and tell them

Liu Wenji won't be returning.

Yes, my lord.

(Hidden Talent and Virtue)

You'll accompany me to serve at tomorrow's hunt.

I...

I'm deeply grateful for your promotion, Lord Yu!

You may go.

I'll take my leave.

(Hidden Talent and Virtue)

(30 Years Ago)

(Luhua Hall) Go tell my brother, the Emperor,

if he's going to keep me locked up here,

I might as well be dead!

Don't do it, Your Highness!

Don't, Your Highness!

(Mu Ningshuang, Young Grand Princess of Luling)

Who are you?

Why haven't I seen you before?

I'm Yu Cheng'an, Your Highness.

(Young Yu Cheng'an) I used to feed your horses.

You wouldn't have seen me.

Unbelievable!

They promised to leave me someone to serve me,

yet they sent me a stable boy!

What do they take me for?

I might as well be dead!

Your Highness! Please!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Are you stupid?

You don't get it.

If I'm going to make a scene,

there needs to be some blood.

Once my brother hears about it,

he won't dare keep me locked up.

Actually,

maybe I should just kill you.

That way,

if someone ends up dead,

my brother wouldn't possibly

keep me locked up with a corpse.

Don't you think?

What a bore.

I'm only a lowly servant.

Better to hurt me than yourself, Your Highness.

You really are an idiot.

You thought I meant it?

All those noblemen

have beautiful women fawning over them.

All I did was go to a music house

and fool around with a few pretty-boy musicians.

And look what happened.

I ended up locked away like this.

If I actually killed you,

my self-righteous brother

would probably send even more people to watch me.

Then I'd never get out!

Three months.

I'll lose my mind being locked up that long!

I'm sure you'll get through

the three months safely, Your Highness.

I may be clumsy,

but I'll do everything I can to serve you.

You can spit it into my hand, Your Highness.

Stable boy,

what did you say your name was again?

Yu Cheng'an, Your Highness.

Seeing that meek little face of yours every day,

hearing "Your Highness" all day...

I'm sick of hearing it!

Yu Cheng'an,

today, I'm allowing you to call me by my name.

I wouldn't dare.

You dare disobey my orders?

But I don't even know your name, Your Highness.

Ningshuang.

My name is Mu Ningshuang.

Go ahead. Say it.

Mu... Ningshuang.

Can you read?

Then you surely haven't read Ruan Ji's poetry.

No, I haven't.

"Thick frost blankets the wild grass,

as the year draws to its end."

"Thick frost

blankets the wild grass..."

You wouldn't understand it anyway.

Just remember,

the wild grass

means lowly people like you.

I'll remember that.

Stable boy,

you've never tasted this before, have you?

Three months...

Three months...

When is this misery going to end?

Yu Cheng'an.

Get over here!

I'm bored out of my mind.

How about I teach you to read?

Sir.

(Why did Yu Cheng'an)

(specifically ask about Chunhua?)

(Why is he so concerned about her unborn child?)

(And he even mentioned the Crown Prince.)

(What does any of this)

(have to do with the Crown Prince?)

Mr. Liu

certainly has a way with words.

No wonder he's caught your eye.

But...

he overheard our conversation.

Won't that be a problem?

Not at all.

From the start of tomorrow's winter hunt

until it ends,

I won't let him out of my sight.

Besides,

with every faction vying for power, we need capable people.

I believe

he has real potential.

Losing Mr. Zheng was like losing your right hand.

Someone needs

to fill the void he left.

(Wangchun Wine)

What brings you here, Your Royal Highness?

I came to see you.

Your Royal Highness gracing such a humble place?

I'm hardly worthy of the honor.

I looked into it for you.

What Meng Zaishi said

was true.

Is there anything else you need?

Just give me your orders.

Put your boots on.

I'm taking you somewhere.

There are things

I've kept from you all this time.

But I promise,

after tonight,

I won't hide anything from you again.

Yang Si,

come with me.

What are we doing here so late?

We've already kept our special guest waiting long enough.

Special guest?

Tomorrow's weather looks perfect for hunting.

Don't worry.

I've rarely missed my target since I was little.

I'm really good, you know.

I know.

You're very good.

I might not be able to keep up with you on horseback tomorrow.

Why would you need to keep up with me?

Weapons are dangerous.

I won't have time to protect you.

Tomorrow,

you stay in the rest tent

and wait for my triumphant return.

Wanyao,

besides you,

if the Crown Prince,

Yang Si, or Zhao Lingfei claims the deer,

things might still turn out well.

But if the deer

ends up in the hands of

Qiu Shuo or Mu Xianqing,

it may be no better than Meng Zaishi winning.

At best, the odds

are four to three in our favor.

And that's being optimistic.

In this gamble,

all seven of us want different things,

and none of us is guaranteed to get what we want.

The only one running the game

is the man who releases the deer.

But maybe that's a good thing.

To him, I'm no more than an insect.

With such a grand event tomorrow,

he'll have bigger things on his mind.

He won't go out of his way to target me.

Please be very careful tomorrow.

♪As if our love will never fade♪

Tomorrow isn't even here yet,

and you're already worrying yourself sick.

Haven't you heard

the saying

that every moment of a night like this is precious?

(Next Episode Preview)

Your Highness,

sooner or later,

I'll make you look at me the way you used to,

with tenderness in your eyes,

begging me.

Just you wait.

♪Be the ferry where you wait for the sun♪

♪Be the blue silk that catches your tears♪

♪Be the sleeve we held, worn by dust and years♪

♪Let's conspire to grow old together♪

♪Let me be a captive beast bound by the same lock as you♪

♪- Through trails of mud and blood; - let grief drown in your eyes♪

♪Soar with the wind; plunge into hellfire as one♪

♪Burning bright as a song♪

♪See how roses and green bamboo enchant♪

♪Be the vow I make with all my heart♪

♪If we say forever, then forever it shall be♪

♪Not a single hour less♪

♪However deep the snow, I'll wait if you're there♪

♪We'll be gods above, or wandering souls♪

♪In heaven or the underworld, you're all I need♪

♪If we can stay, let's return to the village of our first meeting♪

♪- May time be free of fear; - boats rock♪

♪- May time be free of pain; - lights fade, seasons turn♪

♪You're the only one I need♪

♪Sharp winds or fierce rain, nothing can break us♪

♪Be mine in this world; be mine in this life♪

♪My last untouched innocence♪

♪If only we could return to the village where we first met♪

♪Stay by me; help me forget the frozen dream of last night♪

♪Fireflies glow, flowers kiss our lips; just us, through dawn and dusk♪

♪- May time be free of fear; - boats rock♪

♪- May time be free of pain; - lights fade, seasons turn♪

♪You're the only one I need♪

♪By your side, through joy and pain, is that eternity?♪

♪Till fireworks flood the town♪

♪Till the lake is still and clear♪

♪You're the only one I need♪

(No animals were harmed or mistreated in production.)