Original subtitles

=Tigers Sniff the Rose=

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

=Episode 39=

Come on.

I've come up with a good solution.

If...

If Mu Xun catches up with me...

Chancellor Liu and Yan Shang are both dead anyway.

I'll just say

it was Mu Wanyao!

She's the real usurper!

Yan Shang is dead?

I...

I was forced to flee to Hangzhou!

I... I can give him back the throne.

How did he die?

It's settled, then.

I'll definitely survive!

I'll definitely survive!

Sitting on this throne

is like sitting on a brazier.

It's burning my backside!

Oh, right.

Before I leave,

there's one more thing to do

to make absolutely sure I'm safe.

I'll abdicate in favor of Si'er.

I'll become the Retired Emperor!

What did Your Majesty

just say?

I'll abdicate in favor of Si'er.

I'll become the Retired Emperor!

Think about it.

If Mu Xun catches up with me,

he won't kill a Retired Emperor.

Yes, yes.

Exactly.

So...

You'll put Si'er in harm's way

to die in your place?

Come on!

Draft the edict

for me right now.

There's no time to lose!

Wait.

What if...

What if Sheng'an doesn't fall,

and this was all a false alarm?

What if Mu Wanyao comes back?

Then what?

Si'er...

Chunhua...

The emperor is young, and his mother is strong.

Chunhua and Mu Wanyao are in league.

What if...

What if she helps Wanyao seize Si'er?

Then...

then this edict

would be my death warrant.

Your Majesty,

how thoughtful of you now.

Come here!

Write this down.

I'll abdicate at once.

And

order the Noble Consort's execution.

Hurry up!

Why aren't you moving?

You don't expect me

to take Chunhua to Hangzhou, do you?

There's no time!

Cui Quan is preparing the carriage.

I must leave in an hour!

And before that,

she must be executed!

Quick!

Once you've drafted the edict,

carry out the order for me and hang her.

Where's my imperial seal?

Where has my seal gone?

Found it!

Don't!

You've committed

far too many evil deeds.

You've ruined

Chunhua's life,

and mine too!

Your Majesty,

when are we leaving?

His Majesty needs a little more time.

Attendant Liu,

you're here?

His Majesty wants to see the consort.

Send for her immediately.

Chunhua,

come with me.

Come.

Look.

Don't be afraid.

Don't be afraid.

He's dead now.

I'm finally free.

Wenji,

you've committed regicide.

Chunhua,

stay and talk with me for a while.

Chunhua,

do you know

why I never proposed to you back then?

Perhaps

I hadn't made you love me enough.

No.

It was because

I was weak,

selfish,

and a coward.

I knew you were a maid,

not a noblewoman from Sheng'an.

And I was frustrated.

I reserved

the place of my lawful wife

until I'd passed the imperial exam,

so I could marry

a noblewoman

from one of the great clans.

I've often wondered over the years...

If I'd proposed to you back then,

none of this would have happened.

The night Si'er was born,

the life we dreamed of together

could have been real.

Chunhua,

you must be

so disappointed in me.

Forgive my boldness,

but when will His Majesty

and the Noble Consort depart?

His Majesty and I must speak in private.

No one is to come in!

Wenji, what's wrong?

Did you poison yourself?

Wenji!

I...

I feel terrible...

Chunhua,

please let me

rest in your arms

for a little while.

He deserved to die.

But you shouldn't have died with him.

It's not worth it.

It is worth it.

Only with him dead

can you and Si'er

live safely and in peace.

But all I want is for you to live!

Don't cry.

Please don't cry.

You're so beautiful.

Wenji!

Wenji!

Wenji!

Wenji.

The first time I met you,

I fell in love with you.

♪Why must this world know joy and pain?♪

But only after returning to Sheng'an

did I realize how I felt.

♪The moon wanes and waxes, lovers part and reunite♪

I thought

♪One moment too late, love slips from sight♪

we would never meet again.

♪I've tasted the ache of wanting in vain♪

But I never imagined

♪Time lies sealed beneath clouds heavy with rain♪

you'd come to Sheng'an to find me.

♪As darkness engulfs the palace and wildlands sway♪

♪What can I do, with no one to light the way?♪

From the very beginning,

I've always loved you.

I love you so much.

♪Fate falls just short of granting our plea♪

♪Yet round we turn, to meet again♪

♪The past dissolves like smoke♪

♪Ask not why longing has no end♪

That's...

♪I pray our years ahead bring peace♪

wonderful to hear.

♪May sorrow end, though sleepless we lie apart♪

♪Each quietly endures the passing years♪

♪Though close at hand, we're worlds apart♪

Chunhua,

in a little while,

when all this is over,

♪Why must this world know joy and pain?♪

go back

to your room,

hold Si'er close,

and get

♪The moon wanes and waxes, lovers part and reunite♪

some good sleep.

♪One moment too late, love slips from sight♪

Do you understand?

♪I've tasted the ache of wanting in vain♪

I will.

♪Time lies sealed beneath clouds heavy with rain♪

You should sleep too, Wenji.

♪As darkness engulfs the palace and wildlands sway♪

♪What can I do, with no one to light the way?♪

Do you remember

our little village?

♪Ask not why spring is so hard to leave♪

You'll dream of it.

♪Fate falls just short of granting our plea♪

I can already

see it.

♪Ask not why longing has no end♪

There are

♪I pray our years ahead bring peace♪

mountains,

♪May sorrow end, though sleepless we lie apart♪

rivers,

♪Each quietly endures the passing years♪

and...

♪Though close at hand, we're worlds apart♪

those flowers.

♪One fleeting moment, forever captive♪

♪Fate falls just short of granting our plea♪

♪Yet round we turn, to meet again♪

♪The past dissolves like smoke♪

♪Ask not why longing has no end♪

♪I pray our years ahead bring peace♪

♪May sorrow end, though sleepless we lie apart♪

♪Each quietly endures the passing years♪

♪Though close at hand, we're worlds apart♪

♪Ask not how we've braved power's tides, through fading grass and setting suns♪

♪Distant memories rise once more♪

♪Could we meet anew in another life?♪

♪How sweet the spring, how hard to leave♪

The criminal Liu Wenji

committed regicide and treason

and has been executed.

Your Majesty, my condolences!

Ministers, listen carefully!

I have an imperial decree

to proclaim throughout the realm.

Mu Xun, the deposed Crown Prince,

was blessed with imperial favor,

yet raised the banner of rebellion

and attacked the imperial capital,

letting his followers hurt the people.

All officials

must honor the valor of the Grand Princess, Guardian of the Realm

and the steadfast integrity

of Yan Shang, Commandant of the Guards.

I hereby issue this solemn decree

to every circuit

as a warning

to all.

We obey the Empress Dowager's decree!

Only a hundred more li to Sheng'an.

Change horses.

Yes.

Urgent report!

Your Highness, urgent news!

Everyone inside the city still holds.

The rebels haven't broken through.

But...

the city is out of arrows and food.

Commander Yan died defending the city.

Who...

did you say was killed?

Yan Shang.

Yan Shang, Commandant of the Guards.

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Go.

Sheng'an

still needs reinforcements.

Give me a hand.

Sir.

Your hands are shaking. Take a break.

- I'll take over. - I'm not stopping.

We can't let the wall fall.

Here, give that to me.

Look at those injuries on your hands.

We've used up all our arrows and powder.

All we have left are bricks and stones.

Give us a hand.

Come on, come on.

Move.

Come on.

Here.

(Peace Throughout the Realm) Thank you.

It's fine.

Your Royal Highness.

The new emperor has passed away.

Is the news confirmed?

Without a doubt.

An official report came from Jinzhou.

The funeral has already been held.

Congratulations, Your Royal Highness!

As I thought,

Heaven's mandate is still mine.

Beat the war drums!

The wound is serious.

I wonder if anything else can be done.

It's not getting any better.

Yes.

Do you think Imperial Physician Huang

has any way to treat it?

We must trust the physician.

Attend me.

Is anyone there?

Someone, come!

Your Majesty.

Where is everyone?

Where have they all...

You're crying?

Whatever for?

I've heard

the city gate is about to fall.

And that's why you're crying?

The realm hasn't fallen yet. Why are you crying?

I'm still here!

Help me get dressed.

Your Royal Highness, look at the gate tower!

It's His Majesty!

Father.

You haven't fled after all.

(Guanghua Gate)

Mu Xun.

Do you know your crime?

Father,

your precious chosen son

has abandoned the city and fled.

I wonder

what you think of him now.

I think

a coward who flees the city

is better than a monstrous traitor!

If you hadn't taken everything from me,

none of this would have happened.

Ever since you were young,

I taught you military strategy

so that one day you'd defend the realm,

not turn your sword on Sheng'an!

I

have lived a life of mere survival.

I was no great emperor.

But as a ruler,

however incompetent I may be,

I must never turn my army

against my own people!

But you

have plunged our realm into war

and exposed countless innocent people

to its flames!

Traitors and rebels

deserve to die at everyone's hands!

Urgent report, Your Royal Highness!

Princess Danyang leads the North Jing cavalry

and provincial troops. They're 50 li away!

(Guanghua Gate)

Fall back!

Retreat!

(Guanghua Gate)

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

(Guanghua Gate)

I'm fine.

You've all endured enough.

Go on. Leave me.

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

(Huai)

I knew she'd seek reinforcements,

but I didn't expect them so soon.

How many are there?

Perhaps a hundred thousand.

Go negotiate with Mu Wanyao.

Get her to stop her troops.

Your Royal Highness,

I volunteer to go.

If the talks fail,

I'll accept any military punishment.

Tan Yuanchun!

Here!

You go.

Yes!

I'm here on the Crown Prince's behalf

to speak to the Princess Danyang, Guardian of the Realm.

You and your brother have many misunderstandings.

As an outsider,

it's not my place to interfere.

But there's one thing

I must tell Your Highness.

Yan Shang...

Shut up!

How dare you say his name?

Your Highness,

Yan Shang is alive.

What did you say?

Commander Yan was wounded and captured,

but he's alive.

He's in the Crown Prince's tent.

You hardly know me, General Tan.

So you have no idea

what happens to those

who dare lie to me.

Yan Shang is alive.

You'll see for yourself, Your Highness.

If you agree to withdraw your troops

and discuss affairs with the Crown Prince,

he'll guarantee Yan Shang's safety.

You say he's alive.

What proof do you have?

If you don't believe me,

come with me and see him yourself.

Your Highness, you mustn't.

Your Highness,

Yan Shang is gravely wounded.

Seeing you

would surely give him the will to live.

How badly wounded?

So badly

he couldn't even send me a token?

He sent a message.

Several words for you, Your Highness.

Patience will bring things right.

There is still time ahead.

Your Highness,

once the Crown Prince takes Taiji Palace,

he'll let you keep your title

and let you choose your own fief.

What fief?

My home

is here in Sheng'an!

Your Highness,

every word I've said is true...

Say one more word,

and I'll have you cut to pieces!

Take him away!

Your Highness,

do you think that messenger

was telling the truth?

If Yan Shang really had been captured,

he would have kept his mouth shut.

He'd never have sent me a single word.

So...

Yan Shang really is...

Gu Han.

(Mu Xun.)

(You're asking for it.)

Your Royal Highness!

His Majesty has passed away.

Father...

He's already...

Your Royal Highness,

we can't miss this chance.

Let's attack the city.

Attack the city.

Attack!

(Guanghua Gate)

All troops, heed my command!

Follow me and crush the rebels!

Beat the drums!

(Huai)

Kill! Kill!

Kill! Kill!

- Those who yield shall live! - Kill! Kill!

- Those who resist shall die! - Kill!

Kill! Kill!

Kill! Kill!

(Yan Shang,)

(get over here this instant!)

♪A bamboo basket brims with lychees♪

♪At dusk, our little boat drifts along♪

♪Sunset clouds crown the treetops♪

♪We drift on beyond twilight♪

♪Words fail me over this cup of wine♪

♪I still fear my ambitions may go unfulfilled♪

♪Pour out my cup and stir up the sea♪

Your Royal Highness, must this go on even now?

On the battlefield,

we fight until one side dies!

We never had a choice!

Yang Si,

tonight,

come with me

and break through this city gate!

(I'll put an end to all of this.)

Yang Si!

Come back...

(Next Episode Preview)

As a child,

I used to imagine my wedding day.

Later,

I thought I'd never want to marry.

I never thought I'd be lucky enough

to marry her in this life.

The ceremony is complete.

♪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.)