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[The Promise of Chang'an]

[Episode 21]

You said you didn't see clearly,

but how come I heard that you already recognized

that it was Consort Xian's maidservant, Zhen'er.

It's true that I didn't see clearly.

That day, we bumped into each other by chance at Dongming Courtyard.

I wanted to play around with Zhen'er,

so I made an offhand joke.

A maidservant appeared in the Prince of Yan's camp.

Why didn't you report it at the time?

The Ninth Royal Uncle said that it was a woman from his Palace.

I didn't think too much about it.

A random woman showed up in a military camp.

Right after that, he offered the jade seal.

Don't you think there is a connection?

Ninth Uncle didn't report about it previously.

Later, he suddenly offered the jade seal.

In the midst of this, there are many confusing, unexplainable mysteries,

but that woman must have just been a coincidence!

A coincidence?

How could there possibly be so many coincidence?

Kneel down.

You took such an important event as a child's play.

I will punish you by forcing you to kneel here all night.

Give me a clear memory.

Your Majesty, please have some tea.

Young woman, since when have you become so demure?

Sister Qi said that when more people are in the Palace,

We must have rules.

since we were the first to enter,

we of course have to be the role models.

- Get up. - Thank you, Your Majesty.

You heard all of it. The Consort Xian already established all of the rules.

In the future, when you leave the Palace, you must be more cautious.

Zhen'er, when did you leave the Palace?

Don't blame her. It was something that happened long ago.

It seemed to have happened before April, yes?

Someone saw her...

To respond to Your Majesty, I was kind of missing home,

so at night, I couldn't sleep,

- so... - You missed home? Then you must have missed it deeply.

In the middle of the night, without stopping your horse even once, you rushed

the Prince of Yan's military camp.

Tell me. Who made you do it?

What business did you have with the Prince of Yan?

Your Majesty.

I was the one who asked her to go.

It was you?

Consort Xian, this is my own business,

- don't take it upon yourself. - Nonsense.

This was the decision I made myself.

Of course I must take responsibility.

But, Your Majesty, I had an unavoidable difficulty.

I cannot say it.

What kind of unavoidable difficulty?

I really have an unavoidable difficulty. Please excuse me, Your Majesty.

What exactly

would you hide from me?

Tell me!

Consort Xian, it's already like this.

You can't protect yourself.

You still want to hide it for the Prince of Yan's Consort?

Su Yuying?

What do you mean by that?

To reply to Your Majesty, the Prince of Yan and his Consort

have been married a long time,

but their feelings for each other were never very strong.

- Really? - Yes.

Everything knows about it. I wouldn't dare to make up a rumor.

Continue.

Last time, a maidservant of the Prince of Yan

excels in music and dance. Prince of Yan is pleased with her,

but his Consort was pissed.

Later, when the Prince of Yan went out to military camp, the maidservant's hand was suddenly mutilated.

Everyone was saying that it was the Prince of Yan's Consort who did this.

What does this have to do with you going to see the Prince of Yan?

The maidservant's dilemma reached the ears of the Prince of Yan.

When he got back, it was clear that he was going to fight hard with his consort.

He and Consort Xian were acquainted since childhood.

On the one hand, Consort Xian wanted the relationship between them to be good,

On the other hand, if Prince of Yan doesn't concentrate on his duty as a result,

then wouldn't that cause Your Majesty trouble?

So Consort Xian assigned me

to find the Prince of Yan and coax away his anger.

If this is true, then why couldn't you tell me about it?

Consort Xian is very kindhearted. She thought that if Your Majesty knew of this,

your impression of the Consort of Yan would be bad.

Consort Xian, I told you long ago

that you shouldn't have stuck your nose on other peoples' businesses.

You just wouldn't listen. Now, things have gotten like this. Even though you had your reasons, they can't be explained clearly.

Take a look, His Majesty doubts you.

If Her Majesty knew, then she would blame you as well.

The Prince of Yan might not even thank you.

If the Consort of Yan found out, then she'd say you were too nosy.

Why did you have to be so kind?

You're always trying to help but end up wasting your time. Who is going to appreciate it?

That's enough.

We just said to follow rules.

What kind of attitude is this?

What type of person talks to their Princess like that?

Your Majesty, I just thought that Consort Xian was wronged.

I felt bad for her.

Fine. You can go down now.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Get up.

It's fine. It's all Zhen'er's fault.

I will punish her well.

What's the point in blaming her? It's not her fault.

I'm always trying to help but end up wasting my time. Who is going to appreciate it?

I appreciate it. Alright?

Look at you. How come you're crying?

If a beautiful person cries until her nose becomes red,

she is still beautiful.

It's fine now. Don't cry any longer.

It has all passed.

His Majesty has arrived.

Your Majesty.

You can leave.

Also, I heard that one of the maidservants in the Prince of Yan's manor get affection from him.

However, Yuying, when Chengxu went to battle,

hurt her and mutilated her hand.

Did this really happen?

These are just gossips passed around among the womenfolk from the manors during teatime.

How could Your Majesty also knows of this?

It looks like it is true.

The event is true,

but whether or not Yuying did it is uncertain.

The truth is, I've seen that woman.

She is small and skinny. quite pitiful.

Too bad that she won't be able to play music again.

Su Yuying is so rash.

I thought that after getting married, she would become better, but I never would've expected her to be exactly the same.

I don't know whether or not Chengxu will blame me because I was the matchmaker.

Your Majesty, I think this matter

should not be brought up to Chengxu.

He will be very sad.

I think I will sooner or late lose my little life over Prince of Yan.

Earlier, I was scared to death.

Good thing you were very clever.

How was it, Mingyu? Earlier, when His Majesty interrogated us,

was my improvisation pretty good?

Anyway, Yuying's thing was real anyway.

Later, no matter who His Majesty asks, it will be no problem.

It was all thanks to you.

However, when did you become this intelligent?

This is called, "There is no weak soldier

under a strong general."

I hope His Majesty won't be suspicious anymore.

So it was Your Highness. I greet you.

Did Father make you suffer?

They say the women in the inner palace love to gossip.

I never thought you had this hobby as well.

Who did you hear that I like to gossip?

I wasn't the one who leaked that information!

Yes, Father did interrogate me yesterday,

but in order to protect you, I said nothing.

I was even scolded by Royal Father that I didn't know how to do my duty.

He made me kneel in the room for the whole night.

You don't believe it? Fine.

Here, look. Look!

My knees have been bruised purple from kneeling!

- You really weren't the one who tattled? - I really wasn't.

I swear it.

What about you? Did my father punish you?

Don't worry. I didn't do anything wrong. Who will punish me?

If Your Highness has nothing else to say to me, I am leaving.

Fine. If he didn't punish you, that's good.

If he didn't then it's good.

Right.

You can have this. This is medicine for bruises.

It is very helpful for your type of injury.

Take this to use.

Ling Zhen'er, you're caring about me?

Do you think I have that kind of free time?

I just thought I couldn't use that medicine anyway,

and keeping it with me would take up space!

In order to protect you, any punishment dealt on me,

I will face bravely.

Who asked for your protection? Just don't add to my mess.

Let me ask you, are you planning to make Kelan your wife?

Ms. Su came at the perfect time.

Give this letter to her.

What?

You called me Ms. Su?

Letter to release wife?

You're going to divorce me?

For a lowly maidservant,

you will divorce me?

No...

You're scaring me, aren't you?

Chengxu, say something!

Go. Gather all the people in the manor to the formal hall to hear my talk.

Yes.

Tomorrow, come with me to go to the palace. Ms. Su and I were bestowed marriage.

I will personally submit the letter to release wife to Royal Brother.

Chengxu, Chengxu, listen to me.

I know that you blame me for Kelan's situation,

but that was because her own health was not good.

It has nothing to do with me!

It had nothing to do with you?

She was a weak girl,

but you brutally abused her.

You disabled her,

and you still say that it had nothing to do with you?

I was only disciplining a servant.

I didn't know that her health was so weak.

I know that because I burned your things,

you're angry with me and never go to my room,

but did you know

that I'm your Consort?

I'm the mistress of the Yan manor.

Do you know how much I suffer?

You always want that girl to accompany you.

Isn't it because of her foxy eyes

- like like Mingyu's? - Shut up!

You still dare to bring up Mingyu?

In order to solidify your position as my main Consort,

you played with a person's life?

Previously, I thought you were too pampered and easy to be jealous.

I didn't know that you would be so heartless and vicious.

You can even match one tiny bit of Mingyu.

My Yan Manor

does not need a person like you as my Consort.

Chengxu.

Chengxu, I was wrong.

I really know that I was wrong.

Please give me another chance, ok?

I agree.

I agree that you make Kelan a concubine. Isn't this good enough?

I'm begging you, don't divorce me.

I am not afraid to lose my reputation.

Back then, in order to marry you,

I asked His Majesty directly.

I'm fine with losing my reputation completely,

but

I really can't not have you.

Marrying you was my biggest wish in life.

If you divorced me,

then you would have stolen all of the happiness I've been looking forward to.

Then I'd only be awaiting death.

If you must divorce me today,

Just bestow me a strip of white silk.

Let me die satisfied!

If I had known earlier,

why force it to happen before?

What other choice did I have?

Chengxu, I was wrong.

I really know that I was wrong.

Please give me one more chance, ok?

One last chance, ok?

This marriage annulment letter

will be kept here for now.

If there is a next time, I will not listen to your words again.

Notify the entire manor. Princess Consort spoke and behaved inappropriately,

her conduct is unbecoming, and she will be moved out of the official hall

and demoted to a side courtyard to reflect her mistakes.

Xiao Chengxu!

Auntie, you need to take control for me.

Xiao Chengxu has bullied me too much. Just too much!

Be quieter. His Majesty is currently taking an afternoon nap.

- What's wrong this time? - Xiao Chengxu, he

wrote a divorce letter!

- What? - He wants to leave me!

He only took it back after I kneeled on the ground and begged.

He even moved me out to a side courtyard to reflect my mistakes.

Your marriage was personally seen through and created by His Majesty.

If he wants to leave you, it will not be that easy.

- He is probably just scaring you, right? - I don't care!

He tried beg for mercy for that Kelan maidservant. Wasn't that because she's from Yonglin?

She can even play Mingyu's stupid songs.

She really thinks she gained power? When Xiao Chengxu goes out,

- They'll see how I deal with her! - That's enough!

The maidservant you talk of

is Prince of Yan's concubine, a properly married Side Consort.

If you continue messing around and actually cause trouble,

then I will be unable to save you.

Trust me, I will not kill her.

I will make her life so hard that it would be much worse than death.

Don't keep talking like that!

- Your Majesty, you've woken. - You don't have to be so polite.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Ten thousand blessings to Your Majesty.

You can go. I will advise her.

Yes.

Seeing how you are in private,

I really can't compliment you.

How could your fearless personality

be suitable for being a housewife?

My temper was a little too big,

I was forced.

In the past, when I asked you a few times,

you always said that Xiao Chengxu was very good to you.

You knew of everything he did.

It seems like you lied to me.

No, how could I dare to lie to you, Your Majesty?

In the beginning, Xiao Chengxu was pretty good to me,

but that maidservant Kelan...

- She ruined our relationship! - Isn't it your fault that you didn't obey rules?

If you thought more from Chengxu's angle, then things didn't have to turn out like this.

Then who would ever think from my angle?

Your Majesty, you're already an emperor now. No one dares to disobey you.

Please help me, order Chengxu to treat me better.

Regarding the relationship between husband and wife,

if you do not learn your lesson, who could possibly help you?

In the past, it was thanks to Mingyu for saving you.

In the future, you need to be more self-seeking.

Your Majesty, what are you saying?

Mingyu?

Mingyu helped you persuade Chengxu.

She told him not to hurt you, otherwise, with your temperament,

how could this matter have stopped here?

I was wondering who, so it was her. Mingyu would take the initiative to coax Xiao Chengxu not to be mean with me?

I guess Chengxu was instigated by her

and that's why he treated me—

Don't talk nonsense.

I'm not talking nonsense.

Your Majesty, you didn't know this

but that lowly servant Kelan isn't pretty at all.

How could Chengxu like her?

Isn't that because she's from Yonglin,

and her eyes look so much like Mingyu's!

You are telling the truth?

Of course it's true.

The night we got married, Mingyu even went to find me.

She said that they grew up together by Her Majesty's side,

and it would be impossible for them not to know each other better than others did,

but that there was nothing between them now.

They were like brother and sister. I was stupid enough to believe it.

She even gave me a bracelet to add to my dowry.

She was just faking it to be nice and good.

Your Majesty, you don't even know how dumbfounded I was.

On the night of our marriage, after Chengxu got drunk,

he was still calling Mingyu's name.

I think they just cannot let go of their past feelings for each other!

The things you just said,

were they true?

I'm asking a question!

Tell me!

Your Majesty, I was wrong. I was spouting nonsense.

I made all of it up!

It was because Chengxu didn't care about me or love me,

and that's why I said nonsense.

Chengxu and Mingyu have nothing anymore. It's all in the past!

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Oh no! Oh no!

I really said the wrong thing this time!

- Your Majesty, calm d— - Get out!

Yes.

So what kind of person would you want to marry?

I want to marry...

His Majesty has arrived.

You aren't wearing your crown or holding your fan.

Is it because you thought I came late,

and it made you act impulsively, Consort Li?

- Your Highness! - Chengxu!

- Chengxu! - Chengxu!

Chengxu!

After Xiao Chengxu got drunk, he was still calling Mingyu's name!

It's a pair of mandarin ducks?

I just learned how to embroider. These were embroidered for fun.

They aren't good enough for Your Majesty. How about I embroider a dragon riding a lucky cloud?

Mingyu, I trusted you so much,

loved and cared for you so much,

don't you understand that I wanted every part of you?

Your body, your heart.

but your heart was given away long ago.

Chengxu, please help me take a look.

These things are all things I want to give to Kelan.

What kind of extravagant things are you doing this time?

I...

I thought about it, and Kelan's hand is disabled.

She will never be able to play to Guqin anymore.

Even though it was unintentional, but thinking about it,

I did punish her too greatly.

However, I punished her truly because she did something wrong.

I really wasn't doing it out of illwill.

Chengxu, trust me.

No matter what I do, I will never purposefully set anyone up.

Even more, I would never hurt you.

What did you do this time?

I... I didn't do anything.

You didn't do anything?

Then why are you this nervous?

I...

There were some things that I didn't want to say,

and I didn't want to do this originally,

but why... why there is always someone who would push me to the extreme?

I don't understand what you are saying.

Respect yourself.

Don't do things that make people look down on you.

If you can face your conscious without guilt, who will force you?

All day, all you know how to do is think nonsense.

Chengxu, I hope that you can see my sincerity.

No matter what I do,

I'm begging you to never blame me.

Your Majesty, rest early.

How come you're so mesmerized?

The white pieces in this area want to eat the black pieces,

but they never realized that the black pieces had ambushed them unexpectedly.

They killed the white pieces while they were caught unaware.

Mingyu and Chengxu,

what exactly is going on between them?

What do you mean by what is going on?

Today, I listened to Su Yuying say that between the two of them...

What did Su Yuying say?

Why are you so nervous?

Is it really that serious?

Of course, the two of them grew up together by your side.

It's natural that the two of them are most familiar with each other.

Yes, but these were things from childhood.

If you say that, that must mean you know of all of this.

There truly was something between them, yes?

Empress, you kept it a secret well!

Your Majesty, I didn't want to hide it from you,

I just didn't want to make trouble out of nothing!

Even if they did have any feelings for each other, it was from their childhood!

And now, they are each married separately. Everything is in the past.

- Why mention it again? - Is it really all in the past?

I have been with you for so many years.

You won't even trust me on this?

I am afraid that they decieved you!

Mingyu has been by my side for such a long time. I know her conduct very well.

Your Majesty, even if Mingyu could trick me,

do you think she could deceive you?

Just think about it, ever since Mingyu started to serve you, wasn't she caring and hardworking enough?

Did she do something wrong or break some rule?

If it weren't so, why would you love her so much

and consider her as the top strategist in the harem?

This is exactly what I am worrying about!

I trusted her so much.

What if she sells me out and secretly plots with Xiao Chengxu

and betrayed me?

Well, I also care deeply about Chengxu.

- Are you possibly suspicious of me as well? - Now that you say that, I am a little bit suspicious of you!

Fine. Then I will tell you one more thing.

The truth is, Chengxu didn't want to marry Su Yuying at all.

I asked Mingyu to persuade him, and that's why he agreed!

Think about it. Mingyu did this

for you, didn't she?

I am trying to be too overprotective of my younger sister.

Mingyu has served Your Majesty with complete care.

She also did her best to help me.

Her elders adore her,

and her juniors respect her. How could you find any fault with her?

I don't know what Su Yuying told you,

but with her temperament, whenever she gets angry with Chengxu, she pushes the responsibility on someone else!

Your Majesty, you trust her

and don't trust Mingyu?

If it's really like this, then even I

can't help but feel afraid for her.

Go to Yong Ning Hall.

His Majesty has arrived!

Greetings, Your Majesty.

- Forgo the formalities. - Thank you, Your Majesty.

How come you have come so late, Your Majesty?

- Zhen'er, pour some tea for His Majesty. - Yes.

You're reading?

Military books?

This chapter talks about, to relax his will power, to weaken his body,

knowing that a hero can easily become ensnared by a beauty,

then give him what pleases him and plant a spy.

Sit.

The books talks about a female spy

utilizing her outstanding beauty

to employ the tactic of sowing discord

between the emperor and the crown prince.

Who knows which man

the female spy really loves?

The female spy was sent by Lin kingdom

to sow discord between the father and the son.

Probably she loves neither of them.

If there wasn't a plan to sow discord,

but the two of them truly love her,

the emperor is wise and the most powerful in the world,

the crown prince is handsome, intelligent and brave.

how would she choose then?

The tea is here.

Your Majesty, please drink some tea to warm you up.

You still haven't told me how she'd choose.

I am not that female spy.

Why should I worry about that?

Besides, if it is really like what Your Majesty said,

how can this military strategy book continue?

It would become a romantic novel, right?

You're such a clever woman.

You still have moments where you cannot decide?

Your Majesty gave me a hard question. I really cannot find an answer.

Oh yes, I heard that Your Majesty recently got addicted to playing the Go game.

How about teaching me?

If I teach you, you will turn around and beat me.

How is that possible?

I can never defeat Your Majesty.

I know what you will do.

You will study it diligently,

because you know that if your skill is too weak,

I wouldn't be interested in playing a game with you.

Then, when we play the game, you will very carefully

maintain an advantage separately from mine.

At the most crucial moment, you will pretend to make a mistake

and have to abandon the game and surrender to make me happy.

Tell me, who is the final loser?

Yunqi, is today Chengxu's birthday?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Send someone to make the arrangement.

Let's celebrate his birthday in the palace this year.

Yes.

Another toast to Imperial Brother and Imperial Sister-in-law.

I hope that Your Majesty will stay health

and the Empress will do everything as she pleases.

Ninth Brother, today is your birthday.

I toast for you and your wife to be united in one heart

and your family to be in harmonious happiness.

Third Sister-in-law always remembers my birthday.

You'd probably laugh at this when I tell you.

It's a real ruckus of flying chicken and jumping dogs in my household now.

I was just thinking that there was nowhere I could hide.

Fine, then let's not talk about this.

I think you two brothers have drank too much tonight.

These are the bean cakes you like. Eat more sweets.

In the past, whenever you celebrated birthday,

there is someone who can never be absent.

Speak of the devil.

Greetings, my Emperor.

Greetings, Empress.

Consort Xian, today is the Prince of Yan's birthday.

You aren't going to toast a glass of wine to him?

To the Prince of Yan.

Thank you, Consort Xian.

This wine is really strong today.

Chengxu, today is your birthday. Don't actually get drunk.

Your Majesty, do not worry.

I know my limits.

That is good.

Your Majesty, I will bring last year's

jug of mountain grapes that we brewed ourselves.

You all shouldn't stand around. Quickly, take your seats.

Consort Xian!

Come to me.

Come.

Consort Xian, when you have time someday,

you should teach Su Yuying.

You should teach her how

to steal her husband's heart.

Your Majesty, how would I be able to understand

how to steal her husband's heart?

- How would I be able to teach her? - You don't know how?

Then how did you steal my heart?

Your Majesty, I fear that you have drank too much.

I sincerely need to thank Yonglin.

for giving me an incomparably smart and exquisite beauty.

Chengxu, I will ask Yonglin

to find a beauty who looks exactly the same for you.

If she really is one of a kind in the world, then how

is it possible to find one who is exactly the same?

Your Majesty, I think you've really drank too much.

Too much?

Not too much. Perfectly right.

You're treating Consort Li's life

as a part of the strategy to attack the city?

Consort Li is an innocent!

All we have to do is pretend to abide by their wishes

and stall for time. It's just one sentence,

you're not even willing to say it?

If Consort Li would like to thank someone, you should thank His Majesty.

I will take my leave.

[The Promise of Chang'an]

Timing and subtitles brought to you by Impossible Promises @ Viki.com

"Falling Fate" - Singer: Li Yugang

♫ Who is swaying at dusk on the riverbank by the gently fluttering willows? ♫

♫ That beauty dances between the clouds and the rippling moonglade ♫

♫ Dancing lightly like the startled birds and your graceful face is like delicate blooms ♫

♫ Longing in the wind, with glistening eyes looking toward the ripples ♫

♫ I could not take my eyes off such a sight to behold ♫

♫ It seems brief, my adoration for you has been for years ♫

♫ You come or go as you please, my soul is being led by dreams of you ♫

♫ These are foolish and infuriating times, I still wish we could be together forever ♫

♫ Destiny leads you into my life to make me whole ♫

♫ My love for you is like an ink-mark that never dries ♫

♫ As the snow scatters in the wind, as the clouds shield the moon ♫

♫ As I have to be drunk to sleep through the night ♫

♫ Like you, the paper I write on is full of melancholy ♫

♫ Destiny leads you into my life, times of great changes separate us ♫

♫ My tears fall and fill the curtained carriage along the way ♫

♫ This homeward journey, this boundless life ♫

♫ It is fleeting, and filled with joys and sorrows ♫