Original subtitles

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

[The Promise of Chang'an]

[Episode 37]

For Great Sheng, I will do anything.

Your Highness, you are extremely lucky.

This armor was what saved your life from that arrow.

Thank you. You can go now and take a look at the other soldiers.

Yes.

[Be Safe]

You are leaving tomorrow. This was the armor

that Her Majesty wanted you to have. Please accept it.

I hope you emerge victorious soon and can return quickly.

It's good news! Our Great Sheng soldiers won their battle!

Not only did they take Great Liang's two important passes,

but they also captured Hong Guangzhi and Ling Qi's generals!

That's great. Mingyu, in the coming days, come to the Temple of Blessings with me

to thank the Moon Goddess for her protection and blessings.

This time, Jin City was won.

The Prince of Yan stepped in

He was very loyal.

This victory was granted to us because of Your Majesty's preparations beforehand

and your battle plans that were created in advance. I just acted accordingly.

I do not dare to be accredited to this achievement.

You bow and remain humble. Those are good qualities.

Prince of Yan, I will give you an extra reward in addition to your natural pay for your services.

Get up, my good brother.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Three Battalions, you will all be given rewards!

I have so many loyal ministers.

How could our Great Sheng not be able to unify all of the land?

May Your Majesty live for thousands of years, thousands of thousands of years.

Sister Qi said that she would be talking to the priest for a while.

Then we should sit here and wait for her.

Prince of Yan.

Mingyu, earlier, you said to add some lights for the Imperial Noble Consort.

I'll go talk to them and figure it out.

You're back.

You've suffered.

Compared to how you went on the battlefield to risk your life,

my little sufferings don't even deserve to be mentioned.

After I returned to the capital,

that was when I learned that you almost died.

I only blame myself

for being ignorant of it.

Life and death can happen in mere moments.

Did you even know how worried I was?

Didn't I come back safely?

Mingyu, this was all because of you.

I never would have thought that this time, His Majesty

would personally lead the soldiers to save me.

Now, his health

is so much worse than in the past.

He just wanted to have a beginning and an end, that's all.

For Great Sheng, for the soldiers, for the commoners,

he truly is a good Emperor. Is he not?

The truth is, in all these years,

I have always respected but kept my guard up against him.

I have a more complete understanding of him.

Everything he does, every word he speaks,

I will never know

what his intentions were when he did this,

but he saved me. That's the truth.

He entrusted me with the lands of Great Sheng.

Then I will make these lands

more stable.

It's just that you and I

need to get closer.

Right now, you and I

are both doing well. That's already a blessing in itself.

Give that back to me! Give it back!

Father, Qirong stole my birdie.

Qiyuan, you need to be more gentle with your younger brother.

I know, Mother.

Older Brother, then I want the five colored feather birdie that Auntie Lin gave you.

Whenever someone gives you a little bit, you always try to exploit it.

That's enough. You guys shouldn't just focus on playing.

In a while, you will be entering the imperial study.

Hey, there's no rush.

After the summer ends, in the refreshing autumn days, that's the ideal time to start studying.

Mother is my teacher.

Really? What did your mother teach you?

She taught me the books of Confucianism and also taught me how to recite poetry!

Really? Then I will test you.

Since it is spring, I want you to recite

a spring poem for me to listen to.

Yes, Father.

The spring water fills the spring well.

In the spring, the fresh spring grass grows.

The spring temperature attracts the taste of spring wine.

Father, did I recite it correctly?

Yes. It was very good.

Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince recited well.

Aren't you going to gift him a reward?

I should.

How about this, I will gift you a short angle bow.

It was the bow I used during my first hunt ever as a child.

It has even killed a deer before!

No, that's too generous of a gift!

That was created by the first Emperor!

Just let Qiyuan take it, Younger Sister.

His Majesty was feeling magnanimous.

Besides, it is martial arts and archery that are the essential skills passed down from our ancestors.

Like our Qirong. He was born strong.

He has already started to learn how to hunt from Qihan.

Even Qihan gives him praise.

Yeah, Eldest Brother says that my arm strength is good.

When I fired my arrows, I hit the target three times!

Really? Then what about Qiyuan?

Eldest Brother said that though he doesn't have as much strength as me,

he is way better at using his strength than I am.

He's already the target ten times!

Qirong, come here.

Qirong. It's because you're a year younger than your older brother.

When you get older,

you will be like your uncles and brothers and become a powerful soldier, ok?

All of the nannies have already said that Qirong's temperament and personality

is exactly the same as His Majesty's personality when he was a child.

Yeah, our Qirong is so much like His Majesty.

- Eldest brother is here! - Eldest brother is here!

Eldest Brother! Eldest Brother!

Sixth Prince!

Eldest Brother!

Qirong, did you listen well today?

What's wrong? Where are you hurt?

Let me take a look.

You're supposed to be a strong man. How could you cry so easily?

Next time you fall, pick yourself up.

Qirong, let's go.

Your Majesty.

Here.

I really don't want to drink that.

You've already drank it for more than three months.

How come you're still not getting better?

The Imperial Physician said that it was hard to kill the root of my lung issues.

I know my condition well.

My illness will not get better that quickly.

Right now, the seasons are changing.

Maybe the heat is what is causing your problems to act up.

These kinds of medicines.

After a while, your illness will be cured.

Come. Sit down.

Sitting down and talking to me is the best cure.

I want to get better soon.

I was still thinking about personally fighting on the battlefield.

I want to personally see Great Sheng's iron defenses.

I want to see us take over Great Liang.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, as long as you take care of yourself,

and treat your own body with kindness and consideration, leading your soldiers personally to beat the enemy

will be something that you'll be able to do soon.

It's just...

Yunqi, between the two of us,

you can say whatever is on your mind directly.

Your Majesty, right now, the period of spring and autumn is full of prosperity.

You don't have to rush to pick a crown prince.

However, if the princes fight with each other using sneaky methods,

it's impossible to prevent growing tensions between them.

You saw today's situation.

Surely you are able to tell why the consorts were

subtly competing with one another.

In Your Majesty's heart,

do you have any plans on naming a successor?

The truth is, according to age, it should be Qihan.

However, if you were assessing based on the status of the Consort,

it would be the Seventh Prince, Qirong.

Yet Qiyuan was also born intelligent and adorable,

so you've started to become hesitant. Is that it?

If I had died earlier...

Your Majesty! This is impossible!

I was saying "if".

If I had died when the nation was in a bad situation,

then those two children

surely would be too small.

How would they be able to carry the burden of Great Sheng?

A country needs a ruler of mature mind. Xiao Qihan

is the suitable age.

He also has enough military contributions.

Besides being worried about his low birth status,

I also worry...

What do you worry about?

In these years, Chengxu has made so many contributions.

Even I can't suppress him.

Qihan and Chengxu have always been

fighting day and night. They detest each other.

Though the two are similar in age,

they are still different in generation.

In light and dark, it is impossible for Qihan to not be at a disadvantage.

Today, if I gave him the throne,

if we consider competence and ability to scheme,

he is not a worthy opponent of Chengxu.

So in the past, whenever circumstances arised in front of me,

I would purposefully support Chengxu

and suppress Qihan.

I did this to protect him.

All along, you really were so farsighted.

So considerate.

I need to think of who to give the throne to

in order to protect our Great Sheng's lands for generations

Your Majesty! Are you alright?

Ge'er! Bring soup!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Ge'er, hurry! Hurry and get the imperial physician!

Your Majesty!

How is His Majesty?

Tell me immediately! I won't punish you!

To reply to Your Majesty, His Majesty's pulse

is slow and weak. His heart is not in normal condition.

Right now, his illness is getting worse.

His energy is getting rapidly getting depleted. We can determine that

his life will be ending. All of the preparations

should be prepared in advance, Your Majesty!

Chengxu, You have arrived.

Third Sister-in-Law.

His Majesty's condition has just gotten a little bit better,

and he said that he wanted to see you immediately. Hurry over to him.

What are you thinking about?

Do you still remember

When you were a child, I saved you, and I was hit by an arrow.

At the time, you thought I would die.

You were so scared that you went still. There was pain all over your face.

At the time, you couldn't say a single word.

Only when I woke up

did you cry.

The first thing you said was

"Third Brother! I want you to live for hundreds of years!"

Your Majesty, your favorite thing to talk about is the past,

but whenever you start talking about the past, you start to suspect the hearts of others again.

Right now, you refuse to call me Third Brother.

It's because I've seen through you long ago.

Family ties, generosity,

all of those were just tools you used to control others.

When I said that I valued you, it was sincere.

Really?

But you framed me.

You used me, deceived me.

You took precautions against me multiple times.

When you were unhappy,

you would always wish to give me the death penalty.

Your sincerity is incomprehendable.

Your grace

was all just charity.

All these years, I fought on the battlefield,

protecting and fighting against the enemy. I almost died multiple times.

I helped you conquer XI Qi and push back the Liang soldiers.

I prevented internal conflict and helped the commoners feel at ease.

I helped you create new policies and appease the court.

Let me ask you, my grace toward you,

can you repay it?

Today, I want to calculate with you

exactly how much you owe me.

Anyway, you don't have much time left.

If I don't demand it now,

I fear that I will not be able to.

Calculate it then. Tell me.

What do I owe you?

Xiao Chengrui, don't forget

about my mother's death.

Your mother's death.

Honestly, in the end,

I came back too late.

Our Royal Father had also happened to be muddled.

When he died, he left in his will that you should claim the throne.

At the time, only your mother was there.

There was no one else who saw it, no edicts.

Your mother knew that she would not be able to make sure you claimed the throne,

so she secretly told me

that she would let me have the throne.

So

back then, you pleaded for the support of the three princes

and took the throne.

Why?

My mother didn't ask for anything.

I treat you differently than I treat my other brothers.

Believe me if wish. It's fine if you don't.

I don't regret protecting you back then,

and I don't regret anything I did back then.

Our Royal Father was old and muddled.

He made the wrong decision,

and I just corrected it.

The situation has already progressed to this point. How could you still say that so naturally?

Am I wrong?

How is Great Sheng doing right now?

How am I as an Emperor?

If back then, you had taken my spot, then what would happen?

As a sovereign and ruler, you are not suitable at all.

Whether or not I'm suitable

is not up to you.

I will take Great Sheng's lands back.

In the future, we'll see how I do.

Really?

Then you can do it now.

If you kill me, you can replace me.

You truly are not suitable to be an Emperor.

You are too soft-hearted.

You are too soft-hearted to attack a weak man.

Also, this person's illness came from

the arrow that he took to protect you.

You cannot be cruel when you should.

This means that you will never be an Emperor.

Ninth Brother, you are Great Sheng's hero,

but you cannot just be a hero

to be a ruler.

Xiao Chengrui, even now, you are still so conceited.

Later,

we'll see what happens.

Lover, pay attention.

Why are you so anxious?

Maybe after your health gets better,

I can play properly with you later.

This chess piece

if I don't play it now, I will not get the chance to.

We were husband and wife for half of my life.

I also quarreled with you for half of my life.

I have never won.

This time, I will finally win you.

[Imperial Study]

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty?

Have you already prepared all of the edicts and the seal?

To reply, they are all ready.

Bring De An here,

and then invite Her Majesty as well.

I already took care of everything that needed to be taken care of.

I obey.

Come in.

Your Majesty.

- De An. - Present.

I want to tell you a secret.

You will lead them. The Dragon, Phoenix, and Tiger Battalions

must obey your demands. They cannot disobey.

I, along with the three Dragon, Phoenix, and Tiger Battalions,

will swear on our own lives to be loyal and never disobey

Your Majesty's orders.

Come closer.

Royal Father.

Royal Father.

Your Royal Father's health is in bad condition.

He cannot come see you.

Qiyuan.

If he's good to you

or bad to you, it doesn't matter.

It's all going to be in the past.

I fear that the days

will change.

But I

will protect you well.

[Imperial Study]

I completed the fate bestowed upon my by Heaven

I carried out the will of the Heavens.

Today, the lands are peaceful and the commoners are safe

all depending on the blessings of Heaven and Earth.

I feel deeply regretful.

I must give up these lands.

Because of this, I will give my throne to the Prince of Guangling, Xiao Qiyuan.

He will take the throne and rule everything under the Heavens.

Great Sheng's ruler, Xiao Chengrui

has died.

[Yong Ning Hall]

Mingyu.

Is Sister Qi still doing well?

Feng Yi Hall's doors have been closed all this time.

No one is summoned. No one could go in.

However, like you predicted,

Her Majesty secretly met Official Li and the Prince of Zheng.

His Majesty died,

but Sister Qi is keeping it a secret and not announcing it to anyone.

I fear that something bad happened in the court.

Being Emperor is something pitiful.

There's too much to deal with after his death.

There's no time to be sad for him.

How many people

sincerely are sad for his death?

A person's death is like a candle being snuffed out.

His Majesty was the same as a commoner.

He just earned a bit more than commoners,

but he lost more.

I don't know who His Majesty appointed in his will.

It has nothing to do with us anyway.

Then what about you, Mingyu?

What will happen to you?

I will get old in this palace all alone.

It's not much different from the past.

If I could,

I wish I could take Qiyuan

and go back to Yonglin.

It's so nice there. So natural.

Consort Xian.

Her Majesty invites you to Feng Yi Hall immediately. She has urgent matters to talk to you about.

How could this have happened?

How could His Majesty have done this?

Qiyuan is still so young.

- Mingyu. - He's still a child!

How could he have the ability to inherit this position?

Before he died, he never properly loved or cared for Qiyuan.

Suddenly,

he pushed Qiyuan to the throne?

He wants Qiyuan to be his shield?

What kind of intentions he had,

aren't they obvious?

He was setting the two of us up

to stop Chengxu.

Mingyu, His Majesty did this

for Great Sheng's lands!

You can clearly see the situation at hand.

No matter who becomes the Emperor,

Chengxu wouldn't accept it.

He's already tolerated everything for so many years.

I fear that he will not be willing to let this opportunity go.

Only by putting Qiyuan on the throne

and having you coax him,

can he possibly let this dream of being the ruler go.

He might be able to support his ascension.

Before he died,

he was always so angry about my past with Chengxu.

He abandoned me and my son without care.

Now he's not even here anymore.

He still won't let Chengxu go?

If I insist on not complying, then what about Qiyuan's ascension?

Mingyu, you—

Half of the reason that our country is peaceful is due to Chengxu's efforts.

You also know that the throne was originally Chengxu's.

Today, no matter if it's blood relations

or ability,

isn't this throne Chengxu's naturally?

Don't be muddle-headed.

Qihan would never allow it.

Then, the court will be divided. When the two sides start to have conflict,

wouldn't Great Sheng be stuck in a perilous situation again?

So...

This time, I will win you.

So he used my son

to set Chengxu up.

Mingyu. Qiyuan must ascend!

Otherwise

the only other choice is death.

Sister Qi.

What do you mean by those words?

Before His Majesty left his will,

he gave a decree that the three battalions, Dragon, Phoenix, and Tiger,

If Qiyuan cannot ascend successfully to the throne,

he cannot live.

Dragon, Phoenix, and Tiger battalions will, under my order,

kill Qiyuan.

No matter where he hides,

or where he runs.

The Dragon, Phoenix, and Tiger battalions have always listened to His Majesty.

Even if he's dead,

they will not disobey his order.

He's forcing me to push Qiyuan to the throne.

He's forcing me to battle with Chengxu

for Qiyuan's life.

Mingyu, I know that you're in so much pain right now.

His Majesty really was too cruel to you by doing this,

but he did this for the good of Great Sheng.

- He trusts you! - Does he?

No matter what, he already gave the order.

Now,

he is not around to relinquish it.

Qiyuan. Qiyuan!

Qiyuan!

Qiyuan! Qiyuan!

Mingyu! Mingyu!

I don't know where Nanny Li took Qiyuan.

They just left... They just left this note.

I already looked everywhere, but [I am sorry, Consort Xian]

but I can't find them anywhere!

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mingyu.

Qiyuan

was taken to the Prince of Yan's manor

by Nanny Li.

How did you know?

Chengxu and His Majesty have fought for so long.

Mingyu, then the Prince of Yan, he...

He surely knows the contents of the will,

and that's why he took Qiyuan away.

He wants to snatch away the throne.

Then what do we do? What are we supposed to do?

I won't let him do that.

I will go find Sister Qi immediately.

I will go see Chengxu!

Mingyu!

Qiyuan, come to me.

Go.

Such a good boy.

Ninth Royal Uncle, why did you take me here?

Didn't you say that you always wanted to learn martial arts and hunting

with your Ninth and Tenth Royal Uncles?

So I will let Nanny Li take you out of the Palace.

Today, you'll be taught to hunt rabbits, ok?

Really? That's so great!

I get to hunt rabbits! Ninth Royal Uncle, take me there, quickly!

However, your mother and I placed a bet.

When the time comes, we'll give her a surprise!

I have some matters to attend to.

I'll let your Tenth Brother take you, ok?

Ok then.

Qiyuan.

Chengxuan, find some trustworthy people

- and let them entertain him for a few days. - Yes.

Let's go. I will take you to play, ok?

We're leaving.

Your Highness. Consort Xian has arrived, and she wants to see you.

- Tell her to wait in the study. - Yes.

Chengxu, where did you hide Qiyuan?

Don't worry. Qiyuan is very safe right now.

You know that I would never hurt him.

You understand in your heart that he only pushed Qiyuan onto the throne

to keep you by his side and force me to give up.

[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 ♫