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[The Promise of Chang'an]

[Episode 53]

His Majesty is finally wed. Now one of your worries have eased.

The Empress just joined the palace. There are many customs that she does not yet understand.

I need to guide her more.

Now that new people have arrived in the palace, things have gotten livelier.

It is just Qirong. He comes to me so frequently now.

He is very anxious about his own marriage matters.

That Princess Ruoxuan. I heard that she is still sick.

That girl. In the past, I figured her to be fragile,

but now I truly am worried about her health.

If she is sickly and unlucky, and she is not married yet...

When finding a love, it is obvious that virtue is the most important,

but her health is also an important consideration.

If she has bad health and gets sick often, it will be hard for her to take the main position.

Yes.

In the past, we did not know that she was a bedridden sickwoman.

If this marriage cannot be planned,

then how about I help Qirong find a stronger one?

It would help uphold Qirong's future family line.

This...

Also, I heard that Qirong has recently been taking troops to practice military drills,

and he earned the praise of many.

I was thinking I would talk to His Majesty

about giving Qirong a title of a major prince.

If Qirong can help His Majesty share his burdens, then that is a blessing to him.

I will thank you

on the behalf of Qirong.

Consort Dowager, there is no need for formalities.

Princess. Take some medicine.

Ruoxuan, His Majesty wanted me to delivery a message.

Will you listen?

Your Majesty. Go back.

Your Majesty! It is going to rain! We should head back!

Your Majesty! Your Majesty, it is raining! Can't we go back?

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, let's head back! Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

- Is he still there? - Yes.

Ruoxuan, if you do not tell him personally, he will not leave.

I fear that if I see him again, I will not be able to control my heart.

If you cannot, then you cannot. So what?

You are just too smart. You consider too many things.

Now, one of you is out there, and one of you is sick here.

Does this really have to end in both of you suffering to death?

You think I want this?

I do not either,

but if destiny insists on arranging itself like this, what power do I have?

What should you do?

You either live well or you both suffer.

If you were to listen to destiny's arrangements, then from the start, you never would have loved him.

Since you love him, then who cares about the arrangements of destiny?

Open the door! Open the door! Open the door!

Open the door!

Last time we parted ways, we never got to meet again.

The truth is, I kept reminiscing about you.

I know all of your feelings now.

I will not forcibly interrogate you any longer.

This time, no matter what you say I will not let go.

Let's escape.

If we cannot escape, then we die together.

Mingyu. Are you really going to name him a major prince?

This Consort Dowager Qiao cares most about status.

If we do this, we can calm her feelings.

Empress Dowager! His Majesty, he... left the palace!

Left the palace? Where did he go?

I do not know either! I...

Mingyu, is it possible that His Majesty went to find Princess Ruoxuan?

- We cannot let this matter leak out. - Yes.

Secretly assign people to bring His Majesty back!

Yes!

The imperial physicians said that this medicine was very potent,

but how come Ruoxuan's illness is just not getting better?

Do not move.

Greetings, Seventh Prince.

Aren't you Mother Queen's eunuch? Why are you jittering about?

I have important things to report to the Empress Dowager.

- What is it? - This...

Speak now.

Yes.

Seventh Prince, please don't tell anyone. Dowager Consort asked me to send something to Empress Dowager,

but I accidentally heard that His Majesty was missing.

Do you know why?

I heard that the Empress Dowager and His Majesty fought ferociously.

His Majesty was angry, so he left the palace.

Now, the Empress Dowager is hastily looking for him,

and she even assigned many to search for him in secret.

If he was angry, then normal outsiders would not understand his temper.

No. I must go find him.

Your Highness!

You left for so long and only found a rickety old cart?

At least I found a cart.

What will we do if we can't find any please to stay for the night?

Luckily I was clever and avoided those chasing soldiers.

- Hurry and go! - There is no time. If we turn back now, they will have more reason to suspect us.

Then what do we do?

Pretend to fix the cart.

Lu Lingyi? What are you doing here?

What? Only you're allowed to be here and I'm not?

Have you seen—?

Xiao Linzi? Where is His Majesty?

Wait for me in here.

No need to keep asking. I am here.

Sixth Brother, you were fine. Why are you angry with the Empress Dowager?

The Empress Dowager was so anxious.

Let's go. Come back with me.

Qirong.

Let us go. We will never part with each other again.

"Us"? Who is "us"?

Ruoxuan, you are—?

Qirong. I am sorry.

I am sorry, Your Highness.

Ruoxuan and I truly love each other.

Can you pretend that you never saw us and let us go?

Someone, come! We have found His Majesty!

Your Majesty, please return to the palace.

Mother Queen, ever since the wedding,

I have not lived a single day comfortably.

I cannot continue living.

You want to renounce your Empress?

I know that for Great Sheng's and Xi Qi's reputations,

I cannot do this,

but I would beg you to let me be with Ruoxuan.

She is my only hope for survival.

Are you threatening me?

I would not dare.

I am just hoping that you can think from my angle.

Consider for you?

It is because I considered too much from your angle

that you were spoiled enough to do this kind of this!

Mother Queen, the two of us cannot live without each other.

I said it in the past, and I will continue to say it now.

Without each other, we are just two people with dead hearts.

With dead hearts, how can we live?

I told you of my difficulties long ago.

Now, they are still the same.

Ruoxuan, you disappoint me greatly.

I would never want Your Highness to be sad.

We love each other too deeply and can't help it.

Are you dead-set on entering the palace?

No. I do not want to become a Consort of the palace.

His Majesty and I love each other.

No matter if he is the Emperor or a commoner, I still want to be with him.

Ruoxuan is correct. No matter if it is life or death, we must be together.

You two go on about life and death, but have you ever considered others?

By doing something like this,

how could you expect me to explain to Consort Dowager Qiao and Qirong?

Empress Dowager, His Majesty and Ruoxuan did not do this on purpose.

In the past, Ruoxuan even told me

that there were so many deceptions in the palace. She would never want to enter,

but who knew? The will of a human can never match up to the will of the Heavens.

The one she fell in love with was His Majesty.

I am begging you. Fulfill their wish.

I am His Majesty's Mother Queen.

Do you think I want to see my own son suffer?

Even if you want to elope, you must do it step-by-step.

You need to wait for me to make a plan!

Yet you two really did it. You cared of nothing and ran away together!

You forced the situation to become like this.

How would the commoners talk of His Majesty?

It ruins His Majesty's honor,

and even more, it ruins the reputation of Great Sheng!

Empress Dowager.

Ruoxuan. Is this true?

Yes.

Why? Just because he is the Emperor?

No. It is despite that he is the Emperor.

If he were not the Emperor, I would not have hesitated.

I would have wanted to follow him to the ends of the earth earlier.

But you were already given to me.

Seventh Prince, I am sorry.

My heart cannot contain anyone

other than His Majesty.

You dare to humiliate me?

Empress Dowager, you gave me this marriage.

I would ask you to give me justice.

Qirong, go back now.

I will help you with this matter.

Thank you, Empress Dowager.

Zhen'er, bring the two princesses back.

Tell their families not to aggrieve them.

Moreover, make sure they do not leak anything of it.

Yes.

- Someone, arrive! - Present.

This Xiao Linzi. He knew of the situation and said nothing.

He should have been caned to death.

Considering that he used to be careful on duty,

- cane him 50 times and send him to guard the mausoleum. - Mercy, Empress Dowager!

- Mother Queen! This was my idea! It had nothing to do with Xiao Linzi! - Spare me!

It is because you are the Emperor

that I am warning you that your actions

cannot be selfish!

Zhen'er. I am tired.

If you're tired, then rest early.

I am saying my heart is tired.

If my heart was always at ease,

then that would be wonderful.

Mingyu. Do not think too much on it.

Just rest early tonight.

If there are problems, think of a plan tomorrow.

How many times have we pushed through?

But this time

I have no idea what to do.

Could it be that I have really become sluggish?

You just care too much about His Majesty

and cannot care about anyone else.

This is what they mean when they say that caring too much can cause messes.

We cannot make a mess. If that happens, then we are doomed.

This situation was arranged too madly.

The news probably already spread.

Paper cannot hold a fire in.

If matters get this out of hand,

even if we did our best to hide it,

the guards that the Seventh Prince took with him,

and the eunuchs and servant girls who are too nosy.

- This... - It is hard.

Mingyu, how about we just fulfill His Majesty's wish?

I think His Majesty, for Princess Ruoxuan,

will lose his senses and act carelessly.

Yes.

That year, when it was cold and difficult in the travel palace,

yet there was also someone

who, for me, would care of nothing else.

The things Chengxu and I did not dare to do in the past,

the things we could not do,

now Qiyuan has done all of it.

If we put ourselves in his shoes, perhaps we can also understand his difficulties.

Xiao Linzi. Xiao Linzi, are you okay?

Your Majesty.

I am fine.

Xiao Linzi, do not worry. For me, you suffered so much.

I will surely find a way to cure you!

I will not let anyone steal you away from my side.

Xiao Linzi! Xiao Linzi, wake up! Xiao Linzi!

Why are you here?

Didn't Mother Queen ask you to go back?

I am here to hear

if there is anything you would like to say to me.

This matter was my fault,

and because of our relationship, I would ask you to forgive me.

You still know that you're my older brother? You still recognize me as your younger brother?

Of course! We grew up together! We are biological brothers!

Biological brothers?

So despite that, you stole my love and tarnished my dignity?

I never wanted to steal your love, and even more, I would never want to tarnish your dignity!

It is just that Ruoxuan and I met outside of the palace,

and she never knew I was the emperor.

We fell in love and quietly pledged o each other.

Fallen in love?

Then why didn't you tell me earlier?

You did not see me as a brother at all!

I did not know that you liked Ruoxuan too!

I also did not know that you asked Empress Dowager for marriage!

Qirong. Please fulfill our wish.

Fulfill your wish and to destroy my own reputation?

Become everyone's laughingstock?

I will compensate you!

What would you take to compensate me? Stop with these empty words!

You should continue to just be an emperor.

Anyway, you are just following the regent's example.

What did you just say?

Is it not true?

Do not slander my Mother Queen!

If your Mother Queen did not do this kind of thing, who would?

You dare to hit me?

Fine.

You are the emperor.

I cannot return the blow,

but today, even if you kill me,

you better not believe that you can hide the dirty things your Mother Queen did!

Your Majesty!

His Majesty's grace.

This matter was caused by His Majesty.

It caused your Qirong to be wronged.

His Majesty and I have already talked it through.

We will give Qirong the title of Prince of Yongqin.

with a crown of seven-stringed beads.

Qirong is so young, but he is becoming a major prince. Is this appropriate?

Qirong is the son of the former emperor.

Naturally, his status must be higher than other lords.

Being named as a major prince is what must be done.

Congratulations, Seventh Prince.

Qirong, why are you just sitting there?

Are you not going to hurry and thank her for her grace?

Thank you, Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager, what about Ruoxuan?

What are you saying to the Empress Dowager?

My word is naturally unbreakable.

It is just that I can only give you Ruoxuan herself.

I have no influence on her heart.

Whether or not you want Ruoxuan to be your Consort,

you can think on it yourself.

Then you can tell me.

Qirong and Qiyuan are still like they were as youngsters.

They always loved to fight.

Older Sister, no need to take it to heart. Please forgive them.

What are you talking about?

The two of them are fine.

Good.

Goodbye, Empress Dowager.

Goodbye, Empress Dowager.

Prince of Yongqin.

It is already do hard to become a major prince,

but Prince of Yongqin?

If anyone asked how I became a major prince,

would I have to say it was because I was trying to steal a woman from His Majesty?

Becoming a major prince is just a humiliation.

You—

You silly child. So what if that is the case?

It is because of your noble status

that His Majesty adored the girl you liked and wanted to fight with you.

He is willing to give you the noble title of a major prince to compensate.

If it's anyone else, who can they reason with?

I do not want any titles or any good grace,

I do not care about any of that! I only want Ruoxuan.

You— Qirong!

Father.

It isn't much.

I just wanted to see you and say a few words.

I am willing to listen to your words.

Come.

I have been in the court for many years,

I've never joined a clique or befriended cronies for personal interest.

When I do things, I am also very careful.

It is to protect our Dong family's

safety in this lifetime.

Our Dong family has no one in the court to rely on.

It is so hard to stay at peace.

There is something I wish for you to remember.

Do not treat people as enemies.

Do not get stuck in the matters of the court.

You must leave as quick as you can

in order to protect your own safety.

I understand your words,

but there are some things I do in spite of myself.

However, I will remember your words.

Mother.

Official, the Seventh Prince has arrived.

He came to see Ruoxuan.

Ruoxuan. I came just to ask you

what exactly you think of all of this.

Your Highness, my thoughts

have never changed.

The person I love is His Majesty only.

If within this, I did anything to make you misunderstand,

then I would ask you to forgive me.

There are no misunderstandings.

Ruoxuan. I truly love you.

The Sixth Brother is indeed the emperor.

The person he is going to marry is the princess of Xi Qi,

and he must deal with the court and harem.

There is no way he will only favor you.

But I am different.

If I married you,

I swear that I will not marry any other side consorts.

In this life,

I only want you.

In this whole life, you will be my most treasured Princess Consort.

I understand everything you are saying,

but no matter whether or not I can be by His Majesty's side,

he is the only one in my heart.

I am forever grateful for your devotion to me.

It is just that I cannot choose to be with you.

This is not fair to you either.

So, even if you could not

be with Sixth Brother, you would still not be willing to marry me.

Yes. Your Highness treated me with devotion,

and I do not want to be unfair to you.

Ruoxuan! Why?

Where exactly am I worse than him?

This is not a decision I made from comparing you.

It is the choice of my heart. I have no say in it.

Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince has arrived.

Qirong.

In this room right now, only us two brothers are here.

There are no court rules.

In the past, perhaps I was mistaken. I should not have hit you.

Today, hit me back.

Hit me.

Do I dare to hit you?

In the end, you are the emperor.

I am a minister.

The emperor can ignore all rules,

but I cannot disobey the rules.

Qirong! I know that you are angry.

In the past, I should not have been so angry with Mother Queen or hidden everything.

That is the reason for the misunderstandings. Go ahead and hit me.

Just like when we were young. No one can see.

Take these two strokes as my token of apology.

Your Majesty's body is valuable. Do not say that it was because of me that you were hurt.

I cannot afford that.

Qirong.

This is our Royal Grandfather's dragon pendant.

It is now yours.

No need.

This is the only thing left of our Royal Grandfather.

When we were young, you insisted on taking it from me every day! Do you truly not want it?

That is yours. I do not want it.

As long as you like my things, I can give them all to you!

Is that true?

Since that is the case, give Ruoxuan back to me.

- Not Ruoxuan. - Why not?

If you still see me as your younger brother...

I really like her.

Qirong.

Qirong, Ruoxuan is a person, not a possession!

Even if I am the emperor, I cannot give her to any random person.

If you truly love Ruoxuan,

then you should respect her choice.

As expected.

As expected, they were all just empty words.

In the end,

you are the ruler,

and I am a minister.

Your word means everything.

Your words are law. You can do whatever you want!

Then why pretend that you care?

Pretend that you want my opinion?

Do you know,

Mother always nags me.

She says I should work hard and gain merits.

She said that your emperor position could be mine someday.

But I never thought like that. Why?

Because I saw you as my brother.

I would not do anything to hurt my brother!

Moreover, I would not hurt him!

No matter how others suspected or probed me,

I always chose to trust you, to support you.

I saw you as my brother,

but what about you?

In my heart,

you have always been my best brother.

No. You... changed.

Turns out the position of emperor

can really change a person.

Not only did your status change,

but so did your heart!

Qirong?

What's wrong? Didn't you go to the King of Li's celebration?

How come you returned so quickly?

Mother.

What's wrong?

Mother!

What caused you to suffer?

Mother. Mother.

You are drunk, aren't you?

I have woken up.

I have woken up completely.

I am sorry for everything.

Stop making me worry.

That would make you worthy of my sacrifices.

You can have as many women as you want.

It is just that honor and military merits are what

a man should truly fight for.

You should have progressed long ago.

Everything I did was for you.

If you could have a bit of improvement, then everything I have done

would not have been for nothing.

Mother Queen.

In the past, it was I who was immature.

In the future, I will not make you worry again.

Catch me! Catch me, catch me!

Sixth Brother! Don't run!

Watch as I catch you!

- You can't catch me! - Stand still!

Sixth Brother!

Ruoxuan and I truly love each other.

Can you act like you did not see us and let us go?

But no matter whether or not I can be by His Majesty's side,

my heart still belongs only to him.

I hate you both.

I hate everyone.

Ruoxuan...

Sixth Brother...

I want to curse you to live

even more painfully than if you had died!

Your Highness.

Your Highness. Consort Dowager wanted me to bring some sweets over.

Your Highness?

Someone, come!

[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 ♫