Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Palace of Devotion]

[This drama is based on historical data and legends.]

[The story and characters portrayed are fictitious.]

[Episode 19]

Retreat!

Retreat!

Charge!

I'm incompetent!

I've failed to save the Eldest Prince.

Please punish me!

You fought well, gentlemen.

Failure to rescue the prince

is not a war crime.

Rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Who ordered the shooting of the arrows?

I did, Your Majesty.

You saw clearly that

my son was hung up high by the Liao army.

How dare you order them to shoot?

How would you answer to me if you injure my son?

Your Majesty! The Liao army had reached the city gates.

It was really dangerous.!

If we didn't shoot the arrows,

Chanyuan City would have been

trampled by the Liao army now!

Take him down!

Calm down, Your Majesty!

To be fair,

General Pan had no choice but to order the shooting.

That was the only way to scare the enemy.

Frankly, he had earned a credit for it.

Empress Dowager Xiao retreated with the Liao army to the north of Yellow River.

General Cao of Daming Province sent his troops to the location

and hijacked their rations.

The Liao army would stay still for now under such pressure.

Therefore,

Empress Dowager Xiao would not do anything

to the Eldest Prince for now.

In consideration of your credit,

you are spared from death.

But your rank in the Imperial Guards

will be removed.

You will serve in the frontline to atone for your sins!

Thank you for your pardon, Your Majesty!

Leave.

Ping Zhong.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Write a letter to Xiao Chuo right away.

She must send Ji'er back to Chanyuan immediately.

If she fails to do so,

I will eliminate them!

Your wish is my command.

We are willing to go against the odds to ensure our victory!

Empress Dowager, Your Majesty.

The scouts reported that

our rations were hijacked by Cao Wei.

The rations we have in camp

can only last for three days.

Even if it's just a day,

we must take down Chanyuan City!

We came in full power to the south.

How can we return empty handed?

Your Majesty, our troops travelled from afar and

fought without rest.

Especially in the two battles of Chanyuan,

we lost plenty of our men.

We're now stranded by our enemies.

If Cao Wei sends his troops here

and surrounds us,

we won't stand a chance.

This is the best opportunity to have a peace talk.

In your opinion, Prime Minister,

how should we negotiate with Zhao Heng?

Summon Cao Li Yong immediately.

We will suggest to retreat with conditions

and send the hostage back at the same time.

Send the hostage back?

And let my Kang'er die in vain?

I want to kill the hostage

to commemorate the Grand General

and my Kang'er!

Your Majesty!

To advance or retreat,

to fight or keep peace.

The future of Liao lies within our decision.

Our warriors' lives depend on it too.

We shouldn't act rashly.

You can leave now.

I will think about it.

Queen Mother!

Please, Lord Han.

We couldn't take down the city.

His Majesty will kill the hostage.

You two must bring the hostage and Miss Wan'er

back to Chanyuan City.

Of course.

How will you answer

to the Empress Dowager?

If His Majesty kills the hostage,

there would be no place for a negotiation.

Our troops won't be able to leave unscathed.

The fate of Liao depends on it.

The Empress Dowager knows well about this.

However, His Majesty couldn't eliminate his hatred

against the hostage for now.

He couldn't accept his existence.

You're considerate and benevolent, Lord Han.

I'm truly impressed.

Without further ado,

you must leave right away

before His Majesty gives his decree.

Yes.

Take this.

We're truly grateful to you. Take care, Prime Minister.

Take care, Lord Han.

Mu Yi!

I've tidied up your clothes.

Thank you, Princess.

Where do you intend to go now that you're tidying up so quickly?

We lost in the fight for Chanyuan.

Queen Mother decreed to retreat

and return to Shangjing.

The war is finally over.

Queen Mother said that

we might not be able to claim the Southern Pass

even if we sacrifice many warriors.

She realized that the Emperor of Song

was determined to protect his lands.

From now on,

she won't go to war with Song.

Leave us for now.

Yes, Your Highness.

I know.

You've always wanted to return to Kaifeng.

But

Queen Mother thinks that you won't return

and I can't convince her.

She refused to let you go.

So you have to endure it.

However,

we can follow her back to Shangjing soon

and lead a steady life.

It seems you've grown up overnight, Princess.

You're more like an adult now.

So I'm just a child

in your heart.

What's wrong with you today?

You seemed different.

I'm fine.

The war is over.

I'm happy about it.

We're leaving soon.

I have to saddle my horse now.

You're now the Prince Consort of Liao.

It's been so long now.

Do you think you're still a horsemaster?

My horse is only familiar with me.

No one can saddle it but me.

I had to do it.

Alright then, hurry back.

Ji'er!

Don't scare me, Ji'er!

No! No!

Wake up, Ji'er! Please!

No...

Ji'er!

Father...

Brother Mu Yi!

Empress Dowager Xiao is so ruthless!

How could she do this to our Ji'er!

Miss Wan'er.

Now is not the time to talk.

Lord Wang Ji Zhong and I

will send you and the Eldest Prince back to Chan Prefecture.

We'll leave now.

The security is tight here.

How can you take us out?

Don't worry, Miss Wan'er.

The Prime Minister gave me a medal.

With this,

we can move freely within the Liao camps.

Alright.

Here, Ji'er.

We can leave now.

Who are you, Brother Mu Yi?

You're now the Princes Consort.

Why do you risk yourself

to bring us back to Chanyuan?

The truth is,

my real name is Yang Yan Hui.

General Yang?

You are Yang Si Lang of the Tianbo Yang family?

That's me.

I'm the fourth child.

The Defence General of Chanyuan, Yang Yan Zhao, is my sixth brother.

My brothers and I joined my father

in the war against Liao.

My father passed away.

I was trapped by the Liao army

and was captured as a prisoner.

I concealed my identity

and broke my surname into two

as Mu Yi.

And I waited for a chance to return to my homeland.

I never thought that

we would meet the renowned

General Yang in a Liao camp.

Our Ji'er is saved.

We can't stay here.

Let's move.

Sure.

Let's go.

This is the first time Mu Yi

has spoken so much to me.

He even hugged me.

That was also a first.

Something feels wrong.

Wrong.

[I came from the Central Plain.]

[Song is my parents' homeland.]

[I have my mother and siblings at home.]

[How can I forget?]

[You're a Song.]

[You would wish to contribute to your country.]

[But I'm now your wife.]

[Couldn't you put yourself in my shoes?]

[You're now the Prince Consort of Liao.]

[Do you think you're still a horsemaster?]

[My horse is only familiar with me.]

[No one can saddle it but me.]

Yelu Longxu must've sent reinforcements!

There they are! Chase them!

General Yang!

Leave now! I'll cover you up!

General!

Follow us, General Wang!

Miss Wan'er, please tell Consort Liu.

I promised her to

save the Eldest Prince with my life.

I did it!

Leave!

We could lose the Eldest Prince!

Take care, General Wang!

Go!

Go!

Ji'er!

You allowed the Prince Consort

to take the hostage away without my consent?

Are you guilty?

If we can establish a peace treaty with Song,

I'm willing to accept any punishment.

By releasing the hostage at will, you...

How can you speak so positively?

If we don't return the hostage,

would the Emperor of Song back down?

We won't stand a chance to negotiate with Song.

And if that happens,

our warriors

won't be able to return to Shangjing.

You would know better

about this fact than me.

Our internal conflicts had just been resolved.

If we couldn't bring back our warriors,

there would be an uproar in the imperial court.

Protecting our warriors would mean protecting you

and His Majesty's reputation.

Protecting the warriors

means protecting our nation.

It's dangerous to hand the hostage to anyone.

The Prince Consort is the only one who can ensure his safety.

But have you considered,

would the Prince Consort return

once he's in Chanyuan?

Tie Jing?

Tie Jing!

She must've gone after Mu Yi!

Send someone after her. Protect Princess Tie Jing!

Your wish is my command!

I've really

lost this war.

I failed on the verge of success with many lives lost.

Mu Yi!

Archers, ready!

Who is it?

I'm Yang Yan Hui, fourth son

of the Tianbo Yang family.

I have escorted the Eldest Prince back.

Stop your nonsense!

General Yang Yan Hui has long perished in battle!

Who exactly are you?

We will shoot

if you don't tell the truth!

Don't shoot!

I'm the Eldest Prince's companion in Liao, Li Wan'er.

Release the bridge now!

Release the bridge!

[Chan Prefecture]

Mu Yi!

Mu Yi!

Mu Yi!

Archers, ready!

[Chan Prefecture]

Shoot!

Don't shoot!

Mu Yi!

She is Princess Tie Jing of Liao!

She's the daughter of Empress Dowager Xiao!

Mu Yi!

Please return, Your Highness.

I'm sorry.

Let's be husband and wife in our next life.

Mu Yi! If you return with me,

I can convince my mother

to forget the past.

We can still be husband and wife.

Your Highness.

My mother is waiting for me.

If I follow you back to Liao,

I would be disloyal

and unfilial.

Please fulfill my wish, Your Highness.

Mu Yi!

Even if you don't love me,

I refuse to believe you to be so ruthless

after so many years with me!

Your Highness.

Please forget me.

Mu Yi!

Stop right there!

[I know.]

[You've always wanted to return to Kaifeng.]

[But]

[Queen Mother thinks that you won't return]

[and I can't convince her.]

[She refused to let you go, so you have to endure it.]

[However,]

[we can follow her back to Shangjing soon]

[and lead a steady life.]

Mu Yi!

Mu Yi!

Mu Yi!

Mu Yi!

Tie Jing!

Fourth Brother.

I'm finally back.

You're back.

Sixth Brother.

After I was captured,

I was stranded in Liao

and concealed my name.

Such disloyalty and unfilialness.

I'm too ashamed to face our mother.

Don't say that, Fourth Brother.

It's good that you're back.

After your recovery,

I'll take you home to greet our mother.

Sure.

Ying'er, Ji'er is home.

Ying'er?

Ji'er is home.

Ji'er is home?

He's home.

Ji'er is home safely.

Where is he?

I'll take you to him.

-Where? -I'll take you to him.

Ji'er!

Come, Ji'er!

Sister!

Ji'er!

You're back, Ji'er!

You're back safely!

Ji'er?

Are you cold, Ji'er?

Look at Mother.

Ji'er? Look at Mother?

Ji'er?

Ji'er?

What happened to Ji'er?

Ji'er has been like this since we returned.

He has nightmares every night.

He forgot all of us after he woke up.

Ji'er?

Ji'er?

Look at Mother, Ji'er.

Don't be scared.

Look at Mother.

Look at Mother.

Look at Mother.

Look at Mother.

Sister.

I called him plenty of times.

He doesn't answer me.

Ji'er is still sick.

Let him have some rest.

Don't be scared.

No one can harm you now that I'm here.

Don't be scared.

Don't be scared.

Don't be scared!

Ji'er!

Ji'er!

Sister.

Ji'er?

Mother...

I'm here, Ji'er.

-Ji'er. -Mother.

They...

Will they tie me up again?

No one will tie you up again.

You're a hero.

The hero has come home.

Father and Liao won't be at war again.

Mother.

I'm cold.

I'm cold.

Wan'er?

Summon the physician, Wan'er!

Yes!

Ji'er! Ji'er!

I'm here, Ji'er!

Here, I'll protect you.

I'll hug you tight. Don't be scared.

I'll hug you tight.

You won't feel cold if I hug you tight.

Close your eyes and have some sleep.

You won't feel cold if I hug you.

♫ The crescent moon shines upon the land ♫

♫ How many families rejoice and how many grieve? ♫

♫ How many couples ♫

♫ are united? ♫

Two years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Back then,

the idea of exchanging hostages

was to ensure peace between Song and Liao.

Who knows,

both parties receive fatal damages.

Song and Liao

won't be on good terms.

Your Majesty.

Don't feel guilty.

It was a harsh decision.

Consort Liu and Ji'er

would understand.

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Ji'er is heavily sick!

Please hurry to him!

Your Majesty!

♫ The crescent moon shines upon the land ♫

-Sister. -Ji'er?

-Ji'er! -♫ How many families rejoice ♫

Your Majesty!

The Little Prince...

Say it!

The Little Prince...

The Little Prince passed away!

My condolences, Your Majesty!

♫ The crescent moon shines upon the land ♫

Your Majesty!

♫ How many families rejoice ♫

Your Majesty!

♫ and how many grieve? ♫

♫ How many couples are united? ♫

♫ How many are wandering out there? ♫

♫ The crescent moon shines upon the land ♫

♫ How many families rejoice and how many grieve? ♫

♫ How many couples are united? ♫

♫ How many are wandering ♫

The scouts reported

that Prince Zhao Ji of the Song dynasty

was cremated.

The two hostages

passed away one after the other.

They weren't short-lived.

They perished because of war!

It's been 45 years.

For the Southern Pass,

our nation had fought against the Central Plain for 45 years.

But who knew

I would return empty-handed in the end.

Now that things had come to this, Empress Dowager.

In my opinion,

we should offer peace.

Yes.

Summon the envoy of Song, Cao Li Yong,

to see me.

Your wish is my command.

Shi Jing Tang of the previous dynasty

was crowned the Emperor of Jin by Liao.

He called himself the Son Emperor

and annexed the Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures to us.

As new powers rose and old ones fell in the southern dynasties,

Emperor Shizong of Zhou, Chai Rong, reclaimed ten of the southern prefectures.

Until now,

it has been 45 years.

The Southern Pass

originally belongs to us.

Since the Emperor of Song sent you here to negotiate peace,

then we shall discuss

the ownership of the Southern Pass.

Empress Dowager.

The old stories of Jin and Zhou

do not concern us.

The Southern Pass was claimed and protected

by our ancestors of the Song dynasty with great hardships.

If you intend to seek peace,

we shouldn't be squabbling over lands.

How can we make peace without agreeing on territorial boundaries?

Empress Dowager.

If we can end the battle of Chanyuan,

our imperial court

will pay tribute to Liao every year

in monetary and materialistic forms

to sponsor your troops.

If you and His Majesty agree to it,

the Emperor of Song is willing to compromise for the good of his people.

Empress Dowager.

The Emperor of Song intends

to pay us tribute as compensation

if we give up the Southern Pass.

This can be counted as the compensation

for the troops

in the battles of the Southern Pass.

I travelled south this time

to reclaim the Southern Pass.

If I fail,

how can I face my people?

Empress Dowager.

I was ordered to have a peace talk

in hopes of bringing peace upon Song and Liao.

If the monarchs disagree,

I will sacrifice myself for my country.

I didn't know

Lord Cao is such a patriot.

A century of peace

between Song and Liao is the key.

Both parties would benefit if it was achieved.

And on the contrary,

I'm willing to give up my life.

Empress Dowager.

Since the Emperor of Song sent an envoy to negotiate peace,

I'm willing to travel

to Chan Prefecture by myself in response

to his favour by seeking his audience.

Your decision can be made afterward.

Very well.

Lord Cao shall stay here for the time being.

After the audience between Lord Han and your emperor,

I will speak to you again.

Thank you, Empress Dowager.

[End of Episode 19]