Original subtitles

♫ Nowhere to escape. ♫

♫ No bough to alight. ♫

♫ Retrograde with smile. ♫

♫ Never give in. ♫

♫ Forget about the youth. ♫

♫ I’ve never been afraid of loneliness. ♫

♫ I also shed the tears of regret. ♫

♫ But my heart is still fiery-hot. ♫

♫ To the distance. ♫

♫ The miserable past is like a dagger. ♫

♫ Though my wings are broken, ♫

♫ I will keep flying. ♫

♫ Following the light, ♫

♫ I’ll forget you. ♫

♫ The memory shaped my stubbornness. ♫

♫ By virtue of the light in the dark night, ♫

♫ I’ll return it with a long ballad. ♫

♫ The river of life is under my feet. ♫

♫ I don’t regret my craziness. ♫

The Long Ballad

Episode 01

[The Long Ballad]

Go!

Go!

Li Changge,

you can’t get away.

Just surrender,

follow us back to Chang’an and confess your sins.

Chang’an is indeed a lively city.

It’s so much more fun here than our grasslands.

What you see is not necessarily the truth.

The prosperity for now may not last long.

How much is it?

Sir, it’s 3 wen.

Get out of the way!

Come on!

Get out of the way!

Come on!

Out of the way!

Look out.

Are you blind?

This is what you officers do?

Bullying everyone around?

How dare you.

Are you seeking death?

Don’t stir up trouble.

Let’s go.

Is that how the guard in the Crown Prince Mansion behaves?

I’m the guard there.

Prin...

Young Master,

I... I didn’t know any better.

Please, Young Master, have mercy on me.

Get lost.

Yes.

Let’s go.

Go!

Go!

Are you okay?

You’ve got some nerve.

I can’t believe you’d confront Crown Prince’s men.

But given that he stirred up trouble first,

I’ll let you go.

Next time,

you won’t be so lucky.

Go!

If it wasn’t for that guy,

I’d definitely kick their ass hard.

Don’t forget why we came to Chang’an.

Do not spoil the ship for a half pennyworth of tar.

Yes.

[Eastern Palace]

[Everlasting Celebration of Virtue House]

Mother.

Changge.

Mother,

why are you losing so much hair?

Are you not feeling well lately?

I’m fine.

I’m just getting old.

Everyone gets old.

You’re not getting old.

You’ll never get old.

You’ll never be sick.

And you’ll stay fabulous forever

just like now.

You’re so sweet.

Did you sneak out again today?

Yes, I did sneak out.

But Mother, don’t worry.

I didn’t cause any trouble.

Changge,

there’s something I want to tell you.

What is it, Mother?

Why are you so serious?

Changge,

you’re always running wild

and I’ve never been strict with you.

But this time, you must promise me

that you’ll stay right in the mansion tomorrow.

Don’t come out no matter who sends for you.

Why?

I heard that

Ashile Tribe sent out envoys

without being invited.

They’ve arrived in Chang’an.

They came from the grasslands?

Why are they coming to Chang’an?

In name, they’re just envoys.

But they requested for a Cuju game (T/N: Cuju is an ancient Chinese football, soccer)

the instant they arrived.

Everybody knows it’s just an excuse.

A Cuju game?

It’ll be so much fun.

Changge,

when your emperor grandpa just started the war,

he made a marriage contract with Ashile Tribe.

It was a stopgap back then.

But now, Wucheng is at war.

And there’s only a few girls

of the right age in the palace.

I’m worried that

they’ll bring it up this time.

Mother,

that was a long time ago.

I doubt they still remember that.

You’re thinking too much.

Changge,

you’re still young.

Some things are better left unsaid.

I want nothing

but your safety and happiness.

That you’ll live carefreely in Chang’an, warm and fed.

Madam,

you were looking for His Highness.

He’s back now.

Mother,

you’re going to see my father?

He just came back.

I suppose he has no time for me.

I’ll go later.

Changge,

go back and stay in your room.

Don’t upset your father again.

Nanny San,

doesn’t she always hate to see my father?

Why would she want to see him now?

It appears that

Second Brother is waging a war against me.

Eldest Brother,

that’s the last straw.

We need to handle it immediately.

Let’s not talk about it here. Go to my study.

Chang He.

Yes.

Send someone to keep an eye on Hongyi Palace. [Li Jiancheng]

If any movement happens [Li Jiancheng]

around Prince Qin, report it immediately.

Yes.

Eldest Brother,

we can’t afford to wait around.

Second Brother...

A’Jin.

Why are you here?

I thought you hate this place.

Your Highness,

I heard that Ashile Tribe has sent out envoys

to Chang’an without invitation.

If tomorrow they bring up that marriage contract...

It was Emperor Grandpa’s decision.

It’s not up to me.

And it’s not for you

to worry about what happened in the imperial court.

Yes.

This is the dessert I made for you, Your Highness.

Is there anything else you want to say?

I... Nothing.

Alright. If so,

maybe you should keep away from this place.

Yes.

[Hongyi Palace]

Leyan,

You’re so timid.

I can’t believe you’d still fall for this trick.

What will you do when I’m not by your side later?

Changge,

you’re really getting worse.

Come on.

I’ll take you to your Mr. Right.

I don’t have “Mr. Right”.

I heard that Wei Shuyu

is at the arena playing Cuju.

Don’t you want to see him?

Brother Shuyu...

Why would I want to see him?

Since he saved your from drowning years ago,

you’d flush every time you see him.

Leyan.

Leyan.

Are you okay?

You think I’m blind?

Oh,

this is for you.

It’s so ugly.

What is it?

I even pierced my hand

just so I could make this.

Now you tell me it’s ugly?

Forget about it.

It’s a bit ugly.

But I like it.

Let me see.

Where’s your wound?

I’m fine now.

Let’s hurry there before the game ends.

Oh,

I got something for you, too.

This is the amulet

I got from the temple.

One is for you,

and another one...

Another one...

is for Brother Shuyu.

You got this yourself.

You should deliver it in person.

I...

Come on, wear this.

What for?

So that no one can recognize you.

I need to protect you.

What about you?

Come on, I fear no one.

Let’s go.

Please,

I’m begging you.

Please, don’t kill me.

Don’t kill me!

I didn’t sell Prince Qin out.

It wasn’t me who let out the secret.

Please,

please, let me go.

Please don’t kill me.

Don’t kill me.

Please!

Don’t! Don’t kill me!

I didn’t sell Prince Qin out!

It wasn’t me!

Please don’t kill me!

Don’t kill me! Please!

No!

Let’s go.

Leyan.

Hao Du is definitely not a nice guy.

Stay away from him.

Don’t approach him.

Brother Shuyu once told me that

he’s a cold-blooded person.

Forget about it.

Let’s go to cheer for Shuyu now.

Let’s go.

Nice!

Great!

Nice! Nice!

Nice! Nice!

Great!

Nice!

Nice!

Nice!

Come on.

What a large venue.

Nice!

Great!

Nice!

Thank you.

Go!

Hurry up!

My amulet!

My amulet’s gone!

I must’ve lost it on the way here.

Give this one to him.

No.

This one is for you.

You see me practically every day.

Next time you go to the temple,

you can give me another one.

Take it.

But after today,

you don’t know

when you’ll meet him again.

Nice!

Look.

What a pity!

16 points for Team Ashile Tribe.

Nice!

Changge,

it seems that

we’re losing.

We mustn’t lose this game.

If we lose,

it’d affect the morale in our forces.

Nice!

Nice!

Nice!

Nice!

Nice!

Nice!

Team Great Tang scores 14 points.

Team Ashile Tribe scores 16 points.

Nice! Nice!

Yaro!

Hang on, hang on there.

Changge!

Hold on.

Crown Prince,

don’t you underestimate this dagger.

It can cut clear through copper, iron,

gold and jade.

It can kill people without a sound.

Do you want to try it out yourself?

You’re so humorous.

To me, Cuju is just like a war.

What matters is one’s courage, strength,

and weapons.

I think this Great Tang player is an arrow at the end of its flight. (T/N: Idiom for at the end of the rope)

The result of the game is determined.

There’s nothing to see.

[Li Shimin]

The outcome of the game is still to be determined. [Li Shimin]

And you’re talking so wildly in front of everyone.

Aren’t you afraid that

you’ll be proven wrong later?

You!

My Second Brother is always so arrogant and wilful.

He shouldn’t have said that.

Please don’t take it personally.

Since it’s so sharp,

why don’t we make it a bonus

and award it to the best warrior?

I’ve heard a lot about Prince Qin’s lofty goals and open mind.

Now that I finally see him,

I suppose all he has is a glib tongue.

You’re the sensible one, Crown Prince.

Both Tang Emperor and Crown Prince want to

forster cordial relations between our two nations.

Back at that time, Tang Emperor made a marriage contract with Ashile Tribe.

How about we take this opportunity

and settle it down?

What?

Whose daughter is that girl?

Young Master,

you’re seriously wounded.

You need time to recover.

Young Master, you mustn’t...

This game is about the honor of Great Tang.

How can I run away when the battle has just begun?

If you go back to the game, it might turn chronic.

Young Master...

Doctor,

I’m well-built since my childhood.

I’ll be fine.

Brother Shuyu.

Why are you here?

Does it hurt?

Lady.

It’s just a minor injury. No need to worry.

See? I’m fine now.

This is an amulet for you.

If I had given it to you earlier,

you wouldn’t get hurt.

Thanks.

Wh... Where’s my suit?

I can’t believe there’d still be a player

who’d volunteer to seek his doom.

No matter who you are,

we’ll kick your ass.

Just ignore them.

You two, remember...

All I want is...

Victory!

Yes!

Array of Echelon.

Interesting.

Nice!

Great!

Nice!

Nice!

Nice one!

Great!

Nice!

Great!

Nice!

Great!

Nice!

Nice!

Nice!

Nice! Nice!

Nice!

Nice one!

Great!

Nice!

Nice!

Nice! Nice!

Nice!

Nice!

Great!

Nice!

Team Great Tang scores 17 points.

Team Ashile Tribe scores 17 points.

Your dress looks so nice.

Yeah, it took me a long time to get it.

There, there.

Nice!

Nice!

Nice!

Great!

We won!

Nice! Nice!

Nice!

Game over.

Team Great Tang scores 18 points.

Team Ashile Tribe scores 17 points.

Team Great Tang wins!

We won! We won!

He is...

She’s Changge, of course.

Who else could mess with those Ashile guys?

Lady.

Prince Qin ordered me to

escort you back to the mansion.

How could Father know I’m here?

Father...

I’m just following the order.

Leyan,

there must be something important.

Just go back.

I’ll explain it to Changge.

I...

Don’t worry.

You’re the Lady.

Nice work.

Great! Nice job!

You won.

This dagger is yours now.

Give it to that lad.

Yes.

Nice!

You’ve worked hard.

Hold on.

You talked about that marriage contract.

We should give this matter further thought.

That girl you’ve just seen

is indeed a royal lady of our empire.

Would you mind coming to my palace

so that we can discuss it in detail?

Your sincerity really strucks me.

It’d be impolite for me to decline.

Nice, great.

You too.

Good job.

What you did back there is heroic.

The Cuju ball is so heavy.

If it really hit that kid,

the consequences would be unimaginable.

Come on.

As the old saying goes,

“It is a glorious failure.”

You can’t understand Chinese, right?

I can.

He’s so mean.

The boy who made that kick.

Me?

Yes, come here.

What?

As per Crown Prince’s order,

this dagger presented by Ashile Tribe

will be awarded to...

How could you still keep your mask on?

Just state your name.

Shixin Sili is here for Tegin Sun. (T/N: Tèqín (特勤) means General)

Tegin Sun, why would you get interested

and take part in the game personally today?

I wanted to test their ability.

And how are they?

If it was a real war,

they’d be annihilated completely.

But that lad who entered at the last minute seemed smart.

I wonder who he is.

He’s from the Eastern Palace.

His ranking must be higher than eighth.

Tegin Sun, you’re omniscient.

Speaking of which,

I brought up the marriage contract today

and Li Jiancheng really took the bait.

But shall we give Great Khan a notice in advance?

No need.

They’re so eager to sue for peace.

I suppose their forces must be weak.

Great Khan has nothing to worry about.

Our convoy was expected to leave Chang’an tomorrow.

Shall we change the schedule?

No.

Leave as scheduled.

Leave as scheduled...

[Success Cease to Exist If Not Together]

Second Uncle!

It hurts, Second Uncle!

Let me go!

Troublemaker.

Isn’t the public dazzle you get today enough for you?

Why are you here?

Uncle,

I’m here today

because I got you a gift.

Gift?

Show me, then.

You’ve just won it.

Why are you giving it to me?

Since I was seven,

I started horse riding and swordplay with you.

You taught me martial arts and warcraft.

That’s why I could pitch into the Cuju game.

I can never repay your kindness.

I won this dagger myself.

Of course I should give it to you, Uncle.

Little Yongning, you’ve grown up.

Today you managed to apply warcraft to Cuju

and set the formation for players.

Good job.

Nice dagger.

It’s this dress.

If it wasn’t for this suit,

I’d definitely win over you, Uncle.

You’re wrong.

That loophole was the bait I left.

You were too eager to win.

That’s why you’d fall into my trap.

But you’re more powerful than me.

If I don’t take the opportunity

and make a surprise attack,

how am I gonna win?

The strong attack while the weak defend.

If you aren’t strong enough,

all you can do is to draw in your claws

and bide your time before you gain the strength

and can finally launch the attack instead.

Sounds depressing.

This is the price the weak ones must pay.

It’s not easy but you must struggle through it.

It’s the only way to survive.

Lie low and work hard.

Whatever you’re fighting for, someone or the world,

it’s always the case.

Changge,

remember this.

Okay.

I’ll keep it in mind, Uncle.

Alright.

You should go home now.

I have business to attend to.

Okay.

Then I’ll come to visit you next time.

[Success Cease to Exist If Not Together]

Changge,

send my regards to your mother.

Got it.

[Du Ruhui]

Your Highness,

I’m sorry I’m late.

I got so many eyes on me lately.

Changge.

May peace be upon you, Father.

That “lad” who reversed the game today.

It was you, right?

I didn’t mean to break into the stadium.

But we were on a losing streak at that time.

So,

I had to...

♫ The heart gradually responds, ♫

♫ gradually revives, ♫

♫ gradually swims towards you. ♫

♫ Before bidding farewell, ♫

♫ we expect an encounter. ♫

♫ Entwist your figure, ♫

♫ and lock it into my tender dream. ♫

♫ Before the daybreak, ♫

♫ through the obsession of love, ♫

♫ the longing flows. ♫

♫ There’s always a moment ♫

♫ which burns down the wastelands in my heart. ♫

♫ There’s always solicitude ♫

♫ which freezes everything between you and me. ♫

♫ Meet each other in different time. ♫

♫ Encourage each other in different worlds. ♫

♫ My longings become a cocoon, ♫

♫ layer after layer. ♫

♫ It turns into eternity. ♫

♫ The cocoon in the dark night. ♫

♫ There’s always a moment ♫

♫ which burns down the wastelands in my heart. ♫

♫ There’s always solicitude ♫

♫ which freezes everything between you and me. ♫

♫ Meet each other in different time. ♫

♫ Encourage each other in different worlds. ♫

♫ My longings become a cocoon, ♫

♫ layer after layer. ♫

♫ It turns into eternity. ♫

♫ The cocoon in the dark night. ♫

♫ It is sleepless. ♫

The Long Ballad