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 22

My son told me

that Princess Yongning

went to Ashile Tribe before the negotiation.

So you think it’s Changge?

I have no idea about it.

But I believe

if she knows the assassination,

she’ll try her best to save you.

If she really did so,

I will owe her even more.

Hurry.

Halt.

Have you ever seen this miss?

No...

We’ve never seen her.

No.

Young Master.

We haven’t seen her.

Only your team sets off from Yunzhou.

How can you haven’t seen her?

Young Master, please listen to me.

See, how far have we walked?

Some of us refused to walk halfway.

Some chose to join another team.

And some...

We don’t know where they have gone.

- He’s right. - So...

how can we know where she is?

Am I right?

Do you agree?

We haven’t seen her.

He’s right...

- I don’t know her. - I haven’t seen her.

So do I.

Enough. It’s getting dark.

Let’s go on our way.

Let’s go.

Princess, where are you?

Your Majesty.

Scouts have found out the source of the arrow.

Who’s its owner?

An elite from Young Khan’s Wolf Division of Ashile Tribe.

Yanli has reprimanded him.

And now they’ve gone back to grasslands.

Young Master Wei.

What do you think of the news?

Don’t be nervous.

It’s just a casual talk.

Your Majesty, to tell the truth,

my first thought is

fortunately not Changge.

Please forgive me.

That’s also what I think.

Khatun, Great Khan is back. (Khatun is a queen title)

Alir.

Let’s go to welcome him.

Khatun.

I heard that they returned with nothing.

Please be cautious.

I see...

Let’s go.

Welcome back, Great Khan.

Please have a cup of wine first.

Hundreds of thousands of troops brought nothing back.

What is worth celebrating?

Your dejected expression...

makes me feel unlucky!

Don’t show up in front of me again!

Yes.

Khan.

Young Khan comes to greet you.

Greet me?

I think he wishes me to die!

Ask him back to reflect!

I don’t want to see him!

Yes.

Why are you still freezing here? Get out!

Sun, you’re back! Are you okay?

What’s going on?

Have you seen the Military Counselor?

She’er captured her and brought her back.

What happened to Changge?

Prepare some gifts. I’m going to Khan’s Tent.

You’re just back without a rest.

And what’s your reason to go to Khan’s Tent?

- Report on military affairs. - What are they?

I’ll write at once.

I’ll go with you! I want to see...

Mimi, please!

It’s no use of you to go with him.

Haven’t you heard that Changge is arrested?

Should I wait here and do nothing?

Aren’t you supposed to get ready to go to Khan’s Tent?

Why are you cleaning your sword?

Kurultai will be held in three days. (T/N: A political and military council to strategize war plan)

I’m going to request to Great Khan

to have a duel with She’er during Kurultai.

I’m going to win Changge back.

Sun, are you crazy?

That guy is looking for a good reason to kill you.

You’re offering yourself to him.

You’ll show mercy but he won’t.

I won’t show mercy either.

Mimi wants to follow you to Khan’s Tent.

Don’t bring her there.

It’s too dangerous.

I’m worried about you.

So I can’t let Changge stay there for long.

Tegin, let me go with you.

What can you do?

Changge must be cold and hungry now.

Maybe she’s injured.

So I bring her some food, drinks and medicines.

Give it to me.

No.

I must see her with my own eyes.

Tegin, please bring me there!

I’ll be useful!

Young Khan.

Young Khan.

Young Khan.

We saw the slave from the Central Plain.

Do you dislike him too?

No.

We’ve seen him before.

When?

When we’re in Youzhou.

And he stood up for Ashile Sun.

He’s a friend of that jerk.

Father Khan, would you please

keep him alive?

I will save him.

I won’t stand by and watch him die.

I knew it.

They must have a special relationship.

Tuluk.

Go to the slave camp and bring him to me.

Yes.

Tegin.

Have you seen a new slave

with a nevus under his eye?

Yes, I have.

Where’s he?

Young Khan’s soldiers brought him to the archery field.

Wait for me here.

No woman can enter the archery field

so don’t bring me more trouble.

Let me ask you again.

What did that jerk ask you to do in Wolf Division?

To frame the Wolf Division in front of Great Khan?

I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Do you think that the Wolf Division is just like the useless Eagle Division that doesn’t kill slaves?

I’ll count to three.

You still have time to regret.

Let’s go to see Great Khan

and confess that you’re a member of Eagle Division.

I am not.

Fine.

It seems you know no fear of death.

She’er, are you crazy?

It seems he’s special to you.

For him, you actually picked a fight with me.

You’re using a living person as a target.

Aren’t you afraid of being punished by God?

Ashile Sun.

Take a closer look.

Here is Khan’s Tent,

not your place.

And he’s not your man.

He’s my slave.

Why can’t I shoot him?

You’ve come just in time.

We haven’t had a competition for long, right?

I don’t think we should have one.

Don’t turn me down so easily.

If you care about him so much,

let’s use him as the prize.

What do you mean?

Do you still remember?

When we were young, we competed with each other very frequently in order to win prizes.

No.

It’s okay if you don’t remember. I remember it clearly.

Our first competition

was for such a tiny chestnut.

She’er.

I’ll have a competition with you, but you’ve to let him go.

How can I release the prize?

A sitting duck is perfect for us

to practice our archery.

You...

Let’s play three rounds to decide the winner.

If you win,

you can take him away.

I’ll accept it.

Deal?

Deal.

Again!

You lost that game.

It’s the past.

It won’t be the same now.

You not only lost the game

but you were also being a jerk.

Father Khan.

She’er.

Is it enough?

I’ve told you to compete in three rounds.

We won’t skip one round.

Let’s change into a smaller target this round.

You...

Why? Do you feel sorry for him?

Or do you think I’m not that type of person?

It’s too small.

You can’t hit the target as it’s windy.

Ashile Sun.

You’re really arrogant.

Since you can hit the target, of course I can do the same.

She’er!

You’ve suffered a lot.

Why are you here?

I...

I come to report to Great Khan.

Tegin Sun!

Great Khan summoned you to report! Hurry up!

Ashile Sun.

Nobody hit the target in the last round

so it’s a tie.

And you can’t take him away.

You should go.

I’ll be fine.

A’Sun.

Wait for a few days.

I will take you with me.

Boring.

Tuluk, bring him back.

Yes.

Get in!

Changge!

Mimi...

Changge.

Why are you here?

You’re injured...

Any wounds on your body?

Li Changge!

Tegin Sun told me that you would care for yourself!

Then why did you get hurt?

Why are you laughing?

I’m fine.

Or you can touch it.

I refuse.

Sit here.

Come on.

Does it hurt?

If you can’t take good care of yourself, I’ll...

You’ll hit me.

How can you make fun of it?

Don’t worry. I’m okay.

I will return to Eagle Division

and eat the boiled mutton legs you made.

Eagle Division is brave and skillful indeed,

with strict disciplines.

During the battles at Wei River,

your casualties are the least.

Thanks to Father Khan.

As you’ve made a great contribution,

I’ll grant you a large reward.

Thanks, Father Khan.

Comparing with the reward,

I hope that

Father Khan could grant my request.

Go ahead.

Kurultai will be held in three days.

I want to duel

and win the award of Sirius.

I hope to gain Father Khan’s permission.

Don’t mention it.

I promise you.

You’re really my son.

I’m waiting for your victory in three days.

By the way.

I know what you want

but I still need to remind you of one thing.

It’s good to have a fighting spirit,

but don’t be hasty and let trifle affect a good relationship.

I know that.

Father Khan, please be at ease.

I won’t embarrass you.

That’s fine, good boy.

Kurultai is coming soon

so don’t leave in a hurry.

Stay here for a few more days.

We’ll live in the same tent,

chat all night

and improve our skills.

Okay.

Report to Great Khan.

Luo Yi has been captured.

He’ll be taken to Khan’s Tent soon.

Okay, leave.

Yes.

Sirius!

I know you won’t treat me badly all the way!

It’s all your will!

Father Khan. Was he the Tang General, Luo Yi?

Yes.

It’s him.

He’s commanded Tianjie Army

to guard Jingzhou for years.

We fought many times

and I seldom won.

His good luck has simply run out this time.

I heard that Luo Yi was close to Li Jiancheng.

Therefore he hates Li Shimin very much.

That’s why he led the Tianjie Army to rebel,

making Great Tang lose the north defense line.

While he escaped and hid after the defeat,

how did we capture him?

After Li Shimin defeated him,

only a few trusted followers survived and protected him.

In desperation, he fled toward the grasslands.

As I got the news,

I dispatched troops to find him along the border.

To my surprise,

we found and captured him.

With Kurultai coming soon,

Sirius really gives me a lavish gift.

Congratulations, Father Khan!

How do you want to deal with him?

He knows the posts and the march deployments well.

If he can surrender to us,

we could be more powerful

and it’ll be easy for us to succeed.

What if he refuses?

If so,

I’ll keep on torturing him.

My resentment won’t be eliminated

only until his spirit is destroyed.

Once a day. Don’t forget.

And here’s the food.

But you have to hide it.

Don’t be snatched by others.

You’ve stayed for a long time, so you’d better return now.

You shouldn’t stay long here.

It’ll be terrible to be found by She’er’s men.

Please don’t kick me out.

I don’t know when we can meet again.

Maybe...

I’ll be back to Eagle Division without finishing using it.

Time to leave.

I refuse.

Mimi.

You go first, Mimi.

Take care of yourself.

Greetings, Young Khan.

Where were you these years?

No matter where I am,

I’ve been a slave in the grasslands all the way.

Not so bad...

I thought you’re...

Where do you live now?

I...

What are you going to do?

She’s now a member of Eagle Division.

You’re now in Eagle Division?

You’re his slave?

Mimi.

Go back.

Yes.

Please forgive my leaving, Young Khan.

I have to leave now.

Mimi.

Do you want to say something to me?

Li Changge is my friend.

I hope you do not kill him.

Could you?

Fine. I promise.

I promise her that I won’t kill you.

But you won’t live in comfort.

I’ll give you a hard time!

Have you seen Great Khan?

Did he give you a hard time?

No.

We just had a small talk.

You’re in a sticky spot

yet you’re worried about me.

You’re right...

It’ll be a long period for me to stay in Khan’s Tent.

I’m afraid I can’t come to accompany you.

Don’t worry about me.

Mimi left something for me.

Three days.

Hang on for three days,

I’ll come to take you back

as soon as Kurultai is over.

Young Khan, why do you call me in a hurry?

Do you still remember Mimi Guli?

Yes.

A slave from Mobei.

Why do you suddenly mention her?

Tell me...

where did she go?

Why did she suddenly disappear without telling me?

Great Khan worried you would lose your ambition because of her

so he expelled her to some other place.

But why is she now with Ashile Sun?

She’s now his slave!

The slave was handpicked by Great Khan.

Damn it!

So I’m the only one in the dark.

Please give it to me.

Okay.

Just put it here.

What are you waiting for? Do you want to die?

Young Khan asked me to keep my eyes on you.

Stop slacking off and get back to work!

I was wondering who wanted to see me so urgently.

Well... It’s you.

It’s been a while.

Luo Yi.

I almost didn’t recognize you.

Are you still the brave and skillful man in my memory?

Ashile Chuobi.

I heard that you went out to battle yourself,

but you came home empty-handed.

You’re becoming more and more pathetic.

You’re in a terrible state,

but you’re still reluctant to admit your defeat!

As long as you can kneel to surrender to Ashile Tribe

and fight for us,

I’ll prepare a feast to celebrate your appointment

as the official of the grassland.

Ashile Chuobi.

What a willful wish you have.

How can I associate with a trash like you?

Want to kill me? Just come on!

You’ll never repent.

You don’t know when to stop.

He’s been running here and there.

Let him relax his muscles.

Yes.

Young Khan, what are you looking at?

Mimi Guli called him Changge.

He’s so feminine.

He’s not manly at all.

I really don’t know why she’s close to him.

Just a liking between young people.

Why do you worry about the two slaves?

She’s my slave.

Why does she love him?

That’s past history now.

Just a female slave.

You can have as many as you want.

If you need,

I’ll find one for you.

I didn’t mean that.

Uncle Lei.

Instruct them to assign him more jobs. Don’t let him relax.

Yes.

Who are you?

I’m ordered to clean the cell, General.

Shiba, hold on!

He called me General.

Bandits of Ashile

won’t call me General.

You have knocked-out drugs in your hand.

You’re the one who knocked out the two guards at the entrance.

You want to rescue General Luo?

Who are you?

Ten years ago, in the garden of the Eastern Palace,

you gave me a horn bow.

You said that I was just like my father.

Princess Yongning.

Shiba, release her! Don’t be rude!

But why are you here?

It’s a long story.

Let me get you out first.

No need.

Even though you open the lock,

my legs will prevent me from escaping.

How dare he hurt you so badly!

When I was on the run, I encountered many battles.

Then I was careless and hurt my right leg.

It’s good to know that you’re alive.

There’s still hope.

It seems I can reconsider Yanli’s suggestion.

Yongning, listen to me.

I know the position of Tang Army well.

As long as I agree to cooperate with Ashile Tribe,

we can use their forces to storm Chang’an.

We can appeal His Majesty’s former subordinates in your name

and then kill the traitor, Li Shimin!

We can’t!

Why?

Don’t you want to avenge everyone in the Eastern Palace?

Yes.

Yes.

You’ve been close to your second uncle from childhood.

I didn’t mean that.

After that incident,

he is not my second uncle anymore.

He’s only my enemy.

I’ve suffered day by day

to find a chance to revenge.

But...

if we help Ashile Army to attack the south,

there’ll be no turning back for us.

Uniting with another party to attack a common enemy is not new.

We cannot find another good chance again!

Old General.

As a superb military commander,

you should know it’s difficult to return the favor if you borrow someone’s army.

When I first escaped from Chang’an,

I just felt like I had nothing to lose.

I thought I’d run out of ideas.

I thought to borrow troops

from Youzhou and Shuozhou to attack

but I knew I was wrong after a series of difficulties.

Bodies are piling up at battles

are innocent.

If we help Ashile Army to attack the south,

there’s no way Great Tang would surrender without fighting.

At that time,

millions of bodies will be lying on the ground.

A river of blood will flow a thousand miles.

It’ll become a nation of death.

I hope you could think carefully!

Why do you laugh?

I was testing you just now.

Princess of Tang. Crown Prince’s daughter.

It’s suspicious for you to be in Khan’s Tent of Ashile Tribe.

Now it seems that you’re so much better than me.

As your father was my friend,

I just wanted to speak out against injustice.

I thought to force Li Shimin to abdicate the throne.

But who knew that

we were destined to be defeated?

Jinzhou was empty at that point in time.

That’s why Ashile Tribe seized the chance to attack Wei River.

The people were suffering because of me.

I deserve to be condemned for posterity.

There’s no need to blame yourself up for this.

Though Ashile Tribe attacked Wei River,

they were deceived and retreated shortly after.

You’ve been to Wei River?

Did you get caught for assisting Great Tang?

Brave girl.

You’re really as courageous as your father!

I’m...

very grateful to you

for maintaining my integrity!

Don’t worry, Yongning.

Though I’ve been trying to rebel against Li Shimin,

I’ve never forgotten I’m a member of Great Tang.

I won’t surrender to Yanli no matter what!

The most important thing right now for you is to take good care of yourself.

I will come to save you.

By the way,

Shiba should leave here as soon as possible.

I’ll contact you to fetch him

when I rescue him. Is that okay?

Shiba, listen to her!

Leave here now!

You!

Stubborn as a mule!

You dare to defy my words now?

You’re the last one of 18 Cavalrymen of Yanyun.

I’ve already ordered you to escape long ago.

But you defied my order and came here secretly.

Do you want to drive me crazy?

Rules of 18 Cavalrymen of Yanyun are strict and can’t be defied!

Don’t you remember?

Leave now!

Yongning, you should go too.

Be careful in the enemy camp.

General Luo,

here’s the medicine.

It’ll be useful.

Take good care of yourself

and wait for my help.

Thank you, Yongning.

Don’t move!

Who are you?

♫ 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