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 45

If I didn’t see it with my own eyes and hear it with my own ears,

I wouldn’t believe in any of this.

The reason I’ve been hiding away

is because I want to see what kind of shady business would Ashile Tribe do.

Unexpectedly,

they even spread fake news of launching an attack.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

That’s why I came forward.

Once Zhixi was dead,

Chihe popped up to stop the alliance.

Cast your minds back.

Who was the first to spread news

of Ashile Tribe’s attack on desert at Sifang Pavilion?

Who?

It was the Tiele Tribe.

That’s it.

It was exactly the Tiele Tribe.

Hurry and eat.

Even if you go on a hunger strike, Father Khan wouldn’t let you

go back to your mother.

If it’s known by your mother,

she’ll be broken-hearted.

I can’t see my mother anymore.

Only you’re by my side.

No one can separate us.

You’re so quiet today.

I thought you’d complain with me as you did in your childhood.

Don’t flatter yourself.

Did you quarrel with Yicheng?

She’s my mother!

Don’t call her by her name.

You finally got reunited with your mother,

but quarreled with her again.

There you go.

Don’t be hypocritical.

You used Mimi to get you information.,

but now pretending to be nice.

I really look down on you.

I can do anything for Changge.

What kind of girl is Li Changge

who can make you and Mimi risk your lives for her?

You don’t need to understand.

I’m just curious about her,

and even a bit...

jealous.

Ashile Sun,

can you really cast aside Ashile Tribe for Li Changge?

Today you were voluntarily put into prison.

Didn’t you cast aside Ashile Tribe as well?

I don’t know whether Mother will hate me.

After so long, this day has finally arrived.

At the moment, I’ll never give up.

She’er

One day,

you’ll be back by my side

So exciting!

What a splendid tactic Zhixi’s playing death is!

Changge, how did you come up with it?

I originally wanted to play along

in order to find out who’s behind all this.

But even so, I wouldn’t be able to get anything against Yicheng,

and might’ve cause harm to Chihe’s family.

What do you mean?

It’s customary for Yicheng

to threaten others with their families in other tribes.

Yicheng’s so evil.

So we can’t let down our guard.

Maybe she has some other plans.

Chini may still be hidden in Chang’an.

Hao Du, I need your help.

Don’t move.

Thank you very much today.

It’s our duty to guard our country.

Wait, there’s one missing.

You mean the one by Yicheng’s side.

Yes.

He’s Yang Cheng.

But today we dispatched men personally,

so we can’t ask him from Yicheng.

What shall we do?

Though Chihe admitted where Chini was,

it’s not a success if the head of Chini got away.

Take them back first.

We must let Leyan report it

to the royal court before the morning attendance.

Okay.

[Kong’s Manor]

Go.

Go.

Behave yourself.

Leyan.

[Teahouse outside Pavilion]

Teahouse outside Pavilion.

Go.

Leyan!

Don’t move.

Give me the Fish Token.

Hao Du.

He just wants to save Chini’s men.

He won’t hurt Leyan.

Princess, you’re so clever.

Okay, deal.

Hao Du, you can’t.

I’ll count to three.

It’s up to your decision.

Li Changge.

Give me the Fish Token.

Exchange it with him.

Hao Du!

One.

Two.

Li Changge!

Okay, I’ll let them go.

Changge!

I’ll personally take you there.

Then they’ll obey my order and let go of them.

But she’s the beloved daughter of the emperor.

If you dare hurt her,

you’ll never escape alive.

Cut the crap!

Throw me the Fish Token.

Your so-called reviving Sui Dynasty is doomed.

Cut the crap.

Now that I’m in your hand,

kill me

or cut me

as you like.

I’ll finish soon.

What happened?

Have Chini’s men all confessed their crimes?

At tomorrow’s morning attendance, I’ll report it to His Majesty.

Then just follow the plan.

Then I’ll reveal Yicheng’s plot in front of envoys from all tribes

to help form an alliance.

Here.

I’ll do it.

Does it hurt?

If it does, just cry.

Don’t hold it in.

I’m still here.

Can’t you restrain yourselves a bit?

Well, this time Hao Du did a marvelous job.

His Majesty will grant you a marriage.

I’ll...

By the way,

she’s not seriously injured.

It won’t affect your marriage.

I’ll go now.

A’Sun.

Are you okay in the prison?

Young Master, you’re finally back.

Master kept awaiting you all night.

Foster-Father.

Did you dispatch a troop without permission?

Foster-Father.

It was too urgent for me to report it to you.

You acted as you saw fit.

That’s what my son should be like.

The remnants of Sui Dynasty must be rooted out.

Yes.

Follow me.

Kneel down.

[Du Family Ancestral Tablets]

Kneel down here.

Over here.

Kowtow.

Sprinkle liquor.

Foster-Father.

This is against etiquette.

From now on,

you’re one of our Du Family.

Your name will be included in our family tree.

You’re my son now.

Foster-Father.

I know you’re a proud man,

eager to climb up the social ladder yourself,

but if you want to be the Consort Prince,

I, as your father,

have to pave the way for you.

[Du Family Ancestral Tablets]

Foster-Father.

You called me incorrectly.

Now you’re my son.

Understand?

Father.

Great.

Child.

Accompany me to the court,

and report to His Majesty.

Okay.

Your Majesty.

Yang Cheng’s a collateral offspring of Emperor Yang of Sui.

Since the end of Sui Dynasty,

he has assembled all remnants of Sui...

You seem unwell.

Let Hao Du speak.

Your Majesty, the group of people all canceled their family registers,

existing in the world like ghosts.

They’re called Chini, loyal to Princess Yicheng.

Though they confessed the crime of spreading rumors,

it’s a pity that only Yang Cheng contacted Yicheng.

But Yang Cheng refused to betray Yicheng,

and even tried to commit suicide,

so I’m afraid we can’t arrest Yicheng this time.

Not in a rush.

How far can one go if her wings are cut off?

Yes.

Everybody.

This is Yang Cheng who works for Yicheng.

He’s the mastermind of Chihe and one of the remnants of Sui.

Chihe thought that if Yang Cheng restored the Sui Dynasty,

allied with the desert, Tiele Tribe will naturally thrive,

and then they replace the Ashile Tribe.

Don’t be surprised.

Yicheng married to the grasslands for so many years

and she has been planning things secretly.

Chini’s remaining members were all following Yang Cheng’s orders.

Of course nobody has seen her.

And Yang Cheng is one of the few who works for her

and can testify against her.

So it was all planned by Yicheng.

How glib-tongued Mobei Princess is!

With just a few words, you shifted the blame

and pointed it to me.

I’m just a weak woman who married to the grasslands.

How can I be behind this?

You said that yourself.

None of us said that.

Khatun, rest assured.

Yang Cheng said nothing in the interrogation,

but only wanted to die.

We’re keeping him alive.

We haven’t gotten the chance to ask him yet.

Besides, Yang Cheng’s so loyal.

How can he betray you?

Your glance silenced all people here.

How dare I slander you?

If you know it’s a slander,

the meeting can be over.

Why bother gathering here?

Here comes the Envoy of Ministry of Rites.

Everyone.

This is the promise made by His Majesty of our country to all of you.

All in all, if any tribe is attacked,

our Great Tang will fight side by side.

Great Tang will be with you in fortune and disaster,

rule its subjects using civil means,

provide them with food and clothing,

reclaim wastelands and turn them into farmlands,

and allow trade with each other.

If you need something,

Great Tang definitely won’t make excuses.

If Great Tang were to treat its subjects as slaves,

the treaty of alliance would be dissolved by itself.

Okay.

On behalf of my father,

Monan decide to sign the treaty first.

- So we... - We may sign as well.

Shall we sign or not?

Let’s get allied.

We can sign it.

- Sounds reasonable. - Yes.

It’s quite fair.

It benefits all.

Wait!

Hao Du.

Though you did a good job of rooting out Chini’s remnants,

you dispatched a troop without permission by mistake.

I’m sorry.

Father, it’s my idea.

It has nothing to do with Hao Du.

That’s why I’m punishing you to be the Prince Consort.

I didn’t mean to hide it from you.

I just don’t want to alert them.

It’s a matter...

Princess.

Prince Consort.

Father.

You’ve really grown up.

Hao Du.

No, Young Master Du.

I’ll entrust Yan’er to you.

You’ve to take good care of her.

If you think my daughter’s a drag on your future promotion,

or your affection loses with her beauty withering away,

I won’t blame you,

but you must return her intact to me.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, please rest assured.

I will surely take good care of Princess,

not because she’s a princess,

but because she’s Leyan.

Great.

After Young Master Wei brings the Treaty of Alliance back,

select a date to get married.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

You can’t sign this alliance agreement.

I can’t see you

being pushed into a fiery pit by this fake princess.

Mimi.

Fake?

She’s not the Mobei Princess at all.

She...

is the one whose whole family was massacred,

the daughter of the former Crown Prince of Tang,

Li Changge.

It’s her!

Is she a fake princess?

What’s going on?

Unexpectedly.

Former Crown Prince’s daughter.

Yes. Well...

How is it possible?

Mimi Guli.

I won’t allow you to sabotage Princess’s plan.

It’s...

She’s the mastermind of Chini instead.

The alliance is an excuse for her to get all tribes involved in a war.

She only wants the Tang Emperor to fight a war himself

so that the troop can be exhausted in the expedition.

This way,

she can avenge her father on the emperor.

If Li Changge has other plans,

reveal her real identity in front of all tribes,

or your brother Buzhen and Mu Jin...

Mu Jin!

You think I don’t know Mu Jin has

has sneaked into Dingxiang?

Maybe at the moment,

he’s tortured in Lei Meng’s hand.

I’ll do whatever you want.

Khatun.

Please.

Please spare Buzhen and Mu Jin’s lives.

I’ll do whatever you want.

I’ll listen to you.

It depends on your performance.

To avenge her father,

as a person from Great Tang,

she can even collide with Chini,

a group of Sui remnants.

She cares nothing about the battles

among three forces or people’s sufferings.

The alliance is no other than a plot of hers.

It’s her plot.

She’s so hard to read.

That’s it.

We can’t be reckless.

Let’s think over it.

That’s it.

Take Li Changge down.

I’ll report and wait for His Majesty’s decision.

Yes.

Changge!

[Aspire for Virtue and Eliminate Doubts]

I never thought it’d be like this.

Father.

Changge...

Since when did Yicheng know Changge’s identity?

I don’t know.

Now envoys of all tribes

can’t wait to see me kill Changge

to show my sincerity.

Father.

Your Majesty, they’re afraid of our country

instead of Li Changge.

So you mean they don’t trust me.

I don’t mean it.

I think it’s no use killing Li Changge.

So what do you think shall we do?

Sorry, I dare not say.

Father, you said

you’d pardon relatives of Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji’s.

Now Changge’s identity as Jiancheng’s daughter has been exposed.

She ought to be well-placed.

If Your Majesty goes back on your words,

I’ll keep persuading you at the risk of my death.

Father.

Young Master Wei, go visit Yicheng tomorrow.

She made this move

just to let me release Young Khan.

Whatever she wants tomorrow,

tell her I only want prisoners from all tribes

in the hands of Ashile Tribe.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Father.

No one will harm Changge, right?

Yan’er you may rise.

Yan’er, remember

fighting fire with fire is never a proper way.

Facing either strong forces or schemes and intrigues,

just respond squarely.

Our Great Tang will never give in.

Time to eat.

This is yours.

You don’t get one.

Your mother did pay a lot.

I’m not hungry.

Eat mine as a present for you.

There’s no need.

You eat it.

Otherwise, when you meet Sirius

you might be a hungry ghost.

I believe we can get out.

Are you confident in the Tang Emperor,

or your mother?

I’m confident in your Li Changge.

If she’s reliable,

she won’t let you die here.

I hope she won’t get involved in this again.

She’er,

If we make it out of here alive this time,

I’ll still continue to be your mother’s enemy

till my death.

Ashile Tribe,

Great Tang,

and former Sui Dynasty.

Do these really matter?

Why must you be involved?

Can’t you live happily with Li Changge in some tranquil place?

Isn’t it great?

Of course, it’s great.

Only when the world is in peace

can people live happily indeed.

[Sifang Pavilion]

Khatun.

Tang Emperor only sent you to see me.

The Tegin of Eagle Division schemed against Eastern Palace,

and said you and Young Khan were the masterminds.

For such a major case,

His Majesty’ll solve the case himself,

so he can’t see you in person.

You come straight to the point,

so I won’t beat around the bush.

Let my son go.

I promise.

Within five years,

Ashile Tribe definitely

won’t have a war with Great Tang.

A treaty of alliance is meant to be signed.

Just because the leader of the alliance

is Li Jiancheng’s daughter,

each tribe has given up on the alliance.

That’s how the negotiation of alliance is.

I’m afraid that promises

are just frivolous words.

So what does the Tang Emperor want?

I heard Ashina Tribe

has a lot of prisoners of war from all tribes of the desert.

Great Tang

is too greedy.

Khatun, everyone feels anxious.

To stabilize envoys from the desert tribes,

punishing Young Khan

is the best way to show Great Tang’s prestige.

You’re willing to see me.

I’m sure you understand.

I’m sorry.

I really can’t help you this time.

The alliance has suffered a setback?

90% of them are unwilling to sign the treaty.

That means...

we can still work on the remaining 10%.

The remaining 10%...

are packing

and preparing to leave for the desert tomorrow.

What about A’Sun?

Ashile Sun and Ashile She’er identities

are special.

They’re locked up in prison.

No visitors are allowed.

But they have their own cells.

They won’t get into a fight.

Changge.

Ashile Sun was willing to reveal his identity

to bring Yicheng down with him

and have a life and death struggle with her.

What he did

is very likely related to

you almost being killed this time.

He has saved my life more than once.

If it weren’t for him,

perhaps I already died after falling from the cliff that day.

You two knew each other from a long time ago?

So he was the one who saved you.

If Ashile Sun can get through this safely this time,

as your older brother,

I can entrust you to him.

Before I met him,

I never thought I’d go through thick and thin with one another.

After I met him,

I never thought I’d spend the rest of my life with anyone else.

Your Majesty.

Did Yicheng agree?

Yes.

Ashile Tribe will return to Dingxiang tomorrow.

She requests for Young Khan

to leave with her

in front of the desert’s people.

What an idea.

That’s fine.

Your Majesty.

She also wants Ashile Sun.

The fourth day.

It’s the first time I’ve been in prison for so long.

It seems like the situation doesn’t look good.

So do you fear death?

Warriors on the grasslands never fear death.

If you really wrongfully die here this time,

I’d feel sorry for you.

Did I hear it right?

You can even apologize.

Is it that men speak kindly in the presence of death?

If I can’t make it clear now,

I’ll have no chance later.

She’er.

The problem is you’re Young Khan of Ashile Tribe.

No chance?

I don’t think so.

I won’t die so easily.

I won’t die in their country’s prison.

You jerk.

If we can leave alive,

apologize to me and treat me to a drink.

Maybe I can forgive you.

Forgive?

As long as you’re Yicheng’s son,

and I’m Khan’s adopted son,

it’s impossible for us to forgive each other.

She’er.

Forgive?

Maybe in our next lives.

Do you really think that you’ll die?

You’ve never said such depressing words before.

Let me ask you.

If you could live again,

what would you want to do?

I don’t know.

But I definitely won’t leave the grasslands.

The grasslands is great.

It’s so big and beautiful.

We don’t need too many soldiers...

or subordinates.

I just want to be with the one I love...

and ride horses, hunt,

and herd cows and goats with her.

In this aspect, you and I have the same idea.

Who cares if we have the same idea?

What are you doing?

Ashile Sun, you definitely can’t go with them!

Catch the leader and their group will collapse.

Thank you for your reminder.

You’re welcome.

Take him away.

If you want to kill him, I’m not totally against it.

Just don’t do anything to me, but...

Crown Prince of Tang?

You’re so bold.

How dare you attack me?

I just accidentally hit you.

You don’t need to kill me.

I...

I originally didn’t want to do it in prison.

I’m afraid of leaving a trace.

But since you hit me...

and have seen my face,

I should just...

finish what I started.

I can finally avenge my good friend.

You...

How dare you fight with me?

Your Highness.

May I ask why you must kill Ashile Sun?

Of course it’s because he killed Sheng Xin.

Everyone in this world looked down on Sheng Xin.

They think it’s not worth it to hold anyone accountable for his death.

If I...

If I don’t stand up for my good friend,

then he would have died in vain!

But Sheng Xin was a villain who had evil intentions

in intentionally approaching you.

You’re lying!

Hao Du has already captured everyone from Chini.

They’ve already confessed that

back in Luoyang,

they arranged Sheng Xin to be around you...

to distract you.

He used you...

to grab opportunities to create trouble.

I have the signed confessions. The prisoners are still detained too.

If you don’t believe me,

you can interrogate them yourself.

His Majesty would like to meet with Tegin in person.

[World Peace]

The famous Tegin of Eagle Division

refuses to pay respect to the Tang Emperor?

Of course.

What’s more, as Li Changge’s man,

I won’t yield to her Second Uncle.

Then let me see

the extent you’ll go

for my niece.

[World Peace]

Household Registration

There are two options in front of you.

You’ve seen this box before.

It contains Changge’s family register.

I’ve added yours.

From now on,

change your name

and stay in Chang’an with Changge.

Stop your contact with Ashile Tribe.

I guarantee that you’ll have a worry-free life.

Changge...

already rejected this option.

That’s why I’m giving this to you.

You don’t want to see her

live her life fighting in battles, right?

I just want her to do what she wants.

Also,

it’s impossible for me to desert Ashile Tribe.

The second option...

isn’t that easy.

Do you understand what I mean?

Yes.

For Changge’s sake,

are you willing to risk your life?

I’ll do it without any hesitations.

Before you leave Chang’an,

you need to meet one more person.

I thought...

he was my friend.

Why did they lie to me?

Is it because I’m really stupid?

Of course not.

It’s because Your Highness is kind.

You trust people too easily.

There’s no need to comfort me.

I know.

Actually, Father isn’t impressed with me either.

This is the first time that I wanted to fight for someone.

I wanted to seek justice for him...

and avenge him.

But in the end,

it was all for nothing.

You did that bravely for your friend,

but your friendship turns to be false.

Do you regret?

Yes, I do.

From now on,

will you still trust someone unconditionally?

Yes.

But I guess...

I won’t be that blind.

Isn’t that great then?

Your Highness has matured as well.

What about you?

Have you tried to change something you regret doing?

Your Highness.

We can’t turn back the past.

We can only look forward.

♫ 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