Original subtitles

♪Confessing to the moon in the rustling wind back then♪

♪Like a boat being swallowed up among the cities♪

♪Watching the flowers fall in unease, worries and troubles fill my mind♪

♪Am I going to where I want♪

♪To stay or to leave, you decide♪

♪Nations are different♪

♪One without desire is one that is not alive♪

♪Looking at the sky side by side♪

♪We've gotten closer with time♪

♪One glance, the city of Chang'an is bare♪

♪Among the ridiculous people and things is me♪

=Dream of Chang'An=

=Episode 12=

Qiu Yanzhi,

look into my eyes.

Look at me.

Listen closely.

You are powerless to fight.

You will not survive the fifth level of suffocation.

If you admit your crime

of falsifying your identity

framing You Ma,

and betraying your superior,

I will stop tormenting you.

Tell me.

Who exactly are you?

Do you think I wouldn't

take your life?

Fine.

Since you refuse to come clean,

you've missed your last chance.

Let go of her!

Sir.

Sir, please believe me.

She has ill intentions.

She wants to marry Qi Yan to become the Empress

and seize control of the nation.

So

She secretly

left the Yuzhen Hall for Qi Yan.

Is this what you have

to show me?

Please, I simply need more time.

I will get the truth out of her.

Sir.

Why are you here?

I'm here for the Chess Overseer.

She is nowhere to be found.

Princess Ninghe is in trouble.

What trouble?

She...

Chess Overseer.

Do not make me repeat myself.

Yes.

Princess Ninghe

stayed at a relay station in Jingzhou.

She was ambushed

and wounded.

So why aren't you searching for the assassin?

But the Chess...

Yes.

You heard everything.

Sir.

Understood.

Ninghe is hurt.

The situation has changed.

I want Yanzhi to be in charge of the Chess of Generals Camp.

You have two hours.

If you fail to bring me evidence,

get ready for your demise.

Yes.

(Murder is never)

(my first option.)

I have a better solution.

What is it?

When You Ma took his life,

my father never showed his emotions,

but he has surely suspected me.

Indeed.

Which is why

I must make use of Zuo Ma

to prove my innocence.

I must erase my father's doubt for me.

No.

That is too risky.

Zuo Ma is more vicious than you think.

Desperation gives birth to resolve.

Do not come to my rescue.

Do whatever you deem fit.

But Yanzhi...

I can handle it.

Trust me.

March.

We need to talk.

Did you

deliberately let me

have this painting?

Even if he knew I didn't do it on purpose,

he would still be furious

when he sees this torn painting.

Qiu Yanzhi.

You won.

I surrender.

I want to live.

I beg of you.

Put up some good words for me.

If you save my skin this time,

from now on,

I'm yours to command.

Deal.

Use this to treat your hand.

I am Cheng Ruoyu, the Sword Bearer.

His Majesty ordered me

to investigate

the attempted assassination of Princess Ninghe.

Is Princess Ninghe here?

Here.

How is her wound?

Her heart meridian was wounded.

She will be safe for now.

But we can't say for sure

when she will wake up.

We came up with a prescription.

She should have a few doses.

Once we're back in the Capital,

we'll have the imperial physician examine her injury.

Thank you.

I was told

the Violet Bureau

is nothing but a dance parlor.

So...

you're actually a dancer.

Yes.

Why didn't His Majesty visit us in person?

His Majesty is busy.

He has a morning court session.

He can pay a visit after

I've checked on Princess Ninghe.

May I know who you are?

Insolence!

This is Princess Misha

of the Zhenwu Army!

Show some manner!

So you're Princess Misha.

I couldn't

recognize you in this outfit.

Greetings, Princess.

The Violet Bureau is famous

for their Sword Dance.

Can you dance?

Sure.

Then show me.

Are the poems

all true?

Princess.

Now might not be the right time.

The dance is meaningless

with only one dancer.

When you visit the palace,

His Majesty will welcome with hospitality.

The Violet Bureau and I

shall dance for you,

Princess.

You're well spoken

as a Sword Bearer.

Are you a physician too?

No.

Why do you

want to check her wound?

Had the wound torn up,

it would be your fault.

It was very rude of me.

As for the attack,

I need you to tell me the whole story.

I can explain it all.

But I won't tell you.

Ask His Majesty to come here.

I'll tell His Majesty myself.

You're finally here.

Zuo Ma is dead?

No.

He wants you dead.

Yet you spared his life.

I want a victory.

I don't seek death.

Great.

Congratulations.

Your tactic...

has reached a whole new level.

Father.

As for Zuo Ma's allegations

against my identity

and conspiring with Prince Guang

to aid Qi Yan,

I must explain.

The usual rule.

I get 30 beatings.

You should punish me first,

then I'll explain.

Your Majesty.

All of you, dimiss.

Yes.

Sit.

Well?

Princess Ninghe was stabbed

at the chest.

The physician said her life was safe for now.

But we don't know if she will wake up.

First,

Princess Ninghe was attacked at night.

At that hour,

aside from Your Majesty,

everyone else should be asleep.

She was attacked at night,

she wasn't well dressed.

When the commotion settled,

she could groom herself again.

But she couldn't have done much,

right?

But when I saw

Princess Misha,

she was wearing the Chai Tian gown

of a Daxing Princess.

She dressed with perfection.

Princess Misha asked

why Your Majesty

wasn't there when I arrived.

Judging by the look,

she was going to meet her lover.

Come closer.

What is it?

Don't be silly.

I'm serious, it was true.

When I was checking

Princess Ninghe's wound,

Princess Misha stopped me.

Why would she do that?

Not unless she was worried

you might notice something.

However,

Your Majesty,

I got this.

I got this

from the physician.

I think it was used to dress

Princess Ninghe's wound.

I also

eavesdropped on

their conversations.

However,

there wasn't any useful information.

Cheng Ruoyu.

When it comes to stealth and theft,

you really are an expert.

Your Majesty,

there's another matter,

and it is the most important of all.

Princess Misha

and the royal retainers of Zhenwu

walked at a firm and steady pace.

They must all be formidable warriors.

What is your conclusion?

As for my conclusion,

Qiu Yanzhi once told me

she watned Princess Ninghe back in the Capital.

So the assassin

wasn't working for Duke Chu.

Qiu Yanzhi may be a villain

but she is no scoundrel.

My aunt told me

Wu was

under Princess Ninghe's control.

But when I saw her earlier,

she doesn't seem like

the kind of person

with grand ambition.

She seemed to be in pain

and too old for her age.

Your Majesty.

You are right.

Something is amiss.

Princess Ninghe

could have been manipulated by someone.

And that person used Wu,

the assassin,

and Princess Ninghe for their bidding.

I requested the 30 beatings

for three reasons.

Speak.

First,

I didn't forge my identity.

Zuo Ma didn't have the evidence,

so he punished me out of frustration.

I do not care

about your past.

I owe my life

to you.

I shall gladly risk my life for you.

Go on.

Secondly,

the rosa rubus

was sold to me

by Prince Guang.

He planned to take down You Ma.

I had learned about the plan,

but I carried it out anyway.

You Ma had served you for years.

Yet he died a horrible death.

It was my fault.

That was because

I spotted signs of a mole inside our Camp.

Everyone I got my hands on an important lead,

I lost track of the culprit.

It was the same for Zheng Wu

and Yuzhen Hall.

Who do you suspect?

I don't have a suspect yet.

But the third party that works from the shadow

could likely be Prince Guang.

For the past eight years,

You Ma has failed to monitor Prince Guang's movements.

That means

we have no idea what Prince Guang has been doing

for the past eight years.

If you have a fallout with His Majesty,

he will reap the greatest benefit.

What about You Ma's involvement?

It was a move of sacrifice.

He made the sacrifice,

I carried out the mission.

It wasn't a good decision,

but the idea of it is refreshing.

I want to infiltrate the enemy's rank

and observe their operation.

Very well.

What is the third reason?

Thirdly,

showing goodwill to Qi Yan

was indeed my personal agenda.

Kuang Mei.

I need your help to get rid of Wang Shoucheng.

Godfather.

Help me ascend to the throne.

Do you know

over the years,

countless people have knelt

before me

and begged for my help.

But so far,

I had only helped two people.

Do you know who they are?

The late Emperor

and His Majesty.

They have grand ambition.

They want the world.

But your ambition is even greater.

You want to serve the world.

Not as big as yours,

the Second Empress.

I've been thinking.

You helped two men rise to power.

They sat on the throne because of your aid.

But both of them

have betrayed you.

Since you get to decide

who sits on the throne,

and since Qi Ang and Qi Yan could have it,

why can't I...

seize the throne too?

Very well!

Chen Yintai was conspiring with Zhenwu.

The timing of Shi Qinzhong's assassination

was around the time

Wu assassinated Duke Chu.

They had been brewing their plan

for a long time before acting.

Therefore,

Wu's attack and the assassination at the wine store

were the prelude of a greater threat.

Zhenwu

wants Lucong and Heng'an.

After the mutiny of Lucong troops,

the royal retainers of Zhenwu

immediately escorted Princess Ninghe back to Heng'an

using her safety as an excuse

to bypass security.

They have 500 men following them.

They are skilled warriors.

Their plan is to make a move

on my Princess Ninghe as they enter the city

to stop her from meeting me

and give me critical information.

Princess Ninghe is in a coma.

But the retainers

can still escort her back to Heng'an.

As soon as they're here,

Heng'an

will suffer the same fate as Lucong.

Lucong was lost...

because

Chen Yintai was their spy.

Who is their spy in Heng'an?

No.

Heng'an and Lucong are different.

The same tactic

will not work here.

Lucong fell

because the enemy took control of the army.

As for Daxing,

the command of the army

is firmly in the hands

of Duke Chu.

Pardon my harsh words.

Even if they killed Your Majesty,

the political situation would only be slightly affected.

Not to mention

the bandages Yu'er stole

are completely normal.

Ninghe is indeed heavily wounded.

There is nothing wrong with the medicine.

Success depends on the details.

If this was planned,

they wouldn't risk

compromising themselves.

I thought

I was smart to have considered

all the possible threats.

You've always thought highly

of your intelligence.

But Your Majesty believed me,

what about that?

I was only playing along.

Your Majesty.

Prince Guang.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, here.

Military Protector Lieutenant Yan Xiu of the Shencai Army...

Yan Xiu...

Isn't that Qiu Yanzhi's sidekick?

Isn't he the Left Advisor of the Chess of Generals Camp?

Why is he holding another position?

There are two Advisors in the Camp.

They both have positions in the Shencai Army.

Yan Xiu is mostly in charge

of Qiu Yanzhi's safety.

He carries out her order.

He has the assassin

that attacked Ninghe.

They've confirmed

it was a daughter of the Zheng clan.

It was Zheng Lu's doing too.

All 27 remnants of the Zheng clan

have been detained.

Their leader Zheng Tian confessed.

The numerous assassinations

were to avenge Zheng Lu,

there was no other motives.

For real?

The assassin left us in the dust.

But he got the culprit so easily.

At least

the fingerprints are on the document are real.

Their identities are real.

I will interrogate them myself.

Your Majesty.

Do you feel relieved now?

Princess Ninghe is still alive.

A night without moonlight.

It's the same

as eight years ago.

Was it...

the day Zheng Lu's home was raided?

There are secrets

I'm willing to tell,

but no one would dare to ask.

So Your Majesty,

should I ask, or not?

What do you think?

Your Majesty,

you want me to know you better,

but won't let me raise any question.

Your Majesty...

end up as a lonely old man.

Do you find it funny?

Zheng Lu

was a vicious person.

But compared to Li Xu,

Zheng Lu

did cure my brother.

My brother

requested to spare one of Zheng Lu's children.

So...

So Your Majesty spared Wu.

Your Majesty told me

it was archery practice.

That was...

It was an archery practice.

Fine.

Your Majesty is right.

Your Majesty

raided his home

and killed his family

not because coercion

or to save your own skin,

but for the sake of the throne.

Right?

Yes.

I did it for the throne.

Your Majesty,

don't dwell on the past.

When I was little,

I had some terrifying memories.

So

I chose

to take a long and sound sleep.

When I woke up,

I forgot everything.

You're a coward.

But I've been living happily

ever since.

Your Majesty,

if the past

is bringing too much pain to the present,

then forget it.

I feel tired.

Your Majesty.

Let's make life easier.

Shut it.

The Emperor and I?

No way.

This is so embarrassing!

Do we have the men from Zheng clan?

There were 27 of them.

Seventeen of them died.

Ten of them still live.

Their statements match.

Impossible.

I ran out of idea

to deal with them.

So

I asked for Zuo Ma's help.

He could be useful for this job.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Any progress on the interrogation?

Yes.

This way, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Wait here.

Why?

Very thoughtful, Your Majesty.

Keep watch out here.

I appreciate the concern.

I'm not a delicate princess.

I should go in as well.

Your Majesty.

Look at her!

Trust me.

Keep watch out here.

Yes.

You've come.

Zuo Ma.

Did you get any information?

Report it to His Majesty.

His name is Zheng Tian.

When the home was raided eight years ago,

he risked his life

to help Zheng Lu's daughter escape.

I asked him

how he made it out alive.

He told me

Your Majesty

spared their lives.

Carry on.

After they escaped from Heng'an,

they went to Fengyang.

While Zheng Lu was

the commissioner there,

he left a trove of jewelry.

They took the jewelry

and went to Hedong.

You Qu was in Hedong.

Didn't he notice anything?

Carry on.

The dust slowly settled over the year,

Zheng Wu wanted revenge.

Eunuch Qiu was founding the Chess of Generals Camp.

He needed talents

from across the land.

So Grand Councilor of the Left

hand-picked Zheng Wu.

You mean

Zheng Wu's documents

were all forgery.

Forged by the Grand Councilor of the Left.

Zheng Wu was disqualified

during the selection.

So she was left to her own demise.

But for some reason,

officials from the Music Hall took an interest in her

and recommended her to Cheng Xi.

So Cheng Xi let Zheng Wu

join the Violet Bureau.

Good.

The Violet Bureau is now caught up in this mess.

From then onward,

Zheng Wu worked in the palace

while Zheng Tian worked on the outside.

They worked from both sides

and used Madam Hong

as their messenger.

So

all the letters Madam Hong received

didn't come from Lucong.

They came from Hedong.

Yes.

But why did Zheng Wu

carry out the assassination

without enough training?

Imagine this.

If you carried a terminal illness

and your days were numbered,

would you have the time

to keep waiting?

Terminal illness?

This is a piece of Zheng Wu's bone.

Poison.

We don't if it was a mutation

or poison.

Either the way,

I ordered my men to exhume

her body.

All her bones

are covered

in black spots.

She must have been in a lot of pain.

So she took a leap of faith.

Cheng Ruoyu doesn't need to know this.

Yes.

With Zheng Wu dead,

Zheng Tian risked his life

for a chance.

He could kill His Majesty,

so he targeted Ninghe instead.

As for those people,

they wanted His Majesty to suspect Zhenwu

and instigate the fightings of the two parties.

Other than that,

there was nothing else they could do.

Does Your Majesty believe this?

The man who spared them

was indeed me.

This conspiracy concerns His Majesty as well.

You Ju,

Grand Councilor of the Left,

Cheng Xi...

Everyone's minor mistakes

gave birth to this predicament.

What do you believe?

I don't believe this.

I interrogated

these people personally.

Whether they were

telling the truth or not,

I can still

spot their deception.

They were telling the truth.

That's all they know for now.

There is

a mastermind

who's been setting their plans into motion

and orchestrated this plot.

The mastermind is impressive.

I can't wait

to witness the next move.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Cheng Ruoyu!

Your Majesty.

I didn't mean to barge in.

My aunt sent an urgent message.

Princess Ninghe just entered the city.

Is she awake?

No.

Princess Misha insisted

the imperial physicians could give better treatments.

So they came here

without notifying us.

What should be seen

will be seen eventually.

Yes.

You've witnessed the mastermind's

next step of the plan.

What's wrong?

I'm all right.

It's just that...

Are you all right?

You should go get some rest.

Your Majesty.

I'll be fine.

I've been through worse situations.

I...

I might need to take a break.

Fine.

I'll set out now.

Catch up afterward.

Yes.

What should we do

with the ten prisoners?

The mastermind wishes to use us

to get rid of

the worthless pawns.

I shall go against their will.

Keep those men alive.

Yes.

Sun Lie.

Heng'an is a bustling city.

The place is so lively.

What brought the Princess here?

Does the Strategist know?

Of course.

He asked me to come here.

I can't wait

to meet His Majesty.

Sun Lie.

You've met His Majesty.

Well?

It was as the Strategist described.

Righteous on the outside,

a villain on the inside.

That's even better.

Look, Sun Lie!

Princess!

Stop!

Move aside!

Godfather.

Where is she now?

Princess Misha's steed

was startled at Tonghua Gate.

His Majesty and Cheng Ruoyu

were hurt while rescuing her.

I've ordered my men

to send His Majesty back for treatment.

What?

Whose carriage is that?

How dare they park it at the main hall?

That's Duke Chu's carriage.

For an old eunuch,

he's very conceited.

Please don't say that.

Duke Chu holds great power.

I'm not afraid.

I came here to be the next Empress.

Are you Duke Chu?

Aren't you here to welcome me?

Why don't you get off the carriage?

Princess Misha.

Please show some manners.

Back to my residence.

Don't worry.

She's just an ignorant brat.

She is not match

for Yu'er,

let alone you.

Don't be so sure about that.

♪Life is a dream, how long do happy times last♪

♪In the windy rain, where will my heart settle?♪

♪The sword can't break this karma♪

♪Look how blurry and lonely the world is♪

♪Fate can't do anything about the bleak bonds of this world♪

♪Still can't let go of this life as time goes by♪

♪Even the iron and golden dagger-axe cannot extinguish the fire in my heart♪

♪Remembering the past and letting time while away♪

♪The past is in front of you♪

♪Forgetting while piecing it together♪

♪Like when I sincerely put my hands together♪

♪I only wish that you can be saved♪

♪The past is in front of you♪

♪Forgetting while piecing it together♪

♪Like when I sincerely put my hands together♪

♪I only wish that you can be saved♪

♪I only wish that you can be saved♪