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 20=

Qi Rong.

Sit down.

Uncle.

We're safe now.

You're safe now.

Chess Overseer.

- Your Majesty. - Let's go.

Let's return to the palace.

- Greetings, sir. - Greetings, sir.

Where is Left Advisor?

I haven't seen him, sir.

What's the matter?

Didn't you inform her?

Sir.

We've already informed her

from outside.

But no one answered.

Sir!

Sir.

Left Minister.

Why are you here?

Right Minister told us to let you check

if the new Cannons are fine.

That's fine too.

Let's see Yanzhi together.

Let her check too.

What's that smell?

It smells of wine.

Why does it reek of wine?

Sir!

Sir!

Sir!

I was wrong.

Sir.

I got drunk.

Left Advisor.

Sir.

Hey,

what are you doing

on Yanzhi's bed?

Sir.

I deserve to die.

I deserve to die.

I deserve to die.

I was wrong.

Sir, I deserve to die.

Where's Yanzhi?

Yanzhi...

Yanzhi...

Oh, right. Sir,

where's Yanzhi?

Father.

You're looking for me?

Where did you go?

Xiu got drunk

and occupied my bed.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry,

but I felt annoyed,

so I went to the library,

wanting to discuss a book with Left Minister.

I didn't expect

that Left Minister would be here.

Why are you looking for me

so urgently?

I suspect

that Li Deyun is ready to create trouble.

These are the new Cannons

that Right Minister chose.

Tell them to watch Li Deyun closely,

and don't let him get an opportunity to return to the capital.

Yes.

Also,

continue searching for Prince An.

Either see him alive

or see his corpse.

I'm not going.

I don't want to go to a far place

like Zhenwu.

With Your Highness staying in Heng'an,

it's very difficult for His Majesty.

He's thinking of ways to protect you.

You must also consider his sake.

You won't be there forever.

We'll bring you back in a few years.

I'm not going.

Yu'er.

What did you do?

Aunt.

We don't have time

to explain things to him anymore.

You're going to Zhenwu this time.

The journey is far and dangerous.

You must be careful.

You too.

You must take care of yourself.

Don't worry.

Aunt.

You must be careful.

You too.

(Right Advisor.)

I returned late.

I've made you worry.

Every time you go out, you return injured.

Forget it.

Zening waited for you all day.

It's all in the past now.

It is in the past.

But how can you not think about it?

If Li Deyun wasn't demoted back then,

you two would be married already.

It's impossible between me and Li Zening anymore.

Grandmother,

please don't worry about this anymore.

What about Cheng Ruoyu?

Your Majesty.

You should have children now.

If you like Cheng Ruoyu,

make her your concubine first.

Let her give birth to Xing's descendant.

That's what you should do.

Huaizhi.

Yes.

Do you want to become an imperial relative?

I don't dare to.

I deserve to die.

Huaizhi.

Yes.

I

like Yu'er indeed.

But it's only between an emperor and official.

It's the kind of joy

between a swordsman with a famous sword

and a painter with a nice scenery.

It has nothing to do with the relationship between a man and woman.

So

it's impossible for Yu'er to be a concubine

and even more impossible for her to give me children.

Remember that.

I will.

What do you want to tell me?

Me?

I...

Your Majesty.

Right Advisor found out

Prince An's whereabouts.

I'll return to Violet Bureau now

to arrange for reinforcement.

Wait.

Bring people to go with Cheng Xi

to bring Qi Rong

to Zhenwu,

then come back.

Zhenwu is too far. I...

This is an imperial command.

Yes.

Why is my face so hot?

I...

He said that it's joy, not love.

Cheng Ruoyu, what are you thinking?

However,

why does he want me to go to Zhenwu?

He wants to lure me away?

Why?

Why are you crying?

Your Majesty.

I know.

I'm grateful.

You're intentionally luring Yu'er away.

Your Majesty.

Han Yue is already dead.

Qiu Ziliang has the power again.

Next,

he'll be dealing with me.

Even if Prince An is already away,

there are still many royal sons in the capital.

At this dangerous time,

I'll be facing a great crisis.

If Yu'er is around,

she'll only get dragged down.

Your Majesty.

Do you have a fool-proof plan?

Yes.

But the chance of succeeding

is only ten percent.

Ten percent?

Ten percent.

Let's do our best,

and let the heavens do the rest.

I don't believe

that the heavens want the Xing empire to perish.

Sir.

What's the matter?

Did you find Prince An?

Cheng Xi secretly brought Prince An out of the capital

and went to Zhenwu.

It's Zhenwu again.

What about Liu Misha?

I especially went to prison to check.

They switched the person inside.

It seems like

Liu Misha is already back in Zhenwu.

I'm sure Cheng Xi brought Prince An there

to seek protection.

Send soldiers at once.

Regardless if dead or alive,

bring Prince An

and Liu Misha back.

Yes.

Qi Yan.

You think that without Prince An,

I wouldn't dare to do anything to you anymore?

Bad news.

Right Advisor followed Cheng Ruoyu

and discovered Prince An's whereabouts.

He even found out that Qi Yan

secretly released Princess Misha.

Eunuch was so furious

that he brought blowfish soup to the palace.

He wants to kill Qi Yan.

Huaizhi.

Yes.

Is Han Ding back?

Not yet.

I'm afraid

that it's really too late.

Did you see clearly?

It's really that bowl?

It's the one Eunuch Qiu

brought the late emperor last year.

- Grand Empress Dowager. - Grand Empress Dowager.

- Grand Empress Dowager! - Grand Empress Dowager!

Get the imperial physician.

Yes.

Grand Empress Dowager.

Based on the sign,

after going southwest outside the city,

we'll get there in about two hours.

They're Prince Guang's people.

Yu'er.

Why are you here at this time?

We're going out of the city.

You're going out of the city?

Something bad is going to happen to His Majesty,

and you're leaving the city?

Something bad?

What is it?

I'm going

to report to His Highness Prince Guang now.

Qiu Ziliang brought fish soup

and went to His Majesty's study room.

Fish soup?

Poisonous fish soup?

Back then, after the late emperor

drank the fish soup Eunuch Qiu brought,

he passed away in less than 30 minutes.

Continue chasing after them.

I'll go back to the palace.

Yu'er.

Let's go.

Your Majesty!

Qiu Ziliang is coming.

Your Majesty.

Qiu Ziliang is coming.

Run, Your Majesty.

Run, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

The late emperor is different from you.

He didn't have martial arts skill,

and he was kept on house arrest for many years.

He had no desire to live already.

That was why when Qiu Ziliang

brought the blowfish,

he drank it.

Your Majesty.

If you want to leave,

who can stop you? Your Majesty.

I can't leave.

This is my palace.

Only here

am I the emperor.

If I escape,

how am I different with ordinary citizens?

I won't escape.

Open the door.

I'll wait for Qiu Ziliang.

Your Majesty.

Yes.

Wait!

Yu'er.

I happen to be a bit thirsty.

Give me this soup.

You were yelling in the hall.

Where are your manners?

It's time to find someone to teach

the Sword Bearer some manners.

Bring the fish soup.

Your Majesty.

I know that there's more.

Bring it.

Don't drink it.

You left your post

and disobeyed imperial command.

I can't keep

a Sword Bearer like you.

You can't drink it.

Your Majesty.

Huaizhi.

Yes.

Take your niece and leave.

Yes.

Your Majesty.

- I'm not leaving. - You're injured.

Be good.

No one can leave.

Your Majesty.

How touching.

I'm so moved.

This is like déjà vu.

It made me remember Gongsun Jing back then.

I didn't expect that you and the late emperor

are such lucky people.

You have

such a loyal Sword Bearer beside you.

It makes one envious.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, you can't drink it.

Your Majesty!

You can't drink it.

You can't drink it.

Reporting!

Bad news, Eunuch Qiu.

This is a very urgent report.

Read it.

The Lucong Army is in chaos.

Chen Yintai is using the mutiny

to collude with people everywhere

to become self-reliant.

Military commissioners all over

are requesting His Majesty

to write an imperial command

to quell the rebellion.

It seems like I don't need

to drink this fish soup so urgently.

Don't think that I won't dare to do it.

Protect His Majesty!

Greetings, Your Majesty.

I came late in protecting you.

Please forgive me.

Qi Yan.

You're great.

Thank you for your compliment, Godfather.

In the imperial court meeting tomorrow,

while discussing how to quell the rebellion,

I will need your assistance.

Of course.

Thank you for your hard work.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

At this point,

there's no use to be anxious.

Let's think about

what to do next first.

This isn't right.

What do you mean?

Since the Sunny Rain Pavilion yesterday,

nothing is right.

Right Minister knows our every move

so well.

It's impossible for him not to guard against Right Advisor.

Then Right Advisor

couldn't have appeared suddenly

to ruin his plan.

Unless

Right Minister never expected us

to really save Prince An

from the start.

You mean

Right Minister allowed you and Qi Yan

to let Prince An go.

Then he allowed Right Advisor to inform Official Qiu

and infuriate him to kill Qi Yan.

How many people did Qiu Ziliang send

to chase after Prince An?

Official Qiu was furious.

He sent 3,000 Shencai Army troops

and 50 soldiers.

That's almost two-thirds

of usable military power.

What have you thought about?

It's a distraction.

Investigate immediately

if there are other mobilizations in the camp.

Also,

command the new Cannons to see me.

I want to ask them something.

Are we still going to the palace then?

No.

You're right.

We're powerless to stop him,

and it's too late to stop him.

We should take a chance then.

I bet the Right Minister

surely has another trick up his sleeves.

Why did you return?

Your Majesty.

I didn't know about your plan.

I just heard that you were in danger,

so I came back immediately.

I left my post.

You fool.

Listen, Cheng Ruoyu.

You can't do

such a stupid thing again.

All right?

As long as it's for you,

it will never be stupid.

I'm considering

what else you can do

if your martial arts skills are gone.

Help me copy documents?

But you can't do that.

You have such bad handwriting.

Forget it.

Your Majesty.

When

did I say that my handwriting is bad?

You're not aware.

I'm the best

in writing

in Violet Bureau.

You're that incredible?

Yu'er.

No matter

what you become,

whether you become useless or not,

it doesn't matter to me.

While I'm around,

you'll be around.

Didn't we agree on that already a long time ago?

Besides,

why would I become a useless person?

Your Majesty, don't curse me.

Bah!

I'll be lucky and blessed.

Yu'er.

This medicine...

Huaizhi.

Well...

Bring me

the map

from my desk.

Yes.

Why are you laughing?

Father.

You're here.

Are you in a bind

because you don't know who to send

to quell Lucong's rebellion?

Yes.

My followers

are

all experts

in power plays.

However,

when they hear about mobilizing soldiers and battles,

they just look at each other

and don't know what to do.

I really didn't expect

to fall for Qi Yan's trick.

Yes.

With the impending battle,

if we replace the emperor,

the military commissioners will surely take the opportunity to rebel.

Then that would be hard to handle.

Does Liu Congjian

really have the late emperor's posthumous edict?

I've already sent the Commissioner of the Capital to check.

But that's not our turf.

It's very complicated and dangerous.

We haven't found anything yet.

That old fart.

Because he has military power,

he thinks that I can't do anything to him.

He sought redress for Wang Yang's grievance three times.

I should have

sent people from Chess of Generals Camp to kill him.

And it wouldn't have accomplished what Qi Yan wanted.

Father, you mean...

All these years,

the regional governors ruled on their own.

They have no regard for the imperial court.

With this chaos in Lucong,

why are they all coming forward?

Qi Yan

must have secretly

made a deal with them.

They want to eliminate the evil officials around His Majesty.

This is where Lucong is.

After Misha returns,

with Zhenwu's 80,000 elite warriors,

together with military commissioners

who are willing to help,

they'll become a multilateral force

that can suppress

Qiu Ziliang's troops.

Your Majesty has long

set this all up?

I found out

about Lucong's situation from Aunt Ninghe,

so I immediately sent Han Ding to investigate in detail.

Aunt Ninghe still has

some remaining power in Lucong.

She can help me.

Now,

we have the support

of the military commissioners from Lucong and Zhaoyi.

Once Chen Yintai becomes more powerful,

and war breaks out,

Qiu Ziliang won't have

any useful people to utilize.

When that time comes,

Li Deyun can take the opportunity to return.

But we didn't expect

that Han Yue would suddenly come.

Right.

Plans can never keep up with changes.

However,

we're finally

back on track.

But once we go to war,

the citizens will be displaced again.

I know.

But the eunuch's faction

is like a long-time cancer.

Medicines can't cure it.

We can only cut it away.

Even if there will be blood loss,

it's better than letting the cancer continue developing

and become incurable.

"The clear sky in autumn aids in mobilizing troops.

The wind in the night cleared the dusts away.

Men remove the swords from their waists.

Happy to see them gone from the imperial highway."

Why do you know this poem?

I...

Perhaps I was just overwhelmed with emotions.

That was why I recited it.

What's wrong with this poem?

Do you know whose poem it is?

I don't.

Whose is it?

It's Wang Yang's poem.

Wang Yang?

Perhaps I saw it

in the resume before

and memorized it.

I...

Your Majesty.

Can you tell me about it?

About what?

Aside from Han Yue,

Wu,

and the two granddaughters

of Wang Yang,

what exactly did you do back then?

You never say anything,

and just let the citizens curse you,

outsiders misunderstand you,

eunuchs laugh at you,

and even have nightmares all night.

All of us can die

for you.

If you win,

Xing will stay alive.

If you lose,

Xing perishes.

Qi Yan.

You must win.

There's no misunderstanding.

What they're saying are all true.

In order to become emperor,

I acknowledged a traitor as my father

and killed Qiu Ziliang's political enemies,

which resulted in the current imperial court

not having any loyal, wise,

and useful talents.

You're not that kind of person.

Then

what kind of person am I?

You're the type

who'll personally go to Chess of Generals Camp at night

because you're worried about your brother's safety.

You knew that His Highness Prince Guang

is a threat to your throne,

yet you still chose to trust him.

You know that there's danger,

and you intentionally lured me away to protect me.

You really care

about Xing and the nation.

How can you be

a heartless person

who'll do anything for power?

Your Majesty.

Don't come near me.

Your Majesty.

You'll win,

and we,

all of us, will help you.

It's late.

Go and rest.

Yes.

(Qi Ang.)

(Did you see that?)

(Even if I've already become a demon,)

(in facing such a girl,)

(how can I not like her?)

(She's the girl I like.)

(Her name is Cheng Ruoyu.)

I feel like

I finally see

His Majesty clearly today.

Qingguang.

You think so too, don't you?

He likes me?

Of course not.

Didn't His Majesty already said it?

It's between an emperor and his official.

Qingguang.

Let's protect

His Majesty together

and help him kill Qiu Ziliang.

Reporting.

What's the matter?

Li Zening is still not making any move,

and Cheng Ruoyu shook us off.

Cheng Ruoyu was riding Rufeng.

His hooves are different from ordinary horses.

You still can't find her by following the hoof prints?

We did,

but we only found Rufeng.

There was no one on the horse.

Watch Rufeng closely.

Qi Yan won't bear to lose that horse.

Yes.

What time is it now?

It's already past 1 pm.

It's been so long,

and Li Zening is still not doing anything?

No.

Send someone to go and test her.

Force the people in the carriage to come out.

Yes.

Baikong (Meaning empty)

is really an empty temple.

It's been desolate for many years.

There's nothing inside.

Tell us.

Where is Li Zening?

We don't know either.

She said

that the monks in Baikong Temple have a hard time.

It's inconvenient to go up and down the mountain,

so she told us to give them

this carriage.

Li Zening told you to give the carriage

to an empty temple?

We're just servants.

We just do

as our mistress says.

She even told us

to wait outside the temple.

After the monks finish what they need to do,

they'll come out to get the carriage.

Cheng Ruoyu?

Why are you here?

Who told you to come here?

It was His Majesty?

His Majesty asked you to come

and pick up Li Deyun,

am I right?

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

I came here

to enshrine Buddhist scripture

for Grand Empress Dowager.

There are so many imperial temples.

Why choose an empty one

to enshrine Buddhist scripture?

An empty temple?

It's really an empty temple.

How strange.

It was a trick to lure us away.

We fell for it. Let's go.

Who are you?

Is this the heat-relieving soup His Majesty wants?

Why did it only arrive now?

Hurry.

Your Majesty.

You're finally here,

Official Li.

♪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♪