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 33=

Your Majesty.

I can assassinate Zhang Jiang.

The situation is different.

On the surface,

Lucong was awaiting our appointment last time.

Chen Yintai didn't know your background.

So your investigation went well.

But this time,

Zhang Jiang is wary of us.

A solo mission

will not work.

Your Majesty.

Is there a solution?

Please tell me if you have one.

I'll do whatever I can to accomplish it.

(If she's really a child of a loyal official killed)

(during the Morning Dew Rebellion...)

Your Majesty?

Your Majesty?

I plan to send Zhang Zhongru to Lucong

to quell the rebellion.

But resolving the rebellion alone won't be enough.

We need

another way out.

Such as?

Mobilizing the troops from different regions.

Do you plan to request troops

from the military commissioners?

Yes.

The prefectures are almost autonomous.

Yet, they have not launched a revolt.

One, they are wary of Qiu Ziliang.

Two, they are wary of each other.

If Lucong

gains the upper hand now,

the military commissioners will be

very anxious.

So there is a great chance

they will help us.

Yes.

But Qiu Ziliang

will never let the military commissioners

unite

and work for me.

He will do anything to stop us.

This is no time for his petty squabbling!

We are losing the country!

He's nothing

but a eunuch.

For him,

anyone can be the Emperor.

Setting up the throne for a grunt

might be more beneficial to him.

When officials can't accept the Emperor,

it's easier for him to control the Imperial Court.

Don't be upset.

It's not fair for you, Your Majesty.

I'm not upset.

I feel upset for you.

The whole world thinks

you seized the throne for yourself.

That is far from the truth.

Qiu Ziliang

gained too much power from

the late emperor.

He rose to this threat.

And Your Majesty

must now clean up after the mess.

No one would want

to take over this mess.

Yu'er.

Thank you.

This is my duty.

I don't need your gratitude.

(If all the perils of the past)

(are to pave the path to meet you,)

Thank you.

(when you finally find out)

(I am the culprit who had brought you suffering,)

(I won't mind)

(paying for the sins)

(of my past.)

Did you

let Zhang Jiang in?

He's set this plan into motion.

That was quick.

It was really your doing.

Yes.

You ordered your men to send me to the border

so I could be exiled.

I had no choice but to tell Zhang Jiang

that the disturbance in Heng'an

was his chance to strike.

Your father's mutiny

never came to fruition.

Your whole family was punished.

Your mother was sent to the palace

to serve as Grand Empress Dowager Guo's handmaiden.

She faced great humiliation.

Humiliation?

She made it through and became a consort.

She didn't have a choice.

She did so to survive.

She didn't deserve to live!

She could have sacrificed her life for the burial.

Her husband died.

If she was loyal to him,

she would have died by his side!

That shameless woman pandered to her enemy and gave birth to you!

Thirteen.

Thirteen, you got it all wrong.

I meant no offense.

You know what I meant.

After my father died,

I was homeless.

I was alone and lost.

When I found out you were born,

I felt joy in my heart.

All that I've done

was to avenge my father

and retake what was rightfully his.

I was doing it for you!

You have great qualities.

You are more outstanding

than Qi Yan and Prince An.

You should rule Xing empire instead!

Don't forget,

the posthumous edict clearly states

you are the heir to the throne.

You are the rightful Emperor.

Qi Yan and his ilk are all traitors of our nation!

Yuan Du!

Yes.

You may set out now.

Thirteen!

She can't fight.

I doubt she could escape again.

What?

What did you do to me?

You should never have instigated

the rebellion in Lucong.

Our land

must not be desecrated.

My homeland

must never be taken.

My family name

must never be tainted.

Scoundrel!

I will never forgive you!

This is unforgivable!

More guards have come.

Qiu Ziliang is worried

you might try to retaliate.

Just as I expected.

What should we do then?

Without Your Majesty's written command and Commander's Seal,

how does Official Li mobilize the troops?

My written command and the Commander's Seal

might not do us any good.

At least we could request with righteous authority.

We could persuade them with reasons

and interests.

This plan could work.

What's so funny?

You've been smiling very often lately.

I feel happy when I'm with you.

I smile because I'm happy.

Now is not the time to flirt.

Come.

Yu'er,

lie down with me.

But...

Just do it.

I shall put up with your tantrum

and lie down for a little.

Yu'er.

Do you really want to help me?

Certainly.

There is a way

you might not approve of.

I will.

I'll agree with whatever plan

you come up with.

Are you sure?

I'm sure.

Then leave.

What?

Leave me.

Leave Heng'an.

I will never do such a thing.

This is the one plan I can never agree with.

I won't leave you behind.

We don't know Han Ding's whereabouts.

What would you do without me?

But the turmoil will end,

and the people will survive.

(Zhenwu)

(Yuzhou) (The Land of Daxing)

Cheng Xi

is always so restless.

Indeed.

Her plan was cruel.

She is pitting Duke Chu,

Qi Yan,

and us

against

mortal enemies.

How should we retaliate?

No.

I'm not an expert in leading an army.

I should wait and observe

rather than

trying to be smart.

(Herbal remedy)

Have you found anything

on the divine healer?

Yes.

His family name is Wu.

He came from Fengxing.

He has no friends or family.

He lives in solitude.

For the past decade,

he wandered the land

and helped people.

Money doesn't interest him.

He's saved many lives.

He said

Qi Yan was doomed.

That was what he told Duke Chu.

(Herbal remedy)

Interesting.

What is it?

The Right Chariot got a divine healer

who awakened

Yuan Xing from his coma.

Does our mighty and brilliant

Right Minister

know about this?

I doubt he does.

If he was unaware of this,

how would he know to prepare

the rosa rubus?

After Yuan Xing came to,

he gulled Yuan Xing into

changing the statement.

Could this divine healer

actually...

If the Right Minister

is Prince Guang's double,

it's totally possible

that our divine healer

is working for the Right Minister.

How is His Majesty's injury?

The brat you handpicked

has outstanding qualities.

I was left impressed.

His Majesty will live.

So,

what should I do next?

Wait.

Wait?

When the rebellion in Lucong is ended,

we will set our plan into motion.

It's been ten years.

I've been waiting for so long.

Senior,

I'm sorry.

I had let you down.

♪Fishes swim and make ripples♪

♪We take root when going into the water♪

♪Your sudden kiss♪

I don't want to leave you.

♪Swans and geese send regards to the clouds♪

Yu'er.

Listen to me.

First,

you swear you would listen to me.

Secondly,

the war ravages the land,

which means innocent lives will be lost.

And thirdly,

you have my word.

I'll live to see your return.

Have faith in me.

Trust me

just as I trust you.

♪For the fire to burn up the thoughts♪

Fine.

♪Turn longing into a bridge to reach the sky♪

♪Call you for the rest of my life♪

Grand Empress Dowager.

You must not go in there.

Eunuch Qiu forbids it.

Move aside.

Let's see who dares to stop me.

Grand Empress Dowager.

Grandmother.

What brought you here?

Don't you know?

All of you have been

keeping secrets from me.

Do you take me for a senile

old woman?

Had Zening not told me

about the situation,

I would be kept in the dark!

Your Majesty.

You are hurt so badly.

And my poor Rong...

Curse that sniveling Qiu Ziliang,

he wants to severe

the Qi family's bloodline!

Please mind your words.

I'll speak my mind.

I do not fear him.

Rong is dead.

If you died,

I would die with you.

Grandmother, please calm down.

That was uncalled for.

Lowly servant!

It's your fault!

His Majesty

was hurt because of you!

But Yu'er is not responsible

for all of my misfortunes.

Listen to yourself.

Why are you still defending her?

I've heard the rumors.

You got hurt while saving

this lowly servant.

You are the ruler of a country!

She should take a knife for you,

not the other way around.

Yu'er also saved my life.

But from what I see now,

she is still alive and well.

But you?

My grandson

could barely stand straight.

The Grand Empress Dowager is right.

I deserve the worst punishments.

Is the child

safe?

She miscarried.

So why are you still keeping her around?

Banish her from this palace!

Get out!

Grandmother, please calm down.

Yu'er was heavily wounded.

She is still recovering.

Not to mention

I need

a servant to tend to my needs.

I hope you understand.

Any other servant will do just fine.

Cheng Ruoyu

must not be allowed

to serve you any longer.

Do you feel no shame while staying in this palace?

Yu'er.

Yan'er.

Do you wish to make me worry?

Send her out of palace.

Do not allow her to return.

Yu'er.

At the moment,

I'm grounded in this cage.

I must find a way

to get you out of here.

I'm not leaving.

The most logical plan

is

the Grand Empress Dowager to be upset with you

and banish you.

Please don't chase me away.

Please.

Silly.

I would never chase you away.

But listen to me.

I need you

to stop crying.

It pains me to see you cry.

Yu'er, don't cry.

I'm asking you to leave

because I know

my safety

is your utmost concern.

And that's because I'm the Emperor.

Since I'm the Emperor,

I must live up to this title.

What is the first rule of

the Violet Bureau?

My heart is like a sword,

suppressing the wicked and eliminating evil.

My sword is like my heart,

protecting the nation and being loyal to the emperor.

Good.

So now

I need you to be loyal.

Would there be a problem?

After you're banished from the palace,

Qiu Ziliang will send his henchmen to spy on you.

You will be in great danger.

But I believe

you can handle any peril

that comes to you.

I will.

I still want to come back alive.

As long as you live,

I'll live.

For Your Majesty to live on,

I will make it through.

We will both live.

You came just in time.

Take your bow back.

It's right over there.

Help yourself.

Your Majesty.

What is the meaning of this?

Grandmother.

Grandmother, you chased my servant away.

I am chasing out yours.

It's only fair.

Am I right?

The Grand Empress Dowager

chased away the Little Fish.

Sir,

that's what Eunuch Gao said.

He suspects it could be a trick.

The Grand Empress Dowager never shows it,

but she cares a lot about Qi Yan.

She may hate Cheng Ruoyu, but she wouldn't

separate the two

while he's wounded.

So to answer your doubt,

the Little Fish is out on a mission.

Am I right?

He's still not giving up.

A bad move.

I meant Cheng Ruoyu's leaving.

You startled me.

I thought

it was me.

Do you mean

how the Grand Empress Dowager

chased her out?

She is good at qinggong kungfu

and not to mention clever.

What kind of mission would you send her on?

To deliver a message.

What kind of message

would require you to send your most trusted servant?

A secret edict.

As we can tell by now,

His Majesty has a plan

to deal with Lucong's disturbance.

The plan

must never be known to Qiu Ziliang.

So he and Cheng Ruoyu

put up an act

to get her out of the palace.

Brilliant.

I think

it's folly.

If I can figure it out,

so can Qiu Ziliang.

It's almost impossible

for Cheng Ruoyu to accomplish

the mission alone.

Everyone is wary of me.

I can't afford to draw any attention.

How is the arrangement with the Shencai Army?

The newly-promoted generals have their own ideas.

And since they lack experience, the soldiers

aren't convinced.

The grassroots are complaining.

Do not miss this opportunity.

While Qiu Ziliang

has his hands full with Cheng Xi and Cheng Ruoyu,

we can begin

our operation.

Yes.

What was that?

Say it again.

It's the Commander's Seal.

Eunuch Gao said

the Commander's Seal was missing.

Understood.

Dismiss.

Yes.

The command over the Shencai Army

is in your hands.

Should we obey His Majesty's order of mobilization?

No.

In that case,

why are you worried, sir?

The Xing empire

has more than just the Shencai Army,

is that clear?

Are you worried

local troops such as the Zhaoyi Army would...

How about this?

Lead your soldiers and go after the Little Fish.

Find out what her mission is.

Keep me posted.

Yes.

(Li's Residence)

(Li's Residence)

(Li's Residence)

Beauty Cheng.

This is a strange outfit to put on in the middle of the night.

What's the matter?

Are you planning to cause me trouble?

Sir.

The fire is in the direction

of the Shencai Army's camp.

Go check it out.

Yes.

Leave.

Tell me,

what are you looking for?

Where is the Commander's Seal?

What is that?

Drop the act.

I know you have it.

Hand it over.

I have no idea what it is.

I've never seen

the Commander's Seal.

So why are you at

Li Deyun's house?

I'm here for Li Zening.

Had she

not ratted me out,

I wouldn't have been

banished from the palace.

Do I look like

a mindless infant to you?

If you don't believe it,

there is nothing I can do.

Search as you please.

Father.

Father!

Father!

There is a mutiny in the Shencai Army.

So you're the decoy.

The Commander's Seal

was stolen from the palace.

Only Beauty Cheng

could come and go freely

from His Majesty's room.

Guards.

Arrest Beauty Cheng.

Yanzhi.

Make sure you interrogate her properly.

Yes.

What was the mutiny for?

Have a guess.

You arranged it.

How else

could I help you escape?

So you know.

Your beloved aunt invited the hyena.

That leaves His Majesty with two options.

He could mobilize the Shencai Army to fend off the enemies,

or mobilize the local troops.

Qiu Ziliang will never hand over

his command over the Shencai Army.

So

His Majesty is left with one option.

You got it all right.

You need the Commander's Seal to mobilize the troops.

His Majesty is trapped in the palace.

So someone must smuggle the Commander's Seal out.

Hence,

the Grand Empress Dowager

put up an act with you.

She banished you from the palace.

That tricked

Qiu Ziliang into believing

you have the Commander's Seal.

He would stop you at all cost.

But the real Commander's Seal

was already in Li Deyun's hand.

Have a guess.

Who took away

the real Commander's Seal?

It's no doubt your dear rival

Li Zening's doing.

Father.

I made you some soup.

You should have some food.

I'm in no mood to eat anything.

I may have

the Commander's Seal,

but what comes next

will be even more challenging.

Do you think

it's impossible to mobilize the troops?

It's not impossible.

But we lack the talent.

Talent?

These military commissioners

are all cunning and greedy.

A mere seal won't be enough

to mobilize their soldiers.

To make them obey the order,

we need to allure them with benefits.

We must make them fear the authority.

And also...

a leader to manage them.

We lack the person

for this task.

(Cihang Formation, Name List, Records of the Grand Historian)

(Map of Heng'an)

(Map of Heng'an)

(As of now)

(the Commander's Seal)

(is in Li Deyun's hand.)

(I wonder)

(if Yu'er managed to escape?)

(I hope the item in this case)

(can save her life when it comes down to it.)

♪Being stubborn is also our tacit understanding♪

♪It's expected that we will be hurt♪

(I must hold on.)

♪No matter how slow the time is♪

(I must live to see Yu'er return.)

♪There's still romance♪

(I made her the promise.)

♪No matter how fast its pace is♪

♪I'll still wait for you♪

♪The light that's about to get extinguished♪

♪Is a bit cold and a bit warm♪

♪Don't mind the long sigh of worry♪

♪Let us finish speaking of our love in this lifetime♪

You are right.

I showed up

to act as a decoy

to lure Qiu Ziliang's attention.

The real Commander's Seal

was handed to Li Deyun

by his daughter.

Such folly.

Whether it was folly or not,

Qiu Ziliang

has already fallen for it.

And you are captured

yet again.

I still have a lifesaver.

Not to mention

I have you save my skin.

You put a lot of faith in me.

But you're wrong.

If you fell into his hands,

you would have a chance to escape.

But he handed you to me.

To avoid suspicion,

I can never let you escape.

You just told me

you would help me get out.

That was the original plan.

But changes had to be made.

It doesn't matter.

I chose this path,

so life and death

are no longer my concern.

Yanzhi.

Whether you could help me get out or not,

I still appreciate the favor.

Yu'er.

Are you willing to serve me from now on?

I can help His Majesty

end the rebellion in Lucong.

I can help him secure his authority.

He will not be at Qiu Ziliang's mercy.

But in return,

after the rebellion ends,

you must surrender yourself to me.

You will serve me and do my bidding.

I...

Don't turn me down just yet.

Ponder on it

when you get back.

I don't get it.

There are plenty of outstanding people in the Chess of Generals Camp.

You're not short on subordinates.

Why would you choose me instead?

There are plenty of soldiers,

but brilliant officers are rare.

And I am

very fond of you.

He holds a fly-whisk.

Eunuch Qiu.

Are you the troublemaker?

It was me.

But

I wasn't causing trouble.

I merely want an explanation.

What is it?

Since spring,

our pay has been delayed

by our superiors.

Winter is coming.

My men's sweaters

are old and torn.

Our families

are waiting for us

to send them money for New Year.

I have recently

ordered to reward you

three months' worth of pay.

We got nothing,

not even a penny!

We got nothing!

Yes! We didn't even get a coin!

Not even a penny!

What is going on here?

I'll deal with you later.

Scram.

So what is it that you seek now?

We want our pay!

We want our pay!

Anything else?

We want a bonus.

We want a bonus!

The rice price doubled over the years.

Why are we getting paid less

every year?

Bad news!

Bad news!

Bad news!

They are dead!

The Assistant Generals

left in the camp

were all murdered!

Who could have done it?

What is going on now?

Now,

we did it because we were

out of options.

We only

tied them up.

We didn't slaughter them.

Sir,

please don't punish us

for their death.

Very well.

Come forth.

Come closer.

The troublemaker is dead.

I will not pursue any action

for what you did today.

Tomorrow morning

you will be compensated

three times the pay!

How does that sound?

Much obliged, sir.

♪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♪