Original subtitles

♪The top of the mountains where the snow never melts♪

♪The plains where the wind blows♪

♪What find me in my sleep♪

♪Are the nightmares about you♪

♪In the endless abyss♪

♪Your face gradually emerges♪

♪A love that budded unknowingly to us♪

♪Continues to grow and blossom♪

♪Who risked his life♪

♪For mine?♪

♪I had braced myself for the end♪

♪But my heart frets for you♪

♪It turns out there is an end♪

♪To my waiting for you♪

♪At the hills where the grasslands end♪

♪Where it will always be spring♪

♪I find the boundless river of stars♪

♪In your eyes♪

♪Only with your hand in mine♪

♪Is this life worthwhile♪

[SHINING Just for You]

[Episode 8]

Wait.

It's just a petty trick.

I'm not afraid of her.

What's so funny?

[Military Chess] Military chess?

Will your method of sending a chess game to test him actually work?

Judging by His Majesty's personality,

he'll definitely be interested in my game.

Why hasn't he summoned me yet?

How should I know?

Maybe he's too busy with official affairs.

He has handed everything over

to Fan Ruhui.

What could he be busy with?

Here he comes.

Come in.

What is it?

Director Bai,

His Majesty requests your presence.

Your Majesty.

This is?

Take a look.

This is my new chessboard.

It's much better than your chess game, right?

I even gave it a name.

I call it the "Battle of the Nine States".

Battle of the Nine States?

Fine.

Your Majesty, you can name it whatever you like.

Tell me the rules then.

Your Majesty, you and I

will pick a side respectively.

After that, we'll have 1,000 troops under our command.

The one who conquers Tianqi will conquer the entire world.

If so, what do these symbols represent?

Your Majesty, that symbol you're pointing at

is the symbol of the Truth Master.

The one who obtains the Truth Master has their military strength increased tenfold.

Truth Master, huh?

That's right.

I was inspired by the Truth Master's Nine Diagram Deduction

before I created this game.

Of course we need the Truth Master.

However,

don't you think increasing one's military strength tenfold

is too much?

With the Truth Master around,

he can distort the fabric of space itself.

Tenfold is an understatement.

(He's related to the Truth Master indeed.)

Is that so?

Come here.

Okay.

If so,

let us begin.

Your Majesty, please.

Building a water conservancy project, obtain 3,000 troops.

Aren't you dizzy with all the calculations?

If I'm dizzy from calculating these,

I would've failed as an astrologer.

Let's proceed.

I'm exhausted.

I quit.

At most,

you can visit Yunji Building whenever you want.

You should've told me earlier.

You're not allowed to go back on your words.

Do you think I would

play dirty for such a trivial matter?

Qingzhan, good job.

With this,

there's a higher chance for our assassination to work.

That's right.

Princess Lian.

Lian.

Ye,

great timing.

Have you found out the secret behind his invulnerability?

I went to Yunji Building.

However, there were too many scrolls

about him.

I only found out that Yu Xiuming might be related

to the Truth Master.

Okay then.

We don't have much time.

We need to make haste.

Got it.

By the way,

I have good news for you.

I came into contact with a general named Huo Lu.

He can help us sneak into the Ceremony of Stars.

A general?

Is he willing to participate in the assassination?

He was indebted to Jie Haitian.

He is upset that His Majesty executed Jie Haitian wrongfully.

He will redress his grievance during the ceremony.

By then, we can follow his plan

and sneak into the ceremony.

However, he doesn't know

about the assassination.

Huo Lu?

I've never heard of him before.

And,

Lian,

we still haven't found out

why Yu Xiuming is invulnerable.

Don't you think it's too risky to do this?

Looks like you're scared.

What a scaredy cat.

You won't get to avenge your clan

by making one hypothesis after another.

I...

I have no time for you.

Lian, I got to go.

Ye?

If you're scared, you should get out of our way and don't hinder us.

Chu Ye!

Ye!

Ye.

Ye,

I need your help.

This assassination

is too risky.

You don't know any martial arts

or secret techniques.

You don't need to do anything else.

However, the secret to the Emperor's invulnerability

is vital to us.

And now, you have the highest chance

of finding it out.

Got it, Lian.

If you have any news,

you can look for me here.

Don't worry.

I'll make a move first.

Commander Xie.

It's you?

Check over there.

Yes, Commander.

Commander Xie,

I'm here to inquire about someone from you.

Speak then.

Who is it?

Did you have

a subordinate called Huo Lu?

Huo Lu?

Why do you want to know?

I've been sorting out Supervisor Jie's old belongings

in the Bureau of Astrology the past few days.

I found out that Supervisor Jie left a note behind.

I think he has several items that he wants to give

to his trusted aide, Huo Lu.

Trusted aide?

You're not joking, right?

Supervisor Jie did take care of Huo Lu in the past.

However, Supervisor Jie would never have treated him as his trusted aide.

Huo Lu isn't someone who's ready to stand up for justice.

He won't get himself involved with the Jie family at this time.

I might be mistaken then.

Thank you, Commander Xie.

[Winter Grass]

You're not here to deliver the Yin-Yang Calendar?

Your Highness,

didn't I deliver it to you a few days ago?

If so, what are you doing here?

Your Highness, you always instruct the servants

to take good care of me whenever I'm here.

I remember your kindness.

That's why I wish to present some of the excellent teas

I have to you, Your Highness.

Please try them.

Here.

What do you think?

I've never tried

something like this before.

What tea is this?

We call this Winter Grass.

When I was still in Yebei, we always searched for them

beside hot springs.

You've lived in Yebei for 19 years.

However, you still have

plenty of years to live in Tianqi.

Your Highness, you're right.

By the way, Your Highness,

I met General Jie by accident

just a few days ago.

Do you mean Jie Zhuying?

I assume

Jie Haitian and his wife have been buried.

Supervisor Jie

was beheaded at the court.

No one dared collect his body.

That's why people are deeply affected by it.

But it's to be expected.

Not many people were close

with Supervisor Jie in private.

All of them were

his old subordinates from Xijiang.

They fought for many years.

Most of them are dead.

Jie Haitian was always headstrong.

Although the current imperial army

revered him as their superior,

they weren't close

in private.

So no one

had accepted benefits from Supervisor Jie?

According to what I know,

none.

To redress his grievance during the ceremony

and sacrifice his life

to stand up for Supervisor Jie?

This must be someone who had received tremendous grace from Supervisor Jie.

It's impossible for Concubine Tian to not know about him.

Although Xie Yu'an didn't say it out loud,

it's obvious

that he detests Huo Lu.

That means

he isn't someone

who will return someone else's kindness.

If so, why is he doing this?

He must be lying.

No.

I have to write to Lian immediately.

I need to tell her to be careful.

Official Gu.

Official Bai.

What are you doing here?

Official Gu,

can you please

do me a favor?

What is it?

Please speak up.

Deliver a letter for me.

Is anyone there?

Is anyone there?

(Gu,)

(just deliver the letter to this address.)

(If there's no one there,)

(you can leave the letter there.)

Who delivered this letter?

How should I know?

You're illiterate.

Why did you take the letter?

Su, what's the matter?

Your Highness,

someone strange

delivered a letter to us.

He placed it in the courtyard.

A letter?

Your Highness.

What's the matter?

Ye suspects that Huo Lu was lying.

Huo Lu?

She wants us not to act rashly

and to delay our operation.

How could you believe in the harbinger of calamity?

Besides, she's just suspicious of him.

She has no evidence.

You're right.

We mustn't hesitate anymore.

No matter what,

we have to stake our life on it.

(By coming to Tianqi together with my brothers,)

(we no longer intend to live like cowards.)

(Although you're worried about us,)

(we no longer care about your words.)

(This isn't related to you.)

(You don't need to join us.)

"No longer intend to live like cowards?"

Lian says she no longer intends to live like a coward.

If the assassination fails,

does she intend to end her life as well?

If so...

What will you do?

Since she intends to die,

of course I can't just leave her be.

This won't do.

I need to create

an Ice Crystal magic array for her escape.

But Ice Crystal

is forbidden in Tianqi.

You won't find one here.

[Jianyue Pavilion]

Wuyou?

Wuyou,

have you fixed my whip?

I have.

Ye,

look.

The design is so intricate.

The handle

was empty initially.

It has no friction.

That's why I acted on my own initiative

and made some carvings on it.

Princess Zhuyan, I hope you don't mind.

I love it.

So of course I don't mind.

I'll give it a try then.

Let me join you.

Ye.

Last time,

you said you don't like to wear flowers.

I thought it was a waste to throw it away.

That's why I turned it into a wind chime.

Will you

accept it this time?

Miss Ye.

You're finally back.

Hejin?

Yi Wuyou.

This is great. You're finally back.

Ye,

I was seriously injured.

I've been searching for you

since I recovered.

However, there wasn't any news of you in Yebei.

I've been trying to inquire about you

after I came to Tianqi too.

They told me the owner of Jianyue Pavilion had changed.

I thought...

My identity might've been exposed

after trying to save Princess Zhuyan.

They were afraid that the officials might find me.

But now,

I'm back.

Where's Rui?

It's all my fault.

I failed to protect her.

(As I was seriously injured)

(and out of stamina,)

(we could only spend the night on the hill.)

(But when I woke up,)

(she disappeared.)

How did that happen?

Where exactly did Rui go?

After that, I searched for her as I was recovering from my injury.

But I still couldn't locate her whereabouts.

However, I encountered Dayuangu

when I was looking for her.

You met my father?

When I found him,

(he was almost dead.)

(I brought him back to the old shack to treat his injury.)

(However,)

(he didn't last long.)

Ye,

how have you been?

Did the people of Chao pick on you?

Now, I'm working as a female official in the Bureau of Astrology.

I've changed my name to Bai Lu.

What?

You became an official of Chao?

A female official?

Do you intend to serve him?

No.

I'm not trying to serve him.

What are you up to then?

You won't understand.

With my current identity,

I can do things that other people cannot.

I should go now.

Take care of yourself.

If...

If you're willing,

please keep an eye out for me on ways to obtain the Ice Crystal.

Ye,

in the future,

if you see wind chimes hanging at the top of the Jianyue Pavilion,

that means I'm here.

I will keep a lookout for the Ice Crystal.

No matter what happens,

I'll be here for you.

Sir,

there's no Ice Crystal even on the outskirts of Tianqi.

If this continues, we'll have to leave Tianqi.

I haven't checked the Heluo stalls in the west of the city.

I'll check them when the night falls.

Miss,

this isn't a place for you to play the guqin.

You look pale.

You must have been starving for some time.

Why don't we

have something together?

Miss,

can you show me

your guqin?

It's crafted by Master Jingyun, right?

Princess Jingyun has been living in Tanhou Palace for 23 years.

She's not favored, and she has no child.

She spends her life in solitude.

When the army of Chao attacked the city,

Xue surrendered.

The Princess said this with a sigh.

"I was born proud.

However, my father and siblings are spineless.

And, I have to serve a spineless husband too.

Today,

I don't know which state to mourn."

After that, she burned the palace and died inside.

This guqin was the only thing she left behind.

Miss, may I know your name?

My surname is Tang,

as in cherry blossom.

Tang?

Tang as a surname?

You're the relative of the cooks who serve the Yi family.

Back then, 300 servants followed the Princess when she got married.

My parents were in charge of preparing the Princess's meals.

Her Highness had no children.

So she taught us how to read and write when she was free.

I'm Yi Wuyou.

I'm the nephew of Master Jingyun.

Miss, if you don't mind,

you may stay in the restaurant I own for now.

[Lantern Shop]

Sir,

don't worry.

My shop has been here

ever since people started doing business.

I never sell

counterfeit goods.

Good.

Sir,

seems like you're paying too much for them.

Not at all. It's yours if you keep quiet.

Sir, thank you for supporting my business.

Don't worry, sir.

These four Ice Crystals

were purchased by a Heluo from Qingyu Ridge.

I've never seen you before.

Sir, take care.

Stop right there!

Stop right there!

Don't run!

After her!

Stop right there!

Stop right there!

Don't run!

Stop right there!

After her!

After her!

Stop right there!

Hurry!

She's over there!

Stop right there!

Don't run!

Stop right there!

(Is she from the Winged Clan?)

Stop right there!

You have nowhere to hide!

Stop right there!

She's over there!

Show yourself!

Hurry!

After her!

Hurry!

Hurry!

Don't fall behind!

I'm Tianying from the Winged Clan.

Your Highness, thank you for saving me.

Get up.

Skip the formalities.

Your Highness.

Don't call me that.

The Winged Clan was extinct long ago.

You should leave.

No.

Sir, I'm willing to follow you

and assist you

in rebuilding our empire.

Remember.

Remember their faces.

During the Ceremony of Stars,

we will silence them

no matter if they succeed or not.

Understood?

Yes, Commander.

General Huo.

Change into this armor.

Follow me to the imperial army tonight.

I've already made arrangements for everything.

You guys can rest assured.

General Huo,

these children haven't seen the Emperor before.

That's why they feel excited.

The ceremony will begin at the hour of Si.

I will redress the grievance for Supervisor Jie

after His Majesty rewards his subjects.

By then,

you guys just need to send me to the altar

and let me finish my speech.

General Huo, don't worry.

With us around,

no one will hurt you.

You guys should get changed then.

I'll wait for you at the gate.

Okay.

Hey.

You guys should get changed.

Please.

Please

bring me along.

Although I don't know any secret techniques,

I'm from Yebei too.

I don't fear death.

Su.

Listen to me.

Leave Tianqi immediately

once the city gate is open tomorrow.

If you hear news of our failed assassination,

you should never return to Yebei.

Take good care of yourself.

Brother!

Yi Wuyou.

What's the matter?

You told me to rush here.

What's the emergency here?

The Ceremony of Stars is in two days.

Do you plan to join Qihai Lian

in assassinating the Emperor?

How did you know?

I just want to tell you

that this is too risky.

You shouldn't get involved.

Lian has already made up her mind.

I can't convince her to stop.

She's strong with her secret techniques.

If she fights with reckless abandon,

she might win.

However, you don't need to get involved.

This is too risky.

I can't just abandon her.

I'm not telling you to abandon her.

She's the ruler of Yebei.

She has the duty to protect the state and its people.

But you're different.

You've never enjoyed a single day when you were living in Yebei.

No one will blame you

if you don't go.

Rui will blame me.

Princess Lian is Rui's most respected sister.

That's why I cannot abandon her.

Ye, you cannot do this.

She's not worth risking your life for.

Yi Wuyou,

I know you're saying this for my own good.

But you don't need to persuade me.

I shall leave now.

Hejin.

Sir.

Send the Ice Crystals and a Cloud Flame to the Bureau of Astrology.

Tell the Snow Crane Camp to be on standby.

Yes, sir.

Yi Wuyou is right.

You did help her to find an escape path.

But what about yourself?

You dummy.

The assassination will never succeed.

Are you that worried about me?

I'm not worried about you.

If you wish to die,

no one can stop you.

I'm making this

precisely because I don't want to die.

What's the use of that?

It might not be of use at all.

However,

I hope it can be of use.

I don't know

what you're thinking at all.

Don't worry.

I will help you

to settle down.

Anyway,

if I don't come back...

Touch wood.

I knew you couldn't bear to part with me.

That's nonsense.

What are you staring at?

You can go and die for all I care.

All right. It's time for me to sleep.

You must stay here

and gather your qi and power.

This Wave-Cutting Cup is very safe.

If I can return alive,

I'll definitely keep helping you.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Tomorrow is the Ceremony of Stars.

What are you doing here today?

Your Highness, you may not know,

but tomorrow is also the Rainbow Festival in Yebei.

On this day, the women of Yebei would make embroideries

for their closest kin.

That's why...

Pardon me for my skills,

but Your Highness, I made a pouch for you.

I came here today because I was afraid

that I couldn't make it here tomorrow.

Both of us have lost our parents and clan.

We're in the same situation.

Come on. Sit down.

Yes, Your Highness.

Other girls make embroideries

of insects or flowers.

What did you make?

When I was young,

I encountered the Truth Master by chance once.

Therefore, I made this

according to the design of the pouch

that the Truth Master gifted me.

Actually, there's nothing special about the pouch.

However, it has a great scent.

My celestial power was sealed away for over 10 years.

The perfume was what I used to make me feel better.

Your Highness, you should give it a try.

Your celestial power was sealed away?

I used to have strange dreams when I was young.

Therefore, the people of my clan saw me as a harbinger of calamity.

That's why they sealed my celestial powers away.

Since young?

It must've been tough on you.

Seems like I was right about us being the same.

Thank you for this.

You're the first

female official of Chao.

You were even ordered to participate in the Ceremony of Stars.

You've achieved something great for women all around the world.

You're finally rewarded for all your suffering.

Your Highness, you must be joking.

You were the Commander of the Winged Guards.

You were the first female official of Chao.

♪The earth as a plaque♪

♪The sun and the moon as poems♪

♪Turn the skies into the palace under the plaque♪

♪Time as a scroll♪

♪The stars as the inkstone♪

♪Writing with the light of the sea♪

♪Through several lives and reincarnations♪

Qingheng.

♪I search the world for wisdom♪

General Jie.

♪To smooth the folds of the years♪

You should call me Qihai Lian.

But I...

You're a general of Chao.

I'm the Grand Princess of Yebei.

We should never meet again.

When the Ceremony of Stars is over,

I will try to seek an audience

with His Majesty for you.

It's because I promised you before.

No need for that.

You don't

owe me anything.

♪And our roles in the world♪

♪With me♪

♪All worldly desires♪

♪Fall from your fingertips♪

♪The mountains and rivers between your brows♪

♪Orbit the seas like a song♪

Your Majesty,

our hidden guards have found Qihai Lian and the rest in Lanxin Alley.

Lanxin Alley?

The city guards actually didn't know about their whereabouts

even though they'd been living there for so many days?

Most of the houses there were empty.

And they were decrepit.

I assume the city guards didn't pay much attention to them.

I would like to see

how this princess, who had fallen from grace,

could make the Ceremony of Stars

even better.

Commander Ling.

His Majesty is waiting for you in the study.

Official Bai,

please.

Thank you.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty?

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Spare the formalities.

Your Majesty, I wonder why

you summoned me at this late hour.

It's nothing.

I just want you to join me for a round.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Bai Lu,

what kind of person is this Qihai Lian?

(Why is he asking about Lian out of the blue?)

My father once read her fortunes.

He said she was blessed by the heavens.

If so, what do you think

of her?

I think she's had a rough life.

She lost her mother since young.

After that, her father went to abduct other women outside.

Seems like

she's pretty pitiful.

However, she never complained about it.

Instead, she told herself

to be the best grand princess that Yebei ever has.

Seems like you think highly of her.

However,

everyone is pitiful in their own ways.

Those who are pitiful are detestable in a certain way.

Your Majesty,

what are you trying to say here?

I have a question for you.

Who will you choose between her and me?

I've never thought about that question before.

It's fine.

You'll know very soon.

It's getting late.

You should return early

and wait for the Ceremony of Stars to arrive.

I shall take my leave.

Bai Lu.

Don't you have anything else

you want to tell me?

Your Majesty, I've told Concubine Tian

everything I wanted to tell you.

If you wish to know, you may ask her.

All right.

I shall

wait for your return

so that we can resume our game.

I will surely join you

if I have the chance, Your Majesty.

(Cloud Flame?)

♪The earth as a plaque♪

♪The sun and the moon as poems♪

♪Turn the skies into the palace under the plaque♪

♪Time as a scroll♪

♪The stars as the inkstone♪

♪Writing with the light of the sea♪

♪Through several lives and reincarnations♪

♪I search the world for wisdom♪

♪To smooth the folds of the years♪

♪There is a hole in my heart♪

♪Void of someone♪

♪Now I know what forever tastes like♪

♪I'll trade my youth for yours♪

♪I'll trade my youth for your kiss♪

♪We enter the battlefield for the peace♪

♪Of the world♪

♪Draw the lines of fate♪

♪Carve destinies♪

♪And our roles in the world♪

♪With me♪

♪All worldly desires♪

♪Fall from your fingertips♪

♪The mountains and rivers between your brows♪

♪Orbit the seas like a song♪

♪I'll trade my youth for yours♪

♪I'll trade my youth for your kiss♪

♪We enter the battlefield for the peace♪

♪Of the world♪

♪Draw the lines of fate♪

♪Carve destinies♪

♪And our roles in the world♪

♪With me♪

♪All worldly desires♪

♪Fall from your fingertips♪

♪The mountains and rivers between your brows♪

♪Orbit the seas like a song♪

♪The stars shine brightly♪

♪For you and me♪