Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Unchained Love]

[Episode 28]

You have an older brother

who looks very similar to you.

But he suddenly disappeared six years ago.

So,

I thought of a story.

Do you want to hear it?

There was a pair of twins

and the younger twin entered the palace as a eunuch.

For some reason he disappeared

six years ago.

After the older twin found out,

he took on his brother's identity

and entered the Imperial City.

You are that older twin.

You are not Xiao Duo.

You told me previously

that you were a eunuch.

There's no evidence that you are involved with Consort Duan.

His Majesty wouldn't believe it.

But now,

you pretended to be a eunuch

and seduced a royal concubine.

Chief Xiao,

you yourself are walking proof.

What do you want?

I want you to kill Bu Yinlou

with your own hands.

Mistress,

you've been staring at this for three whole days.

I have something

that I don't know if I should say.

How is an ant and a piece of pastry

worth staring at?

People outside are kicking up a fuss

to execute you.

Are you not worried?

Look at this ant.

Its leg is trapped under the pastry.

Do you think it's panicking?

Yes.

It's the same for me too.

Why isn’t Xiao Duo here yet?

Mistress,

do you think something happened?

No, he will definitely come.

Your Highness, he's here.

Only Consort Duan

shall remain here.

The rest can leave.

What are you going to do to my mistress?

Let's go!

Xiao Duo.

Consort Duan is waiting for you

to explain the purpose of your visit.

What is this?

Xiao Duo.

I want you to tell her yourself.

This is...

Poisoned wine.

It's poisoned wine?

The color...

looks pretty nice.

You don't think it's fake, do you?

I personally prepared this for you by hand.

It's as real as it can be.

I gave him two choices.

Either he makes you

drink this wine personally,

making it seem like you committed suicide in fear tonight.

Or,

I'll expose him for pretending to be a eunuch

and he'll be punished for deceiving the emperor.

If you live, he dies.

If he lives,

you die.

Didn't you say

my life

is much more important than yours?

You know why I entered the palace.

Now that I'm so close to my goal,

I can't give up.

I'm sorry.

♫ The wind has risen in the smoke and rain ♫

♫ Even if the road ahead is rough ♫

You can't give up.

So you want me to die?

♫ The wind has risen and can hardly continue ♫

♫ I'll pledge my life to you ♫

Your Highness, please partake of the wine.

♫ The wind cannot dispel my loneliness ♫

♫ But the sorrows and joys of this world ♫

♫ Look upon desolation and recklessness ♫

♫ Not knowing when I can return ♫

♫ How can we be calculating in this ephemeral world ♫

Yinlou.

Yinlou.

Xiao Duo.

I never want to see you again.

In this life,

in the next life,

and the following life,

stay away from me

as far as you can.

Yinlou.

This bitch is finally dead.

Xiao Duo,

don't you like her a lot?

Didn't you say you could give up

everything for her?

There is no such thing as

unwavering love in this world.

When life and death are at stake,

and you have to choose what benefits you most,

you'll end up protecting yourself

and giving her up.

This is why

you and I are the same kind.

Let go.

Let go of her!

Without you by my side serving me,

my hair is never combed properly,

and my makeup doesn't go on smoothly.

Come here.

Don't just stand there. Come here.

I forgot already.

When did you

do my hair before?

It feels like it's been a long time.

But I will always remember

the first time you did my hair for me.

Just like now,

I was sitting in front of the bronze mirror

and looking at you.

Thinking back to that time,

you were really clumsy then,

and you didn't know anything.

You couldn't even distinguish hair oil from fragrance powder,

and your technique was awkward.

Back then,

you were holding up my hair with both hands,

unsure whether to keep holding it,

or to put it down.

Although the hairstyle that you would do for me

was not as complicated as what the maids would do,

but it was simple and natural,

which I really liked.

Every time I recall that time,

I always think,

for the rest of my life,

I only want you

to do my hair.

Now my wish

has finally come true.

Are you satisfied

with your makeup, Your Highness?

With you serving me by my side,

of course I'm satisfied.

I'm glad you like it.

After all, this rouge

was what I specially sourced

from Qiongshui Pavilion.

It's really strange.

How could Your Highness possibly

have the antidote to such a rare poison?

How dare you set me up?

Chief Xiao,

what’s going on?

Your Majesty,

the case of the fox demon wasn't caused by any demons,

but it was Her Highness Rong'an

who sent palace maids to wander around at night.

They applied poisoned rouge

that had thorn apple mixed into it.

Anyone who inhales the rouge

will hallucinate and die of heart palpitations.

All this was planned

just to frame Consort Duan.

What evidence do you have?

Your Majesty.

This is the statement of the rouge shop's owner.

He identified Her Highness Rong'an

as the real mastermind behind it.

We have a witness.

This is the antidote we found

in Changqing Palace.

As a lady residing deep in the palace,

how would Her Highness possibly have

the antidote to such a special poison?

Unless,

she is the culprit.

We have both a witness and physical evidence to prove it.

Empress Rong'an

caused chaos in the palace

and harmed the people.

From now on, she will be imprisoned in Changqing Palace,

and executed at a later date.

Follow me out.

Yes.

Get someone to guard Changqing Palace.

Don't let Rong'an have the chance to talk.

Got it.

[Quiet Residence]

Chief Xiao.

Since you solved the case,

I should reward you.

This is my duty as Your Majesty's loyal servant,

I don't need a reward.

Fine.

But I also heard that

you gave Consort Duan

poisoned wine.

Please punish me, Your Majesty.

I had no choice but to do this.

Her Highness Rong'an

harbors a deep grudge against Consort Duan.

If we didn't make that risky move,

Her Highness Rong'an

would probably not have let down her guard

and given herself away.

If...

Consort Duan wasn't lucky enough to be saved,

you...

harming my concubine's life.

Do you think

you would still be able to

kneel here in one piece?

I deserve death.

But solving the case within three days

was what Your Majesty personally ordered.

Your Majesty's order

is my top priority.

As for what the process involves,

and what happens to Consort Duan,

those were not my foremost considerations.

[Quiet Residence]

I heard this sword is called

What? Denghuo?

Yes, Denghuo.

How unconventional.

What you meant by your words earlier was that

you only did it for me?

You only did it for me.

So if I ask you to go and die,

you will also go and die obediently?

Come here.

Enough.

You really came here when I asked you to.

Are you really not afraid of death?

My life belongs to you.

Whether I'm alive or dead,

the decision is completely up to you, my master.

What a good dog.

A good dog indeed.

[Quiet Residence]

Chief Xiao, you harmed Consort Duan.

But considering your contribution in solving the case,

I shall...

spare you from the death penalty.

But from now on,

your position in Zhaoding Bureau

as the Head Eunuch

shall be stripped from you.

Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, congratulations on solving the fox demon case,

and clearing Her Highness' name.

How is Yinlou?

Her Highness has woken up.

It's just that she hasn't uttered a single word.

Maybe she was wronged and went through suffering,

and feels upset.

I did her wrong.

After I teach all the

ministers who were kicking up a fuss

a good lesson,

I'll go coax her.

I'll give her

a surprise then.

Yes.

This time, Her Highness

was greatly protected by His Majesty.

She will surely be moved

by your affection for her.

There's just something I don't understand.

Her Highness Rong'an and Consort Duan were at odds with each other.

This trap

is also highly dangerous for her.

Why would she take

such a big risk

to harm Consort Duan?

You two, leave.

Since Xiao Duo

has produced the evidence,

if he says Rong'an is the culprit,

then Rong'an is the culprit.

She is only a former empress.

Besides,

as long as we can save Yinlou,

what the truth is, and who the real culprit is,

I don’t care.

What if Chief Xiao

couldn't find any evidence

to reverse the situation in Consort Duan's favor?

Then he'll be the one to die.

I am the Emperor.

Anyone should put in their best efforts for me.

Anyone should die for me,

including Xiao Duo.

This is what they call,

following your destiny.

Yes.

[Deer's Reed Residence]

Zhuo Ying,

I didn't mean to lie to you.

It was an emergency.

I could only play along.

It's my fault, it's all my fault.

But I really had no way of

informing you in advance

to let you know.

You can hit me and scold me.

If that still doesn't make you feel better,

you can make me drink a cup of poisoned wine too.

Or even a whole pot of it.

You can make me drink the real thing.

You can do whatever you want.

But don't ignore me like this.

Don't cry anymore.

Wasn't my acting

particularly good?

Impeccable even?

Let us review some of

the highlight moments.

My slap across your cheek

was loud and crisp, wasn't it?

Also,

before I drank the poisoned wine,

wasn't that smile of despair on my face

the icing on the cake?

Was what I said to you

harsh and cruel enough?

I can't forgive you so easily.

Are you heartbroken?

You cried, right?

Praise me!

Praise me hard.

So you already guessed it.

I already knew it

when you gave me the poisoned wine.

I trust you.

You won't harm me.

I don't know if I should say you're clever,

or if I should say you're foolish.

You're the fool.

I'm the fool, I'm the fool, I'm the biggest fool of all.

You have to keep me under your thumb

for the rest of our lives.

Otherwise, it'd be a waste of

your intelligence and wit.

I'll think about it.

I heard

you lost your position as

Chief Eunuch of Zhaoding Bureau.

With this nasty and hateful look of yours,

in the future,

I guess you can only lie low and

live meekly then?

Yes.

I've completely lost my status and power

and have nothing now.

From now on,

I can only rely on Your Highness to take care of me.

Fine, I'll take care of you.

But,

have you offended many people?

Are they people that I can go against?

Why don't you seem

anxious at all?

Those Zhaoding Guards

have been with me for so many years.

They're loyal to me,

not to the title of Chief Eunuch.

Even if His Majesty

has taken away my title,

the underlying powers within Zhaoding Bureau

and its complex spy intelligence reports

are all under my control.

People can't get me that easily.

You're indeed my man.

There's something

I still don't understand.

What is it?

If Empress Rong'an

is really the real culprit

who killed your brother,

then after she lost power,

she's nothing but a useless chess piece

to Prince of Nanyuan.

Does the Prince of Nanyuan

need to hide it from you?

He's probably just dreaming that

Rong'an can still help him turn the tables.

Godfather, Godmother.

Bad news!

Just stand right there and say it!

Tongyun is in serious trouble.

What happened to Tongyun?

His Majesty ordered

for all the people who are involved in the fox demon case

to be met with severe sentences.

Didn't Tongyun frame you?

The Court of Judicial Review believes

she is Her Highness Rong'an's accomplice,

and sentenced her to exile.

No.

Tongyun can't be exiled.

Don't panic.

I already have a plan in mind.

Get out!

What are you doing?

I'm really sentenced to exile?

These were His Majesty's own words.

Do you think he was just kidding?

Isn't there anyone who came to see me

for the last time?

Where is my mistress?

T-then what about Cao Chun'ang?

Cao Chun'ang is holding a wedding today.

You think he'll come to

a place with such bad luck?

Holding a wedding?

Fine, exile it is then.

Wait.

What's the rush?

Being exiled will be so hard.

Don't go.

Us few,

will send you

to where you should go.

Where am I?

D-don't tell me

I got sold off?

A bestowed marriage?

That's right.

I asked the Empress Dowager

to issue a decree for Cao Chun'ang,

saying that he and Tongyun

have had feelings for each other since long ago.

He made a contribution this time

solving the fox demon case.

He was willing to use his reward to make up for Tongyun's mistake.

So the Empress Dowager pardoned Tongyun

and even granted them marriage.

Although...

it's a good thing to have saved Tongyun,

but is it too presumptuous

to do that to them?

Will Cao Chun'ang and Tongyun

get angry?

I don't know if Tongyun will be angry.

But Cao Chun'ang definitely won’t be.

Right.

He definitely won't be.

I thought I was the only one

who figured it out.

Turns out everyone already knew too.

What should I do?

Tongyun.

Tongyun.

Cao Chun'ang!

Didn't you go get married?

Don't be angry.

This is just a tactic to save you.

The wedding was held in Chief Xiao's residence.

It’s just to put on a show for outsiders.

Don't worry.

I won't let you show your face in public

and ruin your reputation.

Midway,

I brought you here.

Once everything blows over,

things between us

will go back to how it used to be.

I won't hold up your future.

I just came in to see you.

You look so beautiful

in a wedding dress.

I've thought about how you might look

wearing this so many times.

Actually,

I've thought about more things too.

I've thought about how

we can leave the Imperial City when the time comes

together with Godfather and Godmother

and live an ordinary life.

You won't be bullied by the noble ladies in the court,

nor have to be afraid anymore.

After all these years,

I've also accumulated some savings.

We can open a restaurant.

I'll do all the work.

Just sit there and be the cashier.

Sell whatever you want.

And you can close shop

whenever you want.

We can live happily every day,

and we won't have to worry anymore.

I know

I'm being delusional.

I won't think about it anymore.

I'm leaving.

Cao Chun'ang,

I haven't finished talking yet!

Cao Chun'ang!

Stop right there!

Turn around.

Turn around!

I want to sit in the restaurant and be the cashier.

Don't you understand what I'm saying?

I...

Cao Chun'ang.

I have feelings for you too.

What did you say?

You're not allowed to deny

what you said before.

Now that we're married,

if you dare to run away again,

I'll break your legs.

How about you slap me a couple of times?

Come on.

Slap me hard.

Let me know I'm not dreaming.

Come on, slap me.

It's real.

Can you do it again?

Just listen to me from now on.

Let's live a good life.

After you two leave the palace,

quickly go through the rites and get married.

How many days have you been married?

You're only here to see me now.

Forget it.

You only care about your husband now.

You don't care about me anymore.

Mistress.

Although His Majesty

allowed others to visit you,

but look,

how is this a place

where just anyone can

come in like that?

What's wrong, Mistress?

Look, the fish is dead.

Don't be too upset.

This kind of fish looks beautiful,

but is actually extremely fierce,

and always fights the other fish for food.

This time, I guess

it got bitten by a stronger fish this time.

It dying might not be a bad thing.

Once this kind of fierce fish dies,

the pond will regain its peace won't it?

Will it really be peaceful after it dies?

This pond didn't

become dangerous because of it.

Clearly this pond was already

full of dangers from the start.

How is this pond

full of dangers?

Wasn't it always like this?

These fish

should have been living freely

in the rivers and sea,

but were instead kept here by people.

They think this small pond

is all there is to their world.

Humans take care of them well.

As long as you give them some food,

you can make them work to make people happy,

and make them

fight to their deaths.

Fighting with their own kind,

they end up wasting the prime of their lives

on living a pathetic

and cruel life.

How ridiculous.

I wonder

when this will end.

Who will be

the next one?

You're here, Chief Xiao.

I'm here under His Majesty’s order

to send you off.

Chief Xiao.

I...

have one last hairpin left to put in my hair.

Can you help me

finish off my hair for the last time?

You’re so clever, Chief Xiao.

It's only been a few days,

and you managed to do away with

all the capable people around me.

I lost and you won.

From now on, you can rest assured.

No one will be able to

reveal your secret anymore.

I've never

lost once in my life.

Who knew I'd lose so terribly

in your hands?

Not everything you want

can be gained through scheming.

But I only

know these methods.

I don't know other methods.

Those are all others' methods.

Even if I observe them,

I still don't know how to do it.

Wait.

I have another question

to ask you.

On the seventh day of the sixth lunar month six years ago,

you killed a young man

in Ruyi Alley.

Why did you do that?

Six years ago, at Ruyi Alley.

Why are both you and Bu Yinlou

asking about this?

I'm sorry.

Your Royal Highness.

I didn't mean to offend you.

Please forgive me.

So this young boy is...

He is the real Xiao Duo.

Xiao Duo.

So you and Bu Yinlou

plotted all this

so as to avenge your brother.

Yes, you are not Xiao Duo.

You are not.

What are you doing?

You think you won?

You thought you can take revenge now?

Looks like you've just lost completely.

Let me tell you.

When your brother died that night,

I was there.

But I'm not the murderer.

Do you want to know who it is?

Do you want to know

who the real murderer is?

I'll tell you now.

Something is wrong.

Why would Rong'an, a woman,

be wearing

a man's silk pendant?

Was she really

the only one in the carriage?

Mother, you weaved the silk wrong.

Father wore that silk pendant

several times,

but after that I never saw him wear it again.

He said he lost it.

It's the silk pendant Mother made.

The real murderer is...

He's Bu Yinlou's biological father,

Bu Yulu.

I'm sorry.

Your Royal Highness.

I didn't mean to offend you.

Please forgive me.

Please spare my life, Your Highness.

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Please spare my life!

Please!

Please!

Do you think I'll believe you?

At this point,

you still want to set me and Yinlou up.

I set you up?

You still don't believe me now.

Finally...

You can finally

hug me.

If Father is really the murderer,

how should I face Xiao Duo?

No.

I must confirm this

personally.

Old Master.

Consort Duan sent someone

asking you to go over to Deer's Reed Residence.

It's already this late.

What would she be looking for me for?

[Deer's Reed Residence]

Yinlou.

Did His Majesty know

that you called me over here?

There's no special occasion

or celebration today.

You're a concubine.

If you summon an official from your maiden family,

His Majesty will think

I'm here to abuse power for personal gain.

Did something happen with

His Majesty?

Father,

besides your family and future,

have you ever been concerned

about other things?

What kind of tone are you

using to talk to me now?

On the seventh day of the sixth lunar month six years ago,

did you go to Ruyi Alley?

Ruyi Alley?

Do you remember this silk pendant?

My mother made it by hand.

It's yours.