Original subtitles

♪The spring breeze outside the window moves the stream♪

♪Who is disturbed by the williow catkins?♪

♪You're there when I look back, toying with my heart♪

♪Everything has become an ornament♪

♪A pair of lovebirds are flying under the roof in the drizzling rain♪

♪Whose secrets have drifted to the chamber?♪

♪The night when the moon shines, I'll have a drink with you♪

♪Let's keep each other company for the rest of our lifes♪

♪The mountain and water carry me through my lifetime relationship♪

♪Oh, wind and rain, you're as romantic as spring♪

♪Like the star and the moon, I wish you all well♪

♪Don't think about him, I'm right by your side♪

♪Oh, my dream keeps changing because of you♪

♪I'm still waiting for you to look at me♪

♪It's hard to let go once one falls in love♪

♪My life is not wasted while being with you♪

=Choice Husband=

=Episode 18=

I am doing this for your own good.

You are too soft-hearted

to be an emperor.

Let me end your suffering.

May you reincarnate

as a carefree gentleman

in the afterlife.

You believe in the afterlife?

Pei Yanzhen?

You can fight?

Pei Yanzhen...

Someone!

Take down

this traitor who commits regicide!

Pei Yanzhen.

My son protected you many times

and this is how you repay him?

Release him now!

Mother.

The culprit here

is Qin Zuze.

Impossible.

Your uncle won't hurt you.

This brat here must have misled him to do that.

Cinnabar poison is rare

but not incurable.

Why haven't any imperial physicians

come to serve the antidote?

And the poison Uncle gave me

was just spilled on my bed.

I saw and heard everything myself,

so stop deluding yourself, Mother.

Impossible.

Impossible.

Brother.

This brat misled you, did he?

Your Highness,

His Majesty is soft-hearted

and weak.

He is not suited to be an emperor.

For the stability of the imperial court,

please use your seal to issue an edict

and pass the throne to me.

Insolence.

Did you hear what you just said?

He is your nephew!

I'm doing this

for you,

and the Qin family.

Everyone in the court

is Pei Yanzhen's ally.

If His Majesty was decisive enough,

this would never

have happened.

I've put my faith in you.

Ever since I became the Empress,

I gave you everything.

I let you collude with others.

I let you sell noble titles.

I let you withhold the military wage.

I turned a blind eye to them.

What more do you want?

Your Highness, you should realize

that His Majesty insists

on using Pei Yanzhen.

In his eyes,

I stick out like a sore thumb.

If I do not act proactively,

I'll meet my end

soon.

I'm here.

That will never happen.

If you do care about me,

then

pass the throne to me.

By the way,

my people surrounded this place.

You are alone here.

Attack.

Don't move.

Don't move.

Song Xiyuan.

Which side are you on?

I beg your pardon, Official Qin.

I am a court purveyor.

I am remunerated by the imperial court.

Naturally, I serve His Majesty and the court.

I act with my sense of justice,

so

I am on nobody's side.

All soldiers in the capital

are my men.

You think a merchant like you

can hold them off?

Somebody.

Somebody!

Anybody?

Somebody!

Your Majesty,

my soldiers have secured the palace.

Pardon

my tardiness.

Sister, you cannot trust Pei Yanzhen.

He studied martial arts in secret and lied about his background

for his revenge.

He is a prince. He is the Sixth Prince.

Nonsense.

Somebody.

Take this traitor

to prison.

Pei Yanzhen.

The Qin family

will have our payback.

(Pei's Residence)

Miss Shen.

Some distant relatives came to visit us today

and they want to see Xiao.

I figure

Xiao must be tired after playing for the entire day,

so I came to pick him up.

Well, unfortunately,

Old Madam and Master brought Master Xiao

to a temple.

They won't be back this soon.

Perhaps you can come another day, Miss Shen?

Alright.

The sun is setting

and the temple will be closed soon.

I'm already here

so I might as well wait

for them inside.

Old Master said

they would be fasting in the temple,

so they would spend some nights there.

I believe he'll be away for a few days.

Do you know which temple they are visiting?

I can go find them.

I dare not

inquire more details.

So I don't know which temple they went.

I'm so sorry

that you have to leave empty-handed, Miss Shen.

I see.

I'll come another day.

Thank you.

Miss,

why are you trembling?

Did they give you a hard time?

Not at all.

I picked up a scent

outside of Pei's Residence.

And what's so special about it?

I only know

one person

who would mix agarwood perfume

with aquilaria crassna perfume.

And that's Old Madam Pei.

So Old Madam Pei never left?

Then Master Xiao...

It seems like we can't take him back now.

If we barge in,

we will alert them.

But what if he's in danger?

Pei Yanzhen is his father nonetheless.

I think he'll be fine.

Let's head back home first

and investigate further before we think of a solution.

You lost.

So don't be coy.

Miss Qin

and the rest

are lying in wait

in Lingzhou.

I'm here to buy them time.

When you return,

there is no Shen family anymore.

Zhao.

Official Zhan.

They are...

They are Qin's men.

When Miss Shen was about to return home,

they prepped their bows for an ambush.

I managed to subdue them.

Now that Qin Zuze is imprisoned,

Mother is no longer a threat.

Will you stop here?

Your Majesty, you truly think

I am the one who refuses to move on?

I know

Mother is untrusting and paranoid.

She has done you wrong many times in the past.

But I will make it up to you.

In politics or for the Shen family,

I will compensate you.

Don't lie to yourself, Your Majesty.

Her Highness tried to kill my son and me several times.

Were they ever for political reasons?

The hardship I endured

and the truth I seek

cannot be compensated by titles and fortune.

Pei Yanzhen.

Let bygone

be bygone, can you?

We can work together

and bring peace to this world.

Didn't you promise me that?

But

can peace truly return

when I stop?

I promise

that once everything is over,

Mother will be confined to this palace.

No one will try to harm you.

Trust me, please.

I know

killing Her Highness

cannot bring back the dead.

If Her Highness and Official Qin

are stripped of their power to wreak havoc,

people will be able to live well too.

Your Majesty,

I have eliminated

the biggest obstacle in your path.

Soon, the imperial court will see improvements.

I'm sure you can lead

the court on your own.

As for me,

my parents are old

and my son's body is fragile.

I just want to return to Lingzhou

to keep them company.

Will you grant me my wish, Your Majesty?

(Change of Plan. Don't come back.)

Death

or more death.

Death or more death.

Pei Yanzhen.

Is this you?

Is this you?

Lvying.

Miss?

Lvying, go find my aunt.

Ask her and Shen Zai to change into plain clothing.

Then, leave from the back door.

What about you, Miss?

If you're staying, I will too.

Listen to me.

Pei Yanzhen has our family seal now

and I need to do something.

We cannot all die here.

Just follow my instruction.

But I...

Go now.

Miss Shen.

Zhan Yue.

What are you doing?

Official Pei asked me

to keep the Shen family safe.

Good.

I want to talk to him.

He is in the capital.

Then bring me to the capital.

Miss Shen.

Official Pei is occupied so no visitors allowed.

Did Pei Yanzhen ask you to surround Shen's Residence?

Did he

ask you to keep me here?

Answer me!

Sorry, I have no comment.

I see.

If I insist on leaving?

Did he ask you to kill me as well?

Miss Shen.

Why do you have to be this stubbornly?

Then why is Pei Yanzhen so hellbent

on forbidding me to leave?

Unless he did something

that I cannot know?

Zhan Yue!

We treat Pei Yanzhen and you with kindness,

but you are taking this too far.

How dare you.

They are Miss Shen's relatives.

Let them go now.

Zhan Yue.

I do not know why Pei Yanzhen is doing this,

but this is the Shen family's private residence.

If His Majesty wants to arrest us,

you'll still need his edict to act.

We are dutiful merchants.

We don't steal or rob.

What gives you the right to do this here?

Miss Shen, you're mistaken.

It's because...

Because of what?

Before everything is over,

please do not tell

Miao the truth.

Miss Shen.

All I can say

is that I'm following Official Pei's order.

Please stay inside with your family

until Official Pei's safe return.

Everything will become clear then.

Okay.

I will not squander

his kindness away.

However,

I can't leave the place,

can I invite guests over?

Which guest would you like to invite, Miss Shen?

Song Xiyuan.

Master Song isn't in Lingzhou.

I'm afraid he can't pay you a visit.

I see.

Aunt, let's head back.

We'll speak later.

Surround

the Shen's Residence

and do not let anyone leave.

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.

(Personal Guard)

Empress Dowager's guard?

I followed Qin's secret code all the way here.

I have news from the capital.

Qin Zuze tried to poison His Majesty

to usurp the throne.

He was caught by Pei Yanzhen and is to be beheaded.

What?

You're lying.

Her Highness said

if you made up for your mistake,

you and your father could be spared.

She wants to retaliate against Pei Yanzhen

but she can't leave the capital nor does she

have the personnel for it.

Per the Empress Dowager's order,

we are here to capture the family of the traitor, Pei Yanzhen.

Who dares to get in our way?

Wake up.

Qin Miuzhen?

Your Majesty,

the probe into the Qin family's betrayal is complete.

Qin Zuze will be beheaded

while the rest of the family will be exiled.

However, the daughter, Qin Miuzhen,

remains at large in Lingzhou with followers of the Qin family.

She hasn't been captured yet.

Thanks to Official Pei and Official Song,

the Qin family's betrayal came to an end.

Your Majesty, for many years,

Qin Zuze utilized his proximity to the throne

to abuse

and exploit the people.

His seditious act

shook the imperial court and disrupted our harmony.

Fortunately, Official Pei was there to save us from this predicament.

More than one hundred officials have signed a petition

(Petition) to reinstate Official Pei

to reinstate Official Pei

and bestow him lordship

for his service.

Never once in history was someone of a different surname given lordship.

We cannot break this tradition for Official Pei.

Settle down.

I have made up my mind.

I hereby announce...

Hold on.

- Greetings, Your Highness. - Greetings, Your Highness.

At ease.

- Thanks, Your Highness. - Thanks, Your Highness.

The imperial court feels different today.

Son.

Do we have a challenge at hand?

Mother,

didn't I tell you to rest in your palace?

Why did you come?

I heard that some officials signed a petition

to make Official Pei a lord.

I'm here to share the joy.

Coincidentally,

I also have something about Official Pei

that I want everyone to know.

Your Majesty, fellow officials,

I am the clan leader of the Pei family in Lingzhou.

As I traced back

the genealogy record today, I made the discovery

that though Pei Yanzhen was raised by Third Madam,

she did not give birth to him.

He was adopted.

His biological parents remain

unknown.

Master Pei.

The Pei family is nonetheless

a noble family in Lingzhou.

How could this mistake occur?

It's precisely because the Pei family is a noble family in Lingzhou

that the bloodline becomes all the more important.

If Pei Yanzhen isn't a descendant of the Pei family,

his background should be called into question.

A man of mysterious background

works in the imperial court

and is about to be given lordship.

Isn't that ridiculous?

Mother.

Why are you doing this?

Of course.

The genealogy record can be fabricated

so I

brought Official Pei's adoptive parents

to the capital.

Official Pei,

if you're willing to join the Pei family

and swear to never join the court,

I

can issue an edict and grant you your wish.

Official Pei,

perhaps you can talk to your father first?

Miss.

Is Official Pei a bad person?

Isn't it clear?

If he isn't plotting something,

why would he ask Zhan Yue to surround our residence?

Miao.

You didn't sleep at all.

Get some rest now.

Aunt.

Father asked me to take care of the family

but I misjudged someone's character

and allowed him to put us in this rough spot.

How can I sleep with that in mind?

It is not your fault.

Pei Yanzhen is a wolf

in sheep's clothing.

Even your father and I fell under his deception.

I just feel sorry for you, Miao.

If you're upset, just cry.

Don't bottle it up.

No.

I can't just sit around doing nothing.

Pei Yanzhen

got his hands full in the capital.

He won't have time for us.

So now is the moment to think of a solution.

But they are numerous out there.

How can we escape?

Don't worry.

I have a plan.

(Wende Hall)

They say

raising a child is harder than giving birth to a child.

You happily served the Pei family for many years.

Is that to repay them

or do you have an agenda?

Cut to the chase, Your Highness.

Where are my parents?

Parents, you say?

Weren't your mother a lady

from the Liu family of Jiangnan more than two decades ago?

And weren't your father

the late emperor who is now buried in the Imperial Mausoleum?

Why?

You won't admit it now?

I don't care who my biological father is.

I

belong to the Pei family.

What about your petty mother?

How cunning of you.

It's such an elaborate plan.

When you learned that your mother died in a village,

you made the decision to avenge her by getting into the imperial court.

Now show me

what you can do

in here.

Bring them in.

Father, Mother.

- Zhen. - Zhen.

Pei Yanzhen.

I'll confess.

I had my people kill your biological mother.

If she didn't ensorcel

the late emperor with her beauty

and cause me to fall out of favor...

Shut up!

My mother

wasn't like that.

She was a loose woman who seduced the late emperor.

She deserved to die.

And you, the brat.

My biggest regret

is failing to skin both of you

before abandoning your corpses in the wild.

You wouldn't have the chance

to stand up against me now.

You murderer.

What makes you think you can speak as if you're in the right?

How can you be the Empress Dowager?

Insolence! Kill him now.

Stop.

Dear.

Your Highness,

if you merely want to kill them,

why invite me here?

How I enjoy

talking to someone smart.

My brother and my family

died because of you.

The fury within me can only be quelled

by getting my vengeance.

Also,

you repeatedly persuade

His Majesty to keep distance from me.

You are evil. You...

Somebody.

Yes, Your Highness.

Make him kneel.

Kneel.

Why? You won't concede?

Your Highness,

since when do you care about what others think of you?

In this palace and this world,

you can punish or kill anyone you like.

Indeed.

And I'll tell you now.

You can save them

with your life.

Okay.

Zhen!

Father, Mother.

Without you two,

I wouldn't be alive today.

Sorry that I can't repay

your kindness.

But I definitely can't let you die

because of me.

- Zhen. - No, Zhen!

Stop.

Mother.

Son, why are you here?

Stop it already, Mother.

You have done enough.

The traitor was Uncle.

Pei Yanzhen

saved me.

Don't be silly now.

He did everything to serve his interest,

and get your throne.

You are the emperor.

You are almighty.

But he is my Six Brother!

Mother,

Father wanted to pass the throne to him.

In that case,

I can abdicate and give him the throne.

How did I

give birth to a fool like you?

Pei Yanzhen did everything

to trick the Shen family and earn your trust.

How can he be innocent?

In this palace,

I...

Only I treat you well.

And today,

I will

help you see things clearly.

Pei Yanzhen.

If you won't die today,

the entire Pei family will die for you.

Go ahead now.

Wait.

A life for another, you say?

I'll die on behalf of him.

Father!

Dear.

Father!

Dear, how can you die before me?

Father!

Hurry up now.

Kill them already.

Mother!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother.

Zhen.

Your father and I

never regret it.

We sent Xiao

to Master Wangyun.

He's safe.

Mother.

Live well.

Promise me.

Mother.

Live well.

Mother.

Mother.

Mother.

Mother!

It's okay. I'll get you two out of this place.

I'll get you two out.

Kill him too.

Brother!

Your Majesty,

don't call me that.

Your Highness.

You think I should die.

But what about my parents?

What did they do?

You killed them

because those who go against you have to die.

You...

This is sedition.

Help!

He wants to kill the emperor.

He's a traitor. He needs to die!

Shut your mouth.

I am just repaying you the same favor.

When you killed indiscriminately, Your Highness,

and tore the imperial court apart, have you thought about this day?

When you abducted the innocent

and abused your power, have you thought about this day?

You fail as the Empress Dowager

and show no remorse.

Who among the people here deserves to die the most if not you?

And today

is the day the countless people

who lost their lives innocently in the past 20 years

have their retribution.

Help!

Brother!

(Funeral)

(Memorial Tablet of Pei and Gu)

Brother.

I'm sorry.

Your Majesty, do not

call me that.

(Funeral)

I hid my past

and gave up the prince title.

But what did I get in return?

You came to visit me

because you know I command the army.

So how sincere

is your apology, Your Majesty?

Six Brother,

I...

Six Brother.

Father wanted you to inherit the throne

but Mother and I...

That's why when I met you,

I couldn't believe...

I refused to believe your new identity.

Because I'm afraid of losing a good friend

or Mother.

But

I realize my mistake now.

I have no other request.

Please considering our deep bond,

and that Jiu and I defended you many times...

Mother has no more power.

She'll be alone in this palace till she dies.

That is already the hardest punishment for her.

I will reside in the Buddhist temple,

and pray for those losing innocent lives.

(Memorial Tablet of Pei and Gu)

Six Brother.

Please.

♪There are many devoted lovers in the mortal world♪

♪It's hard to understand love♪

♪If I have another chance, I won't be late again♪

♪All I wish is for you to be well♪

♪Don't ask me if this is worth it♪

♪However, love is♪

♪Turning into lovesickness when it deepens into your heart♪

♪Even life and death can't frighten me♪

♪I've been through the good times and bad times♪

♪But the person I've been waiting for is not aware of it♪

♪There's an unfinished story between you and me♪

♪How am I supposed to continue my life?♪

♪The moon rises and sets, a day has passed♪

♪I just want to protect you until old ages♪

♪And make a vow about you♪

♪I'm willing to be obsessed with you♪

♪I wish we could be together in our next lifes♪