Original subtitles

[ A Zhao Warrior donned a braided hat, his scimitar gleamed like frost and snow. ]

[ His white steed clad in a silver saddle, as quick as fleeting light it galloped away. ]

[ Within ten steps and one foe falls, within a thousand miles and none can halt. ]

[ When the deed is done, to a life of anonymity he returns. ]

[ Sword Snow Stride ]

[ Episode 3 ]

Your Highness.

Where are your people?

It's just a trip to the brothel. They'll be useless there, so I dismissed them.

Your Highness, is this a noble steed that you've just obtained?

Not at all.

It's just an old horse.

We have many good horses in our stable.

Should I fetch a horse for you?

I'm used to it.

All right. I won't waste time then, let's depart now.

Your Highness, why aren't you mounting the horse?

It won't let me.

Are you in a rush?

Not really.

That's good then.

I haven't been back for three years.

Let's have a stroll. I want to look around.

Come on.

Jiang Ni, hurry up.

[ Tingchao Pavilion ]

Have you caught anything?

I caught a few.

That's good enough.

Head back inside.

Not yet.

We're having roasted fish tonight.

All of you,

withdraw for now.

I wasn't talking about you.

Stay here.

Look, son,

there are a lot of aquatic plants over there.

There must be a lot of fish there.

Try your luck there.

Really?

Have I ever lied to you?

All right then.

Have a seat.

Thank you

for the past three years.

Your Lordship has already thanked me.

Just thanks isn't enough.

I've been thinking

that I should give you a little something.

Some meat will do.

Pork belly would be best.

Are you really willing

to be a coachman for the rest of your life?

As long as you're willing,

Beiliang can help you

to get back on your feet.

The old Nine Swords Huang will be back.

Truth be told, Your Lordship,

I've thought about it before.

All these years, my old pal has been by my side.

It's like I could never let go of my past.

I fought with myself for years

and didn't have a day of peace.

Then unsheathe your sword.

But traveling with the young master for the past three years

has let my heart settle down.

While you're here, Your Lordship,

I want to ask you

to be my witness.

Nine Swords Huang

has already died

on those city walls.

From now on,

I'm just Lao Huang, a servant of the young master.

When the fish is cooked, don't forget to call me.

The prince is back.

Cover up your face.

I heard he's a philanderer.

I heard many women have been taken back to his residence.

But he's so handsome!

I don't mind being taken to his residence.

His subordinate is quite good-looking too.

So elegant!

Where did such an attractive young man come from?

You don't understand.

Maybe at first he doesn't look very—

What are you looking at?

Have you seen such a good looking man before?

You're about to go to a brothel.

You shouldn't claim that you're a lady.

Your Highness is back.

I haven't seen you for many years.

Our girls missed you dearly.

Enough talking.

Bring the horses to the backyard.

Get the horses.

I'm done eating.

You ate quite quickly.

A lot like Lao Huang.

No fruit left.

I don't have to go in.

Even if there are no fruits, you are a fruit as well. Let's go.

Wait. What does that mean?

I'll pay. I'll pay you back, okay?

[ Zijin Brothel, Lingzhou ]

What is His Highness doing this time?

He brought two people with him.

Who gave you the guts

to comment on His Highness's business?

Forgive me.

How much does this cost?

Ten-something taels.

Ten-something taels!?

That's the cheap stuff.

Your Highness,

the new courtesan is here.

What's your name?

[ Yu Youwei, Courtesan of Zijin Brothel ]

Yu Youwei.

The name's not bad.

To what honor

do I owe

this encounter with Your Highness?

So you know who I am.

General Chu briefed me.

Your Highness,

her sword dance is simply sublime.

She refuses to offer her service unless she has performed.

Then, thank you for entertaining, Miss Yu.

I have two kinds of sword dance.

One is for everyone to see.

What about the other one?

The other one

is only for my lover to see.

Why is that?

Because the second dance

is too intimate.

I like intimacy.

If Your Highness can accompany me to the backyard,

I will perform

the other dance for you alone.

Let's go then.

I want to see how intimate it is.

Twin blades?

That's rare.

Freshly brewed tea.

Does Your Highness want some?

No, thanks.

I want to watch your sword dance now.

The intimate one.

Western Chu Sword Dance.

Oh, it's unsheathed.

You shouldn't have used a sword dance as a pretext.

Outside of the Lingzhou city limits,

there were Western Chu Spearmen who wanted to kill me.

When you come at me like this, it easily makes me think of Western Chu Sword Dance.

Assassination doesn't need so much ceremony.

Are you from Chu?

Why do you want to kill me?

Xu Xiao destroyed Chu.

If I don't kill you, who else?

You can't put it that way.

Liyang and Western Chu were at war with each other.

It was not a personal vendetta.

Even if Xu Xiao didn't lead the army, someone else would have just destroyed Chu.

If you really want to take revenge, you should go after the Liyang royalty.

There's no reason to be so hellbent on the Xu family?

It was not just a war between nations.

What do you think it was then?

Chu was defeated, it's fine that it surrendered.

But what did Xu Xiao do?

He led troops into the palace

and personally execute His and Her Majesty.

And that's not all.

Hundreds of people in the palace, but not one of them survived.

Even the young princess was beheaded.

Is she strong?

She doesn't know how to fight.

She just knows a few sword tricks.

That's good then.

Can you call Jiang Ni over here, please?

Wait.

If I can't kill you,

I won't let myself be humiliated either.

Can you wait a moment before dying?

Let's just wait for one person.

Why should I go?

Go ask him yourself.

Did he get overcome with lust?

It really is an assassination!

Look at yourself!

Even a prostitute can't stand someone like you.

This is the will of the people.

She performed the Western Chu Sword Dance.

You're a Chu?

Show her that dagger of yours.

She's almost killed herself already.

No need for the trouble.

I can do it myself.

Wait!

Since you know the Western Chu Sword Dance,

you're probably not a commoner.

My father was a Western Chu official.

My mother was a bodyguard to the late emperor.

Then you should recognize this dagger.

Shenfu? [TN: This is the name of the dagger]

You just said that the Chu Princess was beheaded.

Did you see her head?

What are you trying to say?

Xu Xiao spread the news that she was beheaded.

Your princess isn't dead.

She's standing right there.

Have you seen the Queen of Western Chu?

You really are...

People say I look like my mother.

It seems like that's true.

I'm Jiang Ni,

the princess of a fallen kingdom.

Princess...

[ Lord of Beiliang's Residence ]

Your Highness.

You're back.

I'll go now and brew some tea.

No need to rush.

Find her a room.

Where did you find this lady friend, Your Highness?

She's Yu Youwei,

a courtesan from Zijin Brothel.

Get her settled first.

Noted.

[ Wutong Chamber ]

Where is my horsewhip?

Is it this one?

Yes, it is.

Will this room do?

I think it's okay.

What do you think?

As long as you think it's okay.

The blanket needs to be changed.

Okay.

I'll get it arranged.

She smiles all day long,

but she hides the deepest underneath that smile.

Let's go in.

After you, princess.

Don't call me princess.

Just call me Jiang Ni.

Chu has fallen. There's no princess anymore.

I know you have questions.

Let's chat inside.

General Chu, why are you still kneeling in my yard?

You're not going back to the military camp?

Just call me Fatty Lu, Your Highness.

I wouldn't dare.

If I don't call you General Chu,

who knows what assassin you'll after me next time.

Your Highness!

I truly had no idea that Yu Youwei was an assassin.

General Chu, go back to your post.

First, I'm not an official.

Second, I have no military authority.

I have no right to have someone of your rank kneel in my yard.

I, Chu Lushan, am willing to be punished.

[ Ruide Chamber ]

Have you thought this through?

It's not too late to run.

It was me who put your life in danger, Your Highness.

I should be punished,

but this was not my intention.

Even if you whip me to death,

I will still say that!

Is that so?

Let me whip you to death then.

Ask whatever you want.

They say

Xu Xiao killed everyone in the palace.

And...and he...

And he beheaded me.

So it wasn't Xu Xiao?

Back then,

Xu Xiao broke through the defense of Chu's capital.

Under his command,

he never kills hostages or harms innocent civilians.

But the Beiliang army wasn't the only one in the capital.

Many important figures from the Liyang royal court

also wanted to barge into the palace.

What did they want to do?

The Chu royalty and noble consorts

had revered statuses

that made them more excited.

Those Liyang scum!

It was Xu Xiao

who got in first

and sealed the palace gate

to prevent others from entering.

But Xu Xiao wasn't the emperor of Liyang after all.

He couldn't block them for long.

Later my father

decided to sacrifice himself.

Everyone else in the palace

willingly followed him.

[ The Imperial Palace of Western Chu ] [ Xuanzheng Hall ]

It was Xu Xiao who promised to keep me alive.

Don't look back.

[ Young Jiang Ni ]

Look forward.

From that day onwards,

the Chu Princess was dead.

Only Jiang Ni remains.

So all these years,

you've been staying in Xu Xiao's residence.

Where else can I go?

You

never thought of taking revenge?

I was still young back then.

I couldn't remember a lot of things.

I only remember

my father caressing my head.

He told me to live a good life.

I see.

Anything else you want to ask?

Then you...

Don't hold back.

Just say it.

So you're like those other two women just now?

What do you mean?

You're Xu Fengnian's...

I'm not a concubine servant.

He hasn't...

He hasn't touched any of the over twenty female servants in his residence.

But rumor has it...

Rumor has it that he is a philanderer.

Rumor has it that I'm dead.

That's true.

You dead yet?

I can still breathe.

Your Highness.

The news of the prince whipping General Chu has already spread.

A lot of generals are at the door asking to see you.

Turn them away.

Then... Then...

What about the prince?

Let him be.

But General Chu

might not be able to hang on for much longer.

Let's talk about you.

Do you still want to kill Xu Fengnian?

Your accomplices

are in Lingzhou too?

Since we're both Chus,

I'll find an opening so that you can escape and reunite with them.

I don't have any accomplices.

How did you get into Zijin Brothel then?

And how did you become the new courtesan?

I don't know.

If you won't tell me, then fine.

I really don't know.

All these years, someone has been watching over me.

Everyday all I had to do was practice sword dancing.

He said it was to train me to assassinate Xu Fengnian

and avenge the Chu.

Who did that?

I asked, but they never answer.

Where were you kept?

In a huge compound.

They never took their eyes off me

and I'd never gone out before,

so I don't know where it is.

Sometimes, I hear people chanting sutras.

What about those who brought you here?

They left.

They just asked me to wait for Xu Fengnian to appear.

It sounds like

you're just a pawn.

Do you know who Chu Lushan is?

I'd never met him before.

Why would he bring Xu Fengnian to you then?

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Ning E'mei, Wudian General of the Feng Camp,

greets Your Highness.

I recognize you.

The day I returned, you brought troops to escort me.

If I may ask, Your Highness,

why are you whipping General Chu?

Are you greeting me or are you accusing me?

I wouldn't dare.

Just asking for the reason.

He brought me to a brothel and then I was almost assassinated.

How's that for a reason?

Has General Chu confessed

that he planned the assassination?

If it were you, would you confess to it?

Since he hasn't, do you have any solid proof?

And what if I don't have any proof?

Carrying out a sentence without proof of guilt is not right.

I remember when I saw you last time,

you carried a spear.

Why didn't you bring it this time?

I shouldn't be armed to see Your Highness.

When you argue with someone, it's best to bring a weapon.

Beiliang has its laws,

regardless of weapon or no weapon,

regardless of status or rank.

Laws?

Regardless of status?

Well said.

I merely spoke my mind.

Your Highness flatters me.

In this residence, even Xu Xiao won't speak to me like this.

Who do you think you are?

Wudian General of the Feng Camp,

Ning E'mei.

Good.

I'll remember your name now.

If you can't argue the law, what are you going to do?

- Think twice, Your Highness. - Think about what?

If the military loses faith in you,

if the three provinces really becomes a lawless place,

when that time comes,

will Your Highness be able to command the army?

Guards!

Throw this traitor in jail!

Whether Chu Lushan was behind all this or not,

your assassination attempt

is not so simple.

They only had you practice the Western Chu Sword Dance,

but they never taught you how to fight.

If they really wanted you to kill Xu Fengnian,

then this doesn't make sense at all.

What do they want then?

On his journey back to Beiliang,

Xu Fengnian met another Chu assassin too.

Is it related to my assassination attempt?

I don't know.

But I feel as though it's not over yet.

As long as you're safe, princess.

I already said, don't call me princess.

I'm leaving.

Please don't be angry at me.

I'm not angry.

I have to work.

I have to air out all the books

in that guy's study every month.

It's so annoying.

Your Lordship.

The prince wants to incarcerate

Ning E'mei.

Okay.

The prince

asked a servant to convey his message to the front gate.

What message?

The prince says

that Ning E'mei who came in to argue just now

has already been imprisoned.

If anyone wants to save Chu Lushan,

don't just kneel here.

Come straight in.

[ Chen Zhibao, adopted son of Xu Xiao ]

Your Highness.

Chen Zhibao is here.

He's heading to the prince's place now.

Noted.

It's gone cold.

All right.

I will switch it out.

Your Highness.

Chen Zhibao is on his way here.

The White Armor Chen.

You know of him?

White Armor Warrior, Chen Zhibao.

Second only to Xu Xiao,

the best fighter in Beiliang,

the head of the six adopted sons,

and also the cornerstone of Beiliang.

Rumor has it that the only one who can succeed Xu Xiao and control Beiliang

must be him and no one else.

Sounds like it has nothing to do with me.

You have a reputation too.

Chen Zhibao is the cornerstone of Beiliang,

and you're the shame of Beiliang.

Both quite famous.

Let's have some tea

and wait for White Armor Chen.

Don't block my view.

I can't see him now.

You're here to persuade me to release him too?

Among all the generals in the army,

Chu Lushan is the one I look down on the most.

I said long ago that one day, I will burn him alive.

If you really want to kill him,

I can do the dirty deed.

But the question is...

you really want to kill him?

What is that?

A head.

Distributing that portrait of you and

arranging the courtesan in Zijin Brothel

was all done by this person.

Who is this person?

Just a lieutenant.

You don't know him.

So just a lieutenant planned all this?

If you think about it, it's quite interesting.

Among all the generals in Beiliang,

he's the most ruthless one.

Yet a devilish man like him

is absolutely loyal to you.

I'm guessing this whipping

is a show for the 350,000 Beiliang soldiers.

Now, if someone wants to harm you,

the first one he'll go to

is Chu Lushan, with a grudge against you.

You're also waiting.

The one willing to rescue him now

might be the mastermind scheming to kill you.

What a coincidence

that you've arrived.

That was a nice beating.

I feel bad for him

that he's willing to suffer like this for you.

Your Highness, when you torture me later,

you must whip me hard.

Hard enough

for it to be believable.

If you want to catch a fish,

you must put out enough bait.

Your Highness.

Let's speak alone.

Everyone says you will take over Beiliang.

Compared to you,

my identity as the heir

is but a joke.

What do you think?

Didn't you want to speak to me alone?

Why the silence?

Have you questioned that courtesan?

She was kept and raised by someone in a compound.

She practiced sword dancing every day

just for that fatal stab at me.

As to who raised her, she's not clear herself.

She was then sent here.

Kill her then.

Don't be like that.

She is pretty.

Have a look yourself.

She might be your type.

An assassination attempt outside of the city

and the sword dance in the Zijin brothel.

They're both to make you think there's a mole in the army.

You used Chu Lushan to lure them out,

but that's exactly what they wanted.

Since you've started doubting the army,

the soldiers' morale will be affected.

Kill that courtesan.

Along with the head of the lieutenant,

this thing will end.

End?

So no more investigation then?

Of course, we will investigate.

But on the surface,

it will look like it is over.

So that lieutenant isn't the culprit.

Just to make it seem like it's all over,

you chopped off his head.

He broke military code.

He's done for anyway.

He was already done for?

But he only dies now?

Just for a convenient ending?

How many convenient deaths do you have lined up?

Against foreign enemies or civil war,

the three provinces of Beiliang

must hold their ground.

And that's why you, Chen Zhibao,

are the cornerstone of Beiliang.

That's right,

I am.

I already said,

the courtesan is very beautiful.

I can't bring myself to kill her.

What now?