Original subtitles

♪By the riverside♪

♪I sow a seed of karma♪

♪Forlorn fates intertwine♪

♪Written in the stars♪

♪Should your passion smolder out♪

♪Will you give up on your ideal world?♪

♪Our past can only be entrusted to memories♪

♪I'm mooning over you♪

♪Amidst loneliness♪

♪Berthed in sleepless nights♪

♪You're my desire♪

♪That teems underneath♪

♪I'm drowned in your beautiful eyes♪

♪I'm mooning over you♪

♪Next to the Three-life Stone♪

♪I cross the Bridge of Forgetfulness♪

♪Gazing at moonlit nights♪

♪The moon appears brighter because of you♪

♪Leaning against the tower, it returns my gaze♪

♪Gazing at moonlit nights♪

♪The moon appears brighter because of you♪

♪Leaning against the tower, it returns my gaze♪

[The Legend of Anle] [Adapted from a novel by Xing Ling]

[Episode 15]

It was Linlang who saved her,

not Official Luo.

Then, who could it be?

Mu Qing!

Mu Qing!

Mu Qing!

Mu Qing!

There's an assassin!

There's an assassin!

Don't be afraid.

I'm here.

Mu Qing.

Who's trying to kill me?

The capital is so scary.

I should have listened to you.

This isn't your fault.

It's mine.

From now on, I'll always stay by your side

and protect you.

I believe in you.

No matter what danger may come,

you won't let me get hurt.

You've been sleeping for a long time.

Want to eat something?

Have you bought the snack

that I asked?

As long as it's what you want,

I will do it for you, as long as I can.

(Ten years ago, we shared a fateful moment under an umbrella.)

(The capital will protect you from harm, Miss Di.)

Young Lady,

I'll inform them of your arrival.

No need.

I'm just dropping by for a drink.

Let's go.

[Lingxiang Pleasure House]

Official Ren,

your food is ready.

Linlang is ill today,

so I played the guqin

on her behalf.

I didn't know you can play the guqin.

After listening to so many tunes,

I've learned enough

to master the basics.

Yes, you do know the basics,

but you're far from mastering them.

Mingxi.

I was wrong that day.

I shouldn't have suspected you.

Actually, you were right.

I am a cunning man

with many schemes up my sleeve.

Mingxi.

It was my fault.

Please accept my apologies.

Don't try to use the same tricks you pulled on Han Ye

on me.

They don't work for me.

At least they worked for him.

Mingxi.

Actually, I know

that there are things you chose to hide from me

or plans you decided not to do

because you wanted the best for me.

Since you know I'm doing this for your good,

I have to remind you

that Di Cheng'en is planning her own schemes,

so keep your guard up against her.

It's fine.

We shouldn't be getting rid of her.

Instead, we should help her

maintain her identity as the sole surviving member of the Di family

so I can emerge victorious while everyone fights.

Very well.

I'll heed your plans this time.

But I hope that after we help her,

she'd better not disappoint me.

As for Anning,

she's hiding more secrets

than Han Ye is.

However, you're Ren Anle now.

That's why she won't tell you everything

about her relationship with Di Ziyuan.

But I must remind you

that she holds the answer we're looking for.

So, make sure you don't

treat her like a real sister.

I didn't expect

that the Grand Chancellor of the Left is from the Northern Qin.

Why did you trick Mo Shuang into entering the Jing State?

Your Highness.

Congratulations, Your Highness.

Gu Wanying withdrew herself from the Crown Princess selection,

so Princess Mo Shuang

is now one step closer

to becoming the Crown Princess.

They said that Di Cheng'en's assassination

was planned by Gu Yunnian,

but it was you all along.

That's right.

It was a frame-up, I see.

So, that means

Mo Shuang meeting Han Ye at the Ren's Residence

was part of your plan too.

You've been lying low at the Jing State.

Why the frequent actions lately?

That's because

I was just accumulating my power, waiting for the right time to strike.

Before this, the Jing State

had Gu Yunnian handling its internal affairs

while Anning defended the borders.

Both of them had control over powerful troops.

Meanwhile, the Northern Qin

was just a weak nation,

and we couldn't afford to be reckless.

Isn't this why

you've been staying undercover for five years

pretending to be Anning's personal guard?

Now that Marquis Zhongyi is losing power

while Anning has returned to the capital,

you lured my sister to become part of your plan.

You insolent man.

Your Highness.

Do you really think that you alone

can protect Princess Mo Shuang in the Jing State?

Don't forget

whose hands her life is in.

I've been doing everything according to plan.

Why do you need to implicate her?

Your Highness.

Patience

is a virtue.

The person I'm trying to help

is someone else.

Who?

Di Cheng'en.

She's just the daughter of a sinner.

Why do you want to help her?

Why do you think?

She is the only surviving member

of the Di family

in this world.

The Di family founded this state

together with the Founding Emperor.

Your Highness, you have to know

that no prairie fire can destroy weeds, for they grow again once spring comes.

Many former soldiers

living on the border of the Northwest

have received the Di family's kindness and grace.

Now that she's all alone

in the capital,

she's probably

touched to tears thinking about

the umbrella I shared with her.

You will contact

Di Cheng'en,

and I will gather intelligence

from the Northwest.

Yes, Your Highness.

[Yuchen Hall]

They actually forced Marquis Zhongyi's daughter

to withdraw from the Crown Princess selection.

She's just an orphan now.

Who's helping her?

Don't tell me

it's the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince

has always been honest and forthcoming.

I don't think

he would try to threaten anyone from behind.

No matter who has her back,

in the Imperial Harem,

I have the final say.

Sir.

Instead of recuperating in your room,

what are you doing out here?

The weather is turning cold,

and I'm worried that the Flower of Longing may not survive.

Even if it does not survive,

could it be any weaker than you are now?

Jinse.

Help Miss Linlang back to her room.

Yes, sir.

Official Luo, there's something I need to tell you.

Mu Qing has sent the word

that Di Cheng'en has been summoned by the Empress Dowager,

and he hasn't received any news for eight hours.

What a coincidence.

I just heard

that Marquis Zhongyi visited the Empress Dowager yesterday.

Should I...

No.

Jinse.

Inform Princess Anning about this.

Yes, sir.

Wait.

And Official Ren too.

Yes, sir.

You're not the only one

in Qianyue Pavilion working for me.

Official Luo, why do you want to inform

Official Ren about this?

If Anning hears that Di Cheng'en has been summoned by the Empress Dowager,

she may respond in surprising ways.

Anle refuses to believe

that Anning knew the truth behind the Di massacre.

It's time for her to see it.

Marquis Zhongyi and the Empress Dowager

are plotting something now.

Sparing Di Cheng'en's life

would prove useful for now.

Is there anything else you want me to do?

Yes.

Get back to your room and recuperate.

Yes, sir.

[Jingxin Hall]

Your Majesty.

The Crown Prince is here.

Ye.

Your Highness.

Greetings, Grandmother.

Offer some incense to your grandfather.

Yes, Grandmother.

Grandmother.

Grandfather doted on Cheng'en when he was alive,

so why don't we let her offer incense too?

When Cheng'en came,

I told her the same thing,

but she said

that she is the daughter of a sinner

who is not qualified to offer incense to your grandfather.

She would rather kneel in front of Buddha

and transcribe Buddhist sutras

to pray for the nation.

Yes.

I am the daughter of a sinner.

I do not want to disturb the late Emperor.

Cheng'en.

Don't see yourself as inferior.

I am not seeing myself as inferior.

This is the truth.

I hope that I can atone

for some of the sins that my family has committed

with the rest of my life.

Ye.

Here.

Ye.

You have not visited me in a long time.

Is it because you are busy with national affairs?

My apologies.

I just heard from the servants

that you've been having frequent headaches.

Have you gotten any better?

Seeing you now

makes me feel much better.

I heard

that you have been working with a female pirate from Jingnan

and solved many major cases.

Yes.

Ren Anle

sounds like a decent lady.

I've also heard

that she's joining the Crown Princess selection.

Di Cheng'en

used to be

too brash and active,

but after resting at Dai Mountain for ten years,

she has grown to be quiet and gentle.

Her father would be pleased

to see her now.

Thank you for the compliment, Your Majesty.

Cheng'en.

Show me the sutras

that you've transcribed.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your handwriting is decent.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Yongning Temple is peaceful and tranquil.

Listening to the bell chiming every day

reminds me of my reckless behavior as a child,

which fills me with regret.

This is why I've been praying and transcribing sutras every day

to clear my mind

while praying for you and the nation.

What a good child.

Your Majesty, if you don't mind,

I'd love to come here every day

and stay by your side.

Silly girl.

Why would you want to keep an old lady company every day?

If I want to meet you,

I can just summon you here like so.

Yes.

Grandmother, if you want to meet Cheng'en,

you can tell me,

and I'll take her here.

Cheng'en.

Your clothes are smudged.

I shall give you a new set of clothes.

Take Miss Di away and change her clothes

before someone teases her.

Yes, Your Majesty.

It's getting late.

We'd hate to disturb you any longer.

Why don't I take Cheng'en

back to her residence?

Your wish is my command, Your Majesty.

Follow me.

I have prepared some tea and snacks in the side hall.

You may wait for her there.

Once Cheng'en changes into her new clothes,

you two can relax and enjoy.

Yes, Grandmother.

I shall do so.

Oh, our Founding Emperor.

Is this the queen you and Di Shengtian

had chosen for our nation?

Di Shengtian.

Look carefully.

Your daughter

is nothing more than a joke.

[Residence of the Princess]

General.

Miss Di was summoned by the Empress Dowager this morning,

and she is still not back yet.

(When will the Empress Dowager ever stop giving the Di family a hard time?)

Miss Di, once you change into these clothes,

you shall continue kneeling here

while transcribing the sutras

and pray for the nation.

Yes, ma'am.

(The Empress Dowager)

(actually gave me a set of servant clothes?)

Your Majesty.

I have executed your orders.

My grandson

must not have anything to do

with that Di woman.

There is only one Crown Prince in the Jing State.

No matter who he marries,

as his grandmother, I have no objections,

except for anyone from the Di family.

All of you, back off!

I want to meet the Empress Dowager!

It's been a long time since I saw you.

Are you trying to demolish my residence?

Grandmother, release Di Cheng'en now.

Nonsense!

Are you starting a rebellion

just for that Di woman?

The entire Di family has been exterminated

save for their sole surviving daughter.

Can't you spare her life?

Protect Her Majesty!

All of you, back off!

I want to see

if Princess Anning

is really intent on killing me.

You lost your mother when you were young,

so I have always spoiled

and protected you.

I let you do whatever you wanted to do.

Even when you requested to be stationed in the Northwest,

I pleaded your case before the Emperor.

The Princess of Jing

may have explored the vast world,

but now that you've returned,

you've turned into a rebellious, unfilial young lady.

Ask yourself.

Have I not

fulfilled my moral obligations to the fullest extent?

Who in the world instigated you

to treat me like a total stranger?

I only want to see Di Cheng'en

and ensure that she's safe.

You...

Fine.

Take Princess Anning

to Di Cheng'en.

Your Highness, please come with me.

Your Majesty!

Ziyuan.

Anning?

What brings you here?

Get up.

Are you fine?

Wait, Anning.

Let go of me.

I'm holding an ink stone,

and I might smudge your clothes.

Sun Momo,

sorry for making you wait.

I will finish transcribing the sutras as fast as I can

and present them to the Empress Dowager.

Why are you doing this?

This ink stone.

These clothes.

Is this

how everyone here humiliates her?

Princess Anning.

Calm down.

Anning.

No.

That's not what happened.

The Empress Dowager has treated me kindly.

I accidentally spilled

some tea on my clothes,

so the Empress Dowager gave me these clothes.

You're safe now.

Let's go.

No, Anning.

Anning, what are you doing here?

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Ridiculous.

My grandmother ordered you to get Miss Di some fresh clothes,

and you're treating her cruelly here.

Are you disrespecting my grandmother

or me, the Crown Prince?

Forgive me, Your Highness.

It was Miss Di who said

that it was still early,

so she wanted to stay here

and finish transcribing the sutras.

-Yes... -Impossible.

Ziyuan would never say that.

Let's go.

No.

Anning, let go of me.

Anning.

If my grandmother asks,

tell her that I took Miss Di away.

It has nothing to do with Anning.

Yes, Your Highness.

Anning.

Let go of me.

You're hurting me.

Ziyuan.

You shouldn't have entered the palace alone.

Your Highness.

My name is Di Cheng'en.

There are many people in the palace.

Don't call me by the wrong name.

You can be angry at

or upset about what transpired today,

but as long as I'm around,

I will not let you enter the palace alone again.

Cheng'en.

My inconsiderate thinking

has caused you much suffering in the palace.

Anning has always been impulsive.

Don't blame her.

Ye.

I didn't suffer.

I do not blame the Princess.

It's just that

I've been kneeling the whole day

transcribing sutras in the Empress Dowager's room,

and my legs are feeling weak,

so...

It's rather hard for me to walk back to my residence.

Young Lady.

Are you all right?

Your Highness.

Princess.

Since Mu Qing is here,

follow him back to your residence and rest.

I...

Take care on your way back.

Go now.

Ye.

You should rest early too.

Sure.

Why did the Empress Dowager torture you so?

Let's return to Dai Mountain.

I'll take you away from this troubled land.

Mu Qing.

I waited ten years before I could leave the mountain.

I don't want to go back there.

I know

you care about me,

but I also know

you'll stay by my side,

won't you?

Rest assured.

As long as you want me,

I will always stay by your side.

(Ten years ago, we shared a fateful moment under an umbrella.)

(The capital will protect you from harm, Miss Di.)

(I don't want to get stomped on anymore.)

(No matter who you are,)

(everything's good as long as you help me.)

[Wanshou Hall]

Your Highness.

Why the long face?

You don't look like someone

who just met your loved one.

I guess

you do need me, Ren Anle,

to stay by your side

and get rid of your troubles.

Ren Anle.

You have an apt name.

Can you really get rid of all my troubles

and help me rejoice every day?

Your Highness,

you'll have to ask yourself.

When you're with me,

do you feel happier than usual?

As the Crown Prince of Jing,

I've always lived by the rules.

I never thought that someday,

I would meet a lady

as unreasonable

and brash as you are.

Since that's the case,

why can't you let go

of your obsession with Miss Di?

You've been to the Residence of Marquis Jing'an.

You saw how desolate and ruined the place is.

But who would expect

that ten years ago,

it had the most beautiful spring panoramas in the capital?

Back then, Ziyuan was dressed in opulent clothes

and lived as a carefree girl.

That place is no longer the same paradise as it was.

You refuse to let go

of your obsession with Miss Di

because you feel guilty, don't you?

Yes.

Ten years ago, I failed to protect Ziyuan.

It's my lifelong guilt.

Anle.

I don't want the palace

to turn you into another Cheng'en.

You may not be a genteel lady

or a noblewoman,

but I think

you being a pirate, as you are now,

is just as good.

Your Highness.

Then, remember

that in this world,

there's only one Ren Anle,

and once she's gone, she's gone.

The past is in the past.

Your Highness.

Why don't you just move on?

[Ren's Residence]

Don't you think

Princess Anning seems too concerned about Di Cheng'en?

Anning and I were close friends.

I trust her.

That day back in Jingxin Hall,

when I saw how she tried to speak up for Di Cheng'en,

I felt...

Don't tell me to be cautious of her.

Just keep that in mind.

Out of everyone in the Han family,

she's the one I wouldn't want to hurt the most.

[Residence of the Princess]

(Deliver this letter immediately.)

Make sure no word of this gets out.

Princess.

(Do not tell anyone about this.)

(If word of this gets out,)

the Han family

would be in ruins.

No.

I didn't see it.

I didn't see it.

(This incense can induce deep sleep,)

(making it hard for the person to wake up.)

[Crown Prince's Residence]

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

I heard that the noblewomen in the capital

are eager to meet you.

The banquet for the Crown Princess selection is tomorrow,

and I just saw several ladies

pacing around your residence.

If you focused on your studies,

even if they were pacing around here,

you wouldn't have noticed them.

I'm just

concerned about your happiness, Your Highness.

That's why I took a glance at them.

Right?

There's Miss Zhao, who looks poised and polite,

and Miss Gao, elegant and refined.

Then, there's Miss Wen, who comes from a military family,

and she's absolutely dashing.

I heard that her horse-riding and archery skills

are the best in the capital, Your Highness.

She'd never be as good as Ren Anle, though.

I knew it.

Your Highness.

You still care about Anle.

Since that's the case,

why haven't you

sent this invitation

[To Ren Anle] to her?

I have my considerations.

If you're occupied with work,

I can deliver it on your behalf.

Have you read the book I gave you?

That book?

I gave it to Yuanqin the other day to shade her from the sunlight,

and I forgot where I put it.

Go find it.

[Lingxiang Pleasure House]

Ever since Han Ye met Di Cheng'en,

he keeps coming here to confide in me.

He's about to finish

my tea collection.

The person he's waited for for ten years has become completely different.

You're the only person

in the capital who can listen to his woes.

Still, Han Ye is not a fool.

As time passes,

he might detect something.

He was separated from Di Ziyuan for ten years,

not 10 days.

Even if

she does seem different from what he remembers,

he wouldn't simply abandon her.

As long as she is Di Ziyuan,

anything else doesn't matter to Han Ye.

Tomorrow

is the banquet for the Crown Princess selection.

Are you ready?

So what if I'm ready?

I still can't join the banquet.

Haven't you received the invitation?

(We don't have to be married)

to move forward together.

Ziyuan.

Ever since you returned from Jiangnan,

I noticed something wrong with you.

Don't tell me you've fallen in love with the Crown Prince.

I am in love with the Crown Prince.

After all, he is the Crown Prince of Jing

and Han Zhongyuan's treasured son.

He is our key to turning the tide to our advantage.

He's a sharp and useful weapon.

Of course I fancy him.

Still, I must remind you.

Don't forget

the reason why you've returned to the capital.

I've endured so much for ten years,

and I had to fight my way here.

Why did I come to the capital?

I know the answer better than anyone.

That's why I must take part

in the Crown Princess selection.

I will make everyone know

that I am Ren Anle.

And Ren Anle is Di Ziyuan.

Very well.

Rest assured.

Regardless of the path ahead, I will be there with you.

Until...

Until...

Until everyone in the world

knows that the Di family was innocent.

Despite our preparations,

the Crown Prince, our driving force, isn't acting yet.

What are your plans?

Since he's not acting yet,

we need to drive the force ourselves.

I've ordered Yuanshu to spread gossip around town.

Also...

Everyone in the capital is saying

that Official Ren has not been invited to the banquet of the Crown Princess selection.

They're saying

that she probably has no chance

of becoming the Crown Princess now.

That Crown Prince of mine.

To make Di Cheng'en the Crown Princess,

he's resorting to all means possible.

[Crown Prince's Residence]

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

-His Highness is busy. -Anle is here.

Official Ren.

His Highness is busy with work.

He's not meeting anyone today.

I'm sure he wants to see me.

I'm coming!

[To Ren Anle] What is it? Let her in.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

You're having tea?

Have you forgotten something important?

I don't recall anything like that.

Is there anything?

Your Highness.

How could you forget, Your Highness?

As the Crown Prince,

you need to rest well

and strike a work-life balance.

Ren Anle.

This is the Crown Prince's Residence.

Mind your manners.

Fine.

Today,

I brought you

a rare book,

one of its kind.

Please take a look.

[Romantic Conversations in Jingnan]

Thank you, Official Ren,

but I have no time for leisure reading lately.

A rare book?

Let's see how rare it is.

"The Crown Prince drinks the wine in a single gulp.

His cheeks begin to flush

as he sinks into inebriation.

With one hand, he undresses himself

while pushing Ren Anle to the wall with the other."

Well, Your Highness?

Do you like this huaben?

You don't have time to read it,

but I'm sure the populace does.

Tomorrow, I'll get Yuanqin and Yuanshu

to print 180 copies of this huaben

and distribute them around.

It's going to be another bestseller.

Ren Anle, you...

Your Highness.

A huaben

for an invitation.

Sounds like a good deal, doesn't it?

Fine.

Your Highness, you could have given it to me sooner

so I didn't have to rack my brains

and write a mushy story.

Your Highness,

are you finally giving Anle the invitation card?

I know where it is.

I'll get it for you.

I meant,

sure.

Go ahead and print the huaben.

Your Highness, read carefully.

This huaben is laden with explicit content.

If this story spreads around,

it's going to ruin your reputation.

It's just grapevine talk among the people.

As the Crown Prince,

I need to handle the pressure from public opinion.

Moreover...

Official Ren, you put into so much effort to create such a masterpiece,

so we should let more people

admire your talent in literature.

Ren Anle.

Did you imagine me to be thin-skinned?

Your Highness.

Read closely.

As the Crown Prince,

if this story spreads,

by then,

more people will be gossiping

about our rumored relationship.

Since I am the Crown Prince,

as long as I have a clear conscience,

why should I worry about baseless gossip?

Your Highness, is your conscience truly clear?

Since you can't remember what happened,

why don't I remind you

of the things we did that day?

♪If I bet my all on it desperately♪

♪I know my heart will be uneasy♪

♪I give up on my light and hide it under a bushel♪

♪You're the moon in my heart♪

♪I can't dream to own you♪

♪But I'm willing to forsake my life for you♪

♪I'd go the distance for you♪

♪May the light stay with you♪

♪Romance aside♪

♪I fight for your destiny alongside you♪

♪You're my dream from the bygone youth♪

♪Arriving at the end of my life♪

♪I bear no regrets. But when we reunite in our next life♪

♪Will you still remember me?♪

♪I've concealed my yearning for you♪

♪And guarded your smile♪

♪Please don't leave me in oblivion when we part ways♪

♪I'd go the distance for you♪

♪May the light stay with you♪

♪Romance aside♪

♪I fight for your destiny alongside you♪

♪You're my dream from the bygone youth♪

♪Arriving at the end of my life♪

♪I bear no regrets. But when we reunite in our next life♪

♪Will you still remember me?♪