Original subtitles

♪ The falling snow ♪

♪ Is bitter cold ♪

♪ My sigh ♪

♪ Misted the path in front of me ♪

♪ The moonlight knows my intention ♪

♪ I just want to make a place for me in your heart ♪

♪ I laugh and I cry ♪

♪ Quietly building a pond in my heart ♪

♪ I accept all the gifts from sorrow ♪

♪ I can't let down my regrets ♪

♪ I won't admit defeat ♪

♪ I slowly chew on the bitterness of life ♪

♪ The fragrance remains the same after the bleak winter ♪

♪ Awaiting spring to color the way back home ♪

[The Double]

[Episode 35]

Slowly.

One more step.

Be careful.

Thank you, brother-in-law.

Why are you calling him that?

These days, my food, clothing,

and even my treatment are all provided by Duke Su.

Who is he if not my brother-in-law?

Smart.

Much smarter than your sister.

Duke Su.

Is there a reason

you are here to see me today?

We'll talk about that later.

I'll take a few steps with my brother-in-law first.

Don't worry.

I'm very gentle.

Brother-in-law.

Slow down.

[Princess Wanning's Residence]

Meixiang.

Your Highness.

What kind of incense is burning here?

Your Highness, it's your favorite, Jasmine.

Why does it smell so disgusting?

Your Highness, Imperial Physician Zhang will be here soon.

After he arrives,

he will prescribe some medicine.

I will cook it

and you will feel better after having it.

Have you told Shen Yurong

about my condition?

Yes, I did.

What did he say?

He told me to take care of Your Highness.

What is it?

Why are you not moving at all?

Your Highness, I may have made a mistake.

Please look for a better physician, Your Highness.

I only trust you in the whole Imperial Medical Institute.

Come on, tell me what's going on.

Otherwise, I will punish you for deceiving me.

Spare my life, Your Highness.

Please forgive me, Your Highness.

Raise your head.

Have you menstruated this month, Your Highness?

I'm afraid Your Highness is

pregnant.

How dare you?

How dare you speak nonsense in front of Her Highness?

I would not dare to do so!

Spare me, Your Highness.

Spare me, Your Highness.

Spare me, Your Highness.

Imperial Physician Zhang.

Is what you said true?

I dare not lie.

Have you forgotten the diagnosis you gave me

when I returned from Dai Country?

Your Highness has suffered too many injuries.

Especially after having multiple miscarriages,

which impaired your circulatory system.

It will be difficult for you to recover from that.

I'm afraid that Your Highness can't bear any more children in the future.

That's why I was extremely surprised.

This situation is extremely rare.

It is truly a blessing from Heaven.

A miracle.

If I don't want this child,

can I get pregnant again in the future?

Well,

it's hard to say if you will be this lucky again.

How long do you think I have been pregnant?

It should be less than a month.

Thank you for your hard work, Physician Zhang.

Take Imperial Physician Zhang

to have some tea before leaving.

No.

I won't bother you, Your Highness.

I am in a hurry to go home.

It's just a cup of tea.

Your wife and son won't mind it.

Your Highness, please spare me!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, spare your life!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, spare my life!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, please spare me!

Your Highness!

I'm leaving for Great Zhao tonight.

So quick?

To see your great performance,

I've already delayed it for a day.

Is something happening at the Eldest Princess's Residence?

The Eldest Princess secretly dealt with an imperial physician.

It is said that she was diagnosed to be pregnant.

How did you do it?

I remember that you know how to read pulses.

I do know a little about medicine from being sick for too long.

Read my pulse.

Whose is it?

Tell me.

Jiuyue's.

I told you she is a poison user.

I know she uses poison.

If I didn't try it on myself,

how would I know if it works?

Other than faking your pulse,

what other harm does this medicine do?

It does no other harm.

Jiuyue tried to experiment on herself

and I just happened to hear about it.

Nonsense.

I'm serious.

Wanning may not want me to marry Shen Yurong.

If news that she is pregnant spreads now,

I'll have a chance to escape.

Why are you staring at me?

In front of Wanning,

Shen Yurong can't protect you,

but I can.

I know.

How did you poison the Eldest Princess?

Wanning was wary of me,

but she won't have her guard up against Consort Li for the time being.

I want to drug her on your birthday banquet, Your Highness.

What drug?

It's not a harmful poison.

It's just a drug for faking a pregnancy.

After a while,

the effects of the medicine will disappear naturally.

You are truly audacious.

Thanks to you for finding Consort Li's weakness.

That's how I just convinced her to help me.

Now the sanctioned marriage issue has been resolved,

are you still going ahead with your plan?

Of course.

I want to see

Wanning and Shen Yurong exposed to the public.

I also want to help you catch Lord Cheng's underlings.

Shen Yurong will not let her do this.

This is not up to him.

If then, before I come back,

you must act cautiously.

If you have any questions,

get Zhao Ke to send me a letter

or wait until I'm back before making a decision.

Understood, Duke Su.

I'm not that weak.

I know how powerful you are.

Before you go,

I want to thank you.

Thank you for taking me back to the capital.

Thank you for not abandoning me

from the beginning to the end.

I'm almost at my goal.

It's time for me to repay you.

Do you still remember

what I said to you

when you took the Entry Exam?

I wish you a smooth journey ahead and a successful revenge.

Now let me add this.

I hope that you can live as you want.

Are you setting off soon?

Yes.

Just try your best.

Do you remember your father's funeral?

[Memorial Tablet of General Xiao]

Master, from now on, I will be stationed at the northern border

and inherit your mantle,

defending our country and homeland.

One day,

I will personally lead an army to regain the lost territory

and avenge you.

[Memorial Tablet of General Xiao]

Am I the only one who thinks

that his crying looks fake?

I feel so too.

Your father is dead. Why aren't you crying?

Father told me

if he dies in battle,

I should see him off with a smile.

But you aren't smiling either.

Maybe he didn't die in battle.

Do you want to investigate it?

Will you let me investigate it?

There are a few more persons

who I want you to check for me.

Don't you want to investigate me first?

Give me your hand.

The other hand.

Close your eyes.

I can see through you.

Childish.

I have trusted you for eight years.

I will always believe in you.

Go early and come back early.

I will be waiting for you in the capital.

[Dai Camp]

Your Majesty, have some fruit.

Sure, I'll eat it.

Don't you like dancing?

Go ahead and dance.

Go ahead and dance.

[Emperor of Dai]

It seems that you want me to dance with you.

Dance!

Dance!

What a worthless princess.

Already sent here as a hostage,

yet cannot recognize her position.

From today

you will always be

the lowest concubine

in my tent.

Someone, take her to the sheepfold.

That will be her home from now on.

This situation is really rare.

It is truly a blessing from Heaven.

If I don't want this child,

can I get pregnant again in the future?

It's hard to say

if you will be this lucky again.

Your Highness,

Imperial Physician Zhang's family has been dealt with.

What do you plan to do next?

Plan about what?

Do you plan

to keep this child?

Disgraceful servant.

You are in no position to talk about the child in my belly.

Your Highness's belly will grow day by day.

It can't be hidden forever.

If His Majesty or others discover this,

I'm afraid we can't explain it.

Your Highness, you love that man with all your heart.

If this is discovered,

His Majesty will surely not ignore it.

If this is that man's child,

I'm afraid his career will be ruined.

Your heart would be broken, Your Highness.

But this is my child with him.

I want to keep it.

As for the next step,

I'm not in a hurry.

The child in my belly is less than a month old.

No one will notice it yet.

The most urgent task now

is to take good care of the child in my belly.

Nowadays, people are unpredictable.

There are countless people who want to harm the child in my belly,

I have to protect it well.

I will protect your child.

Summon Shen Yurong quickly.

Immediately.

Yes.

Lay down your arms.

[Peaceful and Lively]

Even insects know how to climb up.

Of course, humans would do the same.

Some people are born at the peak.

Even if you prepared long and hard for a plan,

he can just throw out something randomly

to replace it.

Oh, Heavens!

You're so unfair.

Does a person of humble origin

only deserve to live a lowly life?

Mr. Shen.

The Eldest Princess has summoned you to her residence.

Why did she make you come to summon me in person?

Pregnant?

Could it be a mistake?

[Virtue and Growth]

Diagnosed by Physician Zhang,

can't be wrong.

Are you are unhappy?

Or still angry with me?

Your Highness is like this now.

How can I still be angry?

This child of mine was hard-earned,

you will be my consort sooner or later.

Now we are just ahead of schedule.

I will ask His Majesty to sanction our marriage.

Your Highness, aren't you worried

that if you ask for His Majesty's blessing,

others will think that you were having a secret affair with me?

I don't care.

But I can't ignore your reputation, Your Highness.

My reputation?

Do you think I care about my reputation?

Maybe I did before.

Ever since I came back from Dai…

Your Highness.

Okay, I will say no more.

I just want the baby in my belly

to have a legitimate father.

This is also my first child.

I also hope to be its legitimate father.

But this matter cannot be rushed.

Otherwise, there will be no end to our troubles.

What else can be done?

Do you not want to marry me?

You overthink, Your Highness.

Shen Yurong, I am the Eldest Princess of Great Yan.

I don't care about anything else.

I just want

to stay with the person I love for the rest of my life.

I must get what I want.

So, what does Your Highness want me to do?

Joyfully welcome me and our child to the Shen family.

Lady.

How is the situation at the Eldest Princess's Residence?

Shen Yurong had just visited there.

The arrow is strung.

Sure enough, the shot had to be fired.

What do you want me to do next?

Light a fire for them.

[Great Zhao Palace]

Drink it.

Why are you so careless?

The Great Zhao has really tight security.

I had to peel off two layers of skin to get in.

Then why didn't you use the bell I gave you?

How could those soldiers

possibly recognize your bell?

Then you can just tell them

you are Duke Su of Great Yan.

Who dare stop you?

I'm visiting in secret.

In secret?

So you are secretly here to see me?

I'm here to see your brother.

Whatever, I don't care.

Move along, don't stay here.

I didn't expect the Great Zhao's guards to be so skilled.

If it weren't for Jiuyue's bells,

I'm afraid I would've died.

How humorous, Duke Su.

With your skills, if you didn't want to get caught,

it would be hard for my Great Zhao guards to capture you.

You did this deliberately.

The sooner I am hurt and caught,

the less friction will be created,

preventing any misunderstanding.

Tell me,

what do you want from me?

I want an army

to prevent possible rebellious officials and traitors in Great Yan.

Before you came,

Lord Cheng's man had already come to me.

When Lord Cheng would lead the uprising from the North,

Your Majesty only need to restrain them at the Great Zhao border,

controlling the Yan army.

Zhao Ye would be surrounded and would surely collapse at a touch.

When Lord Cheng becomes the emperor, he will surely treat Great Zhao well.

Your Majesty has just driven away the rebel forces in your country.

I trust you must be in need of Great Yan's support.

If Your Majesty refuses to cooperate

and even aids Zhao Ye in his stubborn resistance,

when Lord Cheng becomes the emperor,

he will surely want to clear his debt with you.

Are you threatening me?

I dare not do so.

Lord Cheng is far more powerful than Zhao Ye.

I just don't want Your Majesty to make the wrong choice

and ruin the foundation you have just laid.

Regarding the emperor of Great Yan and Lord Cheng,

my ministers

have carefully discussed and analyzed it.

Those who think that the emperor will win

are less than half of them.

Duke Su, I hope you can understand.

If I help you,

I'm not just risking my life and fortune.

I am betting the Great Zhao's fate.

No matter who wins,

as long as the victor

is willing to maintain peace with Great Zhao,

I will accept it.

Your Majesty is waiting for my bid, right?

If Your Majesty feel that Lord Cheng is sure to win,

I'm afraid you would have agreed

to form an alliance with him.

Am I wrong?

This an internal affair of the Great Yan.

The Great Zhao is a small country with no influence on the conflict.

If Lord Cheng wins,

the Great Zhao will naturally prepare a gift

to congratulate Lord Cheng.

Sending it then and sending it now

are two different situations.

So what does Lord Cheng want from me?

Didn't Your Majesty just form an alliance with Great Yan?

Zhao Ye naturally thinks that you are on his side.

Lord Cheng doesn't want much.

As long as you continue to feed him this illusion,

when Lord Cheng raises his army,

I hope Your Majesty will give us your support in times of need.

Yes, I didn't accept Lord Cheng's proposition.

But I don't necessarily have to agree with yours.

His Majesty said

as long as Your Majesty helps us,

you can set the conditions.

You are just the icing on the cake to Lord Cheng.

Even if he wins,

he won't necessarily be grateful to you.

But to His Majesty, you are a help during a time of need.

He will definitely repay you.

Even if the emperor of Great Yan wins,

how can I ensure

that he will fulfill his promise?

Have Your Majesty personally entered our country

and met our emperor?

Can't the sincerity of His Majesty

obtain your trust in return?

It's true, I can't trust him.

However,

I believe in you.

Are you willing to accept my conditions?

Have you heard that the Eldest Princess is pregnant?

Nonsense. The Eldest Princess doesn't even have a consort.

How could she be pregnant?

Shut up. Trust me,

the Eldest Princess is about to recruit a consort.

Then who do you think this future prince consort is?

I heard

that Mr. Shen was seen going in and out of the Princess's Residence.

Do you think it could be him?

Just wait and see.

They won't accept it

if a child is born out of thin air without a father.

True.

[Champion Scholar] Mother, mother, where is Yurong?

He went to Hanlin Academy early this morning.

Why are you in such a hurry to see him?

I heard that the Eldest Princess is pregnant.

Did he tell you that?

Who told you?

Everyone on the streets is saying it.

Really?

If it were true, Yurong would have told us already.

Has Yurong ever taken the initiative

to tell us about matters between him and the Eldest Princess?

No, I have to go to Hanlin Academy now

and ask him what happened.

[Govern the people, serve Heaven]

Your Majesty.

I heard from Eunuch Su you haven't drunk your medicine, Your Majesty.

It's getting more and more bitter. I had taken a bowl.

Leave this bowl for a while more.

Your Majesty, you have caught the cold.

This medicine is both to cure and to condition your body.

It's best to take two bowls at once.

I asked them to reheat it.

Your Majesty, you'd better drink it.

Or else I would worry about you.

You.

You always know how to make me take my medicine.

Your Majesty, I heard a rumor recently.

What is it?

I heard that the Eldest Princess Wanning is pregnant.

The rumor has even spread to the palace now.

Wanning is not married.

How could there be such rumors?

How could there be such outrageous rumors?

Yes, this matter will affect the reputation of the royal family.

Do the people spreading this rumor

intend to harm the royal family?

What do you think I should do?

Send an imperial physician to check Wanning's pulse.

The rumor will naturally be broken.

Good idea.

However, if an imperial physician goes alone,

with Wanning's temperament, I'm afraid they would be kicked out.

I am willing to go with the imperial physician

to visit Wanning.

Since this rumor came out,

she doesn't go out much anymore.

I haven't seen her for a while, too.

Alright, thank you for your hard work then.

It's my duty.

Hey, the Eldest Princess

seems to be pregnant.

Whose is it?

I don't know either. I heard it from others.

Is it true?

It's hard to tell.

I don't think this is true.

When there's smoke, there's fire.

Have you found all the books I asked you to find?

We are looking for it.

Yurong.

Let's speak outside.

Come.

Mother, what do you want from me?

What happened to you and the Eldest Princess?

Rumors are spreading everywhere outside.

Rumors say that the Eldest Princess is pregnant.

Everywhere? What does that mean?

It's all over the streets and alleys.

Don't leave yet. Talk to me.

What happened to you and the Eldest Princess?

Mother, can't you see it?

Since it is known to everyone,

there must be someone behind the scenes.

I'm afraid this is a conspiracy.

I'll find a way to solve it.

Mother, it's okay. Don't cause more trouble for me.

Greetings, Consort Li.

Eldest Princess.

Why do you have time to come here today?

I've heard some rumors recently,

so I came to have a look.

What rumors?

Some say that the Eldest Princess is pregnant.

Do you believe it, Consort Li?

I don't believe it, and neither does His Majesty.

So, I brought an imperial physician here today

to diagnose you.

Outrageous.

I can't let you do as you wish to me

just for some rumors.

It's exactly because it's a rumor, we have to investigate it.

After all, there are rumors saying

that the one who first spread the word was your designated physician,

Imperial Physician Zhang.

But no one knows where did he go.

The Imperial Medicine Institute has to bear this responsibility.

As such, they sent another imperial physician to you.

In my opinion,

whether you are sick or not, it's good to have an inspection.

Don't the women in the palace

regularly ask for pulse readings for peace of mind?

Although you are outside,

you should also take care of your own body.

How dare that old man spread rumors about me?

When I find him, I'll tear his mouth apart.

The Imperial Medicine Institute is also looking for him.

It's a pity that even his residence has been emptied.

If he still can't be found,

they will naturally link him to you.

The old man must have absconded with his family.

Your Highness, you must not tolerate him.

I thought so too at first,

but I didn't expect to hear another rumor.

They say Imperial Physician Zhang

might have found out some secret

and was…

Which shameless person said that?

Let them confront me.

I also want to catch the person who spread the rumors.

Yet, on second thought,

if we arrest them, it would look like the royal family is guilty.

After mulling over it,

I think it's better for us to act openly and honestly

and put the rumors to rest.

Don't you think so? Wanning.

Imperial Physician Chu, please read the Eldest Princess's pulse.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness, kindly allow me.

Eldest Princess, what are you doing?

I am the Eldest Princess, my body is as precious as gold.

How can I be forced to prove my innocence

based on some rumors?

This is a humiliation to me.

If that's the case,

I will go back and report the truth to His Majesty.

Eldest Princess, just wait for His Majesty to deliver the edict in person.

Leave us alone.

I want to talk to Consort Li alone.

Consort Li.

You are so forgetful.

Have you forgotten about Consort Xian?

Before threatening others,

why don't you check who is the person in your hands?

What do you mean?

How smart are you.

Do you need me to remind you?

Do you want to side with Xue Fangfei?

I don't want to take any side,

I will not stoop to either side.

Ever since Shuran became sick,

I am no longer as competitive as before.

It's you. You forced my hand.

I am a person

who hates being threatened the most.

Alright, that's it for today.

When I get back, I will report the truth to His Majesty.

Take care, Eldest Princess.

When you are free, think about

how are you going to explain to His Majesty

the origins of this child in your belly.

[Traveling and Resting]

Your Highness, Mr. Shen is here.

You are finally here. Now come with me to see His Majesty.

See His Majesty?

That's the last thing we should do now.

Why?

Did you know that Consort Li had just come by?

Do you know how she threatened me?

Consort Li.

By now, the emperor should know

that I'm pregnant.

If you don't become my prince consort,

how will I explain the child in my belly?

Who is its father?

Consort Li.

Isn't she on Your Highness's side?

What do you care about Consort Li? She is just a dog.

She will side with whoever gives her a bone.

At this point, you…

What are you hesitating about?

What do you want?

Don't you think something is wrong, Your Highness?

The things happening recently

seemed to be pushed forward by somebody in the background.

What do you mean?

The news of Your Highness's pregnancy was leaked immediately.

It spread from the streets

and even reached the imperial court.

Later, Consort Li brought an imperial physician to your door

in the name of clearing up the rumors.

If no one was behind all this,

how could things develop so quickly?

Who did it?

Consort Li? Xue Fangfei?

Xiao Heng?

Are they in cahoots?

What are they trying to do?

Your Highness, please calm down first.

No matter who the opponent is,

we just need to figure out their intentions

to be free of their control.

What do you think their intentions are?

I think they want to see

us admit to our relationship,

and use it to accuse you and me of fornication.

Framing us of immorality.

Thus making a path for them to investigate

the Xue family murder case.

The Xue family's case

is not so easy to be investigated.

Why should we care?

Xue family's case is negligible, but what about Lord Cheng?

Lord Cheng will soon arrive at the capital.

At this critical moment,

if something happens to Your Highness right now,

Lord Cheng will be threatened.

Lord Cheng.

When Lord Cheng becomes the emperor,

no one will ask about

our relationship.

The two of us can have many, many more children.

Shen Yurong!

Do you know

how difficult it is for me

to bear this child?

I'm telling you, even if I sacrifice you and me,

I want to keep it!

If so, is Your Highness willing to endure dishonor?

Do you have a way to save him?

Promise me.

I have a method.

But Wanning,

I don't wish for you to do this.

What kind of dishonor do you want me to suffer?

The father of this child can only be

Li Jin.

♪ It's slightly cold, I look up and my gaze is like the warm sun ♪

What did you say?

This is the only way to save the child.

This is your child, Shen Yurong.

I understand, but to keep this child,

we must make people believe that there is a reasonable father.

Looking at the entire imperial court,

the only one with a matching status

and who be manipulated by Your Highness

is Grand Chancellor Li.

The Li family has two sons.

Li Lian became a monk. Li Jin is unmarried.

He is the best candidate.

That's the only place

where you can safely raise the child.

For our child,

let's endure for a while.

When the child is born,

I'm sure Lord Cheng would have taken the throne.

At that time, you can just find a reason to divorce him.

We can still be together.

In this way, the ones who want to destroy us

will not have a chance to do so.

Shen Yurong,

after saying all these,

you just don't want to be my prince consort.

Right?

I am willing to die for you. Any choice Your Highness makes,

I will be with you all the way.

Don't touch me.

Don't touch me!

You are forcing me to do this.

You know it.

You know everything.

Father, you are saying

that you want me to become the Eldest Princess's prince consort?

Is there a problem?

Have you heard

the rumors about the Eldest Princess?

A little.

We, the Li family, are not some low-ranking family.

How could a child of unknown origin be allowed

to usurp the position of the firstborn in the Li family?

I know this is unfair to you.

But this is also

an opportunity for you to make amends.

The one supporting the Eldest Princess is Lord Cheng.

Father, have you ever thought about it?

If the child is born, all is well.

But if an accident happens to it

in the Li family,

I'm afraid all of us will be implicated.

Of course, I know the importance of this matter.

But this is the will of the Eldest Princess.

We, the Li family, have no chance of refusing it.

Jin, if the Eldest Princess can marry into our family,

we can form an alliance with Lord Cheng,

and we will gain more from it.

You are a smart person.

You must understand the importance of this matter.

Lady, I just heard from a servant

that the Eldest Princess is going to marry into the Li family.

The Li family?

Really?

How about I go to the market and ask around?

Sure.

Good one, Shen Yurong.

I have underestimated your cunning.

♪ If there are no happy memories ♪

♪ How can we traverse the forbidden land of sorrow? ♪

♪ Two cold and unfeeling bodies ♪

♪ Holding hands, can we get through the snow season? ♪

♪ In the cold wind, in the long night ♪

♪ Embracing the remaining warmth ♪

♪ The depth of the sea, unfathomable ♪

♪ Can it bury yesterday's sighs? ♪

♪ Continue to love, cherishing it with my life ♪

♪ Continue to live, even with only a glimmer of hope ♪

♪ Whether in sorrow or joy, I believe in you ♪

♪ I'd rather be trapped in the world's extremes ♪

♪ Continue to live, exhausting all courage ♪

♪ Continue to love, until the breath runs out ♪

♪ Traversing half a lifetime of loneliness, just to meet you ♪

♪ After the hardships, never to part again ♪

♪ After the hardships, never to part again ♪