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 34]

Your Highness.

This letter is sent to you by the Secretariat Director.

Return the letter to him as it is.

Tell him that since he's hurt my sister, don't expect me to forgive him.

He said that this letter was about Mrs. Jiang.

Bring it here.

[Your Highness, please visit the Ji family leisure home when you are free.]

Shuran.

Shuran.

- Shuran? - Shuran.

You are so beautiful!

It's me, Shuran.

Don't you recognize me?

Let me put a flower on you.

What a beauty.

Shuran.

Who is he?

Father?

Are you here to see me, Father?

You came to see me.

I will give you a flower.

Let me put it on your head.

Grand Chancellor Jiang, what's the meaning of this?

Giving out a carrot, and you think the stick you used to hit others

will be forgotten?

This new house is much better than the ancestral shrine.

Here, there are flowers and plants which she likes,

and maids who serve her patiently.

In the future, this will surely be the place

where she spends her later years without any worries.

You are so fierce, lady.

Li is also here today.

She hopes to talk with Your Highness face-to-face.

Li.

Consort Li, please enjoy the tea.

Are you threatening me with my sister today?

No, Your Highness.

This is a gesture of goodwill.

After all, my mother's past actions are clearly known by Your Highness.

Now, my mother can enjoy her life all thanks to Your Highness.

Then what do you want from me?

I heard that Jiang Li and Shen Yurong were arranged to marry

because of Your Highness's idea.

You yourself said that you are both in love.

I might as well do a good deed.

Seeing that Your Highness is willing to worry about my marriage,

I am naturally grateful for it.

I am just worried that Your Highness will end up like my mother,

being treated as a pawn by the Eldest Princess.

What are you saying?

When Jiang Ruoyao knocked Zhou Yanbang unconscious,

I testified for Ruoyao.

Since then, Ruoyao would not listen to Mother's manipulation.

Mother thought that I urged Ruoyao on.

As such, she wanted to kill me.

This fact was keenly discovered by the Eldest Princess.

Ever since I returned to the capital to submit a complaint to His Majesty,

the Eldest Princess has been wanting me dead.

My mother's intention to get rid of me ultimately gave the Eldest Princess

an opportunity to let somebody else do the dirty work.

To survive, I could only retaliate with all my strength.

That's how things end up this way today.

And amidst all these, you seem to be innocent.

It doesn't matter if I am innocent or not.

What matters is the Eldest Princess is targeting Your Highness.

As far as I know,

the marriage between Shen Yurong and me wasn't Your Highness's idea.

Your Highness was coerced as well.

You...

What do you know?

I know that Your Highness is the same as me in the past,

under threat by the Eldest Princess.

With her way of doing things, if the root cause of the problem is not addressed,

she will use coercion over and over again.

Your Highness, you can consider it.

If Your Highness is willing to work with me, I can help solve Your Highness's problem.

My mother can also live peacefully in this small estate.

And we will bury the hatchet.

How does that sound?

Flower.

Your Highness.

I hope my daughter didn't offend Your Highness.

I finally know why those who wanted to murder Jiang Li

all failed and paid the price in the end.

Grand Chancellor Jiang, your daughter is really something else.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Shuran.

Grand Chancellor Jiang, to me, Shuran is the most important person in this world.

As sisters, we supported each other along the way until today.

Seeing that you have reconciled with Shuran,

the grudges between me and the Jiang family are now water under the bridge.

However, you driving Shuran mad is something I can't forgive.

Although my sister was wrong in the first place, Jiang Li must pay the price.

The matter of the arranged marriage is decided.

On account of your kindness to Shuran,

I will make sure the Jiang family is not implicated.

I hope you understand the principle of abandoning a rook to save the Emperor.

As a parent, one should protect their child

and would never abandon their child to protect themselves.

You don't know what's good for you.

[Princess Wanning's Residence]

Your Highness, Jiang Yuanbai took Ji Shuran to a new house.

However, Consort Li did not waver.

Your Highness is very clever.

If they beg Consort Li now, they will only be humiliating themselves.

Consort Li is an unreliable pawn after all.

The longer we delay this, the worse it gets.

We shouldn't wait any longer.

Do you want me to request an order from His Majesty?

Why do I feel as if you are in a hurry to get married?

Naturally, I want to fulfill Your Highness's wishes at the soonest.

Shen, did Xue Fangfei teach you how to play the qin?

She can't teach me.

She plays it so well.

You played a song together last time.

Why don't you two play another before His Majesty, Consort Li, and me?

Why should we?

Wouldn't this allow Consort Li to take advantage of the situation

and suggest arranging your marriage to His Majesty?

There are many ways to do that.

But I want to see how two people who hate each other

play a harmonious tune together.

Won't you be sad, Your Highness?

Did you ask out of guilt?

If Your Highness wishes to see it, I'll perform it.

Miss Jiuyue gave it to me herself.

I didn't open it in any way.

Your Majesty.

Why did you suddenly come to the imperial study to see me? Is something wrong?

I heard that Your Majesty has been reviewing memorials for the whole day.

That's why I specially brought you some desserts.

You are always so considerate of me.

Your birthday is in two days.

Have you settled on any gifts?

Thank you, Your Majesty, for always remembering.

I don't want any gifts.

I just kept thinking about the time when the Zhao delegation came.

I caught a cold that day and was unable to attend the banquet.

I heard that Second Lady Jiang and Mr. Shen performed like a match made in heaven.

It's a pity that I have no chance to see it again.

What's so difficult about this?

Eunuch Su.

I'm here, Your Majesty.

Relay my command.

On Consort Li's birthday,

invite Second Lady Jiang and Mr. Shen to attend the banquet.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I also want to invite someone else.

Wanning was confined to her residence during that time as well

and missed out on the performance.

Why not ask her to join us?

Great. I wanted to do the same.

- Li! - Li!

- Li, are you alright? - Li, are you alright?

I'm fine.

Just stop pretending in front of us.

Consort Li is going to grant Shen Yurong your hand in marriage.

We all know that.

Why did you suddenly retract your testimony?

Stupid, if it weren't for some unspeakable reason, would Li retract her statement?

The situation is a little tricky now.

I'm thinking of a way.

Ye Shijie is here too.

He is chatting with my uncle.

What are they talking about?

Of course, it's about your marriage.

Li!

My Lord, aren't I awesome?

I have found someone who had been hidden so well.

My Lord, something is happening to the Jiang family.

Consort Li invited Jiang Li and Shen Yurong to her birthday banquet.

I'm afraid she wants to arrange their marriage on-site.

Which day is it?

In two more days.

Just now, the scout even said Grand Chancellor Jiang invited Ye Shijie over.

What is he doing there at this time?

What? He invited Ye Shijie?

- Yes. - Don't worry, Uncle Jiang.

I will definitely provide my full assistance in this matter.

Good.

I'll take my leave first, then.

Great, Li is here too.

Li, we were talking about you.

What is it about me?

Shijie, tell her.

Shen Yurong's request for marriage.

We all know about it.

I know you must be reluctant to marry him, so I will go and see His Majesty

and tell him that our two families had us engaged when we weren't born.

His Majesty takes civil traditions seriously.

His Majesty will certainly take back the order to arrange this marriage.

That is to deceive His Majesty.

The Ye family has agreed to support this statement.

We are not afraid.

Uncle Jiang has also agreed.

I trust Shijie.

This is the best way at the moment.

- No. - You don't have to worry about this.

This is just to help solve your urgent predicament.

If you don't want to marry me in the future, we can break off the engagement.

Marriage is of great importance.

What's more, my reputation has already been damaged.

I don't want to implicate you.

What if I say that I am willing to be implicated by you?

But I am not.

We are pressed for time and have no time to plan.

The news just came from the palace.

On Consort Li's birthday, you and Shen Yurong are invited to the palace in celebration.

But no one else from the Jiang family is invited.

I think she wants to arrange the marriage between you two right before His Majesty.

That's why I asked Shijie to come over.

You can mull over it.

- I'm available anytime... - Second Lady Jiang.

Duke Su is waiting for you at the entrance.

Duke Su is here. Why didn't he come in?

It's about Second Lady Jiang.

Second Lady Jiang, please come to the entrance.

Do you think it's appropriate?

Father, excuse me for a moment.

Where are we going?

To the palace.

Why are we going to the palace?

I'll ask His Majesty to allow me to marry you.

Duke Su, look at the situation now.

Please stop joking.

What's this?

Confession of the palace maid involved in Consort Xian's death.

[Servant Zhang's Confession]

Did you find the suspect so quickly?

My men aren't like the useless people under Wanning.

Where is the maid now?

I hid her.

I had some of my people disguise themselves as palace maids.

No one is aware of my actions yet.

So, we are going into the palace to meet Consort Li now.

You are the one who is going to see Consort Li.

I'm going to meet His Majesty.

What matter do you have with His Majesty?

To ask him to grant me a marriage.

Is the palace a place where you can visit at will?

Who brought you in?

That does not matter.

Your Highness should be worried about this instead.

[Servant Zhang's Confession]

[I put poison in Consort Xian's food, causing Her Highness to go mad.]

Where did you get this?

I said it before.

I can help solve your problem, Your Highness.

Can Your Highness trust me now?

I have truly underestimated you time and again.

Who is behind you?

That's not what Your Highness should be concerned about now.

What do you want?

I am different from Wanning.

I won't threaten Your Highness with this.

I am just begging Your Highness to stop being Wanning's puppet

and stop interfering in the matter of the arranged marriage.

Then, I will return this maid to Your Highness.

Even if I don't mention it, do you think Wanning will just give up?

The marriage between you and Mr. Shen is almost set in stone now.

Even if I stay out of it,

Wanning will also take advantage of the situation, and facilitate this matter.

I've been planning this for a long time.

I'm just one step away now.

I need a favor from Your Highness on your birthday.

What is it?

Xiao Heng, you went too far!

I went too far?

When Shen Yurong asked for marriage, why didn't Your Majesty refuse him?

Isn't it just a marriage? Why are you so worked up?

Your Majesty knows clearly that I am fond of Second Lady Jiang.

Where does this put me?

The affair between the two of them is well-known in the court.

I don't want the two families to be humiliated. This is the best solution!

Has Your Majesty made up your mind?

Xiao Heng, I advise you to drop this matter.

Please, excuse me!

What did you do just now?

Why do you look so tired?

Nothing,

just a quarrel.

A quarrel with His Majesty?

You are really the first to do so.

You look relaxed.

Did you reach an agreement?

Consort Li agreed to help me.

Help you with what?

I won't tell you yet.

Even though you held Consort Li down,

what if on Consort Li's birthday,

Eldest Princess personally asks to arrange your marriage, how would you reject it?

Even if the marriage is arranged,

it takes at least a month to prepare for the wedding banquet.

During that month, I would make them cancel the engagement by themselves.

That's not a good way.

- It's just in name. - Not even in name.

Tell me. Is it true that you won't be able to serve me in the future?

I will continue to accompany Your Highness.

I feel particularly uneasy today.

I don't feel comfortable seeing you either.

In that case, I shall excuse myself.

Your Highness, Duke Su wants to see you.

What a rare visitor.

Didn't you say that he personally went to pick up Xue Fangfei at the prison?

Yes.

Make yourself scarce.

Duke Su, you wouldn't be here for no reason.

Why did you come here today?

If Shen Yurong cannot become a princess consort, won't it be a pity, Your Highness?

If I want something, I can retrieve it at any time.

Your Highness's generosity is unparalleled by others.

I've always been quite petty.

Naturally, I won't give away the person I'm fond of.

Do you mean...

What does it take to cancel Jiang Li's marriage?

Duke Su, you're truly dedicated to her.

But I sacrificed a lot for Jiang Li.

How can you compensate for my loss?

What's your loss? I will pay you back.

I want a lot of things.

You can't afford them.

Is this enough?

What a coincidence.

Second Lady Jiang is also invited to the banquet.

All thanks to Consort Li's generosity.

Second Lady Jiang is really lucky.

I'm a little envious.

His Majesty has arrived.

Consort Li has arrived.

Your Majesty, Your Highness.

At ease, my subjects.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Today is Consort Li's birthday.

She doesn't want an extravagant banquet. So I invited all of you here.

Consort Li has been talking about

the performance by Official Shen and Second Lady Jiang.

Could the both of you recreate that wonder today?

I am extremely honored.

I am willing to play for Her Highness.

Good.

I have also invited Wanning here today.

She caused a scene in the court, and I had her confined so she could reflect on herself.

Today, I invited her here in hopes that everyone can get along amicably.

Of course, Your Majesty.

Naturally, I won't mind their rudeness.

That's good.

Let's enjoy the meal first and the music later.

Mr. Shen, Second Lady Jiang, please wait here.

When you look at me,

other than disgust, there's a hint of mingled love and hate in your eyes.

I didn't know that you could flatter yourself too.

Flatter myself?

How come I was flattering myself?

Do you know that if you insist on going against the Eldest Princess,

things will not end well for you?

Why do you want to marry me, then?

Do you want to use me again to please the Eldest Princess?

You still don't believe me.

I once trusted you.

But what happened?

Is your trust reserved, for a man of Xiao Heng's standing?

If I had the same background as him, I wouldn't have to do this.

Will you believe me if I say I can also trade the Longwu Army for you?

Is this enough?

Is this the fish talisman of the Longwu Army?

Since you know it, I need not explain further.

If you give me this thing, the country will have a new ruler.

I don't care who rules the country.

I only want her.

It turns out you didn't know.

Now that I have told you, you can feel at ease.

From tomorrow, no one will mention the arranged marriage.

Even if His Majesty brings it up again, I will refuse it.

After all,

that's the fish talisman of the Longwu Army.

I'm curious if His Majesty knew that Xiao Heng handed over the Longwu Army

for a woman,

would his possessions be confiscated or would his family be exterminated?

Your Majesty. Mr. Shen and Second Lady Jiang are ready.

Let them begin.

If His Majesty knew that Xiao Heng handed over the Longwu Army, for a woman,

would his possessions be confiscated or would his family be exterminated?

You really know how to fool around.

Although I am not an expert in music, I've heard a lot of good tunes.

Second Lady Jiang, do you think Consort Li and I don't deserve to hear your music?

Forget it.

Previously, Second Lady Jiang and Mr. Shen rehearsed daily,

so the performance must've been excellent.

Today, it was my sudden wish for these two to perform.

Nevertheless, today, we can consider my regret of missing the banquet addressed.

Come on. Let's drink.

Eldest Princess Wanning rarely visits the palace.

This Nyuerhong wine is specially prepared for you.

Try and see if it's to your liking.

Mr. Shen, you have seen Second Lady Jiang win the competition in the School of Integrity.

Do you think her performance today is the same as before?

From my understanding of Second Lady Jiang,

she can play much better than this.

Maybe Second Lady Jiang's mind is not here.

Really?

Then who is Second Lady Jiang thinking about?

Are they more important than His Majesty and Her Highness?

Your Majesty, Your Highness Consort Li, Your Highness, please forgive me.

I was indeed distracted today.

It's true that I am thinking of someone in my mind.

Then let's hear it.

I am thinking about him who was rescued from Huaixiang, Xue Zhao, son of Magistrate Xue.

I heard he was found.

Come to think of it, this was told to me by the Eldest Princess.

Eldest Princess has always said that I am Xue Fangfei.

She said that Xue Fangfei was not dead.

That gave me an idea.

I thought, could Magistrate Xue's son have survived too?

So, I asked Duke Su to help find him.

Before coming today, Duke Su told me that he found the person.

I think, when Xue Zhao wakes up, we can ask him.

Then, we can help Mr. Shen

to find the person who murdered his father-in-law and brother-in-law.

Great. In this case, let Duke Su handle it.

If this is useful to the case later, you will be awarded credit for your contribution.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

But it's a fact that I got distracted today.

I am willing to perform another tune with Mr. Shen, Huaixiang Ditty.

A tune that has not been rehearsed should not be presented to Your Majesty.

Mr. Shen should be very familiar with Huaixiang Ditty.

If you have forgotten about it because of leaving home for too long,

why don't you just be an audience?

That sounds good.

A local ditty should be more interesting than a grand and serious song.

Get started then.

Yes.

Huaixiang Ditty.

Dear, you are homesick.

I'm reminded of the time when I first met you.

Do you still remember?

How can I forget it?

Did you give Longwu Army to the Eldest Princess for my sake?

You knew?

So this is the method you spoke of?

Yes.

It worked, right?

No one mentioned the marriage today.

Don't you know how important the fish talisman is?

How can you give it away so easily?

Didn't I say I have a solution?

You are talking about the thing you asked from Jiuyue?

You knew about it.

Then why did you give away the fish talisman?

I was just guessing.

But I still don't know for sure what exactly it is that you want.

We have to find a way to retrieve the fish talisman quickly.

I've never seen you this panicked.

This is not my business, it's your business.

So, you mean I am very important to you.

Xiao Heng!

Alright.

Actually, handing over the fish talisman is just a part of our plan.

Our?

Who?

His Majesty and I.

What exactly is going on?

The mastermind behind Wanning is Lord Cheng.

Lord Cheng has always been eyeing the throne.

As long as he stands, His Majesty can never be at ease.

In the past eight years, Lord Cheng enjoyed military success in the north,

winning the hearts of the people.

Today, at the northern border, many children do not know His Majesty,

but only a few do not know Lord Cheng.

Lord Cheng is establishing his prestige this way.

Gradually establishing a good image of a brave and caring leader.

He can then legitimately recruit troops.

Lord Cheng? Is he not afraid of overshadowing the Emperor?

Maybe that's his intention.

And if His Majesty suppresses Lord Cheng for this reason,

His Majesty would be seen as an envious leader unjustly punishing a decorated subject.

If that happens, Lord Cheng has a reason to declare an uprising in the north.

In the past eight years, Lord Cheng has been recruiting troops in the north.

Wanning has been garnering support in the court and gathering money.

In the imperial court, there is also Li Zhongnan's faction

which serves the two of them.

They're corrupt and lawless.

These people are like a pain in His Majesty's neck.

He can do nothing about it.

Left to their own devices, sooner or later, the forces in the north will shake the nation

and every official will be afraid of them.

If Lord Cheng launches a coup then,

the local army will turn their spears

against the court for the sake of their families and lives.

His Majesty and I were unable to find an opening all this while.

Until you appeared.

Me?

Am I that important?

All this while, most of the things you wanted to do aligned with my goals.

Protect the Ye family from being annexed by the Li family.

Destroy the illegal gold mines in Huaixiang.

Even Xue Huaiyuan's case gave His Majesty a reason to weaken Li Zhongnan.

Originally, because of Shen Yurong, you have driven Wanning into a corner.

I just didn't expect Wanning to have Xue Zhao

and arranged marriage as aces up her sleeve.

So I also played a game of weiqi with His Majesty.

Are you crazy?

How dare you hand the Longwu Army's fish talisman to the Eldest Princess?

The illegal gold mine in Huaixiang is gone.

Li Zhongnan's salt and iron business in the south has also mostly been taken out by us.

Li Zhongnan is gradually losing power.

It will be difficult for him to find new ways to make money for Lord Cheng.

How long does Your Majesty think Lord Cheng is willing to wait?

If he doesn't rebel, he will only keep asking for food from the court, draining the treasury.

If Your Majesty refuses him, he will have a reason to rebel.

When that time comes, wars will break out on the northern border.

People will be displaced.

And the treasury of the Great Yan will be emptied because of this battle.

- So? - Next month, during the ancestor worship,

Lord Cheng will return to the capital.

This is his moment, but also our opportunity.

Spell it out.

Hand over the Longwu Army and entice him into rebelling.

Instead of allowing him to expand his military forces in the north,

it's better to make him attack the palace.

If the Longwu Army is in our hands, he will be careful.

But once we hand over the Longwu Army, it would be like exposing our vitals before his eyes.

He will surely grab this opportunity.

Setting up a bait.

For your revenge, for a woman, you are willing to treat me as a pawn?

Your Majesty, if I only wanted revenge, and cared not for the people of the nation,

why would I endure until now?

What's the catch?

Do you still have any aces after handing over the Longwu Army?

What about my safety?

The Zhao nation.

Zhao is my trump card.

If you can think of it, wouldn't the Eldest Princess reach the same conclusion?

Wouldn't she realize that handing over the Longwu Army is just a lure?

That's why I have to pretend like I am blinded by love.

This is the only way to make Wanning accept the Longwu Army without doubts.

Honestly, are you blinded by love?

I am wide awake.

Lord Cheng already has a strong army.

No matter what we plan, a fatal blow has the potential to injure both parties.

Your Majesty has trusted me for eight years.

Please trust me for one last time.

I will use the lowest price in exchange for the greatest victory.

What should I do?

Put on an act.

How should I do that?

Xiao Heng, you went too far!

I went too far? When Shen Yurong asked for marriage, why didn't Your Majesty refuse him?

Isn't it just an arranged marriage? Why are you so worked up?

Your Majesty knows clearly that I am fond of Second Lady Jiang.

Where does this put me?

The affair between the two of them is well-known in the court.

I don't want the two families to be humiliated. This is the best solution!

Has Your Majesty made up your mind?

Xiao Heng, I advise you to drop this matter.

Please, excuse me!

Good take.

Anything you break will be deducted from your salary.

I see.

You could have forged a fish talisman and given it to Wanning.

Why risk it with the real deal?

Don't underestimate Wanning.

With her keen eye, she can tell whether the fish talisman is real or not.

Then, not only will we fail to lure Lord Cheng out of his den,

but we might also alert them of our plan.

Will Zhao really send reinforcements?

This is the second thing that I want to tell you.

I will head to Zhao and stay there for a few days.

When are you setting off?

In a few days.

Before you go, there will be a play for you.

Send some people to keep an eye on Eldest Princess's Residence.

I have told you my secret.

How about you?

Before you, I no longer have anything to hide.

I already know that you fancy me.

But do you know that I fancy you?

Shen.

You keep saying that you hate Xue Fangfei,

but why is the situation I see at the imperial banquet completely different?

You misunderstood, Your Highness.

I was wondering if the fish talisman might be a scam.

After all, Xiao Heng is full of tricks.

Handing over the fish talisman now is very fishy.

This is the difference between you and Xiao Heng.

You can kill Xue Fangfei just to stay alive, but Xiao Heng can die for Xue Fangfei.

Your love is far behind his.

Now you're still talking to me about the fish talisman?

Do you still want to get married with her?

Or are you angry with me because the fish talisman ruined your plan?

I abide by your decision, Your Highness.

I dare not to do so.

You dare not, or will not?

Tell me.

How sincere am I, can't Your Highness deduce it?

Shen Yurong, why are you unwilling to give up on her?

I don't understand what's so good about her.

At that time, she wanted to draw her bow and kill you at the palace banquet.

Now she is plotting to ruin your life.

You are so shameless, unable to forget her.

From the day I killed her, aren't I already a shameless person?

Your Highness forced me to become such a person.

Have you regretted it now?

Why don't you dare to answer my question?

Have you been lying to me?

I never thought of deceiving Your Highness.

It's just that even I myself

can't tell which words that are coming out of my mouth are true, and which are false.

I'm tired.

Your Highness must be tired as well.

I'll come back another day.

Shen Yurong, try if you dare.

Believe it or not, I will send the entire Shen family to the guillotine!

If it pleases Your Highness, let it be done.

♫ 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 ♫