Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Destined]

[Episode 38]

Jiusi!

Jiusi!

Jiusi!

Jiusi!

Jiusi!

Jiusi!

Jiusi!

Jiusi!

Jiusi!

Jiusi!

From now on, I'll have the same food

as the soldiers.

No special preparation is needed.

Yes.

Pass my order.

Tomorrow, the entire army will

retreat 15 kilometers

and turn attack into defense.

All of you, send the message back

and get ready to strike camp.

Yes.

Father.

Jiusi and Yuru will find a way.

I trust them.

Father,

please be patient.

Father.

Your health is more important.

Please

have a good rest.

Great.

The late emperor wanted me to die.

My son wants me to die too.

Great.

You're awake.

Where are we?

Don't worry.

That night, we

made it out of Jingji very fast.

This is an ordinary inn in the mountains.

How long did I sleep?

Two days.

We've delayed for so long.

General Zhou can't wait any longer.

You're injured.

Let's wait till dawn.

Can I borrow a lighter?

We don't have a lighter.

Go ask someone else.

Second brother Liu.

Chen Xun.

It's me.

Sister-in-law.

Jiusi.

Chen Xun.

Jiusi.

How did you find us?

I went to the place

you told me in the letter.

I waited for you all night, but you didn't show up.

I guess

you were attacked.

So I took my men to search

all the hospitals and inns nearby.

I finally found you.

It's been so many years.

You've changed a lot.

I can't believe

you could be the head of the ship gang.

I can't imagine that

you could

be Grand Councilor of the Left either.

Now, all the people in court who can assist me

are being watched.

Only your men

can help me.

Escorting provisions

for the soldiers in the front line.

Although we are commoners,

we should do our best.

From now on,

I'll personally escort you with my men.

I'll be at your disposal

and do my best to help you.

Thank you so much.

You're welcome.

It's what I should do.

No trace at all?

Yes.

Master.

Should we inform Jingzhou?

Forget it.

Miss Shiyu

has a strong foundation in the south.

Her wealth and connections are both top class.

We can't stop her

from raising provisions.

Gu Jiusi

may also receive

assistance from the commoners.

Zhao Gaolang can't be trapped

by provision shortage anymore.

If Zhou Gaolang's army really...

Zhou Gaolang's army must be destroyed.

I have another way.

Zhou Gaolang and his sons

are the last stumbling block.

After getting rid of them,

I will succeed very soon.

Others

are nothing to be afraid of.

My wife is really resourceful.

You raised so many provisions

in such a short time,

and you sent them to the front line continuously

so that everything is in order.

How many women like you

are there in this world?

No wonder you are titled Miss Shiyu.

By the way,

the title of Miss Shiyu was bestowed

by His Majesty.

Do you know what it means?

Do you remember

my first birthday in Eastern Capital?

His Majesty bestowed the style name "Chengjue" on me.

So, in His Majesty's eyes,

you and I are both

raw jades that need to be refined.

"Jue" means a pair of jades.

You and I are a couple

with shared values and beliefs.

Without you,

I wouldn't be

the Gu Jiusi I am now.

Me too.

Without you,

I wouldn't be the Liu Yuru I am now.

Father.

Father.

We've got military provisions.

It arrived?

Yes.

It's Jiusi and Yuru who dodged

all the passes with the horse gang

and went over mountains

to send a large number of military provisions.

Great.

Great.

Gu Jiusi

didn't let me down.

Pass my order.

In three days,

we'll have a fight to the death against the Nanzhao Army.

We won't return until we defeat the enemy.

Yes!

Your Majesty.

Have you read the report?

Report?

Zhou Gaolang achieved great victory in the southwest.

The border issue of Nanzhao has been resolved.

His troop

will return to the capital soon.

He won?

He's returning?

The longer Zhou Gaolang and his Youzhou Army

exist,

the more threat it poses to you, Your Majesty.

I have told you

about this long ago, Your Majesty.

But

Uncle Zhou watched me grow up.

He's like my family.

When I was little,

he was the one who took me to ride horses

and taught me hunting.

You always say

he'd take my throne.

But he won such a difficult battle

against Nanzhao for me.

I don't think

he seems disloyal

to me.

Family?

Not to mention you are not blood-related,

even if you are blood-related, so what?

Since ancient times,

when the royal family fights for the throne,

even father and son, or brothers,

would turn against each other.

Besides,

Your Majesty,

have you forgotten about

the late emperor's will?

You may leave.

Let me think about it.

Your Majesty!

This is a serious matter.

You can't take any chances.

You need to make plans beforehand.

There can't be any delay.

Grand Tutor.

Are you telling me what to do?

I'm

just sharing your burden, Your Majesty.

What do you want me to do exactly?

You asked me to fake Father's will

and send them to Nanzhao to fight a suicide battle.

I listened to you.

But they didn't die in Nanzhao.

Now they are returning to the capital after winning the battle.

How can I stop them now?

Your Majesty may not be able to stop them,

but God can.

What do you mean?

On Zhou Gaolang's army's way back to the capital,

they'll have to pass Black River Valley.

That valley has a mysterious terrain.

Above the valley,

there's a century-old Yongshui Lake.

You mean...

If when Zhou Gaolang and his troop

pass there,

Yongshui Lake happens to burst its banks...

Your Majesty,

you can rest easy

on the throne.

There'll be no future troubles.

You want me

to issue an order to kill the entire army?

What if it gets out?

What if people find out?

In the future history book,

I will be

the most fatuous emperor ever.

After I die,

how can I

face Father in the underworld?

Your Majesty.

Those who achieve great things

don't care about trifles.

Enough!

Shut up!

Grand Tutor Luo.

You're Grand Tutor,

but I'm no longer Crown Prince.

I don't need to listen to every word you say.

Get out!

I said get out!

[All-embracing Walls for Worldly Matters]

My dear.

What do you think?

If...

If Zhou Gaolang

really defeated Nanzhao

and returns to the capital,

by then,

what should

I do?

By then,

I should be congratulating Your Majesty

on achieving unprecedented merits.

Zhou Gaolang is Your Majesty's official.

It's Your Majesty who know well about his abilities

and sent him to conquer Nanzhao

to expand Da Xia's territory.

It's just on the surface,

the credit goes to the late emperor.

What you said

makes great sense.

Your Majesty, you just ascended the throne a few months ago,

and Da Xia has been

prosperous and the people have been living in peace.

Now, you even resolved the border issue in the southwest

and reclaimed the lost territory.

It shows that

Your Majesty are powerful and smart.

You are no doubt

a great emperor in history.

But...

If Uncle Zhou

knows some day that

it wasn't Father's will

to send him to conquer Nanzhao,

this

is still a threat to me.

You know.

I don't want to kill my uncle

who watched me grow up.

And I certainly don't want to take so many people's lives.

But I'm scared.

My dear.

I'm in such a dilemma.

How can a dying wolf

compete with

the new wolf king that is young and strong?

You are in the flower of your youth, Your Majesty.

You are in your prime.

Zhou Gaolang is already old.

He's been sleeping rough

in the woods in the southwest.

Even though he was lucky enough to win the battle,

he won't live long.

You don't have to get your hands dirty, Your Majesty.

You are right, my dear.

It's Grand Tutor who worries too much.

Report!

General Qin.

Someone sent a letter.

[To Wanzhi. I know you're busy in the army. I shouldn't disturb you, but I have something important to discuss with you. May I invite you to the Zhou Mansion tonight?]

Mrs. Zhou, you invited me here.

Is there something you need my help with?

I brought some bodyguards

who are waiting outside the courtyard.

We're at your disposal.

Early this morning,

I received a family letter

from Nanzhao.

I heard the news too.

Are they on their way back?

Yes, they've set off.

There's another thing in the letter.

General

wants me to

prepare in advance at home.

Once they are back,

the Zhou family

will propose marriage to the girl Ye likes

on behalf of him.

Therefore,

I want to ask you in advance

about how you feel about Ye, General Qin.

I should be talking

with your family

about this.

But your parents are not in Eastern Capital.

I'm worried that this may be Ye's wishful thinking.

I don't want to catch you off guard, General.

So...

He and I are both soldiers.

There's nothing to be shy about.

It's just

I still

want to wait for him

to ask me this question in person.

I don't want others to ask on behalf of him.

Great.

I know what you mean.

When he comes back,

I'll let him ask you himself.

Master.

No news from His Majesty yet.

We...

Who said that?

Hasn't His Majesty

already issued an edict?

Zhou Gaolang maintained an army and defied orders from the government.

He colluded with the enemy and is guilty of treason.

As for his father's, mother's, and wife's family,

they shall all be executed.

Come on, let's drink.

[Zhou]

Eldest brother. Second brother.

We can have a blast today.

Yes.

Third brother.

Don't let Miss Qin

wait any longer this time.

Eldest Brother is right.

General Qin.

The Zhou family colluded with the enemy, and is guilty of treason.

His Majesty issued a decree to execute them.

It has nothing to do with others.

Please step aside.

The whole Zhou family is loyal.

How dare you rats slander them?

We are following the order.

If you refute the order,

then you are the Zhou family's confederate.

As long as I'm here,

no one

can hurt the Zhou family.

I'm sorry then.

What are you

fellas murmuring about?

Father.

My younger brother has been keeping something

from you.

Father.

My two older brothers are making fun of me.

Don't talk about personal matters in the army.

Come on.

What are you keeping from me?

Tell me.

Don't make it about me.

You guys drink too.

Our troop will return to the capital tomorrow.

Tell Father already.

That's right.

Tell him.

What are you waiting for?

Hurry.

Hurry up.

Okay.

I'll say it.

Father.

I insist

on marrying Qin Wanzhi.

I hope you can approve it, Father.

Please take care of my family.

Come here. Sit down.

Sit down.

Good for you.

This is great news.

Listen.

If you can bring home

such a good

daughter-in-law,

how can I say no?

I'm just worried that she won't be willing to marry you.

How is that possible?

We already...

Thank you, Father.

Good boy.

Come on.

Let's drink.

Come on.

Cheers.

♫Lamenting how lonely, withered and ravaged the world is♫

♫Asking Heaven about life and death, hesitation and desperation♫

♫Wind and snow crumpled the starlight♫

♫Shadows of the crescent moon were blown away♫

♫Watching the setting sun shining on the earth. What a dreary sight♫

♫Crying about how checkered and desolated the souls are♫

♫The hubris of the youth♫

♫Can't let go of a soldier's responsibility♫

♫No reason can be explained♫

Wanzhi.

♫Make a toast♫

♫When can we be together♫

I'll say

♫When I look back♫

♫I can't see through the vanity of the world♫

what you want to say to you.

♫Watching the flowers bloom and wither. I can't escape from the void of life♫

Wait for me.

♫I remember how the stars shined for us when we met♫

♫The infinite sky♫

♫The emptiness of memory does nothing to us♫

♫I've lived half of my life in ups and downs♫

♫I've tasted the bitterness of fate as well♫

♫I can't hide it, yet the lonely boat can't stop sailing♫

My Lord.

Hurry!

Inform Jiusi.

Yes.

It was you.

It was you who issued the order

to execute Uncle Zhou's family!

It was not my order,

but yours, Your Majesty.

I didn't.

I didn't!

I never wanted to kill them.

Aunt Zhou held me in her arms when I was little.

Mrs. Zhou

made delicious leaf-wrapped rice cakes

for me.

It was you.

You faked the imperial edict.

Luo Zishang,

I will kill you

to avenge the deaths of the Zhou family!

Of course you can kill me, Your Majesty.

But after killing me,

who you'll face

is Zhou Gaolang, who controls

the army of 300,000 soldiers of Da Xia,

longing for revenge.

I think Your Majesty

must be ready

to hand

the country and your life

over to your Uncle Zhou.

You set me up.

You pushed me

into this corner.

I won't listen to you.

I won't listen to you.

I will explain everything

and confess everything to Uncle Zhou.

Will Zhou Gaolang believe it?

Also,

even cutting off the military provisions for the front line

was Your Majesty's idea

in Zhou Gaolang's view.

But you are the one who did it.

But Your Majesty acquiesced.

Also,

don't forget that

even the pacification itself

was also Your Majesty's order.

You faked the late emperor's will

and forced him to fight a suicide battle.

Your Majesty.

There's no turning back.

I guess

I don't have to

tell you what you should do

and say in court tomorrow, right?

Your Majesty.

Was it Your Majesty's order

to execute the whole Zhou family?

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

We

implore Your Majesty to answer.

Minister Ye.

How dare you encroach like this?

Are you leading the officials

to press His Majesty?

Your Majesty.

General Zhou

has been loyal and discreet his whole life.

He devoted himself to Da Xia.

If he had any disloyal intention,

he would have

ascended the throne

after the battle against Lord Liang to save the late emperor.

But he still chose

to be a local general for the late emperor.

Also,

when Your Majesty recklessly issued the order

to conquer Nanzhao,

General Zhou and his sons

could have refuted the order.

But they still chose to

garrison the frontier

and attack the enemies together.

They've been working for the army their whole life.

And they are the pillar of the army.

Without them,

how could Your Majesty, we officials,

and the people of Da Xia

live in peace?

The letters of General Zhou and his sons colluding with the enemy

have been found.

Minister Ye.

How dare you speak in the rebel's favor?

Are you

one of the rebels, too?

General Zhou and his sons are not rebels!

This is obviously

a false accusation made by the evil.

Executing the Zhou family was His Majesty's order.

Are you questioning His Majesty's order?

Your Majesty.

I know

Your Majesty must have been bewitched

and trapped in the swamp by the evil.

As long as Your Majesty nod

and tell me

that was not Your Majesty's order,

I'm willing to do anything for you.

It's not too late

to be saved!

Enough!

That was my order.

This...

Listen carefully.

This is my throne,

and my country.

No one

can tell me

what to do.

Zhou Gaolang

is suspected of treason.

The evidence is irrefutable.

If anyone dares to say anything more,

I will

purge

all the remnants of the Zhou party

from the court.

This...

This...

Stop it.

You...

What are you laughing about?

I was laughing because

you are a stupid coward

who doesn't know good from evil.

What?

Exactly.

How dare he accuse His Majesty?

How dare you!

Rebellion!

This is rebellion!

Arrest him!

This...

The whole Zhou family

was executed,

except the eldest grandson, Zhou Dan,

who was hidden in a dry well by the nanny.

General Qin died in battle to protect the Zhou family.

Ye Shi'an was framed as an accomplice,

and will be executed in ten days.

How could this be?

How soon can we

get back to Eastern Capital?

Five days.

Five days are enough.

We still have time.

You mean...

The whole Zhou family

and General Qin are dead.

We can't let Ye Shi'an die a victim of injustice as well.

Let's go storm the execution site.

Storming the execution site is too risky.

But I must save Ye Shi'an.

I failed to save Wenchang back then.

All these years,

I've been dreaming of that day.

Me too.

I'll go with you.

It's dangerous in Eastern Capital. You don't have to go.

With my ship gang and convoy,

I can help you enter the city in disguise.

Luo Zishang

must be waiting for you to throw yourself into the trap now.

Can you

get past on your own?

Luo Zishang is meticulous.

Your convoy won't get past either.

Don't worry.

I have my way to enter the city.

OK.

I'll go downstairs to arrange it.

Yuru.

Go back to Lingnan with Chen Xun

and wait for me there.

Eastern Capital is an extremely dangerous place now.

I don't want anything to happen to you.

Jiusi.

Assisting the emperor to govern Da Xia

is not only your responsibility,

but also mine.

Just like you,

I will do anything

to fulfill His Majesty's will.

Besides,

we have so many

friends we can rely on.

Jiusi.

We finally reunited.

I don't want to leave you again, even for a moment.

As long as we have each other,

we can overcome

any difficulty.

Okay.

Father.

What's your plan

after returning to the capital?

All these years,

I've been thinking about retiring and going back home.

I'll go back to Youzhou.

I can spend

the leisure time with my grandchildren happily.

Unfortunately,

there's no one I can play Go with anymore.

As the saying goes,

it's lonely at the top.

Now that Nanzhao is pacified,

Father, it's time

for you to have a good rest.

Yes.

I've devoted my life to

resolving the external issues for His Majesty

with you three

and the soldiers.

I think

he should have no doubts

about the Zhou family anymore.

Father!

Why are you so flustered?

Father!

[The whole family of Zhou was executed, except the eldest grandson, Zhou Dan, who was hidden in the dry well by the nanny. General Qin died in battle to protect the Zhou family. Ye Shi'an was framed as an accomplice and will be executed in ten days.]

Where did you get this letter?

It must be fake.

This is a message from Baiyujing!

[The whole family of Zhou was executed, except the eldest grandson, Zhou Dan, who was hidden in the dry well by the nanny. General Qin died in battle to protect the Zhou family. Ye Shi'an was framed as an accomplice and will be executed in ten days.]

Why...

This can't be true.

This can't be true!

Why!

A few days ago,

I had a dream.

I dreamed that our whole family

is back in Youzhou.

We take care of the farmland

left by my grandfather.

We plant and harvest, and live a peaceful life.

We don't care about the rise and fall of the world.

We are so happy.

General.

After you come back from Nanzhao,

you can retire and we can go back home.

OK?

Look, your grandchildren

have all grown up.

They already know how to walk and read.

It's time for you to rest

and watch your grandchildren grow up.

Ran'er and Zhuo'er

are both married and already have children.

Only Ye is still single.

It's time for us

to arrange a marriage for him.

It's time

for our family to have a wedding.

Right?

Yes.

My Lady.

I promise you.

I'll retire

after coming back from Nanzhao this time.

Our family

will live a peaceful life.

Fight our way back to Eastern Capital!

Seek justice

from Fan Yu's stupid son!

Fight our way back to Eastern Capital!

Seek justice!

Fight our way back to Eastern Capital!

Seek justice!

Fight our way back to Eastern Capital!

Seek justice!

Fight our way back to Eastern Capital!

Seek justice!

Fight our way back to Eastern Capital!

Seek justice!

Fight our way back to Eastern Capital!

Seek justice!

Fight our way back to Eastern Capital!

Seek justice!

Fight our way back to Eastern Capital!

Seek justice!

Fight our way back to Eastern Capital!

Seek justice!

Fight our way back to Eastern Capital!

Seek justice!

Still no news

of Gu Jiusi?

I've ordered our people

to guard all the gates of Eastern Capital.

Everyone coming in and going out,

no matter they are commoners,

officials' families or merchants,

will be strictly checked.

No news of Gu Jiusi yet.

Keep investigating.

Get the word of

Ye Shi'an's execution out.

Gu Jiusi will come back overnight.

Yes.

As for the imperial prison,

go check the security again.

If Gu Jiusi dares to break into the prison,

take him down directly.

Understood.

Minister Ye.

It's almost time to go.

You were still an official this morning,

but you are in prison now.

I wonder if you regret

that you acted on impulse, Minister Ye.

Seeking justice is what an upright man should do.

I have no regret.

Minister Ye, you are very talented.

If you can work for my master,

I'm sure you'll achieve something great.

What a pity.

Mingyi.

You are smart and capable,

but you became

Luo Zishang's right-hand man.

Not only is your ability unrecognized, you also abet the evildoer

and work for the rebel.

Isn't it a pity?

I don't care if my master

is a tyrant or a rebel.

He has my life.

Master is a poor man.

So am I.

He just wants the world

to return what it owes him.

And I'm all alone.

As long as his wish is fulfilled,

I'll be satisfied.

I don't care

even if I have to go to hell together with him.

Did you say this much to me

because I'm about to die?

Maybe.

You're truly a loyal servant.

It's just your loyalty is dedicated to the wrong person.

Is there anything else

you want to say, Minister Ye?

I do have a request.

After I die,

can you cremate my body

and leave nothing behind?

Also, I don't want a tombstone or inscription.

This way,

my sister

won't have to think about

coming back from Xihuang

to collect my body.

She won't have to mourn in front of my grave as well.

Okay.

I'll do my best.

Master, a secret letter from the southwest.

[The Youzhou Army led by Zhou Gaolang passed Black River Valley. There happened to be a landslide since Yongshui Lake bursted its banks. The entire army has been annihilated.]

Good.

This day

has finally come.

Grand Tutor.

You rarely come here now.

What?

Are you here to urge me to go to court,

or urge me to review the memorials?

My dear.

What time is it now?

I'm here to report to Your Highness that

the Youzhou Army led by Zhou Gaolang

passed Black River Valley.

They happened to encounter Yongshui Lake bursting its banks.

The entire army has been annihilated.

The Youzhou Army

was annihilated?

Zhou Gaolang is finally dead.

No one in this world

can tell me what to do!

No one cares about me anymore.

Uncle Zhou.

I...

The only family I got

is gone.

He's gone.

Your Majesty, you are drunk.

Guards!