Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Destined]

[Episode 40]

Father!

Father.

Father.

I'm fine.

Don't be afraid.

I…

I…

I'm here with you.

Father.

Father.

I didn't set the Luo family's house

on fire.

Mother!

Mother!

Fire! Put out the fire!

Mother!

Mother!

Help!

I accidentally knocked over a candlestick.

If I can,

I'm willing to

give up everything

in exchange for my mother's life.

I didn't

set that fire.

Son.

Father.

Son.

Yishui.

The three of us

can finally reunite.

Soldiers of the Youzhou Army,

our enemy is right in front of us.

After we enter the city,

we'll directly charge into the court.

I'll take the head of Fan Yu,

the tyrant,

to pay tribute to

soldiers who died on the battlefield of Nanzhao

and my family

who died for nothing!

Kill!

Kill! Kill! Kill!

Welcome, Your Majesty.

Gu Jiusi.

What are you doing?

Yesterday, the young Emperor decided

to relinquish the throne to you.

It's also what the late Emperor wished.

He applauded your bravery

and contributions to national defense.

He said you're the pillar of the country

and deserve the crown.

Therefore,

your ascending the throne is legitimate

and what we all wish.

I

together with all other officials

welcome you into the capital

to rule as the new Emperor.

Gu Jiusi.

You surprised me.

In order to save Fan Yu,

you even managed to make him abdicate.

[The Eastern Capital]

I'm not trying to save the young Emperor.

I'm doing this

to save the honor

of the Youzhou Army,

to protect the people of the Eastern Capital,

to save Da Xia from wars,

and to maintain peace.

Our country

can't afford another war.

Your Majesty,

please disarm and take the throne.

It turns out that my old friend

never understood me.

Gu Jiusi,

neither do you!

What I want

is never the throne.

Whether when Brother Fan was on the throne

or when his son ruled,

the Zhou family

never thought of

taking the throne from the Fan family!

If Fan Xuan failed

to see that,

then I have to say

he never truly understood me.

Today,

I must kill Fan Yu,

the tyrant.

He forged an imperial edict

to send the Youzhou Army to attack Nanzhao,

causing 100,000 soldiers to die in the southwest!

I promised them

to make Fan Yu pay with his life!

Your Majesty.

The young Emperor was deceived by the treacherous.

[The Eastern Capital]

Luo Zishang is already dead.

He's paid his life for what he did.

Hasn't Fan Yu done anything wrong?

He sent my soldiers to death,

cut off my military supplies, and killed my family!

With God's blessing,

I and the soldiers here

didn't die in Nanzhao.

But that wretch

dropped bombs in the lake,

trying to drown 300,000 heroes.

What an atrocity!

He was indeed deceived by Luo Zishang.

But didn't Fan Yu

issue all those imperial edicts

himself?

Who am I to him?

I'm his

Uncle Zhou.

Everyone he killed in the Zhou family,

every one of them,

every one,

watched him

grow up.

He doesn't have a heart

and is worse than animals!

Today,

I'll kill whoever

begs for mercy for him.

If anyone dares to stop me from entering the city,

I'll leap over them

on horseback!

Gu Jiusi!

Get out of my way!

Your Majesty,

just ride across my body.

As long as I'm still breathing,

I won't step back.

I can't let Your Majesty

become a sinner

who brings war upon this land again.

Your Majesty.

Vying for power is not an act of heroism.

It's the common folk who suffer the toll of war.

Your family were killed.

Mine too.

I know that pain.

But Your Majesty,

how wars inflicted misery

upon this land,

you know it

better than anyone else.

How many families

will be ruined

because of

the revenge you want?

So, Your Majesty, I beg you

to disarm

and ascend the throne.

Your Majesty.

I'm Gu-Liu Yuru.

I own Huarong in the north

and Shiyu Store in the south.

I'm known for my enormous wealth.

I'm willing to donate all my wealth

to console the families of the deceased

and build charity halls

to compensate the soldiers

who died in Nanzhao

and keep their families safe

for their whole lives.

Your Majesty,

please disarm and ascend the throne!

Please disarm and ascend the throne!

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

Father.

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

What do you want?

Father.

♫Wind and snow crumpled the starlight♫

If Mother and Wanzhi were still alive,

♫Shadows of the crescent moon were blown away♫

they would definitely

kneel here with me

and beg you to disarm.

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

Now that every state is in peace,

♫Crying about how checkered and desolated the souls are♫

we can't wage another war.

♫The hubris of the youth♫

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

Your Majesty.

♫No reason can be explained♫

Please turn around

♫Make a toast♫

and ask the soldiers who fought alongside you

♫When can we be together♫

whether they want to start the attack with you

♫When I look back♫

for revenge

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

or to go home

and reunite with their families.

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

♫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♫

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

Soldiers, on my command!

♫The infinite sky♫

♫The emptiness of memory does nothing to us♫

Disarm

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

and enter the city.

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

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

Yes!

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

[The Eastern Capital]

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

In the first year of the Kangping Period of Da Xia,

♫The infinite sky♫

on 29th August,

♫The emptiness of memory does nothing to us♫

Emperor Yu obeyed the late Emperor's will

to relinquish the throne

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

to Grand General Pacifying the North,

Zhou Gaolang.

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

The new period is called Anjian.

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

[Memorial Tablet of Jiang He, a Beloved Brother]

♫People come and people go♫

Jiusi.

Your uncle

left a letter for you.

Jiusi.

I should've long told you about this.

Luo Zishang is my son.

If he hadn't grown up in a dark time,

he might have become

a good person like you.

The previous dynasty

put countless people through hell,

but the tragedy of Luo Zishang

is the result

of my mistake.

It caused you to lose your father.

Fortunately,

those rats and weasels

have all been removed from the court.

Monsters like him and me

who drew our power from the dark

will die when the light shines through.

Jiusi.

People like you, your wife,

Zhou Ye, Ye Shi'an,

and Yishui

will be able to

live a better life

in this bright new era.

[Memorial Tablet of Jiang He, a Beloved Brother]

Now that everything is settled,

it's time for me to meet your aunt.

If Lord Luo hadn't been the Grand Tutor of the previous dynasty,

if the Crown Prince of the previous dynasty

hadn't framed my cousin,

you should've called Miss Luo

Aunt.

[Memorial Tablet of Jiang He, a Beloved Brother]

Uncle told me

that he bought a graveyard in Jinling.

He asked me to hold his funeral

as his son

after he passed away.

Now that I think about it,

it's all for my aunt.

My cousin

was an upright and kind man.

Your name

was given by him when he was alive.

Jiusi means a man good at thinking.

Zhiren means a man of good virtues.

My child would be called

Jiusi.

Nianming's child

would be called Zhiren.

I wasn't even married at that time.

Nianming was young and aspiring.

In his eyes, no girl

was good enough for him.

When Nianming was alive,

he had so many regrets.

Now that he's dead,

we'll bury him

where Miss Luo lived as he wished.

[Memorial Tablet of Jiang He, a Beloved Brother]

Boss Liu.

You really came.

What do you want to say?

Go ahead.

There's something I need to give you.

My master cherished it very much when he was alive

and kept it carefully.

He wanted to give it to you

but never had a chance.

Now,

♫ The night is dark and the moon is shining ♫

it's time to return it to you.

♫ Lovers are longing for one another ♫

♫ All of a sudden, my old friend is nowhere to be seen ♫

♫ How much do we know about love? ♫

♫ The wind blows and the beauty smiles ♫

♫ Fate is like a carving knife ♫

♫ I don't ask, I don't tell, I'm done with grudges ♫

These are my treasures.

I'll share them with you.

♫ The road ahead is still far away ♫

♫ Only your embrace is left in the world ♫

♫ Till forever ♫

It's him.

♫ I'm stuck in this mortal world, restricting myself to it ♫

He was my friend.

♫ You and I are isolated islands ♫

That little beggar.

♫ I can only rely on you in the world ♫

My master would die happy

♫ Love and hatred are like birds of prey ♫

♫Our promises are speaking of our past♫

if he saw you shedding tears for him.

♫We don't know what the future will bring♫

♫ The night is dark and the moon is shining ♫

I'm not crying

for him,

♫ Lovers are longing for one another ♫

but for numerous kids

♫ All of a sudden, my old friend is nowhere to be seen ♫

who endured immense hardships.

♫ How much do we know about love? ♫

♫ The wind blows and the beauty smiles ♫

Grand Councilor Gu.

♫ Fate is like a carving knife ♫

How does it feel

♫ I don't ask, I don't tell, I'm done with grudges ♫

to be a good man?

♫ The road ahead is still far away ♫

You'll find

♫ Only your embrace is left in the world ♫

everything in this world beautiful

and everyone kind.

♫ Till forever ♫

You'll have a clean conscience

and won't be haunted by guilt.

♫ I'm stuck in this mortal world, restricting myself to it ♫

You'll feel happy to be alive

and have no regrets when you die.

♫ You and I are isolated islands ♫

♫ I can only rely on you in the world ♫

If there's an afterlife,

♫ Love and hatred are like birds of prey ♫

I hope I can become someone like you.

♫Our promises are speaking of our past♫

If there's an afterlife,

I hope you can be born in a time of peace

♫We don't know what the future will bring♫

and live a carefree life.

Grand Councilor Gu.

He's dead.

Bury him.

Yes.

[Memorial Tablet of Cousin Jiang Zhiren]

Jiusi means a man good at thinking.

Zhiren means a man of good virtues.

Your name shouldn't have been Luo Zishang.

It should've been

Jiang Zhiren.

[Memorial Tablet of Cousin Jiang Zhiren]

My uncle

lived a willful life.

He did what he should do

and what he shouldn't.

His last wishes

have been fulfilled.

I didn't expect

Luo Zishang

to be your cousin.

But he was so bad a person.

Jiusi.

I want to make more money.

But this time,

it's not for us.

I want to build many charity halls,

schools,

and hospitals.

It'll cost lots of money.

I want to give

those poor families

and even beggars

a way out.

I hope

no one will have to

become Luo Zishang again.

[Memorial Tablet of Cousin Jiang Zhiren]

Okay.

I'll

work with you

to make that dream come true.

[Changgeng Palace]

Brother Fan.

Hurry up.

Youzhou is so small.

There's such a big world out there.

I'll go out in the future

when I have the chance.

OK.

After I become a general,

I'll take you to the battlefield

and kill lots of enemies!

All you know is fighting and killing.

I hope

that peace can be maintained

and people can live happily

so that we can

have bread every day.

That's your ambition?

Bread is all you want?

Gaolang,

you're

going to travel so far.

I wonder

if we can

meet again.

We're

like brothers.

Do you

really not want to see me?

Your Majesty.

Grand Councilor Gu is waiting outside the Imperial Study.

Send him in.

Yes.

Greetings,

Your Majesty.

Congratulations

on your ascension.

An army of 300,000 took the Eastern Capital

without breaking anything

or starting another war.

I have to thank you.

You have all the credit.

Your army is well-disciplined.

Have a seat.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Why

can't you be honest with me?

The ideal ruler in your heart

is not someone like me, right?

Your Majesty.

When Yuru married me,

I was not the ideal husband

in her heart.

But she changed me.

She made me realize

that I couldn't run away from difficulties all my life.

I can't expect someone

to be born

an ideal ruler

who can make

all the right decisions.

We're all humans.

As an official,

if I have complaints

against the court,

what I can do

is try my best to change it.

Gu Jiusi,

you're always so smooth.

That's a good answer,

but you're still keeping

the true reason to yourself.

Yes.

I knew it.

The one you want on the throne

is my son,

Zhou Ye.

Yes.

A good Emperor

doesn't have to be ruthless and decisive,

but he must have an eye for talent,

a benevolent heart,

and compassion for the people.

Only someone like that

can make people live in peace.

I was a general.

I commanded troops all my life.

On the battlefield,

either we die or our enemies die,

so I can't be soft-hearted.

That's why

I didn't like

Ye's personality.

But people like me

who fought for our lives

on the battlefield

belong to the battlefield.

So,

I shouldn't be the Emperor.

I should be

the sword in the Emperor's hand.

Vijra defenders look fierce while bodhisattvas look amicable,

yet they're all benevolent.

An intimidating general like you

is a blessing to the people

and the country.

I mean it.

By the way,

Ye

is more like Brother Fan's son.

Listen.

I'll

make Zhou Ye the Crown Prince

and let him administer the country.

Then

I'll go into battle myself.

I'll hand

a complete Da Xia

to Ye

and young people like you.

Gu Jiusi.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Guard our country.

Yes,

Your Majesty.

You may leave.

Yes, Your Majesty.

It's good to be young.

Brother Fan and I

used to young people

like you.

Feng'er.

Feng'er.

Your Highness, you're awake.

Luckily,

you're still by my side.

You didn't leave me.

We're the same.

We were manipulated

and used our whole lives.

We desired love but never got it.

We only know where we came from

but don't know where we should go.

In the end,

wealth and glory

both turned out to be just dreams.

Both of us are pitiful.

His Majesty

allows me to live a rich and idle life

just as my father wished.

In the future,

I'll always stay by your side.

Your Highness.

You've gotten much better.

It's time for me to leave.

Leave?

You want to leave me?

There's a big world out there.

I want to travel alone

and find my own life.

Your Highness.

Take care.

Feng'er.

I beg you.

Please don't leave.

Feng'er.

[Five years later]

Grandmother.

The flowers you carefully take care of every day

are finally blooming.

Jun'er.

Don't touch it.

Your grandmother

cherishes that very much.

It's okay.

Which one do you like?

I'll pick it for you.

No.

Just let it stay here.

Mother.

Father.

Why haven't you

solved this nine-links puzzle?

When I was your age,

I solved it within minutes.

I've long solved it.

I'm thinking of another solution.

Stop fiddling around.

Have you done your homework?

Yes, yes.

Really?

Let me tell you.

Your mother will be back soon.

It doesn't matter if you get punished.

Just don't drag me down with you.

It's not my fault

if Mother gets angry with you.

When I study,

every part of my body aches.

I get that

from you, old man.

I haven't blamed you

yet you're blaming me.

How dare you talk back?

Who taught you that?

Grandmother!

Grandmother, help me!

You know who he learned it from.

Fine. Let's wait and see.

After you grow up and get married,

you'll learn to behave.

Mother.

My lady.

You're home.

♫I implore the moon to be bright and the wind to be gentle♫

♫Lightly shine on my beloved♫

♫Listen gently to my vision and your willingness♫

Put me down.

Our son is watching.

It's okay. I won't watch you.

Put me down.

♫Grow old quietly♫

Good boy.

Put me down.

OK.

♫I borrow the gentle wind and clouds♫

Jiusi.

Our next child

has to be a girl.

She'll teach someone's son

♫To gently call you my dear♫

to be a real man.

I've already picked a name.

She'll be called

♫Gently allow my feelings and your love♫

Jin'er.

Sure. I like both boys and girls.

Our next child

♫Gently rely on each other♫

will bear the surname Liu.

The third child will bear the surname Su.

♫I implore the moon to be bright and the wind to be gentle♫

The fourth Jiang.

We'll have a big family.

♫Lightly shine on my beloved♫

You're talking nonsense again.

Let's go.

♫Listen gently to my vision and your willingness♫

♫Grow old quietly♫

You're finally back.

Can you put business aside for a while

and spend more time with me?

Can you?

Okay.

[Baojin Pavilion]

[Memorial Tablet of the Crown Princess]

What's this wine?

It smells so good.

This is the celebratory wine.

I made it myself.

We'll drink it when you're back.

Okay.

Reserve it for me.

Sure.

Greetings,

Your Highness.

Brother.

There's no one else here.

Save the etiquette.

Then I have to say this

as your brother.

You can't

be alone forever.

For the stability of the country,

you should get married as soon as possible

and enlarge your harem

to have heirs.

I've made up my mind.

[Memorial Tablet of the Crown Princess]

I won't marry anyone.

As for the heir,

I've thought about it.

Our eldest brother is stationed in Youzhou.

His eldest son Zhou Dan

was raised by Father.

He's an intelligent, benevolent,

and self-possessed boy.

Although he's young,

he's shown the potential to be a great ruler.

After I ascend the throne,

I'll make Dan the Crown Prince

and let him move into the Eastern Palace.

Brother.

Both of us are his uncles.

In the future,

we'll teach Dan together.

He's the future of Da Xia.

[Memorial Tablet of the Crown Princess]

Here, Brother-in-law.

Let me fill your glass.

Yun'er.

Yun're.

You're pregnant.

You shouldn't be doing this.

Give it to me.

Here, have a seat.

Brother-in-law.

Here's to you.

Okay.

Here's the thing.

You're erudite.

You can't only use your knowledge in the court.

Right?

You have to give my son a name.

Just randomly pick two words.

They'll surely be better than what I have in mind.

It's an important matter.

How can you use two random words?

It's my nephew's name.

I have to think about it.

I don't think your nephew's name

is that important.

Brother,

when will you

find yourself a wife?

That's more important.

You're the only one

who's still single now.

I'm busy with work all day.

I don't have time for marriage.

I shall focus on my career.

Besides,

I'm quite healthy now.

Marriage can wait.

I bet you'll say

the same thing next year.

I'm afraid

that you'll be alone forever

if you keep waiting.

What should you do then?

That's right, Brother-in-law.

You'll have no one to take care of you when you're old.

Yun'er, how about this?

Our first child will have your surname.

He'll be the descendant of the Ye family.

When the child grows up,

he'll hold your brother's funeral.

What?

My funeral?

Shen Ming,

are you cursing me?

Don't forget

that I'm the head of this family.

I can

kick you out anytime.

I don't mind you kicking him out.

Brother.

Before doing that,

can you bring my sister-in-law back first?

That's right.

Our sister-in-law is the most important.

I got it.

This dinner

is a trap.

It's not.

Here, Brother-in-law.

Brother-in-law.

Let's have a toast.

When Crown Prince Ye administered the country,

he minimized taxes,

expanded trade,

and offered farming subsidies.

The rich merchant Gu-Liu Yuru

built charity halls

and promoted foreign trade.

♫It's a time of unrest♫

As a result, Da Xia prospered

♫Memories of the good old days flood back at times♫

and its people lived in peace.

In the fifth year of the Anjian Period,

Emperor Gaolang took Northern and Western Liang back

♫He writes order in chaos♫

from invaders

♫Dark hair turns grey and escapes from the hairpin♫

and made Da Xia whole again.

After the victory,

♫Mountains crumble, and the beacon fires fade♫

Emperor Gaolang fell ill

because of years of toil

♫I miss playing chess and drinking wine with you♫

and had no energy for court affairs,

so he passed the throne to Crown Prince Ye.

♫It was autumn when we parted ways♫

The new period is named Zhaoming.

Gu Jiusi was appointed as the Left Counsellor,

♫We sang songs about a brighter future♫

Ye Shi'an the Right Chancellor,

Shen Ming the commissioner of Bingzhou,

♫Sharing a boat with you, we drift down the rivers♫

and Zhou Zhuo the commissioner of Youzhou.

♫Walking the path with you, we travel the martial world♫

They'll serve the country together.

♫With a smile, we talk of right and wrong, life and death♫

♫Joy is hard to define♫

Rise.

♫Riding alongside you, I see the world unfold♫

Meet His Majesty.

♫Fighting alongside you, I no longer fear the unknown♫

Congratulations, Your Majesty,

♫In the dust stirred up by the wind, we write our own fates♫

on achieving national unity

and prosperity.

Long may you reign.

Congratulations, Your Majesty,

on achieving national unity

and prosperity.

Long may you reign.

Long live Your Majesty!

Rise.

♫Mountains crumble, and the beacon fires fade♫

Thank you, Your Majesty.

♫I miss playing chess and drinking wine with you♫

♫It was autumn when we parted ways♫

♫We sang songs about a brighter future♫

♫Riding alongside you, I see the world unfold♫

♫Fighting alongside you, I no longer fear the unknown♫

♫In the dust stirred up by the wind, we write our own fates♫