Original subtitles

♪We are both dim light♪

♪Will time erase us?♪

♪Those who fade away in the shadows silently♪

♪Also crave a life under the bright sun openly♪

♪How can I break free from the chains of fate?♪

♪Who whispers in my ear♪

♪That I'm bound to fall♪

♪Then burn me♪

♪Burn my stubbornness♪

♪The surging bitterness♪

♪The hot tears♪

♪Nobody knows♪

♪Entangling in the past♪

♪Silence in the darkness♪

♪The dim light finally turns♪

[Kill Me Love Me]

♪Into the fire of rebirth♪

[Episode 11]

After the ennoblement,

monitor your master.

Pass any information to Prince Jing.

If you disobey,

you'll end up like Dai, dead.

Who are you?

Monitor your master.

Do you really think your burn was an accident?

All ten Xiyan Beauties,

besides their fake identities,

they all have identical burns on their wrists.

General Yin,

why don't we just arrest them all and interrogate them together?

This concerns the peace-making marriage.

Causing too much commotion would be difficult to handle.

We'll have to investigate each case individually.

Ten Beauties with burns?

All on their right wrists?

Clearly, that was no accident.

But why isn't Mei Lin among them,

even though her wrist is burned too?

General Yin,

I suspect all of this

may be related to Prince Jing.

I've checked.

When the ten Beauties were burned,

Attendant Liu was present. She used to work at Rong'an Palace.

She's certainly following orders from Prince Jing.

These Beauties are about to be ennobled

and enter the households of Great Yan's officials.

If this is some kind of plot...

Do not jump to conclusions.

Forgive me, General Yin, but I'm not making baseless claims.

Ever since Mei Lin entered the Court of State Ceremonial,

Prince Jing has been a frequent visitor there.

He's even done a lot of absurd things for her.

In my view,

Prince Jing is using his affection for Mei Lin as an excuse

to contact spies.

If we bring Mei Lin in for interrogation,

we might uncover something.

My lord,

Li Qing has indeed been hidden in the West Mountain Mine.

There have been occasional disturbances by the miners.

Li Qing is imprisoned in the dungeon beneath the mine.

The commander of the Lulin Army at the mine, Yang Zhen,

has secretly pledged loyalty to the Crown Prince.

Zhang Yin simply hid Li Qing right under our noses.

It's risky but daring.

So,

we'll have to snatch Li Qing right under the Crown Prince's nose?

If I disguise myself as a guard,

it would surely attract the Crown Prince's attention.

It seems capturing Li Qing will require a longer plan.

Your Highness,

a letter from the Court of State Ceremonial reports

that General Yin has discovered Attendant Liu burned the Beauties,

and Mei Lin has been secretly summoned to the General's mansion.

[Zhige Hall]

What business does General Yin have with me?

Interrogating a Beauty

doesn't require General Yin's involvement.

You're no ordinary Beauty.

You're a spy from Xiyan.

According to Great Yan's law,

spies are sentenced to death by burning.

Accusing me of being a Xiyan spy,

do you have any proof?

This is the proof.

You're mistaken.

I got this burn from scalding myself while cooking.

Tell me,

who is your master?

Is it Prince Jing?

Everyone knows

I belong to Prince Jing.

Do you think you're favored for anything other than that face?

It just so happens

you look a little like our General.

I don't think you have the right to mete out punishment.

Burning your face doesn't require any rights anyway.

Enough!

General Yin.

Abusing your power tarnishes my honor.

This will be seen as insubordination.

Go and receive your punishment. Twenty strokes.

Next time, I won't be so lenient.

General Yin,

but she's connected to Prince Jing...

Get out!

Yes, General Yin.

General Yin,

I'm not a Xiyan spy.

Please, trust me.

How did you get this burn?

I accidentally burned myself.

It was an accident.

What accident?

If the General has questions, ask me instead.

There's no need to trouble yourself

by summoning my Beauty here.

She has no secrets from me.

After all, I even know

every mole on her body.

I received a secret report.

Someone has been forcing the Xiyan Beauties to act as spies,

monitoring court officials.

All of them have matching scars on their wrists.

Is she one of yours?

She's naturally mine.

You know what I'm asking.

Fine.

It was I who burned those Beauties.

Why?

Everyone at the Court of State Ceremonial knows

of the bond between Mei and me.

Someone was jealous and purposely burned Mei.

I couldn't tolerate that,

so I retaliated in kind.

Don't use her as an excuse.

The Prince Jing I know

wouldn't be involved in something like this.

I truly care for Mei.

I can't bear for her

to suffer any injustice.

You're not the type to be caught up in such affairs.

- Empress Dejia lectured you... - Luomei,

people change

as they grow up.

Just now, the General mentioned something about spies.

The Crown Prince couldn't deal with you,

so he mimicked your burn mark

to frame me,

claiming I'm using the Xiyan Beauties to bribe court officials

and threaten the Crown Prince's position.

Will those Beauties be in danger?

If I win,

they won't be harmed.

So, you already have a plan?

By taking down Zhang Yin,

we can break through this dilemma.

We must play this game perfectly,

or the Crown Prince will catch on.

And,

no matter what happens,

the most important thing is to keep Mei Lin safe.

Rest assured, my lord.

Mei Lin is skilled in martial arts.

This will be a simple task for her.

We're just one witness away

from breaking the stalemate.

A witness that my father trusts.

My lord,

General Yin has come to visit.

She's waiting in the courtyard.

The witness has come.

Since you left the capital,

I haven't visited this courtyard.

This plum tree,

you planted it yourself.

It was you who forced me to plant it.

I lost to you in an archery contest that year,

and you wouldn't let it go.

You made me plant this tree

as punishment.

Jinghe,

did you ever consider that perhaps the archery contest

was just an excuse?

I don't believe you burned the Beauties

to win Mei Lin's favor.

What are you really up to?

Well,

what I want

is that supreme position.

That position belongs to whoever is worthy.

If you've got the glory,

you can simply go for it openly and honestly.

Why resort to using Xiyan spies

and underhanded methods?

General Yin,

you're overthinking it.

No matter which path I take,

I would never do anything to harm my country.

Then what about these Xiyan spies?

General Yin, do you remember

the Zhonglin Mountain where we used to hunt?

Come meet me there

in three days,

and you'll have your answer.

[Prince Jing's Mansion]

This was my failure.

Once I capture Zhang Yin, I'll accept my punishment.

Send everyone.

Make sure he's captured alive.

Yes, my lord.

What?

He's still alive?

He escaped from Prince Jing's mansion

and fled to the outskirts.

Zhang Yin.

He's even more cunning than I thought.

He escaped from Prince Jing's grasp.

Take everyone.

This time, I'll see him die with my own eyes.

Yes, Your Highness.

Attract them to Zhonglin Slope.

Zhang Yin is there.

The death-point hold will only last for two hours.

The rest is up to you.

My lord.

Your Highness.

He's dead.

Hurry,

take the body away.

Yes, Your Highness.

Third Brother,

once again, you're too late.

This time,

I've won.

However,

no one wins forever.

Murong Jinghe!

Luo Mei?

You used General Yin to stage the Xiyan spy plot,

so of course I could also use her

as my own witness.

A witness who can expose Zhang Yin's death.

That arrow

bears the mark of the Eastern Palace.

Zhang Yin was just a low-ranking official.

Even if you dragged his corpse to Father,

he wouldn't take your word for it.

A mere body won't shake your position.

But it can plant a seed of doubt

in our father's heart.

The Wenhua Pavilion fire

was overseen by you alone.

If Father finds out

you silenced someone to cover it up...

After all your years of careful maneuvering,

why ruin your image

in front of Father now?

So,

what do you want?

You know me well.

As long as you help me

solve the Xiyan spy situation,

I'll forget

I ever saw Zhang Yin today.

We both win a round,

how about that?

You won't lose anything.

Even now,

I've never wanted to see you dead.

Indeed.

You just wanted to send me back to Jingbei.

But the contest between me and you is far from over.

How could I leave the battlefield now?

Murong Jinghe!

Murong Jinghe!

General Yin.

I'm here.

Luomei suspects you

means Father suspects you.

Doesn't that bother you?

Thank you, for your cooperation.

Take the prey to Prince Jing's mansion.

Ask our people to hide immediately.

Yes, Your Highness.

Why is the Crown Prince here?

I invited Big Brother.

I was nearly ambushed,

and I'm in low spirits.

Only Big Brother

can help relieve my frustrations.

It's only natural for an older brother

to help his younger brother in difficult times.

How long has it been

since we last came to the archery range?

Big Brother,

you know I'm not in the mood

for reminiscing right now.

Your Highness,

what's the deal with the Xiyan spies case?

It was Gan Ning, the Vice Minister of Defense,

who set a trap to frame Third Brother.

He misunderstood our brotherly bond,

thinking Prince Jing returned to the capital

to compete for the throne,

so he wanted to send him back to Jingbei.

Even though Gan Ning acted on his own,

you were wronged because of me.

I owe you an apology.

Sorry.

It's true that only Big Brother

can resolve my grievances.

How about we have a match,

like old times?

Luomei,

we all know.

I've always lost

here on the arrow field.

You have won before.

The only time

was because of you.

If you want to win,

win fairly.

I surrender.

If Big Brother hadn't let me win,

I wouldn't have won at all.

What's the point

in playing a game I can't win?

It's meaningless.

My grievances are resolved.

I won't interrupt the reunion

between you two any longer.

You're the only thing I refuse to lose,

Luomei.

- The Third Prince has won again. - The Third Prince wins again.

Useless servants.

What kind of bow did you give Prince Xuanlie?

I picked it myself.

They slack off

because you're too kind.

Use mine.

Xuanlie is much better than you.

With a better bow, I'm sure he can beat you.

Let's try again.

Okay.

Let's have another match.

Luomei,

I've won.

See?

Like I said, you couldn't beat Xuanlie.

Third Brother is the best.

This time, I just had good luck.

But your archery is still better.

One day,

I'll surpass you, Big Brother.

Luomei,

you helped Big Brother win against me,

and I'm not even mad.

What's making you upset?

Father said

the military camp

is for men.

He said I'm not allowed to come here anymore.

Why must women grow old in the inner chambers

once they marry?

I refuse to marry!

Luomei,

don't worry.

When I become a great general,

I'll take you to the battlefield,

and we'll defend the country together.

Besides,

a female soldier stronger than the men,

why would I refuse that?

Really?

It's a promise, then.

It's a deal.

Protect the nation!

For Great Yan!

For Great Yan!

Protect the nation!

For Great Yan!

Protect the nation!

For Great Yan!

If it weren't for the bow you gave me back then,

how could I have won?

Your Highness is a skilled archer.

The result was all in your hands.

I couldn't do much about it.

If I want to live a peaceful life

in the imperial harem,

I must keep losing.

Everyone thinks I'm lucky,

that even though my mother was lowborn

and died giving birth to me,

I was fortunate

to be raised by Empress Dejia.

Mother was kind to me.

But the kinder she was,

the more I suffered.

The servants at Rong'an Palace,

they've always feared

that I, the oldest son of His Majesty,

would outshine their precious little master.

They've been against me from the start.

I knew from the beginning

that bow was faulty.

But because of you,

I had my first fair victory.

Since that day,

I've longed

to stand before you

and tell you

my heart.

Your Highness,

the Pingnan Army doesn't just guard the throne.

It protects Great Yan's borders and its people.

I earned my military achievements

to become a loyal subject of Great Yan.

I won't be used

as a pawn in your fight for the throne.

I don't want

the Pingnan Army's power.

I want you, Luomei.

Do you understand?

I've never forgotten your ambition.

The promise Third Brother made to you,

I'll fulfill it for you.

I have always said,

even if you become Empress,

the military power will remain yours.

You'll still be General Yin,

and I'll never confine you to the imperial harem.

If I break this promise,

this vow,

General Yin,

you can make it public.

I cannot bear

your feelings.

The Lord ordered

you to wait here.

You won?

We have won.

And the Beauties?

Do not worry.

I will find a way

to send them back to Xiyan safely.

Are you hurt?

Why didn't you wear the Gold Silk Armor?

I did it on purpose.

Otherwise, I couldn't fool the Crown Prince.

It's just a small injury.

It doesn't matter.

Here's some wound medicine.

It might...

sting a bit.

My lord,

I'm not afraid of pain.

Does it hurt?

It's nothing.

Just a minor injury.

It won't kill me.

You're not afraid of death,

nor of pain.

Is there anything

that you fear?

Yeah.

I'm afraid of my mother.

One only truly values life when they have someone to care for.

Remember what you once said?

Your hairpin is also a bridge

between the living and the dead.

I believe

your mother is watching from above.

Seeing you fight so hard,

she must be worried too.

Who's there?

Who?

Show yourself!

Who's there?

Come out!

Who?

Minister Zhang.

[Pang Qi]

And you are?

Minister Zhang, don't you remember me?

Weibei Army.

Vanguard Battalion.

Pang Qi.

You're supposed to be dead!

So are you.

Confess.

Confess to every soldier of the Weibei Army.

Confess!

Commander Pang,

I'll confess.

- I'll confess. - Confess to them!

Yes.

Weibei Army Sheriff Liu Cheng.

I confess.

Weibei Army

Deputy General Yang Donghu.

I confess.

Weibei Army Company Leader Wang Futian.

I confess.

General Pang. Drink.

There is no more Weibei Army in this world,

and yet you stubbornly follow me,

willing to live in a place like this.

I swear I'll take you.

I'll take them.

out of here.

We'll live in the sunlight again.

This sachet

should help him sleep better, right?

My lord?

Why haven't you left yet?

Have you been drinking?

Don't touch me.

In your hallucination,

this is exactly how you treated me.

So fierce.

Why did you drink so much?

I had to be fierce,

otherwise I'd get bullied.

You, so fierce,

yet still afraid of your mother?

My mother always wanted me to get married.

She was eager to send me off.

And you don't want to get married?

It's mostly because it's hard to find a good live-in son-in-law.

Why must you find a live-in son-in-law?

My father is always away

quarrying stone,

so I'm the only one who can take care of my mother.

I planned to take care of her my whole life.

So fear...

comes from love.

Are you afraid of me, then?

You are a good person.

I have no reason to fear you.

I'm not a good person.

I remember

every single thing

you've done to me.

I...

I even remember

that the second time

you saw me,

you bit my lip.

Well then,

if you hold a grudge,

you can bite me back.

- Now, - You...

we can call it even.

I'll be holding onto your hairpin for now.

Once we've taken down the Crown Prince,

I'll give it back to you.

If you want to talk to your mother,

come to me.

Gan Ning, a mere vice minister,

had the audacity to set up a trap to frame a prince.

Crown Prince,

do you realize your guilt?

Father,

I failed to properly manage my subordinates.

I accept any punishment you deem fit.

Your Majesty, please calm your anger.

If not for the Crown Prince,

this matter

wouldn't have been resolved so swiftly.

General Yin, you may rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

The Xiyan spy matter

didn't cause a scandal, all thanks to you.

You've returned to the capital,

and should have been given some rest.

Who knew

all these troubles would arise to keep you busy?

It is my duty

to share Your Majesty's burdens.

Good.

Conclude this matter swiftly.

Gan Ning

will be executed in secret.

As for the Beauties,

make sure they are comforted.

But keep it quiet.

Avoid stirring up tensions between the two nations.

Your Majesty,

I believe

that after being falsely accused, these Xiyan Beauties

will undoubtedly harbor resentment.

It would be inappropriate for them to continue the peace-making marriage.

Why not send them back to Xiyan with Mr. Yue Qin?

This would show Your Majesty's magnanimity,

and quell the rumors.

Okay.

Then proceed

according to General Yin's suggestion.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I'll take my leave.

Gan Ning borrowed his courage from you!

Servants like him only follow the wind.

If you weren't harboring concerns about Jinghe,

would Gan Ning have dared frame a prince to prove his loyalty?

Father,

I bear no ill will

toward Third Brother at all.

If you believe

I'm unfit for the role,

I am willing to give

the title of Crown Prince to him.

Enough.

Crown Prince,

you're responsible for the future of Great Yan.

My expectations for you

are naturally higher than for Jinghe.

He's never been in good health,

and though his actions are reckless,

as his elder brother,

you must bear more responsibility.

I understand, Father.

I will heed your teachings.

His Majesty has granted you the right to choose your own husband,

General Yin, that means

he hopes you will follow your heart.

I truly care for Mei.

I can't bear for her to suffer any injustice.

Luomei.

people change

as they grow up.

My lord.

My lord.

The Xiyan spy matter has been fully resolved.

The Crown Prince has gotten what he deserved.

I heard he had been kowtowing in the Yanming Palace for hours.

Did Father forgive him?

In the end, Father still cares for Big Brother.

But truly, His Majesty

still favors you, my lord.

Today in court,

His Majesty even mentioned General Yin's marriage.

In fact, His Majesty would prefer to see a marriage

between you and the Yin family.

This came straight from Eunuch Liu.

Besides,

His Majesty has decreed that none of the Beauties

can leave the Court of State Ceremonial without permission.

I believe

His Majesty is giving you a hint.

Is Father trying to play matchmaker again?

Tell Lianxiu.

When Mei Lin is ennobled and enters the mansion,

she is to be received with the ceremony of a concubine.

Hopefully,

that will put an end

to Father's thoughts of matchmaking.

Yes, Your Highness.

[Shuanglin Courtyard]

Shuanglin Courtyard...

Isn't this courtyard a bit small?

My lord, besides your Zhanyue Pavilion,

Shuanglin Courtyard is the largest.

Moreover, it's the closest to Zhanyue Pavilion,

and it gets the best sunlight.

Do you mean

for Miss Mei Lin

to move into Zhanyue Pavilion?

No, Shuanglin Courtyard will do.

Breaking the rules

wouldn't be good.

You are the least concerned with rules, my lord.

Leave it as is.

The Imperial Agricultural Department

recently cultivated a few new green peony plants.

His Majesty gifted one to us.

My lord, if you enjoy flowers...

I prefer these Undying Flowers.

[Xieying Pavilion]

Buried in the soil, it finds its home.

In times of famine, it fills bellies.

in times of prosperity, it adorns hair.

Much better than any peony.

It's been a long time since I've seen you so happy.

Now,

we can call it even.

I'll be holding onto your hairpin for now.

Once we've taken down the Crown Prince,

I'll give it back to you.

If you want to talk to your mother,

come to me.

You are worried about me,

right?

Miss Mei Lin,

time to drink your medicine.

Attendant Liu.

Candied fruit?

Prince Jing said that soon,

you'll be able to taste again.

These candied fruits

were prepared especially for you

to take the bitterness out of the medicine.

Thank you, Attendant Liu.

In a few days, you'll be ennobled.

When you enter the Prince Jing's mansion,

make sure to thank him properly.

Once my taste returns,

I'll thank him immediately.

I'll take my leave now.

Alright.

♪The wind scatters the spring flowers♪

♪The dream was filled with sorrow for the entire night♪

♪Troubled thoughts shatter into a sky full of stars♪

♪If fate is too unbearable♪

♪I am mired in the mud♪

♪Love is helpless, falling into the abyss♪

♪If life is a predetermined sorrow♪

♪Love is an endless wandering♪

♪A place in the heart from which there is no return♪

♪It's a vain hope, it's in imagination♪

♪It's the distinguished light♪

♪If life is a predetermined sorrow♪

♪Love is an endless wandering♪

♪A place in the heart from which there is no return♪

♪It's a vain hope, it's in imagination♪

♪It's the distinguished light♪

♪If life is a predetermined sorrow♪

♪Love is an endless wandering♪

♪A place in the heart from which there is no return♪

♪It's a vain hope, it's in imagination♪

♪It's the distinguished light♪

♪It's a vain hope, it's in imagination♪

♪It's the distinguished light♪