Original subtitles

FENGCAO PAVILION

Physician!

-Physician, she… -My Lord,

the Momai poison in Miss Mei Lin was never truly neutralized.

What did you say?

When I took her pulse,

I found her weakness wasn't just from fatigue

but because the poison has eroded her heart.

This time, she vomited blood and fainted, clear signs of the poison's onset.

She wished not to distract you, my Lord,

vowing to tell you when the war ended.

How foolish,

always caring for others

yet neglecting yourself.

FENGCAO PAVILION

Snow Dragon Whisker.

Snow Dragon Whisker comes with the snow.

If I find some, she will be saved.

My Lord, there is none left.

After the great fire in Qingzhou, the Snow Dragon Whisker has perished.

Your Highness, though our men searched the snowy mountain,

no Snow Dragon Whisker remains.

Snow Dragon Whisker.

Why?

Why is it not the Snow Dragon Whisker?

Your Excellency.

Your Excellency, Miss Mei Lin is awake.

FENGCAO PAVILION

My Lord, I've suppressed the poison.

She may endure but a month more.

When she faints again, she won't awaken.

Jinghe.

Are you

alright now?

I feel great.

Whatever the medicine may be,

now, I feel better than before.

I will find the Snow Dragon Whisker.

I will find it.

You will.

Snow will come again.

You will find it.

It's my fault.

I brought this harm to you.

Jinghe.

I forgave you long ago.

The loss of the Snow Dragon Whisker was merely fate.

Since it has happened,

don't use the past to torture yourself.

I hid my condition,

not only due to the war

but also

to save you from hurting yourself because of me.

I don't want you to blame yourself or feel sad.

I'm grateful

for these moments by your side.

If this ending

is the price I have to pay

for meeting you,

I have no regrets.

It's so tasty.

Let me try it.

-Jinghe. -It's tasty.

Don't keep a straight face.

Smile a bit.

Isn't it fun for you to shop with me?

Smile again.

I look tanned. This suits me better. Your skin is lighter.

It's the governor and Miss Hua.

-His Excellency is here. -The governor?

Your Excellency.

Your Excellency,

try some home-grown sweet fruits.

Miss Hua, please take this jade pendant.

Your Excellency, my fruit cakes are sweet.

Your Excellency, Miss Hua, please come visit my store.

Take whatever you like there.

We appreciate your kind gesture, but we can't accept your things.

Your Excellency, you drove off the Xiyan army for Qingzhou.

We owe you thanks, Your Excellency.

-Indeed, Your Excellency. -Indeed, Your Excellency.

These are but humble offerings.

Indeed, Your Excellency. Please take them.

Dear townsfolk--

They are home-grown.

Dear townsfolk,

these two fruits represent your kind gesture.

We will take these.

But we wish to stroll today.

Please excuse us, dear townsfolk.

Okay.

Go ahead, Miss.

-They look great together. -Look.

They look great together.

They look lovely.

Truly a fitting pair.

A perfect match.

Ten years ago,

this was a barren land with only a crumbling temple

and beggars.

Do you know that I cured a blind beggar's eyes?

How?

I threw a stone into the bowl he used for begging.

He immediately opened his eyes.

How did you know he was pretending?

I noticed

that when copper coins were tossed into his bowl,

he offered simple thanks,

but when silver coins were given, he would kowtow to the donor.

Curious how he could gauge the amount by sound alone,

so I threw a stone,

and he was exposed.

How old were you then?

I was 12.

I wish I had seen you then.

Qingzhou now is the finest I've ever seen.

Jinghe,

that's due to your efforts.

Once,

I watched Qingzhou burn, corpses strewn across the land,

and that vision haunted me.

I couldn't understand why one command could bring ruin upon innocents.

However, after Qingzhou's recent trials,

I realized that a single order can also shield many lives.

Jinghe, your Weibei Army and you

safeguarded Qingzhou and its people.

I once thought joining the army meant fighting,

defending the country meant winning battles.

Now, I see

the Weibei Army guards not just a city

but the lives on this land.

So,

you'll continue

to protect them

and Qingzhou,

right?

Yet Murong Jinghe

cannot shield Mei Lin.

Murong Jinghe,

you don't live to protect Mei Lin alone.

You live

to protect millions of people like Mei Lin.

You're not allowed to cry.

No more tears.

Smile.

I like to see you smile.

I want to keep that smile in my memory.

Smile.

Do you still wish to be my live-in husband?

Let's marry.

Officer Li.

What can I do for you, Your Excellency?

Are the lovebirds ready for the betrothal?

By Qingzhou custom,

the betrothal gifts are all prepared.

When the townsfolk heard of Your Excellency's plans,

they offered many gifts,

filling the governor's mansion and cake shops.

The war has just ended. The people should not be disturbed.

Return their gifts.

Fear not, Your Excellency.

The offerings are humble gifts from the countryside,

a sign of the townsfolk's blessings

for Your Excellency and Miss Hua, wishing you both joy.

Good to hear.

She must be anxious.

-I should see her. -Your Excellency,

have you forgotten today's significance?

In the 26th Year of Zhaoming,

Great Yan forged the Qingzhou Treaty

with Xiyan,

pledging mutual respect for borders and vowing non-aggression.

For a century, three emperors upheld this pact,

maintaining peace between the realms.

I still owe you gratitude for saving my life.

I did it for Qingzhou, not you.

By the way,

I've heard Your Excellency will wed in two days. Congratulations.

Thank you.

This

is from Concubine Yan.

She kept it for you.

Brother,

I know

you now bear the title of Prince Heir,

bound by heavy duties.

You are not just my brother now,

so you can't come to see me.

I don't blame you.

Am I sensible now?

Brother,

are you weary?

If so, have some bamboo brew.

When you become the king,

come to Zhaojing to see me.

I'll be waiting.

Also,

I dreamed of you.

In the dream, you carved a grand hobbyhorse for the little prince.

Not to rush you.

I simply

miss you.

My dear, you are ever the sweetest.

Your Excellency, Qingzhou tradition says

newlyweds shouldn't meet the day before the wedding.

Does this apply to live-in husbands as well?

Yes, Your Excellency. Mei awaits you tomorrow.

FENGCAO PAVILION

His Excellency can't bear to part with Mei for a second.

What did he say?

Only that His Excellency longs to see his bride.

These formalities are unnecessary.

In Qingzhou, the ritual is simple.

One places a wooden stick on the door

and shares a meal with neighbors. That's all.

A wedding should not be simple.

It's a once-in-a-lifetime occasion,

-deserving grandeur. -Yes.

Yi, when it's your turn to marry,

we'll throw you a grand wedding.

I won't marry.

I'll stay at the spice house. You will support me forever.

In your dreams!

If you won't, Mei will.

Mei,

I'm getting better at making Dengguo cakes.

The cake shop now has a live-in husband and won't need your help.

You should stay at the spice house.

Jinghe can only audit accounts.

If he bakes, my shop will close.

I'm counting on you for my cake shop, Yi.

Certainly.

Look how smug you are.

Mei, teach me.

-Teach me too. -Okay.

Start from here.

-And then do this. -Look, the pattern you cut is crooked.

ESCORT TEAM

Look. A couple is being wed.

Really?

The bridal sedan.

Look at the big bridal sedan.

Look at that.

Is that the governor?

Are you seeing things?

Why would the governor be in the bridal sedan?

That's the governor.

Didn't you know?

Today is His Excellency's big day to become a live-in husband.

His Excellency's way is certainly different from ours.

Do you think these are betrothal gifts

or a dowry?

Here they come.

Is this color too bright for me?

You always dress plainly.

You should stand out today.

It's perfect. You look nice.

GOVERNOR'S MANSION

Great.

ESCORT TEAM

Great.

Welcome the groom!

Miss.

Let's make a bet.

If I can grow Red Fruits,

you will marry me.

I won't bet.

I won't be married off. I'll just take a live-in husband.

Bow to each other.

-The ceremony is complete. -Great.

Escort the groom to the bridal room.

Your Excellency, please enter the bridal room.

Great.

Great.

Go back and wait for me.

Don't drink too much.

Jinghe.

Let's drink together.

Okay.

Let's drink together.

Okay.

Bottoms up.

Cheers.

Delicious.

More.

The stars shine so bright tonight.

Father,

Mother,

are you watching over me?

I got married today.

Rest assured. Even if you marry,

your father and I would never let you be mistreated.

Father,

Mother,

I swear to care for Mei.

Big Guy,

Mei is married today.

You must have seen it, right?

Big Guy, I miss you.

I miss your Dengguo wine.

Wei will see it.

Wei, don't worry.

I'll always stay by Jia's side.

She won't be alone with me here.

Wei,

Qingyan, and Your Highness,

we all think of you.

You must be pleased

to see harmony and joy on earth.

They are.

You had a bit too much to drink tonight.

I only drank a little.

You just married into my family.

You've started to discipline me.

I wouldn't dare discipline.

I'm but a live-in husband.

None would dare discipline his wife.

Jinghe.

You look quite dashing.

Not as much as my beloved wife.

Zigu,

it's snowing in the capital.

In Xiyan, it must snow too.

I will send you

home.

You can't bear to leave me.

Okay.

You don't need to leave.

You don't need to leave.

I too cannot bear parting.

WAN'AN HALL

We've reclaimed Youwen Ridge.

We can now build a road between Qingzhou and Mozhou,

easing travel for all.

MEMORIAL TABLET OF DECEASED HUSBAND MURONG XUANLIE

It's forbidden to drink here, so I'll raise water as wine.

It's been long since we drank together.

Do you never think of me?

Or want me to forget you?

Why never visit me in my dreams?

But know this,

I don't want to forget you.

Return

and see me once more.

I order you…

to come back.

Are you done gazing at me?

I could never tire

of watching my beloved.

FENGCAO PAVILION

The clothes are ready.

I have one condition.

Give me another painting.

It's snowing.

Jinghe,

I have but one wish.

May you

live well

and long.

Jinghe,

I will

always,

always

be with you.

When you miss me,

just call out.

I will hear you.

Jinghe,

if not for the fire in Qingzhou,

how would we have met?

The sun would've shone bright

that day.

-General! -General Weibei!

General Weibei!

General is back.

General!

General Weibei.

General!

General!

General Weibei!

General!

General!

-General Weibei! -General is mighty!

SPRING FLOWER CAKE SHOP

I never saw what General Weibei looked like.

Does he look fierce?

Does he have a mustache?

General, we won the fight.

When will you wed?

The brothers await the wedding wine.

Who says I'll wed?

Stop pretending.

I've heard you promised the Empress

you'd return to the capital and wed after defeating Xiyan.

I only said that to appease my mother.

I won't get married.

Marriage has no appeal to me.

Forget if he's mustached or not.

Remember this.

He's Qingzhou's great hero, and that is enough.

Come now. Stop playing that.

We've fruit cakes to deliver.

-Hurry. -A great hero?

Yes.

Mother, I wish to join the army,

to battle like General Weibei!

The battle will claim your life.

This isn't a game.

Cease your nonsense and get to work.

I'm unafraid!

But Liu Dajiang says marriage is wonderful.

He even trains with such vigor now.

I caught him secretly shedding tears at home the other day.

What do you know?

When a woman worries,

it's more troublesome than a mother's scolding.

Moreover, we are men.

How can we be bound by fleeting emotions?

Wild girl, you're untamed and fearless.

Who would marry you?

-You'll remain home forever. -So what if no one marries me?

I'll have Father find me a live-in husband!

Good idea.

Mother, your stone hairpin as the dowry then?

Give it back!

Crazy girl, give it back to me!

I will tell my mother I'm only…

Miss, your stone hairpin.

Even if the Qingzhou fire hadn't happened,

fate

would eventually bring us together.

THE END

In the 29th year of Zhaoming,

Emperor Murong Qian abdicated.

Murong Jinghe ascended the throne,

taking the era name Zhenyuan.

In Murong Jinghe's decade-long reign,

he appointed the wise and diligent,

bringing prosperity to Yan.

The Yan Dynasty grew stronger,

the economy thrived, and the people enjoyed peace,

known as the Prosperous Zhenyuan Era.

ZHENYUAN ERA, YEAR 10

FENGCAO PAVILION

His Majesty now inspects Qingzhou,

sitting daily to admire the view.

Is this Red Fruit tree truly so lovely?

He gazes at the tree, but his thoughts drift elsewhere.

His Majesty planted it together with the late Empress.

What kind of woman was the late Empress?

For her, His Majesty keeps no harem,

appointing his nephew as Crown Prince.

She was indeed exceptional.

They say His Majesty was once her live-in husband.

Is that so?

Mei Lin,

at last, we meet again.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

-Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.