Original subtitles

~Blade dance ripples the lake~

~Banner waves in storm and rain~

~Snow uncaring of joy or sorrow~

~Blazing through the desert, reins in hands~

~Clearly young and untried~

~Reckless, bold ambition~

~Unmindful of destiny~

~Solving my problems of fate~

~Trials and hardship give courage~

~Far lands are perilous~

~but life needs adventure~

~Youths dream big, stay sharp~

~Struggles teach us to strive~

~Together, another journey awaits~

'The Blood of Youth' [ Shao Nian Ge Xing — Ballad of Youth ]

Episode 40

— Tianqi City —

[ Tianqi City ]

This time,

I'm really leaving.

Why hurry? You could stay a few more days.

Tianqi matters are settled.

Red Prince's home was seized.

Night Crow was executed.

Yueji is cured.

Take her to Cold Water Temple to unite with Minghou.

I've nothing left to do here. I can leave.

Will you go straight to Outerheaven?

I'll first take Mother to Muliang City.

After she calms down, I'll go to Outerheaven

to handle matters.

When everything is settled, I'll find you again.

Xiao Se.

We'll wait over there.

Why don't you speak?

I was thinking.

How are you Outerheaven's Chief?

You look like this around outer clans?

You can't imagine me as Chief.

I can't imagine you as Emperor.

But seriously, you're a step from the throne.

I ask you.

You truly thought it through?

Honestly, I thought about it a lot.

I've no answer.

There's a way.

What way?

When that day finally comes,

close the door; sit in that position.

The thought that comes to you is your true feeling.

Makes sense.

I'll try it.

I'm going.

Look forward to meeting again!

Xiao Se.

Will we see Wuxin again?

We will.

[ Great Peace Hall ]

Greetings, Father.

You're here.

Father.

Why release him?

7th Prince is dead.

Jinxuan will soon guard the mausoleum.

He watched me grow up.

I beg you to spare his life.

I'm unreconciled.

Divine Healer earlier told me

I had two choices.

One choice is to live for at least another year

but never leave my bed

nor be fully awake again.

The other choice was that I could

once again live as normal

but for only six hours.

Guess what I chose?

How bold, Hua Jin, giving such choices!

Don't blame her.

It was my choice.

I compelled Hua Jin to obey.

Hua Jin saved me in a crisis.

I grant her 10,000 gold taels;

two rooms in Tianqi Medicine House;

Medical Academy Deputy Director position.

Unless summoned, she needn't enter Tianqi.

Thanks, Your Majesty.

Oh right.

Qingzhou Mu family third son, Mu Chunfeng,

saved my life.

I grant a cedarwood longboat,

to be named Spring Breeze.

Thanks, Your Majesty.

When younger, your father and I drank together.

Your father is very ambitious.

He let you come to Tianqi

but naturally not to study medicine.

What does he want?

One boat, I'm afraid, won't be enough.

Will your friend becoming emperor be enough?

Father.

Do you want to be Emperor?

In the past, my father asked me the same thing.

I told him this.

The Emperor is chosen by Heaven, not by men.

Wanting it is meaningless.

It depends on one's readiness for the world's burden.

My throne wasn't chosen by Heaven.

I came with a sword and snatched it.

But you.

You're truly Heaven's chosen.

I heard Sky Cutter Sword appeared.

Don't you want to show it to everyone?

Father.

I haven't answered your question.

I'm not dead.

I...

am still Emperor.

My decisions

need no answers.

But if I'm dissatisfied with the name on it,

I'll rip it up.

There'd be chaos.

You don't want chaos.

I don't either.

[ ...pass the throne to Xiao Chong ]

Does that name satisfy you?

Jinxuan... Keep this.

Don't open it. Give it to Astronomy Bureau.

Aye.

All leave.

Chuhe.

Stay a bit.

When small, you never feared the cold.

Remember?

Once Tianqi had heavy snow.

It was hard to walk.

But you

wanted to ride in the snow.

So you rode your horse around Tianqi City.

In the end, you got lost.

You were brought back by Marquis Lanyue at nightfall.

When I went to see you, your hands and ears

were frostbitten.

But you talked excitedly of riding again next day.

I remember.

The next day I fell sick.

I almost died.

I remember you were by my side the whole time.

I was afraid.

I blamed myself in this matter.

Why had I read memorials instead of going with you?

Then you wouldn't have got lost or frostbitten.

At that time, in conscious moments,

I saw you beside me and felt very safe.

Really?

Really.

Because in my heart,

you are god-like.

All these years,

I learned the art of war and martial arts,

in the hope that one day, the weapons I hold

protect you.

Chuhe.

Now,

you're in your twenties.

Several of your brothers are married.

What about you?

How's it going with Ye Ruoyi?

She was always close to you.

Ye Xiaoying has retired

but still holds a military title.

I...

I have someone I like.

Whose daughter?

Spear Deity, Sikong Changfeng's daughter,

Sikong Qianluo.

Vermilion Bird?

Vermilion Bird is interesting.

His wife was beautiful.

I'm sure his daughter is a Beauty.

That's nice.

But Jianghu people are wild at heart.

They can't stay still.

For example, Consort Xuan.

Consort Xuan left?

She left.

Let her go then.

How's your comrade, Lei?

He's fine. A bit injured.

He wants to be an Official?

No.

He wants to be a hero and be invincible.

Smarter than his dad.

Father.

You're making jokes.

Chuhe.

Tell me.

If back then I'd done all I could

to let Ruofeng live,

how might things be now?

Father.

There are forks in life's road.

Once we choose to go down one path,

we'll never see what the other road is like.

Whether an immortal realm or an abyss,

we'll never know.

I'm tired.

Time to rest.

Go.

Yes.

Go.

Brother.

Ruofeng.

Father?

Father!

Mingde Year 23, Winter.

Mingde died in his sleep, age 57.

That day, Langya Army at the border was defeated,

retreating past 19 cities.

Xiao Se.

Upper and Lower Armies arrived outside Tianqi.

Miss Ye left to greet them.

You're Army Supervisor.

They won't dare disobey you.

How can't they obey? We can't let Beili fall.

They're ambitious but not stupid.

You can't go— a nation needs its ruler.

Get enthroned at once.

Uncle and I can go to war.

I get enthroned?

You're the chosen one.

The founding emperor's Sword chose you.

You say I'm the chosen one.

Then I should be the one to protect Beili.

Bro Xiao, well said,

as it should be.

Bro Mu and Healer, you'll leave Tianqi soon?

We'll depart tomorrow.

In this time, thanks for your efforts.

Xiao Se.

You really won't take us?

Killing foes in war and roaming Jianghu

are very different.

You guys, wait for me.

I'll return victorious.

Sister.

Xiao Se nagged us all night.

Do as he asked.

Lei Wujie.

You once asked me if our Snowfall Villa encounter

was a coincidence or arranged.

I'll answer you now.

We met by chance.

But meeting each other was inevitable.

[ White Prince's Residence ]

Head Eunuch, why are you free today to be my guest?

These last few days, you were waiting for me?

Correct.

I was waiting for you.

Right now, Xiao Se is gone

and the other Dragon Seal Scroll

is in my hands.

Head Eunuch.

You didn't open it?

Late Emperor said it's an extra copy

not to be opened.

But I saw Xiao Se's copy.

I know who will ascend the throne.

Of course it's you.

You're not duping me?

Everyone's sure Father wrote the name of 6th bro.

Yet I saw it myself.

The Scroll name is yours.

Now I have the Scroll

and in Tianqi you're the only prince.

If you're enthroned now, it's justifiable.

Even if Xiao Se returns in triumph,

he must acknowledge it's justifiable.

Else he'd commit treason.

However,

if you wait for Xiao Se,

when he has military power and army exploits,

he can destroy the two Scrolls

and be Emperor.

What I mean by all this, you should realise.

Head Eunuch Jinxuan.

You want to ally with me?

But I recall you were Red Prince's person.

I was His Majesty's person.

I was assigned to assist Red Prince

so I could find out who his allies were

and remove them one by one for His Majesty.

But I think, after Father fell gravely ill,

you supported Red Prince to be ruler.

You held a death exemption and used Father's orders

to join in party disputes.

In that case, why were your monitoring parties

far too convincing?

Your Highness.

We're at an impasse.

If Xiao Se returns in triumph, we'll have no way out.

With his prestige, he can rule by his own will,

disregarding this Dragon Seal Scroll.

By then, you'd have no chance.

You're wrong.

If Xiao Se fails,

we will have no way out.

Our nation will fall. People will die.

Where can we retreat?

Head Eunuch.

Seems you won't work with me.

But my words were true.

I was waiting for you.

What for?

Before Father died, he summoned me.

He said,

if Jinxuan seeks me,

kill him.

Senior .

It's time all this ends.

[ Three months later ]

Xiao Se!

Xiao Se is back.

So majestic.

How'd he fight in no armour?

Sister.

You don't get it.

A robe and sword is more dashing in battle.

Let's go to the Villa to wait for him.

No rush.

Xiao Se won. He'll go to the palace.

All Officials await him.

Uncle.

On Uncle Langya's return, was it this grand?

Pretty much.

Today he returns.

He should be enthroned today.

Welcome, Yong'an Prince, returning in glory.

Keep kneeling.

Anyway, important things will be announced.

If you rise now, you'll have to kneel again.

Uncle.

Why do so many people yearn for this seat?

I haven't sat on it. I don't know.

Let me try it.

When that day finally comes, sit in that position.

The thought that comes to you is your true feeling.

Of no interest.

Uncle.

I know everyone's waiting.

It's best if you recite it.

Read it.

"I have fallen gravely ill and may soon meet my end.

My second son, Xiao Chong, is noble of character,

talented and virtuous,

able to fulfil my will

and revitalise Beili

as emperor.

I pass the throne to Second Prince, Xiao Chong."

This...

- What? - Why isn't it Yong'an Prince?

Will he mutiny?

Insolence!

Marquis Lanyue read the decree.

Why haven't you Officials

bowed down to the new Emperor?

Long live the new emperor! Live long, live a myriad years.

Long live the new emperor! Live long, live a myriad years.

Long live the new emperor. Live long, live a myriad years.

All rise.

Thanks, Your Majesty.

2nd bro.

This realm from now on

is yours.

Take care.

Uncle, I'm off.

This world has such an exceptional person.

Jianghu is full of peerless people.

You Officials have seen too little.

Xiao Se.

You're back.

Let's prepare to leave.

You're all so quick.

Can't I get a cup of tea?

Sister wanted to wait outside the palace.

Young Master.

Young Master, this...

You're really leaving?

Don't worry, Uncle Xu.

I won't be gone too long.

Don't live here anymore.

Stay at my Residence. I'll come and go.

Take care of it.

Yes, Young Master.

Your Highness, you remembered our deal.

I dislike being called "Your Highness".

Call me Young Master.

Then, Young Master, this Snowfall Villa is happily mine.

Take it.

Xiao Se.

You'll really give this Villa to Second Master Tu?

I thought it was the mountain one.

You've another Snowfall Villa?

Yes.

I'd planned to give that one to you.

But now I can't bear to.

I feel that place is better than this one.

If so, I'll keep doing business with you.

That way, I can take over that place too.

You have to make a good offer.

Deal.

Mr. Xie Xuan, you helped us many times.

We haven't thanked you yet.

You're welcome.

We scholars always talk about justice.

How can we stand by in times of trouble?

Xiao Se.

I expected you to return and be Emperor.

Fansong, you want me to be Emperor?

Anyway, Feixuan is future State Preceptor.

As you're not Emperor, he may be lonely.

Right, Feixuan?

I want to be at Mt. True-Gaze, not here.

You made the same choice as Langya Prince.

The same?

I don't think so.

I'm not as strong-willed as Uncle Langya.

But I am more carefree.

I feel clearly I don't belong in Imperial Court.

Why?

The Court's too small.

Everyone.

Wrath Sword Deity.

Don't worry. I'm not here to stop you.

Chong'er sent this item.

For you.

[ I pass the throne to Sixth Prince, Xiao Chuhe ]

Father was so sly.

Everyone.

Farewell.

Farewell.

Farewell.

Let's go.

~wind whistling in my ears~

~sharp sword in my hand~

Mingde Year 23.

The three-month interregnum has ended.

Second Prince, Xiao Chong, ascended—

Reign name, Chonghe.

Chonghe Year 1. Warm spring, flowers bloomed.

[ The End ]

NOTES {1} His Majesty said he might live for 6 hours = 3 X shí chen (2 hour periods)

{2} Interregnum = the time in which a throne is vacant between two successive reigns

~ Silent cold temple ~

~ In Jianghu, we have a long way to go ~

~ In falling snow, only clouds know warm moonglow ~

~ Wind rustles in mortal world ~

~ Talk of fate with open hearts ~

~ Tread for thousands of miles singing ballads of youth ~

~ Ethereal mist swirling around voice of the heart ~

~ I face the sun ~

~ like a lotus rising from mud ~

~ Tread for thousands of miles singing ballads of youth ~

~ Like blade and sword, reliant on each other ~

~ No dream is trivial ~

~ Despite feuds, tread with songs and laughter ~

~ Youths ought to be fearless ~

~ Youths travel carefree to earth's ends ~

~ With comrades, there is no loneliness ~

~ Tread for thousands of miles singing ballads of youth ~

~ Like blade and sword, reliant on each other ~

~ No dream is trivial ~

~ Despite feuds, tread with songs and laughter ~

~ Youths should be fearless ~

~ Youths travel carefree to earth's ends ~

~ With comrades, there is no loneliness ~

PREMAMARIS EDIT OF VIKI SUBS