Original subtitles

PRIME MINISTER'S MANOR

Mother.

I finally got what I wanted

and became Prince Gaoyang's wife.

I beat Li Weiyoung.

I'm the high and mighty Princess Gaoyang now.

She is a lowly servant.

She won't be a threat to me anymore.

Didn't you say

that I will have the life of an empress?

From now on,

I'll treat Prince Gaoyang with sincerity

until he becomes the emperor.

By that time,

I'll tell the whole world

that I, Li Changle,

am the one destined to be his wife.

I deserve to be the empress.

-I'm done. -Give this to me.

-Harder. -Dry it well. Let me do this.

Be careful.

-Be careful. -Get a new bucket of water.

I told you not to help me. I can finish these myself.

Young Lady.

It's me.

Bai Zhi?

Young Lady.

Why did you become so thin?

Young Lady.

All right.

I told you I'm fine.

I'll recover in a day or two.

Young Lady, since when have you been suffering like this?

Look at you. You cry so easily.

Aren't you happy to see me?

Of course, I'm happy.

Smile if you're happy.

Hold back your tears.

By the way,

you haven't told me how you got into the palace.

Prince Nan'an sent me here.

He said you weren't in a good mood lately.

He wants me to accompany you.

Young Lady.

Did I hurt you?

No.

Previously, it was Prince Nan'an who risked his life

and put in a good word for you to save your life.

And it is Prince Gaoyang who is really such a disappointment.

Young Lady.

Are you sad right now?

I am,

but not just because of him.

It's also because of the Crown Princess

and Jun Tao.

I will never see them again.

And...

And what?

The killer of the Crown Princess is still at large.

Even if I'm innocent,

I can't tell anyone.

People misunderstand Father.

Even if I'm resentful,

I'm powerless to clear his name.

By the way, Bai Zhi.

You have already known my real identity, right?

Young Master Minde has already told me.

But regardless of who you are,

to me, you're the most important person.

Thank you, Bai Zhi.

Do you know how much these words matter to me?

Young Lady.

From now on,

in the palace,

don't call me Young Lady anymore.

Just call me Weiyoung.

You also don't need to worry about me.

We all have to face reality.

Regardless of how hard the future will be,

I have to work hard to get there.

Young Lady, I'll blow on your wounds for you, okay?

Is this news reliable?

It was reported by our spy in the palace.

Indeed, the Empress has provided Prince Dongping

a lot of chances to approach His Majesty lately.

After Chiyun Nan died,

His Majesty changed Chiyun Nan's former subordinates.

The people who filled the positions are mostly Prince Dongping's men.

What a way to remove the problem by its roots.

I worked so hard to get this opportunity.

Now they have taken it?

I was too careless.

I thought Prince Dongping and the Empress were not close.

I never thought he would make this move.

The Empress has always been someone beyond your reach.

Prince Dongping's mother passed away a long time ago.

And your mother by name, Consort Lu is not only alive,

she also has His Majesty's favor.

Now,

Prince Gaoyang married Li Changle of the Chiyun family who lost influence.

The battle for the throne is now between you and Prince Dongping.

If you win,

your mother, Consort Lu,

will be a threat to the Empress.

That's why the Empress chose Prince Dongping.

And Prince Dongping also needs someone capable

to increase his power in the palace.

So both of them are benefiting from this.

They hit it off right away.

You're very wise indeed.

You know the situation of the royal court really well.

That's not the only thing

I can do.

I can resolve the current problem for you.

I believe you must have heard what happened to Liu Song recently.

Do you mean the flooding of the Yangtze River at Liu Song?

Your Majesty.

I have something to report.

Liu Song lost to our kingdom.

They've lost many soldiers and generals.

And they experienced great calamity as the Yangtze River flooded.

This is a good time for Wei to unite the kingdoms.

I'm willing to lead the troops and unite the kingdoms for you.

His Majesty made conquests all his life.

His biggest wish is to unite the kingdoms.

If you mention the southern conquests now,

you'll surely have His Majesty's support.

By then,

the military power would fall into Your Highness' hands.

It would be easy to get your men in the ranks.

Father.

I'm also willing to lead troops and unite the kingdoms for you.

Father, I've led troops to battle all these years.

Prince Nan'an may have fought one winning battle,

but he lacks experience.

This is a rare opportunity to make the southern conquest.

I'm willing to assist Father.

I'm willing to establish a military writ.

Your Majesty.

I agree with Prince Nan'an.

Liu Song is weak right now.

Prince Nan'an also defeated the Song army previously.

It's a good time to strike while we're still winning.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Prince Dongping is very experienced in battle.

I think he is the best candidate for the conquest.

I think Prince Dongping is good with military tactics.

Your Majesty, I think if we make a southern conquest now,

no matter who leads the troops, we'll lose greatly.

Well...

How could Prince Gaoyang say that?

What did you say?

Even if Liu Song is experiencing a calamity, we have our difficulties too.

We defeated the Song army before,

but that's because they approached the walls.

The whole Wei Kingdom was united in fighting the enemy.

Everyone worked together. That's why we beat the Song army.

Now the national storage is empty,

and the people are still suffering after the calamity.

How can we sustain a large-scale conquest?

Even if Liu Song is in chaos, their power still remains.

They are not as vulnerable as we imagine.

Let's dismiss this for today.

We'll talk about this another time.

-Yes. -Yes.

He used to be quite obedient

in front of me.

Who would ever think

that he would dare to compete with me

once he had accomplished something?

It seems like

I really underestimated Tuoba Yu.

Good thing Your Highness has been guarded against him.

You didn't let Prince Nan'an participate in the important plans.

Otherwise,

Prince Nan'an might turn the tables and betray you.

If I don't eliminate him, he might become a hindrance to me in the future.

I've received a piece of news.

It seems Prince Nan'an is protective of Li Weiyoung

who had just been punished by His Majesty.

If you want to deal with Prince Nan'an,

you can start from there.

CROWN PRINCESS JINGMU OF WEI

Mother.

You haven't eaten oranges for some time, right?

I remember that, during this season,

you wanted to eat oranges daily.

This is an orange that I asked Cheng De

to get someone to bring this back from Jiang Nan.

I've already tasted it on your behalf.

It's very sweet.

It's very delicious.

Try it.

I'm sorry, Your Highness.

Pick it up now.

Those are the Crown Princess' dowry.

Those are the Crown Princess's dowry.

Why are you crying here?

What happened?

I just thought

that I wasn't there by her side

when she passed away.

I believe your mother won't blame you.

How about this?

After I come back from the palace,

I'll go with you and light incense for your mother.

Your Highness.

You're my wife now.

Your mother is my mother.

After hearing that,

I won't have any regrets even if I die.

Your Highness.

I have news regarding the things you arranged.

Let's talk in the study.

Yes.

Didn't you ask me to take Lady Weiyoung's sketch to the temple east of the city

to check if someone has seen her before?

How is it?

Earlier, someone reported that a beggar saw Lady Weiyoung.

Where's that beggar?

Did you bring him back?

Our men went to find him.

He thought a case was being filed against him, so he ran away.

You must find that beggar as soon as possible.

If that beggar tells the truth,

we can find the real killer of my mother sooner

and clear Weiyoung's name.

Didn't you say the plan was flawless and perfectly executed?

Why is there a beggar now?

There are actually not many people in that place.

I even investigated afterward.

No one remembered Li Weiyoung.

I also don't understand why there's suddenly a beggar there.

If that person really exists,

he can clear Weiyoung's name.

Li Changle said

Prince Gaoyang has always been suspicious about this.

If that person really exists,

Prince Gaoyang will surely insist on finding out the truth.

By that time, never mind Li Weiyoung,

I'm afraid you would be dragged down and it would affect your plans.

You shouldn't have acted on your own back then.

It's my fault.

I'm willing to be punished.

At this point, just in case,

please send more men

to kill the beggar before Prince Gaoyang finds him.

Young Lady.

I heard

that Chiyun Rou died.

Chiyun Rou died?

Chiyun Rou paid the price for her sins.

If Aunt Xuemei and Weiyoung know about this,

they can rest in peace now.

It's just that Li Changle...

Do you suspect the Crown Princess' death has something to do with Lady Changle?

I've thought about this for a very long time.

Do you still remember?

Someone in the Chiyun family is an expert in the disguise technique.

They once used a fake Weiyoung to deal with me.

It's the same this time.

Why did the Crown Princess' servant, Qiu Yi, insist that it was me?

Because she saw me indeed.

It was my face indeed.

I know Lady Changle is bratty and willful.

I never thought she would be so ruthless.

But I think

she couldn't have done this on her own.

The plan is flawless

and well thought out.

So I suspect that she was working with someone else.

And that person

must be someone close to me.

Who is that?

I can't be sure right now.

But think about it.

That person

can put the letter in my drawer

and even hang a red handkerchief on the tree at home.

Then he must be someone in the Prime Minister's manor.

Could it be someone who works for Lady Changle?

Since Chiyun Rou lost her power and left the manor,

those who are left shouldn't be anyone significant.

Who could it be, then?

Old Madam,

Mother, and Father,

they are surely not involved.

Aunt Yi.

She also wouldn't help Li Changle to do these things.

Lady Changru wouldn't help them either.

She is closest to you.

Could it be Lady Changxi?

She has always targeted you.

Even if Li Changxi has always targeted me,

I think

this has nothing to do with her.

Who could it be, then?

By the way, Young Lady.

There's another thing that I've always felt strange about.

I always have that drawer's key with me.

How can that person put the letter inside?

It's not hard to duplicate a key.

What's strange is...

How can he get the duplicate copy?

Duplicate copy?

So you must think carefully.

Has this key ever left your side?

No.

This is very precious. I even take it with me when I bathe.

Even now,

I still have it.

It's Lady Changru.

Here.

Weiyoung.

-Is it good? -Yes.

-You still acknowledge me as your cousin. -Take this.

Since my real identity was revealed,

even Father doesn't acknowledge me as his daughter anymore.

To me, you'll always be my cousin.

It really pains me to see you this way.

His Majesty relegated me and sent me here.

What can you do?

Here.

I don't want this.

Weiyoung.

It's complicated here in the palace.

With money, you may get to live a better life.

I can't help you much.

Just take what I'm giving you.

I really don't want it.

Stop rejecting it.

Thank you.

These are some clothes.

I made some of them.

Some were made by the Seventh Concubine.

She is very worried about you, but she can't enter the palace.

So she asked me to bring them to you.

There are also some medicinal oils.

I prepared them myself.

Put them on your hands.

She knows my identity.

Yet she is still very concerned about me.

I really don't know how to repay her for this.

As long as you live your life well,

it's the best way to repay everyone.

Tell them that I'll surely take good care of myself.

Tell them not to worry.

So many things have happened.

You are the only one who treats me the same way ever since.

What are you talking about?

Is there really no way to prove your innocence?

Didn't you say that you weren't at the Crown Prince's manor back then?

Can someone testify for you?

I was preoccupied back then.

I didn't notice these things.

Even if someone saw me,

it must be hard to look for them.

It seems like it can't be verified if that beggar really saw Li Weiyoung.

I can't let him testify for Li Weiyoung.

But why did you give her money?

Isn't it better to let her suffer?

Trust is not earned overnight.

When the timing is right,

I want to utilize her trust to give her a fatal blow.

PRINCE NAN'AN'S MANOR

Your Highness.

How is it?

Did you find him?

After asking around so many places, I finally found that beggar.

He already admitted

that he indeed saw Li Weiyoung on the day the Crown Princess got killed.

Why didn't His Majesty find him before?

When His Majesty was investigating this, he happened to be somewhere else.

That's why they didn't find him.

If Li Weiyoung is not the killer,

Tuoba Jun will surely do everything he can to find Crown Princess' real killer.

If he follows the leads,

I might be dragged into this.

I'll go and kill him now.

Wait.

I have a better plan

to let Tuoba Jun give up on his investigation regarding this matter.

-Rice. -Jewelry.

-You all, raise your heads. -Gems, jewelry.

LIU FAMILY'S RICE SHOP

-Rice. -Raise your heads.

All right.

-Grains. -Let's go.

-It's cheap. -You two, search the street ahead.

-Yes. -Four of you, search the back street.

-Yes. -Yes.

-Let's go. -Let's go.

It's cheap.

Here, for you.

Jun Tao.

I knew you...

I'm sorry.

Jun Tao.

Are you really dead?

There are many things I haven't told you yet.

Don't die.

Wait for me.

CROWN PRINCE'S MANOR

Your Highness.

This is the beggar who said he saw Lady Weiyoung.

Don't be scared. We won't harm you.

We just want you to tell us the truth.

At 3:45 p.m. on the 5th day of last month,

did you see this lady at the temple east of the city?

I did.

What color was the dress she was wearing that day?

She was wearing...

It was...

It...

Is it a pink dress?

Yes.

It was a pink dress.

You're lying!

Tell me. Who exactly are you?

Who ordered you to talk all this nonsense?

I'm not lying.

-I'm not lying. -You're still lying?

Guards, beat him until he dies!

My lord, I'll tell you.

My lord, spare me.

I'm not sure who she is.

It was around a month ago.

A lady found me.

She said if someone takes this painting to look for someone near the temple,

I should tell them that I've seen that person before.

Do you recognize that person?

The lady was wearing a mask.

I didn't see clearly.

However,

based on her accent,

she should be from the Jin City area.

Jin City?

Your Highness.

Lady Weiyoung's servant, Bai Zhi is from Jin City.

And one month ago, she hadn't entered the palace yet.

What a shame, I've been trying to clear her name.

It turns out that she has been lying to me.

She is even using me to clear her name now.

How despicable.

PRINCE NAN'AN'S MANOR

-Your Highness. -What is it?

I've been following that assassin.

I saw with my own eyes, that assassin

entered Prince Nan'an's Manor.

It's Uncle Yu?

My mother's death has something to do with him?

Qiu Yi.

Before Mother died,

you were beside her almost all the time.

Do you remember if she mentioned anything to Changle about the dowry?

Based on what I know, Mother cherished this jewelry set very much.

She didn't usually take them out.

No.

As Your Highness said,

the Crown Princess has always kept this jewelry set.

She hasn't taken it out in years.

Only on the day she was assassinated,

the Crown Princess told me to take it out as she wanted to show it to Li Weiyoung.

Did you find anything?

According to the Chiyun family's servant, before the Crown Princess died,

Princess Gaoyang...

It's Li Changle.

Yes.

Li Changle left the manor indeed.

And the timing matches the incident.

It was her.

The Chiyun family has a disguise technique expert.

It's not hard to make Li Changle look like Weiyoung.

If Li Changle wanted to cause harm to Lady Weiyoung,

she didn't have to drag the Chiyun family down with it.

If the Chiyun family falls, what good would that do to her?

What if Li Changle

was just being used?

Maybe she didn't know Weiyoung's real identity.

Otherwise, she can just reveal that.

She didn't have

to make such a huge effort

and harm Mother.

Do you mean

Li Changle is working with someone?

And this person knows Lady Weiyoung's real identity.

That person is...

It's actually easy to discover...

who that person is.

His Highness arranged for that beggar to create a big fuss.

Using Li Changle, we can find the real mastermind.

If we just follow the leads,

we can find out who the mastermind is.

Thus,

this can all the more prove that Weiyoung is innocent.

I never thought that the real mastermind would be Prince Nan'an.

Tuoba Yu.

I get it now.

All the way through,

the report has been in his hands.

He had long known Weiyoung's real identity.

He got something on Chiyun Nan

to blackmail him to work for him.

When I was ambushed at Huatai,

Weiyoung and I both thought it was fishy.

Now it seems

that this has something to do with him too.

Your Highness.

He forced you out of Huatai, replaced you as the commander-in-chief

and accomplished great war achievements that made everyone in awe of him.

Then he killed the Crown Princess, forced you to marry Li Changle,

and separated you and Lady Weiyoung.

How cunning and despicable Prince Nan'an is.

All the way through,

I've given way

so as not to fight among relatives.

But I never thought

that would cause Mother

and Weiyoung harm.

From now on,

I won't back out anymore.

If I must get this into this position

in order to protect the person I love

and do justice to Mother's wrongful death.

Then...

I will do my best.

Your Highness.

I'm willing to follow you even if I die.

Okay.

For Mother,

for Weiyoung,

from now on,

I will endure everything, even if it is unbearable.

Even if I get wounded all over,

I will never back out.

Are you thinking of Tuoba Jun again?

Why are you here?

I just met with His Majesty.

Jun already married someone else,

yet you still can't forget him?

I'm not.

It's written all over your face.

How can you just get over someone you love that easily?

I think

Jun has already moved on.

If you're still holding on,

you're the only one who will suffer.

Thank you for your advice.

Gratitude is not only spoken with words.

What do you want me to do, then?

I heard from Jun that you're good at playing guzheng.

How about you play a song for me tonight?

I don't feel like playing tonight.

You dare disobey

my command?

I wouldn't dare.

I'll go get the guzheng now.

Please return it to me.

Why can't you let him go?

I never thought that I would see you here, Changle.

I came with Prince Gaoyang to meet His Majesty.

Why are you at the palace as well?

I came to see Consort Lu.

I heard Consort Lu is going to choose a consort for Prince Nan'an.

No wonder you're so anxious.

But Prince Nan'an risked his life to save Li Weiyoung.

You can see how he feels about Li Weiyoung.

You have enemies in front and behind you.

I'm so worried about you.

Will you look at that?

Even the deceased Madam couldn't win against her.

She even got sick because she battled with her.

I'm the one who feels sorry for you.

Furthermore,

past love is the hardest to forget.

You should worry about yourself.

Let's set aside our current capability for a southern conquest first.

I think an enemy invasion

would make the Song people unite and work to fight their enemies together.

However, we won't have enough provisions if we enter the enemy's territory.

I'm afraid we would be unable to advance or retreat and lose greatly.

Go on.

Rouran from the north is itching to make a move.

If we fight with Liu Song,

Rouran will surely invade us from behind.

When that happens,

we would be trapped with enemies from both the south and the north.

If we don't win,

Your Majesty can only watch while Rouran becomes more powerful.

The powers of both sides are correlated.

That situation

will put us at a great disadvantage.

Even if Rouran is small,

it's still willing to obey me.

If it takes advantage and becomes powerful,

we won't have any peace on the north side.

What else?

I think it's best

to maintain peace with Northern Rouran, resist Southern Liu Song,

organize our internal affairs, and recuperate together with the people.

"Maintain peace with Northern Rouran, resist Southern Liu Song."

I've battled all my life and conquered many lands.

I've reached a point where I wouldn't even fight anymore.

Good thing I have worthy successors.

Jun.

Write a report on what you said just now

and let the officials discuss it.

Yes.

Aren't you going to kneel and greet me?

-Your Highness. -Your Highness.

Your Highness, we're in the palace.

If something happens,

it would be hard to explain to His Majesty.

My shoe is dirty.

Wipe it for me.

Scram.

I want her to wipe it for me.

A lowly palace maid dares to disobey me.

Are you tired of living?

Go get Prince Gaoyang.

Your Highness.

-Young Lady. -You bold servant.

How dare you hurt me?

Don't go out of line.

So what if I do?

You're just a lowly servant now.

Even a minor palace rule can make you wish you were dead.

Guards.

Drag this despicable servant who disrespected Her Highness

to the torture room.

Make her remember this.

-Don't. -Yes.

Don't touch my young lady!

-Stop! -Let go!

Your Highness.

Your Highness, please save Young Lady.

Li Changle purposely gave Young Lady a hard time.

Is my wife's name something you can call directly?

Jun.

She disrespected and offended me.

Don't worry.

Guards.

Li Weiyoung disrespected Princess Gaoyang.

Beat her with a staff for 50 times.

-Yes. -Don't.

-No, Your Highness! -Come on.

Your Highness, don't beat Young Lady.

She will die after 50 beatings!

Young Lady didn't kill the Crown Princess!

She was framed!

That woman killed my mother, and now she offended my wife.

Shouldn't she be punished?

Young Lady.

-Young Lady. -Won't she have it easy

if she goes to the torture room?

Stop it.

Stop beating her.

Young Lady.

Stop it.

Stop beating her.

Don't.

Young Lady.

Stop beating her.

Stop it.

Stop it.

Stop!

-Stop it, all of you! -Stop beating her!

Move!

Weiyoung.

Move away.

Are you trying to kill her?

That was a quick change of heart.

What kind of potion did that woman actually give you?

Aunt Di.

Changle is my wife.

I hope you can respect her.

Fine, I don't have time for you.

Just let go of Weiyoung.

Jun.

Since the Princess has already said that, let's go home then.

Young Lady.

What a lowly woman!

Weiyoung.

Young Lady.

Young Lady.

Young Lady.

Weiyoung.

It seems Tuoba Jun already fell for it.

He really thinks Li Weiyoung killed the Crown Princess.

His Highness' trick is great.

LAUNDRY BUREAU

Weiyoung.

How is she?

It's like she has lost her soul.

She wouldn't eat or drink.

She is just lying in bed.

She doesn't even feel pain when I apply medicine.

I'll go in and see her.

Your Highness.

Just let her be alone.

This time, Prince Gaoyang really hurt her deeply.

How can he be so ruthless?

It took Young Lady a lot of courage to be with him.

Those promises he made cannot even withstand trials.

Let's not talk about that now.

This is the best wound medicine.

Apply it on her.

I'll ask the royal physician to check on her later.

Jun, that bad guy.

He is a stupid fool.

I'm sure that despicable woman Li Changle is stirring up trouble between them.

I won't let her get away with it.

I'll surely get her back for Weiyoung.

Your Highness.

No matter what happens,

we'll face it together.

We'll be together forever,

through thick and thin.

Your Highness.

I asked someone to beat her.

She surely won't forgive me.

I can't even forgive myself.

You did that for Lady Weiyoung's sake.

If you hadn't done that,

Li Changle would have dragged her to the torture room.

She could have died there.

The Ninth Princess also came in time because you arranged for it.

Lady Weiyoung will surely understand your intentions.

There are eyes and ears in the palace.

Weiyoung was relegated to a servant with low status.

There are dangers everywhere.

Tuoba Yu has already viewed me as an eyesore.

It's best that Weiyoung and I aren't associated with each other.

This way,

she won't get involved

in our fight.

They've already arranged for Li Changle to stay by your side.

If you hadn't let that happen, how could you have thrown them off their guard?

If they find out that you already know their plans,

how can they let you be?

Your Highness, you did that for you and Lady Weiyoung's future.

Stop blaming yourself.

Cheng De.

I must grow strong.

Only when I'm powerful enough,

I can protect her rightfully and properly.

Subtitle translation by Coleen Chua