Original subtitles

Jun.

You're back.

Why are you here?

You've been working so hard, Jun.

I prepared some nutritious food for you.

Come and have some, Jun.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

I need to report something.

You can eat first.

Jun.

Your Highness.

I heard something lately.

What is it?

Li Weiyoung has become His Majesty's royal servant.

She'll be able to see His Highness all the time now.

What?

Li Weiyoung is quite impressive.

Li Changru tried to get rid of her, but she is still not dead.

She even got herself a better job.

Your Majesty, do you have a headache again?

Burn more incense.

Even though this incense can help refresh the brain and soothe the nerves,

if you use too much of it,

it can have a detrimental effect.

I'm getting old now.

I don't have as much energy as before.

In my opinion, this has nothing to do with age.

It's because Your Majesty doesn't have a work-life balance.

"Work-life balance"?

Come with me, Your Majesty.

Young girl.

Are you trying to play a prank on me?

These stones are killing my feet.

I wouldn't dare play a prank on Your Majesty.

I didn't come up with this idea.

The book Huangdi Neijing

writes about how foot massages benefit your health.

Walking on stone paths

is just like getting a foot massage.

This can get rid of fatigue and relieve pain.

It can even cure illnesses.

It's that amazing?

I wouldn't dare lie to Your Majesty.

I bet you would.

It's true.

My grandmother walks on stone paths every day.

She is very healthy.

Everyone says that she'll live a long life.

I told you to let bygones be bygones.

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

I know you still have hate in your heart.

But I have already done everything I can.

Haven't I let many Liang slaves go?

If it weren't for that war, there wouldn't even be Liang slaves.

Uniting the country is what all the people want.

Wei has enough power to end the separatist regime,

to free the people from the wars.

By then, the people can live happily and peacefully.

That's what I've always wanted to do.

What happened to Northern Liang wasn't because of Wei.

Uniting the country is everyone's wish.

Even if it were not Wei,

someone else would do it.

Why can't everyone just get along?

War only brings bloodshed and hatred.

In the Warring States period,

the dukes claimed and ruled their own land.

There was constant conflict.

Then the state of Qin rose and united the country.

Only then were the people allowed to enjoy peace and stability.

A divided country is always at war.

Only by uniting the country can there be peace.

I've been fighting so many years

in order to unite the country

and bring peace to the people.

By the way,

we've been walking for a while.

I do feel better now.

The book you just mentioned was the Huangdi Neijing?

Yes.

Copy the Huangdi Neijing ten times.

I'll check it afterward.

Let's go.

The dance is wonderful.

-I wonder where -Yes.

-the Prince got them? -So beautiful.

-Here. Here some wine. -Very nice.

Enough of that.

Here. Drink now.

Wine with pretty women is the best.

Good wine.

Look.

You're drunk now.

Here.

How nice.

-Very nice. -Drink.

-What a good time. -Here.

Your Highness.

Someone stole the key to the Privy Council.

Deploy the army and surround the Privy Council now.

-Yes, sir. -Also,

search my manor.

Find out who went in the inner court.

Yes.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Who came in the inner court today?

Lord, the Princess brought someone here.

Who was it?

I don't know the person, but he was wearing Rouran clothing.

Where is Li Minde?

Why am I sleeping here?

Princess.

Princess?

-Princess. -Come in.

Princess, where is Prince Yuanlie?

What happened?

Something valuable was stolen from the manor.

His Highness is furious.

Then you should go get the thief.

Why are you still here?

Your Highness, you haven't answered me. Where is Prince Yuanlie?

He was just...

He wasn't feeling well.

So he left.

He can't be the thief.

He was with me all this time.

He couldn't go steal anything.

I can vouch for him.

What is it? Don't you believe me?

I wouldn't dare.

They think Li Minde is a thief?

That's ridiculous.

Where is Minde?

Did he go back?

MILITARY DEPLOYMENT MAP OF SIX CITIES

Once the Rouran people

get their hands on this map,

I would become a traitor of the Wei Kingdom.

Li Weiyoung's life

is in your hands.

PRIVY COUNCIL

-Stop! -Stop!

Kill him!

Go.

Stop!

Find out what was stolen.

Yes.

-Come on. -Hurry.

Chief Attendant.

Is the Emperor asleep?

It might be because we went on a walk in the garden today.

The Emperor is sleeping quite soundly.

You've worked hard.

I know that you like peach blossom wine,

so I purposely asked someone to bring some for you.

Have some before you go to bed, it will help you sleep.

Thank you, Chief Attendant.

You should go get some rest now.

I'll take over now.

Thank you.

Your Highness, are you all right?

Hurry.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness, let me see your wound.

Where is Weiyoung?

How is Weiyoung?

You were in danger.

I didn't have time to cancel the order to poison her.

What did you say?

You bastard.

Your Highness.

Your Highness, where are you going?

I'll never let you hurt Weiyoung again.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Let go of me.

It's past twelve o'clock.

I'm afraid Li Weiyoung has already...

Even if you get there, you won't be able to do anything.

You're seriously injured.

You should stay and get treated.

If anything happens to you,

even my death can't absolve myself from the blame.

Get out of my way.

Your Highness.

Lady Li, the Chief Attendant sent this peach blossom wine.

Please enjoy.

Thank you, Eunuch.

It smells so good.

Weiyoung.

Wait for me.

You have to wait for me.

Weiyoung.

Minde?

Why are you here at this hour?

I just came from Prince Nan'an's banquet.

The Chief Attendant sent some peach blossom wine to me.

My room is full of the scent of wine after I opened it.

Do you want to drink with me?

Sure. I'll try it first.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Weiyoung, all I want is for you to be happy.

Why are you saying that suddenly?

Are you not feeling well?

I'm fine.

This is good wine.

I'll take the rest.

Weiyoung, I'm leaving.

He is acting weird.

Did he argue with the Ninth Princess again?

Your Highness.

Your Highness, what's wrong?

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

You drank the poisoned wine?

You're poisoned! Your Highness!

-Li Minde! -Your Highness!

-Your Highness! -Minde!

-Li Minde, what's wrong? -Your Highness.

Don't scare me.

Li Minde.

If you have to kill someone

to stop all this nonsense,

I'll fulfill your wish.

Your Highness, you...

-Minde. -Your Highness.

Take the antidote, Your Highness.

Li Minde.

Your Highness, take the antidote.

Or else you're going to die!

Your Highness.

I'll take the antidote,

but you have to promise me one thing.

As long as you take the antidote, I'll promise anything.

From now on...

From now on,

you'll never hurt Weiyoung again.

Do you understand?

Do you understand me?

Promise him.

Just promise him. Are you going to watch him die?

Fine. I promise you.

From now on, I'll never lay a finger on Li Weiyoung again.

Your Highness.

-Your Highness! -Li Minde!

-Your Highness! -Li Minde!

Anyone there?

-Your Highness! -Li Minde!

Help him inside.

-Go get the physician. -Yes.

Your Highness.

Hurry!

Physician.

How is the Prince?

He was wounded by a sword and had lost a lot of blood.

The wound wasn't treated soon enough

and when he was so weak, he was poisoned.

Even though he was detoxified, his body has been harmed severely.

It is very likely

that he may even become a feeble disabled person.

In the end, it all depends on the Prince's luck.

Minde has always been proud of his archery skills.

If he finds out that he'll never ride and shoot again...

Don't be too sad, Your Highness.

For now, we still don't know what will happen.

The Prince has always been strong and healthy.

He has strong willpower.

This time,

I'm sure that he'll get better as well.

Yes.

Minde.

You must get better.

You must.

Please.

HOSTEL

Thank you, Physician.

You're very welcome, General.

My lord. It's bad news.

We searched the Prince, but we didn't find the Military Deployment Map.

No?

Supposedly,

the Prince should have enough time to find the Military Deployment Map.

Now we don't have the Military Deployment Map

and the Prince is severely injured.

What should we tell the Khan?

My lord.

My lord, we're in trouble.

-Prince Nan'an has surrounded this place. -What?

Inform everyone.

-Protect the Prince with your lives. -Yes.

Tuoba Jun?

Why are you here at this time?

Do you need to see his Majesty?

I'm here for you.

I think something happened to Li Minde.

Something happened to him?

What happened?

I'm not sure what exactly.

I only know that last night, Tuoba Yu ended his banquet abruptly.

I received news

that Tuoba Yu has brought the army to surround the hostel Li Minde stays in.

I don't think

they're going to have a nice talk.

No wonder Minde looked so weird

when he came to see me last night.

I thought that he was arguing with the Ninth Princess.

I should have asked him more.

Prince Nan'an brought the army to look for him.

Is he going to kill Minde?

He won't.

Li Minde is the prince of Rouran. He is a guest.

No matter how serious he is, Tuoba Yu doesn't have the power to execute him.

No way. I'm worried about him.

Could you go check on Li Minde for me?

I need to know if he is all right.

If anything happens to him...

All right.

Don't panic.

I'll go check it out.

Wait for me.

-Get out of the way. -Move.

Let us in.

-What is this? -Let us in.

-Move it! -Move!

-Nonsense. -Get out of the way. Do you hear me?

Prince Nan'an is here.

How I can help you?

Something got stolen from my manor last night.

Only the Prince went to the inner court.

I came to ask him if he knows something.

I'm sorry.

The Prince is ill.

He can't see anyone.

I just have a few questions.

I won't disturb his rest.

Please leave, Your Highness.

You can come again when the Prince gets better.

You seem intent on keeping me out.

Could it be that you're hiding something?

Or is there something shady about the Prince?

That makes me want to see him even more.

If they resist, capture them.

I'll bear all the responsibility.

Wait.

If it is about what happened last night, you can ask me.

Last night, the Prince was with me the whole time.

We never separated.

Di.

Don't you care about your own honor?

How dare you say such disgraceful words?

There are many things that you are ignorant of,

so just stay silent.

Or else, you might pay the price.

I can pay any price.

If you don't believe me,

you can go with me to talk about this in front of Father.

I never expected my sister would be so protective of a foreign man.

Forgive me.

The Prince needs to rest.

If there's nothing else, please leave.

Let's go.

Your Highness, it's clear that Prince Yuanlie stole the key.

Are you going to just let them get away with it?

Even though nothing important was stolen from the Privy Council,

if this information slips out,

it might be used

against me.

He got lucky today.

From now on, watch this place carefully.

We can't give them a single chance.

Yes, Your Highness.

One day,

I'll attack Rouran with my army.

Li Minde, you're awake.

How are you feeling?

A lot better.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Li Minde.

I have to ask you some questions.

Can you answer me honestly?

Go ahead, Your Highness.

I wouldn't dare lie to you.

Did you come back this time

to steal the Military Deployment Map of Six Cities?

Yes.

Last night,

did you go to the banquet at the Prince's manor for this?

Yes.

When you said that you felt ill

and wanted to rest somewhere,

was that part of the plan as well?

Did...

Did you knock me out?

Yes, Your Highness.

I'm sorry, Your Highness.

You used me to steal the Military Deployment Map of Six Cities.

Do you know the position you've put me in?

If Father found out,

if the people of Wei found out,

what should I do?

I've treated you with nothing but sincerity.

And this is what I get?

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

I'm sorry.

I never wanted to hurt you.

This is all my fault.

I'm despicable.

If it makes you feel better,

you can hit me, scold me,

you can even kill me.

But Your Highness,

I never wanted

to steal the Military Deployment Map of Six Cities.

At the last moment,

I gave up.

Because I didn't want to hurt you.

I didn't want more conflict and war

to happen because of me.

I didn't want the people to suffer.

They forced you, right?

They threatened you with Weiyoung's life.

You didn't steal the Military Deployment Map,

but in order to save Weiyoung,

you...

You drank the poison?

So you already knew, Your Highness?

How could you be so stupid?

How could you

do this to yourself?

You're so stupid.

So stupid.

Princess,

I'm right here, aren't I?

When I get better, I have to teach you archery.

Right?

Your Highness.

Prince Gaoyang is here.

Your Highness.

Can I ask you a favor?

I know.

Don't let Jun know the truth.

Right?

Weiyoung must have sent him.

Okay.

I promise you.

Your Highness.

I heard Prince Nan'an brought his men here. What happened?

Nothing.

It was just a misunderstanding.

The Ninth Princess was here.

You can ask her if you don't believe me.

Yes. Everything is fine.

Are you crying?

No...

I'm not.

I'm fine. Why would I be crying?

Prince. Why is there the smell of medicine?

Don't hide things from me.

Weiyoung is very worried.

Jun. What are you doing?

We told you, everything is fine.

You are so annoying.

Aunt Di. Please go out.

I need to talk to the Prince alone.

Jun, you...

Your Highness.

You may go first.

It's fine.

I wanted to talk to Prince Gaoyang alone as well.

You came to Wei this time

for a reason, didn't you?

Between two nations,

diplomatic visits would never be that simple, right?

You are also on your guard, aren't you?

I used to think

you would consider half of yourself a Wei citizen.

I do.

That's why I didn't do anything.

If this is what you want to know,

you can rest assured.

If that's the case, I can still treat you as a friend.

Your Highness.

Can I ask you for a favor?

What is it?

Take care of Weiyoung.

Don't let her suffer again.

I'll do everything I can to do this.

So? How is Minde?

He is fine, isn't he?

What's wrong?

I mean, what did you do to him?

With you and Weiyoung here, how would I dare do anything to him?

I'm leaving now to report this.

-Take care of-- -Get going now.

How is it? What did you find out?

I asked him about it.

They came to Wei this time

perhaps to carry out missions like stealing secrets or military information.

Maybe that's why Tuoba Yu is mad at him.

Steal secrets?

-Minde would never do that. -That's right. He didn't do anything.

There must be another reason he got hurt.

He looks fine enough, though.

If he doesn't want to tell you, I think you shouldn't ask so much.

If he wants to hide it from you, just pretend you know nothing.

What's this?

The Emperor told me to copy Huangdi Neijing ten times.

I think that he is picking on me.

He is picking on you?

You would dare to say anything, right?

Well, he is not here, is he?

If he were here,

I would never say it even if you gave me all the courage in the world.

I've been meaning to ask you something.

You used to be a princess, right?

Didn't you learn good handwriting?

Who said that a princess must have good handwriting?

Some princesses can't even do half of what I can do.

With this speed, how long is it going to take you?

It's hard to say.

The Emperor said he is going to check it.

If I don't meet his standards, I'll have to keep doing it

until he is satisfied.

Do you want to make the Emperor happy?

Of course.

Beg me to help you.

I won't.

I'll still help you.

Here.

Your Highness.

Greetings, Your Highness.

It's you?

My young lady hasn't seen you in a while.

She misses you.

She heard you were coming to the palace, so she would like to invite you over.

It's pretty nice here.

I guess the Emperor still cares about the baby inside you.

You can't blame me for that day.

If it were you

in that situation, you would probably choose to save yourself too.

Of course, I don't blame you.

Then why did you ask me

to come here today?

I asked you here today to remind you of something, Changle.

Don't trust Prince Gaoyang too much.

Because

he might already know everything.

What are you plotting again?

You overestimate me, Changle.

Now I'm detained here in the palace,

what can I do?

I just feel sad for you.

I don't want you to get hurt.

What do you want to say?

If I'm not mistaken,

after the wedding,

Prince Gaoyang must have been indifferent to you.

You must think it's quite strange.

If he doesn't care about you,

why would he marry you?

Actually, the reason is simple.

Tuoba Jun married you

because of a bargain he made with Prince Nan'an.

He wanted

to save Li Weiyoung.

What nonsense are you talking about?

He loves me.

He loves me.

How long are you going to lie to yourself?

Tuoba Jun has already found out that you're the one who killed his mother.

He has never loved you.

He has been lying to you. He's been using you.

The person he loves and wants to protect

has always been Weiyoung.

That has never changed.

HUANGDI NEIJING

So beautiful.

When I practiced as a child,

my father would always hit me with a ruler.

Let me try.

YOUNG

What do you think?

Is it that bad?

It's terribly ugly.

Let me teach you.

You should concentrate.

Tuoba Jun married you

because of a bargain he made with Prince Nan'an.

He has never loved you.

He has been lying to you, using you.

The person he loves, the person he wants to protect

has always been Weiyoung.

That has never changed.

Your Highness, are you all right?

That's not true.

That's not true.

His Highness wouldn't lie to me.

He won't.

Your Highness.

You shouldn't believe

all of what Lady Changru says.

Yes.

That's right.

Li Changru is cunning and sly.

I can't believe everything she says.

But I have to believe some of it too.

What is the truth?

I'll definitely find out.

Altair is far away

Vega is very bright

Moving her slender white fingers

Her weaving-loom goes click-clack

All day she weaves Yet her cloth is still not done

Her tears fall like rain

The Milky Way is clear and shallow

They are not far apart

The Milky Way is clear and shallow

They are not far apart

Yet the stream flows in between

They cannot speak Only gazing at each other

Rong'er,

do you still remember this song?

I do.

Whenever Lady Changle missed Prince Gaoyang,

she would sing this song.

There are many women in the world,

but there is only one type of longing,

they are all the same.

When it comes to this,

Li Changle and I are quite alike.

Are you missing Prince Nan'an?

If I can have him, I'm lucky.

If I can't, it's fate.

I'm stuck in my love

and I can never escape.

Sometimes I feel so sad for you, Lady Changru.

You've given so much to Prince Nan'an,

but he only loves Li Weiyoung.

Li Weiyoung,

I can't hurt you now,

but I've found someone who can.

We'll see what happens.

Next time,

it's going to be great.

My lord.

What's going on in there?

This morning, Prince Gaoyang proposed to get rid

of some of the lower ranking household categories.

Prince Nan'an opposed the idea.

Now they have come to the Emperor.

Those categories are mainly comprised of captives from different countries.

They belong to the local authorities and the prison.

They are registered under that category and their descendants inherit it.

They are just like slaves.

Why would we include them in the province?

Wouldn't that be like treating them like civilians?

Your Majesty.

After the calamity, we faced war.

Now it is time to rebuild.

There are more and more people in those categories.

If we keep treating them as slaves and exploit them like before,

we can't tap into their full potential.

It's natural and right that those who lost the war should become slaves.

If they are disobedient,

it's because we haven't whipped them enough.

You are wrong, Prince Nan'an.

They are not animals.

We can't treat them like animals.

We have to treat them with dignity.

If Grandfather's wish is to unite the country,

why can't we treat all people the same?

That's true unification.

Tuoba Yu is violent and bloodthirsty.

Tuoba Jun has a gentle heart.

Only if he becomes emperor

will the people stop suffering and live in peace.

Besides the local authorities, if we release those captives

in the prisons,

how will we have men for the southern conquest in the future?

We haven't even rebuilt our kingdom yet.

How can we have conquest southward?

Don't ever mention this within ten years.

Uniting the north and south has always been Father's wish.

We should focus our national strategies

on fulfilling this ultimate goal.

You're just saying this to earn Father's support.

Li Weiyoung.

Come in.

The Emperor is calling you.

Go now.

Hurry.

Your Majesty.

Li Weiyoung.

I saw you were listening very closely.

What do you think?

Are you asking me, Your Majesty?

Apart from you, who else here is called Li Weiyoung?

If Your Majesty wants me to, I'll talk.

But there's a condition.

If you are not satisfied with what I say, please don't punish me.

I ordered you to talk.

Stop talking nonsense.

Then let me tell you a story from Northern Liang.

Once, there was a lord.

He had a servant.

No matter how much you hit him, he wouldn't work.

The lord said angrily,

"You're a servant. Why don't you work?"

The servant said,

"I've always been a servant.

No matter how much work I do, I'll still be a servant.

Why should I work hard?"

The lord thought about it and said,

"If you work harder,

I'll give you ten percent of the money we earn.

You can live your life the way you want to."

From then on,

the servant became very hardworking.

He never slacked off again.

He got along with the lord's family like his own family.

If Your Majesty can implement Prince Gaoyang's idea

and release those captives,

they'll be just like that servant.

They'll be forever grateful to you, work hard, and be productive.

That way, Wei will also become richer and stronger.

That's what I thought.

Also,

a lot of the conflicts and riots lately have to do with those categories.

Only if we solve the problem at its roots

can we bring stability to Wei.

That's true indeed.

-Your Majesty-- -That's enough.

I've made my decision.

You may all leave.

-Yes, Your Majesty. -Father.

I have something to report to you.

What is it?

I've liked Weiyoung for a long time now.

Please bestow marriage upon us.

Subtitle translation by Sophie Chang