Original subtitles

Tomorrow morning I'm leaving Chang'an with Bianji.

Take in that evil monk Bianji!

As a Buddhist follower with no respect for the law, Bianji must die.

Our father-daughter relationship ends today!

Your Majesty! Help! His Majesty has fainted!

You have my promise! If you want me to stay, I won't go anywhere!

When I was severely injured during the northern expedition,

Chancellor Liu Ji said even if I died, I needn't worry about state affairs

as long as he could assist the Crown Prince.

Ministers who disagreed with that would all be killed.

How dare he defy me, the Son of Heaven, and my ministers!

Your Majesty, Liu Ji shall be put to death for making inappropriate comments,

but his wife and children shall be excused.

Your Majesty, after the Crown Prince ascends the throne,

should Prince of Wu remain in Chang'an?

Fuji, since you can't ease your worries about Ke'er,

keep him away from Chang'an and let him be a provincial governor.

I think Anzhou is a good place.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Alright, everything is settled.

It's time for us to say goodbye.

Your Majesty, please don't say that!

Allow me to propose one last thing!

Your Majesty, you are unwell because Princess Gaoyang upset you deeply.

Bianji has been executed,

but Her Highness's maids should not be pardoned.

I hereby present you with this memorial on behalf of 37 other ministers.

Your Majesty, please execute all the maids of Princess Gaoyang!

Fuji, even now you still won't let her off?

Have you forgotten the promise you made?

Your Majesty, you also met with Wu Meiniang and broke your promise, didn't you?

Fine, fair enough. Fuji, you're really good at this.

No matter what I do, I can't escape your eyes.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, only heaven knows how loyal I am!

Everything I do, I do it for the Tang state and the Li's family!

That's my only intention!

I promise you once Wu Meiniang is gone and the state has stabilised,

I'll meet you there and keep you company!

Your Majesty, allow me to beg you one last time.

Please say you approve this memorial.

Your Majesty, do you know some officials are siding with Wu Meiniang?

As long as she remains alive in the Palace, after we all die,

Zhinu won't be able to handle her!

In case the rumours come true,

His Highness will hand the state over to her out of kindness!

Your Majesty, is that what you want? We won't let that happen even if we die!

Your Majesty, take a rest and think about it.

Let me know when you have an answer. I'll be waiting outside.

Father!

Don't cry, Zhinu.

I want to entrust the state to you, not to see you cry.

As you have suggested, the northern rebels are nothing to fear.

As for the court, I have prepared for you the best executive ministers.

I have done everything I'm supposed to.

With the help from your uncle and others, just stick your chest out

and rule the state without any worries.

Rest assured, Father! I will do my best!

I have banished Li Ji to Diezhou.

After you ascend the throne, summon him back immediately

and appoint him as Prime Minister.

He will be moved to tears of gratitude.

In the future he will risk his life to serve you.

Father, you have done so much for me!

All parents are like this.

You'll understand when your children grow older.

I need you to promise me one more thing.

When I'm not around, treat your brothers well.

Promise me.

Yes, Father! I promise you all my brothers will be safe forever and have a good ending!

I'm relieved. Now I can leave without worries.

I have here my last testament for you.

It might be useful in the future.

Father, do you really want to do that to her?

Yes.

Don't let anyone know about this last testament,

especially your uncle Zhangsun Wuiji.

You may go.

Goodbye, Father!

Go.

His Majesty will see Honourable Zhangsun.

Your Majesty.

Forego the formality. Sit down.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, you look much better after some rest.

Right, I'll probably be around for a while.

Fuji, I remember when I was 16 years old,

Luoyang Chunhui Court's most famous courtesan Yu Yinglian was in town.

I was being grounded by my father at that time.

Do you remember what you said to me?

I do. I said, "Your Majesty, you must go."

We were young at that time. This day has come so fast.

The whole time during my reign, you've been my chancellor.

We began well and will end well.

I entrust my sons and the state to you. Please look after them for me.

Your Majesty, even death can't stop me!

Fuji, I understand you're biased against Wu Meiniang, but I trust you no matter what.

I have a favour to ask.

Promise me you will spare Wu Meiniang's life.

I have issued an edict sending her to Ganye Temple.

She won't intervene in state affairs. What do you think?

Is that a "yes"?

Yes.

Fuji, I appreciate it.

Your Majesty!

Fuji, you are still my Fuji.

Your Majesty!

Gong-Gong, all the ministers are in the main chamber!

I'll let Wu Meiniang in through the side chamber!

Wu Meiniang, follow him! I can't walk anymore!

Alright, let's go! Let's go!

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Father!

Father!

(Whose features make the world gasp in admiration...)

Perhaps the person inside the Hall was the one who danced with me that night?

One day I'll get into your heart and be the only one you'll choose!

(All I have left in my hands is my kingdom)

(I don't know where I stand each night)

(I don't get to choose my destiny...)

His Majesty has passed away!

Your Majesty...

(...My dream started with your glance)

(For whom do I look beautiful...)

I hereby give you a new name, Wu Meiniang.

Dead or alive, we're together!

(...1 live for love regardless)

Your Majesty!

Stop! No one shall hold her back!

(In between the joy and sorrow of parting and reunion,)

(love thoroughly, hurt thoroughly...)

If fate allows, you'll feel it the moment you see him.

It's hard when you see her clear, determined, innocent, teary big eyes.

(...1 feel particularly lonely in a crowd)

(My destiny is not my choice)

(Despite the blue sky)

(flowers in bloom will wither)

(My dream started with your first glance)

(For whom did I look beautiful?)

All these years I had been controlling and restraining myself until I met you.

(...1 live for love regardless)

(When flowers were blooming, we were passionately in love)

(When flowers were dying)

(why did you disappear like the tide?)

(For survival, I buried my dreams)

(For a good night's sleep)

(I never stopped sharpening my sword)

(When a woman manages to climb onto a cliff)

(it is hard for her to move forward or back away)

(How is she to escape after tasting all that sweet glory?)

(The bronze statue can be looked up to but not relied on)

(For survival...)

Let go, I know you're tired.

(For a good night's sleep)

(I'm more resolute than the rocks...)

Zhinu, I...

(When a woman manages to climb onto a cliff)

(it is hard for her to move forward or back away!)

(Who can see how fulfilling it is to have your name go down in history?)

(Only I know all those stories behind)

(Who made that shy girl who first came to the capital)

(endure those unforgettable days?)

(How can she escape after tasting all that sweet glory in celebrations?)

(The bronze statue can be looked up to but not relied on)

(When flowers were blooming)

(I chose to stay in your palace)

(When flowers are dying...)

Excuse me, why is everyone crying?

His Majesty has passed away!

Very well. I can finally leave this place.

After all that has happened, what's the point of seeing each other?

I had a dream last night.

In the dream, my father talked to me before I entered the Palace.

All women married to the Emperor were pitiful.

If I married an ordinary man who would love and cherish me,

and give me a happy and stable life, I might be able to feel love.

My father was still trying to convince me the day I entered the Palace.

In the end I told him perhaps other girls entered the Palace

to win honour and glorify their families,

but I truly admired His Majesty.

I forgot which of his poems I read made me fall for him.

Was it "New Year's Day" or "The Dark Moon"?

You asked me to come here to tell me how much you loved His Majesty?

You did all those bad things, betrayed me, framed me, hurt me,

all because you loved His Majesty so much.

You once gave me your heart. So did I give you mine.

Heaven let us fall in love with the same man.

But in this world, there is no love big enough for three people.

I always thought you were extra.

In the end I realised I was the extra one.

After all that has happened,

you're the only one in the whole Palace who can understand my pain.

I just thought we should keep each other company.

So, now that His Majesty has passed away,

you think the only obstacle between us no longer exists,

and we can be good sisters again like we used to?

Or is it because you have no one to depend on in the Cold Palace,

you want to draw me to your side

so that we can abet each other and continue to harm others?

I never had any friends before I entered the Palace.

Those mediocre and incompetent people are unworthy to be my friends.

You are my only sister in my life.

No matter how much I hated you, this has never changed.

Meiniang, could you forgive me?

Where's your jade bangle?

It's broken.

Right, spilled water can't be gathered up.

Our friendship is gone forever.

Just like the jade bangle. Once broken, it can never be reversed.

I hate you as much as I loved you before.

It has nothing to do with His Majesty. It doesn't go away as His Majesty vanishes.

Remember this, Xu Hui. I will never, ever forgive you.

From this moment on, Wu Meiniang and Xu Hui will never see each other again.

Meiniang, I didn't expect you to forgive me.

I just wanted to see you and talk to you again.

That's all I need.

Sis.

Sis!

Yes?

Xu Hui, Consort Xu, has killed herself.

She has left you this letter.

Meiniang, you and I have walked through love and hate for so many years,

and returned to where we started after all.

His Majesty is gone, and you'll be going to the Ganye Temple.

Without you and His Majesty, the Palace no longer means anything to me.

I'm going to see His Majesty soon. I have a favour to ask before I go.

Please beg the new Emperor to bury me in the Zhao Mausoleum next to His Majesty,

just for old times' sake.

Your Majesty, I'm coming to see you.

(The butterfly may keep looking, lingering amongst the flowers)

(Yet months and years would just fly by)

(Life is a game of seconds)

(Love is an immortal secret)

(A moment's charm is only to go to waste...)

(Stories about us pile up and live on)

(We met and parted. How would you know my pain...)

Sis Xu!

(It's easy to leave some things behind)

Sis Xu!

(Yet at times I'd rather have you on my mind)

(and relish a loss even till the end of time!)

(Who can shake the world like I do)

(I charm the earth even when in tears)

(In our past life we vowed to meet again in this place)

(Who is now preparing for me the most brilliantly painful goodbye?)

(Oh if I could find you in the next life!)

(Memories fly like cotton in the air!)

The late Emperor has ascended to heaven!

All childless concubines in the Harem shall enter the Ganye Temple and become nuns!

Your Majesty.

Rui'an, please rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Cairen Wu has entered the Ganye Temple. Do you have any plans?

A man of humble origins like me does not deserve any plans.

I shall wait until further notice from the Attending Office.

In that case, stay with me from now on.

Learn humbly from Wang Gong-Gong.

Your Majesty, thank you for allowing me to serve you for the rest of my life!

Rest assured. Cairen Wu is no longer here, but I will look after you.

Your Majesty, will Cairen Wu ever be able to leave the Ganye Temple?

Can we... Can we go to see her?

Your Highness, this was where Bianji was buried.

Thank you.

Bianji, I keep thinking Father shouldn't have done this to us.

He tore us apart and got punished for that.

He didn't get to see Wu Meiniang before he died.

Not only Father, but also Zhangsun Wuiji.

In order to send Wu Meiniang to her doom, he took you away from me!

Bianji, how can I not hate them? But don't worry, I won't let them off.

They fear Wu Meiniang, don't they?

I will make her leave the Ganye Temple and return to the Taiji Palace.

Bianji, rest in peace. I will avenge your blood.

Let me help you fight for justice.