Original subtitles

(Episode 6)

Greetings to Your Majesty...

from commoner, Duan Zi Ang.

So it was you...

who protected the Sixth Prince?

Your Majesty,

that's right.

Today is the betrothal banquet for the Sixth Prince.

I'd like to perform a sword dance...

to congratulate the Sixth Prince and the Princess...

on their marriage.

I'll play the zither to entertain you, Father.

All right.

That's great.

This is clearly the swordplay...

of the Ji North Kingdom's Red Shadow Guards.

The Red Shadow Guards all have crow-shaped tattoos on their backs.

Guards, check his body.

Your Majesty.

There's no tattoo on him.

Since you're doing this,

why don't you check our kingdom's guards too?

Even if he's not a spy,

it's still a serious crime for the Sixth Prince...

to hide an assassin in his manor.

To clear Shu He's name,

Father, I plead you...

to issue a decree...

to thoroughly investigate the Sixth Prince's Manor.

Shu He.

To ensure our innocence,

you'll have to put up with this.

Yes.

Order the Imperial Guards to search the manor.

Your Highness, there's nothing.

Your Highness, there's nothing in the side rooms.

Your Highness.

There's nothing in the east and west wings either.

You're good, Xiao Shu He.

So?

Your Majesty.

We've searched the whole manor.

We didn't find anything suspicious.

Interesting.

This act that Your Majesty has put on...

was truly spectacular.

This was supposed to mend our kingdoms' relationship.

I didn't expect you to humiliate me like this.

I didn't intend to interfere in the affairs of the South Kingdom.

But under such circumstances,

I really can't entrust our princess to you.

Regarding the tribute gifts,

we'll have to discuss them later.

Xiao Shu Qian.

Are you satisfied?

Father, please don't be angry.

I'm sure Shu Qian was just concerned about my safety.

Please don't punish him, Father.

I'm returning to the palace.

Why were you so foolishly bold today?

You acted so recklessly.

Do you want us to die together?

Reckless?

If I didn't show up today,

the Crown Prince wouldn't have let you off the hook.

I'm a prince.

I wouldn't have been beheaded on the spot.

If anything had gone wrong today,

you wouldn't be alive to argue with me right now!

Luckily, I got there in time.

- Otherwise... - Otherwise?

Otherwise, the beautiful lady in this portrait...

would become Your Highness's wife.

If it's something precious to me,

I'll protect it with my life.

But he won't listen.

There's nothing I can do.

A true man stands between heaven and earth.

His life and death are determined by fate.

But Prince Shu He,

if the Crown Prince really traps you in the depths of the palace,

will you still pay attention to me?

Will you still remember that you have a good friend...

named Duan Zi Ang?

This blade has been with me for seven years.

It has been stained with blood 19 times.

I'm gifting it to Your Highness now.

It will protect you for me...

and always ensure your safety.

I've never liked to practice martial arts since I was little.

Aren't you afraid it'll hurt me?

Seeing the blade will be like seeing me.

Even if we're separated by mountains and rivers,

the blade will be here.

Your Highness, think of me whenever you're in danger.

No matter what danger you're in,

I'm willing to stay by your side.

The Sixth Prince and Duan Zi Ang's friendship is quite strong.

Why is Your Highness helping South Kingdom's Sixth Prince?

The purpose of this intermarriage...

is to secretly control Xiao Shu He.

I didn't expect...

his relationship with the Crown Prince...

to be so strained.

We can use this to our advantage.

What do you mean, Your Highness?

Xiao Shu He only cares about poetry.

It's useless for him to rule the kingdom.

If he becomes the emperor one day,

it's advantageous to me.

The Ji North Kingdom can rule he world.

(Confidential Letter)

Huo Ying is useless.

After that battle,

Your Highness is put in a more difficult position now.

We had such a good opportunity yesterday.

We could have killed two birds with one stone.

Is Father really losing his senses?

He's even willing to submit to the Ji North Kingdom.

His Majesty's health is weakening.

He has long changed.

Did the Red Shadow Guard...

not put the token in the study?

He doesn't want to die yet.

He wouldn't dare.

Forget it.

The priority now is to come up with a plan.

Since the intermarriage was decreed,

the war hawk faction has been complaining.

It's obvious that the North Kingdom is up to no good now.

If Your Highness takes this opportunity...

to win over the military generals,

even if His Majesty doesn't want to fight,

the people's voices can't be silenced.

However, what should we do with the Sixth Prince?

When he returned the zither string to me that day,

it was a clear sign of the end.

The South Hui Kingdom...

will not share its power.

If I may be so bold,

before the envoys from the Ji North Kingdom leave,

why don't we ask His Majesty...

to confine the Sixth Prince in the palace...

in the name of His Majesty's protection?

Greetings, Your Highness.

How long have you been by Xiao Shu He's side?

Five years.

How long has it been...

since I saved your life from the Shadow Guard Camp?

Sixteen years.

It has been 17 years.

Yes.

Counting this year, it's 17 years.

Give me your hand.

This is the elixir pill recipe that you wanted.

You don't have to come here anymore.

A loyal servant wouldn't serve two masters.

I'll fulfill your wish.

Once you leave this palace today,

you have nothing more to do with the Crown Prince's Manor.

Your Highness, please believe me.

I indeed hid the token...

in the secret compartment of the study.

It's the truth.

But what happened?

I was incompetent.

Please punish me as Your Highness wishes.

Your Highness gave me my life.

I shall live and die...

as Your Highness's servant.

Don't think I don't know what's on your mind.

I saved you...

because your martial arts skills are quite useful,

so I reluctantly kept you by my side as a hidden weapon.

Now, you're poisoned to the bone.

You even messed up such a trivial task.

You're just a useless blade now.

Be clever and remember this.

There has never been a guard named Huo Ying in my manor.

I, Xiao Shu Qian, know nothing about any poison.

Naturally, I have no antidote.

Take your wishful thinking...

and find a quiet place to kill yourself.

That way, you won't suffer from the poison anymore.

Take a good look at my face.

Given our 17 years as master and servant,

I'll allow you...

to think of my face before you die.

Your Highness.

The palace has summoned Your Highness....

to the palace immediately.

- All right. You may go. - Yes.

Father summoned me so urgently.

It must be because...

of the Crown Prince's search yesterday.

He didn't find any evidence.

Is he going to frame you out of nothing?

The Crown Prince of the Ji North Kingdom...

is cunning.

If the intermarriage fails, he will cause trouble.

The court ministers who favor peace...

Forget it. I'll do it myself.

Why don't you say you're sick?

I can't avoid it forever.

Hide your whereabouts.

Don't leave the manor.

Huo Ying.

Huo Ying.

Are you all right?

Prince Shu He.

What a coincidence.

I've long heard that you're a talented man.

It was chaotic yesterday.

It's such a shame...

that we didn't get to know each other.

Your Highness is flattering me.

What happened yesterday was my brother's recklessness.

I'm sorry for scaring the Princess.

Please forgive us.

The Princess is fine.

But Your Highness seems to have a close relationship...

with your guest.

Don't be joking, Your Highness.

If it weren't for my good friend,

I'm afraid things wouldn't have ended well yesterday.

The most poisonous snake tends to be right by your side,

while the most dangerous blade could be hidden in your sleeve.

Be careful, Your Highness.

Your Highness, this way, please.

Eunuch.

Why did Father summon me here?

Forgive me, Your Highness.

I'm just following orders.

Lock the door.

Eunuch.

Eunuch, what's the meaning of this?

It's His Majesty's decree.

The guest in Your Highness's manor is still a mystery.

To prevent any more trouble from the North Kingdom's envoys,

Your Highness must rest here for now.

Open the door.

I want to see His Majesty.

I'm sorry, Your Highness.

Wait, Young Master Duan.

His Highness reminded me repeatedly before he left...

to watch you carefully.

Your master hasn't returned for a long time.

Aren't you anxious?

Think about it.

Isn't it safer for His Highness to be in the palace than here?

Forget it.

I'll do as His Highness says.

You haven't lost your touch.

(Confidential Letter)

A new mission?

(Xiao Shu He)

There was some misinformation.

The target has changed.

Your mission is no longer to kill...

the Crown Prince of the South Kingdom.

It's Xiao Shu He.

(Xiao Shu He)

Xiao Shu He is a scholar.

He has no interest in politics.

Killing him and letting the Crown Prince take the throne...

won't be good for the Ji North Kingdom.

That's not for you to think about.

There are many skilled martial artists...

in Xiao Shu He's manor.

I'm afraid I can't do it.

Is it that you can't do it...

or you don't want to do it?

Either kill him...

or drink this poisoned wine...

as an apology to the Red Shadow Guards.

(Xiao Shu He)

Don't forget.

I taught you...

all your martial arts.

Who is it?

Is it the Sixth Prince?

I've brought you food.

Leave it and go.

I have orders from above...

to deliver it to you in person.

What are you doing?

Who are you?

How could you be so careless?

If you aren't here...

to play the zither to help me relax,

what will I do?

If the Red Shadow Guards hadn't saved me back then,

I would have died in the South Hui Kingdom.

Today...

I'll return what I owe you.

According to the rules of the Red Shadow Guards,

those who disobey will die.

The Crown Prince was merciful today.

The poison was replaced with water to spare your life.

But remember this.

You're still a member of the Red Shadow Guards.

Monitor the Crown Prince of the South Hui Kingdom....

for the next few days.

If there's anything unusual,

report it to me immediately.

I will accomplish the Crown Prince's mission for me.

But as for the Sixth Prince's Manor and Xiao Shu He...

I'll be protecting them.

How could the Crown Prince do this?

If Father's trusted aides hadn't heard something unusual,

I wouldn't have escaped.

I knew this would happen...

when I promised Prime Minister Gu to get involved...

in exchange for finding Huai Yi.

But considering that we're brothers,

I thought the Crown Prince wouldn't be this cruel.

Shen Song.

I want to send Zi Ang away.

Are you sure?

Commander Chen.

Commander Chen.

What do you think?

Duan Zi Ang has wavered.

We can't keep him.

You're too cruel.

Come to think of it,

Duan Zi Ang should be like family to you.

It's the hardest to fool oneself.

He's indeed my brother.

He loves to do difficult things.

Shu He.

Did the Crown Prince give you a hard time?

I've been worried all day.

It's fine.

The Ji North Kingdom envoys haven't left yet.

Father summoned me and the Crown Prince...

to discuss a plan.

Have a seat.

I asked the kitchen to prepare this meal.

Try it and see if you like it.

You've been in my manor for a while now.

We still haven't heard of Huai Yi's whereabouts.

We can't go on like this.

Why don't you stay at White Cloud Temple...

and lay low for a while?

Are you still worried about what happened yesterday?

I promised you I won't do anything rash again.

The Crown Prince is powerful.

The court is in turmoil.

With you by my side, it's dangerous for me.

What did the Crown Prince say to you?

Did he threaten you?

Weren't you the one...

who planned our encounter at White Cloud Temple?

- Shu He. - I used to be a carefree prince.

You disturbed my peace.

I can't leave you in danger.

Now...

The situation is too complicated.

I can still protect you for now if I stay here.

Do I have to spell it out for you?

Having you by my side...

is the biggest danger to me.

Look.

The tighter I hold it,

the deeper the wound.

What are you doing?

You don't have to do this to force me to leave.

Don't pretend to be affectionate.

You approached me...

just to use me to get close to the Crown Prince...

and find your brother.

I'll be honest with you.

My feelings for you are not real either.

When we met at White Cloud Temple that day,

I was just using you to control Gu Yuan Shan.

When the Crown Prince slaughtered everyone in General Duan's Manor,

it was actually Gu Yuan Shan pulling the strings.

I already knew about it,

but I didn't tell you.

You knew?

I knew all along.

I even used it as a trap.

What?

Only you're allowed to lie to me?

I can't lie to you?

Duan Zi Ang.

You're a smart man.

Take a guess.

When did I set up the secret compartment in my study?

A self-portrait.

A memorial tablet.

All the clues you found were set up by me.

Every single one of them...

was planned by me.

You lost.

I, Xiao Shu He, am no different from others.

Let me tell you how you're different.

Compared to others,

Xiao Shu He is terrible at lying.

Since you want to use me,

why are you still pushing me away?

Let me tell you.

I'm willing...

to be the scapegoat.

Did the Crown Prince do this?

These hands only play the zither, paint,

and dance.

Even so, he still won't let you go?

Back then, I couldn't protect Mother.

Now, I can't protect myself.

I can't protect you either.

Does it hurt?

I won't leave.

In this world,

I have nothing else to care about anymore.

If I can't protect you with my martial arts,

what do I need my skills for?

Shu He.

I know you're in pain.

You're just too cruel to yourself.

But if you achieve the life you dream of,

will you invite me to your paradise?

From now on,

I'll stay by your side.

Is what I desire...

what you want too?

In this vast land,

only you are the freedom I want.

Don't let me...

lose again.