Original subtitles

Tonight, on top of these city walls,

there is no Duan Zi Ang...

and no Xiao Shu He!

The prince of South Hui and the crown prince of Ji North...

should never...

have met.

You should go.

Soldiers of South Hui, listen up!

Capture the assassin from Ji North...

and avenge my brother!

Did you capture the assassin from Ji North?

Your Highness,

Duan Zi Ang is very skilled.

The soldiers have tried their best to chase him.

Seeing the dagger is the same as seeing me.

Father and Shu Qian are no longer here.

Someone has to take on the responsibility...

of governing the South Hui Kingdom.

Although I was born in the palace,

I always dreamt of paradise.

I thought that between poetry and wine,

was where I belonged in life.

But it turns out...

that it was just a dream that I fooled myself with.

Now that I've woken up,

I know that behind me is my country...

and in front of me...

is my duty.

I have nowhere to run.

I had just heard that you, the profligate son,

wanted to share my burdens.

I've been obsessed with poetry for too long.

The soul and the spirit ought to speak to one another.

Do not be born into the imperial family.

If I take over the world one day,

I'll be suffocated.

In the 25th year of the Great Xiao,

the emperor passed away.

Crown Prince Shu Qian was killed by a Ji North assassin.

He was 24 years old.

Sixth Prince Shu He heard the news...

and led the Imperial Guards to the rescue.

But the crown prince had already passed away.

The ministers were horrified.

Prime Minister Gu Yuan Shan and others...

were warned by the late emperor...

that the state cannot be without a ruler for a day...

and to appoint Shu He to the throne.

- Long live the emperor! - Long live the emperor!

Within the month,

Xiao Shu He succeeded the throne in Nanling...

and ushered in the Jinghe era.

He issued a nationwide amnesty.

(South Hui Kingdom)

(Ji North Kingdom)

Duan Zi Ang, hear the decree.

The crown prince of South Hui...

was power-hungry,

tyrannical, and merciless.

Duan Zi Ang has made great contributions...

by assassinating the crown prince of South Hui,

ridding His Majesty's worries,

and securing peace for the Ji North Kingdom.

Therefore, he is appointed Chief Commander...

to serve His Majesty in unifying the Central Plain.

That is all.

All these years,

you have suffered.

Your mission target is no longer the South Kingdom's crown prince.

It's Xiao Shu He.

You can either kill him...

or drink this poisoned wine.

The old emperor is ruthless.

He didn't leave a single portrait behind.

He's extremely arrogant.

I'm deeply moved by your generosity, Father.

I can't repay you.

I can only pledge my loyalty to our kingdom.

I'll slaughter all our enemies...

I'll protect my kingdom forever.

to repay Your Majesty's kindness.

His Majesty forbade you from going to the southern border.

He has his reasons.

Have something to eat.

Is something bothering you?

It's nothing.

Yesterday, His Majesty issued an order.

You look worried and uneasy.

Do you care about South Hui?

Or do you miss him?

Zi Ang,

trust is a fragile thing.

A reunion after a long separation?

Revenge for your father?

What is the truth?

Back then, I promised him...

that I wouldn't lie to him again.

But before I could say anything,

we had become enemies for life.

It was because of me...

that you sneaked into Sixth Prince's Manor...

and did something you would regret for life.

I don't regret it.

I don't want to lose him.

And I definitely don't want to lose you.

But what stands between the two of you now...

is a feud between the North and the South.

Therefore,

as long as I can rule the world,

I can have him.

In the spring of the second year of the Jinghe era,

Xiao Shu He proclaimed...

the closure of all paths to the south...

and the severance of all diplomatic relations.

Violators would be accused of treason...

and moved to guard the border.

The North Kingdom also closed its doors in response.

The friendship between the two kingdoms...

was terminated.

Xiao Shu He is now the emperor of the South Kingdom.

There's no chance of contacting him.

Big Brother, don't miss your old friend...

and hurt your health.

With the statuses you both have now,

there is no chance of meeting again.

It's time to let him go.

I knew that the moment Xiao Shu Qian died!

Everything I'm doing now is to see him again.

How?

In the third winter of the Jinghe era,

Chief Commander Duan Zi Ang of Ji North...

led his troops back to the imperial court.

Your Majesty,

Duan Zi Ang ascended to the throne of Ji North.

I'm afraid it won't be good for South Hui.

Duan Zi Ang?

How did he gain power?

I don't know.

The old emperor of Ji North passed away.

Duan Zi Ang mustered an army and is on a military conquest.

It seems he wants to rule the world.

You and I...

have become enemies after all.

In the fourth year of the Jinghe era,

the new emperor of Ji North, Duan Zi Ang, ascended the throne...

and sent troops to the south.

- Long live the emperor! - Long live the emperor!

Report!

The Ji North army has dispatched troops to the border.

Duan Zi Ang's envoys seek an audience.

I won't see them.

Drag them out.

Don't ever mention him again.

Shu He,

five years of winter and summer have passed.

How is your health, Your Majesty?

The scenery in the South Kingdom must not have changed.

The memory of the short time we spent together in the manor...

is like the reflection of the moon on water.

Though I know I can't pursue it,

it's engraved in my heart.

For five years,

I climbed a bloody path to the throne.

It was not because I am hungry for power.

It was because I wanted to gain a foothold.

It is my hope that in this position,

I can see you again.

Men!

Deliver this letter to the emperor of South Hui.

Make haste.

Today,

since I'm the emperor of the North,

I know what happened in the past can't be undone.

I hope Your Majesty will consider our past friendship...

and allow trade between our two kingdoms.

This is not just for diplomatic relations.

It's also my way of seeking a way back into your heart.

Trust is a fragile thing.

If you really do something harmful to South Hui,

I won't forgive you.

I don't dare to ask for your forgiveness.

I only hope...

that we can communicate with each other.

Your Majesty, there is no reply.

This is the only thing...

that the emperor of the South Kingdom sent back.

Seeing the dagger is like seeing me.

The dagger is here.

Think of me whenever you're in danger.

Why?

Why?

Why?

But what stands between the two of you now...

is a feud between the North and the South.

Therefore,

as long as I can rule the world,

I can have him.

Very well.

Shu He,

since our friendship...

is like this dagger to you...

Let's not meet again...

in this life.

It has become a piece of scrap metal.

Then,

I shall use these million iron hooves...

to pave the way in the South Kingdom.

A bloody path that leads straight to your throne room.

I'm going to break down your palace doors myself...

and stand before your throne.

I'm going to make sure you have nowhere to hide.

You can't escape.

Attack!

All armies, listen up!

Destroy the South Hui Kingdom!

Those who burn and pillage shall be executed.

Anyone who captures Xiao Shu He alive...

will be rewarded with 10,000 taels of gold!

Anyone who harms him will have their family executed!

We don't retreat from today's battle!

While it's easy to take over a kingdom,

people's hearts are hard to capture.

When your two armies clash,

how will you know if he loves you or hates you?

Whether he loves me or hates me is a matter for later.

Right now,

I just want to see him.

In the spring of the fifth year of the Jinghe era,

the Northern army broke through Tianmen Pass...

and marched straight in.

They breached the Southern capital.

The South's Imperial Guards were absent from the battlefield.

The capital fell at once.

(South Hui Main Hall, South Hui Kingdom)

(The 17th day of the 12th month, the day that South Hui fell)

Father,

I am ashamed to face my ancestors.

It is my incompetence.

In the afterlife,

how can I face the ancestors of the Xiao family?

Duan Zi Ang,

I couldn't protect the kingdom.

It's my fault.

But I won't be your prisoner!

It's you, isn't it?

You killed my brother.

You destroyed my kingdom.

And now,

will you trample on my dignity too?

The Northern army...

besieged the Southern capital.

Shu He knew the tide had turned.

He drew his sword to take his own life.

Zi Ang rushed forward to capture him...

and brought him back to Ji North.

The South Hui Kingdom was destroyed.

Don't move.

I'm afraid the wound will reopen.

Did you shoot that arrow just now?

That's right.

You annihilated South Hui.

Why did you save me?

I only annihilated South Hui to save you.

Trust me.

The one who was shouting outside the Imperial Garden...

must have been your brother.

Do you still remember...

how you two were able to meet again?

I still remember...

your kindness.

You do?

You blindfolded me.

You must feel guilty...

and don't dare to face me.

I covered your eyes...

because I couldn't bear to see you cry.

In the fifth winter of the Jinghe era,

Zi Ang captured the former ruler of South Hui, Shu He,

brought him back to the Northern capital,

and gave him a new residence.

All these years, you've been busy with political affairs.

You haven't returned to Sixth Prince's Manor, have you?

Duan Zi Ang.

How much effort did you put in...

to cut out my old residence from my homeland...

and plant it in the land of your North Kingdom?

I know that the throne...

was like a heavy shackle to you.

Indeed, it's not as comfortable...

as the land in this manor.

Indeed, I haven't been back to my old residence for a long time.

But I remember every blade of grass...

and every tree in my manor.

I also remember the wind blowing, the leaves falling,

and the sandalwood incense wafting outside the window.

Ever since you came here,

the sounds of weapons clashing appeared in my manor.

Although this place is very similar to my manor,

there is nobody around.

What exactly is this place?

If you stay here for a while,

people will naturally come.

I know you're frail.

You must be unfamiliar with Ji North.

But if you can live in a residence that is similar to your old one,

perhaps...

you will be able to adapt better.

You annihilated my kingdom.

Now you've rebuilt my former manor in South Hui to humiliate me.

Duan Zi Ang,

I should have killed you myself that night at the city gate!

I've put in so much effort to remake Sixth Prince's Manor!

How could you treat me like this?

Take him away!

Lock him up in this manor.

Let him know that he wasted my good intentions.

Go to the prisoner-of-war camp.

Ask the palace maids of South Hui...

where the sandalwood incense used in Sixth Prince's Manor...

came from.

Walk faster. We're falling behind.

I don't even get to relieve myself.

How can I walk faster?

Hey.

Can I pee?

Hold it in.

If I hold it in much longer, I'll burst.

Are you sure you want to be smelling urine the whole way?

Go over there.

Young Master Xiao,

His Majesty prepared this Longjing tea for you.

This incense was ordered by His Majesty at the last minute.

If the preparation is lacking,

please forgive me.

Although your tea preparation is that of South Hui,

your accent is from the north.

Young Master Xiao,

three years ago, His Majesty held a tea party...

and selected palace maids...

to learn the South Hui Kingdom's tea ceremony.

I was one of the ones chosen to learn it.

Young Master Xiao, you might not know this.

His Majesty held this tea party...

because he loves the Longjing tea of South Hui.

Secondly, as His Majesty always says,

after this residence is built,

an important guest from South Hui will come.

This guest has specific tastes.

His Majesty feared he wouldn't be used to the astringency...

of Ji North's flower tea.

So he ordered the palace maids to learn South Hui's tea ceremony...

to prepare for it.

We've all wondered who this important guest might be.

It must be you, Young Master Xiao.

What you said implies that...

he had been planning to destroy South Hui...

for three years!

What is the meaning of this?

His Majesty has ordered me...

to watch over you, Young Master Xiao.

What if I insist on leaving Ji North?

Then blood will be shed...

by the South Hui soldiers in the prisoner-of-war camp.

(Sixth Prince's Manor)

Your Majesty conquered the Central Plain yourself.

It's a great achievement.

Your influence stretches in all directions.

It is a great merit.

- It is a great merit. - It is a great merit.

I...

toast all of you.

We are loyal.

But I have my doubts today.

To capture Xiao Shu He alive,

I've lost so many of my men.

Yet, he's sitting comfortably in the newly built palace.

Your Majesty, please provide an explanation.

General Liu,

I've heard that you love your soldiers like your own sons.

You should know...

that even after destroying the East and West Kingdoms,

there are still many disasters in our territory.

If we want to win the hearts of the people of South Hui,

we must take the gentle approach.

If we are shortsighted in our haste,

we will spoil our grand plan!

Prime Minister Duan, do you know...

that Xiao Shu He said something disrespectful...

to His Majesty at Sixth Prince's Manor?

The leader of South Hui...

is in Ji North.

How dare he be so arrogant...

as to insult my liege?

General Liu!

Huai Yi.

What General Liu said...

is not unreasonable.

I wanted to be kind to the former sovereign...

and reassure the people.

But I didn't know he would be so nitpicky and critical.

Tonight,

I was supposed to celebrate with all of you.

How could I have known that this defeated emperor...

would trouble me so?

If Your Majesty is still concerned about this,

why don't we put an end to it today?

We don't want your health to be harmed.

I've already sent someone to fetch Xiao Shu He and wait here.

Should I call him in?

Bring him in.

Kneel.

Today, Ji North Kingdom has achieved unification.

I should be celebrating with my ministers.

But you ruined the mood.

I called you here...

to hear your explanation.

What do I have to explain to you?

Don't speak to His Majesty that way.

How dare he wear...

the South Hui's imperial robe in our palace?

He's asking for death.

Remove the robe.

Remove it!

Thank His Majesty for his kindness in sparing your life.

Kindness in sparing my life?

As the ruler of the South Hui Kingdom,

today,

I only wish to die!

Dismissed!

You'll die when I tell you to.

You'll live when I tell you to.

Even if the King of Hell comes, he won't dare to take your life!

Everyone,

leave us.

I have some private matters to discuss with Xiao Shu He.

- Your Majesty. - Leave us!

When my army attacked the capital of South Hui,

I gave a death order...

that no one from South Hui was to be killed.

The battle lasted for weeks. How many soldiers listened to you?

Do you really not know?

There was looting and burning.

There was no mercy at all!

Let me tell you.

When we breached the city gate,

I thought there would be a bloodbath.

In the end,

the people of the South Hui Kingdom welcomed us into the city.

You're really funny,

Duan Zi Ang.

You really haven't changed.

You're still a smooth talker.

In their eyes,

Ji North came to save them.

To save them from you,

their incompetent emperor!

I should have listened to my ministers back then...

to attack the North Kingdom while your forces were weak...

and avenge my brother!

I really don't get it.

You love the one who hates you,

and you hate the one who loves you!

Aren't you both?

Guards!

Since he's not used to living in the palace,

lock him up in the dungeon!

For the sake of the throne,

what kind of monster will you become before you stop?

But what stands between the two of you now...

is a feud between the North and the South.

(Three years ago, when Duan Zi Ang returned to the capital)

Therefore,

as long as I can rule the world,

I can have him.

Do you know what you're saying?

If I fail,

I don't want to drag you down with me.

You unfilial son!

I didn't care that you're an illegitimate child.

Is this how you repay me?

Take off your imperial robe.

I'll spare your life.

This is the best way to repay you.

If you really want to be the emperor,

the first thing you need to learn...

is to kill without hesitation!

Just like what you did to my mother?

I won't lose a kingdom...

because of a romance!

I don't care about the kingdom!

I just want one person!

- Long live the emperor! - Long live the emperor!

- Long live the emperor! - Long live the emperor!

The cause of His Majesty's illness...

is the poison he took from the Red Shadow Guards.

His body has long been weakened.

Is there a cure for this illness?

If you can treat him,

you will be rewarded handsomely.

My medical skills are lacking.

I am unable to cure him.

However,

I know of a strange physician...

who might be able to cure His Majesty.

Who is this person? Where does he live now?

South Hui was destroyed.

One of the captives in the palace...

was a wanderer in the martial arts world.

He learned from masters of medicine all over the world.

He is well-versed in medicine.

He's good at treating complicated diseases.

If that's the case, why didn't you bring him?

I took it upon myself...

to ask him to wait outside.

Summon him in.

As the emperor,

you must have done a lot of bad things.

Is it the poison of your own heart?

Or is it karma?

Young man,

what crime have you committed...

to end up like this?

You look...

like a nobleman.

No wonder someone gave you a blanket.

If you are cold,

you can take it.

You're covered in silk.

You speak with a southern accent.

Are you...

the sixth prince of South Hui?

I am the ruler of South Hui,

Xiao Shu He.

Nonsense!

I was ordered by the late emperor...

to renovate the imperial residence.

I've worked hard for decades.

Then I ended up at Sixth Prince's Manor!

Even in this dungeon,

I can't escape from the manor.

Do you think I want to be here?

If it wasn't for the Sixth Prince's Manor,

I would be able to see my grandson...

who has just turned one month old.

What happened to the Sixth Prince's Manor?

Three years ago, I received an order from His Majesty...

to replicate Sixth Prince's Manor of South Hui.

I was worried at the time.

The Sixth Prince's Manor was an important place in South Hui.

No one knew what it really looked like.

He actually remembers...

every detail about the manor.

That's not all.

He remembers everything that happened...

in every corner.

I should have known then...

that this manor was special to him.

I wouldn't dare to change it in the future.

Why don't I believe you?

To this day, I still don't understand.

His Majesty said it himself.

There's a private cabinet in your room.

His Majesty's paintings and a memorial tablet are in there.

I know it's bad feng shui.

I was afraid it would affect the nation's luck.

So I sealed the cabinet's door without permission.

To my surprise, His Majesty was furious when he found out.

Then I was imprisoned here.

It's strange though.

Why did you add such a strange cabinet back then?

All the clues you found were planted by me.

Every single item...

was a part of my calculations.

Absurd.

He clearly knew...

that it was all fake.