Original subtitles

♪When sorrow and joy blend into ink♪

♪Flowers fade, rain falls, helpless as time♪

♪Lament this frail body, tangled in love and hate♪

♪Yet I still wrestle with fate♪

♪Snow drifts down, burying all glory♪

♪Blame this destiny granted to me♪

♪Trapped in the chains of love and cause♪

♪When the dust finally settles♪

=Glory in Shadows=

=Episode 17=

Physician Feng,

is my daughter-in-law pregnant?

Old Madam,

Her Ladyship...

Her Ladyship must be mistaken.

She is not with child.

Are you certain?

I have examined her pulse carefully.

She is indeed not with child.

Thanks.

Maid,

escort Physician Feng out.

This way.

How dare you, Shen!

You deceived me by claiming you were pregnant!

Kneel!

I...

I just made a mistake.

Was it a mistake,

or did you deceive me on purpose?

I...

Nanzhi.

These are the undergarments you changed the other day.

There is menstrual blood on them.

You had your menses long ago,

yet you dared claim you were pregnant.

What crime should you answer for?

Old Madam.

I...

Shen Yaochu,

you are full of lies and hold human life in contempt.

Now you even fake a pregnancy to deceive me!

Once I find the bodies of Concubine Tang and Concubine Qin,

I will see you brought before the court.

No, General!

General.

Shen,

there is no one left to shield you now.

You have long shown me disrespect,

and I let it pass.

But you refuse to repent!

Today, you will kneel in the courtyard and reflect on your sins.

Without my permission, you are not to rise.

(Stability Ensures Peace)

Old Madam,

it's time to bathe the Marquis.

Tending to this living corpse day in and day out

is truly tiresome!

But punishing Shen today

was truly satisfying.

I thought

she and Li Jingchuan were deeply in love.

Yet at the first setback,

they fell apart.

How ridiculous.

(Stability Ensures Peace)

Judging by the dates,

my Jingxu should be back.

Sister-in-law.

(Li Jingxu Legitimate Son of Li Family)

Sister-in-law.

Are you the Second Young Master?

Please call me Jingxu.

I've been traveling for three years,

so you won't recognize me.

But

why are you kneeling in the snow?

It's freezing. You will fall ill.

Please get up.

I made a mistake.

Old Madam punished me to kneel.

No matter the mistake,

you shouldn't suffer this way.

What if you fall ill?

(Why did Li Jingxu suddenly show up?)

Isn't Brother at home?

How can he let you kneel in the snow?

General is...

He is angry with me.

Brother has served in the army

and doesn't cherish women.

Sister-in-law, please rise.

Sister-in-law,

Brother doesn't know, but I do.

From now on, at home,

I'll protect you, all right?

Mother!

Jingxu is back!

He's back?

Why... why didn't he come see me?

I was so happy

that I rushed over to tell you.

Hurry.

Take me to see Jingxu.

What are you doing?

Mother,

I thought it was too cold

and wished Sister-in-law to go rest.

- JingXu! - Mother,

she has a fragile constitution.

She cannot keep kneeling in the snow!

Consider this my plea on her behalf.

Since Jingxu pleads on your behalf,

I'll set aside the punishment.

Get back to your room.

Without my orders,

do not take a single step outside.

Thanks, Old Madam.

Thanks, Brother-in-law.

Li Jingxu!

Have you been bewitched

by that seductress?

She is Li Jingchuan's Principal Wife

and your sister-in-law!

So what?

You are to inherit your father's title.

If word spreads,

how will you hold your head up at court?

Mother, don't worry.

I have no interest in another man's castoffs.

Shen Yaochu

is just a pawn I use

against Li Jingchuan.

But Li Jingchuan is truly lucky.

He survived that assassination.

Fortunately,

there is no evidence now.

By the way, Mother,

did that messenger Li Qiang die?

I have sent someone to silence him.

Good.

After that assassination,

he will surely be on guard.

But he may not

guard against this woman.

Once I have this foolish woman under control,

I'll have her deal with Li Jingchuan.

Wouldn't we reap the rewards without lifting a finger?

Li Jingchuan will divorce Shen soon.

She will be a useless pawn.

That's fine.

Don't worry, Mother.

I will never let Jingchuan inherit the title.

Once that old man dies,

the marquisate,

and everything Li Jingchuan has,

will all be mine.

Do your knees hurt?

I'm fine.

I padded them secretly.

They'll be fine soon.

If we didn't put on a full act,

how would Old Madam believe that

you and I had truly fallen out?

Does this full act

include your tugging and pulling with Li Jingxu?

Why are you smiling?

Do you mind?

Yes,

I do.

I forbid you from having contact with other men.

That was never my intention.

Your brother is licentious, vile,

and hypocritical.

So I thought

using him

to gain Old Madam's trust

might serve our purpose.

Yaochu,

if that's the case,

the plan ends immediately.

General,

this concerns your assassination

and my mother's murder.

But it also concerns my wife.

If this plan

requires my wife to suffer humiliation,

I will not allow it.

What did you say?

I will not allow it.

Allow what?

My wife...

It's late.

Then I will...

♪Is cause and effect in this world♪

Stay.

♪A cycle repeated, or destinies crossed?♪

Yaochu,

do you truly love me now,

or is this only because of our bargain?

Never mind.

I...

♪Glory burned in flames♪

♪Ash drifts wide with mournful wind♪

♪A silent slaughter mirrored in pools of blood♪

♪Left with only muted agony♪

♪Once the blade is drawn♪

♪No victor nor vanquished♪

♪Snow drifts down, burying all glory♪

♪Blame this destiny granted to me♪

♪Trapped in the chains of love and cause♪

♪New snow falls thick beneath the eaves♪

♪Covering the courtyard gate♪

♪Your gaze melts winter into spring♪

♪Turning back from the boundless multitude♪

♪Gazing at you in that fleeting moment♪

♪All the hardships fade into drifting dust♪

♪A foolish dream turns earnest with you in it♪

♪Even a feigned play can grow into true affection♪

♪Too many dusks walked alone beneath my umbrella♪

♪Yet I crave the warmth left in your embrace♪

♪Among thousands of bright lamps, is there one♪

♪That waits quietly for me?♪

♪Time grinds through the rings of memory♪

♪Only you keep me warm in the long night♪

♪Scars left by the days gone by♪

♪Lie upon the lines of our hands together♪

♪I hold out a heart sincere and true♪

♪Crossing the deep courtyard♪

♪Just to trade it for one kiss from you♪

♪Praying our hair turns gray without regret♪

♪So that true love will finally come to be♪