Original subtitles

ADAPTED FROM A SHUQI.COM NOVEL ORIGINAL AUTHOR: SENLIN LU

Whatever kind of person I am,

that's what the Prince of Duan's daughter is.

You don't get to judge.

Today,

I'll purge the traitor for the Prince of Duan!

What a loyal subordinate,

to murder his lord's sole surviving daughter.

Would you have his line end with me?

I shouldn't have trusted you.

To think you would give up your title as the county princess

to seek revenge with me.

I have been

way too foolish.

You are indeed foolish.

On the day I hosted the banquet to kill the Right Chancellor,

the Imperial Guards surrounded my mansion.

Did you truly believe your safe escape

was solely the work of your patron?

After that, the murders in the palace

and the nursery rhyme in the Western Capital…

You charged ahead,

while he schemed in the shadows.

You thought he was plotting the great cause with you,

but have you ever wondered

why he chose you, of all people?

Because we both wanted Cui Minzhong dead,

and I happened to be the sharpest blade he could wield.

With such formidable power,

what kind of blade couldn't he find?

It's only because I chose you.

He only valued

your status as my father's former subordinate.

If the plan succeeds,

you will be eliminated because you know too much.

If it fails,

you will be the perfect scapegoat.

Do not fabricate lies out of thin air.

Haven't you realized that he has abandoned you?

Do you think assassinating Consort Shu is some act of righteousness?

It is just the perfect way to pin all the blame on you.

Would he care about my grievance over the loss

or your suffering from injustice?

It's nothing but a chess game to take down the Cui family.

On the chessboard,

everyone is a pawn.

I can't kill Consort Shu

nor can I bear to kill you.

As long as he remains,

revenge can still be achieved.

Then why don't we make a bet?

He must have promised

to escort you out once the job is done.

Then let's see

who he sends.

Someone to help you escape

or the Imperial Guards for your arrest.

If you win,

I will let you go

and stop standing in the way of your revenge.

And if I win…

What do you want?

I will surely win.

Prepare the prize. Now, we shall see.

A CALM BREEZE, A CLEAR MOON

We heard Consort Shu was attacked and came as soon as possible.

The General of the Imperial Guards has come in person?

Consort Shu went to rest, and there was no assassin.

Just a petty thief. I already caught him.

So don't worry.

You caught him?

Where is he? We can take him into custody.

It's too late.

That man was bold enough to cause trouble in Consort Shu's palace.

I've cut him into pieces right away

and fed him to the dogs.

Your Ladyship, please stop teasing me.

We are here on orders.

We must do our job and take him back with us.

In that case,

it is tricky.

I don't want to make things hard for you.

How about this? Take me back.

I will explain to him.

- What… - And it will be my chance to see

whose orders you are following.

Please forgive us.

We merely heard there was an assassin in Consort Shu's palace

and came to protect Her Highness and Your Ladyship.

Her Highness is fine, and so am I.

The petty thief is dead.

What else concerns you?

We still need to see the body to be certain.

Didn't you hear me?

I fed him to the dogs.

Do you want me to cut the dogs open to reassure you?

I dare not.

Rest assured, Your Ladyship.

Tonight, we shall guard outside

and stay alert.

The Right Chancellor has just fallen,

and someone is here to surround Consort Shu's palace.

How swiftly the times change.

But Consort Shu is His Majesty's consort, after all.

Whose power

are you trying to usurp?

We dare not, Your Ladyship.

We were merely overanxious out of concern.

We didn't mean to displease you.

We will leave right away.

Our regards to Her Highness.

What's wrong?

You know him?

Just two days ago, we were allies.

But today, he wants me dead.

Fine.

Kill me if you want.

My life is yours.

I don't want your life.

But I can help you seek vengeance.

Your Ladyship.

The mastermind wants him dead.

Keep him safe

at the Palace Investigation Bureau.

Make sure he confesses to all his crimes.

Understood.

Did you suspect that I'd hurt Consort Shu?

I was sure you had a plan.

Then why are you upset?

Boss.

You've been planning for so long.

Will you finally be able to take revenge?

It might happen soon.

Then I'm happy.

Go check on Mr. Xiao.

He's been waiting for you.

Considering his slight frame,

he may fall ill again if he waits any longer.

You've had a hard day, Mr. Xiao.

I'm sorry I made you suffer.

It's alright.

I shouldn't have involved you in this.

I'm very glad

that you involved me.

I knew you would understand.

I didn't believe that you would hurt Consort Shu

with Chen Luo just for revenge.

The fingertip blade you left me

showed that you hoped I could

escape and help you.

The only one you ever wanted revenge against

was the Right Chancellor.

I had to add fuel to the fire

to force him into your chess game.

No one understands me

as you do.

But there's one thing I don't understand.

What?

The fireworks. How did you pull it off?

I distracted my opponent and used his plan against him.

I caused a commotion at my mansion.

It lured the Right Chancellor

and those who'd long been watching him.

So,

someone seized upon mine and Chen Luo's desire for vengeance

to carry out his own scheme.

While Chen Luo held back from me,

I was quietly investigating what he was doing.

Before the Grand Festival,

you realized he was preparing fireworks.

Instead of stopping him,

I turned his plan to my advantage.

I changed the phoenix solo dance

into the "Dragon and Phoenix in Blissful Harmony".

Pretty, wasn't it?

Yes.

What fate joins our necks as mandarin ducks,

soaring together, wing to wing?

Since His Majesty is at ease,

I can rest my mind.

Thank you for trusting me.

Thank you

for trusting me, too.

CUI'S MANOR

ONE TRUE MASTER IS ENOUGH

There you are.

Sorry for the wait.

What a festive attire.

What are we celebrating?

It's the 15th day of the first month.

The Lantern Festival.

If I remember correctly,

you never celebrate the Lantern Festival.

This is an exception.

You brought your sword?

As always.

Are you here

to kill me?

Yes.

Does His Majesty know?

Does Consort Shu know?

Cui Minzhong, the disgraced official,

accept the decree.

A few days away from court, and you've forgotten your manners?

Accept the decree on your knees.

I, Cui Minzhong, the sinned official,

accept the decree.

"By thorough investigation, it has been found

that for many years, the Right Chancellor Cui Minzhong

has sold offices and bartered ranks, formed cliques for selfish ends,

and framed the loyal ministers to eliminate dissent.

Sixteen years ago, he forged an imperial decree

and murdered the entire household of the Prince of Duan.

To conceal his crimes,

he relentlessly pursued and harmed the royal descendants.

Now, with his crimes exposed, to stay alive,

he has resorted to vile sorcery,

slaughtered the innocent,

cursed the nation's fate, and plotted rebellion.

His accumulated evils

are too numerous to record.

He is hereby granted death.

Let those in charge carry it out."

I'm wronged.

I'm wronged.

Li Peiyi.

You set me up.

This talk of vile sorcery

is a baseless accusation!

You…

- You… - I'm sure you have received

countless rewards over the decade, Right Chancellor.

Were you so overjoyed by the death sentence

that you forgot all propriety?

Show your gratitude.

I-I must see His Majesty.

I must see Consort Shu.

Do not think that this imperial decree

allows you to distort the truth.

I never harbored rebellious intent.

You and Xiao Huaijin conspired to frame me.

I did everything out of self-defense.

I have been here,

copying sutras in repentance,

confined in reflection.

His Majesty

will forgive me.

His Majesty won't kill me.

I've done so much for His Majesty.

He can't kill me.

You have committed countless evil deeds.

The retribution is now before you.

Are you finally scared?

Am I scared?

Of what?

Why would I be scared of a young maiden like you?

Your father lost to me. So will you.

I only regret one thing.

I shouldn't have asked Consort Shu to raise you

and allowed you to be a threat.

I really enjoy

your whole act of bluffing

and the empty threats.

When you were rising high, basking in His Majesty's favor,

your hands were drenched in blood,

yet you paid no price.

But you've lost His Majesty's favor.

DEATH

I bet you didn't expect

that death comes on a breath.

I must see His Majesty.

I must see His Majesty.

I must see His Majesty.

Without his imperial decree,

no one shall lay a finger on me.

What do you intend to tell His Majesty?

The injustice you suffered?

Your bitterness and grievances?

Thanks to you, I've tasted all of that, over and over again.

When you stole justice from me,

His Majesty didn't intervene.

What makes you think

you deserve justice for yourself?

When you stood above all others,

looking down on everyone,

did you ever feel sorry for my late parents?

Did you ever feel sorry for me?

No, you didn't.

You believed that those who oppose you shall perish,

and we brought it all upon ourselves.

You killed so many people

without a shred of remorse.

It's your turn now. Why are you so terrified?

Did you think you'd live forever?

Did you think you could take lives

and never pay with your own?

You can't kill me.

You can't kill me.

Why can't I kill you?

You ordered the water-clock apprentice to slow our water clock.

You made my father miss his appointment,

disturbing His Majesty.

When His Majesty ordered you to bring my father,

you forged an imperial decree and slaughtered everyone.

Fortunately, my father had handed in his command tally,

proving his loyalty.

Seeing that your plan failed,

you killed the eunuch sent from the palace

and made up a lie about my father going mad,

resisting arrest, and slaughtering everyone.

He left me no choice.

The Prince of Duan left me no choice.

I kept reaching out in goodwill,

but he met me with opposition at every turn.

If I didn't kill him,

sooner or later,

he would kill me.

Military men kill with swords and blades.

Civil officials

kill with their minds.

Both are killers.

There is no noble or base.

The victor becomes king, the vanquished a bandit. That's all.

What could a mere woman like you

know of the power struggles

and the stratagems?

When your men threw me into the Moonlit Pond, I was only 8 years old.

You violated even the Five Constant Virtues.

A civil official?

You are nothing but a vicious, treacherous minister,

a power-grasping in-law of the royal clan who abuses his power.

So you knew all along.

You've spent all these years

scheming with such effort

just to kill me.

If you hadn't inherited your father's stubbornness

and had learned to read the tides and adapt,

we wouldn't end up in mutual ruin.

You were raised under my sister's care.

We could have been close like family.

And you've come to force my hand, too.

Li Peiyi.

How dare you hurt me?

Don't you dare mention

Consort Shu or my father.

I can't die.

I won't die.

I must see His Majesty.

I must…

I must see His Majesty.

ONE SUPREME TALENT SUFFICES

As the daughter of the Prince of Duan,

I can't kill you.

Because I must abide by the law of the Great Tang.

As an Inner Guard,

I can't kill you.

Because the stability of the court must be preserved.

I sought justice within the rules,

only to find you standing above them.

You grew reckless in your triumph,

thinking I couldn't do anything to you.

You thought the court relied on you

and His Majesty favored you.

You thought no one dared to cross you.

Then I shall make the court fear you

and His Majesty despise you.

You thought you sat secure in your high position,

basking in His Majesty's favor.

Then I shall give His Majesty a reason to kill you.

You thought

you stood above the rules of this world?

Then I will turn your rules against you

and kill you with them.

You handled this matter well.

A reward is due.

But any reward from me might be ill-fitting.

So just tell me what you want.

Your Majesty,

whatever you grant Her Ladyship will be appreciated.

It lacks novelty for Her Ladyship

to demand something.

We await Your Majesty's decree.

Li Peiyi.

I decree

that you shall oversee the Palace Investigation Bureau.

What do you say?

I am unruly by nature

and unworthy of such a responsibility.

Is it that you are unworthy

or that you are unwilling?

Did you really think of it as a tool for your private investigations?

You want to quit now?

I only feel ashamed.

Even if I uncover the truth,

I'm rarely allowed to bring it to light.

I investigate cases and hold trials by the laws,

only to find that the laws

are nothing but tools of the royal clan.

The laws punish the multitude,

but not the royals.

Within the inner palace,

I no longer know how to conduct an investigation.

I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness.

I am truly unworthy of such responsibility.

Are you accusing me of bending the law for personal gain?

The entire realm is Your Majesty's private domain.

How can there be any "personal gain"?

Li Peiyi.

Do you truly believe

I'm unaware of your schemes?

I have tolerated you, accommodated you,

and even allowed you to execute Cui Minzhong.

You are still displeased?

Your Majesty knew of Cui Minzhong's countless, unforgivable crimes,

each deserving a thousand deaths.

Yet you still chose to shield him.

Without your favoritism,

I wouldn't have waited until today to seek justice for my family.

Do you wish to be reunited with your parents?

You have just cleared my father's name.

How could you execute his only surviving daughter?

Even if you feel no pity for me,

surely you care about your own reputation.

Get lost.

Get out of here.

Don't ever come back.

Get lost.

I lack the fortune to deserve your grace.

But I will always be grateful to you

for raising me.

Your Highness.

You're leaving?

I always knew this day would come.

You don't even ask where I'm going?

Wherever you wish to go

must be a place where you can find shelter and peace of mind.

Your Highness.

Come with me.

This place is suffocating.

This is my place of shelter.

But does it bring you peace?

This is not a home.

How can it not be?

I am His Majesty's consort.

This is the home His Majesty gave me.

Always trying to read his mind,

always having to wear a smiling face…

That is not what a wife should do.

Favor and fall from grace can change in a single dawn.

That is not what a wife deserves.

Come with me.

I will take care of you.

With the edge of jade and the heart of orchids.

You have your own name.

You don't have to be Consort Shu.

You are Cui Yuyao.

Nobody has called me Yuyao for a long time.

You've done what you had to do.

But I haven't.

His Majesty needs a Consort Shu.

The Cui family needs a Consort Shu.

To ease His Majesty's anger

and preserve the Cui family,

I must stay here

to atone for my brother's sins.

But His Majesty and the Cui family never truly cared about you.

Why must you live for them?

Peiyi, I am not like you.

I do not know for whom to live

if not for His Majesty

or the Cui family.

I lost "me" a long time ago.

All that's left is "Consort Shu".

Don't worry.

I will live well.

You must also

live well.

ETERNAL RENEWAL IN IMPERIAL SPLENDOR

What do you have to say?

Are you also resigning?

Yes.

I handed in my resignation days ago.

I'm grateful for your appreciation.

I now take my leave.

Get out of here with Li Peiyi.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Li Peiyi.

Xiao… Xiao Huaijin, how dare you!

You've grown some nerves.

Your Ladyship.

Mr. Xiao.

There are people around.

Mind your words and conduct.

- Mind our words and conduct. - Mind our words and conduct.

- Your Ladyship. - Mind our words and conduct.

- Mind our words and conduct. - You must not jest with me.

Who is Mr. Xiao?

- His Majesty will criticize me. - Who's Your Ladyship?

- Who's Your Ladyship? - Your Ladyship!

Please stop.

Please.

Mind your conduct.

Mind your conduct.

What…

Bravo.

Bravo!

Bravo.

Last night,

I had the same dream again.

I was in the dark,

with only a faint glimmer of light in the distance.

Why are you taking my rabbit lantern?

Father?

Mother?

The Lantern Festival is over.

So we're taking the lanterns off.

That's right. The Lantern Festival is over.

The Lantern Festival is over?

Father and Mother told me

that the Lantern Festival

is over.

It's been hard on you.

You've waited

16 years for this day.

But dawn always comes.

I will stay with you

on this day every year

until dawn.

To Boss.

One more time.

One more time.

To Boss.

Sit.

The case of the Imperial Food Service

is yours.

Really?

Thanks, Boss.

Who could be craving

the frozen delicacy in this deep winter?

I searched everywhere for it.

Well, of course…

It's the boss who wants it.

There you go.

Thanks, Boss.

Lan'er.

How many pots is this now?

You're going to burn all my monthly stipend.

Martial arts are hard to learn.

So is medicine.

Fine, let's go for fried sweet-dough pockets.

Really?

Let's go out of the palace.

PENGLAI TERRACE

Your Highness.

It's the Lantern Festival again.

I hope everything is fine

over there.

I caught you.

I caught you.

Come catch me!

I caught you.

- Don't run. - Come!

Come on!

Don't run.

- Don't run. - Stop there.

Wait! Stop there!

Wuren.

It's freezing out here.

Come with us

for some nice tavern food.

Don't worry.

They're playing dice. They won't notice.

Look at that! How nice.

Look at that!

A dragon!

- There's a snake! - A snake!

- Look at that. - Over there!

So beautiful.

Look at that one!

That one.

It's over there!

That one looks like you!

Great music.

- Excellent. - Nice.

- Nice. - Bravo!

- Bravo. - Bravo.

Brilliant.

- One more. - One more song!

I finally saw her performance.

Jin Niang.

- What brings you here? - It's the Lantern Festival.

I just made this. Try some.

Alright.

Let me try them.

Is it good?

Climb the tree?

I don't know how.

- I will teach you how. - Hey, kids.

Slow down, kids.

Take it easy.

Yi'en.

Have you recited today's texts?

Mother.

It's a festival today.

Please stop quizzing me.

Let me perform a sword dance for you instead.

Go ahead.

Why did you come here?

Don't tell me you covet my beauty.

You are so skilled at painting eyebrows.

Could you do ours too?

Alright.

Though none of you can compare to my looks,

painting my own brows every day does grow dull.

A hundred beauties, a hundred brows.

Let me do yours.

THE END

Your Highness.

How did His Majesty decide?

Chen Luo confessed to all charges.

Cui Minzhong is dead.

Consort Shu is going to pray in seclusion when spring arrives.

What about Li Peiyi and Xiao Huaijin?

They both resigned and left the Western Capital today.

They left?

But they know

far too much.

Kill them all. Spare no one.

Yes, Your Highness.