Original subtitles

May I speak with you, Sire

Sire

Sire

Commander...

Him again

What now?

He visited Jing City yesterday

What?

He went to Jing

For what?

To give Yang a birthday greeting

He went yesterday

and you only tell me now?

Lu

My most trusted minister

This is how you serve me?

Has he returned?

Not yet

Go, wait for him

The minute he returns

bring him to me right away

Yes, Sire

"COMMANDER'S RESIDENCE"

What does it say?

This reading

is about masculine power

No place for women here

Qian, the male, origin of all things

shall rule the world

This reading

is "Qian"

This is Heaven's will

Brother

There's been talk of this in the Palace

The reading's also a positive sign

When will the battle begin?

Summer, or autumn?

The reading says...

Our time will come in seven days

Seven days?

After seven days of rain

we'll win when the waters rise

The Commander enters!

Our brave lone hero has returned!

Sister

Reporting

Sire

Sire

I've heard

you went to celebrate Yang's birthday

Yes

I'm sure you gave a lovely speech

I went to Jing to claim one thing

The city YAN Kingdom has occupied for 20 years

Is he willing to return it?

No

So you declared war?

Yang and I have agreed

in a few days, under the City Pass

to duel one-on-one

and see who wins

Our two nations are allies

A duel between our chief commanders

means war

Don't you understand this?

He agreed to it

Alright then

Tell me

Are you sure

you can beat him?

Yes or no?

What are your odds?

3 out of 10 at best

Absurd

Were it not for our Peace Treaty

Pei would have been lost long ago

Great work

You've ruined everything

Jing City still belongs to Pei

It's under YAN Kingdom's occupation

Every righteous man of Pei

longs to win it back

No ruler can oppose his people's will

If Jing isn't reclaimed

Pei will perish under your reign

Commander

How dare you say that?

I'd rather never take Jing back

than destroy the Alliance

On your behalf

I've told them otherwise

And would you also be King on my behalf?

What's done is done

And my punishment?

Alright

Let's not argue

Father died too early

My sister and I had only each other

It was thanks to you, Commander

that I finally gained the throne

Let's drop the subject

Sire is right

Let's just enjoy this rare gathering

I've long heard that

you and your wife play the most exquisite duets

I've always wanted to hear you

So

Will you play for me?

Sire

Our Kingdom is in distress

I'm... not in the mood

Commander

Don't disappoint the King

Yes, please

We'll all enjoy your music

Come

Bring the zithers

Come

Come

Come

Please

What?

I, your King

Can't get you to play for me?

Commander

Sire

I am guilty

You haven't started yet

What could you be guilty of?

I will not distract my husband

with beautiful sights and sounds

I've sworn to Heaven

that until the day Jing's reclaimed

I'll not play a note of music

Otherwise

Otherwise what?

I'll cut off my finger

to prove my resolve

An impressive vow to Heaven

But I am the Heaven of Pei

I've asked you to play

Will you not obey me?

Fine then

Don't play today

Take them away

Come

No

They will play

Then I won't listen

Commander

Madam is ready for you

Madam's vow

is mine as well

I'll cut my hair

to beg Heaven's forgiveness

Commander, don't

Commander, don't

Don't do this

Alright, don't play then

No need to make a scene

We'll take our leave

Sire, why did you insist that Commander play?

I was just trying to

deflate his arrogance

I'll have to clean up his mess

There's only one option left

Yang's son, Ping

has not yet married, right?

Sire means to say...

Marry off my wild sister

Shouldn't we ask if she's willing?

I'm her elder brother

No need to ask

You must make Yang understand:

Commander doesn't represent me

We don't intend to take back Jing

Much less start a war

My proposal

will show my sincerity

All right

I'll choose a good day

to go make the proposal

You may leave

Yes, Sire

To play as one

Two hearts must beat as one

As is the case with you and Madam

I haven't even dared to practice

I deserve to die

Had you been exposed

You would indeed deserve to die

We'd both deserve to die

You must master the zither

and suffer this cut

Commander

Please proceed

These herbs are harsh

In an hour

The wound will rot

and look just like mine

Whatever you're holding in...

let it out, you'll feel better

Let it out!

When I was 8 I strayed from my mother

and drifted, lost, through Jing City

I passed out from hunger

Your uncle happened to pass by

I'll never forget that bowl of rice...

I've been here over 20 years...

Your days here

have indeed been hard

I owe you both my deepest gratitude

Uncle was a cruel man

Every time you tried to escape

he beat you so hard you passed out

This place

is your prison, your cage

Press on it for me

And after he died

I put you through such brutal training

You must hate me for it

How could I hate you?

I'd be willing to die in pieces

to repay your gracious kindness

It's Yang who should die in pieces

If you kill him

I'll let you go home

My Husband

Uncle was so right to choose you

Besides looking just like me

you're incredibly quick-witted

Since making your debut a year ago

you've been so good you've fooled them all

Sometimes I even wonder

if my wife can still tell us apart?

I've found your mother

My mother

She's still alive?

She's still right there in Jing

Wandering homeless in the streets

I've bought your old house

Had everything set up

She's settled in there now

How did you find her?

Does she know I'm still alive?

So you have a huge stake

in this battle

After Jing's taken

you two can reunite

Your zither needs tuning

Yours is in the major key

The strings need tightening

Thank you

You can go

You've got just four hours

to put this ointment on the wound

You can't be a moment late

Your husband

is the most noble,

most strategic,

most admired man in Pei

And I?

But I'm nothing but a servant

Nothing more than his shadow

You're not a shadow

You are you

Who am I then?

You were born in Jing

You yearn to go home

Maybe your mother

is waiting at the lane's end

Watching every passerby

Waiting for your return

Many years ago

my mother went blind

She couldn't even see me

If she were waiting there

she could only listen,

straining to hear the sound of my steps

No earlier, no later

you've suddenly found her,

just in time to ensure I'll obediently

fight this battle for you

You've kept me caged in secret

Do you great, noble people

know what scares me most?

Darkness

No one else

No light

No sound

Only me in total darkness

I'd touch everywhere

Touch everything

Rub every tiny crack in the wall

To keep myself from going mad

To prove to myself I was still alive

And so you always sleep on the floor

with the lamp lit all night

It's time for you to go to Court

"THE GREAT HALL OF PEI"

Who wishes to speak?

I, Sire

Proceed

I've disobeyed your commands

Went to Jing and declared war

Damaged the Alliance

Please, Sire, punish me

And the punishment?

Beheading

Brother

You can't behead him

Our Kingdom's great hero

Our Great General

You can't be beheaded

How could we do without you?

My dear Lu

What do you think?

He declared war on his own

Put Pei at great risk

A grave error indeed

Lu

All right

Brother

I hereby revoke Commander's powers

Confiscate his sword and seals

Henceforth he is a commoner

No

Sire...

Do it

I have no other choice

You see this "Ode to Peace"?

I wrote it and hung it here

as a reminder to us all

The Alliance is our lifeblood

Anyone who violates it,

lord or subject, will pay the price

We will always keep the peace

Never speak of a war you can't win

From this day on,

anyone who speaks of this again

will be instantly beheaded

Thank you for sparing my life

I'm leaving

Wait

Brother

What more do you want?

Nothing

I'm just holding court

The Commander

Has fought countless battles

and suffered many wounds

But the one

that concerns me most

is the wound from Yang's saber

A wound few could recover from

Indeed, yes

It still hasn't healed

I've found a rare ointment

that can heal your wound

After you leave today,

who knows when we'll meet again?

I want to see you've used this

so I'll know you'll be alright

Why trouble yourself with this?

I'll go back and have my wife...

As I said

I want to apply it myself

Commander's wound

is Pei's as well

Should any of you prove as loyal

I would serve you the same way

Commander

This wound

looks fresh

You're trying to trick me

I beg Sire's punishment

My old wound has healed

This cut

was self-inflicted

My loss to Yang is my greatest shame

This cut is a reminder that

as long as Yang lives,

my wound will never heal

Until we reclaim Jing

how can we speak of peace?

How dare you

brazenly resist my orders?

I'm a commoner now

I'll have my duel with Yang

Why should that concern you?

At Court today

the King suddenly challenged him

He handled it well despite the scare

Quite impressive

He's good

But no one could tell that wound is new

The King was testing him

My "Ode to Peace"

is quite well-written

Why did you demote Commander?

So tell me

Why'd he have to go cut himself?

Why bother?

To remember the shame of defeat

It was an honorable act

He's not like you

You wouldn't dare retake Jing

All you do is compromise

You've become a pitiful joke

I do this all for Pei

You think I don't know you?

You do things only for your throne

Fine, for my throne...

Which has never been safe for a day

Legend says Yang's Great Saber

was forged by a master blacksmith

on a night of a full moon

It's destined to take hundreds of lives

as offerings to the Saber God

It weighs 40 kilos

Glows in the night

Glints cold in the day

And kills in three rounds

Round One

You're not focused

Your mind is elsewhere

Round Two...

My dear Husband

You need to stop

Again

I fear your strength won't hold

Why worry?

It's either you or me

Come on

Round Three

That was exactly the blow

I took from Yang that day

Though I used only half its force,

you're already done for

My dear Husband

I'll help you up

Your mind's elsewhere

A distracted mind

means shaky breathing

Shaky breathing

means no firm steps

How will you survive

without firm steps?

Have you forgotten who you are?

Tell me

Who are you?

Jing

What?

Jing

You named me after Jing City

so I'd never forget our great cause

I only need you because I'm dying

Focus on your task

Forget everything else

Strokes with rhythm

Words that dance

My unique style

How exquisite

Wonderful

Superb calligraphy

Truly great

Sister

Look at the "Pei" I wrote

What do you think?

Lu is here

Leave

Humbly reporting

How was your trip to Jing?

Sire

The Yangs have been told

of your marriage proposal

They are quite pleased

Good

Good

Brother

Who's getting married?

You

Without even telling me?

What do you think I am?

A single marriage

to make peace between two nations

You're the Princess

You should understand this

I won't do it

Go yourself

Continue

However

To thank them for protecting the City,

the King of YAN has offered his daughter

to Yang's son, Ping

They can't refuse

So... what do we do?

Well, Ping has an idea

Which is...?

Sire, may I

brief you privately?

What are you afraid of?

Speak

Sire

It's...

Everyone here

has risked his life for me

In front of these men

there can be no secrets

Ping proposes

to take Princess as a concubine,

thus fulfilling everyone's wishes

Well that's...

also a way...

Ping has offered

his personal dagger

as an engagement gift

Provided Sire does not object,

the marriage is confirmed

Kill

Kill those damn Yangs

Sire

Give me 30,000 soldiers

I'll bathe Jing in blood

Sire

Seize Jing City

Hack the Yangs to pieces

Win Jing back

Don't you dare

Have you forgotten my order?

Those who talk of taking Jing

shall be beheaded

Sire

This is spineless

Humiliating

Our Kingdom will perish

under your reign

Tian, how dare you

defy the King

Drag him out

Strip him of his rank

Guards

I'll do it

How dare he be so insolent

Sire

Does he still see you as his King?

Clownish King

Sire, Tian's words

amount to rebellion

Don't trouble yourself, Sire

You...

Sire

Step aside

Princess

Step aside

I'll accept the gift

Tell him I agree

"JING PRACTICE GROUNDS"

You forced me back two steps

Good tactic, son

We Yangs are known for

force, speed and death in three rounds

But responding nimbly to

a master fighter's moves

is the true essence of our technique

Have you ever fought a true master?

No, not yet

When the Pei Commander visited

what was your impression?

Just as I'd envisioned him

Distinguished and strong

That crippling blow I'd given him...

I was shocked to see

he's recovered completely,

good as new,

poised and gracious as ever

He'd come just to see you, Father

He wouldn't dare give offense

Ping

You've proposed to take the Princess

as your concubine

Isn't that "giving offense"?

I want them to give up trying

to use a marriage

to win Jing City back

But I've just been told

they've accepted your engagement gift

Don't you think that's odd?

So what?

Their King dismissed their Commander

Wounded Tian

Forfeited two great generals

They must all be demoralized

And anyway

If there's any sign of trouble there

our spy will tell us right away,

so there's no need to worry

You're right

Father

Now that the City's stable

His Majesty has again asked us

to redeploy troops...

The situation's quite tense there

Let's do this

Keep 800 soldiers here

and send the remaining 30,000

to support his Majesty

Will we have enough left here?

We have strong natural barriers...

And in any case

I and my saber are unbeatable

800 will suffice

Let me try

I've often watched you

I think I understand it

Pei umbrellas

are soft and flexible

They work best in the rain

They are water weapons

Water is yin

Yang's moves are hard and fierce

Like fire

Fire is yang

Yin counters yang

Water puts out fire

And so

Wield it with feminine moves

What do you think?

Feminine moves?

I designed this taichi diagram

Why haven't I thought of this?

Watch us from the side

Madam

Come

Madam

Practice with Jing

Teach him quickly

What are you waiting for?

If we don't find a way to beat Yang

we'll have wasted all our efforts

This will be another

Yang-style saber round

Hug tight together

If our minds can meld as one

you'll grasp the technique

Quickly

Madam

Pardon me

This is it

This is it

This is it

This is it

Get up

Though Yang's attacks are fierce

he loses stamina fast

Jing

If you apply Madam's technique

you can kill him

Yes

There's someone you must go see

You can leave now

Yes

Your hearts and minds

were truly at one just now

We were merely copying your moves...

Why speak of hearts and minds?

Can he win?

Your technique

can give Jing confidence

He has to believe

he can win

in order to last three rounds

And after three rounds?

I'll just need an hour

That lingering, echoing melody

felt trapped, with no way out

That must be

how you're feeling, Sir

You know what lies beyond the forest?

100 convicts in hiding

They live for fighting and killing

yet look strangely gentle

I've promised

to let them go free if they reclaim Jing

I brought them there to train,

yet couldn't find a winning technique

But now we have a way

Learn it, train them

Become their leader

Yes, Sir

Take this flute

When you play it

they'll know you've been sent by me

and they'll obey you

I'll do as you say, Commander

Commander wants to see you

Commander

I'm neither man nor ghost

Not the Commander you've known

You will always be my Commander

In the Mang River battle

you killed a dozen men

to save my life

Suffered over twenty wounds

Lay in a coma for three days

My little cut is nothing

Come

Sit

When I was eight

On the first day of Spring

Father

was assassinated

It happened in Court

in front of all the ministers

The killer

cut his head off

with an ax

Uncle worried I'd meet the same fate

He searched everywhere

At last, in Jing City

he found a boy my age

who looked just like me

He brought him here for secret training,

hoping to shield me from palace intrigue

To protect me

That boy's become the "shadow"

My wound worsened last year

My health failed

I suddenly aged

No one is to know this...

So you started using the Shadow

But Madam, does she...

Madam knows

She pities him

She's urged me

to let him go home

I called you here today

so she can show you

how to defeat Yang

I see...

That day the King inspected his wound...

Did he already

suspect he's a "shadow"?

What do you think?

Commander

Why stay locked in this narrow cell

trying to read the King's mind?

Why not replace him

and become our King?

There's not a general or soldier

who'd hesitate to support you

What impudence!

Sorry

The King serves his purpose

You

are very good

You've always been good

To win Jing back

I'll need three people

One is the Shadow

One the King

And the third is you

From this tiny cell

I'll launch my scheme

and watch you each play your part,

reclaiming our land on my behalf

Won't it be thrilling?

And then?

I will

be King

You'll be Commander

Sorry

You're more like the Commander

than he is

For a moment there

I didn't know how to react

I've been your Commander

I'll still be your Commander

That's all there is

Yang's saber technique

is hard and strong

Wield your umbrellas

with feminine moves

Borrow the slickness of the rain

Using yin to counter yang

is our only way to win

Nonstop clouds and rain

We'll win when the waters rise

It's rained for four days

If it rains for three more

the river water will rise

and submerge Jing's storm drain

Commander rightly chose this moment for the duel

Whatever happens, win or lose

The moment has arrived

False, true

True, false

just like in a game of chess

But who, after all

are the pawns?

So turning me into a concubine

was also a move in your game?

Just an improvised ploy,

a decoy move

And the real move, then?

Tell me then, what is real?

To tomorrow

To a swift victory

You left home so young

Do you know your way back?

I think so

You'll be able to find it?

They say a pup taken at birth

can find its birthplace

by tracing the scent

I've been yearning to return

I know I can find it

Actually

I also long to go home

But isn't Pei your home?

Home has many meanings

Jing

To a swift victory

I know

I can't win tomorrow

Actually

You've had many chances to refuse

You could have run away

Why didn't you?

You've always seemed so obedient

So willing to do this

Because of you

When I was young

I was being forced

But since I've grown older

and come to know you

I've only had one thing in mind

I would do

anything for you

In tomorrow's fight

I'll be just a decoy

No one cares whether a decoy lives or dies

I care

Tonight

is the last you'll spend here

Yes

Madam

Thank you

Reporting to General Yang

The Pei Commander has arrived alone

Says he's come as agreed

"JING CITY PASS"

Father

How'd the ship slip through so easily?

Some sort of cheap trick

General Yang

Our foolish King has dismissed me

I've no power

No soldiers

Honor our gentlemen's agreement

Duel with this commoner

to see who prevails

Father

Something seems odd

That's a taichi diagram on the deck

It could be a trap

It's just hocus-pocus

I'm curious to see

what game he's playing

I know you've agreed to do this

But you should still be cautious

How about bringing a few soldiers?

We two have a gentlemen's agreement

He's come alone

If I bring soldiers

won't I look like a fool?

My saber

Father

Please be careful

Guard the Pass

Protect the banner

Yes, Sir

I'll guard it with my life

Watch how I teach him a lesson

Go

Princess?

Princess

This is a Pei umbrella

made specially for this duel

I humbly request the General's

teaching and guidance

Round One

I can see

you've taken great pains to prepare

I couldn't dare do otherwise

Round Two

Each man's crossbow

has only 12 arrows

So move right through, don't bog down

Young General

There are enemies in the City

Remove crossbows

Open umbrellas

Fire

Block

Ping

Round Three...

Well done

Never in our family's history

has anyone

survived three rounds

against the Yang saber

Not bad

I'll save face for you

Let's call it a draw

and stop here

Let's go again

We agreed to duel

to determine a winner

If we keep going now

it will be for life or death

Come

Jing City is taken

Why doesn't a girl like you

stay home where you belong?

Did you come looking to die?

You've insulted me

Insulted you?

I don't even know you

Said you'd make me your concubine

That was you?

I...

I'm here to give this back to you

What?

Dear Wife

Using the Shadow

Was I right, or wrong?

Some things

don't have a right or wrong

What's done is done

Dear Husband

Here, now

Let's play our music together

Jing is taken

Jing is taken...

- Jing is taken... - Ping

Mother

Commander promised to let me go

Commander promised to let me go

I've been ordered not to look at your face

On whose order?

The King's

He's told me to ask:

Would you like to go back?

Where is she?

Where is she?

Where is she?

Sire

Princess

used Ping's dagger

to kill him

Today we celebrate

the reclaiming of our homeland

The first toast

must go to Commander

Please wait a moment

Pei's great hero

will arrive shortly

As ordered by the King

Behead him

Commander has arrived...

Sire

Commander has arrived

Welcome our Commander

Humbly

reporting to Sire

You've fought hard and well

Please rise

and be seated next to Madam

Thank you, Sire

Madam

You're back...

Yes

Today Pei

has retaken Jing City

Our Kingdom rejoices

Per the King's order

the first toast

goes to Commander

Let's drink another day

You may all leave now

The King orders

all to withdraw...

Dear Lu

You stay

Come

Take it

To your achievements

Know why I've kept promoting you?

Treated you as my closest confidant?

My deep gratitude for Sire's trust

What trust?

You

have a special use

Your secret reports to Yang

made our victory possible

How much gold did he pay you?

Surprised I killed him myself?

It's because I'm truly happy

When he conveyed my marriage offer

Yang paid him a bribe, and he came back

proposing my sister be made a concubine

I don't care whose idea it was

I had to take back that pound of flesh

Now that you're back

my mind is at ease

You

are a true talent

Our Kingdom can't do without you

Alike

Very much alike

Don't you agree?

You know

There's been one thing

weighing on my mind

even more than retaking Jing

It's been keeping me up at night

But all I could do was wait...

wait for you

You've won my city back for me

Now let me do something for you

There's no one here but us

Let me put this simply

A fake couple

is no match for a real one

I will make your wish come true

And as for Commander

He wants to be honored forever

His wish will also come true

A King's duty

is to make men's dreams come true

When we step out of this Hall

the world

will know only one Commander

The obedient and loyal one

You and I, King and Commander

The two of us

What do you say?

I knew you'd come back

Only a fool wouldn't have

A young, vital husband

at your side day and night

What do you say, Madam?

Good

You've come just in time

From now on I'll sleep well at night

No

Don't you want revenge?

For years

I've been misunderstood

Finally

we can both find relief

Did you all expect

my head

to be in the box?

There's something all in Pei know

that only he

never grasped

It's I

who am the Heaven of Pei

Without the real

there can be no "shadow"

A principle no one's understood

You

sent assassins to ambush me

You had Jing's mother killed

and put the blame on me

How can someone so vile

be King of Pei?

Dear Husband...

Never mind me

I don't have much time left

Leave all of this

to me

Jing

Jing

Kill him

Avenge your mother

Then take Madam with you

I've spent my life

on power games and war

Never tasted the beauty of the world

Go live it for me

Go

The further the better

Go

Commander

Without the real

there is still a shadow

You should have grasped this long ago

Sire

I'll summon the Palace doctor

Stay calm

An assassin attacked our King

The King is dead

I, your Commander

Killed the assassin

On the spot