Original subtitles

[A Dream Within A Dream]

[Episode 35]

Big! Big!

Small! Small!

Impressive.

[Grace & Elegance]

I didn't expect there to be such a place

in the script world.

The people and stories I didn't even write

are so interesting,

even better than the ones I did write.

No offense, Mr. Screenwriter,

but what you wrote really wasn't that great.

Look at the stories we actors came up with ourselves.

They're way better than yours, don't you think?

Tell me,

why did you bring me here?

I wanted you to understand what it means

to respect the characters.

Respect the characters?

I know,

to you, Nan Heng is just

a fictional character.

[Grace & Elegance]

The passersby on the street,

and the brothers from Waning River Crescent—

they're all nobodies to you,

right?

But in my eyes,

they're living, breathing people.

Every day of their lives is real,

and every day, they all just want to live in the moment.

So,

I hope you'll show some mercy

and let each of them

live the life they want.

Okay?

Song Xiaoyu,

you're really determined

not to come back with me, huh?

Yes.

If you try to force the story

back on the so-called track,

a lot of people will die.

Nan Heng and I

won't just stand by.

Mr. Screenwriter,

You're not

planning something shady again, are you?

Me?

What shady plan could I possibly have?

I'm just thinking

how I can better adapt to this world.

Shangguan He!

Come out!

Oh no.

Mrs. Song is here.

You betrayed me first, so don't blame me for betraying you.

You must be out of your mind

to treat fictional characters as real people.

[Celestial Realm]

Shangguan He!

You scoundrel!

What on earth did you do

to ruin my daughter's marriage

to the Eighteenth Prince?

I'm telling you,

if you have even a shred of conscience,

come with me to Song Residence

and personally tell Yiting

to give up on you completely

and marry into the royal family in peace.

[Celestial Realm]

Madam, I understand what you're saying.

But if you're asking me to hand Yiting over to someone else,

I'm afraid I can't do that.

What?

How dare you say that to me?

Don't tell me you want to marry Yiting?

If she's willing to marry me,

then I'm willing to marry her.

So they love each other.

And what makes you think you're worthy of my daughter?

You are right.

That's what I thought just a few days ago.

Song Yiting is truly

the most elegant,

proud, and noble woman girl.

A man like me, a nobody from the martial arts world—

how could I ever be good enough for her?

And how could I ever

give her the life she wants?

Good that you understand!

But later, I realized I was wrong.

Because what Song Yiting wants isn't a marriage,

nor a match that just looks perfect on paper.

She wants someone who can roam the world with her

and live a life of freedom and joy.

Mrs. Song,

I'll say all this

to her myself.

If she wants a life free of constraints,

I'll gladly go with her.

If she wants to experience the joys of marriage,

I'll marry her with proper rites and tradition.

Or perhaps,

I can marry into her family.

You're absolutely insane!

You...

Mr. Screenwriter,

how much heartbreak

have you been through in real life

to come up with a character like Mrs. Song,

someone who likes to break couples up?

If you had just been merciful

and let Song Yiting marry Nan Heng,

wouldn't this whole drama have been avoided?

What's wrong with His Highness?

Strange.

It's truly weird.

Your energy and blood are both depleted.

Your Highness, this looks like a serious injury.

Could it be...

that the wound he suffered on his wedding day

still hasn't healed?

No, that can't be it.

Even during the worst days of his injury,

his body wasn't this weak.

So why has it only gotten worse

over time?

It feels more like

that injury

triggered some deeper illness.

Is there any way to treat it?

I can only

try some tonics

to replenish your energy and blood,

and observe how things go.

Your Grace?

What are you doing here?

I just returned to the capital.

I shouldn't be interfering in your family affairs.

Then please don't.

Madam, what you said

is rather unpleasant to hear.

Unpleasant or not,

this is still the Song family's business,

not something for outsiders to meddle in.

That may have been true before,

but now

it's also the business of the Chu family.

Don't you want a son-in-law

who's a good match in status?

Then today,

I'll officially adopt Shangguan He as my son

and give him the status of a prince's household.

Adopted son?

That's great.

My father and the old lord

were sworn brothers.

And now Yiting and Chu He are in love—

what could be more perfect?

Madam,

if Father knows about it,

he'll be thrilled.

Wait.

You're already calling him Chu He now?

Our Second Master sure gave up a lot just to get a wife.

He's a real man.

Family name is just a superficial thing.

Mrs. Song,

didn't you keep saying he was just

a nobody from the martial arts world?

Are you satisfied now?

I... I...

I...

What are you waiting for?

Hurry up and call him Father.

Well...

It's...

In the blink of an eye, I suddenly have a father.

Isn't this all too sudden?

Don't hesitate.

Shanhu,

get paper and brush.

There's no better time than the present.

Today, let's sign the marriage contract between the Song family and Chu family.

He finally did something good.

Father, what exactly was your intention with this?

Naturally, it's to deal with Nan Heng.

Deal with Nan Heng?

What does this marriage have to do with him?

Could it be...

that you want to bring Shangguan He and the Song family

into our camp

to drive a wedge between them and Nan Heng?

From your character's point of view,

whatever you think is right.

I had my reasons

for doing this.

Nan Heng should be

close to death from his illness by now.

[Your Majesty, I am willing to take Shangguan as my adopted son and personally teach him to serve the country. I humbly ask for your gracious consent.]

He used to be Shangguan Baihe,

then Shangguan He.

Now, look at him.

He's lost even the Shangguan surname.

I must say, He,

you're really generous.

Shut up.

Lord Qianyu came at a strange time

and acts strangely.

Though he seems to strike blindly,

I suspect...

there's more to this.

Fugui.

Dismiss everyone.

There's nobody else here, Your Highness.

[Lofty Aspirations]

What's so secret

that even Fugui can't hear?

Have you ever heard of

the script world?

[As per custom, we respectfully ask for your daughter's name and seek your approval for the marriage. Chu Li.]

Come on, Father,

I've already taken care of it.

why do you still look so worried?

Yimeng,

why did Chu Li

help Shangguan He and Yiting?

He certainly wanted to prove that, in this world, he...

He wanted to solve your biggest problem, of course.

Father,

you actually quite like Shangguan He,

don't you?

And you don't want Yiting to marry into the royal family,

right?

Nothing escapes your sharp eyes.

See?

The family's long-lasting conflict

is finally coming to an end.

Let me enjoy some peace and quiet now.

Song Yude!

I've been looking all over for you!

Come, come.

Honey.

The marriage contract is already signed.

Please stop causing trouble.

Wait.

I'm not the one causing trouble.

Get your facts straight.

It's your precious daughter who is causing trouble.

She says she won't marry him.

She says

she won't marry Chu He until she hears him

confess his feelings to her in person.

You're really driving me crazy!

Wait a moment.

Let me process this.

Are you saying this storybook created its own world

and we are all characters in it?

When I first heard this,

I had the same reaction as you.

This...

This is absolutely preposterous.

I understand

it's hard

to accept now.

No, no, no.

I've long thought something was strange.

How could

such an

incredibly handsome face exist in this world?

So you are from a storybook?

That explains everything.

Tell me,

what kind of ending

could someone like me have?

I'm sure I'm more popular with the readers

than you, a cold-faced prince.

You

don't have an ending.

[One with Light and Dust]

Which means

Shangguan He wasn't even

in the original script.

What?

How is that possible?

Then how did I come into existence?

I think

you must be a character born

from the workings of this script world,

someone who appeared out of nowhere

and could vanish just as quickly.

Someone who appeared out of nowhere

and could vanish just as quickly.

Yes.

I believe the identity of Li Shiliu

came about because of

the unpredictable changes

during the script's progression.

The changes became too overwhelming

to control,

so the screenwriter took the form of Lord Qianyu and came here.

Then tell me,

does this storybook

include Song Yiting?

Yes.

Who did she end up marrying?

The Eighteenth Prince?

She married me.

You?

Don't worry.

I have absolutely no interest in Song Yiting.

I'm telling you this

because I think there's something fishy

about this Lord Qianyu.

But it's strange.

According to the storybook,

he should be trying hard to match you

with Song Yiting.

So why did he end up arranging for her to marry me instead?

The one controlling the game

only needs to move a single piece to change everything.

So,

we need to figure out

his next move quickly.

Know yourself and know your enemy,

and you'll never be defeated.

But…

you're not saying

I should do the investigation, are you?

You've been around Song Yiting so long that

you've even learned to jump in and answer questions.

And now,

you're Lord Qianyu's adopted son.

That makes you

the perfect person to look into this.

We're all just fictional characters,

so why do some

get to act all high and mighty,

while others

don't even get a chance to fight back?

Oh, I forgot to tell you.

I'm the male lead.

What the hell is a male lead?

So your fate is completely

controlled by the writer, isn't it?

Is that interesting?

[Lofty Aspirations]

I appeared out of nowhere

and could vanish just as quickly.

My life is far more interesting.

Wait.

Doesn't that just mean

I came from nothing

and could vanish into nothing too?

Am I going to disappear?

Honey!

Honey!

Honey!

No!

Someone who appeared out of nowhere

and could vanish just as quickly?

Yiting,

you have to understand,

people have different personalities.

Shangguan He

has always been carefree.

It's normal that he doesn't know how to express his feelings.

But everything he said at Waning River Crescent today

must have come from the bottom of his heart.

He didn't say a word about love,

but every word showed that

he cares about you,

likes you,

and wants to be with you.

A confession

is just one way to express one's feelings.

Is it really that important?

You don't understand.

I've made my feelings clear to him for so long,

but he has never once said anything in return.

I don't understand?

Me, a married woman with experience,

I don't understand?

You just lie there doing nothing.

That's how you are in life,

and in love.

Between you and Nan Heng, he took 99

out of 100 steps to get to you,

dragging himself forward the whole way.

Do you

really understand?

What's up?

Your Highness,

I heard everything

you said to Shangguan He

in the courtyard today.

So...

you know about the script world now?

I do.

And you've accepted it?

Your Highness,

you thought that,

with my personality, I'd make a huge scene

when I found out, didn't you?

I was shocked at first.

But after eating eight buns

and running ten laps around the Crown Prince's Residence,

I suddenly understood everything.

Have I ever seen this so-called "real world"

outside the storybook?

I haven't.

So it doesn't exist.

And since it doesn't exist,

why can't I treat this place

as the real world?

I didn't expect you'd come to that conclusion.

Well, I did grow up with you.

Not like that Shangguan He—

who knows where he came from.

Your Highness,

why didn't you tell him

you've been coughing up blood?

I didn't tell him

because I didn't want him to worry.

And you're keeping it from the Crown Princess too?

That's right.

She absolutely cannot know.

If Lord Qianyu is really that powerful,

what will happen if you

[Cultivate Virtue and Pursue Knowledge]

go against him, Your Highness?

I don't know yet.

But no matter what,

I must find a way to change the ending,

because when we got married,

I promised her I would protect her for life.

Your Highness,

that's my wish as well.

I may be slow,

but I'm not stupid.

If what you told Shangguan He

wasn't dangerous,

then why didn't you tell me?

Isn't it because you were afraid

I'd expose your health issues

and mess up the plan against Lord Qianyu?

I have my own plans.

Yes!

You always have your plans—

when we were beyond the border,

when we returned to the capital,

when you were wronged,

even when your life was hanging by a thread.

Your Highness,

let me ask you one thing:

in your plans,

have you ever considered your own safety?

Of course I'll consider

my own safety.

Really?

If there really is a storybook,

then I was written

to protect you.

I know everything

you plan to do.

If—

I'm just saying if—

I knew that wound would hurt you so badly,

I definitely wouldn't have listened to you—

I would have tried my best to kill Chu Guihong first.

Your Highness,

-Enough. -you...

I know you're loyal.

Then promise me

you'll include your own safety

in your plans.

Fine.

I still don't believe you.

Unless you tell me

your detailed plan now,

I can't be at ease.

Don't push it too far.

Fine.

From now on, take me with you

when you go to discuss matters.

Your Highness,

remember this:

in the storybook, I was written

to be completely loyal to you.

Unlike that Shangguan He,

who could vanish any moment

and just fly away.

When that happens, who will you turn to?

It'll still be me.

I got it.

Nan Heng.

Nan Heng.

Today, on my way back to my room,

I smelled medicine.

Is your injury still not fully healed?

Come.

Turn around.

Let me see.

No, no, no.

I'm fine now.

I've been fine for a while.

The imperial physician gave me some prescriptions,

and now I'm out of danger.

Really?

Really.

You're lying.

You always pretend to be fine when you are not.

I need to see for myself to be sure.

Let me take a look.

I have something to ask you.

Just one quick look.

No, no, wait.

I need to ask you something.

What did you and Lord Qianyu do

at Waning River Crescent today?

And...

why did he adopt Shangguan He as his son?

Nan Heng.

Why did...

Can we please

keep work talk out of private time?

Come on,

don't worry.

Lord Qianyu

is gradually fitting into this world.

Otherwise, how could he have outdone Madam

and helped Shangguan He and Yiting get engaged?

But he wanted to take you away this morning.

While we women are busy handling things outside,

can you men

stop overthinking

at home?

Okay?

Trust me this once.

Okay.

Nan Heng.

Take off your boots.

And your belt too.

Here.

Your outer robe,

take that off too.

You're acting a bit strange today.

Here.

What are you doing?

Nan Heng.

What?

Nan Heng,

I like you.

How much do you like me?

I like you so much that

if you and an ATM both fell into the river,

I wouldn't hesitate to save you first.

An ATM?

I don't know who that is,

but...

it surely can't beat Xuanjia Army, right?

You fool.

Anyway,

that's a romantic line.

And from now on,

I'll say sweet things to you often.

Before,

you took so many steps toward me.

From now on,

I'll be the one walking toward you.

Love isn't just about words.

You need to show it with actions.

Really?

Yes.

I'm not talking about this.

Didn't you tell me to take action?

So I'm showing you my actions.

Well...

Wait.

You haven't taken off your hairpin yet.

In costume dramas, no one really minds that.

What if it pricks me?

You must have OCD.

If it pricks you, we'll deal with it then.

Dongting red oranges!

Dongting red oranges!

Juicy and delicious Dongting red oranges!

Take a look.

Dongting red oranges.

Last time we bought some Dongting red oranges, and then things went wrong.

This time…

You're worrying too much.

Last time, it was because we bought them to honor my mother.

This time we're buying them to give to Father.

That's not the same.

It's different.

Here.

Take it.

Your Highness.

Rong Hua? What brings you here?

May I have a word with you in private, Your Highness?

It's just a engagement,

yet such a grand event.

You really hold my Song family

in high regard.

Song, you're too polite.

In the capital, only our two families

are noble families in the whole drama.

It should be this way.

But Your Highness,

you actually made time to attend

your sister-in-law's engagement.

Some things can't reach a conclusion

without seeing them with your own eyes.

Besides,

your recent actions

have all involved people close to me,

which naturally

made me a little suspicious.

I'm getting old.

What schemes could I have?

I just want to see the younger generation

settle down peacefully.

Guihong wasn't lucky enough to marry a Song girl,

but He

honored the old friendship between me and Song.

Indeed.

However...

I consulted the Imperial Astronomical Bureau,

and it seems there's no suitable wedding date

within the next six months.

So perhaps this matter should...

I think you're trying

to call off the engagement because

Miss Song Yiting refuses to get married.

Chu Guihong,

why are you everywhere?

You even know about the Song family's affairs.

Yesterday, Guihong was on patrol

and happened to run into Mrs. Song,

so they chatted a bit.

Happened to?

Mrs. Song went to Waning River Crescent,

and you just happened to take in an adopted son.

Chu Guihong also "happened"

to hear about the Song family's affairs.

What a coincidence.

That's what they say:

"No coincidences, no good story."

Song,

I suddenly need to use the restroom.

Could you wait a moment?

Of course.

This way, please.

[Graceful and Composed]

Shangguan He,

we've already rolled out the red carpet for you.

Is it really that hard to say "I like you?"

What exactly are you hesitating about?

Your Highness,

Mrs. Li,

please stay out of this matter, okay?

I'm begging you.

Stop right there.

Come back.

Between Nan Heng and me,

you and Yiting have meddled quite a bit.

So it's only fair

that I return the favor.

Didn't you once tell me

that people like us

have to risk everything

for someone in our lifetime?

You and I

are both lazy souls

with no grand ambitions.

Don't we just want a peaceful, comfortable life?

But if, in your whole life,

you never meet even one or two people

worth risking everything for,

and you just merely exist,

can you say you've truly lived?

I believed you

and acted on it.

But what about you?

You clearly care about Yiting more than anyone.

So why do you only say sweet things

behind her back

but stay silent when you're with her?

Chief told me

I don't exist in the storybook.

How could a nonexistent person

give her a happy ending?

The storybook?

So you know everything?

So,

you don't want me to suddenly disappear

and leave your sister all alone in this world, right?

How could you suddenly disappear?

Things aren't as bad as you think.

Trust me. Really.

Second Master.

Second Master.

bad news.

Something happened.

The enemy showed up at our place. Go check it out quickly!

Eighteenth Prince,

Why did you specifically invite me

to Waning River Crescent?

This way, please.

Yiting.

You gave him 73 portraits.

I have one more than him.

As long as you agree,

Father's imperial edict for our marriage

will surely come before the Chu family's proposal.

Eighteenth Prince,

didn't you already ask His Majesty to cancel the imperial marriage grant?

What are you doing now?

Well,

just consider it a moment of impulse.

Please don't blame me.

Isn't this Shangguan He?

Yiting,

I can accept you don't like me,

but I can't just watch you

marry someone who doesn't care about you.

Yiting,

I like you.

I can write love letters and poems for you,

confess my feelings in front of

all the noble ladies of the capital,

and ask Father for your hand.

I can do anything you want.

But what about Chu He?

What can he do for you?

So, Eighteenth Prince,

are you here to steal the bride today?

Yes.

I cherish Yiting

and love her deeply.

That's why, before everyone here,

I'm here to steal the bride!

I support the Eighteenth Prince!

Me too!

I support the Eighteenth Prince!

You really scared me.

Your Highness,

you have such a villainous aura!

Those with clear consciences

have nothing to fear.

In broad daylight,

why are you so nervous?

Could there be

other reasons behind

Shangguan He's engagement?

You've started suspecting me already?

Song Yimeng told me

you worked

tirelessly

for this script.

But now, seeing it changed like this,

I'd want to turn the tide

and set the story back on track

if I were you.

Why would I do that?

Of course you would.

I don't believe

you actually want to stay here.

Well, you actually guessed right.

Nan Heng,

after the wedding,

have you

felt unwell?

Is it getting worse as the Song and Chu families

are getting engaged?

Marry him!

Marry him!

Marry him!

Marry him!

Marry him!

Marry him!

Marry him!

Marry him!

Marry him!

Marry him!

Marry him!

Marry him!

Marry him!

At a time like this,

why are you still staying silent?

Do you really want Yiting to marry him?

I...

Marry him!

Marry him!

Marry him!

Marry him!

Marry him!

I'll count to three.

If no one objects,

I'll take your silence as consent.

Let me tell you, Shangguan He,

you better not regret this.

Three!

Two!

One...

No need to count.

I accept.

What?

You agreed so quickly?

Don't you want to think it over?

I chased you so many times before

and you never accepted.

Why suddenly today...

I didn't want to marry you before,

but now I do. Is that a problem?

Well...

It's not a problem at all.

Yiting,

I'm actually quite happy to hear you say that.

But you know,

a relationship like ours

sometimes needs to...

Enough.

You men

are all so indecisive.

I'll go to the palace myself and ask for the decree.

Yiting.

Wait!

Song Yiting, let me ask you,

what kind of love do you truly want?

Love that asks nothing

of the past or future,

understanding each other and staying together,

and sharing life's journey to the ends of the earth.

Asks nothing of the future?

What if I suddenly disappear?

Whether you stay or go,

it's your choice.

When have I ever forced you?

What if I leave this world before you do?

Then I'll keep you forever in my heart

and go find the next love,

and the one after that.

There are plenty of men in this world.

I, Song Yiting,

would never waste my youth

mourning over a coffin.

What a heartless Song Yiting.

I don't understand what they're saying,

but I can see what's happening.

Those two

are together now.

Shangguan He,

stop wasting time.

Do you love me or not?

Rong Hua!

♪ Through the night's soft whispers ♪

♪ Parting the mist, gazing into your eyes ♪

♪ Listen to your memories ♪

♪ Reincarnations are like shadows ♪

Greetings, Your Highness.

Your Highness,

I have some matters to attend to.

I'll take my leave now.

Yiting!

♪ After waking, moving against the flow ♪

Yiting!

Wait, Yiting.

Wait.

Yiting.

Yiting,

is it too late for me to explain now?

♪ Even if the kiss lands between truth and illusion, I’m still willing ♪

Let go!

Yiting!

♪ Above all sounds, the moon flows like silver ♪

If—

I mean hypothetically—

if...

♪ The stars fall from the sky ♪

there was no Shangguan He,

or if Shangguan He treated you badly,

would you...

♪ Follow the light and fall into this maze ♪

consider me?

Enough.

I accept.

♪ In the depths of passing time, who's still waiting ♪

♪ A single glance back ♪

♪ If the vows are vain ♪

♪ If the journey is too tumultuous ♪

♪ I'll still choose to meet you ♪

Eighteenth Prince,

what are you doing?

Yimeng,

it's...

Actually,

my uncle sent me to help.

Help?

You mean

this is intentional,

a fake proposal?

Nan Heng,

the scripted world has its own rules.

Besides the two you already know,

there are two more.

One

is related to my returning.

As long as you and Song Yimeng

complete the iconic scenes until the finale,

I can go back.

And the last one is—

changing iconic scenes

comes at a price.

[Changing iconic scenes comes at a price]