Original subtitles

[A Dream Within A Dream]

[Episode 37]

Wait for me outside.

Yes, Your Highness.

Xiaoyu, you're here.

Come, come, come,

have a seat.

His Majesty was poisoned,

and Nan Rui was framed—

these were all your doing, weren't they?

You actually harmed innocent people

just to make the iconic scenes happen sooner.

If a man wants to fill his belly,

he must plant crops in the fields.

As spring turns to autumn,

seeds grow into fruit

and are eventually harvested.

This is the way of the world.

Just like this sweet potato—

do you feel cruel

when you eat it?

So, in your eyes, human lives

are no more than sweet potatoes?

You really are absurd.

They're just a bunch of

fictional characters I created myself.

How much more precious

can their lives be than this sweet potato...

Even if they're just fictional characters,

you created them yourself.

Didn't you invest your emotions

and effort?

On a screen,

they're nothing more than

lines of code—easily edited and deleted at will.

Today I kill one emperor,

and tomorrow I can write 100,

1,000,

or 10,000.

Song Xiaoyu,

you're the one who's never been clear-headed.

How are the people in this world

any different from the Barbie dolls

you grew tired of as a child?

They're all fake.

I really misjudged you.

In the real world,

you're a crap screenwriter who doesn't

cherish the characters you create.

And here,

you're just a lunatic who kills innocent people!

So what?

I have the power to kill

and the power to save.

Do you want to know

how Nan Heng got sick?

Wasn't it...

you who poisoned him?

Me? Poison him?

I wouldn't bother

with such dirty tricks.

Do you really think

those three rules I told you

are the only ones in this scripted world?

Let me tell you,

in this scripted world,

there are four...

there are three rules.

There are other rules?

They're related to Nan Heng's illness?

Didn't he tell you the truth?

Fine.

Then I'll tell you.

The fourth rule is

that those who change the iconic scenes

will suffer backlash.

Nan Heng...

What will happen to him?

If the plot continues to deviate from its original course,

he'll only grow weaker and weaker

until he dies.

Song Xiaoyu,

don't you love him

and this scripted world?

So, tell me,

are you going to go against the plots I wrote

and watch Nan Heng die,

or help me complete all the iconic scenes

and return to the real world together?

That way, he can still live.

Offer incense?

Today's the first day of the month,

an auspicious day.

To pray for a happy marriage for Miss Yiting,

Madam got up early and took her

to the Temple of the God of Matchmaking.

The Temple of the God of Matchmaking?

[Song Residence]

[Outskirts; Temple of the God of Matchmaking]

Hurry up.

See?

There are so many people here.

So great.

Come on, come on.

Mom, I told you,

if you want to pray, do it yourself.

I don't believe in this stuff.

A happy marriage depends on

how you get along and work things out.

I can't even clearly say

what my future with him will be like,

so why put all our hope

in something so intangible?

Watch your words.

The God of Matchmaking is watching above.

Show some respect.

Seriously.

God of Matchmaking,

this devotee has only this daughter.

I vow three years of my life

in exchange for my daughter's lifelong peace

and a happy marriage.

God of Matchmaking, please bless her.

God of Matchmaking, please bless her.

Hurry.

What are you doing?

Why are you standing there like a statue?

Hurry up and make a wish.

Quick, quick, quick.

Please bless my daughter, God of Matchmaking.

God of Matchmaking, please bless my daughter's marriage.

God of Matchmaking, please bless my daughter

with a happy marriage.

Mom.

Please bless her.

Just a few days ago,

you were criticizing Shangguan He like crazy.

You said his eyes were too flirtatious,

destined to take concubines in the future.

You also said

that his philtrum was a bit too short,

which meant he'd bring misfortune to his wife.

You even said that I chose my own husband,

and that if I ever regretted it,

you'd let me cry myself to death without caring.

What?

Why are you praying so hard today?

What nonsense are you talking about?

Come here, come here.

Show some respect to the God of Matchmaking.

God of Matchmaking,

please don't take offense.

Please don't mishear.

What I meant was

that my husband at home has flirtatious eyes

and a short philtrum.

I really wasn't talking about my daughter's husband.

Please don't get it wrong.

Please, God of Matchmaking,

please.

I'll kowtow to you three times.

God of Matchmaking, please bless my daughter.

Please bless my daughter with a happy marriage.

Please bless and protect my Yiting for her entire life.

Madam!

Please.

I've bought the Lovers' Knots.

Great.

Hurry up,

tie them up in the branches.

Hang it higher.

The higher, the luckier.

Why are you so clumsy?

Come on, come on.

Give it to me.

I'll do it myself.

Seriously.

Hang it here.

Here.

This doesn't mean that I believe in this sort of thing.

But since I'm getting married,

everything must be done properly,

and I have to experience everything.

Good girl.

And these,

tell me,

where should we hang them?

Fortunately, there aren't too many people praying today.

Everything worked out just as I hoped.

In the future,

I hope that God blesses you

and lets you live happily.

Mr. Feng, wake up.

Time to go home.

Mr. Feng?

Mr. Feng?

Mr. Feng!

Mom,

something's wrong!

What's wrong?

What do you want?

I know it's very hard for you

to make this decision.

But if you continue to resist stubbornly,

I can only take action against the Song family.

For example, your sister.

What do you want?

Your Grace!

Is this from Rong Hua?

Yes.

What did you do to Yiting?

Why don't you open it and see?

Now, it's just one of her fingers,

but whether Song Yiting lives or dies

in the future

is up to you.

If you dare to lay a finger on them again,

I'll kill you first.

The north wind is strong today.

The "Choice Between Two" scene on the city tower

must be quite the spectacle.

Mother,

you've been taking care of His Majesty all morning.

Let me handle things here.

Go back and rest.

The royal physician said

that your father

likely won't make it through this time.

I just want to

look at him properly once more.

That way,

if something really happens...

when I think of him

in the future,

it won't only be those years

when we glared at each other with cold resentment

and endless disputes.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

I'll go find Physician Qin.

Okay.

Rest assured, Your Majesty.

I've already sent people to find the antidote.

You will be fine.

I suspect

that all of this was orchestrated by Chu Guihong.

I will keep my guard up

and find out the truth.

I also beg Your Majesty

to send the Xuanjia Army back to the capital to deal with it.

Heng.

Get up first.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Rui

has always sat by my side.

Come on.

Sit by my side.

Yes.

Don't worry, Your Majesty.

I've arranged everything

to protect Rui.

I also promise you

that I'll protect him with all I have.

I won't let anything happen to him.

Heng.

Yes, Your Majesty?

Rui never addresses me

as "Your Majesty."

Don't let me hear you

call me "Father" ever again!

It was my fault.

Can you...

Can you...

Father.

[Huanning Hall]

[19 years ago]

[Huanning Hall]

What are you doing here?

Fa...

Father.

[Huanning Hall]

Your Majesty,

today is your birthday.

This snow tiger

must be a birthday gift from the Seventh Prince.

Worthless and ignorant,

only knowing how to mess around.

Go back now.

Yes.

Forget it.

Since it's a gift from him,

take it inside.

Your Highness,

are you alright?

Didn't I tell you to protect Nan Rui?

Why are you here?

It's the Crown Princess.

She went to Lord Qianyu's manor.

I don't know what she said to Lord Qianyu,

and she didn't let the Xuanjia Army follow her.

After that, she left

the manor alone with Lord Qianyu

and had the Xuanjia Army bring this back.

Nan Heng,

you lied to me again.

In the next life,

I will punish you

to kneel on many,

many, many washboards.

Go and gather 200 Xuanjia Army soldiers

to follow me to the city tower.

Yes, Your Highness.

Well,

don't blame me.

If I weren't in such a hurry to get back,

I wouldn't have treated you this way.

Remember what you promised me.

If Yiting and the Song family are in the slightest danger,

even if I go back,

I won't let you off.

[A Dream of Qingning, Episode 37, Scene 19]

Qianyu rebels!

Let go of me!

Yiting!

Yimeng.

Yiting!

Yiting.

Are you alright?

Let her go now!

We can't let her go until this iconic scene is completed.

Yimeng,

Mother is still in their hands.

This has nothing to do with Madam.

Release her right here and right now,

otherwise

I won't cooperate with you.

Relax.

She's perfectly fine in the carriage.

She's just still unconscious

due to some medicine.

You know exactly what I want.

What's in it for me to kill people at random?

Please cooperate with me

and play out these messy scenes.

I guarantee

I'll safely send them back in a grand eight-carrier sedan.

Yimeng,

whatever he promises,

don't believe a word of it.

Rather than be held hostage by someone else,

I'd rather take control of my own fate

and fight him to the bitter end!

Yiting.

I'm sorry.

I dragged you into this.

Don't worry.

I will save you.

After a few hours,

everything

will be over.

Song Yimeng,

what are you going to do?

Tell me.

Song Yimeng!

Song Yimeng!

Don't worry, Yiting!

I won't let anything happen to you!

After the arrows are shot,

I promise I'll push forward the plot of human swine.

Here.

Tie yourself up.

Your Highness,

the troops are ready.

Why isn't Shangguan He here yet?

This matter concerns the safety of Song Yiting and Song Yimeng.

Shangguan He will come.

But...

does it have to be him?

Can't I do it?

You have another job.

Chief!

What's wrong?

By the time I arrived,

Song Yiting had already been taken by the Qianyu Army.

We were even ambushed along the way.

Yunlong and Shanhu stayed behind to cover my retreat

so that I could make it back.

Chief,

they've mobilized a large number of the Qianyu Army.

Your Highness,

there are only 300 Xuanjia Army soldiers in the capital in total,

and some were sent to the palace.

We may not stand a chance.

The border troops are on their way back,

but they'll need at least three days.

Until then,

we must hold out.

Let's do this.

Send someone to Waning River Crescent

to ask the Nightwalker to help Yunlong and Shanhu.

Tell them to make sure they stall the Qianyu Army

for at least one hour.

Yes, Your Highness.

You are already like this.

Why don't you go back first?

Leave the "Choice Between Two" to me.

Choose? Like hell.

You save your woman,

and I'll save mine.

Besides,

Chu Li's real target is me.

I have to go.

Fine.

Then tell me

how I can help.

[Yanxing Gate]

It's really snowing.

I told you.

Fate can't be changed.

Any resistance

is just asking for trouble.

In the end,

you'll all come back here

and meet the same fate.

Even if it's the same city tower and heavy snow,

and even if I'll

go along with the storyline with you,

it doesn't mean that everyone else

will live the way you want them to.

Because everyone here

is no longer that group of...

fictional characters to be manipulated at will.

General,

they're here.

Bring Song Yiting here.

Yes.

Bring her here!

[Suzhang Gate]

[Yanxing Gate]

Chu Li!

I'm here.

Release her!

Chu Li!

Nan Heng,

listen up.

The antidote for the Emperor is in my hands.

The evidence proving that Nan Rui poisoned him is also with me!

If you don't want to become an eternal sinner

who has killed your father and brother,

shoot the arrows immediately!

You know the ending I want.

Today, at the city tower,

until this "Choice Between Two" scene is complete,

everything

will never end.

Nan Heng!

In this world,

I've never done anything

to benefit everyone.

But today...

if I can die

for the safety of you and the Song family...

I'll do it!

Song Yimeng!

You said fate can be changed!

I don't believe in fate,

and neither do you!

Do you hear me?

Saying cheesy lines

at a time like this?

[Yanxing Gate]

Song Yimeng!

Come down!

Hurry!

Go!

Yiting!

Nan Heng.

What do you think?

Other girls have,

and our Yiting deserves the same.

Stay back!

I'll count to three.

Your master's life

in exchange for letting our Yiting go.

If you don't want to,

then let's see whose sword strikes first.

Rong Hua,

save me!

No need to count.

What have you done?

He was Lord Qianyu.

You actually killed him?

My loyalty lies not with Lord Qianyu

but solely with the Junior General.

Soldiers of the Qianyu Army, heed my command!

Shangguan He, the subordinate of Nan Heng...

Oh no.

Brutally murdered the general!

Their target is you.

Qianyu Army,

by the order of the Junior General,

eliminate Nan Heng and his followers!

Xuanjia Army, heed my orders!

Today, follow me

and break through at all costs!

-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!

[Imperial Study]

General Chu,

how dare you break into His Majesty's bedchamber...

Chu Guihong,

what do you want?

Of course, I'm here to help His Majesty defend the throne.

The Crown Prince colluded with Liu Mingxi

and killed the Emperor and his brother.

I had no choice but to kill him

under these circumstances.

Murdered the Emperor and his brother?

What are you talking about?

Before I came,

I had someone finish

today's Emperor's Daily Diary.

"His Majesty, aged and weary,

reminiscing about the late Empress,

chose to appoint a new heir

and passed the throne to the Eighteenth Prince, Nan Rui.

But the Crown Prince, Nan Heng, grew resentful

and poisoned His Majesty,

framing Nan Rui as the culprit."

Your Ladyship, do you think

this will make for

a fine chapter

in future history books?

You want to rebel.

Heng will never let you get away with this!

The Xuanjia Army is still at the border,

while the capital is guarded by my Qianyu Army.

Your beloved son

is about to die on the city tower.

How will he stop me?

300 Xuanjia Army soldiers in the capital

against 5,000 Qianyu Army soldiers.

Even if Nan Heng had nine lives,

he wouldn't survive this.

Xuanjia Army!

Go up and save them!

-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!

-Let's go! -Let's go!

Fugui!

Take her away first!

No!

Listen to me!

Fugui, hurry!

I can't leave.

If we live, we live together.

If we die, we die together!

Protect her.

Yes.

Nan Heng.

Stop the Xuanjia Army climbing up.

Don't let them rescue anyone!

Shangguan He!

Shangguan He.

Shangguan He.

Shangguan He,

how are you?

I wanted to be the hero and save you...

but I didn't expect to let you

see me at my most pathetic.

I made a mistake.

At a time like this,

you still have the mood to joke?

Let's go.

Let's go home.

Let's go!

Song Yiting, listen carefully.

In the future, whoever you choose,

he can't be worse than me.

Fugui!

Yiting!

Song Yiting,

there are things

that should be done by men.

Like being the first to ask

and the first to fall in love.

The more you do,

the less there is left

for me to do.

But luckily,

there's still one last thing I can do,

and that's to use my life

to protect you well.

Shangguan He.

Shangguan He!

Shangguan He!

Shangguan He!

Yiting.

Shangguan He!

Fugui!

Take her away!

Yes.

Let go of me!

Nan Heng!

Nan Heng!

Nan Heng!

See?

When the female lead is in danger...

the male lead comes to save her.

Nan Heng.

Nan Heng.

Nan Heng.

You're right.

You're the male lead.

So you'll be fine,

right?

Nan Heng.

You can't die.

Do you hear me?

Do you hear me?

You can't die!

Do you hear me?

Answer me!

Do you hear me?

I hear you.

I hear you.

Don't worry.

I'm your male lead.

I won't die.

Nan Heng.

Nan Heng.

Hang in there, okay?

Listen to me,

hang in there, okay?

You can't die, Nan Heng.

You're the only one I have in this world.

Do you know that?

I have no one else.

You really are... all I have left.

Please don't die.

I beg you.

Okay?

I...

I...

Nan Heng...

Nan Heng.

Nan Heng!

Only...

only by dying...

can I prove

that I'm not a fictional character

that...

I've truly lived.

Song...

Song Yimeng...

Thank...

thank you.

Nan Heng.

Nan Heng!

Nan Heng!

Nan Heng!

Don't die,

Nan Heng.

Nan Heng!

Nan Heng...

Nan Heng...

♪ I leave the book aside, though I haven't finished reading it ♪

You've been awake this whole time, haven't you?

I was so afraid something might happen to you!

♪ I know one day I can have a glimpse of the ending ♪

But you!

You didn't tell me you were awake!

I'm sorry

for making you worry.

♪ Life is unpredictable ♪

♪ Who can get rid of perplexity ♪

♪ And find the answer he yearns for? ♪

♪ Let the wind flip through the past chapters of my life ♪

Nan Heng!

Please wake up!

Please wake up now!

♪ Let brush and ink depict my adventures ♪

You're awake.

♪ Let's see in how many ways fate can shape my life ♪

♪ Let moonlight shine on the lines about love and hate ♪

♪ Let me bang my head against a brick wall ♪

♪ If this is my destiny, I'll accept it ♪

Song Yimeng.

From now on,

no matter what happens,

we'll face it together.

Whatever you worry about,

whatever you fear,

I'll solve it all for you one by one.

Nan Heng,

from now on,

you're not allowed to hide anything from me anymore.

If I catch you

lying to me again,

you'll be kneeling

on a washboard for the rest of your life.

Okay.

I'll listen to you in everything you say.

♪ Wind, be with me in the quest for an ideal ♪

♪ Brush and ink, stand with me on the cliff ♪

♪ My heart measures the waves I've cleaved ♪

♪ Setting sun, help me weather through the big snow ♪

♪ I'll wait till the next chapter to get sorrowful ♪

Oh, you.

Remember,

you're just a fictional character.

♪ Every word resonates with me like dancing notes on the paper ♪

And I have the protagonist aura,

so I should protect you.

I'm the Crown Prince.

In the future,

who knows what will happen?

Quiet.

♪ Wind, be with me in the quest for an ideal ♪

♪ Brush and ink, stand with me on the cliff ♪

♪ My heart measures the waves I've cleaved ♪

♪ Setting sun, help me weather through the big snow ♪

♪ I'll wait till the next chapter to get sorrowful ♪

♪ Every word resonates with me like dancing notes on the paper ♪

Song Yimeng!

Nan Heng is dead!

If you choose the righteous path

and testify against him for killing the Emperor and his brother,

I will spare your life!

Mountains weren't born with peaks,

and roads weren't born flat.

Whether it's humiliation or ups and downs,

joy or sorrow,

I have my own hands and feet.

I can trample through thorns

or raise my sword to challenge the heavens.

Why should the outcome

of my life be in someone else's hands?

If there is really some rule‑maker

pulling strings behind the scenes,

then the one holding the pen

should be me.

Nan Heng,

thank you.

In the past,

I've run away many times.

But today,

I want to hold everything

in my own hands, just like you.

Even if it costs me my life.

Nan Heng...