Original subtitles

(Fate of Southern Love)

(Episode 1)

(Qingxiao Pavilion)

Chancellor Lou became the chancellor at such a young age.

He basically runs the whole court.

That's pretty incredible.

But he came back from war with a serious injury.

He got hurt where it mattered.

What a shame.

Now, he's like a rootless duckweed.

Maybe we should call him Chancellor Duckweed instead.

You were blocking the light.

You can't come in here!

Chancellor Lou.

Lady Jin Zhu from the General of the State's Residence

insists on barging in.

Chancellor Lou, I have something important to discuss with you.

This is Qingxiao Pavilion.

We only talk about love and poetry here.

No politics allowed.

Lady Jin, His Majesty wants to marry you off to Prince Ning.

Looking at your current condition,

I'm not sure that's really appropriate.

Lou Si Yi.

I want you to marry me.

Lady Jin, do you know about my injury?

I can't fulfill my duty as a man.

I know.

Do you also know

that I'm Prince Ning's uncle?

If you marry him,

you'll become my niece-in-law.

I know.

If so, do you also know

that Prince Ning and I are political rivals?

In the future, it'll be a fight to the death between us.

I know.

If so, why should I marry you?

Only if you and I get married

can we change our doomed fate.

And what fate awaits me?

Everything you desire and love

will never be in your reach.

Who gave you the nerve

to decide my fate for me?

You and I are just side characters in this story.

The ending was set in stone long ago.

(We are just characters in a storybook.)

(And, I have already seen how my story ends.)

The Jin family's daughter

will become Prince Ning's wife

by imperial decree.

Is this not a matter of the gravest concern? That is all.

(Prince Ning, Zhou Nan Zhi)

Ever since I met Your Highness in the palace as a child,

I've admired you ever since.

In this life,

you're the only one I want to depend on.

What a shameless wretch.

This is the nuptial wine His Majesty granted to you two personally.

My father ordered me to marry you.

I have no choice but to obey.

But you need to understand this. Only the woman I truly care for

deserves to be my wife.

You aren't worthy.

Your Highness, if you don't drink the nuptial wine,

the ceremony won't count!

I'm here on Her Majesty's orders to witness the ceremony.

Naturally, I have to make sure Prince Ning completes the ceremony.

Greetings, Chancellor Lou.

A step-queen who's nothing but trouble and a crippled chancellor

don't deserve to sit in my family's hall!

Prince Ning, are you saying

that you're refusing the imperial decree?

Lou Si Yi!

Prince Ning, Princess Consort Ning, please drink the nuptial wine.

Your Highness, I've already spiked the wine.

(Jin Zhu is so love-struck.)

(Jin Zhu is just cannon fodder.)

(Is that the fate of cannon fodder?)

What are you staring at?

Hurry up.

Hurry up!

Stop wasting my time.

Everyone's waiting for you.

Where's the writing?

Fu Gui, did you see that?

There were words on the screen just now.

My lady, what words?

You didn't see them?

Did none of you see them?

There were words on there.

Your Highness, Lady Luo is leaving.

What?

This...

My lady?

My lady?

My lady.

This wine...

There's something wrong with it.

Your Highness, everything's been arranged for.

Jin Zhu may come from the General of the State's family,

but her father and brother have been stationed

at the border for over 40 years.

They lost all their influence in Jingdu ages ago.

I'm a princess of Great Chu.

Only I am worthy enough to be Nan Zhi's real wife.

You're absolutely right, Your Highness.

Besides, Lady Jin dares to break her vows as a wife and spend her night

with another man on her wedding night.

She doesn't deserve to be Prince Ning's wife.

The adulterer is ready.

He'll be placed on Jin Zhu's bed soon.

- No matter how sharp her tongue is, - Adultery?

- she cannot prove her innocence. - Killed by Prince Ning himself?

This...

Is this some kind of prophecy?

What are you waiting for?

Get that adulterer in there, now.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness, I think I heard something inside.

Go check it out, now.

- Hurry. - Yes, Your Highness.

Make haste.

Wait, where did she go?

Why are you all just standing there?

Go after her, now!

Luo Li.

Luo Li!

Luo Li!

Luo Li.

Don't you know you're the only one I want to marry?

(Calm down. The bride will be killed soon.)

(The male lead has to marry someone else for it to be good.)

Luo Li, please don't go.

Nan Zhi.

Nan Zhi,

I lost my imperial jade token.

Can you let me search the residence?

Don't bother me with something this trivial.

Now we don't have to worry about making a scene.

Start searching.

We have to find her before Nan Zhi does.

- Go, now. - Yes, Your Highness.

Where could she even run to?

This is Prince Ning's residence.

Who here would even help her?

(Largest lie in the drama, an impotent chancellor.)

(I'm watching only because of the antagonist.)

Chancellor, just as you predicted,

Princess Jing Yun did use the aphrodisiac she stole

from the palace to set up Prince Ning's consort.

I specifically asked to be here for the ceremony.

Naturally, I wanted to watch this drama play out as planned.

Once the consort is disgraced,

the General of the State's family will definitely turn on Prince Ning.

By then, their military strength

naturally won't fall into Prince Ning's hands.

I wonder if the consort can still live

after being humiliated like this.

The show will only be more entertaining upon her death.

You two, come with me!

Move!

Who's there?

Chancellor Luo, please help me.

Princess Consort, you're truly bold.

You barged right into my room

on your wedding night, barely dressed.

Could it be

that you're helping Prince Ning with his political games

by setting me up

even if it means ruining your own reputation?

But I can't perform as a man.

That would be a pretty stupid plan.

(Largest lie in the drama, an impotent chancellor)

You're lying.

Chancellor Luo, you aren't actually impotent.

I'm not interested in political games.

Princess Jing Yun is in love with Prince Ning.

That's why she set me up.

If you help me escape from her,

I'll tell you how I learned this secret.

Why should I believe you?

Chancellor Luo, you hold the highest office.

You control the entire Six Ministries.

But even with all that power,

you're still willing to pretend you're impotent.

You're keeping your true abilities hidden.

There must be more to your plans than just political games.

So,

whether you believe me or not doesn't really matter.

What matters is,

are you willing to take that risk, Chancellor Luo?

Are you willing to risk the fact

that other people might find out about this secret of yours?

Everyone in Jingdu knows

that Jin Zhu from the General of the State's family

has been crazy about Prince Ning since she was a kid.

But no one knows

that you're quite the master of mind games.

Thanks for the compliment, Chancellor Luo.

But,

you don't have much time left to decide,

Chancellor Luo.

Your Highness, Chancellor Luo is staying here for now.

Search the place.

Chancellor, someone's coming.

Take it off.

Hurry!

Chancellor Luo, sorry for interrupting you...

Your Highness,

you barged into another man's room in the middle of the night.

You really don't care about your conduct, do you?

I've lost my imperial jade pendant.

Chancellor Luo, I wonder

if you've seen anyone suspicious around.

An imperial gift should definitely be searched for.

I thought Lou Si Yi was impotent.

Why is he still seeking out women?

I heard Chancellor Luo frequented Qingxiao Pavilion.

I don't think this is surprising at all.

Chancellor Luo, I wonder who you're holding.

What?

Your Highness, are you suspicious of my woman?

Why don't you have a look, then?