All language subtitles for Key.to_.the_.Phoenix.Heart_.E26_eng

[The Night Before
the Staged Execution Rescue]

♪ What's the cost
of going against the wind? ♪

♪ Knowing you, knowing me,
we live up to our promises ♪

♪ Aligning the traces of our conviction ♪

♪ As long as I'm with you ♪

♪ The journey can stretch on forever ♪

♪ Even if it puts my life on the line ♪

Tomorrow's fake rescue
from the execution ground

♪ I shall never forget ♪

is a life-or-death gamble.

If this charade isn't convincing enough,

we won't gain the trust of Northern Qin.

You must strike me down without mercy,

and I won't hold back either.

I'll try my best to keep you all alive.

But swords and blades have no eyes—

there's always a chance of an accident.

-If anything were to...
-Your Highness, no need to say more.

Death is inevitable on the battlefield.

If this plan succeeds, it can at least

secure more than a decade of peace
and stability for the Northern Border.

We're willing to be the blade
in Your Highness's hand!

-We're willing!
-To stand together through life and death!

Your Highness, you once said,

"Who says we stand alone?

We share weal and woe."

Alright!

How fitting—"Who says we stand alone?
We share weal and woe."

Then let's face life and death together!

[Key to the Phoenix Heart]

[Episode 26]

[Huiyin Hall]

Say something.

Come on, say something.

Xie Jiayu! Our wedding's tomorrow.

You have to marry me

whether you're willing to or not!

Keep breaking things like this,

and there won't be many vases
left in the palace.

How is it? Has His Majesty
issued the decree?

Xiao Wuyi's judgment was correct.

After the An and Lu families
were cleared of their charges,

the people's anger over the false charges
fabricated by Northern Qin,

along with their hatred stemming from
more than 2 decades of war,

have reached its peak.

Public support for the Northern Expedition
is now solid.

His Majesty has issued a decree
approving the expedition

and ordered He Yuan to draft
a proclamation for it.

As expected, nothing escapes
his calculations.

Li Mao!

I'd rather die today than marry you!

What's this?

Don't you want to root out

all the Northern Qin spies in the palace
before the Northern Expedition?

This item is called the caltrop fireball.

It is recorded in the surviving fragments
of "Essentials of Fire Attacks."

Back then, Northern Qin was so desperate
to kill Cui Jun

precisely because they wanted
to seize this item.

Before my master, Yuan Xiaoliu,
passed away,

he entrusted this blueprint to me.

He said that the art of firearms

was tied to the fate of the nation.

So if the Northern Qin spies
learn of this item,

even if it's a trap,

they'll surely risk their lives
to obtain it.

That's wonderful news.

With this item, the Northern Expedition
is bound to succeed.

But I've modified this blueprint.
So don't let

the Directorate of Military Equipment
blindly manufacture them.

If they end up
blowing themselves up instead,

I won't take responsibility.

Yaoyao.

You still don't trust me.

I trust you,

but I also have to guard against you.

Xiao Wuyi prides himself
on his cleverness—

he factors in the people's will,

and your ambitions as well.

He thinks he's thought of everything,

but in reality, he's just a fool

who doesn't value his own life.

That's why I'm his last line of defense.

I can't take that chance.

Mao.

I won't harm you,

but I won't let you harm him either.

I just want both of you

to stay alive and well.

Alright.

Then tomorrow's wedding

will be the best opportunity
to catch the spies.

Xie Jiayu, I'll give you one last chance!

The wedding's tomorrow.

Are you going to marry me or not?

Will you give me the blueprints
for the caltrop fireball or not?

If you're determined to die
alongside Xiao Wuyi,

I'll kill Xiao Ziqi right now.

You wouldn't dare!

Feng An!

Yes, Your Highness.

Take Xiao Ziqi to
the Court of Judicial Review.

Since his surname is Xiao,

let him be reunited with his family
as soon as possible.

Understood.

Li Mao, you're out of your mind!

You won't even spare a child?

I've only kept him alive to make you obey,

but my patience is running out.

The Grand Tutor is dead,

and the Xiao family has fallen.

Now, aside from
my lingering affection for you,

you have nothing to rely on.

Stop overestimating yourself.

You're nothing more than
my spoils of war.

I'll give you the blueprints
for the caltrop fireball.

But you must let Xiao Ziqi
and He Yuanji go.

Fine.

Let them go before the wedding!

Okay.

After all these years,

you're still nothing like her.

Forgive me, Your Highness.

Never mind.

Now that she's returned,

you don't have to keep up the act anymore.

Your Highness, please don't send me away.

Please have pity on my devotion,
Your Highness.

I'm willing to serve Your Highness

and Her Highness the Secondary Consort.

I've treated you so poorly,

yet why have you still not
changed your feelings?

I've served Your Highness all these years

and know full well the hardships
Your Highness has faced.

Even if I cannot be the one you love,

I'm willing to be a bowl of tea or a lamp.

As long as I can bring you

a moment of peace and comfort,

I'll feel content.

Good.

Then tomorrow, do something for me.

Whatever Your Highness commands.

Keep an eye on Xie Jiayu.

If she tries to pass anything
to He Yuanji

or Xiao Ziqi to take out of the palace,

swap it out for me.

That could be the key to victory
in the Northern Expedition.

Understood.

Also,

avoid Feng An.

He's a spy for Northern Qin.

What?

Eunuch Feng is...

Chan.

You're the only one I can trust.

I'll do my utmost
to share Your Highness's burden.

Your Highness, it's time to
return to the palace.

Freeze!

Hold on.

Miss Chan,

I entrust Young Lady to your care
from now on.

Ziqi,

hurry and thank Sister Chan.

No need for such formalities,
Young Master.

In the days to come,

I'll definitely take good care of
your concubine mother.

Let's go.

Feng An has been discovered.

The 3 people in his network
are likely all exposed now.

Now,

you're the only ones who can
get this blueprint out of the palace.

Deliver this to His Highness immediately,

and do not come back.

Understood.

Freeze!

When did you discover my identity?

I never did, actually.

I tested everyone,

and you were the only one
who gave yourself away.

The caltrop fireball is way too important.

If Feng An were discovered,

his accomplices would have no choice
but to put their lives on the line.

Actually, ever since

I first saw you by Mao's side,

something felt off to me.

The woman who once had the courage

to die alongside
Prince Changsha...

If you drink it, you'll die too.

Then I'll go down with him.

How could she, after falling for someone,

willingly copy another person
and live as her replacement?

You were Eagle King's agent
from the very beginning.

I don't think so.

At first, she was probably
just an inactive pawn—

disguised as a dancer,
gathering intelligence all over Jiankang.

When Prince Changsha rebelled,

she realized something had changed.

To avoid being dragged into it,

she fled the Lantai gathering.

She never expected to run into you,

and by a twist of fate, she ended up
in Prince Jing'an's Household.

So you never really

intended to save those dancers?

You just wanted to create chaos

so you could escape?

Everyone has their own fate.

As a spy, I can't afford to
worry about such things.

You used Prince Jing'an's Household
as a stepping stone

to get close to me,

taking it one step at a time

to see how far you could go.

Precisely because you had no plan at all,

you left no traces behind.

You even

deliberately arranged for Feng An
to come to my side,

drawing my attention away.

But you still found out.

Since you had already caught Feng An,

why were you still not at assured?

Things have always been like this

for lonely rulers throughout history.

Do you have anything else to say?

Your Highness.

I have no complaints or regrets
in this life.

I only wish Your Highness to take care

and achieve your desires.

By His Majesty's decree:

3 days from now, on the auspicious day,
the imperial army—

fully prepared and in high spirits—

will set out on the Northern Expedition.

All Northern Qin spies
within Jiankang City

shall be sacrificed to the banner!

Yes, Your Highness!

The Northern Qin barbarians,

with the nature of jackals and wolves,
have usurped the Central Plains

and torn our land apart
for more than 20 years.

They burned our ancestral temples,

plundered our classics,

trampled the nine-tiered imperial palaces
of the Capital,

and defiled the clear skies
and fertile lands in Heluo.

The gray-haired survivors still remember
the blood spilled before Zhuque Street,

and young children still hear the cries
lingering on in the ancestral hall.

Unless this grudge is avenged,

how can we stand before Heaven and Earth?

Now our iron-clad armies have endured
the autumn campaigns,

our night watches have echoed
without rest,

and the imperial forces
have fully gathered their strength.

From the Observatory, we see
the purple aura gathering in the east.

From the Yellow River, we hear
the thunderous roar shaking the north.

How can we bear to watch
the barbarian dust obscure the sun?

How dare we forget the heart-wrenching
anguish of our ancestors?

Those who behead enemy soldiers
shall be rewarded with 1000 taels of gold;

those who seize banners or break through
enemy lines shall be granted a fief of

10000 households.
On the day this proclamation reaches you,

we shall unfurl the dragon banners
upon Mount Yin,

hang the heads of Qin spies at Hangu Pass,

restore the radiance of sun and moon
over the ancient realm,

and rebuild our mountains and rivers
upon the old borders.

[Beifu]

The 3 armies jointly swear
this blood oath:

Until our realm is restored,

our blades shall not return to
their sheaths.

[Xiyue Restaurant]

Lan!

Lan!

Chuan?

Chuan!

Young Lord Xiao found you after all.

[Jing Lan's brother Jing Chuan]

Young Lord Xiao left this letter for you.

"I depart on a journey
from which I may not return.

I hereby return Xiyue Restaurant
to its rightful owner."

The Imperial Envoy came again?

Your Highness.

His Majesty has learned that
the Southern Ye Army

has crossed the Jing River
and captured Luyang.

The court and the public are in an uproar.

His Majesty has granted Your Highness
the ceremonial tiger token

and ordered Your Highness to immediately
dispatch troops to face the enemy.

My dear nephew finally
couldn't hold back anymore.

For 3 years he wouldn't give me
the tiger token,

but now that Luyang has fallen,

he's sent it over so quickly.

Chan had already delivered

the military strategy simulations

Xiao Wuyi did for Li Mao in prison to me.

Prince Qi is far too impatient.

He actually just copied their idea

and attacked

our weakest western defense line

without giving it any thought.

How could a leisurely prince
who knows nothing but poetry and prose

possibly understand military tactics?

As long as the Beifu soldiers
continue to attack the western front,

the cities behind it
won't be easy to capture.

Do not underestimate our enemy.

Understood.

Your Highness.

Last night we caught a small-time bandit

who actually tried to raid the camp
and rescue Xiao Wuyi.

Someone,

bring him up!

It's actually him.

He's still alive, huh?

Alright then.

Take him to the torture chamber

and have him reunite with
Xiao Wuyi's another guard.

Aren't we sending him to Xiao Wuyi?

These days,

we've tried both carrots and sticks
on him,

but he just wouldn't budge.

He even managed to escape 3 times.

If he were to give in that easily,

I'd find it suspicious. Take him away.

Will you talk or not?

Will you talk or not?

His Highness the Eagle King has arrived!

What a loyal young lady.

We caught an old friend of yours
last night.

Qing Long?

He followed us all the way here.

He had been hiding outside the camp
for the past few days,

trying everything to save Xiao Wuyi,
but failed.

And he was caught last night.

Since you survived,
you should try to remain that way!

Why come here to die?

There are no deserters in the Beifu Army.

With you and His Highness here,

if I hadn't come to save you
and had chosen to flee for my own life,

what kind of friend would that make me?

If you're scared,

just hand over the chance to go to
Northern Qin with His Highness.

Quiet.

Me, scared?

I'm just worried
that if I don't win the draw,

you'll steal my chance

to prove myself again.

A bet is a bet.

I won.

His Highness and I will go to Northern Qin
as bait,

and you'll lay in ambush outside.

Honestly, there was never any need
for a draw.

With a brain like yours,

how could you possibly outmaneuver
the Eagle King?

How many times do you plan to
pull that trick on him?

I hope this isn't the last time.

Go get some rest.

We're hitting the road
first thing tomorrow morning.

Rest assured, Your Highness.

I'll try to stage a few more
rescue attempts before I get captured.

That way, it will seem more convincing.

Don't lose your life doing this.

Even if I do, it doesn't matter.

A suicide mission

can't work without someone dying.

Is that why you refused to tell Yan Yue?

She's soft-hearted.

And she'd definitely choose to be
the one waiting outside.

A prison break is like a gamble—

the slightest mistake means death.

I'll do it.

You two share such a deep bond of
affection and loyalty,

which makes you ideal subjects
for interrogation.

I've witnessed Miss Yan Yue's loyalty
with my own eyes.

But since ancient times, it's been hard
to balance loyalty and righteousness.

Young man.

Do you want to know

if she has feelings for you?

I can help you.

Qing Long!

Torture them one after another.

Since this lady refuses to talk,

keep interrogating him.

One of them is bound to give in.

Yes, Your Highness.

Take a look, Young Lord Xiao,

These two were so affectionate
and loyal to each other,

yet they only held out for 4 hours

before drawing this defense map
of the Northern Border.

You're truly a man

without a shred of compassion.

You're nothing but a stray dog,

yet they've followed you
through thick and thin.

Aren't you moved at all?

Aren't their lives worth more than
Li Mao's?

The soldiers of our Beifu Army
have always risked their lives

to protect the common people.

You want me to betray Ye

and abandon the people of
the Northern Border

just to save their lives?

Mulian Yu,

when did you become so foolish?

Now that you've mentioned
the common people,

this is perfect. Guards,

bring the common people over!

Move!

Faster! Faster!

Move! Faster!

Move!

Move! Get in!

Hurry up!

Move faster!

Move! Faster!

The weather's perfect today—

an excellent chance for
a 100-pace archery contest.

Back in Jiankang,

I lost to you.

Let's have another match today.

If I lose again,

I'll set Qing Long and Yan Yue free.

Do you guys know who he is?

He's none other than Crown Prince Wenxi,

the one you've spent your entire lives
waiting for!

Save us, Your Highness!

Please save us!

Over these years, the rumor
"when the Phoenix Heart Tokens appear,

peace shall be restored in the world"
has spread far and wide—

not only across Southern Ye,
but even in the Capital.

Who among these refugees from Southern Ye

does not long for you, Crown Prince Wenxi,
to reappear in this world

and rescue them from their dire straits?

Now that you've come here,

I'm curious to see

if you can really
turn a blind eye to them.

Shoot!

Stop!

The defense map drawn by Xiao Wuyi

is different from the one
drawn by Qing Long and Yan Yue.

Which one is right?

We'll know once we put it to the test.

From 3 to 5 a.m. this morning,

Eagle King dispatched 3 scouting units

to launch feigned attacks on Qingxi,

Yingchuan, and Sansha.

What about Wuyi?

Is there any news about him?

Not yet.

But the fact that Eagle King
feigned attacks on those 3 locations

shows that he's starting to trust Wuyi.

Wuyi's plan is halfway to success.

Eagle King is cunning.

We can't fully trust him.

I must make sure he comes back alive.

By the way,

an old acquaintance returned last night.

He said he had something very important
to give you,

and that it could only be given to you.

Who is it?

Be careful.

Cui Shao'an?

How have you been?

Thankfully, I've fulfilled the task
you entrusted to me.

I found it.

Just as you said in the letter,

it's not ore,

but a slurry-like substance.

Get the caltrop fireball ready.

We'll test it right now.

You must be extra careful.

The power of this thing goes far beyond
your imagination.

No matter how dangerous it is,
we must try it.

Ancient texts record
that the caltrop fireball

burns with the force of
a collapsing mountain,

its flames twisting like lightning,

capable of determining victory
across vast fields.

To win this battle,

and to ensure Wuyi returns safely,

no matter how dangerous it is,
we must give it a try.

The three groups of scouts I dispatched,

following the map you drew,

were indeed completely wiped out.

It seems this map is correct.

Have Qing Long and Yan Yue been released?

I always keep my word—

as long as you cooperate with me.

There are 2 subtle errors on this map

that I left on purpose.

If Your Highness wants to
cooperate with me,

you must first agree to
one more condition.

That's good.

That's more like the Xiao Wuyi I know.

Go ahead. What condition is it?

I want the Capital.

I'm Crown Prince Wenxi.

I'm determined to lead the people of Ye
back to our former capital.

Xiao Wuyi, oh, Xiao Wuyi.

Your demand is a little too ambitious,
isn't it?

At this point,

is Your Highness really in any position
to bargain?

The young emperor of Northern Qin
is wary of you—

he's cut off your supplies,
sent a military inspector,

and now seeks to use Li Mao's forces

to wipe out your remaining 30,000
Black Eagle Army soldiers.

Now that a blade's already pressed against
Your Highness's neck,

do you really have a choice?

I don't want a single soldier
from Your Highness.

I only want the survivors of our Ye.

If I was able to build one Beifu Army,

then I can build a second one.

When the time comes, you and I
will join forces to defeat Li Mao's army.

You can then march south

and capture Jiankang,

and then advance westward.

What, did I hit the nail on the head?

Isn't the land of Xizhou

what Your Highness desires most?

Your Highness!

Are you really going to
hand the Capital over to Xiao Wuyi?

That's treason.

So that was a lie, Your Highness?

Once you get

the complete Northern Border
defense map from him

and crush Li Mao's army,

then

we can get rid of Xiao Wuyi.

But that Xiao Wuyi

is far too clever.

He saw right through the fact

that what I desire most is Xizhou.

Could it be that he has set
some kind of trap

and is waiting for me to fall into it?

If Your Highness remains
concerned about Xiao Wuyi,

why not force him into a corner
where he has no way out?

Your Highness, are you still unwell today?

I've recovered.
I shall receive the decree.

Southern Ye harbors the ambitions
of a wild beast,

coveting our territory.

They're truly a great threat
to our nation.

Upon hearing the news,

I wished I could immediately don my armor
and take the battlefield myself,

fighting the enemy to the death.

I hereby order you
to lead the counterattack,

hold the line at Luyang,

reclaim our lost lands,

and avenge this national humiliation.

As for Xiao Wuyi,
use him if he proves capable.

If not, execute him.

If you fear that Xiao Wuyi
might carry out a suicide mission,

I have a way to help you test
Xiao Wuyi's true intentions.

Eat up.

Your brother has arrived
outside Luyang City.

He can bring you home now.

This is the sound of our Beifu Army's
war drums as they charge.

Our young emperor's army
has already crossed the Qin Mountains.

Right now, with the Beifu Army
ahead of me

and our young emperor's army behind me,

two sharp blades
are pressed against my head.

Young Lord Xiao, you're the only one
who can save me now.

Young Lord Xiao.

Can you show me

and the world

this reason?

What do you want me to do?

I remember a few years ago,

at Lingfeng Fort in Guazhou,

Li Lejun murdered Princess Yunzhao

and returned to Jiankang.

You and Xie Jiayu teamed up
to uncover the real culprit.

You originally wanted to
kill that murderer,

but Li Lejun clung to life

and voluntarily defected to me.

Back then, Xie Jiayu once said:

"If one day

I see Li Lejun again..."

"I'll surely take your life."

Your Northern Qin spies
truly live up to their reputation.

They even overheard every word of

my private conversation with Li Mao.

Then may I ask, Young Lord Xiao,

does that statement still stand?

Young Lord Xiao.

Today, I will

give you a chance to fulfill your promise.

The Northern Qin barbarians,

with the nature of jackals and wolves,

have usurped the Central Plains

and torn our land apart
for more than 20 years.

They trampled the nine-tiered
imperial palaces of the Capital,

and defiled the clear skies
and fertile lands in Heluo.

Now our iron-clad armies have endured
the autumn campaigns,

our night watches have echoed
without rest,

and the imperial forces
have fully gathered their strength.

Those who seize banners or break through
enemy lines shall be granted 10000 households!

Your Highness, they're not responding.
What should we do?

Keep challenging them.

Keep challenging them!

Your Highness, someone has come out
over there.

Lejun!

Your brother is right across from us.

He's here to pick you up.

Go on.

Mulian Yu.

I don't regret coming to Northern Qin,

nor do I regret marrying you.

From the moment I stepped onto
the land of Northern Qin,

I knew it would end like this.

But in the next life,

let's not cross paths again.

Prince Qi!

See clearly who I am!

Let my sister go!

If you're willing to trade Luyang City
for your sister's life,

I'll release her immediately!

Young Lord Xiao.

The grudge of ruining your reputation
and taking your power,

and the hatred of wiping out your clan
and taking your wife—

the time has come to settle these debts.

Xiao Wuyi.

You traitor!

Kill me if you want.

I, Li Lejun, will never back down!

Wuyi!

No!

Wait.

Give Li Mao the chance to fire 3 arrows.

I'd like to see

if he's willing to sacrifice
his sister's life.

Soldiers of Beifu!

Xiao Wuyi has committed treason

and surrendered to Northern Qin!

He's no longer your commander!

He's a traitor!

Li Lejun?

Young Lord Xiao, I hope you've been well.

Weren't you put under house arrest
by the Eagle King?

I've already taken a deadly poison.

My time is almost up.

What's the point of keeping me locked up?

What?

Xiao Wuyi.

I came to ask you for a favor.

Tomorrow, when the 2 armies
face off on the battlefield,

could you please

not let me die at the hands
of the Northern Qin soldiers?

I hope

you can kill me yourself.

Reason?

I owe Jiayu a life anyway.

If you take my life,

I can accept it.

Your Highness! Your Highness, no!

Could it be that

Eagle King is just testing Wuyi
with all this?

If Wuyi doesn't shoot Li Lejun
in front of the 2 armies,

he'll be completely exposed,

and the entire plan will fall apart
at the last moment.

Soldiers of Ye!

My brother has told me since I was young

that the elite troops of Ye

must fight for the land and people of Ye!

I've already taken poison.

Death is only a matter of time for me.

But I'm Princess Pingning of Ye.

My father, mother,
my brothers and sisters—

so many of them were killed by
the people of Northern Qin.

No matter what,

I, Li Lejun,

cannot die at their hands.

This

isn't the whole truth, is it?

You're right.

There's a third reason.

Lejun!

Lejun!

Today,

as I give my life for Ye,

I die a worthy death.

Soldiers of the Beifu Army!

Li Mao killed my parents

and took my wife.

My hatred for him is boundless!

The Eagle King has promised me
the Capital.

If you surrender now,

once we reclaim our homeland,

you'll be granted rank and honors.

As for those who refuse to surrender,

when we meet again on the battlefield,

expect no mercy.

Your Highness Prince Qi!

Your sister has sacrificed for you
her whole life!

Yet you aren't willing to trade a city

for her life?

Your Highness has been hiding

the Regent of Southern Ye's sister
all these years.

How do you want to show His Majesty
your loyalty?

Young Lord Xiao.

Xiao Wuyi!

Your Highness!

If my brother is to become a true emperor,

he must free himself from your influence—

not only from your command
over the Beifu Army,

but also from the hold you have
over his heart.

I once thought

you merely viewed my brother

as a stepping stone to seize power.

But now it seems

you're even more ruthless toward yourself
than toward others,

and you care even less about your status
as Crown Prince Wenxi.

A person like you has no weaknesses.

The line between god and demon
lies in a single thought.

Yet if one day

your paths diverge,

what will become of my brother?

If you truly have faith in him,

then please allow him

to stand before you as a true rival.