Original subtitles

Your Highness, are you over the moon right now?

I want to hold it back,

but I just can't.

You said I am the best,

and that you would marry no one but me.

Your Highness,

didn't we agree long ago

that this marriage is mutually beneficial?

Don't tell me you mistakenly thought what I said

was genuinely from my heart?

Why can't you just humor me a bit?

I am very easy to please.

=Blossoms of Power=

(Adapted from the novel, After My Bloom, All Flowers Wither by Jin Huang)

=Episode 13=

Your Highness, you personally escorted me back to my manor.

Four hours have already passed since then.

When are you leaving?

Four hours already?

Time flies so fast.

What are we having for dinner?

When did I ever invite you to have dinner with me, Your Highness?

It's just the way to treat a guest.

I thought you would understand that.

Do you even have the awareness of being a guest?

So you also feel that I am more like the master of the house?

You'd better just stay hungry.

Since you don't want to see me,

I'll just leave.

I'll come to see you another day.

No need to see me out.

Why does it feel like

Crown Prince is acting a bit strange today?

Where is my handkerchief?

Wasn't it just right here?

A Crown Prince

actually turned into a thief for a handkerchief?

Who would believe this if it got out?

Would you believe it?

Your Highness,

ever since you came back from Commandery Princess's place,

you've been in a constant state of excitement.

Your eyes are as bright as the morning star.

I don't even dare to look at you directly.

Tian Yuan,

I...

discovered a secret of Xihe's.

Look.

Immortal Vine

is embroidered on this handkerchief?

It really is the Immortal Vine.

Tell me,

Commandery Princess embroidered the Immortal Vine on her handkerchief.

What does this mean?

I don't know the answer.

Although she seems cold on the surface,

she actually values old bonds very much in her heart.

This Immortal Vine once helped her out of a tight spot,

so she never forgot it.

If she treats a mere herb like this,

then what about a person who stays by her side every day

and shares both joys and sorrows with her?

Commandery Princess's thoughts

are very hard for ordinary people to guess.

Moreover,

many people trust objects

more than they trust human hearts.

Wait. Commandery Princess doesn't know

that you were the one who gave her the Immortal Vine.

So, why would she give this handkerchief to you?

You didn't steal

the handkerchief, did you?

It's getting late.

Go prepare for the Jiuxiao Lantern Festival in a few days.

There must not be the slightest mistake.

Understood.

You should also rest early, Your Highness.

What a child.

(Qingfeng House)

Sir, come on in.

- Xihe. - Inside, please.

The shad soup in this restaurant is delicious.

I especially told them to save a large one.

Later on,

let's have drinks together.

Why are you playing the attentive host so much today?

It's all because you

are about to marry the Crown Prince soon.

My heart is broken and grieved.

I was thinking that before you enter the palace,

every extra day I can spend with you

is a day to cherish.

You don't need to be heartbroken.

Without me, you can always go find Vice Minitser Cui.

I don't even need to marry Princess Anling anymore.

Why should I keep looking for him?

Well, I feel

that in the way he looks at you,

there is a great deal of affection.

What do you mean by that?

Don't scare me.

Although he acts disgusted verbally,

he often appears by your side on purpose.

Can't you feel it at all?

Usually, it's me pestering him,

and he wishes nothing more than to stay far away from me.

Vice Minitser Cui.

Your Highness.

Young Master Bu.

I'm suddenly not hungry anymore.

Let's go look around and come back to eat later. Let's go.

(Imperial Guard) Get me a roast goose tonight.

Yes, sir.

I forgot the case files.

Captain,

which case files are you talking about?

We brought them all.

Shut up.

(Imperial Guard)

Stop right there.

Why have you been avoiding me lately?

Vice Minitser Cui,

my superior is waiting for me to report on the case.

Excuse me.

Captain Bu.

Wait,

what is wrong with you?

Curfew is about to start in the palace.

What are you still standing here for?

I just wanted to ask you

why you are avoiding me.

My pestering you every day in the past

was making trouble out of nothing.

But rest assured,

from now on, even if I run into you on the street,

I will treat you like a stranger.

I was wrong before, alright?

Please don't take it to heart.

From now on, I'll watch my words and actions

and draw a clear line between us.

Cut ties.

Yes, cut ties.

You pester me whenever you want,

and cut ties whenever you please.

Why are you so willful?

Fine.

Let's make things clear today.

I won't pester you anymore,

and you don't pester me either.

Young Master Bu still refuses to acknowledge you?

Did you say something hurtful?

Tomorrow is the Jiuxiao Lantern Festival.

After the festival, I'll marry Commandery Princess.

Don't wear that half-dead look on your face.

You should look full of joy.

He wants to cut ties with me

and told me not to look for him again.

Is that why

you've been so unhappy?

I just find it baffling.

In the past, when he pestered me,

I was utterly annoyed.

But now that he suddenly walks away,

I actually feel suffocated with anger.

I'm angry at myself

for caring about him this much.

You must have lost your heart to him.

Your Highness...

You didn't mishear.

Precisely because you've lost your heart to him,

you feel this way.

Please don't joke, Your Highness.

He...

He is a young man.

What if she isn't a man?

Young Master Bu came to the capital as a child.

So many people know him.

How...

How...

How could this

be possible?

I've said enough.

If you want to know the answer,

find a way yourself.

(Jiuxiao Lantern Festival)

How incredible!

Cloud Moon Cake,

Plum Shadow Curd,

and Snow Milk Balls.

These are all festive snacks for the festival.

Try them.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Usually,

I see you eat with great restraint.

No matter how much you like something,

you stop after just a few bites.

When you eat with me in the future,

there is no need to be so particular.

Eat as much as you want.

A jade hairpin

signifies a proposal to a primary wife.

As the wind blows, the flowers bloom.

Just like my heart for you,

they are the wind and flowers that never miss their time.

No matter how the years go by,

I will never fail you.

♪A wall that collapses at a single push♪

♪Frost that melts at a single smile♪

♪How can you be this wonderful♪

♪I've hidden so many words♪

♪Too reluctant to tell you♪

♪So never uncover♪

♪The sand that slips away with one grasp♪

♪The flower that withers after one bloom♪

♪Silently buried deep inside my heart♪

♪Every answer I gave♪

♪Was both bittersweet and absurd♪

♪Hiding my tear-filled eyes when I hurt you♪

♪How hard it truly was?♪

Xihe,

for as long as I can remember,

my heart

has never been this joyful.

♪Pretending to be brave as if I'd never been hurt♪

I will strive to be a good wife to you,

and a good Crown Princess.

♪Give you a moon in return♪

But toward Your Highness,

I still have no romantic feelings.

I know

that saying this now might seem like a mood killer,

but I prefer to make everything clear.

♪Never knowing I was lost♪

I have always liked your honesty.

You only need to remember our agreement.

If one day

you fall for me,

you must tell me right away.

♪Know how much I long to, long to♪

Look over there.

♪Amidst the flickering lights♪

♪Alone for several autumns♪

♪How to choose the one♪

♪To be with forever?♪

♪When I gaze upon you♪

♪Flower petals twirl gently in my heart♪

♪Gracefully♪

♪For all eternity♪

♪The timeless wind and moon♪

♪Quietly reflect in your sparkling eyes♪

♪Scattered red petals fall like rain♪

♪It's a wonderful time in the world♪

Did Your Highness paint

the painting on the lantern shade yourself?

Yes.

It depicts you and me

and...

what our child would look like.

♪I once said all my goodbyes in a past life♪

My promise to you

is made with the whole world as witness.

♪I will hold you in this lifetime until the very end♪

My heart for you

will never change.

♪And a pool of me♪

Xihe,

sleep well tonight.

Let's go.

Tian Yuan, go protect the Commandery Princess.

Commandery Princess.

Go protect the Crown Prince now.

His Highness ordered me to protect you.

Go now!

We must not let you come to the slightest harm.

Forgive me, but I cannot leave your side.

Commandery Princess, you can't go over there.

It's too dangerous here.

Please go back now, Commandery Princess.

The person who just passed by was Princess Ding,

Li Yanhui?

Princess Ding was the princess of the former Nanzhou State.

Are there still subordinates loyal to her by her side?

Since Nanzhou surrendered,

its people have become citizens of our Daxing.

However, there are some people

who only take orders from Li Yanhui.

Does Your Highness think this assassination attempt

is related to Princess Ding?

Today is the national memorial day of Nanzhou.

Li Yanhui went out with her face covered,

likely to quietly pay respects to her former homeland.

(Clarity and Serenity)

Your Highness,

during the search,

the Palace Guard found Prince Ding's Consort, Li Yanhui, by the river.

They asked why she was there late at night,

but she remained silent.

Just as they were in a bind,

Prince Ding arrived to vouch for her

and insisted on taking her away.

The riverside is a place for memorial rituals.

It seems your suspicion was correct, Your Highness.

Li Yanhui traveled masked at night

to pay tribute to her former homeland.

Oh,

she was bundled up tonight.

How did you determine right away

that she was Li Yanhui?

The scent I noticed on Li Yanhui

is identical to the incense Prince Ding uses.

But you have only met them

once.

Once is enough.

Even with the same ingredients, if the ratio differs,

I can still detect it.

Last time, at Prince Ding's manor,

I noticed the incense Prince Ding used

was "Four Rejections Incense".

That is usually favored by poor scholars

to show their elegant contentment with poverty.

The scent is faint.

Yet Prince Ding

carefully blended top-tier ingredients.

This formula must be his own creation.

I could not have mistaken it.

Your sense of smell is extraordinary.

You are uniquely gifted.

Your Highness, what is wrong?

I never understood

how Commandery Princess saw through my disguise so quickly.

I wanted to know,

if someone impersonates an official,

what would the punishment be?

Now,

I finally understand.

Every time before I disguised myself to see her,

I would take a pill

containing Tagara Incense

to alter my voice.

She recognized it based on the scent

of Tagara Incense.

The scent is very faint.

Normal people cannot detect it.

But the Commandery Princess can.

The ratio of this Tagara Incense formula

was custom-blended for me by the abbot

when I was at the Taoist temple.

It is the only one.

Normally,

I wear Father's sachet,

which has a very strong herbal scent.

So it masked the lingering scent of Tagara Incense,

preventing her from recognizing me.

Your Highness,

among those gifts you sent to the Commandery Princess,

one of them

is a pair of Tagara Incense bracelets.

She has not seen them yet.

If she sees it,

she will know that I am the one with the Tagara incense.

She will also understand my strategy in court,

and she will understand

that I am not the man she thinks I am,

a Crown Prince with no backing.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Quick! Summon the Chief Imperial Physician!

Your Highness.

Your Highness!

Crown Prince's cold toxin is flaring up.

Prepare the medicinal bath.

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.

Quick. Move faster, everyone.

- Greetings, Your Majesty. - Greetings, Your Majesty.

Rise.

How is the Crown Prince?

Replying to Your Majesty,

the toxin in his body

is already hardest to suppress in winter.

Today, a sudden surge of severe anxiety and anger

caused the toxin to spiral out of control.

Tian Yuan,

why did the Crown Prince suffer such a sudden surge of anxiety and anger?

I do not know either.

It is my incompetence

for failing to take proper care of Crown Prince.

Please punish me, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

the Crown Prince needs a medicinal bath,

followed by acupuncture to clear his acupoints,

before his condition can be temporarily eased.

Only...

Only what?

The risk is very high.

A single mistake

could lead to...

I have only a 30 percent chance of success.

Thirty percent?

Is there really no other way?

The poison flared up too violently this time.

If we don't administer acupuncture immediately,

I'm afraid he might...

Your Majesty,

let them treat him.

At a time like this,

we can't afford to hesitate anymore.

Any further delay,

and I'm afraid Huayong will be in grave danger.

What are you still standing there for?

Go treat him now.

- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.

Xihe,

given Huayong's current condition,

are you

still willing to marry into the East Palace?

Your father entrusted you to us.

If you want to back out now,

we would never blame you.

Your Majesty,

Grand Empress Dowager,

husband and wife are one, for better or worse.

If I were the one lying on the sickbed right now,

I wouldn't want my husband to abandon me either.

The Crown Prince and I share a bond of hearts.

My mind is made up.

To have such character and grace,

you are worthy of being the Crown Princess.

I shall take my leave.

Youyou...

I'm here.

What did you want to say?

Why are your hands so cold?

Go build up the charcoal fire.

Move it closer.

Yes.

And bring another blanket.

Yes.

How can they still be this cold?

All of you may leave us.

- Yes. - Yes.

Youyou...

I'm here.

Youyou,

there are things I want to tell you.

You don't need to say anything.

Just focus on getting better.

Your Majesties,

after the acupuncture,

the toxin inside the Crown Prince's body has been suppressed.

Once he wakes up,

he will be out of danger.

Wonderful.

I will be waiting outside the hall.

Zhaoning,

you've been looking after Huayong day and night without rest.

It's been hard on you.

Commandery Princess Zhaoning,

now you can finally put your mind at ease.

Go back and get some rest early.

Thank you for your concern, Your Majesties.

I will come to visit the Crown Prince again tomorrow.

If you keep pushing yourself

and fall ill as well,

what are we to do then?

The Crown Prince's cold toxin has been suppressed.

We don't need to stay up keeping watch anymore.

The bed has already been scented.

Please go and get a good night's sleep.

I'm not tired yet.

There's one thing

I haven't been able to figure out.

Right after I left the East Palace,

the Crown Prince had his relapse.

When His Majesty asked about it,

Tian Yuan cast a glance at me.

Could it be

that Crown Prince's sudden surge of anxiety and anger

actually had something to do with me?

And these past few days,

whenever Tian Yuan sees me,

he acts so strangely.

The Crown Prince's health has always fluctuated.

Please don't worry too much, Your Highness.

Your Highness,

the Grand Minister of Rites

has arrived with the imperial decree for your marriage.

By the grace of Heaven, a union is ordained.

The Crown Prince is of noble character and supreme virtue.

As he has come of age, the East Palace needs a mistress.

Shen Xihe, the eldest daughter of Duke of Wei, Shen Yueshan,

comes from an illustrious family and possesses all four virtues.

She is hereby betrothed to the Crown Prince.

By Imperial Order.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

I accept the decree.

Congratulations, Your Highness.

I must return to the palace to report.

I'll visit another day to offer my congratulations.

Thank you for your trouble, Minister Zhang.

Mo Yu, see our guest out.

These are the betrothal gifts from the Crown Prince.

Would you like to examine them, Your Highness?

Bring them all in.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness,

you're finally awake.

Have you gotten back the pair of bracelets

I gave the Commandery Princess

as her betrothal gift?

It is already too late.

What do you mean?

Commandery Princess,

there are 20 pieces of jade here.

I only brought a few chests

for you to look at first.

The rest are stored in the warehouse.

There are also 50 kg of gold and 10,000 taels of silver in the warehouse.

Look at this, Your Highness.

This is a golden dangling hairpin adorned with twin blossoms.

And this one,

a gold-threaded butterfly hairpin with a dangling pearl.

How exquisite.

Lately,

I tried everything I could,

but those betrothal gifts had already been registered the inventory.

No one could touch them without His Majesty's decree.

And early this morning,

they were delivered to the Duke of Wei's Manor.

There is also this,

a dragon-and-phoenix auspicious platter.

You can use it when you have pastries in the future, Your Highness.

The Crown Prince sent so many gifts,

and each one was chosen with the utmost care.

Tagara Incense?

What did you say, Your Highness?

My name is Hua Fuhai.

I came today

hoping to request the return of the Immortal Vine, Your Highness.

The Embroidered Envoys are handling a case.

Anyone who dares to interfere

will be executed without mercy.

I'm Vice Minister Cui of the Court of Judicial Review.

I have been waiting here for you, Your Highness,

to investigate the case of the escaped slave, Ling Long.

In this world,

the richest, the best fighters, and those with the brightest futures

all take orders from the owner of this Tagara Incense.

I am quite different.

I have stayed away from the court for years and am all by myself.

I am just a frail, unnoticed,

and idle Crown Prince.

He managed to silently infiltrate the Emperor's

most disciplined and secretive forces,

and he can even stand as an enemy against Xiao Changqing and his brother.

This person is unpredictable.

All of you may leave now.

I want to be alone for a while.

(East Palace)

The Tagara Incense blend on this bracelet

is unique.

I have only ever smelled it on one person.

So, it turns out

you are that Tagara Incense.

Youyou,

let me explain.

I am all ears.

When I was gathering the Immortal Vine,

I happened to save you.

That was our first meeting,

and there was no calculation involved.

Seeing your cold detachment toward Prince Lie,

I was surprised.

The wisdom and composure you showed when taking the Rouge Ledger

made me curious.

The way you saw through my disguised identity

earned my admiration

and won my heart even more.

When the poison flared up and I almost lost my life,

it was you who gave the Immortal Vine

without a second thought to a stranger like me.

Before I knew it,

I had already fallen too deep.

Later, when I found out I only had five years left to live,

I did think about giving up on this relationship.

But when I saw you fall off the cliff,

I suddenly realized

that I had already reached a point where I couldn't let you go.

So, during that period of time,

you told me you were leaving the capital,

but you actually went to the snowy peaks

to search for the Extreme Frost Cordyceps.

And it was because of this

that the poison blinded your eyes to colors.

Yes.

You play the part of a frail Crown Prince,

yet you have been quietly

recruiting forces

and laying your trap in court,

all just to find the person who poisoned you.

That person is hidden so deeply

that even now, there is not a single clue.

That is why I never made things clear to you.

Thank you for coming to my aid time and again, Your Highness.

I will do everything I can to repay you.

But I ask Your Highness to cooperate

and break off our engagement.

What did you say?

Not only did you infiltrate the Embroidered Envoys,

but you can also command the wealthy Hua Fuhai.

Even Cui Jinbai,

the young and powerful minister His Majesty trusts most,

is actually your subordinate.

You have never been

some innocent, harmless, and weak Crown Prince.

If we turn against each other one day,

and I take a single misstep,

I will be utterly destroyed,

and it would even drag the Shen family into eternal damnation.

If I had looked at the betrothal gift list earlier,

there wouldn't have been a marriage decree at all.

You weighed the pros and cons

and considered everything,

yet you failed to consider me.

In the end, you never believed in my true feelings for you.

What do true feelings matter?

How many true feelings

change in an instant when faced with conflicts of power?

I cannot do this at the expense of my loved ones,

nor can I risk everything

to gamble on a heart staying true forever.

(Sea Within the Heart)

Before the Grand Historian sets the wedding date,

please think it over carefully, Your Highness.

♪Let it all go, give my tears to the flowers♪

♪Beneath my feet, eternal doom is more than wind and sand♪

I will never allow you,

while I am still alive,

to marry anyone else.

♪Hides in the clamor♪

Any man of the imperial family is mine to choose.

Even in front of His Majesty,

I would dare to say these words.

♪I want destiny, and also tender words of love♪

♪As night stains my eyes, I'll gaze once more at the rosy clouds♪

It doesn't matter what choice you make.

In the end,

you can only choose me.

♪In this eternity, you are a part of it♪

♪My longing can level mountains and cross countless rivers♪

♪Drunk or sober, it's all like a dream♪

♪Stars sink into my hair, the moon slips through my fingers♪

♪For how much joy do we share this life together♪

♪Withering and flourishing, year after year♪

I will take my leave.

♪A heart weathered by frost will melt in love♪

♪Across countless miles of treasured moments♪

♪With this broken body, I'll become your armor♪

♪I want destiny, and also tender words of love♪

♪As night stains my eyes, I'll gaze once more at the rosy clouds♪

♪I have a dream of a long wind in my sleeves♪

♪My heart rises and falls, we embrace in a sea of clouds♪

♪In this eternity, you are a part of it♪

♪My longing can level mountains and cross countless rivers♪

♪Drunk or sober, it's all like a dream♪

♪Stars sink into my hair, the moon slips through my fingers♪

Commandery Princess,

how did your talk with the Crown Prince go?

I want to part with him on good terms.

Right now, I only regret

that I shouldn't have provoked him in the first place.

Before, I only thought the Crown Prince was deep.

Only now do I realize

his abilities are so terrifying.

If he holds a grudge over you calling off the wedding

and becomes our enemy,

what should we do, Your Highness?

If it's a fair and square battle,

win or lose,

I will accept the outcome.

I just don't want to deal with him hypocritically,

and I don't want us to become the people who guard against each other the most.

Commandery Princess,

do you really not plan to marry into the East Palace?

No, I don't.

♪May the sand and dirt in my sleeves♪

(East Palace)

Who else

is a better match for you than me,

who has a legitimate imperial descent

and a short life expectancy?

Legitimate imperial descent

can be changed.

Whether your life is short or not

can be orchestrated.

Get out.

♪I've hidden so many words♪

♪Too reluctant to tell you♪

♪So never uncover♪

♪The sand that slips away with one grasp♪

♪The flower that withers after one bloom♪

♪Silently buried deep inside my heart♪

♪Every answer I gave♪

♪Was both bittersweet and absurd♪

♪Hiding my tear-filled eyes when I hurt you♪

♪How hard it truly was?♪

♪The wounds that healed with just a little comfort♪

♪The lies made whole with a single embrace♪

♪Pretending to be brave as if I'd never been hurt♪

♪It's a shame I never could♪

♪Give you a moon in return♪

♪With the same open heart you loved me♪

♪I've crossed the wasteland of memories♪

♪Never knowing I was lost♪

♪Why don't you take me away?♪

♪Lead me out of this endless game of hide-and-seek♪

♪You'll never♪

♪Know how much I long to, long to♪

(No animals were harmed in the making of this film)