Original subtitles

Your Highness,

is the poison acting up again?

Give me the medicine.

But

Physician Xie said... Give it to me.

Don't worry.

It will hold me over for a while.

I, as a blade,

swear to protect you to the death.

Remember this.

When facing battle, do not harbor a death wish.

You must hold onto the will to live.

You are not a blade.

You are my man.

=Blossoms of Power=

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

=Episode 28=

This way.

Careful.

Report!

Report!

Report!

The Le tribe has reached Tingzhou.

Young Master,

there is no time to lose.

We must send reinforcements to Tingzhou now.

We cannot let the Le tribe advance any further.

I, Guo Ying,

beseech you for the order

to reinforce Tingzhou immediately.

No,

Uncle Guo.

I will go.

Young Master,

you are severely injured.

It is not suitable for you to lead troops right now.

The Duke has not yet awakened.

Northwest Army still needs you to take command.

You cannot go.

Please let me go instead.

I request the order

to go to Tingzhou in your stead.

The Crown Prince has arrived!

- Greetings, Your Highness. - Greetings, Your Highness.

Please rise, Generals.

There is no Crown Prince here.

Only the son-in-law of the Shen family.

You are severely injured.

It is indeed unsuitable for you to go to battle.

As the son-in-law of the Shen family,

I am willing to go to war in your stead.

No.

Weapons have no eyes.

If anything were to happen to you,

how could I explain it to His Majesty?

Once the news of the Duke of Wei's critical condition spreads,

the foreign tribes will surely make their move.

The Le tribe is only the enemy in front of us.

If the foreign tribes learn that northwest is leaderless,

and take advantage of it,

it will only put us at a greater disadvantage in this war.

Your primary duty

is to be the backbone of northwest.

But Your Highness...

The matters you worry about,

you can rest assured.

The people of northwest are also subjects of Daxing.

If I stay out of this,

how can I be fit to sit on the throne of the Crown Prince?

Please, Young Master,

grant me the military seal.

None of you has seen His Highness?

We haven't seen His Highness since early morning.

Where did the Crown Prince go?

His Highness left at dawn,

leading troops to Tingzhou City.

Prepare my horse.

Dispatch all the personal guards in the manor.

Follow me to Tingzhou City.

- Your Highness! - Your Highness!

Charge!

- Charge! - Charge!

Charge!

Changtai?

You are the one behind Geng Liangcheng.

Huayong,

you've been acting sickly, deceiving everyone.

Did you think you were the only one

who could turn their face

into a mask?

You actually committed treason.

Have you forgotten

the humiliation when the Le tribe trampled the Central Plains?

Xiao Changtai, you are unworthy of being a son of the Xiao family!

Shut up!

When I win,

history

will be written by me.

Die!

Report!

The Yaozhou garrison broke through the mountain pass defense and is attacking!

Yaozhou garrison?

Who is leading them?

It's Prince Xin, Xiao Changqing.

Soldiers, hear my command!

- Yes! - Yes!

Attack!

Charge!

- Kill! - Kill!

- Kill! - Kill!

Your Highness, the battle is lost.

We must retreat!

Go!

Retreat!

♪A wall that collapses at a single push♪

♪Frost that melts at a single smile♪

♪How can you be this wonderful♪

Why are you here?

♪I've hidden so many words♪

If you dare to act on your own again,

I won't let you off lightly.

Yes, my princess.

♪So never uncover♪

♪Wind that misses the grasp♪

♪Light that ignites at a single touch♪

♪A person can find strength time and again♪

♪Our past♪

♪Has been full of ups and downs along the way♪

It's so good to have you.

♪Admitting my confusion♪

♪Just like your regret♪

♪How hard can it be?♪

♪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♪

- We won! - We won!

♪So please try your best to be open first♪

Let's go home!

Let's go home!

- We're going home! - Let's go home!

Nice!

(Shen)

(Tingzhou)

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

♪The flustered mortal world♪

- We won! - We won!

♪Your eyes remain clear and bright♪

For the next few days,

you must be very careful, Your Highness.

Don't let the wound get wet.

Get out, all of you.

Report!

Your Highness,

the Princess Consort wishes to see you.

(Willows Reflected in the Meandering Stream)

You're back.

Come sit.

I cooked myself

and made some of your favorite dishes.

Yanyan,

you look beautiful today.

Just like the day of our grand wedding,

when you first married me.

Come,

have a taste.

You don't think

that seeing you defeated,

I'd kill you to claim credit, do you?

How could I ever doubt you?

I just don't trust anyone else.

Given our current situation,

if someone wanted us dead,

why would they even bother with poison?

Yanyan,

you should go back to the imperial capital.

Right now,

I have nowhere left to run.

But you're different.

Everyone knows you were confined to the manor by His Majesty.

No one knows you came to northwest.

Everything I've done

has nothing to do with you.

I can't go back.

Making the wrong choice

leads to a path of no return.

Yanyan.

I never wanted you to fight

for that dragon throne in Mingzheng Hall.

In your eyes,

it's the path to supreme imperial power.

But in mine,

it's a deep grave leading to the underworld.

Yanyan,

what are you doing?

I'm truly tired.

All these years,

in front of everyone,

you acted like you were madly in love with me.

But I was always just a knife in your hand,

a mask you wore in public.

I'm truly tired of it.

Yanyan, don't.

Yanyan!

Don't!

♪Time is like a river flowing backward♪

♪The story is sketched anew♪

No!

♪The tide engulfs the lines on my palm♪

♪Pushing me to converge with you♪

♪Sifting for joy in a sea of sorrow♪

♪I step onto this winding path♪

Yanyan.

♪What was swept away?♪

♪Joy and sorrow show no emotion♪

I only hope in the next life,

we'll never meet again.

♪Only to find it's just a bubble♪

♪Scene after scene of yesterday♪

♪Lies between the sky and the water♪

♪The stars are sinking♪

♪Like a sunken vow♪

♪You drifted away alone♪

♪Without a single word of goodbye♪

♪Leaving no room to turn back♪

♪I can only stay there forever♪

♪In the coming years, I'll always remember that year, my graceful lover♪

♪Love hangs on the crest of the waves♪

♪Waiting for regret to swallow me up♪

(Half a Month Later)

Charge!

Charge!

General Shitou,

flank the enemy from behind!

General Xiaoniu,

the enemy has been repelled.

We must press our advantage!

My shoulder's been hit!

I'm still alive.

I can still fight!

Good!

Spoken like a true soldier.

Charge!

Father.

You haven't recovered from your injuries.

Why are you out here again?

You know your father.

I just can't sit still.

If you focus on recovering,

I'll cook something special to reward you tonight.

I'll listen to you.

I'll do whatever you say.

As they say, military orders on the battlefield are absolute.

But at home...

What do you say, my good son-in-law?

Youyou is in charge of everything.

Well said.

Youyou,

your cooking has improved again.

It's very flavorful.

Then eat some more.

Okay.

Father-in-law,

this is freshly grilled. Please, have a taste.

Grilled by you?

Yes.

I absolutely cannot accept this.

There is a distinction between ruler and subject.

I am not worthy.

Father-in-law,

the day I first entered northwest's military camp,

I told the generals and Yun'an

that there is no Crown Prince here,

only the Shen family's son-in-law.

That is even more true today.

All right.

Then

thank you, my good son-in-law.

Come.

In the battle of Tingzhou,

you protected our territory

and executed the traitor.

Tonight, you and I

must have a few more drinks.

Since you're in high spirits,

I will certainly keep you company.

But you're still injured,

so please remember to drink in moderation.

All right.

I'll listen to both of you.

What is this?

It smells so good.

I don't think I've ever smelled it before.

This incense is made by pouring strong liquor over it and burning it dry.

Once lit, the aroma of the liquor is intoxicating.

It's just like drinking alcohol,

but it doesn't harm the body.

And there's no hangover when you wake up.

Right.

I'm already feeling a bit dizzy.

It feels like

I've drunk several jugs of liquor.

Here.

Okay.

Since you're so worried about Father,

why didn't you stop him from drinking?

Father is happy.

Let him drink if he wants to.

I just need to find a way

to minimize the harm.

Why are you smiling?

I find that sometimes you

understand everything,

and see through everything.

In the past,

I never paid much attention to matters of the heart.

But from now on,

I will devote my heart to you.

Let's take Father back first.

And then,

I want to take you somewhere.

Now?

From this spot,

the view of the stars is excellent.

They seem so close,

as if you could pluck them from the sky.

The beauty of the night sky

is ever-changing.

Watching it alone

and watching it together

are completely different.

It is indeed different.

I've seen countless night skies,

but never once

have I been this close to the stars.

Here is a

closer heart,

right in your hands.

I accept

this heart.

I will surely cherish it.

From our youth to our old age,

we will never part.

I have something

I want to give you.

What is it?

Are these...

(Name List)

all your trusted officials in the court?

I've painstakingly cultivated them for years.

Finally, I have some useful subordinates.

They are all on this list.

To you, these

are crucial secrets.

It's everything you have.

And you're giving it all to me?

We are husband and wife, of one mind.

What is mine

naturally belongs to you too.

Actually, I've been

looking for a chance to give this list to you.

Now that the situation is settled,

in the court,

you have your grandfather and the Cui family for civil affairs,

and the Duke of Wei and the Marquis of Shunan for military affairs.

You also manage the inner palace.

The people on this list

are all reliable.

They can be of help to you in the future.

You've planned so thoroughly for me,

arranging every step for me.

It's you who took every step

steadily.

I merely assisted from the sidelines.

I was the one who pulled you into this worldly chaos.

Now,

I just want to make it up to you more.

Today, since we are

being honest with each other,

then...

I will tell you something, too.

Do you remember

when Prince Xin

called me Gu Qingzhi?

♪Pushing the sea of stars to flow across♪

So,

do you believe what he said?

♪In an endless cycle♪

Xihe...

♪Soft voices in the moonlight♪

I am deeply in love with you.

I want to be bound to you in marriage

and spend the rest of my life with you.

The one I love

is Shen Xihe, the person standing right in front of me.

Not Commandery Princess Zhaoning.

Not the beloved daughter of the Duke of Wei.

Nor anyone else.

Just you.

♪It's a wonderful time in the world♪

♪Bits of worries and sorrows♪

♪Are gently gathered into your elegant sleeves♪

♪Gradually, on the misty path♪

♪Not a trace of sorrow can be found♪

I once promised you

that if there ever came a day

when I fell in love with you,

I would tell you immediately.

♪People come and go♪

Xiao Huayong,

I love you.

♪When I gaze upon you♪

♪Our destiny is beyond anyone's control♪

♪Everything♪

♪Is past the point of no return♪

♪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♪

♪Bits of worries and sorrows♪

♪Are gently gathered into your elegant sleeves♪

♪Gradually, on the misty path♪

♪Not a trace of sorrow can be found♪

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

♪Weeping silently♪

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

Father,

after I go back,

please don't delay taking your daily medicine.

Youyou,

with such a long distance between us,

I don't know when I'll be able to see you again.

Father, Yun'an, please don't worry.

After I return to the capital,

I will personally ask His Majesty for a favor.

My father often says,

the royal family also values family bonds.

He will surely grant permission for a visit at the end of the year.

Having such a good son-in-law,

what do I have to worry about?

Take good care of yourselves

and look after each other.

- Thank you, Your Highness! - Thank you, Your Highness!

- Thank you, Your Highness! - Thank you, Your Highness!

Please take it.

Please take it.

Please take it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Your Highness!

Thank you, Your Highness!

- Thank you, Your Highness! - Thank you, Your Highness!

Thank you, Your Highness!

Stop the carriage.

- Greetings, Your Highness. - Greetings, Your Highness.

Please, everyone, no need for formalities.

Bringing blessings to the people

is truly the duty of my wife and me.

Great.

That's wonderful. Excellent.

I only hope that northwest will have favorable weather,

and remain peaceful and safe.

May our nation prosper and our people live in peace.

- Well said! - Well said!

Peace and prosperity!

- Well said! - Well said!

- Greetings, Your Highness. - Greetings, Your Highness.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Greetings, Crown Princess.

Changqing.

For the battle of Tingzhou,

I haven't had the chance to thank you.

No need for formalities.

I receive a salary and enjoy a fief.

It's my duty to share the court's burdens.

Then,

is there something you need?

You are weak

and shouldn't be traveling so much.

Now, you've fought on the battlefield for the people

and even got injured.

I volunteered

to escort you and the Crown Princess back to the imperial capital.

Since we're going the same way,

I'll trouble you.

Could you

feed me?

You want me to feed you?

Just like usual.

Here, I will feed you.

No need to trouble you.

An older brother taking care of his younger brother

is perfectly natural,

isn't it?

Here.

Open up.

Is it good?

Not bad.

By taking action this time,

your martial arts skills

are pretty much exposed.

So what?

Aren't you afraid word of this will reach the court?

And your years of feigning illness

will all be for nothing?

If I can't protect the army and people of northwest,

or my closest loved ones,

no matter how well I hide my true self,

what's the point?

Me feeding you wontons

is just this once.

Thank you, Changqing.

Stop messing around.

I thought

I made myself clear enough.

Changqing, watch out!

Please help me bandage this.

It hurts, Changqing.

Do you believe I'll kill you with a knife right now?

I do.

But right now,

you don't have a knife.

♪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)