Original subtitles

♪Don't feel sad for the fallen flowers♪

♪Falling in the mortal world♪

♪Keep all the memories♪

♪Can't find any peace anymore♪

♪The storms can't kill my passion♪

♪But I need to endure♪

♪Be serious even though I'm naive♪

♪If this is the destined fate♪

♪Even if I'll be hurt♪

♪I'll protect the people♪

♪The mountains sun and moon can be my witnesses♪

♪Full of passion♪

♪Deep love and hatred♪

♪Melts in my heart along with the snow♪

=Royal Rumours=

=Episode 18=

Bravo!

(Jinpo)

Your Highness,

would you like to

meet Princess Hua?

No.

Let's not disturb her.

Surprisingly, Princess Hua

does it effortlessly.

It seems that she's indeed the best candidate

for the post of Ceremonial Officer,

thanks to your wisdom, Your Highness.

Officer Hua,

please sit.

Please sit.

Sit.

Here.

Fill it to the brim!

Thank you.

Cheers!

Cheers!

Fill it to the brim!

Prepare some

heat-clearing herbal tea

and something for her to sober up later.

Yes, Your Highness.

Fill it to the brim!

Life is short.

Cherish the time you have!

After Junior Secretary Pei left,

he's been wailing like this!

Other prisoners

can't take it anymore.

They'd rather be crammed six to a cell,

far away from here.

Life…

Stop!

The second prince of Jinpo

will arrive soon.

Behave yourself!

What?

Second Prince is coming?

Then I, A'Wa,

will die for my country today!

Luckily, after Junior Secretary Pei left,

he gave instructions.

I have a solid bond with Second Prince.

Not even considering personal safety,

he braves the treacherous

State of Jin full of wily foxes.

He's coming to save me for sure!

My dear Second Prince,

you're really a good prince

that loves Jinpo and its people!

If anything goes wrong,

anyone can have

a hold over me.

How can I

let Second Prince

be caught in a dilemma?

Life is short.

Cherish the time you have.

Enough! I've had enough!

Die if you wish!

Just don't ram your head into the wall!

We don't want to have a hard time

cleaning up your mashed brain!

Use the white fabric

to hang yourself!

Hanging isn't a good choice!

Stab yourself in the chest with the scissors

or slit your throat with the cleaver!

General A'Wa,

you're good at martial arts.

You can surely kill yourself swiftly, right?

You know what?

Once, I helped my wife to kill a chicken by slitting its throat.

It didn't die.

It ran all over

the yard

with blood spurting.

General A'Wa,

you should be able to strike yourself at the right spot

and die fast.

I trust you.

Let's go.

Come and rescue me, Second Prince.

I don't want to die!

(The Capital)

Your Highness.

I've heard that

the second prince of Jinpo will be visiting today.

That's right.

I've been waiting

for almost two hours.

By the way, Your Highness,

is "Princess Fushou"

the name that you like?

How did you know?

Your Highness, your royal retreat is called Ankang Garden.

So, it isn't hard to find out.

Don't you like it?

I'm okay with it.

"Fushou Ankang" [*Blessing, Longevity, Peace and Health]

sounds auspicious.

I'm glad that you like it.

It took me a long time

to think of the right name.

They're here.

Your Highness.

Princess Hua,

I didn't expect

to be received by you.

I'm surprised.

I was worried that Your Highness

couldn't find

the city gate

of the capital.

Jinpo is indeed

an impressive state

to have arrived last.

That reflects

Jinpo's sincerity.

May I personally see the Emperor of the State of Jin

to present the big gift from Jinpo?

I can't wait.

Welcoming Second Prince of Jinpo, He Yuanting.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Formality exempted.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your emissaries have just had a difficult journey.

Why didn't you settle down

and rest before seeing me?

I heard that

we arrived last in the State of Jin.

To express our sincerity and apology,

we're specially presenting

a great beauty.

Bravo!

Beautiful!

She's extremely beautiful!

However, the imperial harem

has been fully occupied, right?

We stop accepting concubines.

However,

this is an order from the king of Jinpo.

If you don't accept her, Your Majesty,

then the girl is for your crown prince.

(Save her for yourself.)

(Don't you dare!)

My son,

Second Prince

is offering the beauty

to you.

Thank you, father.

(Your Highness,)

(you won't change your mind for the beauty, right?)

Jiang Sha,

greet your new master.

Nice to meet you, Your Highness.

(If you accept her, you'll be in trouble.)

Your Highness, since you have

offered her to me,

I have the right

to decide what to do.

Of course.

Good.

My official residence operates with tough rules.

Candidates are at least required to attend Qinghe School

to learn and study hard

with different methods.

So, let's send this beauty

to the school first.

When she has become learned,

I'll welcome her to the official residence.

(You're wise.)

Your Highness,

what place is it again?

Guards, send her to

Qinghe School.

(Ceremonial Hall)

Hello, Princess Hua.

Today, there're negotiations

with Jinpo representatives.

You'd better behave yourself.

In terms of sentiment,

I will,

but I'm the second prince after all.

At the same time,

I'm very nostalgic.

I'm warning you.

Stop talking nonsense.

Also,

don't forget your status.

Jinpo

has lost.

You're nostalgic, too.

Your Highness.

What brought you here?

Are you going with me

for the negotiations?

I'm here to show support.

Do you remember

what I've told you?

Of course I do!

He Yuan…

Just remember that besides negotiations,

you both shouldn't talk about anything else.

Of course.

I don't wish

to talk about other things with him.

Let me have a look.

Let's neaten this.

Your hat is tilted.

Is it okay now?

Don't move.

Well,

the negotiations should be

done and concluded swiftly.

Remember not to get

entangled with them.

Bye.

Miss,

what's wrong with your head?

Is it aching?

Well, the hat is tilted.

Princess Hua.

Sorry to have kept you waiting.

Grand Preceptor Du has asked us

to help you, Princess Hua.

(Another nitpicker.)

(Let's hope that they will side with us against Jinpo.)

Thank you

for your support.

(We beat Jinpo in the battle.)

(Naturally, we have more)

(bargaining power in the negotiations.)

(Envoy of Ansheng. Ceremonial Officer.)

(However, He Yuanting)

(is cunning.)

(There might be hidden tricks.)

(I have to be careful.)

Officer Hua,

you're the head of Ceremonial Hall.

You should preside over the negotiations.

Jinpo has been bullying other states.

You're defeated now.

However, the State of Jin has always been magnanimous.

So we won't exploit another state

in terms of conditions.

The treaty that

we have here

states all the conditions

for the negotiations.

Please have a look.

You're right, Officer.

However, despite the defeat,

Jinpo is not to be treated like a nobody.

As long as the conditions are reasonable,

Jinpo will not reject

the treaty.

That's right.

(Treaty)

Prisoner exchange.

No problem.

Regular trades.

This is a beneficial strategy for the states and the citizens.

(Grand Preceptor Mansion)

Great-grandfather, drink slowly.

The medicine can cure you.

Take more.

Here.

Great-grandfather.

Xiuying,

is today the day

for the negotiations with Jinpo?

Yes, great-grandfather.

Princess Hua

is the main negotiator.

I'm worried as she's inexperienced.

Great-grandfather,

she may be young,

but she manages things well and maturely.

Don't worry.

Jinpo has always been cunning.

Things may not be easy.

Officer Hua,

the negotiations today

seem to be going smoothly so far.

Official Tian.

Official Tian,

if the negotiations go on like this,

the signing of the treaty

will take place soon.

Everyone,

the matter is not

as simple as it looks.

(Treaty)

The demand for the boundary

of the Qinghan steppe to recede by 250km

is unacceptable.

The Qinghan steppe has always belonged

to the State of Jin.

Why do you disagree?

What do you mean by "always'?

As far as I remember,

the steppe of Qinghan Prefecture

belongs to Jinpo.

Are you saying that

you disagree with the condition?

Yes, we disagree.

The delineation is the key

item on the agenda.

Have you been

beating around the bush

just to reject the condition?

Ridiculous!

Your state was defeated

and you still have the audacity to reject the condition.

You shouldn't say so,

Officer Hua.

If I let the boundary

recede by 250km,

I'm afraid the furious people of Jinpo

will demand to fight back.

I think that going into another battle

isn't something you

favour, Officer. Am I right?

Considering our past relationship,

why don't you give in, Officer Hua?

Relationship my foot!

Your Highness.

It took him just a few words

to make you mad.

You're too young for the job.

Offer Princess Hua a cup of tea

to calm down.

Also,

replace her chair

with one that has no back.

Why?

She needs to straighten up

without losing the morale.

(Past relationship?)

(I want to see him in person.)

Officer Hua,

there's been no progress.

Why don't we strategise among ourselves?

That's all for today.

Since Jinpo isn't genuine,

we'll resume the negotiations some other day.

Hold on, Officer Hua.

What's the matter?

Is there anything else,

Your Highness?

I've heard that you

have constructed a street nearby

for inter-state trade, bartering

and a display of the states' unique products.

Officer Hua, would you be kind enough

to show me around?

Thanks for your invitation, Your Highness.

However, I have important matters to attend to today.

Please excuse me.

Crown Prince has arrived.

Since you're interested,

I'll show you around.

It's the most ideal for

the crown prince to offer me a tour.

If if it's convenient, Officer Hua

can join us.

Let's go.

(What's on the crown prince's mind?)

Officer Hua, what shall we do now?

Let's join them first.

Sure.

By the way, Officer Hua,

do you observe that

His Highness and

the second prince of Jinpo

have been clashing with each other?

(Longjing Street)

Bravo!

What is depicted on this?

What a special motif.

It's a lion.

It's a holy beast of the State of Mosi.

Lions don't exist here.

I've read about them in some classics.

They have limbs

that are as strong as dogs',

but their heads are huge with manes.

Their tails are long with hairy tufts at the tips.

They are exotic and interesting.

Seeing is believing.

Since we're having negotiations,

I'll have the State of Mosi send two lions

and present one of them to you.

You can keep it at your courtyard as a pet

like Fafa.

Let's go.

Is this Korean ginseng?

Yes.

Judging by the big root,

it must have aged for at least 30 years.

It's indeed a valuable herb.

This looks like

a shrivelled carrot.

For your information, Princess Hua,

Korean ginseng

helps to replenish Qi and blood.

I've heard that

the battles you've fought

have caused you long illnesses.

May I buy it

for you, Princess Hua?

That's unnecessary.

It's too expensive.

I want it.

I want it.

Your Highness,

I remember that

there're still some ginseng roots

among the gifts you gave me.

Do you mean

the boxes of ginseng I took

from His Majesty's treasury?

It's been so long that

I've almost forgotten.

Besides, I think

the ginseng roots you gave me

are much bigger than this.

Going by that,

have they aged for

more than 100 years?

If you like them,

I'll take you to the treasury

and you can help yourself.

In that case,

I shouldn't do the unnecessary.

Thanks for your kind intention, Your Highness.

Jinpo is located in the northwest.

However, ginseng is grown in the southwest.

So it's understandable

that ginseng is rarely seen in Jinpo.

Princess Hua,

let's move on.

(Qunying Eatery)

Please help yourself.

Please help yourself.

Please help yourself.

Please help yourself.

Please help yourself.

Let's eat together.

Please help yourselves.

Second Prince,

this is the most famous eatery

in the capital of the State of Jin.

Every dish

is unique.

However, I think

compared to the street food

at the marketplace launched by Princess Hua,

the dishes here lack a distinctive style.

Really?

When I'm free,

I'll definitely try the food there.

Princess Hua,

I remember that

you've told me before

that you like mutton the most.

Here,

try this.

However, based on

our barbecue experience,

Princess Hua's favourite food

is beef.

My favourite is

of course beef.

Beef.

I've long heard

that the people of the State of Jin

don't drink as well as the people of Jinpo.

Your Highness,

cheers.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Yuan Wei,

His Highness asked me to figure out a way

to get Princess Hua out of here.

He wants to personally

deal with the second prince of Jinpo.

Please help me.

Why should I?

Yuan Wei,

you're the best.

Please.

Please.

I'm really begging you.

Miss!

Bad news!

Bad news!

What's wrong?

Madam is in a relapse!

She needs you!

What?

Stop asking.

Let's go.

Hurry up!

Second Prince,

I advise you

to return to Jinpo as soon as possible.

For your information, Your Highness,

Princess Hua and I

indeed had a very deep relationship.

She used to

like me very much.

Second Prince,

there're just the two of us now.

You'd better behave yourself.

Anyway,

I'm in for any type of liquor.

Do we continue?

I can still drink for another 300 rounds.

As the crown prince of the State of Jin,

300 rounds are nothing to me.

I can do at least another 800 rounds.

Cheers.

Watch out, Your Highness.

Jihuai,

take me to see Yun Han.

Sure.

He's seeing that person while he's drunk.

Take it down.

What are you doing?

(The youngest daughter of the Hua family, Hua Liuli)

I thought you asked me to take it down.

Hey,

why did you display their portraits together?

What a coincidence.

The envoys of Jinpo

have come to the capital

and spread an interesting rumour.

Do you want the details, Your Highness?

Sure!

What is it about?

It's about the past

between Second Prince of Jinpo

and Princess Hua.

Princess Hua and He Yuanting…

Don't you understand?

Don't you want to know more about it?

I just want to know if

Princess Hua is a traitor to the State of Jin.

Also, whether she's seduced by He Yuanting's good looks.

Let me tell you what happened.

A few months ago.

Greetings, Your Highness.

May I know why

you sent for me?

General A'Wa.

Good timing.

I have something to tell you.

What is it?

A good idea crossed my mind.

What sort of good idea?

Winter is coming soon.

With all the thick snow,

extending the battle line

will only exhaust the people and waste money.

If not mistaken,

both Jinpo and the State of Jin

wish to end the battle

soonest possible.

I've also found out that

the youngest daughter of the Hua family

is the only offspring

that doesn't go to the battlefield.

I think we can

take advantage of her.

You personally want to take advantage of her, don't you?

General A'Wa,

let's see how I'm going to outwit

the youngest daughter of the Hua family.

(Hua Liuli)

(Fashionable Gilded Hair Stick)

"Mix red, yellow and brown…"

Look into the mirror.

Miss,

do I really look beautiful?

This is a make-up style from the capital.

It certainly makes you look beautiful.

Why don't you try it yourself?

I…

I'm practising first.

How about

going out later

to get some comments

from other people?

Let's go.

Will they laugh at me?

When is our turn?

Please show me kindness.

Please give me more.

Move now.

More, please.

There're too many people.

There's only so little for so many of you.

Move it!

When will it

be our turn?

(I'll be a businessman in disguise)

(and infiltrate Qinghan Prefecture.)

(I'll trick her)

(into travelling to Jinpo.)

(By creating this hindrance,)

(Hua Army is not to be feared.)

She's so beautiful!

She looks beautiful today!

Miss, everyone is staring at me.

Do I look ugly?

You look beautiful.

Take a look!

Princess Hua, the onions are for you.

Thanks.

Princess Hua, here's bread for you.

Thanks.

Princess Hua, this is for you.

Thanks.

She's so different from us.

She's good-looking.

Liuli!

Come here!

Look!

Look at the interesting stuff here.

Look! Come here!

Look!

Come on!

Let's go.

Hurry up!

What's this?

I have it, too.

Look.

Miss Liuli,

are you shy?

Why don't you have a look

at my goods?

Miss Liuli,

you have such gentle temperament

that's rare in this world.

Let me present the flower to you.

Who are you calling "Miss'?

Is he crazy?

He must be visiting Qinghan Prefecture for the first time.

Exactly.

Liuli,

this guy

looks smart,

but why does he behave stupidly?

We shouldn't judge a book by its cover indeed.

I'm better than him.

All right.

Liuli?

I acted rudely.

To express my apology,

I'd like to offer

all these items to you.

May I have that?

Of course!

You're forgiven then.

(He Yuanting decided)

(to stay in Qinghan Prefecture for a few more days,)

(trying to interact with Princess Hua.)

(Finally, one night…)

Liuli, walk slowly.

Mind your step.

He Ming,

it's not even dawn yet.

Why did you bring me here?

What are we doing here?

There's scenery that's only available at this moment.

You can't enjoy it if you're lazy to get up.

All right.

You're always right.

However,

there's nothing here.

We shall wait for a bit.

Sit down.

Okay.

I'm hungry.

I brought you here for the view.

As for great food,

we'll have a meal after this.

We'll be done soon.

Here.

Thanks.

He Ming,

you're a nice person.

What a shame,

you're from Jinpo.

Despite the battle between our states,

there're always

people who want peace.

Do you believe that?

I do.

However,

isn't it true that Jinpo

has been trying to conquer

the land of the State of Jin?

That's why the State of Jin is trying to fight back,

triggering

a long battle, right?

(I'm sorry, Liuli.)

Ordinary civilians like me

can only pray for the battle

to end soonest possible,

no matter

what it takes.

Look!

It's so beautiful!

Look over there!

Watch out!

Thank you, He Ming.

My father says that

after the first snow,

the battle will conclude.

He Ming,

if the State of Jin loses,

will I be captured?

Liuli,

let me take you to Jinpo.

I promise you that

I'll protect you, no matter what.

However, right now

the roads between the two states have been barricaded,

and what's more, you can't possibly

take me with you because of my status.

I can.

I'll take you there

just like how I came.

Liuli,

let me get prepared.

After three days,

we'll leave.

He Ming,

are we on the right track?

Once we've arrived in the State of Nanzhao,

we can use the secret passage there

to go to Jinpo.

Let's go.

(Jinpo Border)

Guards,

capture Hua Liuli!

Stop, General.

What do you mean, Your Highness?

Regarding Hua Liuli,

we need to restrategise.

You…

So you're Second Prince from Jinpo?

Liuli,

besides the fact that I'm the second prince,

I've never lied to you.

What are you going to do to me?

I've promised you

that I'll protect you.

What are you talking about?

Capture her now!

She'll be used

in our negotiations with the Hua family.

General A'Wa,

we've been besieged by Jin's army!

Your Highness,

keep an eye on Hua Liuli.

I'll check the situation.

Liuli, let's go.

He Yuanting,

our show has come

to an end here.

When did you

find out the truth?

All sorts of people mingle in Qinghan Prefecture.

You only have yourself to blame

because of your conspicuous appearance.

People became suspicious

and ran a background check on you.

You lied to me.

Didn't you lie to me?

I grew up near the border.

The most intense things I've seen

were the flags stained

with Jin soldiers' blood!

If you intend to use me to hold the Hua family to ransom,

it just goes to prove that you're too naïve.

Everything you say and do

is just for show.

So, don't expect me to be sincere.

He Yuanting's plan has failed.

He even walked straight into Princess Hua's trap.

If not for A'Wa,

he could've been

seized by Jin's army.

I knew…

I knew there was something

between Princess Hua and He Yuanting!

Pei,

the Crown prince has taken

a liking to Princess Hua.

- Since when? - Since when?

Have I?

Judging by my standards,

how could I have fallen for her?

Indeed.

Princess Hua is a weak lady

who hails from the frontier.

She behaves strangely

and even starts gossips in the capital.

She really doesn't deserve you,

Your Highness.

Your words

are unpleasant.

Who doesn't deserve Princess Hua?

Your Highness, you used to be arrogant and you prefer solitude.

You would never be touched by anyone.

However, after

being attracted by Princess Hua,

you keep eyeing her

wherever she goes.

However, since the second prince of Jinpo came,

you haven't reacted.

I know what it is.

It's like

feeling threatened.

I've thought about

meeting Princess Hua

to express what I think.

However, I have to plan carefully.

I mustn't take it lightly.

Why am I always the victim?

If I had not met the second prince

of Jinpo today,

I wouldn't have realised that

you'd been doing so many things

behind my back.

The second prince suggested

cooperating with me and had me

lured to the forest.

However, his real reason was that

he knew about our rebellion

against the State of Jin

during the battle

ten years ago.

I don't think it was

an invitation to cooperate with us,

but a threat.

So, are you saying that

your rejection was

for our sake?

Of course.

How did Qing Yue end up dead?

After being wounded by

the second prince of Jinpo,

I spent some time recuperating.

Qing Yue was

killed suddenly

at the time.

If I had betrayed you

as claimed by

the second prince,

why would your background

have remained hidden, master?

(Pretentious Hour)

Your Highness.

Your Highness,

save me.

I don't want to study.

Just talk.

Don't touch me.

Isn't it good to study?

I think it is.

However,

since I was little,

I have never been studious.

Think about this.

You must win the admiration

of the State of Jin's crown prince.

How could you not study well?

Can't my beauty

win his heart?

Tell Wen Zhe

to bring what you've learnt today

here.

I'll revise with you.

♪A new song is played by my fingers♪

♪I can't talk or sleep under the moon♪

♪I'm missing someone walking around the pavilion♪

♪I can hardly tell anyone♪

♪Who will be in this mortal♪

♪Know my heart and how I cry without showing anyone♪

♪The memory has gone♪

♪Whose face is showing in my dream♪

♪How many times do I need to go through this♪

♪Crying alone in front of the window♪

♪Hearing the rain last night♪

♪But my heart will not change♪

♪The clouds are being covered by the shadow of the moon♪

♪Who is rolling up the sleeve with the wind♪

♪Not worried about the grudges but for the ones not around♪

♪Telling my sorrowfulness in Fengyi Pavilion♪

♪But it's a shame a few autumns have passed♪

♪It's hard to balance between the world and the one we love♪

♪The clouds are being covered by the shadow of the moon♪

♪I'm waiting while turning back♪

♪I sighed as the old days are no longer here anymore♪

♪How many worries are there♪

♪How many of us can grow old together♪

♪I wish you can have the world and the one you love♪

♪I wish you can have the world and the one you love♪