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Once and Only

Episode 21

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

You must've been worried

for the past few days.

What exactly happened?

Jin Rong attacked Henei.

My uncle led an army to suppress the rebellion.

What about my brother Cui Feng?

How is he?

According to the spies,

Governor Cui left

Taiyuan County earlier.

We still have no idea where he is now.

If he left early,

he's probably hiding somewhere,

waiting to meet up with my Master.

When my uncle returns,

he may have news about him.

If he attacked Henei,

why is the Eastern Palace locked up as well?

The Royal Guards joined the Qi family in rebellion.

After my uncle led the army out,

they took the opportunity to kidnap His Majesty

and went to Jin Rong for shelter.

His Majesty was kidnapped?

After my uncle left,

he ordered General Zhou and the Royal Guards

to protect the city together.

General Zhou...

What happened to him?

He is seriously injured

and hasn't woken up yet.

Shiyi.

He's in my uncle's chambers.

If you want to go…

Meng Luan, summon the imperial doctor.

The imperial doctor has already seen His Highness.

His Highness hasn't slept for days

and said that

he would only go to rest

after seeing you.

Let me bring you to your room.

Get some shut-eye.

Rest for a while.

Shiyi.

Don't go.

Xiao Yan.

I'm actually no different from you.

I'm not close

with my family.

Tonight,

let's guard here

and send Zizhen's soul off.

Are you feeling better?

Am I having a fever?

I'll get the imperial doctor.

I'm showing you my weakness.

Can't you see?

I'll ask Meng Luan to come.

I've been waiting for a long time.

Attendant Cui is outside the palace

waiting to see Your Highness.

Let him in.

Yes, Your Highness.

I'll go back to Xuanguang Palace first.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Spread the news of His Majesty's death

to the Central State in three days.

Jin Rong has shown me his sincerity

with their lives.

Attendent Cui.

How will you show your loyalty?

I...

I'll show my loyalty

with only one sentence.

Zhousheng Chen

is a great threat.

If you don't get rid of him,

it'll be hard for you to rule.

Master.

I would like to lead the scouting camp

into Taiyuan County first.

Be careful.

Yes, Master.

Cui Feng is now in the hands of Jin Rong.

Only a few generals know about this.

Don't reveal it to anyone else.

Hall of the Heavenly Kings

When will you take me to the Eastern Palace?

Be patient.

It's not the time yet.

I can wait.

You and her haven't even gone through the ceremony yet anyway.

Why did you make the move early?

I have no idea either.

You gave the order

to make the move early?

She's a member of the Cui family.

If the two of you got married,

who would recognize me as the Empress?

Whatever the case,

as long as you're not on the throne,

you can't marry her.

You are Liu Hui's Honored Concubine.

I must first find a good reason

to marry you,

let alone the serious task of making you the empress.

Even if you list hundreds of reasons,

you can't convince me.

Liu Zixing.

The Jin's army

is fighting for you in the frontlines.

I hope you don't let us down.

Fine.

I promise you.

Xuanguang Palace

Your Highness.

Have a seat, I'll ask someone to prepare tea.

No need.

I'll leave shortly after telling you something.

Have a seat.

His Majesty has passed away.

When?

Nanchen Royal Army reported it secretly today.

He was still a child.

Your uncle has submitted a letter,

wishing I'd take the throne.

Do you disapprove?

You and I are destined to be married.

You can tell me anything.

Do you wish to hear the truth, Your Highness?

The emperor's career is unpredictable and always changing.

In a short period of time,

two young masters have been replaced in the Central State.

The people's support accumulated over the years

has been depleted.

The choice of the next emperor

must be chosen with great scrutiny.

Not to mention,

Your Highness is not the Crown Prince.

I was

once considered the future emperor.

I was considered the future emperor.

I was considered the crown prince.

I don't blame you for forgetting it.

No one has ever taken it seriously

except for me.

When I was brought into the palace,

my father had no army to command and no power to win.

That was why he had no capacity to fight power for me.

What I've achieved thus far

is all my own efforts.

Perhaps in your mind,

my uncle is the best candidate.

I've never thought so.

My master has little interest in the throne…

You should call him “uncle”

as I do.

Do you know why

your maid wasn't allowed to enter the palace?

She has been with you for nearly ten years in the Western State.

Her presence

would remind you of the Western State,

thus you'd talk about it

and forget

who you belong to.

I had no selfish intent

when I said those things.

It's not appropriate to

talk about marriage for the time being.

Let's postpone our marriage

for now.

It's just a show

to appease the Jin family.

Your Highness, why are you so distressed?

My heart is tormented more than hers

when I see her suffer.

Take them all away!

Stop!

Xinghua.

They are my parents

and siblings.

Don't you know that?

The Qi family is guilty of the most heinous crimes.

Nine generations of its clan shall be executed,

including you, Princess.

You dare to hurt me?

Why don't I?

If it weren't for your high status,

I wouldn't have come to get you myself!

How dare you! Let me go!

General Li! General Li!

Hold on, General Li!

General Li!

May I have a word?

General Li!

The Prince of Guangling had given orders.

Seeing how loyal the Cui family has been,

the wife of Governor Cui,

Qi Xinghua shall be pardoned.

To execute the Qi family

is the consensus of all ministers.

Do you

want to protect her?

Yes.

I want to protect her.

She is not only from the Qi family.

She's also our Cui family's daughter-in-law.

General-in-chief.

Can you let a member of the Cui family go?

Since you said so,

I'll accept this royal order.

Take them away.

Go! Go!

Let them go!

Xinghua! Xinghua!

Xinghua!

Mother!

Xinghua!

Mother!

Xinghua!

You can't save them.

I…

I'll go beg the crown prince.

Wenjun.

Princess Xinghua…

The Residence of Cui is not seeing any guests today.

Ask this guest to leave.

Yes.

This way please.

Brother Zixing.

I beg you to giver orders

to release my parents and other families.

Why did you barge into the palace?

They wouldn't let me see you.

They said it was your order.

I did give the order.

I have my own reasons

for not seeing you.

Executing the Qi family to calm the people's anger

is already a foregone conclusion.

You should stay in the Residence of Cui

for your own sake.

You...

You want to pave your way to the throne

with the blood of the Qi family?

Qi Zhenzhen has done evil for more than ten years.

She has offended everyone.

It's not that I want them to die.

It's that no one wants them to live.

Stay at the Residence of Cui.

After things have settled,

I'll find a way out for you.

But they are my own parents,

how can I hide?

I can't just stand by and

watch them die.

Brother Zixing.

Please help me.

Can you do something?

Brother Zixing!

I can only protect you.

I'll send her back to the Residence of Cui.

Your Highness.

Did the cold wake you?

I'm feeling fine.

Come sit down.

Where's Shu?

I came here in the morning

and saw that the fire was burning weak.

Go and prepare breakfast.

Since I entered the palace,

I've never had breakfast

with Your Highness.

Go now!

Xuanguang Palace

Yes.

Let's go inside.

It's cold outside.

You're cold.

I was wrong, Shiyi.

I'm used to being alone in the palace,

so I don't know how to get along with people.

I mean...

Get along in a normal way.

Give way.

Give way.

What's going on now?

Is the enemy already here?

Don't panic!

I bring news of victory from the Junior Prince of Nanchen.

His Highness conquered Taiyuan County

and has won every battle.

The rebels are defenselessly

and fleeing in disarray.

Junior Prince of Nanchen! Junior Prince of Nanchen!

Junior Prince of Nanchen! Junior Prince of Nanchen!

Central State

If Master refuses to enter the city,

I'll have no reason to see Shiyi.

General Feng.

Are you worried about Miss Cui?

Why do you say I'm worried?

Though I can't see

the sun or the moon,

I am able to see through people's hearts.

The night before Shiyi got married,

we talked all night.

I felt upset for her.

Xie Chen.

Would you perform a divination for me?

About Shiyi's marriage.

I have done so already.

How is it?

Not very good?

It wasn't accurate.

How can you not be good at divination?

In the horoscope,

she's not destined to get married.

That does sound inaccurate.

Actually, that Liu Zixing

treats her very well.

I can tell.

What you see may not be true.

Where is the royal army now?

Just outside the Central State.

They're already back?

That's right.

They came back to recuperate for a few days before heading out again.

Why didn't they enter the city?

It's my master's habit.

They prefer to station their troops outside the city.

They did the same thing in the Western State.

What a pity.

The people were eager to see the royal army.

What else did you overhear?

They say

the Junior Prince of Nanchen wants to

completely eradicate the Jin rebels.

He has sent a royal order

to have all the county governors to send troops.

Does that mean

the Prince of Pingqin is coming too?

Help me ask around again.

I want to see if the Prince of Pingqin is coming to the capital this time.

What are you laughing at?

If you want to know these,

just ask His Highness.

They came to the capital to quell the rebellion,

yet all I think about is catching up with an old friend.

It wouldn't be appropriate.

Forget it, ignore my request.

Central State

Hold it!

Where are you from?

What's your intention?

Get out of the way! Get out of the way!

Prince of Pingqin, don't be angry.

He's a newcomer.

He doesn't know the rules.

Come here.

Well…

What are you afraid of?

Yes, yes.

Your Highness.

How do you know me?

Ping

You saw the flag.

Yes.

So anyone

who has a piece of cloth and makes a flag

can pretend to be me?

What if I'm a fake?

What if you let me in the Central State

and I have all the dignitaries

beheaded?

I was wrong.

Get up.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Whose soldiers are you?

Replying to Your Highness,

I'm a member of the Royal Guards.

Who does the Royal Guards obey?

The Prince of Guangling.

The Prince of Guangling?

How old is he?

Has he ever led an army?

He dares to take over the government now?

Your Highness.

Prince of Guangling.

The Prince of Guangling is a member of the Liu clan.

Shut it!

You can tell what a general is like by observing his soldiers.

Seeing how weak you are,

I know he's never fought before.

Let's go!

Central State

Go, go, go!

I've been vexed all the way.

Tell me

why did you give up my sister-in-law to someone else?

We're not

in that kind of relationship.

You won't tell me the truth, huh?

Monk, you say something.

I don't know secularities.

You don't know secularities?

When you were in Nanxiao,

you had a bunch of wives and concubines.

There were girls throwing flowers at your carriage

when you went out.

You were a flirtatious prince.

You don't know secularities?

It seems that the Prince of Pingqin

knows a lot about me.

You follow my sworn brother,

shouldn't I investigate your background?

You should.

Well...

In my opinion,

since your last name isn't Liu anymore,

you're no longer in chains.

Why not…

What have they given you?

Aside for making you vow

to fight for them,

what else did they give you?

They only gave you this.

But even that you gave to me.

It's a precious thing.

Of course it's precious.

With this,

the government gave me a thousand war horses.

In Beichen,

only with war horses could I recruit soldiers.

This is how

I worked my way up.

He is my sworn brother

and more importantly, my confidant.

Most of His Highness' friends

were once helped by him.

Don't you think it's a pity?

Don't you have regrets?

How about we talk business first?

Go ahead.

Go ahead.

Business... business...

Tomorrow, my royal army

and the reinforcements from the regional princes will go first.

I'll leave the Central State to you.

I'll guard the Central State?

Yes.

I've brought

all the best soldiers.

Those Regional Princes are all

slimy characters.

There is no way

they would give you their elite.

That's precisely why

you need to defend the city.

I don't understand.

If you were only called to the capital,

someone would surely suspect

you and I were joining forces

to take over the empire.

That's why I've summoned

reinforcements from all the Regional Princes

to make it not so suspicious.

What…

It's just an expedition…

You've really thought about everything.

Once we leave tomorrow,

the people of the capital

will go under your protection.

And her?

Well.

Before you go on your expedition,

let's go see Eleven.

It's not proper.

What's so improper about going to see your disciple?

Are you kidding?

I will take you there.

Forget it.

You're asking me for help,

and not the other way around.

You entrusted me with the Central State.

So, you have to do

whatever I want you to do.

Good timing, Feng Qiao.

Feng Qiao, go with us

to the place we're going later.

You can avoid suspicion

with a female disciple there.

Monk! Monk!

You'll come with us too.

It'll be better with the monk there too.

Let's go.

Come with me! Let's go!

Come on, come with me!

Let's go!

Eleven!

Cui Eleven!

Your sworn brother is here!

Come out!

Master.

I was wondering

who here in the palace would call me Eleven.

In my eyes, you are

always that little girl who couldn't speak

in Nanchen royal mansion.

Shu, prepare some tea.

Yes.

No, I'll do it myself.

Come in.

No one comes here normally.

So it's a bit messy.

It's hot.

Want some more?

That's enough.

When did you guys get here?

Half an hour ago.

They said it was improper to see you.

What's so improper about this?

You see?

We've come in, right?

Prince of Pingqin has great power.

Who dares to mess with you?

That's true.

When will you go on the expedition, Master?

Tomorrow.

So soon?

Yes.

What?

Do you worry about us?

When have we ever lost a battle?

For outsiders, the royal army

is invincible.

But to me,

those who fight in the battlefield

are my closest relatives.

Every time you guys go on an expedition,

I would be worried sick.

It's like that every time.

I know.

Xuanguang Palace

Take care.

May Master

live up to the people's expectations and be invincible.

May all the generals

live up to the royal orders and be victorious.

♫Can't bear it, my heart is burning♫

♫The dependence I feel♫

♫I'm suffering with you♫

♫Suffered so much from this sea of pain♫

♫I can leap down for you♫

♫Stain my painful love red♫

♫The rivers and mountains, the ostentatious world♫

♫Swords and horses, leave the dust of this world behind♫

♫Stories scatter like smoke and flowers♫

Not looking back

means not expecting to return.

♫The snow falling, the sand flying♫

Only without worries,

would someone

♫It's hard to leave him unattached♫

become fearless

and risk their lives on the battlefield.

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Please come back safely!

Your Highness!

Come back safely!

Baima Temple

If I pray with you,

whose relatives

do you think will win?

Why are you here?

I'm a hostage.

I've been living in the Baima Temple for a long time.

You haven't answered my question.

Which side of us will win?

Nanchen Royal Army has never been defeated.

What if they lose?

The Junior Prince of Nanchen

fought in wars ever since he was 13 years old

and he has never been defeated.

Since Jin Rong rose to power,

only news of victory

has been sent to the Central State.

Princess Consort.

Another news of victory?

General Zhou is awake.

Tianxing.

You're awake.

I'll do it.

Oh, right.

I heard that Master and his men

had marched to Taiyuan.

Yes.

They've won every battle.

What about your elder brother?

Is he safe?

I haven't heard from him.

Here.

Your Highness.

What did General Jin say?

He's begging me to save him.

He's been trapped by my uncle for 16 days.

His army has run out of food.

They'd have to eat each other if it continues.

Your father has lost the battle.

Your Highness wants to abandon us?

How can you tell?

Though Zhousheng Chen won,

it won't stop you from ascending to the throne.

You will be the emperor for sure.

That is why you

won't care about my father.

Why are you keeping quiet?

You must be thinking of how to get rid of me!

Would you hide me away quietly?

Or just kill me?

I want you to go to Taiyuan County

to persuade your father to surrender.

Impossible.

My father would rather die than surrender.

Only by persuading him to surrender

can you survive.

All of you are useless!

You can't even stop Zhousheng Chen

for half a month!

Get out!

Yuan Wuchu!

I'm here.

Go.

Bring that man here.

Yes.

Prefectural Governor Cui.

Are you still not kneeling?

I in my life

only kneel to my parents,

His Majesty

and the Junior Prince of Nanchen.

You've been in the Nanchen Royal Army for many years.

You know them best.

If you are willing to help me,

I will share half of

the realm with you.

Bring him back.

Force Zhousheng Chen to retreat.

Yes!

It's no better than

the Northwest here.

Yesterday,

the war horses were so cold

that they forgot how to eat grass.

It's already December.

It should be getting cold.

I really want to go back to the Western State

to have a bowl of lamb soup.

-That's right. -That's right.

That's true.

It's been a long time since I've had

a bowl of lamb soup from my hometown.

That's right.

-Have a bowl of lamb soup. -General.

General, they've brought a man out,

saying it's Prefectural Governor Cui.

Scouting Camp.

Follow me!

Yes.

General Cui.

Xiaoyu.

I can't believe he's still alive.

They want us to withdraw our troops and return to Pingyin

before they'll let General Cui go.

General Feng.

What do you think?

Say something!

Xiaoyu.

Do you remember our

battle in Shouyang?