Original subtitles

[The Princess Royal]

[Adapted from Mo Shu Bai's novel, The Princess Royal on jjwxc.net]

[This is a work of fiction.]

[Episode 32]

Mother handed this token to me.

She told me to kill Li Chuan at the soonest.

It would be better if we could get Li Rong killed.

Kill the Crown Prince?

Uncle,

Mother can't be saved now.

The only way out now

is to kill Li Chuan as soon as possible.

In this way,

Cheng will be the only prince.

He will also be the only successor.

Father is near death.

Once he dies,

Cheng can ascend the throne immediately.

When that time comes,

you will be the Emperor's uncle

and I will be the Princess Royal.

Look how prestigious the Shangguan Family is now.

Uncle.

This is the only way to save Cheng and Mother.

When Li Chuan ascends the throne,

do you think he and Li Rong will let us go?

The Shangguan Family has long been hostile to us.

Are you going to sit idly by and wait for our demise?

Are you just going to

watch Mother die and do nothing?

Even if we kill Li Chuan, we can't save your mother.

It's not that I refuse to help you.

I'm just thinking of a foolproof plan.

How about this?

Go back and have some rest.

Let me think it over.

But time is pressing.

I don't know if we can wait until this year's Winter Festivity.

That would be a good opportunity.

All right. I'll wait for your decision.

But you must make haste.

See the Princess out.

Take a seat.

What was Her Highness thinking?

She actually told Princess Huayue to assassinate the Crown Prince.

It's so ridiculous.

If the Crown Prince were that easy to assassinate,

would he still be alive today?

Being hard to assassinate doesn't mean there are no opportunities.

Opportunities are created by people.

They just fear the cost.

My sister has come this far,

which shows she isn't foolish.

Do you really think she believes Huayue can kill Li Chuan?

She just found a scapegoat for those who have the intention.

There are quite a few who want Li Chuan dead.

If Huayue is willing

to take the fall for that,

I think

many would be willing to help her.

Then,

is Her Highness planning to abandon Princess Huayue?

Sacrificing a daughter's life

to secure a son's throne

isn't a bad deal in her eyes.

After Prince Su ascends the throne in the future,

he can confer a posthumous title to Princess Huayue

as a comfort.

This family doesn't have

a single decent person.

Look at Huayue.

She constantly mentions the position of Princess Royal.

The Princess Royal's title is far more important than her mother's safety.

A daughter wants

her mother to die

so she can take the position of Princess Royal.

A mother wants

her daughter to die

to secure the position of Empress Dowager.

How interesting.

So,

are you going to sit by and watch?

After all, Consort Rou and the Xiao Family

share their woes and fortunes.

Of course, I can't just do nothing.

Find someone to enter the palace

to pass a message to His Majesty.

Tell His Majesty

that Huayue is experiencing agitation

and intends to assassinate Li Chuan.

Remember.

This message must only reach His Majesty.

No one else around him should hear it.

Who knows whose side they are on?

I'll take care of it right away.

Go.

Your Highness,

His Majesty is waiting for you there.

Do you know

why Father suddenly wants

to see me?

Your Highness,

I think you should

ask His Majesty this question yourself.

This way, please.

Your Highness, I'll say something that I can say.

You and His Majesty are family by blood.

If you have kept things in your heart,

it would be better to speak openly.

Your Highness, this is as far I can walk you.

Father.

Skip the formalities.

Chuan,

come forward

so I can get a good look at you.

Come on.

I never thought...

you were now

much taller than me.

It is

because I haven't been this close to you for a long time.

That's why you didn't notice.

Are you willing...

to get close to me?

I never thought of keeping a distance from you.

After all, you're my only father.

But

I am not your only son.

I never thought

you would think this way.

Do you always think

that I've been seizing the throne from you?

Isn't that so?

I never thought of that.

I have no interest

in the throne.

It's just that there are some people I want to protect.

It's Rong and Mother.

Do you know your mother

has always prioritized the interests of the Shangguan Family?

She is not just your mother.

She also represents

the Shangguan Family's interests in the entire Great Xia.

Can't you and Mother be of one mind?

No.

Why?

Because I am the ruler of all the people on this land,

not just the ruler of the noble families.

Those noble families

rely on their immense power

and don't care about the lives of the common people.

Even if you inherit the throne,

you will be nothing more than a puppet of the noble families.

This is not what I wish for.

Then why did you summon me

today?

I just need to know your stance.

Will you choose me

or your mother?

Father.

I'm the only son my mother has.

She has no other choice.

Think about this carefully.

I am offering you

this whole country

and the rightful throne.

But I care more

about whether I can keep my sister

and mother safe.

Have you thought it through?

Father, thank you for raising me.

The Winter Festivity will take place in ten days.

Why is this year's Winter Festivity

scheduled so hastily?

I fear that His Majesty has big plans.

You saw His Majesty's attitude yesterday.

He is clearly very reluctant

to give the Inspectorate Office back to you.

I fear he wants to get rid of you.

On the day of the Winter Festivity,

they will probably take action.

Have you made up your mind?

If Father truly intends to kill me,

then Huajing will certainly face a mutiny.

Right now, Father can only rely

on Xiao Su's army.

Xiao Su comes from the Northwest.

Before he arrives in Huajing, he will first meet the Sus and Xies.

If he brings the two families' armies

to Huajing,

Chuan will surely die.

If they join forces with Su Rongqing,

do you think...

Do you think Chuan will act against Father

to protect me?

If he is unwilling to risk his life for me,

I will die.

Like Consort Rou,

who will die for the position of Crown Prince.

Sit down first.

Sit.

For now,

we can only have Lin Feibai replace Xie Chunhe

as the master of the Xie Family

and take control of the Xie Family's military forces.

Then we might stand a chance to fight.

There are two thousand soldiers under my family's command in the city.

We have also a thousand mansion guards.

I also have my private forces all over Huajing.

If the Crown Prince cannot protect you,

I can escort you out of the city.

Once you're out of the city, you can head to Qingzhou

to join your stationed troops.

By then, people will focus on the fight for the throne in Huajing.

No one will pay attention to your whereabouts.

If the Crown Prince wins, you can come back.

If the Crown Prince loses,

you should abandon Qingzhou

and head to Yamato or the South Sea.

You don't believe me either?

I...

I just

suddenly feel particularly insecure.

Forgive me.

It is all right. It is not your fault.

It's living in this turbulent world,

you have to trust no one.

No worries.

Whenever I close my eyes

these days,

I always think of something that happened in the past.

I remember

the last time I met Chuan,

he invited me to play weiqi.

He didn't ask about anything related to me

or care about my health.

He just said

he had obtained an elixir

that could grant eternal life.

He also talked about the issue of the heir

and asked my opinion about Li Ping.

At that time, he cared about nothing.

Everyone was nothing but pawns to him.

Pei Wenxuan.

They are my family.

I love Chuan and Mother very much.

But deep down,

I am still very scared.

I'm scared...

they don't love me that much.

I'm also scared

I don't love them that much.

It is all right.

I understand.

Rong.

What you fear

is that they will disappoint you.

But you must know

if you don't give them a chance

to prove themselves,

you will never know

that you can still trust someone

in this world.

I know

you don't trust Li Chuan.

You also don't know what he will choose.

But, Rong, trust me.

As long as I am alive,

I will ensure you get out of the city.

We had

such a tough life in our past life.

This time,

I will not let you live a life of despair.

It will be fine.

Do you think

we both had a bad time in our past life?

Yes.

So we must not live like that in this life.

Are you really not afraid of death?

Yes.

I'm more afraid

of losing you than of dying.

[Qionghua Palace]

So after this,

we are bound

to face Father's wrath.

How do you plan to deal with it?

I am the Empress.

I can't leave.

When that happens, I'll face imprisonment

or whatever comes my way.

As for you,

if something truly happens,

you can escape through the secret passage in the city.

Secret passage?

Go to the owner of the rouge shop

in the east of the city.

Show her my token and tell her your identity.

She will help you escape.

Once you are out of the city,

head straight to Qingzhou.

Wait until Chuan ascends the throne,

then come back.

What about you?

If I leave, what will you do?

So long as you and Chuan are safe,

I will be at ease.

Mother...

You don't have to worry about me.

After all, I am your mother.

I have my ways to save myself.

You will be fine.

[Inspectorate Office] You haven't been back in a while.

How are you settling in?

- Your Highness. - Your Highness.

Your Highness, everything is stable in the Southwest.

Half of the troops are already under my command.

That's excellent.

I knew I had chosen the right person.

You handle the coordination with him

for the matters in the capital.

Yes, Your Highness.

Take care, Your Highness.

I will leave everything to you.

Yes, Your Highness.

After staying in the military camp for so long,

you seem to speak less after returning.

It seems military life is quite boring.

It's all right.

The wooden cards you gave to me

are quite interesting.

The Xie Family's rules are strict.

It would be too difficult

to gain their recognition with just my military power.

Miss Shangguan, how about his?

Take advantage of your status

to help me.

I won't interfere in any of your matters.

My military power

will be your military power.

Help me gain control of the Xie Family

and I'll become your support.

If you don't ever want this marriage,

we can divorce.

Think about it.

I'll go and settle down first.

I shall take my leave.

Your Highness.

What happened?

He told me

military power alone won't gain the Xie Family's recognition.

He wants...

He wants to take advantage of my status.

Take advantage of your status?

How is he planning to use it?

Your Highness,

I am the young lady of the Shangguan Family, after all.

If Lin Feibai marries

the young lady of the Shangguan Family,

he will earn more respect

in the Xie Family

even if he is an illegitimate child.

He is insane.

Your Highness.

A mere Xie wants to marry you?

Who does he think he is?

Your Highness,

the Xie Family is one of the Great Xia's top seven noble families.

They're not as insignificant as you say.

What I mean is

that compared to Chuan,

I really don't think much of the Xie Family.

If you truly wanted to marry for family status,

why didn't you just join the harem?

It's just an alliance.

After all, each takes what they need.

The most important thing is that it has to be valuable.

What about Su Ronghua?

The Su Family intends to plot a rebellion.

They have already reached a dead end

and will surely meet their downfall.

I can't bear to see the Shangguan Family

get implicated

because of my selfishness.

I've said all I can.

I'll leave now.

And you...

You should think it over.

[Inspectorate Office]

Ya.

You're finally out.

Where do you feel like going today?

I'm a little tired.

I would like to go home.

I'll walk you home then.

Sure.

[Shangguan's Mansion]

The road

has come to an end.

Go back and rest.

I'll come again tomorrow.

Su Ronghua.

Why don't you want to become the master of the Su Family?

Why do you ask that all of a sudden?

I'm just curious.

You are the eldest son of the Su Family.

You are supposed to be the master of your family.

How come Su Rongqing becomes the heir?

It's a long story.

Anyway, I wasn't cut out to be the master since I was young.

Most importantly, I don't want to.

Then what do you want to do?

I haven't decided.

I think it's pretty good like this.

Rongqing and Father can take care of everything.

I can just gamble, play with the birds, and enjoy my life.

Isn't that very pleasant?

But if you were the master,

the Su Family's fate would be different.

All right. You should go back.

Su Ronghua.

Don't ever come

to see me again in the future.

I'm not young anymore.

I can't keep idling around with you like this.

Go home.

Wait.

What do you mean, Ya?

- Mr. Su, please go back. - Ya!

Ya! Ya!

Let me through!

I just want to ask her something!

Mr. Su,

our young lady is a lady, after all.

Please restrain yourself.

Ya.

Ya!

[Qingmei Restaurant]

Greetings, Mr. Su.

Then I'll get straight to the point.

I understand your difficulties, Your Highness.

You can't accomplish this with your strength alone.

However,

I can help you.

That's great.

What are your conditions?

[Inspectorate Office]

Miss Ya,

Mr. Su has been waiting at the entrance.

Please continue to keep an eye on him for me.

I need to avoid him for a while.

Yes.

Your Highness.

What are you doing here?

I'm waiting for Miss Ya.

Ya?

Didn't she leave a long time ago?

In that case...

I'll come again tomorrow.

So Ya has made her decision.

What about the plan against the Xie Family?

It's decided.

We're planning to kill Xie Chunhe

on the Winter Festivity.

Once he's dead,

Lin Feibai can take his place

and take control of the Xie Family.

But...

Xie Chunhe was also involved in the assassination at Butterfly Gorge.

To reach this point,

Xie Chunhe deserves his fate.

In that case,

along with the marriage to Ya,

Lin Feibai's position as the master of the family should be secure.

What are you thinking?

I just feel sorry

for a certain lovestruck man.

Do you mean Su Ronghua?

Although he

and we have different positions,

he is a man who is true to himself.

Once he falls in love,

he remains loyal.

[Inspectorate Office]

Be careful.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Greetings, Your Highness.

You're here.

Yes.

Your Highness.

I...

I would like to request a few days off.

Request a few days off?

What for?

I'm invited to meet with Lin Feibai. Is that all right?

You...

I know.

You've agreed.

I shall take my leave.

Listen.

That stall's baozi is particularly delicious

because the spices used to make its fillings

are from the Western Regions,

making them unique in Huajing.

I shall try it with you sometime.

The tea here is also very good.

The secret lies not

in their tea,

but in the water they use.

It is collected from dew every morning.

Nuts! Nuts for sale!

Our nuts are all plump,

crunchy, and fragrant.

I know this.

Wait for me.

[Wolong Nuts]

Welcome.

I will have one.

All right.

Take care.

- Cheers. - Cheers.

Cheers.

To live our lives together.

Cheers.

I've bought the nuts.

I remember you like this too.

Thank you.

Isn't that Lin Feibai, the illegitimate son of the Xie Family?

The point is,

isn't the person next to him Miss Shangguan?

Have some too.

Does that mean

the Shangguan Family has chosen this lad?

Come on.

Let's go.

During tomorrow's Winter Festivity,

His Majesty will arrange for a lion dance.

At that time, Lin Feibai will take the stage.

If you're worried about Su Rongqing making any moves,

have Lin Feibai challenge him

and force him into the arena.

When everyone's eyes are on the arena,

Mr. Pei can take action.

Let's do that.

[Wenxuan's Abode]

Young Master,

staying up late is bad for your health.

Have some pear soup.

Look at you,

the metropolitan examination

has occupied you...

What's wrong?

Nothing.

We're repairing the Wenxuan's Abode.

It gives me a backache.

I've suffered from it for a long time.

It's no big deal.

Young Master.

Listen to me.

Even though you and Her Highness are divorced,

you used to be a married couple.

You should go to see her more often.

I know.

You know?

You know nothing.

I've been reading ancient books recently.

Like the touching poem of "The Peacock Flies Southeast."

They even look back and forth at each other every five li.

They look up and sing to each other.

They exchanged soft endearments all night until dawn.

You did read some books.

Your language is getting more refined.

Of course.

That's because I'm by your side every day.

It's called...

Uh...

Influenced by what you constantly see and hear.

Yes, influenced by what you constantly see and hear.

Come on, sit closer.

All right.

Come on.

Bear with it. Why are you laughing?

I'm not. I'm just ticklish

and you know that.

Just bear with it.

I can't help it.

Keep quiet.

Listen.

Besides Her Highness,

you're the second person to enjoy my massage skills.

You're getting older.

You should leave

this kind of heavy work to the servants.

If it's really too much work,

I'll find a few more helpers.

Don't wear yourself out.

I'm talking to you.

Young Master, all right.

If you don't allow me to speak,

how can I speak?

Also,

when you give Her Highness a massage,

just use thirty percent of your strength.

Of course I know.

Now, the other side.

No, no.

No, I really can't stand it.

I'm doing this for your own good.

- What's wrong with you? - Come on.

How can I not feel ticklish when you poke here?

- You keep poking me here. - I...

No.

How about this?

Young Master. Young Master.

Please. I'm begging you.

Mother.

Huayue, why are you...

Mother, everything is ready.

After I kill Li Chuan tomorrow,

I'll rescue you out of here.

Good girl.

You've suffered.

Protecting Cheng is the most important thing.

This suffering is nothing.

At the military drill ground tomorrow,

Li Chuan will be like a target.

Those protecting him and those trying to kill him,

their eyes

will all be on him.

It means Li Rong can easily escape.

Focus all your elite forces on Li Rong

and force her into the forest.

Spread the word to Li Chuan

that Li Rong will be killed.

But will Li Chuan save her?

He's not stupid.

He will.

When he comes to her rescue, kill them both.

People will be useless when they are dead.

To die

before knowing life's hardships

is a kind of luck.

All right.

Mother, I will take my leave first.

Take good care of yourself.

You must also protect yourself.

Someone just reported

that Xiao Su has mobilized troops

and is heading toward Huajing tonight.

How many soldiers?

Thirty thousand,

leaving twenty thousand garrisoning the Northwest.

Thirty thousand?

Are you really going to intercept Xiao Su

as Princess Pingyue instructed?

Princess Pingyue has helped us a lot.

We must repay her.

But Xiao Su is acting as His Majesty instructed.

If you intercept him, you will be plotting a rebellion.

So what?

Lin, I am worried about you.

If you're truly concerned about me,

keep an eye

on the twenty thousand soldiers he left in the Northwest.

Her Highness saved the Qin Family.

I cannot let her down.

Besides,

with the wisdom of Her Highness and Pei Wenxuan,

I have faith in them.

Qinghe,

don't worry.

If things go wrong,

leave the Great Xia from the Northwest

and head west.

General Qin, forgive me.

- General! - General!

General!

Don't let him escape!

Mr. Cui, what should we do next?

Return to the camp

and wipe out the traitors.

Yes, sir.

Report!

Ms. Xun, bad news.

General Qin was ambushed and stabbed at the cliff.

Mr. Cui said

there was an informant who injured the general.

They've locked down the camp

and are heading our way now.

Ms. Xun, we must leave quickly.

[Attempted assassination on Qin Lin]

Deliver this letter to Her Highness urgently.

Yes, Ms. Xun.

Cui Qinghe, what is the meaning of this?

Ms. Xun, the general was ambushed.

I am ordered to supervise the army and arrest the suspects.

Please cooperate with me.

Disarm, drop your sword, and come with me.

Cui Qinghe, so it was you

who betrayed my brother.

Get her!

Quickly, bring her back here!

[Su's Mansion]

Ronghua.

You never attend those kinds of events.

How many years has it been

since we went out for fun together?

Look at you.

I don't know what happened to you.

You've been in low spirits these several years.

There seems to be a lot weighing on your heart.

Are you still thinking about Princess Pingyue?

Ronghua.

Watch your words.

Are you upset because of Miss Shangguan?

If you like her,

why not tell Father

and ask him to propose marriage to the Shangguan Family?

Between our families...

Ya and I...

There are too many family affairs involved in our relationship.

Once the Crown Prince ascends the throne...

I will propose.

Ronghua,

are you so sure the Crown Prince will ascend the throne?

Rongqing.

You should know when to stop

and turn back while you still can.

♪Who gazes at the sky from afar?♪

♪Who gazes at the sky from afar?♪

♪In the night's chill breeze♪

♪What is she singing for?♪

♪The wind caresses the hills♪

♪The wind causes ripples on calm water♪

♪Moonlight graces passing souls♪

♪Her steps get slower and slower♪

♪She's trod a lengthy path♪

♪Memories lost then found♪

♪Gazing idly as clouds roll by♪

♪She holds a red candle♪

♪To brave the thick fog♪

♪Life can be bitter sometimes♪

♪Experience it with grace♪

♪Like a fleeting dream♪

♪Like a fleeting dream♪

♪Neither warmth nor cold will last♪

♪Like a fleeting dream♪

♪Like a fleeting dream♪

♪The moon is reflected in her eyes♪

♪In her gaze, the unwavering faith remains♪