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 33]

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.

Ronghua, don't worry.

All of this will be over soon.

What did you say?

I said,

when the time comes,

I'll propose to the Shangguan Family on your behalf.

In previous years,

a winter hunt was held at the end of each year.

But I think

holding a winter hunt year after year is too solemn.

That's why I'm doing something different this year.

I call it the Winter Festivity.

There are many youngsters here.

I propose that we should hold a lion dance contest

for the Winter Festivity. What do you all think?

Excellent.

It's been so long since we've enjoyed such performances.

All right.

Yes, Your Majesty.

This is interesting.

Huayue, don't worry.

Father will protect us.

Since that's the case,

you all have to make it interesting

and competitive.

Is anyone willing to volunteer?

Come out

and show me what you've got.

Your Majesty.

I'm willing to perform first to entertain everyone.

Are you the son of Xie Lanqing?

Your Majesty,

I was exiled to the southwest border.

During these days, I killed plenty of enemies,

earning military merits

and being promoted to the fifth-ranked General of the South.

With the cessation of hostilities, I have been longing for my homeland,

so I've taken a leave to return to the capital.

I never expected you

to have such favorable turns in life.

Seems like you're not someone ordinary either.

It's good to turn over a new leaf.

Since you volunteered,

is there a specific one you want to challenge?

I've heard that Second Young Master Su

is an excellent lion dancer in the capital.

Since there's a chance,

I hope I can learn a move or two from Minister Su today.

I knew he was targeting me.

When it comes to lion dancing...

my brother isn't the person you should compete against.

Your Majesty.

I'm willing to have a competition on my brother's behalf.

General Lin, I assume you won't mind, right?

I do like

your temperament.

Both you and General Lin are extraordinary individuals.

I'm looking forward

to this opening match.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

I would like to perform as well.

If we do have enough time,

may I compete against Second Young Master Su?

Sure. This is excellent!

The Winter Festivity should be exciting.

Go and make your preparations.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

What are you fighting for?

I'm fighting for

what you're fighting for.

Cut the crap.

See you on the stakes.

Ronghua has always indulged himself in gambling and drinking.

I never expected him

to be good at lion dancing.

Well,

he's pretty skillful at lion dancing.

It's all thanks to my teaching.

Their performances are exciting indeed.

Excellent!

Serve us some tea.

Awesome!

Try this.

First Young Master Su is pretty good.

Just look at him.

It's all thanks to my teaching.

Excellent.

With your status,

you can get any of the noble ladies to be your bride.

Why are you taking offense at this?

You think I'm taking offense at this?

You've been a playboy all along.

Why are you pretending to be passionately devoted now?

If you truly love her,

why didn't you marry her sooner?

Mr. Pei,

you surely didn't come just to invite me for a lion dance, right?

Mr. Su, seems like

you know what I'm going to do next.

I guessed it.

You all are trying to help Lin Feibai take control of the Xie Family.

You're going to kill Xie Chunhe.

And I even know that you all are trying to kill him

by using the Poison of the Fragrant Beauty.

Ronghua!

Su Ronghua, is that all you've got?

You started it.

Bring it on then. Let's have another round.

Fine by me.

Enough.

Ronghua, are you hurt?

I'm fine.

Bring them away to have some rest.

I'll check on your injury.

Go now.

You should check on Su Ronghua.

He won't give up

unless you clarify things with him.

Mr. Pei,

I'm afraid you all won't be able to proceed with your plan.

First, you poisoned Xie Chunhe with the Poison of the Fragrant Beauty.

You wanted to put him under your control.

But you realized that the Xie Family wasn't listening to you at all.

Therefore, you put the catalyst in the tea

so that he would die from the poison, right?

Mr. Su, you swapped the tea attendant

to make sure Xie Chunhe's tea wasn't poisoned.

If so, how would you know

if I did change the tea or not?

Mr. Pei, you're truly a firm character behind a gentle appearance.

However, even if you did put the catalyst in the tea,

Xie Chunhe wouldn't die from it.

Mr. Xie!

Mr. Xie!

What's going on?

Mr. Xie!

Imperial physician!

Chuan.

Go and take a look.

See what's going on.

Yes, Father.

I'll go and check on him too.

Huayue,

do not be impulsive.

- Mr. Xie! - Mr. Xie!

What's going on?

Mr. Xie!

Mr. Su, seems like you still lost in the end.

Don't worry, Mr. Pei.

Xie Chunhe won't die from this.

Come and take a look!

Yes.

Your Majesty,

the lion dance is exciting indeed.

Transmit my order.

Tighten the security.

The show has only just begun.

Poison of the Fragrant Beauty?

In my last life,

during my last argument with Pei Wenxuan,

that was the smell of the sachet

Su Rongqing gave to Pei Wenxuan.

But why hasn't he coughed up blood yet?

Could it be that the dose of the poison within the sachet isn't enough?

How is he?

What's the situation?

I can't identify the cause for now.

But...

Someone, help Mr. Xie out.

Hurry! Carry him away!

- Yes. - Yes.

Mr. Su.

Miss Shangguan.

Mr. Su.

Is your hand all right?

It's just a minor sprain.

I'm fine.

Young Master, I shall take my leave.

Please have a seat.

No, thanks.

I'm here to tell you something.

Miss Shangguan, are you here to condemn me

for ruining your plan?

That's right.

If so, I shall get you a cup of tea and seek forgiveness from you.

Please have a seat.

Please.

I've heard that the Su Family has been a renowned family for a century

and your family rules are strict.

As expected, even your servant is sensible.

However, Mr. Su, I don't understand

why you're not sensible at all.

We used to be friends.

But you were trying to sabotage my marriage.

Don't you think you went overboard?

Friends?

Shangguan Ya.

I don't think you took me for a friend.

You took me for a fool, didn't you?

We've known each other for a long time.

Did you really only take me for a friend?

I'll be honest with you.

I've never seen you as a friend.

It's the same for you.

We were just using each other

all along.

At first, it was as you said that we were using each other.

But what about after that?

Do you still dare say that we were just using each other?

Why not?

If you used me,

why would you head to the prison and apologize to me?

If you used me,

why would you meet me at the palace gate

when I took the blame for Ronqing?

If you used me,

why would you watch the sunrise with me and drink with me

when I had a conflict with Rongqing?

We promised not to let go of each other's hands...

That's enough.

I was just having fun.

Mr. Su, you take things too seriously.

Having fun?

If you truly only see me as a friend who can have fun with you,

I will never pester you again.

Look at me.

Look at me!

Do you dare say that again

while looking into my eyes?

Why not?

I can give you the power you want.

Shangguan Ya.

I know you want to keep the Shangguan Family safe.

I know you want to be free.

I know you want to be in charge of the Shangguan Family.

I have my own businesses.

They've been doing great all these years.

I can provide you with provisions and forage.

I have a fief in Lan County.

The late Emperor bestowed it on me some years ago.

You may build your army there.

If you intend to fight your brothers for the Shangguan Family

and you need the support of the imperial court,

I can join the officialdom.

If you don't want me to join the officialdom,

I'll stay in the Shangguan Family

and assist you.

Ya.

I can give you

everything you want

and even more.

I didn't propose to you earlier

because the timing wasn't right.

When will be the right timing, then?

After the Crown Prince ascends the throne.

Do you think the Su Family will still be around

after the Crown Prince ascends the throne?

Don't you know

what Su Rongqing is doing?

Of course, I know what Su Rongqing is doing.

But have my father and I taken any action?

Ya.

No matter who ascends the throne,

the Su Family will be fine.

My family has never been involved in disputes over the throne.

Rongqing

is just one of His Majesty's pawns.

Since he's bound by the family rules,

he'll stop at where he should.

The Crown Prince is supported by the noble families.

Now, the Shangguan Family just needs to lie low.

Once His Majesty passes away and the Crown Prince ascends the throne,

we can get married.

If you're willing,

I will have a grand procession to marry you

as the wife of the first young master of the Su Family.

If you're not willing,

I'll tell you the same thing.

I'm willing to leave the Su Family of my own accord

and marry into your family.

Su Ronghua.

I know all about...

your sincere feelings for me.

It's a shame that you don't understand what Su Rongqing wants.

You don't understand...

what I want either.

Why hasn't he coughed up blood yet?

Young Master!

Young Master, what happened?

Young Master?

What are you doing?

Your Highness!

I encountered a soothsayer on the streets today.

He said a disaster would befall my young master today.

Thus, he gave me this sachet.

He said if something like that were to happen,

I should immerse this in the tea.

After that, I should serve Young Master with the tea.

Your Highness,

please make way!

This concerns his life!

Give it to me.

These aren't valuable herbs.

I'll give it a try.

Young Master?

Young Master.

His pulses have been stabilized.

He vomited the poison as well.

That isn't the poison.

That's the antidote.

I need an answer.

I need to know the truth.

Your Highness.

Miss Shangguan wishes to speak with you at the back hill.

Where's Miss Shangguan?

Oh no!

Rong!

It's an ambush.

Chuan!

Protect Her Highness!

Chuan!

Run!

Chuan!

Escort my sister to leave!

Chuan!

Rong, just leave!

Your Highness, run!

Fengming, let's retreat!

After her!

Young Master.

Thank you, sir.

No!

Cheng!

Cheng!

- Prince Su? - Cheng!

Prince Su!

Cheng!

Your Majesty!

Cheng!

Imperial physician!

- Imperial physician! - Imperial physician!

Cheng!

Your Majesty.

Hurry!

Your Majesty, he...

He...

Speak up!

I think His Highness is poisoned!

By what kind of poison?

Shut up!

Treat him the way you neutralize the Poison of the Fragrant Beauty.

If you fail, I'll execute you and your entire clan!

Yes, Your Majesty!

Li Rong!

Pei Wenxuan!

Hurry!

Your Highness!

Hold onto me!

Your Highness,

this time, I finally won against Pei Wenxuan.

Li Rong!

- Your Highness! - Your Highness!

Your Highness, calm down!

It's useless even if you jump after them.

Now, you're Her Highness's last hope.

Our priority right now is to protect the Crown Prince.

Head to the bottom of the cliff.

Find Her Highness at all costs.

Yes, sir!

The rest of you,

follow me.

Li Chuan, there's no escape.

I'll show you some respect.

You may cut your throat.

Your Highness, you should retreat.

Kill them!

Fengming!

Your Highness.

Protect His Highness!

Escort His Highness back to the tent.

Your Highness!

Come on.

Your Highness.

Be careful.

Where's Rong?

Where is Rong?

Your Highness, I'll bring her here

once you've fully recovered.

Take His Highness for some rest.

You won't deceive me, right?

I won't. Imperial physician.

Your Highness, please have some rest.

Come on.

Mr. Pei.

Li Cheng isn't dead.

We have to send someone to keep an eye on the palace.

Regarding Li Chuan's injury,

I want no one else to know it

no matter whether he lives or dies in the end.

Also,

notify Lin Feibai and his troops

to be ready to enter the capital ahead of schedule.

Miss Shangguan, I'll be counting on you.

Mr. Pei.

You must bring Her Highness back.

I will.

Don't worry.

I'm not trying to kill you.

I still have questions for you.

Therefore, I won't kill you.

Your Highness, what questions do you have for me?

Back then...

how did I die?

Your Highness, you asked me the same question before.

I killed you...

You're lying.

Today, Pei Wenxuan

poisoned Xie Chunhe by using the Poison of the Fragrant Beauty.

But Xie Chunhe didn't die immediately

when the poison was taking effect.

There must be something that was delaying the effects of the poison.

When I rushed there,

I detected an abnormal scent from Xie Chunhe.

It had the same smell

as the smell I detected

from Pei Wenxuan back then.

At first, I thought that was the Poison of the Fragrant Beauty.

But after that,

Xie Chunhe's servant added the ingredients inside the sachet

into the tea and fed him with it.

After that,

the poison was neutralized.

Therefore, I have reasons

to suspect that you didn't give Pei Wenxuan the poison back then.

You gave him the antidote, which delayed the effects of the poison.

Am I right?

If so, who exactly killed me?

Your Highness.

That's not important.

It's not important?

If so,

let's return together.

We shall assist Chuan together.

Your Highness.

Li Chuan once annihilated my clan.

But the current him did nothing to your clan.

Why can't you let him off?

We can make a new choice.

Some events

are entirely preventable.

Why can't you let him off?

Let's assist Chuan

and help him ascend the throne.

You can be the master of the Su Family.

I can even be your matchmaker.

You can marry the lady you love.

Don't worry.

With me around,

Chuan won't do anything to the noble families.

Let's

assist Chuan

and help him become an emperor who will be remembered for centuries.

This way, all of us can live in peace.

It won't end that way.

Your Highness,

you should stay out of this.

You should leave Huajing together with Pei Wenxuan.

I'll bring you back

after one year.

For what?

Is it to witness Chuan's ascension?

He cannot ascend the throne!

Even if you don't tell me...

I still know the answer.

I'm sure that I was killed

by the Poison of the Fragrant Beauty back then.

If not, you wouldn't have used the antidote to it.

And only three people know about its formula.

It's you,

Pei Wenxuan,

and...

And Li Chuan.

If it wasn't you

or Pei Wenxuan,

who else could it be?

I'm not a golden canary kept in a cage.

I've been through pleasant moments.

I've been through hard times as well.

Su Rongqing.

If you still take me as the Princess,

turn around and look at me.

Look at me.

Tell me.

Who...

killed me?

It was everyone.

It was me.

It was Li Chuan.

It was Shangguan Ya.

All of us joined our forces and killed you.

So, Your Highness...

Now, you know

why I would never allow Li Chuan to ascend the throne again

even though this might only be a dream.

Now, you know...

why I have to sit idly by

and watch you marry another man

even though I've entered your dream

as

a perfectly normal man.

Did you think I didn't wish to vie for you?

Did you think I dared not do so or I couldn't win?

It's none of that.

It's all because...

I don't have the right to do so.

People like Li Chuan and me...

only deserve to live in hell.

I deserve to die.

Li Chuan...

deserves to die as well.

Young Master, our men and I can head down there ourselves.

I'll head there myself.

Wait.

Young Master.

This is too high and too risky.

Can't you just wait here for our news?

Young Master, why are you so stubborn?

What if something happens to you?

If so, I...

Enough!

You only care about me.

What about Her Highness?

She fell off the cliff right in front of me.

But I couldn't do anything about it.

I could've caught her hands

had I been

a little faster, just like Su Rongqing.

I'm the most useless prince consort in the world.

Young Master, this isn't entirely your fault.

I must find Her Highness.

I must find Her Highness!

Young Master, you should take a break.

I said, let's continue.

Young Master, wait for me!

Young Master!

Young Master.

Young Master, watch out!

What's the reason?

Why did Chuan kill me?

I spent my whole life assisting him.

I was his elder sister.

I was the closest blood relative he had

after our parents had passed away.

Even if he was worried about my influence and power,

he shouldn't have resorted to ruthlessness.

It was the tenth year of Dexu Era.

You were traveling around.

Then you encountered an alchemist.

He excelled at making elixirs.

You inquired about him from various sources

and visited him in the mountains several times

before you were able to convince him to leave the mountain.

Then you recommended him to Li Chuan.

Not long after that,

Li Chuan often felt unwell.

He launched a thorough investigation within the palace.

However, he didn't discover anything.

The alchemist you recommended to Li Chuan

died because he fell into the lake after getting drunk.

So, there was something wrong with the alchemist?

That alchemist

was carefully selected by the noble families.

Shangguan Ya came up with the plan.

She lured you

into encountering the alchemist.

So...

So, that made Chuan think

that I was trying to kill him, right?

But why didn't he ask me about it?

If he did...

What should he ask you?

Your Highness, what if you were the one

who planted the alchemist by His Majesty's side on purpose?

Would you admit to it?

Since it was discovered back then,

why wasn't I investigated at that time?

How could he investigate you?

You're the Princess Royal representing the noble families,

the powerful regent Princess Royal.

If he were to make a move against you openly,

how certain could he be of success?

So...

So...

he chose to poison you.

♪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♪