Original subtitles

Slowly.

One more step.

Be careful.

Thank you, Brother-in-law.

Why are you calling him that?

During this time, Duke Su has been helping

with my necessities and even my treatment.

Who is he if not my brother-in-law?

You're promising,

much smarter than your sister.

Duke Su.

Why did you come

to see me today?

We'll talk about that later.

I'll have a walk with my brother-in-law first.

Don't worry.

I'm very gentle.

Brother-in-law.

Slow down.

PRINCESS WANNING'S MANSION

Meixiang.

Your Highness.

What kind of incense is burning here?

It's Your Highness' favorite, jasmine.

Why does it smell so disgusting?

Your Highness, Imperial Physician Zhang will be here soon.

After he arrives,

he will prescribe some medicine.

I will decoct it

and you will feel better after taking it.

Have you told Shen Yurong

that I'm not feeling well?

I have.

What did he say?

He told me to take care of Your Highness.

How am I doing?

Why aren't you saying anything?

Your Highness, I may be mistaken.

Please look for a better physician, Your Highness.

I only trust you in the whole Imperial Academy of Medicine.

Come on, tell me what's going on.

Otherwise, I will punish you for deceiving me.

Spare my life, Your Highness.

Please spare me, Your Highness.

Raise your head.

Have you menstruated this month, Your Highness?

I'm afraid Your Highness is…

pregnant.

How bold of you

to speak nonsense in front of Her Highness!

I would not dare to do so!

Have mercy, Your Highness.

Spare me, Your Highness.

Have mercy, Your Highness.

Imperial Physician Zhang.

Is what you said true?

I dare not lie.

Have you forgotten the diagnosis you gave me

when I returned from Dai?

Your Highness has suffered too many injuries.

And having multiple miscarriages

impaired your qi and blood and blocked your meridians.

It will be difficult for you to recover from that.

I'm afraid

Your Highness can't bear any more children in the future.

That's why I was extremely surprised.

This is extremely rare.

It is truly a blessing from the heavens.

It's like a miracle.

If I don't want this child,

can I get pregnant again in the future?

Well,

it's hard to say if you will be this lucky again.

How long do you think I have been pregnant?

It should be less than a month.

Thank you for your hard work, Physician Zhang.

Take Imperial Physician Zhang

to have some tea before leaving.

No.

I won't trouble you, Your Highness.

I am in a hurry to go home.

It's just a cup of tea.

Your wife and son won't mind.

Your Highness, please spare me!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, have mercy!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, spare my life!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, please spare me!

Your Highness!

I'm leaving for Great Zhao tonight.

Already?

To see your show,

I've already delayed it for a day.

Is there any news from the Eldest Princess' Mansion?

The Eldest Princess secretly got rid of an imperial physician.

It is said that she was diagnosed to be pregnant.

How did you do it?

I remember that you know how to check pulses.

Being sick for a while has taught me a thing or two.

Check my pulse.

Whose is it?

I'm asking you.

Jiuyue's.

I told you she is a poison user.

I know she uses poison.

If I didn't try it on myself,

how would I know if it works?

Other than a false pulse, what harm does this do?

None.

Jiuyue experimented this on herself not long ago

and I just happened to hear about it.

This is ridiculous.

It's not.

Wanning may not want me to marry Shen Yurong.

If news about her pregnancy spreads now,

I might be able to get out of this.

Why are you staring at me?

In front of Wanning,

Shen Yurong can't protect you,

but I can.

I know.

How did you poison the Eldest Princess?

Wanning is wary of me,

but she won't have her guard up against Your Highness for now.

I want to drug her on your birthday banquet, Your Highness.

What drug?

It's not a harmful poison.

It's just a drug that can fake a pregnancy.

After a while,

the drug's effects will wear off naturally.

You are truly audacious.

It's all thanks to you for finding Consort Li's weakness.

That's how I convinced her to help me.

Now that granting the marriage is no longer a problem,

are you still going ahead with your plan?

Of course.

I want people to know

about Wanning and Shen Yurong.

I also want to help you catch Prince Cheng's underlings.

Shen Yurong won't let her do this.

This is not up to him.

Before I come back,

remember to act cautiously then.

If there's any problem,

get Zhao Ke to send me a letter

or wait until I'm back before making a decision.

I got it, Duke Su.

I'm not that weak.

I know how capable you are.

Before you go,

I want to thank you.

Thank you for bringing me back to the capital.

Thank you for not abandoning me, your pawn,

from the beginning to the end.

I've almost achieved my goal now.

It's time for me to repay you.

Do you still remember

what I said to you when you took the Annual Exam?

I wish you a smooth journey ahead and a successful revenge.

Now, let me add this.

I hope that you can live life the way you want to.

Are you setting off soon?

Yes.

Just do your best.

Do you remember your father's funeral?

GENERAL XIAO'S MEMORIAL TABLET

Master, from now on, I will be stationed at the northern border

and inherit your responsibilities,

guarding and defending our nation.

One day,

I will personally lead an army to regain the lost territory

and avenge you.

GENERAL XIAO'S MEMORIAL TABLET

Am I the only one who thinks

that his crying looks fake?

I think so too.

Your father is dead. Why aren't you crying?

Father told me

that if he dies in battle,

I should see him off with a smile.

But you aren't smiling either.

Maybe he didn't die in battle.

Do you want to investigate it?

Will you let me investigate it?

There are a few more people.

Look into it for me.

Don't you want to investigate me first?

Give me your hand.

The other hand.

Close your eyes.

I can see through you.

How childish.

I've trusted you for eight years.

I will always trust you.

Go and come back early.

I'll be waiting for you in the capital.

DAI CAMP

Your Majesty, have some fruits.

Sure.

Don't you like dancing?

Dance.

Dance.

EMPEROR OF DAI

It seems like you want me to dance with you.

Will you dance or not?

Will you dance or not?

What a worthless princess.

Already sent here as a hostage,

yet she still doesn't know her place.

Starting today,

you will be

the lowliest concubine

in my tent.

Someone, take her to the sheepfold.

That will be her home from now on.

This is extremely rare.

It is truly a blessing from the heavens.

If I don't want this child,

can I get pregnant again in the future?

It's hard to say

if you will be this lucky again.

Your Highness,

Imperial Physician Zhang's family has been dealt with too.

What do you plan to do next?

Plan about what?

Do you plan

to keep this child?

You cheap servant.

You're in no position to comment on the baby in my belly.

Your Highness' belly will grow day by day.

It can't be hidden forever.

If His Majesty or others discover this,

I'm afraid we can't explain it.

Your Highness love that man with all your heart.

If this is discovered,

His Majesty will surely not let this slide.

If he finds out this is that man's child,

I'm afraid his career will be ruined too.

It will break your heart, Your Highness.

But this is our child.

I want to keep it.

As for the next step,

I'm not in a hurry.

The child in my belly is less than a month old now.

No one will notice it yet.

The most urgent task now

is to take good care of the child in my belly.

We can't truly know people's intentions.

There are countless people who'd harm the child in my belly.

I have to protect the child well.

I will keep your child safe.

Summon Shen Yurong quickly.

-Now. -Yes.

Weapons down.

OVERFLOWING WITH LUCK AND KINDNESS

Even insects know they should climb up,

let alone humans.

Some people are born at the peak.

Even if you prepared long and hard for something,

one can just throw out something randomly to replace it.

The heavens,

you're so unfair.

Must a person of humble origin

live a lowly life?

Mr. Shen.

The Eldest Princess is summoning you to her mansion.

Why did she let you summon me in person?

Pregnant?

Could it be a mistake?

Imperial Physician Zhang diagnosed it.

It can't be wrong.

Are you displeased?

Are you still angry with me?

With Your Highness' condition now,

how can I still be angry?

This child is a precious gift.

You'll be my Prince Consort sooner or later anyway.

Now, we are just marrying earlier than scheduled.

I will ask His Majesty to grant our marriage.

Aren't Your Highness worried

that if you ask to grant our marriage now,

others will think that you're having a secret affair with me?

I don't care.

But I can't ignore your reputation, Your Highness.

My reputation?

Do you think I care about my reputation?

Maybe I did before.

-Since I came back from Dai-- -Your Highness.

All right, I will say no more.

I just want the baby in my belly

to have a legitimate father.

This is also my first child.

I also hope to be its legitimate father.

But this matter cannot be rushed.

Otherwise, it'll cause endless trouble.

What else can be done?

Do you not want to marry me?

Your Highness is overthinking it.

Shen Yurong, I am the Eldest Princess of Great Yan.

I don't care about anything else.

I just want to be

with the person I love for the rest of my life.

I don't believe I can't get what I want.

So what does Your Highness want me to do?

Joyfully welcome me and our child to the Shen family.

My lady.

How's the situation at Eldest Princess' Mansion?

Shen Yurong just went there.

The arrow is strung.

Sure enough, the shot has to be fired.

What do you want me to do next?

Light a fire for them.

GREAT ZHAO IMPERIAL CITY

Drink it.

Why are you so careless?

Great Zhao has really tight security.

Even I got hurt coming in.

Then why didn't you use the bell I gave you?

How could those soldiers possibly recognize your bell?

Then you can just tell them

you are Duke Su of Great Yan.

Who would dare to stop you?

I'm visiting in secret.

In secret?

Must you visit me secretly?

I'm here to see your brother.

Whatever, I don't care.

Move along, don't stay here.

I didn't expect Great Zhao's guards to be so skilled.

If it weren't for Jiuyue's bells,

I'm afraid I would've died.

You must be joking, Duke Su.

With your skills, if you didn't want to get caught,

it would be hard for Great Zhao's guards to capture you.

You did this deliberately.

The sooner I am harmed and get caught,

the less conflict would be created,

preventing any misunderstanding.

Tell me.

What do you want from me?

I want an army

to take precautions against possible rebellious officials and traitors.

Before you came,

Prince Cheng's subordinate already came to me.

When Prince Cheng leads an uprising in the north,

Your Majesty only needs to restrain and hold back

the Great Yan army at your border.

Zhao Ye will be surrounded and will surely collapse after one strike.

When Prince Cheng becomes the emperor, he will surely treat Great Zhao well.

Your Majesty just drove away the rebel forces in your nation.

you must need Great Yan's support.

But if Your Majesty refuses to cooperate

or insists on aiding Zhao Ye in putting up a stiff resistance,

after Prince Cheng becomes the emperor,

the first thing he'll probably do is settle the score with you.

Are you threatening me?

I dare not do so.

Prince Cheng is far more powerful than Zhao Ye.

I just don't want Your Majesty to make the wrong choice

and ruin the foundation you just laid.

Regarding the Emperor of Great Yan and Prince Cheng,

my ministers have carefully discussed and analyzed it.

Only less than half of them think

the Emperor of Great Yan will win.

Duke Su, I hope you can understand.

If I help you,

I won't just be risking the lives of my family and I,

the fate of Great Zhao is also at stake.

So, no matter who wins,

as long as the victor

is willing to maintain peace with Great Zhao,

I can accept it.

Your Majesty is waiting for my bid, right?

If Your Majesty feels that Prince Cheng is sure to win,

you probably would have agreed to form an alliance with him.

Am I wrong?

This matter only concerns Great Yan.

Great Zhao is a small nation with no control over the conflict.

If Prince Cheng wins,

our nation will naturally prepare a gift

to congratulate him.

Sending it then and sending it now

are two different situations.

So what does Prince Cheng want from me?

Didn't Your Majesty just form an alliance with Great Yan?

Zhao Ye naturally thinks that you are on his side.

Prince Cheng doesn't want much.

As long as you continue to feed him this illusion,

when Prince Cheng rises to rebellion,

I hope Your Majesty will give us your support in times of need.

I didn't accept Prince Cheng's proposition,

but I don't necessarily have to accept yours.

His Majesty said

that as long as Your Majesty helps us,

you can state your condition.

You are just the icing on the cake to Prince Cheng.

Even if he wins,

he won't necessarily be grateful.

But to His Majesty, you are help during a time of need.

He will definitely repay you.

Even if the Emperor of Great Yan wins,

how would I know if he

will fulfill his promise?

Didn't Your Majesty personally come to our nation

and meet our emperor?

Can't His Majesty's sincerity

obtain your trust in return?

I can't trust him.

However,

I trust you.

It all depends if you're willing to accept my condition.

Did you hear that the Eldest Princess is pregnant?

Nonsense. The Eldest Princess doesn't even have a Prince Consort.

How can she get pregnant?

You're the nonsensical one. Trust me,

the Eldest Princess will have a Prince Consort soon.

Then who do you think this future Prince Consort will be?

I once heard that Mr. Shen was seen going in and out of the Princess' Mansion.

-Do you think it could be him? -Waiter.

-Coming. -Just wait and see.

The child

must have a father.

True.

Mother, where is Yurong?

He went to Hanlin Academy early this morning.

Why are you in such a hurry to see him?

I heard that the Eldest Princess is pregnant.

Did he tell you about it?

Who told you that?

Everyone on the streets is saying it.

No way.

If it were true, Yurong would have told us already.

Has Yurong ever taken the initiative

to tell us about him and the Eldest Princess?

This won't do, I have to go to Hanlin Academy now

and ask him what's going on.

Your Majesty.

GOVERN PEOPLE, SERVE THE HEAVENS

I heard from Eunuch Su that you haven't taken your medicine, Your Majesty.

It's getting more and more bitter. I had a bowl.

I'll set this aside first.

Your Majesty, you caught a cold.

This medicine will cure you and help you stay healthy.

It's best to take the two bowls at once.

I asked them to reheat it.

Your Majesty, you'd better drink it.

Otherwise, I would worry about you.

You always have many ways to make me take my medicine.

Your Majesty, have you heard a rumor recently?

What is it?

I heard that Eldest Princess Wanning is pregnant.

The rumor has even spread to the palace now.

Wanning is not married.

How could there be such a rumor?

How can there be such an outrageous rumor?

Yes, this matter affects the reputation of the imperial family.

Do the people spreading this rumor

intend to harm the imperial family?

What do you think I should do then?

Send an imperial physician to check Wanning's pulse.

Then the rumors will stop.

Good idea.

However, if an imperial physician goes there alone,

with Wanning's temperament, I'm afraid he would be kicked out.

I am willing to go with the imperial physician

and visit Wanning as well.

Since this rumor came out,

she doesn't come out much anymore.

I haven't seen her for a while too.

All right, I'll have to trouble you then.

It's what I should do.

Hey, listen, the Eldest Princess

seems to be pregnant.

-Whose is it? -I don't know too. I just heard about it.

Is it true?

It's hard to tell.

I don't think this is true.

When there's smoke, there's fire.

Have you found all the books I asked you to find?

-We're looking for them. -We're on it.

Yurong.

Let's speak outside.

-Come. -Mother, what exactly is this about?

What's going on between you and the Eldest Princess?

Rumors are spreading everywhere

that the Eldest Princess is pregnant.

Everywhere? What does that mean?

It's all over the streets.

Don't leave yet. Tell me.

What's going on between you and the Eldest Princess?

Mother, can't you see it?

Since it is known to everyone,

there must be someone behind the scenes.

I'm afraid this is a conspiracy.

I'll find a way to solve it.

Mother, don't cause more trouble.

Greetings, Consort Li.

Eldest Princess.

Why do you have time to come here today?

I've heard some rumors recently,

so I came to check on you.

What rumors?

Some people say that you're pregnant.

Do you believe that, Consort Li?

I don't believe it and neither does His Majesty.

So I brought an imperial physician here today

to check on you.

How impetuous.

I can't let you do as you wish to me

just for some rumors.

It's precisely because it's a rumor that we have to investigate it.

After all, according to the rumors,

the one who spread the word was your designated physician,

Imperial Physician Zhang.

But no one knows where he is now.

The Imperial Academy of Medicine is responsible.

As such, they sent another imperial physician to you.

In my opinion,

whether you are sick or not, it's good to have them check on you.

Don't the women in the palace

regularly ask for pulse readings for peace of mind?

Although you don't live in the palace,

you should also take care of yourself.

How dare that old man spread rumors about me?

When I find him, I'll tear his mouth apart.

The Imperial Academy of Medicine is also looking for him.

It's a pity that even his residence has been emptied.

If he still can't be found,

they will naturally link him to you.

That old man must have absconded with his family.

Your Highness, you must not tolerate that.

I thought so too at first,

but I didn't expect to hear another rumor.

They say Imperial Physician Zhang

might have found out some secret and was--

Which shameless person said that?

He should confront me.

I also wanted to catch the person who spread the rumors.

But on second thought,

if we arrest him, it would look like the imperial family is guilty.

After mulling it over,

I think it's better for us to openly

put the rumors to rest.

Don't you think so, Wanning?

Imperial Physician Chu, check the Eldest Princess's pulse.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness, kindly allow me.

Eldest Princess, what are you doing?

I am the Eldest Princess. My body is precious.

Why should I be forced to prove my innocence

just because of some rumors?

You're humiliating me.

If that's the case,

I will go back and report this to His Majesty.

Eldest Princess, just wait for His Majesty to personally give the edict.

You may all go.

I want to talk to Consort Li alone.

Consort Li.

You are so forgetful.

Have you forgotten about Consort Xian?

Before threatening others,

why don't you check who you have in your hands?

What do you mean?

You're so smart.

Do you need me to remind you?

Do you want to side with Xue Fangfei?

I don't want to take either side.

I don't like you both.

Ever since my sister became sick,

I am no longer as competitive as before.

It was you who forced my hand first.

I

hate being threatened the most.

All right, that's it for today.

When I get back, I will report this to His Majesty.

Take care, Eldest Princess.

When you are free, think about

how you'll explain to His Majesty

where this child in your belly came from.

Your Highness, Mr. Shen is here.

You're finally here.

-Come with me to see His Majesty. -See His Majesty?

That's the last thing we should do now.

Why?

Do you know that Consort Li just came by?

Do you know how she threatened me?

Consort Li?

By now, the Emperor should know

that I'm pregnant.

If you don't become my Prince Consort, how will I explain who the father

of this child is?

Consort Li?

Isn't she on Your Highness's side?

What do you care about Consort Li? She is just a dog.

She will side with whoever gives her a bone.

At this point, what…

What are you hesitating about?

What do you want?

Doesn't Your Highness think something is fishy?

Lately, it feels as if someone

is pulling the strings behind the scenes with what's happening.

What do you mean?

The news of Your Highness's pregnancy was leaked immediately.

It spread from the streets

and even reached the Imperial Court.

Later on, Consort Li brought an imperial physician here

in the name of clearing up the rumor.

If no one is behind all this,

how could everything develop so fast?

Who did it?

Consort Li? Xue Fangfei?

Or Xiao Heng?

Are they in cahoots? What are they trying to do?

Your Highness, please calm down a bit.

No matter who is behind this,

we just need to figure out their intentions

to be free from their control.

What do you think their intentions are?

I think they want us

to admit our relationship

and use it to accuse you and me of having an affair.

They're plotting to disgrace both of us,

so they can investigate the Xue family murder case.

They can't get to the bottom

of the Xue family's case so easily.

Why should we care?

The Xue family's case is insignificant, but what about Prince Cheng?

Prince Cheng will soon arrive in the capital.

At this critical moment,

if something happens to Your Highness right now,

we'll be giving people a hold on Prince Cheng.

My brother.

When Prince Cheng succeeds and becomes the emperor,

no one can question our relationship.

The two of us can have many more children.

Shen Yurong!

Do you know

how difficult it is for me

to get pregnant with this child?

I'm telling you, even if we must both sacrifice,

I must keep him!

If so, is Your Highness willing to be aggrieved?

Do you have a way to keep him?

Promise me.

There is a way.

But Wanning,

I don't want you to do it.

What kind of grievance will I suffer?

The father of this child can only be…

Li Jin.

What did you say?

This is the only way to keep the child.

This is your child, Shen Yurong.

I understand, but to keep this child,

we must make people believe that there is a reasonable father.

In the entire Imperial Court,

the only one who matches your status

and is willing to listen to Your Highness

is Chancellor Li.

The Li family has two sons.

Li Lian became a monk. Li Jin is unmarried.

He is the best candidate.

That's the only place where you can safely have your pregnancy.

For the sake of our child,

let's bear with this for a while.

After the child is born,

I'm sure Prince Cheng would have already succeeded.

By then, you can just find a reason to divorce him.

We can still be together.

In this way, the ones who want to destroy us

won't have a chance to do so.

Shen Yurong.

You said these things

since you don't want to be my Prince Consort,

right?

It's not a pity for me to die.

I will be with Your Highness

in whatever you choose to do.

Don't touch me.

Don't touch me!

You are forcing me to do this.

You know it.

You know everything.

Father, you mean

you want me to be the Eldest Princess' Prince Consort?

Is there a problem?

Have you heard

the rumors about the Eldest Princess?

A little.

The Li family isn't some humble family.

How can a child of unknown origin

be the first grandchild of the Li family?

I know this is not easy for you.

But this is also an opportunity for you to make amends.

The Eldest Princess' backer is Prince Cheng.

Father, have you thought about this?

If the child is born, all is well.

But if something happens to it in the Li family,

I'm afraid all of us will be implicated!

Of course I know what is at stake.

But this is the will of the Eldest Princess.

The Li family can't refuse it.

Jin'er, if the Eldest Princess can marry into our family,

it will be beneficial to our alliance with Prince Cheng.

You are a smart person.

You should understand why we must do this.

My lady, I just heard from a servant

that the Eldest Princess is going to marry into the Li family.

The Li family?

Really?

How about I go to the market and ask around?

All right.

Nice one, Shen Yurong.

I have underestimated your cunningness.