Original subtitles

ADAPTED FROM MO SHUBAI'S NOVEL, THE GRAND PRINCESS ON JJWXC.NET

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION

Let me ask you again.

Why did you stop me

from choosing other men?

I…

-I-- -Because you feel guilty

of what you did to me.

So as you…

It seems that Heaven wants you to suffer too,

you ungrateful cheat.

So you've fallen into my hands once again.

What? You're scared to admit it?

Right,

I feel guilty towards you,

but don't you feel the same way too?

We've been arguing over those petty things

for the past twenty years.

Just answer this.

Why did you come here today?

To glance at your eighteen-year-old self.

Just that?

What else do you think?

Perhaps,

to lend a hand to you again.

You did a great job.

You narrowed down the choices from Father to none but yourself.

I shouldn't meddled in your affairs,

but I sincerely hope in the future, you'll live a happy life.

This wish

stand still all the time.

Your way to help me live happy is…

I killed him.

We're even now.

I never imagined

this would happen.

What should we do?

Every option we have can have an unknown outcome.

But since we known each other,

Let me marry you, Your Highness.

Maybe one day,

once you're free, you can make another choice.

Wenxuan,

I was given a second chance by Heaven,

I don't want to live like I used to and give my heart to the wrong person,

and get caught up in endless schemes, and end up being alone.

If I'm going to be with you again,

it will be just like before.

If we choose the same path,

we will have only one ally.

Then are we going to deceive each other again?

We do both know,

in the court,

that the power we have is more important,

than our spouses or kin.

Yet,

at the height of it,

as we walk alone in this world,

we're looking for simple joys and a happy life.

We both

stand at the pinnacle before.

Now tell me.

What's the difference…

between being a loner…

and a lone ghost?

It looks like it's about to rain.

Bring some umbrellas now.

All right.

Your Highness,

the eunuch says,

it's time to finish this now.

Tell him I'm not feeling well.

Go there and accompany the guests for me.

Yes.

I'm sick of this life.

Well,

do you still think I should marry you

and continue living this life?

In this arranged marriage,

either one of us has a choice.

We're just both power hunger.

To be honest,

we don't have feelings for each other.

Qin Zhenzhen help us,

to know each other better.

You love someone but you never made it clear.

Now that I know,

it's okay.

After all, I can love someone too.

Since, we're talking about it,

why you didn't tell me sooner?

Listen.

Things will be the same for us in the future.

But let me remind you,

I'm no longer your wife.

And you're no longer my husband.

We'll live our lives separately and enjoy every moment of it.

But promise me one thing,

as allies,

we will never betray each other.

How about that?

Answer me.

Answer me, Wenxuan.

If you remain silent,

it means, you still have feelings for me.

But if you do have feelings for me

and still meddle with her affairs,

that makes me sick.

We shouldn't get married.

I will ask for Father's permission,

for us to get divorce now.

Why are we doing this?

Then what do you want?

As allies,

you should know,

that divorce isn't good for either of us.

From now on,

let's just live our lives separately

as husband and wife.

And as allies, we will never betray each other.

-Whoever betrays-- -Will die a miserable death.

Indeed,

we were both punished.

It looks like,

nothing can be hidden from you.

The grudges of the past are too tangled to clear up.

I really don't want to bother you.

But thinking we were once together,

and might never see each other again,

I came to see you.

I didn't expect

that I might overstep my boundaries.

You're being ridiculous.

Do you think

I couldn't get married because you interfered?

Or…

You wanted to know if those men are good enough for me.

Unexpectedly, Su Rongqing alone…

made you really uncomfortable.

You must be kidding, Your Highness.

Why would I?

After being minister for so long,

you even dare to fight for the succession.

What's stopping you now?

No need to me anymore.

You must carefully think especially as to what's happening,

if not me,

who are you going to choose as your husband to protect you?

Drop the act.

It seems you've already prepared a pretext.

Given the current situation, His Majesty has doubts.

Choosing a man from a noble family to marry you,

might provoke His Majesty.

But once the Crown Prince ascends to the throne,

you don't need to worry your future.

By that time,

you and Mr. Su can get back together.

So,

the most important thing now is to ensure the safety of Crown Prince.

Your Majesty.

Mother.

Mother.

Do you know what kind of men Father picked for Rong?

SHANGGUAN YUE, EMPRESS

They're either rough and reckless

or scholars from humble backgrounds.

Apart from that, there's an idiot and a playboy.

Father doesn't take this seriously.

Why don't you find a good husband for Rong?

Your father has always been wary of you.

Do you know why?

Why?

Because the Shangguan Family

is the most powerful noble family now.

What your father truly fears

is the Shangguan Family behind you.

If Rong were to marry into another noble family,

who could stop

both of you in the future?

During the founding of our nation,

the royal family needed the backing of the noble families.

But now, the nation is stable,

the noble families

become the greatest threat to the imperial power.

You have to choose between your position as the Crown Prince

and Rong's happiness.

I understand what you're saying,

but

if my position as the Crown Prince

comes at the cost of Rong's lifelong happiness,

then I will denounce it.

What the hell are you talking about?

You think you have a say in this?

You're immutably of royal and noble blood.

Even if you detest it,

you can't go against your backers' will.

This matter

is beyond our power.

But among Cui Yulang, Yang Quan,

and Lu Yu,

Cui Yulang comes from humble beginnings,

so marrying him will be useless.

Besides, he's dissolute and loves writing poetry,

which will work against him.

If you marry him,

the Crown Prince will be in trouble.

Speaking of the Yang Family, they are too powerful.

Yang Quan is quite stubborn and aggressive.

At this moment,

His Majesty's intention to set you up to Yang Quan

is actually a move

against the Yang Family.

If you marry Yang Quan now,

His Majesty will make his move soon after.

By then,

you will inevitably be implicated,

as well as the Crown Prince.

Definitely,

from what I saw today,

Yang Quan is nothing but a brute.

But I think

Marquis Lu Yu can be a good match.

Marquis Ningguo was His Majesty's reading partner back then

and even took an arrow for His Majesty.

His Majesty values others' kindness.

So I believe

it would be beneficial

if you will marry Lu Yu.

Besides,

Marquis Ningguo is a reliable man,

while Lu Yu is a simple-minded shut-in.

He may not be a good husband,

but at least he won't hold the Crown Prince back.

More importantly,

he's ill.

In his current condition,

he probably have couple of years left.

But

I am worried.

That if you're going to marry him,

you'll be the laughingstock in the palace,

and I think, I cannot stand it.

You're being thoughtful now.

If I can endure those mockery

and marry him like you said,

once he passes away and Chuan ascends to the throne,

-could I get remarried? -Exactly.

You meticulously planned everything.

If I don't marry you and have a way out,

then what about you?

You don't have to worry about me.

I have my way.

Well then, Mr. Pei, you're certainly a man of character.

In that case, you can leave now. It's getting late.

If you don't leave soon and carriage will be muddy,

you'll get an earful from the butler.

I've been wanting to leave.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Bastard.

Wait.

In the past,

we have different positions

and it's hard to tell who's right and wrong.

Whether this is a dream or a reality,

since Heaven gives us a chance to start over again…

Let's not see each other

from now on.

We shall live our own lives.

Yes, this is my last time…

I am seeing you, Your Highness.

From now on,

let's go our separate ways.

We will never meet again.

And we will find our happiness.

Hold on.

Didn't we agree

to eat it after playing?

Satisfied?

Enough?

Enough.

We're even now.

Prepare some silver taels and ginger soup now.

Get some anti-itch powder

and prepare a cloak too.

Give it to him right away.

Yes.

This is the final gesture of respect I will give you.

From now on,

you have to rely on yourself.

Young Master, you're here now.

Stand there.

What a nice outfit. It must be costly.

Anyway, if the carriage is not returned on time,

it will cost us extra money.

You're having rashes.

Did you eat citrons?

You can't eat that. It causes trouble if you eat too much.

Young Master Pei, please wait.

It's cold and rainy today.

Her Highness asked me

to make you ginger soup and anti-itch powder.

Thank you.

Please send my gratitude to Her Highness.

Thank you.

Miss.

Please send this message to Her Highness.

Just say,

"Goodbye. Please take good care of herself."

One more thing.

Remind Her Highness

to be careful and don't make any bold moves.

All right.

Please make sure to send the messages. Thank you.

Let's go, Young Master.

Please.

You're quite impressive.

The Princess rewarded you too.

It's just a shame it's not silver taels.

Hold it properly, Young Master.

It can be useful if she gives us some silver taels.

You know nothing at all.

That's true.

But at least I know

we'll have to pay if we don't return the carriage.

Sit still.

He said that?

I don't need his concern.

He is a mere eighth-ranking official,

and he's worse off than I am.

The only person I know

who is evenly matched with me in agame

is Pei Wenxuan.

Our matches are thrilling.

Others aren't as skillful as him,

and Su Rongqing always lets me win on purpose.

But Wenxuan, that bastard,

is bold and fierce.

From now on,

no one can play a thrilling and satisfying game of weiqi with me.

Don't hold back.

Treat it as it's real.

Young Master, she's still a princess.

Are we really going to…

Even if we don't kidnap the Princess,

His Majesty won't spare us.

Don't be naive.

My sister already sent me a letter.

We only have ourselves now.

To be Princess's husband

and allied with the Crown Prince,

is the way to save my life.

Do you have a strong plan?

First, we pretend to kidnap the Princess.

Then, at the crucial moment,

I'll going to save her.

After that…

We're spending the night together…

His Majesty values reputation.

He will betroth Li Rong to me

even if she refuses.

There's no one else in the world

who would care so much about my pitiful dignity.

What's going on?

Young Master, something's off.

I saw… Silver taels!

Just talk.

I saw several men just passed by.

The horses they were riding looked like war horses.

War horses?

Think about it, in the dead of the night,

who dares to ride war horses in the capital?

The Yang Family.

Oh, no.

They're heading in the direction to the Princess's residence.

Yang Quan was so forward with the Princess at the Spring Banquet.

He seems determined to be her consort.

It's an insurgency.

Hurry to the palace

and report that Princess Pingyue is being targeted.

-Yes. -Get her reinforcements.

I'll go now.

Wait! And you?

I must go back to the Princess.

-Hurry. -But it's dangerous. You--

-We don't have time. -Listen to me, if--

Hurry to the palace.

-Be safe. -Okay.

All right. Take care of the silver taels.

Yang Quan's men might have already surrounded her place.

Even if I rush back, I might not be able to get in.

According to Li Rong's travel habits back then,

the Empress would send at least 20 secret guards to her.

Together with her entourage,

there should be over a hundred people.

It won't be hard for Li Rong to escape.

What I can do

is stop the Yang Family from going after her.

You found people ambushing outside?

It's a good number of them.

But they don't seem to be usual martial artists.

How come?

Their hiding techniques

are far different from the ones we know.

It's the Yang Family.

That isn't Princess that's coming out.

How do you know?

Your Highness, we're ready to leave.

I'm about to finish reading.

Your Highness, the ambushers haven't make their moves.

Really?

I was wondering

why Yang Quan dared

to kidnap me

without fearing any problems.

It turns out that we have mole.

-Your Highness, forgive us. -Your Highness, forgive us.

Stand.

Jinglan.

Let's change our clothes.

Take some men and use the back door.

Circle around the back mountain

and stay away from the main road.

When you leave, make sure to do it quickly.

Don't get caught.

That's Li Rong's carriage.

She managed to escape.

But I'm worried that Yang Quan's men will catch up soon.

-Capture her alive! -Protect the Princess!

General, there are people who just rushed out the gate.

She tricked us again.

Follow them on the main road, now!

Your Highness!

Your Highness?

Let's go.

Your Highness!

Li Rong,

please, wake up.

You can't just pass out like this.

I was about to help you, but I was wrong.

You just started your new life.

You can't end up like this.

Li Rong, wake up!

Li Rong! Li Rong!

No one's riding it.

She tricked us.

Follow them that way!

Yes, sir.

The Princess has left.

Hold them off.

Wake up, Li Rong!

Oh my…

I just wanted see your eighteen-year-old youself,

but I can't control myself,

and now this is messy.

If you die,

I'll definitely feel guilty.

Li Rong, wake up!

Li Rong!

Help! Put me down!

-Stay still. -Put me down! Help!

It's me, Pei Wenxuan!

Stay still.

-Put me down! -Alright.

Why are you here?

We need to leave now.

Yang Quan's men are catching up.

We really need to hurry.

Halt!

Please, General, tell the Crown Prince

that Princess Pingyue is in trouble.

Wait.

Where exactly are we?

I was such in a rush that I didn't see where I was going.

This place

looks like a reed marsh.

I'm asking you how to get out.

It's obviously the reed marsh, isn't it?

I don't know the way either.

Forget it. Let's continue walking.

No, I can't walk anymore.

Wait, you…

Can't you get a hint?

I'm hurt and dizzy.

I'm not moving anymore.

Fine.

Your Highness,

may I carry you on my back?

Come on, Your Highness.

Don't worry. It's safe and steady.

Keep your balance.

Here we go!

Now, what?

Let's see if we can find water.

You know where to find water?

You don't know, right?

There's a way to find water.

Check the plants around and how dense they are,

how high the terrain is--

I didn't know that you're that smart.

You're such a spoiled princess,

who didn't need any kind of life skills.

Of course you wouldn't know.

I will just marry a woman from countryside

whom I share common knowledge.

It seems that my distinguished status bothers you, right?

Why not pursue being a farmer instead of working in a palace?

Li Rong, are you always that sarcastic?

No, I only save my sarcasm for you.

I think you often have an expressionless face,

and when you smile, it seems rather scheming.

You look better when you're mad.

You're still so presumptuous, even out here.

I'll just leave you here!

Let's see what you'd do when Yang Quan catches up.

Do you think that scares me?

He won't kill me.

And worst, he'll just force me into marriage.

I just didn't expect

that he will go this far.

To plant a spy in my place and set an ambush on the road.

He's audacious.

You still haven't told me why you're here.

I was…

-What? -I…

Wenxuan,

I like to ask you something.

Alright, I confess.

It was me, okay?

What did you do?

I can actually explain.

I was actually trying to help you.

Those traps--

They were for me.

Be honest. Are you here to seek out revenge?

I really wanted to help you.

Put me down.

Get away from me. I can kill you.

I was planning to use the trap to quietly hold off Yang Quan's men.

Who knew you'd show up like that?

Besides, who'd seek revenge in such a foolish manner?

Foolish?

You don't know what foolish means.

I think you're really cunning.

You feel trapped, with no way out,

and desperately want to marry me.

But you can't put aside your pride.

So you thought of a plan

to play the hero

and trick me into marrying you, right?

And you were saying

you only came to the banquet to see the eighteen-year-old me.

I bet you just can't stand seeing me marrying Rongqing.

-Like I care. -You do care.

Go ahead and marry him.

But if you--

My neck hurts because of you.

Li Rong, there's nothing going between us.

You can marry whoever you want--

Why did you act up at the Spring Banquet?

-Me, act up? -You're the one

who keeps dwelling on my status as princess?

Status? More like princess syndrome.

I'm a princess. What's wrong with that?

You're the most shameless and spineless toy boy I've ever met.

Have dare you to call me toy boy!

Isn't Su Rongqing a toy boy too?

Stop!

-Stop! -Hands off.

Li Rong, just think about it.

When have I ever relied on you?

When did you not rely on me?

That's mutual trust.

You moved me up ranks, I help your brother to the throne.

Besides,

who's being covering the expenses of Princess Royal's Mansion?

Well, I'm so grateful for that.

It was so generous of you to support the whole mansion.

But listen, Wenxuan,

don't forget where your salaries come from.

Because you are married to me.

If you weren't my husband,

do you think my brother will trust you?

Please, don't flatter yourself.

You're not covering my expenses.

You're buying resources from me.

I need to get resources from you?

Answer this.

Did you ever pay for using my informants and my intelligence network?

How about when you pressured others in my name

and asked me to persuade my brother?

Li Chuan never questioned you?

Who pleaded for you

when he suspected you and sent you back to your fief?

Li Chuan is still my brother. He won't anything to harm me.

But you, when he punished you by flogging,

who asked me to plead for you?

Why are you bringing this up?

All these years…

Never mind.

I'm tired. Go find us something to eat.

Then we can continue bickering.

What do you want to eat?

A feast.

A feast, seriously?

Just stay here.

I can't go any further.

You stay here.

Where are you going?

To find some hays and branches.

QIONGHUA PALACE

Consort Ning,

what are you implying?

I heard that Her Highness left her residence alone,

and now, her whereabouts are unknown.

It seems,

she isn't fond of the men His Majesty chose for her.

I've already sent people to look for her.

I'm afraid the Princess might stupidly make a misstep.

My daughter is the Princess.

Many are already concerned for her well-being,

so save yourself the trouble.

If my brother can't marry the Princess,

he can turn

to Princess Huayue.

Are you…

threatening me?

Your Majesty,

you don't need to be upsset.

Everyone knows

that the Emperor has always been wary of the Crown Prince.

We can actually say

that the Crown Prince is behind everything the Yang Family does

and plans to seize their military power,

what do you think…

His Majesty would do?

Since you're saying this casually,

I won't take it seriously.

I'll wait for the good news, Your Majesty.

Come on, sit here.

The ground is quite wet. Don't catch cold.

Sit on the grass

so it won't get blown away, or we can't start a fire.

You really don't know how to speak nicely, do you?

This is much better.

When he's not speaking,

he's quite good-looking.

Not bad.

You grill it yourself.

I don't know how.

Then you won't eat.

But I love grilled fish.

If you don't grill it for me,

I'll just snatch it from you.

You…

Fine, I'll grill this one for you first.

When did you get back?

About ten days ago. You?

Same.

How can this be?

Is this a dream?

I don't know.

I just remember

as I was dying,

I wondered

if we could stand above

and see our life's journey with an omniscient view,

maybe we would…

regret some things.

I didn't expect

that you actually tell me that.

Why would I hide anything?

You didn't hide it from me, either.

I'm not like you.

I've always been someone who owns up to what I do,

unlike you.

A despicable man.

Wait, you call me a despicable man?

It was you who ordered someone to kill me.

That's because you're the first one to break your promise.

You could kill me, why can't I do that?

When did I ever try to kill you?

Drop the act.

I did plant spies in your place,

but that was to guard against Su Rongqing.

Besides, if I really wanted to kill you,

I would have done it a long time ago.

When did you die?

I died on my way home after leaving your place

in Baiyi Alley.

It was a gruesome death.

-Crown Prince. -Hurry.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Rongqing, what are you doing here?

I received a report

that Princess Pingyue was kidnapped.

I wish to assist you in rescuing Her Highness.

There's no time to lose. Hurry.

Why do you think I killed you?

You poisoned me.

-When did I ever did that? -Poison of the Fragrant Beauty.

No, I didn't.

Alright, then answer my question.

Why did you carry a strange fragrance on you that day?

You don't usually wear sachets,

but you did that day. Why?

Then you talked to me about succession

and even threatened to kill me if I didn't agree.

I was furious at that time,

and I coughed really hard.

The poison kicked in once you left.

Yes, there is insufficient evidence,

but you had motives and abilities.

Besides, the evidence pointed at you.

Li Rong,

you just don't trust me.

Then explain

the strange fragrance on you.

I'm afraid,

that it might upset you.

Ridiculous!

Do you mean I, the Prince Consort,

can't enter the Princess Royal's Mansion?

Her Highness is very ill.

If you wish to visit,

you must wear a sachet.

Her Highness has been bedridden for days.

Everyone in the mansion must wear one,

and you…

You are no exception.

It's said the Poison of Fragrant Beauty

is triggered by contact with a different poison.

Perhaps, you were poisoned

a long time ago,

but the toxins hadn't kicked in.

The sachet that Su Rongqing gave me acted as a catalyst.

The strong scent on me

triggered the toxins in your body to take effect.

Moreover,

Rongqing prepared soup and medicine for you daily.

Wouldn't he have had more chances to harm you?

Forget it.

We still can't be sure if it was Su Rongqing.

What's important is, I didn't do this.

Don't pin this on me.

But I once

saved his life.

Your brother imprisoned the entire Su Family,

with men executed and women exiled.

Rongqing survived,

but your family

was the primary cause of his family's downfall.

Moreover,

although Rongqing managed to survive,

he was subjected to castration.

The Su Family in Huajing is ungrateful for His Majesty's mercy,

trying to plot a rebellion to overthrow the throne.

The evidence is clear.

All male members should be executed

while female members shoud be exiled

to serve in military labor.

Your Majesty, the Su Family has been a noble family for centuries.

They helped founded this kingdom.

If they're all exterminated,

wouldn't all the people be devastated?

As the Princess Royal,

I beg you to spare the Sus.

What a Princess Royal.

The Su Family planned to ally with the Empress, Shangguan Ya,

to help the Third Prince ascend to the throne.

They engaged in factionalism. This is treason!

-Your Majesty. -Have you gone mad, Princess Royal?

Are you seriously trying to defend traitors?

At least,

spare Su Rongqing.

He's sensible, modest, and would never involve himself in such matters.

As a member of the Su Family,

how could Rongqing be unaware of everything?

If he is spared,

it will lead to endless problems.

You have already annihilated the Su Family.

Now that you possess sovereignty,

why would you fear a single Su Rongqing?

Your Majesty,

from childhood,

I'll always supported you.

I've helped you in taking the throne and running the kingdom.

This is the first time I'm begging you.

Please, at least spare Su Rongqing.

Fine.

I can keep him alive,

but he can't escape his punishment.

Su Rongqing is subjected to castration.