Original subtitles

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

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION

Pei Wenxuan,

it was you who personally presented your beloved to Chuan.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Take it easy.

Your Highness.

Ever since then, from the Crown Prince to the Emperor,

Chuan has always favored her greatly,

and she, in turn, has not failed his love.

Even when Chuan was imprisoned later on,

she fought her way out alone with just a sword,

evading pursuers, climbing snow-covered mountains,

journeying to the northern border, and returning with reinforcements.

In the palace, when greatly favored by the Emperor…

one not only receives love,

but also face danger.

Two years after Chuan ascended the throne,

she gave birth to Li Ping,

but shortly afterward,

she died in the palace.

Your Highnesses,

His Majesty has not eaten or drunk anything for several days now.

Chuan, you should always prioritize state affairs

and avoid being too emotional.

Your Majesty.

-Go away! -Your Majesty, please don't be like this.

You may all leave now.

Calm down.

Qin Zhenzhen has already left us.

Li Rong.

Zhenzhen has passed away.

I know.

Chuan, let her rest in peace.

Li Rong…

could we bury Zhenzhen with the honors of an empress

and bury her in my imperial tomb?

Your Highness.

Let's follow His Majesty's wish.

Chuan has changed drastically from then on,

becoming more and more ruthless.

The Crown Prince,

once renowned for his kindness and virtue in his youth,

has gradually stepped onto a path similar to that of Father,

resorting to militarism,

exploiting the common people,

and indulging in self-destructive behavior.

Our paths have diverged as he distances from me.

So this time,

I suppose you won't allow her to enter the palace again, right?

Why don't you say anything?

It's up to you.

You mean…

if I ask you to intervene, you will.

And if I don't want you to,

you won't?

Yes.

What's this supposed to mean?

I shouldn't have interfered back then and I shouldn't now.

Everyone has their own web,

and this web can entangle others

if what they do exceeds their limits.

Any slight leaning toward one side

causes pain to those on the other.

She should take responsibility for her own life,

and outsiders' meddling is not a good thing.

Besides,

I have my responsibilities.

Now that I have agreed to marry you,

I will restrain myself according to a husband's code of conduct.

Until the end of our contract?

Maybe.

If you had this insight earlier,

maybe we could have grown old together.

Well, with your 40 years of life experience

and your current looks,

maybe many young women

would be attracted to you if you went out now.

Li Rong, be honest with me.

What did you think of me back then?

Actually, back then,

you were a good person.

You were just too stubborn and couldn't stop overthinking.

What made you say that?

Back then, you promised to take care of Qin Zhenzhen

and held yourself to the principle that a gentleman's word is his bond.

No matter the circumstances, you were determined to help her.

You also thought you had feelings for her,

but then you suddenly fell for me,

which caused an internal struggle,

making you question yourself about how you could be so fickle.

So,

your intentions were not bad, you just always overthought everything.

Are you saying that back then,

you already knew I had feelings for you?

What else could it be?

If you didn't, why would you treat me so well?

Back then, I was just thin-skinned.

I felt you liked me

but wasn't sure.

Besides, who could resist my charm?

What? Am I wrong?

Not exactly wrong.

It's just that besides not wanting to admit

that I could quickly fall for someone else,

there was another reason.

What reason?

I thought…

if I was falling for you

it would mean bowing down to imperial power.

If I admitted I liked you…

it would feel like a form of surrender.

Li Rong,

I couldn't see myself clearly back then.

Since you understood everything so well,

why didn't you wait for me?

What you said is ridiculous.

I'm not a junk collector. Why should I wait for you?

Can you please

be a bit gentler with your words?

So here's the thing.

In my entire life,

I've never truly hated Qin Zhenzhen.

If a woman

hates her romantic rival,

it can only be because

she feels that she doesn't stand a chance in the competition for affection.

Thus, she wishes her rival to be as repulsive as possible,

believing her beloved must be blind.

But I don't need such consolation.

I, Li Rong,

born of noble blood with imperial lineage, though not strikingly beautiful,

hold renown in the capital.

I'm intelligent, well-educated, and well-versed in etiquette.

Wealth and power are but embellishments to me.

For a woman like me,

the question shouldn't be why I didn't wait for you,

but rather

why I should.

Even if you are handsome,

I wouldn't allow myself to be so blindly infatuated.

You should know

that some wounds, once inflicted,

are hard to heal.

Especially since I was born into royalty,

I have stringent demands

for fidelity.

HANQIU PALACE

The foreign enemy's huge army is coming,

yet the Yang Family insists on disarming and returning to the capital.

They clearly intend to embarrass me.

Your Majesty,

the actions of the Yang Family are indeed inappropriate.

If they withdraw their troops, which of you, my dear ministers,

is willing to step forward and fight for me?

Crown Prince, can you?

-I-- -Your Majesty,

currently, our troops are facing successive defeats and the morale is low.

The Crown Prince is young and lacks practical combat experience.

Sending him to the front lines

will not only fail to win the trust of the soldiers

but may burden us further.

I am asking the Crown Prince.

Are you the Crown Prince?

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

Crown Prince, answer me.

I…

My knowledge of military matters is limited,

so I'm afraid that I can't handle such a task.

If you can't handle such a task,

then I think you should no longer be the Crown Prince.

Father is pressuring me.

Uncle.

Chuan.

I'm heading to a battle without any soldiers or funds.

Can you provide some assistance?

Your Highness, you may be unaware

that if you go to the front lines now and achieve victory,

His Majesty will ensure Prince Su claims military exploit.

Xiao Su is already stationed at the border,

and your involvement would benefit him.

However, should you fail,

His Majesty might not put you in a very important position again.

So, whether it's a victory or failure, it now presents a crucial opportunity

for Prince Su and his followers to ascend,

while for us,

it poses only risks with no benefits.

Given both choices are undesirable, I have no choice but to go.

And I must win the battle.

This is our best option.

Your Highness, you are right.

The Shangguan Family and Your Highness are in the same boat.

We will surely lend our full support.

Thank you, uncle.

Lin, we're here.

-Greetings, Mr. Qin. -Please don't.

Your Highness, this makes us uneasy.

I'm thanking you both, on behalf of the soldiers guarding the border

and the people of the Great Xia, for coming down the mountain to help.

With your talents as commanders,

this recognition is well deserved.

I am flattered.

I heard Your Highness is setting out for battle tomorrow.

Do you have any arrangements for the two of us?

Wait a minute.

Are you just going to stand here

and discuss things like this?

Thanks for reminding me, Zhenzhen.

My bad.

Your Highness, please.

Please.

I have yet to thank you for your help.

By the looks of it, everything is in place now?

Yes. I'll set off tomorrow.

So soon?

This is…

This sword is named Zhilan.

It was forged by my father and me back in the day.

Now, I give this sword to you, Your Highness,

hoping that you can use it

to fulfill your and my father's wishes

and bring about a peaceful and prosperous world.

The ancients said that true friendships are like the orchid.

I will not disappoint your expectations, even if it means dying on the battlefield.

What I wish to see is a hero,

not a martyr.

I hope that Your Highness, while protecting thousands of people,

you can also take care of yourself.

Otherwise, everything will be in vain.

You both must return alive.

But we have no swords.

Didn't His Highness give you anything in return?

I…

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

Rong, when did you start doing exercises for wellness?

I can even perform the Five Animals Frolics.

Watch closely now.

Don't laugh.

No, I mean when did you start learning the things

that the Grand Empress Dowager likes to do.

Fine, it's never too early to start exercising to keep fit.

You're doing a good job.

I just felt

that it was too stuffy inside the prison, so I came out to get some fresh air.

So?

Is there anything you'd like to tell me?

Father issued a decree today,

appointing me to oversee military affairs in the Northwest.

Is that person going?

He already set off. They split into two groups for the trip.

I've secretly prepared their undercover identities.

Good.

Once you arrive, find the Yang Family's account books immediately.

Got it.

Don't worry, I'll handle things here.

Does Pei Wenxuan treat you well?

If he doesn't treat you well while I'm away…

I don't need him to treat me well.

I can take care of myself.

Don't worry and don't waste any more time. Hurry up and go.

If I don't make it back, you…

Don't you say that.

You will definitely make it back.

I've got your back

and I'll always protect you…

no matter what happens.

Do you believe in me?

I do believe in you.

Wait for me to come back.

After I return, I'll protect you.

Okay, I'll wait for you to protect me.

Go now.

-I'm leaving. -Go.

Miss Qin,

Mr. Qin and Mr. Cui have already set out with the vanguard.

I know.

When I bid them farewell earlier,

they told me that you had urgent matters to discuss with me.

I have something to give you.

What is it?

I made this lantern personally.

I also just recently caught

the fireflies inside.

This is for you.

Thank you.

Your Highness, you must stay safe.

You must return home safely.

I'll return home safely.

Your Highness.

Raise your heads.

Where is Rong Hua?

Still not found?

Loafing around and engaging in gambling activities,

it's truly a disgrace!

How infuriating.

Father,

calm down.

Your brother doesn't look like a gentleman from a noble family at all.

Father.

Brother enjoys a carefree life.

You should let him be.

If you don't mind, you can rely on me whenever something important comes up.

I am willing to do everything I can to assist you

and ready share your burdens.

If only your elder brother had half of your qualities.

Father, you shouldn't say that.

My elder brother and I have different aspirations.

I only wish for peace and happiness for our family,

with each person living their preferred life

and having their dreams come true.

Recently, you seem quite preoccupied with Princess Pingyue's affairs.

I understand what's on your mind,

but currently, His Majesty's suspicions towards the noble families

led him to appoint those four people for the Princess to choose.

Father, things are achieved through hard work. No need to rush anything.

I know what I'm doing.

Good.

That's good.

You've always been a sensible child who knows your limits

and understands when to advance and when to retreat.

These days, Tuoba Yan seems to have disappeared from the world.

We've searched all over Huajing,

but there's no trace of him.

Useless.

All of you are useless.

Now that Li Chuan has gone to the front lines

to supervise the troops,

and Li Rong's case remains undecided,

His Majesty is probably determined

to completely eradicate my Yang Family.

Your Highness,

if that is the case, why not send a word to Master

and ensure that the Crown Prince never returns from the battlefield?

CITY LORD'S MANSION

His Highness is weary from the trip.

You may all leave now.

-Yes. -Yes.

Your Highness, we are about to take over control from the Yang Family.

What are your plans moving forward?

Of course, we must fight the enemy troops before capturing the Yang Family.

However, the Yang Family is cunning.

I'm unsure how to get something I can use against them.

In my opinion,

we should wait for them to fall into our trap.

Since the Yang Family is collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country,

we might as well use their own tactics against them.

Uncle, after careful consideration,

I think I should go back with you.

No, you must stay here.

Since the Emperor has sent the Crown Prince over,

that means he wants to help Xiao Su in taking over the Northwest.

Our Yang Family is probably in great danger.

That's why I need you to stay here

and have the Crown Prince taken out by the enemy forces.

The Great Xia actually sent an inexperienced young lad like you here?

-Stop gibbering. -General Qin.

Kill him.

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

Your Highness, His Highness dealt

a heavy blow to the enemy in his first battle,

annihilating thousands of them and achieving a complete victory.

Aren't you happy for His Highness?

No, I am very happy.

Your Highness,

this is a popular novel of late.

You can read it later.

Also, I've prepared some refreshments for you.

I'll leave them here.

Your Highness, if there's nothing else,

I'll take my leave.

Mr. Su.

Thank you.

Why so generous today?

No snarky remarks?

I'm busy. I have no time for that.

I have some refreshments here.

But I guess you probably won't have time to eat them.

-Heed my command. -Kill!

-Kill! -Kill!

Report.

Your Majesty, the frontier reports

that His Highness has stabilized the front lines.

That's great.

HANYU PASS

Charge!

-Charge! -Charge!

Report.

His Highness pursued the enemies for almost 500 kilometers,

conquered three cities in a row, and achieved a complete victory.

Great.

Wonderful news!

Follow me.

The goods are here, but where's the money?

That's my question.

Where's the money that was paid for with the blood of our fellow countrymen?

You're from the Great Xia.

Take them down!

All of you, stop!

How dare you! We are the Yang Family.

I am the Crown Prince of the Great Xia, heir to the throne.

The Yang Family sells weapons privately,

colludes with enemies, and commits treason.

The evidence is conclusive.

Take them back to Huajing immediately so they can stand trial.

Have you finalized the list for rewards?

Yes.

Some are loyal to the noble families.

Some to His Majesty,

and some are just pawns used by His Majesty as diversions.

All right,

list them together and send them to the capital

to seek rewards from His Majesty.

Yes, Your Highness.

Make way.

CENSORATE

Please make way.

Tuoba Yan?

I thought he was dead.

Who are you?

Why are you beating the drum? What is the matter?

I am Tuoba Yan,

I'm here to accuse the Yang Family

of embezzlement, abuse of power, treason,

framing innocent civilians, and ordering assassinations.

Come on. Let's go in.

Look at this Crown Prince.

After just a few victories, he thinks he's invincible.

Gathering support and forming factions,

he even dares to seek rewards.

He sure is my good son.

With frequent reports of victories from the border,

seeking rewards now

is a common practice to boost the morale of the troops.

Your Majesty, please do not be angered and harm your health.

Pei Wenxuan.

Wake up.

Time to get moving and get to work.

Your Highness,

His Majesty requests you and Mr. Pei to enter the palace

to assist with the investigation.

Your Highness, I have brought your attendants to serve you.

May they come in?

Mr. Su, that's very considerate of you.

They can come in.

Mr. Zhao.

His Majesty has decreed that Mr. Pei can have an audience directly.

Judging by Pei Wenxuan's expression,

he's likely up to something.

Your Highness, is there nothing you would like to say to me?

No, I'm not interested.

But I have a few words to say to you, Your Highness.

I knew it.

Go ahead then, or you might go crazy.

I really am going crazy.

Maybe you should remain quiet for a little longer.

I think Su Rong Qing has ulterior motives towards you.

Is that so? That makes me happy then.

Li Rong, I'm not joking.

Don't you think Su Rong Qing is being overly friendly towards you?

That day at Tuoba Yan's mansion,

he even pretended to be drunk and asked if you'd choose him.

Don't you find it strange?

Pei Wenxuan, do you know what the greatest difference

between you and Su Rong Qing is?

He is more ruthless than you.

Family, honor, and legacy.

These are the lifelong burdens he carries.

Faced with such a burden,

he has been taught from childhood to exercise restraint,

remain calm, endure pain,

and not exhibit the emotions you might anticipate.

Li Rong,

after all these years,

you're still so adorable.

-Greetings, -Greetings,

-Father. -Your Majesty.

You may rise.

-Thank you, Father. -Thank you, Your Majesty.

Pingyue.

Pei Wenxuan.

Yes, Your Majesty.

A few days ago,

someone accused you of murdering the wealthy merchant Tuoba Yan.

However, recently, Tuoba Yan appeared alive

and went to the Censorate to file a complaint,

alleging that the Yang Family had sent people to assassinate him.

Do you know much about the details of this case?

After, a thorough investigation of the Yang Family,

someone covertly wrote a letter

mentioning that the Yang Family has been colluding with the enemy

-and betraying the country for many years. -That's complete nonsense.

But the secret letter also states

that to secure their own status, the Yang Family

had long ago reached agreements with foreign enemies.

Over the years, most of the reports of victories, big and small,

were actually deals where the enemy took money

and put on acts in collusion with the Yang Family.

-How dare you! -Kneel!

Father.

I heard that in Huajing,

there is a foreign merchant named Tuoba Yan

who has repeatedly purchased cultural relics from the Yang Family.

Upon investigation,

it was discovered that the relics sold to Tuoba Yan by the Yang Family

were priced far above market price,

showing that they are not normal transactions.

It seems this matter reached the ears of Consort Ning,

prompting them to eliminate evidence

by murdering Tuoba Yan and framing me and Mr. Pei.

Meanwhile, Yang Ye,

upon learning that his family members in his mansion were trapped,

devised a plan to assassinate the frontline commander

and then submitted his resignation to threaten you, Your Majesty.

You're talking nonsense!

Nonsense?

Let me ask you then, Mr. Yang.

In the enemy camp, swords are mostly made of bronze,

but why are there reports indicating

that they have a large number of weapons of the Great Xia during the attack?

Your Majesty, please take a look.

Your Majesty,

the account books in the past ten years from the Northwest front lines,

the Ministry of War's account books, and Tuoba Yan's records

have all been reconciled.

Coupled with Tuoba Yan and others' testimony,

it's sufficient to prove that over the years, the Yang Family,

disregarding both you and the welfare of the people,

colluded with the enemy to deceive our country.

For such grave crimes, the Yang Family cannot be allowed to remain.

Yang Ye, do you have anything else to say?

Whatever Your Majesty says…

that's what it is.

Consort Ning,

how about you?

With things having come to this point,

what's the point of you asking these questions, Your Majesty?

Whether the Yang Family is guilty or not is entirely your decision.

When you needed the Yang Family,

they would fight wars at the borders for half their lives.

Now, when you find the Yang Family in your way

and wish to support Prince Su, you're accusing the Yang Family

of colluding with the enemy and deceiving the Emperor.

Ridiculous.

It's utterly ridiculous!

How dare you, Yang Wan!

So you still remember that my name is Yang Wan?

The Yang Family has achieved great military feats,

and I, Yang Wan, am renowned

as a loyal and heroic woman in the country.

Yet, now…

my kin and I have become your cast-offs.

Back then, my family and I must have been blind to choose you!

How presumptuous!

I'm presumptuous?

You have driven me into a corner

and won't allow me to be presumptuous?

Let me tell you all.

The fate of my Yang Family today will be yours tomorrow.

Get this mad woman out of here!

Li Rong, you fool.

He has long wanted to depose Li Chuan.

None of the men he recommended for your marriage is good.

He wishes you dead

and wants to marry you off to a distant land!

Yet you still respect him and love him.

You can't see through your heartless father.

Kill her.

Kill her!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

May your Li Family all die miserable deaths!

I'll kill you.

Wan!

Let go of me!

-Take her out. -Let go!

Wait.

Father, please ask them to bring a stretcher and a white cloth.

Let's at least save her some decency.

Yang Ye,

do you plead guilty?

I…

plead guilty.

Take the entire Yang Family into custody

and transfer them to the Ministry of Justice.

Considering their ancestors' merits, they shall be granted a dignified death.

They shall drink the poisoned alcohol.

Thank you.

Your Majesty.

Don't move!

Do you know what you are doing?

It's not easy to be someone else's sword.

General Yang.

Do you know what you're doing?

I've read the poems from your youth where you vividly described

leading troops on a white horse and wielding your sword northward

to sweep through Tian Pass and repay the nation's grace.

Do you still remember?

So, someone still remembers these.

One person alone cannot clean up the muddied waters.

Officials protect each other and their relationships are complex.

Mr. Pei, you come from a humble background.

The Pei Family has worked for generations to reach where they are today.

You understand this truth better than I do.

It's reasonable to have soaring aspirations at a young age,

but in the end,

we often find…

that the words of the elders hold true.

Mr. Pei, let's part ways here.

There will come a day when you will understand

the meaning of my words.

What's the point of talking

to a dying man?

Only a dying person

will tell you why they are dying.

You will then know

how to avoid dying like that

and how to help others

avoid dying like that.