Original subtitles

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

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION

Your Highness.

Ms. Qin.

You're here so early.

Is something the matter, Your Highness?

No.

I was taking a stroll and I found myself here before I knew it.

So I thought I should visit you.

It takes at least an hour to get to Jiulu Mountain

from the capital by a fast horse.

A mere stroll can't take you here.

I see dark circles around your eyes and your gait is weak.

It appears that you didn't sleep well at all.

Tell me. What's the matter?

None.

Did something happen to my brother at the border?

Not at all, Ms. Qin.

Don't worry.

It's my personal affair.

Phoenixes build homes in the imperial family.

It will still be flourishing in the fourth generation.

Your Highness, are you worried about the Crown Princess selection?

Are you overwhelmed by too many choices?

Stop mocking me.

I received an invitation several days ago.

It says Her Majesty will hold a banquet on the Double Seventh Festival,

where all unmarried noble ladies are invited.

Could it be related to this?

Will you be there?

Far be it for me to defy an imperial edict.

However,

I don't want to.

Life in the palace might be harsh on a woman,

but I believe that

though the road ahead may be difficult,

there's someone willing

to eliminate all the hardships

with you, Ms. Qin.

Together, you overcome difficulties and devote yourself to each other

like any ordinary couple does.

That only exists in novels.

In reality, life is long

and people may harbor evil in their hearts.

Women in the palace are like flowers in the four seasons.

One wilts as the other blooms.

They get replaced often.

Who's to say the flower won't lose its charm?

Who's to say the man won't lose himself amidst the temptations?

Besides,

some flowers only wish to live in nature,

freely wandering according to their own desires.

Your Highness, you're the Crown Prince.

You mustn't allow romance to distract you.

Come on.

Let me see if your swordsmanship has improved.

How thrilling.

The banquet is approaching.

You should head back, Your Highness.

Since you're attending it, Ms. Qin,

why don't we go together?

In this outfit?

That was a little abrupt of me.

You're a lady.

Of course, you'll want to dress up.

I'll take my leave.

Your Highness.

Do you believe in those ideals from the novels?

When there's a will, there's a way.

That's a good point.

I hope that you won't run away

when faced with challenges.

You have my words.

It's getting late.

You should go, Your Highness.

All right. See you at the palace.

See you.

Will you be different from those

who live in the palace?

What a great weather today.

Indeed.

We haven't had such great weather in so long.

What a great day to celebrate the Double Seventh Festival.

I, Shangguan Ya, show my greetings to you, Your Highness.

You may rise.

-Thank you, Your Highness. -Thank you, Your Highness.

Ya and I live in different places and we haven't seen each other for years.

I'd like to speak with her in private.

You won't mind, will you?

-No, Your Highness. -No, Your Highness.

Your Highness.

If you have anything to tell me,

just go ahead.

I was worried

you'd feel uneasy

and may say something about gambling.

I suppose I worried for nothing.

I appreciate your concerns.

You're so early today.

You too, Ya.

Have you heard about the nursery rhyme?

Yet you…

still want to join the harem?

You can lie to me

but not to yourself.

If you wish to know my stance,

I can tell you

that I don't want to stand there

and compete with other women

for the affection of one sole man on the throne.

Her Majesty is here.

Today is the Double Seventh Festival.

You were supposed to celebrate it with your family.

However,

I like the merriment of a crowd,

so I've invited all of you here.

Please have fun.

-Yes, Your Majesty. -Yes, Your Majesty.

Don't worry, Mother.

Young ladies are fond of gathering together.

It's our honor to be invited by you, Your Majesty.

I have discussed this with Her Majesty.

We'll introduce a new game today,

an incense-making contest.

Since it's a contest,

I'd like to suggest something, Your Majesty.

You may go ahead.

All the unmarried young ladies here will create their own incense,

which will be presented to His Majesty.

The top three will be awarded.

What do you think?

I'm married.

If I participate in this,

the nature of the contest will change.

Its outcome can't be used to select the future Crown Princess.

I beg to differ.

We're all attending this banquet.

Why is it that they can create incense and win prizes

but I can't?

I want to join too.

Rong,

today is the Double Seventh Festival.

You're married.

Don't join in.

Consort Rou proposed the contest,

which means that she must have persuaded Father

that the top three candidates

would be Chuan's primary and secondary consorts.

So Mother is planning to go with it?

Everyone is participating in it.

I won't make that much of an addition, will I?

Ms. Qin.

Do you not make incense?

It doesn't matter to me.

What a unique lady you are.

It seems that

Qin Zhenzhen doesn't want to become a consort at all.

She's indeed an innocent lady.

The banquet

is attended by important ministers and young officials.

Forsake the formalities.

Let's assess those incenses

and share ideas and experiences

about governance.

Feel free to speak your mind.

Your Majesty,

a nation only has hope and a future

if the imperial family has many descendants.

His Highness is almost 20 years old

and he should select his consorts.

You're right.

I've been thinking about this too.

Any suitable candidates?

Feel free to recommend them.

What is Her Majesty's plan?

The winner of the incense-making contest

will be the Crown Princess.

Don't worry.

Her Highness will help you.

I appreciate that.

Your Highness.

Mr. Shangguan.

I watched you grow up.

Please know

that no matter what,

your mother and I always want what's best for you.

I believe you know who to pick today.

Consort Rou wants Xiao Wei to win.

Mother wants Shangguan Ya to win.

There must be the name of the person

corresponding to the number of the sachet in the box.

If I were Consort Rou…

Time's up.

Ms. Qin,

my jade pendant fell on your seat.

Can you get it for me?

EIGHT

Why did you swap our sachets?

You said it didn't matter to you, didn't you?

You don't mind offering me some help, do you?

Well…

Ms. Qin, what incense is that?

It smells so unique.

Don't worry. I'm not trying to harm you.

You shouldn't swap my sachet.

Will you believe me

if I say I don't want to compete with other women

for a man?

But the incense you made…

Don't worry.

My incense won't be under my name.

Your incense won't be under your name either.

Fine.

I trust you.

SIX

Father doesn't care whom Chuan will marry

as long as it's not someone from a prestigious family

like Shangguan Ya or Su Rongwen.

He'll confer marriage on the spot

if Chuan picks a woman

from a second-tier noble family.

Qin Zhenzhen is the best candidate.

No, I have to stop this.

SANDALWOOD SACHET FROM NUMBER THREE

Send this to the Prince Consort.

Tell him to ask the Crown Prince to pick my white sandalwood.

She insisted on participating in the contest.

I knew it was odd.

Li Rong, you're shrewd.

The banquet isn't over.

Where are you going, Jinglan?

Pingyue.

You and your brother are always of one mind.

Whose incense do you think he'll choose?

Turn around.

Lift it.

EIGHT

FIVE

Since it's a banquet for the young,

in my opinion, to select the winner,

we should remove their names

and replace them with numbers.

The Crown Prince will select the winner of the contest.

The runners-up

will be chosen by everyone here.

What do you think?

NINE

This soothing incense has a very elegant scent.

It's remarkable.

What do you think, Your Highness?

SIX

I wonder who made Sachet Six.

She mixed lilies and roseleaf raspberries.

It's fragrant and refreshing.

This can make it to the top three.

I might even hold the opinion

that its owner

must be the winner.

Watch your mouth, Ronghua.

Ronghua, just write your opinion on the paper.

His Highness will make his own decision.

Don't worry.

We can all express and exchange our opinions.

Chuan.

Who do you think should be the winner?

Ya will make a sachet with lily incense tomorrow.

She'll mix lily flowers with roseleaf raspberry wine.

Upon mixing it, the floral scent will invade your nose.

Remember.

She must be the Crown Princess.

All sachets

are unique in their own right.

Why haven't I heard anything from Li Rong?

Did something bad happen?

SANDALWOOD

THREE

White sandalwood?

This must be Li Rong's.

It has been so many years

and she never forgets it.

I knew she would do something

for the Crown Princess selection.

Father.

I…

I…

I'd select

Sachet Three.

Third place, Sachet Eight.

Soothing incense by Shangguan Ya.

Second place, Sachet Six.

Lily incense by Qin Zhenzhen.

Ms. Qin made the lily sachet?

First place, Sachet Three.

Princess Pingyue, Li Rong.

Why is Pingyue in there?

Father, while Rong wasn't good at incense-making,

she has done an excellent job this time.

I hope that you can discard your prejudice against her.

You're right, Chuan.

I shouldn't underestimate her.

She should be awarded.

Bring them here.

Pingyue won?

Mother,

I should claim my award from Father.

How can this be, Mother?

Xiao Wei isn't within the top three.

My purpose

is to show His Majesty through this banquet

who is coveting the position of Crown Princess.

They all show themselves now.

Please wait here, Your Highness.

Do you know she replaced your sachet with hers?

Yes.

You won't tell anyone?

No.

Why not?

My sachet is empty.

If she wants to plot against me,

I can prove that the sachet isn't mine.

She said

she didn't want to compete with other women for one man.

I have the same opinion too.

You're lucky today

because you met me.

If it weren't for you, Ms. Shangguan,

I might not have offered my help.

Why are you so certain that she didn't lie?

My father told me

that to ascertain if someone is trustworthy,

it sufficed to look into her eyes.

What about me?

You're a kind person, Your Highness.

You're wrong.

She's an extremely cunning person.

That's very bold of you.

You've seen the worst of me.

What more is there for me to be afraid of?

If you like, Your Highness,

let's hang out at the poetry society one day.

Sure.

Should we also bring some taels with us

to gamble?

We're in the palace.

Don't make me look bad.

Gamble?

Your Highness, please.

Greetings, Father.

-Greetings, Your Majesty. -Rise.

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

I was under the impression that you were bad

at making incense.

Somehow, you impressed everyone today.

It's all thanks to the Prince Consort.

He taught me

the recipe.

I knew it.

I know perfectly well

what Rong is capable of.

I have heard of Ya's talent,

but Ms. Qin here is a new face.

Come closer.

Let me take a look.

I need to know the face of the lady

who made such an incense.

Yes, Your Majesty.

You have sharp eyebrows, starry eyes,

and a heroic spirit.

Is Father conferring the marriage now?

Zhenzhen is never interested in incense-making.

Why is she here?

He doesn't admit it,

but his intense gaze says it all.

Whether it's for Pei Wenxuan

or Chuan,

I have to stop this.

Your Majesty,

the ladies must be tired from standing this long.

Perhaps you should award them

so they can get some rest.

Rongqing.

You're right, Official Su.

Award them.

Chuan,

award them

on my behalf.

Yes, Father.

Rong.

Thank you.

Congratulations, Ms. Qin.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Congratulations.

I'm tired now.

You young ones should make yourself at home.

I owe my father an explanation,

so I must go now.

What about you, Your Highness?

I'm waiting for Pei Wenxuan.

I wanted to say this last time that you two are close.

Go back and face your father's wrath.

I'll take my leave, Your Highness.

Ms. Qin, can we talk?

Shangguan Ya swapped your sachets

so that you could become

the Crown Princess in her stead.

I helped you at someone's behest.

Pei Wenxuan and I don't love each other.

We agreed

to divorce each other once we freed ourselves

from these impositions.

The palace is a chaotic place.

You have to be cautious

if you enter the palace.

I'm leaving.

Your Highness.

Mr. Su.

-Your Highness. -Thank you so much for today.

What for?

For your timely intervention just now.

Never mind.

Thank you again.

Let's go.

Let's go.

I must go now.

Ms. Qin.

Your Highness, we're at the palace.

You can risk it,

but I can't afford the risk.

I just want to tell you

that I like the incense you made.

It makes me happy.

I don't like it.

What?

I don't like the incense

or the palace.

Someone swapped her sachet with mine.

That was how I won.

Please don't have the wrong idea.

Please tell me in time

if you have news of my brother.

You thanked Su Rongqing today

because Qin Zhenzhen was summoned by His Majesty?

Yes.

I can't believe Su Rongqing

can read my mind.

We won today.

You must be over the moon.

Aren't you the same, Mr. Pei?

I only feel upset

when you bully me.

Tell me.

What do you plan to do after our divorce?

Why do you ask?

Qin Zhenzhen's death

must have filled you with regrets.

I know you still love her.

She died very early before, so you felt indebted to her.

For her sake,

you must work harder in this life.

Work harder on what?

Qin Zhenzhen is of marriageable age.

If all goes well, it'll take us three years to get the divorce.

If you don't confirm each other's feelings now,

she might give her heart away to someone else.

I came clean to her today.

I told her that I helped her because of you

and that we would get a divorce later.

You grew up with her.

Interact with her more.

Once you two settle down in the relationship,

I'll ask Qin Lin to send her to the North.

Once everything is done and we get the divorce,

I'll personally propose a marriage on your behalf.

What do you think?

Why the silence?

Do you think she'll be miserable

in the North?

You can tell me if there's anything you're unhappy--

How can I be unhappy?

What else can I say?

You've planned everything.

Everyone has a clear role to play.

What else do you want me to say?

Halt.

Your Highness, what happened to the Prince Consort?

Who knows?

Have someone follow him in case he gets into trouble.

Yes, Your Highness.

What's wrong with him?

Let's go home.

Let's go.

I'm not happy about this.

Stop.

Stop.

Stop!

What now?

Li Rong, I'm telling you now.

From now on, before you tell me to do something,

you have to ask for my consent.

What kind of person do you think I am?

What do you think I want?

What do you think I should do?

You must at least get my consent.

So you're confronting me.

Sure.

Tell me.

What is the misunderstanding that upsets you so?

I don't like Qin Zhenzhen.

I know.

You haven't gotten over her cancellation of your marriage.

It has been many years,

so perhaps you don't love her that much now.

-But-- -There's no but.

Whether in the past or at present,

I never fancy Qin Zhenzhen.

I don't miss her.

I don't care about her.

Everyone tells me

that she's meant to be my wife

and that I have to treat her well.

Therefore, I…

I thought I liked her.

Until I met someone…

When she was sad,

I became nervous.

When she smiled,

it felt like every day was a good day.

If she fancied a hairpin,

I'd make sure I remembered what it was like.

If the weather changed,

I'd be worried

if she was soaked in the rain.

If she left home for a few days,

I'd pine for her.

I wanted to write her a letter daily to tell her how much I missed her.

I'd wonder

how many kids we would have.

I'd also wonder

if we would grow old together.

Li Rong.

I don't have any regrets about Qin Zhenzhen.

If I do have regrets,

they'll only be about you.

The one I loved

and lost

was only you, Li Rong.

I know you used to love me,

but…

You don't like Qin Zhenzhen?

Because you never tried to understand what I want.

Once you make up your mind,

no one can persuade you otherwise.

Shangguan Ya always behaved herself,

yet you never discerned her duplicity.

Su Rongqing's family was murdered,

yet you never discerned his thirst for revenge.

Li Chuan lost his father and wife,

yet you never discerned his heartbreak.

What about me?

Li Rong,

I loved you.

And I lost you.

Do you really understand

what I want

and what I desire?

I will…

think about it.

It's raining heavily. Come back in.

You could have scolded me,

given me your advice, loved me, hated me,

or…

it shouldn't have been this way.

You shouldn't have been indifferent to me.

You should go back.

I'll return to the bureau.

Why are you doing this?

Why am I doing this?

When faced with anything, you keep emotions to yourself.

You believe your rationality provides a solution to everything.

But remember this, Li Rong.

The essence of power is understanding people.

Without this insight,

all you aspire to achieve

will come to nothing.

I'm tired.

Let's live separately.

Your Highness!

Let's go back.

Let's go.

Scoundrel.

He gets emotional and starts saying anything without thinking.

The essence of power is understanding people.

Without this insight,

all you aspire to achieve

will come to nothing.

Fine.

If you're that upset, let's not stay together anymore.

-When did I say that? -That's what you meant.

I was just telling you that…

Li Rong, I'm tired.

I don't want to argue with you anymore.

From now on,

I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore.

We'll go our separate ways, all right?

Take care.

Your Highness!

Pei Wenxuan!

Sorry.

I should have asked you

before I made a decision

for you and Qin Zhenzhen.

However, I truly meant well.

Back then, I asked what she was to you.

You said you were worried about her.

I thought you not only loved me

but also her.

I didn't want a relationship like that,

so I quit.

The palace isn't a good place for Qin Zhenzhen to stay.

I thought you still loved her and that as long as she was with you,

you two could lead a peaceful life.

Then you wouldn't have any regrets.

That was the best solution

I could come up with.

Also,

power isn't all I care about.

If someone treats me with kindness,

I want to return the same favor.

I'm not using you to solve Chuan's predicament.

I did care about you.

Besides,

didn't you decide that I should be together with Su Rongqing too?

Li Rong.

I match-made Su Rongqing and you so that you could face your heart.

You never tell me your true feelings.

You bury your emotions under rationality.

I'm always left with embarrassment.

I'm sorry.

I'm so used to my way.

Li Rong.

I know what I want.

Do you?

Do you know what you want?

Do you understand

what I said to you today?

Yes.

Are you happy?

I'm glad to know.

However…

Pei Wenxuan.

Those were in the past.

I don't know

how to answer you now.

It was my regret back then.

And it was yours too.

You can be rational, but you're still a human being.

Human beings have emotions.

There's nothing wrong with it.

If we had told each other…

about our feelings back then…

perhaps…

we would have had a better ending.

Let's go home.