Original subtitles

♪We are both dim light♪

♪Will time erase us♪

♪Those who fade away in the shadows silently♪

♪Also crave a life under the bright sun openly♪

♪How can I break free from the chains of fate?♪

♪Who whispers in my ear♪

♪That I'm bound to fall?♪

♪Then burn me♪

♪Burn my stubbornness♪

♪The surging bitterness♪

♪The hot tears♪

♪Nobody knows♪

♪Entangling in the past♪

♪Silence in the darkness♪

♪The dim light finally turns♪

[Kill Me Love Me]

♪Into the fire of rebirth♪

[Episode 3]

[Tingyun Pavilion]

Beauty?

Third Brother.

Oh, my big brother.

Your hands are so soft.

You never cease

to be mischievous.

Your Highness, please have some tea.

My lord.

Sober-up tea.

Lianxiu?

Were you the one who waited on Mother back in the day, eh?

Your Highness, indeed, you never forget a thing.

These years, my brother has been well cared for.

Thank you.

It's my job, Your Highness.

You can go now.

When we were young,

we secretly drank wine.

Mother punished us to kneel in the prayer hall.

It was Lianxiu who brewed tea for us to sober up.

It was me who was wild and unruly,

often angering Mother.

In the end,

it was also I who caused Mother's death.

Luckily, you were there to company her,

until her death.

We grew up together.

Mother treated me as her own son.

I was just fulfilling my duty.

Third Brother,

this medicine formula,

I acquired it from a famed healer.

It is best for mending broken bones.

The medicine is prepared. Try it.

This leg of mine...

is a curse.

I won't treat it.

How about this?

After the alliance banquet,

I'll ask Father to grant you

a warmer residence.

The cold of Jingbei

isn't good for your leg.

If you truly wish to help me,

then let me stay in Zhaojing.

Zhaojing's lands are nurturing,

and,

if free,

you could come visit me.

That would be great.

The Rising Sun Bow?

Everything here hasn't changed.

The Rising Sun Bow is still here.

In the 10th year of the Zhaoming era,

the Lushan Hunt,

I was lost by a horse,

yet the precious fell to you.

You were just being generous.

Actually, in both word and might,

we are equal.

Why do you always let me win?

Nonsense.

You are now the Crown Prince.

From now on,

you don't have to do so.

It's kind of patronizing to keep treating me with kid gloves

just because I'm not as able-bodied.

At the alliance banquet,

I will let you win again.

I heard you've taken a liking to a Xiyan beauty.

Who is she?

I wouldn't want

to take what's dear to you.

Big Brother,

that woman wants to harm me.

If you want her, take her.

Better if you kill her.

Kill her?

She wants to harm you?

What happened?

That beauty,

gave me lovesickness.

Yet she won't yield to me.

What say you, should she be killed?

Other matters,

I'll shoulder for you,

but while you may jest and joke,

you must not jeopardize the nation.

This event is of great importance.

Father values it deeply.

Alright.

Father just scolded me, now it's you.

Best not to stay in Zhaojing, then.

Annoying.

Fine. I'll stop.

Rest well.

Take care, Big Brother.

[In Memory of Yang Donghu, Deputy General of Great Yan's Weibei Army]

It is them.

I know it.

It is them.

I saw it myself.

They're the ones who set the fire.

They deserve to die.

Kill them.

I swear on my life,

not a single Weibei Army soldier would dare set fire.

Let's put out the fire first, everyone.

Kill them.

Don't let him get away!

The Weibei Army didn't set the fire.

I saw it with my own eyes.

Extinguish the flames first.

Extinguish the flames first.

Everyone, stay calm.

Stay calm.

Hold.

Do not point blades at the people.

Yang.

Yang.

Yang.

My lord.

Let me go.

My lord, it's dangerous.

Let go of me.

Yang.

Go.

Yang!

[In Memory of Yang Donghu, Deputy General of Great Yan's Weibei Army]

[In Memory of Wu He, Officer of Great Yan's Weibei Army]

[In Memory of Huang Qing, Guard of Great Yan's Weibei Army]

[In Memory of Zhang Futian, Officer of Great Yan's Weibei Army]

They knew we Weibei Army was disciplined

and never harmed the people.

So they incited the Qingzhou people to besiege the camp.

This time,

I won't be merciful.

The Weibei Army

is a righteous army.

Great Yan

will seek justice for you.

Tomorrow's alliance banquet is your last chance.

What happened

during the Qingzhou Fire?

Boring.

You weren't scared at all?

Why are you here?

There's something to decide.

To do or not to do,

I am unsure what to choose.

I, too, struggle with choices.

Since I was a child,

my father always chose for me.

But no worries.

Wait here for me.

If there's no choice,

then let us pray.

Hope the Emperor of Great Yan

is kind and does not scold or beat.

Best if he's kind like my brother.

Forget it.

There will never

be another like him.

As long as the Emperor doesn't kill people

like that disabled man, I'm fine.

Look at that.

A real blessing.

Is this real?

You've never played this?

Wonderful.

First wishes work best.

Give it a try.

Your Highness.

Your Highness,

His Highness is returning.

I got it.

Go ahead and try.

I know what to do now.

Father, Mother,

please bless me.

[Changxi Pavilion]

Mr. Yue Qin.

[Yue Qin, Xiyan Prince]

Zigu detests confinement.

Get a maid familiar with Yan etiquette,

to guide her in the palace.

Oh,

have you changed the incense?

Zigu sleeps best with familiar scents.

If there's a familiar scent,

maybe she can sleep better..

You may rest assured.

[Shumo] I prepared her incense yesterday,

and by the way,

arranged everything to her liking.

Mei Lin.

Wait for me, Your Highness.

It's a Qingzhou knot,

a charm from Qingzhou folk.

Mei Lin,

is that you?

Your Highness,

was it really her?

The beauties

include Xiyan exiles from Qingzhou.

Others know the Qingzhou Knot, too.

Your Highness.

It's time to go.

Her Highness awaits.

Brother's craftsmanship is unmatched.

His Highness must've put in much effort.

Zigu.

Brother.

Brother.

Brother.

I missed you so much.

Brother, look.

I'm all grown up now.

No longer the tearful little fairy.

But I still think

that's the you I find most adorable.

Brother,

they say after the alliance banquet,

you'll return to Xiyan.

I won't go anywhere

until you're settled

and everything is done.

What if I never settle?

I can't protect you forever.

Does the Emperor of Great Yan

kill people at his will?

No,

he's a wise ruler.

No need to worry.

Is he handsome?

Forget it.

Handsome or not, he's still an old man.

Brother,

do you have a girl you like?

What about you, Zigu?

Ziyu used to mock me,

saying no one dares to take this.

Now, it seems, she is true.

I wouldn't even know

what it feels like to have a special someone.

What you think of each day.

What you dream of each night.

Brother,

do you have someone in your heart?

Tell me, who is she?

I fear that in this life,

I will be fated to miss her.

Zigu,

tomorrow, after the alliance banquet,

you will be Concubine Yan of Yan Dynasty.

The jade ring not being given away

is both a regret and a blessing.

The palace rules are complex,

one wrong step...

And it may bring harm to Xiyan.

I know.

No, it would harm you.

Xiyan needs a princess's marriage

to secure peace with Yan Dynasty,

but you owe Xiyan nothing.

Wait for me.

Is this not the dagger Mother gave to you, Brother?

Now,

it is yours.

If, one day,

you face a dilemma,

I hope you

can prioritize protecting yourself.

Mother doesn't wish for me to wield weapons.

You've grown up, Zigu,

and should learn how to use a blade.

[Imperial Palace]

Princess Zigu of Xiyan greets Your Majesty of Great Yan.

May Your Majesty be blessed with health and a long reign.

Proceed.

To Princess Zigu of Xiyan:

Regal and demure,

gentle and graceful,

wise and reserved,

virtuous in conduct,

and fit for the inner palace.

Thus,

appointed as Concubine Yan,

granting residence in Fanghua Palace.

Execute as decreed.

The proclamation is now complete.

Now, Great Yan and Xiyan

forge ties of harmony.

Let the people of both lands

live as one family

in eternal peace and joy.

Long live Your Majesty's wisdom.

[Taichi Palace]

[Taichi Palace]

Twenty chests of lacquered potteries.

Six new gilt sapphire loongs.

Ten pairs of agate cups in the shape of animal heads.

Ten jars of fermented mare's milk.

Ten jars of Yangpuli wine.

Ten hu of East Sea pearls. [*Ancient Chinese unit of volume]

Two Liuli phoenix-tail fans. [*Chinese traditional colored glaze]

Twenty Ferghana horses.

Two bottles of Toxin-Neutralizing Red Coix Seed Potion.

The 18 Tribes of Xiyan congratulate Concubine Yan on her marriage.

Concubine Yan, you've come from afar.

I've had imperial cooks specially prepare

Xiyan's bamboo brew

to ease your homesickness.

Well,

Your Majesty...

Concubine Yan, no need for formalities.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Today is a day of joy.

All in the palace may feast.

There's no need for restraint.

Let the first group of beauties line up.

[Noble Consort Yin] The beauties of Xiyan

[Noble Consort Yin] are all remarkably graceful.

Marrying Xiyan beauties to Yan Dynasty officials

also serves the peace between our nations.

Since the Eastern Palace leads the noble clans,

Crown Prince shall make the first choice.

Thank you, Father.

What is your name?

Your Highness,

my name is Mei Lin.

Judging by your features, you look like one of our own.

I was born

on the Xiyan-Great Yan border

and have lived within Great Yan territory.

Welcome to the Eastern Palace.

Here, take this jade pendant.

Wait.

Third Brother, you...

Son,

your leg...

My leg is healed.

Father,

I was so focused on the beauty.

I feared Big Brother would pick her first.

In my haste,

I actually stood up on my own.

That's good news.

But you should still have Imperial Healer Zhang examine it.

Yes, Father.

You aren't the true culprit of the massacre.

I have proof.

Save me.

Son!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty, rest assured.

Thankfully, Prince Jing wore a Gold Silk Armor.

It was truly

a divine intervention that saved his life.

Easy there.

Father,

I am fine,

just a few scrapes.

But I

was shaken.

Third Brother,

you can walk,

yet you've used a wheelchair.

This

can be a crime against the throne.

Father,

Big Brother,

I had no choice.

Even as a disabled man, I attract assassins.

Were I to stand up fully,

I doubt

If I'd live longer.

Fortunately, I was prepared,

and that saved me this time.

Son,

for all these years,

you have suffered in Jingbei.

Now that you can stand, all is well.

Back then, I thought

your leg couldn't be saved.

The healer said,

only by breaking and resetting the bone

do you stand a chance to walk again.

Heavens blessed you.

You are truly fortunate.

I never expected

that Xiyan beauty

had seduced me

just to try and assassinate me.

Father,

how would you handle her?

Do not worry.

I will see to it

personally.

First, recover well.

Father,

those Xiyan people hate me,

but would not dare assassinate me so openly,

jeopardizing the peace-making marriage.

You mean to say?

Within the court,

someone wish to use them

to rid me for good.

Who do you suspect?

Of everyone in court,

only you, Big Brother,

would never harm me.

Father,

I request

that the Eastern Palace lead the investigation.

Son,

this is related to Xiyan.

Handle this with utmost caution.

Rest assured, Third Brother.

I'll uncover

who's behind this.

[Imperial Prison]

Fear not, Your Highness.

No one leaves here with secrets intact

after facing these instruments

of torture.

Your Highness,

Minister Zhang has waited outside for long.

He claims the woman has no ties to him.

If this woman isn't Zhang Yin's agent,

then she must be Third Brother's.

Ten years on,

Prince Jing still uses this "feigned injury" ploy,

proving he has no other evidence

beyond Momai Warriors.

The Qingzhou incident was flawless.

Even with ten more years,

Prince Jing wouldn't be able to trace it back to Your Highness.

Tell Zhang Yin to hold steady.

Now, go and summon my third brother.

Yes, Your Highness.

You aren't the true culprit of the massacre.

I have proof.

Save me.

She even pierced the Gold Silk Armor

yet deliberately spared me.

My lord.

My lord.

The medicine is cold now.

Qingyan,

could there be clues out there?

Clues that we missed?

Even if there are,

none would expose the Crown Prince.

Years of effort

only led to Zhang Yin.

If not for Your Highness recognizing

that Eastern Palace advisor among the mob,

we'd never have suspected

the Crown Prince

was behind the Qingzhou arson.

Now, Mei Lin's assassination attempt

exposes the Momai on her.

It'll eventually trace back to Zhang Yin's Momai Warriors.

All we need to do

is wait for Zhang Yin to make his move.

If he silences Mei Lin,

he'll bear the blame for this assassination.

Unable to shoulder such a charge,

he'll turn to the Crown Prince.

And the Crown Prince,

to protect himself,

will discard Zhang Yin.

Zhang Yin then has but one option

to accuse the Eastern Palace.

Though his confession

won't topple the Crown Prince,

it will sow seeds of doubt

in our father's heart.

Then we'll have grounds

to investigate the Qingzhou affair openly.

Someone reported

Zhang Yin waited hours outside prison

but never saw the Crown Prince.

Zhang Yin values profit over loyalty.

A good dog

when in favor,

but a deadly one

when betrayed.

The Crown Prince won't see him,

he'll surely

silence Mei Lin himself.

Your Highness,

the Crown Prince wants you to visit the prison.

It seems Big Brother has guessed

Mei Lin was a bait I laid.

As ever, Your Highness, your strategy is sound.

The Shadow Works was founded

to gather truths of old,

and now executes

the Momai plan.

Only Mei Lin

bears the Momai poison.

Even under torture,

it will be traced solely to Zhang Yin.

Did she confess?

No,

she hasn't uttered a word.

No rush.

Once she's been through everything,

even her iron will shall break.

With these tools of torture at our disposal,

any secrets she holds

will be revealed as we wish.

Whether she speaks,

or what she says,

no longer matters.

True enough.

To withstand such torture,

she never said a thing.

This shows something.

You're right.

She's no mere Xiyan beauty

but a trained assassin.

The mark on her arm

tells of her fate in the hands of Momai poison.

How do you know this so clearly?

It's not hard to obtain the poison.

But as to who slipped it to her,

only she holds the key to that mystery.

Why haven't you spoken yet?

Waiting for an antidote?

Your master deceived you.

There is no antidote.

Who ordered you to attack Prince Jing?

Speak.

No one ordered me.

Hold.

Reveal what you know,

and I'll grant you a quick death.

A quick death

is mercy.

But after all you've suffered,

how could I show her mercy?

If I granted her quick death,

how would I account to Father?

I

cannot die.

An attempted assassination in the court

will only lead to your execution.

From the start,

you were someone's pawn,

dead the moment you failed.

To imagine otherwise is folly.

Brother, don't waste time on her.

She won't reveal what you seek.

She's merely a tool

who knows nothing of her master.

[Prince Jing's Mansion]

Minister Zhang,

how was the show

I arranged for you?

Your Highness, I don't get it.

Please enlighten me.

In the 14th year of the Zhaoming era,

when we first met,

you were but a minor border patrol officer.

Now, a decade later,

you are the Minister of Defense,

leaping six ranks in ten years.

Tell me,

what kind of lucky streak have you been riding on?

I am unworthy, Your Highness.

It's all thanks

to your heroic deeds in recovering Qingzhou.

When Qingzhou's battle began,

you dismissed me for cowardice.

But when Weibei Army suffered defeat,

I survived and gained my fortune.

Yet I, as their general, still live.

Weibei Army won't bear this shame in vain.

However lucky streak you may have been riding on,

if the tide turns,

you'll end up in hot water.

As someone I hate,

guess what will happen to you?

Your Highness,

I don't understand.

Please enlighten me.

She's no mere beauty.

She's a death warrior with the Momai poison in her.

Momai Warriors.

I encountered them

in Qingzhou.

Your Highness,

I have no ties to this woman.

The prison's methods

are effective,

but a prince's assassination,

not even your master

could afford the consequences.

If things go south for your benefactor,

your fate is clear:

be silenced,

or be the scapegoat.

You know I lost a whole bunch of my best men.

So, whether you survive or not

depends on my mood.

♪We are♪

♪Both♪

♪Dim light♪

♪Will time erase us?♪

♪Those who fade away in the shadows silently♪

♪Also crave a life under the bright sun openly♪

♪How can I break free♪

♪From the chains of fate?♪

♪Who whispers in my ear♪

♪That I'm bound♪

♪To fall?♪

♪Then burn me♪

♪Burn away my fears♪

Un-

dy-

ing.

Un-

dy-

ing.

What did you say, my lord?

♪Cut through all those...♪

Keep watching.

Zhang Yin will soon silence her.

I fear Mei Lin may not last.

I've seen the prison's methods.

Tendons pulled, skin peeled...

She will endure.

Years of training,

all for this day.

♪The wind scatters the spring flowers♪

♪The dream was filled with sorrow for the entire night♪

♪Troubled thoughts shatter into a sky full of stars♪

♪If fate is too unbearable♪

♪I am mired in the mud♪

♪Love is helpless, falling into the abyss♪

♪If life is a predetermined sorrow♪

♪Love is an endless wandering♪

♪A place in the heart from which there is no return♪

♪It's a vain hope, it's in imagination♪

♪It's the distinguished light♪

♪If life is a predetermined sorrow♪

♪Love is an endless wandering♪

♪A place in the heart from which there is no return♪

♪It's a vain hope, it's in imagination♪

♪It's the distinguished light♪

♪If life is a predetermined sorrow♪

♪Love is an endless wandering♪

♪A place in the heart from which there is no return♪

♪It's a vain hope, it's in imagination♪

♪It's the distinguished light♪

♪It's a vain hope, it's in imagination♪

♪It's the distinguished light♪