01x02 - Episode 2

[bunniefuu]

[The Princess Royal]

[Adapted from Mo Shu Bai's novel,

The Princess Royal on jjwxc.net]

[This is a work of fiction.]

[Episode 2]

[Yang]

What a magnificent scene we have today.

[Cui]

Mr. Zhang, you are here too.

It's really been a while.

I've heard that the Princess

is using the Spring Banquet as a pretext

for selecting a husband.

No wonder my young master

is paying so much attention

to his appearance today.

It's the Su Family's carriage.

It's Second Young Master Su's carriage.

The Su Family's carriage?

It's said he's strikingly handsome

and extraordinarily charming.

[Su]

We'll get to feast our eyes this time.

He is Second Young Master

of the Su Family,

the second most prominent family

in the capital.

[Pei]

Is this the Su Family's carriage?

Yes, it is.

Second Young Master Su

is indeed handsome

and has an extraordinary temperament.

Please come down.

How do I look?

You look great.

- Mr. Su.

- Mr. Su.

Greetings, everyone.

- Greetings, Mr. Su.

- Greetings, Mr. Su.

Greetings.

Why is he here?

Look at his appearance, temperament,

and that carriage.

He truly is the finest gentleman

in the world.

The finest gentleman in the world?

He's nothing.

[Tong Meng]

Your Highness.

Your Highness, wake up.

All the young masters have arrived.

Tell them to wait.

I want to sleep a little longer.

Second Young Master of the Su Family,

Su Rongqing, has also arrived.

Su Rongqing?

The Su Family has not provided

a definite answer.

I thought he was not coming.

Since it's an invitation

from Your Highness,

of course, those young masters

will show some respect.

Hurry up

and help me get dressed.

Also,

keep a close eye on everything today.

This Spring Banquet

isn't just held for me.

Many people are eagerly waiting

to see what unfolds.

Please rest assured.

Hurry.

Please wait here, sir.

It's okay.

I will wait here for Her Highness.

Yes.

Rongqing.

Back then, you were eighteen

and I was twenty.

That year

is the most beautiful memory of my life.

From this day forth,

Su Rongqing is an honored guest

of the Princess's Mansion

and should be treated politely.

Since we are seemingly in harmony

but actually at variance,

let's set each other free.

We should request an audience

with His Majesty

and seek his permission

for our divorce.

Your best ally can only be me.

You want a divorce?

Only if I die.

If this is a dream,

then what has changed

and what hasn't?

Previously, there was no Su Rongqing

among the candidates

for the Prince Consort.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Rumor has it that you are

the finest gentleman in Huajing.

As I've seen for myself,

you truly deserve the reputation.

Your Highness, I'm flattered.

I appreciate the flattering words,

but it's all just playful banter.

How is it just banter?

Upon meeting you today,

I've found that you have

an extraordinary temperament.

I think no one else in Huajing

deserves to be called

the finest gentleman.

You didn't reply to me

which made me think you wouldn't come.

I'm honored

to receive your invitation,

Your Highness.

It's just that I was hesitant.

He mentioned hesitancy.

So,

Rongqing is already?

I was worried that I might disturb you,

Your Highness.

Since it's the Spring Banquet,

why would I worry about being disturbed?

I simply wish to enjoy

the festivities with everyone.

While young,

you know no grief you could not bear.

Do you realize His Majesty

already has someone in mind?

If you choose a noble family

like the Su Family,

what awaits you

is either a marriage alliance

in a faraway land,

or worse, being ex*cuted.

You've got some nerve showing up here,

you rascal.

Greetings, Your Highness.

I wish you

a year as bright as the moon

and an appearance as radiant

as spring blossoms, Your Highness.

Spare the formalities.

Thank you, Mr. Su,

for your gracious presence.

How about we have a private conversation

in the inner courtyard?

I originally planned to leave

after just one glance

at the eighteen-year-old you,

but I never expected

that you, at eighteen, would be

so easily attracted by men's looks.

Rongqing.

The Rongqing in front of me

has no knowledge

of our past.

I saw an insect on your cuff.

It has already flown away.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Mr. Su,

are you aware that I'm holding

this Spring Banquet

for another purpose?

The young Rongqing is actually so shy.

Back then, due to our status,

we had little interaction.

I never imagined

he could be so charming in this way.

Mr. Su, you seem a bit nervous.

How come I didn't know

you were so proactive back then?

Meeting Rongqing

in advance this time

is really great.

Your Highness. Young Master Su.

The auspicious time

for the Spring Banquet is approaching.

You should get changed now.

Mr. Su, please wait in the garden.

I'll be back after I get changed.

Yes, Your Highness.

Young Master,

that's the Princess.

No matter how attractive she is,

you shouldn't look at her like that.

It could cost you your life.

Shut up.

Who said I was looking at the Princess?

Are you suggesting

that you admire Young Master Su?

Get lost.

The Spring Banquet starts now.

Please welcome Her Highness.

- Greetings, Your Highness.

- Greetings, Your Highness.

- Long live the Princess.

- Long live the Princess.

You may rise.

- Thank you, Your Highness.

- Thank you, Your Highness.

Please be seated.

Her Highness says

that she wants to play

a different version

of the traditional game,

passing the parcel.

In a moment, a hibiscus cup

will float down the winding stream

in front of you.

When the drum is being sounded,

Her Highness will call out when to stop.

Whomever the hibiscus cup

stops in front of

must drink

and then present a talent show.

Any of the Six Arts are acceptable.

Stop.

[Lu Yu, son of Marquis Ningguo]

What talents do you possess,

Young Master Lu?

I I'm good at

I'm good at eating eggs.

Mr. Lu's talent is indeed unique.

Bring over the eggs.

[Mingyue Palace]

[Huayue, daughter of Consort Rou]

It's so funny.

[Xiao Rou, Consort Rou]

Mother, what kind of men

has Father chosen for Pingyue?

If she ends up

picking that fool, Lu Yu

Huayue,

regarding Pingyue's marriage,

your father has his own considerations.

If she marries a fool,

I'm really afraid that when I see her,

I won't be able to help

but laugh out loud.

Behave yourself.

With Pingyue's temper,

if you annoy her,

she'll definitely have a row with you.

That's exactly the point.

I want to make her angry.

When people get angry,

they tend to make mistakes.

Once she makes a mistake,

it'll be easier to deal with her.

Your Majesty,

these are all urgent memorials.

Inside,

they are either proposals for marriage

to Princess Pingyue

or related to affairs

of the border regions.

Please give written instructions

or comments.

Is the Yang Family

on the northwest border

demanding military funds again?

When was the last time this happened?

His Majesty,

it's only been less than a month.

The noble families

all have their own fiefdoms,

and now that there's a w*r,

they're all asking me for money.

I might as well

not read these memorials.

Let me guess what else

is on the memorials.

These candidates

probably all come

from the seven major noble families.

What if Pingyue

doesn't choose the one

I want her to choose?

If I recall correctly,

the late Emperor

did the following

with two disobedient princesses

back then:

one was sent far away for marriage,

and the other was ex*cuted.

The Young Master of the Su Family

attended the banquet after all.

Did Pingyue invite him

because she doesn't know

or did she do it intentionally?

Stop.

Please bring a bow and arrows.

Your Highness,

I apologize for any offense.

He's nothing but a pretty face.

Reward him.

This is carefully selected

by Her Highness.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Li Rong,

you are playing with fire here.

[Hanqiu Palace]

Your Highness, His Majesty says

that he is preoccupied

with state affairs

and cannot meet you.

Thank you.

Wait.

Your clothes seem a bit worn out.

I have some fine fabric at my place.

I'll send it over to you another day.

[Yang Wan, Consort Ning]

Serving His Majesty

means you should be concerned

about appearances all the time.

Yes, Your Highness.

I just want to see His Majesty briefly.

I won't cause any trouble for you.

Then please go back, Your Highness,

and wait for my news.

Thank you.

Find a way to send a message

to the young master.

Tell him to win the favor

of the Princess at all costs.

Yes, Your Highness.

It's a disgrace to the educated class.

[Cui Yulang from a humble background]

It's no different from those male escorts

in those pleasure houses.

[Yang Quan,

Consort Ning's younger brother]

It seems like Li Rong

wants to test all the candidates

for the Prince Consort

selected by His Majesty.

The game continues.

Stop.

I'm done here.

Let's go.

She's intentionally trying to prevent me

from showcasing my abilities.

Her Highness wants to see you.

Li Rong is meeting

with Su Rongqing alone.

No, I can't let this happen.

May I ask, miss,

what Her Highness

has summoned me here for?

Her Highness has heard

that you love reading.

This place houses only rare editions

from the royal collection.

If you are willing

to join the Princess's Mansion,

these will belong to you.

You don't need to answer immediately.

I have brought some refreshments.

When you have decided,

you can go to the pavilion on the lake

to meet Her Highness.

That was quite some fun I had today.

Normally,

it's women who go to great lengths

to please men.

But today, watching those men

down there,

trying their best to win my heart

and showing off in front of me,

is quite entertaining.

Your Highness,

what are you talking about?

You see that Yang Quan?

It's as if "Pick me"

is written on his forehead.

Go make a pot of tea for me.

Yes, Your Highness.

What's wrong?

Earlier, Young Master Pei stopped me

and said something.

What did he

say to you?

He said

if you insist on choosing

Young Master Su,

you'll end up

in either of the following endings.

One is to marry to a distant land,

and the other is

The other is execution.

Does Pei Wenxuan think I'm stupid?

But it's unexpected

that at such a young age,

he has such insight.

He's quite talented,

but it's a pity

that he offended me.

Mr. Lu,

Her Highness wants to see you.

She summoned Lu Yu.

It seems she's heeded my advice.

Cui Yulang is lascivious by nature

and won't catch Li Rong's eye.

How wonderful!

Your Highness's husband-to-be

will be a handsome scholar.

But

if she really chooses Lu Yu,

how will the people

in the palace think of her?

She's such a proud person.

It's almost like

sentencing her to death.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Why are you here, Lu Ting?

Young Master.

Master asked me to send you a message.

It's

It's all wet.

What

What should I do now?

Please forgive me, Your Highness.

Please forgive me.

Do you mind if I go help

my young master get changed first?

Go ahead.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Your Highness, bad news.

Major General Yang

and the young lord

of the Shangguan Family, Shangguan Yu,

got into a fight.

They're forcing me to show up.

Your Highness,

I heard that Young Master Lu fainted

as soon as he left his residence.

I guess he won't come back then.

Rong.

Rong.

- Your Highness.

- Rong.

You have to get justice for me.

Only Mr. Yang would dare to hit him.

Take the young lord away

for treatment first.

Yes, Your Highness.

You you ignoramus!

Major General Yang,

are you implying

that my hospitality is inadequate?

Your Highness's hospitality is,

of course, impeccable.

Since it's impeccable,

why are you causing such trouble?

I just wish to have a few words

with Your Highness.

Go ahead.

I come from a military background

and am not skilled in fancy words,

but Heaven bears witness,

my desire to marry

Your Highness is sincere.

Did you say "Heaven bears witness?"

And you say you don't use fancy words?

They are such fancy words

that I don't even know

if I'd ever use them.

If you agree to marry me,

I'll grant you

whatever you desire in this world.

I give you my word.

I didn't know that you were so capable.

I command thirty thousand soldiers

from the northwest troop.

They are at Your Highness's disposal.

How dare you!

Your Highness.

You have quite the nerve, Yang Quan.

Do you think the thirty thousand soldiers

stationed in the northwest

work for your family?

I wouldn't dare. I

Major General Yang,

you should leave now.

Major General Yang,

please.

Ask Mr. Su to head to the pavilion

on the lake.

He's probably finished

reading the books.

Yes, Your Highness.

Tell that scoundrel Pei Wenxuan

to go there too.

I noticed that you don't seem

to like Young Master Pei.

You haven't even glanced at him today.

So why

Pei Wenxuan,

wait to see what I'm going to do to you.

Back then, you claimed

that you were forced to marry me.

Seems like you've

racked your brain for this.

Your Highness,

Young Master Pei has arrived.

Greetings,

Your Highness.

What's the meaning of this,

Your Highness?

It's rare

to meet a kindred spirit.

When we were outside just now,

I didn't get enough of Mr. Su's show.

So I invited him to play the qin here.

Mr. Pei, why don't you also

immerse yourself in the music?

Jingmei,

bring him a futon.

Yes, Your Highness.

Mr. Su, your qin skills

are indeed remarkable.

I'm flattered, Your Highness.

Your Highness, it's getting late.

I'll take my leave now.

Mr. Su, please stay.

I have something more

to discuss with you.

Pei Wenxuan,

I won't allow you

to slander Rongqing in the slightest!

Li Rong,

I also hope you can live a happy life,

but you mustn't choose

Su Rongqing.

You may leave now.

Mr. Pei, I have heard

that you are the youngest

and most favored candidate

in the Royal Selection

in our nation's history,

with unparalleled wit and strategies.

Today,

I have truly known your capabilities.

I'm flattered, Your Highness.

Jump into the lake.

Your Highness,

I don't quite understand.

You tricked Yang Quan

into hitting Shangguan Yu.

What's wrong with you?

Give it back.

That jade pendant is from my mother.

Give my jade pendant back!

Then you lured Lu Yu away.

When you go in

and see your young master,

ask him to pretend to faint.

You did all this

so you could become

my husband, didn't you?

If you want to be my husband,

how come

this small grievance

has gotten the better of you?

How does Your Highness know

that I want to be the Prince Consort?

Drop the act.

Why else would you be here?

I've already investigated

your background and the situation

with the Pei Family thoroughly.

Becoming my husband

is precisely a great opportunity

for you and your family

to turn things around, isn't it?

It seems Your Highness

has misunderstood.

I just want to help

Right,

I seem to be meddling too much.

Even if you wanted to,

there would be no chance now.

I already have someone I fancy.

Who are you referring to, Your Highness?

He's right in front of you.

Mr. Su,

do you like those books?

Would you like to have them?

Please think twice, Your Highness.

Mr. Pei.

I'm talking to Mr. Su here.

It's not your place to interrupt.

Your Highness,

I just don't want you

to ruin your own future

due to a sudden impulse.

That's quite audacious of you

to meddle in my affairs.

I'll do whatever I like.

It's my own path

and my own choice.

Mr. Su.

If Your Highness doesn't mind,

I would like to request to marry you.

Guards.

I'm astonished at how scheming you are

at such a young age.

Throw him into the lake.

- Yes, Your Highness.

- Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness.

So you were picking

the spot in the lake to fall into?

How about

we talk like this?

I quite enjoy the position

where you're lower than me.

Pei Wenxuan,

you'd better know your place.

Right now,

I can throw you into the lake,

and later, if I wish,

I can make you drown here.

From now on,

whether you get to live or not

depends entirely on my mood.

So think carefully about what you say

and do.

Do you understand?

Pei Wenxuan is just a young kid,

who's just 20 years old.

There's no difference

between bullying him

and bullying a child.

Enough of this.

Fish him out.

Yes, Your Highness.

Mr. Su,

about what I just said

Your Highness, please don't.

Rongqing, here you are.

What's the matter?

Rongqing, if you really can't stand this,

I can divorce Pei Wenxuan.

Your Highness is of noble status,

while I am but a humble sinner.

I dare not request your favor.

What is it?

You don't like

those books?

Your Highness, please forgive me.

Before leaving, my father

repeatedly instructed me

to only attend the Spring Banquet

and not get involved in anything else.

If you don't want those books,

they will become

someone else's tomorrow.

Your Highness,

those books are too precious.

I am but a humble man

with little influence

♪ It's like standing on the edge

of a bottomless abyss ♪

I'm unworthy

of possessing them just yet.

I should have realized this earlier.

The Su Family has always been neutral

and avoids marrying the royal family.

Su Rongqing currently

doesn't really get to choose.

I understand.

♪ How do I shout out the words

I want to say? ♪

You may leave now.

♪ But the wind in the valley

gently ceases its whispers ♪

Thank you, Your Highness.

♪ Snow falls silently, petal by petal ♪

Your Highness.

♪ If we met at the right time,

love wouldn't have been so complicated ♪

If one day in the future,

I am able to

♪ The wind carries sand and dust ♪

♪ The moment I see the sunset ♪

♪ My heart sinks ♪

♪ My world gradually falls apart

as we fail to understand each other ♪

Mr. Pei, don't think

I'm throwing my weight around.

I'm teaching you how to behave properly.

You're lucky it's me who you're facing.

If it were anyone else

from the royal family,

with your behavior today,

you would have been thrown out

to feed the dogs by now.

Thank you, Your Highness.

You've achieved your goal.

You're the only candidate left

for the Prince Consort.

Get Mr. Pei a change of clothes

and have him cleaned up properly.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

What do you want? Tell me.

I have heard

that Princess Pingyue

is holding a Spring Banquet

with the intention

of selecting a husband.

My younger brother, Yang Quan,

has followed my father into battle

since childhood

and has earned numerous merits.

He might be a suitable match

for the Princess.

The Yang Family

is a lineage of generals.

Instead of focusing

on how to win battles at the border,

you're now concerned

with the Princess's marriage.

You're right, Your Majesty,

but as for my brother Quan

I've said it before,

the Princess's marriage

is her own decision.

Whomever she chooses

will be her husband.

Your Majesty.

My family may have made many mistakes.

But I hope Your Majesty can consider

the years of service I have rendered.

Could you give the Yang Family

another chance?

What?

Have I ever said I would do anything

to your Yang Family?

Sit down, then talk to me.

Whatever you want to say,

just say it.

Your Highness, I think

you already know what I want to say.

What's with your attitude?

What?

Do you think the royal family

is not good enough for you?

Not at all.

I come from humble beginnings,

and initially,

I may rely on Your Highness.

However, as a dignified man,

I also aspire to be the one

who is worthy of you, Your Highness.

This way,

when Your Highness is weary,

you can have someone to lean on,

and I won't be just a burden

living off you.

You're just trying

to leverage my influence

to strengthen yourself.

There's no need

to say these high-sounding words.

Men like you

will say anything

when ingratiating yourself

with powerful people.

Mr. Pei,

you are the Prince Consort,

yet now you are holding

the Crown Prince's

secondary consort like this.

Do you know what punishment you'll face?

I heard Consort Qin got into trouble,

so I came to help her. I

The Prince Consort

came here following my order.

How can anyone despise him

and slander him?

You have feelings for her?

I

I am a bit worried about her.

What's your relationship with her?

Childhood friends.

Did she know

that you still care for her?

If she did,

why did she call off the engagement?

My father passed away

because of illness.

Back then,

I was sidelined by my uncle

and not entrusted with any major tasks.

It was her relatives

who canceled the marriage,

which is why we

So you two

loved each other

but couldn't be together,

and I ended up being a hindrance?

Your Highness.

Bring over the citrons.

Your Highness,

citrons will give me rashes

if I eat them.

Seriously?

Take this dish away.

And tell the chefs

to avoid making any dishes

that contain citrons.

Yes, Your Highness.

Eat it.

Your Highness, if I consume citrons,

I'll get rashes all over my body.

You still have to eat it.

That's my order.

I've just eaten something,

so I'll eat it later.

Eat it later then.

Since I have plenty of time,

let's play a game of weiqi.

Get the weiqi board.

Yes, Your Highness.

Playing as black,

the star point opening.

She hasn't changed at all.

So his weiqi strategy

has always been like this.

Dealing with

the twenty-year-old Pei Wenxuan,

I don't need to give full play

to my abilities.

Oh well.

I'll give him a little leeway,

so he won't be as embarrassed.

The eighteen-year-old Li Rong

still plays poorly,

but she's always been arrogant

and mischievous.

How come her tactics

are the same as the ones she used

when she was thirty-eight.

How come his strategies

are the same as when he was forty?

Li Rong may seem arrogant and spoiled,

but she actually acts very methodically.

She doesn't pick a fight for no reason.

However, when I first met Li Rong,

she humiliated me

in front of Su Rongqing.

Guards. Throw him into the lake.

- Yes, Your Highness.

- Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Back then,

the eighteen-year-old Li Rong

wasn't like this.

I remember

the twenty-year-old Pei Wenxuan

is more or less immature.

On the day of the wedding,

although he appeared calm

on the surface,

I could see from his eyes

that he was already in a state of panic.

Your Highness.

But now, when Pei Wenxuan sees me,

he's not just calm and composed,

he looks at me

like he knows me very well.

This weiqi game

turns out to be the final one we played

before living apart

and it was unfinished.

That unfinished game

was a stalemate.

I just don't want you

to ruin your own future

due to a sudden impulse.

No wonder he dares

to talk back to me like this now.

No wonder she knows

that citrons will give me rashes.

It's either him being truly audacious

Or

Or

- He has lived an extra 20 years.

- She has lived an extra 20 years.

- If so,

- If so,

- everything would make sense.

- everything would make sense.

Li Rong hated me to the core before.

Last time, it was her order

that had me k*lled.

The fact that she

can still control the urge

to k*ll me immediately

shows her extreme forbearance.

Fortunately, I have no intention

of entangling with her again

in this lifetime.

I will ask you one more time.

Why did you stop me

from choosing other men?

I

I

Because you felt guilty

about what you had done to me.

♪ Who gazes at the sky from afar? ♪

♪ Who gazes at the sky from afar? ♪

♪ In the night's chill breeze ♪

♪ What is she singing for? ♪

♪ The wind caresses the hills ♪

♪ The wind causes ripples on calm water ♪

♪ Moonlight graces passing souls ♪

♪ Her steps get slower and slower ♪

♪ She's trod a long path ♪

♪ Memories lost then found ♪

♪ Gazing idly as clouds roll by ♪

♪ She holds a red candle ♪

♪ To brave the thick fog ♪

♪ Life can be bitter sometimes ♪

♪ Experience it with grace ♪

♪ Like a fleeting dream ♪

♪ Like a fleeting dream ♪

♪ Neither warmth nor cold will last ♪

♪ Like a fleeting dream ♪

♪ Like a fleeting dream ♪

♪ The moon is reflected in her eyes ♪

♪ In her gaze,

the unwavering faith remains ♪