01x07 - Episode 7

[bunniefuu]

[The Princess Royal]

[Adapted from Mo Shubai's novel,

The Princess Royal]

[on Jinjiang Original Network]

[This is a work of fiction.]

[Episode 7]

Now that you have the chance

to do it all over again,

would you still want Qin Zhenzhen

to enter the palace?

You deliberately

didn't let the Crown Prince come today

because you didn't want them

to meet again, right?

That's good, Mr. Pei.

Make sure you seize this opportunity.

Can you stop making

these kinds of jokes in the future?

I'm not joking.

Hopefully, as we wish,

Qin Lin will come out of seclusion early

and spare us

from all those complications.

Excuse me, is anyone there?

You are

I am Pei Wenxuan

and this is Princess Pingyue.

We are here under the order

of the Crown Prince

to pay our respects to Young Master Qin.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Greetings, Young Master Pei.

But my young master

has been in seclusion for a long time.

I wonder how the Crown Prince

came to know about him.

The Young Master possesses

the abilities of a w*r god.

Back in Pingqiu,

he led eight hundred light cavalry

and defeated three thousand enemies,

displaying unmatched valor.

The Crown Prince is eager for talent

and has sent us

to deliver a letter of invitation.

He will personally visit tomorrow

and hopes to meet

Young Master Qin in person.

Did you write this?

Yes.

Given this handwriting,

I'll introduce you to my young master.

However, my young master

has an eccentric temperament.

Even if the Crown Prince himself

were to visit tomorrow,

he might still refuse to meet him.

It's no problem.

Talented people

can afford to be a bit willful.

If someone possesses

both talent and good looks,

then their willfulness

is even more justified.

Your Highness

truly has a great sense of humor.

It's getting late

and my humble abode is not suitable

for accommodating guests.

Please, the two of you should return.

Goodbye.

Don't worry,

Qin Lin has always been this way.

He spent his childhood

at the border until he was fifteen.

Only after his father died in battle,

did he leave the military camp

and return to Huajing,

retreating to Jiulu Mountain.

Back then,

Chuan endured harsh conditions

and waited day and night

to finally persuade Qin Lin to come out.

I get it but

And then there's Cui Qinghe

who we just saw.

He is Qin Lin's close friend

and later became his military adviser.

Hopefully, he will speak well of us

based on my handwriting.

When Qin Lin left back then,

he said he wanted to be buried here.

I accompanied him up the mountain

and was utterly exhausted

by the time we reached this point.

But now,

after all this walking,

I'm still feeling energetic.

Youth is truly wonderful.

Come back.

What is it?

Turn around.

Squat down.

Your Highness,

your stamina is really lacking.

What are you doing?

Since your stamina is good,

let's increase the difficulty.

Carry me down the mountain.

This isn't appropriate, Your Highness.

No one can see us here. Hurry up.

Besides, when have I ever cared

about being appropriate?

Hurry.

Your Highness,

you are totally bullying me.

You'd better walk faster.

It will be dark soon.

Your Highness,

have you been eating too much lately?

It's you whose stamina isn't up to par.

If Your Highness could be lighter,

my stamina would be sufficient.

You want me to be lighter?

Oh yes, you prefer a slimmer figure.

Were you a bit disappointed

that you didn't see

Qin Zhenzhen just now?

Li Rong,

a woman like you

is truly awe-inspiring.

That's to be expected.

After all, there are very few

who are as outstanding as I am.

Young Master Pei, we've arrived.

On behalf of the Ministry of Justice,

I'm here to apprehend

the suspect Pei Wenxuan.

Mr. Pei, please come with me.

I

Mr. Li.

As the Bureau Director

of the Inspectorate

in the Ministry of Justice,

I, Li Kui, greet Your Highness.

I wish Your Highness longevity

and good health.

Spare the formalities.

May I ask the purpose

of this action, Mr. Li?

Your Highness,

This morning, a merchant

reported to the Jingzhao Prefecture,

claiming that Mr. Pei

m*rder*d his master.

So I have been ordered

to ask Mr. Pei to assist

with the investigation.

Mr. Li,

I can assure you

that I have never done anything ill*gal.

May I know who this merchant is?

Your Highness,

this person is a foreign merchant

named Tuoba Yan.

Is Tuoba Yan dead?

Your Highness,

I am merely following orders.

I ask for Your Highness's understanding.

Your Highness,

I have never k*lled anyone.

There is no need to worry.

I have heard

that the prisons

of the Ministry of Justice

are very strict.

There won't be any cases

of forced confessions, will there?

Rest assured, Your Highness.

Mr. Pei is an upright gentleman

and I trust him.

Besides, this is merely

a procedural formality.

Mr. Pei will be fine.

Pei Wenxuan is now under my protection

and may continue to be in the future.

I will visit the prison daily

to see him.

So, do you understand

what I'm trying to say here, Mr. Li?

I do.

Please rest assured, Your Highness.

The Ministry of Justice will arrange

a suitable room for Mr. Pei.

Mr. Pei, please.

[Jiulu Mountain]

[Top secret]

Give it to the Crown Prince.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness,

currently, Xiao Su

has firmly established himself

in the Northwest.

Your Highness.

- You may all leave now.

- You may all leave now.

- Yes, Your Highness.

- Yes, Your Highness.

Get my carriage ready.

Tomorrow, I will go to the Huguo Temple

to pray for my mother's well-being.

A simple carriage

and a few servants will suffice.

Yes, Your Highness.

[The Ministry of Justice]

This is his cell, Your Highness.

You may leave now.

Yes, Your Highness.

What are you looking at?

After spending a night in the cell,

you seem surprisingly energetic

Quite content, aren't you?

You bet I am.

While the accommodations outside

may offer luxurious beds

and soft bedding,

the chaotic lifestyle makes it hard

to have peace of mind.

Here, it's calm and quiet,

providing a chance

for a good night's rest.

Then you should take the opportunity

to stay here for a few more days.

I will come over in a few days as well.

Why are you coming here?

Have you become dumb

after starting life anew?

After falsely accusing you

of k*lling Tuoba Yan,

the Yang Family

will surely have a follow-up.

We'll need to put on a show in court

to keep things in check.

When the time comes,

I might end up in prison as well.

And we can accompany each other.

Once Chuan takes charge

at the front lines

and assists

Concubine Rou's brother Xiao Su

in stabilizing the borders,

we will be released.

You stay here for now

and find ways to settle in comfortably.

Share your experiences later.

I'm heading out.

Unfortunately,

my young master

is not in a good mood today

and prefers not to see visitors.

Your Highness, please understand.

I'll wait

until Young Master Qin's mood improves.

You wouldn't mind me waiting here,

right, Mr. Cui?

Your Highness, do you know

how long you will be waiting here?

These foods

should last me for a few days.

Please convey to Young Master Qin

that Jiulu Mountain is far

from the hustle and bustle,

it's tranquil and beautiful,

perfect for nurturing the mind

and improving one's mood.

I'm not in a hurry.

Your Highness,

please feel free to do as you wish.

No wonder Rong kept reminding me

to be patient.

[Ministry of w*r]

Your Highness.

Please have some tea.

You arranged for me to inspect

the accounts at the Ministry of w*r.

I appreciate it, Mr. Su.

This

is what I should do.

That day,

at Tuoba Yan's residence,

you happened to save me.

I'm wondering why the coincidence.

Your Highness,

there are no coincidences in this world.

There is only intention.

The one who tried to k*ll you

is Su Rongqing.

Being born into the royal family,

deceit is unavoidable.

However, you are a gentleman

as pure as the moonlight.

There's no need for you

to get involved in such matters.

I'll get cracking now.

Feel free to do whatever you want.

I'll take my leave.

♪ Only if today were like the past

with serene sunset ♪

♪ Spring flowers fall like snow ♪

♪ Who will notice the longing? ♪

♪ Love and hate are intertwined ♪

♪ Life and death are like mirages ♪

♪ I look into your eyes when thinking

of where I belong in this life ♪

♪ Few lifetimes

of encounters and reunions ♪

♪ Will your love be rekindled

when you turn around? ♪

♪ Will we have a chance

if I let go of all my fears? ♪

♪ You are the final sanctuary of my soul ♪

♪ I hold love in empty hands ♪

♪ In the rush of the wild wind ♪

♪ Even if it's rare in the world ♪

♪ My affection for you

is yet to be expressed ♪

♪ I hold love, letting fate ♪

♪ Push me once again ♪

♪ Toward a dream with you in it ♪

♪ I fear I might let you down ♪

♪ I hold love ♪

♪ So what even if I miss it again? ♪

♪ For the deepest yearning ♪

♪ I endure the pain

when brushing past you ♪

♪ I hold love with an oath ♪

♪ That's the only way

to cross the years without you ♪

♪ In this world,

I can't help but long for you ♪

♪ Yet I can only admire you

from a distance ♪

Shut up.

Come with us if you want to live.

Miss Jinglan,

has Her Highness not returned yet?

Not yet. I am planning to go

and fetch Her Highness.

Quickly go and inform Her Highness

that there's news about Tuoba Yan.

It hurts. Who are you people?

Stop it.

Help him up.

I told you to rescue him,

not to hurt him.

Please forgive us, Your Highness.

Long time no see, Sixth Master.

I

I thought you had left Huajing,

but it turns out

you're still wandering nearby.

Who are you exactly?

I'm sure

you have already guessed who I am.

Now I just want to ask you for a favor.

I want to overthrow

the powerful and wealthy families,

but just relying on account books

is not enough.

Sixth Master,

could you be a witness for me?

Your Highness,

since you were able to find me,

you should know

that in our line of work,

one's life can be forfeited,

but the rules must never be broken.

You're afraid that if you betray

the Yang Family,

other families

will definitely join forces to k*ll you,

right?

But you should know

that one must be alive first

to have a chance of being k*lled.

And now,

I'm in your hands, isn't it the same?

I just saved you, didn't I?

Is that how you save someone?

That's how you save a person?

So, if I don't agree with you,

do I have to die

in this courtyard today,

Your Highness?

Sixth Master, you jest.

Why would I k*ll you?

I heard

that your wife is working

as an embroidery lady

in the Qingshui Town of Luzhou.

Your son has also reached the age

to begin learning.

I heard you arranged

an identity for him,

planning for him to enter

Fengshan Academy next year.

Isn't that right?

People shouldn't be too fixated

on certain things.

Don't you think so?

You're not in a good mood,

and neither am I.

Who's there?

Where did you pop up from?

[Qin Zhenzhen]

I thought you were a wild animal.

[Eldest daughter of the Qin Family]

You playboy,

how dare you hold me like that!

I saved you.

How can you treat me like that?

It's clear you're a bookworm

at first glance.

Why would I need you to save me?

Take this!

Miss,

why did you sh**t

an arrow at me just now?

If I really wanted to harm you,

why would I only aim

at the place near you?

If you can scare away my prey,

why can't I scare you a little?

I'm sorry.

But I didn't mean to

No need to explain.

Your Majesty.

Has Concubine Ning

started causing trouble again?

It's not Her Highness causing trouble,

it's the border.

General Xiao has taken over

the Yang Family's military power,

but his subordinates

are not cooperating.

The enemy has been making threats

for three days straight,

but the defending troops

remains steadfast in avoiding battle.

General Xiao dares not

execute any more soldiers.

They are threatening me!

Your Majesty, don't be angry

and risk harming your health.

The Yang Family's arrogance

and collusion with the enemy

are outrageous.

They should have been ex*cuted

as a warning to others,

but given

the current dire situation

I can offer some solace for the moment.

Send word to Xiao Su

to guard the border at all costs.

I'll send reinforcements promptly.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Also,

go notify Pingyue

to endure it for the time being.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Brother,

today, His Majesty decreed

to have Pingyue detained

in the Ministry of Justice

pending trial.

From my understanding of both of them,

Pingyue might indeed have obtained

evidence of the Yang Family

embezzling military funds.

Even so,

the Shangguan Family

cannot take the lead

in opposing the Noble Houses.

Do we really have to stand by

and watch as these pieces of evidence

end up in His Majesty's hands,

rather than benefiting the Crown Prince?

I'm afraid the two siblings

are not aligned with us.

So you are the Crown Prince?

Yes.

Your intentions are good,

but you are a bit reckless.

Miss, your criticism is valid.

I was blind to your true abilities

and underestimated you.

That was my first mistake.

Then, I rashly held a lady,

tainting her reputation.

That was my second mistake.

If that's the case,

then there's a third mistake.

You've been here

for three days in a row,

disturbing my peace.

That's your third mistake.

Miss, you are

I'm the sister

of the person you want to see.

I'm Qin Zhenzhen.

I'm wondering though, Your Highness,

on what basis do you believe

my brother will help you?

So you are Miss Qin.

I have heard that your father,

General Qin, was skilled in warfare

but weary of it.

Sadly, he fell in battle

a few years ago,

leaving his ambitions unfulfilled.

My desire is also to find

a capable general

to help end the w*r and conflicts

and bring peace to the land.

These nuts are a token of my sincerity.

I hope you will accept them.

Thank you then.

Did you all hear

what the Crown Prince said outside?

He's actually quite kind,

thinking of saving me

even though I don't need his help.

You are kind and innocent,

have you considered

that he may have ulterior motives?

But at that time,

he didn't even know who I was.

Lin, shouldn't you be very happy?

There's someone

who fully understands your aspirations

and has both the ability and sincerity

to help you achieve them.

Mr. Li,

can I choose my cell?

Of course, Your Highness.

Which room caught your eye?

I'll take the cell next to Mr. Pei's.

It's comforting

to have a familiar presence nearby.

Your Highness is right.

Please come this way, Your Highness.

Your Highness,

Her Highness and Mr. Pei

have been framed

and imprisoned one after another.

She must have her own arrangements

regarding this matter.

Right now, the priority

is to get General Qin's help

as soon as possible.

Who's this wild creature

that's following me so closely?

Feng Ming.

Your Highness.

Miss Qin,

would you be interested

in another sparring match?

If I win,

could you help me

persuade your brother a bit more?

What if you lose?

Then persuade him a bit less.

If you lose,

I'll advise him not to go.

How about that?

I won't go easy on you.

Feng Ming, step back.

Show me what you're made of.

Miss Qin,

the outcome between us

is no longer important.

I trust

that with your brother's aspirations

to save the world,

even without persuasion,

he will go.

I've only been here for a short while

and Your Highness

has already come to join me.

You must have been eager to see me, huh?

It seems that you haven't learned

much else in jail,

apart from getting more glib-tongued.

Not really.

Your Highness mentioned before

that you would visit me daily,

but I

haven't even seen you at all

these past few days.

I've been thinking day and night,

unable to sleep peacefully.

My heart is filled

with countless thoughts and emotions.

If I have offended

Your Highness in any way,

please forgive me.

I'll take my leave now.

Your Highness,

if there is anything you need,

just let me know.

Thank you, Mr. Li.

Have you sorted out everything?

One of the two matters is sorted.

I'll tell you about it later.

How did you mess this up?

How come Tuoba Yan isn't dead?

The butler Wang Shun said

that Tuoba Yan

was stabbed to death on the spot,

but it turned out to be a decoy.

It's all because of my negligence,

which has caused trouble

for Your Highness.

I'm willing to accept

your punishment, Your Highness.

What's the use of k*lling you?

Regardless,

you must find Tuoba Yan for me.

Otherwise,

your entire family

will meet their end with me.

That looks good.

Come and see me every day from morning

to noon and evening afterwards.

Yes, Your Highness.

You can go now.

Which matter have you sorted out?

You don't have to write it down.

No one else is here.

I got the evidence.

What about Qin Lin?

Is he on board with us now?

Do you think it's that easy

to get Qin Lin on board?

I'm worried you

might take it the wrong way,

but I have a solution.

What solution?

After all, he's Zhen's

What Zhen?

He's Miss Qin's brother after all,

so he might do me a favor.

You were rejected for marriage.

Why would he do you a favor?

When was I rejected for marriage?

She simply had no choice.

Pei Wenxuan,

I've noticed something about you.

Your other abilities are average,

but your ability

to deceive yourself is remarkable.

Previously,

her love towards Chuan was so obvious.

And it was never about you.

Your logic is flawed.

She wasn't even acquainted with Li Chuan

when she called off the engagement.

It must have been pressure

from her family.

You think the key point

is when she started

having feelings for Li Chuan?

The key point

is she might not have liked you at all.

From what I see,

calling off the engagement

was entirely voluntary

and her own decision.

What's with the strong reaction today?

I thought we

had finished discussing this.

What? Did you resort to coercion

when interrogating the person?

Is it Tuoba Yan?

I knew it.

You tend to lose your composure

when there's blood around.

I'll take care of these matters

in the future.

No need, it's none of your concern.

Why wouldn't it concern me?

We are supposed to live together.

If you go out to interrogate people

and come back in a bad mood,

then you will take it out on me.

Ultimately, isn't it me

who will suffer from this?

I beg of you, please,

spare me the t*rture.

In the future,

let me handle such matters for you.

Okay?

Alright, I agree.

I've got something for you.

[To Your Royal Highness]

[The peony's beauty is unmatched.]

[It's a spectacle that captivates

the capital when it blooms.]

You actually had the time

to write poems and paint, huh?

[Aged peony]

I'm just joking.

As they say,

old wine gets better with time.

You're like a fine wine,

getting better with age.

Peony is a symbol of your beauty.

So, "aged peony"

is actually a compliment.

It's not meant to insult you.

Why would I insult you?

I'm not that kind of person.

Your Highness.

Your Highness,

His Highness the Crown Prince is here.

Rong.

Chuan.

Rong,

are you doing okay here?

I'm doing great, don't worry.

Everything is going as I expected.

So, how about it?

Were you able to persuade Qin Lin?

Not yet,

but soon.

Soon?

I persuaded her.

It's pretty much a sure thing now.

Long time no see, Pei.

Long time no see.

It's been about four years, hasn't it?

Indeed.

Oh, Rong,

Uncle asked me to check with you

if you could hand

these pieces of evidence

over to the Shangguan Family.

What do you think?

Definitely not.

We can't be tied

to the Shangguan Family any longer.

I'm glad you understand.

Why is she here?

Do you

know her?

This is someone I met

outside Qin Lin's house.

It was a chance encounter.

She said she could help me

persuade Qin Lin,

but the condition

is that she wants to meet Pei Wenxuan.

I heard you were imprisoned

and I was truly worried.

That's why I came here without notice.

Now that I know you're safe,

I feel relieved.

No need to worry.

I can handle everything here.

Are these two in a relationship,

Rong?

Just listen to what they have to say.

Also,

regarding the cancellation

of the engagement

Cancellation of the engagement?

Pei's engagement with this girl got

I apologize for not being able

to explain in person.

I hope you can forgive me.

It's alright.

This matter has nothing to do with you

in the first place,

so there's no blame on you.

Please don't worry about it anymore.

You misunderstood.

The decision to cancel the engagement

was my own choice.

There are no feelings between us,

yet we were forced

to be together by our parents,

pretending to be a couple

and committing to a lifetime together.

What's the point of that?

I've heard

that you are an open-minded person,

so I believe you can understand.

I originally wanted

to explain this to you in person,

but the elders kept preventing me

from doing so.

I was at a loss as well.

I I can totally understand.

I mean it.

That's great then.

I was worried you might think

we ditched you

because of Uncle Pei's passing.

I've pushed them many times,

but it kept getting delayed,

so it's been weighing me down

this whole time.

However, now that everything's clear,

I feel relieved.

Your Highness,

may I ask why you're laughing?

I'm laughing

at someone

who read too much into things.

You two can continue.

No need to mind me.

Actually, this matter isn't a big deal.

I know you and your brother well.

So no need to worry anymore.

It's not good to stay here for long.

You and the His Highness

should leave first.

Tell your brother

that His Highness is very

My brother is aware of this.

Don't worry.

He will go.

It's just that we have to wait

a few more days.

Wait a moment.

You said your brother would go,

but then you mentioned

helping me persuade him.

Did you lie to me?

He only decided to go

because I persuaded him.

How is that a lie?

You

Chuan, mind your manners.

Miss Qin,

if the Crown Prince is forced

to be sent to the front lines,

can your brother ensure he will go?

Your Highness, rest assured.

My brother is just testing

His Highness's character

by being difficult.

He had no intention to refuse.

I understand.

Pei, I will take my leave.

Chuan,

during the assembly tomorrow morning,

Father may appoint you

to oversee military affairs

in the Northwest.

You mustn't agree directly.

Keep rejecting the offer.

After Qin Lin goes with you

to the front lines,

you mustn't let anyone know

he's associated with you.

Arrange for him to stay

in the military camp secretly.

After planning for so long,

we can't let others benefit

from our efforts.

Rong, don't worry.

I'll handle it properly.

I'll go get prepared now.

Go ahead.

Chuan,

don't personally escort Miss Qin later.

Send someone else to do it.

You have more important matters

to attend to.

Rong, why do you

always treat me like a child?

You

I know. I'm off.

Are you worried

that Li Chuan and Qin Zhenzhen

will get together again?

Are you not worried?

They have indeed

met earlier than expected

and it's uncertain

what might happen next.

Li Chuan and Qin Zhenzhen

met a year later in the past.

When Her Majesty was selecting

consorts for the Crown Prince,

Shangguan Ya was the primary consort

and Qin Zhenzhen

was a secondary consort.

The other three

were selected from different families.

Yes.

Initially, Chuan was unwilling,

but after being scolded many times,

it was under my persuasion

that he agreed to the marriage.

However, it was from that time onward

that Chuan became less like a youth.

He became more reserved, calm,

and dignified in his demeanor

when handling things.

It was only because Qin Lin

had military power

that Mother placed Qin Zhenzhen

in the Eastern Palace.

However, she came

from a humble background,

so initially,

she wasn't favored by the Crown Prince.

Additionally,

her stubborn nature

led her to face bullying

in the Eastern Palace.

I heard that her servants withheld

her winter coal allowance

and embezzled her monthly stipend,

but she never complained.

It wasn't until later,

when two concubines

in the Eastern Palace

began to frame each other

Your Highness,

the physicians have been warned

and are afraid to treat you.

Your health is so fragile,

why did you still jump into the lake

to save someone?

Ling, don't worry.

I'm fine.

After that,

her maid Ling came to see me.

Mr. Pei.

Please save my miss.

Get up first.

What happened to Zhen?

It's just some trivial jealousy

and rivalry among the concubines.

No need for you to be involved

How can you say

it's just some trivial jealousy?

She nearly died.

Your Highness,

as a husband,

even if you don't love her,

you should at least

not treat her harshly.

Moreover,

Qin Lin is still risking his life

on the front lines for you.

And please don't forget

that she nearly lost her life

to save your Crown Princess.

Alright.

I will go.

Pei Wenxuan,

it was you

who personally presented your beloved

to Chuan.

♪ 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 ♪