01x35 - Episode 35

[bunniefuu]

♫ The falling snow ♫

♫ Is bitter cold ♫

♫ My sigh ♫

♫ Misted the path in front of me ♫

♫ The moonlight knows my intention ♫

♫ I just want to make a
place for me in your heart ♫

♫ I laugh and I cry ♫

♫ Quietly building a pond in my heart ♫

♫ I accept all the gifts from sorrow ♫

♫ I can't let down my regrets ♫

♫ I won't admit defeat ♫

♫ I slowly chew on the
bitterness of life ♫

♫ The fragrance remains the
same after the bleak winter ♫

♫ Awaiting spring to
color the way back home ♫

[The Double]

[Episode 35]

Slowly.

One more step.

Be careful.

Thank you, Brother-in-law.

Why are you calling him that?

These days, my food, clothing, and even
my treatment are all provided by Duke Su.

- Who is he if not my brother-in-law?
- Smart.

Much smarter than your sister.

Duke Su.

Is there a reason you are here
to see me today?

We'll talk about that later.

I'll have a walk with my brother-in-law first.

Don't worry.

I'm very gentle.

Brother-in-law. Slow down.

[Princess Wanning's Residence]

Meixiang.

Your Highness.
What kind of incense is burning here?

Your Highness, it's your favorite, Jasmine.

Why does it smell so disgusting?

Your Highness, Imperial Physician Zhang
will be here soon.

After he arrives,
he will prescribe some medicine.

I will decoct it,
and you will feel better after having it.

Have you told Shen Yurong about my condition?

Yes, I have.

What did he say?

He told me to take care of Your Highness.

What is it?

Why aren't you saying anything?

Your Highness, I may have made a mistake.

Please look for a better physician,
Your Highness.

I only trust you in the whole
Imperial Academy of Medicine.

Come on, tell me what's going on.

Otherwise, I will punish you for deceiving me.

Spare my life, Your Highness.
Please forgive me, Your Highness.

Raise your head.

Have you menstruated this month,
Your Highness?

I'm afraid Your Highness is... pregnant.

How dare you?

How dare you speak nonsense
in front of Her Highness?

I would not dare to do so!

Spare me, Your Highness.

Spare me, Your Highness.
Spare me, Your Highness.

Imperial Physician Zhang.

Is what you said true?

I dare not lie.

Have you forgotten the diagnosis you
gave me when I returned from Dai Country?

Your Highness has suffered too many injuries.

Especially after having multiple miscarriages,
which impaired your circulatory system,

it will be difficult for you
to recover from that.

I'm afraid that Your Highness can't
bear any more children in the future.

That's why I was extremely surprised.

This is extremely rare.

It is truly a blessing from Heaven.

A miracle.

If I don't want this child,
can I get pregnant again in the future?

Well, it's hard to say if
you will be this lucky again.

How long do you think I have been pregnant?

It should be less than a month.

Thank you for your hard work, Physician Zhang.

Take Imperial Physician Zhang
to have some tea before leaving.

No.

I won't bother you, Your Highness.

I am in a hurry to go home.

It's just a cup of tea.

Your wife and son won't mind it.

Your Highness, please spare me!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, spare my life!

Your Highness! Your Highness, spare my life!

Your Highness!

Your Highness, please spare me!

Your Highness!

I'm leaving for Zhao tonight.

Already?

To see your great performance,
I've already delayed it for a day.

Is something happening
at Eldest Princess's Residence?

The Eldest Princess secretly got rid
of an imperial physician.

It is said that she was diagnosed
to be pregnant.

How did you do it?

I remember that you know
how to read pulses.

I do know a little about medicine
from being sick for too long.

Read my pulse.

Whose is it?

Tell me.

Jiuyue's.

I told you she is a poison user.

I know she uses poison.

If I didn't try it on myself,
how would I know if it works?

Other than faking your pulse,
what other harm does this medicine bring?

None.

Jiuyue tried to experiment on herself,
and I just happened to hear about it.

- Nonsense.
- I'm serious.

Wanning may not want me
to marry Shen Yurong.

If the news saying that she is pregnant
spreads now,

I may not have to marry him anymore.

Why are you staring at me?

In front of Wanning, Shen Yurong
can't protect you, but I can.

I know.

How did you poison the Eldest Princess?

Wanning is wary of me,

but she won't have her guard up
against Your Highness for the time being.

I want to drug her
on your birthday banquet, Your Highness.

What drug?

It's not a harmful poison.

It's just a drug that can fake a pregnancy.

After a while, the effects of the medicine
will wear off naturally.

You are truly audacious.

Thanks to you for finding
Consort Li's weakness.

That's how I just convinced her to help me.

Now that the arranged marriage
is no longer a problem,

are you still going ahead with your plan?

Of course.

I want people to know
what Wanning and Shen Yurong have done.

I also want to help you catch
Lord Cheng's underlings.

Shen Yurong will not let her do this.

This is not up to him.

Then, before I come back,
you must act cautiously.

If you have any questions,

get Zhao Ke to send me a letter, or wait
until I'm back before making a decision.

Understood, Duke Su.

I'm not that weak.

I know how capable you are.

Before you go, I want to thank you.

Thank you for taking me back to the capital.

Thank you for not abandoning me, a pawn,
from the beginning to the end.

I've almost achieved my goal.

It's time for me to repay you.

Do you still remember what I said to you
when you took the Entry Exam?

I wish you a smooth journey ahead
and a successful revenge.

Now let me add this.

I hope that you can live life
the way you want to.

Are you setting off soon?

Yes.

Just try your best.

Do you remember your father's funeral?

[Memorial Tablet of General Xiao]

Master, from now on,
I will be stationed at the northern border

and inherit your mantle,
defending our country and homeland.

One day,

I will personally lead an army to regain
the lost territory, and avenge you.

[Memorial Tablet of General Xiao]

Am I the only one who thinks
that his crying looks fake?

I feel so too.

Your father is dead. Why aren't you crying?

Father told me if he dies in battle,
I should see him off with a smile.

But you aren't smiling either.

Maybe he didn't die in battle.

Do you want to investigate it?

Will you let me investigate it?

There are a few more people
I want you to look into for me.

Don't you want to investigate me first?

Give me your hand.

The other hand.

Close your eyes.

I can see through you.

Childish.

I have trusted you for eight years.

I will always believe in you.

Go early and come back early.
I will be waiting for you in the capital.

[Dai Camp]

Your Majesty, have some fruit.

Sure.

Don't you like dancing?

- Go ahead and dance.
- Go ahead and dance.

[Emperor of Dai]

It seems that you want me to dance with you.

Dance!

Dance!

What a worthless princess.

Already sent here as a hostage,
yet she still doesn't know her place.

From today on, you will always
be the lowliest concubine in my tent.

Someone, take her to the sheepfold.

That will be her home from now on.

This is really rare.

It is truly a blessing from Heaven.

If I don't want this child,
can I get pregnant again in the future?

It's hard to say if you
will be this lucky again.

Your Highness, Imperial Physician Zhang's
family has been dealt with.

What do you plan to do next?

Plan about what?

Do you plan to keep this child?

Disgraceful servant. You are in no position
to talk about the child in my belly.

Your Highness's belly will grow day by day.

It can't be hidden forever.

If His Majesty or others discover this,
I'm afraid we can't explain it.

Your Highness, you love that man
with all your heart.

If this is discovered,
His Majesty will surely not let this slide.

If this is that man's child,
I'm afraid his career will be ruined.

It will break your heart, Your Highness.

But this is our child.

I want to keep it.

As for the next step, I'm not in a hurry.

The child in my belly is less than a month old.

No one will notice it yet.

The most urgent task now is to
take good care of the child in my belly.

You can never truly know
what intentions others have.

There are countless people
who'd harm the child in my belly.

I have to protect the child well.

I will keep your child safe.

Summon Shen Yurong quickly.

Immediately.

Yes.

Weapons down.

Even insects know they should climb up.

Of course, humans would do the same.

Some people are born at the peak.

Even if you prepared long and hard for a plan,

he can just throw out
something randomly to replace it.

Oh, Heaven!

You're so unfair.

Does a person of humble origin
only deserve to live a lowly life?

Mr. Shen. The Eldest Princess
has summoned you to her residence.

Why did she make you come
to summon me in person?

Pregnant?

Could it be a mistake?

Diagnosed by Physician Zhang, can't be wrong.

Are you unhappy?

Or still angry with me?

Your Highness is like this now.

How can I still be angry?

This child is a precious gift.

You will be my consort sooner or later.

Now we are just ahead of schedule.

I will ask His Majesty to grant our marriage.

Your Highness, aren't you worried
that if you ask for His Majesty's blessing,

others will think that you're having
a secret affair with me?

I don't care.

But I can't ignore your reputation,
Your Highness.

My reputation?

Do you think I care about my reputation?

Maybe I did before.

- Ever since I came back from Dai...
- Your Highness.

Okay, I will say no more.

I just want the baby in my belly
to have a legitimate father.

This is also my first child.

I also hope to be its legitimate father.

But this matter cannot be rushed.

Otherwise, it will cause endless trouble.

What else can be done?

Do you not want to marry me?

You overthink, Your Highness.

Shen Yurong, I am the Eldest Princess
of the Great Yan.

I don't care about anything else.

I just want to stay with the
person I love for the rest of my life.

I must get what I want.

So, what does Your Highness
want me to do?

Joyfully welcome me and our child
to the Shen family.

Miss.

How is the situation
at Eldest Princess's Residence?

Shen Yurong had just visited there.

The arrow is strung.

Sure enough, the shot had to be fired.

What do you want me to do next?

Light a fire for them.

[Palace of Zhao]

Drink it.

Why are you so careless?

Zhao has really tight security.

Even I would get hurt to get in.

Then why didn't you use the bell I gave you?

How could those soldiers
possibly recognize your bell?

Then you can just tell them
you are Duke Su of Yan.

Who dares stop you?

I'm visiting in secret.

In secret?

So you are secretly here to see me?

I'm here to see your brother.

Whatever, I don't care.

Move along, don't stay here.

I didn't expect Zhao's guards to be so skilled.

If it weren't for Jiuyue's bells,
I'm afraid I would've died.

How humorous, Duke Su.

With your skills, if you didn't want
to get caught,

it would be hard for my guards to capture you.

You did this deliberately.

The sooner I am hurt and caught,
the less conflict will be created,

preventing any misunderstanding.

Tell me.

What do you want from me?

I want an army

to take precautions against possible
rebellious officials and traitors in Yan.

Before you came,
Lord Cheng's men had already come to me.

When Lord Cheng leads an uprising
in the north,

Your Majesty only needs to restrain them
at the border of Zhao,

holding the Yan army back.

Zhao Ye will be surrounded
and will surely collapse after one strike.

When Lord Cheng becomes the emperor,
he will surely treat Zhao well.

Your Majesty has just driven away
the rebel forces in your country.

I believe you must be in need of Yan's support.

If Your Majesty refuses to cooperate, or
even A*DS Zhao Ye in his stubborn resistance,

when Lord Cheng becomes the emperor,
he will surely want to clear his debt with you.

Are you threatening me?

I dare not do so. Lord Cheng is
far more powerful than Zhao Ye.

I just don't want Your Majesty
to make the wrong choice

and ruin the foundation you have just laid.

Regarding the Emperor of Yan and Lord Cheng,

my ministers have carefully
discussed and analyzed it.

Those who think that the Emperor of Yan
will win are less than half of them.

Duke Su, I hope you can understand.

If I help you,
I'm not just risking my life and fortune,

the foundation of Zhao is also at stake.

No matter who wins, as long as the victor
is willing to maintain peace with Zhao,

I will accept it.

Your Majesty is waiting for my bid, right?

If Your Majesty feels
that Lord Cheng is sure to win,

I'm afraid you would have agreed
to form an alliance with him.

Am I wrong?

This concerns only you, Yan.

Zhao is a small country
with no influence on the conflict.

If Lord Cheng wins,

our kingdom will naturally prepare a gift
to congratulate Lord Cheng.

Sending it then and sending it now
are two different situations.

So what does Lord Cheng want from me?

Didn't Your Majesty just form
an alliance with Yan?

Zhao Ye naturally thinks
that you are on his side.

Lord Cheng doesn't want much.

As long as you continue
to feed him this illusion,

when Lord Cheng rises to rebellion,

I hope Your Majesty will give us
your support in times of need.

Yes, I didn't accept Lord Cheng's proposition.

But I don't necessarily have to
agree with yours.

His Majesty said as long as
Your Majesty helps us, you can name your price.

You are just the icing on the cake
to Lord Cheng.

Even if he wins,
he won't necessarily be grateful to you.

But to His Majesty,
you are a help during a time of need.

He will definitely repay you.

Even if the Emperor of Yan wins,
how do I know if he will fulfill his promise?

Haven't Your Majesty personally
entered our country, and met our emperor?

Can't the sincerity of His Majesty
obtain your trust in return?

It's true, I can't trust him.

However,

I believe in you.

Are you willing to accept my conditions?

Have you heard
that the Eldest Princess is pregnant?

Nonsense. The Eldest Princess
doesn't even have a consort.

How could she be pregnant?

Shut up. Trust me, the Eldest Princess
is about to recruit a consort.

Then who do you think
this future prince consort will be?

I heard that Mr. Shen was seen going
in and out of the Princess's residence.

Do you think it could be him?

Just wait and see.

They won't accept it if a child is
born out of thin air without a father.

True.

Mother, where is Yurong?

He went to Hanlin Academy early this morning.

Why are you in such a hurry to see him?

I heard that the Eldest Princess is pregnant.

Did he tell you that?

- Who told you?
- Everyone on the streets is saying it.

No way.

If it were true, Yurong would have
told us already.

Has Yurong ever taken the initiative to
tell us about him and the Eldest Princess?

No, I have to go to Hanlin Academy now,
and ask him what happened.

Your Majesty.

I heard from Eunuch Su you haven't
taken your medicine, Your Majesty.

It's getting more and more bitter.
I had taken a bowl.

I may have this bowl later.

Your Majesty, you have caught a cold.

This medicine is both to cure
and to help you stay healthy.

It's best to take two bowls at once.

I asked them to reheat it.

Your Majesty, you'd better drink it.

Or else I would worry about you.

Oh, you. You always know how
to make me take my medicine.

Your Majesty, I heard a rumor recently.

What is it?

I heard that Eldest Princess Wanning
is pregnant.

The rumor has even spread to the palace now.

Wanning is not married.

How could there be such rumors?

How could there be such outrageous rumors?

Yes, this matter will affect
the reputation of the royal family.

Do the people spreading this rumor
intend to harm the royal family?

What do you think I should do?

Send an imperial physician
to check Wanning's pulse.

Then, there will be no rumors.

Good idea.

However, if an imperial physician
goes there alone,

with Wanning's temperament,
I'm afraid he would be kicked out.

I am willing to go with the
imperial physician to visit Wanning.

- Since this rumor came out,
- she doesn't go out much anymore.

I haven't seen her for a while, too.

Alright, I'll have to trouble you then.

It's my duty.

Hey, the Eldest Princess seems to be pregnant.

- Whose child is it?
- I don't know either. I heard it from others.

Is it true?

It's hard to tell.

I don't think this is true.

When there's smoke, there's fire.

Have you found all the books
I asked you to find?

We are looking for it.

Yurong.

Let's speak outside.

- Come.
- Mother, what is it?

What happened to you
and the Eldest Princess?

Rumors are spreading everywhere outside.

Rumors say that the Eldest Princess
is pregnant.

Everywhere? What does that mean?

It's all over the streets and alleys.

Don't leave yet. Talk to me.

What happened to you
and the Eldest Princess?

Mother, can't you see it?

Since it is known to everyone,
there must be someone behind the scenes.

I'm afraid this is a conspiracy.

I'll find a way to solve it.

Mother, just don't cause more trouble for me.

Greetings, Consort Li.

Eldest Princess.

Why do you have time to come here today?

I've heard some rumors recently,
so I came to have a look.

What rumors?

Some say that the Eldest Princess is pregnant.

Do you believe it, Consort Li?

I don't believe it,
and neither does His Majesty.

So, I brought an imperial physician
here today to diagnose you.

Outrageous.

I can't let you do as you wish to me
just for some rumors.

It's exactly because it's a rumor,
we have to investigate it.

After all, there are rumors saying

that the one who first spread the word was your
designated physician, Imperial Physician Zhang.

But no one knows where he is now.

The Imperial Academy of Medicine
has to bear this responsibility.

As such, they sent another
imperial physician to you.

In my opinion, whether you are sick or not,
it's good to have them check on you.

Don't the women in the palace regularly
ask for pulse readings for peace of mind?

Although you don't live in the palace,
you should also take care of your own body.

How dare that old man
spread rumors about me?

When I find him, I'll tear his mouth apart.

The Imperial Academy of Medicine
is also looking for him.

It's a pity that even his residence
has been emptied.

If he still can't be found,
they will naturally link him to you.

That old man must have absconded
with his family.

Your Highness, you must not tolerate him.

I thought so too at first,
but I didn't expect to hear another rumor.

They say Imperial Physician Zhang
might have found out some secret and was...

Which shameless person said that?

They should confront me.

I also wanted to catch the person
who spread the rumors.

Yet, on second thought, if we arrest them,
it would look like the royal family is guilty.

After mulling over it,

I think it's better for us to act honestly,
and put the rumors to rest.

Don't you think so? Wanning.

Imperial Physician Chu,
please read the Eldest Princess's pulse.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness, kindly allow me.

Eldest Princess, what are you doing?

I am the Eldest Princess.
My body is as precious as gold.

Why should I prove my innocence
just because of some rumors?

This is a humiliation to me.

If that's the case, I will go back
and report the truth to His Majesty.

Eldest Princess, just wait for His Majesty
to deliver the edict in person.

You may all leave.

I want to talk to Consort Li alone.

Consort Li.

You are so forgetful.

Have you forgotten about Consort Xian?

Before threatening others, why don't
you check who the person in your hands is?

What do you mean?

How smart you are.

Do you need me to remind you?

Do you want to side with Xue Fangfei?

I don't want to take any side.

I will not stoop to either side.

Ever since my sister became sick,
I am no longer as competitive as before.

It's you. You forced my hand.

I am a person who hates
being threatened the most.

Alright, that's it for today.

When I get back,
I will report the truth to His Majesty.

Take care, Eldest Princess.

When you are free, think about

how you should explain to His Majesty
the origins of this child in your belly.

Your Highness, Mr. Shen is here.

You are finally here.
Now come with me to see His Majesty.

See His Majesty?

- That's the last thing we should do now.
- Why?

Did you know that Consort Li had just come by?

Do you know how she threatened me?

- Consort Li?
- The Emperor knows that I'm pregnant.

If you don't become my prince consort,
how will I explain the child in my belly?

Who is the father?

Consort Li.

Isn't she on Your Highness's side?

What do you care about Consort Li?
She is just a dog.

She will side with whoever gives her a bone.

At this point, you...

What are you hesitating about?

What do you want?

Don't you think something is wrong,
Your Highness?

Lately, it feels as if someone
is pulling the strings behind the scenes.

What do you mean?

The news of Your Highness's pregnancy
was leaked immediately.

It spread from the streets,
and even reached the imperial court.

Later, Consort Li brought an imperial physician
here in the name of clearing up the rumors.

If no one was behind all this,
everything wouldn't have happened so fast.

Who did it?

Consort Li? Xue Fangfei?

Xiao Heng?

Are they in cahoots?

- What are they trying to do?
- Your Highness, please calm down first.

No matter who is behind this,

we just need to figure out their intentions
to be free of their control.

What do you think their intentions are?

I think they want to see us
admit that we have an affair,

and use it to accuse you and me
of fornication.

They're plotting to disgrace both of us

so they can investigate
the Xue family m*rder case.

You can't get to the bottom of the
Xue family's case just because you want to.

Why should we care?

The Xue family's case is negligible,
but what about Lord Cheng?

Lord Cheng will soon arrive in the capital.

At this critical moment, if something
happens to Your Highness right now,

we will be handing others the means
to control Lord Cheng.

Lord Cheng.

When Lord Cheng becomes the emperor,
no one will get to question our relationship.

The two of us can have many,
many more children.

Shen Yurong!

Do you know how difficult it is for me
to have this child?

I'm telling you, even if I sacrifice
you and me, I want to keep it!

If so, is Your Highness willing
to endure dishonor?

Do you have a way to save him?

Promise me.

I have a method.

But, Wanning, I don't wish for you to do this.

What kind of dishonor
do you want me to suffer?

The father of this child can only be... Li Jin.

What did you say?

This is the only way to save the child.

This is your child, Shen Yurong.

I understand, but to keep this child,

we must make people believe
that there is a reasonable father.

Looking at the entire imperial court,

the only one who has a matching status,
and can be manipulated by Your Highness

is Grand Chancellor Li.

The Li family has two sons.

Li Lian became a monk. Li Jin is unmarried.

He is the best candidate.

That's the only place where you can
safely maintain a healthy pregnancy.

For our child, let's endure for a while.

When the child is born, I'm sure Lord Cheng
would have taken the throne.

At that time, you can just find a reason
to divorce him.

We can still be together.

In this way, the ones who want to
destroy us will not have a chance to do so.

Shen Yurong...

After saying all these...

you just don't want to be my prince consort.

Right?

I am willing to die for you.
Any choice Your Highness makes,

I will be with you all the way.

Don't touch me.

Don't touch me!

You are forcing me to do this.

You know it.

You know everything.

Father, you are saying that you want me to
become the Eldest Princess's prince consort?

Is there a problem?

Have you heard the rumors
about the Eldest Princess?

A little.

We, the Li family, are not some humble family.

How could a child of unknown origin be allowed

to usurp the position of the firstborn
in the Li family?

I know this is unfair to you.

But this is also an opportunity
for you to make amends.

The one supporting the Eldest Princess
is Lord Cheng.

Father, have you ever thought about this?
If the child is born, all is well.

But if an accident
happens to it in the Li family,

I'm afraid all of us will be implicated.

Of course, I know what is at stake.

But this is the will of the Eldest Princess.

We, the Li family,
can't even think of refusing it.

Jin, if the Eldest Princess can marry
into our family,

we can form an alliance with Lord Cheng,
and we will gain more from it.

You are a smart person.

You should understand why we must do this.

Lady, I just heard from a servant

that the Eldest Princess is going
to marry into the Li family.

The Li family?

- Really?
- How about I go to the market and ask around?

Sure.

Good for you, Shen Yurong.

I have underestimated your cunningness.

♫ If there are no happy memories ♫

♫ How can we traverse the
forbidden land of sorrow? ♫

♫ Two cold and unfeeling bodies ♫

♫ Holding hands, can we get
through the snow season? ♫

♫ In the cold wind, in the long night ♫

♫ Embracing the remaining warmth ♫

♫ The depth of the sea, unfathomable ♫

♫ Can it bury yesterday's sighs? ♫

♫ Continue to love,
cherishing it with my life ♫

♫ Continue to live, even
with only a glimmer of hope ♫

♫ Whether in sorrow or
joy, I believe in you ♫

♫ I'd rather be trapped
in the world's extremes ♫

♫ Continue to live,
exhausting all courage ♫

♫ Continue to love, until
the breath runs out ♫

♫ Traversing half a lifetime of
loneliness, just to meet you ♫

♫ After the hardships,
never to part again ♫

♫ After the hardships,
never to part again ♫