01x34 - Episode 34

[bunniefuu]

♪Pink hands so fine♪

♪Gold-branded wine♪

♪Spring paints green willows
palace walls cannot confine♪

♪East wind unfair♪

♪Happy times rare♪

♪In my heart sad thoughts throng♪

♪We've severed for years long♪

♪Wrong, wrong, wrong♪

[Si Jin]

[Adapted from Si Jin,
by Dong Tian De Liu Ye]

[Episode 34]

[Princess Royal's Mansion]

Princess,

you should apologize

to the Princess Royal.

Mother! I'm sorry.

I shouldn't have kept you in the dark.

But I did burn the letter!

What's the point of arguing now?

Guards!

Take her to the detached residence.

No!

Mother!

I don't want to marry him!

Why don't you just k*ll him now?

I'm your only daughter!

You can't possibly make me

marry that useless scum!

You could have pleaded

with Uncle,

and he would have let this slide.

Mother!

How dare you speak so recklessly!

Did you not see

my brother's expression?

He has never ever

doubted me like that.

I have worked tirelessly for years

to earn the Emperor's trust,

only for it to be ruined

by your reckless actions!

I have spoiled you too much.

It's time

you learned your lesson.

Otherwise, this mansion

and my life

will be destroyed because of you.

Now I understand.

What you truly care about

is your brother

and your power.

Never me, your own daughter!

If you still want to be a princess

and my daughter,

then you will marry Zhu Ziyu!

Close the doors!

I won't marry him, Mother!

I won't!

I won't marry.

Mother.

Mother, I won't marry him!

Please, Mother!

I refuse!

I won't marry Zhu Ziyu, Mother!

I won't marry him!

Mingyue.

Father.

Mother wants me to marry Zhu Ziyu.

I don't want to marry him.

I really don't!

Father.

I know.

If you don't want to do it,
then so be it.

Come home with me.

Get up.

Careful now.

I don't want to.

- General Cui, you must not!
- General Cui, you must not!

Out of my way, all of you!

- General Cui.
- General Cui.

Come on!

What's the matter?

I can't leave

after being so humiliated.

That would only mean they've won.

Jiang Si. Yu Jin.

For the humiliation I suffered today,

they will pay dearly.

Mingyue!

Why are you just like your mother?

I am!

She gave birth to me and raised me.

You never cared for me when I was young.

So don't bother now.

Follow her!

Don't let her get caught in the rain!

It's our wedding night.

Won't you have a drink with me, my wife?

Who are you calling your wife?

We were just wed.

It was even decreed by His Majesty.

And who do you think you are?

To be so arrogant?

You're right.

If not for His Majesty's decree,

you'd already be dead by my hands.

But don't worry.

I have plenty of ways

to make your life
more miserable than death.

Then you'll realize

you would have been better off

dying with your family
on the road to exile.

I already promised

not to expose this matter.

Why must you still be so ruthless?

Blame yourself.

They all died because of you.

Yes.

It's all my fault.

If not for me,

they wouldn't have died.

Yi wouldn't have left me.

And I

would still see my Yan around.

You are pathetically laughable.

But worry not.

Your beloved Jiang Yi

and your daughter,

I will make sure

they suffer the worst pain
in this world.

I'll make you understand

that opposing me

comes at a terrible price.

My dear, let us have a drink.

Get out!

Don't disgust me

with the sight of you!

Be gone.

The wedding candles have gone out.

That is a terrible omen.

Why is my heart pounding

so fast?

How is Mingyue?

Princess Mingyue has gone
to the detached residence

to meet Zhu Ziyu, as you instructed.

I owe her.

From now on, I will grant her

whatever she wants.

Do you honestly think

I'd want to marry you?

Tonight, I will take your life,

as a tribute to the 83 lives lost
in my household.

You came seeking revenge?

Why wouldn't I?

Should I just let you continue

to hurt my family?

Zhu Ziyu.

Father.

Mother.

I've avenged you.

♪Life is like a wilting flower,
blooming and withering with the seasons♪

♪The wind leaves its trace,
swaying, yet holding firm♪

♪Not asking for more care
from the heavens♪

♪May I enjoy the blessings
in the days to come♪

♪Only wishing for a life
free from entanglements♪

♪Fate plays its tricks.
We are but mere mortals♪

Jiang Yi.

This is...

♪Looking back, I dare not gaze too long
at the road I've traveled♪

the last thing

I can do for you.

♪As the day fades,
the wise redeem themselves♪

No!

♪I only wish to awaken one day♪

♪If I enter the game, what fear is there
if the whole board is lost?♪

I was never a good father.

♪Sighing in despair. Is it too late?♪

Let Yan forget me.

Mother, save me.

♪My feelings are numb.
Is it too much to bear?♪

♪How many regrets are left unfulfilled?♪

♪A chance to mend, to make it whole♪

♪An inch of longing, a lifetime untold♪

♪Is the resting shore
too shallow to stand?♪

♪Is the yearning heart
too distant to span?♪

But why...

does my heart

feel so uneasy?

♪I remain trapped♪

As if something bad is going to happen.

♪Gone is the fateful encounter,
and my life is dulled for good♪

Shijiu.

Go check on Mingyue
at the detached residence.

Even if she's angry,
she mustn't act senselessly.

What matters most right now

is keeping Zhu Ziyu alive.

Yes, Your Highness.

Dawn will come soon.

The rain has stopped.

There shouldn't be

any more trouble tonight.

Why

do my eyelids keep jumping?

[Prince Yan's Mansion]

May your love be fruitful and abundant.

May your descendants flourish.

May your lineage continue endlessly.

May your family prosper and thrive.

Perform the ceremony of joining cups.

You never drink.

We can skip this part, can't we?

Only by completing this ritual

will we truly be husband and wife.

I'll make an exception.

Very well.

Join the cups and share the liquor.

Respectfully and solemnly,
with gravity and propriety.

Let the hair be tied together.

By joining our hair,
we are joined as husband and wife.

To love each other without any doubts.

The ceremony is complete.

Bring in the food.

This is lotus seed soup.

May Prince Yan and Princess Consort Yan

have a long and harmonious marriage,
blessed with many children.

Nanny.

I see that container
has ten compartments?

Yes.

It is auspicious,

symbolizing a perfect union.

There are also sesame-filled tangyuan.

Eating them symbolizes
family unity and togetherness.

We also have sweet glutinous rice ba*ls,

red date and longan soup,

osmanthus stuffed sweet lotus root,
red bean…

Nanny Hua, don't worry.

They will eat.

I think

we should call it a night.

Yes, we should leave them to it.

The rituals are not yet complete.

Your Highness,
don't forget to finish everything!

We will.

You knew all along, didn't you?

Knew what?

That I am the Nanwu Saintess.

Yes, I did.

Did you approach me

because of that?

At first, yes.

But after a while, well,

you knew how I felt about you.

I never deceived you.

Do you remember

before my brother fell into the water,

I told you

I had a dream?

That wasn't a dream.

It was something
I had actually lived through.

Really?

Back then, we had already

been married

and bowed to Heaven and Earth.

There is a legend in Nanwu.

It is said that the Saintess
can foresee the future.

But the truth is,

I became the Saintess

because all my visions

were things I had already lived through.

Yet,

I wished it were just a dream.

I only wanted a simple life.

I just want to be Jiang Si
from the Count of Dongping's Mansion.

It doesn't matter to me

if you're the Saintess or not.

♪A sudden glance,
just like our first meeting♪

When I knelt before the palace hall...

♪Feelings remain,
but things are ever unclear♪

I had only one thought.

♪Memories replay♪

I was afraid

I'd never see you again.

♪Can I make it through
another long night?♪

Whoever you are,

I will never change.

♪Afraid of losing you again♪

♪The pain lingers deep inside♪

I will always be

Jiang Si's Yu Qi.

♪Leaving dreams incomplete♪

♪I still can't let you go♪

♪No matter how far the journey takes me♪

♪I'll do anything to save♪

♪Our shared past♪

This is the first time I've seen

Prince Yan drink liquor.

How rare.

Be honest.

This is your first time too, right?

Of course not.

Off you go.

Once, Chief led us

to a great victory in battle.

When we returned victorious,

he couldn't resist

and drank with us.

At first,

we all thought

he could hold his liquor well

because he showed
no sign of drunkenness.

But

two hours later,

he fell asleep.

Then suddenly,

he woke up and…

And?

Never mind.

I shouldn't be telling you all this.

Long Dan!

Don't.

Long Dan, just tell me!

No, I can't.

I won't tell another soul.

Fine.

Then, in the spirit of us

being family now.

We've always been family.

You mustn't tell anyone else.

I won't.

Promise?

I promise.

He grabbed a stool and started crying.

Chief had no parents

to care for him from a young age.

He was exiled

to the Southern Frontier all alone.

He suffered and endured

countless hardships.

But he never

spoke of it to anyone.

Sometimes,

I wish he would cry more

and drink his pain away.

[Princess Royal's Mansion]

Mind the steps, Your Highness.

A fire broke out
at Princess Mingyue's residence.

Princess Mingyue has passed away.

It was Zhu Ziyu who k*lled her.

I failed to protect her.

Please, Your Highness, grant me death.

Liar!

It cannot be.

Why are you lying to me?

Why?

Move aside.

Your Highness, you must not open it.

Move! Don't stop me!

Your Highness, please don't do this…

Get out of my way.

Move aside!

Your Highness, you must not open it.

Your Highness.

Your Highness, please.

Move!

Your Highness!

Your Highness.

Your Highness!

Who… Who is this?

Who is this?

This is not Mingyue.

Mingyue doesn't look like this.

Your Highness.

What are you all doing here?

Why are you just standing around?

Find her!

Go!

Your Highness.

Find her!

Your Highness.

I know you're just trying

to scare me.

You're playing a prank on me.

This isn't real.

It can't be happening.

Your Highness.

I...

I was wrong.

Bring her back to me.

I… I was wrong.

Your Highness!

[Prince Yan's Mansion]

Dear.

From today onward,

I am no longer a member
of the Jiang family.

No one

will call me Jiang Si anymore.

Everyone will address me
as Princess Consort Yan.

I believe a good husband

should let his wife

always be herself.

You will always be Jiang Si.

Not a woman

whose identity is dictated by me.

If my wife ever feels

even the slightest bit of sorrow,

then I will make everyone call me

the son-in-law of the Jiang family.

All right.

I was overthinking it.

Dear, I want to visit
the Count of Dongping's Mansion

to see my sister and the others.

We should also move everything

from the Count of Dongping's Mansion

to Prince Yan's Mansion.

Of course.

Isn't it almost time?

We should get ready to go to the palace

and pay our respects

to His Majesty and Her Majesty.

I won't go see Emperor Jingming.

Come on.

No matter what,

His Majesty

still granted us his blessing.

I think,

deep down, he is on your side.

Dear,

let's just think of it

as completing a necessary task.

If we don't go,

they will say we lack proper etiquette.

That will only cause more trouble.

My wife is absolutely right.

[Eternal Joy and Serenity]

I present dried meat
with ginger and cassia to Mother.

- Thank you, Mother.
- Thank you, Mother.

Seeing you two

marry

fills me with great joy.

Rise.

Take a seat.

May you both have a harmonious marriage

and many children.

Thank you, Fuqing.

You probably haven't heard of this yet.

Princess Mingyue is dead.

She was k*lled by Zhu Ziyu.

He then set himself on fire
and died as well.

No wonder we didn't see His Majesty

when we went to pay our respects

this morning.

We only heard

that he had gone
to the Princess Royal's Mansion.

Zhu Ziyu acted just as I expected.

But I didn't think

he would sacrifice his own life

to resolve this stalemate.

For someone like Zhu Ziyu

to do something so fearless

before his death.

Perhaps, for him,

it was a kind of redemption.

Although Zhu Ziyu k*lled
Princess Mingyue,

I know Princess Royal's nature.

She will surely

direct this hatred

toward the two of you.

She is ruthless.

There's no telling
what methods she might use

against you both.

Yu Jin, find an excuse

to take Jiang Si back
to the Southern Frontier.

The Red Plume Cavalry is there.

They can protect you both.

Fortune and disaster cannot be avoided.

We must face it.

Princess Royal has always

had it out for us.

We can adapt as needed.

We only fear bringing trouble to you.

You should distance yourself

from us

in public.

We will also

reduce our visits to Changning Palace.

Please forgive us.

I told you Jin and Si were not ones

to retreat in the face of danger.

Mother and I had already discussed it

before you arrived.

If you wished to leave,

we would find a way

to ensure your safe departure.

If you wished to stay,

Mother and I

would no longer stand aside
and protect only ourselves

as we did before.

This time,

we stand together.

[Ningxiang Hall]

I have

no biological son of my own.

Yu Jin, if you are willing,

I can request a decree from His Majesty

to adopt you as my son.

Empress Di,

shouldn't you first

ask Yu Jin's mother

if she agrees?

Greetings, Mother.

Your Highness.

Imperial Concubine Xian.

How dare you enter Changning Palace

without an announcement?

By the time you announce me,

my son might have already been

taken away by someone else!

Imperial Concubine Xian.

It has been a while
since your last visit.

Be seated.

My daughter-in-law and son
just got married.

I waited in Jinhua Hall for ages,

but they never showed up.

It seems I won't get to drink

my new daughter-in-law's tea after all.

Mother.

His Highness and I were just preparing

to go to Jinhua Hall

to greet you.

Is that so?

But I just heard

that you were about to recognize

someone else as your mother.

Do I still have the right

to receive your greetings?

Your Highness,

are you referring

to my mother?

Though I am younger,

I understand

that my mother
is the head of the six palaces.

She is the official mother
of all the princes and princesses.

If she wishes to adopt Jin as her son

and raise him under her name,

what is inappropriate about that?

Look at that.

I'm deeply impressed

by how strong

their mother-daughter bond is.

I merely made a few complaints,

and she instantly rushed to her defense.

But if someone with ill intentions

wanted to take her away

from you,

how would you react, Your Majesty?

Princess Fuqing was born
and raised by Her Majesty.

Of course, their bond is strong.

Unlike you, who gave birth
but never raised your child.

Yet now, you speak of blood ties.

You are just afraid
that if I become an official son,

it will affect Prince Qi's status.

Nonsense!

Both of you are equally
my flesh and blood.

Though I did not raise you,

I have worried about you

just as much as I have for Prince Qi.

You ungrateful child!

Mind your words,
Imperial Concubine Xian.

Prince Yan is intelligent
and benevolent.

Since returning to Ling'an,

he has accomplished
many tasks successfully.

Even His Majesty holds him
in high regard.

Since you think so little of him

and have Prince Qi
to cherish at your side,

I have no reason

to hesitate.

Yu Jin.

In front of Imperial Concubine Xian,

I ask you,

are you willing to be recorded
under my name

and become my son?

I am willing to.

What did you say?

Mother.

What Princess Fuqing said makes sense.

You are the official mother
of all the princes.

Even if Prince Yan is not officially

registered under your name,

you are still our official mother.

Regardless,

we will do our best

to serve you.

There is no need to trouble you

with the formal adoption ceremony.

At least she knows what's what.

Are you upset that I stopped you?

I do want

to have Her Majesty as my mother.

But you must have your reason

for stopping me.

Tell me about it.

I was thinking

about Her Majesty and Princess Fuqing.

We treat each other with sincerity.

Even without the official title
of mother and son,

we would still do everything

to protect each other.

But once you formally
take on this title,

it would be a public declaration

that you belong to Empress Di's faction

and that you are ambitious.

We would become

everyone's target.

You're right.

I was only thinking
about angering Imperial Concubine Xian.

I didn't consider
the broader consequences.

I understand.

She is your birth mother.

Anyone would struggle
to let go of what she did.

Here's what we'll do.

Try to see her as little as possible.

If you must meet her,

I will go in your place.

You shouldn't go either.

Did you forget
how she treated you the last time

we went to pay respects?

Then let's both stop seeing her,

all right?

But Mother…

Mother is a wise woman.

I trust that she will understand
our intentions.

The real issue now

is how we get through
our current situation.

With Cui Mingyue dead,

Princess Royal will undoubtedly
seek revenge against us.

The Annals of Fortune and Misfortune
contains Father's name.

We cannot present it to him.

Mother would not want the truth

to be exposed to the public.

Doing so

would only provoke
Princess Royal's wrath.

This is what we'll do.

We should strike first.

We will report to Father
about Princess Royal's collusion

with Nanwu

and how she plotted against you

and your mother.

All right.

Let's summon Xiao Shi back

as a witness.

Greetings, Mother.

Why are you here?

Mother.

You summoned me, remember?

You said that Princess Consort Yan
is visiting the palace today

and wanted me to select
a few capable maids

for her to take back.

I've already brought them.

They are waiting outside.

They won't be needed.

They've already left.

Why not send them
to Prince Yan's Mansion

under your name?

Princess Consort Yan is young.

She will need help
managing their household.

This can also be a token
of your goodwill.

I said there's no need.

Take your people and leave.

Yes, Mother.

Wait.

I have a question for you.

If Empress Di

wanted to adopt Zhang
as her official son

and register him under her name

so he could rightfully compete

with the Crown Prince,

what would you do?

I bet you would surely be delighted.

You'd prefer a more noble

and nicer mother-in-law, wouldn't you?

But what if Zhang was unwilling?

Would you whisper sweet nothings
in his ear until he agreed?

Mother, why do you ask such a thing?

Did Her Majesty say something again?

I… I could never be

so heartless.

There you go, shedding tears again.

Zhang isn't here.

Drop your pretense.

Mother,

it's really not what you think.

I didn't.

Enough.

Leave now.

Mother.

I said leave!

If it had been her
in Jiang Si's place today,

my son would have surely

been taken away.

What could Princess Consort Yan

be up to?

Such a great opportunity, but...

You also think
this was a good opportunity?

I misspoke.

Please forgive me, Your Highness.

No matter what,

Jiang Si rejected Empress Di.

That means she's acknowledged me
as her mother-in-law.

If Princess Royal insists

on blaming Jiang Si

for her daughter's death,

I will

protect her.

[Princess Royal's Mansion]

Your Majesty.

Her Highness is suffering
from extreme distress

and grief.

She will need time to recover.

I take my leave.

Rong Yang.

Brother.

I have nothing left.

What has happened has happened.

You must take care of yourself.

Mingyue was a good child.

I will grant her a higher royal title

and have her buried
in the imperial mausoleum.

Thank you for Your Majesty's grace.

Rong Yang.

The dead cannot return.

Do not grieve too much.

Get some rest.

I will visit you another day.

I understand.

Did you hear that?

A higher royal title

and a burial in the imperial mausoleum.

When Mingyue was alive,

they denied her

everything she wanted.

Now that she is dead,

His Majesty wants
to grant her a higher royal title.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

None of this pain compares

to what I feel inside.

If His Majesty genuinely cared
about Mingyue,

he wouldn't have forced her

to marry Zhu Ziyu.

I fought for him

with my life back then.

But he never valued

my loyalty.

Your Highness, you did not see Father?

I had planned
to have a conversation with him.

But due to

Princess Mingyue's death,

Father went to Princess Royal's Mansion.

We missed each other.

This is a major incident,

and Father must be in a bad mood.

It might be better to wait
for another day to seek an audience.

Your Highness is diligent and capable.

Father will surely see

that you are far superior
to the Crown Prince.

No matter how incompetent
the Crown Prince is,

he is still
the late Empress's official son.

In Father's heart,

he will always carry more weight.

Speaking of this,

there is something else.

Today,

after Mother returned
from Empress Di's palace,

she lectured me the moment she saw me.

I later found out that today,

Prince Yan and his consort

went to pay respects to Empress Di.

Empress Di wanted to adopt Yu Jin

as her official son.

Even Jin,
who returned from the frontier,

is about to surpass me.

If he has ambitions for the throne,

I now have yet another competitor.

Fortunately,
Princess Consort Yan had concerns

and stopped Prince Yan

from agreeing.

They refused this time.

But what about the next?

Perhaps Jin deliberately

let this news spread

to test Father's reaction.

If Father does not oppose it,

Jin could rise in status overnight

and become

Empress Di's only official son.

What should we do, then?

[Princess Royal's Mansion]

Don't touch her.

Mingyue is gone.

There's no need for you

to put on an act in front of me.

We've argued for half our lives.

If not for our daughter,

you and I would have had

nothing left to say to each other.

Don't worry.

We will never

argue again.

Mingyue.

I will avenge you.

One by one, I will send them all

to accompany you in death.

What are you planning?

It's none of your concern.

You never cared for Mingyue
while she lived.

Don't bother now she's gone.

[The End of Episode 34]

♪Through endless twists♪

♪In the mundane world♪

♪The breezy wind blows♪

♪The heart grows tender and bitter♪

♪I ask the Sun♪

♪If the light has taken root♪

♪As it prospers♪

♪Our love story writes itself♪

♪We lock eyes
and promise to stay together forever♪

♪After countless challenges,
we are still us♪

♪Our inseparable souls♪

♪Can weather all storms♪

♪We cross paths
and promise to stay together forever♪

♪The tapestry of destiny
is filled with our youth♪

♪Our blissful time together♪

♪Will lead us♪

♪To the sea of stars♪

♪Our destined paths♪

♪The years will hold♪

♪A light shines at the tunnel's end♪

♪Where happy endings will transcend♪

♪We cross paths
and promise to stay together forever♪

♪The tapestry of destiny
is filled with our youth♪

♪Our blissful time together♪

♪Will lead us to what we desire♪

♪We lock eyes
and promise to stay together forever♪

♪Through frost-kissed trails,
and starry space♪

♪Moon-silvered dreams♪

♪On love's embrace♪

♪Hearts bound as one,
through time's soft grace♪

♪Love's tide guides,
beyond our mortal space♪

♪A moment kept with your embrace♪

♪Where blooms have found their place♪