01x17 - Episode 17

[bunniefuu]

=Blossoms of Power=

[Adapted from the novel, After My
Bloom, All Flowers Wither by Jin Huang]

=Episode 17=

[Duke of Wei's Manor]

Father, you've only
been here for three days.

And you're leaving again.

Things can change in an instant

on the b*ttlefield.

There's not a moment to waste.

Let me help you put this on.

I made this

silver fox cloak myself.

The journey ahead will be bitterly cold.

Use it to keep yourself warm.

With such a wonderful daughter,

I'll be sure to find you
an excellent husband.

The Crown Prince is truly fortunate.

I haven't even had the chance
to test his skills,

and now I have to leave.

Tell him

this isn't over yet.

My good daughter,

once I've won this battle,

I'll send you the good news.

Take care, Father.

[Shen]

Archers, fire!

Raise your shields!

Form ranks!

- Yes!
- Yes!

- Hurry!
- Hurry!

Fire!

Duke, the arrows are poisoned!

Hold the formation!

I'll lead the charge!

Duke, you mustn't!

You mustn't!

Are you going to disobey my orders?

Move aside!

Duke, you are marching to your death!

If you go, we'll spill
our blood here and now!

- We'll spill our blood here and now!
- We'll spill our blood here and now!

- Protect the Crown Prince!
- Protect the Crown Prince!

Duke!

I am here to escort you.

They're nothing but Northern Di cowards.

There was no need
for Your Highness to come in person.

I've come today

to make good on the promise
I made that day.

Good!

Let me see whether Your Highness

is worthy of becoming my son-in-law.

Charge!

Fire!

- Charge!
- Charge!

You led the charge
and broke through the enemy ranks alone.

I truly admire you.

Your Highness,

you've got some real skill.

To be honest,

I wasn't too pleased
with Your Highness before.

But today,

I've seen your
martial skill and courage.

I have nothing more to say.

But when it comes to Xihe,

you're so determined.

Is it because she
agreed to this marriage,

only to have the wedding postponed,

and you couldn't let it go?

My feelings for Xihe

have nothing to do
with a man's desire to conquer.

I sincerely wish to spend
the rest of my life with her.

Your Highness came here in person today

and risked your life to help me.

I believe

your sincerity.

But a person's heart...

How can you promise

that you'll always remain true to Xihe?

If I stood here and swore to you

that my heart would never change

and I'd never regret my love,

I'm sure you wouldn't believe me.

I wouldn't.

The truth is,

I don't even know why.

I only know I've fallen for her.

I can't control myself.

I can't break free.

"I've fallen for her.

I can't control myself.
I can't break free."

Those words

somehow

sound even more sincere.

To be honest, Duke,

even now,

I still haven't won
the Commandery Princess' heart.

The Commandery Princess
postponed the wedding

because she still has doubts
about this marriage.

You're certainly honest.

But I know

when two strong-willed people

truly choose each other,

their love

will never waver.

Your Highness,

it won't be easy to melt
my precious daughter Xihe's

icy heart.

So I advise Your Highness

to walk away while you still can.

I won't back down even half a step.

With perseverance,

even metal and stone can be carved.

Finish it,

and I'll never oppose
the two of you again.

But

to win Xihe's heart,

you must rely on your own abilities.

I won't say another word.

Thank you, Father-in-law.

You're not even married yet.

And in front of all these people,

you called me Father-in-law?

Calling you Father-in-law

is my way of winning you over.

It's only right for a son-in-law
to win over his father-in-law.

Father-in-law,

I'll drink to you first!

- Good!
- Good!

Excellent.

Good.

Men,

raise your cups!

Come, drink!

- Come!
- Come!

Together!

Bottoms up!

- Drink!
- Drink!

Drink!

- Congratulations, Duke.
- Congratulations, Duke.

His Majesty and Her Majesty
really dote on you.

Every time you come to pay respects,

they beam with joy
the moment they see you.

Crown Prince wasn't in
the palace the past few days.

Do you know what he went to do?

I have no interest in
inquiring about his business.

The Crown Prince went
to catch up with the Duke.

Why did he go after my father?

The scoundrels of Northern Di
intended to harm the Duke,

so the Crown Prince
rushed to assist him.

Please do not worry, Your Highness.

They were just a disorderly mob.

It's not worth mentioning.

My father is a veteran
of the b*ttlefield.

If they were just a mob,

would it require Crown Prince to go?

According to Tian Yuan,

the Crown Prince thought

this was a good opportunity to show off

in front of his father-in-law.

The Crown Prince is thick-skinned.

Knowing I want to break the engagement,

he still calls
my father his father-in-law.

Standing out here
despite the bitter cold,

is Your Highness trying to show off

your newly acquired cloak?

My father-in-law pitied my frail health,

so he specially gifted me
this cloak to ward off the cold.

I heard you helped my father

repel the ambush from Northern Di.

Fathers and sons
fight together on the b*ttlefield.

A father and son-in-law
joining forces counts as the same.

I make all the decisions
regarding my own affairs.

Even if you do everything
to please my father and brother,

it's useless.

What a coincidence.

I don't care for arranged
marriages by parental command either.

All I want is your heart.

It is really warm to wear,

and the size is just right.

I shall take my leave.

My grandmother
is hosting a banquet tomorrow,

so I will get to see you again.

Hit to eat.

Father has already decreed our marriage.

We are now

an engaged couple.

Let me try.

Hit to eat.

I'll try, too.

Hit to eat.

The Chief Imperial Physician
examined the powder

and found that it
contained an extra herb

that accelerates blood circulation.

When normal people eat it,

their mood instantly becomes cheerful.

This was originally
meant to add to the fun.

It's all because of my frail health

that you were alarmed,

spoiling the fun for my brothers.

Not at all.

Huayong, you mustn't overthink this.

If you feel bored,

I will stay here to keep
you company while you study.

Father, you have to manage affairs.

How can you stay with me all the time?

I would like to have...

Zhaoning.

I understand everything

that is on your mind, Huayong.

I will summon Commandery Princess
Zhaoning to the palace now.

Thank you, Father.

Come.

[East Palace]

Greetings, Crown Prince.

Without consulting you first,

I requested a decree

to bring you to the East Palace
to keep me company.

Are you angry with me?

I come from a family of soldiers,

so my manners are boisterous.

I only fear I might disturb you,
Crown Prince.

It doesn't matter.

I like it lively.

So you are taking
advantage of our engagement,

acting without fear.

Naturally.

I am the one with the official title.

Why shouldn't I act without fear?

I'm not stupid.

I have suffered such a severe injury,

yet you

are so cold to me, my betrothed.

Xihe, can't you treat me a bit better?

How do you want
me to treat you well, Your Highness?

I want to eat the wontons you make.

The wontons are ready.

Please enjoy, Your Highness.

I will take my leave.

His Majesty has arrived!

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Rise.

These wontons

were all handmade by
Commandery Princess Zhaoning?

Indeed.

The wontons made by
Xihe are unique in the palace.

I specially invited you here
to try them, Father.

Very well.

Commandery Princess, your
culinary skills are indeed excellent.

The filling is delicious,

and the soup
is exceptionally rich and fragrant.

You flatter me, Your Majesty.

Useless!

Can you not even serve a meal properly?

Dismissed.

Yes.

Crown Prince, let me...

I will do it.

Alright.

You really know
how to look after people.

For the next few days,

I shall entrust Huayong to your care.

With your trust, Your Majesty,

I will not fail your expectations.

No one has ever been
like the Crown Prince,

who can make Your Highness
angry with just a few words.

I think there is
nothing wrong with this.

What is good about it?

He only knows how
to dig pits for others,

and he has a bunch of twisted arguments.

Where is the good part?

If it were anyone else,

Your Highness wouldn't be angry.

But in front of the Crown Prince,

Your Highness loses
your temper very easily.

Only in front of those close to us

can we reveal our true nature.

Please wait, Commandery Princess.

Commandery Princess,

I have some matters

I wish to speak with you alone.

Commandery Princess,

actually, these words have been
held in my heart for a long time.

But the Crown Prince
never allowed me to speak.

But I feel

that if you do not know,

it is too unfair to him.

Regarding helping
the Duke of Wei this time,

he spoke of it lightly,

but in fact,

the Northern Di crossbowmen
coated their arrows with deadly poison.

Once struck by an arrow,

even the deities could not save him.

The Northern Di people also
set many traps on the road.

It was His Highness who accompanied
the Duke of Wei as the vanguard

to clear out those checkpoints.

That day,

you were set up by Princess Pingling
and fell off the cliff.

The Crown Prince already knew

that you agreed to marry him only
because you knew his life was short.

He claimed he wanted
to sever ties with you,

but the moment he
heard you were in danger,

he rushed down the cliff to find
you regardless of his own safety.

Not only that,

for your sake, His Highness

went to the extreme cold region
to find the Extreme Frost Cordyceps.

He fell off a cliff

and remained unconscious
for three nights.

After walking through
the gates of the underworld,

the poison inside his body
became even harder to control.

You see him acting
carefree all day long,

but in truth,

every treatment for the poison
is a thin line between life and death.

This pain of scraping his bones

is something even someone with a mind

as strong as his can hardly bear.

But to stay by your side,

he resolved to endure all the pain,

only hoping that he
could live a little longer.

Commandery Princess,

His Highness has risked
his life for you time and again.

His affection for you,

I have seen it all with my own eyes.

You do not have to love him back,

but his affection for you

is already past the point of no return.

You worry that he has deep calculations,

but what he gives you

has never been
the schemes of the East Palace,

but rather, amidst the foul waves
of the deep palace,

a pure heart that will
never sink to the bottom.

♪You drifted away alone♪

♪Without a single word of goodbye♪

♪Leaving no room to turn back♪

♪I can only stay there forever♪

♪In the coming years, I'll always
remember that year, my graceful lover♪

♪Love hangs on the crest of the waves♪

♪Waiting for regret to swallow me up♪

What is the matter with
the Commandery Princess?

It has been four hours already.

Why hasn't a piece been
played on this weiqi board yet?

[East Palace]

This whole box of northern pearls
has been gathered.

It was meant to be used for
Xihe's bridal phoenix crown.

Your Highness,

Commandery Princess Zhaoning is here.

Quick, help me up.

Your Highness, pretending to be weak

is something you are
getting increasingly adept at.

Today is the first time

you have come to see me
of your own accord.

His Majesty ordered
me to take care of you.

Sharing a room every day

with me, who is so elegant

and graceful, doesn't it please you,
Commandery Princess?

Your act is so improper, Your Highness,

that I shall take my leave now.

If you leave today,

I will fall into a coma again tomorrow,

and you will still have to come
to the East Palace to see me.

Rest assured, Commandery Princess.

I will not offend you.

Your Highness,
you are well-read in the classics,

yet you don't even
know what an offense is.

I only regret now

that I didn't practice
martial arts in my youth.

If I had the martial skills
of my father and brother,

I would teach you a good lesson.

♪It all returns to your fragrance,
unchanging through the seasons♪

♪Like a flower in the mirror,
like a passing dream♪

♪Even drifting with the flowing water,
I will stay with you♪

♪The one who seeks the fragrance
gets the most intoxicated♪

♪And intoxication
perturbs the heart the most♪

Don't rush.

Let me do it.

♪I only want to
become a couple with you♪

♪No matter how
winding the road ahead is♪

♪We are worth it.
We won't hesitate or retreat♪

♪It is us♪

♪The breeze blows,
and the flowers bloom♪

♪How could we not be a perfect match?♪

♪Cleaving the waves just to experience♪

♪Embracing the flower bud♪

♪When breaking through
the heavy encirclement♪

♪The wind blows gently once again♪

Your heart is beating so fast,
Commandery Princess.

Young Master.

Young Master,

someone went to
Court of Judicial Review to sue you.

Vice Minister Cui has sent some men over

to ask you to assist
with the investigation.

Sir, the man has been brought here.

Dismissed.

- Yes, sir.
- Yes, sir.

What kind of crime did I commit

for you to make such a big fuss

and send people
to arrest me at my residence?

This is an official document,

with proper procedures.

Even imperial relatives must cooperate.

No refusal or ignoring is allowed.

Otherwise, it is obstructing justice
and defying the law.

If you dare to flee,

that would be a crime
of resisting arrest.

Fine.

Come on,

tell me.

What crime did I commit,

and what did they accuse me of?

On the tenth of last month,

you harassed a lady
at Wanqing Restaurant,

spoke insolently,

and even claimed you would
take her back to be your wife.

Did you or did you not?

That was just a joke from me.

Good.

On the third of this month,

you gathered with a group of playboys

to feast at Ningxiang Garden.

A single table of food
and liquor cost fifty taels.

You all got drunk and left
without paying the bill.

Did you or did you not?

Furthermore,

ten nights ago at the hour of Hai,

while on an official boat,

you snatched someone's crickets
and fighting roosters for no reason...

Wait a minute.

Tell me the truth.

Did you dig up

these old accounts?

Aside from you,

who else could instigate them
to file these complaints against me?

What do you want?

You won't let me visit
you at the Marquis's Manor.

Yet, I want to see you every single day,

so I had no choice
but to resort to this.

I was wrong.

Vice Minister Cui, Master Cui,

I really know I was wrong.

Please let me go, okay?

Sure.

But

you must let me visit you at your manor.

Isn't that just the same?

You're still going to pester me.

If you don't let me leave,

I'll go on a hunger strike.

Fine.

When you're too weak to feed yourself,

I'll feed you with my own hands.

Then I'll turn
the Court of Judicial Review

upside down!

[East Palace]

Your Highness,

word came from
the Imperial Medical Office

that Director Xue Heng
of the Secretariat is gravely ill.

I'm afraid

his days are numbered.

If Director Xue passes away,

it will cause a massive uproar in court.

Wang Zheng has long
been winning over key officials,

hoping to promote his own people.

He is highly calculating.

Given how hard he's scheming,

it seems

he is determined to take

the position of
Director of the Secretariat.

When a cat catches a mouse,

since when does the mouse have a say?

Go invite Tao Zhuanxian to
the East Palace for a discussion.

I wonder,

why has Your Highness summoned me today?

This tea brewed with fresh milk

can dispel the chill with just one sip.

Thank you, Crown Prince.

Have a taste.

See if you like it, Minister Tao.

White as snow from the Xing kiln,

thin and lustrous.

What a fine tea bowl.

You are an expert in the art of tea.

Gifting this to you

ensures its value isn't wasted.

Did you have me come all this way

just to give me a gift?

There is indeed one matter

I wish to give you a heads-up about.

Minister Xue

might not be in good health.

Have you ever thought about

joining the Three Departments?

Your Highness,

are you trying to
plan a promotion for me?

Thank you for your support,
Crown Prince.

But you and Xihe are about to wed.

If I seek a key position now,

it will invite gossip.

This must not be done.

In terms of seniority,

you have been an official
in the capital for decades.

In terms of achievements,

you have helped
crack several major cases.

In terms of duty,

you rank just below the Six Ministries.

The Ministers of the Six Ministries

have all just newly taken office,

so promoting them
again would be improper.

Thus, you

are the best candidate.

I...

You are a man of capability,
Minister Tao.

It's just that you are upright,

and the Tao family
is not a powerful clan.

Without anyone's help,

reaching the third rank as Grand Censor

would be your limit.

You disdain political maneuvering,

but that doesn't mean

you have no ambition.

Furthermore,

your granddaughter

is about to become the Crown Princess.

You must want to have greater power

to protect Xihe more, right?

After decades of
drifting in the political sea,

you have seen right through me
at a single glance, Crown Prince.

We are all family.

Whether for public or personal reasons,

I ask you, Minister Tao,

to fight for this future.

Director Tao of the Secretariat is here.

Congratulations.
- Congratulations.

The joy is shared by us all.

- Please support us, Director Tao.
- Please support us, Director Tao.

The joy belongs to everyone.

Congratulations to all.

The joy belongs to everyone.

Director Tao, I hope you will support
us more in the future.

Indeed, Director Tao.

Right after Minister Xue resigned,

the rest of us

hadn't even had time to vie for
the position of Secretariat Director,

yet His Majesty
already issued the decree

appointing Minister Tao to replace him.

I previously thought
Crown Prince wouldn't live long,

so I didn't let the girls in my house
dream of marrying him.

I can only blame myself
for being so shortsighted.

True.

- Minister Tao.
- Minister Tao.

Look at that.

Congratulations, Minister Tao.

The joy is shared by us all.

Why did Your Highness
help my maternal grandfather

secure the position
of Director of the Secretariat?

To please you,
the future Crown Princess.

Do you believe it?

Aren't you afraid that in the future,

the Duke of Wei and the Tao families
will grow too powerful?

You worry that if you and I marry,

we will turn against each other later
over conflicts of interest.

So now,

I am elevating your family

to give you enough leverage

and put your mind at ease.

You're too calculating, Your Highness.

I cannot trust you.

When it comes to my marriage with you,

I don't want any schemes involved.

Strengthening your mother's clan

is a responsibility I ought to take.

Things in the world
are never as easy as you think.

You clearly have
the vision and the courage.

Why won't you just try to believe me?

Because the fate of the Gu family
serves as a warning.

The Shen family
is just like the Gu family.

The higher we stand,

the more it feels
like walking on thin ice.

I won't let the Shen family

become the next Gu family.

Xihe,

I can't promise that everything
will be smooth sailing,

but I can assure you

that no matter how great the danger,

we will share the same mind and heart.

As long as you are here,

I will be here.

[Prince Xin's Manor]

Mother,

how will Father sentence the Gu family?

Qing,

no matter how your father rules,

you must remember

that everything the Gu family did

has nothing to do with you.

Only by cutting ties with the Gu family

can you protect your own title.

Report!

A decree has come from the palace.

The entire Gu clan

is to be ex*cuted.

What about Qingzhi?

What about Qingzhi?

Prince Xin's Consort is
the eldest daughter of the Gu family.

She is also on the list.

Your Highness.

Qing.

Your Highness. Your Highness!

No.

Qing.

Qing, calm down.

Father!

[Taiji Hall]
In my memorial today,

from the northern defense maps

to the southern provisions strategy,

every single word proves the loyalty

that the Gu family sons
paid for with their lives.

The Gu family could never be traitors.

Father, I beg you to order
a retrial for this case!

The Gu family could never be traitors.

Father, I beg you to order
a retrial for this case

and clear the Gu family's name.

The Gu family could never be traitors.

Prince Xin,

His Majesty's decree cannot be defied.

You should go back for now.

This...

The Gu family could never be traitors.

Father, I beg you to order
a retrial for this case.

Father!

Father,

when I wed Qingzhi,

I made her a promise.

I promised to protect her
for all her life.

I beg you, Father,

do not separate me from Qingzhi.

Changqing,

how can everything in this world

always go as you wish?

I am...

willing to trade my life for hers.

Changqing,

do you

want to die for
the daughter of a traitor?

I am

willing to trade my life for hers!

I will

never regret this!

The Gu family could never be traitors.

Father, I beg you to order
a retrial for this case

and clear the Gu family's name.

An imperial decree has arrived!

Come.

Your Highness, what are your orders?

On the anniversary of
Prince Xin's Consort's death,

you must invite
Commandery Princess Zhaoning

to pay respects with me.

Yes, Your Highness.

I heard that many noble ladies

were summoned to the palace
by Her Majesty today.

She probably wants
them to brainstorm ideas

to make the Spring Banquet
more interesting.

On the surface,
this Spring Banquet is a family feast,

but it's for the imperial family
to observe the young ladies.

These ladies are either
descendants of meritorious officials

or daughters of ministers
of the third rank or above.

They are all carefully
selected candidates

to be the Grand Empress Dowager's
granddaughters-in-law.

Zhen Zhu, you are really improving.

You understand the affairs

of the palace better and better.

Having followed you into
the palace so many times,

no matter what happens,

nothing can escape my ears.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

No need for formalities.

Come, sit next to me.

We were just discussing
the Spring Banquet.

I suddenly have an idea.

How about you organize

next year's Spring Banquet?

What do you think?

Grandmother,

palace banquets

should only be organized
by people from the palace.

The Spring Banquet is
especially in the spotlight.

Commandery Princess Zhaoning
is not yet the Crown Princess.

How could she have
the right to overstep and do this?

His Majesty's marriage decree
was issued long ago.

We will be family sooner or later.

Why draw such a clear line?

You...

Zhaoning,

what is your thought on this?

Thank you for your favor, Your Majesty.

However, I have never
managed such a grand feast before.

I am afraid I might not do it well

and spoil your high spirits.

You are smart and quick to learn.

It is just a family banquet.

Moreover, I appointed you myself.

Even if something goes slightly wrong,

they will not criticize you for it.

I have not yet officially
married the Crown Prince.

One should only act within one's role.

I hope you can understand, Your Majesty.

Very well.

Sit here.

She refused to organize
the Spring Banquet.

Could there be a change in the marriage?

Alright,

once you are married,

let's see where else you can hide.

The noble ladies have carefully prepared

prizes for the Spring Banquet.

Please take a look and select them,
Grandmother.

Good.

Bring them forward.

Let me see what
novelties we have this year.

Your Highness, where are we going now?

To Prince Xin's Manor.

Since Prince Xin is being so persistent,

do you still want to see him,
Your Highness?

This time, he used
the anniversary of Gu Qingzhi's death

to send an invitation
for me to join the memorial.

He calculated

that I'd have no reason to refuse.

Things must be resolved one by one.

Every single word I say,

you know exactly what it means.

You are Gu Qingzhi,

aren't you?

That is why you climb up desperately,

and you will clear every single
obstacle you face away one by one.

And that includes the Gu family.

I was wrong.

Give me one more chance.

I will fight with my life

to keep you safe.

♪I've hidden so many words♪

♪Too reluctant to tell you♪

♪So never uncover♪

♪The sand that slips away
with one grasp♪

♪The flower that withers
after one bloom♪

♪Silently buried deep inside my heart♪

♪Every answer I gave♪

♪Was both bittersweet and absurd♪

♪Hiding my tear-filled eyes
when I hurt you♪

♪How hard it truly was?♪

♪The wounds that healed
with just a little comfort♪

♪The lies made whole
with a single embrace♪

♪Pretending to be brave
as if I'd never been hurt♪

♪It's a shame I never could♪

♪Give you a moon in return♪

♪With the same open heart you loved me♪

♪I've crossed the wasteland of memories♪

♪Never knowing I was lost♪

♪Why don't you take me away?♪

♪Lead me out of this endless game
of hide-and-seek♪

♪You'll never♪

♪Know how much I long to, long to♪

[No animals were harmed
in the making of this film]