01x31 - Episode 31

[bunniefuu]

[Episode 31]

This Graceful Palace is beautiful, no doubt,

but I haven't seen Zhao Ming

for several days.

Is he really that busy?

The Saint Emperor's time belongs to the people.

Of course, he's busy.

Didn't you say

you're the one he can't live without?

Why are you so free, then?

I

I have important duties to attend to!

What important duties?

Well

important duties

can't be casually spoken about.

Don't you understand?

If you're bored,

I've got a way to entertain you.

What's the new game this time?

Dice betting.

It's all about the thrill.

The rules are simple.

Do you understand them?

One round, and you'll get it.

However,

you need to bet something valuable.

This is my most precious possession,

yesterday's peach blossom pastry.

I've been saving it until now.

Then,

I'll bet it.

This is far too precious.

Just use something ordinary to bet.

For instance,

the jewelry box

that the Saint Emperor gifted you a few days ago.

Your Majesty,

you haven't slept in days.

Why not rest for a while?

It's fine.

He Zhou visits the Graceful Palace daily.

The Chaos Pearl shows nothing unusual

or any strange activity.

Although it is an ancient artifact,

it has taken human form now

and should be treated as such.

Understood.

Pearl is pure,

and He Zhou is loyal.

They're a good match as companions.

Come on,

a little gambling is harmless fun.

Bet big, win big. Bet small, win small!

Small it's definitely small!

- Quick, open it!

- Three, two, one, open!

You bet small, but it's big.

These hairpins

are mine now.

How about it?

Still playing?

One more round!

One more round!

I love your straightforward style!

Don't lose heart.

Play a few more rounds,

and I'll teach you properly.

Why not teach me, too?

Your Majesty

Zhao Ming!

Pearl.

- Sit.

- Why is the Saint Emperor here?

Why didn't you warn me?

Let's begin.

Your Majesty,

is this really appropriate?

Just go ahead.

This is my bet.

Is it sufficient?

Don't blame me for being weak-willed.

Your Majesty bet too much!

Let's begin.

It's all gone.

I'm done playing.

Pearl,

have you learned it?

Pearl hasn't learned it.

So, let's continue.

Your Majesty,

this isn't fair.

I've already lost everything.

It's fine.

Next month's allowance

can be advanced for your bets.

Didn't you say a little gambling is harmless fun?

I still want to learn.

A gamble is a gamble.

Big or small, it's harmful!

Pearl, don't pick up bad habits.

I, He Zhou,

swear off gambling starting today.

I'll never involve Pearl again.

Yan,

issue the order:

From today onward,

gambling is banned in the palace.

Understood.

You may leave now.

Understood.

Pearl,

keep these winnings safe.

Don't let He Zhou trick you again.

It's not He Zhou's fault.

These days,

he's always been keeping me company.

When I was still a pearl,

I could see you anytime.

But now that I'm human,

it's hard to even catch a glimpse of you.

It's something I'm not used to.

That's my oversight.

You've just taken human form.

There must be many things you're adjusting to.

But if you stick with He Zhou for too long,

he could misguide you.

I'll find you a teacher

to teach you reading and writing.

How does that sound?

A teacher?

The essence of sunlight and moonlight

is indeed beneficial for refining spiritual pills,

but the process is lengthy.

Recently, I've discovered

another kind of vital energy in this world

that can accelerate the process of refining spiritual pills.

Sir,

I'm sorry for being late

and keeping you waiting.

It's fine.

A brief wait is nothing,

as long as you've arrived.

Zhao Ming said you're the most learned scholar

in all of Dongze.

What's more, you offered

to teach me yourself.

Thank you, Sir.

No need for such formality.

It makes us seem distant.

Hearing this from you puts me at ease.

It's all He Zhou's fault for scaring me,

saying I must act with utmost respect

or risk getting my palms struck

with a ruler by the teacher.

But I think

you make me feel very approachable.

What's the saying for that?

Like meeting an old friend at first sight.

Like meeting an old friend at first sight?

Did you recall

an old friend

or a familiar place?

Sir, you must be joking.

I'm just a pearl of Zhao Ming.

How could I have old friends?

Let's begin the lesson.

Today,

we'll start with some basic characters.

[Human]

This character is pronounced as "ren" (human),

which is also your current identity.

"Ren."

[Human]

This character is simple

and easy to remember.

This character is pronounced as "tian" (heaven).

[Heaven]

Here's how you can remember it:

"Heaven" has two extra horizontal lines compared to "human."

One line stands above "human,"

[Heaven]

and the other confines "human."

"Tian"

Why is it so domineering?

That's the order of the world.

Heaven is always above humanity.

Humanity is subjected to heaven.

Then I don't like heaven.

It makes people suffer,

and it keeps Zhao Ming too busy to spend time with me.

Companionship among humans

lasts just decades at most.

Only those from the heavens

can share eternity with heaven.

That kind of companionship

is truly everlasting.

But even if the time together lasts long,

what's the point?

If two people stay together

but feel unhappy,

isn't that kind of companionship

a source of pain?

Sir.

I made these pastries with the kitchen staff.

I brought them over just for you to try.

Sir,

why are you upset today?

Is it because I'm too slow at learning characters?

Or do you think I'm stupid?

I'm not upset.

You have a sharp mind

and grasp things quickly.

How could you be stupid?

I'm glad you're not upset, Sir.

So tomorrow,

will you still teach me characters?

Now that you're human,

finding simple and pure happiness

is a blessing in itself.

Open this.

This jade pen is for you.

Heaven controls humanity,

but with a pen in hand,

one can write their own destiny.

Thank you, Sir.

Well then,

I'll take my leave.

Don't forget to try the pastries.

Why did you gather these items?

What are they for?

Why do people use flowers

on so many different occasions?

Weddings, funerals,

and offerings to the deities

these seemingly unrelated events

are all connected by flowers as tokens of emotion.

Flowers

to us, they are either black or white,

with only slight differences in form.

But in the eyes of mortals,

flowers are vastly distinct,

vividly colorful,

each carrying its own meaning.

Every time I look down from the sea of clouds,

I see children's faces light up with joy

just from eating one.

A simple pastry

can bring them happiness.

Yet, we cannot feel that.

To us,

all food is tasteless.

We've never experienced all kinds of flavors

or the longing tied to them.

Why, then, should we feel sorrow?

The logic is clear:

if we've never had it,

there's no longing tied to it.

We, as divine artifacts,

may share heaven's longevity

and enjoy the respect of the deities,

but we are no more than tools of Hao Tian.

Our lives are less colorful than those of mortals.

Hao Tian bestowed divine power upon us,

but it came with absolute fairness.

We are forbidden to favor anything.

What we gain

is destined to come at a price.

Yet,

we can't taste flavors,

see colors,

smell the fragrance of flowers,

or understand emotions.

For tens of thousands of years,

every day has been the same.

Fate,

don't you find it boring?

All things in this world

are bound by cause and effect.

This is the price of being an artifact.

Will the next ten thousand years

or even a million years

be the same?

It's fate.

We must remain loyal to Hao Tian.

Sir,

just now, outside the hall,

Miss Pearl said

this was her first time making pastries.

How do they taste?

Very sweet.

But,

Miss Pearl said

today's batch

was supposed to be savory.

Is that so?

The recipe for these pastries is unique.

It's a tradition from my homeland.

So, it's something from your homeland.

No wonder you treasure it so much.

Come,

have a taste yourself.

Thank you, Sir.

Tasting this pastry

has made me suddenly homesick.

Luckily, there are people from my homeland

in the palace to keep me company.

Zi Chen,

I'd like to consult you on a question.

I don't dare.

How could I deserve to be consulted

when you know everything?

Please, just ask.

If you had someone from your homeland,

and you were supposed to take her back there,

but that place was full of restrictions,

cold and desolate.

There's no freedom,

and no joy.

And she faced

the constant threat of being sacrificed.

If that were the case,

would you still take her back?

Homeland is supposed to bring happiness.

If returning

meant misfortune,

then don't go back.

Sir

Did I

say something wrong?

It's nothing.

You may go now.

Understood.

Oh, and

the pastries

Thank you, Sir.

[Graceful Palace]

Zhao Ming,

you're here.

It's been a few days.

I came to see how your studies are progressing.

Of course, I've been diligent.

Here's a new character I've learned.

The teacher said,

"Sun on the left, moon on the right,

both bring light, making "ming."

He teaches well.

But my understanding

is a little different.

Like the sun's brilliance,

like the moon's gentleness,

"sun" and "moon" together

make the "ming" in Zhao Ming.

Your interpretation

is also reasonable.

[Ming]

How do you think my writing looks?

Your writing is good,

but

the parts are a bit distant.

Distant?

Then I'll make it closer!

Zhao Ming,

am I considered a beauty?

Does that mean I'll have a tragic fate?

I heard they say beauties have tragic fates.

No.

You will live a long, long life,

longer than mine.

Longer than yours?

What's the point of that?

I'm your pearl,

so I should always stay with you.

I exist because you exist,

right?

No,

you don't exist because of me,

and your purpose

isn't tied to me either.

Time is long,

with gains and losses coming and going.

Someday,

you'll find your own path

and your own purpose.

My own path,

my own purpose

It's okay.

There's no rush to figure it out now.

The future is long.

I may not know

what my path is,

but I know yours.

You're the Saint Emperor,

with the world on your mind.

[Heaven]

So your path is the Emperor's Way.

The Emperor's Way is not what I seek.

What I want

is to be a man of courage,

unbound by heaven,

protecting humanity,

and breaking through heaven itself.

[Man]

The teacher said

"heaven" has two extra strokes over "human,"

firmly trapping it beneath.

But under your pen,

humanity can break through heaven?

Man makes his own destiny.

Zhao Ming,

I don't fully understand.

What exactly

is humanity?

Humanity is both simple

and complex.

[Human]

It seems weak at first glance,

but it can possess great strength.

Just looking at it on paper won't reveal its essence.

To understand humanity,

you must use your heart.

Heart?

To understand a person,

you can't only look at their appearance.

You must also see their inner self.

Look at what they say,

and at what they do.

See their strengths,

but also their weaknesses.

See how they treat themselves,

and how they treat others.

Observe their grace in good times,

and their choices in adversity.

Humanity

cannot be explained in a few words.

If you wish to understand it,

I will take you to see it carefully in the future.

Your Grace,

we've searched the human realm for a long time

but still haven't found the divine child.

The prophecy gives limited clues,

making the search

like finding a needle in a haystack.

If you ask me,

even if the prophecy is true,

are we, so many deities,

unable to defeat a single divine child?

The Book of Fate governs all cause and effect.

If it reveals a prophecy, it will become destiny.

Failing in your task

and now trying to argue?

Your Grace, calm your anger.

Our travels across the nations

have not been entirely fruitless.

Dongze stands as the world's leader,

with all nations and tribes

under its governance.

The ruler of Dongze, Zhao Ming,

is exceptional,

a man of unparalleled brilliance.

If we can bring Zhao Ming under your command,

the search for the divine child

would greatly benefit.

Regarding the prophecy of the divine child,

I suddenly have a theory.

The so-called birth of the divine child

might have occurred ten years ago,

at the very moment when the Book of Fate

revealed the prophecy.

Why not

start searching

among the children born at that time?

That makes sense.

Continue searching the lower realms,

and send another divine edict to Dongze,

instructing Zhao Ming

to offer up the children.

But Your Grace,

so many children were born at that time.

What if

what if we can't identify the divine child?

Then k*ll them all.

Leave no one alive.

In the year of Cang Hao,

three thousand children

were born.

Summon them as divine servants.

Sir,

is this a newly descended divine edict?

The year of Cang Hao

Isn't that ten years ago?

That year,

the heavens were torn open.

Placing humanity on the brink of extinction.

The late emperor

also perished in that crisis.

Sir,

what should we do now?

As an advisor,

upon receiving a divine edict,

it is my duty to report it to the Saint Emperor.

How to decide

is up to the Saint Emperor.

Nonsense!

The deities now even target children.

They use the guise of divine servants

to force humanity into sacrificing those children.

With just a so-called divine edict,

they want to take three thousand lives.

As long as I, Zhao Ming, live,

I will never bow to the deities.

Sir, please destroy the tortoise shell.

From today onward,

Dongze will no longer accept any divine edicts.

Your Majesty,

have you made your mind?

The deities are merciless,

and their oppression worsens.

Now,

we must hasten to find a way to resist the deities.

The power gap between humans and deities

makes resistance

like bringing a knife to a gunfight.

But I believe

humanity can triumph over heaven!

Then may Your Majesty

achieve your wishes.

What are you doing here?

Bad He Zhou,

you scared me again!

Did you already buy

the new storybooks for me?

I got these rare editions

through countless connections

and Herculean efforts!

So,

don't you think I deserve a little extra for the trouble?

I think

your bracelet looks pretty nice.

I already paid you for the storybooks.

You're trying to trick me again.

Well, it's your fault for learning so quickly,

reading three books a day!

I might run my legs off

to keep up with your demands!

Besides,

this batch of storybooks

is different from the mythology you've been reading.

These ones

are about love stories.

Love stories?

Don't tease me.

Have you all had your fill?

How about a story?

- Yes!

- Let's hear it!

Today's story

is perfect for all of you.

It's about

a poor fisher girl

falling in love with a prince in disguise

and eventually becoming a royal consort.

Next,

let's invite the palace's well-read

and story-loving Pearl

to share this tale with us.

- Yes!

- Great!

Listen closely now.

A long, long time ago,

there was a kind-hearted fisher girl.

While out fishing,

she accidentally rescued

a badly injured man.

The fisher girl's elder sister

found out about this

and warned her,

"Never pick up men randomly

from the roadside,

especially injured ones.

They'll bring misfortune."

But the fisher girl thought it over

and said,

"I didn't pick him up by the roadside.

I fished him out of the sea!"

Pearl always brings laughter and joy.

What do you think?

Since she was here,

this once-quiet Everbright Palace

has become full of life.

Indeed.

The servants all adore her.

Would you like to go in and see?

If I go in,

they won't enjoy themselves as much.

Let's take care of business first.

Over the years,

I've traveled far and wide,

researching ways to resist the Divine Clan.

It is said that only something greater than them

can suppress them.

One such thing are two ancient artifacts,

the Book of Fate and the Chaos Pearl.

The other

is the Jun Tian Sword,

born of the energy of the chaos.

You've searched three times yourself

following this map,

and every time, the end leads to an empty void.

There is no sword at all.

Could it be

that the map is wrong?

No,

the map must be true.

Each time I reach the destination,

I can feel the intense sword energy.

Perhaps my approach is wrong,

so the Jun Tian Sword remains hidden.

Yan,

seek out the best swordsmiths.

See if they might uncover something new.

Understood.

If the Jun Tian Sword cannot be found,

won't you truly consider

using the Chaos Pearl against the Divine Clan?

The Chaos Pearl has already mended the heavens,

bearing the weight of the world once.

Now that it's no longer functional,

I'd rather let it

live a simple and happy life as Pearl.

As for opposing the Divine Clan,

that is my responsibility.

Besides,

if the Divine Clan descends to the human realm,

their divine power will be restricted.

Even in direct confrontation,

I can still match them

with my power.

But you've already lost a drop of your blood essence,

and the methods you seek only weaken you further.

It's just a single drop of blood essence.

I'm far from weak.

How dare Zhao Ming

destroy the divine edict!

I might as well k*ll him outright!

If it were so easy to k*ll him,

why wait until now?

Zhao Ming was born with divine channels.

He's the only human capable of cultivating divine power.

He is the leader of the human race,

respected and supported by all.

He carries an endless flow

of sovereign fortune,

making it impossible to k*ll him directly.

Moreover,

the divine order must be upheld.

If you use divine power in the human realm,

your strength will be significantly reduced.

Mortals are driven by desires and emotions.

Zhao Ming

must have a weakness.

His weakness isn't within himself.

It's in maintaining the peace of the world.

If he refuses the divine edict,

do you think the other nations

will also dare to defy it?

It's better to stir chaos in the human realm

and send him a warning.

When unrest shakes the world,

I want to see how Zhao Ming

remains above it all.

Exactly.

You and I are deities of desire,

masters of manipulating the human heart.

If we descend divine edicts upon the nations

and tempt them to fight over resources,

w*r will inevitably break out.

Countless mortals

will perish in battle.

Zhao Ming

will have no choice but to submit!

Then get it done at once.

I want to see

Zhao Ming weakened,

his sovereign pride shattered.

Within half a month,

all the nations have gone to w*r.

Something suspicious is at play.

Indeed.

Even Xilin State, which has always been wary of w*r,

has suddenly fallen into chaos.

What is the situation on the borders?

After your orders,

the border soldiers have raised their guard.

However, many refugees are running to Dongze,

placing significant pressure on us.

The world is meant to be united,

with no divisions between us and them.

He Zhou,

issue an order

to take good care of these refugees.

Additionally,

starting today,

beginning with Everbright Palace,

all living expenses shall be kept simple,

Use the savings to support the refugees.

Understood.

Yan,

investigate this chaos immediately

and uncover the cause behind it.

Understood.

[Everbright Palace]

Come in.

Sir.

What brings you here?

Can you tell me

about Zhao Ming's past?

Why do you ask?

Although Zhao Ming is warm and kind,

there's always a mysterious feeling

about him.

Lately,

even his smiles carry a hint of sorrow,

as if there's

an invisible chain holding him down.

That's why I want to know

what he has been through

and what burdens he carries.

[Dongze]

This contains the story of Dongze's current dynasty,

which is also Zhao Ming's biography.

Ten years ago,

Dongze's former emperor perished in a heavenly crisis.

Zhao Ming, still a youth,

took on the immense responsibility

of the entire realm.

Born with divine channels,

he is brave and skilled in battle.

Before coming of age,

he led armies to the b*ttlefield,

defeating invasions from other nations

and stabilizing the state.

Zhao Ming governs diligently for his people,

earning deep love from his subjects.

The world aligns with his rule.

The people honor him

as the Saint Emperor.

With humanity oppressed by the Divine Clan,

Zhao Ming swore an oath

to protect the people,

even if it meant sacrificing his life.

So,

what binds Zhao Ming

is not a single chain,

but the weight of all the people in the world.

Everyone calls him the Saint Emperor,

but behind that noble title

lies their admiration and reliance.

They all depend on him,

but who can he depend on?

He must be so tired.

Rather than calling him Saint Emperor,

I'd rather call him Zhao Ming,

his true self.

Everyone should

bear the consequences of their choices.

This is the destiny he chose for himself.

Destiny?

Today,

I will teach you the character "Zhao."

"Zhao,"

on the left is the "sun,"

[Zhao]

shining like the noonday sun,

bringing light to all beings.

Above is a "blade,"

and below is a "mouth,"

symbolizing the danger

of living on the edge of death.

Sir, are you saying

that Zhao Ming will die?

The Saint Emperor was born with divine channels

and is destined to share heaven's longevity.

How could he die?

I've spoken too much today.

Fate is mysterious,

not something we can easily reveal.

You scared me!

As long as Zhao Ming is fine, I'm relieved.

You're so knowledgeable,

always saying things too profound for me to understand.

I have one more profound question

to ask you, Sir.

Go ahead.

What is love?

In storybooks, the woodcutter and the Divine Saintess fell in love.

Even when they turned into stone,

unable to be together,

they felt no regret.

I want to know, what exactly is love?

Is love a desire or a driving force?

In your opinion,

what is love?

Why is it that when humans have love,

their lives become bustling

and full of warmth?

If we could also have love,

wouldn't the divine realm

be less cold and desolate?

You and I were created as divine artifacts,

meant to follow Hao Tian's will.

To question love

is to begin the path to destruction.

Alright,

then I won't ask anymore.

Anyway, you're by my side.

As long as the sun rises and sets

and the universe endures,

Fate,

we will always be together.

I don't know what love truly is.

All I know is that love

belongs only to humans

and not to the Divine Saintess.

If a divine saintess loves,

she will be punished by the heavens.

So,

even being a divine saintess isn't easy.

What if

you're also a celestial pearl

that fell from the heavens?

How could I be a celestial pearl?

I'm just an ordinary pearl

in Zhao Ming's hands.

As long as I can see him every day,

stay with him every day,

I'm happy.

But you're a pearl,

and he's human.

You're destined to be separated one day.

No, we won't.

Look,

in the storybooks,

the woodcutter may have turned to stone,

but his heart still loved the Divine Saintess.

Nothing can truly separate them.

Just like me and Zhao Ming,

as long as I keep him in my heart,

we will never be apart.

No matter what happens,

I will stay by his side, forever.

Forever

I lift my gaze for a moment, your eyes shine like rivers of light ♪

[Everbright Palace]

It feels as though we loved in a past life ♪

If not ♪

Why do our gazes recognize each other? ♪

In the vast wildness, we sing and enjoy the moonlight ♪

I hope we can spend our lives together ♪

Your face turns to me ♪

It's like a gentle kiss from warm winds ♪

Love blooms across mountains ♪

My heart belongs to you ♪

Join me to savor the world's dazzling fireworks ♪

Here, the lights shine bright every night.

Affairs of state

never seem to end.

Even when you find rest,

nightmares haunt your sleep.

Zhao Ming,

is this your path as the Saint Emperor?

Even a good night's rest

is a luxury.

In the vast wildness, we sing and enjoy the moonlight ♪

I hope we can spend our lives together ♪

Your face turns to me ♪

It's like a gentle kiss from warm winds ♪

Love blooms across mountains ♪

My heart belongs to you ♪

Join me to savor the world's dazzling fireworks ♪

You make my heart bloom with thousands of peach blossoms ♪

Your Majesty.

Because our hands remain entwined ♪

Because you've stayed the same ♪

The brilliance endures ♪

For some reason,

as long as you're by my side,

no matter how overwhelming life gets,

I can still

find peace and focus.

Searching for your face in the cycles of life ♪

If the tears in my heart remain unseen ♪

Can I still remain tireless? ♪

Because my heart holds longing ♪

A devoted soul asks not how far the road goes ♪

For love, braving the storms, crossing the years ♪

Never regretting our meeting ♪

Only wishing for thousands of blossoms ♪

To bloom for you that day ♪

Gazing at that one person, those eyes ♪

I desire nothing else ♪

A life with no worries or regrets ♪

Staying by your side ♪

For love, braving the storms, crossing the years ♪

Never regretting our meeting ♪

Only wishing for thousands of blossoms ♪

To bloom for you that day ♪

Gazing at that one person, those eyes ♪

I desire nothing else ♪

A life with no worries or regrets ♪

Staying by your side ♪