01x31 - Episode 31

[bunniefuu]

You're awake.

Were you

pleased with last night?

Very much so.

Where are you going?

I have a gift for you.

Do you remember

when we first met,

it all began because
of the Immortal Vine?

Of course I remember.

You've made another one?

Now,

my feelings for you

run deeper than I ever imagined.

Whenever I look at you,

my heart fills with joy.

Whenever I'm near you,

I can't help but smile.

When our eyes meet,

they're filled with nothing
but tenderness.

So to me,

this is a truly lucky keepsake.

I embroidered a pair.

One for you, and one for me.

They can be our token

and something to remember each other by.

What do you think?

Of course.

Then I'll keep it on me every day,

and never let it leave my side.

=Blossoms of Power=

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

=Episode 31=

[Taiji Hall]
After the last defeat of the Le tribe,

they finally dropped all pretense.

They have gathered an army
of 3,000,000 and marched against us.

The Northwest Army
is engaged in battle.

Your Majesty,

a dispatch
has just arrived from the front.

The Duke of Wei's
old injuries have yet to heal,

and he has withdrawn
from the front lines.

The battle is at its fiercest.

If he steps down at a time like this,
what are we going to do?

Rest assured, Your Majesty.

The Duke of Wei's command

has been taken over
by Young Master Shen.

It has done nothing to affect morale.

The Northwest Army
is advancing without resistance.

Good.

Good.

Your Majesty.

Excellent.

I had

thought this battle

would surely drag on for a year or more.

At this rate,

I believe it will soon be over.

Good.

Excellent.

Your Majesty's health

has yet to recover.

The medicines
from the Imperial Medical Office

have shown little effect.

Should we summon renowned physicians

to treat Your Majesty?

No.

No medicine

could compare
with today's battle report.

Like father, like son.

Shen Yun'an.

I was

right about you.

[East Palace]

Judging by your expression,

has something good happened?

Xihe, you've come
at just the right time.

Yun'an led the army

and completely crushed
the enemy forces.

Really?

Absolutely.

The victory report is right here.

[Young Master Shen Yun'an led the army]

[and crushed the main enemy force.]
The threat along the northern border,

which has plagued Daxing for a century,

has finally been eliminated.

Yun'an lived up
to everyone's expectations

and achieved a truly unparalleled feat.

This is wonderful.

Father's lifelong wish
has finally been fulfilled.

Xihe,

do you know

this great victory

was not won overnight?

Your contribution

was indispensable.

My contribution?

That's right.

Had you not befriended
Consort Shu with sincerity,

understood the hardship
of her marrying far from home,

and even offered help
to her younger brother,

how could Lanhai have
given its full support

at such a critical moment,
sending troops to assist

and pinning down
the northern desert's flank?

Xihe,

you won with people's hearts

and with your wisdom.

You're always praising me,

making me sound perfect.

But you truly are that wonderful.

It's because

you've always believed in me completely

and always stood by my side.

That's why

you are the bedrock on which I stand

and the wind that parts the waves.

Husband and wife are one.

Seeing your talent

shine so brightly,

my heart

is filled with nothing
but pride and joy.

Your glory

is my glory.

The Grand Empress Dowager
has been complaining to me.

She said she's held
several banquets lately

and invited every noble lady
in the imperial capital

for you to meet,

yet not a single one caught your eye.

I have let grandmother's
efforts go to waste.

Changying,

tell me the truth.

Just what kind of lady do you like?

Father,

there isn't any woman I like.

I

only wish to return to Anlan
and guard the frontier.

To avoid getting married,

you actually

want to hide away in Anlan?

Is it really that difficult
to find you a wife

who truly suits you?

I believe

rather than marrying
a woman I do not love

and ending up an unhappy couple,

I'd rather make the most of my youth,

remain free of attachments,

and devote myself to serving the court.

Starting a family

and building a career

are not mutually exclusive.

To me,

the people of Daxing,

the land of Daxing,

every tree and blade of grass in Daxing,

are the ones

I wish to devote my entire life to.

You really

do have an answer for everything.

I don't believe

there'll never come a day

when you understand
matters of the heart.

I'll

be waiting for that day.

Thank you, Father.

Second Young Lady Shen,

you entered the palace today?

The Grand Empress Dowager summoned me.

Was it also about marriage?

I turned it down again.

Where are you going?

I'll take you there.

I promised my friends

I'd meet them at
the poetry society by Qiaozi Crossing.

The Linquan Poetry Society?

How does Your Highness
know about our poetry society?

Your poetry society

is quite well known
throughout the imperial capital.

I heard you admit only ladies.

Besides discussing
literature and poetry,

you also hold flower
arranging gatherings,

equestrian and archery competitions,
and music appreciation events.

Not only do talented noble ladies
come in admiration,

even gifted young masters

long to join.

Your Highness flatters us.

Our poetry society
has indeed held many gatherings,

and there are many
exceptionally talented noble ladies.

But even

more of them
are ladies with tragic lives.

Some were abandoned by their husbands.

Some were widowed at a young age.

Others were sold
because their families were poor.

They have neither natal families
nor husbands to rely on,

and no skills to earn a living.

It's hard for them
to survive in this world.

But here with me,

they can discover what they excel at.

Then I teach them how to make a living.

One day,

they'll be able to rely on themselves

to build a life in this world,

instead of drifting
wherever fate takes them.

Perhaps

a whole new future awaits them.

What you've done

is truly admirable.

That is no small achievement.

Since I've already
decided never to marry,

I won't be tied down by the affairs
of the inner household.

Life is still long.

I ought to do something meaningful

so I can truly live up to
the freedom I fought so hard to win.

Are court affairs
still keeping you busy?

I asked Father

to let me return to Anlan
and guard the frontier.

But Father didn't want me so far away.

In the end, he allowed me to serve
in the Imperial Guard.

Your Highness has lofty aspirations.

The ladies at our poetry society
often speak of your reputation.

They all admire you greatly.

What?

Could it be

you're trying to play matchmaker, too?

You don't wish to settle for someone

just to fill the place in your heart.

I couldn't agree more.

Rather than leading someone on,

I'd rather remain on my own.

For my own sake and theirs,

that's the only fair choice.

With just those few words,
you've seen right through me.

Second Young Lady Shen,

that alone is enough for me
to call you a confidante.

[East Palace]

What's wrong?

Mo Yu.

Mo Yu!

Go get Mo Yu at once.

Yes.

[Clarity and Serenity]

Here.

Have some water.

How do you feel?

Just now,

I had a very strange dream.

What kind of dream?

I dreamed

we went to admire the lake.

Then all of a sudden,

a school of colorful carp swam by.

One of them was golden.

It was as if it knew me.

It swam straight toward me.

Your Highness,

the maid on duty
said you weren't feeling well.

I've come to examine you.

I'm all right now. Don't worry.

Since Mo Yu is already here,

let her check your pulse.

That way, I'll be at ease, too.

How is the Crown Princess?

Congratulations, Your Highness.

The Crown Princess is pregnant.

♪A wall that collapses at a single push♪

♪Frost that melts at a single smile♪

♪How can you be this wonderful♪

Xihe,

we're going to have a child.

We're going to have a child.

Mo Yu, tell me quickly.

Crown Princess is suffering
from severe morning sickness.

Is there anything that can help ease it?

Should she be eating something?

I'll have the kitchen
prepare it at once.

Is there anything else she should avoid?

Morning sickness

often causes a poor appetite.

For now, keep her meals light.

The weather is turning cooler.

Be sure she doesn't catch a chill.

If she catches a cold,
she won't be able to take medicine.

For a pregnant lady,

that's the hardest thing to endure.

Light meals.

Don't let her catch a chill.

What else?

Your Highness,

I've been by the Crown Princess's side
since we were children.

I always knew this day would come.

So I've long been prepared.

Please don't worry too much,
Your Highness.

I'll do everything I can

to take good care of the Crown Princess.

I'll go prepare breakfast
for the Crown Princess now.

♪Stepping out of this long game
of hide-and-seek♪

With Mo Yu and Zhen Zhu here,

don't worry.

Of course I know

how devoted they are to you.

But for both of us,

this is our first time,

and it's a matter
of the utmost importance.

No matter how well we've prepared,

it's hard

not to worry.

You're awake.

What time is it?

It's almost Shen hour.

I've been so sleepy lately.

I wake up late in the morning,

and after lunch, I get sleepy again.

All I do every day is eat and sleep.

I can't get anything done.

Leave everything else

to Zhen Zhu and Mo Yu.

But there's one thing

only you can do.

What is it?

Go take a walk in the garden.

Let's go.

Wait.

I'll get your outer robe.

Your Highness,

there's something
I'd like to discuss with you.

What is it?

About my pregnancy...

I'd like to wait until after the first
three months before making it public.

Once the pregnancy is stable,

I'll deal with any lurking threats.

All right.

That gives me time
to make some arrangements.

Anything we can prevent in advance,

I'll prepare for it.

You always seem
to have everything under control.

Why are you being so cautious this time?

In this world,

there's no such thing as a perfect plan.

We'll take things as they come

and deal with them accordingly.

Your Highness,

what do you think?

Will our child

be a boy or a girl?

Boy or girl,

our child will be my greatest treasure.

If it's a boy,

I hope

he'll inherit his father's
wisdom and virtue,

and become a great man

who can command the situation with ease,
just like his father.

If it's a girl,

I hope

she'll travel the world,

learn from the greatest minds,

and become a lady

of vision and sound judgment,

just like her mother.

Our child,

born into all the love you have to give,

is destined for greatness

and a glorious future.

I never imagined

that I'd one day

mean so much to you.

The ones we hold dearest

will always matter most.

The ones we hold dearest?

I'm not entirely satisfied.

You have too many dear ones.

I want to be

the one you love most.

Say it again.

You're so shameless.

I've already told you I love you,

and you're still hung up on the wording.

Then you needn't say it.

I'll simply

replace it with
"the one I love most" in my heart.

Back then,

whenever I heard you slip sweet words
into every conversation,

I always thought
you were all smooth talk.

But now,

I actually think

it's rather nice.

[Contemplating the Pine Breeze]

Your Highness,

this medicine is far too potent.

You still need
to recover with great care.

Brooding over things

is most harmful to your health.

Yunhuai,

whenever I think about the day
I'm no longer here,

and Xihe is left to raise our child

while fighting alone
in this den of wolves,

my heart aches unbearably.

Your Highness
has already planned for everything.

Even if that day should ever come,

the Crown Princess
would never be left without support.

The Crown Princess
commands the inner palace.

She has the
Duke of Wei's Manor behind her,

and has won over both Shunan and Lanhai.

With their military support,

and throughout the court,

from the Director of the Secretariat

down to the local officials,

everything has been arranged.

It's just that I can't accept

that I won't be by her side,

or grow old together with her.

For the one you love most,

no matter how much you do,

it never feels like enough.

Yunhuai,

I was once just like you.

My heart belonged
to the mountains and rivers,

and I longed to roam the world.

Until I met her.

For the rest of my life,

I only want to stay by her side.

If there is truly a way

to let me stay with her a little longer,

even if it means enduring the agony
of reforging my body,

through endless hardship,

I am willing to do it.

[Eight years old]

[Ten years old]

[Three years old]

[Four years old]

[Seven years old]

[Eight years old]

[Thirteen years old]

[Fourteen years old]

[Fifteen years old]

Your Highness,

you're reading so many books these days.

These are all for my child.

Whether it's a boy or a girl, they
should study and learn what is right.

From early childhood
enlightenment at the age of one

to the teachings
of the sages at fifteen,

I've already prepared

what they'll read each year.

- Greetings, Your Highness.
- Greetings, Your Highness.

Rise.

May I ask, Your Highness,

why you summoned

the two of us to the palace so urgently?

Zhenghao,

there's something

I'd like to ask of you.

If Your Highness has any orders,

I will carry them out
with all my strength.

There's no need to call it a favor.

You honor me far beyond my station.

You earned your place in the Embroidered
Envoys through the martial examination.

In just two years,

you rose from the lowest rank

to become the Chief Envoy.

In all of Daxing,

you are among the very best.

After the child is born,

whether it's a boy or a girl,

I'd like you

to be their martial arts teacher.

Their martial arts teacher?

Yes.

I've been poisoned since childhood.

Had I not devoted myself
to martial arts,

I would never have survived this long.

I know better than anyone
how important a strong body is.

I hope this child

will not only be able
to protect themselves,

but also have the strength
to protect their mother.

If it's a prince, don't spoil him.

Strict teachers
produce exceptional students.

If he misbehaves, discipline him.

I'll leave it entirely to you.

If it's a princess,

then I'd ask you

to watch over her always

and care for her well.

I accept your command.

I will pass on everything

I've learned in my lifetime

and never fail Your Highness's trust.

Yunhuai,

you've traveled far and wide

and seen much of the world.

Once the child turns five,

alongside their studies,

I'd like you to take them
out of the palace

to see more
of the world's mountains and rivers.

What do you think?

One should read ten thousand books

and travel ten thousand miles.

Let them experience
the lives of the people

and understand their hardships.

Yes.

How can someone
who only sits upon the highest throne,

pampered with every luxury,

ever possess the vision and resolve
to embrace all under heaven?

And how could they possess
true compassion and impartiality?

With you to guide and teach them,

I can rest easy.

I'm counting on you both.

- I accept Your Highness's command.
- I accept Your Highness's command.

- We'll never fail your trust.
- We'll never fail your trust.

[Sixian Hall]

Your Highness.

I've summoned you here today

to announce something important.

At last,

I've freed you from your servant status.

Your Highness,

do you mean...

Ever since I took charge
of the Six Palaces,

I've been planning this.

These are your papers.

Keep them safe.

From this day forward,

[Mo Yu is registered as a commoner]
you are no longer servants.

[Eligible for appointment as a Fifth-Rank Palace Matron]
You have also been made fifth-rank palace officials.

Even after you marry,

you may continue serving in the palace.

- Thank you for Your Highness's grace.
- Thank you for Your Highness's grace.

Get up.

All these years,

you've always stayed by my side.

Everything you've done for me,

I've kept in my heart.

I've long since thought of you
as my younger sisters.

From this day forward,

you'll have more choices.

If one day

you meet a man you truly love,

just tell me.

I'll prepare

a generous dowry for you,

and marry you off in grand style,

with all the honors due a noble lady.

If your ambition
lies in official service,

and you wish to pursue
a career as a palace official,

I'll support you as well.

Rely on your own abilities

to make a name for yourselves
in the palace.

For the rest of my life,

I only wish to remain by your side.

Your Highness has reached
the third month of your pregnancy.

This is when you
need people around you most.

Zhen Zhu and I

won't leave your side.

From now on, leave the palace affairs
to Mo Yu and me.

You and His Highness
can tend the flowers,

make tea and paint,

play the qin, compose music,
play chess,

and talk about the little prince
and little princess.

Please don't send us away.

No one's sending you away.

If you

wish to remain by my side,

then stay here.

But these papers

must be kept safe.

They represent

a future where you will no longer
be bound by your status.

Whatever path you choose,

you'll be able to hold your head high

and live with greater dignity.

I came especially to visit you,
Brother-in-law.

As luck would have it,
you were practicing your sword.

I told you before

not to come to my manor again.

You haven't been to court
these past few days.

I came to bring you some news.

The East Palace

has informed His Majesty and
Grand Empress Dowager of the good news.

The Crown Princess

is expecting.

On my way here,

just imagining

the look on your face
when you heard the news

got my blood racing.

You really didn't disappoint me.

Admit it, Changqing.

You and I are the same.

When we want something,

we'll stop at nothing to get it.

The difference between us

is that if I can't have it,

I'll destroy it.

Changqing.

You can't bear to do it.

Do you want me to help you?

Touch her if you dare.

The more you care,

the more excited I become.

Please forgive me, Prince Xin.

I deserve to die.

I didn't mean it.

Why did the incense break?

Speak!

Why did the incense break?

Please calm your anger, Prince Xin.

If the incense broke,
simply light another stick.

Why let it upset you
and harm your health?

If Her Highness knows in the afterlife,

she'll be distressed as well.

The incense broke

to tell Qingzhi

that our bond in this life
has come to an end,

and we shall
never meet again in the next.

Its breaking

means Qingzhi and I

are to be parted forever.

Replace it!

Yes.

[The Late Lady Gu]

Qingqing,

from that day on,

I replaced this incense

with agarwood that never breaks.

Lifetime after lifetime,

we'll be together forever.

You will always be my wife.

Yunhuai.

Your Highness.

Tell me the truth.

Am I already beyond cure?

Your Highness,

the strange poison has flared up again.

It has penetrated your bones.

All three meridians

have already been corrupted.

There's no reversing it.

Does that mean I could...

Please forgive my incompetence.

I know you still have one medicine

that can let me live like
an ordinary man for a few more days.

You mustn't.

That medicine is extremely dangerous.

Once the floodgates burst,

there will be no turning back.

Go and bring it to me.

Your Highness.

Xihe is with child.

I want to be with them as best I can.

What are you thinking about?

I was thinking...

Even knowing my life hangs by a thread,

I still can't bear to let you go.

I owe you

far too much.

I chose you as my husband

because you
wouldn't live long, remember?

The two of us

are perfectly matched.

We each got what we wanted.

Besides,

I never intended to remarry.

In my lifetime,

I will have only one husband.

Youyou and Luming.

A match made in heaven.

Has the baby
been giving you trouble today?

I think the baby just kicked me.

Silly.

The baby's so tiny. How could it kick?

Little Goldfish,

be good to your mother.

Don't be so naughty.

What if you hurt your mother?

Little Goldfish?

That's the nickname
I've chosen for our child.

Whether it's a boy or a girl.

I've already picked a given name.

Xiao Junshu.

Junshu?

The name Junshu

symbolizes one who governs the realm.

That's too weighty.

Will Father approve?

Our child's name

is for you and me alone to decide.

Trust me.

He'll agree.

I trust you.

[The Grave of My Wife, Li Yanhui.
Husband, Xiao Changtai]

Changtai,

are you really going?

From the very beginning,

he never saw me as his own son.

My future,

my love,

my wife,

he destroyed them all.

Now that I've reached
the end of the road,

I have nothing left to fear.

Once you take this path,
there's no turning back.

If you stop now, change your name,
and disappear,

you might still live out
the rest of your days.

Without you,

what life would I have left?

[The Grave of My Wife, Li Yanhui.
Husband, Xiao Changtai]

I will make him regret

looking down on me,

and using me all these years.

Now that you know the truth,

why do you still try to stop me?

Xihe,

I'm sorry for barging into

your life.

I only hope

you'll never regret marrying me...

♪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]