01x03 - Episode 3

[bunniefuu]

No matter what happens,
you did save my life once.

As repayment,
I shall let you die with dignity.

Your death will be cleaner and more decent.

Chu!

Brother Yan Xun, if you go on like this,

it will be more than just
drinking a bit of cold water for her.

[Episode 3]

Chu, are you all right?

Yan Xun, it is me, Chu.

It is me, Chu.

Chu,

don't be afraid. I am all right.

Your Highness, k*ll Yan Xun.

This is an unmissable chance.

Report!

Your Highness,
Yan's army is gathered outside our camp.

They say they have come
for their Yanbei King.

Your Highness, there is no time to hesitate.

This chance will slip from our grasp
if we delay.

Your Highness,
their men are already on our doorstep.

If they cannot see the Yanbei King,
they will storm in.

k*ll Yan Xun!

k*ll Yan Xun!

Your Highness, you must not let them go.

k*ll Yan Xun.

Go.

Do not let them leave!

k*ll Chu Qiao for me!

Brother Zhao Che.

Whatever I wish for,

you have always moved heaven and earth
to get it for me.

Now, all I want is for Chu Qiao to die.

Will you help me and k*ll Chu Qiao?

Someone, remove the Princess.

Chu Qiao, I will k*ll you!

Chun Er, that is enough!

Brother, so long as you k*ll Chu Qiao,

you will be hailed as a hero of Great Yong.

Even if only for your own sake,

you must not let her walk out of here alive!

Let them go.

Yan Xun!

As long as I draw breath,
I will k*ll Chu Qiao

and be tangled with you for a lifetime!

Forgive my rudeness.

What Princess Chun Er said just now
was not entirely without truth.

If those two return alive,

they will forever be a menace to Great Yong.

This w*r has already dragged on too long.

If we k*ll Yan Xun,
this feud will likely never end.

The soldiers and folk of Great Yong
can bear this no longer.

I am sorry.

You have risked your life to shield me,

yet still, I doubted you.

Chu,

have you finally remembered me?

When you took that blade for me today,

I seemed to recall fragments from before.

Has this happened to us before?

Yan Xun.

Here, have a sip of water.

Let's take our time
and plan things out again.

All right?

What are you doing here?

[Muhe Xi Feng]
I came to see how the old heir of Yanbei

fell so low as to become a prisoner now.

Yan Xun.

- Yan Xun!
- Chu!

You couldn't have arrived at a better time.

You broke my finger that day.

Now, I shall make you repay me a hundredfold.

Guards!

Let me go!

Stop!

A debt paid is only fair.

I will repay her debt.

Muhe Xi Feng.

We are both men, are we not?

What she owes, I shall repay you myself.

I will pay it myself.

I do not want you to.

If you insist on taking her place,

then do it yourself.

Chu,

you say your life is worth nothing,

but to me, it means more than anything
in this world.

No!

Back then,

the Emperor of Yong
accused my father of treason,

and put my entire clan to the sword.

Upon the Jiuyou Terrace,

you protected me,
and took that scar upon your back.

I swore then and there

that I would never let harm touch you again.

No matter how many swords
I must bear for you,

I have always been willing.

Yan Xun.

All that you say, even this scar,

I have forgotten it all.

The past has already faded away.

As long as in this moment,

you are by my side, that is enough.

The last time Chu returned
to the capital of Yan,

she was ambushed
by Datong Guild along the way.

In less than two days,
Zhao Chun Er appeared once more.

This has troubled me ever since.

Since Chu awoke,
she has not left the barracks.

So who let the secret out?

Or did someone deliberately spread the news

to draw them right to us?

Your Majesty, do you suspect
it was my doing?

I have no need to guess.
I know what you have done.

Did you truly think I did not know?

I have followed you since I was 13.

It is you who gave me life.

Whatever I do, it is for your sake alone.

All is from my loyalty to you, Your Majesty.

If your wish to k*ll me,
then do it as you see fit.

Do you believe I would not dare?

You would certainly dare.

But even if you end my life,

my conviction will not waver.

Your Majesty, Chu Qiao,
the Yanbei troops and you

all share a tangled past.

If you make her Queen of Yanbei,
trouble will surely follow.

The other tribes will not easily accept her.

If you still hold Yanbei in your heart,

and cannot forget the blood feud
with Great Yong,

and mourn the old King's bones,
still cold in the earth,

then Chu Qiao must never be made Queen.

Leave.

All of you, leave.

General Cheng, this is for you.

It cleanses wounds and heals the flesh.

If it works as it should,
it will not even leave a scar.

Lady Helian, you dare come to me
at a time like this,

do you not fear His Majesty
will see you as my accomplice,

and punish us both together?

Not only do I dare to see you,

I also came to thank you, General.

We plotted this together,

but you did not name me before His Majesty.

For this alone, I see, General,

you are truly worthy of trust.

Is this a token of gratitude from you,
Lady Helian?

Of course not.

Since my purpose is to thank you,

naturally, I will help you,
so you may fulfill your wish.

And you still wish to move against Chu Qiao?

Of course not.

But Yanbei will never accept her.

It is not only our Helian tribe.

His Majesty can ignore lesser tribes,

but what of the Snow Region?

Guards!

What is burning in this brazier?

General Huan.

Why is it you?

Was it you who lit the fire in this brazier?

This incense is for calming the mind.

When His Majesty marches to w*r,

he often lies restless late into the night.

So I would always prepare this
for His Majesty.

My appetite is good, and I sleep soundly.

I have no need of such things.

Lady Helian, perhaps your concern

would be better spent on our wounded men.

They, far more than I, have need of you.

General Huan, your integrity is admirable.

But today,
I come for the sake of our army's men.

As I recall,
we have never been particularly close.

Lady Helian, do you have some request
you wish to ask of me?

Our King has feelings for General Chu Qiao

that run deep as the mountains.

For her sake,
he thinks nothing of consequence.

He laid his trap for Zhuge Yue,
the general of Great Yong,

and so began a battle in Yanbei
at Meilin Pass against Great Yong.

How many of our Black Eagles
now lie cold beneath Ximin Mountain?

Now, with the Yong army barely in retreat,

he ignores the protests
of every tribe in Yanbei

and insists on taking Chu Qiao
as his Queen in the capital.

Chu Qiao?

When I travelled across Yanbei's snow region,

her name and deeds reached even me.

She too is a general, is she not?

Yet the wars she has waged
are less famed than the rest of her legend.

General Huan,

my Helian tribe is small and without power.

We would never judge
His Majesty's choices lightly.

But you must know
how the elders of other Yanbei tribes

now view our King.

They say he is lost
to the charms of one woman,

and turns his back on his duties.

All that awaits is ruin for the kingdom.

I believe neither you
nor the Snow Region tribe

would wish to see the old King's legacy
destroyed for some woman.

I cannot say if Chu Qiao
is a scourge upon us.

But you are no good soul in my eyes.

Your presence here
is merely to provoke discord in my heart,

and make me stop His Majesty
from marrying Chu Qiao.

And what, precisely, is it you seek here?

Whether I'm here to provoke discord or not,

I trust you will judge for yourself.

My message is delivered.

I shall take my leave.

Chu,

we will be in the capital of Yan soon.

[Capital of Yan]

King Yan Xun is back.

The forces of Great Yong have retreated.

There is no more w*r! No more fighting!

- That's great!
- No more w*r!

No more w*r!

That is wonderful news!

Your Majesty,
your wedding is fast approaching.

It is tradition in Yanbei
that before the wedding,

the Queen must embroider
a sash for His Majesty.

When the wedding day comes,
His Majesty will wear that sash,

accompany you to the ancestral temple
outside the capital of Yan,

to honor the ancestors.

Where are the finest clothing shops
in this capital?

[Huajin Tailor Shop]

Your Majesty,
this sash does not follow tradition.

Shopkeeper, I shall take this sash.

Shopkeeper, here is your coin.

This sash is a gift from you?

How wonderful.

I shall always wear it,
at least until our wedding,

and when we go to honor the ancestors.

This sash is not as precious as you think.

Chu, I have something for you as well.

Chu,

this is something I made just for you.

Once we are wed, this shall be your chamber,

our home, together.

It is all so grand.

I fear I may not grow used to it.

Chu, long ago, I made you a promise

that I would bring you home to Yanbei.

I have finally kept my word.

You have no home of your own,

nor family to call your own.

So let this place be your home.

And I am your family from now on.

Chu, long ago,

we were held c*ptive in that small courtyard.

We lived in constant unease, day and night.

And later, we marched and fought in battle,

enduring wind and rain beneath open skies.

In those days,

I silently made a vow...

to give you, one day,
the finest home that could be.

So you would not have
to suffer such a life again.

From now on, you will be
the Queen of Yanbei by my side.

And our children
shall be the heirs to Yanbei.

Your Majesty,
it is time for the Queen's medicine.

Her Majesty has already gone to sleep.

Let her take her medicine tomorrow.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Chu, this is all for your sake.

May you from now on
find restful sleep each night.

May there never be sorrow again.

[Yan]

Your Majesty,

His Majesty has given orders that
you shouldn't over-exert yourself.

You can do this!

- Great!
- Wonderful!

What use is there
in sparring with a lifeless post?

Hello, General Huan.
I did not see you there.

I have heard much of you.

The blade of Yanbei
is not wielded in such a fashion.

Warriors of Yanbei attack,
and never evade their foe.

Your hands lack true strength.
Your energy wavers within.

Such things are fatal faults
for a swords woman.

If you claim the rank of general,
then let us see some true skill.

Otherwise, you should return
to your duties as Queen.

You would do well to avoid matters
of w*r and state.

I heard you have yet
to fully recover your health.

That victory of mine just now
was hardly honourable.

Once you are healed,
we will have a proper match.

General Huan, stay silent.

You and I are strangers, nothing more.

So why do you go out of your way
to trouble me?

I know full well that most of
Yanbei's generals and noble clans

would rather I do not marry Yan Xun.

Some even wish to see me dead.

But let me offer you a word of warning,
General Huan.

Do not let yourself be used
as a pawn by others.

Do you think I am a fool?

Even if I turn a blind eye to your affairs,

those old tribal elders of Yanbei

will see to it that neither you
nor Yan Xun knows peace.

General Huan,

I don't want to see Yanbei torn apart
for my sake.

Nor do I want Yan Xun to fall into trouble
because of me.

This title as Queen of Yanbei,
is not one I must wear.

Since I woke upon the frozen lake,

I have carried the feeling that
something is missing in my memories.

Night after night,
the frozen lake appears in my dreams.

I wish to return and see it once more.

But I've never had the chance.

I know of Yan Xun's love for me.

Yet I do not wish for him to change his path

or stray from what he is meant to do
because of me.

If you could help me leave this place,

it would be best for me, for Yan Xun,
and for all of Yanbei.

You wish for me to betray Yan Xun for you?

General Huan, please have some tea.

General Huan,

was the residence you saw just now
to your satisfaction?

With Yanbei newly restored and funds scarce,

the building of this detached palace
must have emptied the royal treasury.

But His Majesty's wedding draws near,

and such expense for a bride
is only to be expected.

Stop right there!

General Huan, my respects.

Lord Helian.

Why are you sneaking about like that?

Nothing at all.

Open the brocade box.

General Huan, this is a tonic for Lady Chu.

- I don't think...
- Open it.

Zhigu Grass,
a secret military drug of Yanbei.

I just found it in the tonic
she gave to Chu Qiao.

What is this about?

I have no idea.

I was simply delivering medicine to Lady Chu.

I know nothing about Zhigu Grass.

Su has served in the palace for many years.

I believe she would never harm Chu.

Zhigu Grass concerns matters
of military secrecy.

How could a mere court lady
obtain such a thing?

- Who is giving you orders?
- Huan Huan.

You have led the troops for many days.

The army is weary, the horses worn down.

You should take some rest.

In three days, Chu and I will be wed.

All the tribal elders will be present.

You may gather with the elders then,

and share a cup of wedding wine with us both.

Zhigu Grass is used for t*rture.

It is meant to shatter a prisoner's spirit.

- Those who ingest it lose their will.
- General Huan.

You are speaking far too much.

Your Majesty.

While my father still lived,

he swore lifelong loyalty
to the old King of Yan.

He taught me that the duty of
our Snow Region tribe is to protect Yanbei.

When you returned to Yanbei,

I was the very first to take up arms for you.

For the sake of our Snow Region tribe's

loyalty throughout the generations,

please show mercy for my offence.

We were meant to enter the palace
at mid-morning today.

But it is already noon.

Elder Gelin still has not turned up.

Could he have changed his mind?

Surely not?

He was the one most fiercely opposed
to His Majesty marrying Chu Qiao.

He would not back down
at the final moment, would he?

Elder! Elder!

I have just received news...

Nothing untoward has happened, I hope?

Elder Gelin is in trouble.

On his way into the city last night,
he was k*lled.

Your Majesty, it is time.

You must change and set out
to the ancestral temple.

Assassins! Protect His Majesty!

Chu!

Chu!

Chu!

Chu!

Your Majesty.

Chu.

We have been through so much together.

I thought everything had finally ended.

This was meant to be our new beginning.

Your Majesty, my condolences.

Your Majesty.

The Queen is not dead.

Without my word, who would dare let her die?

Your Majesty.

Find a better physician for Chu.

Has he confessed?

He refuses to speak,
even under pain of death.

Speak.

I will talk. I will say it.

It was...

It... It was Cheng Yuan.

It was Lord Cheng Yuan.

You are lying!

I know most of the generals
and tribes of Yanbei

do not wish me to marry Yan Xun.

Some even want me dead.

I am sorry.

I...

[To General Huan]

Chu.

Guards!

- Your Majesty.
- Where is the Queen?

Where has Her Majesty gone?

Convey my command.

Seal every road.

Chu is not to suffer the slightest harm.

- Bring her back to me!
- Yes, Your Majesty.

Let these words stand in my stead.

General Huan, if you should see this letter,

I will likely have come to harm.

I have heard you hold
great compassion for your soldiers.

When Snow Region soldiers perish,
whatever hardships you may face,

you will fulfill their final wishes
in their stead.

I know there will be many who would

stop Yan Xun and me from marrying.

That is why I write this letter
ahead of time.

Yan Xun and I journeyed
from the lands of Great Yong to Yanbei,

enduring countless trials.

I may not remember
everything from those days,

but he remains the one closest to my heart.

And so, if my departure
might spare him further turmoil,

I could find peace at last.

Yet one wish still weighs on my heart.

I know full well Yan Xun's heart
runs deep for me.

He would lay me to rest
with all honors of Queen of Yanbei.

Yet for me, and for Yanbei,
such a thing holds little true meaning.

You and I met but once,

but you felt to me like an old friend.

If ever these lines reach you,

might you carry my body home,
to the frozen lake?

I have always felt
my lost memories still linger there.

I wish to let the days I have forgotten
lie there with me for eternity.

Once we leave Zhenhuang City,
stay by my side.

I will bring you home to Yanbei.
I will keep you safe.

All right. Then promise me one thing.

Once we are out,
you will take me to taste delicious food.

Anything you can name,
I will bring you anything you ask for.

My name is Chu Qiao.
I have told no one else but you.

Then, from now on, I will call you Chu.

Is that all right?

Because fate brought us together but briefly,

I bring you here,
honoring your last request.

Although I do not know
all that you have faced,

may your soul find peace among the stars.

Here, our paths must part.

I knew you would come, Your Majesty.

General Huan, why are you doing this?

I only sought to help Lady Chu
see her final wish fulfilled.

Why did you betray me?

Because I misjudged you, Your Majesty.

You and I grew up together
since we were young.

I believed you'd stand with me,

and shoulder the burden
of protecting Yanbei with me.

But you laced her medicine with Zhigu Grass.

You wanted her to forget
everything she once was.

I do not know why you did such a thing,

nor do I wish to know.

The King I once served
ought to have been open-hearted,

and a person of true integrity.

I could never serve a king such as you.

I am the leader of the Snow Region.

I'll obey the oath to serve Yanbei,
as we have for generations.

If the King of Yanbei commands my death,
I shall obey without question.

Strike now, Your Majesty.

Chu.

We are going home.

Chu.

- Why?
- Why?

I must avenge Zhuge Yue, and the Xiuli Army!

You have been lying to me all along.

You remember everything.

Is that not so?

The Datong Guild.

Go now, Your Majesty!

I have had you watched from the start.

When did you make contact
with the Grand Guild?

When I bought you that wedding belt.

Shopkeeper, I shall take this sash.

[On King Yan's wedding day,
wait in ambush on the frozen lake]

That shop...

is a Datong Guild stronghold.

You never forgot Zhuge Yue, did you?

That is right.

I have been lying to you all along.

In the granary of Great Yong,

when you shielded me from that blade,

everything returned to me in that instant.

I remembered I am the leader
of the Xiuli Army.

I fought side by side with you
at Great Yong, sharing life and death.

Those years with the Datong Guild,

we shared the same ideals.

You promised Yanbei would see no more w*r,
nor suffer oppression.

You would grant me an endless grassland
where I can run free.

But I have not forgotten...

how power blinded you,
and you abandoned your vows.

You used me to wipe out the Xiuli Army.

You lured Zhuge Yue to the frozen lake
and had him slain.

Countless lives were left destitute and

separated from their families because of you.

Leave now, Your Majesty!

The ice will not hold much longer.

Black Eagle Troops.

At His Majesty's command.

k*ll them all. Leave no one alive.

Release the arrows!

Truthfully, I always knew you deceived me.

I only wished, just once, to take a chance...

that you would not have the heart
to see me die.

Now it seems, I've bet wrongly.

The wedding-day assassin confessed long ago.

I have known your schemes from the start.

You feigned death by sealing your meridians
with silver needles.

That was Zhuge Yue who taught you that,
was it not?

Chu.

Come back with me.

We can start anew.

Let's go home.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

Chu.

I offer my life in exchange for yours.

Search the area around Qianzhang Lake.

Alive or dead, bring me Chu Qiao!

Yes, Your Majesty.

Zhuge Yue, do not go!

Xing Er.

Xing Er.

You are no match for me.

Nor shall I make this hard for you.

I shall go with you, then.

Chu Qiao, you must die.