Subtitles by DramaFever
Episode 23
Xiao Hui.
A real man knows the difference between gratitude and woes.
You helped me during my most difficult hours.
You then recommended me to Yun Kuang.
If I don't let you in, I'd be ungrateful.
But I'm in charge of guarding the gates and I'm hired by Yun Kuang.
If I let you in, I'm disloyal.
It's always difficult to strike a balance between gratitude and loyalty.
Therefore, that was the best solution.
It's all right. Perhaps Hai Tian and I weren't meant to be.
Xiao Hui, see me out.
Is it really Hai Tian you want to save and nothing else?
You'll draw attention to yourself in this outfit.
Besides, the palace is huge and you don't know your way around here.
You won't find him.
Zi Shu, it's been a while. Why isn't he out yet?
Don't panic. Give it some more time.
The more the merrier.
Hai Tian!
What's that sound?
Pang Wan!
Warlord! We contributed to the war as well.
Why is Master Kou the only one who gets to feast away?
Why do we have to wait out there starving?
Warlord, Pang Wan is very reckless so please forgive him.
He seems to be very forthright.
I remember meeting you at the Lu Residence.
- Exactly. - Set up seats for them.
Yes.
You're a true warrior. I'll toast to you.
I'm terribly busy and you're still idling around!
Which court do you belong to?
- I'm from... - Fine, stop mumbling and come with me!
Catch up!
The two of you bring the wine in!
And you two, come with me.
Take this and that in with you!
Hurry up! We're told to hurry up!
Be careful! That's Warlord's favorite dish!
Clumsy fools!
Why are you still standing there?
Take the food into the halls!
If Warlord blames us, we will all have to suffer!
Do you understand?
Yun Kuang.
How are you?
I've always wondered what you would say to me after all these years apart.
I didn't think you would just say, 'How are you?'
What should I say?
What do you want me to say?
There's nothing between us anymore.
Then what are you doing here?
I'm here to beg you to spare my husband's life.
- Hai Tian? - Yes.
- You kneel to me for his sake? - Yes.
What will you do if I say I have to kill him?
- Why? - Don't you know the reason?
I wasn't the one to break our promise.
Why should I have to bear the consequences?
If it wasn't you, could it have been me?
You had already married Hai Tian while I still waited for you foolishly.
I waited for the day when you'd come looking for me.
I still remember to seize the world for my woman!
Yes, I did marry Hai Tian but I had no other choice.
Who could force you to if you were unwilling to do so?
Miao Ge is now Yun Kuang's wife.
If I tell him the truth, it will drive a wedge between the both of them.
The Emperor of Chen State wanted me to come to the palace.
Getting married to Hai Tian was but a ploy.
We were only husband and wife in name.
I've been looking for you all these years.
I walked all the way from Kou County to Wei Yang on my own.
And then from Wei Yang to Lin Yang.
When I finally found you you already married Miao Ge.
Is this true?
I waited all night long for you at Shili Pavilion.
But you never came.
That was your wedding night so why would you be there?
You'd already forgotten about me.
You're wrong. You've got it all wrong.
They didn't give me the blade that night.
When I rushed over there the next day, you weren't there anymore.
It seems we aren't meant to be together.
Who says so?
It's too late now.
It's not too late.
Don't I now have you in my arms?
I now belong to Hai Tian.
I don't mind.
But I do.
We aren't meant to be together in this lifetime.
We'll get together in the next life, perhaps?
I want to be with you now, not in the next life.
You don't want to be indebted to Hai Tian?
I can give him my throne. I don't want anything but you!
Hai Tian isn't the only person standing between us.
What about Miao Ge?
If our happiness is attained by inflicting pain unto others
I'd rather give it up.
Aren't we the victims in this situation?
Do you still love me?
Of course I do.
Our love for each other won't fade away because we are miles apart.
It will never fade away.
Neither will mine.
I might have to leave right away after holding your hands.
Two people in love don't always have to be together.
As long as your heart warms up at the thought of me
and mine at the thought of you, that's good enough for me.
Le Er, what are you talking about?
I... That's not what I want.
I want to be with you.
I beg of you.
Please spare the life of my husband.
Le Er, how could you bear to do this to me?
- What did you say to Yun Kuang? - Miao Ge.
What did you say to him!
What do you think I could say to him?
I won't let anyone take away what I have worked so hard for!
I won't allow anyone to take him away from me!
When I was young, I gave up my clothes for you.
I also gave up on the love of your parents.
You can also ask me for my title of the Empress!
But I will never give Yun Kuang to you!
I love him! I love him more than you do!
Stay blissfully married then.
I already told you the day you got married that I just wanted you to be happy.
If you want me to be happy you must disappear!
I'm already Hai Tian's wife so rest assured I won't appear in your life anymore.
What are you doing here then?
Are you here to unveil my lies?
Have you told Yun Kuang how despicable and shameless I was?
No, I came to see Yun Kuang for the sake of my husband.
I don't want him to harm my husband because of a misunderstanding.
Don't worry. I didn't say a single word about the past.
Because you are my sister.
- You're willing to be Hai Tian's wife? - I already am his wife.
Fine. I will help you.
I don't want you to become a widow and take Yun Kuang away from me.
Get me some wine.
Let me ask you another question.
Who is the Emperor?
Warlord is the Emperor. You have the final say.
Master Kou's clothes are wet.
Hai Tian, you're drunk.
I'm fine.
If we don't leave now, lives will be lost!
Sires, Master Kou is drunk.
We will take our leave now.
Warlord.
Master Kou, isn't it a bit inappropriate of you to leave
while the banquet is still happening?
Mister Qian, you should understand.
You can keep some things down, but some, you can't.
You can't possibly stop him from going to the toilet, can you?
Go. Let's go.
Warlord, this is sowing the seeds of calamity!
Please send the troops after Hai Tian right now or else...
Mister Qian, please allow me a bit more time.
I need to think about it.
Warlord!
Why are you drinking alone?
You could have asked me to drink with you.
How do you know I'm here?
Not only do I know that you're here, I also know what you're thinking about.
How would you know what I'm thinking about?
If one really cares about another person
it isn't difficult to figure that out.
Tell me what I'm thinking.
You don't want to kill Hai Tian
but you're afraid that Mister Qian will threaten you with his life.
After my uncle's death, Mister Qian has stuck by me and mentored me.
He might be my subordinate but he's more like a father to me.
He calls me Yun Kuang in private instead of Warlord.
I've never corrected him.
But now...
Warlord, you don't have to be in a dilemma.
You have a solution?
Mister Qian wants you to kill Hai Tian for fear of him overthrowing you.
If you assign him to a faraway land and never to return to the capital
that's the same as killing him.
Hai Tian aided the establishment of my empire
so it won't be appropriate to banish him to the frontier.
Just give it a different cause.
Didn't you promise him that whoever enters Pingdu first is the emperor?
Now that Hai Tian was the first to enter, you can crown him as lord of a state.
Reward him a far away and poor state.
On one hand, no one will complain about it.
On the other, you don't have to worry about Hai Tian having any chance to rebel.
But Mister Qian...
Warlord, leave him to me.
Your Highness.
I didn't know Your Highness was coming and was late to greet you, please forgive me.
Mister Qian, please don't stand on ceremony.
Your Highness, I wonder what advice you have to offer on this visit?
I wouldn't dare to offer any advice
but I heard that Warlord made you angry yesterday.
I'm here to apologize to you today on his behalf.
I won't dare to.
After all, the emperor and his subordinates are not friends.
The Warlord may well do as he pleases.
I won't dare to be apologized to.
It might be so, but the relationship of an emperor and his subordinate
is but an official portrayal of you and the Warlord.
He said you are just like a second father to him.
After the Warlord's enthronement, he wishes to address you as Godfather.
Is that so?
This is too overwhelming.
Please don't be so modest.
In my opinion, you deserve the title.
Since we're a family, I'll be straightforward with you about some matters.
The Warlord plans to crown Hai Tian as the lord of Central Shu (Sichuan).
This is to cut him off from the capital city and put a stop to his ambitions.
- Also... - You Highness, if he means to do this
I think he should approach me about it himself.
I also think that throughout history, women must not interfere in politics.
Do you mean to imply that if the Warlord talks to you about this...
I still won't approve of this idea.
Because Hai Tian has to be killed to avoid terrible calamities!
- You... - May I ask Your Highness a question?
Why do you think we should not kill Hai Tian?
Your Highness, my residence is too simple and crude for you to stay any longer.
I bade Your Highness farewell.
Father!
Mister Qian, I have already decided to crown Hai Tian as a Lord.
He is to stay in Central Shu forever to help me cultivate virgin soils.
- Yun Kuang! - I know what you are about to say.
I can only trust in myself.
Someone has recently reported to me that Mister Qian tried to assassinate Miao Ge.
I won't believe that.
Because I know everything you do is out of your concern for me.
But I am Warlord and as an emperor I should have make my own decisions.
Shouldn't I?
Even if Hai Tian is disloyal at heart, I don't want to kill him now.
Yun Kuang, you've grown up.
There's nothing more I can do for you.
But before I leave, there are some words I have to say to you.
I hope the Warlord can take these words in.
Mister Qian, please go ahead.
Station Zhang Ji to guard outside Central Shu.
We'll be able to take precautions should Hai Tian rebel against you.
- Agreed. - Thank you, Warlord. I take my leave.
Please don't leave in such a rush.
You have been tired recently and I'd like you to take a rest here in the city.
I will visit you.
Yes.
Warlord, Hai Tian and his wife are here.
Greetings to Warlord!
Hai Tian.
Many officials came to me with the same request.
All of them said you are disloyal at heart and wanted me to kill you.
Please kill me then.
Why?
The states have just been united.
The most important matter now is to restore peace to the people.
We shouldn't have more killings.
If my death will allow you to concentrate on ruling the nation
I will die with no regrets.
I won't believe a word you say.
But I still don't want to kill you. Do you know the reason why?
Because you mean nothing to me.
Killing you or not means nothing to me.
Of course. I won't dare to think I can go against you, Warlord.
Hai Tian, listen to my decree.
I hereby award you the title of 'Lord.'
You must resume your post in Central Shu as soon as possible.
There must be no delay.
I accept the order!
You may be dismissed.
Thank you, Warlord.
I now take my leave.
Greetings to the Warlord!
Her Highness would like to talk to Mistress Hai.
I'll wait for you outside.
Mistress Hai, please follow me.
Your Highness, Mistress Hai is here.
Your Highness.
Do you know what I was thinking about?
I remembered our childhood together.
You always seemed to protect me then.
- I can finally protect you now. - Thank you, Your Highness.
I heard life is very difficult in Central Shu so you must take care of yourself.
Take this with you and it will come in handy when the weather gets colder.
I will send someone to deliver it.
Let's go.
God loves to play tricks on us.
When we were together, I always thought about leaving your side.
I didn't want to live under your shadow.
But now, we really are going to be apart soon.
And yet, I can't bear to let you go.
Do you find it ridiculous?
Although I've hated, blamed, and framed you
it doesn't mean that I don't love you.
Memories of our childhood days cannot be forgotten.
Do you have any words for me?
When sisters part with each other, the older one always has words for the younger one.
I have no other family in this world.
There is a lot to say to you.
But I don't know how to say them when the time comes.
As for some words of advice...
Miao Ge, you are now the Empress of a nation.
Not only do you have to fulfill the duties of a wife but also that of an Empress.
A nation's prosperity lies in the benevolence of its emperor.
In terms of an emperor's benevolence, it lies in his self-cultivation
and also the words of advice from those around him.
Men change the world, but women change the men.
This is a long-standing theory.
The Warlord is very impulsive
so he needs someone to offer him advice at all times.
My dear sister, it isn't just the man you are in love with who is in your hands
but also the safety of a nation so you bear great responsibility.
I understand. I'll do my best.
It's good you understand.
I have to go. My husband is still waiting for me.
Someone else would also like to bade you farewell.
Warlord.
Please conduct yourself with respect.
We're so close to each other and yet our minds are so far apart.
Le Er, would you take a stroll with me?
I'd like to show you the world I took over for you.
And all the efforts I made for you.
What's the matter with the Warlord?
Why is he keeping Our Lady behind for such a long time?
It's not the Warlord but Her Highness.
They grew up together so it is natural that they have a lot to say to each other.
Oh, please. Do you believe that?
I heard that Our Lady and the Warlord...
Pang Wan, now that Master Kou is a Lord, I'll have you spanked for talking nonsense.
Spank me? I'll still say whatever.
I think it's unfair to Hai Tian.
Her Highness summoned her? Nonsense!
How could two women have so much to say?
That's just an excuse!
Look, I am right after all. Hai Tian!
That's nothing. They are just catching up on old times.
Stop talking nonsense.
I'll get angry if you keep saying that.
- But... - Can't you just shut up?
I'd like to build a pond there.
When I was on the battlefields, I always visualized you at a pond with blossoms.
You were smiling at me. You were so beautiful.
I can imagine seeing Miao Ge on a swing right there. It must be beautiful.
Perhaps I should add another pond.
- Then in summer... - Warlord!
I liked it better when you called me Yun Kuang.
Yun Kuang.
You might not be pleased to hear what I have to say to you.
But now that I'm leaving soon I will tell you what I feel.
Go ahead. I'll definitely listen to you.
On my way to Lin Yang, I heard Yun army annihilated many cities.
I wanted to assume authority and take down Lin Yang as soon as possible.
If I hadn't done so, why would so many cities surrender without a fight?
You also massacred 200 thousand soldiers of Chen State!
Although they had surrendered, there are 200 thousand of them.
They posed as a threat to me.
Besides, we didn't have enough food to feed so many captives.
Death was the best option for them.
This is what war is like.
But the people, the elderly and the young, were all innocent.
Those soldiers were also just ordinary people.
What makes you different from the tyrant when you killed them in the same way?
I just wanted to take down Lin Yang as soon as possible.
I hadn't considered any other issues.
You will lose the hearts of the people.
Everyone said the same to me and now so do you?
If you won't listen to me, I should leave now.
Le Er, do you know why I was in such a rush to take down Lin Yang?
I went looking for you at the Lu Residence.
They said you were summoned to the palace.
The emperor just died then and I was afraid you would be buried as a sacrifice.
Le Er, I know I didn't handle things the best way I could.
But nobody could rein me in.
I can't control myself either.
I beg you not to leave.
Stay by me and keep my behavior in check.
I promise to listen to you.
Will you be my ferule?
You still have many years ahead of you.
I'm certain you will reign in peace.
I will always pray for you.
You will be a great Warlord.
- Le Er... - I'm done talking.
I should leave the palace now.
You're done talking?
How time flies.
Warlord, my husband is waiting for me.
Le Er.
This jade pendant has always been with you.
Keep it safe.
I wish you every happiness.
Warlord, I have something to report.
What is it?
The Huns robbed and killed many while we had the civil war.
I think we should suppress them as soon as possible!
Le Er said I shouldn't kill so many people.
Peace and harmony will be the priority.
Warlord, this concerns the dignity of our nation!
Let's discuss this later.
I'm too frustrated to be concerned about such matters at the moment.
- And the flood in Hunan, locusts in Jiangxi... - Enough!
Discuss such matters with Mister Qian.
Warlord!
Mister Qian has already retired and gone back to his hometown...
Mister Su, what should we do now?
You're asking me? Who should I ask then?
It seems now is the time to make the decision.
Mister Su, you mean...
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