It is impossible to go back to the past.
Yutan died. The child is gone.
You were in solitary confinement for ten years.
Ever since the 51st Year of Kangxi Reign, His Majesty
has lived with caution and compromise.
These things all stand between us.
We cannot pretend that nothing has happened.
Right now, I just want to leave.
Do you really insist on doing so?
On that day, if I knew what you meant by "I'm willing",
and if I I knew that 14th brother had a royal decree,
I probably would not have agreed to help you so easily.
I'm sorry.
I did not expect that either.
I just thought 14th Prince had a way to help me leave the palace.
You did not know?
But if this is the only way,
I am still willing to choose this path.
Ruoxi.
Are you really willing to marry 14th Brother?
I really want to leave the palace.
I trust that 14th Prince will not force me to consummate the marriage.
Marrying him would be in name only.
In name only?
Greetings, Imperial Brother.
Regarding Ruoxi, were you the one who notified 14th brother?
Yes.
But at that time, I never imagined the result would turn out like this.
When I promised Ruoxi, I did it so that she can regain her will to live.
Is she really unable to live in the palace anymore?
Ruoxi...
Perhaps she really doesn't belong here.
She has a mind unlike others.
What mind unlike others?
Could she not be from the same era as us?
Actually, I am not Ruoxi.
I am Zhang Xiao.
I am not from your time period.
She said she wasn't...
It can't be...
So what if she isn't from our time period?
Is there a difference?
Ruoxi.
All along, I've treated you as a little sister.
You can speak your mind.
You and His Majesty have experienced many hardships
before you were finally together.
Why not step back a little to stay together for a lifetime?
It's not so easy to do what you want.
Why not?
Your Highness knows as well.
Two people in love is not just a matter between the two.
Also, the Emperor is ruler of a kingdom.
No matter how pure it is,
it will still become complex.
It might even take a person's life.
Lately, the Emperor has been worrying about your matter.
Just seeing it makes me feel sad.
You also love His Majesty.
Why don't you just let it go for the Emperor?
I can't bear to harm anyone.
Yet, someone gets hurt because of me.
I cannot accept that.
Can you really bear to leave the Emperor?
Can you truly let all those feelings during those past years go?
Even if I can't, I still have to.
Ruoxi, you have to think about it carefully.
Only make a decision after you've thought about it thoroughly.
Miss Ruoxi.
Your health is a lot better.
You can stop after just two more treatments.
Thank you for your hard work.
I would like to ask.
What condition is my health as of now?
You have already recovered.
From now, you just need to nourish and take care.
Do you remember what you said when you first treated me that time?
If I follow the treatment all the way through,
you can guarantee ten years of my life without problems.
What about now?
This...
Imperial Physician, please tell me the truth.
Time has passed. It's been more than a year.
There should have been at least eight more years.
But as of now...
I can only say that if everything goes well,
there are only 3-4 years left.
Please don't blame yourself.
I am really a disobedient patient.
Does the Emperor know of this?
He never asked about this,
and I've never dared to say anything either.
Thank you, Imperial Physician for your attentive treatment this past year.
Otherwise...
This is my duty.
I hate myself for not being skillful enough
to cure the root of your illness.
I will take my leave.
Second Miss.
What kind of a place is this?
How can someone so healthy end up like that?
All right, I am fine.
Second Miss and Madam are the same.
You both love freedom.
It's still better to leave the palace.
About the conflicts in Xibei,
I will appoint Nian Gengyao as Great Genera to neutralize the rebels.
I will have to trouble all of you
to think of a solution regarding the army's rations.
Also, appoint Long Keduo as minister in Ministry of Appointments. Commander of army, also in charge of the court of tributary affairs.
Bestow on him the title, "Teacher of the Crown Prince".
Also, last time I mentioned about abolishing the low caste status.
Changing tax and required labor system from based on population to based on farm land measurement.
Regarding this, if anyone has any opinion, you may voice it out.
Lian Qinwang, do you have anything to say?
Matters of the court are handled by Your Majesty.
I have no opinions.
That's rare.
In that case, court is dismissed.
I have something I would like to speak to Your Majesty about privately.
What's there that you can't say now?
Because it's family matters.
Those under Lian Qinwang, you may leave.
Yes.
Yi Qinwang, you may leave as well.
Yes.
Speak.
I wish to come clean with Your Majesty today.
About this relationship I had with Ruoxi years ago.
That time, when I met Ruoxi in my manor, our eyes lit up.
Towards Ruoxi, you could say that it was love at first sight.
Because of Ruolan,
I've always hidden my feelings for Ruoxi.
But the repressed feelings would only become stronger.
Get straight to the point.
Just before Ruoxi entered the palace,
I gave her a bracelet and confessed to her.
She did not accept me then.
It wasn't until we went on the excursion with Imperial Father.
Princess Minmin was teaching Ruoxi how to ride a horse.
But instead, she nearly got trampled by the horse.
I saved her in time.
That day, when I carried her in my arms,
and sent her back to the camp,
she finally accepted me.
Since that day, I taught her horse riding everyday,
brought her to ride in the grasslands,
gave her jasmine flowers, carried her in my arms.
From her body, I could smell the scent of jasmine flowers.
We've also held hands in the grasslands
and strolled along as the sun went down.
We admired the stars and moon together, hugging and kissing each other.
We vowed to live and die together, and have a family together.
To teach our children and grow old with them.
Are you done?
Almost.
I get it.
Leave.
I take my leave.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Leave.
I finally understand why you could never let go of 8th brother.
I understand why you had him take precaution against me.
When he was kneeling in the hall,
you were accompanying him in the temple.
Was it 9th who told you this?
This time, I wish he was the one.
But it wasn't.
It was your 8th Brother who told me personally.
He told me explicitly --
How he rode the horse with you,
gave you jasmine flowers,
the bracelet when you just entered the palace was a present from him.
You held hands.
Looked at stars in the grasslands,
admired the moon together,
he hugged you and kissed you.
You've made a promise to each other.
"Life and death intertwined."
"Holding hands and growing old together."
Don't say it! Don't say anymore!
Don't say it?
When he was telling me all these,
I said that over and over again in my heart.
But I could only listen.
I could only listen to it!
Do you know how that felt?
Do you know how hurt I was?
So it's true that words can kill a person.
What 8th Brother said was like a knife stabbing me piece by piece.
I won't allow you to touch me anymore.
I said before that the only thing I was afraid of is that you'd leave me.
Right now, I'm not afraid of anything.
As the previous Emperor had wished,
I bestow Maertai Ruoxi as Xun Qin Junwang's Ce'fujin!
Thank you, Your Majesty.
I knew him before I met him.
But now, meeting is as good as not seeing each other.
Cutting off ties with the Emperor
in order to kill ourselves with longing.
Done packing?
This is enough.
I'll just leave the rest for Cheng Huan.
Gu'gu, are you going to leave all these for me?
Yes. Keep them if you like them.
If you don't like them, do what you like with them.
I want to keep everything of yours.
Let's go.
You must promise to never let anyone touch your plait.
Only I can do it.
The wind is strong outside, be careful not to catch a cold.
The time when you forcefully brought me out of 10th's residence was the best thing
that has happened in my life.
It was also mine.
Wangye.
Thank you.
I had my own selfish desires.
If you weren't indulging my wish to leave,
you wouldn't have done that.
The hot springs at Zunhua are really good.
It will be good for your legs.
The scenery there is also very picturesque.
14th brother will definitely treat you well.
I just hope that you will treat yourself well.
Since you've decided to leave, you should make a clean break.
Treat everything in the past as dead.
From now is a new beginning.
Do you have any message I can help you pass on to 14th Prince?
My end is near.
There's nothing left to be said.
You must take care of yourself.
You know what I'm thinking.
Since you know, you will be able to understand.
No hard feelings.
We were not fated in this lifetime.
Whatever happens, we'll leave it to the next.
Go.
We might not be fated to meet anymore in this lifetime.
Forget about the Forbidden City.
Forget about all of us.
You're soon to be a bride and you need to look like one.
How can you keep crying?
Quick, go.
I've always helped you guard against 9th brother.
But I never would have thought
that 8th brother would personally tell Imperial Brother everything of your past in detail.
And yet did not say anything about how you parted.
No matter how much he hated Imperial Brother,
he should have spared you a thought.
What he did was just to force His Majesty to let go.
It was not to hurt him.
So it turned out that he's still the virtuous 8th Prince who values his relationships.
However far you send, we still have to say farewell.
I've always laughed at others,
now then I know how hard it is to say goodbye.
Gu'gu, don't leave!
Cheng Huan can't bear for you to leave.
Remember, Cheng Huan.
On 22 December every year, remember to kowtow and pay respects to that Gu'gu.
Other than Imperial Uncle, I can't let anyone else know about this.
Cheng Huan.
Kowtow to your Gu'gu three times.
Let's part here. Take care of yourself.
When the grass is green next year,
old friends will no longer look the same.
The sea holds our closest friends.
The end of the earth is our neighbor.
Take care.
Gu'gu! Gu'gu!
Gu'gu!
Gu'gu don't leave! Gu'gu!
Gu'gu don't leave me behind!
Gu'gu, don't leave!
Please, Gu'gu! Gu'gu!
Second Miss, be careful.
Second Miss!
You're supposed to wait for 14th Prince to lift the veil!
Your servant Chen Xiang.
Your servant Luoxia.
We pay our respects to Fujin.
You may rise.
Wangye ordered us to serve Fujin.
This must be Qiaohui Gu'gu.
In the future, if there's anywhere we are not attentive in serving Mistress,
we will need much of your guidance.
Second Miss, look.
Where did 14th Prince find such capable girls?
Their smiles are so sweet, honey almost flows out from it.
Much thanks for your praise.
Wangye saw that I was pleasant and thus ordered me to serve Fujin to make her smile more.
You may leave first.
Yes.
Qiaohui, don't you find it strange?
Inside this estate, the atmosphere seems to be celebratory,
but it doesn't feel like a wedding ceremony.
I was just pondering the same thing.
From the time I entered until now, I never saw a celebratory word.
I haven't seen 14th Prince.
Even up to now, he still hasn't shown his face yet.
To think I was just praising him.
Qiaohui.
What did you just praise me for?
Greetings, 14th Prince!
Okay, Rise.
Are you tired?
Why don't you sit down for a bit.
Qiaohui, you still haven't answered me.
What did you just praise me for?
When your servant passed through the front gates,
I saw the entrance was quite festive.
I even praised 14th Prince saying
it was all thanks to your deep childhood friendship with Second Miss.
But right now, there's not even a "xi" (joy/happiness) word.
This is the problem of having a maid who grew up with you,
but is older than you in age.
Isn't this what you taught her?
I heard 10th Brother say that before you came to the 8th Prince's estate,
Qiaohui was very obedient.
But after following this sly mouth of yours, even 10th Brother had to face soft barbs.
I...
The Emperor has decreed.
We are not allowed to perform a big wedding ceremony.
The word "xi" is not allowed to be included in the decorations inside the estate.
It was the Emperor.
Then why are there lanterns and festive hangings in the estate?
I didn't want you to think it's too bare and gloomy.
So I had it decorated simply.
I don't mind this.
But must you rebel against his words?
It's fine if it's not allowed.
Why must you quarrel about these things.
If the Emperor hears about this, it would become yet another issue.
What is there to be afraid of?
I have the decree of the past Emperor.
Ruoxi.
Do you want to go out and meet the other people?
There's no need.
You also know, I have come here for peace and tranquility.
Okay. Everything will be according to your wishes.
What is it?
This is a secret report.
Maertai Ruoxi wore a red veil to enter 14th Prince's Estate?
Wasn't it ordered they're not to allow this to be a formal traditional ceremony?
She has the guts.
What's more,
when she was eating with 14th brother's wives,
she dares to leave the table before them.
She doesn't give them any face at all.
She has a very headstrong personality,
and doesn't respect anything.
Looks like she doesn't care for 14th romantically at all.
Second Miss, don't write anymore.
You're not trying to be top scholar.
Let's go see Chenxiang kick the shuttlecock.
You wrote enough to fill half the chest.
Really?
I didn't even realize I wrote that much.
Second Miss wrote down sentimental feelings
that are revealed by each stroke.
Qiaohui Gu'gu, come quickly. Let's go play together.
Second Miss, Chenxiang is calling us.
Well, all right.
You go first, I'll follow later.
Then I'll stay outside to wait for you.
Such beautiful masterpiece,
but my only resembles in appearance.
In my heart, there's only him and me left.
Every little bits that he and I shared --
A smile, a joke.
A sigh.
I selfishly put everyone else aside and forget them.
All that's left behind is everything he and I shared.
For the first time, no one can bother us.
The first time where I don't have any worries
and can start to love him again.