♔ Instagram @skysoultan ♔
Guardians of the Ancient Oath
[This story is purely frictional.]
Episode 29
Baili Hongyi.
Baili Hongyi. Stop right there.
I’m calling you.
Are you deaf?
My name is Li Ruo.
If you
have a problem remembering it,
I suggest you to see a physician.
You are
just relying on Great King.
I’m telling you.
You are
a cursed witch,
and
Lang’s enemy forever.
I’m Princess Na Cheng’s daughter,
namely Princess Li Nuo
on this prairie.
You’d better
know who you are
and withdraw your word.
Great King is happy today
and takes you to the ancestor worship.
You think
you are Great Queen?
I’m telling you.
Baize won’t
allow you to be Great Queen.
You may treasure that title,
but I don’t care at all.
As for martial arts,
I don’t think you’re my match.
My last warning to you.
Since I’ve come to Shuchi,
I will stay here
afterwards.
Whether you
like it or not,
you’d better accept it.
You think
I dare not beat you in front of others?
I...
Your Majesty.
Enough!
Your Majesty.
My sister is too young to be reasonable.
Please forgive her.
Don’t take it to heart.
Brother. Why don't you...
It was your fault.
How should I defend you?
Did I say anything wrong?
Ming Lai.
My attitude is clear.
And you know it well.
Do not let this happen again.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
I will discipline my sister.
Xiaotong.
You come to make troubles again?
Leave. Leave.
Master.
You must teach him genuine skills.
Yes, that’s what I’m doing.
You can't listen.
Go away. Go away.
I will.
Master.
This magic is awesome.
Magic.
You only know magic.
Do you memorize
the spells?
You said a lot just now.
Which line do you mean?
Let me think. Let me think.
Carried by the earth
Between Liuhe
Within four seas
Under the sun and moon
Through all the stars
Discipline of four seasons
As far as the Taisui
Well done.
What I taught you today
were supreme and classic skills.
They’re also my master,
Immortal Yan Jisheng’s
lifelong achievements.
You must keep them in mind.
Understand?
Yes.
But
what’s the meaning?
How dare you
ask about Heaven’s will?
One more line:
In the north of fire, above the red water,
there’s the key land.
Remember it.
North of fire, above the red water,
there’s the key land.
Quit a mouthful.
Thank you, master.
You care about me the most.
Today
it is
the last time I teach you.
The last time?
Why?
That’s the fate.
This is my master Immortal Yan Jisheng’s
treasure.
I give it to you.
May you be protected by it.
Master. What is it?
Don’t do that.
Master. What is it on earth?
I’ve told you
it’s my master Immortal Yan Jisheng’s
treasure.
When it’s time,
it will come in handy.
You’re
so impatient.
It’s disrespectful to it.
OK. Got it.
I’ll keep it properly.
Keep it well with you.
It’s a token which proves that I am
your master.
token?
What happened just now
won’t happen again.
Too hot?
Actually, I don’t like tea cakes.
However, there’s no
fresh tea on the prairie.
It isn’t up to me.
I have to accept it since I’m here.
I know
I can’t go back to Yo anymore.
So I have to
get used to the life here.
I will protect you.
I’m Great King.
No one can hurt you.
Time goes by.
How can you
protect me at all times?
Rest assured.
I will take good care of myself.
I can handle it myself
like the trivia today.
OK.
Ming Yefeng.
Was Princess Na Cheng buried by you?
Yes.
May you take me to see her?
Yes.
But when you
go out lately,
ask Youwu to protect you.
Understand?
Yes, I do.
Master.
Xiaotong said you’d leave.
Is it true?
Really?
You... why will you leave?
It is about fate
and karma,
and can’t be forced.
Don’t ask
where we’ll go.
But I haven't learned
any magic.
What I taught you
are enlightening maxims
about the worldly changes
and the circulation of things.
You are my disciple.
Don’t be so short-sighted
that only know magical skills.
Yes.
I’m short-sighted.
I don’t know master’s profound knowledge.
Master.
Where are you going?
I don't want you
leave me.
We’re destined to part.
Don’t care about where we go.
Anyway,
don’t look for me in the future.
I won’t see you, either.
Hongshuo.
What did master teach you?
Can you teach me?
Any powerful skills?
No.
Well,
what did master tell you?
Xiaotong.
See him off.
Don’t forget time.
Come back early.
Yes, master.
Whoa.
Tell your master
to meet me as usual.
Come on. Drink.
You know your guilt?
Spare me, Lord Sima.
I, Baili Hongxuan,
dare not do that again.
Dare not do what?
I dare not
offend Mr. Sima anymore.
I’m willing to be your slave
and serve you.
Marquis Zhenbei, obey me and
I will spare your life.
I, Baili Hongxuan,
thank Lord Sima.
Congratulations. Lord Sima.
Now you’re in charge of military and taxation.
You may
give Baili Hongshuo a lesson
as you please.
Thanks to my aunt.
I won’t
let her down.
Yes.
Right.
Lord Sima. You’re trusted
by Empress Dowager.
Baili Hongxuan
and Baili Hongshuo
won’t be able
to stir up troubles.
But, Lord Sima,
His Majesty has been intimate
with Marquis Zhenbei.
I am Lord Sima
conferred by His Majesty personally.
That Baili Hongxuan
isn’t a big deal.
As for seniority,
I’m His Majesty’s cousin.
Baili Hongxuan is below me.
Come on. Drink.
Cheers. Cheers.
Come on.
Cheers.
Come on.
Congratulations, Lord Sima.
-Congratulations. -Congratulations, Lord Sima.
Who is in the way?
I’m invited by you.
But you come too early.
Who are you?
Who the heck are you?
You...who are you?
General Sima has a bad memory.
You forgot me
so soon?
You...
I remember you.
How dare you
still show up in front of me?
You are not
sent by Empress Dowager.
Tell me.
What are you on earth?
You come to me.
What are you up to?
It doesn’t matter who I am.
What matters is that
I’m here to give you a present.
Present?
It’s just a few miles away
from here to Yo’s border.
Ruo.
Do you recall it?
Right here?
Yes, right here.
I didn’t dare to carve their names.
I only carved
‘eternal company’.
Mother.
I’m Li Nuo. I come to see you.
Mother.
Father.
No.
Mother.
What should I do?
I can barely recall
my parents’
look.
You are doomed for your deeds.
Heaven is on my side.
How did you know my parents?
How did they get together?
Lang and Yo fought for years,
like fire and water.
Why did my mother violate the ancestral rules?
Didn’t they know
the price
of being together?
When I met Princess Na Cheng,
I was still under age.
Who are you?
You wake up.
Why did you save me?
I’m Na Cheng.
Saving people doesn’t need a reason.
In those
bloody and icy times,
only she
made me feel warm.
Mother. Hurry.
Here.
Let's go.
She was Princess Na Cheng.
I knew more about her later.
As she said,
no one
shall be
treated cruelly like that.
For her,
saving others
was her instinct of kindness.
Why did you save me?
You’ve asked
this question many times.
I told you
saving people doesn’t need a reason.
I know neither who you are,
nor where you’re from.
I only know
no one
shall be
treated cruelly like that,
no matter who you are.
Thank you for saving me.
From then on,
we had been chased by soldiers
and lived in great danger.
Your father
was a scholar
exiled by Yo.
He wasn’t able to protect his family,
but Princess Na Cheng
took him as her lifetime love.
If father was good-for-nothing
as you said,
why did mother give up everything
for him?
He also gave up everything
for my mother.
They did love each other.
If not him,
you and Princess Na Cheng
wouldn't have been...
We were chased
for a long time.
Finally, we found
a safe place to live.
Where was that place?
Eastward from here.
Less than 30 miles.
There’s
a small secluded village.
Nominally
it’s governed by Baize of Lang.
Therefore
neither Lang nor Yo
attached importance to it.
You lived there
for several years.
In my memory,
those years was
your happiest time.
Can you take me there?
It was gone.
Great King believed that
Princess was a jinx,
so the village
was gone long ago.
You and I
are the last survivors.
I thought
living like a ruthless tool
wouldn’t feel
any pain.
Thanks to Princess Na Cheng,
I felt the warmth of life.
Ruo.
Your mother
was the kindest
and gentlest woman.
What about my father?
He hurt you.
The hatred hurt us.
The hatred
between Lang and Yo
got our family broken
and parents killed.
Do you know
why
she left you the necklace?
I think it’s because
she wished you would never forget
your true identity.
Lang abandoned her.
They chased us
and tried to kill us.
Even so,
did my mother still
have illusion to them?
That’s not illusion.
It’s family affection that cannot be abandoned.
Princess Na Cheng
missed the prairie.
You don’t remember it,
but you may feel it.
Otherwise,
why did she let you
learn riding and shooting
as all other Lang’s kids did?
Because Prairie is your hometown.
The Langs are your relatives.
Ruo.
Blood is thicker than water.
This will never change.
Bear it?
How can I bear it?
You used to be composed.
How come
you are furious now?
You know,
more haste, less speed.
He’s already Great King,
yet reluctant to confer me as Great Queen.
Brother. Don’t you feel anxious?
Do you
want me turn against him
for you can’t be
Great Queen?
That witch
may become Great Queen one day.
You want me
to be below her?
She won't be Great Queen.
Really?
Don’t you think
Great King
can do anything for her?
Ba Yin.
I know you are angry.
Ming Yefeng and I help each other,
and also take advantage of each other.
I became Baize’s leader under his help.
And I shall also help him
ascend the throne.
It is
a good thing for Baize
if you can be Great Queen.
Our relationship with Great King
will be closer.
Do you know
why Great King
keeps the position
of Great Queen vacant?
Why?
He wants a kind of majesty
that
no one can pose a threat
to him.
All his promises to Baize
are achieved.
The vacancy of Great Queen
also shows his posture
that
he doesn’t want to be manipulated
by the clans.
He is reminding us
not to be greedy.
Is it
a warning from him?
Maybe you are the hero of clan,
but don’t forget your identity.
But I’m unwilling
to lose to that woman.
In the harem,
thousands of ways can be done
to get rid of her.
You may
do it in a clever way.
If you act rashly,
it will cause trouble.
Ba Yin.
You understand?
You are a well-known beauty on the prairie.
Ming Yefeng
is just an ordinary man.
I believe
you will definitely get
what you want.
[Marquis Zhenbei’s Mansion]
[Great Zhou Princess Jingguo Baili Hongyi]
Marquis.
What’s on your mind?
Nothing.
Young Master.
His Majesty sends Mr. Chen here.
Mr. He. You may leave first.
Yes.
Marquis.
Skip the etiquette, Mr. Chen.
Anything urgent in the palace?
His Majesty anxiously summons you to the palace.
I will get changed.
Please wait a moment.
OK.
His Majesty summons you
to the palace at night.
Is it something urgent?
Jinyang.
I have something to tell you.
I’m all ears, Marquis.
There’s a pile of files
on the desk in my study.
If I’m not back
in three hours,
burn the third chapter.
You mean…
There are some things
you’d better not know.
Marquis.
You will be fine.
Let Mr. He
arrange other things.
Marquis. Rest assured.
I’ll take care of all the things
in the mansion.
I count on you.
Marquis Zhenbei comes.
Your Majesty. Marquis comes.
My respects, Your Majesty.
Hongxuan, you’re here.
Your Majesty.
The night is deep.
Haven’t you slept?
Your Majesty summons me.
Anything urgent?
Hongxuan,
you look emaciated.
I lost my sister.
I can’t sleep at night.
I haven’t told you
I conferred He Yao as Lord Sima lately.
You reacted coldly.
I thought you were blaming me.
I dare not.
That's the best.
Only He Yao and you are loyal to me
can Yo be better.
Your majesty, rest assured.
I will put the country at the first place.
Your Majesty. What are you hesitant to say?
Well.
My mother’s been sad lately.
She thinks she feels sorry
for my late brother Haoyuan.
Haoyuan loved
this adopted daughter a lot back then.
Thanks for Her Highness’s concern.
May Her Highness take good care of her health.
You’ve been
searching along the bank.
Do you find Hongyi’s corpse?
Your Majesty.
Not yet.
Hongyi threw herself to the river.
You witnessed it?
Yes.
Why does Your Majesty ask so?
Nothing.
However, Yulin Guards
haven’t found anything
along the bank.
There’s some rumors.
Rumors?
Hongyi
is still alive.
No way.
Don’t you hope so?
Of course I hope
Hongyi’s still alive.
But no one
knows it better than I do.
It’s impossible.
If she’s still alive,
why doesn't she go home?
When I heard about
her death at the court that day,
I felt too sorrowful
to ask about how she
escaped from Lang
and threw herself into the river.
Tell me again.
Your Majesty.
Hongyi was captured
by Ming Yefeng of Lang.
He threatened me with her life
and chastity
in exchange for 5,000 weapons.
I refused,
and fought against the enemies
with my men and Yulin Guards,
yet we’re outnumbered.
Hongyi was reluctant
to see me be humiliated for her,
so she threw herself into the river and died.
Luckily, General Tian Yuan
arrived in time.
I...
Marquis Zhenbei does have a good memory.
My respects, Your Highness.
You said exactly the same as the last time.
Greetings, mother.
My respects, Your Majesty.
Mother. When did you come?
When?
I came when Marquis Zhenbei
told the story.
Marquis Zhenbei.
Yes.
Do you have anything to report?
Forgive me for my silliness.
I don’t understand your meaning, Your Highness.
Baili Hongxuan.
Don't you really
understand it?
I heard that
only the lies made up beforehand
are exactly the same when they are
told.
Lord Sima.
Although we have misunderstandings,
it’s about guilt of deception.
Please watch your mouth.
You were reluctant
to marry your sister to me back then.
You disobeyed His Majesty’s edicts many times.
We only your one-sided words
about Baili Hongyi’s death.
She’s lost, corpse not found.
You can say whatever you like.
Lord Sima is trying to
slander me.
But His Majesty and Her Highness is here.
Lord Sima,
please don’t talk nonsense.
I am not that bold like Marquis Zhenbei.
In front of His Majesty and His Highness,
I dare not talk nonsense.
But I have a question for you.
Baili Hongyi is still alive,
and lives
kicking happy life.
Why did you say she’s dead?
Lord Sima.
Don’t make irresponsible remarks.
Marquis Zhenbei.
I ever gave you the chance.
Great King:
I’m Baili Hongxuan
of Yo. Congratulate Your Majesty ascends the throne.
My sister came to my home when she was young.
My mother loved her.
Both my brother and I
treasured her.
Now my sister
finally found you, her elder brother.
I’m glad for that.
Your Majesty is kind.
It’s my sister’s bliss
to have you as her brother.
But we used to live together for over ten years.
Our affection
is beyond the blood and clan barriers.
Since she went back,
I’ve been missing her
and can’t sleep at night.
Please be kind to her.
I wish I could meet
her again one day.
Lord Sima...
Don’t worry.
Not finished yet.
I heard that you are crowned.
I’m glad, but also concerned for my sister.
The betrothal
concerns the dignity of Yo’s royal family.
Marquis Anxi’s Mansion may not let it go
for their loss.
I heard that
He Yao advocates waging a war to Shuchi.
You just got crowned,
all businesses to be developed.
People will
suffer from the war.
Why do you stop?
Go on.
I am also
in a difficult situation.
We become friends because of Hongyi.
If we can prevent the warfare,
we may get rid of He Yao
so that your trouble can be solved
and my mansion can be saved.
Marquis.
You wrote this letter.
Do I have to keep reading it?