01x08 - Episode 8

[bunniefuu]

Your Highness.

Have you persuaded

Prince Lie?

Of course.

A bold young man like Changying
is bound to lose his heart

when he meets a woman as extraordinary

as the Commandery Princess.

I couldn't bear to see
someone born to be a great general

trapped in the treacherous

and calculated world
of the imperial capital.

What about you?

Me?

Someone as frail and sickly as I am

is better suited
for matters of the heart.

Huayong.

Changying?

What are you doing here?

I went to the East Palace earlier.

The attendants said
you were in the Imperial Garden.

So I came

to thank you in person.

We're brothers.

There's no need for formalities.

Your words

were a true awakening for me.

I've decided to ask for Commandery
Princess Zhaoning's hand in marriage.

Between the Anlan Army
and the Northwest Army,

I can only choose one.

I'm willing to give up
command of the Anlan Army

and serve under the Duke of Wei

as one of the Northwest Army.

This is my pledge
to the commandery princess.

It will also fulfill my wish
to defend our homeland

and fight on the b*ttlefield.

I...

Is that

what I meant?

Rest assured, Huayong.

I'll never tell Changqing
about your advice.

At the hunting grounds that day,

you also confessed your feelings
to the Commandery Princess.

Yet you still put my happiness first.

I truly admire

your generosity and character.

If one day

I truly marry the Commandery Princess,

the first person

I'll thank will be you.

I'll take my leave.

Your Highness.

So this is how you persuaded Prince Lie?

=Blossoms of Power=

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

=Episode 8=

How lovely.

Come take a look.

Mother, come have something delicious.

It's the Double Ninth Festival.

So many people have come to
Yunling Mountain to pray for blessings.

Your Highness.

I prepared five color cakes

and chrysanthemum liquor
early this morning.

Shall we find a place
to rest for a while?

All right.

Your Highness.

The pavilion is full of young ladies.

Please rest here for a while.

I'll go buy you a kite.

Young Lady,

would you like a cornel bracelet?

There's only one left.

Thank you, Young Lady.

Let's rest up ahead.

All right.

Let's go.

Such a sight is rarely seen.

Indeed.

- A snake!
- There is a snake!

What's happening
on the mountaintop ahead?

Why is it so noisy?

Quick. Let's go take a look.

All right.

Your Highness.

Be careful not to get hurt.

- Please forgive us, Your Highness.
- Please forgive us, Your Highness.

- We failed to protect you.
- We failed to protect you.

Get up.

This isn't your fault.

Your Highness!

I have failed you.

I should never have left your side.

You too, get up.

There's no need to blame yourself.

They were after me all along.

Who would use such a vicious method?

We've already caught the culprit.

Move.

Let's go.

Today, Tian Yuan and I came here
to pray for blessings.

When it happened,

we were halfway up the mountain.

He must be the culprit.

Why are you arresting me?

You can't just seize people at random!

Is there no justice left?

The powerful are k*lling people!

They treat human lives like nothing!

Everyone rushed toward the pavilion

to see what had happened.

Then why were you

the only one heading the other way?

I had an urgent matter at home.

Was I not allowed
to hurry down the mountain?

You handled snakes
to keep from being bitten,

so you covered your hands with realgar.

Why would an ordinary hiker

coat both hands with realgar?

I've been bitten by snakes before.

I use realgar to keep them away.

What law have I broken?

Little girl, come here.

Tell me,

who told you

to sell me this cornel bracelet?

It was him.

You little brat!

How can you make up such lies?

You're talking nonsense!

You sprinkled snake lure powder on it

to attract venomous snakes.

The cornel

masked the scent
of the snake lure powder.

The evidence and witnesses are all here.

What else do you
have to say for yourself?

I...

Still not telling the truth?

It was the second young lady
of Vice Minister Hu's family.

I had no choice but to obey.

[It's Hu Yingrao.]

Tian Yuan.

Hand this man over to Cui Jinbai.

He'll take care of the rest.

Yes.

Let's go.

It's rare to come up here.

Don't let that wretched girl

from the Hu family spoil your mood.

Allow me to treat you to some tea.

What do you say?

Had Your Highness
not captured the culprit,

he would've escaped by now.

Thank you, Your Highness.

There's no need for thanks.

Your business

is my business.

How do you intend

to deal with Hu Yingrao?

Seat her

where I was sitting in the pavilion.

Release the venomous snakes.

Whether she's bitten

or falls off the cliff

will depend on her own fate.

You are as decisive as ever.

Truly bold and heroic.

Do you think Hu Yingrao targeted you

simply because of your beauty?

Hu Yingrao is a distant relative
of Noble Consort Rong.

She has come and gone
from the palace since childhood.

Noble Consort Rong dotes on her greatly.

She has always hoped to unite
the families through marriage.

She is the one Noble Consort Rong

truly wanted to become

Prince Lie's consort.

Please enjoy your tea.

[Duke of Wei's Manor]

There's some skin balm in here.

It's highly effective

for cuts and bruises.

My apologies, Prince Lie.

The Commandery Princess
gave strict orders

that nothing may be accepted.

And...

she won't see you either.

She means

to draw a clear line between us?

The Commandery Princess
has never had feelings for you.

[Duke of Wei's Manor]

Your Highness.

Prince Lie is still standing
outside the gate.

At this rate,
he'll stand there all night.

The rain is coming down so hard.

Won't he get sick?

Go tell him

he's free to stand
in the rain wherever he likes.

Just not in front
of Duke of Wei's Manor.

Your Highness.

Prince Lie is deeply devoted to you.

Don't you think

you're being too harsh?

One moment you show concern,

the next you soften your heart.

How long can this back and forth go on?

Indecision only brings more trouble.

Yes.

Your Highness.

Will you still meet
the Crown Prince tomorrow?

Yes.

The Crown Prince is rather strange.

Your Highness, your injuries
delayed you for several days.

The Double Ninth Festival
has already ended.

Why does he still
want you to go up the tower?

I gave him my word
that I'd accompany him up the tower.

I intend to keep it.

[Favorable Weather
and Abundant Harvests]

Your Highness.

The Double Ninth Festival is over.

The lantern market
has already been cleared.

You invited me up here
to admire the lanterns.

Which lanterns did you wish to show me?

Do you like it,

even just a little?

Fireworks are beautiful,

but they fade in an instant,

leaving only lingering regret.

♪The timeless wind and moon♪

♪Quietly reflect in your sparkling eyes♪

Commandery Princess.

Every lantern across the city tonight

was specially made
at Crown Prince's command

and delivered to every household.

The palace invited eminent monks
to offer prayers and blessings.

Any household that keeps
its lanterns lit until dawn

will receive the monks' blessings.

That's why

the people have all joined in eagerly.

It's even grander than

the Double Ninth Lantern Festival.

♪Not a trace of sorrow can be found♪

I can feel

the thought you put into all this.

I simply took the opportunity

to bring you

a little joy.

Thank you

for letting me behold
the splendor of the imperial capital.

The wind is strong up here.

You shouldn't stay out
and catch a chill.

We should head back.

All right.

I'll walk you back.

By the way,

how are your injuries?

I had that ointment
prepared especially for you.

Thank you for your kindness.

With such
a beautiful display of lanterns,

I'd like to stroll a little longer.

All right.

There's something I'd like to tell you.

What happened with the Hu family

was my fault for involving you.

I came to apologize.

It's already over.

I'm unharmed.

Please don't worry, Prince Lie.

Commandery Princess.

What is it about me
that isn't good enough?

Everyone has their own preference.

Just because you have feelings for me,

does that mean I have to be grateful?

That's not what I meant.

I've told you before.

Don't set your heart on me.

I've already given my heart away!

I can never take it back!

That's just how life is.

There will always be
things beyond our reach.

I hope you will soon let go.

Changqing.

Changying.

Let's go.

A young lady like her

can't be won over

by persistence.

But...

The more you cling to her,

the more determined she'll be

to leave you.

Have we come a little too far?

Then please rest here for a moment.

I'll go bring the carriage over.

All right.

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Noble Consort Rong
may look kind, but she's ruthless.

Her methods are vicious.

Anyone who knows the truth

would never want
to marry into that family

and serve a mother-in-law like her.

Still, both Changqing and Changying

are unwaveringly devoted,

each deeply in love.

Your Highness.

You must come up with a plan quickly.

Otherwise,

if you don't root out the problem,

it will only return.

How have we walked this far

without seeing Zhaoning?

Speak.

Who sent you?

Your Highness, he bit down
on poison and k*lled himself.

Xihe.

Tian Yuan, prepare the horses.

Yes.

The Commandery Princess's
pulse is extremely unstable.

I've used acupuncture

to temporarily stabilize
her heart meridian.

But even if she wakes tomorrow,

if she doesn't receive better treatment,

I'm afraid she'll spend the rest
of her life confined to this sickbed.

Just tell the Commandery Princess

that she needs complete rest.

Don't tell her anything else for now.

Yes.

Your Highness.

I found

traces of liquor in the body.

The assassin drank Jieqianchou.

Jieqianchou is an imperial liquor.

It's only available in the palace.

A fixed amount is issued every year,

and every bottle is accounted for.

We only need to find out

who gave him the Jieqianchou,

and we'll know

who

tried to harm Zhaoning.

I'll investigate it at once.

Still no word from Hua Fuhai
about the Extreme Frost Cordyceps?

Only that medicine

can stabilize
Commandery Princess's heart meridian.

I've already sent people to inquire.

It grows on the highest peaks

of the frozen wilderness.

The experts we've sent
have risked their lives,

yet still haven't found it.

Physician Xie.

Why are her hands so cold?

You're awake.

It's you.

Come.

What do you mean, "it's you"?

I thought

the one who saved me

was you.

I wish it had been.

But the one who saved you

was my guard.

Still, hearing you say that

makes me very happy.

Commandery Princess.

I have urgent business
that requires me to leave the capital.

Take good care of yourself.

I'll come see you again in a few days.

Take care.

Do you know

how much I wished you'd ask me

where I was going

and what I was going to do?

I'm sure you have your reasons.

There's no need for me to ask.

Your Highness,

are you truly going in person?

The extreme cold will worsen
the poison inside your body.

The danger will be immense.

Zhaoning.

How I wish that one day

you would be reluctant

to see me leave.

♪Let it all go♪

♪Give my tears to the flowers♪

♪Beneath my feet, eternal doom♪

♪Is more than wind and sand♪

♪That perfectly plotted love
hides in the clamor♪

♪Between us,
it's both treacherous and flawless♪

Before Crown Prince left,

he said that at this time of year,

the foreign kingdoms
would present pomegranates as tribute.

They're juicy and sweet.

Their juice can be used to
make pastries for Commandery Princess.

They're especially delicious.

Please thank the Crown Prince for me.

While Commandery Princess
recovers in bed,

seeing these bright red pomegranates

may lift her spirits.

When will the Crown Prince return?

♪My heart rises and falls♪

There's no news yet.

♪In this eternity♪

Why did the Crown Prince
leave the capital?

What was it for...

I'm not quite sure either.

If there's nothing else,
I'll take my leave.

♪Sober, it's all like a dream♪

♪Stars sink into my hair,
the moon slips through my fingers♪

♪For how much joy
do we share this life together♪

♪Withering and flourishing,
year after year♪

Your Highness...

♪Spring brings life,
autumn brings death♪

♪A heart weathered
by frost will melt in love♪

♪Across countless miles
of treasured moments♪

♪Every move is a game of truth and lies♪

Commandery Princess...

♪I'll become your armor♪

I'll take my leave.

♪I want destiny,
and also tender words of love♪

♪As night stains my eyes,
I'll gaze once more at the rosy clouds♪

♪I have a dream
of a long wind in my sleeves♪

♪My heart rises and falls,
we embrace in a sea of clouds♪

♪In this eternity, you are a part of it♪

♪My longing can level mountains
and cross countless rivers♪

♪Drunk or sober, it's all like a dream♪

♪Stars sink into my hair,
the moon slips through my fingers♪

♪For how much joy
do we share this life together♪

♪Withering and flourishing,
year after year♪

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Deliver this
to the Commandery Princess...

There must be no mistake...

Yes.

Hurry! Faster!

Your Highness.

This Extreme Frost Cordyceps
is incredibly rare.

Just its fragrance alone

is enough to refresh the spirit.

It was sent again by Hua Fuhai?

What is the Tagara Incense

behind him really after?

Your Highness,
this medicine is hard to come by.

Your health must come first.

Here.

How is the investigation
into the assassin going?

Following the Crown Prince's orders,

I found the records on
where the Jieqianchou went.

According to Physician Xie,

the assassin didn't drink it that day.

He drank it the day before,

and at least 250 g.



Drinking before carrying out
the assassination

to steady his nerves is understandable.

But 250 g...

Wouldn't he be afraid
it would affect the mission?

Based on the condition of the body,

Physician Xie concluded the assassin
was likely from the south.

I also asked Young Master Bu for help.

But none of the southerners living in
or staying in the imperial capital

are under suspicion.

Drinking heavily
before the assassination,

then taking poison
the moment he was exposed,

shows he was prepared to die.

Perhaps that flask of Jieqianchou

was his reward.

A final taste before dying.

Mo Yu.

Go find Young Master Bu,

and ask him
to bring Vice Minister Cui here.

Yes.

Young Master.

- What's wrong?
- Young Master.

- You're ruining my plans.
- You really can't go in.

The Lord isn't here.

Jinbai.

Feeling shy?

Let him in.

Vice Minister Cui
is upright and honorable,

yet this playboy keeps pestering him

and ruining his reputation everywhere.

Outrageous.

Speak.

Can't I come

to see you?

A little flirting is harmless.

But drawing a blade

hurts our friendship.

Wait.

Shameless...

Young Master.

[The Greatest Form Is Formless]
You can't do this.

- Where are you going?
- What's going on?

Out of the way.

Go get a wet cloth,

and bring an incense sachet
to help revive him.

Yes.

You're awake?

Want some?

You...

Mind yourself.

Please don't take offense,
Your Highness.

Your Highness.

I was the one who invited you here.

If I've been disrespectful,

please forgive me.

How may I assist you, Your Highness?

I suspect someone

was a death row inmate
who was switched out

from the imperial prison.

I'd like to ask you to investigate.

Vice Minister Cui works remarkably fast.

Aren't you on duty today?

You neglect your duties all day long.

Aren't you afraid
the Grand Censor will impeach you?

Grand Censor Tao knows

the Commandery Princess and I
are close friends.

He'd never impeach me.

Your Highness.

I've thoroughly investigated

every government office
in the imperial capital.

I did find the man you were looking for.

The condemned man was named Zhang Zhuo.

The one who bought his life

was a poor scholar named Fu Jin.

He's from Xianning Commandery.

A poor scholar?

Why would he try to k*ll me?

Was he

close to any powerful officials?

He kept to himself.

His neighbors also said

they never saw any wealthy
or influential people

visiting his home.

Xianning Commandery...

If I remember correctly,

the Bian family's ancestral home

was Xianning.

The Bian family?

Isn't Bian Xianyi the only one left?

She has a grudge against you?

I'm only making a guess.

An ancestral home alone

proves nothing.

Why waste time thinking about it?

I'll have her arrested

and beaten until she talks...

Then

arrest Fu Jin?

I have plenty of ways

to deal with
a delicate young scholar like him.

Young Master Bu.

This is the imperial capital.

You may disregard propriety
and indulge yourself,

but you must never behave so frivolously
before the Commandery Princess.

Forget it.

I'll watch my words from now on.

I won't

offend Your Highness's ears again.

Your Highness.

Fu Jin is a poor scholar
who has earned official qualifications.

I hope Your Highness
can allow me a little more time.

I'll investigate him in secret.

No need to trouble a second person.

My health is failing.

With your help,

I'd be most grateful.

I take my leave.

Your Highness.

According to
Vice Minister Cui's investigation,

Bian Xianyi was indeed
connected to the assassin, Fu Jin.

The two were childhood sweethearts

and grew up together.

By the time our men went to arrest him,

he was already dead at home.

Your Highness.

Bian Xianyi invites you
to have tea with her.

She says she has something
important to tell you.

I hadn't even gone looking for her,

yet she came to me first.

I...

ask Your Highness's forgiveness.

I trust Your Highness
has already guessed

that I invited you because of Fu Jin's

attempt to k*ll you.

So you admit

you knew Fu Jin?

Fu Jin and I

have known each other since childhood.

The day my family was convicted,

he promised
he would find a way to save me.

So I counted the days,

waiting for him for eight years.

But as far as I know,

all these years,

you and the Sixth Prince
have been devoted to each other.

I never had feelings
for the Sixth Prince.

I claimed I refused
to become a concubine

and kept stringing him along.

At first, I was afraid of losing
my only source of protection.

Later, I only hoped

to see Fu Jin again one day.

Your Highness must think I'm despicable

and utterly shameless.

I don't think that.

You're stunningly beautiful,

and only a dancer.

Without the Sixth Prince's protection,

how could you
have lived in peace until now?

Thank you, Your Highness.

But that's beside the point.

You never should have
dragged me into this again and again.

Did you want to k*ll me,

or were you acting
under someone's orders?

Forgive me,

but I cannot say.

Then you were acting
under someone's orders.

Why did you take poison?

She...

She told me

that if I poisoned Your Highness,

she would let Fu Jin
and me leave together.

But I know

Fu Jin is already dead.

Now I can go to him.

No one can stop me.

This is the only way

I can protect my family.

Please forgive me, Your Highness.

Someone!

Someone, quickly!

Your Highness,

this poison was refined
from poisonous mushrooms.

It can destroy
all five vital organs in an instant.

How could

such a poison exist in the palace?

Noble Consort Rong,

Bian Xianyi invited me to tea.

But unexpectedly,

she took poison and k*lled herself.

Your Highness,

there was indeed poison

in both teacups.

Noble Consort Rong,

Bian Xianyi brewed the tea herself.

Many palace attendants
saw her in the tea room.

She also said something strange today.

She said that in the future,

she might not be able
to have tea with us again.

In that case,

the truth is clear.

I have also heard

about Bian Xianyi and the Sixth Prince.

Presumably, the Sixth Prince

intended to ask for
Commandery Princess's hand in public.

Driven by jealousy,

Bian Xianyi made a grave mistake

and took her own life out of guilt.

In that case,

have her body

removed according

to palace rules.

- Yes.
- Yes.

Your Highness

must have been frightened today.

Why not come to my palace

for some calming tea?

Thank you, Noble Consort Rong.

I'm rather tired.

I would like to return and rest.

Very well.

I will not insist.

You may go.

[There are many suspicious details.]

[Who is behind all this?]

[Right now,]

[I have no one to discuss this with.]

[East Palace]

[East Palace]

This marriage

has nothing to do with love.

Someone with little time left

and no ability to fight back

is exactly what I need.

Commandery Princess Zhaoning
grew up in the northwest.

Every lady from the northwest
knows how to ride.

Today,

let us see for ourselves.

Commandery Princess
fell from her horse into a ravine

and remains missing.

♪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]