01x40 - Episode 40

[bunniefuu]

[A Dream Within A Dream]

[Episode 40]

[Southern district, Nanyuan Road]

It's lit!

Throw it then! Throw it!

Yan?

What are you doing here?

His Majesty and the Crown
Prince are in danger.

I wouldn't be able to live
with myself if I stayed away.

Good for you.

I may not be the Minister of w*r,

but I've read The Art of w*r.

What is this tactic called then?

Close the gates

and release the dogs!

Come on!

Is there such a tactic in The Art of w*r?

Isn't there?

[Southern district, Nanyu Road]

Disengage! Fall back!

Hu, they're here to help.

The Axe g*ng?

Why are you helping us?

Are you coming for gold
ingots and night pearls?

Forget the treasure!

If Li Shi Liu admits that
I'm better looking,

today's help comes free.

He'd never admit that.

But I'll admit it for him.

Who are you?

The grim reaper who's here
to collect your life.

General, do we attack?

He's clearly provoking us on purpose.

There must be trap waiting for us ahead.

We mustn't act rashly.

Let's take that road instead.

[Southern district, Nansheng Road]

Get them!

Come on!

Die!

Bad guys, die!

- Get them!
- Try our itching powder!

What are you girls doing here?

Well, we're not here to help you.

Come on, give it to me.

Let's go!

"For the acts of holding c*ptive
the Emperor and scheming treason,

Chu Gui Hong has committed
an offense punishable by death."

[Near the Dark River pier]

Nan Heng,

today

marks your demise.

Don't celebrate before the victory.

The Qianyu reinforcements are almost here.

With just these few Night Wandering Gods,

what makes you think you can beat me?

I'm afraid

your Qianyu troops won't be coming.

Boss,

the Qianyu rebels en route
have been taken care of.

When Chancellor Gao's troops arrive,

Chu Gui Hong will be the
one begging for mercy.

Is that so?

The numbers don't add up.

Chu Gui Hong deployed five thousand troops,

but there's only a handful here.

Unless...

Unless they've gone ahead to
intercept our men outside the city.

You laid an ambush here,

but how do you know General
Chu didn't lay one outside the city?

Nan Heng's reinforcements aren't coming.

Ten miles outside the city,

at Yangui Gorge,

Chancellor Gao's private
troops have been drugged.

By now,

they can't even stand, let alone fight.

Qianyu Army, listen up!

Nan Heng poisoned His Majesty

and raised a private force for rebellion.

His crimes are beyond pardon.

Tonight, we'll be the hand of justice

and k*ll the traitor!

Justice shall be done!

k*ll the traitor!

Justice shall be done!

k*ll the traitor!

Justice shall be done!

k*ll the traitor!

Justice shall be done!

k*ll the traitor!

Soldiers of Qianyu Army, hear my command!

- It's King Qian Yu.
- Yes, it's him.

How...

I am King Qian Yu.

My son Chu Gui Hong has poisoned His Majesty

and plotted a rebellion.

Soldiers, stand with me and
take down this traitor!

What's going on?

Didn't Young General said
Nan Heng poisoned His Majesty?

Whose order should we follow?

He's King Qian Yu.

I shall follow your command, King Qian Yu!

My acting isn't bad, right?

The last two times we were outmaneuvered

was because we didn't
have sufficient troops.

So, this time,

there's someone I need to see first.

I don't care who you really are,

but today, you can only be King Qian Yu.

King Qian Yu?

Soldiers of Qian Yu, listen to me.

My father trained in martial arts for
years. He was a formidable warrior.

He gave his life for the
country in the Battle of Pingrong.

And that man can't even lift a weapon.

It's obvious Nan Heng brought
in an impostor to fool you.

That man is not my father.

If any shred of loyalty to
my father remains in you,

then fight by my side and k*ll them!

Dodge!

Behind you!

- On the left!
- Your left or my left?

I...

Ji Xiang...

Ji Xiang...

Please don't die, Ji Xiang.

I can't watch you die in front
of me again, Ji Xiang.

Your Highness,

when have I ever died in front of you?

Your Highness,

it's not that hard to k*ll someone.

Just think about the people
you'd die to protect.

And stab.

Alright, alright.

Ji Xiang...

Ji Xiang...

I'll ask you one last time,

will you write the decree or not?

Nan Heng is my son.

What do you think?

Father!

Come on, Father.

Father, you're alright now.

Don't be afraid. I'm here. I got you.

Look at this pitiful little crowd.

Like fleas biting an elephant.

Pathetic overestimation.

Who said that's all he had?

I'm Random Extra A,

here to help the Crown
Prince purge traitors!

I'm Random Extra B,

here to help Night Wandering Gods!

I'm Random Extra D, ready to die for them!

I'm Random Extra E, here to take you down!

I'm Nameless, but today the
city will remember my name!

I'm Background Man D, pledge
my life to the Crown Prince!

And me, an old lady who sells lanterns!

Me as well, Zhang the
Butcher from the western district!

And me, Wang the Midwife
from the eastern district!

We stand with the Crown
Prince to purge the traitors!

We stand with the Crown
Prince to purge the traitors!

We stand with the Crown
Prince to purge the traitors!

We stand with the Crown
Prince to purge the traitors!

We stand with the Crown
Prince to purge the traitors!

- What the heck is going on here?
- Why are these people here?

Chu Gui Hong,

these people once received help from
Night Wandering Gods and Nan Heng.

But they're not here to repay a favor.

In fact, they're here for one simple reason,

whoever brings w*r to Jing

and leaves the people homeless,

that person is their enemy!

That's right! She's right!

Soldiers...

My son, Han Si Hu,

fought alongside King
Qian Yu in countless battles.

My father, Han Ping Liang,
died defending the border.

And yet I ask you,

why are you turning your blades

on your own people,

instead of the true enemies?

Fellow soldiers,

you were once heroes

who defended the nation with your lives.

Real men protect their country
and their people.

So ask yourselves,

are you really going to
stray from the righteous path

for a traitor of the throne?

I, Nan Heng,

give you my word,

today,

we k*ll only the the traitor.

No loyal souls will be harmed.

Lay down your arms,

and you will be pardoned.

Are you going to abandon me too?

Don't you know how strong Boss is.

He can handle this.

Yi Meng, have you noticed?

The backlash effect on Boss has weakened.

Don't worry, Chu Gui Hong
stands no chance against him.

Chu Gui Hong,

you plotted rebellion,
a crime beyond pardon.

I won't k*ll you.

Your fate rests with His Majesty.

You won't k*ll me?

Spare me the fake benevolence.

You just want to see me humiliated,

scorned by the people, crushed
beneath your feet.

Well?

Are you satisfied now?

You brought this upon yourself.

Yes.

Every step I took today

was my own choice.

Fate was unfair to me.

So I had to fight for my survival!

How was I wrong?

Nan Heng, look.

This is Jing.

A land our families have protected together

for over a hundred years.

Isn't it beautiful?

When we're grown up,

we'll protect it together too.

We'll ride mighty horses,

wield great swords,

and send our enemies running scared!

Everyone in Jing will know our names.

What do you say?

It sounds great.

Mr. Screenwriter,

didn't you say you could k*ll

thousands of storybound puppets
with just a wave of your hand?

Yet in the end, you used the
identity of your storybound puppet

and helped everyone.

Who said I'm a storybound puppet?

I am the w*r God of Jing, King Qian Yu!

Well then, King Qian Yu,
what are you still doing here?

Still want me to complete your iconic scene?

As if I'd dare!

I just finally understood something.

You were right.

Everyone in this world,

whether main characters,
supporting roles, or background extras,

they're living, breathing people.

I was too shallow before.

I was too bent on trying to
control everyone's fate.

Glad you finally get it.

By the way, is the script
mechanism still active?

Why does Nan Heng seem fine now?

Truth is, a lot of things have changed.

Think about it,

when was the last time you
heard keyboard tapping sounds?

When Nan Heng beat the
system's rule with its own rule,

'the male lead must save
the female lead in danger'

and 'iconic scenes must play out as written'

have become void.

Now that all the storybound
puppets have awakened,

even the backlash mechanism
against changing iconic scenes

has disappeared.

Which means not only are you
no longer bound by fate,

neither am I.

When I saw all those people

risking their lives to protect their home,

I felt something strange,

like my soul was leaving my body.

Oh come on, seriously?

Soul leaving your body? Really?

It's true.

Maybe a few days later,

you probably won't find me here anymore.

I'll have returned.

Well then. May you never

write another terrible script.

Goodbye.

Oh, whatever.

Let's give each other a hug.

Why are they hugging?

- I'll go chop off his arm, Boss.
- It's fine.

I'll go beat him up.

Bye.

Let's go.

Didn't he say he was going to beat him up?

Are all married men this easy to appease?

[Huaipu Hall]

[A few days later]

Your Highness.

After that day,

Bi Xiong really returned
to the modern world.

Before he left, he repeatedly
emphasized one thing.

If this world undergoes
huge changes one day,

it's definitely not his doing.

Because the fate of this storybound world

had been placed in the
hands of everyone living in it.

[Ying Qiu and Zhi Xia's
Fate-Rewriting Project]

Your Highness,

didn't you say our fates
are in our own hands now?

So who do you think Zhi Xia
and I will end up marrying?

Well, going by the usual
'balanced pairing' logic in dramas,

it'd probably be
Long, Hu, or maybe Ji Xiang or Fu Gui.

I think I'd rather stay single.

Balanced pairing?

What does that mean?

It's when the male lead
pairs with female lead,

his best friend pairs with her best friend,

and his servant pairs with her maid...

Just those cliched plots.

Then...

Your Highness,

is there such a thing as unbalanced pairing?

Unbalanced pairing?

Well, that exists too.

Ying Qiu,

who do you want to be 'unbalanced' with?

[Ying Qiu]

Why is she running away?

She aims high.

She wants a prince.

Quite ambitious!

Xiang, you were bedridden for three months.

Are you sure you're alright now?

I've been fully recovered for a while now.

The basket, please.

Xiang,

how did our great Jing Empire

produce such an exceptional,
heaven-chosen individual like me?

As a prince,

I'm easily Heng's equal.

When it comes to rice farming, I
accidentally became the best in the land!

You should've seen it yesterday,

that Minister of Agriculture couldn't decide

whether to bow respectfully
or gaze at me in awe!

So really, when it comes to
keeping our people well-fed,

Heng has to count on me.

It's you.

Your Highness!

Are you alright, Your Highness?

Just like that, Ying Qiu
and Nan Rui's story began,

with all the wonder of
a storybook beginning.

Ying Qiu longed for a simple,
genuine kind of love.

So did Nan Rui.

Zhi Xia, however, said,

"Love is like a winter coat in
summer, or a cooling fan in winter.

Doesn't solve urgent needs,
doesn't bring extra value.

If anything's worth chasing,

it's...

Money."











Have you written everything down?

Not yet.

Boss, you've been going
over that ledger all day.

You deserve a break.

How about a cup of tea?

You think I want to be doing this?

If any of you men were halfway competent,

would I need to handle this myself?

This spreadsheet is a
disaster! Embarrassing! Fix it!

Eight mistakes in one official document!

Did your PE teacher teach you language arts?

What do you want?

[Fading River Moon is
hosting the Guqin Gathering.]

Long, why didn't you put the
guest name on the invitation?

Who are we inviting then?

How are we supposed to grow
our guild like this?

He wrote those.

The spreadsheet was Master He's
job too. He just dumped it on me.

Same with the document.

He said he was giving us
opportunities to learn.

Yes, he told us that.

Yes, Boss. They're telling the truth.

Where the hell is Shangguan He?

Where is he?

Upstairs with his wife.

Ting,

- I need to discuss something with you.
- Just say it.

Remember how you said you wanted a child?

Look at me, charming and handsome.

And you, smart and talented.

Shouldn't we hurry up

and produce the female
lead for the next world?

What's the matter?

Are you not contented with
being a supporting character now?

Trying to change the script?

That's not what I meant.

I just...

Really adore you.

Stop pretending.

You just feel tied down

and think a baby would keep me occupied

so you can go off and roam
the world like before, right?

No, that's not it at all.

Well, I'm not entirely against it.

Didn't that screenwriter
Chu Li leave recently?

Before he did, I made a little wish.

I wished for men to bear children too.

After you give birth to our child,

you're free to wander wherever.

I won't stop you.

No wonder I've been bloated lately.

You're just joking, right?

You really made that wish?

Ting!

Please don't mess with me.

Ting...

Tell me you're joking. You're joking, right?

- No.
- I'm not ready for fatherhood!

Just tell me, you're joking, right?

Slow down now. You don't
want to disturb the fetus.

You're really scaring me now.

Take a look at this.

I spotted it back in Yangzhou
and just knew I had to get it.

Don't you think this color
flatters our age and complexion?

Let me see.

The color really is lovely.

I say we should apply it on
all our girlfriends later

and go shopping together.

Meng said this is called
influencer marketing.

What a great idea!

I'll return to Yangzhou tomorrow

and order a whole cartload of these.

They will sell like hotcakes!

Yes.

Chang Rong,

it's been three months since
you last came to see me.

You'd forget what I even look
like if I didn't come.

Don't you think?

My dear,

as lovely as this place is, it's not home.

Surely you miss me

or at least the plants you used to tend?

Here.

[A marriage without love
isn't worth keeping.]

What's on yours?

[The world's too big to stay
caged here. I want to see it all.]

What does this mean?

Don't just stand there! After them!

Huh?

It's the winning-your-wife-back arc!

Geez, you fossil.

My dear!

- Chang Rong!
- Dear!

- Chang Rong!
- Dear, wait for me!

- Chang Rong!
- Dear!

Wait for me!

Dear!

As for Fu Gui,

he said he's fought alongside
Nan Heng his entire life.

In the past, he guarded You City
and Nan Heng's residence for him.

Wherever Nan Heng was, that was his home.

But now,

Nan Heng carries the weight
of all Jing in his heart.

So naturally,

Jing's borders

should be protected

by none other than Fu Gui himself.

- This, this and rest of it.
- Gui!

Gui.

Long time no see.

You've grown even more formidable,

fierce as an eagle, proud as a tiger.

Truly a man born to lead.

And your sword...

Well...

Your presence dominates all lands!

Yao Qian, what are you doing here?

I've come to enlist my newly
gathered 3,000 troops

into the Black Armored Army!

From now on, I'll be your deputy commander.

I look forward to your guidance.

Stop stop! What guidance?

Just get out of here. Let's go.

- Gui...
- Tell His Majesty and the Empress

that the border is secure,

- though this new deputy talks too much!
- Yes, sir.

Gui, are you saying I talk too much?

I don't understand why you'd say that.

A peaceful border, prosperity among people,

this was Nan Heng's vision for Jing.

The very peace everyone here longed for.

With the Emperor's abdication

and Nan Heng's coronation,

he finally achieved his dream

of protecting and serving
the people of this land.

Are you alright?

I'm fine.

As for me...

I finally became the top-tier queen

and walked the red carpet.

But did you think one red carpet walk

meant I'd settle for being
his virtuous Empress

and managing his harem
for the rest of my life?

Of course not.

[A month later]

[Two months later]

[Three months later]

Give it to me.

Where on earth is Song Yi Meng?

Your Majesty, please don't worry.

I have news of Her Majesty's whereabouts.

Where is she?

Your Majesty, two months ago,

our scouts spotted Her Majesty
on the streets of Wei City.

They said she was teaching
commoners about something called

shared carriages.

Shared carriages?

Your Majesty, last month,

Her Majesty held something called
"PaperLink Job Fair" in Jiangnan.

Any woman seeking work could
register her skills,

and employers would contact them directly.

What in the world is Song Yi Meng up to now?

Your Majesty, Her Majesty has returned.

Nan Heng!

Nan Heng!

I'm back!

You're back.

It's the middle of summer.

And you're wearing furs,

hugging a heater,

and sitting by a fire pit.

Aren't you burning up?

What's wrong with you?

Maybe it's backlash from the script again.

Lately I've just been feeling
cold all the time.

I can't sleep through the night,

and the bone-deep aches are k*lling me.

Oh, right.

You're in so much pain that you
even break out in cold sweat, huh?

Drop the act.

Aren't you even a little
worried about me at all?

I am worried about you.

So much!

Here, let me help you stay warm.

- It's too warm.
- Wrap it up.

- Not cold anymore?
- No.

I've just been so busy lately.

Back then you said

you'd spend half the month
in the palace with me,

and the other half doing your own thing.

But it's been three months.

And I only hear about you from other people.

- I've been gone for three months?
- Yes.

Nan Heng, it's just three months.

That's barely one drama's sh**ting schedule.

If I knew you'd be this clingy,

I might as well have spent three months

filming with Nan Feng.

Who's Nan Feng?

Is he better looking than me? Taller?

He looks exactly like...

I mean, he's not even in
the same universe as you!

The man's built like a compass.

Why would I abandon my perfect husband

for some geometric tool?

Right?

But the screenwriter told me,

that when you actors work,

you often have to sh**t

intimate scenes.

Mr. Screenwriter, you jerk,

how thoughtful of you to
leave me trouble before you left.

Alright now. Come on, Nan Heng.

Nan Heng...

Heng...

Heng, my baby...

Don't be mad now.

He throws tantrums like
he's some A-list diva.

No way I'd fall for someone like that.

I swear on my life,

if I ever fall for Nan Feng,

may I be struck by lightning!

Don't say stuff like that.

Anyway, I don't care about the past,

but from now on,

the only one sharing your
scenes will only be me.

You promised me...

White head

same heart.

Look at you, speaking English
so fluently now!

Of course!

I even remember that phrase
you wrote last time.

Leaping Fish,

Caught in Heng's Net.

Did I get that right?

Let me ask you then,

do you know what "Leaping Fish,
Caught in Heng's Net" means?

Of course I do.

It means catching a really tasty fish.

- Am I right?
- A tasty fish?

Well then, I am that tasty fish.

[A Dream Within A Dream]

Please enjoy.

[The End]

[Director Guo Hu]

I'm here!

Zhuang Liu, have you finished the script?

What's that screenwriter Bi Xiong's ending?

He's just a minor side character.
Just a storybound puppet.

I put him back into the modern world.

Nan Heng,

what if the awakening of storybound puppets

and our success in changing fate

was all just another layer of the script?

Like what if

we're not in Dream of Qingning,

but A Dream Within A Dream?

What do we do then?

We keep rewriting our fate.

Until our very last breath.

[Love's spell is spinning round and round]

[Thinking of you makes
my heart burst in bloom]

[Day and night]

[But I'm afraid this love is just...]

Song Xiao Yu!

Are you out of your mind?

You're late on the very first
day of makeup tests!

Was all of it

just a dream?

[Dream of Qingning]

I'll leave it here. Enjoy.

Not bad, right? I think it should work.

Well, about the schedule...

It's a little tight.

You think you're a superstar now?

The entire crew is waiting on you! Hello?

First, you're going to
apologize to the director...

Song Xiao Yu!

- Director.
- Xiao Yu!

Look at the camera.

- Director.
- Just get her ready.

Got it. We're so sorry.

Can I help you?

Never mind.

What's going on with her?

Song Yi Meng.

What did you just call me?

Song Yi Meng.

Are you calling me by my character's name?

White head

same heart.