01x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

HUOTU TRIBE

ZHU YAN, PRINCESS OF THE CRIMSON CLAN

God of Fire above,

a feast of good fortune.

LORD KE'ERKE, HUOTU TRIBE

Best wishes
for a long harmonious relationship.

-Best wishes
-Best wishes

-for a long harmonious relationship.
-for a long harmonious relationship.

I heard the Princess of Crimson Clan

is not willing to be married here.

That princess's heart
belongs to someone else.

But this wedding was granted

by the Emperor.

If she refuses to marry,

it will anger the heaven

and the whole Crimson Clan
will be implicated.

My lady, it's not too late to stop this.

My lady,

you can never return

once you step out of this tent.

Your parents are not young anymore.

You're their only daughter.

Do you have the heart to abandon them?

Even if I stayed here,

I can never see them

in this lifetime either.

It's no different than being dead.

Deliver the wedding gifts!

Enter the tent!

I will never marry someone I don't love.

But my lady,

the person you like
will never marry you in this life.

-My lady--
-Silence.

Please receive the wedding gifts,
Your Highness.

First bow.

Second bow.

Third bow.

-Best wishes
-Best wishes

-for a long harmonious relationship.
-for a long harmonious relationship.

Exchange nuptial wine!

Sand Demon! Run!

Run for your lives!

Run!

Finally,

no one will force me
to marry again in this life.

Who's there?

SHI YING, PRECEPTOR OF JIUYI MOUNTAIN

Master.

How…

How could you do this
to the gift I gave you?

Master.

What brought you here all of a sudden?

I…

I thought

I would never see you again

in this life.

Didn't you invite me

to your wedding feast?

ADAPTED FROM ZHU YAN BY CANG YUE

Within the heaven and earth

and the four seas,

there's a sacred landcalled Yunhuang.

The Kongsang Clan,

Merfolk,

and the Ice Clan

have lived here for generations.

Seven thousand years ago,

Lang Gan of Kongsang intended
to unify Yunhuang.

Yet the God of Destruction

incited evil thoughts

for selfish gain.

Bewitched by the God of Destruction,

internal strife arose
among the six vassals of Kongsang,

external pressure came from the Merfolk,

and the Ten Sorcerers of the Ice Clan
started an uprising.

Yunhuang

is about to fall into w*r again.

But if God

takes pleasure
in seeing the world destroyed,

how does He deserve
to be worshipped by the world?

It's unprecedented for a mortal

to k*ll a god since ancient times.

Then let me, Shi Ying,

be the first.

SHI YING, CROWN PRINCE OF KONGSANG

The wind sounds like a bell.

The flowers fall like snow.

The Snowy Rosa in Jialan Imperial Palace

is so beautiful.

This flower looks the prettiest.

It's perfect for the Crown Prince.

Mister, was it you who helped me?

You wanted to give the flower
to the Crown Prince.

Do you know him?

I'll eventually know him

after I give it to him.

Do you want to see him? Why?

As the Princess of the Crimson Clan,

I should learn powerful magic techniques

to protect Western Huang.

But Father always forbids it.

He said a lady like me

should enjoy tea and do some needlework

like other princesses.

He said learning
defense magic techniques is enough.

That's why I want to see the Crown Prince,

so he permits me
to learn magic techniques.

That way, Father wouldn't dare
to forbid me from learning.

Why not ask the Emperor for permission?

Emperor and Father are no different.

I'm afraid all Emperor will say

is what a lady should and shouldn't do.

But the Crown Prince is different.

They said he's favored by heaven.

A young promising man who keeps improving.

I'm sure he'll understand my feelings.

Her Highness, the Empress has arrived.

Mister, I have to take my leave now.

We shall meet again if time permits.

"A young promising man
who keeps improving."

BAI YAN, EMPRESS OF KONGSANG

LADY QIUSHUI,
A MERFOLK, THE IMPERIAL CONSORT

Lady Qiu Shui is pregnant.

May Your Highness make way for her.

Forgive me, Your Highness.

It's all because I'm pregnant.

The imperial physician
repeatedly advised me

not to go up and down excessively

because the prince
in my womb isn't stable.

I hope Your Highness

can forgive me for the inconvenience.

Make way.

We'll stand aside.

She's nothing but a Merfolk,

a sl*ve of the Kongsang people.

Has she forgotten her place

now that she's being doted on?

Be quiet.

The Merfolk are also like us,

the people of Yunhuang.

Next time,

don't say anything discriminatory.

Otherwise, it will cause trouble.

Assassins!

No.

I'm not an assassin.

I accidentally bumped into Lady Qiu Shui.

-I'm--
-Her Highness is pregnant.

If anything happens,
can you be responsible?

You're wearing scarlet attire.

You're from the Crimson Clan.

Did your father send you

to crash into me on purpose
because he can't bear the sight of me

carrying a royal bloodline?

No.

Your Highness,

my father doesn't know anything.

I'll be responsible for my action.

Please

punish me alone.

How dare you talk back at me?

My flower!

Give it back to me.

This flower

is evidence of the Crimson Clan
trying to harm me.

Let me go! My flower!

Give it back!

My flower!

You…

You…

Why do you want to frame my father?

You're so beautiful,

yet you're so malicious.

You…

-How dare you say that again?
-Stop!

-Greetings, Crown Prince.
-Greetings, Crown Prince.

Why are you fighting here?

I have my reasons.

Are you trying to meddle

in the affairs of the harem?

Crown Prince?

So he's the Crown Prince.

I can't believe
I've said so many offensive things.

I'd never interfere.

But according
to the ancestral law of Kongsang,

it's the Imperial Prince's duty
to guide other princes.

The rumor is true.

Is His Highness here to help me?

Since you're carrying Father's bloodline,

I have to carry out my duty
to teach my younger brother

in your womb.

The Emperor who possesses good virtue
will grant amnesty

to the world's most heinous people

on auspicious days.

Let alone a child.

Did I make myself clear,

my brother?

All right.

Since the Crown Prince has stepped in,

we'll let her go.

Let's go.

-Yes.
-Yes.

Wait a moment.

Is there anything else, Crown Prince?

According to
the ancestral law of Kongsang,

all princes must copy

the Holy Words of Emperor Xingzun
ten times

as a gift for the Emperor's birthday.

Since my brother is not born yet,

I can only ask you to return
to your chamber

and copy it on his behalf.

Why you…

You're being mean to me

and causing me trouble

because I'm a Merfolk.

The Kongsang people and the Merfolk

are the people of Yunhuang.

There's no difference between us.

But as for you,

you wanted to slap

a guest of Kongsang over a trivial matter

and implicate a lord of Kongsang.

I only slapped her.

Do you need to make
a big deal out of this?

All right. Forget it.

I shall see

how long you can remain so arrogant.

The Prince favored by heaven

is standing here now.

It was my fault for being reckless
with my words.

I hope Your Highness can forgive me.

Is your face all right?

I'm all right.

It was just a slap.

Thank you for your concern, Your Highness.

But…

It's a pity for this Snowy Rosa.

I wanted to present it to Your Highness.

What kind of magic spell is this?

It's amazing.

The Restoring Spell.

Practice magic spells diligently,

and you can do it one day too.

This Snowy Rosa is my proof to you.

You can take it to your father.

Can a lady

do it too?

There is no difference between gender

in guarding the country and family.

I won't let you down, Your Highness.

LONGEVITY HALL, JIALAN IMPERIAL CITY

Yu'er. Remember to behave later, okay?

On this holy feast,

allow me to present you
with a dance performance.

Good. Very good.

EMPEROR BEIMIAN, EMPEROR OF KONGSANG

In the past, Emperor Xingzun

managed to comprehend
seven magic techniques

from the seven luminaries
and the bright full moon

and was acknowledged
by the Heavenly Divine Ring.

The marvelous scene

of the past would reappear

at night.

SHI YU, SECOND PRINCE OF KONGSANG

QING YUN,
IMPERIAL CONSORT OF KONGSANG

Many skilled mages haven't been able

to master a single technique.

Crown Prince was born with a divine spirit

and wisdom.

It's Kongsang's blessing

to have such a prince.

Marvelous!

-Impressive!
-Remarkable!

Lady Qiu Shui has arrived.

Qiu Shui.

-Greetings, Your Majesty.
-Get up quickly.

Why did you come so late?

You just missed the prince's sword dance.

Perhaps the prince punished me

to copy the scriptures ten times

because he didn't want me
to watch the sword dance.

What?

How dare the prince punish you
to copy scriptures?

I'm weak.

I feel weary after copying the scriptures.

So I can only come to wish Your Majesty

a long and healthy life.

I shall take my leave then.

Are you all right?

I'll accompany you.

Your Majesty,
the auspicious hour has arrived.

The birthday banquet is about to begin.

Let's go.

The banquet matters more.

I can return by myself.

If you come with me,

many people

will make mean accusations about me.

I'll wait for you at Qiushui Pavilion.

All right.

You had to pick this day
to make things difficult for Qiu Shui.

Do you admit your mistake?

I apologize for my mistake.

Since you're good with swordsmanship,

you can keep watch at night

in the court.

Yes, Father.

Mother, Shi Ying hasn't eaten yet.

Hush.

Please help us, Your Highness.

What's the matter?

I'm from Qiushui Pavilion.

Today, Lady Qiu Shui was ordered
to copy the scriptures.

So she vented her anger at the servants.

My sister is about to be flogged to death.

I snuck out to ask Your Highness

for help.

Please help us, Your Highness.

Where's the punished servant?

She is inside. I don't dare enter.

Lady Qiu Shui!

Lady Qiu Shui!

Lady Qiu Shui, are you all right?

Lady Qiu Shui.

Anyone, help!

Anyone!

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Lady Qiu Shui.

Lady Qiu Shui, please rest.

I'll send the imperial physician.
We must protect the baby.

Lady Qiu Shui,

what are you doing?

Your Highness,

you're finally here.

No.

His Majesty has arrived!

Lady Qiu Shui.

-You…
-I know you hate me, Your Highness.

Your Highness, no!

Qiu Shui!

Qiu Shui!

Your Majesty…

I had no idea

the prince

could be so vicious.

No, it wasn't me.

I can no longer serve you.

Also…

Our son…

Your Majesty, please take care.

My…

My soul will return to Biluo Sea.

I hope I can be with you

in the next life.

Qiu Shui!

Qiu Shui!

Qiu Shui!

Qiu Shui!

Qiu Shui!

It wasn't me.

Father, it wasn't me.

It's you.

No.

It was you!

You k*lled Qiu Shui out of anger

because I punished you, right?

Father, please investigate this fairly.

I don't know why she would use her death

to frame me.

Are you still trying to deny it?

I'm going to seek justice

for Qiu Shui.

Ying'er!

Ying'er.

-Mother.
-Ying'er, are you all right?

-Mother.
-Get up quickly.

Your Majesty,
Ying'er is not a bloodthirsty k*ller.

Please think about
what's odd about this incident.

Why?

Are you here to vilify Qiu Shui too?

Who do you think you are?

I can't believe
you'd actually doubt your birth son

over one unrelated Merfolk.

After all these years,
the Merfolk marine force

has planted so many spies here.

-Quiet or I'll k*ll you!
-Mother, watch out!

This matter has nothing to do with Mother.

I'm willing to take the responsibility.

Ying'er.

Why should you be responsible
for things you didn't do?

Tell me you didn't do it.

Did you hear that?

He admits it.

He k*lled my Qiu Shui.

Your Majesty.

How could you use such despicable means

to force your birth son

to admit a false accusation?

Because you're scared.

If it weren't Ying'er who k*lled her,

it would mean Lady Qiu Shui
was the one who cast the bone.

You'd have given your love
to the wrong person.

That's why you insist
on making Ying'er the k*ller!

-You wretched woman!
-Mother!

-Are you mad?
-Mother.

You're a mad person.

-Mother.
-Mad!

Yes, I've gone mad.

-I'm mad!
-Mother.

There's no need for anyone
to bring down the State of Kongsang.

It is already ruined at the hands

of a fatuous emperor like you!

-Mother!
-Protect the Emperor!

Protect the Emperor!

Mother!

Mother!

Mother, what are you doing?

Mother, let go! No!

Let go, Mother!

Mother!

Mother.

Mother.

Mother, what's wrong?

Mother, open your eyes.

Mother.

-Fire!
-Fire!

-Fire!
-Fire!

-Fire!
-Fire!

Hurry!

Hurry!

-Yan'er.
-Hurry! A fire broke out!

My lady.

Yan'er.

-Father.
-Yan'er, run!

-What happened?
-Hurry!

They said

the Crown Prince k*lled Lady Qiu Shui

over an argument.

The Empress set herself on fire together

with His Highness in Kunyuan Palace.

KUNYUAN PALACE, JIALAN IMPERIAL CITY

Ying'er.

Don't be afraid. I'm here.

Mother.

Yan'er!

Where are you going?

Father, you don't know
about what happened.

I offended Lady Qiu Shui today.

It was His Highness
who stopped her from punishing me.

So that's what happened.

Yan'er!

Lady Qiu Shui

must have framed His Highness
because of me.

Do you want to die?

-Come back with me!
-Father.

-Yan'er!
-I must save His Highness!

Yan'er!

Yan'er, listen to me.

-I have to save His Highness!
-Yan'er.

-Listen to me, Yan'er.
-Your Highness!

Yan'er!

Listen to me. Don't go!

Let me go!

Your Majesty,

it was the Empress

who started the fire.

The Empress may be alive.

But she's d*sfigured

and lost her voice because of the smoke.

As for the Prince,

we only found his charred body.

Shi Ying was a curse.

Just drag his body out
and bury it outside the city.

Don't announce his death.

Don't mourn for him.

Don't build a tombstone

or a memorial tablet for him.

From now on, the whole country

shall not mention this person.

It's an offense punishable
by the execution of nine generations!

Bai Yan of the White Clan

is deposed of her title as the Empress

and banished to the Cold Palace.

Yes, Your Majesty.

PRINCE CRIMSON RESIDENCE, YE CITY

I lost the only thing the Crown Prince

had given to me.

Princess.

Are you looking for this Snowy Rosa?

CHI YUAN, A MERFOLK,
BUTLER OF PRINCE CRIMSON RESIDENCE

You've been calling for the Snowy Rosa

when you were having a nightmare.

I think

this should be your favorite item.

So I asked the cleaner to keep it.

Thank you, Keeper Yuan.

You're both Merfolk.

Yet you're so different in character.

If Lady Qiu Shui

was as kind as you,

the Crown Prince wouldn't have died
from being framed.

Now, he is dead.

Yet no one dares
to make offerings for him.

His Majesty has issued a decree

that holding a private ritual
for the Crown Prince is taboo.

No.

Even if it's defying the decree,

I'm going to make offerings to him.

I'd never believe that he was a villain.

All right.

Since you want to make an offering,

I shall accompany you.

Keeper Yuan.

Are you willing to go with me?

Do you also believe
the Crown Prince was framed?

I'm a Merfolk.

I don't know
who was the Prince of Kongsang.

But as the keeper here,

it's my duty to protect your safety.

Making an offering is what you want to do.

Since I can't stop you,

I can only help reduce the risk.

We can never know
what a person is really like.

Before this, the whole world said

he was noble and righteous.

Who would have thought

that he was capable of k*lling people?

As they say, indulging one's child
is ruining them.

It was the Empress' fault
for spoiling him.

It is my unlucky day

to be doing such a task.

Do you think

there are evil spirits nearby?

Stop talking.

We should finish burying him
and get out of here.

When I was in power,

they praised me.

They would revere me

and cry for me,

even though I had never done anything

for them to be grateful to me.

When I fell from power,

they vilified me and spat on me.

They wished they could add
more injuries to me,

even though I had never done them wrong.

Mother, let's leave this place.

Come and leave this palace with me.

We can live
with different identities forever.

Ying'er.

I'll send you out of the palace.

This is Jade Bone.

It's an ancient artifact passed down
by Empress Bai Wei.

Who are you?

Ying'er, don't be afraid.

GRAND PRECEPTOR, JIUYI MOUNTAIN

Remember this.

Tonight, the mad Empress
set herself on fire

and a puppet was burned in the fire

in your place in Kunyuan Palace.

He'll lead you out of the palace.

This is the Grand Preceptor

of Jiuyi Mountain.

He'll be your master from now on.

Bai Yan, must you do this?

Yu.

I'll leave Ying'er to you.

I owe you

in this life.

Bai Yan.

Mother, I don't want to leave.

Ying'er.

Don't worry.

I'll always pray for you

in the palace.

I will not take my life

and let those who harm us

get what they want.

Ying'er.

Feigning your death is a crime
of deceiving the Emperor.

Once you leave,

don't ever return.

Mother, let's leave together.

Our ties as mother and son
are now severed.

Remember.

No need for revenge

and no need to hate anyone.

All that matters is being safe.

Mother, I don't want to go alone.

Let's leave together.

Ying'er.

Mother.

Mother.

This is humanity.

There's an abnormal sign in the sky.

The Crown Prince has returned!

-Run!
-Go now!

Let's go!

I cast a spell to hide your fate.

It shines like the sun and the moon.

The vision of the Yin and Yang

is the magic I use

to alter the stars.

Follow me to Jiuyi Mountain

to hide your strength and bid your time.

One day, you'll return to your real body.

You'll get back

what you lost today.

I, Shi Ying, swear

that I will return to Jialan

to clear my mother's name

and take her with me

after I've completed my cultivation.

Your Highness.

I don't know

if I have the right
to perform rites for you.

They said

you were a bad person.

But I believe that you were framed.

So

I came to send you off.

How could this be?

Your fate

is encountering a calamity.

Unexpectedly, there's someone
who's performing rites for you.

When the whole nation condemns me

and forsakes me,

she's doing this for me?

Who is she?

It doesn't matter who she is.

When you see her,

Yin and Yang will meet

and the Starflower will bloom.

You must k*ll her then.

Otherwise,

she'll be the one

who'll take your life in the future.

Keeper Yuan.

Did you see

that flash of light?

Yes.

What's different about the Snowy Rosa

given by the late Crown Prince?

What kind of magic spell is this?

The Restoring Spell.

It's the Restoring Spell.

Since this flower can come to life,

does that mean humans can be revived too?

Does a magic spell like this exist?

There are countless magic spells
in Kongsang

and numerous Taoists
for the past millennia.

I'm sure something
like Restoring Spells exists.

I, Zhu Yan, swear

to master such a skill

to help the Crown Prince
turn the dangerous situation around.

FIVE YEARS LATER

You again.

I told you that our master
is in seclusion.

He won't be seeing anyone. Just go back.

How long do I need to wait?

He'll come out from seclusion, right?

If I don't see him today,

I'm not going down the mountain.

You lass,

why are you being so unreasonable?

Even if my master
comes out from seclusion,

he won't meet you.

Just leave the mountain.

I've waited earnestly for seven days.

How is that unreasonable?

Since you said I'm an unreasonable person,

I'll show you

what an unreasonable person is like.

You lass, you have gone too far!

Chase her down the mountain.

Tell me.

Where's the Master?

Princess.

Do you want to see me?

MASTER XUANZHEN

Greetings, Master.

Greetings, Master.

Master, do you know me?

Princess, you're famous
for visiting mountains

all these years.

How can I not know?

Then I'm sure you know my purpose here.

When I was young,

a young man saved me.

But too bad he died a wrongful death.

So I'd like to ask Master

to bring him back to the mortal world.

You only met him by chance.

Why do you still think about it?

Our encounter may be a brief moment.

Yet he stood up for me,

taught me to be kind,

and protected me.

Besides,

it was because of me
that he was implicated.

So you're returning his favor.

But do you know

the Transcendence Spell

is an art that defies the laws of nature?

It comes with a hefty price.

I'm willing to do all I can.

I ask that you'll fulfill my wish.

I'm not capable of it.

So I'm afraid I can't help you.

But you are sincere.

Perhaps you can try going
to Jiuyi Mountain.

Jiuyi Mountain?

Jiuyi Mountain
uses Kongsang's magic spell,

which is at a higher level.

That's the only place

you can find

the Resurrection Spell.

STARRY LAKE, JIUYI MOUNTAIN