01x02 - Episode 2

[bunniefuu]

[A Dream Within A Dream]

[Episode 2]

My head hurts.

Young Lady!

If you require water, just summon us.

Why trouble yourself in
the bitter depths of winter?

- You're already so frail...
- Zhi Xia...

Who's the frail one now?

Just get her seated.

We've got a tough battle coming.

Tough battle? What tough battle?

Young Lady, you're not acting like yourself today.

I just want it to be over.

Let's just get it over with
so I can retire from the plot.

That poisoned wine packed a serious punch.

I have to find a way to counter it.

Where's my wedding dress?

- Bring it here and help me put it on now.
- Wedding dress?

What wedding dress?

Wow...

Not even saying the lines anymore?

Whatever. My ending is inevitable
anyway. Doesn't matter what I'm wearing.

Come on then, let's go.

Young Lady Yi Meng.

- How come...
- Young Lady!

Young Lady!

This is utterly improper!

It's freezing out. How can you run
about in just your undergarments?

Where are the firecrackers?

The red silks?

And where are my dowry items?

Is this even still the Song Residence?

Am I still Song Yi Meng?

What's wrong with Young Lady?

Oh, right!

The wedding procession... And Chu Gui Hong!

Ying Qiu, go fetch the physician!

Young Lady!

[Song Residence]

[Six Months Ago]

Since I've crossed into the timeline
six months before the wedding,

I'm going to live it up and enjoy myself.

Young Lady!

What is this?

The physician said your recent emotional distress

has caused a bout of hysteria.

Master and Mistress have sent some allowance

to help calm your nerves.

You...

You rich folks seriously call this

allowance?

Zhi Xia, come.

Xia, tell me about my family background again!

Let me appreciate my privileged status.

As you wish, Young Lady:

You live just outside Shiqiao
Gate in the capital's busiest district,

within walking distance of
the palace of Jing Empire.

Shops everywhere, great location.

Basically the ancient CBD, huh?

We have 100 maids,



and 100 more in kitchens and accounts.

They take care of all your daily needs.

You may rise.

Be specific, how does a rich girl
like me actually eat, wear, and do?

Your hands are noble hands,

no hardship shall ever touch them.

Your mouth is a delicate mouth,

only the rarest delicacies are worthy of it.

Reward her.

[Song Yi Meng, daughter of Duke Guangping,]

[Minister of w*r and Left Vice Director Song Yu De]

Young Lady.

Get me another one.

Too sour.

Young Lady.

How dare these grapes

have seeds.

Let it be decreed,

from now on,

in the Jing Empire, grapes
are not allowed to have seeds!

From now on,

no grapes in the Jing Empire may have seeds!

From now on,

no grapes in the Jing Empire may have seeds!

From now on,

no grapes in the Jing Empire may have seeds!

This isn't "Dream of Qingning."

Feels more like a period-drama
version of Tiny Times!

Come, come.

Raise your cups.

Today, we gather here to celebrate my rebirth,

and the official start of my
brand-new, freeloading life!

I, Niohuru Meng,

have returned from ashes with just one purpose.

To cherish life and stay far away from Nan Heng.

Cheers.

Young Lady, perhaps we should
summon another physician?

What for?

No physician can cure my problem.

Only defying fate can.

Come on.

Tell me something.

About my marriage with Chu Gui Hong,

what's the current plot progress?

That day, he fought alone

against 30,000 soldiers from Heyuan.

[Fourth Border Fortress, You City]

General Fang.

Please come.

[Fang Shi Ming, Heyuan's Top General]

General Fang, you're the top strategist of Heyuan,

famed for your obsession with chess.

But I never thought

you'd be such a coward.

You disgrace your reputation.

[Fu Gui, Nan Heng's Attendant]

Who devised this formation?

Knowing you'd march south with your army,

I conceived

this Game of Life and Death overnight

for you to solve.

A Game of Life and Death?

You want to bet your life?

That's right.

If you can solve this in one incense stick's time,

I will k*ll myself

and die for my country.

And you can take You City

without shedding a drop of blood.

If I want You City,

I can storm it with 30,000 troops.

Why would I want to waste
time playing games with you?

If you attack,

my 3,000 armored men

will fight with all their power to defend this city.

One life

for ten.

I just k*lled King Qian Yu,

the Jing Empire's top general.

Even his son, Chu Gui Hong,
who they call the "God of w*r,"

is now my prisoner.

You've lost three of your four border cities.

Even with divine power,
you can't hold this last one.

The world fears me for my bloodlust,

branding me God of k*lling.

Do I intimidate you too, General Fang?

If I win, you die.

But if I lose...

What do you want?

Give me Chu Gui Hong.

Everyone knows you and
King Qian Yu didn't get along.

Why do you want to save his son?

I'm not saving him.

I want to

k*ll him myself.

You want to k*ll Chu Gui Hong?

Yes.

I spent three years guarding the border,

gaining no glory,

all because I was suppressed by King Qian Yu,

trapped here in You City.

The emperor of Jing stationed you here,

while putting King Qian Yu over you.

Clearly, he had other plans.

Do you know what "You City" really means?

It means to imprison.

How refreshingly honest.

This game intrigues me.

Deeply intrigues me.

General Fang,

you lost.

Now hand him over.

Wait. Let me fetch brush and ink.

This legendary game must
be recorded for posterity.

Let me spare you the trouble.

These are made of white Yao
jade, the finest chess pieces.

Consider this my gift to you.

Your Highness, can we please hurry?

Before they start sh**ting arrows at our backs!

Relax. They wouldn't dare.

They won't sh**t you, but they might sh**t me!

Who cares if a lowlife like me gets hit?

Who'll serve you if I'm full of arrows?

I have to save myself first.

Come on, quickly!

[You City]

General, let's not be fooled
by his Empty Fort Strategy!

Please give the order to attack!

Please give the order to attack!

Please give the order to attack!

Anyone who crosses the line, dies!

As the Art of w*r says,

when your enemy is outnumbered, surround them.

I don't need to storm the city,

I'll just wait until you run out of food.

Then three days later,

we will fight to the death.

Your stupid emperor wants you dead.

No reinforcements will come.

Nan Heng, does your "Game
of Life and Death" have a name?

The Phantom Cries of Heyuan.

The Phantom Cries of Heyuan?

General, he's insulting us!

Hold up.

If I remember right,

weren't we just talking about my wedding?

Then why were you going on and
on about Nan Heng that demon?

What's he got to do with my marriage?

What? Was I really talking about

the Seventh Prince Nan Heng,
whose fate was so terrifying

it shattered the royal divination shell?

Who else, lady?

But... But I meant to talk about
General Chu. How did I end up...

Qiu, I...

Young Lady, if you didn't point it out,

I wouldn't have noticed anything wrong.

How did that happen?

I don't know.

Okay.

Never mind.

But seriously, did you hear
that guy? What nonsense.

He pulls an "Empty Fort Strategy"
and thinks he's some genius.

Such a Zhuge Liang fanboy!

How cringe!

What boy?

"Fanboy."

- Is that food?
- No idea, I've never heard of it.

Okay, I get it.

The plot's railroading us. Fine.

But right now, my wedding
is the priority here, ladies.

Oh, yes. Your wedding.

That day marked the most dangerous battle

of his military career.

In midwinter, the eleventh month,

with just three days' time, the
Seventh Prince ordered his men

to dig their way into Heyuan's
grain depot and burn it.

What the hell are you doing?

If you ruin His Highness's plan...

Just get to work!

Hurry up!

The flames raged like dragons

and devoured every last
grain of Heyuan's provisions.

Soldiers of Black Armored Army! Attack!

Then, the Seventh Prince
signaled with black sashes

and launched a surprise attack.

He ordered the hidden Black
Armored Army in Heyuan's ranks

to assassinate their top commanders.

Fang Shi Ming was enraged.

He drew his Cold Moon Sword

and faced the Seventh Prince
in battle beneath You City.

Our Seventh Prince seized
Fang Shi Ming's treasured sword

and struck him down from horseback.

k*ll!

As w*r drums pounded, his Black Armored warriors

despite being outnumbered,

fought 30,000 men for three days,

giving their last full measure
to claim victory at You City.

We won!

We won!

We won!

We won!

We won!

We won!

Wow.

Just wow.

That level of arrogance

really is unprecedented in human history.

Weird.

How did all those words about the Seventh Prince

slaying generals amidst armies of thousands

just pour out of me?

Yes.

It's my first time hearing about the God of k*lling,

but I can't help feeling this
surge of admiration for him.

It's like I want to prostrate at his feet.

What's happening to me?

Now I get it.

In this world,

no one escapes the pull of his protagonist halo.

You NPCs fall for it,

and so do I.

Young Lady, please give me one more chance!

I promise I'll stay on topic this time.

Forget it. I've heard enough
of his peerless prowess.

Anyway,

his cold-blooded God of k*lling persona

is clearly set in stone now.

Go on, keep talking.

Let's see what other
ridiculous praises you've got.

Carry on.

That day,

he opened the gates for his return to the capital.

On your knees!

Chu Gui Hong, traitor to the state,

your tactical failures and reckless actions

cost us three border cities

and doomed their people to slaughter.

The hour has come.

Execute him.

Ji Xiang?

Prince Rui is here.

[Ji Xiang, Nan Rui's Attendant]

Ji Xiang, help! This horse is running wild!

Don't be afraid, cousin! I'm here!

I won't let anyone k*ll you!

Heng, release him.

Why are you just standing there?

What are you trying to do? Back off!

What are you trying to do now?

Listen here,

Father has issued a decree to pardon Gui Hong.

If you know what's good for you, let him go now.

Where's the imperial decree?

The decree?

The decree... Where is it?

It was prepared by the Secretariat,

and drafted by the Imperial Scribes.

They're galloping here with it right now!

So you don't have it.

Execute him!

No, you can't!

Heng!

Hold the execution!

Prince Heng,

it's me.

If it isn't Duke Guangping, Left
Vice Director of the Secretariat,

and Minister of w*r, Minister Song!

What took you so long? I was worried sick!

But Minister Song,

why do you look like that?

Were you robbed?

No.

I dressed like this

to travel in disguise and observe the people.

Last night, the guards reported

a suspicious-looking old beggar hiding in a tavern

in the west of the city.

That wouldn't have been you, would it?

So, Your Highness already had spies deployed.

Forgive me.

Wait, so you've been here since last night?

Then why did you only show up now?

Oh, I..

I caught a cold last night and slept through the day.

I still feel rather lightheaded.

Don't you get it, Rui?

Minister Song was hiding

and waiting for you to embarrass
yourself defending Chu Gui Hong.

Minister Song, were you waiting
to watch me make a fool of myself?

I think Minister Song wanted
to watch us brothers fight

and swoop in to benefit from it.

- That's not true.
- How could you...

Imperial decree!

Kneel and listen.

"By the imperial decree,

Chu Gui Hong's case contains unresolved doubts.

He is to be held in custody
and escorted to the capital

for further judgment."

Wise decision, Father!

Your Highness.

Please accept the decree.

I believe

His Majesty's judgment is unjust.

I must respectfully refuse.

- I...
- Your Highness,

are you defying an imperial decree?

A general in the field

may disregard imperial orders.

That's exactly what His Majesty fears most,

those very words, "a general in the field."

Then let me

ease His Majesty's worries.

How exactly?

If His Majesty allows me to return to the capital,

I will bring only my personal guards

and personally escort Chu
Gui Hong back to the court.

Oh, no. I'm doomed.

Father is involved in this mess too?

Master served as His Majesty's
study companion in youth.

He's been His Majesty's
most trusted aide for years.

Since the late Empress passed,

His Majesty withdraws
from all but court assemblies,

but our master is the one person he still trusts.

Wasn't being a wealthy, powerful minister enough?

He had to dive into succession politics.

Here I am trying to have a peaceful life,

but my teammates won't let me.

From now on, I have one mission,

stay far away from anyone surnamed Nan.

If I want to avoid dying at Nan Heng's hands,

then survival is my top priority.

Run! The God of k*lling is back!

[The return of the Black Armored
Army's commander, Prince Qi, Nan Heng,]

[sent tremors through the capital.]

[In the capital, the Emperor
favors Prince Teng, Nan Rui,]

[his son with the late Empress.]

[But Nan Heng and the powerful Gao clan behind him]

[pose a growing threat.]

[Thus,]

[from the moment his
cavalry crossed the city gates,]

[a storm of blood and betrayal was about to begin.]

Mother, he will eat me!

Shush!

The imperial prison is
right in front. Bring him out.

Your Highness, we'll take him away.

General Chu, you've suffered greatly.

General Chu, you've suffered greatly.

You've suffered greatly.

General Chu, you've suffered greatly.

Please get up.

There's no need to kneel to me.

General Chu, you defended
our borders with glorious victories,

yet now vile conspirators have reduced you to this!

This is a grave injustice!

General Chu has been wronged!

Shut up!

Where did these shameless commoners
come from, babbling nonsense?

The hero who repelled a million Heyuan soldiers

was our brilliant and unmatched Seventh Prince!

If not for His Highness's clever strategy,

Chu Gui Hong would've died
long ago by Heyuan blades.

How dare you speak of injustice!

A traitor's dog barking at a wise king.

Nothing but filth from your mouth!

I...

Your Highness, I got the "filth" part...

but what does "traitor's dog
barking at a wise king" mean?

Watch out, Your Highness!

I knew it. No one cares about
this worthless life of mine.

Your Majesty,

Prince Nan Heng has entered the palace.

[Nan Xu, Emperor of Jing Empire]

- Summon him.
- His Majesty summons Prince Nan Heng.

Your Majesty.

Long live Your Majesty!

I'm glad to see that you are in in good health.

Rui,

there's a rumor spreading through the capital.

Have you heard it?

No, Father. What is the rumor?

They say that the God of
k*lling harbors wild ambitions.

He colluded with the enemy,

used them to eliminate King Qian Yu,

and seized four border cities for himself.

If this is true,

what should his punishment be?

Treason is unforgivable.

He should be ex*cuted.

Yes.

Your Majesty,

if I really betrayed the country,

would I have k*lled Fang Shi Ming,

Heyuan's top general, in front of thousands?

That's true, Father.

He k*lled Fang Shi Ming and took his Cold Moon Sword.

I've seen that blade.

It's a treasure beyond compare.

The Cold Moon Sword may be real,

but the man wasn't the real Fang Shi Ming, was he?

Would Heyuan's finest general fall so easily?

Well then...

Then deceiving the Emperor is an even
greater crime, he should be ex*cuted.

Yes.

Your Majesty,

if I truly meant to deceive you,

why would I return in haste
with only 300 personal guards?

He's right, Father. He barely brought any troops.

If you want to punish him,
he's completely at your mercy.

Even a tiger won't eat its own cub.

Besides,

his elite Black Armored Army
is still guarding the border.

Meanwhile, the Qianyu Army,
the only force that could rival them,

was nearly destroyed in the Battle of Pingrong

and has yet to recover.

Then...

Hoarding military power is
unforgivable! That calls for an execution!

Yes.

Your Majesty, my Black Armored
Army remains at the border

to prevent another Heyuan invasion.

This was Your Majesty's promise to me.

And an Emperor's word is sacred.

He's right, Father.

An Emperor's word is sacred.

Since you've promised him,
you can't break your word.

He's threatening your position,

and you're still defending him?

I...

But isn't he just kneeling over there?

How's that threatening my position?

Can't you see?

Even kneeling,

he stands taller than you do standing.

No way!

Father, when it comes to height,

Heng and I each have our strengths.

His legs are longer, but I've got a longer torso.

Look, Father.

See? We're the same height kneeling.

No, I'm even a little taller!

You fool!

Being the same height isn't good enough?

Rui, stop kneeling.

Get up.

Find him a residence outside the palace.

Unless necessary, he's
not to enter the palace again.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Wait, Father! You haven't finished
your Tiger Leaving Cage painting!

Here, Father.

Ah, right.

This painting

lacks just one thing, an unsharpened sword.

Since you're so capable,

why don't you add it in for me?

Father, I could totally
paint something like that too.

Art may soothe the spirit, but it dulls ambition.

I've decided to have Song Yu De teach you history,

so you can study how wise rulers governed.

Understood. I'll work hard.

A tiger breaks free from its cage.

A priceless gem ruined in its box.

Whose fault is it?

Your Highness,

you have nothing to worry about.

Even if Prince Nan Rui has help
from Song Yu De and Chu Gui Hong,

he's still no match for you.

Just think about your accomplishments.

At 16, you went to w*r alone
and made your name in one battle.

At 17, you crushed the Shu rebellion.

At 18, you reclaimed the western border.

At 19, you took down Dongshuo's top general.

Which prince in court has achievements like that?

And let's not forget, your
uncle is the grand chancellor.

He's now out in Lianghuai
doing disaster relief in your name.

- Your reputation is...
- Enough.

How much do you know about Song Yu De?

Oh...

Not much, really.

Just that he's head of the Six Ministries,

and carries a lot of weight with His Majesty.

I've also heard

Minister Song is tactful and discreet,

and rarely associates with other officials.

He's a cunning old fox.

He wants to help Chu Gui Hong,

but he's too gutless.

He just wants to protect himself.

And all these years,

he's never dared get too close with Nan Rui.

Your Highness, are you
thinking of winning him over?

Getting him to willingly serve
under me won't be that easy.

But...

He does have two daughters.

You're saying...

That's brilliant!

I've also heard Minister Song
loves his daughters very much.

The elder one is frail, lost her mother young.

She's overly delicate and pretentious.

Not marriage material.

The younger daughter, on the other hand,

though her mother is the second wife,

is talented and beautiful.

If she were to marry you,

for his precious girl's sake,

as your father-in-law,

he wouldn't dare turn against you.

Wrong.

I want the elder daughter.

Just think,

a motherless girl raised
under a stepmother's thumb,

by all logic, she should've died long ago.

But not only did she survive,

she became spoiled and pretentious,

always fussing and throwing tantrums.

Why do you think that is?

She's scheming?

Wrong again.

She's just a weak girl.

No match for the fierce, battle-hardened
women of noble households.

Unless Minister Song,

driven by guilt and
lingering love for his late wife,

poured all that affection and regret

into protecting his eldest daughter.

Overprotective

and indulgent to the extreme.

People say he loves both daughters equally,

but even

five fingers are not the same length.

Only you could see so clearly.

When it comes to understanding
people, no one could compare to you.

Tomorrow is Mother's palace banquet.

Make the arrangements.

I want the Song family's eldest
daughter brought before me.

Yes, Your Highness.

[Script Room - Song Yi Meng's Version]

Young Lady, the "chalk"
you asked for is finally done.

Young Lady, you've been
writing and drawing all day.

What is all this?

What else?

Plot stuff.

We have jade zithers and
seven-stringed guqins in the manor,

but I've never heard of this instrument.

Not a musical instrument, plot!

It's a presentation.

A life-saving one.

Young Lady, lately you've been saying

bizarre things and doing inexplicable acts.

We can't comprehend any of it.

Maybe the hysteria from
before hasn't fully healed?

Should we summon the physician tomorrow?

Oh please, Ying Qiu,

I'm in better shape than you!

All this is to rewrite the tragic
ending in the original script.

I've never stressed this hard,

not even during college entrance exams.

Young Lady, I almost forgot,

this invitation just came from Noble Consort Gao.

She's inviting you and Young Lady Yi Ting

to a flower banquet tomorrow
at the imperial gardens.

Stop right there.

Absolutely not.

This is the matchmaking event

where Song Yi Meng completely
fell into the demon's trap!

Take it away.

Tell them I'm sick.

Tell them I'm deathly ill.

On the verge of dying.

Go on.

[Iconic plot scene]

[Rescue after falling into the
water in the imperial garden]

[The day of the flower banquet]

Go!

- Young Lady.
- What are you doing?

Get up! People will mock you if you don't go!

No way! Let go of me!

Are you even listening to me?

I said, are you listening to me?

Aren't I the female lead? Where is my dignity?

Am I just a puppet now?

Just stay still, Young Lady.

As long as you can marry well, it'll be all worth it.

Go!

Let me out!

[Song Residence]

- Let go of me!
- Get down!

- Are you with them?
- Get down!

Come on, you don't even have a name!

You really don't have to do this!

Just get down!

Get down!

Guys, please.

I'm just an ordinary person.

All I want is a peaceful life.

Why is that so hard?

Chop chop!

Hurry! Go faster!

Help...

Your Highness, it's done.

The eldest daughter of the Song
family has entered the palace.

Bring her to me.

Yes, Your Highness.

Xiang, protect me well today.

It's been a while since I've shown up in public.

I fear the ladies of the
capital might get too excited,

swept up by my dazzling charm.

If things get out of hand,

that'd be quite the mess.

Ji Xiang, did you see that?

Such intelligent young ladies.

They know I prefer to keep a
low profile and avoid the spotlight.

Excellent.

Anyway, I'm here today for
the Song family's two daughters.

It would spoil the moment if I
got tangled up with anyone else.

Speaking of which,

have you spotted the Song daughters yet?

Where are they?

That's Young Lady Yi Ting!

She's the most admired girl in the capital!

She really lives up to the reputation!

A beauty like jade, utterly enchanting.

Xiang,

it's time we give her a chance to get closer to me.

By order of His Highness, please come with us.

Seventh Prince insists on seeing you today.

Guys, here's the thing,

my stomach really hurts.

If I embarrass myself in front of His Highness,

that wouldn't be good, right?

Sorry, I really need to use the restroom first!

I'm sorry, but His Highness has ordered to see you.

Please come with us.

Young Lady Song, I'm 19,
well-versed in poetry and prose.

I'm from the wealthy Zhao family of Jinzhong.

We own countless estates.

Estates? Please.

My parents passed last year.

If you marry me,

you'll never have mother-in-law drama.

She's clearly flirtatious.

Not a suitable match.

Oh, Xiang, when it comes to love,

you should learn from me.

The more rivals there are,

the more it proves I'm a cut above
the rest, the best out of all them.

Aren't you Song Yi Ting,

the daughter of Duke Guangping, Left Vice Director

and Minister of w*r?

How elegant and extraordinary.

I admire you.

Greetings, Prince Rui.

Greetings, Prince Rui.

As the saying goes,

beautiful flowers for a beautiful lady.

I'm Nan Rui.

Rui, as in auspicious.

At my birth, lucky clouds gathered,

thus the name.

May I have the honor

of a chat with you, Young Lady Yi Ting?

Your Highness, I don't like chrysanthemums.

You don't?

No problem.

Not this either?

Still no?

Sorry, wrong one.

I have more colors.

Your Highness,

a chrysanthemum is still a chrysanthemum.

No matter the color,

I don't like them.

I admire upright, heroic men,

not pampered sons of nobility.

Please excuse me.

I...

I am that kind of man!

Just get to know me first!

[Judging by this setup,]

[they're clearly dragging me
there to move the plot forward.]

[No way. If I see Nan Heng today, I'll die here.]

[I only just got here.]

[My good days are just beginning!]

[Isn't that Ling Mei Shi?]

[The cast's profile says she plays Jia Ru Ru.]

[And she's always disliked Song Yi Meng.]

[You can only fight magic with magic.]

[Since everyone's pushing the plot forward,]

[then using a villain like Jia Ru Ru]

[might be the perfect way to derail it.]

Oh, just my luck.

Can't believe I'd run into
someone so obnoxious today.

[Jia Ru Ru]

Song Yi Meng.

What's gotten into you today?

Usually you're either crying
or fainting when we meet.

Since when do you talk like this?

The Black Armored Army?

They're men of Prince Nan Heng?

Alright, I'll just be upfront with you,

Prince Nan Heng invited me over today.

Have you lost your mind?

You dare to seduce Prince Nan Heng?

What can I do?

First, it was Chu Gui Hong who wanted to marry me.

Now, it's Prince Nan Heng.

What can I say? I'm such a lucky girl.

Lucky?

I think your days are numbered.

Hey, you're not playing your role.

Shouldn't you be starting a drama catfight now?

Jia Ru Ru, aren't you mad?

Don't you want to drag me into
some dark room and beat me up?

What drama catfight?

Are you delirious from a fever?

Stop trying to start a fight.

This is the palace. You might
get flogged if you're not careful.

I'm not done!

Jia Ru Ru, you seriously don't
want to drag me off to a dark room

and beat me up?

[What's going on?]

[Why is everything frozen?]

[Help! The script's trying to k*ll me!]