01x34 - Fake Death

[bunniefuu]

What's the matter, Chu?

Once we cross this forest,
ahead lies the realm of Great Yong.

Yan Xun, I cannot leave.

Ximeng needs me.

Chu.

So you have finally made up your mind.

I agree. What you said is true.

Whatever reason Zhuge Yue had for leaving,

he surely has matters of his own to see to.

But I too have duties I cannot abandon.

I will stay and protect Ximeng,

and stand guard over the people
who live here.

Very well. Come with me.

Chu, up ahead is Xin City,
the border of Great Yong.

It stands upon the boundary
between Ximeng and Great Yong.

The last fortress in the far northwest.

Go further west,
and you'll reach Ximeng and Yanbei.

If we plant embers in Ximeng and Yanbei,

let the wind carry the flames
and attack Xin City by fire,

the nearest garrison

is Great Yong's 20,000 elite soldiers
stationed just outside Ximeng Pass.

When the time comes,

they'll surely pull their troops
from our gates to save Xin City.

That way, Ximeng will be freed
from danger without a fight.

- No.
- Chu.

This is the best way
to force Great Yong to retreat.

The people of Great Yong
are just as much people as ours.

I will not harm them.

Yan Xun.

From the very start, you never truly
intended to help me find Zhuge Yue.

You brought me here,
so I would listen to your plans.

Chu, have you thought about it?

The only reason you have been able
to endure so long

is because Great Yong
has not launched their attack.

If they find fresh cause
and seize Ximeng with force,

even if Ximeng's troops
joined by those of Yanbei,

we would still struggle
against the might of Great Yong.

Your Majesty.

The Lanchuan tribe has dared to rebel?

You only came to Ximeng
for the black gold mines,

but ended up borrowing,
in Helian Ling's name,

so many soldiers
from the Hongchuan and Lanchuan tribes

to reinforce Ximeng.

With such broken promises,

even if the Lanchuan tribe
had not rebelled now,

I fear you would still face
bitter consequences on your return.

Wait here for a moment.

Our general just needs a word
with His Majesty and will return soon.

I already stripped them of their men,

so how do they still wield such power?

Elder Lanchuan bartered
Yun County and Ji County to Great Yong,

in exchange for 10,000 men.

In less than a fortnight,
they took all the lands west of Le County.

He dared to collude with Yong's army?

I shall return at once
and retake those two cities.

Then I will k*ll that old traitor
and raise our banner high.

Do you truly think
after all Yanbei has endured,

we can ever seize those two cities again?

General Huan commanded that
you are to rest here, and go no further.

Your General Huan does not command me.

Chu!

Chu.

What is wrong with you? Chu!

Huan Huan, what do you intend to do?

I shall use her to win back
Yun County and Ji County.

And not only that,

the Emperor of Great Yong,
the Thirteenth Prince,

and Princess of the realm,
all of them desire her.

If we hand her over,

we can trade her
for Yun County and Ji County,

and reclaim half of Ximeng's
black gold mines.

That will also bring us a truce

so that Yanbei has time to heal and recover.

That is what we need most.

What makes you so certain I would ever agree?

Because this is not merely about two cities.

It is also your throne at stake.

What did you say?

In these past two years,

the 13 tribes of Yanbei have
turned against you, one after another.

Will you truly k*ll every elder, one by one?

Yun County and Ji County
are Yanbei's border strongholds.

If you cannot reclaim those cities,

the tribal elders within Yanbei
will never bow to you,

while outside, Biantang and Great Yong
eye you like wolves.

Do you really believe this throne
still belongs to you?

What if I refuse?

What will you do then?

k*ll me?

Take the throne for yourself?

You have already k*lled me once.

For Yanbei, for the old king,

why do you think
I would not dare to k*ll you?

[Episode 34]

[Breeze-Hearing Hall]

[In memory of dearest grandfather,
Zhuge Mu Qing]

Young Master, the cortege for
the ancestral hall ceremony is set.

The mourning robes have been distributed

to every branch as custom demands.

Is Grandfather's study still in use?

No, it is not.

Master has passed.

The door has long been locked.
No one enters any longer.

Truly, you are the grandson I taught
with my own hands.

You saw through everything so swiftly.

So...

all of this was your plan?

But why?

If I had not feigned my death,

would you ever have come back
to Qingshan Court with me?

Now that all is well for you,

there is no need for me to stay.

Do you really think
you will be allowed to leave?

Yue Shi Yi has only just died,

and already you have forgotten.

It was not only Yue Shi Yi.

Three Moon Guards perished
at Zhao Yang's hand as well.

Why did they die?

You ought to know better than I.

Today,

if you can so much as take a step
outside Qingshan Court,

the Emperor, Zhao Yang, and Muhe Lie,

which of them will spare those men?

Or spare our Zhuge family?

So this is your plan.

You faked your death.

You let me take your place
and rule Qingshan Court.

The moment I stepped into Jinsheng Palace,

and met His Majesty,

even if I saw the truth for what it was,

nothing I did could alter

the fact Qingshan Court was already
under my command.

Nor could I ever escape Great Yong again.

You turned your back on Great Yong,

and what you did in Ximeng,

Muhe Lie reported every detail
to the Emperor.

Had I not faked my death,

do you think His Majesty
would have let you live?

Why do you suppose
I went to Ximeng Pass?

I intended to take Chu Qiao's life,

and offer it to His Majesty to save yours.

Yet you would have none of it.

Yue Er, You forced my hand.

Weren't you...

robbed of your martial skill,

and broken in both legs?

Qingshan Court has spent years
mastering the world's rarest poisons.

There is no poison that cannot be cured.

I know,

you have always wished
to abolish Qingshan Court.

But...

you don't even stand a chance
against your own grandfather.

Yue Er, I moulded you with my own hands.

You can never truly surpass me.

Nor can you ever surpass Qingshan Court.

Yue Er, is this the extent of your ability?

And yet you dream
of abolishing Qingshan Court?

You could not even protect
your own Moon Guards.

Why?

Everyone who belongs to Qingshan Court

can never truly be free from it.

Qingshan Court is the tomb of me,
Zhuge Mu Qing,

and it will be your tomb as well.

This is fate.

Thank you,

Yue Er.

Thank you, for ending me
with your own hands.

I want your heart to remain forever...

within Qingshan Court...

to atone.

Zhuge Yue?

What brings you here?

And you?

Weren't you supposed
to be guarding the border?

Why march in with your soldiers
and steal into Zhenhuang City by night?

You have no idea what I have endured.

That is how things unfolded.

Among my trusted men,

one lieutenant, three bodyguards,
various captains, commanders, generals,



And I could do nothing
but linger in the shadows,

and watch it all unfold before my eyes,

not daring to take a single step forward.

Zhao Yang framed you for treason and
for conspiring with Yanbei.

Does His Majesty even know?

And if he does, what does it matter?

My father, the Emperor,
is cold and hollow of heart,

stubborn, and suspicious.

All these years, he has watched me
with endless wariness,

testing me, time and again.

Beside Zhao Yang's schemes,
he is no less cruel.

He allows Zhao Yang to turn brothers
against one another,

just as how he uses the Muhe family now,

to oppress Qingshan Court.

These years,

the struggle of four great families
in Zhenhuang City has never ceased.

It is k*ll or be k*lled,
one rises, as another must fall.

It is all his way of wielding power.

Once, I only wished
to devote myself loyally to him.

Even if that meant, one day,
serving Zhao Yang in his place.

But he would not even allow me to live.

But the imperial guards
stationed in Zhenhuang City

outnumber you tenfold.

Have you ever thought
that once you set foot on this road,

there is no turning back?

That is why I need you at my side.

I have gone too far to turn back now.

You want me to join hands with you?

Zhuge Yue.

There is no path back for me now.

Nor is there for you.

Isn't it so?

Your Majesty, one more step
and we cross into Great Yong.

I have selected a trusted company

to escort you safely back
to Yanbei from here.

Am I not still the King of Yanbei?

Since you are to bargain with Great Yong,

surely you cannot stand as my envoy,
right, General Huan?

You have already forced Chu
to take the muscle-weakening powder,

and sent so many to guard us.

What more can you possibly fear?

Very well.

You may ride with us.

But I must ask you to set aside your weapons.

General Cheng.

Consort Helian, what brings you here?

I want to pick out a good horse.

Perhaps you could lend me a hand?

This one is a Yanbei dwarf horse.

It may lack the stature of a Huolei steed,

but its gait is gentle beneath the rider,

and it is gentle-tempered by nature.

It is blessed with enduring strength as well.

It can travel a hundred miles a day
without pause.

Would you like to give it a try?

Helian.

Take me to the place you mentioned.

Come.

Yesterday, General Huan brought back

the 5,000 horsemen granted by His Majesty.

These joined forces with the Black Eagle Army
from the capital of Yan,

now stationed north
of the capital and Le County.

The mutineers of the Lanchuan tribe
have all been subdued.

His Majesty is sending reinforcements
to Ximeng Pass.

With this, Yanbei can seize the chance
to unite with Ximeng.

If Great Yong should grow wary
of the strength we build with Ximeng,

we may well win Yanbei
three or five years to draw breath,

and that will be enough.

When that time comes,
even a withered tree might bloom come spring,

and the people will know
peace and contentment.

General Cheng, have you ever thought
about a different way of life?

I was born in Yanbei,
and grew up in Yanbei,

and all my years have belonged to Yanbei,
fighting for my King.

I have never imagined anything else.

Ever since I was small,
my worth meant nothing to the Helian family.

My kin would taunt
and belittle me at every turn.

And my elder brother saw me simply
as a means to wealth and power.

All I ever dreamed was to rise above it all,

thinking their approval might follow
if I became someone noteworthy.

Now my wish has come true,
I am the Consort of Yanbei.

A badge of honor for the Helian tribe.

And my brother has been granted
the fortune and power he craved.

The day my brother tricked me
into seeking Tu Bu,

Tu Bu intended to violate me.

I truly believed I would die
in the capital of Yan that day.

Until you appeared and saved me.

On the day the Lanchuan tribe
rose against us,

you saved me again.

You showed me there was meaning
in being alive.

Yanbei, Great Yong,

the waxing and waning of tribes and clans,

none of it has any bearing on my heart.

All I wish is to live as I please
from this day on.

And what kind of days do you wish for?

I want to walk onwards,
to have a life that is truly my own.

I would like to seek out a place
where no one knows my name,

and live simply and freely,
without gain or struggle.

What about you, General Cheng?

What life do you dream of?

Helian.

I...

General Cheng, your devotion to His Majesty
is rare indeed.

I know it.

You would never betray His Majesty or Yanbei.

Your faith, your very life,
all is rooted in Yanbei.

Helian!

Thank you for your horse, General Cheng.

General Huan,

I have been ordered to receive you
at the city gates.

But dusk is already approaching.

The Thirteenth Prince has issued orders.

You are asked to take your rest
at the post station this evening.

Many thanks, Sir.

Lead the way, please.

Forgive me, General.

The main host is not permitted
to enter the city.

By order of His Highness,

you may only bring the criminal servant,
Chu Qiao,

and three guards with you.

Everyone else must camp


Is this really how Zhao Yang
receives the King of Yanbei?

His Highness wishes only

to spare the people within these walls
the sight of Yanbei's army.

You three, come with me.

The rest, remain here.

Your Highness.

As for the terms drafted in our agreement,

a messenger was sent three days ago
to deliver them to Zhenhuang.

I wonder if you have already
looked them over?

Do you have any views on the matter?

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

What did you say?

The document of our agreement.

Have you read it yet?

Not yet.

Go on, I am listening.

As we agreed before,
we offer Chu Qiao to Great Yong,

and Great Yong must abide by its word.

Yun and Ji counties shall be returned,

and based on this,
a truce upheld with Yanbei.

For the next five years,

Great Yong must not meddle
in the internal affairs of Yanbei.

Where is Princess Chun?

Where has Princess Chun gone?

Your Highness,
Princess Chun sent word just now.

She is visiting the hot springs today.

She will arrive a little later.

The hot springs?

Yes.

The hot springs are a delight.

A wonder for one's complexion.

The hot springs of fair maidens.

Go on.

There is one more clause to add.

Once Great Yong conquers Ximeng,

half the black gold mine of Ximeng
will go to Yanbei.

Anything further?

- Nothing more.
- Very well, so be it.

Your Highness.

Sister, you have arrived.

How could you not have read
the agreement at all?

And you just let them go?

If you wish to look, then do so, Sister.

Everything else can be discussed again,

but the black gold mine
must not be divided.

Princess Chun.

Every single condition listed here
was agreed upon before.

Your Highness.

Great Yong and Yanbei have fought
for years on end.

The treasury is strained.

If you can place the black gold mine
entirely into His Majesty's hands,

His Majesty will surely
grant you further favour.

Fine, we shall do as you wish.

The black gold mine will not be shared.

If you go back on your promise,

we are not bound to keep ours.

We withdraw from this agreement.

Wait.

Yanbei can forgo the black gold mine.

But regarding the five-year truce,

extend it for five more years.

General Huan,

you're now deciding for me?

Your Majesty.

It is for Yanbei's elders
and all its people that I have decided.

I hope you will consider them too,
Your Majesty,

and grant your approval.

Very well.

Then it is settled.

From this day, Great Yong and Yanbei
shall not be at w*r for ten years.

Chu.

Chu Qiao is gone.

Where is Chu?

Once today's talks concluded,

I handed her to the princess of Great Yong.

Yan Xun.

You must not be so stubborn.

It is over now.

There is no room left for turning back.

Will you not return to Yanbei with me?

Your Highness, Chu Qiao is here.

You have been kept a sl*ve
in Zhenhuang City for so long.

You have never set foot here, have you?

It has been such a long time since
we last met in Biantang, has it not?

I truly thought you might
have come to your senses.

How can you still speak such words?

Why do you think I have become this way?

Do you truly not know?

You destroyed everything I once had.

But now, it is different.

You are as empty-handed as I am.

How does it feel
to have been forsaken by all?

We are both left with nothing.

Since you are not afraid,

what should I fear?

You are but a lowly sl*ve.

What makes you dare believe you are my equal?

Well, General Chu,

the muscle-weakening powder works wonders,
does it not?

Take her away and lock her up!

Your Highness, you have a visitor.

Huan Huan.

I shall surely become
the master of Zhenhuang City.

I hope you will help me take back Yanbei.

Chun Er.

A dreadful omen! Dreadful indeed!

Yan Xun, have I made the wrong choice?

Qingshan Court, hear my command.

Seize the King of Yanbei
and Chu Qiao at all costs!