01x05 - Episode 5

[bunniefuu]

♪Trapped in this tiny world♪

♪I'm crushed into dust♪

♪I meddle around without any mercy♪

♪I'm my own pawn♪

♪I sigh at my fate♪

♪Numerous people are under my control♪

♪All the sand is washed away♪

♪An old dream fades♪

♪A bumpy path lies ahead♪

♪Traps within traps,
I never make mistakes♪

♪I take a risk at every step♪

♪Even in disputes,
I break through with my life♪

♪Schemes within schemes,
I prison myself♪

♪Each link swaps bluff and truth♪

♪The world is my Weiqi game board♪

♪Everything's just fleeting♪

♪The play begins♪

♪No return is expected♪

♪The flame is gone,
whether we win or lose♪

♪The wind never ceases.
I hold the reins♪

[Ashes To Crown]

[Adapted from Xixing's novel,
Empress of the State of Chu]

[Episode 5]

Haven't congratulated you yet,

Grand Mentor.

Come on, Wangyou.

[Wangyou]

Since when did you learn

to tease people?

I feel happy for you.

After all these years,

you've finally made it.

But anyway,

are you not worried?

Chu Zhao...

What do you know about her

that makes you help her?

You even abandon

the alliance with Xiao Xun.

I'm not helping Chu Zhao.

I'm securing

my own bright future.

Be careful, it may backfire.

The easier a game seems,

the more hidden threats there are.

We learned this

when we were young.

It won't.

Because I always have a way out.

She knew Xiao Xun

would poison the young emperor.

In that case,

she still used him as bait

just to get rid of Xiao Xun.

That was a risky move.

Fight to survive, fight to win.

I don't care who the Emperor is.

As long as I retain

my high standing.

I lost.

Mr. Deng,

Old Madam invited you to dine.

I got it.

I'm sorry.

I shouldn't have used you as bait.

I swore to the late emperor

I'd keep you safe.

But I put you in danger.

I don't deserve to be your sister.

Zhao, don't say that.

That was our plan.

Look.

I'm all right now.

Don't be sad, Zhao.

My mother said

a handwoven Longevity Thread

embodied sincerity.

Every knot

would bind good luck.

You made this for me

by yourself.

I'm quite happy.

What do you think

if I pair it with a jade pendant?

Or a gold lock.

It would look more regal.

I'm sorry.

I'm truly sorry.

Don't say sorry to me.

We came up with the plan together

to catch the villain.

Sadly, it turned out to be Uncle Xun.

But I protected you.

I'm really happy about that.

Uncle,

what food have you brought?

Feed me.

What a hassle.

You're not feeding a horse.

It's how soldiers feed people.

You're getting back at me.

You're slandering me.

I won't bring you food anymore.

Aren't you on duty?

How do you have time

to bring food to Yu?

My cloak.

Return it.

You don't like it, do you?

Why do you want it back now?

I intended to give it to someone else.

I lent that to you.

After you use it,

you give it back.

Take it then.

Uncle,

what are you snatching?

I wasn't snatching.

I got back

my own cloak.

Zhao,

do you remember

your promise?

Pretty, huh?

Like falling petals.

Here.

Blow again.

You promised him this.

Why do I have to do it?

I order you to do this for me.

Is this swing sturdy enough?

It can hold both of us, right?

I won't play on this with you.

Why?

Swinging is so much fun.

It lets us see distant views.

Oh, boy.

You can go outside and see the views.

Why must you ride a swing?

Can I really go outside?

Come over.

Falling petals!

If you tie like this,

when you finish,

you'll sit on it

and fall.

I'm making a tight knot.

How could we fall?

You can fall.

But if he falls,

it would be big trouble.

Don't underestimate me.

Your Highness, you just

wouldn't believe me

until you fell.

How did this happen?

I'm sure I tied a tight knot.

Zhao,

do you really know how to make a swing?

We soldiers

use this knot

to tie up prisoners.

Once tied,

no one can break free,

whoever he is.

Come on.

I dare not.

You do it, Zhao.

Zhao.

Let Uncle Xun go back to Xiaonan.

Yu,

what did you say?

Stop fighting him.

He's right.

The Lord of Xiaonan still holds power.

Xiao Xun is hard to deal with.

If he remains in the Capital

and fights you,

you'll both suffer.

This time, he escaped by luck.

Next time, he won't.

I know Xiao Xun has wild ambitions.

But what on earth did he do

that made you hate him?

He went in person

to Yunzhong to propose.

I thought he cared

about you.

You...

You loved each other, didn't you?

Loved each other?

That's the stupidest thing

I've ever done.

Even thinking of it

makes me sick now.

What have you been through?

Jiu,

do you believe

one can live a second life?

In my past life,

I married Xiao Xun as I wished

and became the Empress.

Yet because of this,

I got my father k*lled.

So was my entire clan.

I was also strangled by Xiao Xun.

You think that's funny, don't you?

Just pretend

it was a dream I had.

No.

Everything

exists for a reason.

My father told me

that people must

bear the consequences of their choices.

Just no regrets.

But this time,

you laid a trap for Xiao Xun.

He suffered a quiet defeat.

Once he's on guard,

k*lling him

won't be easy.

He escaped by luck once.

I won't give him another chance.

Then, do you have a plan?

If I do,

will you help me?

♪Broken walls and withered branches,
trapped in the mire♪

- Hit him! - Hit him!

♪Yet still striving
to reach for the sky♪

♪My pride is torn down
and my body is sacrificed♪

♪The spark smolders in the crack♪

♪And roars in the blaze♪

♪Burning the cold night until daybreak♪

♪Fate imprisons me♪

♪But I won't beg the abyss for mercy♪

♪Even if hope is faint♪

♪I remain proud♪

♪A mayfly will cross the ocean,
however long it takes♪

♪However it ends up♪

♪I'll go my own way♪

♪With no fear of the distance♪

If I do,

will you help me?

♪Born from decay, fireflies still burn♪

♪With sword in hand,
I'll pierce the dawn♪

I will.

♪Let these scars all over me become♪

♪My new pride♪

The sacrifice at the Ancestral Temple​

has concluded.

The accused were ex*cuted.

The imperial city
has been thoroughly purged.

Everyone should learn from this

and never make mistakes.

Oh.

I've been thinking.

Uncle Xun has been
a hostage for seven years.

How pitiful.

Shall we

let him go back to Xiaonan?

What do you think?

Your Majesty,

this is inappropriate.

I'm sure all the ministers

have doubts.

Mr. Xie, you claimed

that His Majesty was wise.

But now you're questioning

His Majesty's decision.

That's not right, Mr. Deng.

I've thought about it.

Keeping Mr. Xiao as a hostage

was the late emperor's last wish.

And keeping him in the Capital

can restrain his father.

If we let him go,

changes may occur.

It makes sense, Mr. Xie.

But Xiao Xun has endured a lot here.

If any of that

displeases his father,

it'll threaten the court's stability.

Your Highness,

what do you think?

Am I entitled to participate in this?

By the late emperor's edict,

the Grand Princess and Grand Mentor
oversee the court.

So you are entitled.

Your Majesty,

and ministers...

I've received

a secret report
about the Northern Desert.

I didn't mean to stir up trouble.

But since Mr. Xie asked,

I will be frank.

Unusual movements have frequently
occurred on the frontier.

Enemy troops seem to be massing.

In the Capital,

suspicious incidents

have also occurred.

Everywhere,

unidentified figures are roaming.

They gather in secret

and behave suspiciously.

Your Highness,

can I read this report?

No.

This is a serious matter.

I need to verify

the authenticity of this report.

Or innocent people may be involved.

If this report is true,

what should we do?

Then the heir to the Lord of Xiaonan

must not leave the Capital.

Xiaonan Prefecture is adjacent
to the Northern Desert.

If they collude with each other...

The Lord of Xiaonan didn't

come to His Majesty's coronation.

It's hard to say
if he's been disloyal all along.

[Two hours ago]

Your Highness,

the Pine Soot Ink
is exclusive to the Xie Family.

You deliberately used it

in this report.

What if the Xie Family

finds out?

That's exactly what I want.

If we release Xiao Xun,

we'll be releasing an enemy.

We'll lose all control over Xiaonan.

Once trouble arises,

Gaoyang will be affected.

Xie Yanfang is the head of his clan.

He wouldn't allow this to happen.

Therefore,

he'll prevent it.

With the Pine Soot Ink from his clan,

in this matter,

he's fully bound

to me.

I don't quite understand.

Why is Mr. Deng so eager

to have Mr. Xiao leave?

Isn't he supposed

to speak in your favor?

Court struggles have been like this.

No permanent enemies.

No permanent allies.

That's why

I must drag the Xie Family in.

Because only an accomplice

will desperately keep a secret.

Even if this secret report

turns out to be false,

it has to be true.

I haven't mastered

this move.

I'll practice more.

Living inside the palace,

you got news bout the Northern Desert.

You really have

good sources of information.

You weren't in the court,

but knew what happened there.

You're actually well-informed.

You want to drag the Xie Family in.

Do you know how dangerous

it could be?

Chu Zhao,

no one can

play petty tricks

under Xie Yanfang's nose.

You're no exception.

I want to be an exception.

If he exposes

that you forged the secret report

and framed Xie Family,

what will you do?

Still wait

until the young kid

saves you again?

Then I'll say

you gave me that ink.

Let's see if Xie Yanfang

will abandon his brother.

No one can

read his mind.

Jiu,

you will help me,

right?

You fought on the frontier for years.

You must know

the looks and dressing habits

of Northern Desert soldiers.

Can you tell me?

So,

you've had a plan.

What a perfect bait.

She faked a secret report

to confine Xiao Xun in the Capital.

Xiao Xun is so suspicious

that he'll take this for a trap.

Then he'll speed up his escape plan.

The spies I sent out

told me

Chu Zhao arranged some men

to secretly bury weapons along the way

to Xiaonan.

When Xiao Xun reaches the border area,

fake Northern Desert soldiers

will get him.

Once Xiao Xun escapes,

he'll be shot dead immediately

in the name of collusion

and armed treason.

Grand Mentor,

once Xiao Xun dies,

you'll have no way out.

I have my own plans.

If Xiao Xun escapes the Capital,

I'll have rumors spread

that the heir to the Lord of Xiaonan

led Northern Desert soldiers in.

He'll be seen as a traitor

and k*lled on sight.

If no obstacles arise...

No obstacles.

If there are,

I'll destroy them.

A forgery woven from truth

is the hardest to disprove.

As someone reborn, I know it better

than anyone else.

The Lord of Xiaonan and his heir

do collude with Northern Desert foes.

Your Highness.

Any news?

Chu Zhao did receive a report

about you and your father

raising troops and colluding with foes.

How does she know

all these things?

Over the past years,

I've stayed vigilant!

There's no way she could

know about the collusion thing.

This woman is cunning.

She must blind you

with a pretense

and let down your guard.

No way.

If I stay here,

they can execute me

in public

with that secret report.

But if I flee,

I'll be convicted of treason

and get k*lled there.

Whatever choice we make,

she will

firmly

hold the initiative.

After years of planning,

will we fall like this?

That day in the court,

we actually had the upper hand.

How did things turn out like this?

What exactly went wrong?

What's gone is gone.

Don't bring it up.

But now,

maybe we have

a third option.

Still haven't found her?

Forgive us.

We sent three teams on it.

We found her.

We did.

Old Madam is back.

The Grand Princess

sent her back.

Your Highness,

my mother...

She has been sent back

to rest.

I met your mother at the corner

of the West Market.

As I caught sight of her,

she was picking up vegetable leaves

from the ground.

Born in the countryside,

she's been frugal.

Only those who starved

would treasure every grain.

Just like people all desire wealth.

This is human nature.

It's her personal preference.

Please don't mock her.

Why would I mock her?

You truly have talent

to rise to the Grand Mentor

from a country boy.

Your hard work is

far beyond what others can imagine.

Such diligence

should be admirable.

This is the braided Longevity Thread.

Each knot

can bind good luck.

You didn't come here so late

just to give me this,

did you?

I wonder if I can

trade so much good luck

for something from you.

What is it?

Xiao Xun's life.

Are you so confident

that you can k*ll him?

Yes.

So, Mr. Deng,

please stay out of this.

Once Xiao Xun dies,

his treasures and forces

he has gathered in the Capital

all these years

will be yours.

Your Highness doesn't blame me

for opposing you

in court?

I do.

If you ruin my plan,

I'll use these treasures

to have you k*lled.

Just kidding.

Don't worry, Mr. Deng.

So, you haven't told me

your answer.

It's easy to have wealth.

But it's hard to have confidants.

Deal.

I always keep my word.

So, Mr. Deng,

hope you won't go back on yours.

I won't.

Your Highness,

Mr. Xie has been waiting for you
for a long time on His Majesty's orders.

Waiting for me?

I'm just

enjoying the moon.

You're really in the mood.

You enjoy the moon

right in front of my palace.

Were you worrying about me

during my visit to Deng Yi's place?

So, you've been waiting for me.

In front of your Qiwu Palace,

the moonlight is rather bleak.

Bleak moonlight over a lonely minister.

Perfect.

Watch your step.

I've been informed

that Xiao Xun will leave tomorrow.

How confident are you

he'll take the official road

as you planned?

Tomorrow, I'll send naval forces

to block all merchant ships

in the name of inspecting smuggled salt.

Once the dock is cut off,

Xiao Xun will have to
take the official road.

In that case,

I've arranged crossbowmen

at Woniu Ridge.

Once Xiao Xun leaves the Capital,

he'll be shot to death

right there.

Nothing shall go wrong tomorrow.

Rest assured.

Tomorrow, I'll lead the ambush myself.

Nothing will go wrong.

[Waterways of the State of Chu]

Oh, Zhao.

I don't know

why you do this to me.

But anyway,

you've failed to trap me.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Xiao Xun ran off with his men.

By the official road?

No.

What?

The whole dock

is blocked by naval forces.

To leave the Capital,

that is his only option.

How come?

No trace of them

was found on the official road.

But our spies reported

that a merchant ship sailed earlier

at the third quarter of the Yin hour.

We've been tricked.

He escaped again.

Mr. Xie already led his men

to go after them.

Xie Yanlai.

I promised Her Highness

that you wouldn't live.

Are you sure

Zhao wants me dead?

She loved me so much.

That was before.

Now,

she wants you dead.

I forgot to ask you.

The boy of the Wei Village

who survived alone...

Xiang.

Did he take revenge on you?

I'm Xiang.

What's your name?

Xiang,

where are you?

It was all my fault.

Mr. Xie is seriously injured.

Thankfully he was treated in time.

I've bandaged his wound.

I'll go make a prescription

to bring down his fever.

He lost too much blood.

He must rest very well to recover.

Your Highness,

we got a tip.

Xiao Xun has fled to Xiaonan.

It will be even harder

to k*ll him.

I thought my plan was flawless.

Yet I was one move short.

Sorry to have dragged you into this.

You used to say you owed me.

Now,

I owe you.

Zhao.

Your Highness.

Have you found the man

I asked for?

It's Fang Du,

a follower of Deng Yi.

Last year, he became a Naval Commander.

Xiao Xun's ship

managed to leave the dock

with his pass.

What a duplicitous Deng Yi.

Your Highness, why did you break in here

so late at night?

Mr. Deng,

I'm here to give you a present.

I've heard you like rare wood.

The golden-thread nanmu

is of noble grade.

I wonder

if you like it.

No merit, no reward.

I'm not worthy

of this present.

How could you not be worthy?

You asked Fang Du

to give that permission.

You "helped" me really much.

How could I

not reward you?

Buried underground,

this wood will never rot.

It's a perfect fit

for your great merit.

You must be kidding.

Kidding?

I'm being really serious

to give you this reward.

What?

You don't like it?

Or will you defy my order?

I like it.

In that case,

keep it very well.

Put it in the yard,

so you can look at it every day.

Without my order,

it mustn't be removed.

Your Highness,

thank you for your reward.

You're welcome, Mr. Deng.

After all...

We have a long way to go.

If you think

the Longevity Thread is too long,

I can give you a shorter one.

♪Broken walls and withered branches,
trapped in the mire♪

♪Yet still striving
to reach for the sky♪

♪My pride is torn down
and my body is sacrificed♪

♪The spark smolders in the crack♪

♪And roars in the blaze♪

♪Burning the cold night until daybreak♪

♪Fate imprisons me♪

♪But I won't beg the abyss for mercy♪

♪Even if hope is faint,
I remain proud♪

♪A mayfly will cross the ocean,
however long it takes♪

♪However it ends up,
I'll go my own way♪

♪With no fear of the distance♪

♪Born from decay, fireflies still burn♪

♪With sword in hand,
I'll pierce the dawn♪

♪Let these scars all over me become♪

♪My new pride♪

♪Peril is everywhere in the palace♪

♪Yet I smile to nobody but you♪

♪Amidst the chaos♪

♪I'll always be with you♪

♪The spark smolders in the crack♪

♪And roars in the blaze♪

♪Burning the cold night until daybreak♪

♪Fate imprisons me♪

♪But I won't beg the abyss for mercy♪

♪Even if hope is faint,
I remain proud♪

♪A mayfly will cross the ocean,
however long it takes♪

♪However it ends up,
I'll go my own way♪

♪With no fear of the distance♪

♪Born from decay, fireflies still burn♪

♪With sword in hand,
I'll pierce the dawn♪

♪Let these scars all over me become♪

♪My new pride♪