01x17 - Episode 17

[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 17]

Amid power struggles among various forces,

who would have thought

that Your Highness benefited the most?

Upon a sea of corpses,

you rose to glory.

I really wonder

whether General Chu would feel relieved

if he knew about it in the underworld.

You don't need to bother

with my father's feelings.

You invited me over again after quite a few days.

Will you not keep me as your guest?

Originally,

I wanted to ask you

to stay a few more days

so that I could extend my hospitality.

But now, our state

can't do without you.

That's true.

Then thank you for your hospitality.

Hope I'll have another chance to visit

the Prince of Xiaonan's Residence.

Don't you remember, Your Highness?

The court

has titled me the Prince of State.

I have got the Golden Seal

and feudal sovereignty.

So, "Prince of Xiaonan's Residence"

will be "Prince of State's Residence."

In this aspect,

Xie Yanfang's plan

coincided with yours.

Interestingly enough...

When Xie Yanfang

was ten years old,

his mastery of strategy was peerless.

He deliberately lost fifty moves

just for his final strike.

With only a few pieces,

he swept the board clean

against his mentor.

That wondrous tale

spread far and wide across the state.

Oh, General Xie.

Did you not tell Her Highness?

Your brother's greatest skill

is to make everyone think

he's the one in control of the game.

It seemed like a fight between everyone.

But actually, the Xie Family

manipulated the game.

You're quite talkative today.

Do you not want me to leave?

General Xie,

your brother is in the Capital,

and could it be...?

I'm not a Xie.

Nor do I have a brother.

Oh, look at my poor memory.

I nearly forgot.

Back then,

you were even

excluded from the family genealogy.

You two share the same father,

while he wielded power in Taiji Hall,

and you led a primitive life

at the frontier.

Totally different lives.

How interesting.

Mind your tongue.

Don't be angry, Your Highness.

I'm just curious.

They're from the same family.

Why did you not choose the one

who could help you more?

After all, without the tacit cooperation

from Xie Yanfang,

your schemes

wouldn't have worked.

That is none of your concern.

I wish you

good health.

After all,

it's not that easy

to cultivate a second Xiao Xun

who can meet

your standards.

Jiu,

let's go.

You're right.

I'm different from Xie Yanfang.

I'm more resentful than him.

So, hope you and your son

will never end up

in my hands.

Come on.

See Her Highness out.

Yes.

Are you so sure

Lord of Xiaonan won't rebel?

He wouldn't dare.

Not now, at least.

Back in his mansion,

you said Xie Yanfang would make his move.

You seem

to know about everyone.

I don't know.

I plan ahead.

Like in a Weiqi game,

we need to foresee

the opponent's moves ten steps ahead.

I simply foresee

more steps ahead.

He is right.

What?

Xie Yanfang and I

are indeed different.

And he can really...

help you more.

When I was seven,

I saw him for the first time.

At the top of our ancestral hall.

At that time,

I began to imitate

every move of his.

I copied his speech and behavior,

hoping that one day,

I could be as good as him.

Even if...

I could only be his shadow.

Look at me.

Remember.

Jiu,

you're no one's shadow.

You don't need to be like him.

But you praised him so highly.

You firmly trusted

every decision he made.

Zhao,

I know I shouldn't say this.

I'm very jealous of him.

I would even rather

be his shadow again.

Maybe then,

I could help you more.

Like I said,

you're no one's shadow.

You don't need to be like him.

Whether Fu Jiu

or Xie Yanlai,

you're just what you are.

What I am...

I'm someone

that no one expects anything from.

Not even my parents.

Your parents lied to you.

But they actually loved you.

My father hated me.

My mother blamed me.

Even my brother

schemed against me.

You still have me.

Being betrayed by your own family

must have broken your heart.

But if you doubt the person before you because of that,

you'll fall right into their traps.

I'm sorry.

We love and trust each other.

And we'll grow old together.

Your Lordship,

the Grand Princess has left the city.

This woman is better

at striking a nerve than her father.

His Highness is held c*ptive

in the side residence.

[Ning Kun, Chief Clerk of the Prefecture]
But don't worry.

We've sent men

to take care of him in private.

Does Xun blame me?

He will understand

that you had no choice.

My son has always been sensible.

He knows that a son relies on his father

and a father schemes for his son.

Why do you think

Xie Yanlai is willing

to be Chu Zhao's blade?

Perhaps for fame and wealth.

Or perhaps for...

Beauty?

The court is in a state of flux.

Xun is trapped in the Capital.

Xie Yanfang

and Deng Yi

have their own ambitions.

And there is the Grand Princess,

who lies in wait to strike.

Now, it has become

a complete stalemate.

No matter what

Xie Yanlai is after,

I have a feeling

that he will be the one

to break the stalemate.

What's on your mind?

Father once said,

beyond the b*ttlefield,

human hearts are the most complex.

Scared?

I just think it's absurd.

Lord of Xiaonan wants fame.

Xie Yanfang wants power.

Deng Yi wants wealth.

They never stop fighting.

But no one has asked

what our people want.

People still have you.

Zhao.

This is good.

In the court,

you're still fighting.

You care

for our people.

Actually, I'm not that selfless.

Initially,

I just wanted to stay alive.

But my father

died for our people.

As his daughter,

I should strive hard.

I don't know how this will end.

But I'll do my best.

Jiu,

tell me something

about you and Xie Yanfang.

Nothing special.

When I was little, I wasn't accepted.

In a fit of anger,

I burned our ancestral hall.

They would flog me to death.

Xie Yanfang saved me.

He told me

I could stay by his side

and one day,

I would become a real member

of that family.

Back then,

I was so eager

to be recognized.

So, when I was 16,

he sent me to the Wei Village

to sabotage the trade of Xiaonan caravan,

I did that.

You know what happened next.

Is that why

you were expelled from Xie Family?

I kept heading into the desert

until I met your father.

What about

the Bloodburn Pill?

Xie Yanfang gave it to me

before I left home.

He told me

the Bloodburn Pill

was a secret elixir

available to our direct line

and could save my life in emergencies.

I had absolute faith in him.

I didn't doubt

its function.

Xie Yanfang won't be honest with me.

I'll go to Gaoyang and investigate it.

Now?

Yes.

You go back to the Capital.

After I'm done,

I'll be back for you.

Wait for me.

[Xie Family's old estate in Gaoyang]

My Lord, the carriages are ready.

We can return anytime.

No hurry.

The Grand Princess

accomplished so much

by winning without a battle.

She isn't in a hurry to go back.

Why should we be?

Are you saying...?

We'll go

and say congratulations

to Her Highness.

Yanfang,

why did you come to Xiaonan?

To thank you for your peerless wisdom

that saved our state

from peril.

You flatter me.

It's actually you who saved our state

by taking that urgent mission.

You bravely urged His Majesty

to command the army

against the rebels

even when defamed and denounced.

That deserves the people's praise.

With me leading His Majesty to w*r,

you overawed the Lord of Xiaonan.

I used you

to cut off Xiao Xun's retreat.

We took action far, far away.

But all our steps interlocked.

We cooperated perfectly.

We can truly be called

soulmates.

I'm flattered.

After all, your original plan

was to sacrifice my clan

for Xiao Xun's retreat.

That's not right, Your Highness.

Speaking of sacrifice,

when you broke

into Prince of Xiaonan's Residence,

you left me no room

to stop you.

Isn't this just perfect?

We took different actions.

Yet things turned out perfectly.

And I believe you've achieved

what you desired most.

How about

I help you a bit more?

I'll delay my return to the Capital.

What do you say?

I'll be happy

if you're back in the Capital.

After all, you're the one and only

to play against me

without losing ground.

If you aren't in the Capital,

won't that be boring?

But anyway, you're right.

I do owe you something.

Yu has grown a bit closer to me.

As his uncle,

I feel quite relieved.

I told you.

Family bonds

aren't so easy to sever.

It's time you got closer.

You've earned all this

by doing good deeds.

I don't deserve the credit.

I wonder when you will

return to the Capital.

Xiao Xun devastated the people

all along the way.

And it is now the farming season.

I'll make an inspection tour

to reassure people

on His Majesty's behalf.

With you around,

everything will be alright.

And thank you for easing the people's burdens.

Otherwise, at this moment,

how could I be sitting here at ease?

Even the redwood forest

before my eyes

would have been burned down in the w*r.

So, I've been waiting here

to make this toast

with tea instead of wine

for the sake of our people.

The second toast

is to offer my apology.

I revealed your uncle's dealings

with Xiao Xun

because I didn't have a choice.

I know.

If the court

hadn't hunted my uncle,

they wouldn't have

approached Xiao Xun so smoothly.

What you did

benefited both of us.

You don't mind

only because you're broad-minded.

I wonder if you like mountain climbing.

Have a try when possible.

I believe you'll like it.

When you stand on the summit

and gaze upon everything,

you will know the feeling

of wandering freely across the land.

So what you want

is to reign over the masses

and take everything under control?

To be honest,

when I knew Lord of Xiaonan

rose up in rebellion,

I was really delighted.

I finally had an opportunity

to make up for my regret.

But sadly,

I disrupted that.

Should I

make the third toast

to apologize to you?

For the state and the people,

you did nothing wrong.

You don't have to apologize to anyone.

I'm quite relieved

to hear you say that.

But I'm quite curious.

Why did you take that risk yourself?

It's all right that you don't trust me.

But you must trust my determination

to k*ll Lord of Xiaonan for His Majesty.

You would rather die

with Lord of Xiaonan

than discuss it with me.

Do you find me

even more terrifying?

Yanfang,

you were fighting for yourself

while I was fighting for myself.

I didn't want

to disrupt your plan.

Nor could I

let you plan for me.

Fine.

You and I fight our own w*r.

When we share the same goal,

we're fighting side by side too.

What about Xie Yanlai?

Have you thought

about fighting side by side with him?

Your Highness,

why do you ask?

Nothing.

I simply want to know

what you think

of your brother.

Like you said,

he's my brother.

How could I do him harm?

Besides, Yanlai

grew up by my side.

I know him better than anyone.

Since he chose to follow you,

he would never betray you.

Did you ask that

because you didn't fully trust him

or because he was one of my family?

Thank you for the tea.

I must get going.

Yu is waiting for you.

Go back early.

This time, you didn't k*ll

Lord of Xiaonan

with your own blade,

but I believe

you will find a way

to cut off his allies

and crush his sinews.

Even if he were a mountain,

you would be able

to flatten him with your bare hands.

That's right.

I would.

Wait a minute.

[Grand Princess Token]
Take this back.

Thank you

for keeping it for me.

Glad you trusted me.

Du Qi,

see Her Highness off.

Yes.

Mr. Xie,

she is intentionally

going against you.

She's just being herself.

She serves no one.

Whatever happens,

she naturally puts herself first.

She isn't

on our side.

We aren't on her side either.

She and I

are just alike.

She takes very few guards now.

Shall we just...?

Du Qi,

Yu relies on Chu Zhao.

She can be k*lled by anyone,

anyone but my clan.

I got it.

Anyway,

it's not about how hard it is.

Then what is it about?

I've finally met

a true match.

How could I bear to k*ll her?

[Chu Mansion]

Father.

Mother.

Zhao is here.

Be right there. Hurry.

Zhao.

Oh, Zhao.

- Zhao. - Zhao.

Sorry, I was so foolish.

I just was.

Deceived by Xiao Xun,

we nearly got you in trouble.

That's right.

What's gone is gone.

When you're alive,

my father would be relieved

even in the underworld.

That's right.

Tang,

I have a mission for you.

Mission again?

But I...

Will it be another mission

that may get me k*lled?

I want you to hold

a literary gathering for me.

Now?

But the Capital is in turmoil.

All the clans are observing. What if...?

That's why.

Mr. Zhou loves cranes.

The head of Qi Family loves swords.

The Pei ladies excel at guqin.

You know who to invite.

But I...

I...

These people

secure the state.

We can't stabilize the court without their support.

Jiu followed me to Prince of Xiaonan's Mansion.

Lord of Xiaonan was wary of him

simply because he came from the Xie Family.

This century-old family is the pillar of our state.

Xie Yanfang

knows the Zhou Family helped you escape

but doesn't dare to give them a hard time

because they've been loyal

with great prestige.

Big clans are the foundation of court.

To govern a state,

the ministers must be united

and help each other.

Do you understand the meaning?

Zhao,

you've changed.

No.

I just

have learned

to play by their rules.

By the way,

what has the Grand Mentor

been doing lately?

Made a fortune again?

Going over the accounts?

Lord of Xiaonan...

Oh no.

Prince of State.

He must have got a lot from His Lordship.

Maybe

he even

got his position

in the same way.

In that case,

His Lordship is still

controlling the court.

His Majesty is here.

So is Young Master Xie Yanfang.

Deng Yi

won't seize all power for himself.

Today, my daughter got up even earlier

than I came to court.

I didn't even see her at breakfast.

I was told she went off to do something big.

Recently,

all the ladies have been busy.

What's more,

they've been spending a lot.

Is the Grand Princess

coming back?

Her Highness is at the height of her fame.

If she intends to return,

we should

prepare in advance to welcome her.

Ladies in my family

clamor to imitate Her Highness.

They come out from the inner chambers.

It's late.

Why hasn't His Majesty come yet?

His Majesty is slacking off for once.

After the New Year,

he's one year older.

But he's less diligent.

His Majesty isn't slacking off.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Rise, all of you.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

I was away for a long time.

When I'm back here,

I see all of you

still work hard on state affairs.

I'm quite relieved.

Your Highness,

you made great merit in pacifying

the Northern Desert riot.

We...

You flatter me.

It's the duty

of our Chu Clan

to protect the state.

But when I was away,

I heard a lot of criticism.

Today,

I'll make everything clear

before all of you.

I do everything

just to assist His Majesty

and keep our state secure for all ages.

When the late Emperor entrusted me,

he knew I wasn't someone

to be locked in the inner palace.

In the future,

I never want to hear

any gossip about me

interfering with politics.

At tomorrow's court,

I want you to detail your methods

of frontier farming and people's reassurance.

Ministers,

if you find it stifling indoors,

why don't you

move out of the hall?

Having the court in the sunlight

may make you feel more refreshed.

After all,

governing a state is like traveling.

We have to see what lies ahead

to avoid going off track.

I came back too hastily.

And the frontier is poor.

I didn't prepare gifts

for you, Mr. Deng.

Please forgive my rudeness.

Don't say that.

Your Highness put down the Xiaonan rebellion

and saved your uncle's family.

You were really courageous.

Seeing you

sit here safe and sound,

is the greatest gift to me.

Thank you for your concern.

After this journey,

Your Highness has totally changed.

What you said in the court today

intimidated everyone.

Anyway, I couldn't make it back

without your help.

I'll make this toast

to express my thanks.

Compared to Mr. Xie's tea,

the tea I'm offering

might be rather bland.

I just hope

you won't blame me

for my risky move.

That's what I think too.

If you have any further plans,

please tell me in advance.

If you move so unexpectedly again,

you and I might

end up falling out.

If I had informed you,

would you approve?

No.

You would stop me.

In that case,

our mutual trust would also be harmed.

You are right to rebuke me.

I'm to blame for the discord

between His Majesty and ministers.

His Majesty is innocent.

Lately,

have you kept an eye on Xiaonan?

Are you interested in Xiaonan

or the Xie Family's soldiers

around Xiaonan?

Xiaonan is no longer a threat.

When we focused

on Xiaonan and the Northern Desert,

we didn't see the Xie Family

place many followers

without being noticed.

Mr. Deng,

what do you think

they're doing this for?

You and I

know it very well.

If the game board

becomes unbalanced,

someone has to balance it.

Are you saying

you want me

to balance it?

The balance lies in equal power.

The Xie Family is too powerful

to be underestimated.

Mr. Deng,

you aim for a high position.

Why?

The same reason as yours.

I want no one

to stand in my way anymore.

In that case,

why do you bother with leadership?

You and I

are on the same path.

We will also

do the same thing.

Then why don't we

join forces?

[Gaoyang County]

You're here again.

Yes.

I came to congratulate you.

On what?

You said something to Chu Tang

about the clans you would win over.

It means you've realized

what matters most.

Now you should think carefully

about what

you should give up.

Give up?

Give up Xie Yanlai

and choose Xie Yanfang.

Then your path to power

will be steadier

and smoother.

No.

Why are you being foolish again?

What's so good about Xie Yanlai?

He has great martial arts,

but can he fight off an army?

Can he withstand

the dispute in the court?

Jiu

is sincere with me.

Sincere?

In front of power,

sincerity is the least valuable.

Xie Yanfang is

the true master of his clan.

He's worth

ten times more than Xie Yanlai.

Don't you understand?

To live well,

you must be more ruthless

and scheming than them.

Xie Yanfang wants

an ally, doesn't he?

Then give him one.

Let him think

he can truly control you.

Little does he know

a hunter

often appears in the guise of the prey.

Zhao.

Zhao.

Zhao.

Play on the swing with me.

Zhao,

what's wrong?

Nothing.

I'm just

missing my mother.

Actually,

I also wish

my parents could be alive.

That would be enough.

Even if Father still didn't play with me...

Even if Mother still lectured me...

But in this life,

nothing can be perfect.

Just like my mother.

I didn't have

a good talk with her.

I got no chance

to call her Mother.

Then she died in the battle

to save my life.

I didn't even

truly remember

what she looked like.

The same with me.

As time goes by,

my mother's face

grows fainter in my dreams.

According to Uncle Yanfang,

it's because I'm growing up.

But why does that make me

forget my mother's face?

I don't want to forget.

To forget

might be a protection

from our mothers.

But Uncle Yanfang

came up with an idea for me.

What was that?

Uncle Yanfang

told me stories about Mother.

He also painted a portrait of her

and hung it in my room.

Then, I wouldn't forget her.

But...

But sadly,

the wind blew it down a few days ago

and it was stained.

Actually, forgetting her face

won't be a problem.

As long as you remember

the warmth of her embrace

and the rhymes she hummed for you,

she will always stay in your heart

and never be forgotten.

Uncle Yanfang said the same thing.

Now, you seem

to like Uncle Yanfang a lot.

He's been nice to me.

Last time,

he took me to the w*r.

He even tried the armor on me.

I looked so cool.

Zhao,

from now on,

I'm your family.

The closest one.

All right?

Sure.

But Yu,

nothing in life is certain.

You must grow up quickly.

Become a mature man.

In that case,

even if one day,

I'm not by your side,

you can be your own support

and the backbone of the people.

I will.

I will be as strong as you.

I will be a good emperor.

Open it.

Young Master,

how could you be so presumptuous?

If the clan head knows,

I'm afraid

I'll lose my life.

Do you want

to lose your life

when Xie Yanfang knows?

Or do you want me

to k*ll you right now?

What

are these elixirs for?

Young Master,

they're for preserving someone's life.

Whose life?

I...

I don't know.

I really don't know.

All I know is

since five years ago,

the clan head has had them delivered

every three months.

Yet no one but Du Qi

would know who actually

needs these elixirs.

Five years ago?

Yes.

That was when you...

You were involved in the fire case

of the Wei Village.

Xiang.

♪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♪