♫ The ones standing on the top of the thistles and thorns to look up ♫
♫ will see through vicissitudes of life ♫
♫ In this city where both good and evil are hiding from each other, ♫
♫ I will survive with you ♫
♫ That ray of light guides me to overcome sorrow by its brightness ♫
♫ Meeting you at that time means you're my destiny ♫
♫ Desires wear down the edges and corners of my heart and ♫
♫ laugh at forever-losing leniency ♫
♫ I insist on being the grain which cannot be burned down by the wildfire ♫
♫ to feed the love ♫
♫ Standing in the center of the surges, winds are my thoughts ♫
♫ Rain is the hunting ground urging the horse to fight back ♫
♫ Lift up my head to look at the non returnable times at a distance ♫
♫ The torch in front of my eyes is surging ♫
♫ The sky is getting darker and darker ♫
♫ The path is getting longer and longer ♫
♫ I know hearts cannot waver ♫
♫ Whoever dares to be a king during the chaos of the world ♫
♫ will stop evils with all his might for sure ♫
♫ Then there is hope ♫
[Princess Agents]
~ Episode 31 ~
I pay respects to Emperor Father.
I pay respect to Your Majesty.
Get up.
- Thank you, His Majesty. - Thank you, Emperor Father.
You two are brave and good in fighting.
Winning over an army that was way more in numbers and stronger than you.
Spread our country's might.
After I heard of it, I really felt so delighted.
To help Emperor Father is my pleasure.
Good.
Yuwen Yue, I heard that on the battlefield,
you saved Prince Xiang's life without caring for your life.
It is really like father, like son.
Your Majesty is over-praising me.
Prince Xiang is both intelligent and brave; very well versed in military tactics.
If it wasn't for him, I would have died on the battlefield.
Stop being humble already.
If you worked well, you deserve a reward.
I will promote you to the assistant commander of Knights Camp to help Prince Xiang and continue serving your nation.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, Yan Xun is here.
Let him come in.
You lowly subject, Yan Xun, greet Your Majesty and wish you all the luck and peace.
Get up.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Long time no see. How have you been doing in the past two years?
Because of Your Majesty's great auspiciousness, I have been doing well.
Back then, you were very reckless.
I had you reflect and contemplate on your mistakes in that little garden.
The limit of 3 years is almost up.
Have you improved the control on your temper?
I have been thinking intently of my mistakes for these past 3 years.
I have always remembered your lectures.
Right now, I have gotten rid of my rashness and finally understood the painstaking intentions of Your Majesty.
If you understand, then that's good.
You are different from your father.
You lived in Chang'an since you were young.
I watched you grow up.
That year, the reason I punished you
was that I hoped that you would reflect on your mistakes in that little garden in peace and study at ease.
Now, only you are left in the bloodline of the Northern Yan royal family.
I forgave you then because I have high hopes for you in the future.
Looking how you have totally changed now...
Starting today, I am removing all restrictions against you.
You can freely move around Chang'an City.
I am giving you this jade pendant to show my sincerity.
I will surely repay with my life for this heaven-like grace of Your Majesty.
Okay, then. You can get up.
Okay. Today, I asked you three to come because I have a task for you all.
Emperor Father, please order.
Soon, the envoys from Rouran will be coming.
I want to set up a hunting activity in the outskirt of the city to welcome our guest.
But the hunting grounds are a very vast place.
I am afraid that there might be lapses in security.
Who should I trust my safety to?
Emperor Father, I think Yuwen Yue is trustworthy for this matter.
He is very meticulous. He will surely not let you down.
Yuwen Yue, what do you think?
I will surely not let Your Majesty down.
Then, that's good.
Then it's decided.
Heir Apparent Yan, you have gotten much thinner.
Prince Xiang still has such elegant bearing.
It was really toiling for Your Highness to be killing enemies on the borders for these past years
while I was just staying here in the capital.
I never had the chance to personally thank Your Highness.
I still want to thank Your Highness for submitting reports numerous times in the past
where you tried to save my father and Northern Yan.
One can see real friends during times of trouble.
I will surely never forget this kindness from you.
Heir Apparent, you are being too courteous.
I didn't help that much.
Since Emperor Father has pardoned you, I hope you can regain your vitality.
The future is still long.
His Majesty is magnanimous. Prince Xiang is benevolent.
I will surely remember all this etched in my heart.
Eunuch, hurry and inform His Majesty that I have an urgent matter to report.
What is it that is so urgent?
There was a huge fire in the Roayl Tomb last night.
General Zhao now has dispatched soldiers from Knights and Vanguard Camps to help put out the fire.
But the weather now is very dry. I fear that we won't be able to save this anymore.
The Ministry of Justice has arrested Yuwen Huai, the head of the Royal Tomb.
You go wait outside. I'll immediately report it.
Burning the Royal Tomb?! Such huge guts!
Your Highness Prince Xiang.
What's wrong, Eunuch?
His Majesty asked you to wait for a while.
He wants to discuss something with you.
Heir Apparent, let us just continue our chat next time.
Your Highness Prince Xiang, please.
Heir Apparent.
General Yuwen, what do you need?
Are you okay?
Is Xing'er okay?
Thank you for your concerns.
Everything is fine.
Your prince pays respect to Emperor Father.
You don't need to be so polite.
Come. Spend some time with me.
Thank you, Emperor Father.
Timing and Subtitles brought to you by The Dancing Fingers Team @ Viki.com
Emperor Father.
These times are currently chaotic and troubled.
As the assistant commanding general, you were able to quell the rebels.
I am really delighted.
Thank you very much, Emperor Father.
I am really not praising you. I was just saying the truth.
For the past hundreds of years, changing of dynasties is just like a common meal.
I don't trust putting the military power in anyone's control.
You... are my son.
I trust you the most.
I am scared.
When I was dealing with the matter of Yan Shicheng in the past,
in the whole government, other than Yuwen Yue, you are the second one who was so against it.
You and Yan Shicheng didn't really have any interactions.
You and Yan Xun only communicated by nodding heads.
I already knew then that this son of mine
is the most loyal to his king and the most able to understand the nation in this whole government.
I was just young and insensible then.
I not only wasn't able to help Emperor Father remove your anxieties and worries,
I even repeatedly submitted reports.
I really was not fulfilling my duties as a son.
This is what is good about you.
Honest and upright. Straightforward.
Thank you for Emperor Father's compliments.
This fire in the Royal Tomb is worrying me.
Now that you have returned victorious,
I finally have a helper.
I can finally take a breath.
Emperor Father is still in the prime of your life.
Why would you need my help?
Moreover, Third Older Brother, Fifth Older Brother, and 13th Younger Brother are all more competent than me.
But being able to return to Emperor Father's side and listen to your teachings,
I'm really happy.
Stop being too humble already.
Among you brothers, you indeed stand out and have the cardinal principles in my mind.
All the generals and soldiers from the borders have already told me about it.
In going out to battle, you have courage and strategy that is why you were able to return victorious.
Everyone can see your achievements.
In this return of yours, you must not disappoint me.
I won't let Emperor Father down.
Don't be so polite.
Thank you, Emperor Father.
We haven't seen each other for so long. How are you doing?
You've asked these things already.
There were too many people in the hall earlier.
What I said were some political words suitable for the situation.
Now there's only you and me.
This is what I wanted to ask.
Everything's fine.
Thank you for worrying.
Did you receive the letters I wrote you
these past two years?
These past years, I have been locked up in that little garden.
Always being bored with little to do the whole day.
But not all things are worthy to be brought out and waste my idle time with.
That year, I had no other choice.
When I received the news, Duke of Northern Yan was dead.
- In order to protect you, I could only— - General.
Look.
Say, will the wind today increase the fire in the Royal Tomb further?
Although I am the top idle person here in Chang'an,
that doesn't mean that I'm in the mood to listen to you talk about these things.
It's weird saying it. I already knew you couldn't say much
but I was still curious in hopes you would say something new.
Actually, why aren't you just like Zhao Xifeng and Yuwen Huai,
being firm with your stand and ruthlessly breaking up an old friendship?
That is way better than this current hypocrisy of yours.
You had a great victory in the battlefield and returned triumphantly.
You had formed a life and death brotherhood bond with Prince Xiang.
You are already a new esteemed person here in Chang'an.
This identity together with the criminal Yan Xun
will attract rumors.
We should return to our own places.
Xing'er didn't die.
She's with you, right?
What?
Do you plan to kill her again?
[Yingge Garden]
You openly came back.
Are you not afraid of Yuwen Yue finding out?
I bumped into him at the Royal Tomb.
In our fight, we even mistakenly took each other's sword.
I could recognize him. He also could recogniz me.
Since the secret's out, why bother avoiding him?
- Yuwen Yue was at the Royal Tomb? - Yes.
He probably went to find Yuwen Huai.
Our movement was found out by him so he followed.
Today in the palace, did he say anything?
No, he pretended he didn't know about it.
Afterwards, Yuan Che got very angry upon hearing this news but he still didn't say anything.
He wants Yuwen Huai dead more than us.
But since he's already returned,
you should be more careful when leaving and entering.
This person is very scheming, ruthless, and vicious.
He understands quite a lot about you and me.
We have to be careful in handling this in the future.
Right now, there are enemies everywhere.
There's no difference at all with him around or not.
Right, His Majesty today decreed
that my restrictions have been lifted and can now casually move around the city.
Really?
That's great.
Stay still.
This small wound, it's fine now.
You really don't care about how you look anymore.
There's few girls like you.
If you continue like this, you won't get married.
I wasn't thinking of getting married.
That, too; you don't need to think about this.
What are you looking at?
After you left the palace, you came directly here to me.
Are you not afraid people will find out we're on the same boat?
The way I see it, no matter what we say or do, other people will think just like that.
Why not just be more straightforward?
Moreover, Emperor Father already tacitly consented to it.
What are you still afraid of?
For the fire in the Royal Tomb, only Yuwen Huai gets the punishment?!
This is the first decree.
The Zhao and Wei families may not be able to get away.
Did His Majesty keep you just for this?
Of course not. He also complimented me.
Do you believe it?
Why not believe it?
His son did well.
Emperor Father complimented.
What's wrong with that?
Looks like Your Highness still wants to return to the border and continue fighting.
That's also good. The wind in Chang'an feels suffocating.
It is still the wind on the border that's more refreshing.
That...
Look at you, there's really nothing I can keep from you.
My Third Older Brother is coming back soon.
Emperor Father even ordered people to renovate the Prince Mu Manor.
He even called common craftsmen to do a big scale of reconstruction.
Although it is not comparable to us two being rewarded with power upon returning,
this kind of love can be said to be already abundant.
Think about the scenery when he left the capital.
Think about what he had done while he was in the eastern regions for these past 2 years.
If not because just to balance your power, he shouldn't even think of returning to Chang'an in this lifetime.
Recalling both he and I were driven out of Chang'an together in the past.
And now, we returned in succession.
Looks like I won't have any peace from now on.
If you want peace, then don't come back.
This Chang'an*, even though it was named Always Peaceful*, (* Chang means Always. An means Peaceful.)
it's actually the least peaceful place on earth.
This you should understand.
Forget it already. I will just block their attacks as they come.
Before, I was not good in scheming that is why I got plotted against.
Now that I have you,
if someone wants to scheme against me, it shouldn't be as easy anymore. Right?
Oh, right! What is your opinion about the fire in the Royal Tomb?
Is there any news?
Currently I don't know.
Emperor Father is quite saddened by this thing.
If you are able to find the truth about this matter as soon as possible,
Emperor Father will surely be very happy.
I know.
Good! Yue'er, you really didn't disappoint me.
After experiencing life and death in the battlefield, you have become more reserved and steady.
Grandfather, you have over-praised me.
In my return this time, I only look forward to rebuilding the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes.
No rush. Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes is just an antic.
The spies are way more important than the machinery.
As long as the spies are around, there will be a day that the Spy Network of Heavenly Eyes can be rebuilt.
Miss Yu already went to sell those valuables buried with the corpses.
We had distributed them on more than 10 different paths.
At least one or two will make it into the palace.
Once these burial valuables that have been soaked in water reach His Majesty,
His Majesty will surely get very mad.
But this thing will definitely need time.
The trading of goods indeed needs time.
It's fine. The more natural it is, the higher the trust will be there.
Since that is the case, let us make this trap larger.
Why did you cut the flower? This flower is pricey!
- Is it worth a lot? - Of course!
I could have created ten bows, twenty refined iron daggers, and two horse armors.
Okay already. Tell Feng Mian
not to send me these useless things anymore next time.
I don't need these right now.
This originally wasn't for you.
It was for you to gift His Majesty on his birthday celebration.
Is it okay to just give him a root?
Heir Apparent, Miss Chu, it's time to eat.
I'm not eating!
Has Your Highness met with Heir Apparent Yan Xun?
Yes, I've met him.
Then that's good.
His health is still good but his spirit is not as good as before.
His aura has completely changed.
After experiencing a close call with death,
anyone would change.
Then what does Sir think about Yan Xun now?
Being my old master, I, of course, have some sentiments with him.
But it's not enough for me to forget my identity and position.
What Sir means—
If Your Highness wants to get rid of him,
I definitely won't hold you back.
Sir is quite heartless.
Heir Apparent is pitiful, but the citizens are more innocent.
I understand Heir Apparent Yan Xun more than I understand Your Highness.
If Your Highness can see, there's no reason why I wouldn't understand.
I definitely can't let Yan Xun return to Northern Yan.
Although this time, their Yan clan did die of injustice.
For the interest of the Wei's territory and for the citizens,
I definitely will not be soft-hearted
and let the tiger return to the mountain.
I'm afraid that General Yuwen probably doesn't think like that.
Hopefully, he'll understand soon.
He better not ignore our brotherly relationship.
- Put these things over there. - Yes.
Hurry and move them over there!
Yes!
Ah Chu?
- Your Highness Prince Yu. - Your Highness Prince Yu.
Hey, Yan Xun, where have you been these past days?
I have not seen you for a long time. I missed you already.
Your Highness really is so busy that you easily forget. We just saw each other a few days ago.
Really? Did we really just see each other a few days ago?
How come I do not remember anymore?
Hey, Ah Chu, where did you go?
I have gone to Yingge Garden to look for you so many times and the guards always said that you were not around.
I went out.
You really are so lucky. You can just go out whenever you want to.
A few days ago, I also went out.
I went with Eight Royal Older Brother to a pub.
I do not know how, but it got known by Emperor Father.
He punished me to be grounded for 3 days and to copy the scripts of the ethics for 200 times.
200 times!
My hands almost broke from copying.
Just going to a pub and you get punished that cruelly?
You surely did not do anything good.
They were the ones who took me there. I did not do anything.
Hey, Yan Xun, I am just going to borrow Ah Chu for a while. You will not refuse it, right?
I will never forget your great kindness.
Let us go. Hurry and go.
Ah Chu, Yan Xun has become stupid, but you, too?
You must know that Yuwen Yue is also here.
If you let him see that you have returned, then will you not be in big danger?
I already saw him.
What?! You have already seen him, right?
Did he do anything to you?
I am just a servant. I fear that he might not remember me anymore.
How are you just an ordinary servant?
During that day at the Forever Serene Platform, everyone really remembered you clearly.
But you and Yan Xun were especially pardoned by Emperor Father.
He will not be able to do anything to you. And you still have me.
Do you want to talk to me just for this matter?
Of course not.
In just 3 months, I can already leave the palace.
I can already get land outside, build my manor, and marry a wife.
Oh, that. Congratulations.
Hey! How come you are not happy with such a huge thing happening in my life?
I am happy.
You are not excited at all.
I am excited.
If you are excited, why then are you not smiling?
Not all people hang their happiness in their face.
I am happy for you in my heart. I have laughed within so many times.
Even if your heart is laughing, I still wasn't able to hear it.
Because it is in my heart.
No. Such a huge matter,
it will not work if you just laugh in your heart. You must give me a gift.
Your HIghness Prince Yu, you are asking a gift from me.
Are you asking too much?
Actually, it's just okay.
Just gift yourself to me will be good.
No... I... did not mean it that way.
I am saying that
once I am able to build my manor outside the palace, come visit me in my manor.
- Go to your manor? - Yes.
Oh, no, that Northern Yan of Yan Xun is too far and also very poor.
The snow there falls for half a year.
Rather than suffering there, why not just come to my place?
Go to your manor to be a slave girl that lives an extravagant life.
What are you saying?
When have I treated you as a slave girl?
Ah Chu, we have known each other for so many years.
Especially since we have reunited,
when and where have I treated you as a slave girl?
Okay already, I was just joking.
You never make such jokes to Yan Xun.
If there are no more important matters, I will get going now.
Go where?
Going back to become a slave girl.
This is a desolate wilderness and there are even beasts.
I am afraid that you might get eaten so I am going to protect you.
And also, Yuwen Yue, Zhao Xifeng, and the others are here. You must be careful.
Do you hear me?
Where is she?! Hey!
Little rabbit, why are you here alone?
Done.
Zha Ma, how are we going to count this?
Which family's slave are you? Why must you touch our game?
I am not a family's slave.
Then you are now.
Isn't there a game right in front of us? Let us compete again.
Sure.
Take the money and run.
Just run as fast as you can.
I am telling you to run.
Your arrow is quite fast. It can hit a running slave.
I do not know if it can hit a galloping horse.
Of course. I can even hit the flying hawks in the sky,
the more just a horse.
Okay. What if then I will ride the horse, will Princess be able to hit it?
Zha Lu, give her your horse.
Give her?
I told you to give it to her, so just give it to her!
Here.
Thanks.
Do you know how to ride a horse or not?
Before you even get killed by my arrow, you might already be trampled to death by that horse.
Okay already. Go now. Run faster.
Did... Did my horse just leave like that?
Heir Apparent, His Highness Prince Yu sent over a gift and said that it is for Ah Chu.
Just put it there.
His Highness said that I must give this personally to Miss Ah Chu.
I will take my leave.
Ah Jing.
Heir Apparent.
Give me the gift that we have prepared to give to the Princess.
Yes.
Heir Apparent, this is the newest style of clothing made from the unique fabric from South County.
The labor was top quality. This is one and only. Princess will surely love this.
Miss Ah Chu, whose horse is this? How come it is hurt?
No need to mind him or pull him.
- It can walk on its own. - Okay.
What is it? Did you encounter any trouble?
Oh, nothing.
What is that?
For you.
For me?
Why are you giving me this?
Someone gave it to me. I feel that it suits you.
What? Do you like it?
It is from you so, of course, I like it.
But... it has been so long since I wore female clothing.
When can I have the chance to wear one?
How can there be none?
Presently, His Majesty has pardoned me.
He has also removed all my restrictions.
Just wear it.
Oh, right.
This is a gift from Prince Yu.
Yuan Song gave it?
How come it is also a dress?
That is right.
But this color is indeed quite his style.
I still feel that the one you gave me is better.
Move aside!
Who are you?
Lowly servant, do you not even recognize me?
There seems to be no use for you to keep those eyes of yours. Let me dig them out.
Let go!
You indeed are here.
I was thinking who could it be. So it is just the little wolf from Northern Yan.
Yan Xun, long time no see.
Your whole family has died.
You are actually still hiding under your enemy and being a coward.
It is really rare to see a person as magnanimous as you.
Princess Zha Ma.
I am here not to look for you.
This little slave offended me earlier.
I am going to punish her now.
I do not know how Princess Zha Ma plans to punish her.
I still have not thought about it.
But I will not bring you trouble.
How much does it cost to buy a slave from you? I will pay you double.
How about I just pay you 10 times the amount and let us just forget about this?
Yan Xun, you better know things clearly. It is already not bad that I am not causing you trouble.
You actually are offending me now just for a slave?!
Not only you.
Even if His Majesty personally came here now, I would still not give her to anyone.
Moreover, she is not a slave.
Quite interesting. There is another romantic from Norther Yan.
Yan Shicheng offended His Majesty before just because of Bai Sheng;
hence, he ended in such a state.
Looks like the Yan family will not be able to make a comeback anymore.
No need for anyone to do anything.
The only one who was able to survive was actually a gay.
Yan Xun, do you think I was asking for your permission?
Why not look first at your current status?!
I just have to take this slave away today.
Not only will I take her away, I will even torture her to death in front of you.
Let me see what you can do to me.
So she is a woman. Quite beautiful.
Yan Xun, the hunting will still last for a few more days.
You must protect your little slave girl well.
Be careful that she doesn't get abducted and made into meat filling.
Let us go!
Your Highness.
Is everything okay?
All is fine.
A small problem has happened.
I know.
That Zha Ma is too arrogant.
Say, who could that person be?
It is most likely an old slave girl of mine.
Slave girl?
Yes.
You've changed your sword.
Just go with me to the banquet tonight.
I will go?
That is right.
I am afraid that Zha Ma will come back again and cause trouble here.
I will be not around, either.
You are limited by your status so you surely will get bullied.
At most, I will just go hide. The hunting grounds are so vast.
I do not believe that she will be able to find me.
Avoiding it is not a good method.
You already showed yourself earlier.
In less than an hour, all the feudal families will know it.
Might as well to just show yourself tonight.
Later, wear this.
I will wear female clothing?
Why not?
Circumstances change with the passage of time.
It is already not like three years ago.
I have a jade pendant personally given by His Majesty.
All feudal families must fear us.
Have you all heard it?
That slave girl by Yan Xun's side is still alive.
She had been hiding all this time and staying by Yan Xun's side.
Are you talking about the bedroom maidservant of Yuwen Yue, Xing'er?
Exactly her.
Everyone is already talking about this matter.
So great. If she had easily died that time, that would have been making it too easy for her.
Finally, I have the chance to personally kill her.
Then... let's do it tomorrow?
Sure. Tomorrow, let us set out together.
Let us make it clean. Do not leave any traces.
Leave it to me.
I urge you two to not act so recklessly.
This is an imperial hunting event. The envoys of different nations are all here.
Are you planning to make a move under the watchful eyes of His Majesty?
- What if the matter gets known? - So what?
He is just a criminal.
Killing him is just like killing an ant.
Do not forget. His Majesty already gave him a jade pendant.
His identity and status now is already different from before. Do you two know that?!
Really? Just three years and it is already different?
If we let this drag any longer, then it'll be too late.
Older Brother Shuyou, I still have a few beautiful ladies waiting for me in my tent,
so I will not chat with you anymore.
Just arrange for the matter tomorrow. I will take my leave.
Leave it to me.
Can you still not see it clearly until now?
Right now, which feudal family has the upper hand?
It is the Zhao feudal family.
Zhao Xifeng has always wanted to drag our Wei family down.
His Majesty's most favorite consort is also Zhao Jieyu.
Tomorrow, His Majesty will only bring her during his hunt.
If anything happens, we will just pass all the blame to the Zhao family.
Let them bear the crime.
If you ask me, Older Brother, you are too soft-hearted. You will never be able achieve any success.
Good!
Good! Good!
What?
Why did you not wear that dress I gave you?
I feel that this one is quite pretty.
Not pretty. Not pretty at all.
This one is not suitable to you at all.
I feel that it is quite suitable.
Yan Xun, is it right that this does not suit her?
I also feel that it is quite suitable.
Timing and Subtitles brought to you by The Dancing Fingers Team @ Viki.com
♫ The wild wind blows the moonlight into confusion ♫
♫ My life is like being expelled ♫
♫ The flame is hidden in my heart ♫
♫ Who will laugh at my rough interior ♫
♫ My wings are destroyed by fate ♫
♫ I fall into the bottomless abyss ♫
♫ Memories are sealed ♫
♫ The wind and snowfall are unbridled ♫
♫ Even if I am trampled, I won't look up to you ♫
♫ What doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger ♫
♫ This breathing is heat ♫
♫ This heartbeat is light ♫
♫ Bit by bit, it brews the power for all my life ♫
♫ The boiling in my eyes lights up the hope ♫
♫ No matter how many wounds I have ♫
♫ I'm willing to burn the flame in my heart to shine through everywhere ♫
♫ To melt the coldness of the secular world ♫
♫ If only the bright moon knows my thoughts ♫
♫ If there is a long path and eternal darkness, so what? ♫
♫ I want the boundless flame of the heart to be boiling again ♫
♫ To burn into a light ray of the horizon ♫
♫ I'm reborn after a fire bath ♫
♫ Fragrance fills the heaven and the earth ♫
♫ The red spider lily blooms again ♫
♫ To burn into a light ray of the horizon ♫
♫ The red spider lily blooms again ♫