♫ 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 54 ~
Timing and Subtitles brought to you by The Dancing Fingers Team @ Viki.com
It may be due to the sand from the desert, the sky of Northern Yan is always hazy even on a sunny day.
But when it rains, it's great.
It's not like the dense rain in Wei but with a sense of an efficient and relaxed feel.
It's too bad there aren't that many rainy days here.
By the way, how are things going with Boss Chen?
Replying to Mister, I already sent someone to bring them to the safe area at the back.
According to Boss Chen's description, the guy that released them wore a mask.
According to the figure, he is a man and is also very familiar with the situation in Hongchuan City.
Who would he be?
News from Chang'an arrived. The emperor of Wei is sick and is unable to manage his court.
Right now, all court matters are controlled by Prince Seven, Yuan Che.
If that is the case, the citizens will have a chance to live peacefully soon.
This is what the saying says, "He who is unjust is doomed to destruction."
What do you think, Your Highness?
I have sworn to massacre Chang'an and
personally take the Wei emperor's head as a sacrifice to the souls of deceased Northern Yan people.
How can we let him die so easily?
Your Highness, you're right.
We must personally kill our enemies in order to comfort the souls of Northern Yan's dead heroes.
This old emperor is done for. Of course, the new emperor is still our biggest threat.
Prince Seven, Yuan Che, is prudent and knows to pay attention to the interests of the whole.
Whether he is a new threat or not still needs to be discussed.
So, Miss Yu, are you on friendly terms with this Prince Seven?
Cheng Yuan, what do you mean?
If you are not close friends, how do you know he is not a threat?
Cheng Yuan, no matter who claims the throne, this battle can't be avoided.
Pass my command down.
Speed up war preparations, recruit more soldiers, and hoard up grains.
I will.
Please think twice, Your Highness.
If we start a war again, who knows how many families will be ripped apart.
Northern Yan has just become stable. We can't withstand another war.
I've said before that it's unreliable for you women to lead a troop and go to war.
Northern Yan and Wei are already antagonistic.
If we take any chances, Northern Yan's fertile land will be trodden down by their horses sooner or later.
You should know the best how women leading armies fight.
General Cheng, you better not talk overboard.
Have I gone overboard?
You are also an army leader.
You should know exactly the situation of Northern Yan.
Now, we have a strong enemy outside and a hidden trouble within.
Today, there was someone who dared to release the Wei spies we caught.
Tomorrow, there is a possibility that someone wants to assassinate His Highness.
What do you mean?
Replying to Your Highness.
The people who burned the granary have escaped.
But the weird thing is, the locks inside the prison have no signs of being destroyed,
which means that someone used a key to let them go.
I feel that the spy is among us.
I think Official Chu should be the person who knows this matter the best.
General Cheng, according to you, our Official Chu is suspicious. Right?
That's right. Cheng Yuan, no matter what, you can't doubt Official Chu, can you?
Whether or not it's Official Chu, everyone is clear in their hearts.
Your Highness, this matter is critical.
Enough!
Don't get involved with this matter anymore, you all.
You may all leave.
- Yes. - Yes.
Why are you here?
Ah Chu, I just want to ask.
Did you let go of the people who burned our granary?
You don't believe me, do you?
If you say no, I will believe you.
All right, let me tell you, I didn't.
All right.
Yan Xun.
The citizens of Northern Yan were looking forward to your return.
Are we paying them back with wars?
There is always a price to pay for anything.
And the real peace
all needs to be obtained through the battle.
Is that right?
Princess, he's Zhao Jieyu's child.
A while back, Zhao Jieyu suddenly got sick and died within five minutes.
Only this child is left.
No one will remember her once she is gone.
Zhao Jieyu died.
Then this child is left without a mother. It's quite pitiful.
The little prince is here by himself.
And there isn't even a eunuch or maid to keep him company.
All of the concubines in the palace are thinking for themselves.
And it's not their own biological child.
Why would they care?
Their main master is already gone.
The people below them of course would not care.
Who are you?
I am Yuan Chun.
I'm your royal elder sister.
Can you play with me?
Of course!
From now on, I can play with you everyday.
Are you happy?
- I'm happy! - Then let's play!
Okay!
Then, I'm going to kick it!
Yang'er!
Nope.
Yang'er!
- Who is this? - Royal elder sister!
- Are you sure it's your royal elder sister? - I'm sure!
- Is it really? - It is!
Then you take a look. Take a look to see if it is!
- Is it? - Royal elder sister lost! Royal elder sister lost!
Okay, I admit I lost!
Then, you tell me what you want me to do.
Whatever it is, I will agree.
Tomorrow, go with me to release lanterns.
Is it that simple?
No problem, I will do it!
Princess!
Princess, Eunuch Wang is here.
- Send him in. - Yes
Come!
- Mr. Wang, what's up? - How did you find me so quickly?
I can tell by just feeling fingers.
You're so talented!
Princess, His Majesty invites Prince Yuan Yang to Shuyi's palace to have lunch.
Okay.
But Eunuch Wang, I was playing with Yang'er and got his hands dirty.
I'm going to help him wash up a bit first.
Yes.
Let's go.
Come.
Yang'er, don't just eat other people's food.
Do you remember my little rabbit?
He just ate other people's things and later died.
Yes.
Your Majesty, why have you asked me to personally cook for Prince Yuan Yang today?
Lan'er,
you see, you don't have a child.
My health is getting poorer and poorer each day.
In the future, what are your plans?
I will do everything according to your plans.
Okay.
In the palace, there are a lot of princes.
The way I see it, Yuan Yang is talented.
He lost his mother at a very young age.
I'm busy with the dynasty. I have no time to take care of him.
Why don't you become his adoptive mother and take care of him?
In the future, you will have someone to depend on. What do you think?
Since you trust in me that much,
then, of course, I will take care of the prince and raise him.
Your Majesty and Your Lady Highness, Prince Yuan Yang is here
Emperor Father.
Yuan Yang, come up here to your Emperor Father.
Emperor Father, are you feeling better?
With you caring for me, can my health not recover?
Prince Yuan Yang is currently growing. Drink some more soup.
I won't drink it. I don't want to be like the rabbit.
What do you mean like the rabbit? Don't be silly.
Come, drink some soup.
- I don't want to be like the rabbit! - Okay, okay.
- We won't be like the rabbit, not like the rabbit. - I don't want to be like the rabbit!
Okay, okay. Don't cry.
- It's okay. It's okay. - Your Highness, I will take my leave.
Emperor Father!
It's okay. It's okay. We won't be like the rabbit.
Don't be scared. Don't be scared. You won't be like the rabbit, okay?
You won't. You won't. It's okay. It's okay.
It's okay. Tell me,
who do you want to take care of you?
Mr. Yue, please read this personally.
The situation here in Chang'an is very unstable.
You previously urged me to make more plans about the throne.
I fear that I won't be able to fulfill them.
I am currently at the peak of my career and am holding great military power.
Emperor Father probably fears that if I become the heir to the throne, I might directly threaten him to get the throne.
Hence, his defense against me is greater than before.
Emperor Father's health is getting worse everyday.
Recently, he seems to have intentions of making the young Yuan Yang as his heir,
so as to prevent any danger of his power getting seized.
Yuan Chun also seems to have noticed this important matter.
She intentionally gets close to Yuan Yang.
And she is also creating difficulties in between to worsen the relationship between Yuan Yang and Lan Shuyi.
Emperor Father has no choice but to have Yuan Chun temporarily raise Yuan Yang.
The battle for the throne is becoming obvious now.
Yuan Chun's intentions are not hard to speculate.
Now that Emperor Father has doubts about me,
Yuan Chun surely also sees me as an eyesore.
My situation is becoming like walking on thin ice.
Just one careless action, it might be hard to save myself.
Your Highness Prince Xiang, you must not stay long anymore in that troubling place.
Why not proactively request to assume the lead general position of Northern Yan and use that to fool Yuan Chun?
But, in reality, you will only lie in wait outside Chang'an City.
Even if she indeed does make a move, you will be able to return to Chang'an in time to control the situation.
Royal Older Sister, why did Older Brother Yuan Che leave?
He's leaving.
It's good that he left.
Eunuch Wang!
Someone come!
Lan'er!
Someone come!
Give me my medicine.
I need to drink my medicine.
Chun'er, it's good you came.
Quickly, give me my medicine.
Does Emperor Father want to drink medicine?
The medicine is too hot. Let's wait a bit before drinking it.
Where is Lan'er or Eunuch Wang?
Where has everyone in the palace gone?
They're not sincere about serving you, so I've made them leave.
Since Emperor Father is so sick, you should rest.
I will keep you company, isn't that good?
What do you mean?
There isn't any other meaning. I just want to speak with you.
In the palace today, there isn't anyone else around but me and you.
We won't be disturbed.
Emperor Father, there is a question I've always wanted to ask you.
I've never had the opportunity to.
When you arranged for me to marry Yan Xun, were you using me as bait?
At that time, I had no choice.
I just regret that I didn't kill that traitor.
The happiest time of my life was when you arranged my marriage to Yan Xun.
But I never thought that in the end, everything would just be empty hope.
From the start, all was just a hoax.
That rebel, Yan Xun, even if he gets dismantled into pieces, he will never be able to make up for his sins.
Why are you so devoted to him?
He and I were childhood friends. We grew up together.
I liked him. I've liked him for a very long time.
I thought that you knew that.
Chun'er, one may know a person by face but not his true heart. You have been fooled by him.
He didn't trick me.
He stayed in Chang'an for so many years. Behaving appropriately.
Always caring for me.
If it weren't for you,
if it weren't because you doubted your friend who is like your own brother, massacred his city, and annihilated his clan,
forcing Brother Yan Xun to be in so much pain in the Forever Serene Platform that he would rather die,
how could he have walked down the path of rebellion?
He is just like his father.
They harbor intentions of rebelling.
And now, he is raising the flag of rebellion high and plunged the citizens into suffering and misery.
The one who caused all this suffering and misery is you!
The one who should be punished is you! The one who should die is also you!
How dare you!
You actually are vilifying your father just for a subject?
Father?!
Is it only today that you've realized you're a father?
I thought that you were like all the other fathers in the world,
wanting the best for their children.
But I never thought that I would just be like a pawn to you.
In your plan to kill Yan Xun, I became like a pawn.
In that time, did you ever think like a father?
Do you know how many sins you have committed in this whole life of yours?
You killed the innocent Duke of Northern Yan, forced Bai Sheng to die, and killing loyal subjects. That is number one.
You falsely accused Northern Yan of rebelling, massacred the innocent citizens.
That is number two.
So as to prevent the world from saying you are a tyrant, you deliberately spared the life of Older Brother Yan Xun.
But secretly, you incited the different feudal clans to try to assassinate him. Just let them kill each other
while you were just going to sit by and harvest whatever good will that came out of it.
This is number three.
My Consort Mother, the Imperial Consort Wei,
was married to you for so many years.
You instead didn't care about any marriage affection and forced her to drink the poison wine and kill herself.
Older Brother Yuan Song... My Older Brother Yuan Song never wanted to compete with anything.
You had him exiled.
Older Brother Yuan Ce has grand ambitions for the empire
yet you instead gave your empire to a confused and ignorant child
because you were afraid that your power would diminish!
Do you still want me to continue?
You... are not a benevolent king, not a loyal friend, not a compassionate father;
naturally suspicious and envious, and hesitates like a woman.
That's why, you will end up in this state of losing your wives and children.
Emperor Father,
let me tell you something.
In doing things, either you just don't do it, or be resolute and do it completely.
Since you killed Duke of Northern Yan, you should have killed Yan Xun.
Since you killed my mother, you should have killed me.
You didn't used to be like this!
You used to be...
In the past...
you weren't like this.
Because I know that being naive and kind will only get you trampled on.
Naive people won't live very long.
It's not that I've changed. I've just matured.
I don't want to be a princess.
I don't need an extravagant lifestyle.
I just wanted to live with the person I loved.
But now, my mother has died. My older brother has left.
The people who loved me have also left me.
All the people I've cared about have disappeared one by one.
Now I'm just left by myself.
Do you know that I have nightmares every night? I'm in so much pain that I would rather die.
Forget it.
How could I expect the most selfish person in this world to empathize with me?
What do you want to do?
What are you doing?
Chun'er! What are you doing?
Chun'er!
What do you want to do?
What are you doing?
Come someone!
Someone come!
Save me quickly!
Men!
- Someone! - Stop shouting already.
- There's no use. - Save me!
When I was 8, I fell into the water and had unrelenting fever.
You diligently took care of me then and even ordered the palace servants to fill up all the ponds in the palace.
Who would have thought that the two of us, father and daughter, would turn hostile against each other?
I am not cruel enough nor ambitious enough.
But it was you who forced me to eventually end up in this state.
Emperor Father, it's time to drink your medicine.
You are killing your father and the emperor.
I will do as you wish and give the throne to Yuan Yang.
But I will help him rule.
Chun'er! I know I was wrong!
You want the empire, is that it? I will give it to you, okay?
What's the use of me having the empire?
Everything that I've wanted has been personally destroyed by you.
Be good. Good medicines are naturally bitter.
Drink it and rest.
Stop it!
Save me! Save me!
Why have you returned?
Chun'er! You've gone too far!
Even if you have hatred in your heart, you shouldn't be this evil!
I am evil?
Compared to this person, I am not even a thousandth of him!
But this person is our father!
Father?!
When he arranged my marriage to Yan Xun, did he think of himself as my father?
When he killed my mother, did he think of himself as my father?
When he drove you away to the borders, why didn't he say then that he was your father?!
This person was not benevolent and is disloyal to us! Why then must I be kind to him until the very end?!
I want to kill him!
- Chun'er! Chun'er! - I want to kill him!
Stop it!
No matter what, I can't let you succeed today.
Emperor Father.
Are you sure you heard it correctly?
Yes, I saw it myself! The princess has been dragged out of the palace!
What can we do?
What should we do?
This is such a serious incident. His Majesty surely won't release her.
No, it can't be this way.
I need to think of how to save her.
- Mister! Mister! What are you going to do? - I'm going to save her!
- Mister! Are you rebelling? - I'm going to save the princess, not rebelling!
- To go against the imperial decree is rebelling! - This is such a big situation, I can't worry about that now!
Mister! Mister!
Yuwen Yue, for the strategy to get the throne, I used the request to leave Chang'an to set up camp outside the city,
that's why I was able to stop Yuan Chun in time when she tried to kill the emperor and claim the throne.
Too bad my little sister Yuan Chun has been locked up by Emperor Father in Ganfu Temple.
After this matter, Emperor Father has stayed in his chambers alone and doesn't speak a word.
I'm sure that he was in so much pain.
Because of my merit for saving his life, Emperor Father felt that I have a loyal heart to my rule and trusted me more.
He let me manage all of the government matters as much as possible making me feel quite scared.
I will surely not disappoint the hopes of Emperor Father and will always do things very carefully.
Older Brother, come catch me!
Slow down!
Quickly! You can't catch me!
Catch you!
Come catch me!
Slow down!
You can't catch me! You can't catch me!
- Come on. - Wait for it.
Come!
I caught you!
Older Brother, I'm sorry!
It's okay.
Since you have come to our simple abode, why not come in and drink some water?
No need to be so courteous. Please.
- Please come in. - Older Brother, hurry and come in.
Come, sit.
Here, come sit here.
- Here. Please sit. - Thank you.
Here, drink some water.
I still have some things to do. I'll be back in a bit. Okay?
- Just sit tight for a while. - Okay.
Mister must be tired from traveling. Please try some of our homemade desserts.
Please enjoy it. I will go back to my work.
Thank you.
- Come. - Hurry and go in.
Your Highness.
Let's go back.
Today's sunset is really beautiful.
There are sunsets everyday.
Your Highness, why are you feeling sad?
Right, there are always sunsets. It's the same with days.
After one day is another day, but people are different.
Once they've left, some never return.
Is Your Highness missing Chang'an?
What I miss isn't the present Chang'an,
rather the Chang'an that is in my memory.
In that time, Chun'er and I were still small. She liked to play hide-and-seek. I used to accompany her.
Consort Mother and Emperor Fa...
They would just sit by the side and look at us happily.
Carefree days.
When we were living them, I didn't feel anything special.
Only until now when my heart is already pierced multiple times did I realize that
how blissful and fortunate we were then.
Your Highness, a dead person is impossible to return.
A dead person is impossible to return.
It's because of this that I would listen to Emperor Father's arrangement to come to Northern Yan.
I thought that by doing that, everything might quiet down.
I thought Chun'er would be fine by my doing this.
Your Highness, wait here for me.
Your Highness, watch.
When I was little, I was good at making this.
All the people in the village would ask for my help.
There was a period of time that all scarecrows in our field were made by me.
You were most likely a clever child in youth.
All the people in your village must have really liked you, right?
I never asked if they all liked me.
Later on when we meet in hell, I'll probably ask.
They all—
All died.
It was because I was in the field making scarecrows that I avoided death.
I was going back home so happily then.
I never thought that I would see a scene that I will never forget.
Neighbors... playmates...
Mother... and Father
were all lying in pools of blood,
which was too thick that it was turning dark.
From far away, it really looked like a blood bath.
Actually, everyone has his own story.
Just because I don't say it, doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt.
So you were brought to the Afterlife Camp and trained to be an assassin, right?
Let's leave the things of the past in the past.
If you can't let go of the things of the past, you can't move forward.
I've told you all these things not to show you how pitiful I am,
but I hope that you can be like me and press on forward. You will see the hope.
Your Highness, please come here.
Please help me.
This is great! Our scarecrow is finished.
Meng Feng, thank you.
You did it yourself.
Why do you have to thank me?
Starting today, I am going be the scarecrow of this Meilin Pass.
I will protect this land.
Come. Come.
Drink. Drink. Fill it up.
Good. Good. Do it faster.
Hurry. Hurry. Come.
Hurry up.
Bring the wine.
Okay. Hurry.
Fill all up.
Are you ready yet?
The Xiuli Army has been setting camp here these past days.
At most, they will just patrol private rounds. There is no strange movement.
Since Mr. Yue wants us to secretly monitor,
he must have his reasons. Be patient.
[Seal of the Emperor]
Deploy us to Xiuli Mountain? How come I've never heard Miss mention this?
What's wrong? Look clearly.
This is His Highness' order.
Do you, the whole Xiuli army, only listens to Chu Qiao, not His Highness?
General Cheng, that's not what I meant.
But the Xiuli Army are made up of elite and strong soldiers.
Elite and strong soldiers?
It really is, huh?
Hongchuan City, North Shuo City, and later Chang'an City
were all almost lost in your hands back then.
You all are indeed intelligent and capable
with outstanding skills.
General Cheng, saying this, what do you mean?
I'm just telling it as it is.
I think you're here to stir up trouble!
What thing are you?
I'm talking to He Xiao. Is it your place to interrupt?
You!
General Cheng, since it's His Highness's command, we will obey.
But can we wait until Miss Chu comes back so we can say goodbye before we leave?
There's no need for that.
The order of His Highness is that you all must immediately leave. It is because your army is severely lacking in men.
Once you arrive at Xiuli Mountain, immediately merge into the guards there.
The troop name, Xiuli Army, will be immediately destroyed.
Jiang Teng, go out and take down their army flag. Destroy it now!
Yes, sir!
Stay right there!
Stop it! Stay there!
What are you doing?
Brothers!
Everyone back up! Everyone back up!
- I'm going to beat you up! - Go back.
Let go of me!
- Calm down! - A warrior can be killed but not insulted!
Look at me! You must not go against your superior.
If you all really are people who knows how to be ashamed, you should know
that the most shameful thing in the whole Xiuli Army is this army flag.
In the past, your army destroyed the old Duke of Northern Yan and caused our Northern Yan to suffer a devastating loss against the Wei Army.
The citizens of Hongchuan and North Shuo, these two cities, were also brought harm by you.
And when you all were unable to continue living in Chang'an recently,
you turned your plans on His Highness.
And also, just to continue an ignoble existence, you all actually relied on a woman?
I am a person with indomitable spirit and I feel nauseated to be on the same team as you guys.
Cheng Yuan, whether our Xiuli Army is loyal or not is not for you to determine.
When the army of Yuan Qi came to attack,
you did not distinguish between enemies or allies and just abandoned the city to escape.
Afterwards, you even let your own brother die for you.
Indomitable spirit?
You are overpraising yourself.
Regarding being on the same team as us,
we also disdain to be on the same team as you.
Currently, His Highness only told us to withdraw back to Xiuli Mountain and didn't mention anything else.
Cheng Yuan! I urge you to return the army flag to me!
You better not cross my bottom line.
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 heaven and earth ♫
♫ The red spider lily blooms again ♫
♫ To burn into a light ray of the horizon ♫
♫ The red spider lily blooms again ♫