♪The white sail came too late♪
♪Where did he go?♪
♪Snow veils the mountains♪
♪Love endures beyond life and death♪
♪A black chess piece♪
♪Whose game did he stumble into?♪
♪All his life, there's no escape♪
♪In ten thousand years, what will still remain?♪
♪Will anyone still love with an unchanging heart?♪
♪I will remember♪
♪Those days long past♪
♪As the wind drifts with the white sail♪
♪Ten thousand years ago♪
♪Did you once walk this shore?♪
♪Why can't our bond be severed in this life?♪
♪I am lost yet willing♪
♪Still I love you with a steadfast heart♪
♪Until all things fade away♪
♪The stars will remember us♪
[Love & Crown]
[Adapted from the novel "My Queen" by Xie Lounan]
[Episode 25]
You may go.
I don't like you.
It's fine if Your Highness doesn't care for me.
But before Commander Li left,
he asked me to bring you a message.
Would you like to hear it?
What is it?
Commander Li told me to remind you that
as long as you keep calm,
don't hit anyone,
and behave yourself,
the flower
will soon be in bloom.
That's not right.
Your Highness.
That is indeed Commander Li's message.
What's wrong with it?
You didn't say it
as nicely as he did.
Then, Your Highness,
about this meal...
I'll behave.
I'll eat it.
Her Majesty arrives!
- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!
What brings you here?
I came out for some air,
and thought I'd stop by to check on you.
I'm here now.
Dismissed.
Yes.
I know why you've come.
You were afraid I'd be angry.
Don't worry.
I was a little angry just now,
but I've already forgiven you.
Forgiven us?
Why?
It's a secret.
I'm not telling you.
It seems our Princess Ying has
grown more poised and gracious,
and far more considerate.
When will Hongqing be able to return?
Well, I don't know either.
However,
I believe that as long as you behave,
and wait for Commander Li's return,
His Majesty will surely have a surprise for you.
All right.
I'll trust you.
Of course you should trust me.
Oh, Your Majesty,
if I receive a gift from Hongqing,
shouldn't I send one in return?
Naturally.
What gift in this world is the best?
In this world,
there is no such thing as the "best" gift.
As long as your heart is in it,
that makes it the best.
My heart...
Does it mean
a gift made with my own hands would be better?
Yes.
I know what I want to give him.
So,
Princess Ying summoned
the palace maid who sent Li Hongqing that sachet,
and she could learn how to make one herself.
Yes.
My younger sister has always held grudges.
It is no small feat for her
to come this far.
Indeed.
I wonder if things are going smoothly on Li Hongqing's side.
Hongqing has always been meticulous.
Put your mind at ease.
I just hope they all return safely.
But truth be told,
this sachet is quite ugly.
Actually, Princess Ying hasn't finished
making the sachet she intends for Li Hongqing.
This is the one
I made for Your Majesty.
I came to ask what kind of fragrance
you'd prefer.
But since Your Majesty dislikes it,
then I'll take it back.
Why would I dislike it?
I only glanced at it and missed the details.
With a closer look,
your hands are as skilled as ever.
Your stitching could rival the palace embroiderers.
Do you mean that?
Of course.
I...
I like it a great deal.
Glad to hear that.
Our little princess
has given her heart
to Li Hongqing,
and is still waiting for the flower to bloom.
And yet,
will she be met with joy or grief?
What are you getting at?
Working with that man
is like playing with fire.
To him, you are nothing
but a piece on the board.
So,
does that trouble you?
A piece can be played
or tossed aside.
Madam, all I want is for you
to live freely, without chains,
not bound to anyone's will.
I know what you're saying.
But there's something important
I need to tell you.
What is it?
The important thing
is that you're still calling me "Madam."
I...
I'm simply used to it.
It's hard to change this habit.
Very well.
Suit yourself.
Some incense
can quiet the mind, soothe the spirit.
Others
can steal a life without a sound.
Do you think the Lingbi Sect
is capable of taking Li Hongqing's life?
Help him.
Yes.
It's a trap.
Go!
Go on ahead.
Quit talking.
You're Li Hongqing.
And what of it?
I've been expecting you!
It's you!
Save it,
just move!
There are too many pursuers.
We need a distraction.
Luo Xianxue,
I'm entrusting Shi Yan to you.
Why trust me?
You chose to save us.
You'd already made your decision.
Get him out of here.
Head for the Capital.
Tell His Majesty and the Empress
about the Lingbi Sect.
Don't worry.
I won't die.
Someone is waiting for my return.
Be careful.
When it blooms,
we'll wander
through mountains and rivers
to see the sea of blossoms.
Your Highness.
Is there news of Hongqing?
Your Highness,
your dinner from the Imperial Kitchens.
Hongqing said
I mustn't bully the weak.
Otherwise, he wouldn't like me anymore.
Then,
allow me to help Your Highness dine.
I'm not eating.
I'm going to His Majesty.
You are not to follow me.
Your Majesty!
What now?
This is...
Li Hongqing's sword.
To save General Shi Yan,
Commander Li lured the Lingbi Sect's elites away
and fell off the cliff to his death.
What?
Did they recover his body?
They searched for two full days and nights.
All they found was his sword.
How could this be...
General Shi Yan said
the Lingbi Sect seemed prepared from the start.
They set up an ambush.
If not for Luo Xianxue,
they would've
all died there.
Luo Xianxue...
Shi Yan must not give up.
He must keep searching for Li Hongqing.
As long as there is no body,
Li Hongqing isn't dead yet.
Yes.
Wait.
Princess Ying
must never find out.
Yes.
What can't I know?
I heard everything.
Is Hongqing dead?
Xiao Ying...
Listen to me.
Did you send Hongqing out there?
You never liked him, so you sent him away on purpose.
You just wanted him gone!
That's not true.
Don't touch me!
You're the one who killed him.
I will never
forgive you!
Your Highness!
Your Majesty,
what should we do?
When she loses her temper,
there's no telling what she'll do.
Summon
the Prince of Yuzhang here.
As you wish.
- Princess Ying! - Princess Ying!
- Your Highness. - Princess Ying!
Where is the princess?
Princess Ying!
- Your Highness, - Princess Ying!
Princess Ying returned an hour ago.
She looked terribly upset.
And then she vanished.
A bunch of fools.
Princess Ying!
- Search over there with me! - Yes!
Princess Ying!
This way!
You, search there!
Princess Ying!
Princess Ying, where are you?
Ying.
What kind of flower is this?
Let me see it, will you?
Qianqing.
Come.
Ying.
It's all right.
I will plant it for you.
I promise it'll be just the same.
It will bloom, I swear.
I can't get angry.
I can't hit or scold anyone.
Or else Hongqing won't like me anymore.
Ying, stop it.
I can't get angry.
I can't hit or scold anyone.
Or else Hongqing won't like me anymore.
But I can't hold it in. What do I do?
Get out!
I want you to leave!
I can't get angry.
I mustn't get angry.
If I get angry,
the flower won't bloom.
I can't get angry.
I mustn't get angry.
If I get angry,
the flower won't bloom.
I can't get angry...
Li Hongqing isn't coming back.
You and Li Hongqing bought tanghulu in the market.
He bought this pot of flowers for you.
It's actually a Blaze Blossom.
When it blooms, it's brilliant.
A symbol of freedom.
He hoped you'd always live happy and unbound.
He put his heart into everything he did for you.
Stop talking.
I'm not angry.
I can't get angry.
I mustn't get angry.
You've tended to this flower so carefully,
waiting for it to bloom,
hoping he'd see it when he came back.
Isn't that right?
If I get angry, Hongqing won't like me anymore.
I can't be angry.
Li Hongqing is dead.
Even if the flower blooms,
there's no one left to cherish you.
You're lying!
Hongqing won't die.
He won't.
He's dead.
And it was His Majesty who killed him.
- I didn't think anything of the sort... - You want to kill him.
Stop talking.
- Be quiet. - You want to kill him.
- I wasn't thinking that! - Kill him.
Kill him!
Kill His Majesty!
Avenge your dear Hongqing!
Kill His Majesty!
Avenge your dear Hongqing!
I'm going to kill him.
He must die.
I must avenge Hongqing.
I must kill him.
I thought Your Majesty
was about to remove the cloak
and drape it over me.
Why haven't you returned home?
Worried about Ying?
Lately,
my right eyelid keeps twitching.
Something isn't sitting right in my heart.
This is the only jug of wine I have left.
I was hoping it'd last me till morning.
Don't be late
for tomorrow's court session.
Minister Xing will be presenting the waterworks funding proposal.
I'll need your support.
Do you intend to work me to the bone,
and have me serve till death?
It's for the sake of Great Qi.
Here, Prince of Yuzhang.
You've done well.
I only have one younger sister.
She may be a little wild,
but she's the apple of my eye.
I understand.
I haven't given up on Li Hongqing.
I believe
he won't meet his demise so easily.
Wufu.
Yes.
Prepare a brazier for the Prince of Yuzhang.
At once.
Ying.
Why won't you come in?
I wouldn't dare.
You said no one was allowed inside.
I couldn't bear the consequences
of invoking your anger.
I'm fine now.
Truly?
Ying.
I promise you
that Li Hongqing will be all right.
And the flower will bloom.
Ying,
you'll have happiness in life.
Yes.
The Blaze Blossom
will bloom.
You...
You know what flower it is now?
Princess Ying is preparing to awaken the Dual-Pupil Art?
Yes.
I've heard
that art exists only in legends.
Everything is progressing as planned.
The Dual-Pupil Art is terrifyingly powerful,
and Princess Ying is now
slowly losing her sanity.
She's ready to drag him down with her if she must.
These past days,
I've tampered
with His Majesty's pills.
Just enough to leave him drowsy,
and none the wiser.
But tell me,
has Princess Ying ever seen your true face?
She shouldn't recognize me.
These next few days,
I'll keep a close watch on her.
[Poison Toad]
[Devoid of Delusion]
Sir.
Everything is prepared.
Are you certain
this will cure me?
Madam has said
she'd rid you of your suffering once and for all.
Very well.
Let's begin.
Yes, sir.
You're awake.
How long was I asleep?
An hour.
Your Majesty has been overworked lately.
It's normal to be drowsy now and then.
You summoned Mr. Li Chengtian.
He'll be here shortly.
I'll fetch some Zixue Pills
to help you stay alert.
All right.
You don't know where Princess Ying has gone?
Her Majesty had chicken soup prepared for her.
It won't taste good once it's cold.
I really don't know.
Lately, the princess has stayed in her chamber.
No one is allowed in.
But today, for some reason, she's not there.
We're searching as well.
It's fine.
We'll wait for her in her chamber, then.
She'll return eventually.
Your Majesty,
the princess forbids lighting a fire inside.
It's a bit cold within.
It's all right.
Your Majesty.
Ying.
Why are you here?
Did you find Hongqing?
Not yet.
But I haven't given up.
The fact that we haven't found his body
also proves
that Li Hongqing is still alive.
You're lying to me.
I'm not.
Is it because
you hate seeing me in love with Hongqing?
Did you send him to his death?
Did you want him dead?
I did not.
Why would I do such a thing?
You've never liked me since we were children.
You wanted me dead.
You wanted the fire to burn me alive.
Ying, calm down.
Do not call me that!
Only Hongqing can call me that.
Shall I summon the Prince of Yuzhang?
Believe me or not,
I am your brother as well.
I want you to be happy too.
And I hope that one day
you'll let me care for you.
If Your Majesty truly cares for me...
Promise me one thing,
will you?
Certainly.
Tell me.
Look at this table. It's so messy, and no one cleaned it.
These servants all deserve a beating.
Judging by this sight,
the princess hasn't slept in her bed
for quite some time.
The eunuchs said
she'd barely eaten these days.
She stopped eating and sleeping over Li Hongqing.
If this goes on,
it will take a toll on her body.
And who knows what she does
when shut up in here all day.
Something here has been moved.
Why would she shift the carpet?
Your Majesty!
The figure wearing the crown
is
His Majesty?
Guards!
Your Majesty.
Where is His Majesty now?
Likely in Wuying Hall.
Notify General Lu.
Deliver my decree.
Summon the Prince of Yuzhang.
The rest of you, come with me to Wuying Hall.
Yes.
Your Majesty!
It's alright.
Just die,
all right?
Die!
Your Majesty!
Princess Ying!
Stop at once!
- General Lu! - General Lu!
- Are you injured? - General Lu!
Don't come any closer!
The Empress?
I think I might like you a little.
Forgive me.
He's the one Li Hongqing loved and respected most!
No.
The one he loved most was me.
He's followed His Majesty since he was nine.
If you kill him,
Li Hongqing will never forgive you!
Xiao Ying.
Do you still remember
what Li Hongqing promised you?
If you wish,
I'll take you out of the palace
to see the sea of blossoms.
If I wish,
he'll take me to see the flowers.
That's right.
He promised you
you'd see the flowers.
But if you kill His Majesty now,
that wish will never come true.
Liar.
I'm not lying.
If Li Hongqing stood here today,
he wouldn't want to see you like this.
If you kill the one he respects most,
then you will never
see him again.
Shut up!
Your Majesty.
Are you all right?
Cangcang...
Cangcang!
- Your Highness. - Your Highness.
[Wuying Hall]
Your Highness.
Ying.
Ying!
Ying, are you hurt?
Ying?
Ying.
Why would you do this?
Tell me.
Why did you do this?
And His Majesty?
How is he?
Your Highness,
His Majesty is safe.
However,
Her Majesty...
I deserve punishment.
Nothing would atone for this.
Where are they?
Sent to Linghe Hall.
Imperial Physician Li is there.
Eunuch Feng and the others
were likely struck by Ying's Enfeebling Dust.
The cold palace should have the antidote.
One more thing.
If the Empress Dowager arrives,
you must stop her.
Do not let her near Linghe Hall.
Yes.
You brat.
Get some rest.
When will the Empress be out of danger?
Her Majesty miscarried and lost too much blood.
But her constitution is strong.
If she wakes, she should recover.
And if she doesn't wake?
You brat.
You must keep a clear head.
A clear head?
My child is gone.
My empress remains unconscious.
How do you expect me to be calm?
Now,
my child is gone.
The Empress is bleeding out, clinging to life.
All thanks to your dear little sister.
I deserve
a thousand deaths.
You need not die.
But Xiao Ying
must pay the price.
It's my fault for failing to guide her.
Punish me instead.
Will you die in her place too?
Your Majesty, I beg you.
Please spare her life.
In return, you will have
my unconditional loyalty.
Get out.
I don't want to see you again.
You brat.
Get some rest.
If Her Majesty wakes up,
you shouldn't be the one who falls sick.
Why isn't the Empress awake yet?
I checked her pulse just now.
It's still steady and strong.
Give her a little more time.
♪The cold breeze dissipates♪
♪The flying snow♪
♪Leaving no traces of it...♪
Your Majesty,
Prince of Yuzhang is still kneeling outside.
Let him kneel all he wants.
♪Gently♪
♪We loved with all our hearts♪
♪And softly, under flickering flames, we fell from the heavens♪
♪When our story♪
♪Is sung again in spring♪
♪May tomorrow's homeland♪
♪Be awash in morning light♪
[Linghe Hall]
♪When our story♪
♪Is sung again in spring♪
♪May tomorrow's homeland♪
♪Be awash in morning light♪
Cangcang.
You're awake.
Your Majesty.
Were you hurt?
I am all right.
I am safe and sound.
I'm glad to hear that.
♪Who walks lone through storm and snow♪
♪Reading every warmth and chill♪
♪Of the heart?♪
♪Who stands proud against a thousand weights♪
♪Grace only a mask he wears?♪
♪My blade sweeps the heavens♪
♪Blood once drenched♪
♪My armor and charging steed♪
♪I know what it means to let go♪
♪When to step in, when to hold back♪
♪A broken blade cuts through♪
♪Years of winter and summer♪
♪Enemy flags burn to ash like gauze♪
♪Yet my heart still bears the scars of rise and fall♪
♪I'm willing to wield my sword with you and burn the waning moon♪
♪I'm willing to brave all storms with you, boiling with passion♪
♪I'm willing to break my wings and become the blade in your hand♪
♪I'm willing to write with you this torn, enduring page of history♪
♪I'm willing to travel thousands of miles, seeking your ambition♪
♪I'm willing to give my life to keep you safe for a lifetime♪
♪I'm willing to sing through every farewell and wait for you another thousand years♪