(Are You The One)
(Episode 25)
Sir, it's been an hour, and Ms. Liu is still in there.
Go take a look.
Sir, this leads to the back street.
My lord, look, we found a tuft of animal fur.
My lord, this could be the rumored White Deer.
It's an auspicious sign and the mandate of heaven, my lord.
My Lord, there's an assassin!
- My lord! - Protect the prince!
My lord, my lord!
You missed. The second one will fail.
Move aside.
- He has many guards with him. - Chase them.
If they catch up, I won't be able to protect you.
Come with me now.
Stop looking. It's just me.
Your Majesty, Prince Sui has men block
all the exits down the mountain.
It'd be hard for Ms. Liu to escape the search.
There's one place that can keep you safe.
It's just a bit off from the heart.
Cui Xingzhou, was it you?
Yes, it was me.
My Lord, you're so narrow-minded.
My arrow missed by accident.
How was I to know you'd run into it from so far away?
I still wanted to reconcile with you.
You madman.
Reconcile?
Do you really think I don't know about the matter in Zhenzhou?
Fine, I'd like to know
how you plan to reconcile this matter with me.
What are you standing there for?
Lord Huaiyang encountered a wild beast during the Spring Hunt and died unexpectedly.
Take him down.
My lord, have you thought it through?
Do I need to hesitate to take down you?
What if the Grand Empress Dowager knew that
the Xizhou conflict was caused by her own son?
My lord, do you not care about this matter either?
Thousands of souls perished in Xizhou.
My lord, have you truly calculated everything so well
that there are no flaws?
Let me tell you the truth, I have already prepared the secret letter.
Today,
if I cannot walk out of this hunting ground safely,
what you did in Xizhou will be presented to the Grand Empress Dowager.
By then, what will the imperial relatives think?
Will they still let you have your way?
My lord.
How dare you threaten me?
If you do not believe it, you can try.
Let's see if you can risk it all,
or if I, the madman, can risk it all.
My lord, your injury is too severe. Please return to the camp for treatment first.
Then we'll search for any other accomplices.
Let's go.
My lord.
My lord, you need to recuperate for a few days.
I will now prescribe some medicine for you.
Leave.
Make them all leave.
Yes.
You all leave as well.
Thank you, my lord.
Pei.
You were fine when you went out just now.
What happened?
Uncle, you're injured. Do not move too much.
Great grandmother, do not worry, take care of yourself.
What exactly happened?
I was careless
and injured by a beast.
Yes.
His Lordship has ordered a search in the camp
to prevent that beast from harming the imperial family members.
Therefore, I failed to protect His Lordship. Please forgive us, Your Majesty.
Great grandmother, do not worry, take care of yourself.
Your health is the most important.
Yes, yes.
No wonder it was so noisy outside. What a horrifying thing.
How is the Grand Empress Dowager?
His Majesty is worried that
the Grand Empress Dowager is overly distressed.
He has ordered the Imperial Guards to escort all the ladies back to the palace.
I see.
But my clothes got wet earlier.
I'm afraid it will take some time to dry.
No problem, I will wait outside.
Actually, Ms. Liu, you're not quite as I imagined.
The plums and willows dance in the breeze.
I originally thought you would be a quiet and charming begonia.
Although my name is Miantang,
I have nothing to do with this luxurious flower.
But Lady Shi, you surprised me.
Really?
His Majesty sent me here
without leaving a single word.
But you remained calm and composed.
I'm impressed by the daughter of a military general.
That's because I trust His Majesty.
Naturally, I also trust the women favored by His Majesty.
Trust is a precious thing.
I also hope to be like you, Lady Shi,
to meet someone who can be trusted.
Your Majesty, the scout reports that Lord Huaiyang confessed
to shooting the arrow to Prince Sui.
No one else can know this.
Understood.
(When did you make the decision?)
(You were just afraid of missing the opportunity for the Spring Hunt.)
(You didn't intend to hide it from me on purpose, right?)
So, you never fully trusted me from the beginning.
Your Majesty kept finding excuses to delay. You're not truly seeking revenge.
Aren't you also deceiving me?
I just wanted to keep you here first, so you wouldn't act impulsively.
Miantang, even for a moment,
did you ever think of staying for me?
I came to the capital only for revenge.
Besides that, there is no reason for me to stay by your side.
I did admire you once.
I do not doubt
nor deny our past.
Then why did everything suddenly change?
It didn't change suddenly.
When you intended to cooperate with Prince Sui,
I knew that what you and I wanted was fundamentally different.
Our lives only briefly overlapped.
In the end, neither of us will change for the other.
Today's events are the best proof of that.
A missed strike means there will be no second chance.
From now on, Prince Sui will only be more guarded.
And today, I missed out on the best opportunity.
If I want to act again in the future, it will come at a greater cost.
Then I will risk my life to protect you.
As long as you are willing to stay with me, I...
But every time I see you in the future, I will remember today and this moment,
just like I will always remember the Night of the Shangsi Festival.
You knew Prince Sui was trying to win you over.
Yet you let those men who shared hardships with you die overnight.
- I.. - You wouldn't do anything wrong.
Because you weigh the pros and cons.
But Lu Wen is a person who acts on his emotions.
Different paths lead to different destinations.
(Ziyu, let go.)
The Council of Examination, on this day I take the throne,
I hereby make my father, Late Crown Prince Xiao, Emperor Xiaozong
and my legitimate mother, Madam Cao, Empress Dowager.
The Empress is to be respectfully conferred by the Grand Empress Dowager's decree.
The inner court is to be treated with great respect,
as the state has its established rituals.
With virtue already complete in the palace, the rank should match its dignity and power.
Madam Sun, you embody the virtues of humility and obedience,
following the teachings of your mentors.
You are cautious and dignified.
From a noble lineage, yet you do not abuse your power.
You are humble and radiate brilliance.
You have the law in your mind and abide by it.
You lead by example and set a precedent. I hereby make you...
Empress, Empress.
Consort Xian.
You shall execute my decree.
Consort Xian, please accept the decree quickly.
Also, you should change out of this red dress.
A rose-red color would be more suitable for you,
Your Ladyship.
Lady Shi, you're endowed with grace and virtue.
You serve both palaces and manage all affairs,
upholding ancient traditions, and leading by example.
You're not boastful in appearance, and humble in speech.
Hence you can be made the Empress.
The ministries shall select an auspicious day for the ceremony and execute my decree.
Thanks to Your Majesty's favor.
It is the fortune of my daughter and my entire family.
I bow to Your Majesty's great kindness.
My dear father-in-law.
No need for such formalities.
Yes.
Congratulations, Your Majesty.
Congratulations, Minister Shi.
Is it that carriage?
My lord, we can still catch up if we leave immediately.
(Anhe Gate)
I didn't expect that His Majesty would really let you go.
If it weren't for his interference,
that old thief Prince Sui wouldn't still be alive and kicking.
Uncle, if you keep talking like this, we won't be able to return to Beizhou.
We might as well spend the rest of our lives in the Heavenly Prison.
Sister, have you really made up your mind?
Once you leave, you will cut ties with the past.
You foolish boy.
Do I look like someone who gives up easily?
Since we can't do anything now,
we might as well leave this place and bide our time.
One day, I will definitely avenge my fallen brothers.
Alright.
Your Majesty.
Sit down.
I thought you would leave with her.
Why make things difficult for myself when I can fulfill her wish?
Before the Spring Hunt, did you know about her plans?
How can an ordinary person like me stop her from what she plans to do?
But you risked offending Prince Sui to save her.
Offending him is no big deal.
For her, I would even offend
Your Majesty without hesitation.
Today, there is a new chess puzzle for you to solve.
When I took the throne, only three or four lords came to pay homage.
None of the powerful lords, except for Prince Sui, came.
They are all watching and waiting.
Some of them surely want to usurp me.
This world is not yet at peace.
Which route should we solve first?
The northern route.
Lord You and Lord Bei are my great uncles. They acted arrogantly and refused to come.
Unlike you, who rushed to the capital for other matters.
I won't make things difficult for you. You should go to Youzhou first.
If Lord You comes to pay homage and pledges loyalty,
he'll be made the Monetary Commissioner for the four regions of the Beijun County.
This is a generous gift.
Monetary Commissioner.
He's Prince Sui's follower.
If Lord You submits,
I can temporarily hold him down and plan further.
Does Your Majesty want to eliminate Prince Sui?
Don't you want to?
Your Majesty's own affairs are being left to an outsider like me to resolve.
You really know how to use people.
The situation is as it is.
Are you going to defy the imperial decree?
I dare not.
I am alone and have no other matters.
I might as well play more chess with Your Majesty.
On the eighth day of the second month in the First Year of Xiyou,
the Emperor issued this edict,
appointing the seventh daughter of the Minister of War, Shi Yikuan, the Empress.
You are to harmonize heaven and earth, as the poem "Guan Ju" begins.
The foundation of the Emperor's benevolence lies in internal support.
Thus, the Emperor's consorts
illuminate the imperial path.
Emulating the virtuous wives,
the Empress should diligently cultivate her virtue
to solemnly serve the Ancestral Temple, reverently manage the royal harem
fully respect the way of women and guide the Six Palaces,
setting an example for the subjects.
(Persevere and achieve greatness) Heaven is impartial.
Only virtue stands. Be cautious.
Bow twice.
Take the seat.
Why do you always avoid looking at me, my empress?
I...
I still have some appeals to review.
You should rest early.
Why me?
I'm foolish. I do not understand
why Your Majesty chose me as the Empress.
Minister Shi is loyal to the monarch and loves the country,
with a family tradition of integrity.
I believe his daughter has inherited this virtue
and is worthy to be my empress.
I understand now.
You have a long day. Are you hungry?
Your Majesty, please speak freely.
I do not wish to hide anything from you.
Choosing your family was indeed part of my current strategy.
I did not dare to have expectations of you, nor will I ever have any.
Along the way, you have shown courage and wisdom,
helping me greatly.
I am very grateful.
Choosing you as the Empress now is indeed for the sake of balancing power.
But I am also truly fortunate that I chose you back then.
I can give you all the honors of the harem.
However...
Your Majesty needs not to say more. I understand.
Your Majesty has always treated me and Yun'er with propriety and respect.
I originally thought it was because Your Majesty was naturally indifferent.
But upon arriving in the capital, Your Majesty often showed genuine joy.
It was not until I met Ms. Liu that I realized
that she is where Your Majesty's heart truly lies.
Your Majesty knows
I have lived under others' mercy since childhood,
with no choice of my own.
I'm grateful to Your Majesty for rescuing me from my predicament.
I'm even more grateful to Your Majesty for being honest today.
I have already made up my mind.
I know my place in the palace.
The wedding ceremony is complete. Please rest assured, Your Majesty.
From now on, I will fully support Your Majesty
and fulfill my duties as Empress.
My empress is obedient, sensible, gentle, and virtuous.
I'm very much at ease.
State affairs are important. Your Majesty should not waste your time here.
Please return to Qinying Hall early.
You're right.
What kind of medicinal herbs do you need?
You have quite a lot here.
I'll take them all.
- Alright. - They're mine.
Alright, alright, take care, sir.
Take a look.
Dried goods.
Take a look.
- Sir, have a look. - These are all top-quality dried goods.
- They're fresh. - Yes.
How many are there in total?
- Three bags. - I'll take them all.
- Alright. - Keep them for me.
Alright.
Take a look.
Buns.
Take a look.
Uncle.
Miantang, we've been detouring west
from the capital for so long.
Are you really not in a hurry to return to Beizhou?
I'm in a hurry.
I'm in a hurry to make a big profit and return with dignity.
We're innocent now.
I agree to make more money and return with dignity and glory.
But right now,
the lords have not yet pledged allegiance to the new emperor.
Look at this situation. All these merchants are detained here.
They've been in this rundown town for days.
Even if we buy their goods at a low price, we can't transport them back to Xizhou.
Are we really going to wait until the river route opens?
So we won't cross the river.
We buy goods at low prices and sell them to the western tribes.
Rare goods are sought-after.
Again with the western tribes.
Xizhou is currently suppressing the remnants of A Gushan.
There are soldiers guarding all the passes along the way.
There is a shortcut.
Look, uncle.
Feitang Valley is easy to enter but strict to exit.
Plus, with foggy weather, we can come and go more freely.
How do you know this?
Previously, the decisive battle between the Zhenzhou Army
and the western tribes took place there.
Now, the first three passes of Xizhou have been recaptured.
I am certain that the place is now lightly guarded.
The battle is over for now.
The people of the western tribes need clothes and medicine,
don't they?
Few merchants go there and I am familiar with the area.
When the trade route opens, we will surely make a fortune.
Therefore, doing business in the northwest
is the best choice.
What if we get caught by patrolling soldiers?
You are the most daring in our family.
In the past, you even dared to smuggle iron ore.
Why are you now hesitant about common goods like oil,
rice, clothes, and medicine?
When have I ever been hesitant?
I am just worried that you might lose your way.
That's right.
This is the Qiulin Xian I know, wild and free, roaming the world.
Yes, wild.
Uncle, why are you laughing?
I'm just feeling emotional. We've gone through so much,
but my niece is still the girl with light in her eyes.
Uncle, I have come out of it.
My lord, the scouts from the northwest
have brought news about the Madam.
They said Ms. Liu went to the western tribes a few days ago for business.
No need to tell me these things.
My lord, the clothes have been washed and ironed.
Where should I put them?
Why are all these new?
Where is my old cloak?
That one got ruined in the wash. I threw it away.
Merchants don't seek official duties, or wear clothes with a crane.
It's an eagle.
Who told you to throw it away?
I'm asking you, who told you to throw it away?
The stitching on that one was rough.
Then I ruined it while washing it.
I thought you wouldn't wear it anymore, so I threw it away.
Go find it for me right now.
If you can't find it, you're fired.
Yes.
(Medicine)
What would you like?
Look at this quality.
- This one, it's great. - I'll take this one.
- This is good. - Take a look.
These are all fresh.
Come, wrap this up.
- Would you like some? - Then give me a piece.
Wrap this up.
- Here. - Uncle, this is selling well.
- Add a bit more. - This one.
Lu Yi.
- A bit more of this. - Alright.
Good.
Take a look.
Come on, take a look.
Young man, I see you've been busy all day. You should take a break.
Why not join me for a drink?
(Tea)
So robust.
Adorable.
Here, have a drink.
Okay.
I've often heard the Qi people say
that time is like fleeting clouds, and it makes sense.
We haven't seen each other for months.
The mastiffs of the western tribes have grown quite a bit.
You could say that.
Actually, I came yesterday
and already inquired about you, Princess Chunyue from the clan.
I planned to visit you after I finish my business.
Where is your husband? Still in the military camp?
Be careful of your husband.
I took your advice and divorced him.
Well done.
Back then, I chose to become a merchant
within the pass to avoid the tribal disaster.
Even if he doesn't drive me away, my child and I won't stay for long.
Drink.
Speaking of your previous husband,
he was quite good-looking, so you didn't lose out.
You will find someone even better.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to open a trade route with you, so we can prosper together.
Sure.
The iron ore in these mountains is endless. Let's continue this business.
That cold, hard stuff is better left buried in the ground.
How about we start a new business?
(Beizhou)
My lord, I found your cloak.
My lord,
the cloak.
Since it's torn, throw it away.
Yes.
Welcome, Lord Huaiyang, to Youzhou. You've traveled so far.
These are some modest gifts. I hope you like them.
Pour the wine.
Everyone, let's toast to the Lord You.
To Lord You!
My lord, if we could have reached the capital in time,
we would probably be sharing an imperial banquet
with His Majesty right now.
You wouldn't have...
Come, everyone.
To host us rough men.
I am just a minor lord without ambition.
Back when the Wu clan was in power,
I stayed in Youzhou and didn't get involved in imperial court affairs.
Now, I should be even more content and keep to myself.
To be honest with you,
I only hope for the residents of Youzhou to live peacefully.
I wish nothing more.
Others may not understand me.
But you should deeply understand it, right?
I quite agree with you.
I never expected to find a bosom friend here.
Someone, bring wine for everyone.
Let's drink together.
Alright.
- Come on, let's drink. - Cheers.
My lord.
Let me toast to you again.
- I really... - My lord.
The wine in the army is strong. A small sip is enough. Don't harm your health.
No, no, no.
My lord, your choice to drink or not.
- Cheers. - Cheers, cheers.
The army is really not a good place for conversation.
We are friends.
If we can find a place with beautiful scenery in the future,
it would be a blessing to chat about our ambitions.
Unfortunately,
I have important duties and must depart tomorrow.
What a pity.
No, no.
My lord, Lord You has sent a great gift.
My lord.
By the order of Lord You, I've come to serve you, my lord.
Please do not disdain me.
Lord You does have a unique way of showing hospitality.
If I do anything inadequately,
- please, My Lord... - Don't move.
You're not undressing, right?
Lord You is so...
Alright, stay.