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[General And I]
[Episode 9]
I grew up in Prince of Jing An's Manor.
The prince and princess treated me as if I were their daughter.
You also treated me kindly.
As long as you don't drive me away
I'm willing to stay forever by your side.
Good.
When you see Chu Bei Jie, could you kill him?
Ping Ting...
Look at how frightened you seem.
I should be the one to kill Chu Bei Jie.
It has nothing to do with you.
All right.
I think that none of this food is to your liking.
I'll get Dong Zhuo to hire a new cook tomorrow.
Get some rest.
But Young Master...
All right now.
I know what you wish to ask.
I will tell you about it gradually.
What is the matter?
Stop frowning.
You won't look pretty if you frown.
Take your medication and rest well.
I'll get going.
Don't see me out. It's very windy out there.
- Young Master. - Come here.
Young Master.
Clear this place out immediately.
Don't leave any traces behind.
Ping Ting has detected something amiss.
Young Master.
Why won't you tell Sister Ping Ting about what we are planning?
Did you not see how she was staring at the sword Soul Taker?
That is...
Young Master.
I don't understand what that means.
If you don't, then stop asking.
Clean out everything before sunrise. Quickly!
Yes!
Stop moving things in!
Move them all out now!
Quickly! Hurry up!
[Yan State]
Report!
Your Majesty! Bad news!
You're in such a panic.
What is the matter?
Your Majesty.
Flags of Jin State were all planted on 15 of our copper mines overnight!
Our cavalry guarding the mines have all been stripped naked
and tied to the flag poles.
What?
Who did that?
That is...
Investigate that right away!
Yes!
There's no need for that.
Chu Bei Jie?
Your Majesty doesn't seem to like your old friend.
Step out.
Stand guard at the door.
Yes.
Chu Bei Jie greets King of Yan.
If Prince of Zhenbei wishes to visit me
you could have informed me in advance with a letter.
I would send my men to welcome you in.
Isn't it a lot of work to sneak in here?
Your Majesty's inner court guards are quite polite to me.
How hard could it be to get in?
Was it you at the copper mines?
How is it any of Your Majesty's concern what I do with my own mines?
Those 15 copper mines were to be exchanged for Bai Ping Ting.
Sima Hong broke his promise and intercepted her on her way here.
I haven't even questioned you for it
and yet here you are stirring up trouble in Yan State first?
What now?
Could Yan State fear you?
You exchanged a huge sum of money for Bai Ping Ting
only for the sake of the military manual to keep Yan State safe!
Just empty talk won't do the trick.
The key to victory lies in the power of the nation.
I believe that Your Majesty is well aware of that.
Now, I'm willing to come to an agreement with Bai Ping Ting.
Our army won't invade Yan State for five years.
For the next five years
you can settle into your throne and build up your armament.
Does Your Majesty like such a pragmatic deal?
You would agree to that?
Should Great Jin keep this promise
Your Majesty would have what you wanted.
As for those 15 copper mines, shouldn't you return them to Great Jin?
Sister Ping Ting.
The medication is ready.
Have it while it's hot.
What medication is this? It's so bitter.
I know that you don't like it bitter
so I already had your favorite candied fruits on the side.
Is it nice?
It's really tasty.
Dong Zhuo is still the best.
Are there always so many guards here in this residence?
Them?
Young Master specially assigned them to keep you safe.
Whoever barges in here won't be able to take you away.
When I was staying in Hua Residence, I had that many people guarding me.
Who knew that it would be the same here?
Come to think of it, I'm quite precious.
How could it be the same?
Chu Bei Jie married you by force.
He's no more than a monster.
Young Master cares for you.
Your safety is his top priority.
Otherwise, why would Young Master let Chu Bei Jie off at Swallow's Cliff?
Dong Zhuo.
Do you hate Chu Bei Jie that much as well?
I do.
How could I not hate him?
I wish I were some evil spirit that could tear him into shreds.
His hands are stained with all the blood shed in Prince of Jing An's Manor.
While you have been away
I witnessed the agony that Young Master went through.
When we heard that he had you kidnapped
Young Master was so furious that he hacked off
half of all the branches in the woods.
He cut himself so badly that his hands and body were bloody.
If we don't get rid of such a vicious man
are we to let him keep causing harm to the world?
Don't you hate him?
He... He ruined your reputation
and nearly had you beheaded by that darkingor.
You were even tortured by the evil consort.
You should be the one who hates him the most!
Dong Zhuo, answer me.
Where did you go with Young Master last night?
That is...
You don't wish to tell me?
Or you can't tell me?
Sister Ping Ting
why would you suddenly ask me about that?
Fine, then I won't ask about that.
Answer another question.
Why did you pretend to be Liang State soldiers?
How did you know about that?
I've served Young Master since I was young.
I know all about his habits.
I saw that he wore the military uniform of Liang State as a coat yesterday
and beside, none of the soldiers in the residence seem to be from Yan State.
Their accent sounds more like that of Bai Lan State.
The storage is also stocked with plenty of Jin State's
state-operated commercial goods.
What exactly is going on?
This is...
I can't tell you.
Just stop asking me about it.
You can't even tell me?
When did you both start treating me as an outsider?
Why do you have to keep me in the dark about matters that you all know of?
Ping Ting, please don't be mad at me.
I... It isn't that I don't wish to tell you.
It's just that... I...
All right.
I won't put you in a tight spot.
I will ask Young Master myself.
Young Master is away on an errand.
He might not make it here today.
I... I also have matters to attend to.
I... I have to get going now.
Young Master.
Young Master, why won't you see Sister Ping Ting?
Dong Zhuo, why do you have so many questions?
Your Sister Ping Ting is no longer the Bai Ping Ting
you knew in Prince of Jing An's Manor.
Her affection...
It now lies elsewhere.
Your Highness.
Are we to get some rest at an inn tonight?
We rode only with light gear so that we could travel swiftly.
- Delay no further. - Yes.
I will get some rations for the journey.
- Could Your Highness wait here for me? - Sure.
Mountains green, roads afar...
Little one.
What song is it that you're singing?
This is the Song of Return that everyone in Yan State knows.
- Winds breezy... - Song of Return?
Bugs chimed.
Mountains green, roads afar.
Moon hangs on the branches.
Winds breezy, bugs chimed.
When will you return?
Smoke of kitchen chimney at home rises.
Chasing after the clouds as they drift.
Bridge over flowing streams at home.
May you return from afar into my dream.
Master gave orders that Miss Bai is not to leave this house.
We have to ask for permission. We're not allowed to let you out.
Sister Ping Ting.
Dong Zhuo!
Let go of her.
They won't let me go out.
Sister Ping Ting, what is the matter?
Dong Zhuo.
Did you just hear someone playing the flute outside the house?
It was Yan State's Song of Return.
I...
I didn't hear anything at all.
Ping Ting.
Are you wounded along with your hearing...
That's impossible.
I can't have misheard it.
I really didn't hear a sound.
Did you not sleep well last night?
Mo Ran, check to see who lives in this residence.
Yes!
Sister Ping Ting, it's best for you to go to your room.
Tell Young Master this.
I am no prisoner of his.
Will he lock me away in here for life?
Ping Ting... I...
[Jin State]
Invite Princess Yao Tian of Bai Lan State in to seek audience!
Stop right there!
Here in the imperial hall, no one is allowed to carry weapons.
Please remove all your weapons.
Your Majesty.
By the military law of Bai Lan State
all military men are to carry weapons when they are out of the state.
Daughter of Bai Lan State Yao Tian greets the king of Great Jin State.
I've long heard that Jin State is a state of etiquette.
I was blessed with the hospitality
of Your Majesty on my way here.
I'm grateful for such courtesy.
I'm willing to greet Your Majesty with the most formal greeting
of Bai Lan State to repay your kindness.
Your Highness is of a prestigious status. Do not stand on such ceremony.
Rise quickly.
Thank you for your graciousness, Your Majesty.
I have already prepared a banquet to welcome Your Highness.
Please do take a seat.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Here.
I drink a toast to Princess Yao Tian.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Bai Lan State is bound to Great Jin.
We are sister states.
I've long admired Your Majesty for your wisdom
and your governance of civil as well as military affairs.
I've wanted to pay you a visit.
It's a pity that I have been living in another state all this time
and hence failed to do so.
It was my regret.
Today, I finally get the chance to be here.
It pleases me greatly.
Unfortunately, as I set out on my journey hastily
I've only prepared some gifts.
Please do accept them.
Lu Yi, present the inventory of gifts.
Yes.
Her Highness has prepared two black jade brush stands
four red jade army daggers with gold scabbards
100 agate beaded bracelets
100 long swords
100 jewel-embellished swords
and 10,000 kilos of rice.
Moreover, it's been said that Your Majesty is very fond of horses.
A Ferghana horse is also gifted for Your Majesty's pleasure.
Your Majesty.
These are but very common gifts.
I'm afraid that they aren't to your liking.
Your Highness is very thoughtful.
Thoughtfulness is better than any other gift.
I have also prepared a special gift for Your Highness.
Bring it here!
I have ordered a few of our top skilled craftsmen
to tailor a satin robe just for Your Highness.
The gold thread on it alone used up 100 taels of gold.
Not to mention the pearls and jewels embedded in it.
This is a very valuable treasure.
Such skilled craftsmanship.
This is the first time I've seen anything like it.
I'm afraid that it's too valuable.
I'm too flattered to receive such a gift.
Not at all, Your Highness.
We finally got to meet Your Highness today.
I suppose a woman of all women
should have the very image of Your Highness.
This satin robe is a perfect match for Your Highness's appearance.
Absolutely gorgeous.
It is such a beautiful sight to behold.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
It's said that women of Great Jin are pretty.
If the ladies of Bai Lan State could dress in the silk of Great Jin State
I'm sure that they would be just as favorable.
It's a pity that in Bai Lan State, an ounce of silk costs a gold tael.
Women of common families wouldn't even dare think of it.
A woman still thinks like a woman indeed.
Silk is not a problem at all.
Once Your Highness returns to Bai Lan State
and opens up the Silk Road into Bai Lan State
the silk of Great Jin shall become but a common fabric in your closet.
Your Majesty.
Unfortunately, I am like a lonely goose that strayed afar for a long time.
There aren't many who are on my side.
I stand all alone by myself.
How would I dare make such a huge political policy?
Far from it, Your Highness.
Your Highness is now the only true legitimate heir
of the royal family of Bai Lan State.
If Your Highness can't decide on a policy, who can?
I sympathize with Your Highness
for sacrificing yourself as the hostage of Liang State
in exchange for the safety of your people.
I'm willing to be Your Highness's strongest supporter.
Whatever you wish to do, by all means go for it.
Even if I'm far away here in Great Jin
Your Highness will surely have my full support.
I'm grateful for Your Majesty's kindness.
As for opening up the trade route, it is still beyond my power.
I'm afraid that I shall have to discuss
our bonding and trading in depth after I return to Bai Lan State.
We should discuss in length bonding with Bai Lan State.
Here.
Another toast to Her Highness!
Your Majesty, after you.
Reporting to Your Majesty.
I've already shown Princess Yao Tian around the palace as instructed.
Her Highness is now chatting with the queen in Yongyan Hall.
I'll take a look at the queen's quarters.
Yes.
Report!
Your Majesty.
I have an urgent matter to report.
Speak up.
Recently, our merchants who traveled into Yan State were raided.
They suffered great losses. Nearly all of them were killed
and the ones who survived claimed that soldiers of Liang State did it.
- Soldiers of Liang State? - Exactly.
I found Your Highness so friendly from the moment I met you.
Your Highness won't think me rude for keeping you here for a chat?
I left home at a very young age.
I've never had many close friends by my side.
I'm honored that Queen of Jin likes me and even chats so lovingly with me.
I truly am very grateful.
His Majesty arrives!
Greetings to Your Majesty.
What are you chatting about?
Your Majesty.
Her Highness is truly remarkable.
She took on huge responsibility and endured humiliation at a young age.
She didn't even have her parents or siblings to care for her.
Yet she still conducts herself with such a gentle demeanor
and places her people's interests above all else.
Earlier in the imperial hall, there were too many people around.
There's much that she couldn't say freely.
Your Highness.
There are no outsiders here.
Do feel free to speak your mind to His Majesty.
- Your Majesty. - This is...
Your Majesty.
Today, in the imperial hall
I truly had my reasons for not speaking my mind.
As for connecting the Silk Road...
It isn't that I wasn't willing to do so, but King of Liang...
King of Liang?
Come.
Rise.
Does Your Majesty know that the Silk Road passes belong to Bai Lan State?
I had long wanted to trade with Great Jin State.
Unfortunately, when I was about to leave Great Liang
King of Liang threatened me.
He told me not to establish any trade treaties with other states.
I would also have to raise custom taxes
according to Liang State's adjustments.
Although I resented this agreement, I am too weak to reject them.
The military power of Bai Lan State is no match for Great Liang.
I truly don't know what to do.
Therefore, today in the imperial hall
I was afraid to consent to Your Majesty's proposition to open up our trade route.
Great Liang? It's but a state beyond the Great Wall. Why fear them?
Your Highness need not worry.
Once Your Highness opens up the pass into Bai Lan State
I can ensure that within a month
the army of Great Jin will be deployed to Great Liang
to relieve Your Highness of your threat.
We will also initiate the connection of trade routes between our states.
Thank you, Your Majesty!
Since Your Majesty has said so
I'll set out right now to Bai Lan State to open up the passage
for the army of Jin State.
I promise you that from now on
the army of Jin State shall enter Bai Lan State freely.
Sister Ping Ting!
Where are you going?
I know where I am going.
You'd better head back now.
Ping Ting!
We went through so much to be finally reunited.
Why would you insist on leaving now?
The most difficult lesson is to know when to advance and retreat.
When I plotted to lure out Chu Bei Jie, I took a step forward.
Yet now, it's time for me to take a step back.
This is...
Ping Ting.
You served Prince of Jing An's Manor.
You will always be a wanted criminal.
Where will you go?
I am now worthless to Young Master.
I have already repaid his kindness.
From now on
I'm no longer related to the prince's family.
Ping Ting.
I know that you feel Young Master doubts you.
- I'll talk to him right now. - No!
You never should have been doubted!
Who are you?
You are Bai Ping Ting!
Over 10 years of utmost loyalty and days spent together.
You should never be doubted!
Dong Zhuo!
Young Master was right to doubt me.
What are you talking about, Ping Ting?
Dong Zhuo.
Head back now.
Take good care of yourself.
If Young Master didn't want me to leave
how could I possibly have made it out here so easily?
If he asks you about me
just tell him that I'm grateful to him for sparing my life.
I won't reveal a word of what you have been doing.
I really don't understand what both of you are thinking!
What exactly are you trying to say?
How could Young Master possibly kill you?
No! You have to come with me!
You're out here all alone.
What if... Should anything happen to you
I will never be able to forgive myself.
I just can't outtalk you. You must come with me!
Dong Zhuo!
What are you doing?
- Dong Zhuo! - Let's go!
Dong Zhuo!
Your Highness.
Supreme Princess.
Ping Ting is here to visit you.
Ping Ting.
Why do you have to leave?
If I leave, it will do Young Master, the manor, and me a lot more good.
I know you too well.
You always have a million reasons for what you wish to do.
However, what Young Master is planning to do now can't be made known to me.
I am not fit to know of it either.
I know that Young Master is also troubled about what to do with me.
In terms of my services, you would have to give me credit.
But when it comes to doubting me, you can't let your guard down either.
When your tracks needed to be concealed well
you chose to only imprison me, but not kill me.
You're even concerned that I might be upset about it.
That is the most gracious way you could possibly treat me.
You're actually leaving for my sake.
Tell me.
Is it really for my sake or that of Chu Bei Jie's?
Do you think that those pretty reasons could fool me?
When you accepted his sword Soul Taker
I realized in an instant.
While you are here with me
you have already left your heart with Chu Bei Jie.
Am I right?
Why?
Why is it him?
Anyone but him!
He murdered my parents!
Look at my parents!
Do you know that what you did would make my parents turn in their graves?
Over 10 years of affection...
Yet it's nothing compared to the few days you spent with Chu Bei Jie!
You're going to him now?
Do you not think that I will kill you now?
It isn't what you think.
I won't go to him.
I will never see him again.
You said it.
I believe you.
My parents are present.
We will get married now.
Can you do that?
Answer me!
I can't.
Say that again.
I can't marry you.
Why?
I can't get him off my mind.
I will never forget him.
It seems that I have lost.
All he did was leave his Soul Taker and he so easily took my soul.
A decade of affection isn't enough to fend off
the discord he sowed between us.
How could you not doubt me?
I did fall for him.
I have failed you.
I have failed Prince of Jing An's Manor.
I couldn't face him either.
All I ask is that Your Highness bestow on me a swift death
so that I may be freed!
Leave.
Leave!
Bai Ping Ting!
Bear this in mind!
You're now a traitor of my family!
From today onward...
All ties between you and Prince of Jing An's Manor...
All ties are severed.
Traitor...
I'll take my leave now.
Young Master.
Take care.
[Here lies Prince of Jing An and Supreme Princess Heren]
Young Master! Ping Ting!
Please don't leave, Ping Ting!
Young Master!
Ping Ting!
Bai Ping Ting.
How can a man who couldn't even protect his wife
be qualified to protect his own nation?
I am loyal to my king.
But I am also faithful to my wife.
If His Majesty would make me kill my own wife...
I could only choose to take my life.
I treated you wholeheartedly.
Yet you would have me give up my career.
I, Chu Bei Jie, swear that for the next five years
I will never invade Yan State!
Dong Zhuo.
Is everything packed?
Everything is ready.
Young Master.
Are we really leaving now?
Here, be careful.
We have stayed in Yan State for too long.
It's best not to linger.
Let's evacuate now that the task is accomplished.
Yes!
Hurry up! We're running out of time!
- Yes! - Yes!
Here.
Stop right there!
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