General and I (A Lonesome Fragrance Waiting to Be Appreciated / 孤芳不自赏)

Your Highness.

Congratulations.

- Is everything ready? - It's all ready.

The Hua family will stick to the story.

The imperial decree also arrived. Everything is going well.

Your Highness, our ceremonial team will arrive soon.

Just the ritual of the proposal and exchange of birth date cards is left.

Your Highness.

Once this ritual is over

as long as our guards keep watch securely

nothing could go wrong with this matter.

I don't care much about such trivialities.

I'm asking after her.

Miss Bai left early this morning.

She went with Miss Hua to get her bridal gown made.

Is she eating well?

She's quite calm. Nothing out of the ordinary.

There's nothing strange.

It's just that...

What is it?

Our guards intercepted a messenger dove.

It seemed to be released by Miss Bai.

There are two words on the note.

Which two words?

Cease fire.

Cease fire?

Those words are meant for me.

This woman...

She's not really willing to marry me.

She's obviously here to persuade me for the sake of her master.

If so...

Even so, I will marry her.

Miss Bai.

His Highness sent me to bring you a gift.

Its wings are trimmed.

It cannot fly anymore.

His Highness will have you keep it for company.

Thank His Highness for me.

Don't be afraid, Madam. It's a joyous occasion.

It's the auspicious hour. The ritual...

How dare you!

Do you know who I am?

The betrothal gifts are presented in the hall

and lined up in the courtyard.

Today, I am the Princess Consort of Zhenbei!

According to the customs of Great Jin State

this is the outfit I am going to put on my husband personally.

Husband?

It sounds particularly loving to hear you say such words.

I blended the color of this dye myself.

The color of sunset.

May your every conquest be blessed with a return.

I heard that even the poorest of women in Jin State would save

to make such an outfit for her future husband

in hope of spending every day together for a lifetime.

Sadly, Great General is too valiant.

You could easily kill tens of thousands of their husbands.

Fine.

Since Princess Consort is so thoughtful, I too have a gift in return.

There are nine virtues of the zither. Its tune reflects one's mind.

This zither is named "The Phoenix."

The music it produces is ethereal.

May it relieve Princess Consort of your troubles.

If Jin State and Yan State weren't at war

you would surely be my soul mate in music.

What a pity.

Sister!

Ping Ting!

I might never be able to play the zither again.

Your Highness!

This clothing is poisoned!

It's poisoned?

Summon Imperial Physician Huo!

Prince of Zhenbei's Manor has sent men over urgently.

What happened? What is going on?

- Imperial Physician Huo! - Speak up!

Princess Consort of Zhenbei...

Bad news! There's been an accident!

What?

Prince of Zhenbei was poisoned at Hua Residence.

It seemed that... It seemed that the princess consort...

The princess consort could have...

It was the princess consort...

Useless scum!

How could you stammer when reporting such an important matter?

Prince of Zhenbei is an essential subject of Great Jin!

Are you trying to make the empress even more worried when she's already ill?

I'm willing to visit the prince on behalf of Your Highness.

Your Highness.

You're Great Jin's Prince of Zhenbei.

Your health is our priority.

Let Physician Huo treat you first!

- Shut up! - Your Highness!

Get out!

I will kill whoever dares to come in!

Your Highness.

How is she doing?

Your Highness, set your mind at ease.

The poison has been drained out of her body.

Whoever concocted this poison is a skilled assassin.

If there was a bit more of Yellow Rotang Palm and monkshood root

not even the gods could save this young lady from death.

Here, Your Highness.

What is this about? This is...

Master.

This is really serious.

Should anything happen to Prince of Zhenbei, what should we do?

Exactly. If anything goes wrong...

Madam, you mustn't say such depressing words.

You should know that.

This is so maddening!

Father!

Mother!

This is...

Miss Bai handed this to me before she left the dyeing room.

She told me to open it only when it's past noon.

- Past noon? - Noon.

What is this?

Noon? Past noon?

Open it up right away!

- Yes! - This matter... This is...

This is...

What is this?

"Blame it on the maid"?

"Blame it on the maid"?

Father.

What does that mean?

"Blame it on the maid."

The maid...

- The maid? - The maid?

I understand it now.

Should the prince...

Should any mishap befall the prince in our residence

we can just claim Miss Bai as our maidservant.

She purposely poisoned him. She is a spy.

Although we are at fault for not investigating her background

it's not enough to get us killed.

Moreover, Prince of Zhenbei brought that Miss Bai here in the first place.

It had nothing to do with our family.

Am I right?

- Thank goodness! - Master!

What is it again?

The palace has sent someone!

Hua Residence greets Noble Consort Zhang.

Where is Prince of Zhenbei?

Prince of Zhenbei is...

- Take me to him right away! - Yes!

Here, I'll take you to him.

- Let's go. - All right.

This way, please.

Physician Huo!

How is His Highness?

Both the prince and the young lady are fine.

Do not worry.

Thank you, Doctor.

I will take my leave now.

Please.

How dare you poison the dye.

If you wish to die, you could tell me.

I won't marry you.

- This way, please. - Prince of Zhenbei!

This way.

Prince of Zhenbei!

- Prince... - Mo Ran greets Noble Consort Zhang.

You are all dismissed now.

- Yes. - Leave now.

Hurry up! Leave now.

Yes.

Bei Jie!

Bei Jie, are you all right?

Bei Jie, it's me. Are you all right?

Bei Jie, open the door!

Bei Jie, can you hear me?

Bei Jie!

Did you try to kill me because you don't wish to marry me

or you wish to avenge Prince of Jing An's family?

Or...

Are you trying to save your virginity

for that useless man who needs your strategies?

Obviously...

I didn't manage to kill you.

You can do so now.

If you don't kill me now, I will definitely marry you.

It seems that you can't bear to kill me either.

Chu Bei Jie!

Chu Bei Jie, open the door!

Chu Bei Jie, what on earth are you doing in there?

Bei Jie!

Your Highness.

Noble Consort is furious.

She's left.

That's the noble consort.

Is this the time to smile?

I'm sleepy.

I'm going to sleep a while longer.

Since Noble Consort has been here

this accident will surely be investigated tomorrow.

There's a risk that your identity will be exposed.

You can't stay in the Hua Residence anymore.

When you get a bit stronger, we will return to my manor together.