Great series and acting by all participants. It's subbed to ep 42 on YouTube. If you search "legend of the dragon pearl - deleted ending" on YouTube, you'll find the video clip of the real ending. There was supposed to be a season 2; however, the leads stopped dating, the second season was scrapped and the original ending leading in to season 2 was cut, leading to a different ending.

The comments under the scrapped clip clearly state what actually occurred at the end of the season:

The FL and the SML are attacked on their way home and the SML is killed. The FL fakes her death to the emperor but will show herself to the emperor at some point, revealing to him that she is alive as she suspects him of having a link with the death of the SML. FL then leaves with her family. FL married the Crown prince posthumously in a wedding
gown bowing at a grave. Yi Huan says (written words) she'll come back in 3 years to take the Emperor's life and his kingdom.