Original subtitles

Something is missing from Wenniang's room.

I personally repaired a copper candle stand for Wenniang.

At the bottom,

I engraved the word "Wen".

Someone killed Wenniang with the candle stand?

Exactly!

You're suggesting

if we find the candle stand with "Wen" engraved at the base,

we may find her killer?

Sis Wu,

why did you send for me?

Dry your tears.

I've been thinking

in the Crown Prince's rebellion,

I have too many unanswered questions.

I remember that day

I told you to take some liaoling to the Eastern Palace.

I put a note among the fabric.

How did the note end up in His Majesty's hands?

But...

I personally gave it to the Crown Princess' maid Sheng'er.

I will never betray you.

Of course I believe you, silly.

That's why I'm discussing this with you.

Maybe someone in the Eastern Palace betrayed the Crown Prince.

It's possible.

Rui'an, think carefully.

On your way to the Eastern Palace,

did you run into anyone?

Did anything unusual happen?

No...except I ran into...

...Wenniang!

Don't take advantage of me!

Stop staring! Turn around!

I'm Ss 0 rry!

Turn around...don't look!

No...it can't be Wenniang!

Why did she do it?

No, don't jump to conclusions.

Wenniang was a possibility.

Even if it was she who did it,

she must have had her ineffable reason.

Maybe she was doing someone's bidding.

Maybe that's why she was Killed.

Wenniang worked for Jieyu Xu.

She would never...do anything to hurt you.

Of course not!

It can't be Sis Hui!

Wenniang also served under Jieyu Xiao.

What if...

Rui'an, let me think this over.

Before we know the truth,

don't tell anyone you saw Wenniang.

The same goes for the candle stand.

Stop looking for any more leads.

What about Jieyu Xu?

Just keep this between us.

Aye!

This one...come here, Zhinu!

Volume 12...

This one is yours too.

Volume 17...hold this!

Should we make copies first

and then...

No, not this...

These should be useful. You must finish reading them tonight.

Volume 13... Tonight?

Yes!

Here, take this as well.

And this one.

Sis Wu,

should we make copies and then...

Go over there.

Sis Wu,

where did you find all these reports?

Sis Wu,

Father was a bit sloppy on this one.

Your Father gets tired sometimes.

Maybe he fell asleep on this one.

I see.

You may not be as capable as the Prince of Wei,

but your kind heart

is your biggest asset in this race for the Crown Prince.

But you need more than a kind heart to run the state.

Without courage and wisdom, a kind heart will make you weak.

You must tell His Majesty you have the ability to rule.

We don't have the luxury to do it step by step.

I think His Majesty would test you on the latest political situation.

Zhinu!

That's why Su Louhan and the rebel army should be the focus of our study.

Sis Wu,

Chengqgian's rebellion was settled.

Why do you keep reading the records over and over?

There are too many unanswered questions.

My instincts tell me

if we can sort them out, it'll help us tackle Li Tai.

Sis Wu,

what are you looking at?

Hold out your hand.

You let the smallest things distract you.

Go back!

Read your reports!

Is this useful?

If I stay cooped up in the Imperial Library

and learn about the local customs and practices of the rebel army,

Father will make me the Crown Prince?

He's so busy,

he doesn't even know I'm doing this.

I'm not afraid of hard work.

I'm really not.

But I'm afraid in the end,

I won't even stand a chance up against Li Tai

and he would still become the Crown Prince.

Then my promise to protect you will only become a lie.

Right! Why don't I just go to Father and volunteer?

Nonsense!

Zhinu, be patient.

Never worry about getting the chance.

As long as you're alive, you'll get a chance.

Maybe in the next day or two,

or the next month or two.

That day will come.

When the day comes and you get your chance,

you must ask yourself if you're ready.

The sad thing about life is not that you don't get your chance,

but when it's staring you in the face,

you don't have the ability to grab it.

Do you understand?

Yes!

Come on!

Don't be wilful now. Copy everything 3 times.

Come...

Sis Wu,

you really think Father would test me in front of everyone?

It's always possible.

But Taiji Hall is full of courtiers,

not to mention my Uncle.

I'll be very nervous in front of them.

I'll forget everything when I'm nervous.

Don't worry!

When that happens,

pretend no one is inside Taiji Hall.

Stay focused and tell yourself you're alone with His Majesty.

I'll imagine you were with me.

I'm not afraid when you're with me.

Sire!

This is everything we have on Wu Meiniang, including her childhood friends.

There's nobody by the name Li Gu.

It's definitely an alias.

Why do you think Li Gu is an imposter

and that he knows Wu Meiniang?

Just think, when Wu Meiniang was in danger,

in the nick of time,

this man showed up.

The timing, the venue, his action... everything is suspicious.

His background is perfect, without a flaw.

It's likely it's phony.

You may go.

Aye!

Sire, Jieyu Xu wishes to see you.

What does she want?

She said it's about Wu Meiniang.

Your Highness!

Well?

I've been to the Department of State Affairs

No new Imperial edicts still.

His Majesty, except for

asking about the progress of revising the Journal of Geography,

there's not much else going on.

Be patient!

Father is probably testing my patience.

After all, the expedition against the rebel army

is a pressing matter.

Without a Crown Prince,

Father cannot lead the army to war.

The longer it takes, the greater the joy.

If we just sit around and wait, we're being too passive.

Why don't we find a suitable time

and ask courtiers who support you to bring it up in Court?

Absolutely not!

The worst thing to do right now is to be too clever by half.

Be patient and wait.

You think I'd let Li Ke,

that lowly son of questionable lineage beat me?

What's new with Wu Meiniang?

She's still collecting Father's old reports?

Not as many as before.

Except for letting the Prince of Jin practise reading these reports,

the informer told us,

Wu Meiniang would also coach His Highness.

Trying to cram everything in under the coaching of a woman?

How much state and military affairs can he learn?

My poor brother!

He's letting a scheming woman give him the run around.

Let them have their fun!

I'll try to find out more.

Be patient, Your Highness!

Go!

Tomorrow...maybe he'll make the announcement tomorrow.

(Li Mu: Li Xiaochang's son...)

(Li Mu)

Do you believe me now, Your Majesty?

How did you get to know about him?

I learnt about him

because Meiniang used to talk about him.

She grew up with him.

Meiniang came to the Palace

because she wanted to earn your affection

so that she could plead his case

and you'd grant him amnesty from his exile.

I'm sorry, Your Majesty!

I knew about him

and his relationship with Meiniang,

but I did not tell you about it.

Because I thought what's between them was just a thing of the past.

Now that Meiniang is in the Palace,

she should start over,

serve you wholeheartedly and forget the past.

I didn't expect he'd come to the Palace.

I'm really worried now because he's a rebel.

I tried to convince Meiniang to come clean with you.

But she's dragging her feet.

You must be extra careful with him

and do something about it soon.

Your Majesty...

Good! Thank you, you're excused.

Tomorrow, I'll issue an edict and make you a Chongrong.

But this is not what I want, Your Majesty!

All I ask is to be with you.

I understand.

You should go.

Tell me, Minister Zhang,

if we lose, will the consequence of defeat

be something Great Tang can withstand?

Have you forgotten about the blood and flesh

left behind on the northern frontier by the Sui soldiers?

Emperor Yang of Sui was a fool

who allowed evil courtiers to run a weak state.

That was the reason for 3 disastrous campaigns against the rebel army.

How can he compare to the brilliant Emperor of Tang

who intends to lead the army to war in this golden era.

A brilliant Emperor in a golden era?

Brilliant Emperors can be beaten too.

There's no need to argue.

Qingque, regarding Su Louhan and the rebel army,

what's your opinion?

Father,

they say Su Louhan rules the north with an iron hand.

Since he killed Duan Ji in a coup and seized power,

within the rebel army jurisdiction,

no one among the military officers or the common people

had any intentions to revolt.

The situation was more stabilised than when Duan Ji was alive.

For them to wait at ease for our exhausted army

to travel such a great distance, the consequence is not optimistic.

Ke, what do you think?

Father, in my opinion the Prince of Wei has a good point.

But in any fight, the winner is the stronger of the two.

Su Louhan is an excellent commander

with the troops and has geographical advantage.

It's hard to win without elite troops and a brilliant commander.

I think we can dispatch our best soldiers,

and make an alliance with the nearby opposing forces of the rebel army,

to gain a military advantage over him, minimise casualties and win the war.

My sons have given their opinions.

One proposes we call it off or postpone it.

The other suggests we form an alliance to encircle and annihilate them.

Gentlemen, you heard them. What do you think?

I can't agree more with the Prince of Wei.

I forbid you to praise him.

Say no more if you only agree. I want to hear different views.

Father, I wish to say something.

Zhinu?

Having fun?

Yes!

You want higher?

Yes!

Be careful!

Be careful!

The morning assembly has started,

how can you play with her?

Since it has started

there's nothing more I can do to help Zhinu.

The only thing we can do

is to wait.

Come on!

She's a lunatic! Why waste your time on her?

If she hadn't lost her mind,

she'd have gone along with Consort Wei's plan

and try to frame you with the sachet.

By luck or by choice,

Xiao Qiang didn't do it.

Not only did she not frame me, she saved me

and helped root out Consort Wei.

I think she's rather pitiful

with no one to count on in the Palace.

We came to the Palace at the same time,

we should visit her when we can.

You pity her? I think

precisely because she has lost her senses

she's actually happier than you and me.

If you have the time start praying for the Prince of Jin.

His performance in the morning assembly

will directly affect our future.

At a time like this, praying won't help.

I have done everything I could.

If that doesn't work, so be it.

How did you coach him?

After all, he didn't have any foundation

and has not been involved in politics.

In such a short time,

how can he know more than his brothers?

To make Zhinu stand out,

we can't count on his real ability and learning.

But he has a good memory.

He memorised the answers I gave him.

It's like making a bet.

The key is whether I can guess

the questions His Majesty will ask Zhinu.

Careful...try to relax!

Don't let these courtiers affect you.

Greetings, Father!

Zhinu, you wish to speak up the first time you show up in Court.

Your courage is commendable.

Tell me,

what's your view on Su Louhan and the rebel army.

Zhinu, why are you not talking?

I'll imagine you were with me.

I'm not afraid when you're with me.

Father,

Su Louhan appears to rule with an iron hand,

but he's in fact only a paper tiger we need not worry about,

because he's doomed to fail.

He's not even as capable as Duan Ji.

On his relationship with the neighbouring forces alone,

he has made several fatal mistakes.

When Duan Ji was alive,

he appeared weak, but he was rather manipulative.

On one hand, he was submissive to Tang

and gave us no excuse to send a punitive expedition.

On the other hand, he used all means to display his military strength,

so that we wouldn't take reckless action

while he gradually encroached smaller states and tribes up north.

Thus the rebel army

could have united the northern region within a decade

and all we could do would be to watch him.

But when Su Louhan took over,

he immediately devised a strategy to conquer states in the south and west

and couldn't wait to send his troops.

What appeared to be a heroic feat,

was but a move for making a name and some petty gains.

He has only got others irritated, lost more than he could gain

and given us the perfect reason to send our troops

that is likely to wipe out the rebel army.

In other words, you agree we should go on an expedition?

So you agree with Ke?

Father, next to our bed, we cannot allow a tiger to sleep.

As for the prospect of war, I'm not as optimistic as Ke.

Setting aside the fact that Su Louhan is an expert in warfare,

more importantly,

given the great distance and the bitter cold weather,

provisions and supplies for the army is a key issue.

When we engage them in war and reach a stalemate,

whether we win or lose will depend on

whether the neighbouring states

will supply us with provisions in time.

Those states have been repeatedly bullied by the rebel army,

and are on good terms with Tang.

They'll be willing to give us provisions.

Chancellor Chu, there's a saying.

There's something loathsome about those who are pitiful.

Karasahr and Mongolia

are no different from those states and the rebel army.

We have repeatedly supported Karasahr

in protecting their interests along the silk road.

Yet they went over to Mongolia.

There's no telling if these states

would want both Tang and the rebel army to sustain great losses,

so that they can benefit from the situation.

You're getting me confused, Your Highness!

You said we should go, but emphasised the difficulty involved.

So should we or should we not go to war?

Of course we should! We must do that!

But this war cannot be won overnight.

Su Louhan is short-sighted and not fit to rule.

Putting him in charge will only escalate the extinction of the rebel army.

This is for sure.

But Su Louhan's expertise in warfare

will enable him a chance to fight

and may actually have an edge during the early stage of the war.

Hence...Father, my brothers and fellow courtiers,

I think the northern expedition should be treated as a long term policy.

We must lay down a plan that may last for 10 years or more.

We fight in several expeditions

to keep them engaged and give them no time to expand.

If we do that, I dare say within 10 years,

the rebel army will be completely wiped out.

I hereby urge you to rescind

and do not lead the expedition.

Since there will be many more,

you can wait for the opportune time

to command our troops on the battlefield.

10 years? I may not last that long!

I know it's not easy to defeat them in one attempt.

But it's not entirely impossible.

What I like to do most is make possible the impossible.

Let's leave it at that. You're excused!

Long live Your Majesty...

That's it?

It's over!

The reports I copied for you have become very useful.

I read from those reports

and guessed what His Majesty is most concerned with.

I believe he would ask Zhinu

about the expedition against the rebel army,

the collusion between Karasahr and Mongolia

and how to govern Qara-hoja after it was turned into a sub-prefecture.

All these issues are inter-related.

I hope so too.

After all, the person who truly understands His Majesty,

is you, Meiniang.

This is not the time

to tease me about it.

You're the one who spends time with him in the Imperial Study.

Is Li Mu still in the Palace?

I've asked Consort Yang to send him away.

But the timing is bad.

Make sure you have nothing to do with him.

If His Majesty found out,

you and Li Mu would be in trouble.

I understand.

You've been reviewing the Crown Prince's rebellion.

Have you found anything?

I believe Li Tai has a hand

in misleading the Crown Prince to rebel.

The colour of the crape that covered the coffin,

was a secret Chancellor Wei entrusted in me.

We were alone at the time.

How did Li Tai find out about it?

This is something I couldn't figure out.

Don't forget Gegan Chengji.

I bet when the Crown Prince divulged this to Hou Juni,

he overheard

and notified Li Tai just in time.

That's right! He was there!

How could I have forgotten about him?

I bet it's him!

No!

Gegan Chengji waited all night outside the jail,

for Hou Junji's release.

He didn't know about the crape

until 2 hours before the funeral.

It wasn't him.

What will you do?

Disclose Chancellor Wei's plan

to the Crown Prince? Or to His Majesty?

This is really odd!

Hou Juniji treated Gegan Chengji like a son.

Why did he do it?

Why did he betray him?

Just like a piece of furniture,

you don't know when it'll rot.

The same applies to people.

You're right!

We never know when someone will turn bad.

Meiniang, what's wrong?

Nothing! There's something in my eye

and it's making me uncomfortable.

Don't rub your eye.

If it's a bug, you'll squish it.

You're so sweet to me!

Fly!

Jieyu Xiao!

Come fly...

What?

Look...fly!

Let's play on the swing!

Come on...

Alright!

Hurry! Let's go!

Come... Let me fly?

Yes! Sit down!

Alright!

Let's go!

Be careful! Fly...

Fly...

Fly... No...

It's not Sis Hui! Fly...

Definitely not her! Fly...

Fly...

(Imperial Library)

Sis Wu!

You scared me!

Something bothering you?

No!

You're worried about my performance?

Don't worry! Though Father has yet to make a comment,

my guess is, I did rather well.

You guess?

What makes you think so?

When the courtiers were leaving,

they all looked at me in a way they'd never looked at me before.

I've only seen them look at Ke or Tai like that.

What about your brothers?

How did they look at you as they left the assembly?

They were long gone!

I only saw their backs.

Zhinu, today in Taiji Hall,

did you note His Majesty's chair?

Yes, as I was answering Father's questions,

I was really close to it.

Remember,

the closer you are to this chair,

these courtiers will look at you more earnestly.

But you'll also become farther away from your brothers.

The anxiety and guilt you feel today

is probably just the beginning.

The road to the throne is always lonely.

If you keep going,

you'll be so far away you can't see Li Tai's back anymore.

Zhinu,

if you have not made up your mind,

it's not too late to give up now.

If I wanted to give up,

I wouldn't be here now.

You said if I could be the Crown Prince, you'd be safe

and my brothers would be able to live their lives peacefully.

When everyone's well being is at stake,

I will not give up or back down.

I will keep going.

Besides, after today's morning assembly,

my thinking has changed as well.

Perhaps I didn't put in my hard work only for you.

I liked the way the courtiers looked at me.

If there comes a day

when they would look at me

like they would look at Father, wouldn't that be great?

Is Wu Meiniang in there?

Yes!...

What is it?

By order of His Majesty,

find in the Imperial Library

the complete "Essential Techniques for the Welfare of the People"

and wait in the Imperial Study.

Come with me at once.

Aye!

Your Highness!

Come with me!

Aye!

Who are you?

Your Highness,

I'm Li Gu from Hejian.

Don't play dumb with me.

What is your relationship with Wu Meiniang?

Why is it that when you pass by the Imperial Library,

you always stared at the door

and Meiniang would always be standing right there.

Tell me about your relationship with her

and why you came to the Palace.

That was purely incidental.

Wu Meiniang and I have never met.

You're reading too much into the situation.

Stop!

I'm talking to you!

If you don't answer me

I'll have you arrested by the Imperial Guards

and interrogate you under torture.