Original subtitles

Open the door! Open up!

Your parents are dead because His Majesty exiled them.

She's afraid you'll assassinate His Majesty.

Her leaving is merely a choice between love and loyalty?

Even if she's going away with you,

you're only taking her body from the Palace,

her heart is still inside the Tang harem.

I don't believe you!

Li Shimin is a treacherous man.

How can Meiniang possibly love him?

What a shame! What you see now

is an estranged relationship between them.

Since Meiniang came to the Palace,

a lot has happened between her and His Majesty.

They have been through so much.

How much do you know about them?

If you still don't believe me...

Meiniang has packed her luggage

and left it with you, right?

Go ahead and open it.

Now that she's on the run,

find out what's inside that she can't stand to leave behind.

Aren't you worried I'll tell her everything?

Aren't you worried we'll kill her?

If you didn't save me

you wouldn't suffer such an injury.

The last few days,

you have said that over 100 times.

Even if you don't mind saying it, I'm tired of hearing it.

Since I got wounded,

the doctor has taken good care of me,

His Majesty has visited me every day

and you're always by my side.

Despite the discomfort,

I think it's a blessing in disguise.

I forbid you to say that, you will get well.

What is it? You wish to say something?

There are things on my mind

that I've been looking for a chance to tell you,

but I was afraid...

We have been through life and death,

you can tell me anything.

I feel I don't deserve your love.

Why do you say that?

Because I once suspected you in the Crown Prince's rebellion...

My dear, you think

I'm the spy in the Palace for the Prince of Wei?

I knew it wasn't Gegan Chengji, but I didn't tell you

because I suspected you.

I even asked Rui'an

to check your whereabouts those days.

I'm so sorry!

If you could risk your life to save mine,

you couldn't have pushed me down a cliff.

How could I be so stupid?

I was as wrong as ever.

You think too much!

And I thought it was something serious!

I know since we came to the Palace,

you have been favoured by His Majesty,

but you have also been through the worst.

The days of treading on thin ice,

is not something I can relate to.

There's no such thing as being too careful.

If I have to guard against you,

then in this whole wide world,

there's nobody I can trust.

I can suspect anyone, but I won't ever suspect you again.

After we've been through so much and so many people have left us.

Do you know when I think of Xiao Qiang,

I can still hear her final anguished wailing.

It still gives me the shivers.

Meiniang, promise me no matter what happens in the future,

I hope our friendship will never change.

In the harem, His Majesty's grace will eventually diminish.

When that day comes and I look back,

I don't want to be all by myself.

I hope you'll be there with me.

I promise, I'll always be there for you.

I'll always be beside you.

(When flowers were blooming we were passionately in love)

(When flowers were dying why did you disappear like the tide?)

(For survival, I buried my dreams...)

Since you urged me to revise the Journal of Geography,

I hired 3 more scholars Gu Yin, Jiang Yaqing and Xie Yan

to work with Xiao Deyan.

If each scholar can write 30,000 words a day,

I guess it'll take 2 more months

and all 550 volumes of the Journal of Geography

will be completely revised.

What you see before you

is the summary of the 3 volumes we have revised.

Qingque, I can see you have done well.

I'll keep these and read it when the other volumes are finished.

You said you came to see me about three things.

What are the other two?

Father,

I heard you pardoned Chenggian

and intend to exile him to Qianzhou.

Chenggian committed treason.

But he's my son after all and your eldest brother.

This is the most severe punishment for him.

Don't dwell on it.

Try to forgive when you can.

You're absolutely right, Father.

At least Chenggian is alive

and I'm most grateful.

Exiling him to Qianzhou,

you probably can't bear to see him go

and it must be a hard decision to make.

Qingque, if that's what you think,

I'm very pleased.

As the Emperor,

you don't always have a choice.

What's the third thing?

It's about naming the Crown Prince.

Since the Crown Prince was deposed,

all the courtiers are waiting for your edict

Qingque, in your opinion, which one of my sons do you recommend?

Father, I...

...recommend myself.

Looking back in history,

all Emperors face the same headache of finding the right Crown Prince.

During the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei of Shu

had no choice but let the incompetent Adou succeed him

when in fact it was the Chancellor

Zhuge Kongming who ran the state.

Shu only existed while Kongming was alive,

when he died, Shu was finished.

Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang who passed the throne to young Liu Ying,

and allowed Empress Lu to usurp the throne for up to 8 years.

Ying Zheng, the founding Emperor of Qin

passed the thrown to Huhai, who was controlled by eunuchs.

Qin lasted 2 generations because the young Emperor

was weak and incompetent.

Throughout the Southern & Northern Dynasties

there were countless examples of meritorious courtiers usurping the throne,

resulted in short-lived dynasties.

Enough said!

I'm not that old, I get your point.

Yes, Father!

But the problem you face is the exact opposite.

Allow me to be blunt,

Father's sons, Chenggian, Li Ke and I are not useless fools.

We have a strategist, a warrior

and someone who has won everyone's heart.

That's why that traitor Hou Junji

maneuvered the deposed Crown Prince

and made him think the other princes were after his title

and forced him down the road of rebellion.

True. Someone is after his title.

Can we say that's not true?

Father is most wise!

Father, I admit

I wish to become the master of the Eastern Palace.

But I can also understand your deep concern.

Chengqian's rebellion left you so disappointed

that you skipped the morning assembly for several days.

As far as I can remember, that has never happened before.

We're your flesh and blood,

you're hesitant about issuing an edict to name the Crown Prince

because you don't want us to fight or even resort to arms.

Qingque, only you understand how I feel.

I'm most grateful for your affection.

I'll tell you something from the bottom of my heart.

I want to be the Crown Prince because

the Tang kingdom includes 10 circuits,

358 prefectures and over 1,300 counties.

Its territory is the biggest ever in history,

and under your rule, we have entered a flourishing age.

Compiling the Journal of Geography,

prompted me to have the aspiration of expanding Tang's boundaries,

so Zhenguan's legacy of leaving doors unbolted at night

and no one taking articles left by the wayside

that can be carried on for centuries.

As a prince, it's not wrong to have such an aspiration,

but...

Father, there's only one way to ease your mind.

If you make me the Crown Prince,

I will learn my lesson from history

and follow your example of having a big heart,

appoint members of the Li clan, take advice from worthy men.

If you're still worried about the princes,

I can make a pledge to you.

When I ascend the throne, I'll issue the order to kill my sons

and make Li Zhi my Crown Prince.

What? Kill your sons and pass the throne to your brother?

I came to this decision after much deliberation,

so I can make you this promise.

If you don't believe me,

I can kill my sons right now to show my determination.

Get up!

Get up!

Qingque, don't overcompensate anything.

Your sons are my grandchildren.

They are exactly who I'm trying to protect.

I can see you racked your brains for the Crown Prince title,

and tried your best.

People used to tell me u w- ' ou're mean and narrow-minded

if I make you the Crown Prince,

you may hurt the Prince of Wu and the Prince of Jin.

But today, you made me realise

they were wrong about you.

Go now, you'll hear from me.

Thank you for your trust, Father!

I will be conscientious and try not to let you down!

Goodbye, Father!

Please mind your health!

Wang De!

Yes, Sire?

Summon Fuji, Chancellor Fang, Chancellor Chu and Li Ji.

I need to speak to them.

Aye!

You left in a hurry, Your Highness.

Did you have a plan already?

Of course! A loyal Prince of Wei who looks out for Tang's interests.

How can Father not approve?

Besides, I made a blood oath.

The Crown Prince title is definitely mine!

Pardon me, Your Highness!

It's alright!

What is it?

Nothing! Trust me, the Crown Prince title is definitely mine to keep.

But Your Highness...

I know what you're going to say!

Be patient and wait for the good news.

Greetings, Your Majesty!

Get up!

Approach!

The Prince of Wei just recommended himself for the Crown Prince title,

and made a very unusual pledge.

He promised if he became the Crown Prince

and ascended the throne, he would kill his sons

and make the Prince of Jin his Crown Prince.

What do you think?

Even a beast won't eat its young!

There has never been

such a precedent of killing the sons for a brother.

Whoever suggested this is either a lunatic

or an extremely treacherous hypocrite.

The editor of 550 volumes of the Journal of Geography

Is obviously not a lunatic.

He's so obsessed with the throne, that he has lost his mind.

Such a bald-faced lie should not come from the Prince of Wei.

It's hard to imagine he's so ruthless!

Your Majesty, you can't make him the Crown Prince.

That's right. He cannot be the Crown Prince.

No!

No!

Then it'll have to be Zhinu.

Yes, the Prince of Jin can.

Alright.

Congratulations, Your Highness!

Your Highness, Zhangshi Yang from Xianling Palace is here.

It's here...the Imperial edict is here...

It's finally here!

Let's go greet it!

Wait! How do I look?

Good! Let's go!

Come on... Hurry!

Wait!

What?

Not now, Your Highness!

Don't drink it! Let's go!

Let's go get it!

An Imperial edict from His Majesty for Li Tai, the Prince of Weil

I'm right here!

Li Tai, the Prince of Wei, due to the hard work on

the Journal of Geography, starting today

you are exempted from the morning assembly for a month, so that you can rest.

Your Highness, please take this.

Was there a mistake? Did I hear him right?

Why wasn't I named the Crown Prince?

Your Highness!

Take the edict, Your Highness!

Your Highness!

I gratefully accept...

Long live His Majesty!

I should get going!

How come I'm not the Crown Prince?

How can I not be the Crown Prince?

Why not...

Your Highness...

Take him inside! Your Highness...

What's wrong? Your Highness!

Consort Yang sent me to congratulate the Prince of Jin!

I mean...Your Highness, the Crown Prince.

What's there to congratulate?

When I'm the Crown Prince, all my brothers will be safe.

That's all I want.

It's a blessing for Tang you have such a kind heart.

But to assume after you become the Crown Prince

your brothers will be safe, that's premature

This is why Milady sent me over.

Do you realise the danger facing the Prince of Wei?

What do you mean?

Because he covets the Crown Prince title,

the Prince of Wei secretly plotted many secretive schemes

including the deposed Crown Prince's fall from the horse,

collusion with the Wei clan

that forced the deposed Crown Prince's insurrection.

Now his machinations have been revealed to His Majesty.

By provoking His Majesty's wrath,

the Prince of Wei's life is in danger.

Since you're here, I'm sure Consort Yang has a solution.

What can I do to save Tai's life?

Don't worry, I came to tell you

if you wish to save the Prince of Wei, you must go to his mansion

and tell him the courtiers intend to submit an impeachment against him

and it'll reach His Majesty soon.

They will accuse him of plotting against the deposed Crown Prince

colluded with a consort to frame a meritorious courtier.

If any one of these charges is substantiated with solid proof,

the deposed Crown Prince's fate will await him.

As you have expected,

The Prince of Wei was too clever by half and dug his own grave.

Now that Zhinu is named the Crown Prince,

I have nothing to worry about.

Ke will be safe.

I really must thank you.

Your Highness, since I came to the Palace,

you have taken good care of me.

Without your help,

I would have been long dead!

This matter with Li Tai

is only a small token of my gratitude.

Without your thoughtful arrangements,

Brother Mu and I

won't be able to leave the Palace so easily.

You're leaving tomorrow,

you must take care of yourself.

I'll be praying for both of you.

You must take care of yourself too.

Please accept my utmost gratitude!

Rest assured,

we only wish to ensure that Cairen Wu

would stay here a bit longer tomorrow

so that Consort Yang's plan won't be affected.

No harm will come to her.

Once you accomplish your task,

you can meet up with her and run off.

How can I be sure you won't be a problem?

Why didn't Father make me the Crown Prince?

It doesn't make sense!

They say Chancellor Zhangsun and the others

think that if you can kill your own sons,

you can definitely kill your brothers.

You must mind your health, Your Highness!

Wrong! Father doesn't believe

I'd kill my sons for Zhinu.

He's wrong, I will!

Of course I will!

Kill...

Don't be reckless, Your Highness!

Go away!

What are you doing? Your Highness!

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Master Du, what's wrong with His Highness?

What is it now?

The Prince of Jin is here?

What for?

Slowly...

Here!

Be careful!

Father! Father!

Come to me...

Father!

Come to me!

Father!

Stop His Highness!

Your Highness!

Run! His Highness wants to kill you!

Father!

No, Your Highness!

Don't be afraid!

No, Your Highness!

Don't be afraid, come to me...

Come to me! Your Highness!

Run! What are you doing?

Your Highness!

Don't!

Run!

Help!

I brought you to this world.

Today, I'm sending you back.

Father!

Your Highness! Stop it!

Take them away!

What are you doing?

Zhinu, I'm glad you're here!

You can vouch for me.

They think I won't kill my sons and pass the throne to you.

But I willl I'll do it!

I'll kill Xin and Hui right now.

Then you and I will go see Father.

Let's ask him to change the edict and make me the Crown Prince.

Step aside...let me kill them!

Don't be perverse.

I came here

to ask you not to fight for the Crown Prince title.

Why should I give it up?

Are you mad? Kill your son and pass the throne to your brother?

How can you say something so cruel and inhuman?

Uncle and the others are convinced

when Father dies and you become the Emperor,

you won't hesitate to kill those who oppose you.

Then I myself and Ke and the other princes will all be killed.

You simply cannot become the Crown Prince.

No...that doesn't make sense.

Think no more.

Come with me to the Palace and admit your mistake.

Go explain to Father.

What? What do you want me to say?

Tell him you lost your head,

that's why you said something so absurd.

Tell him you will withdraw from the fight for the Crown Prince title.

Withdraw?

Why should I do that?

You must.

The courtiers are planning to impeach you.

They'll soon submit a report to Father,

and accuse you of causing the deposed Crown Prince to fall off his horse,

collusion with a consort to frame a meritorious courtier.

If any one of these charges is substantiated,

you'll suffer the same fate as Chenggian.

Why? How is it possible?

Why haven't I heard anything?

That's not important now.

I know! You're behind this.

You're persuading me to withdraw

because you want to move into the Eastern Palace

and become the Emperor.

Am I right?

I'm doing this to protect you.

You don't get along with Ke.

If either of you becomes the Emperor,

massive slaughter will be inevitable.

Only when I become the Crown Prince, you'll both be safe.

Tai...

You're protecting us?

My kid brother...his reason for being the Emperor,

is even more respectable than mine!

Zhinu, I have guarded against everyone and anyone around me,

but not you, my own flesh and blood!

Why must you fight me?

Listen to me!

Why are you doing this to me?

Brother...

Don't do this!

Arrest him!

Your Highness...

What are you trying to do?

I came here to persuade you to apologise to Father.

He hates sibling rivalry and bloodshed.

You'll be digging your own grave.

Tai...

Thanks for reminding me! I definitely will go see Father.

But I'm taking you with me.

Let him listen to what you just said.

Tai... Let him see

who's more qualified to succeed him.

Chuke, tie him up!

But Your Highness...

I have always treated you like a brother,

this is the time to repay me.

Very well! Arrest the Prince of Jin!

Aye!

Summon everyone from the Literary Hall!

Let's all go see Father!

Go!

Mother?

Why did you summon me to the Palace early in the morning?

Come here!

Mother!

We have trouble!

Li Tai realised he won't be the Crown Prince

so he's taking the scholars from the Literary Hall

and all the guards from his mansion to the Palace to challenge His Majesty.

They're causing an uproar on the streets of Chang'an.

Guards? That's an insurrection!

He has also taken Zhinu hostage.

Why?

How could Qingque be so stupid?

Doesn't he know it's a dead end?

Let me go stop him by the city gate and save Zhinu.

I forbid it!

Then I'll go tell Father!

No!

What do you mean?

This is a relic from the Sui Dynasty called a sese.

I've sent Commander Cheng Zhijie of the Imperial Guards outside Chang'an.

Take this sese to Deputy Commander Fang Qingju.

He'll do whatever you tell him.

Fang Qingju is one of Father's most trusted generals.

If I take this precious gem to him,

he'll take orders from me?

I know you have wanted to be the Crown Prince as well.

But because of me, you've been suppressing the idea.

Can you see

I want you to become the Emperor even more than you do?

I've been working at it and swallowed humiliation for it.

This is the moment I've been waiting for.

The chance of a lifetime.

Take the Imperial Guards to the North Gate. Open it.

Lure Li Tai into the Palace and kill him on the charge of treason.

Take his head to Ganlu Hall.

Tell your Father about Li Tai's rebellion

and force him to yield the throne to you.

That's treason!

You're asking me to rebel?

If Li Shimin refuses, kill him as well.

Tell the courtiers who support you to make an announcement.

Say Li Tai killed his father in the rebellion.

Make sure you kill Li Zhi as well and blame it on Li Tai.

This is a chance of a lifetime.

This is a move that will make or break you.