Original subtitles

I have questions for you.

You must tell me the truth.

Ming Chongyan was intercepted by His Majesty as he was leaving.

He's been taken to Ganlu Hall.

His Majesty made it clear

whoever told you will be beheaded.

Let's go! Aye!

I'll level with you,

the Empress has been trying out your medication herself.

The drug was too strong, so she has inevitably suffered.

But she forbade me to tell you.

Your Majesty!

You'll be pardoned if I die under your needles.

Do it, or I'll exile your clan beyond the borders.

If your mind is made up,

I'll do my best.

Stop!

Greetings, Your Highness!

You may go!

Do you know the risks involved?

Yes!

I only have a 20-30% chance.

I'm likely to go into a coma for a few months or I may never wake up.

You're not afraid?

Very!

Then why did you...

Because I'm tired of being sick.

I don't want to be weak anymore.

I don't want splitting headaches from reviewing a dozen memorials.

I don't want you to work so hard

and get blamed for meddling with state affairs.

I don't care!

For you, I don't feel wronged.

But I'm tired of this.

I really am, Meiniang!

I already have a great Father,

a great Mother and several brilliant older brothers.

I don't need a great Empress.

Since the day we met,

you've been taking care of me, but I want...

to look after you.

I worked so hard to become the Emperor,

I brought you back to the Palace and became your husband,

I thought Heaven would take pity on me

and give me a chance to look after you.

But this detestable illness...

I don't want to be an invalid Emperor.

Do you understand, Meiniang?

I do...but I don't know

when you started to feel sorry for yourself because of this illness

and even blame others for it.

This is the thinking of a coward.

You're not a coward, you're my man.

My man is definitely not a coward.

Whether or not you're a sagacious ruler,

I really don't care.

You're my husband.

I stopped you because I don't want to lose you.

I don't want to lose you either.

You're torturing yourself testing my medication for me.

You thought I didn't know?

I know... know all about it.

I can stand the pain from fengji,

but I can't stand seeing you suffer because of me.

To see you like this,

I'd rather I never get cured.

In a few days,

the peony in Luoyang will be in full bloom.

You've been wanting to go see them,

but I've stopped you these past few years

because I was afraid the long journey would wear you out.

But now I have come to my senses.

Rather than worry about the unknown future,

I should spend time with you

and appreciate the beautiful flowers.

Let me go with you, alright?

Good!

(...Let me bear all the jealousy and pain)

According to our spies in Ganlu Hall,

Father and Empress Wu had a heated argument.

Though we don't have the details, I can imagine.

This is perhaps a good time.

Father's tolerance and favour have reached their limits.

It's time to take action, Your Highness!

Empress Wu has been trying to usurp power.

Father has been with her for so long,

he must have lost interest in her.

She tries to meddle with Father's life in every aspect,

Father must bear a grudge against her.

She has deliberately concealed Father's illness

and kept the courtiers in the dark.

Now she's trying to stop Father's treatment.

This woman's ambition is clear to all.

I will lead the other courtiers

to remonstrate and bring her down.

Empress Wu blatantly stopped Father's treatment

in order to control Father.

Tang is in great danger.

We cannot just sit and wait for our end.

Spread the word

and we'll use this as the reason to depose her.

The upcoming banquet at Que Building for the 9 emissaries from the Western Regions...

Is everything ready?

Everything is set, Milady.

Good! What about Ming Chongyan?

He said it would be fine.

You really think this will work?

I don't understand.

How can this stop black cats from appearing in the Palace.

My interest is not in the black cats.

Or the people who let them out.

I'm targeting against Consort Xiao's curse

about coming back for revenge as a cat,

and the rumours about me being scared of cats.

Seeing is believing.

After the banquet at Que Building,

we'll see if anyone in the Palace still wants to talk about black cats.

Milady, rumours have started in Chang'an

about you concealing His Majesty's illness for years

so as to usurp power.

Li Yifu is looking into who's behind these rumours.

Tell him not to bother.

You know who did this?

What is Zhong'er up to these days?

Still secretly worshiping the deposed Empress Wang?

According to our spy in the Eastern Palace,

this has been the case.

The Crown Prince is so confident he's been covering up well

when all along, it's out of sympathy for him that you've been more than forgiving

I'm afraid stormy days are to be expected in the Court.

I don't blame him for holding a grudge,

but I won't tolerate anyone with wild ambitions.

Keep the Eastern Palace under close watch.

I need to know the Crown Prince's each and every move.

Aye!

The Empress is guilty of usurping power?

What does this mean?

Your Majesty, the Empress is so ambitious

that she attacks those who oppose her in both the Court and the Harem,

completely defying what is proper.

Such behaviour is unacceptable.

Please depose her...

Please depose her...

If you expect me to depose the Empress,

you need something more substantial

to prove she is guilty as charged.

Since she became the Empress,

despite the fact that Your Majesty is in your prime,

other concubines have produced no other heirs all these years.

That means she's a tyrant in the Harem.

Empress Wu has also lied to everyone about your health.

She smuggled Ming Chongyan into the Palace,

under the pretence of treating you.

Yet your condition has actually worsened.

She should be executed for her crime.

Besides, as the head of the Harem,

she meddles with state affairs.

Everything she has done can prove she's usurping power.

All the courtiers have long been indignant about her.

That's why we're submitting a joint petition to ask you to depose her

and bring in other Imperial wives to carry on the royal bloodline.

Please bring in other imperial wives...

How dare you pressurise me!

We wouldn't dare!

For the sake of Tang,

please make up your mind soon.

It was my decision

to conceal my health.

The Empress has nothing to do with it.

Youshao, you must have been misled by rumours.

Don't bring up the issue of deposing the Empress again.

You may go!

Your Majesty, deposing the Empress will impact Tang's existence.

Please stop covering up for her.

I told you to go!

If you don't grant us our wish,

we'll be too ashamed to face the late Emperor and the Tang subjects.

We'd like to resign and never get involved in state affairs again.

We will resign...

Good...you all get paid to give the Empress a hard time.

If you ask me, the Court can do without the lot of you.

Shangguan Yi, on account of your contribution to Tang,

I'll allow you to retire.

But the others must be punished!

Attendants! Remove their robes and take them away!

Your Majesty!

Pity on Tang!

Tang will fall into the hands of this woman!

I refuse to accept such an insult...

Minister...

Pillars of the State? You're garbage!

You're only good at bullying a woman!

You tried hard to conceal your fengji, but to no avail.

I don't care about that anymore.

I just think it's unfair to you.

After all, you used the Congshan District commission

to revoke Cheng Zhijie's authority.

I know you did it for me.

Your Majesty, though I never ask you about what you say and do,

I have a pretty good idea.

Cheng Zhijie is crucial to the aristocrats

and has rendered meritorious service to Tang.

He's also an important figure in the Court.

If it's you who revoked his command,

resentment and controversies would have been raised amongst the other old courtiers.

Rather than giving them an excuse,

I didn't mind doing the dirty work.

Let me bear the blame alone.

Meiniang, I know how to deal with them,

but it's not fair to you.

Tell me what you plan to do with the courtiers who want to depose me.

I want to execute Shangguan Yi,

and make slaves out of his clan.

Those who signed the joint petition should all be exiled.

Your Majesty!

But I know you'll ask me not to make myself unpopular.

If I killed or demoted all those who want me to depose you,

there'd be no one left in the Tang Court.

That's why I plan to kick Shangguan Yi and his lot upstairs.

Send them to the Hongwen Pavilion to work on the Imperial history,

so they'll have no time to meddle with state affairs.

That's brilliant, Your Majesty!

Meiniang, I promised you

I'll protect you

regardless of where and when.

I believe in the years to come,

genuine loyalty or faked ambition will someday be revealed.

You're right, as long as I keep my cool,

someone else will be panic-stricken,

especially those minions in hiding, who blow my illness out of proportion.

Your Majesty, in 3 days,

at the Que Building banquet

to entertain the emissaries from the Western Regions,

would you like to host it?

Or put the Crown Prince in charge?

These 9 small vassal states

are only beginning to show respect.

They're coming from afar, I must receive them.

I can't believe the memorial we drafted

was so easily dismissed by His Majesty...

No, Empress Wu did it.

She seized the opportunity to send Minister Shangguan to the Hongwen Pavilion.

She expects us to just help the Prince of Dai!

We can't just stand by and watch this woman run Tang to the ground!

Exactly! All these years,

while His Majesty's fengji has weakened him,

his loss became her gain.

The Empress is gaining influence and power.

We were useless in stopping her...

Your Highness...

No! You mustn't...

Youshao, you're my mentor,

without your help,

Empress Wu would have killed me already.

But I can't wait any longer.

The current Tang needs a young and healthy Emperor.

You mean...

If I remain loyal to Father alone,

that's blind devotion.

Youshao...

Your Highness?

You must be loyal to Tang.

Only when I become the Emperor can we topple Empress Wu

and save Tang.

Your Highness, you plan to...

The banquet at Que Building for the emissaries

may be an opportunity...

Milady!

(Eastern Palace plotting to assassinate His Majesty at Que Building banquet...)

Your Majesty, you have just recovered.

Don't drink so much.

It's alright. I'm happy tonight.

Milady, all the food and drinks have been carefully tested.

What about the cat?

Don't worry, Milady!

Sorcerer Ming hired an animal trainer who has been rehearsing for tonight.

You only need to go along with it and everything will run without a hitch.

Excellent!

The new Emperor looks weak.

He's nothing like the Tian Kehan.

But Empress Wu seems to be a character.

I heard she defeated Empress Wang and Consort Xiao

before she became the Empress.

It was the deposed Consort Xiao who cursed her before she died

saying she would return for revenge, reincarnated into a cat.

That's why the Empress is fearful of cats.

Gentlemen...

What's that noise?

Meowing of a cat in here?

What's wrong?

Why are you so quiet?

This silence is new to the Que Building.

Your Highness, it's a cat's meowing!

So I heard. We have cats everywhere.

There's no need to be alarmed.

Greetings, Mother!

Your Majesty!

Come!

This is my pet cat...

pardon me, gentlemen.

Here...a toast to you all as a token of my apology.

She's putting on this act strictly for our benefit.

The parrot is a "ying wu", which is her last name.

If the parrot stands for Empress Wu,

who does the cat stand for?

Meiniang, this is a brilliant move!

I believe after tonight,

the gossip about the black cats will vanish like smoke.

A trick like this is not worth mentioning.

I learnt from you.

When everyone thinks she's scared of cats,

she shows people how she can command them.

This woman has a tough streak.

Pardon me!

How dare you!

I'm sorry to bother you, Your Majesty!

Please forgive me!

It's alright!

Thank you, Your Majesty!

You may go!

Thank you, Your Highness!

Father!

While the emissaries are here to pay tribute to Tang,

I'd like to propose a toast

to your health and the stability of the Tang kingdom.

Good!

Wait!

Your Majesty...

What is it, Meiniang?

What the Crown Prince said

shows his filial piety.

You have just recovered,

you should not indulge in drinking.

How about...

Your Highness, I'll trouble you to drink this wine for His Majesty.

Father!

What do you think, Your Majesty?

Good idea! Zhong'er...

I'm awarding this wine to you.

You're the heir to the throne.

I hope you'll do a better job as the Emperor

and won't let me down!

Here...

People are watching, Your Highness!

If you drink this,

it means you're loyal to your Father!

Drink it!

Thank you, Father...Mother!

You have a nice chamber,

but you choose to sleep in here.

Looks like you're genuinely afraid of me.

My birth mother and Empress Wang are dead because of you.

Who knows when I'll be next?

You can hate me, but why... go after your Father?

Do you realise

if I had not swapped the poisoned drink,

you'd forever be guilty of patricide?

You'd be condemned for life!

You made me do it!

I'm anxious to ascend the throne,

because I want to settle each and every score between us.

I have always wanted to kill you,

but what a shame I'm not as shrewd and calculating as you are.

I failed today. I failed!

Perhaps it's my fate.

Your mother trusted me with you

and asked me to protect you.

I've kept my word.

I've treated you like my own child.

You think by hiding in here I can't touch you?

What's the point of telling me this?

You think I'd believe you?

You can believe what you want.

I know you hate me,

and have wanted to kill me.

I don't blame you for any of this.

But I will not tolerate any attempt on your Father's life.

Do you realise,

despite your lack of talent and poor character,

your Father has never considered deposing you.

But you planned to kill him?

Your own Father?

Ask yourself ...

How could you have that heart for it?

Even if Father had no intention to depose me, what about you?

Will you let me off?

It's useless to argue.

Right now, Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu are in Taiji Hall

to expose Shangguan Yi's evildoing.

But His Majesty would never find out

who's the mastermind behind the conspiracy at Que Building.

But you must leave Taiji Palace.

I will not let you near His Majesty.

Only those with talents and competence deserve the Crown Prince title anyway.

You're out for the mistakes you've made.

Tomorrow, go to His Majesty and tell him you're giving up the Crown Prince title.

I can guarantee your safety.

As for my promise for your Mother,

I'm afraid I must go back on it.

If you still won't listen to reason

and continue with your evildoing.

I'll personally give you a cup of wine.

Xu Jingzong... Li Yifu at your service!

We came to ask you to punish us.

Punish you?

What have you done?

I have a memorial for you.

Before the banquet at Que Building started,

I got word someone was planning to assassinate the Empress.

It happened so quickly I had no time to report it to you.

I took it upon myself

to swap all the food and drinks at the banquet

and changed the guards on duty.

I beg your forgiveness.

There's enough evidence in your memorial.

I know those Guanlong aristocrats have been displeased with the Empress.

But Shangguan Yi, Han Yuan and Lai Ji

have spent half their lives in the Court.

They have always been careful.

Did someone put them to it?

Perhaps the Eastern Palace was involved?

Should I look into it?

Eastern Palace? You mean Zhong'er?

Impossible! Though he's scared of Meiniang,

he's incapable of something so ruthless.

Don't talk nonsense!

Your Majesty, a memorial from the Eastern Palace.

Perhaps you're right.

Zhong'er wrote in the memorial he wanted to give up the Crown Prince title.

Have Shangguan Yi executed.

Han Yuan, Lai Ji and the rest of the clique

will be exiled and their assets confiscated.

You have worked hard tonight.

You're excused.

Aye!

Zhu Gong-Gong!

Yes, Your Majesty?

Send this memorial to Dugu Ji

and ask him to look into the Que Building case.

I must know the truth.

Aye!