Original subtitles

Episode 30

I've a good news.

Noble Consort Ning appeared nearby.

Although we didn't manage to capture her,

she won't be able to get away.

If we have her as hostage,

we'll have another bargaining chip.

But,

we just signed a truce with that foolish emperor.

We must retreat in 12 hours.

Twelve hours will do.

Convey my order.

Search for Ye Ning Zhi in full force.

Find this woman at all cost.

Yes!

Sir.

The spy we sent to monitor Yan Kuan reported that...

Yan Kuan discovered Noble Consort Ning...

and has sent men to search for her.

According to the agreement,

we can only enter the city 12 hours later.

If we enter the city now,

the truce will be called off.

Within the 12 hours,

Yan Kuan will try to locate Noble Consort Ning at all cost.

I'll head to Han City alone.

Twelve hours from now,

you may lead the army into the city.

A lot of Yan Kuan's soldiers know you!

If you're discovered...

You'll be guilty of defiance of order.

So what?

Sir!

If peace is what we want,

war must be avoided.

Keep on scouting.

Yes.

How did it go?

Your Majesty.

The enemy has stopped attacking.

But their army...

is still searching house by house.

We don't know what they're looking for yet.

Could it be that...

they've discovered Ning Zhi?

If that's the case,

we'll have a huge problem.

Don't worry, Your Majesty.

Noble Consort Ning is protected by the Winged Tiger Army.

Moreover, Yan Kuan's army...

will have to retreat 10 hours from now.

Noble Consort Ning will surely be able to escape.

Ning Zhi is lucky.

She'll be fine.

Sir.

Why are you still awake?

Why is time passing so slowly?

-Search! -Yes!

Sir.

Yan Kuan has ordered retreat.

But, he also ordered to burn...

all houses in the outskirts of Yandu before the retreat.

The entire area has been devoured by fire.

Any other news?

He also spread a rumour...

about a holy fire...

landing in the outskirts of Yandu

He said that god is punishing His Majesty...

for his lack of virtues.

Sir.

Do we...

Depart immediately when the time comes.

Yes!

This is the restaurant...

mentioned by the men from the Winged Tiger Army?

Yes.

There's a cellar down here.

The entrance is right there.

Search carefully.

-Yes. -Yes.

Ning Zhi.

-Yes. -Take a few bites.

Come.

Take a few bites.

Yes.

It's been so long since the truce!

The outskirts of Yandu isn't even a big area!

You've sent so many men!

Why can't you all find Noble Consort Ning?

Your Majesty.

It's a mess in the outskirts.

The place is still suffering from the aftermath of the battle.

Refugees are everywhere.

The men we sent...

can't locate Noble Consort Ning so quickly.

But Her Highness...

is protected by skillful fighters.

She will surely be safe.

What about the matter of the negotiation?

They still insist to...

hold it in the main hall of Guang Xuan Palace.

All officials above rank two must be present.

They will send their important officials as well.

The negotiation is classified.

Yet, they want to do it openly...

in the presence of all officials.

What exactly are they planning?

Where's Wei Guang?

I thought he's back to Yandu.

Why hasn't he come to meet me?

Chief Commander Wei caught a cold.

He's bedridden.

Tell him to come immediately...

when he feels better.

Yes.

Your Majesty.

Her Majesty is worried about Noble Consort Ning.

She sent me to check.

Is Noble Consort Ning...

Now that she's in the Cold Palace,

she shouldn't worry about the things out here.

Tell her that...

she does not need to...

worry about Noble Consort Ning.

Her Majesty also said that...

meals in Yong Lun Palace are too simple.

Her Majesty is currently ill.

The meals in Yong Lun Palace might not be good enough.

Can we tell the Imperial Kitchen to make some changes?

Your Majesty.

I don't think it's a good idea.

If we break the Cold Palace's rule for Her Majesty,

your effort of deposing her for the negotiation...

will be put to waste.

She was the one who set the rules for the Cold Palace.

We should enforce the established rules.

Besides, she is no longer the empress.

From now on, stop reporting her problems to me.

Yes.

Wei Guang.

How do you feel?

I'm fine.

Any news of Ning Zhi?

No.

Hopefully, she's safe.

By the way,

when do you plan to return to the palace?

Ever since His Majesty deposed Her Majesty,

the folks have been criticizing His Majesty.

More and more are taking sides with the princess.

We lost in our first game.

Now, I need to...

turn the tables around.

The delay of my return to the palace...

is the first step of my counterattack.

Here you go. There's one more here.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It's finished. Look.

There's no porridge left.

It's finished.

Amitabha.

I think they're out of porridge.

What should we do?

Brothers!

I'm done serving our foolish emperor...

and fighting for him!

I've decided to head to Ning Province...

and join the Princess Royal's army!

Who wants to go with me?

I'll go with you!

Count me in!

Even god isn't helping our foolish emperor.

If we stay here, we'll just die with them!

Yes!

Take your families along!

-Let's head to Ning Province! -Right!

Alright. Let's go to Ning Province!

Alright! Let's go!

-Let's go! -Let's go!

Wait!

Please listen to me!

Who are you?

I'm an imperial consort.

I'm Noble Consort Ning.

Noble Consort Ning?

Look!

Why would Noble Consort Ning be out here...

fighting for porridge with us?

Stop day-dreaming!

-You can't fool us! -Right! You can't fool us!

I won't stop you if you want to leave.

I just want to ask you a question.

What makes you say that Prince Guang Ding...

is the destined ruler?

Did god tell you that?

There was the explosion.

Then the holy fire struck.

Aren't those signs of god's anger?

-Right! -Right!

-Right! -Holy fire?

Did you see it with your own eyes?

But last night,

I saw the rebels led by the Princess Royal...

setting fire everywhere!

Enough!

If Prince Guang Ding isn't the destined ruler,

why would all those extraordinary men...

pledge allegiance to him?

-Right! -Right!

That's right!

I heard that General Yan can clone himself,

change the weather and command the spirits!

Right!

At his order,

spirits will come and help!

-Right! -Yes! He's right!

Right!

-Let's go to him! -Yan Kun is just a trickster.

I've seen enough of his tricks!

Please listen to me!

I know her! She's Noble Consort Ning!

After the explosion near Yongdong Gate,

she came and helped us!

Noble Consort Ning is a good person!

Please listen to me!

In the explosion near Yongdong Gate,

she saved my husband's life!

Noble Consort Ning?

Even if she's a good person,

it doesn't mean that our foolish emperor is a good person too!

-Yes! -Yes! That's right!

People like them...

only hide in the palace to enjoy life!

They don't care about commoners like us at all!

We've no time to waste on you!

We're going to leave for Ning Province now!

We want promotion and food!

Yes! We want food!

We want food!

We want food!

I am Noble Consort Ning.

But I am also Ye Ning Zhi.

A few years ago,

I was a commoner too.

I was just an ordinary girl...

who could do a few stunts and tricks.

I entered the palace...

and became Noble Consort Ning...

in order to help...

all those who need my help.

What about you?

Why did you become a soldier?

Isn't it because you want to protect your family?

Isn't it because you want to protect your country?

But now,

you want to leave your own home...

for Ning Province...

to fight alongside those rebels.

Do you want to betray and kill your own brothers?

Do you want to serve that trickster?

Noble Consort Ning.

You might be a good person,

but...

we've lost all motivation!

We're done fighting for that foolish emperor!

-Yes! -Yes!

That foolish emperor can't even make up his mind.

At first, he ordered to guard Yandu.

Then he accepted the negotiation.

Because of him, we're so restless!

I can't...

stand this anymore!

We want food!

We want food!

We want food!

We want food!

Who's beating the drum?

Who is this?

-No idea. -We want food!

We want food!

Who is this?

Brothers.

I am Wei Guang.

Many of you...

might not have seen me before...

and many of you...

might have had fought with me in the battlefield.

I know that...

you are fearful now.

Because according to the military rules,

it's death penalty for deserting the army.

But let me tell you this.

No one can execute you.

The lack of morale, motivation and discipline...

is caused by me.

I am the one you should blame.

I'm not a good commander.

I've made you suffer.

-Sir. -Chief Commander Wei.

This...

Noble Consort Ning is right.

Please stay...

and be a good soldier.

Lies will not last.

Evil will not prevail!

-Right! -Evil will not prevail!

Evil will not prevail!

Evil will not prevail!

Chief Commander Wei!

We've waited for you for so long!

-Yes! -Yes!

Wei Guang.

I've seen...

so many army deserters.

Presently,

in terms of military forces,

which party has the upper hand?

I had the upper hand at first.

But, after all that had happened,

both parties are equally strong now.

The outcome cannot be foreseen.

But now, it's pointless to worry.

Because the result...

will be determined in the battlefield.

I thought...

I could stop His Majesty from deposing Her Majesty.

But...

You tried your best.

By the way,

why did you confront Yan Zheng directly...

against my advice?

Because that was the only way...

to find out the truth.

Put me down.

Be careful.

The truth is,

I was really scared.

The two palace maids who came with me were killed.

I could only hide and wait.

There was nothing else I could do.

But I'm fine now.

It's over.

I was so worried about you getting caught by Yan Kuan.

Promise me that...

you'll treasure yourself...

and protect yourself properly.

I just wanted to expose Yan Kuan quickly...

to assure the soldiers...

and assure His Majesty,

so that he wouldn't fall for the trick and depose Her Majesty.

Unfortunately...

I wasn't aware that Han City got captured so quickly.

It was my fault.

Then...

I hid myself behind the beam.

No one could find me.

Look.

I'm back now.

Your Highness, you're still like a child.

How can I ever stop worrying?

Don't fret.

I promise you...

I'll take good care of myself.

You're such a handful.

You'll have a hard time upon returning to the palace.

Her Majesty was sent to the Cold Palace.

His Majesty intends to put you in charge of the royal harem.

You might make a lot of enemies.

I'm aware of that.

If worse comes to worst,

I'll just copy Her Majesty.

She did a good job managing those women in the royal harem.

It's not a bad thing...

for her to experience this misery.

I might tell on you.

Are you recovering from your cold?

That's just a lie.

I'm perfectly healthy.

The war is important.

But you need to take care too.

You too.

When the time is right,

I'll return to the palace.

But now is not the time.

Rise at once.

Thank you for what you've done for the country.

I've let you down.

I failed to protect the empress.

I didn't expect His Majesty...

to depose her so decisively.

Your Highness.

We're in a truce now.

I hope the negotiation goes well.

The two siblings are up to no good.

The negotiation won't be a simple matter.

Now, we can only act according to the situation.

As long as there is no war,

it is the best outcome for us.

Your Highness.

Have some water.

By the way,

Ban Ling Er misses you so much.

You should take her back.

Ban Ling Er did a good job delivering my letter.

You may return to me.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Thank you, Noble Consort Ning.

Chief Commander Yan.

Everything is ready.

Tomorrow,

my sister and I will each travel in a horse carriage.

We will use 8 Ferghana horses to pull our carriages.

On the other hand, you will...

travel in a palanquin carried by 32 men.

Escorted by 200 elite soldiers,

we will make a grand entrance into the city.

That's unnecessary.

We should just travel in ordinary horse carriages.

Won't that make us look inferior?

We're returning to Yandu...

to garner the people's support.

The more modest we appear,

the more the folks feel that...

we understand their sufferings...

while the emperor is a spendthrift...

who does not understand the hardships of the folks.

By then, they will compare us...

and make a choice.

We shall do as you advised.

Now, the folks...

are unaware that the deposal of the empress...

was the precondition of the negotiation.

In order to protect the reputation of the royal family,

the emperor will not bring it up either.

Anyway,

during tomorrow's negotiation,

you must keep my words in mind.

Defaming under the pretext of a negotiation.

You're still angry with me?

I was really left with no choice.

The rebels were about to charge in.

I could lead the army personally...

and have a showdown with them.

I could die for the country.

But, what will happen to my consorts and children?

Who will be left to protect them?

And you.

You were missing at that time.

I had to consider your safety too.

I know you're upset about it.

But that was...

my only choice.

I had to look at the big picture...

to prevent further damage.

You were there during the explosion.

Countless of folks were killed and injured.

Now, we must stop the war...

to avoid repeating the same mistake.

As such,

the negotiation...

is my only choice.

Your Majesty will always have your own reasons.

Then I'd like to visit the empress.

What can you change by visiting her?

Don't complicate things any further.

I beg for your approval.

Since you begged me,

I will give in this once.

We're in the middle of a negotiation now.

We must be cautious.

You...

Greetings, Noble Consort Ning.

You may all rise.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Ning Zhi.

Even if you haven't seen the decree,

you should be able to tell from my outfit that I've been deposed.

Why did you still kneel before me?

In my heart,

Your Majesty is forever the empress.

Have you gotten used to the place?

Does that matter?

People are strange sometimes.

I've had luxurious meals for more than 10 years.

Somehow, the simple meals here...

appeal to me now.

Is there anything I can do for you?

Not really.

It's just that someone...

is playing sad music on her pipa all day...

and it's so depressingly unbearable.

Also,

some people have no respect for me...

and they refuse to share the good dishes with me.

Ning Zhi.

You're the one managing the royal harem now, right?

Yes.

Since you still regard me as the empress,

I hope you can make an exception...

and settle a few problems for me.

Feel free to tell me.

I'm not feeling well lately.

Could you send an imperial physician over?

Sure.

There are so many people here...

and yet, we've so little food.

Could you prepare a few dishes exclusively for me?

Of course.

Also,

there's a lot of mosquitoes in my room...

and my mosquito net is ripped.

Sister.

I will fix all those problems for you.

Please bear with it for a while.

I'll find ways to save you.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Your Majesty.

What happened?

Is the empress...

doing alright in the Cold Palace?

What did she say about me?

She's actually alright.

It's just that she's not feeling well.

She needs treatment...

and also better food.

Is she angry?

Is she depressed?

Did she call me a heartless husband?

Of course not.

Her Majesty did not complain about Your Majesty at all.

She must have complained to you a lot.

We all know...

the environment in the Cold Palace.

Her Majesty is too used to a comfortable life.

She can't adjust so quickly...

and this is normal, Your Majesty.

I've known her for so many years.

I bet...

she insulted and criticized me!

Your Majesty.

Who told you those lies?

Her Majesty did not bad-mouth you at all!

Don't think you can act as you wish...

just because I adore you.

Your Highness.

The Princess Royal and Prince Guang Ding...

are spreading rumours.

They are saying that His Majesty is depraved...

and condemned by all people.

Now, we should be doing our best to regain the people's support.

But His Majesty...

is indeed a cold-blooded man.

I'm afraid...

he's really going to lose the throne.

I've failed Your Highness.

We do not have the ability to change...

the people's perception of the emperor's character.

Let's just do whatever we can.

Whose country am I trying to protect?

To be honest,

I only stand by His Majesty...

because I'm indebted to him.

Back then, I thought that...

I should do something worth doing.

I put my life on the line several times for Liang...

because I thought that...

His Majesty was worthy of my support.

But now,

I've given up on him.

Ning Zhi.

I put my life on the line several times for Liang...

and it was not because of His Majesty.

It was because you love the country and its people.

Your Highness.

There's really nothing I can do now.

His Majesty is bound to lose.

Not yet.

It's too early to draw a conclusion.

Think about it.

What matter the most to those scholar-officials?

The legitimacy of the royal family.

Eunuch Li.

Get your spy to tell Wei Guang to come to the palace.

I have an important matter to discuss with him.

Yes.

Wei Guang, the empress dowager told me that...

we're left with no choice now.

For the sake of Liang,

she must make a decision.

The Princess Royal has arrived!

How are you, Your Majesty?

Princess.

We finally met again.

Have a seat.

Your Majesty.

Before we start,

I have a question.

This is absurd!

They are working together to defame me...

and accuse me of being an illegitimate heir to the throne!

Since the beginning,

they don't plan to negotiate.

This is just Yan Kuan's trap.

Under the pretext of negotiating,

they are going to defame Your Majesty.

I can't believe...

my brother thinks that...

I set him up back then.

I've also heard that...

the late emperor intended to make Prince Guang Ding...

the crown prince of Liang.

It is said that Your Majesty bribed the imperial chef...

and poisoned Prince Guang Ding,

causing the late emperor to mistake that for a terminal illness...

and name Your Majesty the heir to the throne.

This rumour is a hot topic now.

I'm afraid they've already...

spread this rumour across the entire country.

If you fight them,

what are the chances of winning?

Fighting is just...

an average solution.

Then what do you suggest?

I suggest that Your Majesty carry on with the negotiation.

You want me to...

put up with their insults?

Carry on...

and there will be a turning point.

What turning point?

God will protect the emperor of Liang.

Your Majesty.

These are dishes specially prepared for you.

I hope you stop complaining about us.

Consort Lu.

Can you stop?

I have some music scores.

I believe you'll be interested.

I'll bring them over for you.

You can learn the nice pieces.

Consort Lu.

Do you hear me?

This...

I'm telling you to stop!

Why are you ignoring me?

I said stop!

How dare you smash my pipa!

How dare you!

I dare you to kill me!

Stop it.

If people find out,

we'll all get punished.

I was only 19 years old when she sent me to the Cold Palace.

Life is torturous here.

Now, she won't even let me play my pipa.

I've nothing to lose.

If you can,

why don't you sentence me to death?

Your Majesty, I'm here.

Your Majesty, you're injured.

I got into a cat fight with Consort Lu.

I smashed her pipa...

and she hurt my forehead.

Your Majesty is still...

as hot-tempered as ever.

Let me treat you.

No need. It's just a minor injury.

I thought I told you to stop coming.

What are you doing here?

If I don't come,

you wouldn't be able to enjoy these good stuffs.

There's rice balls in sweet wine, osmanthus duck...

and...

Is something bothering you?

I was trying to figure out...

why Consort Lu kept provoking me.

Then I recalled that...

back then, she entered the palace alongside her elder sister...

and because His Majesty preferred her sister's voice,

she grew jealous...

and drugged her sister to ruin her voice.

But, she can't blame me for that.

Consort Lu deserves this punishment.

Your Majesty was kind enough to just send her to the Cold Palace.

You're good at comforting me.

But come to think of it,

I've indeed made a lot of enemies.

If you weren't feared and respected,

you wouldn't be able to manage the royal harem.

Others in the same position...

would have been a thousand times crueler and harsher.

You only have a sharp tongue.

You've never killed anyone.

All imperial consorts have blood-stained hands.

So, you don't have to feel guilty...

or think it's karma that you've ended up in the Cold Palace.

You're just unlucky.

You will get out one day.

Lang Kun.

The next time you come, I want you to bring me one thing.

What is it?

Bring me a pipa.

A pipa with 5 strings.

Preferably made of pear wood.

The best pipa is made with pear wood.

I understand.

Brother.

The fact that you were named heir of the throne is suspicious.

You need to summon...

all the people involved in that incident back then.

Here in this hall...

and right before all the court officials,

I will hold a trial...

and announce the verdict to the entire nation!

Nonsense!

The empress dowager has arrived!

Greetings, mother.

Greetings, Your Highness.

I overheard that...

Prince Guang Ding intends to hold an open trial...

regarding the issue of the legitimacy of the heir to the throne.

Sure.

Let's hold a trial.

I am the only witness in this case.

Just ask me.

Mother.

Everyone knows that you favour my brother.

You were the one who helped him obtain the throne back then.

Yes.

A kind mother spoils her children.

Mother.

Can't you be fair to us once?

Shut up.

While I'm around,

you've no rights to speak.

The rumour is true.

Of all princes,

the late emperor was indeed most fond of Prince Guang Ding.

Back then, there were officials...

who proposed to make Prince Guang Ding the crown prince.

Yet, the late emperor delayed the discussion again and again.

Then the imperial physician confirmed that...

Prince Guang Ding contracted the incurable smallpox...

and no one brought up the matter of...

appointing an heir to the throne again.

And then...

the late emperor made the current emperor his successor.

After it was confirmed, we found out that...

the imperial physician misdiagnosed...

and that Prince Guang Ding was not suffering from an incurable disease.

Mother.

How could an imperial physician...

make a mistake when diagnosing a prince's illness?

He had to be cautious!

It was clearly a conspiracy between my brother and the imperial physician!

You're being conscienceless.

Do you have evidence?

Evidence?

It was already destroyed by my brother.

If you surrender the people involved in this case back then,

I will get to the bottom of it!

Mother.

Both my brother and I are your son.

Why are you always helping him to oppress me?

I'm doing this...

for my own reasons.

Whether or not the imperial physician was bribed,

you've no rights to the throne...

because what flows in your body...

is not the blood of the late emperor.

What are you saying, mother?

Back then,

the late emperor was ambushed in a battle...

and General Wei Yan could not come to his rescue in time.

Prince Chang Ping sacrificed himself...

to save the late emperor.

Prince Chang Ping's wife was pregnant at that time.

She was extremely depressed upon receiving the news...

and died of obstructed labor.

The late emperor...

was grief-stricken when that happened.

As such, he decided to...

adopt the orphaned son of Prince Chang Ping.

In order to provide...

the best for this poor boy,

he ordered the Bureau of Imperial Household...

to include his name in the list of princes...

and ordered me to raise him well.

And this orphaned boy is...

Prince Guang Ding.

So, the late emperor had never intended to...

make him the crown prince.

Mother.

You are so cruel.

It's a lie! You're lying!

Xiao Yu!

Xiao Yu!

This is the truth.

I can swear that...

I spoke of nothing but the truth.

If I had lied, I shall be struck by lightning!

The late emperor adored Yu Er...

because he felt indebted to Prince Chang Ping.

But little did he know that...

it would give you an excuse to rebel!

No.

No.

I have a heartfelt advice for you.

I don't know...

why you're going against the will of the late emperor.

But, I want you to know that...

if god must punish someone,

the sin of changing the lineage of the royal family...

must be worse than the competition for the throne!

Sacrificing your men in a war for a reason like this...

is not worth it at all!

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Mother!

Your Highness!

Mother!