Original subtitles

Zhangsun has long dictated the court.

Sooner or later, His Majesty will remove him.

When that day comes, what fate will befall you?

You allied with him, thinking him as a powerful backer.

But in truth, a grave mistake.

But you are still His Majesty's eldest son.

If you help His Majesty remove this thorn in his side

and earn great merit,

and you will have nothing to fear.

The choice is yours, Your Royal Highness.

I... beg Father's forgiveness.

I have held the title of Crown Prince for years.

Yet I am of limited talent and wisdom, dull and morally deficient.

Chancellor Zhangsun holds the high office.

I have associated with him often.

Yet I failed to see the disloyalty in his heart.

And so when the Chancellor plotted against the throne,

he colluded with an official of the Eastern Palace.

Though I did not take part,

I cannot escape responsibility.

I beg Father to allow me

to relinquish the title of Crown Prince.

Your Royal Highness...

Why would you baselessly slander a loyal old minister?

What have I done to deserve this, Your Highness?

Chancellor Zhangsun makes a fair point.

Rebellion is a monstrous charge.

If this were truly baseless,

would the Crown Prince dare say so before His Majesty and the court?

What gain could it possibly bring him?

I have served three reigns.

what cause would this I have to rebel?

Your power is fading.

Could it be that the fear of losing all your authority

drove you to this desperate act?

If this is true,

then when Prince Li Zhong ascends the throne,

the Chancellor would hold the greatest merit.

A veteran with disciples and throughout the court.

If heharbors ambition, he would be far more dangerous

than any rebellious prince.

The Crown Prince is filial and virtuous,

he would never make accusations lightly.

I fear the Chancellor... may indeed have overstepped his bounds.

Uncle has served the realm with loyalty for decades.

His merits are beyond measure

How could he possibly rebel?

Your Majesty...

if the Chancellor has truly rebelled, it will be a big tragedy.

But, His Royal Highness's tearful testimony...

how could it possibly be false?

- Your Majesty...\n- I...

Every word spoken by His Royal Highness cuts to the heart.

If Your Majesty... out of familial affection...

has therefore let Chancellor Zhangsun escape punishment

for such a monstrous crime,

the people would never be at peace.

Back then,

in the case of Princess Gaoyang,

I lost so many brothers and kin.

That case...

was personally investigated by Uncle.

Now,

even Uncle rebels.

My own kin... all like this one after another.

How can I still face the people of the realm now?

Your Majesty, please take care.

The one who should feel shame before the people is not Your Majesty

but this rebel.

Back then,

when Chancellor Zhangsun investigated the rebellion,

even for imperial members,

he never once showed the slightest mercy.

And Princess Gaoyang...

she was the Late Emperor's most beloved daughter.

Yet even she fell.

Your Majesty...

though Chancellor Zhangsun is your maternal uncle.

But, I beseech Your Majesty

to punish him according to the crime of rebellion.

Your Majesty, please take care,

and punish the rebel.

Your Majesty...

Please take care of your health.

Punish the rebel severely.

By law,

rebellion is punishable by death.

Yet Chancellor Zhangsun...

is still my uncle.

Exile him to Qian Prefecture.

Have the prefectures along the route provide military escorts.

I have served three reigns

and was entrusted by the late Emperor.

What I face today

is none other than a fatal plot set by Empress Wu

And the Crown Prince...

Officials...

Your Majesty...

All willingly became blades in her hand.

The Sheng Dynasty is doomed.

This old servant has failed the Late Emperor.

If Xi Xin knew that you have stayed up this late waiting for her...

she'd be so happy.

- Xi Xin!\n- Xi Xin.

My lady.

You have been beside Li Zhong for years.

And now everything is finally settled.

You can return to my side at last.

My lady.

I have waited way too long for this day.

Oh, on the way back to the palace

I learned that Zhangsun has been demoted and exiled.

He will depart tomorrow.

This is what we call...

bring back the one we miss,

and send away the trouble.

Heaven does have eyes.

After all these years of struggle...

I think I'll see him off.

Xi Xin, go with me tomorrow.

Yes, my lady.

Qian Prefecture is unlike Sheng'an.

Chancellor Zhangsun, please take good care of yourself.

I held the office of Chancellor for thirty years.

I never imagined

that in the end, you would be the only one to see me off.

The court shifts, and people grow ruthless.

We have been in conflict for years.

I feared you might feel lonely on the road.

Of course. I had to come.

I devoted my life to the realm.

My conscience is clear.

Yet in the end...

I was brought down by a witch like you.

Our realm

will fall in your hands, soon enough.

Xi Xin.