Original subtitles

(The Shadow Sovereign)

I've always heard the court is a place of endless intrigue and chaos.

I've been trying to survive here for a while now.

Most days, I feel lost and overwhelmed.

Father,

when you joined the court back then,

did you ever struggle a lot

and feel like I do now?

(Shen Qing Zhi's Grave)

It's fine even if it's tough.

After all, I'm the first Top Scholar from a humble family.

Even if I die,

they'll still carve

a poem wilder than this

on my tombstone one day.

Breaking new ground, blazing the trail.

Climbing high, outshining every scholar.

Don't say only the rich have gifted sons.

Even humble families can shine with brilliance.

Censor Shen,

is this wild enough for you?

The winding Yellow River turns back its waves.

Washing away centuries of noble sand.

Kunlun becomes a pen to reach the heavens.

Dipping in silver to write the humble family's story.

Guess I was thinking too small.

I didn't think you would

stand up for all the poor families, Censor Shen.

It's what I should do.

Reckless fool.

Your Highness, what brings you here?

I'm here to pay respects to someone who passed.

Three years ago, I supervised the construction of Qianfo Temple.

I met your father a few times back then.

A minor eighth-rank official like you

thinks you can impeach me?

You really don't know your place.

Using temple construction as a cover

to seize land from the people.

Crown Prince, do you think

no one will ever know what you did if you kill me?

Seizing land and hoarding grain

is as serious as treason

under the Law of Ye.

Your Highness, you'd better stop before it's too late.

Stop?

Father let my brother take charge of the Ministry of Revenue.

He probably wants to change the heir.

But this could bring trouble down the line.

I knew this day would come.

That's why I pushed Zhao Yang forward.

Construction of this Qianfo Temple

was supervised by Zhao Yang

because she stepped up to ease His Majesty's worries.

The greater good comes first.

When there's no other choice,

someone always has to take the fall.

That person can't be me,

and it won't be you.

Only Zhao Yang,

that child born to a servant,

is the perfect choice.

I understand.

Hurry up and bury him. Make it look clean.

Don't leave any traces.

He was a lean man with an unyielding spirit.

A rare, honest official.

Sadly, he died in a fall off a cliff.

No remains were ever found.

It's really a shame.

I don't get it.

My father was just

an eighth-rank clerk in the Ministry of Revenue.

He just copied documents every day.

Why would he fall off a cliff at Qianfo Temple?

You think Clerk Shen's death

wasn't an accident?

Your Highness, you know what really happened,

don't you?

All I know is

that Clerk Shen was a good official.

He had a backbone and never bowed to power.

Like father, like son.

I'm sure you won't dishonor that spirit.

Your Highness once told me to leave the Censorate.

Yesterday, the second prince helped me out,

and invited me to join the Ministry of Revenue.

Today, you came to tell me

my father's death was suspicious.

Are you working for the Second Prince, Your Highness?

Are you trying to use me to bring down the Crown Prince,

so you can help the Second Prince take the throne?

You're talking nonsense.

Do you know how dangerous it is

to go up against the Crown Prince?

Danger doesn't scare me.

Three years ago, when Qianfo Temple was finished,

a good omen appeared in the sky.

Buddha's light shone over everything.

This Buddha's light

can bless all living beings,

and surely,

it can light the path for the righteous.

Heaven's will is clear.

Justice never fades.

The way you stand fearless against the world

is pretty likable.

Censor Shen, do you want to join the Ministry of Revenue?

Please help me, Your Highness.

I can't help you.

But allow me to give you a reminder.

The Crown Prince

is hosting a banquet for all the Censorate officials today.

No banquet is ever truly friendly.

Censor Shen, you'd better be careful.

Second Brother wants someone from me.

He wants to transfer Shen Xiao to the Ministry of Revenue.

I...

I can't bear to let him go.

Rest assured, Your Highness.

I won't let him transfer to the Ministry of Revenue.

This poor top scholar hasn't suffered enough at the Censorate yet.

How can we let him go so easily?

Exactly. There's no rush.

Censor Shen Xiao has arrived.

I, Shen Xiao,

greet the Crown Prince.

Greetings to the Crown Princess.

Greetings to all officials.

Official Shen,

I invited the heads of the three judicial offices today

because I wanted to welcome you to the Censorate.

But unexpectedly,

you're in high demand as the new Top Scholar.

Before you even joined, the Ministry of Revenue already asked me for you.

This recent tribute from Jiangnan, Yutangchun Wine,

is rare for someone from a humble family.

Today, you should drink a few more cups.

Thank you, Your Highness, for the banquet.

But in my opinion,

the value of wine isn't about where it's from,

but who drinks it.

Censor Shen, you are new here.

You probably don't know that you have to drink this wine by the rules.

When you toast the officials, you have to be sincere.

Censor Shen, you need to use this bowl

to toast everyone here.

Three bowls for each person. Three rounds in total.

Drink until the wine is gone, and that will show your sincerity.

That's right.

Censor Shen, if you can pull it off,

it proves you have a strong will.

Then, you can be sent to the Ministry of Revenue for training.

I might consider it.

(Senior officials of the court)

(actually use these petty tricks to make things hard for him.)

(How embarrassing.)

(So, how will you break through?)

Since it's the rule,

I'll follow it.

A toast to the Crown Prince.

A toast to the Crown Princess.

And a toast to Ye Dynasty.

May the country prosper and the people live in peace.

Censor Shen, you can really hold your liquor.

Official Zhao, cheers.

Censor Shen, you need a reason for each toast.

- For this first bowl... - Of course, there's a reason.

Official Zhao, why not hear mine first?

Zhao Guang Ming, the Minister of Justice, loves antiques.

Last year, he secretly kept a famous painting.

"River Sails After the Snow."

"River Sails After the Snow."

I heard this treasure has been lost for ages.

It was stolen from the Crown Prince's tribute.

Even the Crown Prince has never seen the real thing.

But I heard this priceless treasure

is at your residence, Official Zhao.

So, this cup of wine

is a toast to Official Zhao for your refined taste.

Censor Shen, you must be joking.

You're flattering me.

Minister Qian.

Censor Shen, you already serve alongside us

at a young age.

But here in the court,

you still have a lot to learn.

I do have a lot to learn.

I have to learn about how meticulous you were

when you renovated the Eastern Palace's villa.

After all that careful planning,

300 bolts of silk out of 500 bolts were left over.

All of them ended up in his family's silk shop.

Those extra bolts of silk in the shop

must be selling pretty well, right?

You're right.

Yes.

Vice Censor-in-Chief Xiao.

Xiao Jiang loves Jiangnan gardens.

Jiangnan gardens are your passion.

I've heard

there's a rockery worth 50,000 taels

in your Cuiwei Villa outside the capital.

All the expenses for Cuiwei Billa

came from the public road repair funds.

That's a full 50,000 taels.

A toast to Vice Censor-in-Chief Xiao for serving the country

and still finding time to enjoy

the beauty of nature.

Censor Shen, you sure know everything.

I really don't deserve such praise.

I don't deserve it.

Official Shen, you can really hold your liquor.

- Official Chen. - (Censor Chen.)

- Official Liao. - (Censor Liao.)

- Official Li. - (Censor Li.)

A toast to you.

Your Highness.

Prince Consort Cui,

this cup is for you.

What about Cui Jin Zhi?

Does Cui Jin Zhi have any secrets?

Cui Jin Zhi has been the Crown Prince's study companion since childhood.

He's skilled in civil and military arts.

I've long heard about how you excel in both arts

and grew up by the Crown Prince's side as a study companion.

You always act with discipline.

You're one of the best among the younger generation of generals.

Are you saying that this person is completely flawless?

Everything I said is true.

Censor Shen, you really know me well.

You're too kind.

What I said was just the truth.

Gentlemen, by tradition,

we should have another drink.

Your Highness, I suddenly feel unwell.

I'm afraid I can't drink this wine anymore.

Your Highness, I...

My old illness has flared up again.

Please forgive me, Your Highness. I...

I'm feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

Let's end today's banquet here.

I will take my leave first.

(Eastern Palace)

Your Highness, I believe this young man is deeply scheming.

Keeping him in the Censorate could be trouble.

Vice Censor-in-Chief is absolutely right.

Now that the Second Prince seeks talent,

I believe Censor Shen should be allowed to go

and serve at the Ministry of Revenue.

That would also fulfill Your Highness's wish to support talent.

Exactly.

If His Majesty knew, he'd be pleased.

He'd definitely be pleased.

- I second that. - I second that.

Gentlemen, what you said makes sense.

The Ministry of Revenue is understaffed right now,

and the Yongtong Canal is a mess.

It's perfect to send Shen Xiao over there

and let him carry out the grain-for-money policy.

When the grain runs out, and the canal collapses,

he'll never be able to redeem himself.

That way, we get rid of a major threat

and deal a heavy blow to Second Brother and the Ministry of Revenue.

- That's right. - Princess Zhao Yang, you're absolutely right.

- Exactly. - That makes sense.

All right.

Let him go.

Yes.

Your Highness is wise.

You've gotten the transfer order as you wish.

This is the Princess Residence.

Your Highness.

You got drunk and passed out on the floor.

I'm the one who brought you back.

I'm going to rest now.

Who said you could take your clothes off?

- Aren't we sleeping together? - Do we have to undress because of that?

Put your clothes back on. Get in bed. Go to sleep.

So, your idea of sleeping together every night

is just lying side by side like this?

What else did you expect?

Do you really want to party every night, Top Scholar?

I think...

Shut up.

Your Highness.

If I manage to join the Ministry of Revenue

and end up in danger,

will you protect me, Your Highness?

No, I won't.

Aren't you afraid you'll lose your pawn?

You're the one who wanted to go to the Ministry of Revenue.

Your life is your own business.

Quiet.

I'm going to sleep.

(Li Shu, you're really a calamity to me.)

I, Zhao Yang, greet Your Majesty and wish you good health.

I am not well.

I'm anxious.

Anxious?

You seem so obedient on the surface,

but you reached out

to the Top Scholar from a poor background I personally appointed.