Original subtitles

The Sixth Prince was punished to kneel outside the East Palace?

His Highness somehow angered Crown Prince badly that he coughed up blood.

When the news got out,

the Crown Prince was still unconscious.

His Majesty was furious.

Your Highness.

A child delivered this.

There is no signature,

so we don't know who sent it.

(The hour of Wei, Dengying Theater)

There was a young master in the capital who loved a lady in his youth.

After her husband died, he wanted to be with her again.

But ashamed to make her a concubine, he decided to get rid of his wife.

So he plotted carefully

feeding his wife the wrong medicine, little by little,

until it killed her.

Soon after, he took the lady as his new wife.

(Why does the Sixth Prince smell exactly like)

(that dancer?)

(What a clever sleight of hand.)

(The Sixth Prince killed his wife to marry his mistress.)

(So he's scheming against me.)

=Blossoms of Power=

(Adapted from the novel, After My Bloom, All Flowers Wither by Jin Huang)

=Episode 4=

What brings you here, Your Highness?

I just watched a very interesting shadow puppet play.

And it got me thinking

about your plan.

What plan?

Marry me,

and then kill me.

By then, the northwestern army

will be in your hands.

Then you can ask His Majesty

to let you marry Bian Xianyi as your second wife.

A foolproof plan.

I am truly devoted to you.

I don't know where you heard such rumors.

But without any proof,

you must not believe them.

You want proof?

Your Highness,

that jade dew perfume you're wearing

is uniquely fresh and cool,

and impossible to forget.

It is exactly the same scent Bian Xianyi wears.

I have never liked speaking in riddles.

So why don't we lay everything out in the open

and put an end to someone's delusions?

From now on,

stay away from me.

I almost let Prince Yu's good looks fool me.

If you had married him,

the consequences would have been unthinkable.

They grew up in the palace.

All that deception,

and all those schemes,

they were born knowing how to use them.

Prince Lie has a terrible temper.

Prince Xin is cold as ice.

Prince Yu looks like an angel, but has a wicked heart.

Now only Prince Ning is left.

He has an excellent reputation.

Let us hope he deserves it.

You forgot the Crown Prince.

He's always so gentle and gracious

with Her Highness.

He is sickly.

What is so good about him?

He is gentle.

And since he is weak,

in the East Palace,

the Crown Princess would be the one in charge.

When he takes the throne,

she'll become the empress who rules beside him.

That sickly Crown Prince

handles everything very properly.

And he seems naturally good-tempered.

Is that not good?

I don't like things that seem too easy.

They are too deceiving.

I need to watch him a little longer.

Right now,

the Tagara Incense

is what worries me the most.

The richest man's son,

the Embroidered Envoys,

and the Deputy Chief Justice.

He can impersonate them all with ease,

and no one ever holds him accountable.

Not to mention,

Cui Jinbai has always been groomed to become chancellor.

In this whole world,

the richest,

the strongest,

and the most promising men

all answer to the Tagara Incense.

This person is the real mystery.

Who could it be?

(The Rouge Ledger)

(Son of Steward Zhao, 100 bolts of silk) Your Highness.

Commandery Princess Zhaoning is as decisive as expected.

She confronted Prince Yu directly.

Although Prince Yu denied everything,

his face turned pale.

Oh, Changyu...

His intentions were impure,

and he had no regard for morality.

As Commandery Princess Zhaoning's potential husband,

he should be out of the running now.

(Prince Yu, Xiao Changyu)

Your Highness,

about the crimes of the officials

recorded in the Rouge Ledger,

do they match any of the clues

you've found over the years?

Come here.

Look here.

This records that Steward Zhao's only son

was once involved in buying and selling official posts.

You mean

the person behind the Rouge Ledger

may have used this

to force Steward Zhao to poison someone?

Yes.

This broken lead

finally has a direction again.

Tian Yuan.

Have the Embroidered Envoys and Cui Jinbai assist you.

Find out who's really behind

the Rouge Ledger.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness,

we've traced the Jati Blossom Incense from the Rouge Ledger.

In the entire capital, the only temple that uses it

is Fahua Temple.

Our people found this there.

After checking,

we found this sachet belongs only to Consort Luo of Prince Kang's manor.

Yes.

This is indeed the Jati Blossom flower.

And this scent

is authentic Jati Blossom Incense.

Find out who she is.

I want to see her.

Yes, Your Highness.

(Shijia Pagoda)

Who are you?

What do you want from me?

Should I call you Prince Kang's Consort Luo

or should I call you

Yu Xiaodie?

(Prince Kang's Consort Luo)

Ten years ago,

you were nothing more than

a nameless concubine by Prince Kang's side.

Ten years later,

you've climbed your way up to consort.

That's because

the concubine Yan Zhi,

who incited Vice Minister of Personnel to sell official posts,

was trained by you.

There are many ladies like her.

You married them one by one

to different high-ranking officials.

Nonsense!

How dare you drag Prince Kang's Manor into this?

In the entire capital,

only the Buddha statues at Fahua Temple

are coated with Jati Blossom Incense.

The scent is very distinctive

and extremely rare.

And yet,

it's on you,

and on the Rouge Ledger, too.

What a coincidence, right?

What does that prove?

The court will soon

round up all the corrupt officials

listed in the Rouge Ledger.

If they follow the trail,

it won't be hard to find out you wrote it.

By then,

will Prince Kang throw you out

to take the blame for everything?

If you can give me proof of Prince Kang's crimes,

you may still have a chance to live.

Weigh the risks

for yourself.

Even if I believe you,

how do you plan to save me?

I'll give you an incense

that will make your body go cold

and your pulse grow weak,

as if you're dead.

After you hand over evidence of Prince Kang's crimes,

you only need to fake your suicide out of guilt.

By the time the Rouge case breaks,

you'll already be

a dead lady who's long gone.

What is there to fear?

Your Highness,

Commandery Princess Zhaoning went privately

to see Prince Kang's Consort Luo.

The beautiful ladies

recorded in the Rouge Ledger

were mostly trained by her for Prince Kang.

In that case,

Her Highness already knows

the mastermind behind the Rouge Ledger

is Prince Kang.

Congratulations, Your Highness.

If Prince Kang falls and is imprisoned,

we'll surely be able

to make him talk about the poisoning.

I've benefited from the Commandery Princess's efforts.

She has done me a great favor.

The Commandery Princess is truly

the most unfathomable

and decisive lady I've ever met.

Your Majesty,

we've uncovered the truth behind the Rouge Ledger case.

The evidence is conclusive.

How horrifying!

Your Majesty,

Prince Kang secretly ran the Beauty Pavilion.

For over ten years, the beauties he gifted

were sent to powerful nobles in the capital,

regional governors, and key local officials.

In other words,

his spies are planted throughout the court and beyond.

Many local officials

became connected by marriage,

covering for each other's corruption

and trading favors.

The crimes are too many to count.

Your Majesty,

we've also found

that Prince Kang amassed a fortune

and hid it deep in the mountains outside the capital.

Issue my decree.

Arrest Prince Kang at once!

Every guilty official listed in the Rouge Ledger,

not one is to escape.

- Yes, Your Majesty. - Yes, Your Majesty.

(Prince Kang) I thought

I had everything under my control.

Never did I imagine

that you had been biding your time all along, Your Highness,

keeping yourself

so well hidden.

I can spare your mother and your wife.

My crimes warrant the extermination of my entire clan.

How could you possibly save them?

First,

to rid the court of corrupt officials

and restore justice to the people.

You and your accomplices must die.

Second,

you'll confess where you've stashed all the wealth you've squeezed out

and put an end to your treasonous ambitions.

Third,

Steward Zhao of Palace Food Bureau.

Her only son

was also listed

in the Rouge Ledger and acted under your coercion.

So you've been

investigating the poisoning all these years.

You've hidden your strength for so long

and cast such a wide net.

But that person

wasn't me.

Even now,

you're still lying?

You've hidden your true abilities so well,

and I'm truly impressed.

Surely you've realized

that whoever

fed you those fermented cherries

was the one who poisoned you.

It's

really that simple.

With just one simple sentence,

you're trying to drive a wedge between Father and me.

Then...

I wish you

the best of luck in finding the real culprit.

When you do,

you'll know every word I said was true.

(Court of Imperial Clan Affairs)

Your Highness.

Your Highness,

did Prince Kang refuse to admit

he was the one who poisoned you?

I'm afraid

he isn't the real culprit.

Then did you get any new leads?

Father.

Have you forgotten?

I told you

that when we're alone,

you should call me Dad.

But my brothers all call you Father.

"Father" and "son"

belong to ruler and subject.

But you and I...

Fun, right?

Are father and son.

Yes!

(Dad,)

(you couldn't have been the one who poisoned me.)

(I don't believe that.)

Your Highness,

your poison is acting up again.

Get me Xie Yunhuai.

(Quiet View in the Pine Breeze)

Physician Xie.

Is there anything else we can do to ease his pain?

(Xie Yunhuai, Eldest Son of Duke of Xie)

If nothing else works, use acupuncture already.

His Highness's pulse is still erratic,

but it's gradually calming down.

If I use acupuncture now,

all our efforts will be wasted.

No need.

I can hold on.

Physician Xie. There's a young lady here to see you.

She has something important to discuss.

Tell her to wait a moment.

Yes, sir.

(Qishi Medical Hall)

Mo Yu,

are you sure

this physician is truly skilled?

Xie Yunhuai was once the eldest son of Duke Xie, one of the eight noble houses.

Then he suddenly severed ties with Duke Xie.

He's highly skilled in medicine

(Mulberry leaves) and travels around treating patients.

For some reason, he's settled here long-term.

He was willing to give up his fine robes

and leave wealth and status behind

to treat people out here in the countryside.

That shows he's a man of noble character.

The capital is a dangerous place.

We need a physician we can trust.

Your Highness,

the Immortal Vine is extremely rare.

It'll surely help your cold illness greatly.

Young Lady, the patient inside is in critical condition.

His life is hanging by a thread.

Physician Xie is doing everything he can to save him.

Please wait a moment.

We'll come back another day.

(Quiet View in the Pine Breeze)

Your Highness, you're finally awake.

Are you feeling better?

Much better.

You really scared me.

Just now, your heartbeat and breathing were both gone.

You have no idea how dangerous it was.

The Immortal Vine saved me...

You were blessed with good fortune.

A kind-hearted young lady

gave us the medicine in time.

That's what saved your life.

She was willing to give up such a rare treasure?

The young lady said

a righteous man once gave her

the Immortal Vine to save her life.

Today, seeing someone who was on the brink of death,

she couldn't just stand by.

Or she'd be betraying the kindness that saved her.

(Duke of Wei's Manor)

Your Highness,

how much longer are we going to wait here?

A little longer.

But you're still ill.

Besides,

it's so late.

Her Highness won't come out now.

I'm not waiting for her.

There are just some things

I need to think through.

Can't you think them through back at the palace?

Why do you have to do it outside her manor?

I...

I'm just curious.

There isn't even a streetlamp on this road.

It's so dark.

Duke of Wei is stationed at the border all year round.

His Majesty once granted him a grand residence,

but he said he had no use for it.

He didn't want to waste manpower, money, or time.

So he chose this place

as his private residence.

Compared with other senior ministers' homes,

it is indeed much more remote.

(Court of Imperial Clan Affairs) Prince Kang has corrupted

the court and disrupted the rule of the state.

He is hereby sentenced to immediate execution by beheading.

His sister, Lady Xiao, aided him in his crimes.

She is hereby granted death by white silk.

The rest of his family shall be stripped of their status and property

and exiled 1,500 km away.

(The Rouge case has been solved.)

(Lady Xiao is dead.)

(Corrupt, treacherous officials)

(are a cancer to the state.)

(They got what they deserved.)

(The Shen family's great grievance has been avenged.)

(I came specially to comfort.)

(Duke of Wei's Manor)

His Majesty has issued a verbal decree.

His Majesty requests Commandery Princess Zhaoning

to go to the hunting grounds

outside the capital to observe the martial display tomorrow.

I shall obey His Majesty's decree.

(Royal Hunting Grounds)

Good!

His Majesty has arrived!

- Long live Father! - Long live Father!

Rise.

- Thank you, Father. - Thank you, Father.

Huayong,

it's windy at the hunting grounds today.

You're dressed a little too lightly.

(Duke of Ying, Noble Consort Rong's elder brother)

Thank you, Father.

Changqing,

you don't look well.

The weather has been cold lately,

and you've visited Fahua Temple to chant scriptures and pray for blessings.

You must take good care of yourself.

Thank you for your concern, Uncle.

Xihe.

In previous martial displays,

I've always allowed everyone to compose poems for the occasion.

Today,

since Commandery Princess Zhaoning is attending for the first time,

the theme

shall be decided by her.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Princes,

if any of you admire Commandery Princess Zhaoning,

today is

the perfect chance to declare your feelings.

In my humble opinion,

the land is splendid, and all flowers bloom in their own beauty.

Different flowers appeal to different eyes.

Why don't we ask everyone

to compose on the theme of flowers?

Each may choose the bloom they favor.

What do you think, Your Majesty?

Good.

Very good.

Who will compose the first poem?

Father.

Greetings, Commandery Princess Zhaoning.

Greetings, Prince Ning.

At the banquet in Taiji Hall last time,

I should've been there to welcome you.

Unfortunately,

I was tied up with official duties

and couldn't arrive in time.

Please don't hold it against me.

Your Highness, you're too kind.

Then I'll start things off

with a poem

to express my apology.

When wild geese fly south from the frontier,

white jasmine shines upon iron armor.

I'd gladly build a golden chamber for it,

and make every border gate its home.

Prince Ning,

you compared a lady to jasmine from the Western Regions.

By placing her in a golden chamber,

you ease the jasmine's longing for its homeland.

In the eyes of all ladies,

that is the highest form of devotion.

You have such refined leisure,

and such outstanding grace.

Father.

Commandery Princess Zhaoning saved my life.

I'll never forget that.

Protecting the princes

is every subject's duty.

I'm no exception.

You're strong-willed and straightforward.

In my eyes,

only the blazing pomegranate flower

can compare to you.

I offer this poem to express my heart.

Pomegranate flames burn against frosted blades,

and true regard is carved deep into the bone.

If I could repay Hongfu's noble spirit,

I'd ride ten thousand miles and scatter the northern dust.

Prince Lie, you aspire to win glory through battle.

If I should win your favor,

I swear to spend my life

to give up all silks and finery

and be yours alone for life.

Prince Lie, your wholehearted devotion

will be a priceless treasure

to the future Princess Lie.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Prince Ning and Prince Lie

have both made their feelings clear.

And...

I, too,

wish to ask for your hand in marriage.

Huayong,

you also wish to marry Commandery Princess Zhaoning?

Yes, Father.

My health is poor.

In scholarship and martial arts,

poetry and hunting,

I'm nothing remarkable.

Today,

I'll make a poor showing.

All mouths praise the blooms in glory,

while your house's steps shine beneath your light.

My heart wishes only to be a dew-bearing blossom,

flying only toward where your heart turns.

Your Highness, are you

comparing yourself to a flower?

Yes.

Whatever flower Her Highness likes,

that's the flower I'll be.

Even the Crown Prince

admires Her Highness.

What right do the rest of us brothers

have to ask for her hand?

Changmin, that's not true.

I'm willing to compete fairly

with all my brothers.

Xihe.

What do you think?

I'm grateful

for the Crown Prince's and the princes' affection.

The man I wish to marry

must be someone I love

and grow old beside.

I'm afraid I'll need more time

before I can give an answer, Your Majesty.

Marriage

is one of life's greatest matters.

It can't be rushed,

nor can it be taken lightly.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

A grand feast has been prepared today.

Enjoy yourselves.

- Thank you, Father. - Thank you, Father.

Uncle.

I didn't expect Crown Prince to ask for the Commandery Princess's hand too.

Don't worry.

The Princess said

she wants someone she can grow old with.

Based on that alone,

the Crown Prince is already out.

But what lady in the world

wouldn't be tempted

by the position of Crown Princess?

So,

the Crown Prince

isn't without a chance.

It's fine.

I'll help you.

Your Highness,

the royal hunting grounds really are extraordinary.

What do you think

the Crown Prince took today? Some miracle tonic?

He's gotten so carried away.

She's the capital's most noble lady,

with so many princes fighting for her hand.

Of course the Crown Prince doesn't want to be left behind.

But she's a fierce lady from the northwest.

How could she possibly stand

spending her life serving medicine in the East Palace?

Everyone knows he won't live long.

Now even his face has gone pale.

What a complete joke.

How dare you!

Who are you to gossip about the Crown Prince?

- Please forgive us, Prince Ning. - Please forgive us.

If this happens again,

the Censorate will summon you for questioning.

What are you standing around for?

Go.

Greetings, Prince Ning.

What a coincidence.

I was just about to look for you.

May I ask

what you need me for?

I heard you enjoy blending incenses.

My mother was born into a family of incense.

This Incense Record is the finest of its kind.

All incense lovers have long sought after it.

After my mother passed away,

she left it to me.

I hope you'll accept it.

Your Highness, there's no need.

Since it's a keepsake from your late mother,

I absolutely can't accept it.

If this book

can be given to someone who truly understands incense,

then my mother's lifelong work won't go to waste.

Your Highness, please don't refuse it.

Thank you, Prince Ning.

Your Highness,

I'll take my leave.

I didn't expect Prince Ning

to prepare gifts for me and Mo Yu too.

Your Highness,

Prince Ning is devoted to the law and conducts himself with integrity.

Everyone in the capital praises him.

Someone as perfect as him,

would you consider choosing him as your husband?

People aren't gods.

How could anyone be without flaws?

Your Highness,

if Prince Ning hadn't forced

the gifts on Her Highness,

she wouldn't have accepted a single one.

Tian Yuan.

I remember Changmin

is skilled in painting and calligraphy.

Prince Ning is indeed quite accomplished

in that regard.

Anyone close to him

receives his paintings or calligraphy as gifts.

Changmin has always seemed noble and upright,

with a sterling reputation.

I wonder if he truly lives up to it.

This way!

Your Highness.

You're here.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Please have a seat.

What are you watching, Your Highness?

I can't take part

in these contests myself,

- but watching from the side... - Keep up.

Has its own charm, too.

Tian Yuan.

Your Highness.

His Highness specially instructed us

to prepare steamed crab and pheasant soup for you.

Thank you, Your Highness.

The weather is still a little chilly today.

Why don't you eat while you watch?

All right?

Your Highness, don't catch a chill.

Just now, you said

you had feelings for me.

Ever since I came to the capital,

in many people's eyes,

I've hardly been a good person.

You have a gentle and kind side, too.

It's just that to others,

it isn't very obvious.

To me,

Your Highness,

you truly aren't the best choice for a husband.

I remember the first time

you asked Father to choose a husband for you,

you asked for mutual affection.

Today, you also spoke of growing old together.

With this frail body of mine,

I'm certainly not the best choice.

But as long as you believe

I'm someone who would never hurt you,

that's enough.

(Bu Shulin, Heir to the Marquis of Shunan)

I'm Bu Shulin, heir to the Marquis of Shunan.

Greetings, Your Highness.

As a member of the Imperial Guard,

I'm responsible for protecting the capital.

After Prince Kang's second son, Xiao Jing,

instigated Second Young Master Li to harm you,

he fled the capital.

I caught that rotten bastard

to give you an explanation,

and then sent him into exile in Dongling.

Also, the runaway slave you issued a warrant for,

Lady Xiao already had her silenced.

Xihe,

are you pleased

with these two gifts?

They're all right.

You still won't accept your fate?

Who told you to throw up here?

Clean it up.

Xihe,

if you're still not satisfied,

go ahead and hit him.

Just don't kill him.

Thank you for your trouble.

Have some plum drink and take a rest.

Doing things for you

is no trouble at all.

Since you've gone to such trouble,

as thanks,

I'll give you a warning, too.

A warning about what?

The Marquis of Shunan's only child,

Bu Shulin, heir to the marquisate,

is actually a lady.

Your Highness,

you can't just say things like that.

The scent you're wearing

is Spring Snow, a lady's incense.

It's blended mainly with spring snow flowers,

delicate and lightly sweet,

made especially for ladies.

No man would wear it.

Though you used very little,

so others can't smell it,

I can.

My father has always held Marquis Bu in high regard.

So you can rest assured.

My family and your family

have never been enemies.

But if you hurt me...

There's poison in this tea.

Please don't joke around.

The antidote.

The cup was poisoned.

Still the antidote.

Your Highness,

when you act like this,

my poor little heart can barely take it.

Right about now,

your limbs should be going weak.

So it was a trap within a trap.

I won't expose your identity.

But if you try to harm me,

that'll be a different matter.

I acted on impulse just now.

I didn't really mean to hurt you.

I believe you.

You brought Xiao Jing here today

to win me over

because we're both far from home,

and you want an ally.

Here in the capital,

you and I are in similar positions.

The other princes and noble ladies

all keep their true intentions hidden from us.

If you're willing,

I'll treat you like my own sister.

The antidote.

I'm the kind of person who doesn't care about personal ties.

I only look at interests.

If either of us needs something from the other in the future,

we'll need to offer something real.

You're clever enough to be frightening,

but you're refreshingly honest.

How interesting.

I'm keeping your secret for you.

That means you owe me a huge favor.

Don't worry.

One day,

I'll repay you.

That man is clearly the real Hua Fuhai.

And the handsome man beside him

is Cui Jinbai, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

They both answer to him.

Wait for me here.

I'll be right back.

Maybe

he's the Tagara Incense.

♪How can you be this wonderful♪

♪I've hidden so many words♪

♪Too reluctant to tell you♪

♪So never uncover♪

♪The sand that slips away with one grasp♪

♪The flower that withers after one bloom♪

♪Silently buried deep inside my heart♪

♪Every answer I gave♪

♪Was both bittersweet and absurd♪

♪Hiding my tear-filled eyes when I hurt you♪

♪How hard it truly was?♪

♪The wounds that healed with just a little comfort♪

♪The lies made whole with a single embrace♪

♪Pretending to be brave as if I'd never been hurt♪

♪It's a shame I never could♪

♪Give you a moon in return♪

♪With the same open heart you loved me♪

♪I've crossed the wasteland of memories♪

♪Never knowing I was lost♪

♪Why don't you take me away?♪

♪Lead me out of this endless game of hide-and-seek♪

♪You'll never♪

♪Know how much I long to, long to♪