Original subtitles

(The Shadow Sovereign)

As Your Highness knows best,

my greatest strength is that

I'm a quick learner.

Do you know what else Miss Zhang is into?

She likes

watching the losers strip off their clothes one by one

until they're totally naked.

Are you worried I won't get the hang of it, Your Highness?

There's nothing

you can't learn, Censor Shen.

You sure know how to bend and adapt.

For someone you care about, you're willing to learn anything.

Too bad all this flattery and pleasing

won't stay exciting for long.

Miss Zhang will probably get bored in a few days.

Yes.

You are quick to push me away because you are bored.

When did I ever say I was...

You didn't finish your sentence. That means you like me.

Who likes you?

You don't like me anyway.

I have no choice.

I guess I'll just pick someone random.

Life goes by fast anyway.

How dare you?

Of course I wouldn't dare with you here.

Your heart is full of twists and turns.

You always keep things hidden inside.

I'm already used to you keeping things from me.

After all, you've kept

plenty of secrets from me.

So, it doesn't really matter.

What are you getting at?

When do you plan to tell me

about the Seventh Prince, Your Highness?

The Seventh Prince.

How did you find out?

You already knew who Le Sheng really is.

The Ye Dynasty Illustrated Almanac that His Majesty can't stop praising.

I once saw it at Le Sheng's place.

I even know

that the noble who's supporting those from humble families

is actually you, Your Highness.

I can't hide anything from you, can I?

But I'm not as noble as you imagine.

Raising useful people

is just keeping my options open.

A true gentleman judges actions, not intentions.

Helping those from humble families

is a good deed.

I only figured it out recently.

You're not in the Crown Prince's faction,

and you don't care about the Second Prince.

Everything you've done

has been to support the Seventh Prince.

Since you already know,

are you willing to help Le Sheng out?

If it's for Le Sheng, I'll definitely give him my full support.

But Your Highness...

You've gone through so much to support the Seventh Prince.

Is it really for the glory of serving the future king

or do you have your own motives?

Of course I have my own motives.

I want people like me

to stop living under someone else's mercy

like drifting weeds.

I believe

Le Sheng will be a wise ruler.

What you want

is what countless people like Shen Xiao want.

If that's the case,

I will give you my full support.

The Crown Prince's granary is located

30 miles east of Qianfo Mountain.

- Do you still dare to steal from it? - I wouldn't dare.

This time, we need a safer plan.

Then I'll wait for your good news, Censor Shen.

(Your Highness.)

(I've already learned your motives.)

(But when will you ever)

(notice my motives?)

Hurry. I have urgent news for the Crown Prince.

What is it?

The granary in the western suburbs was attacked.

Last night, Shen Xiao raided it with men from the Ministry of Revenue.

There were a full 500,000 bushels of grain in this unclaimed granary!

Even the grains meant for the Yongtong Canal were hidden there.

People are barely surviving.

But some are still pocketing the profits.

Tell me! Who stole the grains?

Crown Prince.

Why are the grains given by the Ministry of Revenue

to Yongtong Canal in that granary?

Father.

This is suspicious. The grains might not have come from the canal.

Maybe it was a mistake made by the Ministry of Revenue.

Please investigate this matter, Father.

Father, the grains were signed off by Lord Cui.

It has nothing to do with the Ministry of Revenue.

Enough!

You two just keep blaming and attacking each other!

Your Majesty.

I am willing to investigate these unclaimed grains

to give the people an explanation.

Good.

I'll now promote you to a fifth-rank Secretarial Censor.

Assist the Three Judicial Offices in investigating this case.

Make sure to get to the bottom of it.

As your command, Your Majesty.

As your command, Your Majesty.

Father wants an investigation.

How are you planning to investigate?

How are we supposed to investigate this?

We can't investigate it.

I...

Your Highness. Right now, all we can do is stall.

The Three Judicial Offices will take turns investigating it. It'll...

We can't stall.

Have you forgotten how angry His Majesty was today?

If we keep stalling, His Majesty will only get angrier.

This...

Come in.

Your Highness.

I'm the one in charge of grain affairs.

If you hand me over, this case will be closed.

My only wish is that my family can be treated kindly.

Alright.

The Eastern Palace will take good care of your family.

Everyone.

Learn from Jin Zhi.

Yes, we should.

As your command, Your Highness.

(Ministry of Justice Prison)

Why didn't you come to the Princess Residence today?

Grain Supervisor Cai from Yongtong Canal turned himself in.

I need to interrogate him.

He's just the scapegoat for the Eastern Palace.

If you interrogate him now, what can you even get out of him?

If he implicates the Crown Prince,

the Crown Prince can't escape blame.

He won't talk.

Even if he does,

one confession can't bring down the Crown Prince.

I have my own way.

The heir to the throne embezzled 500,000 bushels of grains

and treats people's lives like they're nothing.

I'll get to the bottom of this.

The grains are back in the national treasury, enough to save many.

The Crown Prince has lost some favor.

We've done everything we needed to do.

This case can be closed now.

If we keep pushing, you're forcing the Crown Prince to go after you.

I'll investigate this case even if it kills me.

(Shen Xiao.)

(Do you think I don't want to take down the Crown Prince?)

(I want it more than anyone.)

(But what I want even more is to strike true.)

(I'm waiting for a chance to completely bring down the Crown Prince.)

Now, we have nothing left to worry about.

- Yes. - As expected of Prince Consort Cui.

Censor Shen, you came at the perfect time.

Supervisor Cai has confessed to the corruption he committed.

After confessing,

he took his own life out of fear.

This case

is closed.

Yes.

It's closed.

Tomorrow I'll submit the case file to His Majesty.

Censor Shen, you've worked hard today.

Go home and get some rest.

One life lost.

One confession.

Are you investigating a case

or just silencing him?

(I, Secretarial Censor Shen Xiao, )

(am risking my life to report this.)

(Supervisor Cai turned himself in, )

(but died in prison before being questioned.)

(There are many suspicious points.)

(It seems like someone wanted him silenced.)

(The Three Judicial Offices handled the case slowly and carelessly.)

(They can't escape blame for negligence or even collusion.)

(This case concerns the foundation of the nation.)

(It's not something a single supervisor can take the fall for.)

(I beg His Majesty to investigate this case thoroughly.)

(Please get to the bottom of it)

(so that the people can be at ease)

(and restore order in the court.)

By the imperial decree,

Secretarial Censor Shen Xiao is ordered

to lead the investigation of the unclaimed granary case

and Supervisor Cai's suicide case.

The Three Judicial Offices may assist without overstepping their authority.

If anyone obstructs, they will be investigated as well.

As you command, Your Majesty.

As you command, Your Majesty.

This is rebellion!

That lowborn Shen Xiao.

He submitted three memorials in a row to accuse the Three Judicial Offices.

It's clear

that he's targeting me!

Why not just...

No.

His Majesty is furious right now.

If you kill him, you'll bring trouble to the Eastern Palace.

Didn't he say Supervisor Cai wasn't powerful enough?

Then I

will give him someone who holds more power.

(The Unclaimed Granary)

Censor Shen, the suspect in the granary case has turned herself in.

Why are you here?

Aren't you investigating the case?

The guard of the unclaimed granary

is registered under the Princess Residence.

So, I have become the suspect in this case.

Is he going to use you as the scapegoat?

I've always been just a pawn.

Why not tell His Majesty?

Where's the evidence?

No evidence means it's just a false accusation.

Those 500,000 bushels of grain have nothing to do with you.

Since you are sure it has nothing to do with me,

looks like you have nothing to ask.

Then I'm going to bed.

(How did it end up like this?)

This bed is so hard. How am I supposed to sleep?

I brought this from home. It's clean.

Your Highness, please rest first. I have important matters to handle.

Did I say you could leave?

Stay and help me sleep.

Now?

Just do as you're told.

Stop!

Stop right there!

You, stop right there.

Xiao Que.

Censor Shen.

This kid says she works for Princess Zhao Yang.

I...

Xiao Que, why are you here?

I'm here to see you.

Jian Xin is worried you can't sleep well.

She asked me to bring some things here to keep you company.

Why are you so mean?

You took my money but refused to let me in.

Hello, Censor Shen.

I'll keep the things here. You should head back first.

Censor Shen is busy.

But I have plenty of time.

Why can't I stay here?

The Princess is precious.

Make sure nothing happens to her.

Not even a scratch.

Or lose even a bit of weight.

Otherwise, I won't forgive you!

Censor Shen, Jian Xin told me to tell you this.

Got it.

Oh, right. There's something really important.

When the Princess sleeps alone, she always has nightmares.

Jian Xin said she'll be fine if Censor Shen is there.

Make sure to stay by the Princess's side at night.

I'll definitely stay by her side.

Enough.

When did you get as chatty as Jian Xin?

Copy some calligraphy 100 times as punishment. Do you hear me?

Once you're done, I'll come and check on your work.

Really?

Have I ever broken a promise?

Alright. I'll go and copy them right now.

Make sure to come back soon, Your Highness.

Censor Shen. When the Princess wakes up in the morning,

she likes to wash her face with cold water.

Also, before the Princess eats,

she must have some osmanthus tea.

When the Princess drinks tea,

she needs to eat golden milk pastries with it.

They must be freshly made from Yuyi Pastry House.

Got it.

Your Highness,

I'll go and handle those files.

Wait.

Didn't you hear what Xiao Que said?

You can't let me go hungry, not even a bit.

I'm hungry now.

Alright.

I'm thirsty.

It's too hot.

I don't want it anymore.

I'm sleepy.

Listen to me.

Stop investigating.

I'm afraid I can't protect you.

It's late, go to sleep.

I'll go and get the files.

Then I'll come back and stay with you.

(I knew you'd be like this.)

(Glad you haven't changed.)

(What I liked about you back then was your honesty and courage.)

(But people like you)

(are really a headache sometimes.)

What's wrong?

The Crown Prince pinned the unclaimed granary case all on you.

He even accused us of killing Supervisor Cai

to frame the Crown Prince.

The impeachment memorial against us

will reach His Majesty before dawn.

It has come to this.

He's using you to take the fall.

Will you not step up and accuse him?

Don't you get it yet?

Taking the blame for the Crown Prince

is my role in the Eastern Palace.

If I hadn't always been cautious and humble,

I would've died countless times.

Shen Xiao.

How old were you when you first saw someone die?

I was eight.

My mother was gravely ill.

She was afraid she'd drag me down.

So, she hanged herself in the Cold Palace.

Mother!

That year, the wind and snow were brutal.

She didn't even have a straw mat.

But that's the palace life.

That's how cruel this world is.

It's the same everywhere.

I'm begging you, please help me.

I knelt there for hours with no sense of time.

Just begging for a bundle of firewood

so I could cremate my mother.

That way,

she could return to Earth as dust.

I hope she could

end up somewhere warm in her next life.

Without my mother,

life in the Cold Palace got even harder.

Every day, I woke up to endless chores.

Not just that,

I was bullied by the cruel servants too.

But I always remembered what my mother said.

Live well.

Make it out of the Cold Palace alive.

Back then,

the Crown Prince, who was rising to power, was my only hope.

So I did everything I could to get close to him, trying to please him.

If you can take my whip, I'll let you stay.

The scar on my shoulder

came from that moment.

As long as I survived,

as long as I could leave the Cold Palace...

Awesome!

- Nice hit! - Even if I had to be a dog,

I'd do it.

I didn't get this far by luck.

It was by calculation.

Figuring out everyone's motives.

Weighing the price of every step.

I escaped the Cold Palace not just to die somewhere else.

I want to live.

And I want to live my best life.

Of course I want to bring down the Crown Prince.

But first,

the winner has to be me.

The last one standing has to be me.

Only by staying alive

can I have a shot at winning.

Right?

His Majesty isn't stupid.

He knows everything.

He sent you to investigate

just to put pressure on the Crown Prince

and keep the court balanced.

You, me,

and even the Crown Prince

are just the pieces he uses to balance the state.

As for those 500,000 bushels of grain,

they are just the tip of the Crown Prince's stash.

The real reason he's stockpiling grain

is to raise an army.

He's the heir, why would he need an army?

Could it be His Majesty has changed his mind?

His Majesty hasn't abandoned the Crown Prince.

But he can't tolerate the noble families either.

The Crown Prince is tied to the nobles too tightly.

So, if he wants to depose the Crown Prince, the only way is

to force him to rebel.

What we're up against isn't just the Crown Prince.

It's a tangled, massive beast.

One wrong move and we'll lose everything.

Do you understand?

I get it.

So what's your next move?

With Father being so furious,

I'll probably lose my title and be punished.

But as long as you and Le Sheng are still in court,

we still have a chance.

We haven't lost.

(Eastern Palace)

You sent Zhao Yang to prison.

Are you going to pin all 500,000 bushels of grain on her?

That's her duty in the Eastern Palace.

Supervisor Cai is dead.

But Shen Xiao refuses to let it go.

No one suits taking the blame better than her.

You know that very well.

- Your Highness. - Enough.

Zhao Yang going to prison is just the beginning.

This fire

needs to burn even hotter.

What do you mean?

If Zhao Yang dies in prison

and accuses Shen Xiao

for murdering her in her last words...

A top scholar from a humble family kills a princess.

What a perfect ending.

Are you going to kill her?

She's served you for years! How could you go this far, Your Highness?

She doesn't deserve it.

But a filthy commoner thinks he can take me down.

I won't allow it.

Your Highness. This is way too risky.

If the Princess dies, His Majesty will definitely investigate it.

So we need to lock everything in place before Father starts digging.

Cui Jin Zhi.

The Cui family has long been tied to the Eastern Palace.

Are you going

throw away a century of your family's legacy for a woman?

Save your useless pity.

After tonight,

there will be no more Zhao Yang.

I understand,

Your Highness.

(The Ministry of Justice Prison)