Original subtitles

[Taiji Hall]

Lord Woo has arrived!

Lord Wu has arrived!

Vice Minister Fang has arrived!

Earlier at the Golden Celestial Hall,

I only caught a glimpse of you, General.

I greatly admire your feat in slaying

the rebel Lord Changxin.

It's an honor to be here with you tonight.

Let me propose a toast to you first, General.

Please.

General, you can really hold your liquor!

Indeed.

Indeed.

General Fan, you're young and promising,

renowned far and wide,

and striking in appearance.

It's truly remarkable that you managed to

kill Lord Changxin.

Yes, indeed.

Allow me to toast you as well, General.

If this keeps up,

that butcher woman will surely make a fool of herself.

Never mind her.

Why hasn't the Eldest Young Master arrived yet?

[Action Through Inaction]

Another toast to you, General Fan.

Grand Tutor.

I heard your heart condition has flared up recently, Master.

Are you feeling better now?

Much better.

I've been quite worried, Master.

What a remarkable capacity for drink!

That butcher woman throws her weight around—

we've suffered unbearably under her.

Let's not just watch here. Come on.

I'll drink a few cups with you all.

Good things come in pairs.

-We must enjoy ourselves tonight. -Let me propose another toast to you.

Cheers.

Isn't His Majesty hosting today's banquet in my honor?

You all belong to Prime Minister Wei's faction,

so why do you keep

offering toasts only to the Flower-Crowned General?

Could it be

that you look down on this Marquis?

You jest, Your Lordship.

General Fan arrived first,

so we simply wished to liven things up.

Allow me to toast Your Lordship on your triumphant return.

Your Lordship,

we serve in the same court.

Why did you do that?

You're Vice Minister Fang, right?

As the Vice Minister of Revenue,

you were responsible for grain supplies to the border, right?

And if I were?

You nearly caused civil unrest in Jizhou.

I haven't held you accountable yet,

and here you are acting like someone of importance.

You...

Tonight's banquet is held in Your Lordship's honor.

Let's not discuss official business.

Vice Minister Fang, you have wine all over yourself.

Please step away and rest a moment.

[Action Through Inaction]

Your Lordship, please.

The Prime Minister will arrive shortly.

Let's go.

Excuse us, Your Lordship.

This is outrageous!

Grand Tutor, come on. Let me fill it up.

The real show has just begun.

Let's sit back and watch.

I was worried you might actually come to blows.

You think too highly of those corrupt officials.

They're all despicable at heart,

yet all know they're beneath me.

They wouldn't dare cause a scene openly.

Don't worry. I'll leave the banquet in a bit.

Gongsun will assist me from the inside.

Sit.

His Majesty has arrived!

-We respectfully welcome Your Majesty. -We respectfully welcome Your Majesty.

We respectfully welcome Your Majesty.

Grand Tutor, you've recovered.

That's wonderful!

Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.

[Action Through Inaction]

This old subject is ashamed.

Prime Minister Wei, it's been a lot for you these past few days.

I always do my duty diligently.

I don't find it taxing.

But you, Grand Tutor,

you must take care of your health.

Balance work and rest.

Thank you for your concern.

Both of you are pillars of the state.

Today is a day of double joy.

I'm very pleased.

In quelling the rebellion in Chongzhou,

the Marquis of Wu'an risked his life repeatedly

and rendered great merit.

[Action Through Inaction]

The four prefectures of the northwest have remained secure

thanks to his defense.

Therefore, I hereby grant the Marquis of Wu'an the Longquan Sword.

This sword was forged by the founding emperor of our dynasty.

With it, one may strike down foolish rulers above...

and execute treacherous officials below.

It's a token of my regard.

Present it.

This Longquan Sword...

truly lives up to its reputation.

To strike down foolish rulers above...

and execute treacherous officials below.

It is a fine sword.

However, I'm devoted to the realm

and unwavering in my duty.

This sword is far too precious—

no one but Your Majesty is worthy of wielding it.

Marquis of Wu'an, your loyalty

is known to me.

At today's palace banquet,

let us all drink until dawn!

-Thank you, Your Majesty. -Thank you, Your Majesty.

I need to step away for a moment.

His Majesty takes his leave.

-We respectfully send off Your Majesty. -We respectfully send off Your Majesty.

[Action Through Inaction]

Your Majesty?

Your Majesty.

Your Highness,

Consort Dowager An has specially sent me

to remind Your Highness

that the palace banquet is about to begin.

Please do not be late.

Please forgive me, Your Highness!

I didn't mean to!

You... You wretched maid!

It's fine.

Today is a celebration banquet hosted by my brother for the Marquis of Wu'an.

It's not appropriate to lose one's temper.

You...

You may leave.

Yes!

You...

It was my lax discipline. Please forgive me, Your Highness.

I have to go back and change.

I assume the Marquis of Wu'an and my brother...

won't take offense.

W-Well...

Your Highness!

His Majesty is waiting for you!

Xie Zheng, Wei Yan—

that uncle and nephew are cut from the same cloth!

Neither of them has ever taken me, the Emperor, seriously!

They deserve to die!

They both deserve to die!

In that case,

don't blame me for not giving you a chance!

[Pursuit of Jade]

[Episode 37]

[Action Through Inaction]

My dear subjects, the atmosphere isn't right!

Play on, and dance on!

Drink up!

Grand Tutor!

Your Majesty.

Does our country still rely on me?

Of course.

The prosperity of our country for generations to come

rests entirely on Your Majesty's divine brilliance!

[Action Through Inaction]

What would this realm do without me,

wouldn't you say?

Yes, yes, yes.

Drunks are all alike, no matter their rank.

The way the Emperor gets drunk

and boasts—

it's just like Mr. Zhao.

Prime Minister Wei!

Gong...

We've found the woman,

and the Princess Royal had her brought out.

She's been placed in Qingyuan Palace.

Not gonna lie—

this look actually suits you.

Thank you, Your Lordship.

Little eunuch.

Bring that plate of pastries over here.

Yes, my lord.

My subjects, drink your fill.

You...

Please forgive me, Your Lordship.

Please forgive me, Your Lordship!

Marquis of Wu'an, are you alright?

I'm fine.

You stupid eunuch.

How dare you offend my Marquis of Wu'an!

Guards! Take him away and punish him!

[Action Through Inaction]

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

Your Majesty, please calm down.

At a palace banquet like this,

it's better not to shed blood,

lest it spoil Your Majesty's mood.

You're so magnanimous.

You may go.

[Action Through Inaction]

Alright.

Since the Marquis has pleaded for you, you stupid eunuch,

thank him immediately.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Thank you, Your Lordship.

What are you just standing there for?

Escort the Marquis to change his clothes!

Yes.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

[Action Through Inaction]

The Emperor today...

seems a bit overexcited.

Cheers!

Prime Minister, please wait!

I heard that during the Battle of Lucheng,

it was thanks to your timely dispatch of grain supplies.

You brilliantly str...

strategized behind the scenes.

I, on behalf of...

the fallen border soldiers

and the wrongfully dead border civilians,

offer you a toast.

Fan Changyu!

Are you toasting or being insolent?

Go on.

Toasting, of course.

If not for our Prime Minister's help,

[Supreme Order and Benevolent Governance]

Lucheng would likely have

become another Jinzhou, just as it did 17 years ago,

with no reinforcements

and no supplies.

By then, Old General He would not

have been the only one to fall.

The Marquis of Wu'an would've met the same fate as General Xie—

dying wretchedly, strung up on the city walls

with his body torn open by the enemy.

I'm just a butcher.

My end likely wouldn't compare to...

the big traitor Wei Qilin.

So tell me—

doesn't that deserve a toast?

As an official,

I have a clear conscience.

However, General Fan,

you truly are no match for Wei Qilin.

Prime Minister.

Where is the Marquis of Wu'an?

His Lordship said he needed to sober up

and went towards the Imperial Garden.

Find him immediately

and report back to me.

Yes.

General Fan!

I, too, offer you a toast!

And to all my subjects, thank you for your hard work.

Since I ascended the throne,

fortunately, you civil and military officials have united

and worked in harmony to uphold the realm.

Only thus does our country enjoy peace today,

and I can say I've honored my ancestors' legacy.

I dare not call myself a wise ruler,

but tonight,

all my subjects, for the peace of our realm,

let us drink this cup together!

-Your Majesty is wise! -Your Majesty is wise!

-Your Majesty is a wise ruler! -Your Majesty is a wise ruler!

-Your Majesty is wise! -Your Majesty is a wise ruler!

What an incompetent emperor.

Just as despicable as his father.

You're finally here.

I've brought her here.

Your Highness,

the osmanthus is blooming.

Your Highness,

the osmanthus is blooming.

It wasn't easy to bring her here

from the Cold Palace.

Your Highness,

fire.

Since that fire years ago,

people in the palace have avoided this place.

So it's safer to hide her here.

But she's completely...

delirious—

rambling incoherently,

making no sense at all.

Fire,

Your Highness.

Your Highness...

General Wei?

Why have you returned?

Her Highness has told you to run!

Run!

Run! Run!

Fire!

Fire!

Fire!

Fire...

Who is "Her Highness"?

Her Highness...

Her Highness is pregnant.

Your Majesty, you cannot beat her!

Her Highness and the child will both die!

The osmanthus is blooming.

The osmanthus is blooming.

It was Consort Virtue of the Qi clan.

It smells so fragrant.

This Qingyuan Palace

was formerly Consort Virtue's palace.

Many osmanthus trees were planted here back then.

Osmanthus...

Your Highness!

Osmanthus!

Your Highness!

I want to make incense with osmanthus.

It smells so fragrant. Who lit the incense?

Who has lit incense for Her Highness?

We've walked into a trap.

Don't breathe it in.

Marquis of Wu'an,

you and that maid have already been affected by an aphrodisiac!

No matter what,

you won't escape the charge of indecency within the imperial harem!

If you know what's good for you,

surrender immediately!

As long as you obey,

His Majesty

will surely spare your life!

Marquis of Wu'an, oh, Marquis of Wu'an.

No matter how brave and valiant you are,

you won't escape—

you're trapped like a rat!

General Fan! Help!

Someone must have discovered the Princess Royal hiding that woman.

She originally asked me to guard near Qingyuan Palace,

but shortly after the Marquis of Wu'an went in,

Li Xiang surrounded the palace with his men.

So I rushed here to report!

I'll go to Qingyuan Palace.

You go find Consort Dowager An.

But Her Highness said

Consort Dowager An must not know about this!

I'm afraid something terrible is about to happen.

Only Consort Dowager An can take control of the situation.

Go.

Yes.

Quick! Get him!

All of you, attack together!

Isn't he already poisoned?

Why can he still fight like that?

Yan Zheng?

Yan Zheng!

Yan Zheng!

Get up!

Yan Zheng.

What happened?

Changyu...

Why are you burning up?

Your hand—how did it get hurt?

Changyu...

It's too dangerous here.

Come here!

Hurry!

Go seal the palace gates immediately!

An assassin has broken into the Imperial Garden!

-Yes! -Yes!

Your Majesty,

this old subject offers you a toast.

Grand Tutor!

Prime Minister Wei?

Come on, my subjects.

Where are the Marquis of Wu'an and the Flower-Crowned General?

Why have they both gone?

Your Majesty, something terrible has happened!

Your Majesty!

The Marquis of Wu'an, in a drunken disgrace,

has actually seized a palace maid

and attempted to violate her!

This servant tried to stop him

b-but was beaten and thrown out by the Marquis!

Insolent.

Framing an important court official—

do you know the penalty for that?

I saw it with my own eyes.

I wouldn't dare fabricate such a thing!

Your Majesty,

perhaps there is some misunderstanding.

We'd better go see for ourselves.

You're right, Grand Tutor Li.

You wretched slave,

how dare you frame my loyal general?

My subjects!

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

Come with me to have a look!

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

Prime Minister Wei, aren't you coming with me?

I have urgent matters to report to His Majesty.

The situation is critical.

Do not stop me.

Lord Li, the palace banquet has begun.

No entry without a decree.

Violators will be punished according to palace rules.

We're just following orders.

Please forgive us, Lord Li.

[Waist token]

This is the palace pass His Majesty bestowed upon my family.

I'm among those invited!

Does even this not permit entry?

Go search over there!

Go!

There, there, and over there!

Search everywhere carefully!

You useless idiots!

There are a bunch of you,

and you still can't find him?

Search carefully!

Head Eunuch Li, bad news! There's a fire over there!

Oh no.

The hunter may become the hunted.

Why are you just standing there?

Can't you see the fire?

This must be the Marquis of Wu'an trying to destroy the evidence!

Go put out the fire! Go!

-Yes! -Yes!

[Qingyuan Palace]

Well...

How on earth did such a great fire break out all of a sudden?

Your Majesty,

an attendant heard

a palace maid cry out, "licentious villain."

By the time I arrived,

I saw...

Who did you see?

I saw... the Marquis of Wu'an fleeing from the hall.

He even injured others.

Head Eunuch Li has taken men to chase him.

He escaped?

How could you let him escape?

Your Majesty!

Xie Zheng has not only defiled the imperial harem

but also tried to destroy the evidence.

He must be arrested immediately.

If he resists, kill him on the spot!

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Consort Dowager An!

Your Majesty!

Shu is still inside!

Shu!

Consort Dowager An!

[Qingyuan Palace]

Shu!

Consort Dowager An!

Why are you stopping me?

Go save her!

Save her!

The Princess Royal is still inside?

Why are you just standing here?

Go put out the fire!

Yes!

Go!

Shu!

-Your Highness! -Consort Dowager An!

Consort Dowager An!

Consort Dowager An!

[Qingyuan Palace]

The fire is too big! You can't go in there yourself!

Consort Dowager An, you must take care

of yourself, Consort Dowager.

Enough talking! I'll go in to save her!

Wait!

Gongsun Yin!

-Shut up! -I knew it...

And you!

You dare address me like that?

[Qingyuan Palace]

[Qingyuan Palace]

Your Majesty,

once this news gets out,

I fear the Yanzhou Army under the Marquis of Wu'an

will become unstable.

And

the Flower-Crowned General who left early...

Her Jizhou Army

must also be addressed promptly!

Then, Grand Tutor Li, what do you propose?

I ask Your Majesty to grant me full authority over this matter!

Shu...

Once that group of soldiers passes,

we'll run into the corridor.

Stay still.

Changyu...

I like you.

Someone's coming.

I really like you.

Would you stop that?

Who's there?

He's there. After him!

Stop!

At a time like this...

Shu!

Shu!

Your Highness the Princess Royal!

Shu!

Your Highness.

-Shu. -Your Highness.

[Qingyuan Palace]

Shu... Shu isn't breathing!

She... She's not breathing! Shu!

Quick! Summon the royal physicians.

Summon the royal physicians!

[Qingyuan Palace]

Yes!

Shu!

The Princess Royal is a witness.

If she lives,

Xie Zheng will still have a chance to turn things around.

Whoever set this fire

is truly ruthless.

She's breathing.

She's breathing!

Gongsun Yin!

You're defiling the Princess Royal,

[Qingyuan Palace]

denying her even the peace of death!

What are you doing?

Consort Dowager An,

someone taught me this.

This method can save her.

Let me ask you: what matters more now,

her reputation or her life?

You...

Save her. Save her now!

[Qingyuan Palace]

Well...

Your Majesty...

H-How dare you!

This is outrageous!

Humiliating the Princess Royal in public—

have you no regard for the royal family's dignity?

Indeed.

Guards! Seize him!

I'd like to see who dares!

In the first half of my life, I spilled too much blood.

Only in my later years, through prayer and penance,

did I manage to preserve my only daughter!

[Qingyuan Palace]

If I can't even preserve Shu'er's life,

I don't mind killing a few more!

Commanders of the Imperial Guards— heed my order!

[Qingyuan Palace]

-Yes, Your Highness! -Yes, Your Highness!

Seal all exits.

If a single word of tonight's events leaks out,

everyone present, without exception,

shall die!

-Yes, Your Highness! -Yes, Your Highness!

[Qingyuan Palace]

Follow me!

L-Listen to Consort Dowager An.

We'll do as Consort Dowager An says.

Gongsun,

I order you to save her.

If you cannot save Shu,

you will die too!

[Qingyuan Palace]

Shu!

Shu!

You're awake.

Shu, you're awake!

Shu!

Your Majesty,

although Gongsun Yin saved the Princess Royal,

that does not prove

Xie Zheng's innocence!

Whether he is an accomplice

can only be determined after interrogation.

Well...

The one who saved the Princess Royal tonight

was a royal physician.

Gongsun was never here.

What do you think, Your Highness?

Precisely.

Tonight's events

end here.

Right.

They end here.

Tonight's events end here.

Shu.

Your Majesty,

we haven't found the culprit yet.

We've expanded the search.

Are you looking for me, Your Majesty?

The two of you...

Why are the two of you together?

And why are your clothes wet, my dear subject?

I was drunk and fell into the lotus pond.

Fortunately, the Flower-Crowned General pulled me out.

Guards,

bring the Marquis a change of clothes

and prepare a bowl of ginger soup.

Yes.

Marquis of Wu'an!

A fire broke out in Qingyuan Palace tonight,

and the Princess Royal nearly lost her life!

Witnesses have testified

that it was all your doing—that you seized a maid, defiled the imperial harem,

and even tried to destroy the evidence!

How do you explain that?

I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!

The Marquis of Wu'an is the very culprit!

You...

I'm the culprit?

Aren't you Imperial Guards out there catching the culprit?

What? Is there a second culprit now?

Your Majesty, the fugitive has been caught.

Bring him in.

Yes.

Your Li family

really put on a good show of placing righteousness above family.

How could it be you?

I intended to confess my feelings to the Princess Royal tonight.

I never expected to cause such a misunderstanding.

And even disturbed Your Majesty.

Please punish me, Your Majesty.

Well...

The one who went to see the Princess Royal today was me—

not the Marquis of Wu'an.

Please judge wisely, Your Majesty.

Why has this night

been filled with so many inappropriate acts and misunderstandings?

I share Your Majesty's curiosity.

I can usually hold my liquor well.

I don't know why,

but I got drunk after just one drink tonight.

Could it be that the wine Your Majesty bestowed

was too strong?

That was the wine aged for a long time in the palace cellars.

Naturally, it was a bit stronger.

The wine was...

this servant, Li Xiang, prepared it himself!

Right?

Could it be you've harbored ulterior motives?

I...

Your Maj...

That's right!

This matter...

was entirely my doing.

It was all because

the Marquis of Wu'an had repeatedly humiliated me before.

He even cut off one of my ears.

So...

So I harbored a deep grudge all this time

and seized this opportunity

to frame him.

You...

Was it also you who set the fire...

in the Princess Royal's palace?

Enough!

You wretched slave, you've betrayed His Majesty!

His Majesty was also deceived

by this servant!

Your Majesty,

it's clear that someone set a trap tonight,

trying to frame the Marquis of Wu'an and me.

I used to be a butcher.

I don't understand grand principles.

But I fought enemies on the border,

surviving countless battles.

Now that I'm home,

I'm being framed by those around me!

Perhaps Your Majesty,

Grand Tutor,

or Prime Minister Wei

can explain this to me.

The state is governed by laws.

Li Xiang is guilty

and will be punished according to the law.

This has nothing to do with anyone else.

Your Majesty.

I wonder if the Longquan Sword you bestowed upon me

still holds.

Of course it does.

You...

Since Your Majesty has granted me the Longquan Sword,

I shall rid Your Majesty of this traitor.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

My subjects,

you're all the pillars of the state

and have rendered great service.

Regarding tonight's events,

I will investigate thoroughly,

root out the true culprit behind this scheme,

and see them punished without mercy.

It's late.

You may all take your leave.

Let's go.

Grandfather.

Li Xiang...

Prime Minister Wei,

why haven't you gone home?

[Speak with Caution]

Seventeen years ago,

the late Emperor pulled the very same trick.

You Qi family...

you're all cut from the same cloth.

You...

This is the last time.

[Speak with Caution]

If it were the late emperor standing here,

would you dare treat him this way, Prime Minister?

[Speak with Caution]

Or has Your Majesty forgotten

how you came to the throne?

Such a deep gash.

You should see a physician.

♪ In a lifetime of storms, a fleeting bloom ♪

♪ The most beautiful scenery becomes a poem ♪

♪ For a chance encounter ♪

What are you doing?

♪ A single letter of longing, half a lifetime apart ♪

♪ I'll burn out my passion for you ♪

♪ Just for a glance ♪

♪ In this life ♪

♪ All that I can see or hear ♪

♪ Is that we'll live and die together ♪

♪ On this journey ♪

♪ You're all that I care about ♪

Calm down.

♪ My soul yearns and my dreams linger ♪

♪ After we part ♪

♪ Where love dwells, where fear lies ♪

♪ Just one thought makes me sick ♪

♪ I wish to leave this world with you ♪

♪ We'll never be apart ♪