1
00:00:56,264 --> 00:01:02,640
(The Shadow Sovereign)

2
00:01:09,021 --> 00:01:11,275
Since you're here for grain collection,

3
00:01:11,469 --> 00:01:12,760
let's hear what you have to say.

4
00:01:12,932 --> 00:01:14,612
According to the grain requisition decree,

5
00:01:15,876 --> 00:01:17,851
how much grain am I supposed to provide?

6
00:01:21,869 --> 00:01:23,360
According to the decree,

7
00:01:23,540 --> 00:01:25,675
Your Highness must deliver 30,000 piculs of grain.

8
00:01:28,741 --> 00:01:30,034
30,000 piculs?

9
00:01:30,141 --> 00:01:32,360
My fief only yields 10,000 piculs a year.

10
00:01:32,460 --> 00:01:34,320
And you want 30,000 piculs just like that.

11
00:01:34,401 --> 00:01:36,856
You're asking for three years' worth of my entire income.

12
00:01:37,380 --> 00:01:39,080
That number is calculated based on

13
00:01:39,220 --> 00:01:41,635
the total estate registered under Your Highness's name.

14
00:01:42,461 --> 00:01:43,698
It is only proper that

15
00:01:44,637 --> 00:01:46,130
Your Highness contribute more.

16
00:01:47,155 --> 00:01:49,960
I heard Princess An Le had her eye on you before.

17
00:01:50,048 --> 00:01:51,400
But you rejected her.

18
00:01:51,526 --> 00:01:53,046
Now that I see you,

19
00:01:53,166 --> 00:01:54,500
I finally understand why.

20
00:01:55,066 --> 00:01:56,106
Sister Zhao Yang,

21
00:01:56,204 --> 00:01:58,760
I'd say you seem rather fond of Censor Shen yourself.

22
00:01:58,852 --> 00:02:00,613
Why not just give him the 30,000 piculs?

23
00:02:00,725 --> 00:02:03,098
Let's see if Censor Shen would be willing then.

24
00:02:03,859 --> 00:02:06,034
Princess, give it to him.

25
00:02:08,276 --> 00:02:10,411
Censor Shen comes at a steep price.

26
00:02:10,556 --> 00:02:12,800
I can't afford him.

27
00:02:16,423 --> 00:02:17,660
Your Highness,

28
00:02:17,741 --> 00:02:21,035
as far as I'm concerned, this isn't some kind of pleasure house.

29
00:02:26,812 --> 00:02:28,907
If you want grain, that's doable.

30
00:02:31,163 --> 00:02:32,803
But 30,000 piculs won't come so easily.

31
00:02:32,884 --> 00:02:34,121
Exactly.

32
00:02:36,701 --> 00:02:39,280
The peony inside this flower ball is the prize.

33
00:02:39,421 --> 00:02:40,874
If you can grab it,

34
00:02:41,445 --> 00:02:43,939
I'll exchange that peony for 30,000 piculs of grain.

35
00:02:45,708 --> 00:02:46,945
Do you mean that?

36
00:02:47,061 --> 00:02:48,754
If you don't buy it,

37
00:02:48,861 --> 00:02:50,355
you're free to leave.

38
00:02:53,596 --> 00:02:55,454
Your Highness wouldn't just ignore those people,

39
00:02:55,478 --> 00:02:56,715
right?

40
00:03:03,069 --> 00:03:04,207
Alright.

41
00:03:04,387 --> 00:03:05,627
If Your Highness wants to play,

42
00:03:05,669 --> 00:03:07,269
I'll play along all the way.

43
00:03:07,421 --> 00:03:08,658
Wait.

44
00:03:10,301 --> 00:03:12,154
Bring over Censor Shen's bow.

45
00:03:25,644 --> 00:03:27,499
Your Highness already knew I'd show up.

46
00:03:28,077 --> 00:03:29,691
I had been expecting you.

47
00:03:57,020 --> 00:03:58,880
Censor Shen is incredible!

48
00:04:38,085 --> 00:04:39,818
Censor Shen, you've got some serious moves.

49
00:04:41,331 --> 00:04:42,568
Can this flower

50
00:04:42,958 --> 00:04:45,598
really be exchanged for 30,000 piculs of grain from Your Highness?

51
00:04:46,571 --> 00:04:47,791
Once you show up,

52
00:04:47,893 --> 00:04:49,813
the Crown Prince's people are sure to follow.

53
00:04:49,941 --> 00:04:52,355
Tell me, do you think I can hand over the grain?

54
00:04:52,668 --> 00:04:53,905
You can't.

55
00:04:54,397 --> 00:04:56,520
- You're not mad? - I am.

56
00:04:56,740 --> 00:04:58,314
But I know you're even more upset.

57
00:04:58,941 --> 00:05:00,178
What am I upset about?

58
00:05:01,501 --> 00:05:02,874
You're upset I broke my promise.

59
00:05:03,333 --> 00:05:04,478
Because for half a month,

60
00:05:04,575 --> 00:05:06,055
I didn't show up like I said I would.

61
00:05:07,838 --> 00:05:09,075
So, I'll give this flower

62
00:05:09,860 --> 00:05:11,155
to Your Highness

63
00:05:11,540 --> 00:05:12,777
as my apology.

64
00:05:18,300 --> 00:05:19,304
A bet is a bet.

65
00:05:19,385 --> 00:05:21,320
Princess, it's time to pay up the grain.

66
00:05:24,810 --> 00:05:27,375
Your Highness, the Eastern Palace's people have arrived.

67
00:05:28,909 --> 00:05:31,200
Censor Shen, excuse me for a moment.

68
00:05:31,460 --> 00:05:32,580
Your Highness?

69
00:05:32,693 --> 00:05:34,334
Censor Shen, don't go.

70
00:05:34,415 --> 00:05:35,615
Stay and play a little longer.

71
00:05:35,660 --> 00:05:36,897
Censor Shen.

72
00:05:37,610 --> 00:05:39,041
Censor Shen, I want to play too!

73
00:05:39,122 --> 00:05:40,400
I want to play too!

74
00:05:40,603 --> 00:05:41,978
I want to play too!

75
00:05:45,460 --> 00:05:46,482
Your Highness,

76
00:05:46,562 --> 00:05:48,180
you and Censor Shen

77
00:05:48,261 --> 00:05:50,634
seem pretty close.

78
00:05:51,090 --> 00:05:52,247
Perhaps

79
00:05:52,328 --> 00:05:54,260
these old eyes of mine are failing me.

80
00:05:54,340 --> 00:05:57,600
I'm not quite sure how I'll report this

81
00:05:57,681 --> 00:05:58,882
to the Crown Prince.

82
00:05:58,996 --> 00:06:00,810
Your eyes have served you perfectly well.

83
00:06:01,420 --> 00:06:03,114
I've been bored out of my mind lately.

84
00:06:03,292 --> 00:06:04,891
Censor Shen came asking for grain,

85
00:06:04,972 --> 00:06:06,892
so I took the opportunity to tease him a little.

86
00:06:07,188 --> 00:06:08,698
He's a top scholar from a humble family.

87
00:06:08,722 --> 00:06:10,117
If you give him the slightest encouragement,

88
00:06:10,141 --> 00:06:11,715
he'll wag his tail for attention.

89
00:06:11,860 --> 00:06:14,140
Once I grow tired of him, I'll send him away.

90
00:06:14,220 --> 00:06:15,861
Otherwise, life becomes unbearably dull.

91
00:06:15,941 --> 00:06:17,155
Don't you think so?

92
00:06:18,574 --> 00:06:20,640
Indeed.

93
00:06:21,213 --> 00:06:22,893
Go back and tell the Crown Prince

94
00:06:23,013 --> 00:06:25,347
that I won't give him a single grain of rice.

95
00:06:25,986 --> 00:06:27,147
Surely Shen Xiao

96
00:06:27,228 --> 00:06:29,562
wouldn't dare raid my granary in Wannian County, right?

97
00:06:32,459 --> 00:06:33,819
You're absolutely right, Princess.

98
00:06:33,884 --> 00:06:36,480
Then I'll inform the Crown Prince

99
00:06:36,676 --> 00:06:38,291
that Your Highness

100
00:06:38,652 --> 00:06:41,026
already has everything well in hand.

101
00:06:50,748 --> 00:06:51,850
(Shen Xiao, )

102
00:06:51,947 --> 00:06:54,401
(it's all up to you now.)

103
00:06:57,812 --> 00:07:00,280
(Wannian Granary)

104
00:07:00,405 --> 00:07:01,642
Open the door!

105
00:07:02,276 --> 00:07:03,513
Hurry up, open the door!

106
00:07:05,627 --> 00:07:06,864
Who is it?

107
00:07:12,923 --> 00:07:15,083
This is Censor Shen Xiao from the Ministry of Revenue.

108
00:07:15,358 --> 00:07:17,158
Here to requisition grain by imperial decree.

109
00:07:18,454 --> 00:07:20,461
You guys must have a death wish.

110
00:07:20,542 --> 00:07:22,400
Do you even know whose estate this is?

111
00:07:22,516 --> 00:07:25,120
This is Princess Zhao Yang's granary.

112
00:07:26,540 --> 00:07:29,600
Princess Zhao Yang's granary is precisely what I am here for.

113
00:07:30,621 --> 00:07:31,858
Move the grain.

114
00:07:41,540 --> 00:07:42,660
Prince Consort!

115
00:07:42,740 --> 00:07:44,139
Prince Consort, something terrible has happened!

116
00:07:44,163 --> 00:07:45,752
Prince Consort, Shen Xiao...

117
00:07:45,833 --> 00:07:48,126
Shen Xiao is raiding the Princess's granary.

118
00:07:51,220 --> 00:07:53,344
Four, five, six?

119
00:07:53,467 --> 00:07:54,720
The character for "Que".

120
00:07:54,987 --> 00:07:58,520
But yesterday, you taught me that it has four horizontal strokes.

121
00:07:59,653 --> 00:08:01,707
Maybe I wrote it wrong.

122
00:08:01,980 --> 00:08:03,555
Write it again.

123
00:08:05,034 --> 00:08:06,956
Your Highness, someone from Wannian County has arrived.

124
00:08:06,980 --> 00:08:08,434
They say it's urgent.

125
00:08:11,340 --> 00:08:13,714
Que, let's head back to the room and continue writing.

126
00:08:17,629 --> 00:08:19,002
Report from outside.

127
00:08:20,860 --> 00:08:22,716
Your Highness, the Ministry of Revenue brought soldiers.

128
00:08:22,740 --> 00:08:24,277
Wielding His Majesty's grain requisition decree,

129
00:08:24,301 --> 00:08:26,941
they've forced their way into the estate and are taking the grain.

130
00:08:27,740 --> 00:08:30,331
Your Highness recently reassigned most of the guards from the granary.

131
00:08:30,355 --> 00:08:32,680
The few remaining men cannot hold them off.

132
00:08:32,941 --> 00:08:34,316
Please send more people, Your Highness.

133
00:08:34,340 --> 00:08:35,577
No need.

134
00:08:36,140 --> 00:08:38,421
The Ministry of Revenue raids under His Majesty's decree.

135
00:08:38,589 --> 00:08:40,882
Am I supposed to go against my father?

136
00:08:41,564 --> 00:08:42,765
You may leave.

137
00:08:42,883 --> 00:08:44,120
Yes, Your Highness.

138
00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:50,721
Your Highness.

139
00:08:50,802 --> 00:08:53,084
Prince Consort has taken nearly 100 elite soldiers to Wannian Granary.

140
00:08:53,108 --> 00:08:55,423
Censor Shen may well lose his life.

141
00:09:00,285 --> 00:09:01,520
Move it! Take everything out!

142
00:09:01,675 --> 00:09:02,912
Hurry up!

143
00:09:14,708 --> 00:09:15,918
Everyone, stop!

144
00:09:15,999 --> 00:09:17,058
Put the grain down!

145
00:09:17,139 --> 00:09:18,174
Nobody move!

146
00:09:24,445 --> 00:09:26,037
Censor Shen, are you requisitioning grain

147
00:09:26,061 --> 00:09:27,301
or just straight up robbing it?

148
00:09:27,340 --> 00:09:30,060
Even if it's robbery, I'm robbing Princess Zhao Yang's grain.

149
00:09:30,140 --> 00:09:31,617
What's it got to do with you, Commander Cui?

150
00:09:31,641 --> 00:09:33,576
Because I'm Princess Zhao Yang's husband.

151
00:09:37,132 --> 00:09:38,226
Is that so?

152
00:09:38,307 --> 00:09:39,722
From what I know,

153
00:09:40,389 --> 00:09:43,323
Prince Consort Cui keeps a mistress outside

154
00:09:43,941 --> 00:09:46,360
and is totally estranged from Princess Zhao Yang.

155
00:09:46,460 --> 00:09:47,507
I've never seen

156
00:09:47,601 --> 00:09:49,214
a prince consort quite like that.

157
00:09:50,092 --> 00:09:52,547
Shen Xiao, you're courting death.

158
00:09:57,036 --> 00:09:59,080
I've already made a military pledge

159
00:09:59,171 --> 00:10:01,585
to live or die with these 30,000 piculs of grain.

160
00:10:02,842 --> 00:10:04,600
If Commander Cui insists on stopping me,

161
00:10:05,901 --> 00:10:07,109
you might as well

162
00:10:07,225 --> 00:10:08,891
take my life right now.

163
00:10:19,358 --> 00:10:21,200
Commander Cui, you don't dare make a move.

164
00:10:21,357 --> 00:10:22,594
Then I'll be

165
00:10:23,020 --> 00:10:25,174
taking all her stores of grain.

166
00:10:41,340 --> 00:10:43,320
You want to risk your life against mine?

167
00:10:43,405 --> 00:10:45,920
My life is worth more than yours, Commander Cui.

168
00:11:06,477 --> 00:11:07,890
Let him take the grain.

169
00:11:08,340 --> 00:11:09,675
Are you protecting him?

170
00:11:09,893 --> 00:11:11,130
Let him go.

171
00:11:16,444 --> 00:11:18,244
Raiding a granary is already a capital crime.

172
00:11:18,453 --> 00:11:19,747
By protecting him,

173
00:11:19,860 --> 00:11:21,280
you're only ensuring his death!

174
00:11:32,052 --> 00:11:33,212
Shen Xiao.

175
00:11:33,340 --> 00:11:34,581
I'll give you the grain.

176
00:11:34,772 --> 00:11:35,840
Go.

177
00:11:43,076 --> 00:11:44,313
Cui Jin Zhi.

178
00:11:44,622 --> 00:11:45,859
Release the grain.

179
00:11:50,541 --> 00:11:51,621
Hear my command.

180
00:11:51,764 --> 00:11:53,383
- Release the grain. - As you command!

181
00:11:53,541 --> 00:11:54,778
Move the grain.

182
00:12:11,860 --> 00:12:14,060
You actually indulged Shen Xiao in raiding the granary.

183
00:12:15,020 --> 00:12:16,554
I'm saving you.

184
00:12:17,148 --> 00:12:18,948
Shen Xiao is acting under an imperial decree.

185
00:12:19,132 --> 00:12:20,189
He may have crossed the line,

186
00:12:20,213 --> 00:12:21,734
but if he dies by your hand,

187
00:12:21,821 --> 00:12:23,554
you'll be guilty of an unforgivable crime.

188
00:12:25,429 --> 00:12:26,666
So,

189
00:12:27,740 --> 00:12:29,515
you're actually looking out for me.

190
00:12:31,653 --> 00:12:33,173
Believe it or not. That's your choice.

191
00:12:34,754 --> 00:12:36,331
Alright, I believe you.

192
00:12:36,606 --> 00:12:38,085
Since you're doing this for me,

193
00:12:38,204 --> 00:12:39,405
tomorrow, I'll impeach him

194
00:12:39,525 --> 00:12:41,923
for leading armed men to loot and assassinate the Princess.

195
00:12:42,020 --> 00:12:43,560
I'll submit a memorial against him.

196
00:12:43,836 --> 00:12:46,520
It will also help the Crown Prince eliminate a dangerous enemy.

197
00:12:47,091 --> 00:12:48,400
Shen Xiao

198
00:12:48,490 --> 00:12:49,905
has to die.

199
00:12:50,461 --> 00:12:52,155
When did he ever try to assassinate me?

200
00:12:54,157 --> 00:12:56,251
This is proof he tried to assassinate you.

201
00:12:57,340 --> 00:12:58,755
If we say he did,

202
00:12:58,876 --> 00:13:00,250
then he did.

203
00:13:00,932 --> 00:13:02,169
Unless

204
00:13:04,051 --> 00:13:05,305
you can't bear to lose him.

205
00:13:07,556 --> 00:13:08,793
Do whatever you want.

206
00:13:09,140 --> 00:13:10,840
Impeach him if you want.

207
00:13:11,421 --> 00:13:13,160
Shen Xiao has nothing to do with me.

208
00:13:13,580 --> 00:13:15,800
I just don't want to go against His Majesty.

209
00:13:16,669 --> 00:13:17,906
That's good then.

210
00:13:19,485 --> 00:13:21,205
One word of advice for you, Prince Consort.

211
00:13:21,469 --> 00:13:23,920
My loss of the Wannian Granary is a minor matter.

212
00:13:24,044 --> 00:13:26,458
But should anything happen to the Crown Prince's granary,

213
00:13:26,771 --> 00:13:28,384
the consequences will be unimaginable.

214
00:13:30,797 --> 00:13:32,812
Send elite troops to the Crown Prince's granary immediately.

215
00:13:32,836 --> 00:13:34,676
- Guard it with the utmost vigilance. - Yes.

216
00:13:36,435 --> 00:13:37,672
Let's go.

217
00:13:59,083 --> 00:14:00,920
(It's all up to you now.)

218
00:14:03,741 --> 00:14:05,634
Your Highness has quite the ruthless heart.

219
00:14:05,996 --> 00:14:08,531
You just teased him and sent him off angry.

220
00:14:08,764 --> 00:14:11,257
Censor Shen certainly didn't seem to be acting.

221
00:14:12,035 --> 00:14:13,272
Otherwise,

222
00:14:13,445 --> 00:14:15,166
how could I push him to make up his mind

223
00:14:15,334 --> 00:14:16,867
to raid my granary?

224
00:14:17,132 --> 00:14:18,369
Raid your granary?

225
00:14:18,771 --> 00:14:20,695
The raid is merely a cover.

226
00:14:20,941 --> 00:14:22,400
My real goal

227
00:14:22,481 --> 00:14:24,681
is to make Cui Jin Zhi slip up amidst the chaos

228
00:14:24,781 --> 00:14:27,034
and expose the location of the Crown Prince's granary.

229
00:14:29,020 --> 00:14:30,393
I only hope that, this time,

230
00:14:30,813 --> 00:14:32,653
he can really play the role of Shen the thief.

231
00:14:34,437 --> 00:14:35,880
After it's done,

232
00:14:37,350 --> 00:14:38,763
I'll make it up to him.

233
00:14:54,431 --> 00:14:55,490
Get out of the way!

234
00:14:55,571 --> 00:14:56,808
I want to see Zhao Yang!

235
00:14:57,740 --> 00:14:59,920
Her Highness is resting. You can't go in.

236
00:15:00,220 --> 00:15:02,115
Even you dare stand in my way?

237
00:15:04,974 --> 00:15:06,414
Her Highness is resting.

238
00:15:06,495 --> 00:15:07,781
- You can't go in. - Get out of the way.

239
00:15:07,805 --> 00:15:09,203
Her Highness is resting.

240
00:15:09,284 --> 00:15:12,924
No one is allowed to enter!

241
00:15:13,060 --> 00:15:14,297
Step aside!

242
00:15:18,500 --> 00:15:19,915
I told you.

243
00:15:24,196 --> 00:15:26,556
Second Brother, what brings you to pay such grand respects?

244
00:15:32,285 --> 00:15:33,522
You dog.

245
00:15:34,072 --> 00:15:35,113
I'm not a dog.

246
00:15:35,194 --> 00:15:36,431
I'm a sparrow.

247
00:15:41,661 --> 00:15:43,875
Now that I've had my fill, I'm full of energy.

248
00:15:44,500 --> 00:15:46,060
I must have been out of my mind

249
00:15:46,140 --> 00:15:48,320
to believe you truly meant to help me.

250
00:15:48,541 --> 00:15:51,560
All along, you've been helping the Crown Prince scheme against me.

251
00:15:52,060 --> 00:15:54,874
Second Brother, are you referring to Shen Xiao's raid at the granary?

252
00:15:56,341 --> 00:15:59,154
Shouldn't you be the one apologizing to me?

253
00:16:03,260 --> 00:16:05,560
Was that Shen Xiao's doing?

254
00:16:06,092 --> 00:16:07,565
(When did he ever try to assassinate me?)

255
00:16:07,589 --> 00:16:08,988
If we say he did,

256
00:16:09,076 --> 00:16:10,451
then he did.

257
00:16:10,972 --> 00:16:12,209
Yes.

258
00:16:13,892 --> 00:16:15,129
He actually dared

259
00:16:15,210 --> 00:16:16,584
attempt to attack the Princess?

260
00:16:19,940 --> 00:16:21,996
Shen Xiao kept you in the dark while raiding the granary

261
00:16:22,020 --> 00:16:24,840
precisely to keep you completely out of it

262
00:16:24,980 --> 00:16:26,581
and avoid implicating you.

263
00:16:26,685 --> 00:16:28,338
He did it for the Ministry of Revenue.

264
00:16:28,461 --> 00:16:30,034
Second Brother, you won't protect him?

265
00:16:30,421 --> 00:16:31,658
Protect him?

266
00:16:31,813 --> 00:16:33,627
He's putting me in a bad spot.

267
00:16:35,461 --> 00:16:37,661
Attempting to assassinate the Princess is a huge crime.

268
00:16:37,988 --> 00:16:39,400
Can he possibly bear that charge?

269
00:16:40,093 --> 00:16:41,493
Unless something unforeseen occurs,

270
00:16:42,573 --> 00:16:44,426
memorials impeaching both Shen Xiao and me

271
00:16:44,740 --> 00:16:47,920
will be piled high on Father's desk tomorrow.

272
00:16:48,740 --> 00:16:50,234
When that happens, the Crown Prince

273
00:16:50,500 --> 00:16:52,880
will surely seize the opportunity to destroy me.

274
00:16:53,002 --> 00:16:54,456
It's actually the opposite.

275
00:16:54,901 --> 00:16:56,781
The more people impeach you,

276
00:16:56,901 --> 00:16:58,555
the safer you'll be.

277
00:16:58,837 --> 00:17:00,156
Isn't Father most wary of

278
00:17:00,284 --> 00:17:01,516
the collusion between the old officials

279
00:17:01,540 --> 00:17:03,440
from noble families and the Eastern Palace?

280
00:17:03,573 --> 00:17:05,706
If you staunchly defend Shen Xiao tomorrow,

281
00:17:06,196 --> 00:17:07,433
maybe

282
00:17:07,578 --> 00:17:09,432
Father will think more highly of you.

283
00:17:14,740 --> 00:17:15,977
Let me think about it.

284
00:17:16,661 --> 00:17:17,954
You get some rest first.

285
00:17:18,204 --> 00:17:19,520
Shen Xiao

286
00:17:19,812 --> 00:17:21,532
really knows how to stir up trouble for me.

287
00:17:38,587 --> 00:17:40,267
You still dare to show up at my residence.

288
00:17:46,421 --> 00:17:47,821
Please, Your Highness, have a seat.

289
00:17:59,701 --> 00:18:01,315
Whatever the circumstances,

290
00:18:02,148 --> 00:18:04,548
Your Highness should not have allowed yourself to be harmed.

291
00:18:15,461 --> 00:18:17,772
It's uncertain whether you will even live to see tomorrow,

292
00:18:17,796 --> 00:18:19,091
yet you're worried about me?

293
00:18:20,540 --> 00:18:22,115
Of course I'm worried about you.

294
00:18:23,276 --> 00:18:24,720
Blades don't care who they cut.

295
00:18:24,830 --> 00:18:26,400
I beg Your Highness, from now on,

296
00:18:26,692 --> 00:18:28,346
never to employ such tactics again.

297
00:18:28,540 --> 00:18:30,234
I only did it to save you.

298
00:18:36,629 --> 00:18:38,185
So, Your Highness is saying that

299
00:18:38,813 --> 00:18:40,586
you risked your life tonight to save me

300
00:18:40,821 --> 00:18:43,061
- because you care about me. - Don't flatter yourself.

301
00:18:46,980 --> 00:18:49,117
At a time like this, you still have the heart to joke?

302
00:18:49,141 --> 00:18:50,378
Do you know that

303
00:18:50,733 --> 00:18:52,640
Cui Jin Zhi intends to use my injury

304
00:18:52,739 --> 00:18:54,437
to falsely accuse you of attempting to assassinate me?

305
00:18:54,461 --> 00:18:55,754
Do you have any plans?

306
00:18:57,221 --> 00:18:58,458
It happened so suddenly.

307
00:19:00,221 --> 00:19:01,458
I have no plans at all.

308
00:19:03,101 --> 00:19:04,220
But tomorrow, if he wants

309
00:19:04,300 --> 00:19:06,020
Your Highness to join him in condemning me,

310
00:19:06,141 --> 00:19:08,422
Your Highness should strike at me with all your strength.

311
00:19:11,341 --> 00:19:12,714
Do you realize that

312
00:19:12,974 --> 00:19:14,590
attempting to assassinate a member of the imperial family

313
00:19:14,614 --> 00:19:15,934
is punishable by death?

314
00:19:16,015 --> 00:19:17,428
To stand against the Crown Prince

315
00:19:18,020 --> 00:19:20,954
is already to have one foot in the Netherworld.

316
00:19:22,684 --> 00:19:25,284
So long as the requisitioned grain reaches the imperial treasury,

317
00:19:26,061 --> 00:19:27,434
I'm willing to

318
00:19:27,741 --> 00:19:28,995
surrender my life.

319
00:19:37,979 --> 00:19:41,540
I impeach Shen Xiao, the Censor of the Ministry of Revenue.

320
00:19:41,645 --> 00:19:43,203
Under the guise of requisitioning grain,

321
00:19:43,227 --> 00:19:45,122
he led armed men in acts of banditry,

322
00:19:45,236 --> 00:19:46,614
broke into an imperial estate by night,

323
00:19:46,638 --> 00:19:47,743
and seriously injured the Princess.

324
00:19:47,767 --> 00:19:49,140
His crimes are unforgivable.

325
00:19:49,941 --> 00:19:51,660
Shen Xiao is outrageously audacious.

326
00:19:51,740 --> 00:19:52,900
He must be severely punished.

327
00:19:52,941 --> 00:19:54,661
He clearly disrespects the royal authority.

328
00:19:54,740 --> 00:19:56,796
- That's a capital crime. - Yes, it's a capital crime.

329
00:19:56,820 --> 00:19:59,460
Such treasonous behavior must be punished by death.

330
00:19:59,577 --> 00:20:00,781
- I concur. - I concur.

331
00:20:00,861 --> 00:20:02,220
We concur.

332
00:20:02,306 --> 00:20:03,347
Summon

333
00:20:03,428 --> 00:20:05,721
Princess Zhao Yang, Li Shu,

334
00:20:05,941 --> 00:20:08,816
and Censor Shen Xiao from the Ministry of Revenue,

335
00:20:08,932 --> 00:20:11,240
to appear before the court.

336
00:20:23,421 --> 00:20:24,542
This is truly outrageous.

337
00:20:24,623 --> 00:20:25,837
He actually dared to attack the Princess.

338
00:20:25,861 --> 00:20:27,397
He's just a nobody from a humble family,

339
00:20:27,421 --> 00:20:29,180
yet he dared to act so recklessly.

340
00:20:29,260 --> 00:20:30,740
It is a disgrace to serve

341
00:20:30,820 --> 00:20:32,117
- in the same court as him. - With Second Prince backing him,

342
00:20:32,141 --> 00:20:33,581
he dares to act so boldly.

343
00:20:33,661 --> 00:20:34,861
Such an insolent fool.

344
00:20:34,941 --> 00:20:37,061
We shall not spare you today.

345
00:20:37,141 --> 00:20:38,720
Are the matters of granary raiding

346
00:20:38,941 --> 00:20:41,155
and bodily harm reported by the Prince Consort true?

347
00:20:46,995 --> 00:20:48,200
Yes.

348
00:20:48,772 --> 00:20:50,507
I was a bit frightened.

349
00:20:50,853 --> 00:20:52,267
But I'm fine now.

350
00:20:57,268 --> 00:20:58,628
Your Majesty, please judge wisely.

351
00:20:58,740 --> 00:21:00,069
Shen Xiao led armed men to plunder grain,

352
00:21:00,093 --> 00:21:01,790
humiliated the Princess, and disregarded the law.

353
00:21:01,814 --> 00:21:04,414
Three grave offences together make his crimes beyond forgiveness.

354
00:21:10,164 --> 00:21:11,401
Shen Xiao.

355
00:21:11,482 --> 00:21:13,257
All officials are impeaching you today.

356
00:21:13,540 --> 00:21:15,140
What do you have to say in your defense?

357
00:21:17,133 --> 00:21:18,370
I

358
00:21:18,892 --> 00:21:20,232
Am guilty.

359
00:21:27,022 --> 00:21:28,836
I am guilty of believing that

360
00:21:29,597 --> 00:21:31,331
you, my lords, despite your high positions,

361
00:21:32,292 --> 00:21:35,360
could still see the starving people of Guanzhong

362
00:21:35,587 --> 00:21:37,081
lying dead across 1,000 miles.

363
00:21:38,500 --> 00:21:39,781
That you could hear

364
00:21:39,861 --> 00:21:42,861
the agonized cries of commoners forced to exchange their children for food.

365
00:21:44,164 --> 00:21:45,920
My crime lies in believing that

366
00:21:46,508 --> 00:21:49,680
the words, "The people are paramount",

367
00:21:50,195 --> 00:21:52,209
were not merely ink just written in the classics,

368
00:21:52,661 --> 00:21:54,954
but principles engraved upon your hearts.

369
00:21:58,844 --> 00:22:00,737
You impeach me for seizing the grain.

370
00:22:02,499 --> 00:22:03,736
That grain

371
00:22:03,913 --> 00:22:05,528
was indeed raided by me!

372
00:22:07,763 --> 00:22:09,258
He really did it.

373
00:22:09,388 --> 00:22:10,508
He admitted it.

374
00:22:10,597 --> 00:22:11,930
He confessed himself.

375
00:22:12,035 --> 00:22:13,796
- He admitted it. - If I hadn't raided that grain,

376
00:22:13,820 --> 00:22:15,120
those 30,000 piculs of grain

377
00:22:15,268 --> 00:22:17,843
would be left to rot inside the Princess's warehouse.

378
00:22:18,436 --> 00:22:20,091
Tomorrow, all across Guanzhong,

379
00:22:20,611 --> 00:22:22,074
millions of people

380
00:22:22,155 --> 00:22:24,012
might turn into piles of bones.

381
00:22:26,141 --> 00:22:29,075
Yet all of you concern yourselves only with rules

382
00:22:30,108 --> 00:22:31,523
and dignity.

383
00:22:32,020 --> 00:22:33,675
Let me ask you all,

384
00:22:34,510 --> 00:22:36,364
is your precious dignity more important,

385
00:22:37,141 --> 00:22:39,474
or are the lives of the people more important?

386
00:22:42,590 --> 00:22:44,804
Today, I ask this question on behalf of those people,

387
00:22:45,252 --> 00:22:46,932
on behalf of justice beneath Heaven,

388
00:22:47,060 --> 00:22:49,000
and on behalf of this official robe that I wear!

389
00:22:49,500 --> 00:22:50,737
My lords.

390
00:22:51,020 --> 00:22:52,180
Today,

391
00:22:52,341 --> 00:22:54,434
if killing me, Shen Xiao, alone

392
00:22:54,941 --> 00:22:57,155
will finally open your eyes

393
00:22:57,941 --> 00:22:59,821
to the living hell beyond these palace walls...

394
00:23:01,621 --> 00:23:03,434
If killing me alone

395
00:23:03,861 --> 00:23:05,835
can save those people,

396
00:23:08,645 --> 00:23:10,299
then I humbly beg Your Majesty

397
00:23:15,109 --> 00:23:16,843
to kill me right now.