Original subtitles

(The Shadow Sovereign)

(Episode 16)

We're departing today?

If we get there a day sooner, maybe we can save someone in time.

You're risking your life out there.

At least, Shen Xiao is still in the capital.

Father will arrange a marriage for him and Jin Cheng.

Jin Cheng's older brother is the Grand General of the Shence Camp.

With this alliance backing you,

it'll be easier for you to navigate the court.

An arranged marriage?

I turned it down.

His Majesty demoted me to Censor.

I'm heading to the Yellow River with Prince Le Sheng.

I'll wait for you outside.

I'll head out, too.

You defied the imperial order and refused to marry?

You know me. I won't marry Jin Cheng.

You should know,

no one from a humble family has ever risen as high as you in court.

Marrying Jin Cheng and aligning with Prince Qi

is your only way to secure your place in court.

If I have to betray my heart to get ahead,

then I don't want that kind of future.

Your heart?

Will your heart keep you alive?

Can it survive the palace and noble families' schemes?

Without power,

you don't even get to talk about it.

You've made a move that'll get you killed.

That's the worst plan.

But it's not a dead end.

I'm going there this time

to fight for a chance.

Trust me.

This hairpin

was broken when I found it.

I could only try to fix it.

What do I need this useless thing for?

What I want

is for you to fight for your place in court!

Not to be a sitting duck and get killed!

Take care, Your Highness.

Marching nonstop has worn us out.

Let's take a break here for now.

Yes!

(So, I still matter to you in your heart.)

Until things are settled,

your life matters more than anything.

Censor Shen.

Let's have a word.

Now that things are this far,

the three of us are already in the game.

Rather than just watching you walk into danger,

I'd rather play a risky move myself

and go all in.

You want to take on the Eastern Palace directly?

The Crown Prince's confinement

has shaken the emperor's trust.

But to bring him down for good,

we still need one final spark.

Our trip to the Yellow River

will add that spark.

(Jingren County)

I've angered His Majesty this time.

It's actually a step back to move forward.

I'm diving right into the tiger's den.

While dealing with the flood,

I'll start investigating the Crown Prince's cronies.

I'll get proof of his embezzlement at the Yellow River.

Is this the explanation you give me?

You have to be careful.

The Crown Prince forced Le Sheng into his territory

because he wants Le Sheng's life.

Don't worry. We'll be careful.

Let the people and local officials see you

and support you.

This move will definitely catch His Majesty's eye

and make the Crown Prince wary.

Thank you.

Thank you.

- Thank you, sir. - Thank you.

Thank you.

If the Crown Prince is panicking,

we've achieved what we wanted.

Please spare us.

Let us go, please.

Please spare us.

Please spare us.

(Ledger)

When I get the evidence,

I'll send word to you.

Wait for us in the capital until we get back.

- We'll face His Majesty together. - No.

As soon as I hear from you,

I'll head straight to the palace to accuse the Crown Prince of treason.

Accusing him without proof is a death sentence.

The Crown Prince has to rebel for Father to strip him of his title.

It's a risky move, but it kills two birds with one stone.

First, it slows down the Crown Prince

from going after you and Le Sheng at the Yellow River.

Two, it deepens Father's suspicion.

You can use this to get the Shence Camp's military token.

- (The mission is done.) - While forcing the Crown Prince to rebel,

it also secures the need to defend the king.

(Next, it's my turn to step in.)

You haven't slept in two days.

Get some rest first.

It's way too dangerous for Zhao Yang to enter the palace alone.

We need to get the evidence to His Majesty fast.

Attempting to murder a prince.

Is the Cui family planning to get everyone in your clan killed?

That only works if you make it back to the capital alive.

Kill.

The evidence will be buried along with your dead bodies.

Shen Xiao!

From the moment you provoked Zhao Yang,

you deserved to die.

Shen Xiao!

(Zhao Yang.)

(You can only be mine.)

(Chenji Hall)

I, Li Shu, at the cost of my life,

am accusing Crown Prince Li Chong

of treason.

Do you realize

what you're saying?

This is the evidence from three years ago

of the impeachment of the Crown Prince

regarding land seizure and grain hoarding

by Registrar Shen Qing Zhi from the Bureau of Revenue

under the pretext of building Qianfo Temple,

The Crown Prince seized land and hoarded grain.

He did it to secretly build up his own private army.

Father, you'd see that right away.

Evidence from three years ago,

and now you're bringing it up

to accuse the Crown Prince?

That's not all.

Shen Xiao and Le Sheng

also found proof the Crown Prince was amassing troops at the Yellow River.

To prevent any mishaps,

I can't afford to wait any longer.

Everything I'm doing

is for your safety, Father.

Father, I beg you to grant the Shence Camp command order.

If the Crown Prince doesn't rebel within ten days,

I will take my own life before the throne

to atone for my reckless accusation.

Zhao Yang.

Are you going all out like this

for my sake

or is it because

you'll force

an old man

like me to abdicate the throne

once you get the command token?

I, Yuan Shuo, bow before Your Majesty.

From now on, the Shence Camp

will secretly prepare the troops.

Once my command token arrives,

you may march straight into the Imperial City.

I obey Your Majesty's order.

Everyone in the Shence Camp

is ready at all times.

Draft another imperial decree.

Starting today,

order Zhao Yang

to enter the palace and attend to my illness.

Until I recover,

no one is allowed to leave the palace

without my special permission.

Yes.

Your Highness, it's terrible!

A secret letter just arrived from the palace.

His Majesty urgently summons...

Bring it here.

His Majesty urgently summons General Yuan Shuo of the Shence Camp

and keeps Princess Zhao Yang to attend to his illness in the palace.

(Suspicion is fire.)

(Fear is the fuel.)

Shen Xiao and Le Sheng are investigating me at the Yellow River,

and Zhao Yang suddenly entered the palace to attend to the illness.

Now, even the Shence Camp has been alerted.

Father is about to move against the Eastern Palace.

(Mobilizing troops and searching for evidence is all just a front.)

(I want the Crown Prince to know)

(that his biggest supporter now listens to me.)

(I want him to know that he has nowhere left to retreat.)

No. We can't wait any longer.

Your Highness, calm down.

Forcing the throne and killing the king is a path of no return.

You.

Get back to the Zheng family right away and notify Zheng Pu Yi.

Have him contact all the noble families.

Make sure my ascension goes smoothly.

After it's done,

I won't let down anyone who helped me ascend the throne.

Notify Cui Jin Zhi right away.

Prepare the troops immediately. Enter the capital.

- Go! - Yes.

No. Step back for now.

Your Highness, you must not do this.

Even if you succeed, you'll be cursed for eternity.

The world will condemn you. The Zheng family would never agree to this.

Besides, I think this might be a trap.

Even if this is a trap, I will still become emperor.

Your Highness!

If I die or get dethroned,

what kind of fate will you, the Crown Princess, and your family face?

I don't want Your Highness to walk down a path of no return.

Besides, everything that's happened feels way too suspicious.

It's like someone set this up on purpose

to push Your Highness into making a move.

Your Highness, think it over.

Are you unwilling or just refusing?

If you don't want

this future position as the nation's mother,

someone else will take your place.

Move! Crown Prince is just confined to his quarters.

He's still the master of the Eastern Palace.

Move!

All of you, move!

Crown Prince.

Crown Prince.

Father let Zhao Yang enter the palace to attend to his illness.

I wanted to visit the palace, but I was stopped outside the hall.

What's going on?

Father really trusts her.

He doesn't trust me anymore.

What's wrong?

What did she do?

Do you think she's just like you,

a useless person who only knows how to enjoy life?

Crown Prince,

I suddenly feel a bit unwell.

I'm heading back first.

An Le.

Crown Prince.

Why are you looking at me like this?

An Le,

when Zhao Yang gains power,

that's when you and I will meet our end.

So, we absolutely can't

let her and Le Sheng win.

Understand?

No.

I don't understand.

If the Eastern Palace falls,

what kind of fate will you face?

At such a critical moment,

are you really going to run away?

But I don't know how to do anything.

An Le,

you can do it.

You will.

You're a hundred and a thousand times better than Zhao Yang.

You are

the smartest

and Father's most beloved eldest princess of Ye.

Your Highness.​

Jian Xin.

Tell Sister

that Shen Xiao is...

Your Highness,

His Majesty requests you to attend to his illness in the palace.

(When Zhao Yang gains power, )

(that's when you and I will meet our end.)

So,

we absolutely can't let her

and Le Sheng win.

Understand?

Father!

Father!

I heard Father is unwell, so I came to attend to you.

Let me in!

By His Majesty's order, except for Princess Zhao Yang,

no one else may visit.

How dare you block me?

Father!

Who do you think you are?

How dare you block me?

Zhao Yang, don't get cocky.

Don't think just because you attended to Father,

he'll think highly of you.

Since you know His Majesty is unwell,

how dare you make a scene here?

- Throw her out. - Yes.

You dare?

You still have the nerve to block me?

Let me tell you.

That Shen Xiao of yours is already dead.

What did you say?

I said

Shen Xiao is dead.

You'll be joining him soon.

Vile woman!

- You dare hit me? - Don't move.

Your Highness, you must not act out inside the palace.

By order of the Crown Prince,

the guards in the Imperial City are led by the Ministry of War

to protect His Majesty's safety.

Princess An Le will attend to His Majesty's illness starting today.

His Majesty is still ill.

Go inside quickly and attend to His Majesty.

Cui Jin Zhi, what are you doing?

Take Princess Zhao Yang away.

Treat her well.

Yes.

Father, please don't blame me.

You listened to Zhao Yang's slander

and even confined Crown Prince in his quarters.

Even when you're seriously ill,

you chose her to attend to you.