Original subtitles

That man

doesn't sit quite right with me

He flattered his superior and attacked his colleague

Of course it made people feel uncomfortable

Then, Your Majesty, why did you treat him…

You women may not understand this

How can you expect all the officials

to be similar

Besides, people can't only eat chicken, duck and fish

We have to eat all kinds of grains to be robust

This also applies to the way I use my men

Dongfang Shuo and Qiankunzi

are polar opposites who spur and neutralize each other

Just perfect for my purposes

- Greetings, Eldest Princess. - Now, now, hat's alright

Dongfang Shuo

You've got to get Liu Nan back on the double somehow

Don't let her stay in the main camp anymore

What's happened, Your Highness?

Consort Wei just called me to the Palace

She said there's now a rumor going around the palace

saying you've killed Wang Xiu

to get hold of the Jingchu Army's trust

Yes, that's right

I did that for His Majesty, didn't I?

But people are saying

that Jingchu officials and soldiers

only look up to you and not His Majesty

They even said that you placed Liu Nan to keep a lid on things

and to make the Jingchu Army

your personal army

I'll twist off their tongue!

Who's so hell-bent on Dongfang Shuo's demise?

Think about it

You know how egoistic that emperor brother of mine is

Even if he hasn't said anything on these rumors

don't you think he'd have other ideas in his mind?

Would Your Highness please enter the Palace and set things straight?

No way, anything but that

The more you try to set things straight, the muddier it gets

It's all my own fault for not thinking things through

When doing things for His Majesty

you'd have to consider every possible aspect

Otherwise, a slight overlook will cost you

Don't look too much into it

Perhaps it's not as bad as it looks

but it's best to stay a step ahead

Why not bring Liu Nan back first

- I thank you for your care, Your Highness. - Thank you, Your Highness

I'll call her back right now

General Gan

I'll leave the main camp in your hands then, please do your best

Keep up the drills, there can be no slacking off

Don't worry, Princess. I, Gan Qi, will follow your orders closely

Good

Generals, I'll take my leave then

I'll return in a couple of days at most

Take care, Princess

Farewell

Giddyup!

- You're back, milady. - Quick

Elder Sis, I'm back

Good job, sis

Why dont' you take off your armor, sit down and rest

You called me back so urgently

what on earth happened?

It's a long story

Your Majesty

wouldn't you think it's about time my pupil can take charge?

Get him here to answer me

Hurry over, His Majesty's calling you

Your Majesty

Let me ask you

What method did you use

to train the dogs so well?

Your Majesty, it's… what Master taught me

Be more specific

Your Majesty, it's beef plus the stick treatment

Still your same old trick

But why are the dogs trained by your pupil

turn out to be more obedient than the ones you train?

His Majesty's asking you

Spare my life, Your Majesty!

I'm not about to kill you, you know

I deserve death

I beat Your Majesty's beloved Grand General

to death

What?

You dare kill my favorite dog?

Forgive me, Your Majesty, spare my life!

Out with it, why did you beat it to death?

Because it didn't listen to my orders

If I didn't subdue it

all the other dogs won't listen to me either

That's why I…

beat it in front of the other dogs

Brazen fool! You looking to die?

Spare me, Your Majesty!

- Xiaoyizi, reward him ten taels of gold. - Understood

Greetings, Your Majesty

- Get up, Dongfang Shuo. - Thanks, Your Majesty

You came just in time

It's been two days since I heard your jokes

I can do with two of them today

so I can let it all out with a great laugh

Your Majesty, I've an important matter to report

What is it? Leave it till tomorrow

I'm here on behalf of Liu Nan, Princess Zhaoyang, to report of her leave

Why did she take a leave?

Princess Zhaoyang was suddenly taken ill

She's suffering from head to toe

Has she seen a physician?

She did

What illness is that?

The physician said her daily exertions have affected her pregnancy

Dongfangshuo, don't tell me

you're going to come again two days later

and tell me she's miscarried?

Very astute, Your Majesty. The physician said

there really is that danger

If the child is no more

I'll immediately hand you over to Zhang Tang for punishment

That is exactly what I'm worried about

I'm afraid I won't be able to answer to Your Majesty then

so I'm here to seek Your Majesty's permission

to let Princess Zhaoyang to recuperate back home, to avoid such risks

How about you tell me

what'll become of the main camp with Liu Nan gone?

Your Majesty, the army morale is steady now

All 200,000 Jingchu soldiers are basking in Your Majesty's grace

Even if Princess Zhaoyang isn't there

Gan Qi can totally hold his own

Alright then

- Let Liu Nan return home to rest. - Thank you, Your Majesty

Then again, Dongfang Shuo

I'm telling you now

The child Liu Nan is carrying

must be born in good health

Otherwise

I'll punish you for the crime of high treason

I accept and obey

My dear, Your Highness, I'm back

You look happy

Did you pick up some money or reward?

In today's court, His Majesty issued decrees

and bestowed posts to several men

You one of them?

It's all for others

What are you happy for, then?

Gan Chi is made a duke

Qiankunzi and Tai Xiao have been promoted too

It's all great

Now, His Majesty need no longer worry

that the Jingchu Army will become my personal bodyguards

His Majesty can sleep well now

It's nothing to be glad about

I'm happy that Gan Qi is now a duke

so he can lead the Jingchu Army well

But what's that about Qiankunzi?

He's the most snivelling sneak of a bootlicker!

Princess, bootlicking is a skill too

If nobody offers any flattery

how will His Majesty hear of his praises being sung at any given time?

He wouldn't be able to take it otherwise

I really don't get it

We all know the emperor is a smart man

How come he can't tell who's faithful and who's a traitor?

'Course he can, why can't he?

If he can, why would he like those despicable people?

He needs them

Need?

Yes. Because he needs them

Otherwise how would he sleep well?

Then wake him up. Don't let him lose sight of things

You don't know

Now's not the time to wake him up

I'm the one who can't sleep right now

What's with you?

His Majesty's going to slap me with high treason

Your Majesty, what are you thinking of?

I'm thinking

going by the date given by Dongfang Shuo

Liu Nan should give birth in two days or so

It's been so long since then

Why are you still hung up on that, Your Majesty?

It's not that I'm hung up about it

just that Dongfang Shuo is too good at keeping calm

Even at this time

I've yet to see him panic

Then I'll pass him a letter

saying, Your Majesty wants to see you bawl

I'll get him to hurry and beg for forgiveness on his knees

Then Your Majesty can… forgive him?

That easy, huh?

He made this hot mess on his own

so I'll have him unravel it himself

If he really can't show the child by then

will Your Majesty really…

punish him and Liu Nan for their guilt?

I am the emperor

Sir, madam has given birth

- She has? - It's a chubby son

A son?

I have a son now!

Dongfang, sorry for the late welcome

Congratulations on your son, sir

I've come to give my well wishes

The joy is ours. Dongfang, this way please

Sir, can we find a quiet place?

Sure. This way

What's the occasion, Dongfang?

No occasion

is more important now than welcoming your son

Please first accept my regards

Well… alright, I'll accept this

Thank you, Dongfang

Firstly, I've come here to congratulate you

Secondly

I'd like to beg you to save the lives of my small family

What happened?

As you know

several months ago, to save Liu Nan

I admitted by the golden gate on having an affair with her

and claimed that she's with child

So His Majesty decreed

for me to ensure that the child is delivered in time

That's right

Going by the dates

Liu Nan should be due

these few days, no?

Sir

That time, Liu Nan and I absolutely did no such thing

No such thing?

And after that?

After that, we did do it

But it's already too late

What's more, she hasn't conceived even up till now

That's deceiving the emperor

- I think it's called high treason? - Yeah

That's why… I'm really at my wits' end

and have to beg you to save me

Dongfang, you mean…

You've seen through it now

I'm shamelessly asking you now

to lend me your son

so as to face His Majesty for now

In a few months or so

I'll definitely return your son to you

Rest assured, sir

I'll definitely make sure

to get the best wet nurse for your son

I guarantee that he'll get nothing short of the best treatment

Since you've made your request

I won't turn you down

But… I'm afraid Luo Qi won't be able to let go

That being the case

I beg you

to talk it out with Luo Qi

If it really can't be done, I also won't…

put you in a difficult spot

Alright. Wait a while

If you don't agree

I'll go back and turn down Dongfang Shuo

Wait

Let me ask you… are you willing to?

I, Jing Kui

have wandered all my life, and now I've begotten a son in old age

Of course I cherish him dearly

There's no way I'd lend him to others just like that

But Dongfang Shuo isn't a stranger

And this matter concerns everyone in his family

That's a dozen lives or so

You're saying, you're fine with it

At this time, I must, even if I'm not

What if our son really lost his life?

Alas, I'm…

Jing Kui

Dear, I'm sorry

No

Today

I know you even more. I…

I respect your wishes

Dear, there's actually no need to worry

Maybe in three or five months

- our son will be back with us. - No

Let's just leave our son to stay with Dongfang Shuo

- You're just speaking out of frustration. - No. - Why?

Jing Kui

I know your temperament

I think you won't be

doing this post for long

You'd either offend His Majesty and leave your post

or leave your post, then offend His Majesty

You're right, my dear

I actually never quite wanted

to work in such a suffocating post

But aside from working by His Majesty's side

Dongfang Shuo has nowhere to go

He and His Majesty need each other

But you're different

If the people really grow to revere their Sir Jing

in the end

His Majesty will only get rid of you

In the future

if we both were to really die in the wild

what would become of our son?

Nonsense

With our combined swordsmanship

you think we can't protect our own son?

Sure, our two swords can protect ourselves

But if our son comes in the picture

it won't be as easy as we'd think

So I think

leaving our son with Dongfang Shuo

would be safer than having him with us

What about the future?

Is our son never going to know his own father and mother?

We would be so fortunate

But I think

we probably won't

Wise decision, dear

You've thought about this more than I have

Bring our son here for me to look again

My children! Come

A kiss for each of you

Good kids. Come, walk with me

Get up, all of you. Alright, go play

Greetings, Your Majesty

On your feet, everyone

Zifu, I've got news

Liu Nan's given birth

She did?

Zhang Tang said he's brought someone to verify it. It's a boy

All good, then

You find this unbelievable too, don't you?

No, I do. I believe it

But I find it hard to believe somehow

And I remember

Initially, just like me

you couldn't believe Dongfang Shuo had a dalliance with Liu Nan

Since there's no such thing

then however could she bear a child?

Your Majesty, you should believe it now

Zhang Tang has verified it, even

You look into the smallest details, how could you not believe it?

Smallest details my foot!

I'm always having the wool pulled over my eyes

I won't dare deceive Your Majesty

I'm not talking about you, what are you nervous for?

- No, I'm not nervous. - That's good

Your Majesty, since Dongfang Shuo has welcomed a child

the main courtiers have all gone to congratulate him

You should be glad too, Your Majesty

There's no need to be anxious, let your body relax

- Xiaoyizi. - Yes, Your Majesty

Let me ask you

Why have most rulers through the ages speak of isolation

referring to themselves as "my lonesomeness"?

Because the emperor is the one and only Son of Heaven

Bullshit!

Because once you become Emperor

you won't find anyone around you who'd speak the truth anymore

How astute, Your Majesty

Chamberlain Yang

Lord Dongfang. Do be careful when you enter

His Majesty is in a bad mood today

What is His Majesty calling me for?

I don't know either

Greetings, Your Majesty

I heard you reported to Zhang Tang

- that your son is born. - Yes

Dongfang Shuo

Whatever I ask you

you must answer me with nothing but the truth

I accept and obey

Let me ask you

Is this child really born of you and Liu Nan?

No

So that means

everything you said before was all false?

Wisely stated, Your Majesty

Wise? I am all but wise

Tell me. For your crime of deceiving the sovereign

what should you get?

I should die for my crimes

Dongfang Shuo

You knew today would come, so why did you do it back then?

That was then, today is today

Why did you deceive me back then?

Back then

I did it to show the world

Your Majesty's great grace, morals and compassion

so as to appease the hearts of soldiers and commonfolk

And now?

Now

the country is at peace

and growing prosperous by the day

If I continue to cover the truth

that is unpardonable

You think by saying that, I'd forgive you?

Please mete out my crime, Your Majesty

Don't think only foolish rulers kill their able ministers

Wise rulers will kill all the same

and they'd do it more thoroughly than foolish rulers

Because wise rulers are even more intolerant

of anything that disturbs them

I know the reasoning in that

A wise ruler is more particular when it comes to trickery from ministers

That being the case

don't blame me

I would not dare

But Your Majesty

I have a request

Speak

Liu Nan and I know that we can hardly escape this trial

Your Majesty

please, in lieu of my many years

of service to you

I beg Your Majesty not to include my family

and request that you could spare Qiugu, Qiu Hu, Green Jade

and that child

Alright, I'll grant you that

Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty

Go home and wait it out

Await my edict

Your Majesty, I'll take my leave

Chamberlain Yang, what are you doing?

Bear with it

- What do you mean? - Wait here

Your Majesty, Dongfang Shuo has wetted himself

Really?

Let's go see!

- Dongfang Shuo. - Yes, Your Majesty

What are you doing?

Nothing

Turn around

- Lift up your robe. - Your Majesty

- You defying orders? - I dare not

Then lift it up

How dare you, Dongfang Shuo!

How dare you pee casually outside my room?

That's not it, Your Majesty, I'm innocent

I was thinking of walking back home

so I can tell my wife and family as soon as possible

the good news that Your Majesty wants to use my head

to teach other ministers to do their jobs properly

But the more I think of this good news, somehow

my stomach grew crampy

I suddenly felt something hot, in waves

and it just came out like that

Lord Dongfang, wait here

- I'll get you a change of pants. - I won't allow it!

Keep wearing the pants you peed in like this

and walk out of the Palace

- Your Majesty, I still have shame. - Go

- Otherwise I'll get men to beat you out. - I'll go

Your Majesty, are you really going to kill Dongfang Shuo?

Did I say I'm going to?

I just wanted him to know

that nothing of what he did

gets past me

I also want him to drill it into his mind

that no one is my match

You really scared him off this time, Your Majesty

He even peed on himself

Go to Dongfang Shuo's house later

and pass my edict

Say that with Princess Zhaoyang, Liu Nan, giving birth to a son

I'm extremely glad

When they hold a feast for the baby's first month

the Noble Consort and I shall go partake in the festivities

I receive your edict, Your Majesty

Your Majesty

the Xiongnu are currently experiencing disasters, pinned on all sides

This is a heaven-sent opportunity for our Great Han!

You should personally lead the 200,000-strong Jingchu Army

and take this chance to attack and clamp the Xiongnu in one move

Establish a hegemony and an achievement for the ages!

OK. What Qiankunzi has said is a fine proposal indeed

Your Majesty, I have a proposal to make too

Speak

I merely wanted…

I merely wanted to brazenly remind Your Majesty

Looking at the current situation

it is not exactly like what Lord Qiankun has said

that there's a great opportunity that comes once in a blue moon

The Xiongnu experiencing divine punishment

isn't a heaven-sent opportunity for our Great Han?

Lord Qiankun. I'd like to ask you

Do you know

why it hasn't rained for half a year on the Xiongnu grasslands?

Well…

- How'd I know? - Then let me tell you

The rain has rained on our Great Han territory

Your Majesty

The Yellow River and Huai River belts

have seen months of consecutive rain

It has caused the rivers to overflow and wash away crops

Many provinces are now without harvest

Before we even speak of warfare

disaster relief alone

will demand what little treasury resource we have

to barely supply what's needed

Your Majesty, Dongfang Shou is spreading baseless threats

I, too, know that there's a flooding disaster in Central Plains

But right now, the Xiongnu are hanging by a thread

whereas ours is just a difficult situation

With a bit of grit, we'll get through it

Your Majesty, don't let the chance pass you by

Well-said, Qiankunzi

Our Great Han is experiencing difficulties, yes

- but the Xiongnu are on the precipice. - Yes

Your Majesty. The difficulty we're facing now

is ten times greater than the Xiongnu's

Preposterous! Purely farcical!

Your Majesty. The great desert plains are vast to no end

At their core, the Xiongnu are nomads who migrate following the water

If one spot is dry

they can migrate to other spots and graze their livestock

Failing that

even the whole of Xiongnu is capable of moving deep into the desert

under the foot of the snowy mountains, frozen all year round

Even if not a drop of rain falls for ten years or so

the grasslands are still watered by the icy waters

Whereas our Great Han

consists of farmers who don't move around

Once the land is destroyed by a deluge

there is no alternative to turn to

much less think about attacking the Xiongnu

Just to find them alone

we'd have to travel thousands of miles deep into the desert

With such a long route

there's no guarantee of rations supply with our grains and logistics

When the Xiongnu deploy their cavalry

and block our army's retreat route

even if we don't repeat our mistake at Battle of Baideng

we'll just be trapped alive in that great desert

That makes sense

So, according to you

how long must I wait before I can invade the Xiongnu?

When we have money

You're joking again

Your Majesty, I'm telling you the truth

Soldiers fight with fighting prowess

Generals fight with strategies

And an emperor fight with a country's might

So the first consideration is this

For this war, where do we get our war resources?

OK. I'll go with your proposal then, Dongfang Shuo

Your Majesty, have some tea to relieve your ennui

Xiaoyizi

You see, this Dongfang Shuo

Every morning court, his statements dampen my spirits

But I've no means to rebuke him either

Say, how should I deal with him?

Your Majesty, if Dongfang Shuo had not interjected you in time today

your impulsive call for war would've resulted in the unthinkable

Just thinking about it still gives me the shivers

I'm stumped

That Qiankunzi is an exceedingly clever man too

Why is it that once he faces Dongfang Shuo

he immediately turns into a thoughtless senile?

Your Majesty, I know dogs

Among the dogs I train

the one that barks the loudest may not be the most capable

The reason they bark so often

is to get a headstart in claiming merit in front of their master

I think

Lord Qiankun fits the type

But with such noisy dogs

the dogs that are actually capable won't dare to slack off

I didn't expect that, Xiaoyizi

You're saying interesting stuff now

A one-time advantage

doesn't mean that it'll always be so

Lord Qiankun, how shall we take the next step then?

What His Majesty lacks now is money

So of course I've got my eye on that

The thing about money though, it's unlike the others

You've got to churn it out tael for tael

I'll be frank with you. I've already thought of an idea

You have?

Lord Wang

It's two years since I came to Chang'an

and I'm not that familiar with the locale

So I'm asking you to help me find someone

Who is it?

Someone who's rich and very eager for an official post

This

is a chance that comes once in a blue moon indeed

If only the national treasury can get a little boost

I surely won't just let it slip by

Your Majesty, regarding that bit of money required for war

It's not as if there's no means to raise it

Don't tell me you've got an idea to amass the funds?

Our empire is wide and prosperous

Although the treasury is low on funds

the people aren't exactly poor

There's no shortage

of landlords with ample foodstock and wealth

So what?

Are you expecting me to reach out and ask them for those?

No, Your Majesty

I know of someone willing to fork out a thousand taels of gold

to sponsor the imperial court's charge against the Xiongnu

So there's actually such a kind patriot in the land?

Yeah

But he does have a small request

Let's hear it

He's requesting that Your Majesty can give him a 500-picul post

What?

Won't it just be a venal office then? Definitely a no-go

Your Majesty, venal offices have always been in place

Just that the one selling them isn't you

but rather the senior ministers in court

Says who?

Your Majesty, if you must know

Every year, the officer nominations submitted from various provinces

are practically those who've sent lavish gifts

to core ministers in court. That's how they get the posts

Any proof?

Such matters are all done under the table between two people

Catching them red-handed

isn't an easy task

So that leaves me with no choice too, doesn't it?

Your Majesty, I think

Rather than allow these officials fatten their own coffers

it's better to channel the money to the court as military funding

Use it to establish an everlasting hegemony for you, Your Majesty

That won't do

First, the likes of Ming Fei and Dongfang Shuo won't agree

Once it's raised in court, they'd insist on filibustering

And what if you're willing, Your Majesty?

It's been a while since you came to Chang'an

And you still don't get their temperaments?

If they decide to obstruct something

even if you kill them

they won't agree to it

Your Majesty, I know a way to stuff their mouths

- so they won't need to speak when the time comes. - Is that so?

Why not let me have a go at it, Your Majesty?

If it isn't Mr. Qiu!

No, I'm here to look for someone today

not for the ladies

Look at you, Mr. Qiu

You're already at the door, why not just come in?

A Mr. Zhao has been waiting for you forever!

Zhao You from Shandong?

Who else could it be?

Mr. Zhao has booked a room and is holding a feast

just waiting for your arrival

He actually booked a room, how thoughtful of him!

Yeah

Ladies, Mr. Qiu is here!

- Sir, you're here. - Come up here

Sir, come over here

Come here, sir

Mr. Zhao, he's here

You're here, Mr. Qiu