Original subtitles

Your Majesty

I know I should not chip in this matter

However, the thought of sister Liu Nan

keeps me restless

Zhang Tang has conducted an investigation

Concerning the burning of military provisions

Liu Nan and Zhu Wan bear the primary responsibility

Then, what crimes will they be charged with?

During court, Zhang Tang said

Zhu Wan has been martyred so that's it

By law, Liu Nan

is to be decapitated

It's not what I want either

Your Majesty

on account of Liu Nan being your cousin

please extend leniency

I wanted to say the same during court

but raising it was out of the question

Qiankunzi and some senior ministers

made one statement after another

saying that if I show partiality

I can't govern the country in the future

Qiankunzi even said that

back in the day, my uncle Wang Xiu

had way more merit than Liu Nan

yet I promptly executed him

On Jin Wuzi's murder crime

I did not hold back either

That was how I gained the courtiers' support and brought stability

What's more, for the previous uprising by Prince Jingchu's clan

I had given Liu Nan individual clemency

If I spare her yet again, the military won't have it

So you've agreed to kill Liu Nan, Your Majesty?

Initially, I still didn't give my approval

But

But?

after court was dismissed

Qiankunzi came reporting to me on his own

saying that since Liu Nan's imprisonment

Dongfang Shuo has been very disrespectful to me

Your Majesty, you must judge personally and not listen to rumors

I AM personally observing my minister

But Dongfang Shuo claimed that I'm incompetent!

He said that the pincer strategy used to attack the Xiongnu

was initiated under his impartation

He said

if I kill his second wife

I'd never have his whole-hearted support again

He was impudent!

Your Majesty, that doesn't sound like Dongfang Shuo at all

Are you saying it was Qiankunzi's doing?

No. Even if Qiankunzi didn't say that

I also know that Dongfang Shuo did think that way

He has always been a snob

always full of himself

In the past I tolerated him again and again

for the good of the state, and because I cherish talents too

But now that the Xiongnu is gone

with the country's wealth, stability and peaceful relations

he's after all just a minister

I can use him, and I can just as well not use him

There's no shortage of courtiers

Away from him, I can exercise cultural and martial prowess as before

and reign throughout the land all the same

Your Majesty, so you're really killing Liu Nan?

It's just as well that it serves as a warning to Dongfang Shuo

When?

Tomorrow

at a quarter to two in the afternoon

Master, madam has entered the city!

Dear, why have you come alone? I'm so ashamed

I should've gone and fetched you at the Jing Tableland

Alas, some things got in the way…

It doesn't matter. Is His Majesty going to kill Liu Nan?

So you knew

Today in court

Zhang Tang presented evidence incriminating Liu Nan

So Qiankunzi and Wang Huai'e latched on

and forced His Majesty to issue an edict

Tomorrow noon

Liu Nan is to be tied up and paraded in public before her beheading

Liu Nan landed in this mess

because I was too late in following up

and it blew up into such a grave mistake

No, that's not all of it

Just after Liu Nan's rations fiasco

Zhu Wan's sister suddenly left without a word

I asked everyone at the mansion

but no one knows where she'd gone

Why did Zhu Wen leave without a word?

Since her brother's death

why did she suddenly leave your home?

So Luo Qi thought that it's very unusual

What else did Luo Qi say?

She said

from the way Zhu Wan egged me on to go Wang Huai'e's place

and steal the command arrow

she had a hunch

What hunch?

That Wang Huai'e would report me to His Majesty

so he could capture me on grounds of robbery

Whereby the rations delivery

would then be conducted by Liu Nan alone

Luckily I came in time to hold off Wang Huai'e

But after the incident was resolved

that Wang Huai'e

somehow distributed the rations again, why's that?

In the end, Liu Nan still was left alone

to escort the delivery for the second time

I got it

They made Liu Nan handle the logistics herself

That was precisely their aim

Once the aim was achieved

it's easy for them to target a solitary Liu Nan

So Luo Qi thought that

the Zhu siblings hold an important secret

If the Zhu siblings are really related to this

we can be even more certain

that this is a big conspiracy they'd long planned in advance

This case started way back

Do you know when did it start?

From the moment the Zhu siblings

posed as commonfolk pursued by Lord Zhang

to then enroll as your disciples

this case had started in earnest

Right, I think

we should report this matter to His Majesty immediately

It's no use

What we have now is mere speculation and there's no proof

His Majesty won't believe us

Then let's find Zhang Tang and get him to investigate further

That's even more futile

Don't you know how Zhang Tang is like?

He's rigid and stubborn. Without rock-solid evidence

nobody can possibly sway him

Then are we just going to watch on

as Liu Nan dies wrongfully?

Then we've only got until tomorrow noon to find Zhu Wen

and we must get her to say the truth

If there's no other way

I'd break into prison, save the princess and help her to escape

- You're walking right into a trap. - I don't believe it

Like I told you

this is a big conspiracy they'd long planned beforehand

They already figured out this prison break tactic

Believe me, they're itching for you to go

I won't break into prison then

I'd go get that wretched Wang Huai'e!

Brother, take these gold ingots

Take them

Hold on to them and exit the city quickly

Find a place to stay once you reach Shilidian

If

I haven't caught up by tomorrow evening

Brother

take Sis-in-law and return to our hometown in Shandong

Sis

Qiu Gu

Thanks to your ingenuous strategy

I got to vent out this huge grudge

How can I thank you?

Lord Wang

your grudge is my grudge

There's no need for formalities between us

This time

although we haven't managed to topple Dongfang Shuo himself

getting rid of his second wife

is as good as chopping off his arm

This time, whether Dongfang Shuo fails or otherwise

is still up in the air now

Lord Qiankun, so any brilliant ideas on what to do next?

It's not about me having brilliant ideas

but rather, Dongfang Shuo will definitely unleash some dumb idea

Your Lordships

Qiu Hu and his wife carried luggages

- and exited the city riding a huge carriage. - Dismissed

Lord Wang, what did I say?

What does his brother-in-law leaving the city with his family

has anything to do with Dongfang Shuo?

His brother-in-law has run away with family in tow

Dongfang Shuo and his wife Qiu Gu remain in the city

What do you think they're up to?

Breaking into prison

They've broken into prison several times

And there's no way they don't know

that Zhang Tang must've set up tight measures

They're not that foolish

- Then… they're crashing the execution site? - Correct!

And as I know it

Jing Kui's wife has also came from the village to stay in Chang'an City

Her martial prowess is way above Qiu Gu's

Dongfang Shuo, Jing Kui and their spouses

along with those disciples of Jing Kui's…

If they head out in full force

I'm afraid the execution site will really be compromised

Rest assured, Lord Wang

Since I'd anticipated this

of course I'd made arrangements for it too

Go

- Don't let anyone in without my instruction. - Understood

Princess, are you well?

- Why are you here? - To see you

After all, we're old acquantances

Out with it

Were you the one who set this evil plot to trap me?

Are you asking me, Princess?

Your petty maneuvers aren't worth discussing

Dongfang Shuo had his suspicions long ago

He merely suspected

and simply guessed what I planned to do

But he didn't know how I'd go about doing it

The way it stands

this Dongfang Shuo

only has his glib tongue and comedic gags going for him

Him being some sage or prodigy is all bull!

So now you know

that no great man is without poison

You're no great man at all

just an inveterate, snivelly scumbag

May… maybe you're right

I'm surely not some great man

but I'm still a man

A full-blooded man

It's never too late for a gentleman to take revenge!

To think, back in Jingchu

I was so devoted to you

I fawned over you, flattered you, did everything I could think of

I even vowed in secret

that I can give up my life for you

But you… you just wouldn't look me in the eye

And to think I went through so much just to get you gifts…

Gifts you viewed as dirt even if they cost whole cities…

You… you slut!

You took one look at Dongfang Shuo, a married man

and fell for him, with no regard to your life

even willing to be his second wife, a concubine

You slut

You don't know that your actions

felt like a stab in my heart

a hundred times over!

You don't even see yourself as a human being

so what made you think others would admire you?

Go on dreaming!

Let me tell you

Dongfang Shuo is like a flying roc

whereas

you're just a dirty toad in a pond

Yes, he's a roc indeed

But he's a roc that's much too tyrannical!

He left me no room

to display my talents at all

To carve out my own success story

I must remove this stumbling stone!

You…

Long live Your Highness. This time, he's fallen into my hands

It's just me, Liu Nan, who's fallen. Dongfang Shuo would never!

You're about to meet your end and you're still so smug

I'll tell you the truth

You, Liu Nan, aren't the only one I'm removing

There's also Jing Kui, Luo Qi, and Qiu Gu

Not to mention that heinous Dongfang Shuo!

Impossible

Just empty threats to scare toddlers

It doesn't work on me!

Don't believe me?

Then let me tell you

Qiu Hu has left Chang'an City with his wife and child

What's more, Jing Kui's wife has also entered the city

Following behind her in pairs

were Jing Kui's highly-skilled disciples

You're the roc's second wife

Surely you're smarter than this toad?

You must know what they're entering the city for

You got it now?

My lord, according to your instructions

I have stationed guards from the peripheral counties

about a thousand or so of them

I have dispatched them to the specified locations

Good

There must be no mistakes this time!

Whoever makes a blunder

will be severely punished without exception

My lord, Dongfang Shuo's missus requests a prison visit

My lord, has she come to tip Liu Nan off?

I was worried she wouldn't dare come tonight

Let her in

- Sis! - Sis, you've suffered

Sis, it's all my fault

Because of me, you and Shuo are dragged into this

Don't ever say that

We all know you're deceived by those traitors

Shuo hasn't been able to find proof yet

so he can't request clemency from His Majesty

Sis

I was a desolate runaway who's lost my family to begin with

You graciously received me

and treated me as your own

And as your own woman

you allowed Lord Dongfang and I to marry

I'm grateful to you from the bottom of my heart

Compared to your magnanimous self

I'm just an immature girl

I'd wanted to serve you well all my life

to repay your great compassion

I never thought

I'd fall victim to treachery halfway through

In my next life, I'll work tirelessly for you

and repay you then

What are you talking about?

Sis

don't say such depressing words

I've already planned it out

At noon tomorrow, I'm going to the execution site to save you

Don't ever do that, sis!

- That's just going to hurt you. - What's the risk?

At most, we'll give up the post

and return to our hometown in Shandong

Don't, sis!

Qiankunzi and his men have made ample measures

So what if he has thousands of troops?

We the Dongfangs

will die gloriously if we must

Not through some pathetic procession to be beheaded

Sis, don't let me drag down all of you

Stop with that talk

I'l ask you. Who's more senior in our family, you or I?

You are

Then why are you arguing with me? Know your place

Sis

That's enough. Wipe your tears

We Dongfangs may bleed but never cry

Don't let those villains mock us

Alright. Stop overthinking

Save some energy for tomorrow

Sis

Assassins!

Catch them alive! Alive, you hear!

Intruder on the roof! Assassin!

Get him! Don't let him escape!

You guys, get up there and catch him!

Who are you?

Why invade the Wang mansion at night?

I am Jing Kui

May I ask for your name?

Is there a reason you cannot speak of?

I won't force you if you don't wish to say it

Farewell

Don't!

Zhu Wen?

My…

My father was called Zhu Fan

a magistrate of Yong'an in Fufeng County

Six months ago

the governor suddenly charged him with misconduct

But my father had been an incorrupt official all his life

and the Yong'an residents can testify to it

So we didn't believe it at all

- Someone must've maligned my father. - And?

What happened afterwards?

Right then, someone told us

that as long as we reach Chang'an and find Lord Wang Huai'e

my father's name might be cleared

That's why us siblings came to Chang'an

seeking refuge under Lord Wang Huai'e

So Wang Huai'e said

that he can clear your father's sentence

but first, you've got to agree to his one condition. Was that it?

Exactly that

First he arranged a tragic setup

so we finally managed to enter Sir Jing's circle

Afterwards, how did you know

that your brother died by Wang Huai'e's hands?

A staunch buddy of my brother's rushed back from the frontlines

and told me news of my brother being killed to ensure his silence

I rushed back to Fufeng overnight, planning to first save my dad

Alas, it's only when I reached Fufeng

that I got to know how he'd died tragically in prison some time back

Accursed scumbags

They'll die a wretched death!

Later on, I found Dad's longtime friend

an attendant working in the yamen

He then told me in hushed tones

that it had all been a setup

done according to Wang Huai'e's orders

His aim was to use us siblings

to harm Lord Dongfang

to avenge his dead old man

Preposterous! Simply ridiculous!

Lord Wang is a senior minister

Why would he

have any dealings with a girl from Fufeng County?

You're just making it up

Yes, Jing Kui. Without evidence

how am I supposed to believe

her one-off testimony?

Your Majesty, everything I said is the truth

Zhu Wen is the witness

Your Majesty. Zhu Wan is Jing Kui's disciple

If this girl is Zhu Wan's sister

then they're in cahoots

How can her testimony stand?

Your Majesty. Zhu Wen is framing a courtier, it's unforgivable!

Your Majesty, I'm innocent!

Zhu Wen

as for the verity of your words

I'll definitely send men to find out the truth

Of course, this concerns my cousin

so I won't drop the case so easily

Yi

Yes, Your Majesty

Summon Ming Fei to the Palace at once

Open it up

Princess, I've prepared for you a sumptuous feast

to send you on your way

It's still early, please take your time, Princess

I shan't disturb you then

Wait

Is there anything else, Princess?

Bring me a comb and vanity box

I'd like to clean myself and dress up before I go

I'll have someone send it here right away

How did it go?

What did His Majesty say?

I told His Majesty

Give me half a month's time

I'll certainly trace the trail of how Zhu Wen's father

and her brother met their ends

hence finding out the truth about Liu Nan's case

Did His Majesty approve?

His Majesty didn't give me half a month

He said he's giving me seven days at most

Seven days it is. Has he put off Liu Nan's execution?

Temporarily, yes

Then, Imperial Commissioner

go! Hurry and give Zhang Tang the command!

Open the gate!

Quick, open the prison gate!

Quick, open the prison gate!

Hurry, open up

Princess!

Princess!

Princess

His Majesty has decreed to temporarily put off your execution

Princess

Dongfang Shuo. I want to hear

what you once told me

Princess

Princess

My beautiful, virtuous wife

Princess

Master, His Majesty and the empress are here

Greetings, Your Majesties

At ease

Thank you, Your Majesty

This way, Your Majesty

Liu Nan

Why did you do it?

I have asked Ming Fei to investigate

Why couldn't you wait a while longer?

Liu Nan, I have let you down

Empress, my sister was framed by someone

You must give her justice!

Please, Qiu Gu

His Majesty and I are aggrieved as well

I really don't understand

Why are good people always wronged?

Why must they always bear injustice?

God, it's not fair!

It's unfair, God!

Milady, stay strong

Dongfang Shuo

Yes, Your Majesty

What are your plans with regard to Liu Nan's coffin?

Your Majesty

Although Liu Nan was a princess

she was also our family member

I am planning to send her coffin

back to my old home in Shandong

and bury her at the ancestral cemetery

I approve

You'll have three months

to send Liu Nan back to Shandong

Bury her well

Thank you, Your Majesty

I wore it alright, now die!

I'll step on you!

Such a delicate princess. A pity

A pity? Served her right!

A pity she didn't get to become my wife

I do sort of miss her, now

Need girls?

Take one from my lot, whoever you want!

Never mind her

Now that His Majesty's sending Dongfang Shuo back to Shandong

Ming Fei, Gan Fu and the lot

Oh, and Wei Qing

We have all the time to finish them

Only… Will His Majesty always listen to us?

By eliminating the Xiongnu and thus foreign threat once and for all

His Majesty's achievement is really groundbreaking

He is a man of boundless ambitions after all

Now that he's achieved such a feat

it's inevitable that he got ahead of himself

Whoever tries to go contrary to his wishes

will surely suffer heavy damages

Sir

Luo Qi

Please return

Go

Take him with you too

Let's do that

Who knows

he might stay in our family for the rest of his life

Liu Nan's death

has disheartened me all at once

The court is perilous

It's long moved beyond the vibrant oasis

I dreamed of in the past

Sir, remember this

No matter what you may face in Chang'an

never ever let emotions get ahead of you

Don't worry, Dongfang. I'll follow orders

If you're stumped with a problem

seek Luo Qi's advice

But no matter what

Liu Nan cannot die in vain

I'm going to strive in court

and ask His Majesty to continue investigations

Your Majesty, Princess Liu Nan must not die without closure

I beseech Your Majesty to decree

a thorough investigation of this case

starting with Zhu Fan and Zhu Wan's incident

Your Majesty, Fufeng had reported long ago

that Zhu Fan had died in prison early on

Your Majesty, it's silencing the witness by murder

Find out how he died

Alright

We have many things to go through in court

Why, Wei Qing's memorial has come in

The victorious troops have returned to Bashang

while the hundreds of thousands of Xiongnu have been brought in

Their surrender and settlement

are urgent, important matters that need to be discussed right away

Your Majesty

Jing Kui, as I said

we're now discussing the Xiongnu's surrender and settlement

Understood

Your Majesty, on the issue of surrender

we must make it as spectacular as it can be

so as to match Your Majesty's accomplishments

Your Majesty, I think

the surrender ceremony has to be extremely solemn

so generations

across continents and oceans remember Your Majesty's legacy - Yes

Wonderfully said, both of you

I'd like to hear a more detailed plan

Your Majesty, I propose

first, make Chang'an's northern gate into Wusheng Gate

a gate of triumph to signify Your Majesty's win

Secondly, build a dais of surrender outside the Palace

When our returning troops enter the Capital

His Majesty shall personally

receive the letter of surrender from Prince Hunye on stage

and immediately issue an edict to pacify the Xiongnu army and people

Alright

sure

And thirdly?

Proclaim that the Xiongnu has been completely incorporated into us

and that from now on, no Xiongnu can ride a horse

much less carry any weapons

It's also why we're returning weapons and releasing horses in Nanshan

That makes sense

But if you won't let them ride, they have to walk till Chang'an

so when will they ever reach?

Your Majesty

They can't ride horses

- but they can ride in carriages. - Carriages?

I thought the Xiongnu have always been horse riders

When have they ever sat in carriages?

What's more, where will these cars come from?

Your Majesty, they may not have cars, but we have

The Xiongnu have ferocious horses, but their biggest fear is Han cars

- especially Wei Qing's spiked wagons. - Understood

Yes, let them ride in carriages

Your Majesty, that won't do

Why not?

Your Majesty, the Xiongnu who've come to surrender this time

total more than a hundred thousand people

Assuming each carriage holds five people

we'd need over 20,000 carriages

At such short notice, where are we going to procure so many cars

so they can ride in them?

Your Majesty, the carriage issue is easily solved

If there aren't enough cars from the officials

Your Majesty can ask the people for support

If the ones in the Capital aren't enough

we can appeal to nearby counties and provinces. - Exactly!

Alright, so be it then

Your Majesty, this move must never go ahead

Those cars are the people's means of livelihood

Once we deploy them by force

it might incite protests from the people, their emotions running high

That will definitely offset their gratitude and loyalty to Your Majesty

Please think twice, Your Majesty