Original subtitles

The Scholar and the Emperor

Father.

Even if I say it ten thousand times,

I will still be with Teacher.

Our love is sincere.

The Shen family has upheld integrity for generations.

We have built our name on moral principle.

I taught you the classics and propriety

not so you could defy human bonds.

That fine teacher of yours—

if he truly cared for you at all,

why would he personally

push you toward the Empress's throne at court?

Teacher must have his reasons.

He said

even if condemned by all and cursed by fate,

-he would still take my hand for life. -Come to your senses.

Husband.

Sister Zhili.

In all these years,

this is the first time Father has hit me.

Husband. Zhili.

Both of you, calm down.

Zhili.

Your father has devoted himself to you.

When has he ever acted selfishly?

He fears one wrong step

will leave you regretting it for life.

Mother.

If no one cares what I want,

then I can only decide for myself.

I'm going to the palace to see His Majesty.

-His Majesty will know what to do. -Stop her.

-Sister Zhili. -Stop that unfilial girl!

Until the ancestral ceremony,

you are not to leave this room.

Move.

Sister.

If you walk out that door,

you'll put the Shen family in grave danger.

I won't let you become a sinner for the ages.

I thought

only Zhili was fit to stand beside His Majesty.

I even invoked the Royal Command Tally

to force His Majesty's hand.

I never imagined...

How can I face His Majesty now?

Or the ancestors of the Shen family?

After checking through multiple sources,

This cross clearly points to the character "Gu."

Doukou can testify

that Gu Qin killed his wife and father,

but we still lack solid proof

that he colluded with Ling Yunfei.

Justice has a way of revealing itself.

While Di Nian and I were hunting down the Blood Moon Society,

we made an unexpected discovery.

Tomorrow happens to be Gu Qin's birthday.

Let's give him a grand gift together.

And one more thing.

Once he confesses and faces punishment,

I will immediately settle the matter of appointing an Empress.

Your Majesty.

There is one thing I still do not understand.

Grand Tutor Shen has always understood Your Majesty best,

and has always let Zhili make her own choices.

Why, then, would the Grand Tutor

insist on making Zhili Empress?

And that day,

outside the imperial study,

I saw the struggle in Your Majesty's eyes.

Was it also because of something the Grand Tutor said?

Rest assured.

I have never wavered in my feelings for you.

No matter what happens from now on,

I will clear every obstacle from your path beforehand.

Your Majesty.

What I have sought all my life

was never a phoenix crown and bridal robes,

but a position of real authority.

When Zhili was nominated as Empress

and had to leave the Office of Public Inquiry,

it pained me.

Once I am named Empress,

I can no longer live on my own terms.

All my life's ambitions would come to nothing.

I trust Your Majesty to weigh everything carefully.

But opposing both Chancellors,

holding the ministers in check,

and finding a way to answer the Grand Tutor...

the path of an emperor is too difficult.

Perhaps we should take one step back

and return to being sovereign and subject.

For Your Majesty,

and for me,

perhaps that is the best outcome for now.

Difficult...

Does being difficult mean we simply give up?

That does not sound like you.

Nor does it sound like me.

I told you,

I want you beside me through every season and festival.

Every promise I have made to you,

I will keep.

Are you Mo Yuhan of the Blood Moon Society?

I am.

I am Zhao Hui, envoy of Beijian.

By order of my sovereign,

I have come to discuss a great undertaking with you.

Tell your sovereign

the Blood Moon Society

has no welcome for Beijian.

Who are you really?

How dare you impersonate me and kill Beijian's envoy,

then frame the Blood Moon Society?

Shen Zhishu.

You people...

think you can restore your kingdom?

Kill them.

Leave no one alive.

Ying Gua's lackeys.

You're nothing special.

Second Young Master.

The foolish thing anyone can do

is starve themselves.

It only hurts

the people who care about you most.

Father made your favorite sweet-and-sour ribs.

Have a bite.

You all keep saying you care about me,

but has anyone asked

how much this hurts me?

Then put your hand over your heart

and ask yourself

whether you have even the slightest doubt.

And Doukou already...

Enough.

Unless I see it with my own eyes

and hear it with my own ears,

Zhili.

You may distrust anyone in this world,

but could you

trust me just this once?

No one wants your happiness more than I do.

Anian.

Then help me.

Let me see him.

I want to hear him say it himself.

If he has betrayed me, I will give up on him.

I'd rather you hate me now

than stand by

and watch you leap off a cliff.

Anian.

The bitterest thing in this world

is not love or hatred,

but regret.

Today, I prepared this banquet

according to the honors due a prince.

Only that befits the Right Chancellor's merit.

This first cup

is to your birthday.

Your Majesty has shown me unprecedented favor.

Such grace has never been seen in our dynasty.

I will remember it with gratitude.

My life is fulfilled.

Congratulations, Right Chancellor.

I have also prepared a modest gift.

It will be presented at the auspicious hour.

Please wait a little longer.

How thoughtful of you, Director Meng.

As a woman,

to hold the post of Director

is rare enough.

Yet you still observe every courtesy so carefully.

The younger generation is truly formidable.

-Congratulations, Right Chancellor. -Congratulations, Right Chancellor.

Attendants.

This is the birthday gift I prepared for the Right Chancellor.

I trust

it will not disappoint you.

Thank you for Your Majesty's great favor.

Record of Loyal Ministers.

Your Majesty.

I have an urgent matter to report.

Your Majesty.

I should not have interrupted,

but the Empress installation ceremony is near.

If I do not speak today,

there will be no chance to turn back.

Rise and speak.

Teacher.

That day, you gave me the Heart-Lock

and promised we could live as ordinary people.

You asked whether I was willing

to be brave for you once more.

Today, I want to ask:

does that promise still stand?

Your Majesty.

I am guilty.

I failed in my teaching

and caused Zhili to confuse

the bond between teacher and student with love between a man and woman.

But this Heart-Lock and promise of a common life

are entirely fabricated.

Entirely fabricated?

Then were all the promises you made me before

nothing but lies?

Zhili.

You have disappointed me deeply.

Who has bewitched you

into inventing such treasonous lies?

This Heart-Lock

was given to me by your own hand.

You carved it yourself.

Must we find someone to verify your handwriting too?

You trample on true feelings

and built your reputation on lies.

From this day forward,

I, Shen Zhili,

sever all ties

with you, Gu Qin.

Right Chancellor.

If you loved Shen Zhili,

why did you recommend her as Empress?

What exactly were you trying to do?

Your Majesty, I have been wronged!

Someone must resent my position as Chancellor

and have manipulated Zhili into framing me

so they could put me to death.

You call yourself a virtuous Chancellor of Daning.

Then let this golden register tell you today

which deeds history cannot hide.

Open it.

It's fake. Every word is fake!

Truth and falsehood

are not yours to argue away.

My gift for you has arrived as well.

Your Majesty, please see the truth.

I am Doukou,

Madam Yuan's dowry maid.

I heard with my own ears

the Right Chancellor confess his feelings to Miss Shen.

And I saw with my own eyes

that it was he

who stabbed her once,

then again, killing my mistress.

Poor Madam

was already one month pregnant,

yet he still...

still had the heart to kill her.

Wretched maid!

Every word is a lie!

Guards!

I am Xue Leng, a condemned criminal,

an assassin kept by the Right Chancellor.

All these years,

he threatened the lives of my wife and daughter

and forced me to carry out assassinations.

At his orders,

I killed Wan Kai with my own hands.

But I did not kill Liu Ruyan.

He killed her himself.

The Right Chancellor

has colluded with Ling Yunfei for years.

You vile slave!

How dare you slander me!

I would never collude with a bandit chieftain.

Do you all know

why Ling Yunfei could evade the law for so long?

Because the greatest protector behind him

was none other than Gu Qin, Daning's virtuous Chancellor.

Ling Yunfei is his younger half brother,

who grew up outside the family.

Meng Tinghui, you are framing me!

Gu Qin.

You abused your authority

to erase his household registration,

turning Ling Yunfei into a man who could not exist openly.

It was also you

who had Ling Yunfei kill Chancellor Yuan

so you could claim all the credit for controlling the floods

and rise to the chancellorship.

And it was still you

who ordered Ling Yunfei

to use gambling dens and female students to control the ministers,

and planted women from Wanxiang House

in your colleagues' homes as spies.

That official cap on your head

is soaked in your father-in-law's blood, your brother's soul,

and the lives of your wife and child.

Can you still wear it with a clear conscience?

Take them away.

Gu Qin.

The evidence is conclusive.

It is time to confess.

Confess?

Why should I?

Chancellor Yuan only knew how to sit in his room

and write elegant policy essays.

With one circle of his vermilion brush,

he took all the glory.

Why?

Yes, I killed Chancellor Yuan.

But I traded one man's life

for ten years of peace for the people of seven prefectures.

Was that not worth it?

Among all the high officials at court,

whose hands are not stained with a colleague's blood?

Why should I, Gu Qin, confess?

The peace of those seven prefectures

was won by hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians.

How dare you steal their merit for yourself?

Gu Qin.

You keep claiming everything was for the people,

but their peace was never in your heart.

You wanted to use other people's bones

to pave your road to power.

Meng Tinghui.

You are noble. You are remarkable.

Everyone loves you, Meng Tinghui.

Now you can stand above me

and condemn me, despise me.

But who knows

how hard this road has been for me?

I was born poor, without power or influence.

Anyone could trample over me.

In the late Emperor's eyes,

there were only Chancellor Yuan, Xu Ting,

Shen Wuchen and those old ministers.

I endured for ten years

until His Majesty finally took the throne.

But now you purge old ministers and promote newcomers.

Now even a woman wants to climb over my head.

If I do not kill everyone in my way,

what else am I supposed to do?

You are hardly the only official born to a humble family.

You blame your greed, ambition, and cruelty

on everyone else and on the world itself.

Fine.

Today I will let all Daning

see exactly how vile and contemptible you are.

Yes.

I am vile.

Contemptible.

All my life, I, Gu Qin, have wanted only to rise.

Step by step,

higher and higher,

until I reached the highest halls of power.

I wanted to become the mighty minister

below only one man and above everyone else.

For that one day,

I endured all these years

and killed so many people.

Why could none of you simply let me have it?

How could you think something so absurd?

How could you turn a lifetime of resentment

into a reason to draw your blade on others?

You vile woman!

Even you look down on me.

You're just like Yuan Lingyi.

using your family name to stand above me and condemn me.

What imperial grace?

What Zhangde Palace banquet?

From beginning to end,

His Majesty arranged all of it to destroy me.

I, Gu Qin, have been loyal all my life.

Daning is the one that failed me!

You still dare speak of loyalty?

Power has blinded you.

You colluded with the Blood Moon Society

and leaked the border defenses.

You betrayed Daning long ago.

Gu Qin, Right Chancellor of Daning,

your crimes are proven beyond doubt.

You are stripped of all rank and office

and your three clans are to be exterminated.

Publish his crimes throughout the realm

as a warning to all.

Take him away.

Meng Tinghui, I'll drag you down with me today!

You forced me to this!

I'm innocent!

I'm a flood-control hero!

-You forced me! -Gu Qin!

The court's judgment

is not the end of your reckoning.

As Daning's so-called virtuous Chancellor,

you should face the people's judgment.

I'm innocent!

Your Majesty, I'm a flood-control hero!

I'm innocent!

Take him away.

I'm innocent!

I'm the flood-control hero!

Let go of me!

I'm the flood-control hero!

Zhili.

You were very brave.

If you need to cry, then cry.

Mengmeng.

Whenever I close my eyes now,

I see him giving me the Heart-Lock,

looking so gentle.

It was all part of a trap he carefully designed.

I hate him.

But I hate myself even more.

He was wrong, not you.

What you did today took extraordinary courage.

How many people could have done the same?

You can begin again.

Zhili.

Your battlefield

is not only in matters of the heart.

It is also at the Office of Public Inquiry,

in case files and official records,

and among the people of Daning.

I'll be there with you.

It's cold. Don't catch a chill.

I want to walk by myself.

I am Daning's greatest Chancellor.

I controlled the floods,

put down rebellions,

and opened canals.

I created this age of prosperity myself.

Meng Tinghui.

Look.

The people...

Look how they adore me.

Meng Tinghui, look.

The people...

Look how they adore me.

All of you must remember me.

I am Daning's greatest Chancellor.

Gu Qin.

I am Gu Qin, Daning's greatest Chancellor!

You should all revere me!

The hero who controlled the floods!

I am Gu Qin, the flood-control hero!

The dike has burst!

The dike has burst!

Hurry!

People are dying! Hurry!

Come with me to fight the flood!

Quick, move the sandbags!

Seal the breach!

Hurry!

Move the sandbags!

With me, Gu Qin, here,

the flood cannot hurt anyone!

I'm the flood-control hero!

I'm the flood-control hero!

I'm the flood-control hero!

I am...

Chancellor.

Gu Qin...

is gone.

He lost his mind

and threw himself into the river.

The man who controlled the floods

ultimately died by water.

Heaven's justice has come full circle.

He was a Chancellor of the realm, after all.

Director Meng ordered

the people's tribute umbrella burned in the street.

That only inflamed things further.

The people are furious.

They all watched his madness and disgrace.

How long has Meng Tinghui served at court?

More than three years, Chancellor.

For these three years, her methods have been extreme,

stopping at nothing.

The court and the realm are in turmoil,

and the law has grown lax.

Gu Qin deserved death ten thousand times over,

but some of what he said was true.

Now newcomers hold sway in Daning,

while veteran ministers have nowhere to turn.

I have served through three reigns.

Yet when I look at the court today,

it feels utterly unfamiliar.

Grand Tutor,

stop pretending not to hear.

Zhili was once so celebrated.

She was the prospective Empress.

And now the whole capital knows

she met the Right Chancellor in secret at night

and was entangled with her own teacher.

Cousin,

we are family.

Naturally, I only want what's best for Zhili.

My nephew

is about Zhili's age

and is a scholar.

His wife died two years ago,

and he has not remarried.

While he is still willing to marry her,

why not let Zhili wed him?

Zhili will never let idle gossip

ruin her future.

Her marriage is hers to decide.

Even if she never marries,

we will gladly care for her all her life.

You needn't concern yourself.

The tea is cold. Please leave.

Grand Tutor,

the Shen family today

is not what it once was.

The whole city is saying

Zhili knew all along

that the Chancellor murdered his wife and child.

Some even say she was his accomplice.

If that were true,

wouldn't your entire household be executed?

Gu Qin was a monster who killed his own family.

Zhili was the one who brought him to justice.

How does that make her an accomplice?

If you dare spread such nonsense again,

do not blame me for showing no courtesy.

So much for my good intentions.

Fine. Just you wait.

Sooner or later, the Shen family

will be ruined by Zhili.

Get out!

Fine, I'm leaving!

I wouldn't come back even if you begged me.

At the palace banquet,

when Zhili exposed that villain's true face,

I thought she was simply heartbroken.

Now I realize

she was trying to prove her own innocence.

Rumors are everywhere now.

Our Zhili...

how can she bear all this?

From now on,

if anyone dares call Zhili an accomplice,

I, Shen Wuchen, will stake my life's reputation

and fight them to the end.

That's right.

Whatever it costs us,

we will protect Zhili.

If she wants to investigate cases, we'll investigate with her.

If she needs shelter, we'll spread our wings over her.

No one will be allowed to bully her.

Little children, don't be greedy.

After Laba comes the New Year.

Drink Laba porridge for a few days,

and soon it's the twenty-third.

In past years at Laba,

the residence was always full of guests.

The Grand Tutor could barely keep up.

Yet it is already this late today,

and not one person has come with a holiday gift.

After what happened in our household,

the court officials all keep their distance.

But didn't Director Meng say

Gu Qin deceived the young lady?

Rumors can be frightening.

-Madam. -Madam.

Today is the Laba Festival.

May Father and Mother enjoy long life and good health.

Good girl. Zhili.

Sit down.

We're family. No need for ceremony.

Where is Anian?

Why isn't he here?

Commandant Di went out today

and has not yet returned.

And Zhishu too.

He has been gone so long

without sending a single letter.

He has always loved the holidays.

But winter is so cold.

I wonder whether, out there,

he is taking proper care of himself.

Children each have their own fate.

They are grown now.

Sooner or later, they must leave home and stand on their own.

Let's eat before the food gets cold.

Go on, eat.

Eat.

Here.

You've been recuperating at home for quite some time.

When do you plan to return to the Office of Public Inquiry?

After the festival,

I will return to the Office.

From now on,

I will hold myself to a stricter standard.

Before, I misjudged someone

and damaged our family's good name.

Zhili.

When we allowed you to sit the exams and enter government,

it was so you could stand on your own merits,

not be trapped by affairs of the heart.

Now,

you must not let other people's gossip

break your proud spirit.

Your father is right.

Since you were little,

we forbade "Admonitions for Women" and "Rules for Women"

precisely because we did not want such stale teachings

to constrain your spirit.

A few days ago,

your father was simply too anxious.

Eat.

Grand Tutor. Madam.

An honored guest has arrived.

Grand Tutor Shen. Madam Shen.

Peace year after year.

May all your wishes come true.

Thank you, Director Meng.

Grand Tutor, I did not come today

in my capacity as Director.

His Majesty wished to come in person.

But he said that, given the Shen family's situation,

if he could not come himself

and share a bowl of porridge with you,

his heart would not be at ease.

Yet if he came in person,

he would place the Shen family at the center of even more attention.

So His Majesty sent me in his place.

His Majesty...

I am unworthy of such grace.

His Majesty also said

that tonight he would remain in the palace

and drink this same porridge with the Shen family in spirit,

sharing this night with you.

I,

Shen Wuchen,

thank His Majesty for his grace.

His Majesty's kindness has reached us.

But I still have a personal wish of my own.

I was worried about Zhili,

so I came without invitation.

I hoped to spend this festival

together with the Shen family.

Would that be all right?

It was kind of you to come.

We are all family.

We are happiest when you visit often.

When Fuzhi returns,

I'll bring her here too, and we can all celebrate together.

Wonderful.

Then, Husband, you'll have to show off your cooking.

We'll give the two of you a proper feast.

Gladly.

Zhili.

Come back soon.

Without you there,

the tea at the Office

even tastes bland.

I will.

Anian?

What are you doing?

From today onward,

I am moving out of the Shen residence.

Father. Mother.

When my father, the Duke of Wu,

gave his life for the country,

I was still very young.

His Majesty wished me to inherit his title,

but I felt unworthy of it.

Now I am grown and have earned some merit.

Today, I asked His Majesty to grant me the title.

I will leave the Shen household and establish a home of my own.

So today,

I wish to formally ask you both

for Shen Zhili's hand in marriage.

You...

Anian, why are you proposing so suddenly?

The two of you are brother and sister.

But we are not related by blood.

I call you Father and Mother

because you both raised me.

The court is full of rumors now,

yet the Privy Council alone remains quiet.

That is because its veteran generals

once served under my father.

If Zhili marries me,

they will surely speak up for the Shen family.

Then no one will dare

slander Zhili or the Shen family's name.

Anian.

We understand and appreciate your sincerity.

But this concerns your entire life.

How can you make such a hasty decision

just because the Shen family is in trouble?

His Majesty sent Director Meng today

precisely to show the entire realm

that he stands with the Shen family.

The criticism outside will soon die down.

Good child.

Marriage is a serious matter.

You must never wrong yourself for our sake.

You should marry someone you truly love.

Get up.

Come, get up.

Father.

I have loved Zhili for a long time.

In my heart, Zhili

is more precious than any treasure.

I cannot bear anyone speaking ill of her.

I am establishing my own household

because I want to give her the very best.

I know

this is still not enough to prove my sincerity.

So I am willing to accept

any test Father and Mother set for me.

Anian.

I have watched you grow up.

You have always been brave and disciplined.

Though you are young,

you have always been

steady in word and deed.

However,

as for Zhili's marriage,

we will never force her.

Zhili herself

will make the decision.