Original subtitles

Your Highness.

Here are all the exam papers from the humble scholars this year.

(His Majesty started a new round of exams.)

(It's meant to help those from humble backgrounds.)

(So, these scholars are all hell-bent on making it to the top overnight.)

- (How ridiculous.) - (Exactly.)

(These essays discussed contemporary affairs and river conservancy.)

(They're just full of arrogance and bravado.)

No wonder the Crown Prince told us

to keep these humble scholars in check.

Just look at what they've written.

(Shen Xiao)

Ambition no one cares about...

Talent that never gets noticed...

All it's good for is keeping my hands warm.

I'll let the Crown Prince know

that everything is proceeding as usual.

(The Shadow Sovereign)

Princess.

The Crown Prince and the examiners are still in Fengqi Pavilion.

But the Second Prince just showed up with his men.

Then we better put on a good show.

This one, this one,

and this one too.

Forget it.

I'm in a good mood today.

Let all of them come with me.

- Thank you, Your Highness. - Thank you, Your Highness.

The Second Prince is here for an investigation!

No one is allowed to leave without permission!

- Search the place. - Yes!

Come on.

Your Highness.

The Princess is in Fengqi Pavilion.

(Fengqi Pavilion)

Second Prince.

To what do I owe this, Second Brother?

You're scaring my beauties here.

Where is the Crown Prince?

Someone sent in a secret report

that the Crown Prince has rigged the latest imperial exam

and is secretly meeting with the examiners here.

You all can go.

Second Brother, the Crown Prince hasn't even been here.

You really shouldn't frame the heir to the throne.

Frame him?

Search the place.

Your Highness.

We shouldn't linger here.

Let her deal with it.

A broken string has disturbed Your Highness.

I humbly pray for Your Highness's indulgence.

Do not let such a trivial matter spoil your enjoyment.

What an intriguing person.

You shall be the chief courtesan for today.

A night like this is worth a fortune.

Second Brother, are you here to witness the ceremony?

Absurd.

You act so shamelessly.

Are you not afraid the Prince Consort will find out?

Your Highness.

We've searched everywhere. Nothing turned up.

It's hardly a novelty for the noble ladies of the Ye Dynasty

to seek handsome companions for pleasure.

Besides, Prince Consort Cui is from a noble family.

He is accustomed to being served.

He doesn't know how to please a woman.

The pleasures of the inner chambers

are something one must seek for oneself.

Let's go.

Keep a closer watch.

Yes.

Carry me to the bed.

You're not from Xianke Bordello.

You disguised yourself as a courtesan and approached me.

Who sent you?

No one sent me.

I only know that

Your Highness didn't want this to be discovered by the Second Prince.

I am merely a scholar from a humble family.

Though the Ye Dynasty has established new exams,

I know all too well that success hinges on

recommendations made beyond the exam hall.

Thus, I beg Your Highness

to review my submission

and recommend me a path to a brighter future.

Since you're from a humble background,

you heard why the Second Prince came here.

Why did you not hand the jade pendant to him?

The Second Prince's search was merely a pretext.

His true aim was the struggle for power with the Crown Prince.

Had I offered the pendant to him,

I'd just be asking for trouble.

I seek no trouble.

I only wish to earn Your Highness's recommendation

through my talents and ambitions.

Princess.

Are you okay?

This is...

A recommendation?

How impressive for a humble scholar.

To obtain fame and official rank,

you resort to such despicable means to offer yourself to me.

I wouldn't dare.

This matter was absolutely not my doing.

I'll find the antidote right now.

Perform well.

As for your recommendation,

we shall discuss it later.

(Although she's arrogant and domineering, )

(she...)

(This is...)

Step down!

Here's your reward.

Get out.

What do you mean, Your Highness?

The drug in the wine was not my doing, and you promised me...

I would never recommend someone so shameless.

Don't you humble scholars value integrity and honor above all?

Yet your skill in selling yourself for advancement

surpasses even the courtesans of Xianke Bordello.

If you're willing to serve the nobles, why bother with the imperial exams?

You might as well settle comfortably into being a courtesan.

What a privileged princess you are.

Last night, it was you who proclaimed me

the chief courtesan before the Second Prince.

Yet today, you deny everything.

You toy with people's hearts and disregard your promises.

If we're talking shamelessness,

Your Highness deserves it more than I do.

Farewell.

He sure has a temper.

Princess.

Last night, did the fake show turn real?

My body is mine to control.

Pleasure comes first.

Looks like Your Highness thinks highly of him.

That's rare.

That Cui has kept a mistress for years.

Does he really still expect you to defend his reputation now?

Shameless.

Last night,

I slept incredibly well.

Not a single dream all night.

Could this medicine also have a calming effect?

Love beans don't have such a property.

All these years,

you have been haunted by nightmares, barely sleeping at night.

Why were you suddenly able to rest soundly last night?

Perhaps it was not the medicine that was effective,

but the person?

(You toy with people's hearts)

and disregard your promises.

(If we're talking shamelessness, Your Highness deserves it more than I do.)

This medicine doesn't seem like something that a humble scholar could get.

Nor does it seem like Second Brother's doing.

Maybe the person who set me up

has nothing to do with court politics.

(Hugging my pillow, )

(I lie by the north window, )

(my lover comes)

(and we laugh together.)

(So many little joys, )

(so many surprises, )

(how long can)

(this tenderness last?)

So many little joys, so many surprises,

how long can this tenderness last?

Beautiful song.

Lord Cui, if you like it,

I'll sing it for you every day.

But today,

you should go back to the Princess residence.

After all, you're still the Prince Consort.

Just say what you want to say.

I heard that last night,

Princess Zhao Yang was at Xianke Bordello,

meeting a male companion.

I thought that

if you returned today,

those rumors would fall apart on their own.

She let the news slip on purpose

because she intended certain people to hear them.

She was merely acting on behalf of the Crown Prince.

Why take it so seriously?

But what if

the Princess actually made the act real?

You have always known how to act with restraint

and understand when to advance and when to retreat.

That's what I like most about you.

Do you understand?

I have overstepped.

(Eastern Palace)

Your Highness stayed overnight at Xianke Bordello last night.

Where did you spend the night, then?

Don't forget,

you're now the wife of the Cui family.

When you're dallying with your mistress,

you hardly remember

that you are the Prince Consort of the Ye Imperial Family either.

This is no longer the time when you used me to escape the Cold Palace.

Now that you have stepped over the Cui family to rise high

and secure His Majesty's deep favor,

you're unwilling to even maintain the facade.

Maintain a facade?

We're just husband and wife in name.

Mutual non-interference

is the final courtesy between us.

I hope you will remember that.

Let's go.

The Crown Prince doesn't like to be kept waiting.

What are we supposed to do now?

His Majesty wants to use the new exam to promote humble scholars

and suppress our noble clans.

If a humble scholar truly emerges among

the top three successful candidates this year,

I'm afraid

there will be endless trouble.

- Indeed. - Second Brother didn't get any evidence last night,

but he still entered the palace overnight.

He accused me before Father of secretly meeting the examiners.

His Majesty is displeased

and has forbidden my people to participate in the new exam evaluation.

His Majesty made it clear that he'll personally review the exam papers.

The papers submitted by humble scholars can no longer be destroyed.

That's the real crisis.

Princess Zhao Yang and the Prince Consort have arrived.

Come in.

Your Highness, I pay my respects.

Second Brother showed up unexpectedly last night.

Luckily, he didn't find this thing.

Zhao Yang.

I'm sure you overheard my conversation with the officials just now.

Father plans to personally review the exam papers this year.

Do you have a way around that?

Don't worry, Your Highness.

As long as every paper His Majesty sees

comes from the hands of noble families,

there's no way the humble scholars will get a chance.

Indeed.

The only variable is Father himself.

But right now, in the Eastern Palace,

the only one who can get near the exam papers before His Majesty

is you.

What?

Is there some difficulty?

Crown Prince,

Father has recently become increasingly resolute in making decisions.

He has also summoned Second Brother before him more frequently.

Although it's easy for me to enter the palace,

this may not be the most suitable moment.

I fear that the slightest mistake could instead ruin the greater plan.

Zhao Yang.

(Yeah, that's it! Have her hold the apple up!)

(This is fun!)

(Hold the apple tight. Don't drop it.)

(If you tremble again and I miss it, don't blame me.)

Please calm down, Your Highness.

Back when you were desperate to get out of the Cold Palace,

you did everything you could to please me,

(and you weren't afraid of anything.)

I do not wish for Father to see

even a single exam paper from a humble scholar.

Don't mess this up.

Zhao Yang understands.

She will surely do everything within her power.

Your Highness.

Having both of them in the Eastern Palace

is truly a blessing.

Don't let me down.

I'll obey, Your Highness.

Does it hurt?

I'm already used to it.

(Back when you were desperate to get out of the Cold Palace, )

(you did everything you could to please me, )

(and you weren't afraid of anything.)

(Mother, you can be saved!)

(I got some ancient ginseng.)

(Once you eat it, you'll get better.)

Mother!

Mother, please get up.

Don't leave me here alone.

Mother...

(From that day on, )

(I swore)

(I'd survive and walk out of this Cold Palace.)

(I would live the finest life this world could offer.)

All these years,

the Crown Prince has formed factions for personal gain,

imposed harsh levies, and driven loyal officials to their deaths.

I cannot allow the fate of the Ye Dynasty to fall into

the hands of someone who treats people's lives like they're nothing.

And His Majesty

uses the new exam to bring in humble scholars and keep the nobles in check.

His concern is solely

the stability of his imperial power,

not the suffering of the people.

It's time to make our move.

The Crown Prince gave me a chance to meet His Majesty.

I'll make sure His Majesty sees the answers from humble scholars.

The Top Scholar of the imperial exam

must be our man.

The person

is already in place.

Though I have never met this grand gift,

it ought to prove quite a surprise

for the Crown Prince.

(This year's Top Scholar is from a humble family.)

(Indeed.)

His Majesty has specially arranged this banquet for the Top Scholar.

- Crown Prince. - Crown Prince.

- Crown Prince. - Crown Prince.

Why is this year's Top Scholar a humble scholar?

Is this the result of what you have arranged?

Second Brother was in the palace that day too.

- It's likely that he interfered. - Yes.

The Second Prince was in the palace that day.

His Majesty has arrived.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Everyone, you may rise.

Let's begin the banquet.

Congratulations, Father, for gaining such a talented scholar.

May I ask what important position Father intends

to grant the Top Scholar?

A sixth-rank Censorate Secretary.

What do all of you think?

Appointed Censorate Secretary right away? And of sixth rank, no less.

Your Majesty, you must not do this.

A Censorate Secretary is one of the Emperor's close attendants.

How could someone from a humble background be entrusted with that position?

I suggest appointing him as magistrate of Lingnan County.

His future appointment may be reconsidered after three years of experience.

(Lingnan is a wild and remote region.)

(They are practically trying to get him killed.)

Your Majesty, Lingnan is hot and humid,

infested with snakes and insects.

The new Top Scholar would likely perish at his post

before three years pass.

I believe

a sixth-rank Censorate Secretary position is the perfect appointment.

I second that.

Your Majesty, we agree with the Crown Prince.

Your Majesty, if this man only seeks comfort,

he is unworthy of great responsibility.

- We second the motion. - We second the motion.

I was careless and startled Your Majesty.

It's fine to get drunk at a banquet.

- Rise. - Thank you, Father.

I think

this fine wine is truly rare.

If everyone keeps arguing,

aren't we just spoiling the occasion?

Father,

the Top Scholar has only just entered the imperial court.

Sending him to take office in Lingnan would seem excessively harsh.

Why not grant him

an eighth-rank Supervising Censor position to remain in the capital,

where Chancellor Xiao may personally guide him?

If he later proves incapable,

it would not be too late to send him to Lingnan.

The Luming Banquet is held

to celebrate my acquisition of a talent to assist the court.

Only Zhao Yang has understood the true meaning within this wine.

We shall proceed as you suggest

and grant him the post of Supervising Censor.

Let's all enjoy the banquet.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

With only a few words, she has pleased Father

while also aligning herself with the Crown Prince's wishes.

She's really impressive.

No wonder she's the Princess most trusted by His Majesty.

What is this?

The new Top Scholar enters the banquet to meet His Majesty.

I, Shen Xiao,

wish Your Majesty good health.

I'm well.

Rise and take your seat.

Thank you for Your Majesty's grace.

May I report to Your Majesty.

I, Shen Xiao,

wish to impeach Princess Zhao Yang, Li Shu.