Original subtitles

We did it! We did it!

Water Mui really blew the cannon up!

Chu Shuk-kwan, your trouble-making is ruining my name here in Guangzhou.

Remember what you promised me?

I have a bright future ahead.

How can I take a courtesan as wife?

I'll haunt you to the very end!

Shuk-kwan!

Get her!

Bowie?

Lai Gong-Gong, why this hurry back to the capital?

Highness, you scored big in this expedition

The pirates were wiped out.

The news will please Sire very much.

Moreover, Prince Man-hong and Fok Yee-tai's lot could only ruin things.

If I don't rush back to announce the victory,

they may be able to poison the well.

You are thoughtful indeed.

This expedition wouldn't have happened without your help.

Highness, you are too kind.

Lady Shun saved my life. I can never repay her.

It'll be a hard journey back.

Once I am back in the capital,

I'll give you a proper thank you.

You are too kind.

Man-jing, go back with Lai Gong-Gong.

I'll tell Mother about your victory.

She'll be overjoyed to know you've proved your true worth.

She has suffered enough for me.

It's with your blessings that Prince Man-ho could defeat the pirates.

But many people died in the fight.

It's said the sea was tainted red by blood.

Please, don't be mad with Prince Man-ho.

He had to be ruthless. It's for the people.

Let me make my vow here.

I'll turn vegetarian for three years, no stewed pork for me.

It's to make up for Prince Man-ho's killings.

Highness?

I know you are kind-hearted. It's good to be pious.

However, I need no making up from you.

The pirates had terrorised the coast for years and incurred the wrath of Heaven.

I was doing Heaven's bidding. I need no forgiveness.

Where am I? What is this place?

Jail?

How come I am in jail? Why?

Mui, calm down...

OK, I blew up the cannon.

Then...intercepted by the Qing troops.

Then fell off a cliff...

Bowie...no...the man that looks like Bowie...

saved me.

Why? What happened?

Let me out...

Who are you?

Let me out...

His Highness wants you for interrogation.

Highness, the one who blew up the cannon is here.

Prince Man-ho?

He does look like Bowie.

Siu-fu, you were ordered to round up the pirates still at large.

How come you could come back empty-handed after a whole day?

Highness, the sea is vast. I've already...

Just a handful of pirates in a shabby boat. How could you let them escape?

It's my fault.

You blew up my cannon and thwarted my suppression plans,

it's unforgivable.

A woman as pirate? How outrageous!

Speak! Where are Cheung Po-tsai and those unpardonably wicked pirates?

Give the truth!

They are not unpardonably wicked Why a pirate?

Thanks to your unpardonably wicked navy!

Defeating the pirates doesn't make you a hero.

You have killed so many people. You are just a murderous monster!

Since I am a murderous monster, I don't mind adding one more to the list.

Go ahead!

So you aren't afraid of death?

No one wants to die.

Yet giving in to you only makes you bigger bullies,

and surrendering is suicide.

Don't you forget you are a convict.

How dare you a pirate lecture us here?

So, according to you, we the imperial navy are evil,

you crime committing pirates are the righteous.

I won't call all pirates righteous.

But have you thought about it?

No one was born to be a pirate.

They are all forced into this path.

As the commander-in-chief of the navy,

you should know very well what your men have done.

When lost to pirates,

they took in innocent fishermen instead to claim credit.

A law-abiding scholar was similarly captured,

instead of letting him go,

he's framed for collusion with pirates after he managed to slip away.

His family members were implicated.

So you say pirates are unpardonable.

What about your men committing murders in the guise of pirates

and taking a girl back as comfort woman?

Is that unpardonably wicked?

Where have Cheung Po-tsai and the others gone?

Throw water on him to wake him up.

Yes.

You have one more chance.

Where have Cheung and his men gone?

I don't know. I wouldn't tell even if I knew.

No?

See which breaks first, you or my whip.

Whip him! Yes.

Highnesses, this scholar is tough indeed.

Soft fire makes sweet malt.

Honourable Fok, you are on the right track.

Scholar Suen is the counsellor of the Red Flag pirates.

He sure has a lot to tell

Give another turn of the screw and he'll talk.

Right! Whip him harder!

Highness, this female pirate refused to talk.

Maybe we should try torture.

No, no torture!

I think they were forced by circumstances, especially that girl.

Highness, no one has ever talked back to you.

The girl is a prisoner. Yet she insisted on telling the truth

Isn't that even more laudable?

Siu-fu, be honest with me.

Have they committed such crimes?

I know Fok Yee-tai did hand in innocent fishermen as pirates to claim credit.

What about the other charges?

I've failed you.

I've heard about Hon Yung and the others doing such things,

but I didn't have the nerve to stand up against them.

That means what the female pirate said was true.

The framed scholar should be Scholar Suen.

But I don't know who the comfort woman was.

(Celebration)

(In Celebration of Victory in the Southern Expedition)

Chao Camp, what a good fight!

The credit goes to you the Zhe Camp's cooperation.

And Prince Man-ho's leadership!

Do You agree? Yes! I

Cheers! Cheers!

It's just a fluke. What's the big deal?

Honourable Fok, you are the one who really work here.

You don't care for unearned credit.

But Man-ho knows no restraints.

I don't think he'll let you have a good time.

Highness, you are resourceful.

How can we take the wind out of his sails?

Scholar Suen should know where the pirates' hideout is.

You are right.

They were routed by Prince Man-ho.

Their hideout's defence must be weak now.

A small team is good enough to crush them.

The victory should be just as impressive.

Victory! We've showed them!

After years of looting,

they must have a mountain of gold and silver.

And they have abducted so many women.

It's about time we got them out.

Highnesses, I assure you,

I won't corner their mountain of gold and silver.

As for pretty women, they are for you two highnesses.

Cheers...

Brothers, greetings.

Guys, a toast to the Huben General!

Good!

Cheers! Cheers!

I thank you all. This pirate suppression task was not easy.

Thanks to you all for working together as one.

I'll report it to the Court. You'll get your due reward.

Thank you, Highness.

Since we are in a good mood,

let me repeat what I just overheard about how one could get rich quickly.

I'm sure it'll get you more excited.

According to Honourable Fok,

once we know where the pirates' hideout is,

we can charge right in and capture it.

Only the weak and old are left there,

who are in no position to resist our mighty and righteous force.

No you agree? Yes.

All we have to do is to kill them all.

Then we can loot and rob them.

We can split up the treasure and getting rich is as easy as farting.

Just make sure that our two princes here will get the prettiest of their women.

It's not just treasure and women,

we can also claim credit for killing their old and their weak.

Wonderful! Wonderful!

Honourable Fok, it sure is killing two birds with one stone.

Highness, spare me your sarcasm.

Man-ho, now I see why I was sent here to rein you in.

You are commander of the pirate suppression mission,

yet you'd take their side.

It has been the practice of the navy throughout the years.

Those pirates asked for it. They're unpardonable!

They are unpardonable, so we can commit the worst crimes against them?

So we can take innocent fishermen back as pirates to claim credit?

What about framing Scholar Suen for collusion with pirates?

What about imposing as pirates to abduct women for your own pleasure?

A toast to that!

Officers turn a new leaf and mend your ways,

otherwise, you'll only end up getting killed on the battlefield!

Because we will fight an impossible war.

Because the fight will never end.

I swear to Heaven, from today on,

whoever does it again will be punished, be you a nobleman or a high official!

Yes, Commander!

Scholar Suen...how come you are here?

Scholar Suen...who did this to you?

Misery likes company.

So you got caught as well.

I am fine.

What about Po-tsai? How's he?

He's fine.

What happened? Why?

After you blew up the cannon,

we managed to go back to the Heroes' Den.

Once our folks learnt about the deaths,

the place was filled with crying and tears!

Scholar Suen, you hang in there...

The Chief knew the Heroes' Den was no longer safe.

He gave out the treasures and asked everyone to find their new paths.

A real man doesn't cry.

Do not dwell on the past.

Right, as long as we are still alive, we can make a comeback.

Godfather, we have to pay the Guangdong Navy back for this!

Do you have a way?

What's the League of the Seven Seas for?

It's for mutual support and help.

I mean to liaise with the other chiefs for fighting back and making a comeback!

Good idea! Let's go do it!

No...it's the worst we can do.

Though we managed to escape, we are wanted men.

I am sure wanted notices and our sketches are posted everywhere.

If we still hang around, well easily be captured together.

Then we'll do it separately.

The 20th day of the 12th month,

or the day of the Seven Seas Tournament,

let's gather at the Jui Yi Hall for a meeting to work it out.

We had a farewell drink and then we went our separate ways.

You could rebound despite the setback.

I was so worried that Po-tsai would lose his will.

Scholar Suen, now I am relieved.

If he knows you care so much about him, he'll be most pleased.

How come you got caught?

It's because of the Nine Dragons Pearl.

I am prepared.

Get him!

Why? Wrong man...

I was too smart by half.

Kidding?

Really, I was too smart by half.

Kidding, right?

I said I was too smart...

Don't be so mean.

Stop laughing...Stop it.

It's stewed pork...

Meal time.

It's stewed pork.

Do you remember me?

I am Ha Sim, Prince Man-ho's personal maid.

Let me help you with the rice.

Stewed pork here.

Be careful, it's hot.

Now your turn.

Scholar Suen, what about not yielding?

What about a scholar's integrity?

My spirit is willing. My flesh is weak.

You must be hungry too. Eat it hot.

Why are you so kind to us?

It's to thank you for doing Prince Man-ho a favour.

I just gave him a good scolding.

You said the right thing.

I don't mean your accusation of him.

I mean you told him what happened.

You told him what the Navy have done.

He was hopping mad.

He made the troops see how wrong they used to be.

They will never do those wicked deeds again

Did he? Really?

Do you find him very mean and unreasonable?

It's his character.

He never admits others are right.

However, he'll work on what he sees is right.

That's why we call him the Iron Buddha.

Iron Buddha?

You'll see why in time.

Dig in first. Here you are.

What about not yielding?

My spirit is willing. My flesh is weak.

Hate the man, eat the food.

Have more.

Why did you feed the female pirate behind my back?

Female pirate?

Wong Tai-mui?

I had a chat with her.

She's actually very reasonable.

She is just unpretentious.

Scholar Suen is not mean at all. He's quite funny.

What nerve!

It makes you a collaborator.

You deserve thirty spanks.

No...

Siu-fu, plead for me.

Don't worry.

I'll do the spanking.

Highness, I've checked it up.

Wong Tai-mui has not been a pirate for long

She has done nothing bad.

Highness, you just prayed for the dead.

There are good guys among the pirates if they are willing to turn a new leaf.

Highness! Yes?

Fok Yee-tai has taken the female pirate away for torturing into confession.

Let go of me... What are you doing?

I'll only count to three.

Where are Cheung Po-tsai and the others?

One...two...three...

stop!

Who is the mad dog barking here?

I captured the pirates.

They are for me to interrogate or kill. Others stay away!

Fok Yee-tai, you have yet to win a fight.

But you sure are good at stealing from others.

Man-ho, don't go too far.

It's precisely why Sire sent me here: to take you down a notch!

Could you?

I mean to interrogate her myself.

It's because you are non-committal with suppressing the pirates.

Don't you forget, you took the pirates' side in yesterday's celebration.

Brother Man-hong, if you find me incompetent, you can stab me in the back

or complain to Sire.

I am the one named Huben General.

As long as I am the commander-in-chief, I have the final say.

You...

What do you want?

This is the second time I've saved you.

If you still won't turn a new leaf but insist on being a pirate,

there will not be a third time.

You have killed so many. You have blood on your hands.

Don't expect me to be grateful for such petty kindness.

Hey, I am talking to you. Where're your manners?

What now?

Let go of me...

Murderer, let go of me...

Why take me here?

This is the Peach Blossom Village. It's a hundred years old.

It used to have 135 households and 1,230 able-bodied men.

The villagers, young and old, used to lead a peaceful life.

Three years ago on a night of the full moon,

a band of pirates came to loot the village.

Thousands of people were killed in their sleep.

They didn't even have the chance to fight back.

There were no survivors.

It really was the pirates' doing?

Don't ask me.

Ask the dead here.

You know martial arm.

You can do me in anytime to avenge your pirate friends.

Highness, have some tea to quell your anger.

Highness...

Man-ho?

I've interrogated her myself.

She has given me all the details. Everything.

Water Mui, what now?

Why look so stunned?

Scholar Suen, did a massacre take place in the Peach Blossom Village three years ago?

Yes, it is true.

Why?

It's the Black Flag Wong Yi's doing.

Chief fell outwith him because of that.

There are black sheep among pirates.

It's understandable why the people hate us so much.

So Prince Man-ho was not entirely in the wrong.

Now you understand him.

What? No stewed pork?

What about no yielding?

As you said, hate the man, eat the food.

Spareribs is fine too. It'll do.

I am sorry. I didn't have enough time for stewed pork.

His Highness bid me to tidy up the place for you.

You will be moved out of here.

Highness has decided to house you in the barracks.

Though you are still prisoners, you'll have much nicer cells.

I told you. Highness is the Iron Buddha.

Your Honour, the decoction is done.

Sire is here.

Sire, greetings.

My son...

How's the Crown Prince doing?

Sire, his illness...

I just pray this revitalising tonic will do him good.

Why is that not replaced? Replace it!

Sire, it's already morning.

I don't care. Replace it.

My son... Sire...

Sire, let me do it.

Let me feed the Crown Prince.

No...Let me do it myself.

Sire, urgent report from the Guangdong Navy.

Sire, good news!

Prince Man-ho was victorious in the pirate suppression.

Sire, congratulations!

Pirate suppression...Some good news at last.

Sire...

How's the Crown Prince?

I am sorry. It's my fault.

The Crown Prince has passed away.

Man-ho is.

He worked so hard for the pirate suppression.

It finally paid off. He had victory.

When he should finally win his father's praise...

He won it the hard way.

Fate! You can’t escape your destiny.

The throne was not in Crown Prince's destiny.

It's fate.

In astrology, Prince Man-ho's destiny is called Horsehead with Arrow.

It means nothing comes easy despite his best efforts.

It is in his fate.

I keep telling him, choose the easy way, live an easy life.

He just wouldn't listen. He insists on fighting fate.

Lady Shun, may I offer you an advice?

You are excused.

Yes. Highness.

Highness, all mothers love their children.

However, it may not be a good idea to insist on an easy life for Prince Man-ho.

His is the Horsehead with Arrow.

Nothing comes easy for him, but he'll make it big in the end.

Make it big in the end?

Now that the Crown Prince has passed away, a new successor has to named.

It's in every prince's desire to be the chosen one.

However, none can beat Prince Man-ho whether in accomplishment,

resolve or the commitment to rule.

But he has made enough enemies as it is.

If he fights for the throne, then...

Highness, the fight for the throne has already begun.

Whether he likes it or not, he's already involved.

But his mother is no longer in favour.

Sire doesn't care about me at all.

My son may have the aptitude for it,

but there's nothing I can do for him.

If you had not pleaded for me, I would have been long dead.

How can I not repay you?

Back then I was the Imperial Astronomer.

I served Sire with my years of learning.

Honourable Lai, you have done much all these years as Imperial Astronomer.

It's my job to solve difficulties for Sire.

Man-hau is Empress' son,

I mean to make him crown prince.

But he has been weak since he's born.

No tonics can help him.

You are learned in astrology. Is there a way to help him?

Sire, I'll do whatever I can to improve his chance.

Good...

There's no fighting Heaven's will.

Sire, it's my fault.

I've tried everything I know.

But there's no fighting Heaven's will.

I am the emperor, I can fight Heaven!

Sire, please take it easy.

Prince Man-hau doesn't have it in his destiny.

According to my calculations, he can only live till he's 20.

How dare you curse him!

It never crossed my mind.

Sire, what I mean is you should put the country first.

You shouldn't name him crown prince.

Otherwise, when he passes away in 18 years,

there will be a horrific fight for the throne,

like what happened in late Emperor Kangxi's time.

Shut up!

Take him out for beheading!

Sire, I said it out of loyalty...

You are the imperial astronomer,

yet you are here spilling nonsense to undermine my reign.

Take him out for execution!

Sire...I said it out of loyalty...

I thought I would die. But you stood up for me.

I was in favour then.

I knew you were loyal.

So I chipped in a word for you.

Thanks to your help, my life was spared.

But not the castration penalty.

From the imperial astronomer to a eunuch.

I was determined to become Manager of the Imperial Household.

It's for repaying His Highness.

It's for helping Prince Man-ho to get the throne.

Smart? Capable? Victorious? So what?

If it's not in your destiny...

Prince Man-ho only has Heaven to blame.

Milady, it's snowing outside.

The bird's nest is heated. Enjoy it.

Is it something I said?

Tung-suet, all mothers will do anything for their children. That is human nature.

It is a mother's job to pave the way for a bright future for her child.

Do you agree?

Milady, you are right.

Sire is sure my child is benevolent in nature.

Now that the Crown Prince has passed away,

a successor will be named.

Prince Man-ho is my child's only obstacle.

Milady, you...

Step up to the plate.

Since Heaven is not on his side, I should answer Heaven's call.

But you have chipped in for him.

You said yesterday's foe can become today's friend.

Today's friend may turn out to be your foe later..

Do you have a way to take him down?

He's victorious in the pirate suppression.

It's not so easy to take him down now.

Highness, a confidential letter from Honourable Fok Yee-tai in Guangdong.

You are excused.

Yes, Milady.

In order to achieve victory, Prince Man-ho had the nerve

to put the Imperial yellow jacket on a straw man as decoy.

It's most disrespectful.

Good! Heaven is on my side.

A shooting star again?

A reversal of fortune?