Original subtitles

[Ming Dynasty]

[Episode 38]

Come here.

Tell me things that happen in the place.

There's a small door at Xihuamen.

Back then, the wall collapsed when it rained heavily.

For the sake of convenience of transporting coal,

the eunuch transformed it into a door.

It can't be seen outside.

Some of them rely on it to run a business.

The eunuchs steal things from outside and sell in the palace.

The consorts in the harem secretly meet with their families.

Northern Imperial Guard knew about this long ago.

First, they don't want to offend

those high-status consorts and eunuchs.

Besides, they can get a large amount of money from that.

It benefits all parties.

The palace is heavily guarded.

But, rumour is a great traveller.

I can't tell those unspeakable scandals.

An informant sent a message to me by saying that

there's someone snuck into the empress's palace.

Send someone to keep an eye on her.

I can't be sure

who is that person .

Your Majesty.

Why are you here?

There's a murderer. We're ordered to protect Your Majesty.

Nonsense!

Murderer?

How would a murderer be in my palace?

Get lost now!

How could the imperial guard enter the harem?

You even brought weapon.

What are you doing here?

Who ordered you to come?

Your Highness,

we're here to capture murderer according to the imperial decree.

That's strange.

Murderer?

How would a murderer come to the empress's palace?

Her Majesty is pregnant now.

Who can bear the responsibility

if Her Majesty is being disturbed?

Wait outside.

Get out now!

Whose thing is this?

Whose thing is this?

It's mine.

It's yours?

Your Majesty.

It belongs to me.

Her Majesty calls me aunt.

I think I have this privilege.

You're drunk.

You're right.

Exactly, Your Majesty.

I'm drunk.

You've been managing the harem for a long time.

This mistake will make you be subjected to nine kinship exterminations.

Nine kinship?

Nine kinship?

When my family members were exterminated,

you're not born yet.

In my whole family,

there's only me, an old woman, is alive now.

Well, is that true?

Tell me when you've made up your mind.

Or else, don't blame me for showing no mercy.

What illness do you have?

The medical record is on the bed.

Your Majesty.

The empress is temporary confined.

She isn't allowed to step out of the palace.

Send Hu Shangyi

to Office of Female Staff Surveillance!

Roger!

-Your Majesty. -Go!

I'm leaving.

I'll be reading 'Zuo Zhuan' for you today.

This historical book is written by a historian,

Zuo Qiuming from the state of Lu.

Zuo Zhuan, Gongyang Zhuan, and Guliang Zhuan

are known as the Three Commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals.

His Majesty said that

you are good at using political strategy and overbearing,

but know nothing about the real Confucianism.

That's why His Majesty chose this book

and sent me here to read it to you.

Let's drink.

The main focus of this book is

emphasising the political philosophy of Confucianism.

It's the most crucial part of a historical book.

Even Yongle Encyclopedia,

collection of historical books

and books in the Department of Classics are mentioned about it.

Word choice is precise

and the reader will able to distinguish the good from the bad after reading them.

Nice!

His Majesty granted me this when I conquered Nanjing.

I've been keeping it for more than two decades.

Initially, I planned to drink it after ascending the throne.

But I can only drink it now

and be an emperor in my dream.

Your Highness,

His Majesty sent me here to read books for you.

But you don't listen to me at all.

You're putting me in a difficult position.

Even if I don't have a high level of knowledge,

you should at least listen to it.

Well, allow me to resign now.

No need.

You're knowledgeable and seemliness.

I like it.

You've read so many books,

but you don't even know the most basic theory.

What's the point of listening to you?

Excuse me?

I spent the most effort in history.

What do you think I don't know?

Answer my question then.

If you get the wrong answer, you have to drink it.

What are Yongle Encyclopedia, ancient books and records

as well as historical books all about?

Tell me with one word.

All-embracing.

That's why you're stale and pedantic.

My father asked me this question when I was 6 years old

and I knew the answer.

Since the era of The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors up till now,

there are voluminous historical records.

It's all about four words.

Fight for the throne.

Am I right?

Let's drink.

Everything you said

is useless.

Let's drink.

Do you have anything else to tell me?

My dear nephew,

these are all I have.

If I go all in,

I'll have nothing left.

Come and talk to me again after checking the thing.

In short,

His Majesty is the one who's being grilled above the fire.

If we don't dig a pit for you,

who else we can dig a pit for?

You know what I want.

But you refuse to say it.

If you say it,

everything can be negotiated.

What does Your Majesty want to know?

Please remind me.

It's about second uncle.

Look.

You don't even tell me such an important thing?

Since you're protecting him,

how should I let my guard down towards you?

He is confined forever.

He's useless now.

But he hasn't pleaded guilty until today!

You want me to believe you,

but you don't even give me a gift.

You're not sincere at all.

It's getting late now.

Go back and rest.

So long, Your Majesty.

After tonight,

you shall tell His Majesty that I'm too stubborn.

Don't come here every day.

Why?

Brother Zhu, are you afraid that I will snatch your liquor away?

Brother Zhu?

Since you treat me as a friend,

I have to think for you too.

Have you forgotten about Mahamud's incident?

The more you come over,

the more suspicious you are.

His Majesty will definitely kill me in the future.

By that time, those villains will spread rumor

by saying that you are Gao Xu's man.

I'm just a reader.

I can't bear such a big crime.

You worry too much.

But I want to correct you.

His Majesty is kind-hearted.

He told the officials that he won't kill blood relatives.

You don't know him well.

In terms of hypocrisy and cruelty,

he is definitely a match for my father, Yongle Emperor.

In terms of crafty and deceitfulness,

he surpassed my eldest brother.

This kind of person is cunning, ruthless, and too lucky.

Due to these three advantages, he won the opportunity.

He won't live long.

Please stop slandering His Majesty.

In this matter,

we have different thoughts and can never act together.

I, Zhu Gao Xu,

has become a mouse that everyone wants to kill.

The others call me 'Your Highness'

is because they see me as a laughing stock.

As you call me as 'Brother Zhu',

I'll give you one thing

to keep it as commemorative.

Brother Zhu,

there was once that I saw a man

sat on the floor

and cried in my house after returning home.

I asked him,

the reason he's crying in my house.

He said that

he's a thief.

He'd been starving for a few days.

It's hard for him to pry open my door.

But he couldn't find any valuables.

He felt so regret.

You'd better not give me anything

so that I won't think of you in the future.

You're close to the emperor.

He will surely promote you to the position of

Grand Secretariat one day.

I don't need to worry about that.

What can I give you?

I have hundreds of swords.

I guess you're not interested.

You can take my valuables

if you want to.

No, no.

You shall give me two bottles of liquor as good as this.

Think about it.

We both drink liquor together tonight.

And this is the last one.

I have no more.

Why not

I grand you a wife?

Brother Zhu, you're drunk.

I have a daughter in my mansion.

But she isn't the Princess's daughter.

No one knows she's my daughter.

Her mother passed away early

and pleased me to raise her.

I always feel guilty in all these years.

His Majesty will surely kill me one day.

None of my family will be able to survive at that time.

Can you adopt her for me?

She can be your wife

or concubine,

or even a servant.

It's better than dying at a young age.

Brother Zhu, if that day comes,

I'm willing to protect her for a lifetime.

You're my master who corrected a misread character of mine.

I will keep my word.

What a shame, there is no more liquor.

What a shame, there is no more liquor.

Do you think His Majesty really wants to execute you?

Your Highness, you're here.

The empress is being confined.

His Majesty doesn't allow her to see anyone.

She can't get out.

I just went to her palace.

I'm the only one who can visit you now.

I'm a sinner who messes up the harem.

Your Highness, please leave now.

All the servants outside used to serve in my palace.

They are tight-lipped.

Do you need anything else?

Do you want me to pass any message to Her Majesty?

I will keep this secret forever

so that Her Majesty will be spared.

Before I came,

I took poison with me.

I don't want them to touch me with those dirty hands.

I will be leaving

before dawn.

To me,

it's the perfect way to die.

After Her Majesty left me,

I've been confused,

I didn't know

why I have to live on.

I always thought that

she needed me.

She needed me to prepare food for her,

educate her and raise her.

After she left, I realised that

I need her more.

In the palace,

I was like a ghost

who's wandering around everyday.

I wanted to know about her.

I wanted to know what she's doing,

where's she.

Days like this

are really

torturing.

It's finally over.

Shangyi,

I have nothing to give you.

On behalf of

my little sister,

myself,

as well as our parents,

I kowtow to you.

Greet Her Majesty for me.

I can't

give her anything more.

You are her elder sister?

Finally,

there's someone accompanies her in this world.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

What do you want, actually?

Your Majesty.

Third uncle...

Your Majesty, do you have to be so hard on me?

I haven't figured Gao Xu's thought out yet.

There are things I have to verify.

Tell me everything you know.

Your Majesty are wise.

Speak.

She's dead?

You told me that there's a door outside Xihuamen

that can be used to sneak things in.

In the end, I found out that

a man was smuggled into the palace.

Her Majesty had a miscarriage.

This is her medical record.

Check it thoroughly and report to me.

I, Zhu Gao Sui, accept the decree.

Her Highness is here.

What are you doing?

You don't have your meal and don't take medicine.

Do you want to die?

You may all leave.

His Majesty asked me to advise you.

That's why I can get in.

Hu Shangyi

has taken the blame for you.

She's dead.

If you continue to hurt yourself,

her death will be meaningless.

I knew that Shangyi is dead.

Did someone tell you about that?

This morning,

when it's almost dawn,

all of a sudden, my heart hurt badly.

It's a sign of separation with blood relative.

That's why I knew

she's dead.

I don't need anyone to tell me.

Our presence

is superfluous in this world.

Only the two of us are important to each other.

When she died,

there's something in my heart was dead too.

She died before dawn.

I went to visit her.

She wanted me to pass a message to you.

She said,

greet the empress.

She

had nothing

to give you any more.

I told her that

I'm your elder sister.

She's very happy.

She said there's finally someone

accompanies you in this world.

Your Majesty,

the rebel leader that showed up in Jiaozhi called Li Li.

Why didn't the Ministry of Defence report that there's a rebel army in Jiaozhi?

Your Majesty,

it was happened in last March.

Zheng He had handed memorial to report to the late emperor.

The late emperor was considering the country's budgetary issues

and recalled General Huang Fu

and decreed to offer amnesty to the rebel army.

So what happened at the end?

Chief Secretary of the Ming Dynasty who's sent to Jiaozhi

returned in dejection.

At that time, you knew that you can't hide it from me anymore.

In the end, we gave the rebel army a chance to grow.

Now, the countries of Mainland Southeast Asia

started preparing scheme

and aren't tame any more.

Your Majesty,

I have handed up memorials for so many times.

I am worried and anxious.

Mr Yang, please rise.

Much obliged, Your Majesty.

It's all because I delayed looking into Nanyang's matter.

I am unfamiliar with this.

Zheng He, answer me.

Must Chief Secretary of Ming Dynasty retreat this time?

That's right.

I heard that

once one's father is dead,

it's an act of filial piety if his son doesn't change his will.

Since this is the late emperor's decision,

I hope Your Majesty will handle this carefully.

Let's not judge the late emperor now.

For the word, filial piety,

to give up the political power

that's gained by exchanging with the blood of the soldiers,

it definitely can't be.

Zheng He,

tell me.

What's the consequence of losing Jiaozhi?

The consequence is

Ming army will be making a strategic retreat on the sea.

If our army's military power weakens in the South China Sea area,

it will directly cause

the relations between the countries of Mainland Southeast Asia and us

disperse or even crumble.

This means we have to give up on

both land lane and sea lane

that's built by Emperor Taizong.

Your Majesty,

to ensure Emperor Taizong win in the war at out of the border,

the late Emperor didn't care about anything

and stopped Zheng He's voyage to the west,

stopped our army from attacking the vassal states

as well as eliminated unnecessary expenses.

At that time, our country was in a bad financial situation.

We still haven't improved it yet even up to today.

Your Majesty,

Ministry of Revenue is still unable to make ends meet this year.

Emperor Taizong and Emperor Renzong

decided to build the imperial tombs

and it worried me and made me not sleep all night.

I really didn't know where we could get the money?

I haven't said I want to spend money,

but you are so nervous already.

I've read through the government budget for this year.

I remember there's an allocation for building the imperial tomb of mine, right?

Yes.

We've already sent someone to look for an auspicious site.

Postpone this plan for a few years.

I'm in the prime of life now.

I don't need it.

Use the money to...

Your Majesty,

we'll have to choose auspicious moment and site

for building an imperial tomb.

Everything is following the system of the imperial court.

But Your Majesty messed up the system with just a few words.

It will set a bad example for the later generations.

Mr Yang,

please don't label me as a sinner.

According to what you said,

after building the imperial tomb for me,

everything will run smooth and the world will be at peace?

I'm serious in this matter.

Whether it's auspicious or not,

that's up to God.

I don't care!

Emperor Taizong once said that

Ming Dynasty's territories

aren't just those lands that can be seen.

There is still a thing that can't be seen.

It's the friendship between

the countries of Mainland Southeast Asia and us.

We are just unfilial descendants.

It's fine that if we don't expand the territory,

but we can't forget our ancestors' ambition.

Zheng He,

I'll prepare funds for you

and support your voyage to the west again.

Why?

Are you afraid of the storm as you're getting older?

If I have a chance to travel to the west again,

I, Zheng He, is willing to give my all till I stop breathing.

When I was a kid, I called you Uncle Ma Bao.

Uncle Ma Bao,

let me departing from the main subject,

with your merits,

you can live comfortably and wealthily for the rest of your life.

Why do you insist on putting out to the dangerous sea with rogue waves?

Your Majesty.

When I am not at the sea,

I can't sleep and eat well.

If I really have a chance to start a voyage this time,

I want to go to Mainland Southeast Asia again

to pacify countries over there

and establish diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Ormus.

Then, I will head to the south

to Mozambique Channel

to expand Ming Dynasty's trade and defence routes.

Good.

I'll wait for your return.

Mr Yu, silent please.

I was sent by the Prince of Han.

Prince of Han asked me to send the young lady to you.

He said that you can't go to the Prince of Han's mansion in the future.

He will repay your kindness in the afterlife.

You...

Greetings, Mr Yu.

I suddenly show up at such a late hour,

you must be shocked.

Miss, please rise.

Mr Yu.

You

What's your name?

I don't have a name.

My father said

you shall give me a name.

Miss, you shall rest on the bed.

I'll sleep on the floor.

You don't like me?

It is not about that.

A gentleman won't do anything against his conscience, even in the dark.

Since I promised to take care of you,

I won't break my promise.

I'm so tired today.

Sleep first.

We'll talk tomorrow.

I heard about getting a wife in the dream.

I thought it was a joke.

I didn't expect it to be true.

This is Mainland Southeast Asia.

All the way to the west.

Your Majesty.

Have a seat here.

It's such a big map.

Where did it come from?

This Ming Dynasty Marine Map was presented by Zheng He.

Look.

These are the places he has been to.

There are still many places where he hasn't been to.

Even Zheng He hasn't been to?

Yup.

Where's Ming?

Where is Ming?

Here it is.

It's so small.

We always talk about 'the world'.

We're like frog in the well.

These are the wisest words you've ever said since we knew each other.

Thinking Ming Dynasty as the world,

is really an act of a frog in the well.

So,

Zheng He will steer a boat and depart to the west again

to associate with more countries

so that my ambition can be fulfilled.

Your Majesty,

since you have such a huge ambition.

you're destined for greatness.

Since you're so happy now,

can I beg you a favour?

Think twice before you speak.

Don't ruin my mood.

Roger that.

Your Majesty,

I beg you to release the empress.

Her Highness is loyal to Your Majesty.

Her aunt raised her and pleaded for her.

She's unable to resist punishment.

She knows she was wrong.

Your Majesty, why don't you let her go?

She has been crying all day.

If she cries until falls sick,

the rumour will spread to outside the palace.

It will affect Your Majesty name.