Original subtitles

You guys need to

make an attack

to the Tartars and Oirats.

To ensure that the emperor's base camp will be secured.

He said,

'Just attack, brother.'

We're lucky that we made it out alive.

Finally, we caught

11 princes.

Get up quickly.

When I arrived at Yumuchuan

with the emperor under my protection,

I could name none of the soldier.

Countless comrades deceased in the war.

What did the brat do

at that moment?

Your Majesty

Your Majesty

Greetings, Your Majesty.

I'm fine.

Uncle Gao Xu.

Get up and talk.

Your Majesty.

Sit.

I'm unable to get up.

When I came back to the palace from Jingjiao yesterday,

I heard that you were fasting.

Why are you doing this?

Did I do anything wrong

and make you upset?

It hurts me

seeing you in this state.

I stay at home

and can't remember many things.

If I don't mutter a few words,

I'll really forget.

Yet, they prohibit me from talking.

I'm furious.

Uncle Gao Xu, you're a real hero.

Your success in the Jingnan rebellion

and Battle of Mobei

will be noted in

Ming Dynasty's history book.

I will always remember

them as well.

I didn't allow the historian

to record your rebellion

and didn't accuse

anyone who is involved in it.

This is to

keep your honour.

Can't you notice

my well intentions?

You're now fasting.

And the chaos that you've created

has caused an uproar among the imperial court and the commoners.

Many of them

spiced up your words and

spread them like wildfire.

We are a family.

We're making fool of ourselves now.

Making fool of our family.

Since it's a family affair,

it's time to end this.

Then let's end this.

Your Majesty,

whether it's beheading,

or poisoned wine,

it's up to you.

Is it that hard for you to admit your sins?

Just declare to the public that

you were talking nonsense

at the funeral,

and then you rebelled

because you were not in your right mind.

It's not like I'm going to kill you.

Eat up.

I'll give you

a clean place to stay,

lift your ban,

and send you to Nanjing

and also set up a big garden for you

to spend the rest of your life there.

Isn't that better?

My dear nephew.

It's not hard for me to plead guilty.

Uncle Gao Xu, please continue.

What I've said

at the funeral that day,

is it true?

Is it true?

You lied.

I'll never utter another word for the rest of my life.

I can promise

everything else except this.

I just want to know the truth.

Thus,

even if I die later,

I'll die with no regrets.

Things change.

What's the point of

knowing the truth now?

My dear nephew.

You don't understand me.

Your father,

the late Hongxi Emperor,

with temple name, Renzong.

When we were young,

I'm always protecting him.

Back then,

we didn't want to be lords

and be watched by the emperor

as if we're thieves.

What's the point of that?

If the old man

didn't fight in this Jingnan Battle,

we would be best buddies.

The day I entered Nanjing,

I knew

one of us would die here

sooner or later.

One day

it will turn out like this.

Yet I didn't expect that

it's me.

I didn't expect your father to die early too.

My dear nephew.

Gao Sui

told me these.

Tell me.

Are they true or not?

Yes.

What did

my father say?

Grandfather hesitated for a few days.

He was worried that if he passes me the throne,

then I couldn't beat you.

He did think about

passing the throne to you.

In his heart,

only you can stabilise the situation.

What was he going to do with you?

He wanted you to swear a secret oath

at the ancestral temple

to protect my family

and send us to Nanjing.

Old man.

You're still in your right mind.

I don't hate you anymore.

If I were you,

I would do the same too.

You know my abilities.

If I were to be an emperor,

I'd be as good as you.

For the most of my life,

I've been protecting you.

And this is what I get in return?

You won't bluff me.

And you won't criticise me, right?

Uncle Gao Xu.

I've said everything.

Just admit your sins in front of your grandfather.

He will arrange for you to go to Nanjing.

Why didn't you go?

I don't want to live like a dog.

My dear nephew.

My dear nephew!

Neither would I.

Even if you kill me,

cut me into pieces or crush me into dust,

I won't admit my sins.

You didn't keep your word.

My dear nephew.

I lied to you.

You really trusted my words.

You want me to admit my sins?

Have a look at your grandfather!

You're the guilty one!

You've seized the throne and kept the kindred in captivity.

These words will stain your name

for the rest of your life

and it will never be erased!

Guards!

Your Majesty!

The sharpest sword in the world

is no match to a heart.

I'm not sorry that I lost to your father.

He can fool the old man,

so it isn't hard to fool me.

Your Majesty.

I peed.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

So, what Gao Sui said

at the funeral is true.

Next time,

you don't need to come here everyday.

The weather is poor.

The roads are slippery due to the rain and snow.

We don't have to follow this rule.

Children matter most.

I'm bored

being alone in the palace.

I feel better coming here

and talk with Your Highness.

If my baby can understand,

then he will know that

Your Highness loves him.

That is for sure.

-Yes. -Yes.

Have you seen the empress these two days?

No.

She's very sick.

When I went to her palace,

the imperial physician was there.

He said that she has a poor appetite.

Once she lied down and fell asleep,

she wouldn't see anyone.

Now that Your Highness has mentioned about her,

then I'll pay her a visit today.

The emperor is not feeling well today,

so he wants to ask for the day off.

His Majesty said that he was reading the reports,

thus he stayed up late yesterday.

His Majesty is very tired.

Tell him not to come.

Tell His Majesty

to have a good rest.

Yes.

What's wrong, Your Highness?

The emperor went to the Prince of Han's residence.

He has admitted it.

This time, Gao Xu

has created a big trouble.

Greetings,

Your Majesty.

Am I

a deceivable emperor?

Your Majesty.

What's the matter?

I've asked you to investigate the Prince of Han.

Several months have passed.

What are you doing?

Is it that you wander around all day,

or you conspire against me

with someone else?

I kept myself busy all the time.

It's as if I'm riding on the wind-speed flame wheels.

As you know, I'm in

a very awkward situation now.

Everyone regards me as a guilty official.

They hide when they see me.

Those who are close with Gao Xu

regard me as a traitor.

They desperately want to kill me.

Therefore,

both ends of the matter are unclear.

Now you want your title.

What about your minions?

Your Majesty,

please spare me more time.

You want me to wait again?

How long do you want me to wait?

I've put everything

including my life at stake

to investigate my own brother.

Your Majesty, you don't know.

If Gao Xu finds out about this,

he won't let me go easily.

It's just not worth it.

Your Majesty, if you don't believe me,

you can find someone better than me.

I'm just concerned if you're not thinking clearly.

If you settle

this matter for me,

since you don't want to go back to the Office of the Northern Imperial Police.

I'll get you

a job

in the imperial court.

If you don't want to work in the imperial court,

you can be a vassal.

You can go wherever you want.

I will never fail you.

Yes.

I'm running out of time.

He pushed me

to a dead end this time.

Indeed.

Gao Xu is really daredevil.

Your Majesty,

you're a little impatient as well.

We're in a mess now.

Everyone is talking

about Gao Xu today.

This is my responsibility.

Uncle Gao Sui.

Please take care of yourself.

The time has come.

We have

cornered him.

Gao Xu.

We put our lives at stake.

That's all we're left with.

If we don't risk it,

what should we do with our lives?

Congratulations, Your Highness.

Congratulations, Your Highness.

We've read Your Highness' pulse for three days.

It is confirmed that Your Highness is pregnant.

After a deduction,

it must have happened on the night

Your Highness entered the palace and served the emperor.

I've informed the empress dowager and the emperor.

Your Highness is invited to a family banquet.

The emperor and princess consort have arrived as well.

Here.

The empress is pregnant again.

Bless our ancestors.

Don't be impulsive anymore.

It's unfilial to delay

the succession of our family.

Mother,

you don't have to

repeat your words over and over again.

I already had them all memorized.

I've discussed with the empress.

Since the child was named

by the former emperor,

we won't change it.

The name will be Zhu Qi Yu.

What do you think?

Great.

What about the princess consort's child?

I was just about to make

a request to you about this.

I want to name

the child myself.

Your Highness,

please grant him your permission.

Otherwise,

after we get back he will throw a fit at me.

All these days,

he has been reading those old books

just to find a nice name.

Really?

What's the name then? Tell me.

I'll use the word "zhen".

Which "zhen"?

It means key position in military operations.

"Shuowen Jiezi" states that

"Zhen" will exert some pressure

so it will be precious and stable,

and also become the world's foundation.

I like it.

What's your opinion?

It's wonderful.

Zhu Qi Zhen, thank Your Majesty.

Qi Yu and Qi Zhen.

Good things come in pairs.

Unfortunately,

your father doesn't get to witness this.

He loves children so much,

why couldn't him wait until

his grandchildren are born first

before passing away?

When the children

grow older,

I'll bring them to the temple

to pay respect to their grandfather

and thank Emperor Renzong for the name that he gifted.

Grandfather will be very happy in heaven.

What a beautiful thing.

You can't be unhappy.

Sit down and talk.

Please excuse me for a minute.

What's the matter?

It's regarding the border.

Is it serious?

It's still controllable.

Then you must hurry.

Greetings, Your...

You are pregnant.

Forget about the formalities.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Don't you have anything to tell me?

These few days, I've came to visit you,

but you refused to see me.

What's wrong?

Is there any misunderstanding

between us?

Let's make things clear.

I don't need you

to treat me hypocritically.

What kind of misunderstanding can we have?

You overthink, Princess Consort.

Every day I wonder,

when you are going to tell him

the truth once and for all?

He is really naive.

I know that you're scared.

Aren't you

pregnant now?

The emperor is perfect for you. It will be okay...

He named your child Qi Zhen.

He said it himself.

The world's foundation.

Does he still see me

as the empress?

Did he even spare me a glance during the meal?

Speaking of that,

I really have to thank this child.

Without him,

I wouldn't dare to think

if I'd be able to

meet you now.

What do you want exactly?

Man Yin.

Father and mother are watching us from heaven.

Say whatever you want

about me,

but you can't say that I'm hurting you.

I'm your sister.

Blood is thicker than water.

I care for you

more than myself.

Sister.

I am reassured to hear you say that.

I like you.

But, I dislike this child.

My aunt once said,

every coin

has two sides.

You can go and rest.

Get up and talk.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

which one do you want to listen to first?

As long as it's true,

anything will do.

We have both witness and evidence

which are true and void.

If there are mistakes

in all the documents,

you can behead me.

This is the report of my army

in Yumuchuan.

This is the outdated report

bought from Oirats people's horse market

in the capital city.

When Emperor Taizong fought a bloody war,

the military report was placed on the emperor's table,

and was also

in Mahamud's hands.

Thus, we lost

the fifth Northern War.

They've form a secret alliance

with Mahamud

to put the old man down.

When I found out about this,

I was shocked too.

Gao Xu leads a big army,

and he has been managing the camp for a long time.

He has formed alliance with the enemies,

and has set up defence at all levels.

For the enemies,

he has arranged Mahamud

to come to the capital.

The Tatars,

Arughtai

and Uriyangqa

are also in good terms with him.

With us,

Your Majesty, do you still recall about the orphans of the Jingnan Campaign?

During the exile, he has recruited talented people.

He is the one behind

the entrenchment of Mount Wuyi

and the assassination

in the capital.

Many scholars believe that

Jianwen Emperor is the rightful heir for the throne.

Due to this,

even your grandfather

had to be afraid of him.

Your grandfather's last words

have wiped out all the forces

he has built during these years.

No wonder he's infuriated.

These are

inhumane actions.

There are many

hidden stakes

in the palace

and the capital.

Uncle Gao Sui, your hidden plots

should be no less than Uncle Gao Xu.

It's baleful for those who see the fish of the abyss.

Your Majesty.

After settling this matter,

I'll be obliged to end my own life.

Don't be anxious, uncle.

Let's confront

Uncle Gao Xu first.

All the servants in the house have been sent away.

His Majesty most probably

will be here after midnight.

The children are already asleep.

My Lord.

His Majesty may be liberal.

My Lord.

My father said that

if you don't exterminate the source of a problem,

the problem will arise again.

My Lord.

If I win,

the crown prince and every member of his family,

I'll not

spare their lives too.

Your Majesty,

there's an emergency military report.

We'll discuss about it after I come back.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Where are you going?

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

There's an emergency in the military operations.

The Oirats has invaded our land.

Please leave immediately.

Mahamud is the one leading the army,

Emperor Taizong's mortal enemy.

Your Majesty,

we should get rid of his helper first, then only we attack his core.

The four of you, follow after me.

Our country is humiliated and invaded by foreign enemies.

Then, I'll be the general.

I'll lead

this Xifengkou Battle.

Your Majesty,

how can you be involved in the war?

When you ascended the throne,

you said you would never act like Emperor Taizong.

That's right.

Yet, Mahamud is attacking

my country now.

Normally, the emperor dies for protecting his country.

This is the first war of the new dynasty.

It's the foundation to my throne.

I must win.

Everything must be

put aside.

That's true too.

But we're in a mess

both internally and externally.

Someone should stay in the capital

to watch over the overall situation.

Elder Yang, I'll put you in charge then.

-This... -Alright.

It's settled then.

The trade

was decided by grandfather back then.

He has always wanted

the outside and inside of the Great Wall to be in good terms

so that there will be peace.

But someone just can't stop thinking about

crossing over the Great Wall to invade the Central Plains.

Well.

My grandfather had given them a painful lesson.

And I'm going to make them surrender

and get rid of them.

So that I won't let down

the country and

Emperor Taizong.

You are right.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

I told you before.

You are pregnant. There's no need to prostrate to me.

Why won't you listen?

Nanyang has given us

their tributes.

I've ordered the kitchen to clean it up for you.

They'll serve it to you every day.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Well.

I'll take it

as you are being grateful on behalf of my son.

I'll accept you, thank you.

I am who I am today

all thanks to Your Majesty.

Have your seat.

You are the empress.

You need to lead a good example for all women.

Don't be so worried every day.

This is not good for the child.

I rarely have the time to accompany you

because there are

too many assignments in the court.

I have many things to take care of.

And you

have no one to talk to

in this massive palace.

Due to your recklessness,

you've lost a child back then.

The Heaven sympathised you

and has blessed you with another child.

You must take good care of this child.

I'll care for this child

like I care for my life.

And treasure him with love.

War is brewing along our borders.

I have make a personal military expedition.

If someone is not

taking a good care of you in the palace,

write to me.

Feel happy to your heart's content.

No one will make things difficult for you.

If they do so,

it means that they are harming my son.

And I won't forgive them for sure.

Hear my decree.

I, at this moment, congratulate Your Majesty that my empress is pregnant again.

Best wishes and luck to Your Majesty's family.

This is the Royal Order.

Since young,

I've been involved in the war with Emperor Taizong.

I have 30 years of experience.

I've won three out of five Northern Expeditions.

I hope to share this peace with everyone.

Alas, our enemy has wicked ambitions

to invade Huaxia and violate the people.

I've decided to lead a personal military expedition.

Prince of Han has been in the army for a long time.

He's our country's great veteran.

He had saved us when the country was in threat

with brilliant military tactics.

I'm going to grant him the heirloom of Emperor Taizong, the golden Armour,

the jade thumb ring,

50 dou of pearls in various sizes,

and 10 pounds of Siam spices.

It is hoped that he'll fulfill his duty to protect the people

and join me in the war to bring peace to the earth.

The end.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

I'm going to check on Prince of Han

to see if he's feeling better.

I'll ask him to thank and bow to His Majesty.

As per His Majesty's order,

Prince of Han is not feeling well.

He doesn't need to do that.

He just need to focus in his recovery.

When he recovers,

I will ask him to pay a visit to the palace

to show his gratitude to His Majesty.

Your Highness,

the war at the borders is too serious that

His Majesty has to leave in a hurry.

He must have

already left the palace by now.

This is different now.

There are two babies to expect.

Your Majesty.

For the child's sake,

please take good care of yourself out there.

You don't want me to lead the personal military expedition too.

You know.

If I were to be a man,

I'll go with you.

Unfortunately, I'm just a woman.

I can only send you off.

Just now, I visited the empress dowager's palace.

She is very upset.

Fortunately, I managed to get out quickly.

Otherwise, I'll be lectured again.

There's no need to worry.

I told her that

because that I have a son,

I must fight

in this war for them.

I don't want them to laugh at me later on.

That won't be good.

Actually, a lot of people

disagree with your decision to lead a personal military expedition.

The empress dowager

is thinking that

the ongoing rumours

are causing an internal threat.

That's why she wants you to stay in the palace,

to stay in Beijing.

It's just a bunch of gossip.

Tell me.

If I stay in the capital city,

what can I do then?

I want you

to say something to your son.

Please leave him a word of advice.

Are you worried that I won't be able to come back?