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Military Protector, King Jing Ling has arrived.

Your Highness.

Come. Have some tea.

It's a tribute from Onsan. A excellent offering.

You're still playing dumb.

You knew I would be here.

Your Highness, what's wrong?

Why are you so furious?

Was it you who planned,

everything that happened at the private foundry?

You framed some high-ranking vassals,

illegally forged darksteel,

tried to assassinate King Peng Cheng's future concubine.

These crimes are punishable by death.

Your Highness,

I don't know what you're talking about.

Don't you think

that you can get away

with these heinous crimes.

Where's the evidence?

If Your Highness has evidence,

you can present it to King Peng Cheng.

But I'm afraid that even King Peng Cheng

are helpless at the moment.

I'm going to kill you.

I don't mind dying.

But I'm afraid that

if I die, she'll probably die too.

So it really was you.

From the look on Your Highness's face,

I guess you must've fallen in love with her.

Only I can provide the antidote for

the poison inside her.

Give me the antidote.

She's just a woman.

Is it worth it?

Don't you forget that

she's your fourth brother's woman.

The Song of Glory

King Peng Cheng

has always been wary of you

and guarded against you.

Episode 11

If he finds out that

you even lust after his woman...

Don't try to stir the pot.

I know what you're up to.

You kept saying things to my Royal Mother

because you wanted

me to collude with you, right?

Lu Yuan, I tell you.

Dream on.

Your Highness,

don't kid yourself.

King Peng Cheng's most trusted associates

are the two men in the prison,

not you,

his loyal sixth brother.

The private foundry raid was a big deal.

He had secretly arranged for

Shen Zhi to take part in this operation.

But to you, his good younger brother,

he had barely said anything about it.

You and my family are related.

He can't possibly trust you. Don't you think?

Say one more word,

and I'll kill you.

Your Highness, you've always been forthright

and candid with your feelings.

You're a rare gem.

But in the face of power and desire,

no one would trust anyone.

As the Supervisor of Politics, the depth of

King Peng Cheng's soft skills and tactics

are unfathomable to you.

Although you and I have some disagreements,

we're still cousins, after all.

I would never do anything

to harm you and the Grand Consort.

Or else I would be ruining my chance to survive too.

Your Highness.

You were born in the royal family.

As for me, Lu Yuan,

no matter how hard I work,

I'll always be a

mere minister who has exhausted his means.

Naturally, I know the importance

of having powerful allies on my side.

So,

no matter what you ask for,

I, your humble servant will deliver,

let alone a mere woman.

What do you want?

Xue Qiu.

As stated in this decree,

Lu Yuan shall be assigned to

oversee the forging of darksteel weapons,

the training of elite soldiers

for our army reserves,

as King Jing Ling dictated.

As your cousin, I've written

this decree on Your Highness' behalf.

What do

you think?

Lu Yuan,

even someone like you fears retribution?

I really mean what I said to

Your Highness just now.

Besides,

everything that I had done

is to help Your Highness.

I plot to secure your power

for the good of my own family.

Is that wrong?

Otherwise,

how would you, my cousin, be at ease?

As time passes, things and people change.

I hope Your Highness will give it a thought.

A good alliance depends greatly on good strategies

and good allies.

Now all that this decree needs

is Your Highness' stamp of approval.

If doing this will get us what we want,

why don't you go ahead and stamp it?

As seconds pass, this venom

will bring

excruciating pain to the victim.

Young master, this song is full of spirit

and passion.

But I can hear

a hidden

immense sadness in the music.

It's worry, doubt,

or even helplessness.

Young master, have you encountered some

difficulties?

You're indeed a true music lover.

Say, why does nothing

ever

go my way?

I bare my heart and soul

but get nothing in return.

Justice

never triumphs the evil.

If everything is as it's destined to be,

why do I insist on doing the right thing?

But this is what I think:

As long as everything that you do

comes from your own will,

no matter what you decide to do,

it means something.

If I don't get the result I want even if I've tried my best,

perhaps I can only let go.

It might be the best decision.

Young master,

it's already late.

Let's head back.

Lige.

Mother.

I'm fine.

I feel so much better.

What is this medicine?

It's from King Jing Ling.

He says this medicine will certainly save you.

He has saved me once again.

Lige.

Focus on your recovery.

You can worry about the rest after that.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Miss Shen asks to see you.

I don't want to see her.

Tell her to leave.

Understood.

Miss Shen.

King Jing Ling is not around.

What's the purpose of your visit?

I come to thank His Highness

for the antidote.

All right.

I'll surely let His Highness know.

Anything else, Miss Shen?

I want to ask if His Highness

can find a way to

let me see my father.

Father, older brother.

Don't chat for too long.

All right.

Sister.

Why are you here?

King Jing Ling allows me to visit you.

Father.

Older brother.

Here.

These are the honey cakes mother made.

She told me to bring these to you.

Is your mother well?

Everything is fine back home.

Don't you worry.

That's good.

Father.

Brother.

I'm sorry.

It's my fault that you're imprisoned.

Actually,

I've already known that Lu Yuan is

illegally forging darksteel a long time ago.

But I didn't expect that

he would use this against our family

and frame you.

Why is there bad blood

between you and Lu Yuan?

He...

He killed my closest friend.

I see.

Even if it has nothing to do with you,

he won't

spare our family.

But father, older brother,

why did you go to the foundry?

Our father found Lu Yuan's

secret memo in your room,

so he rushed to Qixia Mountain.

But he didn't expect

to run right into Lu Yuan's trap.

I received an order to catch Lu Yuan.

But when I arrived,

I found father alone and unconscious

inside the foundry.

Lu Yuan and the Minister of Justice arrived soon after.

I was careless.

I didn't take precautions.

I'll try to

get you out.

Don't be impulsive.

Tell me what you know so far.

I heard that

Lu Yuan decided to

destroy the foundry once the last batch

of darksteel was completed.

King Jing Ling

was also investigating this matter.

So,

we gathered some men

to enter the private foundry.

Lu Yuan was sending some men to move the darksteel.

We fought tooth and nail

to save the

craftsmen from Lu Yuan.

By the way, father,

all those craftsmen recognize Lu Yuan.

Perhaps, with them on our side,

we can clear your name.

That's good.

At least it can buy us

some time.

All right.

I'm going to talk to them now.

You must be careful.

Be careful, sister.

The trial is tomorrow.

Madam,

Lu Yuan has done so many awful things.

He would've left a trail behind.

Don't worry yourself sick.

If the general comes back tomorrow

and sees you like this,

he'll be upset.

Will he come back tomorrow?

Certainly.

Madam.

Miss Wang.

Prince Wang is here for a visit.

Madam, I'll be back soon.

Zijin,

you should go home with your father.

You haven't married into our family, after all.

Besides...

Besides, we don't know what will happen to Zhi.

Madam,

no matter what happens to Shen Zhi,

I'll stay here.

Come over.

Listen to me. Let's go home.

I'm not leaving.

Look.

Shen family is in big trouble now.

The trial is tomorrow.

If they can't clear their name,

the whole family will be executed.

Why are you still staying here?

Listen to me.

Let's go home.

Father.

Although we haven't married,

I've already given my heart to Shen Zhi.

I'm sorry.

I'm not leaving.

Have you lost your mind?

Since I was young, you taught me that

I must always have integrity.

Now that Shen family is in trouble,

how could I leave them behind, father?

Do you want to go home of your own will

or make me hire someone to carry you back?

Father.

I'm sorry.

I've decided.

I'll never leave Shen family.

Brother, you can't go.

If someone finds out that

you sneaked out from Black Armored Army,

you'll be executed.

You'll walk right into the enemy's trap.

Yeah, brother.

Yeah, brother.

You mustn't go, brother.

You can't go, brother.

Brother Huo.

Although we risked our lives

to save the craftsmen from the foundry,

Qixia Mountain

hardly means anything to Lu Yuan.

if we don't root him out completely this time

and let him get away,

we don't know

how many people

will die because of him.

Now the General Shen and his son

are about to go through the trial,

Brother Huo.

Could you bear to see

Lu Yuan hurt good people

and get away with it?

Now, the only people who can stall for time

are you guys.

Give me some time.

I'll surely find the evidence

to indict Lu Yuan.

We're taking such a big risk

just to stall for time?

You want to find evidence?

But the foundry is destroyed now.

The darksteel weapons are gone.

Where can you find the evidence?

Yeah. Where can you find the evidence?

Where?

Everyone,

I swear on my life.

Please trust me one more time.

I'll surely find the evidence

to indict Lu Yuan

while

keeping everyone safe.

Why should we trust you?

Why would we trust you?

Yeah, why should we?

We were from the Black Armored Army.

Even if you manage to indict Lu Yuan,

we're still guilty of

desertion.

In order to save Shen Tingzhang,

you'll sacrifice us?

We disagree.

Swordswoman, I beg you.

Please leave.

Yeah. Yeah.

We just want to live a quiet life.

Please go.

Leave. Leave.

Please go home.

Leave. Leave.

Leave.

Tomorrow,

I'll wait for your arrival.

I believe that everyone will make the right judgment.

Brother Huo,

I believe in you.

Forge 1500 darksteel weapons in three months - Shen Tingzhang

Your Highness,

these are ledgers of the private foundry we found in Shen family residence.

Lots and lots of them.

The numbers match.

The evidence is solid.

I'm afraid that tomorrow's

trial...

These are the memos that condemn

your decision to postpone the trial.

Do you fear the backlash?

When I became the Minister of Justice,

I swore that

I'll fear no gossip and great power.

I'll only make judgment based on evidence and rule the state by law.

In that case,

if the two of us try our absolute best,

even if we can't clear their names

at tomorrow's trial,

we can still find enough clues

to keep stalling for time.

I'll now head back

to look through the documents

for any inconsistency,

see if I miss anything.

Good.

Only at a critical time, I'm able to recognize your integrity.

I believe in

your judgment and ability,

Shen family will be saved.

I, your humble servant,

will not disappoint Your Highness.

Your Highness.

The marks left by the lady

and the trails of the carriages

are all marked down on the map.

It's a water route.

It leads to the river.

They must have gone west.

Fourth brother.

I'm sorry.

I'm late.

These are all

the marks I left you.

Thanks to you,

I manage to find the clue.

It's a water route.

Yes.

They headed west along the water route.

We'll look for more clues along the way.

There are so many darksteel weapons.

He would certainly leave a trail.

Even if we find any,

the investigation takes a long time.

General Shen's trial is approaching.

If we haven't found evidence of Lu Yuan's

scheme to rebel before the trial...

That's why

we must find a way to

stall for time.

I had already gone

to see Brother Huo Yun,

hoping that he'll bring the craftsmen

to the trial as witnesses.

However,

most of them

are deserters from the Black Armored Army.

If their identities are exposed

they will be executed.

I believe that you had already

said what you needed to say to them.

As for whether

they are willing to step up,

it's their own decision to make.

Based on what

I know about Huo Yun,

he has probably

taken what you said to heart.

Besides,

if the General Shen and his son

pleads not guilty at the trial

no matter what,

there might not be a verdict.

I believe that they will show up.

That day,

I failed to show up.

I'm very sorry.

You don't have to explain yourself, fourth brother.

You must've been caught up with something.

I trust you.

Ministry of Justice

Brother Huo.

Please show up.

Shen Tingzhang, do you admit that you're guilty?

Of course I don't.

I've been serving Emperor Gaozu for twenty years.

I'm loyal to my emperor and I protect my people.

I'll never think of breaking the law,

let alone planning a rebellion.

Minister of Justice,

we're framed.

Since you won't plead guilty,

do you have new witnesses and evidence

to clear your name?

Minister of Justice,

aren't the darksteel weapons we found

in the foundry in Qixia Mountain good enough evidence?

Don't you forget that

King Peng Cheng

and I were there.

The evidence against them is solid.

Why don't you declare them guilty?

I have my own standard of procedure when it comes to making a verdict.

What?

Military protector,

are you that eager to hear the verdict?

All right then.

Since the Minister of Justice has his own standard of procedure,

I have the right to

oversee and take part in the trial.

I can interrogate the suspects based on my own standard of procedure,

am I right?

Shen Tingzhang.

What are these?

If you want to indict me so badly, you'll find anything to prove my guilt.

These were found in

your study.

Five ledgers to record the foundry's operation.

Two private stamps.

Seventeenth letters between you and the foundry.

According to the records in the ledgers,

there were 4200 weapons in total.

It's the exact same number

of weapons we found in the foundry.

You're spewing lies to frame us.

So you don't admit that you're guilty?

I'm telling you.

The Minister of Justice has examined the handwriting.

The evidence is deniable.

All the hiding spots indicated in the

official documents check out as well.

How dare you still deny that

you're not guilty in court?

As it seems, you won't ever admit

without some capital punishment.

Carry out the punishment.

Lu Yuan.

All the evidence

are planted by you.

There has not yet been a verdict.

How dare you punish us?

Shen Zhi.

Strike them twenty times.

Stop right there.

Ministry of Justice

Stop.

Let me through.

Do not barge into the court.

Step aside. Let me in.

I want to see my father.

Zhijian Hall

They refused to plead guilty. Now they are getting punished.

Do you want to plead guilty yet?

These two Generals

are indeed experienced fighters.

Since you're both unyielding in spirit...

Keep hitting them!

Hold on.

Military Protector.

That's enough.

I do not allow any confession under duress.

Minister of Justice.

If they keep refusing to plead guilty,

are you never going to make a verdict?

Are you being biased

and trying to stall for time?

I think you're the one with bias.

You have a personal vendetta against them and use your position to exact revenge.

Ministry of Justice

Let me in.

No one is allowed to come in.

Step aside. Let me in.

I want to see my father.

I want to see my father.

Let me in.

Let me in.

Miss Shen.

Brother Huo.

I knew that

you'll certainly show up.

Without you and King Jing Ling,

we won't be able to escape

from Lu Yuan's clutch.

We're too selfish.

If we can save some good vassals,

we can't possibly say no.

Brother Huo, you're a righteous person.

I'm forever in debt to you.

I, Huo Yun, a commoner,

have some information on the foundry case.

So I've come to report this to the Minister of Justice.

Minister of Justice.

There's someone outside claiming that

they have new information on the case.

Let the person in.

Understood.

Minister of Justice, honored to meet you.

What information do you have? Tell us now.

Regarding the foundry case,

Generals Shen are framed by the true culprit.

Go on.

Minister of Justice, to tell the truth,

the foundry is owned by Lu Yuan.

The process of forging darksteel is brutal.

Those who touch it will be injured or die.

Emperor Gaozu had official banned it.

These men

are the men who had touched the darksteel water.

I implore the minister to verify their injuries

based on to the palace records

and then verify their identities.

They had seen

Lu Yuan many times at the foundry.

Please investigate this matter accordingly.

Lu Yuan.

How can you explain this?

Do you think I don't know

who you are?

This is a Black Armored Army emblem.

This man is named Huo Yun.

He's a deserter.

It's because he has a personal vendetta against my family,

so he plotted against me and framed me.

Minister of Justice.

Do you trust the things that

a deserter said?

According to Song's Military Law,

deserters

should be instantly executed.

Arrest them.

Who dares to do that?

Even though Huo Yun is a deserter,

now he is

a witness of the foundry case.

Before I make a verdict,

I won't miss a single clue.

If you want to execute the military law,

you should wait after the case closes.

Minister of Justice,

you seemed adamant to go against me

to protect the traitors.

Your accusation is baseless.

I do not handle a case with haphazardly.

Guards.

Keep Huo Yun and other witnesses

within the Ministry of Justice

and watch them closely.

Without my order,

no one is allowed to come in contact with them.

Understood.

Your highness, the Minister of Justice has arrived.

Your Highness.

There has been new evidence.

Let's go. Let's go outside.

Say it in front of them.

Make sure that they all hear it.

Louder.

Understood.

Zhijian Hall

The private darksteel foundry that involves

Shen Tingzhang and Shen Zhi

has gone through the trial.

The two of them refused to plead guilty.

During the trial,

new witnesses and evidence arose.

I, your humble servant, implore King Peng Cheng

to be fair and true to your principal.

Please give me fifteen days

to interview the witnesses.

Zhijian Hall

Your Highness.

Attention, everyone.

During today's trial,

new witnesses had appeared.

Naturally, I won't make the judgment easily.

After all, this case involves two important vassals.

It's best to be cautious.

I grant

your request, Minister of Justice.

Understood.

Against others' opinion, the Minister of Justice

has gained fifteen more days to conduct the investigation.

We must find the places where

Lu Yuan keep his army as soon as possible.

But keeping a secret army is punishable by death.

Lu Yuan has planned everything.

He must've been careful and secretive.

Where should we start?

They moved the darksteel along the water route to the west.

If they have a plan in the near future,

those locations couldn't be too far away.

Your Highness.

How's the investigation?

The ship that left the Vermilion Bird bridge

had arrived

at Wuchang commandery.

After it was unloaded in Wuchang,

the rest

were sent to Xin'an.

Yuzhang, Xiangyang

and Baling.

What is this?

An old map.

Do, Re, Mi, So, La.

These are the current locations of

Wuchang, Xin'an, Yuzhang, Xiangyang

and Baling. These five places.

Yes.

Wuchang.

Wuchang.

Go to Wuchang to investigate this matter.

Understood.

Be cautious,

and be very discreet.

Understood.

They managed to find so many

ledgers

and letters in my father's study.

It means that

if it wasn't someone in the mansion,

no one else could've done it.

You mean that someone in the mansion did that?

We're a family.

How is it possible?

The other day, you told me that

the person you saw outside the study was...

Shen Leqing.

She said she wanted to go pray in the worship hall.

She was just passing by on her way there.

The worship hall?

But the worship hall

is not in that direction.

Lige.

Zijin.

Mother, why are you coming out of the house?

What are you two doing out here?

We were just having a chat.

By the way, mother,

how did father

find the letters in my room

that day?

That day, Qing made some sweet corn cakes

and said that she wanted to apologize to you,

so she dragged your father along.

What's wrong?

It's nothing.

Mother, it's cold at night.

You should head in and rest soon.

Madam, let me walk you back to your room.

All right.

Lige.

The bracelet has been dipped into deadly poison.

It's the cause of your poisoning.

Ling Xi.

Ling Xi.

What's this sound?

Young lady, what's wrong?

Why is this bottle...

The bracelet.

Why is the bracelet here?

Ling Xi, take it away now.

This thing is poisonous.

This is poisonous?

Young lady.

Go now.

Go now.

Lady Shen.

How do you know it's poisonous?

Sister.

What are you talking about?

I've never told anyone that I was poisoned

because of a bracelet.

Not even our mother knows that.

How would you know?

I...

-Young ady! -It's you again.

You keep trying to set me up.

Do you think that

my tolerance has no limit?

So what it's me?

Ever since you're back,

our parents only care about you.

All these years,

I had been nothing but your replacement.

You can even be

married to King Peng Cheng family,

while I'm being married to Tongcheng.

Why?

Why?

Everything you own is

supposed to be mine.

But you showed up all of sudden

and took everything away from me.

I just want to take back what's mine.

Am I wrong?

Is it wrong to do that?

But you must understand that

there are things in this world

that might be

rightfully yours.

But if they aren't, there's no point trying to take them from someone else.

If you can't come to terms with that,

you'll pay for what you've done.

Even so,

I still want to

take back what's mine.

You hate me

because I've taken everything from you.

I can understand.

What about our father and brother?

Why would you leave the ledgers

in our father's study?

They are your family too.

How could you do this?

Stop spewing nonsense.

It's a crime punishable by the extermination of an entire clan.

How could I do

something so foolish?

I'm part of Shen family too.

If something happens to Shen family.

I'll be affected as well.

It's good that you know you're part of this family.

You better listen.

Lu Yuan won't

and can't protect you.

If something happens

to Shen family today.

I'll certainly make you pay.

Shen Lige.

You don't have any evidence.

Don't pin the blame on me.

I know nothing of this matter.

You know nothing?

You don't know why father headed

to Qixia Mountain?

Shen Leqing.

If it weren't for our mother's sake,

do you think I can tolerate you

to this day?

Would you survive to this day?

Listen.

From now on,

you better behave

and pray to Buddha everyday,

pray that our father and oldest brother

will come home soon.

Or else

I'll make sure you pay the worst price.

Young lady.

I don't understand

why some people

will try to plot against others

instead of enjoying their lives.

Worse still, some people

are willing to hurt their own families.

Hey.

Let's drink.

All right.

I also don't understand why

here are so much

suspicion and distrust

among family members.

I'll blame it on the fact

that there are so many things in

the world that we don't understand.

Hey.

Let's drink away our sorrow.

Let's drink to that.

But alcohol can't solve our trouble.

There are things

we need to solve.

When I recall that

Shen Tingzhang

and his son are still in the prison,

I cannot be at ease.

There's always a silver lining.

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