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[The Promise of Chang'an]

[Episode 47]

Sadly we planned for so long

but got beaten by Empress Dowager Xianzhen. She stole the advantage.

Do you mean to say that Second Brother did this

because Sister Mingyu commanded him to do so?

The Prince of Zheng has not been involved in the nation's affairs for a long time. He has mainly been recovering in his manor.

Suddenly, he invited His Highness and forced his hand.

What kind of benefit would the Prince of Zheng get from these actions?

All of this only has one possible explanation.

Who would benefit from forcing the regent to swear an oath?

With that said, who did the idea come from?

The person who would benefit most

would be our little emperor.

But how could this scheming have been done by His Majesty?

The person who cares most about His Majesty's status and interests

and would consider his thoughts so deeply

would have to be Empress Dowager Xianzhen.

No one else understands His Highness more than Empress Dowager Xianzhen does.

I will protect the emperor.

If I break this oath,

I will die a brutal death.

No one understands His Highness the regent more than Empress Dowager Xianzhen does.

What His Highness's weaknesses are

can only be predicted so accurately and cruelly by Empress Dowager Xianzhen.

The person who forced the regent to swear an oath was not the Prince of Zheng.

It was Empress Dowager Xianzhen.

His Majesty has arrived.

Greetings, Mother Queen.

Get up. Quickly, come sit here.

No need. I must go to the Ming He Hall to discuss matters with the ministers and nobles.

We must deal with the plague outbreaks as soon as possible.

It is good. Ninth Royal Uncle has been sick recently and has been unable to make it to court to discuss matters.

This is a good opportunity for me to learn.

Then you must learn well and observe as much as you can.

Listen more to the opinions of the ministers and nobles.

Of course.

It is just a pity

that I do not know whether Ninth Royal Uncle's illness is real or not.

If he does not recover, that would be wonderful.

Your Majesty!

How could you talk like this?

That is going too far.

The regent gave you so much grace.

You should never forget that ever in your life.

Your Majesty, if you want to learn how to be a good ruler,

means that you should never mock the commoners or disrespect your ancestors and family.

This is the only way you can unite the four lands.

Mother Queen, you speak incorrectly.

Recently, I have been learning of military tactics. It has helped me immensely.

The military tactics say that we should not lay heavy responsibility on one person.

If we do, then people will be hurt.

In the end, it will cause irreversible damage.

Great Sheng's ruler can only be me alone.

The person who wields all the power can also only be me.

As for the Xi Qi King and the regent,

Mother Queen, you keep trying to calm them and earn their affections.

In the end, they will only expect more and more.

Qiyuan. No one can deny that you will be the sole ruler some day.

I will find ways and help you out,

but you cannot rush into things.

Even more, you should not force a competition with others.

Do you understand?

Mother Queen, I still need to discuss matters with my ministers.

Take care of your health. I will take my leave.

I sure hope His Majesty will be able to understand your difficulties

and stop stirring up conflict with the regent.

I will first assign imperial physicians to head to the Yue Shan.

Investigate how this plague originated and find an appropriate cure.

Also, before the cure is found, isolate Yue Shan City to stop the spread of the pandemic.

If there is nothing else, then everyone can go take care of their assigned jobs.

Yes.

It looks like Your Majesty is getting better and better at dealing with the nation's affairs.

One day, when you finally rule alone, you will surely be like the former emperor

As long as no one purposefully messes me up, it isn't very hard.

I still would like to remind Your Majesty

that while closing off Yue Shan City is a good idea, you still must aware...

You speak reasonably.

Yue Shan is in close proximity to Ying City, yes?

We can first arrange for the Dragon Battalion to camp in Ying City to standby in case of emergency.

Your Majesty, Ying City is within the sphere of control of the regent.

How about we pick a different area?

Why?

Is the regent's territory not part of Great Sheng's lands?

Besides, the regent is very noble.

He will not let the commoners fall into danger.

I have already made my decision. Immediately station the Dragon Battalion in Ying City.

Yes.

What is the Dragon Battalion's intent?

Do they not know that Ying City is your territory?

They dare to walk in and occupy Ying City?

I heard that after the hunt,

His Majesty already started using the excuse that there was not enough protection in the palace

to ask Empress Dowager Yuanzhen for the Dragon and Phoenix Battalions.

Now, both battalions listen to the direct orders of His Majesty.

Their actions right now were clearly orders given out by His Majesty.

He just wants to use the excuse of the pandemic in the mountains

to cut into my sphere of control in Ying City.

Looks like he learned some methods.

Brother, Ying City is extremely important to us.

Even if you do not want to store soldiers in Zhu City,

Ying City is our area of retreat!

Xiao Qiyuan suddenly cut off our way out.

I fear that it was Sister Mingyu

who created this scheme behind-the-scenes again.

Who said I did not plan

to store troops in Zhu City?

No matter if it is an oath or promise,

since she will not leave me any path to survival,

what hope could I possibly still save for them?

Then... You agree to let us continue carrying out our plan?

I remember that a few days ago,

they announced that the court just approved

of creating the Xia Palace in Yongping, right?

That is correct, Your Highness.

Our capital was constructed long ago. The sewage water has been polluted.

Every summer, it gets too hot.

Your Highness ordered that in the city nearby the capital, Yongping City, we would construct Xia Palace.

If we want to construct a palace, we must first construct a city.

Because of this, Your Highness, wouldn't you be able to officially ask

to bring troops over to protect the city

and therefore establish the city, store troops, and gain rations?

Your Highness, it is a wonderful plan!

Exactly.

Yongping is currently inside of the capital.

We can attack the capital and retreat back easily.

It truly is more suitable for us than Ying City.

If we consider that, then we will be able to take over the capital!

If Xiao Qiyuan dared to counter us,

he would have to have a very good plan.

Prince of Yu, I remember that a while ago, there were many princes there

who were friends with the regent.

They would support His Highness.

That is true. With me,

I have a list of those princes.

If you store troops in Yongping,

we can contact those princes and get them to support us.

His Majesty only has the Dragon and Phoenix Battalions at his disposal.

They cannot be a worthy opponent to us.

When the time comes, where the generals fall...

That would be hard to predict.

If you want my opinion, Brother, when this matter starts, it will not be able to end.

You know deep down that you are doing this out of self-defense,

but would Sister Mingyu believe you?

Don't you want to solve this problem once and for all?

Your Highness, I think that no matter how you concede with them,

you will still be unable to win His Majesty's affections.

Just as the Prince of Yu stated,

we will inevitably have to carry out the last step of our plan.

If we really take this step,

I fear that in the future,

I will never be able to face Mingyu again.

I think this is the only way we can completely solve

your problems with the Empress Dowager.

Only if Your Highness becomes the Emperor

can the problems and conflicts between you and His Majesty end.

Only with this step

can the Empress Dowager stop continuing to be stuck between the two of you,

feeling lost and unable to choose which side to take.

The truth is that I have always wanted to say,

after you become the emperor

and bestow the title of Empress upon Sister Mingyu and Crown Prince upon His Majesty,

you can just pass on the throne to him later.

This way, everyone will be happy.

Xiao Chengxu! What about me?

If you name her Empress, what would I be?

What did you hear?

What? Are you afraid now?

I heard everything.

Xiao Chengxu, you bastard!

You are a fake husband!

Today, you want to ignore the relationship of husband and wife

and kick me aside?

Do you still have a conscience?

I have given so much for you in this lifetime.

Would you believe me if I said that I will reveal

the fact that you are planning a rebellion right now?

You dare?

What? You would kill me to shut me up?

Then you better ask your brother if he dares.

Xiao Chengxu, do you dare to kill me?

Are you feeling guilty?

Are you afraid?

You might as well strangle me to death.

Otherwise, you cannot continue dreaming becoming Emperor and naming your Empress!

Sister-in-Law!

What exactly do you want to do?

I just want to speak clearly to you.

Back then, in order to make Helan Mingyu happy, you allowed her son to take the throne.

You regret it?

You really think Helan Mingyu is willing to give her son's throne to you?

You will never be the emperor, and she will never be your empress.

Stop dreaming!

That was just He Shaoyong's suggestion. I never agreed to take it.

If you did not have those intentions, how would they dare to suggest such things?

But let me tell you, Xiao Chengxu,

Helan Mingyu is not as stupid as you think.

All along, she has always been using you.

She has been using your feelings for her in order to achieve her own wishes. Wake up!

You do not need to judge her motives.

Su Yuying.

Listen up. Even if she is using me,

I will comply gladly.

Xiao Chengxu, I screamed and fussed,

I have gotten jealous and crazy.

I did all of this because I wanted you to love me.

You must think I am so pitiful, do you not?

But let me tell you. You are more pitiful than I.

You did so much for her love, right?

But she treats you as cruelly as you treat me.

Don't you think that we are most compatible?

We were a match made in Heaven. How could you abandon me?

In this lifetime, your only option is to stay with me.

Do not even think about marrying or loving others.

This is our destiny, as well as your destiny with Helan Mingyu.

Between you and her son, Helan Mingyu

will never choose you.

What I cannot get,

you cannot get either.

Accept your fate.

I will not.

Let my Princess Consort calm down in here.

Without my order, no one may allow her out.

- Yes, Your Highness. - Yes, Your Highness.

Xiao Chengxu! Xiao Chengxu!

Xiao Chengxu! I hate you! I hate you both!

Do not throw me out to be with her!

I will curse you to never be able to spend this lifetime together!

You may never be together!

Xiao Chengxu! Did you hear me?

What exactly happened?

We will not change our plan from before. Alert the three battalions to protect Yongping.

If we really are forced to take that step,

I do not believe that I cannot conquer

the destiny that was so unfair to me.

Good.

Princess Consort, you have not eaten or drank anything in many days.

Do not hurt your health. You should eat something.

Though His Highness was a bit fierce with you,

he has never truly made you suffer.

I think that in a few days,

after his anger cools, he will stop imprisoning you here.

Su Xi, take off your clothes and give them to me.

I want to take a trip out.

Mingyu, the regent's princess consort requests an audience.

Yuying?

Even now, you still have a hold over his heart.

Then there is no reason I should not tell you some things from the bottom of my heart.

Right now, I am an empress dowager. He is the regent.

It is impossible to prevent encounters,

but we are polite to each other and have never crossed the line.

It is not the relationship in which you believe us to have.

For you, he

completely ignored me, his princess consort. Even now, we do not even have a child together.

If it were not for the fact that you kept on giving him hope,

why would he treat me like this?

You say that the two of you are polite to each other and have never crossed the line,

but Xiao Chengxu said that as soon as he ascends,

he will name His Majesty the crown prince and name you his empress!

What did you just say?

Helan Mingyu, are you afraid?

Yuying. Rebellion is an important matter.

You cannot run your mouth about such a thing.

Go back now.

I will sort this out.

Mingyu. His Highness swore an oath in front of the Prince of Zheng and the public.

How come he still is not willing to give up?

The matter has progressed thus far.

They have surely made careful preparations.

Even if Chengxu is willing to let go,

with so many people by his side who want power,

he will not be allowed to let go.

Right. I heard His Highness plans to construct Xia Palace in Yongping City.

Does he want to use this matter as an excuse to station troops there?

I will not allow them to do this.

I finally assigned the Dragon Battalion to Ying City,

but everything got taken apart!

Who exactly do the lands belong to?

Right. Did you deliver the letter I asked you to send Ruoxuan?

Your Majesty, as luck would have it,

Princess Ruoxuan went back to her hometown to visit her family.

She is in Huainan. The minimum amount of time it would take for her to return would be a few months,

but the maximum amount might be half a year.

So this letter...

Then wouldn't I be unable to see Ruoxuan for half a year?

I still have so many things I did not get to say to her.

Your Majesty, stop pining after Princess Ruoxuan.

I heard that the Prince of Zhao has already almost gotten that Situ princess back to the capital.

So what if she comes?

Anyway, I will surely not marry Situ Zhen.

As the emperor, I do not even get the right to choose my own bride.

I am forced under the control of others.

This is my agony, therefore it is Great Sheng's agony.

If the regent had not paraded me around like a puppet in front of the court to change the policies,

how could this have happened to me?

There will be a day when I take all of this back.

What happened? How come the imperial astronomers suddenly popped out?

They say that this year is not a good year to build the palace?

Aren't they purposefully trying to cause us trouble?

Did they... figure out... our plans?

Not necessarily. It's just that

since the astronomers have already announced in the court, Your Highness's next move will not be easy.

If you are determined to continue with the construction, I fear that people will start to get suspicious.

Whether it is a coincidence or someone is trying to set me up, we will know after testing the waters.

The imperial astronomers just said that this was a bad year to make something big.

We need to wait to start construction until next year,

but our soldiers and horses can still go to Yongping.

Your Highness means to say...

Yongping is near the mountains! There are often bandits who sneak over there all the time.

Immediately bring troops to protect the tranquility. There is nothing suspicious about it!

That is exactly what I mean.

- He Shaoyong. - Yes.

I will let you arrange this.

Chengxuan's health has not been good lately. We should not overexert him.

- Brother, I— - It is fine.

Do you really think I cannot tell

how your health is doing?

It is fine.

It is just that I have been having a fever and my waist hurts. Nothing major.

Chengxuan. Go back and find an imperial physician to take a look. Do not let this illness get serious.

Okay, okay. I know now, I know now, Brother.

You do not have to act like my mother or grandmother and care about these things.

He Shaoyong and I must do something big.

Greetings, Empress Dowager Xianzhen. Xiao Chengxuan has already taken the soldiers of three battalions

overnight to reach Yongping City and get stationed there.

I got it now. You may leave.

Mingyu!

In the end, this day still had to come.

Greetings, Empress Dowager Xianzhen.

Regent, you have not entered the court in many days.

Originally, I had thought that it would be hard to meet with you today.

I do not know for what reason

you asked to see me today.

How could I be brave enough to ask you to meet with me?

If things go south, the troops at your disposal

will kill people in the capital.

My son and I would die on uncertain terms.

For what reason do you say these words?

Fine.

Let me ask you. The palace is to be constructed next year.

Why are your troops

already stationed in Yongping City?

I moved my troops there to clear out the bandits in the mountains.

Clear out the bandits in the mountains?

Why would you assign your own troops to take care of this matter?

Is this not dealing with a light situation too seriously?

For this matter, I can assign people to deal with it.

I would ask Your Highness to send your troops back.

What? Your Highness is not willing?

Then it looks like you purposefully

entered Yongping City.

So you asked the imperial astronomers to

build the Xia Palace

in order to stop me?

How could I be able to restrain you?

Tell me. What do you plan to do?

Are you going to force the hand of the palace or rebel against it?

Rebel against it?

The throne was originally mine!

Chengxu. Things are fine now.

Why must you do this?

Why must you force these things to happen?

Everything is fine?

Now, if I hadn't kept my guard up,

I would have been destroyed by your son!

He has grown up. He has hardened.

His heart is now bigger.

In these days, it was he who forced me.

Instead of sitting still and waiting for death, it would be better

if I first forced his hand.

Force Qiyuan to what?

You want to force him to give you the throne? What else?

I have endured it for my whole life.

In this life,

I could not take revenge.

I could not love who I wanted.

Even the throne that was rightfully mine,

I have to him. I finally

used my own soul

and life to gain a little bit of power,

but he would not accept it.

Mingyu. Tell me.

What should I do? How could I let this happen?

Now,

I must wager.

I must wager whether or not in this life,

I can gain what I want.

I am begging you to not.

Xiao Chengxu. The Heavens are above.

Below is the ground.

Have you forgotten of the oath

you swore in front of the Prince of Zheng?

The things you said, do you still remember?

You would protect the emperor and not harbor any other motives.

If you broke your oath, you would die young.

You swore that you would support my son.

It was not him who swore to you!

Go think about what you did in these past years.

Die young?

Mingyu.

You cursed me!

Our love for each other.

You cursed me?

I was not the one who cursed you.

You cursed yourself.

Die young.

The woman I protected for my entire life

cursed me in this way.

She said I would die young.

Your Highness. Please do not torture yourself like this.

It will hurt your body.

My heart is gone.

Why would I need a body?

Your Highness, there are so many important matters waiting for you.

They said that they would accept the Empress Dowager's order to take over the three battalions.

Your Highness. They are waiting for you to speak over there.

You cannot continue on like this, Your Highness.

Forget it.

Forget all of it.

Forget it.

Your Highness, what do you mean by this?

What are you doing, Your Highness?

Xiao Chengxu let me out so quickly.

Xiao Chengxu... where is he?

In these days, His Highness has not been within the manor.

He goes out to get extremely drunk every day.

He will wake up. When he wakes, he will know

that the only person willing to stay by his side obediently is me.

What is the point of meeting? If we do not meet, I feel more at ease.

When you cursed me,

my heart

was cruelly slashed by your knife.

The knife that slashed you

will be hard for you to forget.

Chengxu.

Could you possibly consider

- that because of me— - Because

your knife

was for your most loved person.

Your son.

He is my flesh and blood.

He is the person I will never be able to give up.

You are not a mother,

so you will never be able to understand me.

If

between the two of us, one had to die,

you would still save Qiyuan first, right?

I am sorry.

How could I ask such a stupid question?

I am humiliating myself.

Mingyu.

In this life, you are

the woman I love must.

Tell me that in this half of my life,

I have always been riding horses, fighting in wars,

but why can I not get anything in return for all of it?

I cannot understand. I cannot understand.

Chengxu.

I just need you to take one step back.

Trust me. I will protect your life.

Otherwise,

I will give up my life to accompany you.

In that case, then the two of us can leave together.

Leave?

We can abandon everything here.

We will want nothing and care of nothing.

We do not have to care about the thoughts of others.

I can abandon the governmental affairs and give up my power.

I can give the jade seal and stamp

both to Qiyuan.

I will not need to continue being the regent of Great Sheng.

I can give up everything

and leave this world,

but I only have one wish.

You must leave with me.

In the next half of our lives, we will be together eternally.

Never to be parted. Do you agree?

I never would have thought that you would have such a plan.

This is ridiculous.

This is completely unreasonable.

If Qiyuan knew that his mother

left with his uncle,

how would you expect him to accept it?

Also Sister Qi and Yuying.

Mingyu. You have too many cares.

Nothing can satisfy all parties.

Today, I already took a step back, but what about you?

You and I have no more time

to wait. This is our last chance.

You do not have to worry. We will leave secretly.

It will not affect Qiyuan's reputation as the emperor.

I believe him. He will not hurt the person in the regent manor.

Yuying, Chengxuan,

will both have protection.

Qiyuan will become the sole ruler as he wishes.

In the end, everyone gets what they wished for. Is that not good?

Mingyu.

I just want to have a true family with you.

We will be forever, we will be as one.

We will never separate.

No.

Qiyuan would not forgive me.

No one would forgive us.

Even if you do not take care of the lands,

this matter would still spread everywhere.

In the end, no one will be ignorant of it.

This will all make Qiyuan

because the laughingstock of the people.

If he really was put in pain because of me,

how could I be happy?

So,

I am sorry. I cannot leave with you.

Your considerations

are always about him. For me,

you always reject and disappoint me.

You have never thought

of the pain in my heart. You do not dare to.

I am sorry.

I am sorry, Chengxu.

Stop apologizing to me.

I have already heard it enough.

Even so,

Mingyu. Rest assured.

I already have an answer in my heart.

After this,

I, Xiao Chengxu, will not force you to do things that put you in difficult places.

Be careful.

Greetings, Regent.

Have you checked these bandits carefully?

Separate those who have and do not have the virus.

After the isolation happens, you do not have to hurry to interrogate them.

The most urgent matter at present is to cure this pandemic.

Yes.

Investigate all of the districts!

Yes.

Regent, I and the other battalion generals

thought that you were here to take Ying City back.

Are you really going to let go of the plan completely?

Yue Shan was hit by the plague. The pandemic still has not been cured.

The commoners within the city are still all in pain.

- After this ends, we can continue talking about it. - Your Highness.

Do not worry. I will be fine. Go back first.

No need to stay here.

I still have much to take care of here.

Your Highness.

My brother is muddle-headed!

What time is it? Why is he still thinking about the oath?

- Where is my brother? - Your Highness, the regent is currently in Yue Shan taking care of the pandemic.

Immediately! I must go find him!

Your Highness.

Your Highness. Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Someone, come! Quickly, someone, come!

[The Promise of Chang'an]

Timing and subtitles brought to you by Impossible Promises @ Viki.com

"Falling Fate" - Singer: Li Yugang

♫ Who is swaying at dusk on the riverbank by the gently fluttering willows? ♫

♫ Who is swaying at dusk on the riverbank by the gently fluttering willows? ♫

♫ Dancing lightly like the startled birds and your graceful face is like delicate blooms ♫

♫ Longing in the wind, with glistening eyes looking toward the ripples ♫

♫ I could not take my eyes off such a sight to behold ♫

♫ It seems brief, my adoration for you has been for years ♫

♫ You come or go as you please, my soul is being led by dreams of you ♫

♫ These are foolish and infuriating times, I still wish we could be together forever ♫

♫ Destiny leads you into my life to make me whole ♫

♫ My love for you is like an ink-mark that never dries ♫

♫ As the snow scatters in the wind, as the clouds shield the moon ♫

♫ As I have to be drunk to sleep through the night ♫

♫ Like you, the paper I write on is full of melancholy ♫

♫ Destiny leads you into my life, times of great changes separate us ♫

♫ My tears fall and fill the curtained carriage along the way ♫

♫ This homeward journey, this boundless life ♫

♫ It is fleeting, and filled with joys and sorrows ♫