Original subtitles

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The Plough Department Of Song Dynasty

Episode 14

Kid.

Do you wanna hear my stories?

Of course I do.

The concubine Shu and I

have known each other since childhood.

It was love at first sight.

We've been together since.

Even though I was a noble prince,

She has suffered a lot

since we married.

Back then

my father

didn't like the fact that

she came from a humble origin.

His majesty threw her out of Capital Liang.

And that's not it.

He sent assassins after her, secretively.

But unexpectedly,

she was pregnant at the time.

Unbelievable!

Luckily, right before she was hunted

She gave birth to our little prince.

In fear of the assassins,

she entrusted our baby

to a stranger.

So many years has passed,

we don't know if the baby is still alive.

All these years,

why not looking for him?

How could we not?

But this

this could implicate my father,

could indicate

a royal scandal.

We couldn't use any official resources.

Therefore,

up untill now,

we never found him.

But my concubine Shu

she sustained a chronical injury.

She could never have children again.

I found her later,

brought her back to Liangjing.

Hiding from my father,

I had to keep her presence a secret

for years.

I owe her

my whole life.

I bow in respect before master

Why didn't you follow instructions

to make the emperor coronate you as empress

instead you fake being cursed?

I...

Don't tell me you are just a victim.

You are a master of black arts

the best there is.

The person who can get to you

is yet to be born.

I was merely trying to fulfill my duty to you, master.

That's why I fake being cursed.

Explain.

There are ministers don't want me to be their empress.

So I figured

I had to have a life-threatening situation

to get more sympathy from the emperor.

It will also help us take out

whoever's threatening your promotion.

Yes.

But all I saw was you playing possum

which led to tighter security around here.

That caused me huge inconvenience.

And yet, I didn't see you make a move against anyone.

I...

Forget it.

You wouldn't do it

I'll take it from here.

The biggest threat to you in the palace

is mistress Shen.

I will use this attack on you

to get rid of her.

Remember,

I got you into the royal palace

to help me with my great cause.

Not for you to fall for him.

I, I...

Don't worry.

As long as you do what I say

I will keep my promise

to spare the emperor's life.

Yes.

The concubine Shu has recurring nightmares over the years.

She can't stop thinking about

the baby we had.

She says

as long as she lives

she'll never forget that stranger's face.

But we've searched every city

he's nowhere to be found.

Now

my beloved,

she is lying there,

in a coma.

God knows

how mucn time she has.

I just wish that

the woman I love would be my empress,

so that I can be lawfully

buried with her after we die,

so that our souls can live in the ancescral temple together for all eternity.

I have only one tiny desire,

but my ministers

wouldn't allow it.

Master,

why?

I just want you to get rid of

this vexing plough department.

I'm not asking you to kill the emperor.

What's with the attitude?

If you don't want to do it

I'll find a replacement.

In that case,

when it comes to that,

I can't guarantee the emperor's safety.

Yes, I'll follow your orders.

Very good.

I hope, this time,

you will not play games with me again.

There isn't a wall in this palace high enough

to keep me out.

I can see

your every move.

Are we clear?

Yes.

Eunuch Chen,

are you ready to talk?

Who did this to the concubine Shu

I have absolutely no idea.

Is that right?

the emperor adores the concubine Shu,

everybody knows.

Though we don't have an empress yet

the seat

is bound to be hers.

The ladies in the palace

can't be very happy about this,

especially those who are young and pretty

and highborn.

I am just a servant.

How could I know this sort of thing?

Eunuch Chen,

are you making me torture you again?

Wait!

I'll talk.

It just came to me.

It just came to me.

Mistress Shen.

Mistress Shen is young and pretty,

and highborn.

She has always been jealous of the concubine Shu.

Say someone intends to practice sorcery on people

wouldn't they need to bribe someone close to their target?

To obtain certain object from her, maybe?

what... object?

Yes!

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Couple of days ago, mistress Shen's people

offered 5000 grams of silver

to

to

to me... to buy my

What?

To buy a lock of hair,

the concubine Shu's hair.

Alright.

Take eunuch Chen to medical.

Eunuch Chen is a material witness.

His wellbeing is crucial.

Yes.

My lady!

Something's wrong.

Eunuch Lei had people barge in.

Excuse me,

mistress Shen.

Guru Demiao and I

were under his majesty's order to investigate a sorcery related case

which I belive mistress Shen has heard about.

What does this have to do with me?

Why are you people barging in my chamber?

With all due respect,

it's for the guru to decide.

Wouldn't you say so?

Here.

Take a closer look.

Stop!

How dare you?

Mistress Shen,

forgive me.

What are you donig?

What are you doing?

Let go.

Let go of me!

Let go!

Let go of me!

Found it!

Found it!

Eunuch Lei, look.

Guru.

Mistress Shen,

How do you explain this?

I,

I don't know.

I've never seen this before.

I had no ideal how that got into my garden.

No idea?

The concubine Shu is cursed via sorcery.

Here is the proof.

You claimed you had nothing to do with it,

well, his majesty will make a sacred verdict.

Eunuch Lei,

I honestly don't know.

I've never seen it before in my life!

Maids!

Escort misstress Shen back to her chamber safely.

Guard her with your lives.

Eunuch Lei,

it wasn't me!

I didn't do it!

How dare you!

I've been wondering who's this backstabing villan.

It was you!

She took you under her wing,

this is how you return the favor?

Ungrateful!

Your majesty!

I was wronged.

Ever since I set foot in the royal palace,

I've been discreet.

I've never had a single improper thought.

How could I hurt anyone?

Let alone this sorcery,

I wouldn' t know how,

Your majesty!

Mistress Shen sure is quite persuasive.

If not so,

there won't be so many

ministers on the court

are hellbent on making you the new empress.

Who has the most to gain from

the concubine Shu's disposition?

The doll has her highness' birth date and hour written on it

was found on your property.

How can anyone belive that

it has nothing to do with you?

Lei Yun.

Your majesty.

You,

Had it not been for guru Demiao's advanced magic

that led us to the hiding place of the cursed doll,

I'm afraid her highness would die

without anyone knowing the truth.

By then,

people might say that

her highness was ill-fated.

How can a woman I love be ill-fated?

It's not true.

Your majesty,

It's not true!

You eloquent liar!

What a prime minister's granddaughter.

Guard!

Here.

Take Shen into custody.

Your majesty!

Your majesty!

Now,

strip her title,

give her poisonous wine.

Your majesty!

Your majesty!

Your majesty!

Your majesty!

Have mercy!

Mistress Shen is the granddaughter of prime minister Shen Lun.

Ever since she came here

she has been virtuous and respectful,

never misstepped once.

If your majesty sign her death warrant now

the whole county would be shocked.

Shut up.

Mistress Shen used sorcery on the concubine Shu

viciously.

I cannot tolerate that.

Your majesty,

judging by mistress Shen's character

she's not capable of this villainy.

She was raised by a prime minister after all.

And she is serving your majesty.

I implore your majesty to double check everything.

Now that we have all the physical evidence

there's no need to check again.

Your Majesty,

her highness is awake.

She is awake!

Guru Demiao has just defeated the curse,

her highness regained consciousness immediately.

That was...

You.

Your majesty!

Your majesty!

Your majesty!

My love!

My love!

My love,

at last!

Come here.

Your majesty,

I'm sorry to have worried you.

Don't say that.

Nothing would make me happier

than seeing you alive and well.

I didin't know what happened.

I just lost consciousness.

Some say

I was poisoned.

Some say I was cursed.

Yes, my love.

You were being cursed.

But they have found

the cursed doll

in Shen's garden.

I can't believe this doe-eyed woman

is capable of such monstrosity.

She brought shame to her noble family.

Your majesty,

you were being reckless.

I...

reckless how?

Mistress shen has always been virtuous.

She is well-behaved,

all the time.

She is never jealous

nor having any enemies.

How is it possible for her to be so vicious overnight?

Especially the cursed doll.

There is a long history

of frame-up, malicious accusations

committed by its name.

Everyone can make a doll.

Just because it was found on Shen's property

doesn't mean she is the one wants me dead.

It is possible that

someone else set her up.

Mistress Shen.

the rope or the wine

your choice.

Please don't make this harder for Eunuch Zhou.

Shut up!

Mistress Shen,

I have implored his majesty

to reconsider.

But he was furious.

Eunuch Zhou,

I know.

Eunuch Zhou,

I appreciated it.

Your majesty,

about the doll

we can't rush into judgement

in case of a wrongful conviction.

That would play into the real enemy's hands.

Well..

I just sentenced her to die

out of rage.

She's dead?

Your majesty,

how could you?

Mistress Shen served you diligently

with all her heart.

No no,

How can you..

About that..

I just made that edict

it should be salvageable.

Lei Yun,

go to Shen's place.

Call off the execution

if it's not too late.

Yes, your majesty.

Your majesty,

I think it's better if I go instead.

He's too old and too slow.

When he gets there

mistress Shen would either be executed or died of aging.

This kid.

Go, go!

Hey.

What?

Wait! Mistress Shen,

the concubine Shu has just awaken.

Maybe his majesty

will come around

out of joy.

There's no need.

This is my fate.

His majesty's order!

Hold off the execution!

Your majesty,

her highness has a normal pulse condition.

Her health is restoring as we speak.

It's great.

Great.

Leave us.

Yes.

My love.

I told you I'm fine.

My love,

I had to get a confirmation from our physician.

Alright

you just came out of a coma,

you must be tired.

I'll let you rest.

Your majesty,

I believe Mistress Shen's innocence.

Please show her mercy.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

There.

When did you come in?

You walk withoug sound?

His majesty is so affectionate.

Among all the ladies in the palace

he loves the concubine Shu so much,

for better or worse,

such commitment.

I'm so envious.

My father, in comparison...

Come on,

your father is a good man.

His majesty is affectionate, no doubt.

Your father made one mistake, that's it.

And

don't be so judgemental

toward your own father.

What? What?

You're a man,

of course you're taking his side.

What a young lady.

Your majesty.

Has the curse been lifted?

Yes, your majesty.

Her highness is freed of its influence.

She's still in recovery.

She needs rest.

That's great.

It was quite a malicious curse.

Your majesty,

has the person responsible

been punished accordingly?

My beloved has a big heart.

She couldn't bear to have Shen killed.

I could never say no to her.

However, a vicious woman like mistress Shen

has no place in my house.

She will be locked up in the cold palace,

till her dying day.

The plough department has

guarded the royal family for a while now.

You kept us safe.

You've been working hard.

We're just doing our job.

Now that the case

is closed,

you deserve a break.

I'm relieving you

of guard duty, starting tomorrow.

Yes, your majesty.

Senior,

is the case really closed?

What else?

Only if mistress Shen actually practiced sorcery,

and it was actually effective,

can we consider it closed.

Do you believe mistress Shen is culpable?

Not likely.

And we do nothing?

Wenqu

there are a lot of things didn't make sense.

We just haven't seen the whole picture yet.

What we do know is

the empress' vacancy caused

disagreement between the emperor and ministers.

Demiao took advantage of the case

to have mistress Shen removed.

This storm

has just begun.

I see.

Um.

Do you understand that?

Many weird incidents occured lately.

There must be a mastermind behind all this.

Demiao

is one important piece to the puzzle.

I had Yinguang keeping tabs.

You work with him.

Yes.

Are we keeping this

from Taisui and Yaoguang?

They are too young.

They still have miles to go.

There are certain things

they can't handle right now.

Emperor.

Who are you?

Why are you in my chamber?

Guards!

Guards!

Emperor,

You haven't reached awakening, have you?

Reached what?

Do you know the reason why you and Liu Ru don't have children?

Do you know the reason why Liu Ru almost died?

Why?

The royal family lacks virtue.

The royal family lacks virtue?

What did I do?

How am I not virtuous?

Emperor,

you knew the answer.

For you are a child of god,

who can not be harmed,

the one you love paid for your sin.

Think hard on her life story.

Ever since she met you,

had she been living blissfully?

The sudden imprisonment, the exile,

the years of confinement,

the reproach,

the sterility,

the illness.

And this time

is no different.

Yes.

This time

it was a small punishment from the gods.

Had it not been for your love that's so pure and deep

Liu would be dead.

When that happens

much bigger disaster will fall

on you and your entire family.

By then

you will be

the loneliest man alive.

Emperor,

please behave yourself.

What just happened?

How did this happen?

Could it be...

Did my father really killed his older brother

usurped his throne?

This was

this was all true.

Your majesty.

Hand me that.

Leave us.

Your majesty come by so early today.

I'm not busy today.

I wanted to see you,

So I'm here.

No.

Somthing's on your mind.

What is it?

You certainly are my wife.

I can't hide anything

from you.

I had a nightmare last night.

Nightmare?

You are too grown-up to be scared by nightmares.

Would you like me to summon the doctor?

It won't help.

This is psychological.

Last night,

I dreamed of a god wearing golden armour.

My love,

what's wrong?

Golden...

golden armoured god

he...

what did he say?

He said

that you suffered a lot for me,

for a reason.

The royal family lacks virtue.

What is it?

Did two silhouettes appeared

on the wall afterwards?

How do you know that?

I

I had a similar dream last night.

Your majesty.

Your majesty.

Guru, we are done?

Is there something troubling you, your majesty?

Have you ever heard that

descendents are obligated to

pay for their ancestors' sins?

They that sow the wind,

shall reap the whirlwind.

Which means...

yes?

Causality

is complicated.

If one doesn't find the right thread

no matter how hard he tries

he cannot untie the knot, can he?

No, he cannot.

Then what do I do?

You are a child of god

who am I to show you your own path?

His majesty summoned us here so urgently,

must be about something important.

I wonder what

we are here to discuss.

Is it about our future empress?

I don't think so.

Is it some new shenanigans

concocted by Wei Lin and his minions?

Don't sweat it.

Don't be like those restless idiots.

Repugnant.

Let's wait and see.

The emperor!

Long live your majesty.

Settle down.

This is not the court.

Sit.

Thank you, your majesty.

I called you all here

to discuss

something exremely important.