Original subtitles

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The Plough Department Of Song Dynasty

Episode 20

My lord.

Wake up.

Wake up!

Wake up!

Who..

who are you?

It only took you seven years to finish

the Yuqing Palace which was originally a fifteen-year plan.

You've gained considerable fame,

launched a celebrated career from that.

Had I not ordered Yan Zheng to cooperate fully,

you really think

you would've pulled it off?

What are you talking about?

Yan Zheng worked for you?

Who the hell are you?

You intended to impress the emperor

by inviting Demiao to the capital.

And she got herself into a murder charge.

Had I not destroyed evidence for you discreetly,

made the magistrate of Taian County to recant his statement,

she would've been finished.

You would've been implicated as well.

May I

see your face?

What on earth are you?

That's not important.

You should pay attention to your situation instead.

There is a cloud on the horizon

you didn't see it coming.

I've spent my whole life

chasing power and money.

I'm old.

It's all futile now.

I'm about to retire.

What kind of trouble can I be possibly in?

You think

the emperor doesn't want you dead?

Naive.

His majesty

wants me dead?

He won't sentense you to death himself, obviously.

He's simply waiting for the crown prince to ascend the throne.

Only then can the new emperor

establish prestige by chopping off your head.

Chopping off

my head?!

Here's the account book of your embezzlement

and the impeachment paper from the imperial censor.

The reason his majesty didn't take action

was to save it for his son.

You are in a desperate position.

However, as long as you pledge your allegiance to me

not only can I save your life

but also give you wealth and glory.

Not to mention

rising to a higher rank.

Why should

why should I trust you?

Besides me

what other choices do you have?

I'm telling you

you must work with me

to draw over all the ministers on the court.

His majesty is indisposed

and unable to attend to state affairs at the moment.

From now on,

the crown prince will be governing the nation

with the emperess as consultant.

All ministers, present your memorials

if you have one.

Your highness,

is his majesty just feeling indisposed

or fatally ill?

What do you mean, minster Wei?

Your highness,

his majesty's condition is no secret.

It is known.

Lying to ourselves

would be unfair to the people.

Your highness,

please forgive my transgression.

His majesty is a victim of a deadly poison

which has no cure whatsoever.

Now his majesty is in critical condition

and the crown prince is too young

to rule our entire nation.

Gentlemen,

after our great founding emperor's demise

the crown should've been passed down to his son.

But the prince was too young.

For the sake of our people,

emperor Taizu chose his brother

over his son to be his majesty's heir.

Therefore,

this is one of our traditions

for the emperor's younger brother to ascend the throne.

Now that our crown prince is not old enough

while his majesty's life is hanging by a thread.

I respectfully propose that we follow the precedent

to ask his majesty to revoke the crown prince's right for succession,

to make prince Xian the rightful heir to the throne instead.

Wei Lin, how dare you

interefere with royal succession.

Prince Xian is known and respected

for his diligence, honor and dignified manner

It is what the people want

to have his highness be the heir to the throne.

Moreover,

emperor Taizong made a promise when he ascended the throne

that his majesty's throne was to be returned

to emperor Taizu's direct descendents in the future.

Why not prince Xian?

I was merely fulfilling my duty to the nation

as its humble servant.

I second that.

I second that.

I second that.

I object!

Time has changed.

The situation emperor Taizong was in

is not the same as our current one.

Prince Xian is no doubt majestic

and benevolent.

But if we put his highness in such position

what would the people

think of him?

And outside forces that eyeing on us

will see an opening for staging a rebellion.

That's right.

A rebellion.

True.

We'd be in a pickle.

True.

To enthrone another emperor under such circumstances

is no different than causing civil strife.

It will destabilize the nation,

creat opportunities for outside forces.

I concur with minister Kang.

I second that.

With the crown prince in charge

there will be doubts about his highness' inexperience.

That would be the real problem.

It is not unprecedented that an emperor chose a younger brother to be the heir.

As brilliant and virtuous as prince Xian

he will be loved and respected

by the whole nation

once he becomes heir to the throne.

How is it possible for civil strife?

I vote for prince Xian.

Prince Xian is benevolent and just!

I vote for prince Xian.

I vote for prince Xian.

Prince Xian has arrived!

I bow in respect before my empress

crown prince.

Arise.

Gentlem, you have served on the court for years.

Hadn't you learnt nothing

about wisdom and dedication

but a bellyful of pedantic knowledge?

Our emperor rules with justice and fairness.

His virtue is beyond reproach.

Our nation prospered under his majesty's leadership.

Are you going to

deny his majesty's great achivements?

Our crown prince

is the firstborn of imperial clan,

the rightful heir to the throne.

Ever since he was named crown prince

he has been prudent, elegant,

unimpeachable.

He cannot be replaced!

Your highness,

I was only trying to...

Shut up.

Your highness, crown prince.

I hereby make this promise

that under no circumstances will I sit on the throne.

I pledge my undying loyalty to our nation.

May the gods and devils cut me down

if I ever break my own oath.

Your highness!

Your highness!

Come, thank your uncle for supporting you so graciously

Uncle,

I will make every effort to ensure our nation's prosperous future

as a result of my gratitude to you, uncle.

You are full of fine qualities.

You will have a glorious future.

I can't fire him now.

How come?

Wei Lin just proposed to

have my brother replace the crown prince.

Hence,

if I fire him for whatever reason

people would think

would think that we...

Your majesty.

I understand.

It was a moment of mercifulness

to spare this weasel before.

Luckily my brother made it clear that

he wasn't interested in front of eveyone.

That should

shut him down.

But Wei lin is

obviously desperate.

He has served as a minister for years

which allow him to develope a lot of accomplices

I don't think

he will let it go so easily.

I know.

That's why

I summoned people here

for testation.

Your majesty.

The three ministers are here.

Your majesty.

We bow to your majesty

your highness.

Arise.

Your majesty,

May I excuse myself?

Your majesty.

I am

dying.

I called you here

to bear witness

to my testamentary edict.

Your majesty.

Minister Kang,

this is extremely important.

We should proceed with caution.

Wei is coming toward us.

That's...

Can there be a leak?

You gentlemen go ahead.

I'll handle him.

Minister Kang.

You are here too.

You'll have to excuse me.

I have a thing, too.

I'll take my leave.

Already?

Minister Kang.

Minister Wei.

I see you find the time to

relieve the boredom of the day.

Please don't tease me.

You have only yourself to blame

for your current predicament.

Yes, yes.

You are right.

I deserve it.

I was blinded by greed.

It was so unreal come to think of it.

Now I'm old and disgraced.

I practically

flushed my own reputation down the drain.

That's water under the bridge.

But what with the sudden advice

on royal succession yesterday?

Minister Kang,

that was

a completely selfless advice.

Honestly speaking,

do you think

prince Xian is worthy of the throne?

Is his highness' ascension

going to benefit our nation, our people?

Of course prince Xian is good.

But our crown prince

has great potential as well.

Besides,

the crown prince is already named heir.

This is what brings

the people

the officers

the whole nation together.

It doesn't make any sense

to disturb the stability.

Minister Kang

the crown prince is too young, after all.

But we are not in emperor Taizu's era any more.

Our dynasty has been through three generations so far.

Our people's hearts and minds are settled.

I'm telling you

your concern is unfounded.

You put it like that

I was mistaken again.

You

think it over.

Kang!

Wait.

I've been feeling rather lost lately.

I really need someone to talk to.

I have a bottle of fine wine back home.

Would you join me?

I'm otherwise engaged.

There's no need for you to bother.

I must've been quiet the nuisance

to everyone.

How could an honorable man like Mr.Kang

befriend a disreputable person

like me.

I was

asking to be humiliated.

Minister Wei.

Brother Kang!

You.

The only way to redeem yourself

is to repent

and atone.

Yes.

Brother Kang,

who would choose to be a villain

to live as a treacherous person?

I am repentant.

Right.

This is great.

Now that I am hated by everyone,

brother,

you are still willing to drink with me.

I'm so touched.

I will always remember

your kindness.

Brother Kang.

Brother Kang.

Let's drink

to you.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Brother Kang,

how do you like the wine?

Splendid.

I wonder, what brought brother Kang

into the imperial palace today?

Realizing his unavoidable mortality

his majesty

had arrangements made.

And what were said arrangements?

His majesty is going to

enthrone the crown prince.

I was called in

for the testamentary edict.

So

testamentary edict is drafted.

Sure is.

Where is it then?

The testamentary edict?

I suppose

it must be in your possession.

It is kept by

the chief eunuch

Zhou Zheng.

It will be released

once his majesty passed away.

You old geezer.

Eunuch Lei.

What are you doing here?

Eunuch Zhou,

Mr.Dong Ming.

Eunuch Zhou,

those funeral supplies you asked me to prepare

are done.

Please have a look.

Much obliged, eunuch Lei.

Eunuch Lei,

Mr.Dong Ming and I have a few things to discuss.

Would you mind?

Not at all.

I'll leave you to it.

Good day.

Wenqu,

from now on

guarding this place is

our department's number one priority.

You take tonight's shift,

stay vigilant.

Understood.

Your majesty.

Your majesty.

Arrangements

has been made.

I'll be leaving everything

in your capable hands.

Empress,

take care of

our prince.

Look after

my

country.

Don't cry.

How I want

to grow old

with

you.

Your majesty!

Your majesty!

Your majesty!

Your majesty!

Your highness!

Your highness!

Your highness!

It's not

your time to go.

Your majesty!

Your highness, please wake up!

Mother!

Mother, wake up!

Mother!

Mother, wake up!

Mother, wake up!

Mother,

you're awake.

You're awake!

I'm not dead.

You're not.

You're not.

You're alive.

His majesty.

His majesty.

Eunuch Zhou.

What brings you here?

We're here for his majesty's testamentary edict.

We bow in respect before your highness.

Arise.

Thank you, your highness.

His majesty's

testamentary edict.

My people.

A man's destiny

is written by gods.

There is no exception

even for the wise or the saint.

Since my accession to the throne

I've followed the mandate of heaven

nurturing all beings in my realm

for twenty five years.

Broken down from my heavy duty

with no hope of recovery,

I solemnly adjure my trusted brother

to take on...

trusted...

trusted...

Your highness,

this...

Eunuch Zhou,

Everyone is waiting.

Get on with it.

Your highness,

this can't be.

This must be fake.

Your highness,

please stay.

Your highness,

this is inappropriate,

with every minister here

watching.

I solemnly adjure my trusted brother

to take on my duty as emperor

for he is divinely wise and majestic,

virtuous and regal.

Prince Xian may ascend to the throne immediately,

with

Wei Lin, Wang Qinruo

Lin Te, Chen Pengnian

Liu Chenggui serve as imperial consultants.

You will unite all efforts,

work with one heart

to serve your emperor diligently.

May our nation be blessed with

longlasting peace and prosperity.

I

cannot receive the edict.

Prince Xian!

This is his majesty's testamentary edict!

I made a promise

to his majesty.

That I will never sit on the throne.

Therefore,

I have to reject.

Prince Xian!

Prince Xian!

From this day forward

I will not leave my residence ever again.

My door will be closed to any visitor.

Prince Xian!

Prince Xian!

Prince Xian!

It's not right.

The edict

is falsified!

Yes.

It's a forgery.

Before his majesty passed

minister Kang, envoy Wen and I was summoned.

His majesty's testamentary edict

was drafted by me

wrote by minister Kang

and sealed by envoy Wen.

Our new emperor was supposed to be the crown prince.

How can it be prince Xian?

This has to be falsified.

It's a forgery.

Your highness,

Minister Yang was right.

This is not his majesty's will.

Minister Kang,

you have always been so self-righteous.

Given your seniority,

our benevolent emperor

treated you with forbearance.

Now you dare to mess with

the sacred succession ritual,

you've really gone too far.

You scoundrel!

Could it be that

you had a hand in this?

Minister Kang,

you claimed the edict was forged.

Can you present the real thing?

Can you?

This one is a forgery!

How dare you!

Here is the edict.

who dares to defy it?

This is authentic.

Absurd!

You people have the audacity

to forge an imperial edict!

Kang Pingzhong!

You have the audacity

to defy an imperial edict!

Guards!

Guards!

I am imperial consultant Wei Lin,

I command you, guards!

Yes, your excellency.

Kang Pingzhong speak in contempt of the court,

throw him out!

You!

Wei Lin,

How audacious!

Wei Lin,

you will reap the whirwind!

Lei Yun,

his majesty drafted the edict in Funing Palace

I was there keeping records.

His majesty said that the crown prince would be his successor.

How dare you falsify the testamentary edict?

Zhou Zheng,

his majesty was good to you.

Are you going to deny

the edict its legitimacy now?

You!

Zhou Zheng is polting against the throne.

Guards!

Here!

Take him into custody.

You falsified the imperial edict!

Intolerable injustice!

You falsified the imperial edict!

Intolerable injustice!

The testamentary edict is a forgery!

Intolerable injustice!

Let go of me!

Wei Lin, Lei Yun

what are you trying to pull?