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[The King's Woman]

[Episode 40]

Empress Dowager. Here, be careful.

Empress Dowager!

Master Lu?

Lu Bu Wei? It's really him?

Master Lu...

Jade, I knew you'd come.

Let's speak in private.

Since Her Highness has kept the appointment

you mustn't hurt her.

She's my woman for life.

What are you worried about?

Empress Dowager, I'll be right outside.

Master Lu!

You really haven't forgotten me.

Where have you been?

Do you know how much I missed you?

Aren't you surprised to find that I'm still alive?

Did you not know that His Grace went to Luoyang to see me?

I don't remember.

But none of that matters anymore.

What matters is that you're here now.

And so am I.

Isn't that all that matters?

Has Zheng treated you poorly?

Why do you look so haggard?

Do I not look beautiful to you anymore?

You don't like me anymore?

You don't want me?

Here.

You've aged, and so have I.

Forget it.

I came to see you today to discuss some matters with you.

What can't we discuss between us?

But I thought you would take me out to play first.

Tell Zheng to lead his army to the outskirts of Handan City.

I can then force King Qian of Zhao to give up his throne.

Zhao Jia will succeed the throne.

I'll make Zhao Jia succumb to Qin State.

We can make Zhao State Qin's vassal without any hassle or casualties.

So...

That's what you wanted to discuss with me?

Empress Dowager, this is a very important matter.

It concerns our future.

Don't pretend that you're not in the right mind.

I thought... you came here to make up with me.

I thought you'd want to talk about Zheng.

Empress Dowager...

Do you know?

Zheng has changed.

He doesn't hate me anymore.

I think that perhaps...

Perhaps the three of us can finally be like a real family.

Empress Dowager, don't be so naïve.

How were we forced into the predicament we're in now?

Didn't our son do this to us?

Zheng was born of a violent nature.

He is to become the first to unify all six states and rule the world!

That's his destiny!

Nothing else matters.

I don't want to know! I don't want to hear any of that!

- I don't want to hear it. - Calm down!

Empress Dowager, Qin and Zhao are currently at war.

This is an emergency.

Head back now and tell Zheng what I said.

Do you understand?

I don't want to!

You're not here to see me!

You don't care about me!

You don't care about Zheng either!

You still just care about your schemes and ambitions!

Lu Bu Wei...

I'll never be your pawn again.

You better obey me when I'm being nice!

Let go of me!

- Let go of me! - Empress Dowager!

Let go of me!

What are you doing?

Lu Bu Wei, what are you doing?

Let go of her!

Don't come near us.

If you do, I'll stab her to death!

Calm down first.

Put that knife down first.

Tell Zheng that I want to see him!

If he refuses, I'll kill his mother!

Do you hear me?

If you dare kill Empress Dowager, I'll have you killed first!

Don't try any tricks! Leave now!

Or else, I'll kill her!

All right, I'll do it.

I'll bring His Grace here.

But if you dare lay a finger on Her Highness

I won't let you have it your way.

That's fair.

Empress Dowager. I'll definitely come rescue you.

[Qin State's Main Military Camp]

We'll send out the cavalry first.

Take down the central troops and feign an attack.

We'll ambush the main infantry by the left wing of Zhao State's army.

When their central troops come up against our cavalry

we'll deploy our main infantry.

Li Mu deploys his troops like clockwork.

He can see what's coming from very small clues.

I think that once he sees our cavalry going straight for their central troops

he'll realize that there's ambush in the woods.

He'll then move his troops back to lure our cavalry.

Then he'll make a false countercharge.

If he does, the infantry we hid in the woods

won't serve as an advantage to our cavalry.

Our infantry will be wiped out.

And we... we would get nothing out of the battle.

Your Grace, if it were just any commander it wouldn't matter, but--

But it happens to be Li Mu.

Li Mu isn't just very experienced and knowledgeable of the art of war

but also has great foresight.

No strategy can take him by surprise.

No military formation is impossible to break.

Whatever means his enemies resort to

it all seems to be just as he anticipated.

Even if things don't go as planned

he can quickly think of ways to resolve any issue.

Your Grace!

I'm incompetent. Please punish me Your Grace!

Wang Jian, get up.

Wang Jian, this isn't your fault.

Li Mu is indeed a rare and great commander.

But... it isn't as though I'm at a complete loss for a plan.

Does Your Grace have some sort of grand scheme?

Sun Tzu once said "Supreme excellence consists of

breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting."

Great Qin's army will keep marching toward Zhao State.

Just wait and see.

Yes!

Where's Master Lu?

Master Lu is attending to important matters.

He'll be away for days.

Things have gone horribly wrong!

How could he go away at such a time?

Prince Jia, what has gone wrong?

Guo Kai intercepted a secret letter.

It indicates that General Li Mu is colluding with Qin State!

The palace is now in great chaos!

Li Mu? Master Li?

That's impossible!

I also thought it impossible!

It's just that there's solid evidence to prove it.

Moreover, His Grace is wary enough of Li Mu to begin with.

This is something he has long wanted to get a hold of!

This is such a serious matter

so I came to discuss a possible solution with Master Lu.

Minister Ma, you must find him quickly.

Master Lu didn't leave behind any information about his trip.

We can only wait for him to return to the manor.

I'm afraid that by the time Master Lu returns it will already be too late!

[Battlefield, Zhao State]

General, Qin State's main forces are no match for ours

so they're retreating as they fight!

That's Wang Jian's scheme.

He's trying to lure us into their formation!

Convey my orders!

Tell our central troops not to go in pursuit!

Yes!

General, you are like a prophet.

You can even tell that Qin's army is using such a ploy.

They will certainly retreat in no time.

Don't rejoice too soon.

King of Qin, Ying Zheng, is no ordinary man.

If he was one to give up so easily

Qin State could never have become so powerful.

He definitely has a few tricks up his sleeve.

We must still be extremely cautious.

Yes.

Li Mu, receive the royal decree!

Li Mu, receive the royal decree!

Those men are from the palace.

Could His Grace be in some sort of trouble?

Could it be that since Qin's army failed in attacking us

they sent assassins to kill His Grace?

Ying Zheng is an proud man.

He's not capable of such means.

But if the palace sent out the cavalry at such a time, it can't be any good!

Royal cavalry brings forth the royal decree!

Li Mu, receive the royal decree!

I hereby receive the king's royal decree!

Great General Li Mu has colluded with Qin State

in an attempt to vanquish Zhao State.

Concrete evidence was found.

I, the royal one, command Li Mu to return his commander's seal

and to return to the palace in Handan to await trial.

Take the decree.

How is this possible?

How could General Li Mu--

General!

Ying Zheng...

I never thought you'd resort to sowing discord!

I had thought that you truly wanted to battle it out with me!

Who could have known...

Offending general, Li Mu.

Stop stalling.

Hand over the seal right away!

You say that I colluded with Qin State, and that there's concrete proof?

What's the proof?

If you can't show me the proof, I can't be convinced!

You've been secretly writing to the Qin King.

Master Guo Kai has already collected all the letters.

His Grace now has all of them.

His Grace has verified them.

What excuse do you have now?

Letters?

I never exchanged letters with the King of Qin!

Nonsense!

Who in Zhao State doesn't recognize your handwriting?

Besides, His Grace even verified it himself.

Do you dare accuse His Grace of slander?

You--

Is it hard to find something with my handwriting on it?

Ying Zheng must have hired some talent

to imitate my handwriting and forge those letters!

Then he had those letters delivered to Zhao State.

Why would you all fall for such a foolish trick?

Exactly! It must be forged!

Offending general, Li Mu!

You are to hand over the seal.

Yet you give so many excuses.

Is it because you're guilty?

Guards! Arrest him!

- I dare you! - Stop it!

Stop it!

But... General, this is--

This must be Qin State's scheme!

If you hand over your commander's seal

Zhao State's army will surely be defeated!

If you we get into a fight now

and the soldiers at the frontline witness the general betraying the nation

by disobeying King of Zhao's orders

our army's morale will also suffer!

Then it will be one defeat after another!

General, don't tell me you'll...

You'll hand over your seal and return to the palace?

Returning to the palace is not an option.

You mean to say that you'd defy the decree!

Isn't the commander's seal what you want?

You can have it!

Anyone? Bring forth my seal!

Take it!

I, Li Mu, have been a military man all my life!

I have served my country faithfully!

Never have I been disloyal!

Since King of Zhao has no faith in me...

I can only...

Take my life to prove my loyalty!

General!

- General! - General!

[Palace of Zhao State]

Zhao... Zhao Jia.

What brings you here?

Weren't you stationed outside?

I led our army to fight to the death against the enemy.

We tried to safeguard Handan.

We were defeated, and retreated 20 miles from the city.

Without General Li Mu...

The army of Great Zhao has fallen.

It's totally out of our control now.

It's all because of you!

Because you're such a foolish king!

You killed Li Mu!

And you too!

Guo Kai!

You're a treacherous official who has been wrecking Zhao

since the previous reign!

I'll kill you today!

This is to set General Li Mu's soul to rest!

Your Highness, spare me... Spare me...

Your Grace!

You can't kill him.

If you kill him, what will I do?

Then I'll kill you instead!

Li Mu is dead because of you!

The people of Zhao hate you to the core!

No one will feel sorry for you!

- Your Highness! - Your Highness, you mustn't!

Your Highness, you mustn't!

- Your Highness! - Your Highness!

You mustn't! You mustn't!

Zhao Jia... Listen to me.

We are after all brothers.

Even if you kill me now, you still can't stop Qin's army.

You might as well let me negotiate a truce with King Zheng of Qin.

Zhao State may still have a glimmer of hope then.

Your Highness, you can't kill His Grace.

What we need to do now is to keep Great Zhao intact.

There's only hope for us if we can keep Great Zhao intact.

Instead of going head to head with the Qin King

why don't we... surrender the capital and succumb to them?

Then maybe Great Zhao will have a chance to survive?

We might still have a chance!

Your Highness, put down your sword first.

Put... put down your sword.

[Prince Jia's Manor, Handan]

Have some tea.

Master Lu, you've finally returned!

Great Zhao is all but vanquished!

Yet you're so calm and relaxed?

Your Highness, do rest assured.

I have been handling the matter while I was away from the manor.

Ying Zheng will come to see me.

I'll have him force Zhao Qian to abdicate the throne.

Then, the throne will be yours.

How will you get Ying Zheng to meet you?

He wanted you dead then, has he changed his mind now?

Moreover, if Ying Zheng insists on vanquishing Zhao State

what would I need the throne for?

I have something to threaten Ying Zheng with.

Since he has come to Handan, it will remind him of his childhood.

However ruthless he is

there are still some people and things that he holds dear.

Your Highness, fret not.

He will surely show up.

Where are you meeting Ying Zheng?

A wine house in Handan.

Your Highness, await my good news.

All right! I'll trust you one last time.

Lu Bu Wei, I have supported you for many years.

Don't you dare forget that.

If it weren't for me

you'd have been nothing more than a corpse in Luoyang City!

Don't disappoint me again.

[Outside Handan City, Zhao State]

[Zhao]

The Zhao Instrument of Surrender is right here.

Your Grace, please have a look.

There's no need.

I'll read it when I'm back in my palace.

Bring forth the Jade of Bian He.

Yes!

Li, this Jade of Bian He is the most beautiful jade in the six states.

But I think that next to you

even the most beautiful jade pales in comparison.

Thank you, Your Grace.

This is indeed a beautiful piece of jade.

But it came at the cost of a legendary general, Li Mu.

I feel sad for the people of Zhao State.

King of Zhao got what he deserved.

It was indeed a pity that General Li Mu was sacrificed.

Li, don't worry.

When I return to Qin State, I'll build a monument in his honor.

Your Grace, I have a matter to report to you.

Your Grace has been busy attacking the capital.

I was afraid to distract Your Grace so I waited here for our army.

Empress Dowager has actually entered Handan City already.

She's waiting for you in the city.

[Xun Yin Chamber]

Your Grace! No matter what happens, you must remain calm.

Mother, why didn't you tell me that you were already in Handan?

Zheng...

I've let you down.

Lu Bu Wei?

So you were actually...

You were alive all along?

You were in Zhao State all along?

You were the one who had Great Qin defeated after our first victory.

You were also the one manipulating all this!

You're not so bad yourself.

You actually thought of taking out Li Mu by sowing discord.

I was a step behind you.

I've underestimated you, Zheng.

Don't call my name!

Think about it.

How many of those able to manipulate the world and politics remain now?

If we join forces as father and son, the world will soon be ours!

Shut up!

Now that it has come to this, do you still not understand the efforts I made?

Status, power, wealth.

It is all easily lost.

Zheng, you're my only child.

I risked it all to survive till this day.

I just wanted you to understand that

I wish to share all that I have with you and your mother!

Let me return to Qin with you.

Attack!

King of Qin, today is the day you die!

Comrades, attack!

Lu Bu Wei!

Even now, you dare to set me up?

No, it wasn't me!

I... I truly didn't order anyone to do that!

No, Zheng... It isn't so...

It isn't so!

Lu Bu Wei, explain yourself quickly!

Explain it to Zheng now!

Li, help me convince Zheng!

It isn't so!

- Talk him around! - Empress Dowager.

You deceived me again.

You deceived me all this time!

Do you want my throne that much?

Zheng... You must believe in me.

Your Grace...

This is all for my sins!

[Palace, Handan of Zhao State]

Your Grace!

Your Grace!

Your Grace, Qin State's army has started a massacre in the city!

A massacre? I...

Didn't I already surrender to him?

I even gave him the Jade of Bian He.

Why did he still--

I don't know the reason for it either.

The Qin Army suddenly embarked on a massive slaughter.

Handan City is like living hell now.

There's no telling when they will charge into the palace.

King Zheng of Qin...

How can he break his promise?

What should we do?

Where's Zhao Jia?

Where is he?

Doesn't he want the throne anymore?

Since he wanted the throne so much

he should risk his life to protect Great Zhao!

Your Grace, is it even the time for this?

We should be trying to stay alive!

Flee for your lives!

Zhao Qian!

Are you running away?

You... Min Dai...

I've thought of a million possibilities.

I've thought of returning to this palace I know so well.

I've thought of becoming your princess consort.

I've thought of being your one and only woman!

But I hate you.

I hate you for being so heartless.

I hate you for your promiscuity.

It was you...

You defiled me!

You deceived me!

You said you'd protect me for life.

That I'd be with you forever.

How ridiculous...

How ironic!

You actually married into Qin to seek revenge from me?

Exactly!

Zhao Qian, I hate you!

That's why I helped Zhao Jia.

I wanted to drag you off your throne.

I want to have you suffer a life worse than death!

It seems that your great plan to restore Zhao Jia to the throne

has failed miserably.

It failed?

Witnessing Zhao State's demise under your reign.

It's the best revenge I could get!

Min Dai, you're so pathetic.

Are you not from Zhao State?

When you didn't pick me as your Crown Princess Consort...

When I married Ying Zheng...

I have already forgotten that I came from Zhao State.

The Min Dai you knew is long dead.

Min Dai...

If we had been just ordinary folks...

Just an ordinary couple...

How wonderful would it be?

[Streets, Handan of Zhao State]

Handan City.

I've returned.

After all that I've been through...

I've finally returned to this place.

All of you should know that I was once called Zhao Zheng.

I lived on this street then.

On this street...

Everyone looked down on me.

Everyone bullied me!

Did you all know?

That Zi Chu wasn't my father.

Lu Bu Wei was.

Today...

Not one of you are to escape from here.

Zhao Zheng! Do you still remember me?

I'm Li Cai!

We used to play together!

Please spare me!

Spare me!

- Please spare me! - Of course I remember you.

How could I forget you?

Stop! Stop running!

Stop right there!

- Stop running! - Stop!

Zhao Zheng! Zhao Zheng!

No father, no guts!

His mother is an actress!

Zhao Zheng! Zhao Zheng!

A few of you... You used to round me up and insult me.

You stepped on me.

You urinated on my head!

How could I not remember you?

I... I didn't!

I will never let you off.

From now on...

In Handan City, no one will dare bully me again.

[Wine house, Handan]

Empress Dowager is too ill to be cured.

My medical skills are not up to scratch.

Madam, please punish me.

Don't blame yourself for it.

Empress Dowager was already ill.

Imperial Physician, in your opinion

how much time does Her Highness have?

Her Highness has a very faint pulse.

She's hanging by a thread now.

At most, she will survive just half a day or a day.

All right, I heard you.

You are dismissed.

Thank you, Madam.

Zheng...

Zheng...

My Zheng...

Where is Zheng?

Empress Dowager, you're weak.

Calm down.

I want to see him.

Where is he?

Madam!

Li Zhong, is His Grace with you?

His Grace fought off Zhao Jia's royal guards with us just now.

We fought them till we got to the city's center.

For some reason, His Grace suddenly went missing.

We thought that a soldier from Tiger Valor Army was with him

but they were separated from him during the fight.

[Preview]

I'm just a crazy murderer.

I even killed my own father.

What am I not capable of?

I have sinned horribly.

Leave me quickly.

Leave now!

I won't leave you.

I'm not going anywhere.

I'm right by your side.

Have you really forgiven me?

Mother...

What a way to lure me out of hiding.

Damn that King Zheng of Qin!

Zhao Jia!

Since you're a member of Zhao State's royal family

I can spare your life!

What a joke!

As if I'd lose to a woman?

Black Army of Qin, obey my command!

- Yes! - Yes!

- Kill them all! - Attack!

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