Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Palace of Devotion]

[This drama is based on historical data and legends]

[The story and characters portrayed are fictitious]

[Episode 10]

I do nothing all day except eating, sleeping,

and dressing up.

Everything I wear

is fine and exquisite.

But what is the point?

I can only show it to you.

And no one else.

If Your Highness doesn't dress nicely,

what if His Majesty comes

and you fail to impress him?

That'll be too bad.

But His Majesty only has Liu E in his heart.

Meeting him is harder

than reaching for the stars.

Here comes His Majesty.

His Majesty?

Yue'er, hurry.

Put them on

for me.

Here comes His Majesty.

Your Highness, there is one more.

Your Highness.

All is good now.

Greetings to Your Majesty.

Please rise.

I'm greatly honoured

by Your Majesty's arrival.

Hope you can come in.

Your Majesty.

It has been 10 years...

since married into my household.

Have I aged?

No, you haven't changed.

But I...

I've neglected you.

But

I never bore you a child.

And you still named me as Pure Consort

in view of my father and brother's merits.

I'm

deeply grateful for it.

Your Majesty,

good news from Western Shu.

Jing Zong, read it.

Yes.

The Military Governor of Sichuan, Ding Wei

led 8000 garrison to combat with Xidong

and ambushed in Rongzhou.

They crushed the rebels.

Wang Jun was defeated and dead.

Tens of thousands were captured and killed.

Ding Wei has really subdued the rebels?

Your Majesty,

Ding Wei has military talent.

Your Majesty made a good judgement in delegating him.

Congratulations.

Ding Wei is a scholar.

How did he manage to lead the garrison

and quell Wang Jun's revolt?

Lord Pan,

although Ding Wei is a scholar,

he dared to venture into Xidong

and persuaded the tribal leaders with his silver tongue.

His garrison and the tribes in Xidong

joined forces to attack Wang Jun.

So they won.

Ding Wei is really a rare talent.

I'll reward him for his achievement by naming him

the Privy Councillor.

Praise Your Majesty's wisdom.

Put the sedan down.

Welcome Your Highness.

Don't stand on ceremony.

Let's talk inside.

Come.

These are all your favourite dishes.

You must miss

home-cooked food after staying in the palace for so long.

No, no.

You're a consort.

Take the seat of honour.

Come, Your Highness.

I've cooked these dishes myself.

What is this?

It's a stew made of fresh rabbit blood

and pigeon egg.

It's your uncle's secret recipe.

Married women will conceive within a month

after drinking it.

You know I couldn't stand gamy smell.

Only by producing an heir

can you win the Emperor's heart.

Quickly drink it.

-Drink it. -Yu Shu.

Father has said it clearly.

Don't be wilful.

I won't drink it.

You can have it if you want.

Yu Shu.

Your Highness.

Well...

It's your fault.

She's been in favour for just a few days

and she has become so smug,

showing no respect

for her parents and brother.

What's the rush?

You have to coax her

into doing thing she's unwilling to do.

Quickly go apologize to her.

Hurry up.

Hold on.

Don't forget why you go.

Take the Jade Ruyi Soup with you.

Simmer down, Your Highness.

It's bad for your health.

Why didn't you knock?

Young master.

I'm here to deliver

the Jade Ruyi Soup to Your Highness.

Father and mother specially told me

to watch you

drink it.

I won't drink. Take it away.

How will you produce an heir

if you don't drink it?

You've been in the Emperor's favour these few days.

But you know very clearly

if he has deep affection for you.

You don't have to worry about

me and the Emperor.

I studied and played with him

since we were children.

I know what he thinks

better than you.

If you don't conceive a prince,

you'll soon fall out of favour.

I want to rest.

Please go out.

Yue'er.

Yes.

Yu Shu,

you may be a consort in the palace.

But when you come home,

you're the daughter of the Pan family

and I'm your older brother.

If you don't drink the soup,

I won't leave.

Ding Wei pacified Western Shu.

I've appointed him as the Privy Councillor.

Wang Qin Ruo recommended Ding Wei.

So I want to appoint him as Vice Counsellor.

What do your view on that?

Your Majesty, I'm sorry that I didn't go to Court yesterday

as I was unwell.

It's unlikely to remove

Ding Wei's title now since Your Majesty has appointed him

as the Privy Councillor.

But I think

the appointment of Wang Qin Ruo as Vice Counsellor can wait.

Your Majesty should exercise discretion

on their appointments.

You can't entrust them with great duties.

How so?

Have Your Majesty forgotten?

When you were the Prefect of Kaifeng,

you deducted 80% of land tax in seven counties.

In order to please Your Majesty,

Wang Qin Ruo overstated the disaster

to cover up the tax deduction.

I remember it.

Wang Qin Ruo seemed to be smart in this,

but he actually deceived you

and he's an opportunist.

Based on the information I received,

Ding Wei indeed contributed a lot

in pacifying Western Shu.

But he also exaggerated his achievement.

If the garrison in Western Shu didn't fight bravely,

he wouldn't have been able to put down the rebels

only with the support of Xidong tribes.

Yet, he takes all the credit.

How can Your Majesty delegate great responsibility to him?

Nevertheless,

Wang Qin Ruo and Ding Wei are able men.

On the contrary, Kou Zhun is very obstinate.

He has gone against me several times in the Imperial Court.

This man is too tactless.

Do you think

he can be of great use?

Kou Zhun is loyal.

He might be tactless in handling things.

But he's an unusually honest minister.

If there is no such outspoken person in the Court

and everyone pretends to be compliant

in order to protect themselves like Wang Qin Ruo,

one day,

they will bring disaster to the Song Dynasty.

Prime Minister.

Prime Minister.

Come, sit down.

You're in poor health.

Please take care of yourself.

I'm old.

I don't know how many more times I can see Your Majesty.

So I earnestly request Your Majesty

to appoint Kou Zhun as Vice Counsellor.

If Your Majesty really want to appoint Wang Qin Ruo,

then...

Then wait until the day I die.

Prime Minister.

Somebody! Jing Zong.

Lord Li.

What's the matter, Your Majesty?

Get the imperial physician.

Yes.

Send for the imperial physician!

Prime Minister.

Prime Minister, don't worry.

We'll discuss the appointment of Vice Counsellor again.

We'll discuss it again.

Aligning with the will of Heaven, His Majesty decrees

that Ding Wei, the scholar of Imperial Academy

led the army to fight during crisis.

Having eliminated Wang Jun

and quelled the revolt in Western Shu,

he is promoted to be the Privy Councillor.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Western Shu is under control now.

But the Tanguts have yet to be subdued.

Do you have any solutions?

Your Majesty,

Li Ji Qian is leading the rebels to attack Qingyuan troops.

He fought against Cao Can in Linzhou and won many battles.

The Tangut's cavalry will reach Lingzhou in no time.

The danger is imminent.

It's my fault that I was being too lenient

and missed the chance to subdue them.

We can delay no more.

I'll deploy the Imperial Guards stationed in the vicinity of the Capital

to fight the enemy.

Who can lead them?

I still recommend Lord Ding.

He won a victory in Western Shu.

He should be able to defeat Li Ji Qian in one battle

following his triumph.

Your Majesty,

I'm willing to lead the troops to fight against Li Ji Qian.

Your Majesty,

I've reflected on my mistakes

at home.

I know I'm unforgivable.

My failure to subdue Wang Jun has become a lesson for me.

I hope to redeem myself

and go to put down the Tanguts' uprising with Lord Ding.

I hereby name Ding Wei and Pan Liang

the commander and vice commander.

You're to lead 20,000 Imperial Guards to battlefield.

Yes, Your Majesty.

His Majesty just made an exception to visit Consort Pan.

Her family begins to act arrogantly at the Imperial Court.

The Guos is a scholar family,

while the Pans is a military family.

If we can complement each other in politic,

it'll be a good thing.

Yu Shu is respectful to me.

But her family

is too greedy.

They crave for wealth, power and love.

I see it more clearly now.

The Pan family is avaricious.

Your Majesty might want to advise His Majesty

to rely more on the loyal ministers.

As the saying goes, "Honest advice is unpleasant to the ears."

I know

Lord Kou is a loyal minister.

To tell Your Majesty the truth,

my husband has infuriated the emperor

at the Imperial Court today.

Lord Kou is forthright and blunt.

He never panders to the rich and powerful

nor forms a clique for personal gain.

My father admires him a lot.

Even if you don't bring it up,

my father and I will put in a good word for him

in front of the emperor.

Thank you Your Majesty and Lord Guo.

There are not many outspoken and upright old ministers

like Lord Kou at the Court now.

Besides, you're the Emperor's aunt.

His Majesty certainly knows

that Lord Kou is dedicated to state affairs,

so he won't be hard on him.

Does Your Majesty have something on your mind?

Li Ji Qian is a threat.

But if I send troops to engage in a war with him,

I'm afraid it'll jeopardize the defence of the North

and Western Shu.

My father once mentioned

that an old friend of his and Li Ji Qian's mother are acquaintances.

Your Majesty can ask Li's mother

to persuade him to call a truce.

Li Ji Qian wants to be a king

and dominate the Northwest.

He's disowned his family. No one can persuade him.

Your Majesty,

Lord Su Yi Jian is outside and requests an audience.

Granted.

Pure Consort, you may go now.

Su Yi Jian's request for an audience is granted.

Greetings to Pure Consort.

Your humble servant Su Yi Jian meets Your Majesty.

Yi Jian, please rise.

I want to discuss about Li Ji Qian with you.

If he isn't eliminated,

the Northwest will not be at peace.

Your Majesty need not attack the Northwest first.

But it's necessary to keep Linzhou.

It's very close to Liao.

If Linzhou falls,

the Tanguts and Liao are likely to form an alliance.

If they join forces,

it'll put us in an unfavourable position.

Do you have any solutions?

I suggest Cao Can, son of Cao Bin, the Commissioner of Privy Council,

to be the Magistrate of Linzhou.

He can monitor Li Ji Qian's movement.

Cao Bin's son?

Yes, he has fought many battles.

He is decisive and resourceful,

and knows the Northwest well.

He can hold Li Ji Qian in check.

I order Cao Can to take up the post of Magistrate of Linzhou,

effective immediately.

At Your Majesty's bidding.

There's one more thing

I don't know if I should bring it up.

You're tongue-tied.

It must be related to Du Yun Pavilion.

Yi Jian, feel free to speak.

Your Majesty hasn't gone there to see Consort Liu for many days.

What she has done

is for Your Majesty's sake.

Hope Your Majesty can think of her good qualities.

Don't neglect her anymore.

Yi Jian.

Say no more.

I know what I'm doing.

Your Highness,

I'll go heat up the dishes.

They're cold.

No need.

Let's eat.

His Majesty hasn't been here lately.

Is he still angry?

Things have been hectic in the Palace.

His Majesty handles everything himself.

So he has no time to come here.

I wonder when Ji'er will come back.

If he is back,

His Majesty will definitely come here every day.

Come, Your Highness.

Ying Luo.

Give Kang'er a piece of meat.

Yes.

Are you hungry? Dig in.

Ying'er...

Ying'er.

-Your Majesty. -Ying'er, don't leave me.

Ying'er, don't leave me.

What's wrong?

I'm fine.

You go back to sleep.

[Song]

[Zhenzhou]

Ding Wei and Pan Liang hold different opinions on the recruitment

of new soldiers.

Due to Pan Liang's misjudgment,

Li Ji Qian took Lingzhou

before the two of them launched an attack.

Summon Pan Liang and Ding Wei back at once.

Remove their duties, relegate them to three ranks lower,

and cut their salaries for one year.

Li Ji Qian has seized Lingzhou

He'll surely move eastward and put the Capital in danger.

Who can fight against him?

Your Majesty,

I have a solution.

Lord Kou you are a minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

No one can do a better job than you to judge a case.

But when it comes to warfare,

just forget it

if it's an empty talk.

Your Majesty, I have a good plan to resist the enemies

without going into battlefield

or involving any troops.

Spit it out.

Lingzhou is situated between Jingzhou and Youzhou.

If Lingzhou falls,

the other two neighbouring prefectures

will surely be implicated.

Ban Ruo Shi, the Chief of Timo is submissive to us.

Your Majesty might as well make him king

and let him repress Li Ji Qian.

Is Ban Ruo Shi really capable of doing so?

Your Majesty, the military power of Timo

has surpassed that of the Tanguts since the Tang Dynasty.

He'll certainly be able to repress Li Ji Qian.

I support Lord Kou's brilliant plan.

How can Ban Ruo Shi be crowned king

if Timo is sparsely populated?

Your Majesty, Li Ji Qian is merely a regional commander.

Ban Ruo Shi only deserved to be a provincial governor.

Then I'll name him the Provincial Governor of Shuofang.

In addition, give him 2,000 piculs of millet,

ten thousand bows and halberds.

Send Su Yi Jian to Timo

and summon Ban Ruo Shi to the palace.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

Ban Ruo Shi has his own army.

We're now asking for his help.

If only Lord Su is sent there,

I'm afraid Ban Ruo Shi

will mistakenly think that we look down on him.

I think Your Majesty should find

a suitable location between the Capital and Timo

and meet Ban Ruo Shi there personally to show our sincerity.

He will naturally pledge allegiance to us.

His Majesty is of supreme status.

How can he simply leave the Capital?

The Imperial Court is facing a crisis,

His Majesty should condescend to go there

to discuss the war.

If His Majesty leaves the Capital...

His Majesty has left. This matter shall be discussed again.

Your Majesty...

Please wait.

Father-in-law, do you have another suggestion?

My suggestion

is to request Your Majesty to act upon Kou Zhun's advice.

It'll surely wipe out the Tanguts.

Kou Zhun has defied me in public

and asked me to meet Ban Ruo Shi in person.

He is so full of himself.

Your Majesty,

Kou Zhun doesn't have a way with words.

He speak honestly for the benefit of the Imperial Court.

Impartial and selfless are qualities of a loyal minister.

Hope Your Majesty can focus on the big picture.

We're dealing with a military crisis here.

In addition, Prime Minister Li has suddenly become very ill.

Of all the ministers,

only Kou Zhun's wisdom is comparable to that of the Prime Minister.

Hope Your Majesty can recognize his worth.

I'll think about it before making a decision.

Lord Guo,

His Majesty is tired after handling the politic affairs

at the court today.

You may discuss the matter another time.

Father-in-law strongly recommends Kou Zhun.

Consort Liu also speaks highly of him to me.

Jing Zong,

tell me.

Am I too narrow-minded

to be tolerant of Lord Kou Zhun?

Your Majesty, I dare not comment on

political affairs.

I won't blame you. You can speak your mind.

I don't know

about Lord Guo or Lord Kou.

But I know

the advice Consort Liu offered

has never been wrong.

Zhang Jing Zong, you're incredible.

[Love]

Your Highness, be careful.

-Your Highness, slowly. -Your Highness, be careful.

Kang'er, come and have a look.

Come.

I saw it in the market just now

One for Her Highness and one for you.

Don't tear it.

You've matured a lot lately.

This is a reward for you.

It's known as sky lantern.

Write your wish on the lantern

and let it fly up to the sky.

If Heaven is benevolent,

maybe your wish will come true.

Take it.

What is your wish?

Turn around. Don't look at it now.

It won't come true if you see it.

Okay, take your time to write then.

[Liao]

[Du Yun Pavilion]

Put the sedan down.

Kang'er, have you finished writing?

Yes.

What did you write?

Don't look.

You can only take a look at it when we fly it.

Let's fly it now.

-Greetings to Your Majesty. -Your Majesty.

Greetings to Your Majesty.

I...

have misunderstood you.

Your Highness,

your tea-whisking skill is getting better and better.

This is the Dragon Phoenix Tea the late emperor gave.

It's of supreme quality.

However, every new sovereign brings his own courtiers.

My father doesn't have the same status

at the Court as before.

You have to drink the Jade Ruyi Soup to produce an heir.

What's the use of drinking the bland tea?

Producing an heir is my business.

You led the troops twice

and you were defeated twice.

It's your own fault.

You failed as the Commander of Cavalry.

Why vent your anger on me?

I'm no longer a commander.

I've been removed from my military duties.

If you'd conceived an heir for the Emperor,

I wouldn't have been in such a mess

and gotten demoted.

Who can you blame?

The Emperor asked you to repent.

But have you ever felt regretful?

It's not easy

for father and I to get you to the palace.

But after entering the palace,

what benefit have you brought to the family?

You...

Yu Shu.

Your brother lost a battle

and was stripped of his rank.

So he's very upset.

Don't take offence at it.

Still, he shouldn't take it out on me.

He's too furious

to think properly.

Your brother can only depend

on you now.

He can only count on you.

You can't watch your family to go into

a state of decline and do nothing.

Come.

Drink the Jade Ruyi Soup.

I guarantee you'll conceive an heir.

I know

Your Majesty doesn't want to grovel

to Ban Ruo Shi for Li Ji Qian.

But Lord Kou is right.

As of now, there's no better person

than Ban Ruo Shi

to suppress Li Ji Qian's rebellion.

You said this.

Kou Zhun also said the same thing.

So did Su Yi Jian.

In fact, I know

the leverage Ban Ruo Shi has.

But he is so arrogant.

Am I supposed to feed his ego?

Your Majesty doesn't have to go to Timo.

You can choose a location in between

and summon him to see you.

In this way,

not only can you show your sincerity,

but you can also test Ban Ruo Shi.

Ban Ruo Shi knows the current situation well.

There's Liao in the north and the Tanguts in the west.

Both are eyeing on Dongjing.

So he uses this to threaten me.

Tell me.

How can I put up with this?

The Tanguts

bother him too.

If he pledges allegiance to you,

the Tanguts will fear him.

If he really has figured out how the wind blows,

he'll surely come to see you.

Compared to going to war,

Your Majesty going on a long trip

to meet him

is nothing.

In your opinion,

where is the best place to meet?

This...

is Dongjing.

This...

is Timo.

This...

is the Metropolitan Prefecture.

Your humble servant Su Yi Jian meets Your Majesty.

I received the decree to go to Timo

and meet with Seigneur Ban Ruo Shi.

I just returned to the Capital today

and came to report to Your Majesty.

Is Ban Ruo Shi willing to submit to me?

He was grateful for Your Majesty's gesture

and expressed goodwill to me repeatedly.

If Your Majesty can condescend to meet him,

he'll surely pledge allegiance to us.

Good.

Minister Su, it's a fruitful trip.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Minister Kou.

Yes.

In your opinion, where is the best place

between the Capital and Timo for me to meet with Ban Ruo Shi?

I think the Metropolitan Prefecture is the best place.

It is right in the middle of the Capital and Timo.

You also choose the Metropolitan Prefecture.

I'll go to the Metropolitan Prefecture to meet with Ban Ruo Shi.

Ministers, you'll go with me.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Highness, have some fruit.

Your Highness, stop worrying.

The Emperor didn't take you to the Metropolitan Prefecture,

it's not because he doesn't love you.

The Emperor went to meet a seigneur.

What's the use if I go?

I'm not worrying about it.

No matter what,

your health comes first.

What did the imperial chef

put in the soup today?

-Well... -It tastes terrible.

Your Highness, what happened to you?

Your Highness.

Rinse your mouth.

Your Highness.

I've tasted the soup

the imperial chef sent.

It doesn't taste weird.

Your Highness, how long has it been since your last period?

It's ten days late.

Ten days...

Could it be that you're pregnant?

This is where Yelu Kang stays.

Inform our people.

Carry out the mission here tomorrow.

Yes.

Let's go.

[Du Yun Pavilion]

Your Majesty,

Ban Ruo Shi has headed back to Timo

to gather his troops.

He'll go to Lingzhou to suppress Li Ji Qian's rebellion.

Ban Ruo Shi finally accepted his title.

Your Majesty, it's been a worthwhile trip.

I didn't expect Ban Ruo Shi

to be so arrogant when I met him

and he refused to submit to me.

Thanks to your repeated attempts to mediate,

he was completely convinced at last.

Well done, ministers.

It's to

Lord Kou's credit.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

The Timos are different from the Tanguts.

Your Majesty thus took a different approach.

We adopt a policy of mollification on the Timos.

But we must be tough on the Tanguts.

Praise Your Majesty's wisdom.

Lord Kou is good at strategising.

You're like Kong Ming reincarnate.

Your Majesty.

Eunuch Lei has sent a message.

Pure Consort is pregnant.

Ban Ruo Shi has pledged allegiance to me.

And now Pure Consort is pregnant.

It's a double celebration

and a blessing to the Song Dynasty.

Congratulations, Your Majesty.

Not bad.

Who are you? How did you...

Kang'er.

What are you doing?

Kang'er! Kang'er!

Let him go!

Let's go.

Kang'er! Kang'er!

Guards!

There are assassins! Help!

Get the assassins. Protect Her Highness.

Kang'er!

This hairpin looks nice.

Put this on me.

Yes, Your Highness has good taste.

I'm putting it on you.

Your Highness, after putting on the hairpin,

you look more like a Noble Consort

than a Pure Consort.

If I can give birth to a prince,

the Emperor will surely name me the Noble Consort.

Exactly.

[Qian Yuan Gate]

Your Highness, His Majesty has come back.

So soon?

Right.

Yue'er, hurry.

Dress me up

before I go welcome His Majesty.

No, it's too flashy.

Okay.

Hurry, earrings.

Welcome back, Your Majesty.

Welcome back, Your Majesty.

Ministers, please rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty has subdued Ban Ruo Shi.

It's a great undertaking that benefits the world.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Bad news from Du Yun Pavilion. Yelu Kang is abducted.

Ying'er.

Your Majesty.

Please forgive me.

Ying'er, please rise.

I failed to watch over Kang'er.

You're not to blame.

It's the Imperial Guards' faults.

Fortunately, the assassins didn't hurt you.

I'm fine.

But who took

Kang'er away?

It must be Li Ji Qian.

Don't worry, Ying'er.

I've shut down the city to capture the assassins.

Your Majesty,

this is the belt badge of the Tanguts.

It can be determined

that the assassins were sent by Li Ji Qian.

Li Ji Qian is indeed very ruthless.

He won't even let a hostage prince go.

Li Ji Qian knows that we have

a three-year hostage agreement with Liao.

So he kidnapped the hostage prince

to create conflict between Song and Liao.

The whole city is placed on lockdown.

All Imperial Guards are mobilized.

However, we still don't know

the whereabouts of Prince Kang and the assassins.

Your Majesty, I believe

the Tangut assassins would escape here after they got what they want.

I'm afraid they've fled the city

with the hostage prince before the lockdown.

The Tanguts behave very differently

from us.

The longer they stay here, the more risk they'll face.

Besides, Li Ji Qian is anxious to get the hostage prince.

What Lord Kou said makes sense.

The assassins have probably left the city.

Ministers,

is there a way to rescue Prince Kang?

Your Majesty,

I have sent an urgent message to Ban Ruo Shi

and urged him to rescue the hostage prince from Li Ji Qian

You must tell Ban Ruo Shi

to ensure Prince Kang's safety no matter what.

Do it in secret.

Don't let the word get out.

Empress Dowager Xiao mustn't know about it.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesties.

Prime Minister, why do you look panicked?

There's a letter from the spy in Kaifeng.

Please have a look.

This is Zhao Heng's scheme.

I want to kill him

and seize control of Kaifeng.

Your Majesty, based on the spy's intel,

Third Prince is indeed captured by the Tanguts.

The emperor of Song is going to attack them

to retrieve Prince Kang.

Kang'er is in Li Ji Qian's hands.

Zhao Heng is going to attack them.

How can they save Kang'er life?

Kang'er is abducted.

It's due to Zhao Heng's negligence.

And it's disrespectful to Liao.

The Song Dynasty is busy fighting against the Tanguts.

It's time to attack them.

Mother should send troops to the South

to conquer Kaifeng and capture Zhao Heng alive.

Your Majesty, once we send our troops,

the three-year hostage agreement...

No.

They failed to protect Kang'er.

I don't care about the agreement.

Pass my order.

Put the hostage prince and his servants

into prison,

pending punishment.

And order General Xiao Tan Lin to gather the troops

to go on an expedition now

and attack the Song Dynasty.

Yes, Your Majesty.

I want Zhao Heng to pay

with his empire of the Song Dynasty.

Let me go.

Why do you put us in prison?

I want to see the Empress Dowager.

You wish.

You'll never see the Empress Dowager

or get out of prison.

Why?

Song and Liao exchanged princes as hostages.

The prince from Song is not your prisoner.

So you still don't know.

Our prince has been abducted in Kaifeng.

He's no where to be found.

If anything happens to him,

don't even think about getting out alive.

Pan Liang greets Pure Consort.

Your Highness.

Because of the abduction of the hostage prince,

Empress Dowager has sent her army to the south.

They're near the border.

The top priory of the Court now is to send troops to resist the enemies.

Your Highness, if the Emperor delegates me to lead the army,

I'll surely win the battle.

Delegate you?

You've lost every battle

and your title as the Commander of the Cavalry.

How dare you have the nerve to request that?

And how is the Emperor supposed to convince the ministers?

There is a reason

for my previous defeat.

Besides,

your brother has been removed from military duties.

It reflects badly on you too.

That's why I come to beg Your Highness

to put in a good word for me and persuade the Emperor

to let me lead the army.

I'll certainly win a victory

and do the Pan family proud.

But will the Emperor listen

to me?

Your Highness, you're pregnant with an heir.

The Emperor is ecstatic.

He'll listen to

whatever you say.

Yue'er, the baby seems to be kicking.

I'll help you to the palace to rest.

Your Highness.

Young master, you may go now.

The baby is Her Highness's priority now.

Your Highness, take care.

Will Your Highness talk to the Emperor?

What can I do?

He is my brother.

General Xiao Tan Lin from Liao is leading 100,000 cavalry to the south.

They have crossed the border,

reaching Baozhou and Dingzhou.

The headquarters of the south are located at these two places.

Once conquered,

the Capital will be in great danger.

Who can lead the troops

to resist the enemies?

[End of Episode 10]