Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

[Palace of Devotion]

[The story is adapted from historical materials and legends]

[The characters in the story are fictitious]

[Episode 12]

What the Prime Minister said

made me feel like I've lost an arm.

Today, the ministers went to the residence to pay respects

and learned that Lord Li

had specifically instructed the family members

for a simple burial. We were humbled.

The Prime Minister was an upright man, never greedy.

Before his death, he told me his last wish,

which is to recommend Bi Shi An as Prime Minister.

What do both of you think?

Bi Shi An is very experienced and sophisticated.

He has a high prestige among the officials.

At least in the eyes of Premier Li.

But I

thought the Prime Minister would recommend Kou Zhun.

Your Majesty, I think

that even though Kou Zhun has the capability to be a prime minister,

he cannot be promoted too early.

He needs to sharpen his mind more.

Then it will be easier for him to deal with

important affairs of the court in the future.

I believe that Kou Zhun's ability

is on par with Wang Qin Ruo.

Your Majesty might as well let them keep each other in check

and wait for the right time to decide.

Based on the words of my two beloved officials,

I shall make Bi Shi An prime minister.

Wise choice, Your Majesty.

Madam, please pour me a glass.

My lord, you have yet to go into battle to fight the enemy,

but you are already thrown into confusion.

The Emperor has named Bi Shi An as prime minister.

I accept wholeheartedly.

But the Emperor also assigned Wang Qin Ruo to participate in political affairs.

This I don't agree.

How can Wang Qin Ruo manage?

Control your temper.

But it's already happened.

He got ahead of you.

On the outside, it seems like he is taking care of everything.

But the fact is, he enjoy all the privileges without doing any work.

My lord, you've worked hard and deserved awards.

But that mouth of yours is your downfall.

You always talk back to His Majesty.

The court is full of obstacles.

You should have known long ago.

That is my nature. What can I do?

My lord, you still don't get it?

The reason the Emperor gave Wang Qin Ruo

a position in the court

is to sharpen your temperament and driving spirit.

It's the taller trees in the woods that get their tops blown off.

It is a taboo for an official in the imperial court.

What the Emperor is for the best.

Yue'er.

Yes, my lady?

I haven't taken the medicine today.

Hurry up and bring it to me.

Please hold on. I shall bring it over.

Here you go, my lady.

You finally understood.

No matter what, your health comes first.

Wen Jia Ling.

A tribal princess who

came to the capital from a small, remote place.

She thought that she can win the Emperor's favour.

She is ignorant about the world.

I'll show her

the rules of the palace.

My lady, you should not get up.

Take me to the side palace.

Side palace? Which one?

Greetings, Noble Consort.

Your Highness.

The Consort is here to visit the palace. Make way.

Make way.

But, Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Without the Emperor's permission,

no one is allowed to enter the palace.

Take this.

This...

If you two don't say anything,

no one will know.

Open the coffin.

Open it.

Yes.

Your Highness.

You shouldn't get too close.

It is said that this prince is beyond recognition.

The smell of the corpse is strong.

Let's look from a distance and go back.

Then you go and take a look.

Me?

I don't dare.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Look.

Kang'er will love this robe.

What a gorgeous robe.

I want it too.

Usually, you are very hot-headed.

If you wear this robe,

and go out

everyone will think that you're a son of nobility.

These few days have been exceptionally quiet.

But it makes me uneasy instead.

The Emperor did not come,

nor did Lord Su.

Normally,

when Ban Ruo Shi go on an expedition to Tangut,

there should be news by now.

But why there is no news at all?

Don't worry, my lady.

Kang'er will be fine.

Greetings, Pure Consort.

Greetings, Pure Consort.

That's wrong.

The Emperor has named our consort as Noble Consort.

Remember her title.

Forgive me, Noble Consort.

I don't blame you since you didn't know.

Where is sister?

Your Highness, the Noble Consort is here.

Noble Consort.

These are tributes from Timo.

The Emperor gave them to me.

I dare not to enjoy them alone,

so I brought them here to share with you.

Thank you, Noble Consort.

Sister, did you know

His Majesty has accepted the princess from Timo as his concubine.

I've been in Du Yun Pavilion for too long,

I have no idea what's going on in the imperial harem.

Isn't this Kang'er's necklace?

Why do you have it?

Where is Kang'er?

Is he back?

Sister, His Majesty is worried that you'd be sad,

so he didn't tell you.

I don't mind offending the Emperor,

that's why I came to show you this necklace.

The prince, he

was killed in an accident.

Two days ago, Ban Ruo Shi sent someone to deliver the prince's coffin

back to the palace.

Respects to the Emperor.

Rise.

The war in the North has started again.

Consort Dowager Xiao has learned about Yelu Kang.

She has assembled her forces,

ready to turn out in full strength.

Consort Dowager Xiao has calmed down the chaos in the palace

over the lack of male offspring.

It seems she wants to destroy Song in a single attack.

In your point of view,

how do I stop this?

From what I see,

Consort Dowager Xiao went south this time

because she wants

the ten counties in the Southern Pass,

which are Xiongzhou, Mozhou and other places

that Song and Liao have been fighting to get.

I think

Your Majesty might as well offer the Southern Pass

and then leave for the south immediately for security.

Retreat to Nanjing.

Cede territory and look for a draw.

Move the capital to another place to avoid war.

Is this your opinion?

After moving the capital,

Your Majesty can stay in the south

and deal with Liao calmly.

In this current war, from what I see

Consort Dowager Xiao doesn't really want to destroy Song

but it's more about getting the land of the Southern Pass.

The Liao people

have always considered

these two lands as their former territories.

They are bound to retake it.

If the Southern Pass falls,

Song will lose the gateway to the north.

Liao has now taken the lead.

Besides, Prince Zhao Ji is still being held hostage.

They have the upper hand.

In my opinion,

Your Majesty should immediately send reinforcement to the frontier pass.

The Liao army

must not have enough provisions during their expedition.

When the time comes, we'll negotiate peace again.

Then, Song will have the upper hand.

But this time, the Liao army is bearing down menacingly.

How do I keep the Southern Pass out of this?

From how I see it,

it is more appropriate for Kou Zhun to handle this matter.

I have prepared three lines of defence for Your Majesty.

The first line of defence is called the front line.

Distance around 160 miles from the border,

mainly includes Dingzhou, Zhenzhou, Mozhou

and also Gao Yang Pass.

We will have a total of 150,000 soldiers from the four locations.

Mainly stationed at the north of Dingzhou.

The second line of defence, midfield.

Distance around 700 miles from the border.

Mainly include Xingzhou, Mingzhou

and eight other prefectures.

Even though this line of defence seems to involve many cities,

the main garrison is stationed in Xingming Erzhou.

The remaining prefectures will have ten thousand garrison troops each.

The third line of defence is the Daming Province.

The garrison of Daming County will be 1,000 miles away from the border

with 30,000 men.

We will also place a few thousand mobile units in other places.

[Great Song]

As such,

the north side will be able to assist Daming Province.

The south can also defend Chanzhou.

It is as the Prime Minister said,

Lord Kou understand thoroughly about the north.

I truly admire this.

Draft out an imperial decree immediately.

The Privy Council will carry it out.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

The three lines of defence.

Can it really bring victory to Song?

Your Majesty, for the three lines of defence,

as long as the commanding general and the soldiers are appropriate,

we can definitely stop Liao outside the border.

The frontier of the Southern Pass

must not be handed to Consort Dowager Xiao so easily.

If I abandon the Southern Pass,

how can I ever face my ancestors?

When the previous Emperor was alive,

he had fought against Liao so many times

in order to defend the Southern Pass.

The land of the Southern Pass must not fall in the hand of enemies.

But the Consort Dowager is in the land of the Southern Pass.

She knows that Your Majesty will never let it go so easily.

Therefore, a war between Song and Liao is unavoidable.

We can only fight with all that we have in order

to not lose any of the prefectures or cities.

This is so she can understand our determination.

The key to victory

is for the Emperor to lead his troops into battle.

The lord has arrived.

Greetings, Lord Kou.

Who are you?

I am the maid of Consort Liu from the Du Yun Pavilion.

The Consort has something to talk about.

She wishes to meet you at Du Yun Pavilion.

Consort Liu wishes to see me?

Let's go.

Yes.

[Du Yun Pavilion]

Lord Kou, please.

Lord Kou.

May I know why you asked to see me?

Please.

Let's.

For this battle, based on Lord Kou's opinion,

is there any chance for us to stop the Liao army.

This time, Empress Dowager Xiao has decided to seize the Southern Pass.

She will personally lead three troops.

The outcome is unpredictable.

I also dare not make rash assertions.

In your opinion,

does the Emperor have confidence to attain victory

and is he determined to battle Empress Dowager Xiao?

Consort, you have a point.

If the Emperor is determined to fight the Liao army,

it will sort of determines the victory or defeat of this battle.

If the Emperor has the heart to fight,

the soldiers of Song will also have the heart to battle.

If the Emperor has the belief that he will win,

the soldiers of Song will win the battle

and will be able to expel the Liao army.

But,

until now the Emperor is still hesitating

and has not decided to lead his troops into battle.

This worries me too.

I cannot rest or eat in peace.

Lord Kou's concern about the country is quite obvious.

I am holding you with high esteem.

The person within the royal court who understands the Emperor

is you, Lord Kou.

Regarding the expedition, I'll leave it to you.

I shall take my leave.

Take your leave?

Where does Your Highness wish to go?

I will help bring the coffin up north

and hand Yelu Kang over to Empress Dowager Xiao

while trying to persuade her to retreat.

Your Highness.

Empress Dowager Xiao has been longing for the central plains.

She wouldn't retreat just because

you return the prince.

The prince was the witness of peace between Song and Liao.

With the prince returned to Liao,

the Empress Dowager will dispatch troops to fight.

If she refuses to retreat,

I will stay with the eldest prince Ji'er in the Liao camp,

waiting for the Emperor to lead the troops

and defeat the Liao army.

Your Highness.

I hold my respect towards you.

Your Majesty.

Regarding Kang'er,

I already knew.

Actually you can tell me.

Why do you have to bear it alone?

I know you have already regarded Kang'er as your own.

I don't want to tell you as I'm afraid that you will be overly sad.

Kang'er died for the country.

His coffin should be sent back to his hometown.

I

should personally escort him on this journey.

I cannot agree.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, please think about it.

Kang'er is dead.

But Ji'er is still in Liao.

If the war between Liao and Song breaks out,

I cannot let Ji'er be alone in Liao,

not knowing if he lives or dies.

When Kang'er was by my side,

he missed his hometown every day.

Now his coffin

must be sent back to his family.

If you go to the Liao camp,

do you think the Empress Dowager will let the two of you go?

Ji'er is our son.

I cannot leave him there alone,

not caring about his life or death.

If Your Majesty does not allow,

that means we will never see each other again forever.

I can only die in grief

within the Du Yun Pavilion.

Your Majesty, I beg you.

For the sake of Ji'er,

please grant me permission.

If Your Majesty does not allow,

I will continue to beg.

Continue to wait.

Your Majesty.

This sky lantern is Kang'er's wish.

I will definitely take it to Liao and let it fly.

I want to let the Empress Dowager see it with her own eyes.

See it fly in Liao's sky.

Stop the war between Liao and Song. Bring peace to the world.

This is also her grandson's wish.

Your Highness.

Let me go with you.

You can't go.

After I leave,

there will be no one by His Majesty's side who he can trust.

You stay here.

Help me take care of His Majesty.

If something happens...

You must return safely, my lady.

I will.

I will bring Ji'er home safely.

I am here.

I will bring you home.

Change Kang'er into the new clothes.

We set off immediately

towards Liao.

Please take care on the road, Your Highness.

Ying Luo, as I am heading to Liao,

please take good care of His Majesty.

Do not worry, Your Majesty.

I will definitely bring Ji'er back.

He will reunite with Your Majesty.

I will be in the capital

waiting for you and Ji'er to come back.

You should depart.

Master,

The Premier Li's servant

just dropped a letter.

He wants you to read the letter.

[The Prime Minister position is high but heavy.]

[He needs to assist His Majesty in the state affairs.]

[Premier Bi is both loyal and courageous as well as capable.]

[There are two things.]

[Firstly, Kou Zhun is honest with a temper,]

[but he needs to be sharpened.]

[so that he will be useful in the future.]

[Secondly, Consort Liu has endured many hardships.]

[She contributed greatly to Song.]

[The Emperor is faithful and loyal.]

[One day, she will enter the palace.]

[Premier Bi has to stop him.]

Greetings, Lord Bi.

Ping Zhong.

No need to be so formal.

I have been waiting for you here.

Lord Bi, please guide me.

Ping Zhong, I heard

Song Xiang Pavilion has opened a new wine shop.

But the owner said

that in the capital, only you

can differentiate the wines.

Ping Zhong.

Won't you accompany me for a drink?

Then I shall take up your offer.

-Please. -Please.

Cheers.

Enjoy your meal.

Sorry to trouble you.

My lord, I shall be upfront with you.

I actually wish to see His Majesty.

Why do you need

to see the Emperor?

The Emperor promoted Wang Qin Ruo as a candidate.

I really don't understand.

Before the enemy,

Wang Qin Ruo will head the battle.

Why did the Emperor promote him?

What's the purpose?

Ping Zhong, the era is changing

and you cannot escape from it.

Wang Qin Ruo,

he is scheming and opportunistic,

but also cater to the Emperor.

Still, he is proficient in finances,

and good at managing taxes.

He has his unique points.

If the Emperor does not go on an expedition,

the great Song will be in danger.

During this moment,

by promoting Wang Qin Ruo who understands finance,

what's the point of it?

But with the current enemy,

it doesn't matter what position,

we need to be united

and face this challenge together.

But if Wang Qin Ruo bungle the chance of winning

and hand over Song to Liao,

I will not forgive him.

Are you really advocating the war?

Do you need the Emperor to command the expedition?

A promise must be sincere.

I feel depressed.

I have nowhere to tell.

I need my lord's brilliant judgment.

[Prime Minister Li did not choose the wrong person.]

[It is futile to have ten Bi Shi An.]

[One Kou Zhun is enough.]

Two hundred thousands.

Where did the lord has his drinks?

Chanzhou.

Chanzhou.

Madam.

Master was invited to have a drink with Lord Bi

at Song Xiang Pavilion.

Master.

Dingzhou has two hundred thousands army.

There are Wang Chao and Hu Yan Zan.

Yingzhou has General Li Yan Wo.

Daming County...

Stand properly.

Daming County has Cao Wei.

But Xiao Chuo keeps on going south.

South until Chanzhou.

What about Chanzhou?

Who's guarding Chanzhou?

Who's guarding Chanzhou?

Who's guarding Chanzhou?

Ten days have passed.

Song hasn't delivered news regarding Kang'er.

Your Majesty, our army has conserved strength and stored up energy.

They can head south by today.

Our next conquest is Dingzhou.

Your Majesty.

The Emperor of Song has sent a letter.

Bring it here.

Your Majesty.

What did the letter say?

Kang'er.

Kang'er.

I have been waiting with great anxiety.

Hoping for many days.

But what I'm waiting to return

turns out to be Kang'er's coffin.

The letter said that Consort Liu is the one

who will deliver the coffin up north.

She is the mother of Prince Zhao Ji.

I will meet this Liu E.

What kind of person is she?

She dares to come to Liao.

[Fangzhou]

The Song is cruel and unjust.

You are the cause of Kang'er's death.

As the imperial concubine,

you dare to step foot into Liao.

I know.

You are worried about your son.

Your Majesty is perceptive.

Kang'er and Ji'er are both my sons.

Kang'er called me mother.

We had a good relationship,

like a real mother and son.

I can only hate on Li Ji Qian for his plotting

to provoke the relationship between Song and Liao.

He sent an assassin to kidnap Kang'er,

causing his death.

Li Ji Qian is the military commissioner of Song.

He is causing trouble at Kaifeng

and this is due to the resentment within your country.

Your Majesty.

Li Ji Qian killed Kang'er

to provoke the relationship between Song and Liao.

If you send your forces down south

to conquer the city,

won't you fall into one of his schemes?

Li Ji Qian may be detestable,

but in the imperial city, under the rule of the Emperor,

and you as the imperial concubine,

you can't even protect a child.

Are you saying this is not your fault?

The Tangut chaos has been resolved.

Li Ji Qian deserved to be executed for his crime.

Song and Liao agreed to make peace

with the hostage prince's agreement three years ago.

I hope Empress Dowager is able to return Zhao Ji.

Once again,

let's rebuild the friendship between Song and Liao,

and stand together through thick and thin.

Don't you dare talk about that agreement.

Kang'er is no longer here.

There is no more agreement.

I know clearly where to place my gratitude and resentment.

This hatred still burns.

I will never withdraw my troops.

It is not too late to return your son

after I conquer Kaifeng.

Your Majesty.

Please look at this.

[Liao and Song stop the war, the world is at peace]

What is this?

This is Kang'er's sky lantern.

The words there

were personally written by him.

He told me

[Liao and Song stop the war, the world is at peace]

that this was his biggest wish.

Originally, he wished to bring the sky lantern to Liao

and let it fly to the sky here.

If you refuse to return Ji'er,

I wish to stay at the Liao camp alongside Ji'er.

We cannot let them go.

Kang'er.

Kang'er.

Close it.

Liu E.

Return Kang'er!

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Song and Liao is now at war. No need to act this way.

Get away.

Go!

Stop!

Liu E is the imperial concubine of Song,

not the culprit who killed Kang'er.

In Kaifeng,

Kang'er was under her care.

Now, she travelled far from home

with the intention to send Kang'er back home.

You cannot kill her.

Because she didn't protect him properly,

that's why Kang'er died.

If I don't kill her,

how do I calm the hatred in my heart?

To avenge Kang'er,

there is no need for us to blame Consort Liu.

We need to give the matter further thought and discussion.

-Mu Yi. -Yes.

Go and bring the prince and Li Wan'er

out from the prison.

Let him meet his mother.

Understood.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Thank you for your help just now.

No need to thank me.

You are a Han?

Yes.

I remember when I was fighting with the Liao army back then,

I was captured by the Liao army and there was no reinforcement.

After the deadly battle, I was unable to escape.

So I was captured and brought to the Liao camp.

But my mother is alone at home.

I'm waiting for the chance to return to serve my filial piety.

So I hold on in Liao,

Surviving until now.

Forgive me, Your Highness.

Sir.

You don't need to blame yourself.

You have no choice

but to endure silently in Liao.

I once taught the prince swordplay.

Normally, I will try my best

to protect the prince and Ms Wan'er.

But in the military camp, the words of the lowly carry little weight.

So I may not do a very good job at taking care of them.

I beg for your forgiveness.

Please accept my apology.

Kang'er was my favourite grandson.

It was me who let him go to Kaifeng.

My intention was to let him be familiar with Kaifeng,

and understand the Han people.

Someday,

he will be able to rule the central plains and conquer the world.

But I never thought

that something like this would have happened.

I am saddened as well.

Mother.

Our Kang'er cannot die in vain.

Liu E is now at Liao.

It is easy to kill her.

But you must think this through.

You need to grasp the overall situation.

With the mother and son at Liao,

Zhao Heng cannot win against us.

Wait until we take over the Southern Pass,

conquer Kaifeng,

and capture Zhao Feng.

You can decide later if you want to kill or cut

the mother and son to pieces.

We should let them live for now.

Brother Mu Yi.

Who are we meeting?

Where is he from?

I cannot guess.

Who are we seeing?

Whose house is this?

Go in.

Who is inside?

You will know after you go in.

Come.

Sister.

Wan'er.

Sister.

Mother.

Ji'er.

Mother.

-Mother. -Ji'er.

Mother!

Sister.

Mother.

Mother.

Ji'er.

Why did it take you so long to come and get me?

Let me look at you.

I miss you so much.

I miss you too.

Ji'er.

I will be here with you.

We will go back together.

Okay.

Mother.

Ji'er has grown taller

and stronger.

Mother.

Sit.

Wan'er.

You've worked hard all these years.

Ji'er can grow to be so strong

because you are here.

Ji'er is your son,

which means he is my son as well.

No matter how painful,

I am willing to.

That's right, Sister.

The man named Mu Yi just now.

He saved Ji'er many times.

If it wasn't for him,

Ji'er would've already suffered.

Mu Yi

doesn't look like an ordinary soldier.

He gives off an aura of a general.

But Empress Dowager Xiao has matched him with Princess Tiejing.

He is now the royal son-in-law of Liao.

Also, every time I ask him about his real identity,

he is always hesitant to answer.

I can see that something is weighing on his mind.

He has been keeping it hidden.

Maybe it is something unspeakable.

But he is definitely a person you can trust.

It is a blessing that you and Ji'er

got to meet him in Liao.

Sister.

As the prince of Liao is now dead,

the Empress Dowager will surely break off

the agreement that was made previously.

Soon, the war between Song and Liao will break out.

Why did you come here?

Since you and Ji'er are here,

I cannot just leave you two here. So I came.

But how can you save us

with just being here?

Most importantly,

how will you be able to persuade the Empress Dowager Xiao?

But I can't just stay in the capital

and watch the two of you in danger.

With me here,

you and Ji'er will have someone to rely on.

You don't have to live in fear.

We'll wait for the imperial army to arrive

and defeat the Liao army.

Then we can return to the capital together.

But can we win

this war?

Song has plenty of

unyielding soldiers like Kou Zhun

and many brave military commander

like Yang Yan Zhao.

Song can defeat Liao.

Your Majesty.

Nearly 100,000 soldiers from

our defence and tribal army have gathered in Youzhou,

led by General Xiao.

They are fully prepared for battle.

Now they are waiting for you to give them an order.

Then they will head south to siege the city.

Here is my decree.

The three armies shall strike immediately

[Dingzhou]

and head to Dingzhou.

Decree received.

[Dingzhou]

Recover lost territory, conquer Dingzhou.

Recover lost territory, conquer Dingzhou.

Attack!

[Song]

[End of Episode 12]