Original subtitles

Is this the government's pleasure boat?

This decadent music has been

reverberating and lingering in the air for three days.

This must be Mu Chunxuan.

I heard that his boat

is filled with beautiful women

that are talented in both singing and dancing.

Delightful like bathing in the spring breeze.

I never thought that there are actually great places

I had not been to yet.

It is a pity

that I have recently married

and have to accompany His Majesty south

in public affairs.

It is truly a pity.

King of Rui,

it is truly a pity if some things

are missed

in this world.

We are

both going to have a good time tonight.

Young Lord

has a graceful bearing and impressive appearance.

How are you called?

Xiao Feng.

Come, this is from Young Lord Xiao.

Call over

the most beautiful ones

at your side.

All right!

Come, Young Lords.

Come inside.

I ask Young Lords to wait a moment.

The food will arrive shortly.

Wait a moment.

Here, a reward for you.

Thank you, Young Lord.

Come, come, come. Come in and serve.

Yang Lord Xiao, we kept you waiting.

Pour Young Lord Xiao some wine.

Young Lord, I will pour you some wine.

Young Lord, enjoy it at leisure.

Tell me if you need anything.

All right.

Drink as much as you want today.

No problem.

Come, come, come, drink this first.

Here, a reward for you.

Thank you.

Pelican caresses cold tree branch,

gazing into the distance and preparing for its return.

I am stuck between my own dreams,

why should the earth detain me?

Careful, careful, careful.

Young Lord, you drank too much.

This humble one will help you

to get some rest.

Wait, wait, wait!

I like that dancer in red, Yueying,

Caiyao and Qingsi.

Call them all.

Young Lord, rest assured.

This aunt will call all the girls

you are fond of.

Very good.

Royal Highness, this...

What?

You changed the clothes but not the head?

Do you still not understand?

Let me tell you then.

This lively atmosphere

was prepared and crafted by Xue Mingyi

with the purpose to entertain those corrupt officials.

Fortunately, I have sent someone six months ago

to lurk around

and take care of everything.

Xue Mingyi wants to find evidence

of my illicit affair.

Royal Highness,

fortunately our people

got the news

about the wine

being drugged on time.

Deshun,

you are going to replace me tonight.

Enjoy yourself well.

When this luxurious place

wakes up tomorrow,

just pretend to have a hangover.

Ignore whoever will come in.

But

has Royal Highness

not ordered eleven

of those talented girls

to come and serve you?

I know that following me

all these years

was really hard on you.

When all the people come here,

just take them down one by one.

This will not do, Royal Highness.

This...

Although Royal Highness

saved Deshun

from being castrated when he was young

and Deshun is truly

grateful for it,

but

Deshun is only fond of Xia Lan.

I perceived it long ago.

Use your head and think about

some countermeasures then.

Do not let those dancers

take your virginity tonight.

Deshun,

everything depends on your skills tonight.

Come. You have to hold out till dawn.

Young Lord Xiao! Young Lord Xiao! Young Lord Xiao!

Young Lord Xiao...

Young Lord Xiao, we made you wait.

Young Lord Xiao!

Young Lord Xiao,

get up and drink some more.

What is it,

Young Lord Xiao?

Young Lord Xiao,

why do you refuse to look at us?

Do you think we are too ugly?

Is Young Lord Xiao perhaps tired?

This servant will make Young Lord Xiao

loosen his bones and muscles...

Young Lord Xiao, is it comfortable?

Servant is going to press your legs,

Hands, shoulders, feet,

and other places...

you absolutely cannot touch them!

All right!

Your Majesty has arrived!

Respectfully welcoming Your Majesty. Wishing Your Majesty peace and happiness.

Rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Is this the whole grain

in Jiangdu?

Replying to Your Majesty,

this is

the smallest granary in Jiangdu.

It can store 8 thousand stones of rice.

Why didn’t you take me

to the biggest granary then?

Other granaries are accessible by rough roads.

The journey would be long.

Therefore...

Jiangu is well-known

to be the largest grain store area

in Jiangnan.

it is enough to see the small granary

to get the big picture from small details.

it was very thoughtful of you, general Xue.

Your Majesty, please.

Did King of Rui wake up at Mu Chunxuan’s?

He did not leave the room yet.

it is time for him to make a fool of himself.

Say, they are all lying here

naked in the broad daylight.

What are they doing here?

These corrupt officials

are all Xue Mingyi’s men.

Yes.

Corrupt officials

run wild in this world.

Yes.

Corrupt officials will always be corrupt officials,

right?

Your Majesty,

this is only

the smallest granary in Jiangdu.

Your Majesty, please take a look.

This is the rice

we planted in Jiangdu.

The grains are full and fragrant.

It is all due to Your Majesty’s kindness.

it is a true blessing for people all over the world.

This eight thousand stones rice alone

is enough to solve the urgent issue

of the recent flood.

I will send someone immediately

to take charge of the distribution of the grain in the disaster area.

The granaries in other places

must also be

full of Great Lan’s grain.

If there is such abundance,

how can Great Lan b afraid of a calamity?

Your Majesty is wise.

Where is King of Rui?

Why did he not come here with you?

King of Rui has still the nature of a young lad.

he may have regarded this trip

as a sightseeing trip.

I am afraid that he is still plagued by a hangover

after yesterday’s singing and dancing.

Is that so?

Even I cannot change

Fifth Younger Brother’s nature.

I suddenly remembered

that it was me

who gave him a task to fulfil.

He is probably back in the capital already.

The success or failure depends on this night.

Fengqing,

are you sure that you can

return before dawn?

Imperial Brother, your brother will strain every nerve for it.

Ding Keyong.

Official is present.

Go to Jiangdu

and bring those fat rats

out of the granary.

I shall obey.

Reporting to Your Majesty,

the situation in several granaries outside the city

has been investigated.

The results are really shocking.

This official was shocked to the core.

There is not a grain in the whole warehouse,

but only sand and stones are stored.

What Xue Mingyi is going

to show Your Majesty tomorrow

is just a facade.

General-in-chief Xue, how are you going to explain this?

Your Majesty, to tell the truth,

this granary

caught a great fire a few days ago.

Coincidentally, the fire broke out

when I

have come for an inspection...

Hurry up and explain the situation

to His Majesty.

Fire...

Your Majesty,

There was

a big fire a few days ago.

The chief of vigil fell asleep

and accidentally knocked over the candle

that ignited the quilt.

The whole granary

was swallowed up by the fire.

Did someone perish

during the fire?

Yes. Yes.

The chief of the government went to put out the fire

but the wind was too strong that day.

He not only failed to put out the fire

but even several other granaries

caught the fire.

Yes, misfortunes really never come singly.

Complete nonsense.

Do you, courtiers,

still have me in your eyes?

It has been raining in Jiangnan for days.

Even if the fire had spread,

it would have been

extinguished by the rain.

How could the fire

engulf the whole granary?

Even if the granary did catch the fire,

who has put

sand and stones

in this granary?

It is a hundred times worse

than dereliction of duty!

Your Majesty

this official… acted on my own.

Your Majesty, spare my life.

You damned thing!

Your Majesty, it was this official’s poor supervision.

It is this official’s dereliction of duty.

I ask Your Majesty to be punished.

What should General-in-chief Xue

be guilty of?

I will have a fair ruling.

When King of Rui comes back

and reports that the missing grain

miraculously appeared

in General-in-chief’s mansion

or that it was embraced

by Jiangnan’s stunning beauty, Mu Chunxuan

where your subordinates

are being received every night,

then

you

will have to give me a proper explanation.

Reporting to the general,

nothing was found.

Keep searching.

Yes.

Xue Mingyi, this old scoundrel.

I didn’t expect the furnishings in his mansion

to be this shabby.

Even a seventh-grade county magistrate

would not be so spotless.

The Xue Family controlled military and political affairs for many years.

How can he have

such a great desire for power

if he is not a corrupt official?

I don’t believe it.

This does not show the mountain and not reveal the water (the key facts are hidden)

The secret must be hidden

in unexpected places.

You are not Xue Family’s soldiers.

What are you doing here?

Commander Xue.

This humble general is on duty.

Audacious!

How can you run wildly around Xue Mansion?

King of Rui and General Xue are inside.

King of Rui has ordered

that no one is allowed to approach

Xue Mansion with a half of a step.

Open your dog eyes carefully.

I am the imperial son-in-law

and the master of Xue Mansion.

Get out of the way.

Get out of the way!

General!

My father can accuse you of a capital offence!

I came here to search the mansion under the imperial decree.

My father and His Majesty

went to Jiangdu to inspect the granaries together.

You are just stabbing Xue Family

in the back.

Miao,

I know you hate me for taking Yunle

but your personal vendetta is truly despicable.

I do not care about your misunderstanding things.

I have only one thing to say to you.

Xue Family is getting deserved punishment today.

So what did you find?

Commander Xue,

do not blush and protest against the injustice.

Whatever we will find

we will let you know immediately.

But I have a hunch

that the secret hidden in here must be great,

Maybe His Majesty did not have to go to Jiangdu

to check the granaries

but come to the general’s mansion

close at hand insead.

Stop!

Commander Xue.

Commander Xue, did you not ask us

what did we find?

It is not an exaggeration

to describe the gold gathered here

as an unbeatable enemy.

I really cannot imagine

how many people’s flesh and blood

was meaninglessly buried behind this wall

because of your greed!

It’s… It's impossible.

I have never seen it before.

It seems that Xue Mingyi

is not an ordinary corrupt official.

He is greedy for not only wealth

but also power.

General.

King of Rui.

What is this?

Replying to King of Rui,

our people found

a secret tunnel in Xue Mingyi’s bedroom

leading to three

secret chambers

where all kinds of

rare treasures, calligraphy

and paintings were stored.

This notebook records

all the bribes taken by Xue Mingyi

from officials and dignitaries

throughout his life.

Commander Xue,

what is written in this book alone

is worth the one year

of hard work of the common people

from all over the world.

Xue Bi, how do you feel now?

His Majesty has lured the tiger out of the mountain.

(induced Xue Mingyi away from the mansion)

King of Rui has come all prepared.

As expected, General Xue lives up to the expectations.

General Miao.

Present.

Immediately go back to the palace

and lead the new army to keep watch on Xue Army.

Everything will be decided after His Majesty returns to the palace

Yes.

Commander Xue, please.

Imperial Grandmother,

can Ziyan go back to the palace?

Starting from today,

Ziyan will not go back to Yi Palace

but will stay with the imperial grandmother in Shangyuan Palace.

Come.

Don’t cry.

If Imperial Mother does not see Ziyan,

Ziyan will just continue to cry.

Imperial Mother, this female servant pays respects to the Imperial Mother.

Ziyan is tired.

He should take a nap at Shangyuan Palace.

Imperial Mother,

Ziyan is used to

sleep with this female servant since he was a child.

Allow this female servant to take him back.

You are my daughter-in-law

and you are also my niece.

You were able to become the empress

and his biological mother

thanks to me.

But I did not expect

that you would disappoint me

thich much.

This female servant was only faithfully fulfilling her duties.

You are too engrossed in your duties.

You failed to live up to my expectations.

I really never thought

that I have tolerated

a person who now

stands on the opposite side of me.

This female servant dares not.

Emperor is determined

to check Xue Mingyi.

Shaking Xue Family

is akin to shaking my foundation.

Could it be that the emperor’s wings

got harder

so he wants to replace me?

Imperial Mother,

His Majesty is your own flesh and blood.

Shut up!

Isn’t Yunle

His Majesty’s real younger sister?

Did you hesitate when you

ruined Yunle’s reputation

in order to keep a talented general

for your husband?

Did you think

you can hide it from me?

This female servant… this female servant had no other choice.

You thought you were

doing something fair.

Did you think that all will be forgotten

because Nie Wushuang took the blame for you?

This female servant has arranged everything properly.

You did not think that

when Nie Wushuang found

Dong'er and Xiao Chengzi

she would send them out of the palace

instead of exposing you.

But

now these two servants

can no longer open their mouths. (they are dead)

This female servant does not regret their deaths,

but I beg Imperial Mother to be kind to Ziyan.

Even a vicious tiger does not eat its cubs. (no one should ill-treat own children)

But Ziyan

is my sweetheart.

I want to personally instruct Ziyan

Whether you can become Empress Dowager

depends on how much you love Ziyan.

Were you not training the troops?

Why did you come back?

I beg Princess to save Xue Family.

Since when Xue Family needs

the protection of a pitiful princess?

This is really a matter of great importance.

King of Rui and Miao Minghu

are searching the Xue Mansion.

Only

Empress Dowager can

save my father

and Xue Family now.

It is better for the imperial son-in-law to ask Empress Dowager alone.

Imperial Mother has no place

for me in her heart now.

Yunle...

Princess...

I am calling you princess

Even if you hate Xue Bi,

you are still Xue Family’s daughter-in-law.

As long as Princess can make this errand for Xue Family,

Xue Bi will do anything you want.

Empress Dowager

Your Majesty is searching the General Xue’s home.

general Xue was apprehended

by His Majesty on the way.

He will be handed over

to the Court of Judicial Review immediately upon return.

Will Empress Dowager allow Grand Marshal Xu

and people from the Ministry of Punishments

to discuss the best solution

to rescue General Xue?

King of Rui will find certain evidence

in Xue Mingyi’s house.

Each and every stain on Xue Mingyi’ court dress

is enough for him to lose his head.

If one is to blame, then only he,

as he was usually too greedy

and was letting his guard down too easily.

But this humble one is afraid

that when the radish is plucked out, the mud will fly all

over the place (he will implicate others when in danger)

If General Xue reveals

our intentions...

Impossible.

Although I hate how Xue Mingyi

is usually carrying matters with a high hand,

but he is still a man of indomitable spirit

when carrying out the tasks.

I would be more worried

if it was Xu Huanshan

But

Xue Family’ Young Lord

is Princess Yunle’s imperial son-in-law.

Is Empress Dowager

not worried about

Young Lord Xue’s situation?

Xue Bi is Xue Mingyi’s

most valued son.

Xue Mingyi will definitely

prepare an escape route for him.

According to emperor’s personality,

he won’t make things hard for Yunle.

he will definitely let Xue Bi off.

Will Empress Dowager let His Majesty

pull General Xue down?

Since the emperor has swallowed my horse,

do not blame me

for ruining his general.

We will pull Xue Mingyi down.

Emperor wants to take advantage

of the vacancy of general talents

to help Miao Minghu take the upper position

to balance my power.

According to Empress Dowager,

what should we do?

Make thing beautifully.

I want Miao Minghu’s body

to stay intact.

Miao Minghu is skilled in martial arts.

If he dies a violent death,

will His Majesty be willing to accept it?

Dead people cannot talk

and no one will speak for the dead.

I just want them

to be convinced of the result.

This humble one will definitely do it.

Empress Dowager, this is bad.

It was Princess Yunle.

Why don’t we first bring

Princess Yunle back

and have her temporarily stay in the Shangyuan Palace?

No, let her go.

Yunle is my princess.

I naturally understand her.

it is easy to predict

what she will

eventually do.

Yes.

Eunuch Li.

Zhaoyi Nie,

by Empress Dowager’s order,

Zhaoyi is asked to move to another palace.

I do not know where Empress Dowager wants Wushuang to go?

This humble one is only following

Empress Dowager’s order.

I ask Zhaoyi Nie to move.

Zhaoyi

King of Rui and Commander Miao

has searched Xue Familytoday.

I am afraid Empress Dowager’s summon is a trick.

This matter cannot be avoided.

Eunuch Li, please wait a minute.

Wushuang, will come with you

after finishing something.

- Elder Sister… - Zhaoyi...

You do not have to follow me.

If something happens,

tell Your Majesty and King of Rui

that Wushuang will repay their kindness

in the afterlife.

Elder Sister!

Interesting.

It seems that there is going to be

a good show in the palace.

Elder Brother Miao, hurry and leave.

otherwise, it will be too late.

Princess... Princess!

What on earth happened?

My Imperial Mother wants to make a punitive expedition against you.

All imperial palace experts await her orders.

If you delay it any longer, you won’t be able to escape.

Hurry up and leave.

I have a clear conscience.

Why should I run away?

Elder Brother Miao,

I am living

like a dead person already

but I forbid you to die.

I want you to live well.

Go!

Princess!

By Empress Dowager’ order,

Miao Minghu abducted

Princess Yunle to elope with her.

He is to be taken to Shangyuan Palace immediately.

Imperial Mother, daughter begs you.

Let Elder Brother Miao off.

Miao Minghu conduct is improper

and mis moral integrity is lacking.

He seduced Princess Yunle

and conspired to elope with her.

My hatred for you

will only cede when I kill you.

Guards!

Execute this rogue on the spot!

Imperial Mother, you cannot!

It is just a venomous slander!

Miao Minghu you are a Li’s rebel.

Your Majesty and Great Lan have treated you well.

Instead of being grateful,

you defiled

Princess Yunle’s innocence

If I don’t kill you,

how can Yunle face her

husband and his family in the future?

Imperial Mother, it is not what you think.

I have nothing to do with Elder Brother Miao!

Princess!

Empress Dowager,

this female servant thinks that the Princess is exhausted.

Let us take her to take some rest first.

Miao Minghu, you deserve to die.

I will explain everything to His Majesty!

Stop it!

His Majesty’s gold plate is here.

Seeing this plate is like seeing the monarch.

Who dares

to slay a court general at wil here?

Cut him down!

I will bear

all the consequences.

Empress Dowager

But Zhaoyi Nie has

His Majesty’s gold plate.

We dare not disobey her orders.

What a great imperial son I have.

Emperor even have you his

golden plate.

Zhaoyi does not have to plead for me.

I am

I rise above the fear.

What a great act that defies human and divine laws.

Miao Minghu seduced Yunle

The facts are all there.

I just wanted to see

who your collaborator was.

Nie Wushuang,

do not think

you can run wild in front of me

with the protection of the emperor’s gold plate.

Zhaoyi Nie is truly courageous.

She is willing to give her life

to protect someone unrelated to her.

Concubine Du, what is your opinion on this matter?

This female servant dares not

hoodwink Empress Dowager any more.

This female servant一 has always been

unsure whether Zhaoyi Nie

is the person that this female servant thinks she is.

She does not have to confess it anymore.

This female servant has always wondered

why does Nie Wushuang

looks exactly like Li State’s fugitive,

Miao Qianqian.

It seems

that they both sneaked into the Lan Palace

concealing their identity.

This is truly sinister.

They are both

Li State’s traitors.

this female servant pleads with Empress Dowager

to not show them mercy

for the sake of my Imperial Brother and Great Li.

Very well.

You still dare to resist?

Imperial Mother,

Miao Minghu is an important official of the imperial court.

Moreover, Your Majesty’s

gold plate is here.

Why don’t we take them into custody

until His Majesty returns.

Release the arrows!

King of Rui!

Witchcraft!

Evildoer!

You finally revealed your true nature!

Shoot the arrows again!

Carry on!

Wushuang

King of Rui!

It is not that easy

to kill me!

I have long expected you to play this trick

but I did not expect that you would not

even let your own daughter off!

Don’t be too happy.

King of Rui has shielded the traitors

and is to be punished for their crimes.

If you do not step down,

I am afraid endless arrows

will finally pierce your heart.

King of Rui, I have got you both into trouble.

it seems that we are going

to die here together today.

No one can die.

What are you still doing?

Shoot all these traitors

from Li State down for me!

Dragon Shadows, withdraw!

Thankfully, Fifth Younger Brother arrived in time.

How is your injury.

It is but a small wound.

I thank Imperial Brother for your concern.

In addition to the new army,

Your Majesty has also a group

of unknown dragon shadows.

It really gave me a scare.

Who can tell me

what happened today?

Miao Minghu, this traitor

actually dared to take Princess Yunle away.

King of Rui’s Consort,

is there something wrong with Princess Yunle?

Replying to Empress Dowager,

Princess was short of breath

and fainted.

She will wake up after a short rest.

Imperial Mother

said that Miao Minghu wanted to elope with Yunle.

Who can testify

since Yunle is unconscious now?

Fifth Younger Brother, was that the case?

Replying to Imperial Brother,

Empress Dowager is a hypocrite.

She used Princess Yunle as a bait

to accuse Miao Minghu

of seducing the Princess and eloping with her.

Zhaoyi Nie has defended General Miao on her own.

Younger brother has arrived just in time

and gave Empress Dowager an excuse

to kill three birds with one arrow.

She said that younger brother committed capital offence by colluding with others.

She wanted to execute the criminals first and report to the emperor afterwards

to uproot younger brother and other persons

that are thorns in her flesh.

I know

you have had a hard life since you were a child.

I did have a hard life.

I made Empress Dowager disappointed.

Your Majesty,

will you only listen to King of Rui’s

side of the story?

Imperial Mother,

Yunle is still unconscious.

Once she wakes up,

the truth will naturally come up.

I will handle it impartially now.

Princess Yunle got frightened today

and she fainted.

I wanted to enforce the law

for the sake of the state princes

and my own daughter’s reputation.

Imperial Mother, I will personally question Yunle

when she wakes up.

Imperial Mother, why do you have to handle this case with undue haste?

Your Majesty, not only this female servant

but everyone saw it with their own eyes.

This Miao Minghu captured Princess Yunle

and wanted to escape from the palace.

We were definitely not mistaken.

Concubine Du, can you prove that two persons

that you saw leaving

were really

Miao Minghu with the captured Princess?

This female servant has the proof.

This Miao Minghu

is Nie Wushuang’s biological elder brother.

And Nie Wushuang is just her assumed name

as she is Li State’s traitor, Miao Qianqian.

She must have plotted to sneak into the palace

and conceal her identity.

The two of them must be accomplices.

So actually something like this happened?

Unexpectedly, I was not aware of this.

Zhaoyi Nie, you hid yourself deep enough.

Concubine Du,

do you know how framing imperial concubine

is being punished?

Your Majesty, this female servant is not framing her.

This female servant has evidence.

What kind of evidence?

this female servant heard that

when Gu Qinghong was pursuing her,

he shot

Miao Qianqian with an arrow.

The arrow wound happens to be

on her back.

To confirm whether Nie Wushuang

is Miao Qianqian or not,

just let her take her clothes off

and show us her back

so we can see if there is a scar

on it or not.

Audacious!

How dare you let my beloved concubine

bare her neck and shoulders under the watchful eyes

of people?!

This matter is of great importance.

Your Majesty,

I know you dote on Zhaoyi Nie,

but this matter concerns

Great Lan’s national prestige.

And who brought Zhaoyi Nie

into the palace in the first place?

What was the purpose behind it...

Your Majesty, calm your anger.

How about this female servant

leads Zhaoyi Nie to a secluded place

for undressing and examination?

I am the paragon of motherhood,

I will definitely handle this matter fairly.

I shall trouble the Empress then.

Your Majesty, this official’s wife is skilled in art of healing,

she can identify scars.

She therefore asks ask that

to be allowed to go with Her Majesty.

It would be good if King of Rui’s Consort

can accompany the Empress.

Yes.

King of Rui’s Consort

just wait here.

Your Majesty

it will be better for this official’s wife

to go with you.

It is naturally your speciality

to observe things.

But taking off clothes

has nothing to do with you.

I will personally check it.

What a delicate lotus flower.

When was it made?

When I was learning the craft in a foreign land.

My master tattooed it.

He is not inferior

from the imperial masters in painting.

Zhaoyi Nie has always had strange encounters.

This lotus flower was drawn

to cover up the scar.

You took the blame

for Yunle’s matter.

I will pay you back for it today.

Wushuang understands.

Everything Your Majesty did

was your last resort.

Unfortunately, while trying to help His Majesty

to keep Miao Minghu

I was ignorant

and made a foolish choice.

Yunle hates you,

but I will never be able

to forgive myself.

I, the imperial sister-in-law,

do not even dare to look at

Yunle again.

My inner remorse seems to have no bounds.

Your Majesty, rest assured.

Dong'er and eunuch Xiao Chengzi

went abroad

and should not go back to the palace.

Yes.

Empress Dowager got rid of

both of them completely.

Empress Dowager is my aunt.

She would naturally not expose me.

On the contrary,

I became her pawn as she is threatening me now.

it is the Empress Dowager who is keeping the Eldest Prince

at Shangyuan Palace all the time.

Zhaoyi Nie,

I will save you today

because I always felt that you

were a woman who grew up in the north.

There is a courage in you

that I have never seen before.

If I really get rid of you,

I am afraid that

no one in this palace can really

support His Majesty and love His Majesty.

Your Majesty...