Original subtitles

♫ Those people, those affairs, those palace doors ♫

♫ One step into the commotions of this world ♫

♫ Listen to the wind, listen to the rain, listen to the endless ups and downs of life ♫

♫ Destiny indeed loves us ♫

♫ Look at the dreams sealed by the kiss of time ♫

♫ Remember half the life that’s already been lived ♫

♫ In these red walls, remains one person ♫

♫ Wait for the dead of the night, wait for eternity ♫

♫ If the world is a storm, then everything in it must take refuge ♫

♫ I’ll go with you ♫

♫ Traveling across thousands of mountains, don’t be afraid of the wasteland ♫

♫ There’ll be flowers on the side of the path ♫

♫ Love and hate are too messy; simply coming and going ♫

♫ The winds and clouds have not dissipated ♫

♫ Spring and fall are long; I can finally wander this mortal world with you ♫

[Rebel Princess]

[Episode 23]

You didn’t find her?

What about my secret letters with Duke Huan?

The secret letters! The secret letters! What about them?

The secret letters! The secret letters!

What about the secret letters?

Where are my secret letters?

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by The Emperor’s Conquests@ Viki.com

What person did this? Who did this?

According to what I saw of his clothing and skills,

it must be...

- it must be— - Speak!

A spy from the Wang clan.

From now on,

don’t blame me for being cruel and ruthless.

Princess Consort.

Is he back?

Not yet.

I already sent people to search, other spies are still looking.

Also, we couldn’t find any traces of Pang Gui.

Watch over Huan Mi.

This is definitely related to her.

Yes!

[Taiji Hall]

The reason I summoned you here today is because of a memorial.

Now that I’m supervising the country, I must listen to the officials.

I wonder, what memorial is Crown Prince talking about?

A lot of memorials. They’re coming from everywhere.

They all mention how my imperial father hasn’t returned to his position in a long time.

I have been looking for it first,

thankfully Prime Minister has acted as regent and kept our country prosperous and peaceful.

As a form of veneration, I would like Prime Minister

to confer the awards during the Ceremony of the Nine Bestowments.

What do you all have to say about this?

Imperial Father, rest assured.

All the people in the palace are mine.

The Wang clan believes they control everything,

but they don’t know I used Imperial Father’s token

to secretly ambush the armed troops.

The Ceremony of the Nine Bestowments...

Wang Lin, Wang Lin.

You must wake up from your dream.

You two, I still don’t understand...

This fight must be your Duke Huan listening to our prince.

Or should it be our prince listening to Duke Huan?

Joining forces to attack.

Our prince already planned on setting camp at Mount Xiao.

But Duke Huan wants us to set camp in Guiwu Valley?

What for?

General Hu, Duke Huan means that Guwu Valley is a strategic location with difficult access.

- Easy to guard, hard to attack. It’s an excellent place to pitch camp. - Precisely.

Prince Jianning is very well versed in military tactics.

If it’s such a great place, why doesn’t he pitch camp there first?

Let’s just go to Mount Xiao to pitch camp, Prince.

Let’s go to Guiwu Valley.

Prince...

Duke Huan knows sandy terrain well.

There must be a more profound meaning behind this arrangement.

We will follow Duke Huan’s plan.

The entire army will hasten to Guiwu Valley before the sun sets tomorrow.

- Yes, Your Highness. - Yes, Your Highness. - Yes, Your Highness.

Duke Huan, our two generals, Lin and Huang have news for us.

They said Xiao Qi’s troops have already been stationed at the eastern entrance of Guiwu Valley.

Good!

Now that they’re in our pockets, they can forget about making it out alive!

- Quickly, relay this piece of news to Prince Jianning. - Yes, My Lord.

Also, instruct Generals Lin and Huang to ascertain the true intentions of the Ningshuo Army.

Yes.

Your Highness!

Your Highness. Our soldiers have already made the proper arrangements.

You’ve been working tirelessly the whole day. You should get some rest.

But, Your Highness, I’ve been thinking.

What will happen

when Prince Jianning finds out our troops are stationed at Guiwu Valley?

Will he take advantage of our unsteady footing and launch a serious attack on us?

He doesn’t even need to do that.

All he has to do is block the mouth of the valley and we’ll all become tortoises stuck in the neck of a jar.

Your Highness!

Your Highness! Prince Jianning’s forces are outside.

Damn. That’s a lot of soldiers.

Your Highness, the scouts I’ve sent out have reported back.

Prince Jianning already occupies the surrounding mountain passes.

They’ve already gotten into formation and hemmed us in.

We’ve been encircled yet they aren’t attacking us?

Prince Jianning, make your move!

We’ve only just stopped over here for a short period of time and they’ve already encircled us.

Isn’t he a little too well-informed?

That’s because they have planted moles in our camp.

Send someone to report the rebel force’s movements to Duke Huan.

Request for him and his troops to be on standby.

Yes.

Yao’er.

Xiao Qi thinks that he can conceal his military situation

by borrowing within the thick fog surrounding Guiwu Valley.

This time, I will make him lift a rock

only to drop it on his own feet.

General Wuwei, Her Majesty the Empress has pressing matters to discuss with you.

General, please go to Zhaoyang Hall at once.

What is it?

It regards the prime minister. To Her Majesty, it sounds as if he’ll confer the awards at the Ceremony of the Nine Bestowments.

She wishes to discuss it with you.

Fine. I’ll head there immediately.

Yes, General.

The rest of you, continue patrolling the premises.

The two of you will follow me.

- Yes, General. - Yes, General.

Aren’t the sounds of this bell-ringing coming from Taiji Hall?

Why are they ringing at this time?

Your Majesty, you are not mistaken.

Guards!

Here.

Ready the troops and horses.

Yes.

Imperial Father!

Let’s head to Shiqian Hall.

Yes.

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!

- Your Majesty. - Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

- Your Majesty! - Your Majesty!

Imperial Father!

Imperial Father.

Imperial Father...

Prime Minister.

Have you forgotten how to greet His Majesty?

His Majesty is gravely ill and is delirious.

He has already become powerless and is unable to save his nation from danger or govern it.

Second Prince, in forcing His Majesty to come to court,

what is your intention?

I’ve long known that Prime Minister is adept at being the thief who cries wolf.

That is indeed true.

Ministers!

My imperial father sits above this Imperial Court perfectly fine.

Yet Prime Minister says that His Majesty is gravely ill.

How should we punish this act of rebellion?

Prime Minister.

I am fine.

Does this disappoint you?

Regarding Your Majesty’s health, the imperial doctors have already given their diagnosis.

Prime Minister, the imperial doctors have long been your minions.

Otherwise, how would you have been able to poison my imperial father for such a long period of time?

You...

Imperial Father!

What Zilu said is not wrong.

If Xue Dao’an had not discovered it early,

I fear that I...

would have already satisfied his wishes

and become a real fool.

I fear His Majesty has become sick again.

Guards!

Escort His Majesty to Shiqian Hall to rest.

Prime Minister, you couldn’t possibly believe that I, without any preparations,

would dare to confront you in Taiji Hall today.

Such a commotion! Turns out you were the instigator.

Your Majesty the Empress has come?

Excellent timing.

Wang Lin! You have committed treason and heresy!

He poisoned the emperor many times.

The empress murdered Noble Consort Xie by poison. She cannot be excused either!

The entire Wang clan will be arrested!

I’ll see who dares.

Prime Minister, I never thought

you’d possess any remaining prestige seeing where matters stand now.

I really admire you.

Admire you.

Second Prince,

do you really believe that with just a few men and horses here today,

you’d be able to hide the truth from the masses?

The entire Imperial City

has already been firmly surrounded by the troops from the capital city and its surrounding areas.

Even if you take down the empress and me today,

it’ll be difficult for you to escape, even if you had wings on your back.

Prime Minister, you’ll really never shed a tear until you see your own coffin.

- General Wuwei, where are you? - I am present!

- Uncle! - They killed Wang Xu?

Imperial Mother!

Imperial Mother.

Reporting to His Majesty and His Highness, Second Prince.

Wang Xu committed treason and has already been dealt with.

We have followed Your Majesty’s orders

and assumed control of the Imperial Guard and the defenders of the capital.

- You are dismissed. - Yes, Your Majesty.

Take His Lordship the Prime Minister and Her Majesty, the Empress.

Also, this useless weakling of a crown prince and throw them into the imperial prison.

As for the other social climbing members of the Wang family,

there isn’t enough room in the imperial prison to hold them all,

so they will be imprisoned here in Taiji Hall.

Your Majesty! We have been treated unjustly!

Who else is making that noise!

I don’t mind killing a few more of you as an offering to the heavens,

if any of you dare to agitate my imperial father again!

Zilu.

Don’t be happy too early.

It is only natural that one is called king if one is successful and one is called an invader if one is defeated.

But when it comes to your schemes,

I am very clear...

Your imperial father also understands your schemes well.

Fine.

I will be watching both father and son from the imperial prison.

I will be watching and waiting for you both to put on a very good show.

Help me up.

Imperial Father.

[The Prince’s Manor]

How dare you!

This is Prince Yuzhang’s manor. You dare to come here with troops?

So what if it is Prince Yuzhang’s manor?

Are you telling me all these people here are allowed to ignore His Majesty’s decree?

The emperor has decreed that Princess Consort Yuzhang enter the palace.

- Where is the imperial decree? - Who do you think you are?

Why should you care? Quickly summon Princess Consort Yuzhang out here!

Our princess consort isn’t going anywhere without the imperial decree!

Presumptuous!

You... Are you disobeying a decreed order?

Come! Arrest them all!

I’ll see who dares!

Stop it!

Why such a commotion over having me enter the palace?

If I don’t go, will you destroy this manor of mine?

Greetings, Princess Consort.

Such arrogance. By whose order are you here?

The emperor has personally given these verbal instructions. He has summoned you to enter the palace.

The emperor?

The emperor is gravely ill and mentally disturbed.

How could he issue such a decree?

As for why... Your Highness will find out once you enter the palace.

Besides, your family is in the palace, too.

Princess Consort, you should spare a thought for them, at least.

An imperial decree cannot be violated.

Princess Consort, if you insist on remaining here,

then this insignificant one... will just have to order someone to carry you into the palace.

What impudence! You’ll have to see whether we soldiers agree to the Princess Consort being taken away first!

Wait!

I’ll leave with you.

Princess Consort!

As expected. You’re an intelligent person, Princess Consort.

General Song.

Princess Consort, how could you agree to go with them? You mustn’t go.

Right now, their many hands provide great strength.

Even if our men go all out, at the risk of their lives, it’ll be impossible to obstruct them.

I don’t wish for them to die in vain.

I won’t let them take you away even if our army is completely wiped out.

The Imperial Guard have been dispatched.

I’m afraid the palace is undergoing a great upheaval.

And besides, all of my family members are indeed at the palace.

- But if His Highness... If His Highness comes to know– - He will understand.

We’re running out of time.

You need to think of a way to get a letter to His Highness.

One more thing. I’m leaving the safety of everyone in the manor to you.

Take good care of Yu Xiu.

Princess Consort.

Princess Consort, do not worry. I will not fail to accomplish my mission.

Thank you very much, General Song.

Princess Consort, this way, please.

Hold it! The emperor has decreed that the Princess Consort will enter the palace alone.

Princess Consort...

Let’s go!

We succeeded this time all thanks to you.

But the foundations of the Wang family run quite deep.

If you wish to fully eliminate them, then you will require one more thing.

Are you referring to the Tiger Tally? (Tiger Tally - used to command and dispatch armies)

The problem is, the Tiger Tally...

The Tiger Tally is not in the palace.

It’s not in the palace?

It’s not.

How is that possible?

If it were in the palace, wouldn’t it have been discovered by Wang Lin and the empress by now?

Then, Imperial Father, could you tell me

where the Tiger Tally is exactly?

Imperial Father...

How can the military forces in the capital and its surrounding areas

be mobilized without the Tiger Tally?

Imperial Father!

This is our last chance.

The Tiger Tally...

has already gone missing along with the Imperial Jade Seal.

[Duke of Zhenguo’s Manor]

Who are you people? How dare you surround Prime Minister’s manor!

Who would be so bold as to do such a thing!

I don’t think there’s a point in waiting any longer.

Maybe His Highness the Third Prince already got wind of the news and has fled the capital.

I beg to differ.

Second Prince’s movements were as sudden as lightning.

No one in the capital could’ve seen this coming.

This rake of a prince, who has always been unremarkable, actually managed to be so relentless and thorough.

If there was even a hint of an oversight,

today’s events wouldn’t have taken place so smoothly.

Perhaps His Highness the Third Prince has only gone out and not returned yet.

Where could His Highness the Third Prince be?

Could he have...

- Move quickly! - Stop!

Don’t you dare touch me!

I am the crown princess consort. How dare you be so impertinent!

The empress and the crown prince have already been imprisoned.

Obviously, you’re going to accompany them to the Imperial prison since you’re the crown princess consort!

- Take her away! - Yes, Sir!

Crown Princess Consort! Crown Princess Consort!

Who’s there? [The Prince’s Manor]

Go and take a look!

It’s Lord Pang! Quickly, help him in!

- Report! - Speak!

General Song, Lord Pang, Pang Gui has returned!

He’s sustained severe injuries and is right outside.

Pang Gui. Pang Gui!

- Carry on guarding the manor! Summon the medical officer! - Yes, Sir!

Here. Quickly.

That’s a very deep cut. He must’ve endured a fierce battle in order to return.

It must’ve been terribly challenging.

Tell... Princess Consort...

T-Tell... Princess Consort...

Pang Gui.

It’s me, Song Huai’en.

Tell Princess Consort...

The Second Prince... is planning to commit treason...

and... Duke Huan...

i-is in cahoots with him...

Didn’t Duke Huan follow the prime minister’s orders to provide assistance to His Highness?

This is their... conspiracy...

I came across... some missives between him and Duke Huan...

in Second Prince’s... secret room...

They are colluding with... Prince Jianning.

They’re planning to harm His Highness!

This won’t do.

This is terrible!

Wait for the medical officer!

- Miss Jin’er. - Is His Highness the Third Prince in there?

He is.

Miss Jin’er. Miss Jin’er!

Your Highness the Third Prince!

- Your Highness the Third Prince! - Miss Jin’er!

Something terrible has happened in the palace.

Jin’er? What’s happened?

Prince Yuzhang’s manor and Prime Minister’s manor have been surrounded by guards.

- What did you say? - Princess Consort... has been taken into the palace.

A’Wu has been taken into the palace? How could this have happened?

Her Highness has the protection of the prime minister. You should find a way to escape from all this.

A’Wu is in danger yet you want me to flee?

Your Highness! I know I don’t deserve to be with you,

but my only wish is for you to be safe and sound.

Leave quickly. If you don’t leave now, it’ll be too late!

I’ve already missed her once.

I will not miss her again.

- Prepare the carriage! - Yes, Your Highness.

[Yibu Pavilion] (’Yibu’ – one step, ’Pavilion’ – with a view)

Your Highness the Third Prince!

Princess Consort, please alight from the carriage.

Security is extremely tight. Something must be going on here.

- We will follow the plan accordingly. - Let’s go.

This is a restricted area! Generals, please stop.

What is that din in there?

I want to go in there and take a look!

I’m talking to you.

Are you deaf?

Generals, the Ningshuo Army only takes orders from His Highness.

Either side must not divulge their military plans.

Violators will be punished according to martial law.

Those rules only apply to the Ningshuo Army.

Don’t forget, the troops from our Huan family

- are also inside Guiwu Valley. - That’s right!

You would’ve long drunk only the northwest wind

had it not been for the army provisions we transported over here. (T/N: Idiom – have nothing to eat)

What’s the matter?

You wish to remove the bridge now that you’ve crossed the river? (T/N: Idiom – to be ungrateful)

- I don’t believe His Highness has ever considered us his allies. - That’s right!

You guard against every area. We’re forbidden from entering this area and that area.

I must enter this place today!

I’ll see who dares to obstruct us!

- Let’s go. - You cannot!

Where is Prince Yuzhang?

- I want Prince Yuzhang to give me an explanation for this! - Summon Prince Yuzhang!

Be quick about it!

Your Highness.

- Y-Your Highness. - Your Highness.

You imbibed wine during a battle and disturbed military order.

You even entered a restricted area and almost came to blows with your comrades.

You’d be receiving a damned death sentence no matter which martial law you violated.

- Believe me when I say I’ll decapitate both of you right now! - Your Highness!

- Your Highness, please forgive me. - Your Highness, please forgive me.

This lesser commander was not aware of the rules in the Ningshuo Army. I became drunk and befuddled.

Your Highness, please be merciful!

- Your Highness, please be merciful! - Your Highness, please be merciful! Your Highness, please be merciful!

You are Duke Huan’s subordinates. You are exempt from the death sentence.

Instead, you will be flogged 100 times with a military staff.

- Men, drag them away. - Yes, Your Highness!

- Your Highness, please be merciful! - Your Highness, please be merciful!

- This lesser commander won’t do it again! - This lesser commander won’t do it again! Your Highness!

- Your Highness, please be merciful! - Your Highness, please be merciful!

- This lesser commander won’t do it again! - Your Highness, please be merciful!

Your Highness, those two are Duke Huan’s subordinates after all.

Won’t Duke Huan harbor a grudge against us because of this incident?

I would really like to know how he’ll react after this.

How’s our progress so far?

- It should be completed by tomorrow night. - Good.

Why are we constructing such an enormous war chariot?

You’ll understand when the time comes.

Prime Minister, Prime Minister!

“The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.” (To pursue a narrow gain while neglecting a greater danger)

Prime Minister.

I trust you have been well since we parted last?

Bottoms up! Bottoms up!

Water!

Go away! Go away!

I’m the crown prince, I wish to have some water!

Crying and more crying! All you know is crying.

Imperial Mother, don’t chastise Wanru for crying.

Even I feel like crying!

Imperial Mother! How did we fall into such a plight?

Imperial Empress, don’t tell me Zilu was telling the truth?

Did you and Uncle really poison Imperial Father?

Shut your mouth! Whose sake do you think we were doing it for?

If you had made something of yourself, would I have fallen into such a sorry state?

- Imperial Mother... - Guards!

Guards!

I want to meet with Zilu! I want to meet with the emperor!

Guards!

Why have you brought me to Fengchi Palace? Where is the emperor?

Everything has been arranged by His Respected Highness the Second Prince.

His Highness the Second Prince has instructed us to treat Princess Consort Yuzhang

with the utmost hospitality here in Fengchi Palace.

Zilu?

Princess Consort, you may not be aware of it,

but in the future, whatever His Highness the Second Prince dictates goes.

What insolence! Take me to the emperor.

Younger Sister A’Wu.

What’s the matter?

Do you not recognize me now that you’re no longer by the emperor’s side?

What have you done?

I have done what needed to be done.

But fret not, everything is just fine.

Where is Emperor Uncle?

My imperial father is very well.

He is still at Shiqian Hall recuperating in peace.

Are you plotting to usurp the throne?

Younger Sister A’Wu,

all I’m doing is helping Imperial Father quell the armed rebellion initiated by Wang Lin, that treacherous minister.

My father initiated an armed rebellion?

Everyone is aware of Wang Lin’s ambition.

Even you, A’Wu, are a pawn in his bid for power, are you not?

Where is my father?

They’ve already been sent to the imperial prison and are being treated with the utmost hospitality.

“They”?

Who else is there?

The empress, Zilong,

your family members from the Wang clan, and Lady Xie.

All the nobles of the landed gentry.

All those who opposed me have been imprisoned.

Zilu, I don’t know who you are anymore.

You don’t know who I am?

When have any of you known the real me?

You may think you’ve gotten everything

by gaining temporary control of the palace and the capital.

You’re wrong. Once Prince Yuzhang has eliminated Prince Jianning,

he’ll definitely stop you from committing all sorts of atrocities.

Xiao Qi? All right.

I would be very curious about the outcome if that day were to truly come.

Younger Sister A’Wu.

Imagine if His Highness, that ruthless iron-masked killer of enemies on the battlefield,

were to see his beloved woman being suspended from the city gate’s tower.

Tell me, A’Wu.

Would he choose the death of his beloved woman

or would he choose to lay down his weapons and surrender?

If I end up becoming a burden, I’d rather commit suicide by cutting my own throat

than let you have your way.

Stop right there! What is your purpose here?

You may go.

Timing and Subtitles brought to you by The Emperor’s Conquests@ Viki.com

Reporting to Your Highness.

The Heir Apparent of the Wang clan and the Heir Apparent’s Consort have already been arrested and brought to the palace.

Heir Apparent and Prime Minister have been placed in the same cell.

As per your instructions, Heir Apparent’s Consort has been placed in the side palace hall.

You are courting death.

This lesser commander should be put to death! This lesser commander should be put to death!

You should be put to death.

Huan Mi is not the Heir Apparent Consort of the Wang family.

She is a princess of the Huan family. Do you understand it now?

This lesser commander will never forget it!

Very good.

Send some servants to Zhaoyang Hall and replace all the items there.

Then invite the young lady from the Huan family to stay in Zhaoyang Hall.

Then... what about the empress’s bed–

This lesser commander will obey.

Reporting to Your Highness.

This lesser commander brought our men on imperial orders to defend the manor residence of His Highness the Third Prince,

but His Highness the Third Prince was not in his manor.

No one knows where he has gone to either. And he still hasn’t returned today.

This lesser commander suspects that... His Highness the Third Prince might have already fled.

Reporting to your Highness!

The Third Prince... The Third Prince has entered the palace of his own accord.

♫ The fear of rain and tears stain your plume ♫

♫ Time chases the distance of soldiers ♫

♫ There is still a limit to what you can miss ♫

♫ Why are there guests in this world? ♫

♫ Tears can be deceiving, love is hard to fake ♫

♫ I hear the wind withers and dies as if it’s singing a thousand songs of sadness ♫

♫ In my dreams, I see you smiling like a painting ♫

♫ I’ll be going to you on my horse ♫

♫ Return to your gentleness ♫

♫ I can’t let go of my heart, I can’t let go ♫

♫ Waiting for the sea to changed and wash away the burden ♫

♫ Spend time with you ♫

♫ Because of you, I’ve lived a lifetime of prosperity ♫

♫ Waiting for the sea clouds to fade away ♫

♫ Home at all corners of the earth ♫

♫ We will meet again in spring, autumn, winter, and summer ♫

♫ For us, the moment that we’ve met ♫

♫ With the pace of a lifetime ♫

♫ To struggle, to worry ♫

♫ I will leave the world for your promise ♫

♫ Waiting for the sea to wash away the lead ♫

♫ Spend time with you ♫

♫ Because of you, I’ve lived a lifetime of prosperity♫

♫ When the sea has changed, the universe will already be changed ♫

♫ Home at all corners of the earth ♫

♫ We meet again in spring, autumn, winter, and summer ♫