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Previously...Skip to 7:05 to start EP. 29

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would only allow for all the persons present at court

would only allow for all the persons present at court

to believe that we of Shu blindly climb the social ladder.

Di Lian bids farewell.

Imperial brother, let's return to Shu Kingdom.

Emperor please forgive, I also bid farewell.

Hold it.

Is this a joke?

And I was thinking that the men of Northern Han

were of such boldness and power.

But as it turns out all are timid as mice.

Fearing that an instance of carelessness,

their preposterous nature would be revealed.

Explain yourself to me.

Meng Qi Yun,

you can return to your Kingdom now and debrief.

The Princess Di Lian, I will keep.

I would like to see

the face of this young woman,

which can overturn a Kingdom

or bring disaster upon the country and the people.

I thank your Majesty.

What?

The Emperor has accepted Princess Di Lian

into the Imperial harem?

This Princess Di Lian

is not at all simple.

The Emperor is keeping her

and has arranged for her to stay at Hong Luan Palace.

He has been enamoured by this girl's words.

Xiang Yun.

Yes?

Don't think too much of this matter.

I think

the Emperor,

for the sake of peace between Shu and Northern Han,

has decided to do this.

In this rare show of the Emperor to put Kingdom first,

by doing this

he's also acting for the good of

the common people.

Imperial mother is right.

The abundant Imperial harem, to begin with,

has always been my Kings responsibility.

So how could I,

over the small matter of an extra concubine,

be bitter and worried?

This mentality of yours is good.

Imperial mother,

Princess Di Lian is new to these surroundings.

There must be many things she won't be used to yet.

So I shall delegate someone

to make some necessary preparations for her.

I will take my leave now.

That's good.

She's now married into our Northern Han family.

If we neglect etiquette,

then we'll seem petty.

Yes.

Go on.

This must be tough on her.

Your Highness,

are you really not at all worried?

What have I to be worried about?

The Emperor's recent military campaign

was started for the purpose of rescuing Ma Fu Ya.

But he came home empty-handed.

I am too happy for words.

But this Princess Di Lian. . . ?

She should be the one that's worried.

Matrimony?

More like the road to death.

I have strived so hard all these years

but failed to make any impact on the Emperor's heart.

So I don't believe that this Princess Di Lian

can surpass me in terms of

determination and patience.

Exactly.

Milady has served the Emperor for so many years.

The Emperor's stone heart is still unmoved.

This Shu Princess Di Lian person,

how could she compare to

the undying devotion you have?

Undying devotion. . .

what use has even come of it?

Breaking through the Emperor's emotional barrier

is like breaking a stone with dripping water.

Because of my strong will,

I have managed to persist to now.

But as for this woman,

I believe it won't be long until

Lian Cheng abandons and forgets her.

Her lifetime

will be destined to remain until she dies

inside Hong Luan Palace.

You stinking neanderthal.

You're just a prisoner of war,

yet we're housing you here in Northern Han

with meals to eat and water to drink.

How about it?

Still dare to give me a grumpy face?

Looks like the gales and snow of Northern Han

are not cold enough.

Hey, let's help this guy out.

Alright.

How was that? Beg for mercy.

If you call me "elder"

we show you some mercy.

Say it.

Say it, say it! Are you going to say it?

Call me "elder". Quickly, quickly.

Stop it!

Your servant greets your Majesty.

Long live the Emperor.

Take him out for beheading.

You fools!

The Emperor isn't referring

to the Emperor of Shu

but rather it's you two.

Emperor have mercy.Let's go!

Emperor have mercy.

Your Majesty please have mercy!

Meng Qi You, you've suffered.

I regard you highly as a hero.

As well as Shu Kingdom's monarch.

You should be extended the appropriate courtesy.

I've currently been reduced to a prisoner.

Save the speech about honor.

I've you want to keep me hostage

and force Shu Kingdom to surrender to you

then you're sorely mistaken.

What you've said of me,

is perhaps thinking too little of me.

An Zi.

Present.

Yes.

Don't waste your energy on me.

If I died,

to have saved thousands of innocent civilians of Shu.

Then my death is not so bad.

I appreciate this honorable patriotism

and air of courage you have.

I had originally thought

if only your Shu Kingdom

could betroth someone to me

Then I could be more lenient

and spare your life.

What's so funny?

I'm laughing at your stupidity.

How did you think up

such a sadistic idea like that?

Wanting Shu Kingdom to surrender to you

is an outright foolish fantasy.

Let me tell you

Shu Kingdom has no Princess

so wake up from your dream already.

Shu Kingdom has no Princess?

But sure enough, Shu Kingdom

offered a Princess Di Lian to me.

That's remarkably interesting.

Princess

How was it?

Reporting to Princess,

we've searched the entire imperial city

but still can't find Han Cheng Emperor.

The Hans are overly suspicious

They must have hidden a prisoner like Qi You

very well.

Go inquire in the imperial kitchen

and household division.

Someone must be in charge of his meals

Perhaps there will be a clue

Emperor arrives

Retreat for nowYes

Princess Di Lian

Just you here?

Where are your maids?

I've done as you wished

and let you stay here.

Why not remove this mask?

Meng Zhi Xiang

has no daughters, this everyone knows.

You pass yourself off as his daughter, to enter into this marriage

Are you tired of living?

Ma Fu Ya

Are you curious

how I recognized you?

At the grand palace hall,

from the first sentence you spoke

I already recognized you.

You may laugh at me but

All these years,

your every frown and smile

the sound of your voice

I've never forgotten.

I've finally seen you again.

Don't leave me again

You can't leave me again

Never leave me again

Ok?

I won't let you leave me

Fu Ya

I will take you to see

my Northern Han kingdom now.

Come, be careful

Come

Fu Ya

This is my Northern Han

My kingdom

Do you still remember?

Back then you said

you wanted to live a free and unconstrained

life.

If I give you this world,

would you willingly stay here for me?

Lian Cheng, I am no longer

that naive and ignorant princess.

My perished kingdom and lost family, wandering destitute in foreign lands...I...

I know

All these years

you've been through so much hardship.

wandering destitute and suffering extreme misery

Don't worry

I will give you a peaceful world,

a free and unconstrained

life.

You can't even

live freely and unconstrained,

much less me.

Don't deceive yourself

You are ruler of the kingdom

You're scrutinized by the entire court

and watched by the Empress Dowager.

And that Ma Xiang Yun...

She loves you so much

She won't tolerate me

Fu Ya

Ma Xiang Yun

is not the same as before.

She's already forgotten the past

She won't ever harm you again

I also heard before coming

that the Empress is now

kind and virtuous,

generous towards people.

She's no longer the Xiang Yun from the past

But what wife

would allow her husband

to take another woman?

If I said, all these years

Xiang Yun and I were never real husband and wife,

would you believe me?

In this life, you are

the only woman I dearly love.

For you,

I would be willing to do anything.

The kingdom, the imperial throne

I can all give up.

If you don't want to stay in the palace,

we once fled to the ends of the world as fugitives,

and we can do the same now.

You don't need to exile yourself to the ends of the world for me

I can stay beside you

But can you

agree to three conditions, Lian Cheng?

Go ahead, I'll agree to anything

First, aside from you

I don't want to be in contact with anyone from Northern Han.

Ok, then from now on

I will protect you in this Hong Luan palace.

If anyone disturbs you

I will kill him.

Second,

although I am already your imperial concubine

and know that you love me deeply,

but consummating the marriage

would be very difficult for Fu Ya right now.

I've longed for you all this time

and you're finally here.

No problem, I will wait for you.

For that day you accept me

Third?

Third,

I want to see Meng Qi You.

Not bad.

I thought

you would

ask me to release him.

You know everything?

Meng Qi You,

for a royal consort

candidate named Pan Yu,

willfully disobeyed Meng Zhi Xiang.

Everyone in Shu Kingdom knows this,

how could I not know?

If you know I came for him,

why did you have me stay here?

Fu Ya, regardless of who you came for,

since God

brought you to my side,

I will treasure it.

I will let you know

that only I truly love you.

Only I can protect you

And only I

can provide you a free, unconstrained life.

Niang Niang, everyone in the palace has been saying

that last night until this morning,

the Emperor was staying at Princess Di Lian's Hong Luan palace.

Impossible. Impossible!

I want to go see

I want to see what kind of evildoer she is!

Niang Niang, you can't go

Why?

The Emperor personally ordered

that no one is to approach Hong Luan palace.

Violators will be killed as punishment

I know you're filial

but you should also watch your own health.

Yes

Empress is virtuous, kind and filial

the entire country knows.

But Empress dowager,

the Emperor

now only favors Princess Di Lian

and even

granted her the title of Imperial Concubine Di.

This...

makes a laughing stock of him before the imperial court and the people.

Makes him a laughing stock?

The Emperor showing special favor to a woman

makes him a laughing stock?

and hurts the country?

This...no...

That means

the hundreds of civil and military court officials

don't want to see the Emperor happy?

Humble servant

would not dare.

It's just that this witch from Shu just arrived in Northern Han,

but has already enchanted the Emperor.

So humble servant deeply fears that the Emperor...

that he will be drawn to her charm and neglect official state affairs?

No

Yan er, listen to this

The imperial court and the people

don't want the Emperor to be happy.

What about you?

Important state affairs

Yan er dare not get involved in.

But the Emperor has rarely been happy since childhood.

Lately,

one often hears sounds of his hearty laughter.

I am happy for the emperor from the depths of my heart.

Official Xiang,

did you hear what Yan er said?

I am not being biased

The Emperor's willingness

to forget the past

and take special interest in a woman

is also helping our Northern Han to continue the royal bloodline.

This is a matter of great urgency

Lately

if you have something important to discuss with me,

then also let the Emperor delight in it.

Perhaps, soon

my grandson

will come into this world!

Empress dowager is exactly right

Humble subject

is going to enact Empress dowager's imperial decree now.

Empress

Yes

You should focus on important state affairs

That way the emperor will have high regard for you

and appreciate you.

Thanks mother for your instructions

I will benefit from your advice

If you're obedient and do this,

I promise that the Emperor won't disappoint you.

I

will also guarantee you the position of Empress.

Thanks mother for your kindness

I will scrupulously abide

and keep this in mind.

Niang Niang, don't worry

These years,

all the effort you've put in before the Empress dowager

won't be in vain.

The Empress dowager

has supported you all along.

Supported me?

You're wrong

She is protecting her son

She's afraid I will cause trouble out of my grievances

She said those words just for show

so that her son

can live a carefree life with Princess Di Lian.

But

Empress dowager clearly said

she would guarantee your position of Empress.

Even if the mother-in-law wants to keep her daughter-in-law,

how can she prevent her son from renouncing his wife?

Besides, without the Emperor's heart,

what's the use in being empress?

Basically

that witch Di Lian is causing all the trouble.

Niang Niang

Do you think

fox spirits are really reincarnated in this world?

Otherwise,

how would the Emperor, who's always been deeply in love with Ma Fu Ya,

suddenly change

and warm up to a woman who just arrived?

Unless...

she looks very similar to Ma Fu Ya!

Right, not to mention me

Of the thousands of maidens in this palace,

which one has he ever been moved by?

Why is he so devoted to this Di Lian...

unless...

this is the only possibility...

she is Ma Fu Ya!

Ye Ye, Yun Zhu

What's up with you?

So hard...

So worrying!

I really don't know when my precious princess

can return!

And I don't know if my First Prince is still alive

Yun Zhu, Ye Ye

I came to tell you news

The Princess has news? Quickly tell us

Second Prince Qi Yun said upon returning to the palace

that Princess as already been granted the title of Imperial Concubine Di

and is strongly favored by Han Emperor Liu Lian Cheng.

No problems for the time being

As for Han Cheng Emperor,

although we have no definitive news about him,

at least he's still alive.

Great

Imperial Concubine Di??

If First Prince knew

that Sister married someone else,

he would be so upset!

Yes!

Pei! Crow's mouth!

Princess and Han Cheng Emperor's

hearts are linked.

He would surely understand

the Princess's great pains.

You!

What's the use in understanding?

She still married someone else

Yun Zhu, don't be too troubled

With Princess's wit and resourcefulness,

she will fight Liu Lian Cheng to the end.

She will surely think of a way to save Han Cheng Emperor.

As long as he's still alive,

that's good news.

Yun Zhu, Ye Ye

Princess asked Second Prince

to bring back these snacks from Northern Han.

They're called Zi Gui.

Zi Gui

Zi Gui? I understand!

Princess is telling us

to wait for her.

She will definitely come back! (Gui = return)

Yun Zhu

Quickly eat

Sister doesn't lie

She didn't even forget to bring me snacks

She will definitely save First Prince!

Yi Bing

Ye Ye would like to ask you for a favor

Ye Ye, under the circumstances,

please do not hesitate.

It's too difficult for me to leave the palace

Ye Ye would like to

wait for Princess and Han Cheng Emperor outside the palace gates.

Please plea with Han Ming for me

Me too!

Ye Ye, at your age

it's the same if you wait inside the palace.

Although I am old like a yellow pearl,

I still want to wait outside the palace gates.

I refuse to believe

that God is blind.

I want to be the first

to see Princess and Han Cheng Emperor return safely,

to be assured.

Subject Qi Yun respectfully greets the Emperor

10,000 years

Second Brother, originally I...

Originally I was going to punish you

for the crime of taking troops to Northern Han without my permission.

But considering your tactful response,

I will let this slide out of my generosity.

From now on,

stay in your Cheng Sheng Palace

with your musical instruments, chess, poetry, and paintings,

and live your romantic life.

Why have you changed into this

after becoming emperor?

I hope you won't do anything too extreme

It's so messy

What are you drawing?

You've turned my Ding Bei Palace

into such a mess.

I'm writing a book on military strategy

One day,

I will use my military strategies

to defeat your brother, defeat Northern Han.

What?

Don't want your brother to lose his life?

Don't want your family and kingdom to perish?

Then just do it already

End my life quickly

Fine. Great!

You know

that my brother

is always so proud,

so arrogant.

I can't wait

for someone to defeat him.

Go, get some good paper and ink

Yes

Stop writing! What is this?

What are you doing?!

Helping you!

Aren't these circles and dots

all part of some military strategy book?

Something so important...

aren't you afraid of my brother

coming in one day and copying it?

Then how will you defeat him?

This princess

will think of ways to help you.

Quickly thank me!

This is the route map of the palace

Remember it clearly

Search carefully

room by room.

Princess

What if Han Cheng Emperor isn't inside the palace?

Not possible. The Emperor promised me

that at a suitable time,

he will let me visit Qi You.

I think

he must be somewhere in the palace.

Then why doesn't Princess ask the Emperor

to take you there earlier?

So that we know where Han Cheng Emperor

is?

We came this time

not only to see Qi You,

but also to rescue him.

Many court officials in Northern Han

want him to be killed.

We have to proceed carefully

to avoid putting Qi You in danger.

Yes

Princess, look

Northern Han's kites

do not pale in comparison to Chu Kingdom's.

These colors are gorgeous

Let me inside! Let me inside!

Go take a look

Yes

Niang Niang

A servant of the Empress

is outside.

She wants to come in and retrieve her kite

The Emperor has ordered

that no one is to enter without permission.

Didn't you tell her?

I did, but she insists on barging in

She also threatened

that if I continue to block her way,

I will lose my head.

Those who should come will come

You go take a look

Be careful to maintain your courtesy when dealing with her

Yes

If you don't move aside,

I will go back

and tell on you!

Let Niang Niang grant you death!

This sister has such a big temper

We just arrived

and are ignorant of proper etiquette.

Sister, please be magnanimous enough to excuse us.

This is your kite

Please go well

How could you

be so reckless?

You're the ones who are reckless!

You

ruined the Empress's kite!

Quickly get your master

to come out and apologize!

You clearly ripped up this kite

yourself!

So what if I falsely accuse you?

People should know their rightful place.

No one has ever heard

of a lowly outside servant

with such haughty manners.

Since entering the palace,

you've never

paid respects to the Empress.

Hey! Your master hasn't apologized yet

and you want to leave!

The Emperor has orders

that anyone who charges into Hong Luan Palace without permission will be killed without pardon!

Stop

Empress

Concubine Di's servants

are intolerable bullies!

Servants greet the Empress

Please rise

Thanks Niang Niang

Niang Niang

These two lowly servants bully us with their master's power

and look down

on us.

They even ruined

your favorite kite.

Niang Niang, please clearly investigate

The truth

is not as this sister claims.

Even if servants had extreme audacity,

we wouldn't dare ruin Niang Niang's playthings.

Sister, don't harass us anymore

It's not that Concubine Di

doesn't want to pay respects to the Empress.

Fact is, the Emperor ordered an ironclad decree

that Concubine Di

is not to step outside Hong Luan Palace.

Outsiders are also not allowed inside the palace

What outsider?

The proper master of this imperial harem

is an outsider of the palace,

according to your concubine?

Niang Niang

Servant can't tolerate watching you

being so insulted.

Servant refuses to believe

that I would die outside

while Concubine Di

sits comfortably

inside the Hong Luan palace!

Lu Qiao! Have you had enough of your games?