Original subtitles

Are you still treating me as your grandmother

who raised you up with everything I have

who helped you become the Emperor?

Are you thinking that I am too old for all these

and just going to ignore all of my advice?

Please forgive me, grandmother

If your health is affected

by these things

then I will feel guilty for that

If you still have your grandmother in your heart

issue a decree now

to have that wretch Li Yi Huan executed!

What a ruthless old hag!

It seems like she won't let me go

Brother Long, if even you can't save me

then I can only send a signal

to Brother Zhu so that we can retreat

But if that happens

you will never ever see me again

Don't blame me for being so heartless

What kind of Emperor are you

if you can't even protect your own sworn brother?

I have lost both of my parents since young

It was always you who showered me with love

and raised me to become who I am today

Let Heaven and Earth be a witness

on how important you are to me, grandmother

Regarding this issue

there might be some mishandling on my part

but I have never wanted to disobey you

Forget it

Your Majesty

you are being merciful to her

because of your feelings for her

But who is to be blamed for that?

It is normal to get tempted by something

and forget about the right thing to do

Rise

Grandmother

don't be angry

I got to know this Yi Huan

when I visited the city posing as a civilian

I was being playful that time

and told her I am an imperial guard named Long San

I even became sworn brothers with her

and told her that I am the Emperor's decoy

I didn't expect her to believe it

That is why she slapped me

In fact

she was not doing it out of disrespect

she only did that because she thought

I was her sworn brother who was acting as the Emperor

Didn't she know that you are indeed the Emperor?

She didn't

Yi Huan is a lowborn

and she doesn't have much experience living outside

She is always naive and simple-minded

I was just being playful when I lied to her

little did I know

she really believed it

She went against Oboi

for this so-called decoy of me

and even risked her life for that

If it was anyone else in this palace being disrespectful to me

surely they deserve to die

But Yi Huan

she is just a silly girl who values loyalty above anything else

why must we be so harsh on her?

So all this while

I was just a silly girl to you

The reason you called me your big brother

was just to make fun of me, isn't it?

Grandmother

to be honest with you

in this palace

where can I find a girl who is willing

to risk her life for me

and go against Oboi?

Why don't we just spare her

on the account of her being such a loyal friend to me?

Your Majesty

allow me to speak my mind

Are you really

falling in love

with this Li Yi Huan?

Grandmother

I just assumed personal rule not long ago

there are still Oboi's remnants in the court to be cleared

There are still three feudalists

and the remnants of the Ming Dynasty

threatening the reign of our Qing Dynasty

Hence

I dare not to let myself into any relationships

I will not fall for any girl

Brother Long

indeed you did not really fall for me

It is better this way

so that we won't owe each other anything

I thought that

this Li Yi Huan

was a vixen in human's disguise

sent to tempt and confuse Your Majesty

But since you have explained this to me

now I am not that worried about it anymore

Whether you want to kill or spare Li Yi Huan,

it is all yours to make the call

Grandmother

I still have one thing to beg you

Yi Huan is an adorable girl

her naive and simple-minded character

has always made me happy

I wish to keep her in the palace

and let her serve me

Why are we coming back to this again?

Your Majesty

I'm always sorry that

you have to bear the responsibility of this Great Qing Dynasty

at such a young age

But you are only truly grown up

if you can choose not to let feelings

to be in the way between you and your responsibilities

Your Majesty

look at the imperial harem

there are so many girls out there

for you to choose from

why does it have to be this Li Yi Huan?

Is she really that beautiful

or is she really that talented?

Grandmother

she is indeed an extraordinary girl

I beg your approval on this

Isn't this Li Yi Huan

waiting out there?

Why don't you call her in

and let me

take a good look at her?

The Grand Empress Dowager and the Emperor

had summoned you

Yes, sir

Your Highness, Your Majesty

Lady Yi Huan is here

Long live, Your Highness

Long live, Your Majesty

Indeed she is an adorable girl

Why are you staring at me?

I am just curious

I've never thought the Grand Empress Dowager to be this beautiful

You look so kind

just like the Goddess of Mercy in the painting

Put your sweet words aside

Li Yi Huan

do you admit your wrongs?

I admit my wrongs

What wrongs are you admitting?

Tell me more about them

I... I have a pair of bad eyes

that is why I failed to recognise that His Majesty

is indeed the real Emperor

I even have a brain as stupid as a pig

to have believed whatever

His Majesty had told me

Look at her...

Your Majesty

look at this girl

she is not even confessing

but she is indirectly

making fun of you

Grandmother

this girl has always been this straightforward and fearless

Then

you may rise

Thank you, Your Highness

Your Highness, whatever I said was all true

I didn't lie to you

When I saw His Majesty wearing the Emperor's robe

and coming back to the imperial study on the Imperial sedan

I was curious too.

Hence, I ran towards him and asked

You... Are you the Emperor or Long San?

Who knows His Majesty replied me in all seriousness

Talk softly. I'm definitely Long San

not the Emperor

So... you're not the Emperor?

But, why did the people outside are all on their knees

and calling you 'Your Majesty'?

That is because

I am actually

a decoy of His Majesty

You are a decoy of the Emperor?

Yes, I am

I resemble the Emperor in stature and in appearance

hence, I am a decoy of the Emperor

You know very well that

although our Qing Dynasty

has been reigning for decades

the foundation of the nation isn't that strong yet

The Emperor himself is still so young

and has just assumed personal rule

Not only the remnants of the previous dynasty

many officials in the court

are plotting against the Emperor

That is why

I am appointed as the Emperor's decoy

I see

No wonder you became sworn brothers with me

If you are the Emperor, why would you even do that?

Of course. Now you know the reason

why you can't even get any information

of this Long San in the palace

That is because

I am not an ordinary guard

It is only when the Emperor needs me

then I'll show my face

Your Highness

what are you laughing at?

I was telling you the truth

I dare not to lie to you

I was thinking

this Brother Long is indeed pitiful

Not only he had to serve the Emperor

he even had to risk his life for that

This girl is indeed interesting

Grandmother

the situation back then

was indeed as she described

I was being childish and playful

Seeing how ignorant this girl was

it must be interesting to play with her

to make fun of her

Make fun of me?

But I did believe you

and treat you like my brother

that is why I can't bear to see you die

Your Highness

I truly believed that

His Majesty was going to a duel with Oboi

that is why I took off my body armour

and gave it to him

Moreover, I went with him

If my brother didn't arrive in time

chances are His Majesty and I are already...

His Majesty and I are already...

Look at how pitiful she is

All right

I will spare you

Really?

Thank you, Your Highness

You are the best

Unlike the Emperor

who only knows how to bully me

But I heard that

you had publicly slapped His Majesty

in front of so many ministers

and it was witnessed by many

is it true?

I was truly angered by that

little did I know

just like the Emperor described you

you are just a kid who did not know the protocols

Moreover

you are loyal and faithful to His Majesty

Your Highness

what do you mean with that?

Are you saying that I'm forgiven?

No

After all, you did assault the Emperor

You were disrespectful to him

If you are not punished accordingly

then who will respect our authority?

Your Highness

so you still want to punish me?

All I can do

is to spare you from death

But you cannot be excused from the punishment

What about this?

Show me the hand you used

when you hit the Emperor

that hand will be hit for 50 strokes

Your Highness

my father and my masters had always hit me on my palm

I am so scared of it

Can you not hit my palm, and change to another punishment?

I have already spared you from death

yet you are still bargaining?

I'm not... I dare not to bargain

It is just that...

I used my right hand to hit the Emperor

but I injured my right hand

it is still covered with a bandage

Take a look, Your Highness

Yes, grandmother

The injury she suffered

was caused by Oboi's dagger

when she wanted to save me

It is a deep and long wound

it took quite some time to stop it from bleeding

It is not even healed yet

Then, we will punish you when your injury is healed

Your Highness

I beg you to spare me

I admit my wrong

I will never dare to do it again

What about this?

I will give you another chance

I will set three questions for you

and if you answer them correctly...

then you are spared from this 50 strokes

Exam?

I'm scared of exams

Can we not have an exam?

Look at you, little girl

You are scared of death

you are scared of being hit, now you're even scared of exams!

What should I do?

You can choose whether you want to be beheaded

or you want to be hit on the palm

or you want to attempt the exam

Then I better attempt the exam

But Your Highness

is it possible that your questions

do not have any answers at all?

How will I use this kind of method

to punish you?

My questions can be answered

Yes... Forgive me, Your Highness

I was being suspicious

Please set the questions, Your Highness

Let me tell you this

The Empress is the one who calls shot in the imperial harem

She will set these three questions

Come back in an hour

and be ready for your test

Yes, Your Highness

Thank you, Your Highness

Grandmother

are you letting this vixen...

Li Yi Huan go so easily?

What else can I do besides letting her go?

Even if I kill her

You know very well that

the Emperor will not favour you either

Instead, he will distance himself from you

and he will hate me for life because of that

Aren't you worried that

if Li Yi Huan stays in the palace

she will continue to intoxicate the Emperor?

I was worried at first

but when I saw this Li Yi Huan

I reckon she is just a girl

who knows no protocols

The Emperor is young and playful

he just wants to find an interesting companion

Hence

I'll just let her go for now

and see what we can do in the future

Since you have said it

then I should just be patient

The reasons I set these three questions

first

it is to test Li Yi Huan

and second

I am giving you a chance

What we are going to do

is to let you decide

for the first two questions

while the last question

will be set by myself

Alright

For the first test

you have to use this thread

to move the ice cube from this bowl

to that bowl

Isn't that easy?

It is not

You can't use this thread

to tie up the ice cube

Then can I use other things to help?

Sure

But you can only use one hand at a time

And that hand

cannot even touch the ice cube

Grandmother

isn't that too difficult?

How is she supposed to move the ice cube

with just one hand

without even touching the ice?

How is she supposed to do that?

Your Majesty...

if this girl is willing to concede defeat

I will ask Eunuch Li to demonstrate how to do it

But she will have to suffer

50 strokes on her palm then

Grandmother

her arm is still injured

Then we can wait until it is recovered

Grandmother

if she really can't do it

can you just change to another test

on my account?

I've made many compromises

because of you

Your Majesty

it is all right

I've figured out how to do it

Really? Are you sure about it?

May I ask Your Highness and Your Majesty

for a little bit of time?

I want to go and take something

Sure

But you have to be quick

or the ice will melt soon

Thank you, Your Highness

I excuse myself

Excuse me!

Whose child is this?

She is so rude!

Excuse me!

This kid...

Why isn't she back yet?

The ice is melting

Does she even have an idea?

I've figured it out

Done. Now we just have to wait for a moment

I didn't expect this girl

to use this method to solve the problem

What is it...

inside the jar that you are holding?

This is some salt

that I manage to take from the Imperial Kitchen

I understand now

I once learned about this trick

when I was young too

But I can't recall it

Yi Huan

I didn't expect you to be this knowledgeable

You're too kind, Your Majesty

I have never put in effort in my studies since young

I do learn about something here and there

but I have never mastered anything

I'm just a jack of all trades

but a master of none

I don't deserve your praise

The reason I know how to solve this

is because when I was little

I always play with my brother

using salt water during winter seasons

That is why I know this

Very well

I consider you

to have passed the first test

The second test is here

Tell me

how many coins are on the table

if you count horizontally

and vertically?

Tell me

Your Highness

there are four if I count horizontally

and five if I count vertically

So altogether there are eight coins

Very well

Then you must move only one coin

to make it five coins both horizontally and vertically

How am I supposed to do it?

If I move one, then there will be five horizontally

but four vertically

I'll give you time until this joss stick burns off

If you can't solve it until then

I will consider you to have failed the test

I'm doomed...

I've never paid attention to studies

when I was young

All I did was messing around when the rest were studying

But the Masters had never really punished me

they always raised the stick high

but hit me gently with it

Now here I am

Those strokes that I'd escaped back then

are all coming back to me

Your Highness

you said I can only

move one coin

but you didn't say that I can't stack one on another

Am I doing it right?

Little girl

did you figure this out on your own

or you had someone else helping you?

Forgive me, Your Highness

Actually

it was His Majesty who came out with the idea first

before giving me the answer

That is why I know the answer

How dare you? I was kind enough to help you

yet you betrayed me

I'm sorry, Your Majesty

It is not a big deal if I can't solve the problem

But if I did lie to Her Highness

because of this

then I will be committing a grave offence

Grandmother

I merely showed her a sign with my hands

it can't count as cheating

Moreover

this problem wasn't difficult after all

even if I didn't give the hint

she would have figured it out herself

Yi Huan

if both of you and His Majesty

did not admit it

then no matter how much I suspected it

I can't catch you for sure

Forget it

Because of your honesty

I shall consider you

to have passed this test

Thank you, Your Highness

Your Highness

you are indeed kind

You are just like a living Goddess of Mercy

You and your sweet talks

All right

I will give you the third test now

But Your Majesty

you mustn't help her again for this question

I understand

I shall never give her any hint

for this third question

If you cheat again

I will mark you as to have failed

the third question

Listen carefully, little girl

What is the thing that others can do

but not yourself?

I know this!

I know the answer

Besides myself

anyone can kill me

Only I can't kill myself

Brilliant!

Grandmother

has she passed the test?

Your Majesty

don't be happy just yet

Think about it

why would anyone

simply kill someone else for no reason?

Of course

everyone has the ability to kill himself

the question is

whether he is willing to do so or not

Hence, that is a wrong answer

Wrong?

Definitely

This question needs someone to demonstrate

Your Highness

my brain is all tied up now

I can't think of an answer

So, are you willing to be punished?

Grandmother

I don't dare to beg you to spare her

I just hope that

perhaps you can give her a day

and let her figure it out herself

All right, I shall give you one day

on the Emperor's account

To prevent anyone from helping you to cheat

I will keep you in the Cining Palace today

At this time tomorrow

if you still can't give me an answer

then you can't escape your punishment

Thank you, Your Highness

This girl Li Yi Huan

is indeed intelligent

She effortlessly solved these problems

Actually the second problem I set

was able to fail her

She would have failed

if not for the Emperor's help

Don't think it this way

Even without his help

this Li Yi Huan

would still have figured out the answer anyway

It is just that

she might need more time

Luckily, the third question Your Highness set

is able to stop her

Even if she has three days to think

chances are she still can't figure it out

I'm just afraid that

someone might have sent her an answer

before tomorrow comes

If only you know

the reasons why I set these three problems

that will be enough

Why do you have to be concerned with the outcome?

If Li Yi Huan

can't figure it out

as the Empress

what is the right thing that you must do

that will bring the best outcome?

Oboi has already been condemned to prison

yet you are still working for him?

When did I work for him?

I was only forced to do it because of the pill I've taken

just like you did

That left me without a choice

What I was doing

was merely bringing some news to him

I didn't do anything illegal

Physician Li, please keep this secret safe

on the account that we have the same surname

and hailed from the same hometown

Please don't sell me out

Even if we don't sell you out

you will ultimately sell us out

Yi Huan merely slapped Kang Xi once

why do you have to tell the Grand Empress Dowager?

This is called murder

You are accusing me, Physician Li

Although I was controlled by Oboi

just like you were

Oboi had said that

among all of his spies

my identity is the most secretive of all

He will contact me personally if there is anything

Others did not know at all

I didn't even know that both you and your sister knew!

Why would I want to kill both of you

so that my secret won't be out?

Yi Huan and I

were the Emperor's spies to monitor Oboi

Weren't you afraid that one day

we will discover that you were Oboi's spy

and tell the Emperor about it?

That is why you wanted to kill us

using the Grand Empress Dowager's hand

No

Physician Li

I am not as ruthless as you think

Since Oboi is already captured

and the Emperor did not suspect me of anything

it shows that both of you are no threat to me

Moreover

I was sent by the Grand Empress Dowager

to monitor the Emperor

and report to her every action of the Emperor

But since he has assumed personal rule

his responsibilities are getting heavier

It is not appropriate for me

to report on every single action of his

to the Grand Empress Dowager like I did before

Moreover, the Emperor is fond of your sister

Why would I want the Grand Empress Dowager

to kill both of you?

If I am really that stupid

how would I have survived until this day

and even become the Head of Eunuchs?

If it wasn't you

then who could it be?

This...

I really have no idea

The network in this palace

is more complicated than you can possibly imagine

You won't know who is actually paying who

to have them working for them

All right

I will give you the benefit of the doubt

On the account that we have the same surname and hometown

I'll let this go

From now on

we should watch each other's back

Yes... Watch each other's back...

Your Majesty

why are you looking so worried?

Are you worried about Sister Yi Huan?

The last question set by the Grand Empress Dowager

is indeed difficult

I have tried to figure it out

but it is to no avail

I have also tried to figure it out

but I also can't think of an answer