Original subtitles

Young master, please forgive us for not welcoming you earlier

If not for the robbers that we encountered

I wouldn't dare to ask for you

Please forgive me

You're too humble

We're working for the imperial together

If something happens to you

how could I answer to the imperial?

And how could I answer to Prince Ping Xi?

Then I shall thank you for your help

Are the items of Yong Li Emperor still here?

I've put the items of Yong Li Emperor

into an ordinary chest

The robbers didn't know

and they only took away the other chests

Only this chest was left

We consider this fortunate enough

The items of Yong Li Emperor is of great importance

Young master, could you allow me

to inspect it?

Sure

Please.

Is there a golden key in the chest?

Golden key?

I'm not aware of it

But there's a jewellery box

in the items of Yong Li Emperor

Maybe the golden key that you mentioned

is in it?

Indeed there's a lotus in white jade on it

It's the golden key

Young master...

I received a secret order from His Majesty

to keep this golden key in person

The reason the imperial asked my father

to send the items of Yong Li Emperor

is all because of this golden key?

What kind of use is this golden key?

Young master...

You have sent the items

and completed your mission

You can answer to Prince Ping Xi now

As for the others...

please forgive me for not being able to tell you

Forgive my rudeness

Young master, it's been a long journey

You may rest in the inn in front

Please

Thank you, Military Head Shu

Boss

What's with the pitiful face?

I won't eat you alive

Who knows what you will do

if you feel like it?

Oh, my...

Do you think I'm a tiger?

Alright, even if I'm a tiger

you're a porcupine then

How could I eat you with all your sharp quills?

In my eyes, you're much scarier than a tiger

If you order it

all of my sharp quills will be removed

When did I ever

bully you, using my identity as the emperor?

I always think of myself as your Brother Long most of the time!

When did I ever consider myself as the emperor?

Then, when will you be Brother Long

and when will you be the emperor?

I'll be the emperor

when it comes to country affairs

When I'm being naughty and bullying you...

No, teasing you and bullying you...

I'm Brother Long

So, are you going to talk about the country affair?

Or are you going to tease and bully me?

Actually, boss...

- I need to discuss with you... - Please go back to your throne...

And let's talk seriously

Is it alright now?

What is it about?

Boss

I've already sent Songgotu and some agents

to spy on Oboi

But I'm the emperor

I must keep my promise

I promised Oboi to let him continue to manage

the intelligence network

So, Songgotu couldn't find any excuse

to interfere with their operations

I can't let too many people know about this

I want to send you and your brother

to spy on Oboi

Follow his people

and study on his entire intelligence network

Other than Songgotu

His Majesty also sent Imperial Physician Li

and Lady Yi Huan to Oboi's house

They are to spy on Oboi secretly

According to your opinion

are the siblings trustworthy?

Both of them

are chosen by His Majesty

I dare not comment on anything

Just say it out loud

No matter what you say

I'll excuse any faults

Thank you, Your Highness

I think...

both of them

are capable persons

They could complete the tasks given by His Majesty

And they have shown

their loyalty to His Majesty

But Oboi mentioned that

both of them are with unknown background...

and with suspicious intentions

So... I have my doubts

Now, the emperor trusted both of them

So I can't say anything now

But indeed their background, coming from the countryside

is suspicious enough

We better put our guards on

I would like to ask for your permission

to send me to Oboi's house

First

I can spy on Oboi for His Majesty

Secondly

I can investigate

on the identity of the siblings

I'll issue an official order

for you to freely go to Oboi's house

Remember...

Report to me immediately

if you find out anything

Don't alert the emperor

I understand

Did the emperor suspect you?

Not at the moment

But they're looking for the spy

All the people that you sent in

your subordinate

the eunuchs that you recommended

are sent away

Most of them were exchanged with Songgotu's people

I've nearly lost this battle

The emperor trusted Songgotu now

Are you going to take side with him too?

Of course not...

My life...

is in the hands of Premier

You wouldn't dare.

Yes...

This is the pill for this month

Take it

Thank you, Premier

Now, the emperor

only trusted Songgotu

and the Li siblings

He won't listen to me

If so...

After going back to the palace

say some good words for me

in front of the Grand Empress Dowager

Ask her to come and meet me secretly

Tell her that

I have something important to talk to her

I've tried this

But the Grand Empress Dowager say...

What did the Grand Empress Dowager said?

Tell me everything

The Grand Empress Dowager said...

that Premier is arrogant

You helped her take down Dorgon before

If she meets you

she's afraid that you might take advantage of it

And it'll put her in a difficult situation

So she wanted you to calm down

and think it through

And then, she'll be meeting you

There's a saying...

The heart of a woman

is more horrible than

the bite of a snake

and the sting of a bumble bee

This woman

is heartless and cunning

Before this, she used her beauty

to seduce Dorgon

just to enthrone Fu Lin

After Fu Lin took the throne

she used me

to take down Dorgon

Now...

her grandson, Xuan Ye is taking the throne

And...

she wants to get rid of me

Give me back the pill!

What is this pill for, eunuch?

Imperial Physician Li...

You walk into my room at such a late hour

what are you trying to do?

I thought we have an agreement?

We'll put away our pasts

and help each other in the palace

Eunuch, there's no need for you to be anxious

I come to you now

because I have something important

to discuss with you

What's so important?

I, Li Jian Qing...

is here to pay respect to my uncle

You... you're...

Uncle...

Yi Huan and I are the children of Li Ding Guo

We're your nephew and niece

So what Oboi said is right

There's a reason that you enter the palace

My father asked me to bring a message to you

Hopefully, you'll consider that we're family...

and help us in the palace

Stop!

I know what you're trying to say

Let me tell you

It's impossible

Stop calling me uncle

I don't have any family

It looks like my father is right

You care about wealth

but not about family

I don't care what you say

Tell your father and your sister

I won't report you

But please don't give me any more trouble, all right?

No matter what

you and the others have nothing to do with me

I consider your father dead since 40 years ago

Please also consider me dead since 40 years ago

All right

No more talks about family

What are you doing?

Imperial Physician Li, I'm not sick

There's no need for you to check my pulse

I'm not checking your pulse

but your heartbeat rate

I'm going to ask you a lot of questions

If you lie to me

your pulse will skip a beat

You're just the same as your father

You trick me even though I'm a family to you

Uncle...

As long as you bring out the copper box

we can still keep our promise

Put away our past

and mind our own business

Copper box?

What copper box?

Stop pretending already

You went to Oboi's house just now

But you didn't bring along the box

So the box

must have been hidden in the palace by you

You mean the copper box with

the treasure map and the list of Ming Dynasty remnants?

I thought it was taken by Yi Huan from Oboi's house

and was taken by His Majesty in Yongle Residence?

That copper box is a fake

The real copper box

had been changed by someone else in Yongle Residence

You suspect I'm the one who exchanged the box?

Who else would it be?

I know you want to exchange

the copper box for the antidote of the pill

Uncle...

It's fine if you refuse to help us

but you can't help the cold-blooded killer

Oboi either

I know how to make

the antidote that you want

If you give me the copper box

I will send you

the antidote of the pill

every month

Then...

you won't have to obey Oboi anymore

So you know how to make the antidote!

No wonder you dare to betray Oboi

But the copper box is not with me

My nephew, if you know how to make the antidote

please give it to me

Your behaviour is totally different now, uncle

You said

you don't want us as your family just now

But now you're calling me your nephew

I... I can't help it. I'm forced to

There's a saying...

It's better to live than being dead

Alright

Since you want to live

give me the copper box

I will give you the antidote immediately

The copper box is truly not with me

How could Oboi let me know

such an important secret?

I'm not the one who changed the box

Please believe me

If you won't cooperate with us and give me the box

I can't give you the antidote

You call me uncle

how could you threaten me?

You despise me on greediness

and neglect of family relationship

but how about you?

You're also a selfish

and cold-blooded person.

Judging from your pulse

you're not lying

And...

Yi Huan told me

that you have never been to Yongle Residence

You don't know any martial arts

There's no way for you

to steal the copper box at midnight

Since you don't know where the box is

I'll be going now

Wait!

Where is the antidote?

Wait!

I thought I already gave you the antidote

Is there anything else?

Since you help me in keeping the secret

and giving me the antidote

I think I should

remind you and Yi Huan on it

What is it about?

Before this, Yi Huan slapped the emperor...

And the emperor was sick because of the rain...

The Grand Empress Dowager knew right away

Do you know why?

You're the one who told her

You didn't know about our relation back then

so you wanted to please the Grand Empress Dowager

I don't blame you

Not me

You have my secret in your hand

how could I stab you in the back?

Even the emperor thought it was me

and had been angry with me

I can't explain it to him

It's useless to explain, too

Who do you think it was?

Though I'm not certain

but I think

most probably it was Songgotu

Songgotu?

He has been good to us in the palace

That's what he looks like

In the Forbidden City

a knife that kills might be

concealed under the disguise of goodwill

Songgotu

is the son of the Regent, Soni

Before this, he was afraid of Oboi

So he could only endure

You helped him take down Oboi

that's why he

defended you in front of the emperor

But Songgotu

is a cunning person

Moreover, he's the uncle of the empress

If the emperor withdraw his favour over Yi Huan

will he really be good to you?

Thank you for your reminder, uncle

Don't thank me first

I've gone through a lot

in these 30 years in the Forbidden City

I really don't want to have anything to do with you

Please tell your father

From now on

our relationship ends here

And we'll take care of our own businesses

Don't worry, uncle

I will pass your message to my father

After this

Yi Huan and I will try not to disturb you in the palace

Alright

You may rise

Thank you, Your Highness

Is there any news for me?

Your Highness

I have been spying

on the Li siblings

Until now...

there's nothing yet

I see

In fact, it's peculiar that the emperor

has taken such a favour over them

From now on

continue to spy on them

Once there's any hint

or clue

report immediately to me

Yes, Your Highness

See?

The men of Oboi

can go in and out of his house freely

using the token issued by Oboi

They report

directly to Oboi

According to the promise he made with His Majesty

as long as he doesn't go out of his house

he can manage the intelligence as he wants

And we could only stand at the entrance of Oboi's house

and check the token of those who go in and out

We can't stop them from going in or out

or ask them to take off their mask...

and take a look at their face

We can't follow them either

His Majesty has to keep his promise

because of his reputation

But isn't there anything

that you can do out of the palace?

You could arrange someone to follow them

it's not a big deal

I'm ashamed to say this

I sent someone to follow them before

But all of Oboi's men

are experienced agents

They know how to disguise themselves

All of my guards

are from the Eight Banners families

Though a few of them are smart

still, they lack experience

So they always lose track of them

I thought you left?

Why are you coming back?

Please...

let me go

I had a difficult life

Can you let me live a peaceful life?

Uncle, I won't force you

to join the Anti-Qing Alliance

I only want you

to help us to eliminate Oboi

As long as he lives

not only to the Alliance

he's a great threat

to you too

But Oboi already made a deal with His Majesty

His Majesty would only imprison him

There's no way that he would kill Oboi

If I have the ability to eliminate Oboi

do you think I will be threatened by him and harm His Majesty?

Kang Xi hates Oboi

The reason that he can't kill Oboi

is because Oboi still holds

something that he needs

But if we take it away from Oboi

do you think Kang Xi

will still let him live?

Tell me, then

What do you want me to do?

You have followed Oboi for years

Do you know anything about the secret agents that he put

among the lords of the three feudatories

and the Alliance?

Oboi is a

careful person

He won't let me know

such confidential information

Every secret agent that he arranged

will only report to him alone

And the secret agents

don't know each other's identity

There're so many agents that he has

Is there any patterns when the agents

are contacting him?

If it's an emergency

he has his own method

in contacting the agents

If it's not an emergency

the agents will only report to him

in certain days in a regular basis

On the first day, 11th and 21st

of every month

he will ask me

to report the situation in the palace to him

On the second day, 12th and 22nd

of every month

he will ask the agents that he placed

in the house of Prince Ping Xi to report to him

On the third day of every month

he will ask the agents who spy on the imperial officers

to report to him

When will he ask for

the agent who spy on the Anti-Qing Alliance?

On the fifth day, 15th and 25th

of every month

These are the days that he calls them

Tomorrow will be the fifth day of the month

Sir Songgotu

how about this?

I'll disguise as a spy tonight

and try to sneak into the study room of Oboi

I'll steal the letters that he had with the secret agents...

and we'll follow them in secret

And see what we can find

Sure!

I knew from the start that not only you're good in medicinal practice

but also a martial art master

You're a match to Oboi

It will be great if

you can help me

Tonight...

I'll need your cooperation

Please ask your men

to not interfere our operation

No problem

You can count on me

All right

Nasai

Uncle

Tonight...

you and your men

don't have to patrol inside Oboi's house

- Yes - Patrol just the outside...

Just walk around Oboi's house

No matter what happens inside

you have to ignore it

Do you understand?

Yes, uncle

I understand

All right, continue your patrol

Brother Zhu

Do you think it will be the man

of Pearl Valley who will come to report to Oboi?

Probably

There are more than ten organisations in the Alliance

Pearl Valley is the biggest

and most reputable among them

And the secret of the copper box

was leaked from the Pearl Valley

If the man is from Pearl Valley

will it be someone that we know?

Who do you think it is?

All men in the valley

are our close friends for more than ten years

I can't just simply say who it is

Brother Zhu

I'm nervous

Be quiet

His footsteps are light

He must be good in martial art

We can't let him find us out

Brother Zhu

This man

disguise himself in such way

to conceal his identity

It proves that he is more careful than the others

And he's afraid that people might recognise him

I have a hunch that

we may know this man

And...

it's someone that we're familiar with

Stop guessing

Since he is from our side

he should have known that

we're aware of his existence

But still, he comes

It must be some important information

that he wants to report to Oboi

When he comes out later

follow him in secret

and try to find out his identity

- All right - I'll think of a way...

to assassinate Oboi

We can't let him

relay the information to Kang Xi

He's out

Yi Huan...

he's stronger than you

Try not to confront him

If you're found out by him

abort your mission and run

Your life is more important

I know, Brother Zhu

You know me

I'm not a brave person since young

Of course, I won't confront him

But you...

Oboi is strong

Please be careful, and don't get yourself hurt

Don't worry

I won't let anything happens to me

I won't leave you alone

in this world

Let's go

Be careful

Stop!

Where is he?

Oh no, I lost him

Brother Zhu will laugh at me again

Who are you?

Oboi is too careful

The letters that he has with his men

are all written in secret codes

Even if other people get a hold of the letters

they won't understand them