Have you forgotten how your father and grandfather died?
We must eradicate the old hag by whatever means
ls Fook-chuen behind this?
You must put the dynamite in the sandalwood burner in the Hall of Eternal Spring
Lure the Qing dog emperor there
That Qing dog emperor will be blown into pieces
Greetings, Your Highness
lt's improper for you to come at this late hour. What's the matter?
l was on duty just now
l saw someone suspicious sneaking into the Hall of Eternal Harmony
l am worried about your safety
Hence this late night disturbance Please forgive me
There's someone suspicious?
Yes, l think it's connected to that ghost apparition
Your Highness, Minister Po Chai is here
Greetings, Your Highness
What a crowd
Officer Nip is here because he spotted someone suspicious
So did you?
Exactly. Tai Shek reported that someone suspicious was seen slipping in here
This is a serious matter and so l am here to see to it for myself
l am worried Sire and all other royalties are in danger
You are here with an entourage You mean to disturb my rest?
l dare not l only want do a thorough investigation
Allow me to conduct a search here
How dare you! This is my chamber
Who are you to conduct a search here?
Your Honor, Sire has ordered me to conduct the investigation
l don't think a search is necessary
Nip Dor-por, How dare you talk this way!
l am Minister of the lmperial Guard Your superior. Don't overstep the line
Sire sent you here to investigate and the Empress Dowager sent me here as well
Sire is filial and always gives in to the Empress Dowager
You dare to go against her?
lt never crossed my mind
But if you thwart me from carrying out my duty, l'll have to report it to Sire
l wonder if you can bear the responsibility
How dare you talk back to the Minister
Tai Shek, Nip Dor-po is here to carry out Sire's order
just like what we are doing
We should cooperate and conduct the search together
You're making it difficult for me Your Honor
That's enough!
This is not the place for the imperial guards to make a ruckus
Are you through?
l have to go to bed. Get out! All of you
Whatever it is, l'll answer to Sire and the Empress Dowager
Alright then, l'll have to report it as it is to the Empress Dowager
Po Chai is so arrogant
You may go
Your Highness, please forgive me
May l take a look at Miss Tsui-yuk's right hand?
What for?.
l had a fight with a mysterious intruder
His levitation skills are exactly the same as that of the ghost l saw just now
Why does it concern me?
l cut the intruder's right hand
Miss Tsui-yuk, could you show me your right hand?
How outrageous!
Tsui-yuk is my underling lt makes me a suspect as well
Show me your right hand
lt's alright, Your Highness
lf His Honor wants to see it l can show it to him
When did this happen?
l felt thirsty and l tried to pour myself a cup of hot tea
But l was careless and broke the cup
l cut myself when l tried to pick up the pieces
Then Your Honor arrived
l wiped off the blood in a hurry so l could wait on Her Highness
Such a coincidence?
What else could it be?
l was overly suspicious
Miss Tsui-yuk, forgive me if l have offended you in any way
You were doing your job
l won't disturb you anymore l'll take my leave then
See Officer Nip out
Yung-yurk, l'd like to pay respect to the late empress in the Hall of Eternal Spring
Sire, you know there's a ghost scam going on, why do you still want to go there?
Even so...
Thinking back, l promised on her deathbed l wouldn't name a new empress for 1 0 years
The ghost scam reminds me that 1 2 years have passed since l made my promise
Sire, you have kept your word
l am sure the late empress's spirit in heaven will be pleased
l will go there tomorrow to pay a proper respect
My love for her has not changed these 1 2 years and l have kept my promise
l hope her spirit is pleased
After my investigation last night
l'm sure the apparition was a sham to cause fear in the palace
Just as l thought
Obviously it is to spite Lady Man-kwan But Lady Wai has fallen out of favor
There should be no opposition in naming her empress
What else have you found?
The investigation is still ongoing
Minister Po Chai has stuck a finger into the investigation
He went to the palace himself and had a square-off with Nip Dor-po
Yes, he wanted to conduct a search
Princess Tuen-man got mad and ordered him to leave
l wanted to know the true story l am sure so does the Empress Dowager
This may concern Sire
What do you mean, Your Highness?
You know what it's about?
As you said, Lady Wai is no longer a threat so this can't be about Lady Man-kwan
Then who is the target? Obviously it is Sire
The furnishings have been kept intact since the late empress's death
Sire really loves her very much
Have you found anything?
Nothing suspicious, Your Highness
lt's exactly like the last time when we were here
Am l being overly suspicious?
l didn't feel well so l couldn't come see Your Highness
You're alright now?
l'm fine now. Thanks to your care or l couldn't have recovered so quickly
Prince Yue really is a caring husband Nothing beats a loving couple
You have Sire's love You will be an empress soon
l am happy for you
But l heard that the palace is haunted
lt's the ghost of the late empress, is it true?
Those eunuchs and maids love to fabricate
lt's just a hearsay that got out of hand Don't you believe it
lt's said that late empress is not happy about the crowning of a new empress
Hence her spirit comes back...
You are so broad minded. How could you believe in such hearsay?
You are right
Ghosts and spirits are just hearsay nor should we take rumors seriously
Oh yes, the imperial kitchen has made some date pancakes
l'll have Sze-kiu get it for us
Good
Sze-kiu...where has she gone?
Stop!
What are you trying to do? Your Highness
How dare you disobey me and took my butterfly handkerchief?
l dare not lie to Your Highness l dreamed of the late empress last night
She stood right in front of my bed
She said her butterfly handkerchief was not among her funeral objects
She obviously doesn't want you to take her place
She knows you have a butterfly handkerchief She wants it for herself
You dreamt what was on your mind
Your Highness, it's better to believe it
Even if you beat me to death
l still think we should offer the handkerchief to her
to pacify her spirit so she'll leave you alone
Stop your blathering
Give me the handkerchief Please don't be mad at me, Your Highness
l did it for your own good
Please, let me offer it to the late empress
No! Do you know how much the handkerchief means to me?
lt's irreplaceable, let go!
The ghost of the late empress is here again
Nonsense! How dare you spread such a lie in board daylight?
Greetings, Your Highness
l don't want to hear the word ghost again Just go
Let go of me!
What did you bring me here?
We're alone now. You can be honest with me
Tell me, you still love me
Your Highness, respect yourself Please stop blathering
Blathering? Tell me, why do you still have the butterfly handkerchief?
You said you wouldn't keep it when we parted
But l saw it with my own eyes
Not only have you not discarded it you cherish it
We were deeply in love We made a perfect pair
We galloped freely on the grassland
You play this part too fast. Slow down a bit
lt's so complicated l don't think l can handle it
lf you will practice more with me you can pick it up
Alright then, you'll have to keep me company everyday
This matauqin has been with me for years l'll give it to you
l embroidered the flying eagle on the cover l wish you can soar high like the eagle
You have to cherish it
From now on, if l see the matouqin it'll be like seeing you
l will cherish it forever
You are going to the palace as consort-to-be?
lt's an imperial decree, l have no choice
We are not in each other's destiny l can't wait on you from now on
lmperial decree?
l have to live my life under imperial decrees
Even when you have become an imperial consort
My love for you will never change
lt's our destiny, why make it so hard for yourself?
l will cherish the matauqin you gave me until the end of time
l meant to give you this butterfly handkerchief as our love token
Please cherish it
l will not keep it
l didn't understand your heartlessness
But when l saw the handkerchief l finally realized that you still love me
lt's in the past. Why brought it up?
l will soon be empress lt's a fact that can't be changed
lt's our destiny What happened between us was long over
Destiny? We make our own destiny
We can change anything
l am Sire's woman, you can't change it
Dynasty comes and goes heroes make the times
lf he had not staged a coup
Emperor Tai Chung of Tang wouldn't have got the throne
You know what you are saying?
l do, l too am of imperial descent
l want my throne back, l want my woman back
This is the palace, what you said is treason lt will mean your death
Why shouldn't l say it?
You are mine
Yuen-yip stole you from me Ancestral rules? Sheesh!
After the death of Emperor Tai Chung
the Empress Dowager married Regent Prince Dorgon
lf she could do it, so can you
Once l've won back my reign you'll be my empress
You plan to overthrow Sire?
l know you have me in your heart
Let me tell you, it's not usurpation it's mine to begin with
So are you
How dare you!
You have forgotten l am Sire's woman?
His woman? He doesn't have you in his heart
Take a look here This is the late empress's chamber
Everything is kept the way it was
He only has his late empress and their happy days together in his heart
He has no place for you in his heart
He makes you his empress only to please the Empress Dowager
You belong to me
Let go of me...
Have you gone mad?
Milord, l have made you mutton dumplings as night snack
Come over and eat
Milord
Milord...
Milord, no
Milord
The northerly wind is strong today
The kite will fly over Dashilan
They will know tonight is the night
There'll be snowstorm tonight
Nip Dor-po will be with Hong Hei l'm afraid he'd be killed as well
He chose to be an imperial guard it's his lot
You don't have to feel sorry for a mere minion
Greetings, Your Highness
l wonder why l am wanted so urgently
Minister Po Chai was rude to me last night
He wanted my chamber searched
But you stood up for me l want to thank you for it
Have some tea
No, thanks, it's what a minion should do
Minion...
You are my minion and l want you to have some tea. Go on
Thank you, Your Highness
l am sorry, Your Honor
l spilled the tea. Please forgive me Your Highness
That's alright
Your Highness
l have put extra guards at all major exits and increased the patrol rounds
Naplan is in the Hall of Heavenly Purity l will join in there
We will then escort Sire to the Hall of Eternal Spring
Good. Be on the alert
Yes, Your Highness
Ha Sin, why did you light the sandalwood incense?
To repel mosquitoes and bugs, Your Highness
Am l being overly-suspicious?
Does the scent of sandalwood attract any other insects?
No, unless it's not sandalwood
Something's still worrying Your Highness?
No. Go and make preparation at the Hall of Heavenly Purity
Yes, Your Highness
His Majesty fares forth
lf the scent of sandalwood repels bugs What incense attracts moths?
Camellia reticulate powder
lt attracts moths and is a smell absorbent
lt is used in morgues to absorb the stench of decay
When l was in Hall of Eternal Spring
l saw moths hovering around the incense burner
lsn't it unnatural?
There's camellia reticulate powder inside the burner?
Camellia reticulate powder? To absorb the smell?
But there shouldn't be a stench in the hall
What if there's dynamite in the incense burner?
The powder is used to cover up the sulfur smell
lt's possible. But we need proofs
Your Highness must warn Sire not to go there
There'd be dire consequences if Sire walks into danger
You are a born ruler l'll pass the throne to you
The mistake you made fifteen years ago is still vivid in my memory
l just want you to toe the line Don't commit the same mistake again
We've to be sure about this first. Maybe l'm being overly suspicious.Let's not alarm Sire
Willow catkins drift on water. Arrowroot is still tied to pond by its thread
This is a matter of serious nature
Sire is invaluable, the Qing reign rests on him
Though Naplan and Nip Dor-po are there to protect him
There's something suspicious about this lt concerns his life and death
Your Highness, please inform Sire at once
Brilliant as he is, Fook-chuen surely knows the Forbidden City is filled with danger
An assassination plot is in full swing But he is in conflict
Like Chi-ying, he's worried about Nip Dor-po's safety
Dor-po's safety is linked to Hong Hei
His sibling bond with Hong Hei also puts him in a dilemma
From today on, l won't care about what others say, l'll keep you by my side
Thank you, Sire
Cheers
Good! Atoast to my two brothers Cheers
Nip Dor-po, who's been by Hong Hei's side all this while, knows something is amiss
The moths hovering over the incense burner
the apparition and the cut on Tsui-yuk's hand they are interlinked together
Something's wrong, Officer Nip?
Your Highness
When the sandalwood is lit it will ignite the fuse as well
The fuse is connected to the dynamite under the sandalwood burner
The dynamite will explode once it has been lit
That Qing dog emperor will be blown into pieces
Something's wrong with the incense burner
Good!
Sire! ...
Put out the fire!
Come on
Greetings, Your Highnesses...
Her Highness wants to see Sire
Greetings, Your Highness
At ease
Thank you, Your Highness
How's Sire? ls he alright?
Your Highness, Sire is blessed
lt's just a minor injury Physician Fu is treating him
Thank heaven, Sire is alright
The palace is heavily guarded yet assassins could slip in
Why?
lt's our fault
Sire was in the Hall of Eternal Spring when the incense burner suddenly blew up
Luckily Officer Nip saved him in time Sire suffered no serious injury
So someone placed the dynamite inside the sandalwood burner?
Po Chai, how did you guard the palace?
The palace is a restricted area Yet people can easily slip in and out?
lt's my fault
l have blocked off the palace We will catch the assassin
That's easy to say
Luckily Sire is alright or you would be executed
lt's my fault
Your Highness, l am in charge of the lmperial Guards. l failed in my duty
The responsibility lies with me
His Majesty is here
Greetings, Your Majesty
At ease Thank you, Sire
Greetings, Your Highness At ease
Sire, you're alright?
Don't worry, l am fine
How's Officer Nip's injury?
Sire, he's seriously wounded
The physician is saving him His life is in the balance
Physician Fu, pass my order on to the imperial clinic
They are free to use whatever available in the imperial pharmacy
They have to save Nip Dor-po's life at whatever the cost
Yes, Sire
Sire, you had a terrible fright you should get some rest
Leave it to the minions
Sire has sustained no serious harm?
Your Highness, Sire is blessed
lt's just a minor scorch and some flesh wound
lt'll heal in no time
l had a brush with death
l am still alive because Officer Nip risked his life to save me
Sire, something's wrong with the incense burner
Sire?
Dor-po...
The assassins could come and go at will They do have their ways
Arrest them for execution as soon as possible
The lmperial Guards have failed in their duty. They should be penalized
Prince Kung, you are the new Commander-in-chief
You were not aware that there were assassins in the capital
They were able to slip into the palace to assassinate Sire
The responsibility rests upon you
lt's my oversight, Sire l deserve the punishment
l have failed in my duty l deserve the punishment
Sire, l deserve the punishment
To make an assassination attempt on me in the palace...
it has to be a well-thought out plan
They know the palace so well
How many are involved? Who is their leader?
lt takes time to find out lmpatience won't help matters
But these minions failed in their duties lt can't be tolerated
But there are valiant ones among them
Nip Dor-po didn't panic and risked his life to save me
He is seriously injured as a result
He has redeemed the lmperial Guard
Po Chai Yes, Sire
Spare no effort to apprehend the rebels in no time
Yes, Sire
Get up
Thank you, Sire
Sire, since the assassination attempt
all city gates have been closed and no one is allowed to leave the capital
The rebels must be in town
As long as we conduct a thorough search they won't make their way out
Good, l await your good news
l want to see how Nip Dor-po is doing
Sire, you should care for your own wellbeing
The physicians will take care of Officer Nip Sire, you can be rest assured
The Empress Dowager is so worried about you
Please be considerate of her and retire to your chambers
lndeed, Sire, you have not recovered yet You should retire for rest
Alright,
Gentlemen, l'll trust it to you
What's going on?
That Qing dog emperor is still alive
Our effort has come to no avail What a shame
Hong Hei is alive?
The imperial guards are acting like mad
They grab eunuchs and maids for interrogation
The Forbidden Palace is filled with fear
What about Nip Dor-po?
lt's because of him that we failed our mission. He shielded that Qing dog emperor
So how is he? Dead or alive?
l can't care less
Even if he were dead, he'd asked for it
He's a Han and yet he protected that Qing dog emperor
But l just want to know
l don't know. l just know the physicians are trying to save him
His injury is serious
The Forbidden Palace is blocked off
We failed to kill the Qing dog emperor
We can't contact our helmsman
Dor-po, Don't die. Please wake up
Greetings, Your Highness
Skip the formality
How's Nip Dor-po?
lt's not optimistic, Your Highness
We did everything we could
But he has a blood clot and suffers from serious internal injury
He's unconscious and weak barely hanging on to life
You mean he's going to die?
What else can we do?
lf the blood clot does not dissolve he can't come on...
He'll only have a day left
Pak Hei Hall moved here from Tianjin a year ago
But it's listed with the lmperial Pharmacy in so short a time
Princess Tuen-man hails from Pak Hei Hall
Then there's the apparition thing soon after she came to the palace
lt's just one too many coincidences
We've been watching over Pak Hei Hall But we found nothing
Prince Yue expressly called it off
He just did it for Princess Tuen-man's sake
l've always find her suspicious
We have to check her out
But we have to be discreet Prince Yue will be furious if he finds out
Nip Dor-po is suspicious too
We found his background wanting We went to Shijiazhuang to check it out
But we found nothing suspicious
He saved Sire's life, it'll be even harder to catch him in the wrong
l've read his file. Nothing's out of place
But one thing seems odd
His parents suddenly moved to Shijiazhuang
Nip Dor-po was kept from public eye after he was born
You were there to check out his background and he suddenly showed up
l suspect he was worried we'd find something
so he went there to cover up his traces
l found it odd then
But the acolyte was adamant that there was nothing questionable about his background
What if they bribed her?
Muk Fong, Li Kai-chueng Do something for me
What happened at the palace? There was an explosion last night
Then the capital is sealed off and the imperial guards are everywhere
Whatever it is l just want Dor-po to be fine
Don't worry. He's smart, he should be fine
l got news that there's an assassination attempt on Sire last night
There was a bloodbath and many casualties
ls Dor-po alright?
l don't know. l heard that dozens of imperial guards were killed
Where did you hear about this?
l heard that a consort has gone mad and set everything aflame
Many eunuchs and maids were burnt to death
What you both said can't be more different Which is true?
They are out of their minds
From what l heard, a rock fell down from heaven and wrecked the palace
A fire broke out and killed everyone This can't be more absurd!
But is Dor-po alright?
Master Nip, Sheung-hei
Yan Chak, how come you are here?
l was out on an errand and took a detour to come here
What happened in the palace last night?
How come Dor-po is not with you?
Where is he? lndeed
l can't tell you what happened But Dor-po is injured
lt's serious
l am worried...
What?
He may not survive the night
How come he's injured?
This can't be! He's a martial arts adept l have to go to him
Please, listen to me, Dor-po will be fine The imperial physicians are the best
He will be fine. He can make it
Dor-po, you have to be alright
Yan Chak, he's injured by the explosion last night?
What about the emperor? ls he alright?
Sire is fine, thank heaven
What about Mistress... Prince Tuen-man?
She is fine too Dor-po...
Well, l have to go
Dor-po, you can't leave me behind l can't do without you
Dor-po...
Dor-po, you have to hide
According to folklores Dor-po's life is in the balance
Grim reapers will come to get him
But they can't be seen by the living We sprinkle salt on the ground
They dare not step on it for fear of leaving their footprints
So they can't get near Dor-po to claim his life
lf he can survive tonight, he can make it
l thought what our son needs is panacea
There are so many physicians in the palace
lf there were panacea they would have used it
This is the only thing we can do for him
Dor-po, hide yourself
Dor-po, it's me, Chi-ying
l am sorry, it's my fault
lf l could make you drink the cup of tea this wouldn't have happened
l didn't mean to harm you
l have brought you something
Look, the Chiu Chi-lung you gave me l have found him a friend, Chi-ying, see?
Don't they make a pretty pair?
Do you hear me? Say something You used to play pranks on me in Dashilan
You called yourself Chiu Chi-lung You are so valiant you can't be killed
How come you are so quiet? Say something
Dor-po, wake up
Don't leave me behind, please
Dor-po, you unfilial son
You knew Hong Hei is our foe Yet you saved his life
You are not worthy to be my son
Nip Dor-po, you saved my life l should thank you
But l am a judicious emperor No one can change that
You know l am not the rightful heir to the throne, l can't let you live
You want to pull wool over my eyes?
But l have long seen through your relationship with Kei To-ting
Shum Chin-yat is Kei Man-cheong He was your father
You want to avenge him?
Never
Brother Nip, l'll stand behind you
But it concerns my Qing reign You have to be sacrificed
Dor-po, you have to be alright
Don't you leave me behind
Why do you want to know my true identity?
Reverend, how's he?
l took a gamble and hit him at the heart to call up his will to live
lt seems he's come back from the brink He'll be fine
Greetings, Your Majesty At ease
Thank you, Sire
l have prepared you tranquility soup for wellness
Thank you indeed
Sire, allow me to say this. You've just recovered, you should take more rest
Why work yourself so hard?
Floods have been raging in the South
lf l rest for another day l cannot attend my work for another day
This weighs in my heart
Sire has the country and people in mind The people are fortunate indeed
But natural disasters can't be predicted
And with what happened lately in the palace your hands are quite full
May l ask this of you? Please postpone the coronation ceremony
Why do you have such an idea?
As the sage says, cultivate oneself, put the family in order, and rule the country
When peace prevails and there is prosperity for all
lf Sire still cherishes me
then it's the time to make me empress
What you said proves you are the model of virtues
lf everyone has your generosity peace will come to our country
lt's a shame l don't have the support of every man
The assassination may look like the work of rebels
But my shortcomings were the cause of it
lf the ministers and l can spare no efforts for the people
then we can win the loyalty of all
And the Hong Hei reign will be marked by peace and prosperity
Once l win my throne back you will be my empress
You look pale, you don't feel well?
l am fine. lt's good that Sire has the country in mind
You were injured yet you still worry about state affairs
But few civilians will know about it
And how many of the ministers can really help?
Not all of them are loyal
But the assassination is a blessing in disguise
l now know that Nip Dor-po would risk his life to save me
He is the very model of loyalty and bravery
l am sure Sire is blessed
Though he is just an imperial guard, he saved your life, he's your guardian angel
lt's a joy to talk to you like a timely shower after drought
l feel so much better now that l have poured my heart out
l have overlooked you
l didn't know that my ideal empress had long been here by my side
Sire
l cannot postpone the coronation ceremony
lf l do that, the rebels will see it as a sign of weakness
l'm relieved to know you'll be overseeing the harem for me