Prince Yue, you are unruly and arrogant and you have too much blood on your hands
l've put a tight rein over you all these years in hope you'd repent your past
You are generous
lf you don't mind, let us be friends
Cheers Cheers
Come again See you
Who is it?
Stop it...
Who is he?
Manchu dog?
lt serves him right
He wanted revenge without first finding out who we are
We have doubly repaid him
Dor-po, you were ruthless. But we like it
We beat him up yesterday. We didn't hang him up nor did we put a plaque on him
l found it odd too, but that Manchu was so obnoxious
He must have made many enemies
Maybe after we gave him a beating, he ran into his other foes and they hung him up
What do you call this? He had it coming
Go away...go away...
lt might break
He'll fall. Careful
Catch him...
Watch out....
Let's go
Come on
You did this for us. You made our day!
We gave him a taste of his own medicine Right? Chiu Chi-lung of the Three Kingdom?
To sum it up, he asked for it
Chung...
you're alright?
You are coughing hard
l am fine, Young Master Dor-po
lt's early, why are you here?
My wife is pregnant. l've to make more money
The silk shop needed a porter. The pay is quite good. So l took the job
You work as a porter in the daytime a watchman at night. Are you up to it?
Get someone to fill in for you as night watchman
What? l'll pay him
No, you have done a lot for me already l won't let you this time
Not anyone can be a night watchman
A rookie may get the hours wrong it will confuse the neighbors
He's right
lf the wrong hour is announced, it'll mean getting up at the wrong hour...
like he does Me?
You get up late all the time How difficult is that?
First watch is 7 pm, second watch is 9 pm Let me show you
You know how?
Lucky!
Cheuk Chi-ying, Heiress of Pak Hei Hall
What's the ruckus? You scared Lucky
Catch it...he's wreaking havoc
Look at your dog! He's wreaking havoc. How can they do business?
How dare you say that!
lf you had not scared my dog with that clanging gong, it wouldn't have panicked
Ho Yi Mistress
Pay every stall three taels and get Lucky back
Whoever gets my dog back, gets ten taels
Ten taels? lt's a good offer
You've recovered?
Ten taels? l'll do it
You have asthma. Don't you do it lt's alright....
Chung...
Stop
Chung, you're alright?
You are going nowhere
Hey...don't you lick me Go lick your mistress
Lucky, you're alright? Are you scared?
Who knows what that dubious character is up to?
Hey, what do you mean, witch?
What a pest. Just pay him
This is from our mistress
You think money is everything? People are at your beck and call?
Your dog wreaked havoc here Keep your dirty money
Dirty? Not as dirty as your mouth
How dirty?
The money is mine My mistress never said it was for you
l caught the dog
Just give it to him
Witch!
Let's get back to Sheung Moon House
Who is that witch?
The Heiress of Pak Hei Hall She has just moved here
No wonder besides the stink of money she smells of herbs as well
Pak Hei Hall is very well known
The boss is a neutralized Manchu with a bestowed surname
He is well-connected with the rich and powerful
A Han imposing as a Manchu? What a disgrace
l hear Pak Hei Hall sells premium herbs
We have so many medicinal recipes l mean to patronize them
As we're neighbors he should give me a discount
Don't even think about it Pak Hei Hall herbs are expensive
He counts the rich and powerful as his clientele. We can't afford to shop there
lndeed. Don't patronize them l hate that kind of people
They ride on the Manchus' coattail and bully others. Like daughter like father
But the Manchus get their retributions
The bullying Manchu was found hung up on the arch this morning
with no clothes on Really?
And with a plaque that says Manchu dog around his neck
Really?
Hey, why this snickering? Did you do it?
No...of course not
Give way
Dor-po, here he comes again
They are the accomplices
Tai Shek, lmperial Guard, First Rank
What is it? Why are you here?
Gentlemen, we have private rooms, please... Shut up! You are in no position to talk
First Rank lmperial Guard?
My cousin is a First Rank lmperial Guard Athird rank official
An official? Stay calm
Your Honor, what can l do for you?
My cousin was slapped in public A Plain White Bannerman was insulted
l want to know who was the audacious perpetuator
Your Honor, Sheung Moon House has a lot of patrons everyday
How do l know their whereabouts?
l have no idea who was beating whom that day
You must know. You were seen drinking with him in a wine house
That's funny, gentleman l suppose you don't know this
My nickname is Chiu Chi-lung of Dashilan
lf l have a great rapport with someone, l'll drink with them for three days and nights
lt makes me puke when l see shameless people l can't stand
How dare you!
Alright, l can put that aside for the time being
But my cousin was ambushed and hung up on the arch. Who did it?
You find this funny? lnsulting a Manchu is punishable by death
We have nothing to do with it
Honor, if you have evidence, go to the the magistrate. Don't slander us
You'd better admit it or l'll make you regret it
Honor, you are a high official a First Rank lmperial Guard
With your lofty position, it's unbecoming to lose your cool over such a trivial thing
lf you care for a drink here it's our honor and on the house
Right, our signature dish is the hundred treasure duck
Your Honor, please come by often
They won't admit it. Turn Sheung Moon House upside down until the culprit is found
l dare you
How useless of you. You brought your cousin
over and assume his air
You think you can turn Sheung Moon House upside down as you wish?
How dare you!
Chung, you're alright?
Stop it!
Why did you hit up? You want to kill him?
What are you talking about? l saw you hitting him
Nonsense Give way
Your Honor, at your service
Councilor Yes
A fight took place here. There's casualty You know what to do
Yes, Your Honor. Let me see you out first
Lau! He hit Chung. Why did you let him go? We all saw it
There's no use talking to him. He's his man
You all have blood on your hands You started it and injured people
Take them back for further investigation Yes, sir
What is it with you? Our hands are stained with blood because we helped Chung up
Take them away What do you mean?
What's wrong with you? Can't you tell black from white?
Dor-po
Thank you, Your Honor
Dor-po...
You're alright?
l'm fine... l was so worried
Nip Dor-po, you should thank your ancestors
Chung has suffered from poor health all this while, he fell and injured himself
lt's no one's fault, you can go now
Alright, what about others? Why don't you release them ?
You heard me? You should thank your ancestors
Your family paid for your release They're not your concern. Leave at once
Let them go and l will leave
You have offended the lmperial Guards
We have paid a lot of money and asked the eunch Wo Goong Goong for help
The magistracy would only release you
lndeed, don't walk into trouble Let's go home first
l'll check on Chung
Your Honor, thank you
Uncle Cheung, lsn't Cheung Fei released yet?
lf he were, l wouldn't have to look for help
So many innocent people are implicated and thrown into jail
l really am sorry
The Manchus beat the Han people up But we have to bear the brunt
Why is heaven so unfair to us?
l want heaven to know
Sheung-hei, let's go fly the sky lantern
Since we have no way to seek redress we'll write our grievances on the lantern
Let's hope that it will fly up to heaven so the gods will know of our sufferings
Let me join you...
Let us do it together
The rising lanterns depicting Nip Dor-po's sense of justice
and the people's grievances float into the night sky
The lanterns might not have reached heaven but they had caught the eyes of Hong Hei
[lmperial Study
lt was the Han people's Laba Festival two days ago
Every family sought blessings and ward off evil spirits
They would write their wishes on lanterns l saw lanterns floating in the sky
Cheung picked one up with the word grievance written on it
Yung-yurk, l assigned you to check it out What have you found?
Sire, l found out that several Hans were arrested in Dashilan a couple of days ago
Their kin wrote the grievances on the lanterns
Sire, Manchu and Han disputes happen from time to time
l am sure some unruly Hans make waves to cause trouble
Sire, allow me to look into it to relieve Sire of your worries
Alright. Take care of it
Yes, Sire
Don't worry, l will take care of them for you
Thank you, Master Dor-po
l can never repay you
l can't be a watchman anymore
Chung...you can't die...
That's him, Mistress
You pest, you killed Lucky
Your dog died, what have l got to do with it?
lf you had not sounded the gong
he wouldn't have been scared and dashed off injuring his leg
and he wouldn't have died of complications
You owe my mistress her compensation
A dog's life means so much to you What about a human life?
You know who died? The one who caught your dog for ten taels
Who would compensate Chung's death? He died?
He knew he was ill he shouldn't have run after Lucky
lf he were not so money-mad he wouldn't have died
l never said you caused his death But why are you so mean?
You Manchus are all alike The death of a dog counts more than a Han
How heartless
Lucky had been with me for more than ten years
We had a bond. All lives are equal A dog's life means nothing?
Why shouldn't l grieve for it?
You're being so unreasonable
What's being reasonable? Even heaven has turned a blind eye to justice
l don't want to talk to you. Go away
Should l send you off with gongs?
lt's beneath us to talk to you Mistress, let's go
l've decided to name the young prince Po-tai
lt comes from the Book of Poems
Ruler in peaceful times maintains the equilibrium. Sit down
lt's my desire to see the Manchus and Hans in peaceful coexistence
and the country in prosperity
then Qing reign will be stable and balance
Thank you, Sire, for the name Po-tai... maintaining prosperity is the zenith of rule
But we should be prudent to avoid disasters and to preserve fortune
This is what we should strive for
Your son's name has another meaning
Tai is the eleventh trigram of the Book of Change
lt means prosperity of heaven and earth the interchange of Yin and Yang
Peaceful coexistence, thriving and booming
Sire, you only have the people's wellbeing in mind. You put me to shame
But peace seems to be lacking lately in the Capital
l hear that disputes between Manchu and Han people are rife
The Han people complain of discrimination and their grievances are not heard
Sire, you have spared no efforts in promoting Manchu-Han harmony
But their feud runs too deep to be resolved
What makes you say that?
l spoke from my heart
When l was young and impetuous
l thought ruling the Hans with an iron fist could bring them to submission
But l made a terrible mistake
1 5 Years Ago
Restore Ming. Expel the Manchus
What nerve! You are the Lord Protector of Qing
You collude with the rebels for revolt
You have set a trap for yourself this time
Prince Yue, let me explain
l have never betrayed Qing l was forced to do it
You're still trying to deny it? Kill them all! Take no prisoners!
Shoot
l received news the Ming Royalists were in collusion with the surrendered ministers
When l saw him paying respect to the late Ming Emperor
l didn't let him explain and killed anyone in sight
l found out he was forced to do so
Dozens of his family members were killed l've committed a heinous crime
l didn't trust the Hans and it led to tragedy
l have been filled with remorse since then
The two peoples distrust each other
lt's my greatest wish that the people can achieve mutual trust
Give way... Dor-po, what are you doing here?
Chung was killed by the Manchus
But the magistracy arrested innocent Hans They are still not released
The place is filled with sadness
l'm paying respect to Chung with the gong what's wrong with it?
You are inciting people to riot
Everyone leave at once, otherwise...
We are paying respect to Chung ls this a crime?
You think heaven has no justice?
We are paying respect to Chung...
Sire, allow me to say this. lt's a good idea to promote Manchu-Han harmony
But it's not so easy to implement it lt still needs to be perfected
As l know, Han people are often bullied by the Manchus
Some were even beaten to death Hence the grievance bearing lanterns
You knew about it too? You knew the story behind it?
l was the cause of it
l saw a Manchu bullying the Hans
Out of righteous anger l taught that bully a lesson
l learned that he sought help in revenge A fight took place. Those involved
were taken back to the magistracy
Only the Hans were arrested there was not one Manchu
The magistracy was on the Manchu's' side?
We still have to look into it Not every Han is innocent
But l'm worried if it's mishandled, it'll provoke more anger and lead to unrest
What do you think we should do?
Han people are suspicious in nature
They are convinced that Manchu-Han coexistence is an empty promise
We can first improve the Hans' livelihood lt's a way to win their loyalty and support
With the support of the people prosperity can be ensured
We can first implement livelihood policies
like taxation exemption and recruitment of talents
to give Hans the chance to serve the Court
like opening up the posts of lmperial Guards to Han people
But this is unprecedented
lmperial Guard concerns the Court and the safety of the royal family
lf Sire uses Han people as your bodyguards we can win their loyalty
Dashilan, a lawless place What's the ruckus, how can we do business?
The heir of Sheung Moon House is bent on creating trouble
Han people, treated as dirt Let's go back in
Sound the gong for our woes...
Jail and prison is our lot...
Han people live in hell...
Your Honor
lt is the Commander-in-Chief's order
Unruly people are gathering here for disturbance. You are asked to disperse
or you will be arrested and be dealt with without mercy
Disperse now!
Son, there are too many soldiers don't fight them
Our son is only sounding the gong he is not instigating a rebellion
We should give him support You have my support too
Dashilan, a lawless place...
Unruly people! You ask for it
Han people, treated as dirt
Archers, get ready
Sounding the gong for our grievance Jail and prison is our lot
Han people live in hell Halt
Honorable Naplan, at your service
lt is His Majesty's decree
The Dashilan incident is complicated and it should be dealt with by law
You are asked to withdraw without delay
People should also disperse and not congregate here for disturbance
Those who disobey the order will be punished
Yes, Sire
Escort His Honor back
Leave
Naplan Sing-tak seems to be a good official l say His Majesty is discerning
l say Dor-po has resolution
Ngan Yuk-ming Yes, Sire
How do you think l should handle it?
The first thing is to pacify the people of Dashilan
Any Han that tries to use it to instigate the people should be dealt with severely
The bullying Manchus should also be justly punished
You're a neutralized Manchu but you're are still a Han
lt's inevitable you take their side lt's not personal
Calm down. l have thought up some pacification measures
What are they? Sire?
Han people are allowed to take court positions up to third rank
The Han people living in the three provinces adjacent to the Capital
will be given tax exemption for a year
Soon, it'll be implemented in other provinces as well
Princes of the Eight Banners that have usurped Han lands
must return them within the date specified
Sire, your kind measures will relieve Han people of their discontent
Han people are also allowed to be imperial guards
Sire, allow me to speak this precedent can't be set
lf Han people are allowed to be imperial guards, it will undermine your safety
l want every Han to know l trust them and bear them no suspicions
Sire, you have talents in mind
Minister Ming-chu is a senior tutor He sure understands this simple rationale
Greetings, Grandmother Please rise, Sire
The gold locket is exquisite, is it for Prince Yue's son?
You are observant, l had the imperial locksmith made this
lt gives a crispy tinkle to ensure safety
lt's the little prince fortune to have your love
l named him Po-tai. Your thoughts on it?
Po-tai? lt means maintaining peace and prosperity
This is what you have in mind
Exactly. Since the establishment of Qing we have gone through many wars
The people can finally have peace now
To maintain peace and prosperity is our priority
l've decreed measures to promote peaceful co-existence between Manchus and Hans
l have heard about it
But you are opening up the posts of lmperial Guards for the Hans
l think you have gone too far
lmperial guards are close to the emperor He entrusts them with his life
Hence the positions were filled exclusively by men of the three closest Banner troops
lf Hans are allowed to fill the posts
it'll show the Court's determination to put Hans in important positions
lt's a risky gambit But l trust you have your rationale
l didn't know how to promote Manchu-Han coexistence
But l was given advice and it opened up my eyes
Hence this recruitment of Hans for imperial guards
How discerning. Who was the minister?.
Prince Yue showed me the way
Are these livelihood measures empty promises again?
lt says more Hans will become high officials
and there's a year of tax exemption for Han people
Usurped land will be returned They are not hollow words
You three and other Hans were released and the magistracy would not pursue it
Our sounding gong must have roused the Emperor into action
But the magistrate said both sides were to blame for the confrontation
The Manchus were pardoned as well they weren't being pursued anymore
lsn't it well the matter's been resolved amicably?
What about Chung's death? Father...
Madam Chung, you are with child you shouldn't have come
l want to see Master Dor-po
Madam Chung Master Dor-po
Please sit Be careful
Don't worry. l won't let Chung die in vain
Thank you for your concern But officers came to my house
They said Chung would be given a proper burial
l was given 50 taels as compensation
Whatever happened happened
l'm just waiting for my baby's birth Why don't you...
The murderer is still at large. The Court should pursue it. Give me some time...
Dor-po, let it go lt concerns an imperial guard
He is a third rank official He won't been trialed
What if he's an imperial guard? He can kill without paying for it?
To be honest, call it Chung's misfortune
He was ill and weak that day lt wasn't exactly murder
He was pushed and he hit his head
lt's not like that, Father
Let me call you Brother Dor-po
Don't fight against officials, especially imperial guards
You think the imperial guards are high and mighty?
The royal decree says Hans can now apply to be imperial guards
Alright, l will apply for it
Han people too can walk with their heads held high
Bravo! Dor-po, you mean it?
Really? Do l look like l am joking?
But can you? Hey
Don't you sell your son short
lndeed
Son, you'll make it. You've my support Thank you, Mother
You have my support too You can see His Majesty. How awesome
Silly girl That will be great!
Dashilan will be free of Manchu bullies
Make Hans proud
You're a martial arts adept you will make it
We will hold a feast for all neighbors l do hope so
Thanks for your support
l will make it, Father
Leave the rebels to the Court
lt doesn't concern you
Hall of Benevolence, 1 5 years ago
You wanted to make a name with this
Let me tell you. The court already knew the Ming Loyalists had contacted Lord Protector
But he was loyal to Qing. We had it set up
We planned to lure the rebels out and capture them all
The Court meant to send in the forces
But you wanted the credit and took matters into your own hands
lt's your first mistake
And you were cruel and killed indiscriminately
Lord Protector's household were all killed
Tens of people died in your hand lt's your second mistake
Grandmother, l didn't know about it
You knew His Majesty promoted pacification and was generous to Lord Protector
to show the Hans we wanted co-existence But you killed the surrendered Ming
Ministers, you've given Sire a bad name
lt's your third mistake
You have committed so many mistakes because you were impatient for success
You used hunting as a pretext to do it
lt shows that you have a cunning mind lt's unforgivable
You are not worthy to be an Aisin Gioro
Grandmother, l know l am wrong
l can forgive all your minor wrongdoings during the past ten years
l just hope you will know your place
Leave court affairs alone and it's not for you to care
Just be Prince Yue in your own mansion
A gold locket?
l was locked up all my life.lsn't it enough?
Now you want to lock up my son my progeny? Never
Empress Dowager Hau Chong was scheming Fook-chuen was full of resentment
On a moonless night
the stage for a Manchu-Han confrontation was set to pave his way for a comeback
lt's time for the sword to be drawn
Dor-po
Dear neighbors Don't you fail them
Mother, don't worry
Neighbors, l will not disappoint you Great
Brother Dor-po...something's up
The guests in the private room complain about the hundred treasure duck
Gentlemen, l wonder...
You again?
The Capital is so big and l have to run into this shrew again
The Capital is so big. Why did l have walk into this trap?
Hey
Lady, mind your words Sheung Moon House is not a trap
Your dish tastes weird, and it's expensive lsn't this dishonesty?
Funny taste?
l can tell they are out-of-towners How can they appreciate local delicacies?
They had to gargle because of your weird tasting duck
Our hundred treasure duck doesn't taste weird
lt is our signature dish As for medicinal food, this dish and
the all-round tonic are most popular here
lndeed, Lady. lt's made with our family recipe
lt's prepared with dozens of medicinal herbs
l've been making it for decades
lt's good for blood circulation and it rejuvenates the spirit
lt is our signature dish and everyone praises it
Don't defame Sheung Moon House
My father is out of town for business
Our guests have heard so much about your medicinal dishes
that's why l brought them here
My nose can tell
The truth is that you bear us grudges because of what happened last time
You used it as an excuse to make a scene
l am not that childish l grew up on medicinal herbs
l have tried every rare herb and delicacy l can tell with one sip
l am sure it's your food
Just because you say so?
You don't have to believe me Take me to the kitchen and l can show you
Alright, come with us
What? l have not finished Shut up
Here's the proof lt's Sheung Moon House's fault
So you stiffed out evidence?
The proof is here. The two earthen pots So what?
l smelt black false hellebore on the lid of hundred treasure duck
And l smelt ginseng on the lid of the all-round tonic
That's strange
There is no black false hellebore in hundred treasure duck
There's no ginseng in the tonic, unless...
Unless the lids were switched
Hold it, so even if they were switched how could it give the duck a weird taste?
How ignorant
lt went into the duck through the droplet on the lid
lt counteracted with the ginseng in the duck and became toxic
lt's stated in the Compendium of Materia Medica. l didn't make it up
lt's not that serious
Not serious?
Gingseng, peony and root of ladybell, root of wild ginger, figwort root and sage herb
liquorices and red sage become fatal when mix with black false hellebore
So is it serious or not?
Lady, you sure are learned You can tell just be smelling it
But it never happened before
Now the truth is known My mistress has not wronged you
lt's the first time this has ever happened Please return to the private room
l'll prepare for you a genuine hundred treasure duck with a pot of...
No, thank you. l'm an honest person
l appreciate your readiness to admit your mistake
Unlike those who take loudness for the truth
l am an honest person too l stand corrected this time, alright?
Not just this time
My dog Lucky was ill l took it to the physician
You gave it a fright and killed him
How did l know it was ill? How did l know he couldn't be scared?
Don't push your luck l won't let you step all over me
See? You flared up again You're not a man for great deeds
l can't make it big? You are not cut out for it
l don't want to talk with you anymore Shrew, go back to your coop
You are hopeless Go back to your coop
Let's go
Cheuk Mansion
My daughter is back
Father. This is...
Miss Chi-ying? My pleasure
Let me introduce you
This is Ngai Chun, he's a Mongolian
His father is a high official an acquaintance of mine
Master Ngai is well-versed in the classics and martial arts
He came to the Capital to apply for the post of imperial guard
l have little learning. l only want to open my eyes to new things
Master Ngai, you are too modest l can tell you'll make it
You are too kind
You have a long journey. You must be tired
l should let your rest May l visit you again?
Let me see you out
You scared me, Father. l thought you took him back for a marriage interview
What do you think about him? Don't be nosy!
l said l would wait on you for the rest of your life
lt has been hard on you all these years
Ever since we moved here from Tianjin our business has become brisk
l have to go on trips
You have to man the store and your marriage is stalled
You have to go on trips l am your only daughter
There is no other to tend the store
My marriage can wait
lf Master opens up branches then you can't get married at all?
Then l can wait on Father
lf you can't wait to get married feel free to do so
l dare not fight over Master Ngai with you Shut up, or l will slap your lips
Dor-po, you have our support
You are our Chiu Chi-lung You will make it
Sheung Moon House will have an imperial guard. Awesome
Awesome
Dor-po Yes, Father?
Whether you can make it or not doesn't matter
Don't offend people and get into trouble Flee when things don't look good
Don't you anything nice to say?
Dor-po, l have confidence in you
You have picked up the Trigram Sword Routine last month. You'll make it
Dashilan depends on you Yes, Mother
Father, don't worry
l will not fail you all l will make it for Hans
Manchu people can't look down on us again
lmperial Guards Recruitment Ground
Foes tend to meet You see too highly of yourself
Same to you
My cousin is one of the examiners You are on your own