lf l'm right, you ordered Ha Sin to frame Lady Wai for it
You did it to cover up for a person
You are worried l will leak out your affair with Lady Man-kwan
You're alright?
Wait, Lady Kin-ching
l trusted him Check out Naplan Sing-tak for me
Sire, you suspect Naplan?
But he has always been loyal to you
l want to believe him but l just can't shake off the suspicion
l got a confidential report
Once Naplan Ming-chu and the Banner nobles knew that Fengtai was the canal terminus
they hoarded up land for speculation
But l changed the plan
And they accused me of being partial to Hans at the expense of Manchus
Actually they were lining their own pockets
Sire is discerning
Maybe they're in it together. But what has Naplan Sing-tak got to do with it?
They are father and son, closely related
Yung-yurk indeed was impartial
He used to report to me what his father had done
But he has not said a word about it
lt's obvious he's hiding it from me
Nip Dor-po Yes, Sire?
Find out the truth for me Yes, Sire
Fengtai Town
The houses are almost all empty Not a soul in sight
Let's look around first
Excuse me
How come Fengtai is so deserted? Not a soul in sight
You are from out of town? No wonder you don't know
What happened?
Hundreds of families used to live here
lt wasn't exactly prosperous but it was still thriving
But about a year ago
Magistrate Lau and a group of wealthy men bought out land on the cheap
The people were forced to move
Whoever refused were taken back to the magistracy and beaten into submission
Hence the people have all left the town is thus deserted
We were forced to sell our land and move out
But the town ends up a ghost town
What were the officials thinking?
lt's obvious Magistrate Lau knew that the canal would pass through here
So he colluded with the wealthy people to buy out land on the cheap
thinking that they could make a huge profit from it
But the canal course is altered and Fengtai Town has lost its value
How would a mere magistrate know about the canal project in advance?
He's just a pawn
Fengtai Magistracy
From what Magistrate Lau said
Naplan Ming-chu and other ministers were the men behind the land grab
lf you had not claimed to be an imperial envoy and did some arm-twisting
he would not have told the truth
But we have to take it with a grain of salt
He said his contact was a man in Naplan's employ, but never with Naplan himself
We have no concrete evidence to prove he's the man behind it
Hey, tighten up your act!
You're half awake? Be orderly and give me ten laps around the gate tower
Yes, Your Highness
Greetings, Your Highness
You said you would plead to Sire on my behalf
so l can take Mother and Kin-ching home
l did see Sire and l did plead to him
And?
He was being perfunctory he didn't care about it
l'll go and make it clear to him
lf you act rashly, Sire might get mad it will only make it worse
What else can l do?
lf Grandmother says no Sire will never say yes
lt seems that Sire runs the court on his own
But he relies on the help of the senior statesmen
He doesn't have the wisdom and tact He is indecisive and easily swayed
like relieving you from command of the Blue Banner army
The pretext was poor and it's unfair to you
You can go plead with him but will he heed you?
Sire is the ruler of the country
Everyday, he has to make decisions big or small
He has ministers to handle and people's livelihood to worry about
lt's not an easy lot
The canal dispute and the miscarriage of Lady Man-kwan add to his woes
He has to take care of the country
Comparing to state affairs my family concern is of no importance
lt's understandable if he puts it aside
You put yourself in his shoes how considerate of you
Sire is our brother after all
The country enjoys peace and prosperity
As his brothers, we should all the more work with one heart for him
lf anyone harbors treachery, we should stand up for Sire and remove the traitors
Don't you agree?
Why are you so loyal to Yuen-yip? You know one wrong step can be fatal?
You're alright?
Sheung-ning, you made me take this step
You want me to kill Lady Kin-ching?
lt's not the first time you killed for me What's wrong with it?
You ordered me to kill Lady Wai and framed it as a suicide
This time it's Lady Kin-ching l just want to know why
Just do as l say, you don't have to know
l am just wondering l have done a lot for Your Highness
But you see more highly of Nip Dor-po
He is now His Majesty's right-hand man
You resent him?
l just think that what he can do, so can l
l never doubt your competence
Then why am l only given the dirty jobs framing and killing people?
Your Highness has lofty ambitions l am well aware of it and l can help
With my capabilities, l should be more than just a pawn to you
l know you are a talent and l see you as a confidant
Hence l trust you with the important missions
Nip Dor-po is a talent as well
But he's inflexible he doesn't know my plan
You'll make it big
l promise you, once my plan is realized
You will be given the top position second only to me
So long as l am here You won't be short-changed
They're my favorite white jade cassia cakes!
By the order of Empress Dowager these treats are for Your Highnesses
Please tell her she is too kind
Yes, Your Highness
White as jade, full of cassia aroma lt's a specialty of imperial kitchen
Since you like it so much, have more
How come she is suddenly so nice to us? She has even sent us treats
She may have heard of your poor appetite
So she bid imperial kitchen to make you treats
You really are this hungry?
l had not had cassia cakes for some time l can't stop myself
Moreover, my baby has to eat
Right l see
Have this one
Mother, try the crystal cake
Crystal cake is my favorite
How come you have the time to go to the Hall of Eternal Harmony with me?
l don't have much to do today
l mean to visit Mother and Tuen-man
and to see if Lady Kin-ching has got used to living here
Thank you for your concern
Though she is waited on in the palace lt's not as nice as home
l hope she'll be come home soon l want my child to be born at home
Of course
lf it's a boy, he as to be as brave as l am
lf it's a girl, she has to be as pretty and kind as Kin-ching
Help...
Milords, Her Highnesses...
Tuen-man...
Mother...
Kin-ching...
Kin-ching
Kin-ching, you're alright?
Tuen-man...
Mother
Looks like they've been poisoned
What happened?
Your Highness, Empress Dowager had treats sent over
They suddenly fell unconscious after eating them
l know nothing about it
Call the imperial physicians
Yes, Your Highness
Tuen-man...
Your Highness
Mother, you're alright? Mother
They have come to
How's Lady Kin-ching?
Kin-ching, you're alright? You hear me?
Milord...
l feel terrible
l am sorry
l really want to give you a chubby baby
Kin-ching, don't die...
Kin-ching
Why? Who poisoned them?
lt must be Grandmother
She wanted to kill Mother but Kin-ching was killed instead
You have no evidence, mind your words
l don't care! Only one of us can live
Calm down
Come back with me!
Calm down! Leave me alone
You rashness will only ruin things So l could only watch Kin-ching die?
Grandmother
What is the ruckus?
Grandmother, why did you do it?
How could you be so heartless?
What are you talking about?
Stop pretending
You knew Kin-ching loved white jade cassia cakes
You had them sent over, right?
Kin-ching is my granddaughter-in-law
She loves white jade cassia cakes l have some sent over, what's wrong with it?
You really could be this wicked
Why did you want them dead?
What are you talking about?
Lady Kin-ching died of poisoning after eating the cakes you sent over
Mother and Tuen-man are still unconscious Their lives are hanging by a thread
Their lives are hanging by a thread? How come?
Stop pretending
You never like Mother. You still can't accept Tuen-man as your granddaughter
But why wouldn't you leave Kin-ching alone?
Why so ruthless as to kill them all?
Here comes His Majesty
Greetings, Sire
Sire...Grandmother killed Kin-ching You have to do her justice
Why would Grandmother do that?
l just got the news Why did this happen to Lady Kin-ching?
Sire!
Grandmother doesn't like Mother
She had treats sent over to the Hall of Eternal Harmony
They were poisoned after eating the cakes
What about Lady Sau and Tuen-man?
The lmperial physicians are treating them l pray that they can make it
Why did such a thing take place?
You should ask why Grandmother could be so wicked
Sheung-ning, you keep saying l poisoned them, you have any evidence?
You know what you're talking about? You are accusing Grandmother of murder!
Kin-ching died in front of my eyes
She was carrying our baby
Grandmother had no feud with Lady Kin-ching She was carrying her great-grandchild
Grandmother is respected by all
Don't you make false accusation here
l'm sorry about what happened
But before the truth is known no one can make unsubstantiated accusations
l don't care...
lt's a life for a life
You dare disobey me?
l think l dare not?
You are mad
Let go of me
Take him out
Let go of me
Take him out
Give Kin-ching back to me...
You're alright, Grandmother?
Sometimes l envy the fish They can swim so freely in the water
You can be just as free
Really?
l hope that you and l...and our son can gallop freely in the grassland
Go wherever we want to What do you think?
lt's great. The three of us will live happily ever after
We won't be separated again
Kin-ching...
Ning
l know you are heart-broken
Don't worry. Sire doesn't care for you but l do. l'll help you get revenge
Thank you
l too had suffered in her hands. l sought justice from Sire but he ignored me
You know why?
Because without Grandmother Sire wouldn't be who he is today
He is Sire, so what? Grandmother killed Kin-ching
He is so afraid of her that he won't stand up for justice
He has failed as emperor
All this happened because of me lt's my fault
What do you mean?
Mother was locked up for so many years because she knows a secret
She told me herself
Grandmother doctored late Sire's will to pass the throne to Yuen-yip
The real heir is me l should have been emperor
What? You are the heir?.
But Grandmother has long bore me prejudice She picked on me all the time
Her favorite was Yuen-yip
So she doctored the will to pass him the throne
You may not believe what l say
But Mother has survived the poisoning you can ask her about it
She blurted it out in her last outburst of madness
Others took it as her crazy blathering
But Grandmother took it seriously
She was worried the truth would be known
So she wanted her poisoned, to play safe
But Lady Kin-ching died instead
Together with the innocent baby she was carrying
Kin-ching, l will do you justice l won't let you die a wrongful death
Sire always takes Grandmother's side How will he get to the bottom of it?
He'll leave it unsettled
Just because he's the emperor he has the right to shield Grandmother?
He got his throne by foul means
lf we are of one mind we can take on them
lf l want to get my throne back will you take my side?
lt is your throne
Whatever it takes l'll help you get it back
Hall of Eternal Harmony
Sire gave me this supreme pilose antler for miscarriage prevention
l have no use for it anymore
l took it over so you and Lady Sau can use it restore your health
What is it? You don't feel well?
l just remembered what Lady Kin-ching used to say
that she should consume pilose antler after having the baby
But she wouldn't have the chance...
She was such a nice person and she made no enemies
Who would harm her?
Here comes Prince Yue
Greetings, Your Highness
Greetings, Lady Man-kwan
At ease
Thank you
What brought you here?
l am here to visit you and Lady Sau
l didn't know l would see Lady Kwan here
Princess Tuen-man...
Greetings, Prince Yue, Lady Man-kwan
What is it?
Lady Sau just woke up
She is throwing a tantrum demanding to see you
l'll go take a look
Your Highness, it's Lady Sau's chamber
l don't think it's proper for you to go in un-announced
Sze-kiu, go with Princess Tuen-man and see if you could help
Yes, Your Highness
Excuse me
You have something to say to me?
l just want to ask you Was Kin-ching's death your doing?
Yes
lt really was you? Why? Why did you do it?
Because she knew our secret
There's no secret between us
lf she had overheard us, she would have told the Empress Dowager
But she hadn't, she knew nothing at all She didn't have to die
How did you know she didn't overhear us? l wouldn't let you take the risk
Her unborn baby was innocent
For your own ambition, you couldn't care less about it
l didn't do it for myself, l did it for you
Stop it! l don't want to hear anymore of your excuses
lt's not an excuse
Whatever it takes, l won't let anyone harm you, not even the emperor
You are mad
l am not mad, l know what l am doing
You are!
Not only are you mad, you're cruel and and heartless. You're insane!
lt's all because of you Everything l did it's for you
Benevolence Hall
So much has happened
lt's not just you, even l want to have some quiet moments for myself
l feel so bad about what happened to Lady Kin-ching
The palace is heavily guarded yet such a thing could take place
The canal project has led to Manchu-Han conflict. l feel totally drained
Luckily l have Prince Yue by my side
l don't have to fight it on my own
Dear?.
Your mind is not here l am fine
Don't dwell on the miscarriage
You are still young, you'll conceive again Whatever happens, you are my empress
Sire
Yes?
l dare not say this
Don't worry. However offensive you can still tell me
Actually, Prince Yue...
lt concerns Prince Yue?
l had a dream, l dreamt that he meant to do you harm
He wants to usurp your throne You have to be careful
You said it's just a dream Don't take it seriously
But it was very real
l really am worried that something will happen to you
l promise you, nothing will happen to me Don't worry about it
How's the investigation going?
Sire, l've found out that men claiming to be from Naplan mansion have been to Fengtai
They forced the magistrate to work with them, to buy out land on the cheap
Several ministers were involved
lf it can be traced to Naplan Ming-chu
then he's flouted the law and it can' t be pardoned
What about Yung-yurk?
l've found no evidence that linked him to it
He has worked for me for years
l wish he had not betrayed my trust
But he and Ming-chu are father and son They can't be any closer
lt hard to believe they're not in collusion
Dor-po, you're the only one l can trust
Why do you say that, Sire? Prince Kung is loyal to you
Lady Man-kwan can't care more for you and there is Prince Yue
Why did you say there's no one else you can trust?
You just got back, you don't know about this
Lady Kin-ching died of poisoning
Prince Kung is convinced it's the Empress Dowager's doing
He had a fight with me over it
How come?
l want to know as well
l suspect Lady Man-kwan has a secret She is hiding something from me
l want you to find out about her relationship with Prince Yue
Whoever she meets Whatever she does or says
Report it to me
Sire, Prince Yue gave me my first break
lt's improper for me to investigate him
l am relieved to hear this from you
lt shows you are honest with me You will hide nothing from me
All the more l should let you do it
Of the people around me you are the only one l can trust
You won't fail me, right?
Sire, you can be rest assured l will spare no efforts for you
Hall of Eternal Harmony
The Empress Dowager has always been ruthless
Dor-po, the three of us were poisoned
l don't know if l'll be lucky next time
l don't want to stay here Take me away from the palace
You are a princess how can you leave the palace?
l am a princess, so what?
To me, this is a prison
Though Ning and Mother love me, the palace is filled with hypocrisy and distrust
l have had enough of this kind of life
l want nothing l want to go back to the days at Dashilan
The food may be ordinary the clothes may be coarse
but people are true to one another
l understand
You may be a commander but you may die a sudden death
What happened to Lady Kin-ching is a good warning
l really am terrified that you may be next
Let's go away together Let's go to a place where no one knows us
Let's live a quiet life, alright?
l want to take you away too
But there is one more thing l have to do
l promise you, once it's done l'll take you away
What we must do now is to find out the truth behind Lady Kin-ching's death
Anything unusual happened beforehand?
Yes, she came back in a hurry and said
she saw Fook-chuen holding Lady Man-kwan in his arms
You suspect they have an affair too?
l am not sure
Give me a few days l promise you, l'll take you away
Wing, you took the treats to the Hall of Eternal Harmony
What happened on the way?
l took the treats from the lmperial Kitchen and delivered it right away
Nothing special happened on the way
lf it's like what you said that nothing happened on the way, then you are doomed
What do you mean, Your Honor?
Nothing happened on the way
l had nothing to do with it
From lmperial Kitchen to the Hall of Eternal Harmony
you alone were carrying the treats
But l am innocent l really had nothing to do with it
Killing Lady Ching means the extermination of nine agnates
Can you bear the consequence of the offence?
l really had nothing to do with it l am innocent...
You claim to be innocent
Why won't you tell the truth?
Alright then
l took the treat to the Hall of Eternal Harmony as the Empress Dowager ordered
l saw a snuff bottle in the lmperial Garden
So l put the treats down and picked the snuff bottle up
l saw Honorable Tai Shek pass by He seemed to be looking for something
l thought the snuff bottle must be his
l stole the snuff bottle out of greed
l'd be punished if l told the truth So l kept quiet about it
l didn't poison Lady Kin-ching l really had nothing to do with it
Officer Tai Shek?
Why was he in the lmperial Garden?
lf he was there it means he is a suspect
l'll arrest him for interrogation
Commander? What is it?
My cousin Tai Shek is dead
Shek!
Greetings, Commander
Shek!
He was stabbed on the chest
Shek!
Stabbed on the chest? He's a martial arts adept
Stabbed on the chest The culprit could be an acquaintance
Take his body back for further examination Yes, sir
lt concerned Tai Shek?
Sire, Wing said that he saw Tai Shek in the lmperial Garden
l have checked the roster
lt should have been Sha Hin and Kin Chi on duty
But Tai Shek made the switch at the last moment
We found a lot of silver in his locker so it must have been his plan
First, he removed the imperial guards
then he used the snuff bottle to lure Wing to put the treats down
then laced it when Wing wasn't looking
Lady Kin-ching died as a result
Why was he was found dead in the lmperial Garden?
Sire, he was silenced
lt means someone was behind it
Who is that person?
Who else? Tai Shek was Po Chai's man
Po Chai is at Grandmother's beck and call
The person behind it is obvious lt's Grandmother! She killed Kin-ching
Calm down! Mind your words
Sire, Tai Shek had always been dutiful
He had always been loyal to Sire
He would never do such a treacherous thing
Even if he were the killer, you can't drag me into it without incriminating evidence
Let alone, it's disrespectful to smear Empress Dowager
Po Chai, spare us your excuses
Before we have concrete evidence, we don't know if Grandmother is involved or not
l don't care
Sire, you have to be impartial You have to do Kin-ching justice
Ning! Calm down!
Nip Dor-po, what do you think?
Sire, on the surface, it seems that Tai Shek was involved
But there are unexplainable doubts
lt demands further investigation before we can reach a conclusion
l agree
l promise you it'll be thoroughly investigated
You will get justice
lnvestigation? What investigation?
Grandmother is the killer
She has long picked on us
First it's Mother, then Tuen-man then Kin-ching
You have any concrete evidence? lf not, then don't jump to conclusion
Furthermore, don't smear the Empress Dowager again
l know you always take her side
You are the emperor, but l won't let let Kin-ching die a wrongful death
Sire, he's stricken by grief and he forgets his place
Sire is impartial. He'll give you justice Have patience
Grandmother is dragged into Kin-ching's death. How absurd
Things get weirder in the palace Anything seems possible
Was it as Sheung-ning said?
Grandmother picked on them She killed Kin-ching?
Sire we've not found any conclusive evidence
The Empress Dowager may have nothing to do with it
You shouldn't worry about it too much
How can l not?
Lady Kin-ching was poisoned in the palace
By any count, the person who has easy access to the palace
the person behind it can only be my kin
Sire, you can be rest assured l'll find out the truth
The truth? So what if the truth be known? lf the killer is my kin, what should l do?
lf it's found that the person behind it is my kin, l'll have to order his death
lf it's as you said
when the truth is out it may put Sire in difficulty
The canal doesn't go to Fengtai the land we bought is useless
Mentor, you don't have to worry about it l have taken care of it
We can get rid of it very soon
Good. But Sire has been alerted We have to be careful
You are dismissed
Yes, sir
This is improper, what is it?
lmproper?. Who is being improper
The names on the deeds, Tung Si-kei Ngan Kwok-tai, they are your aliases
You and your proteges bought out the land of Fengtai Town for speculation
l had the insight to buy some pieces of land
lt's not embezzlement what law have l broken?
You provoked Manchu-Han conflict for your own benefit
You tarnished Sire's name. Turn yourself in
What nonsense! l have not wronged Sire in anyway
lf you still refuse to see that you've erred
l will testify that you are the wire-puller of the Fengtai uproar tomorrow
You don't see me as your father? You mean to report me?
Yes
lt won't help even if you've got the deeds
l will be the witness
Kill me, then there will be no witness
Why do you have to take on me? We are father and son
You are a first rank minister but you flouted the law
You are not loyal to Sire it's against the law
lf you testify against me you are no longer my son
Kill me then. So long as l am alive l'll expose you
Sire, Tai Shek's cousin, lmperial Guard Yee Ho pleads for his innocence
He says his cousin had no feud with Lady Kin-ching
He couldn't have poisoned her
He says it's a conspiracy
Sire, the evidence is there No doubt about it, Tai Shek was the killer
Sire, there are no witnesses even Tai Shek's death is suspicious
l don't think we can say it's his doing
What if the Empress Dowager was behind it? That Tai Shek was silenced?
lf we carry on with the investigation it will put Sire in difficulty
Sire
Since Tai Shek was the killer, to prevent speculations and to give Ning an answer
please announce that Tai Shek was a member of Sun Moon Society
He was a mole in court to plot against Qing
You think Ning will believe it?
lt's an expediency measure
lt will be more difficult to settle if this really concerns the Empress Dowager
lmperial Guard Naplan Sing-tak seeks an audience with Sire
Summon him
Greetings, Sire, Prince Yue, Commander Nip
At ease Thank you, Sire
Something urgent came up?
l have found out the truth behind the Fengtai uproar
Someone incited courtiers and provoked Manchu-Han conflict
The man behind it is...
Minister Naplan seeks an audience with Sire Summon him
Greetings, Sire
At ease
l dare not
Ming-chu, Yung-yurk, you father and son came here separately. What is going on?
Sire, l am here to beg for mercy
Father?
Why? What have you done?
l am a minister, but l failed to bring up my son properly
He has failed me
What do you mean?
l am not your father
Sire, Yung-yurk abused his position
He knew that the canal would go to Fengtai
He colluded with others to hoard up lands there for speculation
But Sire changed the canal course
He resented it and incited ministers against Sire
He's so treacherous as to provoke Manchu-Han conflict. He's wicked
What are you talking about?
l am here to stand up for justice to expose you in front of Sire
lt's your doing and you frame me instead?
Sire, Naplan Ming-chu is behind the Fengtai uproar
But he's framed me instead
He's turned black into white and put the blames on me
Sire
Both of you have a different story Whom should l believe?
Dor-po Yes
l ordered you to go to Fengtai to investigate it. Tell us the truth
l have asked the magistrate there
He said the land buyers came from Naplan Mansion
But the mastermind never showed up
Sire, these are the land deeds the buyers are all Yung-yurk's men
The banknotes are in his name
Please punish me
lmperial Guard Naplan how could you do such a thing?
You have failed Sire and your father
Sire, l didn't do it. lt's Father's doing
l never thought that you could frame your son to save your own skin
You hoodwinked Sire you have failed Sire and my teaching
Sire, l have to stand up for justice Please punish Naplan Sing-tak
Sire, he's the thief crying thief
Yung-yurk, l wish it was not you
But the evidence is here, you can't deny it
As of today, you're dismissed from your post of imperial guard
You are banished from the palace l don't want to see you again!
Get out of my sight!
Yes, Sire
With a rebuke from Hong Hei
Naplan Sing-tak who has always been by his side is dismissed
The death of Kin-ching deepens Sheung-ning's hatred of the Empress Dowager
The ambitious Fook-chuen has masterminded it all
Nip Dor-po now realizes that a storm is brewing in the palace
And he's caught in a dilemma