Sheung-ning, you made me take this step
Why wouldn't you leave Kin-ching alone?
lt's a life for a life
lf l want to get my throne back will you take my side?
lf you still refuse to see you've erred
l will testify that you are the wire-puller of the Fengtai uproar
Yung-yurk abuses his position
Sire, please punish Naplan Sing-tak
As of today, you're dismissed from your post of imperial guard. Get out of my sight!
Awrong move and the game is lost
Your Honor had the wisdom to take decisive action
and informed me in the nick of time
Thus l could think up the plan to frame Naplan Sing-tak with forged land deeds
lt cost him the trust of Sire His testimony became useless
lt's a big gamble
lf Sire ordered his death l would have been damned
Your son was Sire's favorite
As l expected, he only got a dismissal Sire wouldn't order his death
Your son is smart to a fault
lf the Fengtai affair was exposed you and your protege would be doomed
and l would be implicated
Your son is dismissed but you still have to be careful
Fengtai Town is just a small place the whole country is in your grasp
lf you work for me, you will be made statesman or even feudal prince
Sire sent you to Fengtai for investigation Why wait till now to tell me?
lt happened too suddenly l didn't have to time to inform you
Moreover, Naplan began to suspect us
He had the audacity to take on me
lt cost me a lot of effort to get Naplan Ming-chu on my side
How would l let him be caught?
Naplan Sing-tak is innocent
lt was your doing?
l took the initiative
Naplan Ming-chu commands the ministers He is a useful pawn to me
Now that Naplan Sing-tak is removed
Sire will trust you even more
Heaven is on my side
What about Lady Kin-ching? Ha Sin did it on your order?
Why?
Tai Shek had no motives
Lady Sau and Tuen-man were poisoned as well They're my kin. Why would l do such a thing?
lt's plain to see
Po Chai and Tai Shek were in cohorts Po Chai is Empress Dowager's running dog
She hates Lady Sau and so had her poisoned
That old hag is heartless
Milady hasn't been sleeping well lately Why don't you go in for some rest?
Your Highness
Why the frown? You look pale
l got an invitation
Lady Man-kwan asks me to join her for an offering at the Cloudy Monastery
lmperial Guard got the order of escorting Lady Man-kwan to the monastery
So you are invited. That's good
Po-tai has not been feeling well l don't think l can go
You two have not met since her tragedy
She invites you to go, if you decline...
The mass is for Lady Wai l don't want to go
People in the palace like to gossip
They all know you and Lady Man-Kwan are like sisters
This estrangement must have a reason and it will lead to suspicions
lt won't only affect me but you and Father as well
You know the priority you should know what to do
lf you find it so important that l have to go, then l will
Good. Tell the cook to prepare Lady Kwai-Lun's favorite dishes
l'm joining her for dinner Yes, Milord
Your Honor, we have enough men here to protect Lady Man-kwan. Why are you here?
Just to be safe
Lady Wai, Lady Kin-ching, leave the earthy grievances behind and move on
May you enjoy eternal happiness
Your Highness, why don't you take a break?
Thank you, Your Highness we'll take our leave
Thank you, Your Highness
Dor-po, patrol the area with them Leave this place to me
Yes, Your Highness. Come with me
Wait. Go guard the front and back door Yes, sir
Sze-kiu, Hiu-ming See if the vegetarian dishes are ready
Yes, Your Highness. We'll take our leave You mean to send them away?
Yes
You were suspected of causing my miscarriage
But imperial physicians confirmed that your tonic and perfume sachet were not laced
You were given justice l am sure it must have vexed you
l really am sorry about it l mean to apologise to you
You want to say sorry to me
l want to confide in you
Though it was Lady Wai's doing she was sidelined when alive
Her title was stripped after death She wasn't even given a tablet
She did it for Sire's love it's understandable
Life goes out like the light
l am here to offer a mass for Lady Kin-ching and Lady Wai as well
l hope she can return as a good person in her next life
You bear no grievances. How very kind of you
Lady Wai wanted Sire's love and made this mistake
You can't make a man love you
You've Sire's love and you'll soon be crowned empress. lt's easy for you to say
Even if l couldn't have Sire's love l wouldn't resent it or harm others for it
You sure wouldn't resent it because your love is not Sire
What do you mean?
Stop pretending
Your love is Prince Yue
You two have long been in love You knew about it
Whatever is done will be known
l knew you can't get over it l should have made it clear to you
Yes, Prince Yue and l had a puppy love But it was many years ago
l will soon be Qing empress l will wait on Sire with one mind and heart
Stop it!
Prince Yue said the same thing to me
l dare you to say it's over between you two
Listen! l will never do anything to hurt you
l have said to Prince Yue many times that it's in the past, we can't go back
But he won't give up there is nothing l can do
Actually, l don't know how to face him
l know, he only has you in his heart
No matter what l do l'll never have a place in his heart
But l can't live without him
Please, give him back to me, please
Get up first, please, get up
lt's my fault. My fault!
lf only l were not born if l had not met Prince Yue
lf l had not known you, l wouldn't have given you this pain. lt's my fault
Why?
l hate you! l really hate you
l caused you the miscarriage, not Lady Wai
l wanted you to live in pain for the rest of your life
But whatever l do Prince Yue won't come back to me
Why? Why?
l am in pain too
You're alright?
What have you done to her?. What have you said?
How dare you be rude to her!
You only care for her
Have you ever cared for me?
l am getting in your way, l'm sorry
Are you hurt?
l am sorry, l shouldn't have made her come
You knew she caused me the miscarriage?
She found out our love and couldn't let go
But l didn't know she could be so heartless as to do such a wicked thing
l am sorry
l made her into this. lt's my fault
How can you say that? No one can harm you again
Moreover, l have it taken care of
You killed Lady Wai and framed her for it
Kin-ching saw us together and you poisoned her
All the wicked deeds were your doing
You are now a heartless murderer You are a murderer!
Whatever l did it was for you
Don't worry, it will soon be over
l told you l would get you back from Yuen-yip
No one can stop us. Not even Yuen-yip
l know you are in pain
But we'll be together soon
l have to make it clear to you today
Go away! l don't want to hear what you have to say
You are dismissed
Unless Man-kwan goes with me or l won't leave
Man-kwan, come with me
Stop
Out of my way
Not only do you want to steal my reign you want to steal my woman as well
You stole her from me first
Sire...
Stop it, stop it
Dear
Sire...
What? Another nightmare? You dreamt of Fook-chuen again?
No
Don't think too much Your health comes first
l'll have Sze-kiu get you some congee Have s good rest
l have memorials to read in the study
Sire, l am sorry, it's my fault
Looking for me?
What is it that you want?
You slipped into Southern Study and read Secretary Tsui's confidential letter?
l don't know what you are talking about
We haven't known each other for long
But l can tell you are loyal and honest You are not a cunning man
Stop the nonsense. What do you want?
l knew you and Prince Yue have a secret The target is Sire and it's treacherous
Really? You have any evidence?
lf l had evidence, l would have reported it to Sire
l wouldn't be here talking to you
Then l don't have to talk to you Excuse me
Prince Yue is ruthless and ambitious Why do you work for him?
For his ambition, you could let so many innocent die?
You are abetting an evil-doer
l know you don't believe Lady Kin-ching's death was Empress Dowager's doing
Tai Shek was just a scapegoat
lf l am correct, it was Prince Yue's setup
He did it for one person...
Lady Man-kwan
l know Sire has sent you to find out about their relationship
You may not know it, they met in Shengjing and had a heartfelt love
You're telling me this because you want me to inform Sire that you're loyal and honest
that he will pardon you and clear your name, right?
l was framed by my own father, even Sire distrusted me. But the truth will be known
l don't care about my name l only worry about Sire
l just want you to know
You are in an lmperial Guard uniform you should know your duties
Be it hell or fire, you have to serve the court and Sire
What a loyal subject! But l'll tell you this
lf l want to harm Sire, you can't stop me
lf you harm Sire, l can assure you justice will be done. l may even kill you
But l know you won't
l don't want you hoodwinked and get on a path of no return
Stop it. Let's call it a day
You believe Prince Yue has hidden nothing from you?
You meant to flee with your adoptive parents that day
But they changed their minds and killed themselves
lt seems they did it to cover up for you
But do you know that the boatman at the pier saw Prince Yue there?
He talked to your parents and they killed themselves afterwards
Has he told you about it?
l'm sure you know better than l do what kind of man he really is
l hope you'll watch your step
Where are you off to?
There's someone else to poison?
What are you talking about?
You're brilliant
You sent other guards away and made Tai Shek go to the lmperial Garden
You used a snuff bottle to catch Wing's attention
then you laced poison on Lady Kin-ching's favorite cassia cake
but laced much less on other cakes
to ensure Lady Sau and Princess Tuen-man would survive
But Lady Kin-ching would die from eating cassia cakes
You then killed Tai Shek and framed him for the murder
so there'd be no live witness
But you can't fool me
You mean to frame me for it?
You may be my superior but it doesn't mean you can frame me
l framed you? Ever heard of the saying?
Even the best laid plan will go wrong
l found your button in Tai Shek's hand
See? A guilty conscience
You have no evidence no one will believe you
May be you are right no one will believe me
But it's a fact that you killed for Prince Yue
Fook-chuen, as l write this letter l'm filled with emotion
l have not slept the whole night
Whenever l think you have not forgotten our love and that you still think of me
l am overjoyed
l too am taken back to our good old days
l can't forget our past or you either
But what happened is in the past
Now l am Sire's royal consort l will soon be made empress
What's in the past is over
Like running water it can't be recalled
How can l dwell on it and have someone else in my heart?
l have failed you and Sire
l have failed Kwai-lun
But l know no matter how many times l say sorry
it will not alleviate the sins l committed
Were it not for me, Kin-ching and Lady Wai would have been alive
l am filled with worry and fear
l dare not think how many will die because of me
Everything is my fault
l know your love for me caused the tragedy
l know you won't give up getting what you want
You will never quit
l am worried that your ambition will lead to disaster in the palace
lt's no longer just between us
Your position will be affected
lf it is allowed to continue it will mean a bloodbath
l will be condemned in history l can't face it
lf l had not existed if this fatal love had not happened
you and Kwai-lun may have made a happy couple and lived happily ever after
Sire would not have had so much to worry about
He could focus on the country
l would not add to his worries Man-kwan
l'll set right what had been wronged
Fook-chuen, take care
Man-kwan...
Tell me, what happened?
Your Highness, please don't be mad
l guess Lady Man-kwan slipped and fell into the well
She's an adult. The rim of is high How could she slip and fall in the well?
l want the truth, not some guesses
Your Highness, l have checked out the surrounding after the accident
l found nothing special
l have asked the maids and eunuchs
They all said Lady Man-kwan sent them away
So no one saw what happened
What nonsense! There were so many minions in the palace yet no one saw anything?
Sze-kiu
Yes, Your Highness
You are her personal maid
Why weren't you by her side when this happened?
Your Highness, l wanted to stay with her but she insisted that l left her alone,so...
So you were unaware where she had gone
Your Highness, please forgive me
You are all useless
lf anything happens to her l won't let you get away with it
Your Highness, forgive me
Sze-kiu, you may go Yes, Your Highness
Grandmother, don't be upset
But now you know how it feels when tragedy befalls your beloved
What do you mean?
Stop it. We are all worried about Lady Man-kwan's life
l just feel that so much has happened here they can't be all accidents
Someone is behind them
l know you are hard hit by Lady Kin-ching's death
When you say someone is behind them they may not be the one you've in mind
Grandmother
Ning, stop it. l don't want tragedy
to befall my kin again
Tuen-man, such shouting is unbecoming
Could you all be quiet?
Sire, how's Man-Kwan?
Physician Tsui has done his best but she's still in a coma. Her life...
Why? Why is she in this state?
Fook-chuen, you were the first one there Tell me how it happened
Sire, l just happened to pass by
Lady Man-kwan was already in the well
l don't know what happened
lt's not possible...
Sire...
Don't be too upset, it'll not do you good
l am troubled, l am tired
l won't attend the morning audience tomorrow
Fook-chuen, take care of court affairs for me from tomorrow on
Sire...
Cheung Yes, Sire
Take me back to my chambers
Brother Nip
Come on over and drink with me
Why drown you sorrows with wine? Because you feel guilty?
You met Lady Man-kwan in Shengjing and were in love
But she was made royal consort
You thought Sire stole her from you so you bore him grievance
You two had an affair though she became royal consort
She killed herself because of it
Your self-guilt is so great
You didn't feel happy though Sire let you run the court just as you've always wanted
You framed Lady Wai you poisoned Lady Kin-ching
You sent Ha Sin to make Tai Shek the scapegoat
You put all the blames on the Empress Dowager
What you have done it was to cover up your affair
What a pity!
Lady Man-kwan chose to kill herself
You are such a schemer but l am sure it's not what you expected
Yes, it was all my doing But what's wrong with it?
Yuen-yip stole my woman He stole my throne
The blame lies with him
You want to lay the blames on him l can't stop you
What about my adoptive parents?
What did you tell them at the pier before they killed themselves?
What did you tell them?
What did l tell them?
They took poison to kill themselves to cover up for you. They died for you
Have you asked yourself?
For your revenge, have you not resorted to any means?
You've killed many as well
l saw you as my brother and my soul mate
Have you forgotten our drinking revelry?
You were Chiu Chi-lung l was Kwan Wan-cheung
We saw eye to eye and we shared our dreams
You are no different from me
So long as you won't let go of the chip on the shoulder
Like the falling leaves they will not give you peace
You killed your adoptive parents
lf you had not insisted on revenge they wouldn't have met this end
The hatred in your heart was the cause and this is the consequence
Your adoptive parents, your natural father and Cheuk Shu-tong, they all died for you
Look at your hands They're stained with blood
Yes, if l persist in my wrongdoing l really am no different from you
Let go! Let go!
Your feud with the Empress Dowager you really can let go?
Not only will l let go, l will leave here l won't help you anymore
Come again?
l have gone too far on the wrong path l can't go on
We used to be brothers, let me warn you
Let go
Nip Dor-po
No one can betray me
Stop it. l don't want to get tangled up in this again
The Empress Dowager and Yuen-yip stole my throne
l'm getting back what is mine l have done nothing wrong
Don't make me do it!
You know too much. l have to kill you
l said let go
Nip Dor-po, either you are my brother or you are my enemy
Don't you know it?
l set it up so l could manipulate you to help me get my throne back
Oh yes, l pushed your adoptive parents to their deaths
You really can let go?
Greetings, Honorable Ha Sin
What are you doing? How dare you?
Stop it
Honorable Po Chai
l have found out who killed Lady Kin-ching
lt's you
You killed Tai Shek and framed him for her death
Then it would lead to me and the Empress Dowager. How wicked of you
l killed Lady Kin-ching?
You have any concrete evidence?
l know it and it's the concrete evidence
You can deny it
But l can frame you like you framed Tai Shek
Honor, spare me my life
Only the Empress Dowager can spare your life
Ha Sin was honest with me He told me the big secret
Nip Dor-po really is Kei To-ting's grandson
He tried to fool me
A conspiracy is going on
He's in collusion with Fook-chuen
How ambitious of him
Your Highness, he must've known Late Sire's secret and told Prince Yue about it
Otherwise Prince Sing would have handed over his military power
instead of going back on his word
Prince Kung is appointed Commander-in-chief lt must be Prince Yue's deployment
He has done so much. lt's for a coup
Fook-chuen, l am right about you after all You have not changed
l am General Chiu Chi-lung, full of valor
l am General Kwan Wan-cheung
Jealousy is a motivation l overcome five obstacles to make it here
Greetings, You Highness
Don't forget, when there are others around you and l are master and underling
When we are alone, we are brothers
Your Highness
Ha Sin, here you are
Your Highness, why am l wanted so urgently?
l have an assignment for you
Nip Dor-po
Yes, Her Highness
We are in each other's destiny or it' s heaven's will
Now l hand Tuen-man over to you
Give her happiness and protect her
l will not forget your command
Mother, thank you for doing this for me
Time is running out, leave the palace at once flee as far as you can
Mother Lady Sau, take care
Let's go
Sheung Moon House
Where are you off to this time?
l have to leave the capital for awhile
But we will soon be back
You won't take more with you?
My parents left these for me l have to take them with me
A man should be as free as a bird
You three ...
When l'm not around, take care of Sheung-hei
Leave it to us
l'll finish her leftovers and residue wine
Don't drink up all the wine or l'll have to go to Ten Mile House
l've trusted the wrong people
Yan-chak, take care of Sheung-hei for me when l am not around
Don't worry, as long as l am here l will take care of her
Good
We enrolled for imperial guards together
We were full of aspirations
But you and l are too honest to be imperial guards
Right. But l still want to become commander like you, to work for Sire
Unless l have become an invalid l will still go for it
With your ability, you can't be a commander
When you get there you will know the difficulties
Alright, you can go back Be back soon
The four warriors of Dashilan can't be one short
Nip Dor-po, where are you going?
You the dog again Please go back with me
Sire wants to interrogate you himself
lt's Sire's idea?
You are lying
lt's the Empress Dowager's idea
We know who you are
Kei Chun-kit
Arrest the court prisoner Kill whoever gets in the way
Yes, sir
Let's talk it over
Dor-po, run!
Run. Don't bother with us!
Run!
Arrest the court prisoner Kill anyone that gets in the way
Cheung Fei!
Lui Po!
Mo Chung!
No...
Sheung-hei!
Be careful
Yan-chak!
Run!
Run, Dor-po! Run
Run, Dor-po! Don't die for nothing
Brothers!
Run Run, Dor-po!
Set Sheung Moon House on fire