The Empress of China Episode 89
Mother Empress
ai::bowo-subs
Mother Empress
Hong son, earlier your sword
could have stabbed him.
Why did you hold it
Earlier
I didn't want Xian to get hurt.
Good
You have a heart of benevolence,
just like your Father Emperor.
Later you must use
your kindness
to empathize with your subjects,
understand
I respectfully follows the Mother Empress teach
Mother Empress, when sword competition
I obviously won the duel.
Within one month,
from The Luxuriant Dew of the Spring and Autumn Annals,
the "3 Principles & 5 Virtues”,
copied 10 times
and submit it to me
Mother Empress
Why are you punishing me
You won,
but only with trickery
to hurt your own brother.
That's why I must punish you.
Do you see what you've done wrong
Well, I...
Empress, these two Princes
Just now, has an audience with the Emperor
Xu Jingzong Daren
followed Empress's order
and submitted a memorial in Court
to suggest naming
the Prince of Dai as the Crown Prince.
There was no objection in Court.
What did His Majesty say
His Majesty
His Majesty postponed the decision.
for many years,
you haven't been here
What made you come over today
There was someone
whom I personally
put her on the road of no return
I was guilt-ridden
and regretted it.
So I came here
to light
my first altar lamp.
Then
came Zhong son's Mother.
So
I lit a second one.
I promised her
I'd guarantee his well being,
but I failed.
Mei Niang,
I know you feel
you owe her something.
But this time, Zhong son
has gone too far this time.
I'm sure his mother wouldn't blame you.
And
leaving Chang'an
may be a nice break for him.
No, he's scared of me.
He's scared that someday,
in order to make way for Xian son or Hong son
to become the Crown Prince,
I would get rid of him.
He's worried that I will be disadvantageous to him
and feared that I'd depose him.
Or even kill him
You can't really blame him.
Since ancient times,
many Empresses
have done the same.
Don't worry, Mei Niang
I'll send him to Liangzhou
and make him the Prince of Liang.
He'll get double
the allowance for a prince.
2,000 households
will be enough
He'll live a life equal that of Chang'an,
if not better.
Your Majesty
This lamp
This lamp is an elder sister
These years,
you have been concerned about Madame Rong Guo
She always has not actually forgiven you
Mei Niang
How you did not tell her the truth
If between me and elder sister
Mother
Throughout will elect a person to hate
I hope
that person is me.
You were wronged
Zhong son gone,
the Crown Prince title is vacant
I want to pick one
from our children.
Your Majesty, you mean
By rule,
Hong son is the eldest,
I should make him the Crown Prince.
But in terms of literary talent
and swordsmanship,
Xian son beat him on both counts.
He's my choice.
Xian son is smart indeed.
I have drafted the edict.
if you agree,
I can issue it tomorrow.
Your Majesty, about naming the Crown Prince,
Mei Niang has a different view.
Tell me.
Because the late Emperor chose you,
Chengqian and Li Tai lived out
their lives peacefully.
Although Li Ke is dead,
he died with no regrets.
It's a much better turnout
than your Father's generation.
Only a benevolent Emperor
can ensure his brothers’ well being
and show more
understanding towards his subjects.
Among your sons,
Hong son takes after you.
Mei Niang hope your Majesty
can make him the Crown Prince.
I'm worried
this boy is too kind
In the future his road
it would be tough for him as the Emperor.
Just like it was tough for me.
Don't sell yourself short, Your Majesty
You're doing very well.
We can't protect
the children forever.
A sword must be sharpened,
just like an eagle must fall before it can fly.
Literary talents and swordsmanship can be trained,
but a benevolent heart is inborn
and can't be learnt.
Congratulations, Your Highness! Congratulations, Your Highness!
What for? I’m grounded.
We just got word
from the Palace,
His Majesty has drafted an edict
naming your Highness as the Crown Prince.
Tomorrow,
the edict will reach your residence
Are you sure
Our informer heard it himself,
will not have mistake
Good! Great!
Come here maids
Help me
to prepare my new clothes for tomorrow.
Hurry!
What's taking so long
Where is the eunuch with the edict
Had the news
Had the news, your Highness
The eunuch is here with the edict
No
What news did you bring
The edict went to the Prince of Dai.
The newly named Crown Prince is
the Prince of Dai
The Prince of Dai
There's one more thing.
Tell me
Word from the Palace is that...
the Empress asked His Majesty
to choose the Prince of Dai instead.
Empress, Empress
Your Highness, Your Highness
Empress
Mei Niang, using the Records of Surnames
to replace the Records of Clans
is like opening up opportunities
for poor scholars to get promoted.
You have taken
a big load off my mind.
Your Majesty, the Records of Surnames is
100 volumes longer than
the Records of Clans
It has 48 fewer surnames
and 1,364 fewer families.
It has included all the 5th ranked courtiers or above,
All the income
From now on,
any soldier
who is promoted to 5th rank based on merit
will be included.
In other words,
if the Records of Surnames
can replace the Records of Clans
as the official genealogy,
I can immediately revoke
the special privileges of over 1,000 families
and pave the way for poor scholars
to get promoted.
Even slaves family background,
if they make any contributions to Tang
anyone 5th ranked or above can be included.
If we use the Records of Surnames as the genealogy
and rely more on the Imperial Examinations
commoners who are appointed
can surpass the aristocratic clans.
From now on,
these aristocrats
can no longer threaten Tang.
Mei Niang, you must have worked very hard.
The actual compilation was
done by the Ministry of Rites.
Mei Niang didn't do much work.
Knowing you,
for something so important,
you wouldn't have relied
on anyone else.
Someone might have done the actual work,
but every detail
must have your approval.
Mei Niang, the Records of Surnames have over 100 volumes.
You made painstaking efforts to get it done.
When Mother Empress
wrote the Examples for Women for Father,
the effort nothing more than this.
Look! You're over 30 years old and
you already have grey hair.
It's because of me
you had to work so hard.
Mei Niang
Why do you work so hard
Because Mei Niang is greedy person.
Since I came back from Ganye Temple.
You have been very kind to me.
Like your Majesty said,
old age beckons.
I already have
graying temples
and I am aging by the day.
If I'm only content
with being a favoured concubine because of her looks,
or being the Crown Prince's mother,
then between your Majesty and I,
there'll be a day when faults are thick where love is thin.
Mei Niang
Maybe
ai::bowo-subs
one day
ai::bowo-subs
a young and prettier woman
ai::bowo-subs
will take my place
in your heart.
I don't want such a day to come.
I hope your Majesty
don't want to leave me for a lifetime.
That's why
I want to be more than your Empress
and bosom friend.
I want to give you counsel,
and fight alongside you.
In your hand, I want to be
the sharpest sword
so your Majesty for a lifetime
would never want to leave me.
You
You always underestimate
my love for you
Fine! I'll say this again.
I will never change.
Father Daren,
Wu Mei Niang came up
with the Records of Surnames
to replace the Records of Clans.
She’s obviously
declaring war to all aristocratic families.
What's more absurd is that
His Majesty wants to name her
the Heavenly Empress and allows her in the Court .
A woman,
how can sit inside Taiji Palace
That what
Didn't you already
declare war on her
Father, what do you mean
I don't understand
Father Daren, please don't be angry.
I have already told you
when there is no reason to lie
you can't fool anyone,
do not lie
I admit it.
Before
Shangguan Yi's impeachment of the Empress
I was involved.
Don't beat around the bush.
Who was behind the Que Building poisoning
Who
It's me
How many of you
There are 73 of us in my secret circle.
All young-members of
aristocratic families.
The clans of Wei, Gao, Han
and Lai,
all took part in it.
Father Daren
I know I was reckless.
Plotting against the Empress
is treason
and will tarnish your reputation.
But since Wu Mei Niang
became the Empress,
she has been bewitching His Majesty
to promote poor scholars to counter the aristocratic clans.
And now, this nonsense
about the Records of Surnames.
If we don't do something,
the Guanlong aristocrat family
will soon disappear.
It must have been tough for you
to think about the future of the Guanlong aristocrat.
Get up
Thank you, Father.
I can't believe
His Majesty would dote
on a woman who is our enemy
and even let her into the Court and
meddle with state affairs.
It's time
we corrected this mistake
or else is a Tang curse
it'd be bad for Tang.
I reprimanded you
not because
you opposed Wu Mei Niang,
but because your reckless behaviour
is utterly
really disappointing
Do you realise
Wu Mei Niang has enough evidence
to declare war on us
Brace yourself
Otherwise
we’ll be late for the inauguration ceremony.
Officer pay a visit the Empress Mother
Come, get up
Hong son, from now on,
you're no longer a child
you must behave differently.
Look at you! Your cap crown is askew.
I can manage, Mother Empress.
The inauguration ceremony
will last 8 hours.
The last part
of the ceremony inside Taiji Palace,
the ritual of conferring rank and title has no breaks.
Don’t drink so much water
or you’ll have to relief yourself.
Mother Empress
Hong son,
no matter how old you are.
whether you're the Crown Prince
or the future Emperor.
In Mother Empress eyes
You'll always be my good child.
Military Governor of Junzhou
and Left General Li Hong,
is filial, polite
and studious.
In naming the heir to the throne,
he is accepted
and recommended by all
to carry on the lineage
and bring stability and peace to the kingdom
He is hereby named the Crown Prince
in this inauguration ceremony.
Your son Officer thank you for your kindness
Long live, long live, long live my Emperor
Mei Niang, in the morning assembly tomorrow
I intend to suggest
when we conduct Fengshan at Mount Tai.
I'll put you in charge of the second offering.
Why would your Majesty want to do that
This sort of proposal,
someone is bound to oppose.
It's useless for them to oppose.
Now Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu
are listed in the Records of Surnames.
I intend to make them
chancellors as soon as possible.
to replace Han Yuan and Lai Ji.
These two people of lacking
between aristocratic clan and commoners officials
The aristocrats' loss will be the commoners' gain.
From now on, whatever I want to do,
I'll have enough support
from the Court.
Your Majesty
There's no need just for Mei Niang
to change
ceremonial rituals followed for centuries
Feng, is the ritual to worship Heaven.
Shan, is the ritual to worship Earth.
Kun, is the tribute to the God Earth.
It should be the Empress’ duty
to conduct the ceremony.
From now on, at all Fengshan ceremonies,
I will do the first offering, you'll be in charge of the second,
and the Consort Dowagers will conduct the final offering.
I just want to show the whole world
how important
you are to me.
Mei Niang in the mind of your Majesty
How important I am,
is something only for me to know.
You don't need
to tell the whole world.
Besides, in recent times,
you've been suffering from more frequent relapses of Cold
and the word has spread.
Mei Niang tend to think
From beginning to end,
you should
conduct the entire Fengshan ceremony
so that
you can show your subjects
the Emperors dignity,
and tell everyone
you are well.
I can never win any arguments with you
All right
I know what to do with the second offering.
We'll deal with it later.
That's because
Mei Niang is always better than his Majesty,
that's a good point
Right
Chong son
This is specially ordered
from the Western Regions.
It's compact and easy to hide
and can be used single-handedly.
It can penetrate an armour
from 100 paces away.
And you can dip the arrow head in poison.
You can't miss
and can shoot to kill.
Let me try
Anything to report
Your Majesty, I have something to report.
Go ahead, Zhangsun Daren.
Your Majesty
At the upcoming Fengshan ceremony
I nominate the Empress
to conduct the second offering.
Tell me, Zhangsun Daren
Why do you think the Empress
is qualified for such a task
Your benevolence is the reason Tang remains
peaceful and its people contended.
The Fengshan ceremony is
to offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth
Since Your Majesty is united
with the Empress,
naturally the Empress should
take part in the ceremony.
Besides
the Empress helps run the Harem
in such an orderly fashion.
Hence
I recommend that Her Highness Empress
conduct the second offering.
Your Majesty,
for the good fortune of Tang,
I urge your Majesty to grant your permission.
Please grant your permission, Your Majesty
Your Majesty should be happy.
Since your Majesty ascended the throne,
you seldom agree
with Zhangsun Daren.
Mei Niang
This is no time for jokes.
This is so
unlike Uncle.
ai::bowo-subs
Now that the aristocratic clans have suffered such a setback.
You should be a thorn in his flesh.
How could he possibly
recommend you for conducting the second offering
I find this a little strange
I get a feeling there's more,
probably has not looked like in the surface
It seems like that simple
They're coming after you.
This must be a trap.
If they want to kill me,
why don't they do it secretly
THANK YOU
Why make an announcement in Court
On a grand scale,
he want to remind me,
to take precautions.
If I don't show up,
they'll think I am,
or even your Majesty
are still fearful
of Zhangsun Daren
Your Majesty have just started to stifle
their arrogance of aristocratic clan,
we can't let them rise from the ashes.
their arrogance of aristocratic clan,