The Empress of China Episode 75
ai::bowo-subs
Dai Qing
Your Majesty
Maid Liu is dead
and we've cleared the Empress's name.
I want to put an end to this.
Zhong my son is still very young. I don't want
anyone to gossip about it.
I understand.
I asks to be excused
My Lady, Li Yifu Daren just
sent message and he said,
yesterday His Majesty considered
banishing the Prince of Wu from Chang'an.
Maid Liu might have tried to frame me,
but Zhong son lost his mother
at such a young age
all because of me.
I’m so upset over this I couldn’t sleep.
I would still like to adopt him
or I can’t lay my mind to rest.
The Empress returned good for evil.
It’s such an act of charity for her to adopt Zhong my son.
Great
Tell her I approve
Yes, His Majesty
Also
Zhong my son
must be quite scared.
Find someone to keep him company.
I want you
to go see the Prince of Wu,
and summon him to the Palace.
He's Zhong my son's coach.
Seeing him
should make Zhong my son feel better.
Yes, old slave in compliance aims
(Zhangsun's Residence)
Please
Thanks to you, Daren
If you hadn't arrived on time.
Yuyan which will be in big trouble
Don't you find it odd?
Maid Liu
all these years inside the Palace
would always bear with the adversities.
Why would she suddenly resort
to such vicious means
and try to bury the Empress
About this.
Did someone put her up to it
Father Daren
I have found out,
the only person who was seeing Maid Liu lately
was Wu Mei Niang.
She was also the one who brought
His Majesty to Lizheng Palace,
also was Wu Mei Niang
Looks like she want
the Empress title
and tried to go after Yuyan.
No way
I must tell His Majesty about her.
Wu Mei Niang again?
Old man is only
guessing what happened.
You mustn't bring it up in the morning assembly tomorrow.
Unless you have solid proof that
Wu Mei Niang instigated Maiden Liu
now as soon as this women
became a Zhaoyi
and you are charging her with incriminating the Empress,
you would be
slighting His Majesty.
Then what should we do?
Unusual elbow time
We should stop
this fight with Wu Mei Niang
and focus
on securing the Empress's position.
His Majesty has already approved
the adoption of Li Zhong.
When the time is right,
I'll propose
naming Li Zhong as Crown Prince
You're quite right!
I believe if you make the proposal
for naming Li Zhong as Crown Prince
His Majesty won’t say "no”.
The Empress is so lucky.
Too bad Wu Mei Niang has wasted her effort,
only
to pave the way for the Empress.
My Lady, now
that the Empress has adopted
the Prince of Chen.
He's now the trueborn eldest son.
It'll put our young Prince in a
disadvantaged position.
what shall we do, my Lady
It used to be that
In his Majesty heart
only favoured Sujie.
Now
that Li Zhong is the trueborn eldest son,
his new-found status
will cause His Majesty
to pay him more attention.
I'm afraid he'll take away
His Majesty's
love and concern for Sujie.
But the young Prince still has you.
You always had His Majesty's favour.
When I had His Majesty's favour,
rumours circulated in the Palace
saying I gained His Majesty’s favour
only because
I resembled Wu Mei Niang.
Although they were rumours,
I know what His Majesty is thinking.
I understand,
to use of this edge.
Rather than blaming Wu Mei Niang
Except
Lianzhi,
count for me
since Wu Mei Niang came back to the Palace.
when was the last time His Majesty
stopped by Xianling Palace?
His Majesty's favour is the one thing
I can't count on inside the Harem.
What a shame you have no help from the Court
The Empress and Wu Mei Niang
both have secured positions,
you must exercise patience.
What choice
do I have
Here
Even though such charm and beauty,
nobody appreciates
(Prince of Wu's Residence)
It appears Zhangsun Wuji
wants to name the Crown Prince.
This is against His Majesty's wishes.
I'm afraid, Prince will
have to come forward again
Did His Majesty summon you back to Chang'an
to help him
sort out problems of his harem
and make you offend other courtiers?
Who's His Majesty’s choice for the Crown Prince
Should be his eldest son Li Zhong.
Did you suddenly resign
as the princes's coach,
because of recently
rumours in the Palace
Me and Zhaoyi Wu,
there's nothing between us
However at this time, I should
exercise appropriate discretion
His Majesty to the Zhaoyi Wu
in love is quite deep.
So much
that he suspects his own elder brother
This moment his Majesty is
so
infatuated with her.
Where does no find time
to run the Tang state
Because of him,
you're locked
in a constant strife with Zhangsun Wuji.
If you endanger yourself because of that.
Will His Majesty
stand up for you
Prince
Whether it's to protect yourself
or to ensure Tang state
won't fall into the wrong hands.
Is the time you need
to get help.
For instance
General Li Ji
Exactly
Your Highness Prince of Wu, Wang De wishes to see you.
What brings you here, Gong-Gong
I’m sorry I didn’t greet you.
I'm sorry to bother you.
I came by suddenly
because His Majesty
needs Prince's help.
Please tell me, Gong-gong
I’m sure you're aware
Prince of Chen, the young Prince Li Zhong
recently lost his mother.
His Majesty's heart goes out to him
and intends
to let
the Empress adopt him.
Considering his young age
and he has had quite a scare.
His Majesty sends the old slave to come in the Prince of Wu Palace
wanted me to invite you to the Palace
and look after the young Prince
for a period of time
to comfort him
Will this inconvenient you?
I'm
Zhong son's coach
and also his uncle.
It‘s only right that
I should help soothe him.
Quite right
His Majesty is most worried.
Prince, can you pack
your things now
and return to the Palace with me
The young prince is waiting for you.
Very well! Qingxuan,
help me get ready
Yes
Please don’t kill me!
Blood!
Empress
Mirror!
What is it, Empress
Mirror
Give me a mirror! Hurry!
Empress
Lizheng Palace
Lizheng Palace, is it clean
Rest assured, my Empress.
Lizheng Palace
I've burnt
Maiden Liu’s clothes
and the chamber
has been cleaned.
Where's Zhong my son
Reply to the Empress
He has left Lizheng Palace already.
I believe
he's back to usually residence,
and went to bed
Don't worry, Empress
His Majesty has sent Wang Gong-Gong
to invite the Prince of Wu to look after the young prince.
He should be fine.
No, I'm still worried.
Come with me to check on him!
Yes!
My Lady, it's late night.
The Prince of Chen might be asleep.
Over the past few days,
so much happened
and the boy is so young.
In the night,
he might be scared all by himself
He seems so pitiful.
But I think
there's more to it.
Maid Liu failed
to bring down the Empress
because of him.
He betrayed
his own mother.
Why should you care about him
Don't say that
He's just a child.
Sometimes he doesn't
even know what he's doing.
When
His Majesty questioned him,
he only told the truth.
We can’t be too hard on him.
I promised his mother
to look after him.
I must keep my word.
He probably
doesn't appreciate your kindness.
A promise is
a promise.
Looks like someone else cares about him.
We‘d better not go in.
Rui'an, you may go.
I want to take a walk.
It's already dark, my Lady
This place, every 35 steps
is packed with your Majesty Imperial Guards.
You think
I have wings to fly inadequately
You're right
Rui'an asks to be excused
Zhong my son
Zhong my son, why are you still up
I'm scared because Mother is not here.
Where's the Prince of Wu?
Didn't the Prince of Wu accompany you?
He thought I was asleep.
He left,
It's alright, I’m here!
I'm not tired.
Whenever I'm not tired.
Mother would hold me in her arms.
Zhong my son
Tell me
today at Lizheng Palace,
why did you defend me
Because there are who are good to me in the world
only 2 people
Now that Mother is dead,
I can’t bear to lose you.
I finally have
my own child.
Empress
Why did my Mother
kill herself
She thought I was evil
because I tried to take you away.
That’s why... I know you’re not evil.
Of course not
Who's evil
Is that Zhaoyi Wu
Zhaoyi Wu
Zhong my son
Tomorrow I'll ask His Majesty for approval
to move you into Lizheng Palace
to live together with me
Yes
From now on,
you should call me Mother Empress.
Mother Empress
Later
my Lady said she wanted to take a walk
and wouldn't let me follow her.
Where was she heading
Towards Chengqing Palace.
I'll go take a look.
It's late night, Your Majesty
Let old slave
lead several people go to look for my Lady.
Your Majesty might catch a cold!
I’m fine.
I want to take a walk.
If I can bump into her
naturally is the best
(Chengqing Palace)
ai::bowo-subs
Wait out here.
I'll go in by myself!
Yes, your Majesty
Thank you, Prince
You
How are you
Fine
I thought you
I
It's late night
What are you doing in the Palace?
His Majesty summoned me to enter the Palace
to keep Zhong son company.
Why are you in Chengqing Palace
I feel a bit depressed today.
The Prince has always been straightforward.
Why are you
so melancholic today
When I was younger,
I always felt light-footed in Taiji Palace,
because every grass
and tree are
like old friends.
Now that I'm back,
I feel so alienated.
Sometimes as I walk around,
I feel rather lost.
Doesn't Zhaoyi
feel the same
You bet
Sometimes I really hope
I could wake up
to those days when I first arrived
and be the same naive Wu Ruyi
It's good,
if I got to choose again.
Probably Mei Niang
wouldn't be here.
Why don't you leave
Because Pheasant Slave is here.
He's in this world
the only family I have left.
Once
When you were at my Father Emperor side
you were so confident, but now
Mei Niang
I can't read you anymore.
But we're still
good friends.
I hope next time you're in Taiji Palace
please don't forget.
Pheasant Slave is still here
and Mei Niang too
As for the rumours,
they’re usually
an omen of a conspiracy inside the Harem.
Based on what I know about His Majesty,
these time, he summoned the prince to come back
because
he doesn’t want your resignation
to somehow
validate those rumours.
I urge your Highness Prince of Wu to continue
to have faith in His Majesty.
As for
what happened in here tonight,
no one will ever find out.
Please your Highness Prince of Wu
doesn’t take it to heart.
Mei Niang must go now.
Get out!
Your Majesty
Why are you here, Your Majesty
Tonight, I want you
(Taiji Palace)
Morning assembly is adjourned if there's nothing else.
Where is the Prince of Wu
Old slave reply your Majesty
His Highness Prince of Wu is out sick.
It is said that he had the cold.
He needs to rest at home for 3 days.
He asked old slave to tell you.
Your Majesty, I have something to report.
Go ahead!
Your Majesty
Since the Qin and Han dynasties,
Wude and Zhenguan eras,
every generation names the eldest trueborn as the heir.
But now
my Tang is enjoying
prosperity and peace,
I believe
it's time to name the Crown Prince
I agree.
If I should go by age or virtue.
I can’t decide
What do you think
Notice your Majesty,
since the beginning of Tang,
the eldest is always the Crown Prince.
Your Majesty
Notice your Majesty, I think
the Prince of Chen is a good choice.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, the Prince of Chen is kind,
he's a good choice for the Crown Prince.
Your Majesty,
name the Prince of Chen is a Crown Prince.
Your Majesty,
name the Prince of Chen is a Crown Prince.
It wasn’t easy for Prince
to return to Taiji Palace.
Why didn’t you attend the morning assembly?
But come with this old man
fishing and drinking
The only agenda today is
naming the Crown Prince.
I have barely secured my own position.
I don't want to help His Majesty
and offend everyone else.
The Prince were never
afraid of offending anyone.
You skipped the morning assembly
because on this issue
Actually you and Zhangsun Daren.
agree with
the idea of naming Li Zhong as a Crown Prince.
If you understand that,
why keep taking sick leaves
Why don’t you attend the morning assembly
Actually if
His Majesty had your support,
His Majesty isn't like the present
he wouldn't be so helpless.
Now looks like
in this Taiji Palace
has become a place where only Zhangsun Wuji
practice of "what I say goes"
Even His Majesty must follow the way
he had everything mapped out.
You’re still young.
Only when the late Emperor
has conquered the neighboring states
and was hailed as the Thian Khan,
spreads over the world
before he started
to enjoy certain freedom.
Relax!
While this old man
can still enjoy fishing by the lake,
Tang will enjoy peace.
However, to the Prince
The old man has a word of advice for you.
I'm all ears.
You shouldn't have come back.
The talent of Prince is
on the battlefield.
But you don't know how to survive in the Court,
that's why
as soon as you're back,
you got caught up in the fight of the Harem.
I only want to help His Majesty.
I had no intention to get involved in his personal affairs.
Whether it's reprimanding Pei Xingjian
or about naming the Crown Prince,
every case and Zhaoyi Wu
is related
Since time immemorial,
with courtiers, regardless of their power
and blood ties is much near,
those who got involved with the Harem,
regardless of success or failure,
finally can have several good end
Take my advice,
find an excuse to leave Chang'an.
General,
I’m afraid it's easier said than done.
On general mouth
claim to be indifferent to fame and fortune,
but at heart
you may not be able to do it.
What do you mean, Prince
Now you
managed to detach yourself
because you think
between you and Zhangsun Wuji,
there's a fine time
You don't get involved in state matters,
while he stays clear of the army.
But I'm afraid
the subtle balance
probably by Zhangsun Wuji
has been broken
Lately,
he started sending the likes of Pei Xingjian
to join the army in the Western Regions.
Haven't you heard?
Looks like you came to see me today
for yourself,
not His Majesty.
Exactly!
I need your support.
Long-term support.
To see His Highness Prince
in such despair
really makes me feel bad.
A man of great ambition
must go through trials and tribulations.
Now, third elder brother
is only suffering a temporary setback.
When he ascends the throne,
and looks back on this experience,
he may think,
this time difficult position
feel differently
Next,
I'll tell Fang Yi'ai
and those snubbed by Zhangsun Wuji,
such as Xue Wanche and Chai Lingwu,
to hang out with third elder brother.
Now that Wu Mei Niang
smoothly returned to the Palace
and is caught up
in a fight with the Empress
It’s time
for Prince to take over the army.
The timing is not right.
Let third elder brother attend the morning assembly for now.
But while Prince
remains sidelined,
his opinion doesn't carry much weight.
Without control of the army,
how can he rebel.
To give him control of the army right now,
it's useless
He still treats ninth elder brother like a brother
and wants to assist him.
With this mindset,
even if you give him the entire army,
performs to turn over to his general's subordinates
he won't stage a coup
That's why, you must be patient.
Have you forgotten
why we brought
him back to Chang’an
at all costs
How could I forget?
We are
trying to turn them against each other
Make him completely
disappointed with his brother
ai::bowo-subs
and convince him, he's the more suitable
Emperor of Tang.
To pave way for third elder brother,
we must sow discord between
ninth elder brother and his courtiers,
especially Zhangsun Wuji
has the conflict
That's why we tried so hard
to bring Wu Mei Niang
back to the Palace
As long as ninth elder brother wants her to stay,
he'll alienate everyone around him.
THANK YOU
It'll be easier
when the Court is a mess,
for third elder brother to stage his coup,
and we can do away
with Zhangsun Wuji and his lot.
Therefore,
keep third elder brother
idle
For the time being.
It won't be long before Mei Niang will give birth to a child.
Poor scholars like Li Yifu, Xu Jingzong and others
will come to power
and the time will be right
for third elder brother to usurp the throne.
That's the best opportunity