Episode 23
I will first tell Imperial Father
that Ma Fu Ya is in the Shu palace.
How do you think
Imperial Father will handle it?
Exterminate the problem
Exactly
My Father will send someone
to find Ma Fu Ya first
and kill her.
First,
my Chu Kingdom
will not have to worry about future trouble.
Second, let Lian Cheng give up hope on her.
If I really
let her save Ma Fu Ya,
wouldn't I fail through a final lack of effort?
Son, swords are blind
On the battlefield,
be extra careful.
Do not advance prematurely
Don't worry Mother
Son is sure this battle will result in victory
We're fortunate that the Empress has written to Emperor of Chu
that he is allowing us passage through Chu territory.
He also dispatched General He Lian Xiong
to attack Shu Kingdom with us.
This comradery
must be remembered.
Yes, I will remember
The emperor is leading the troops himself
You must keep up morale.
I wish the Emperor
quick success, instant victory
and an early triumphant return.
Wish the Emperor instant victory
and an early triumphant return.
Mother
Son is leaving for battle. Mother take care
Off to battle!
Your majesty, it's late. You should rest.
No
We've already reached the Shu Kingdom border
I can't
allow any slack.
But you, General Hai
must rest and build up energy
to lead the troops.
Go rest, don't worry about me
Thanks Emperor
Emperor, please have some calming soup
Put it down
How dare you! You...
Lian Si?
You're really bold
You dare dress as a man
and infiltrate the camp?
Who do you think you are?
Hua Mulan or Hong Funu?
I don't care
You're here fighting a war
I want to follow you!
Don't make trouble. The battlefield is not a game
There is constant danger
I'm sending you back tomorrow morning
Don't!
It wasn't easy
to slip away.
I don't want to go back
Lian Si!
Emperor brother
Please let me stay
Let me follow you
Besides
I just wanted to
gain some experience here.
I won't cause trouble for you
Won't cause trouble?
What is this?
Isn't this trouble?
If I didn't destroy that map,
would you be able to
sleep well tonight?
Yes
You're here to manage
my eating and everday life?
Fine. Never mind
Since you're here,
behave yourself.
Rest in my tent tonight
Tomorrow you'll get your own tent
Remember
Stay away from the battlefield. You hear?
Yes! Thanks Emperor for your kindness!
Greetings Emperor
How are conditions inside Shu Kingdom?
Shu Kingdom is in disorder
Shu Emperor Meng Zhi Xiang
is fighting with his three sons over the same woman.
Soon,
he will hold a grand ceremony conferring her a title.
Hold a grand ceremony?
He deserves to die
We cannot be late in attacking Shu
What should we do?
Don't be in a rush
I've already arranged everything
Don't worry
Brother
I can't contact you frequently
If you have any news,
how will I know?
I've already found a trusted messenger
In the future,
he will
deliver messages between us.
Come out!
This is your new master
From now on, listen to his commands
No mistakes allowed
Du Nu greets his new master
Lian Si?
It was you eavesdropping?
I...
What's happening to her?
She's been poisoned by my needle
She will die soon
so no need to know.
Quickly give her the antidote!
In your Liu family,
I only acknowledge you.
Besides,
she's the lonely Empress Dowager's daughter.
She should die!
Lian Xi, I'm begging you!
She is my only sister
Quickly save her! Quick!
Du Nu
Quick! Quick!
What are you doing?
He is saving you
If you don't want to live,
then never mind.
Let him save you, quick
Du Nu, save her!
Quick
The Emperor has assumed the throne for a while
Why haven't you announced an imperial decree
making me Empress?
This
Let's talk about it later
Later, later?
So much time has already passed
I think that the Emperor
is purposely putting it off.
You...
How could you say that?
Right?
Fine
Then tell me directly
today
When
will you make me Empress?
You...you're putting me in a difficult situation
Difficult situation?
Now
You are the Emperor. Your words are worth the weight of nine sacred cauldrons
The Emperor's words are taken seriously
What you've already agreed to,
can you go back on?
Fine
You've forced me
Don't blame me for not saving you face
It's not that I don't want to make you Empress,
but of everyone in court
no one approves,
saying you're of lowly birth
and the imperial concubine of the last emperor.
So what if I'm the imperial concubine of the last emperor?
Can't I be Empress?
This...the Empress is mother of the kingdom
Such a precious status
If I grant you the title,
I will anger all the civil and military court officials,
and be the subject of
discussion and ridicule by the people of Chu Kingdom.
Then...
I'm afraid I won't even be able to
keep my throne.
Ma Yi Fang!
I think you want to tear down the bridge after crossing the river!
No...I...I am...
You are ungrateful
fickle and heartless!
Ma Yi Fang, don't forget
that if it weren't for me,
would you be Emperor today?
Now you want to kill the donkey when it leaves the mill?
You've underestimated me
I won't be fooled by
two, three sentences from you!
I'm telling you
Quickly make me Empress
Otherwise
no one will live in peace!
You're...
Reporting to the Emperor
Li Ting Yun asks to see you
Let him in
Yes
Greetings Emperor
Princess Xiang Yun has asked the Northern Han envoy
to bring back a letter.
What does Princess Xiang Yun's
letter say?
Xiang Yun urges me
to join Northern Han in attacking Shu Kingdom.
A married daughter
is spilled water.
Is it her place to interfere in Chu Kingdom's court matters?
I have not been Emperor for long
I haven't settled everything yet
To send troops to war now
would not be a good idea.
Emperor
You should quickly read
the second secret letter.
Ma Fu Ya isn't dead! She's in Shu Kingdom?
Tell me
is the matchmaker blind?
Since he already brought the First Prince and sister
together
Then why does he pull so many other threads?
One trial after another
He wants to tire them to death?
Not only is the matchmaker blind,
God is too.
Why don't I discuss it with my brother?
Just think
He is the commander of the imperial army
and you are the deputy general of the imperial army.
If it really doesn't work,
we can fight it.
Your brother won't agree to it
Now I know
that he is only loyal to Han Zhao Yi.
Last time, I wanted to visit the Chu Empress
and he said...
Han Zhao Yi had orders
that I couldn't see her.
Who knows what they're up to
What do you mean?
Han Zhao Yi is my brother's sister
so brother must listen to older sister.
Besides,
why would you go to the harem??
My brother blocking you
is for Chu Empress's own good.
Regardless,
those two are family, but we're all outsiders.
Says who?
Han Ming is my own brother. I just don't believe he won't agree to us.
Han Ming is your own brother?
No..no Hua Ye Ye
No
Tell the truth!
Otherwise I will tell First Prince!
He sent someone like you to take care of Ya Ya?
Hua Ye Ye
Don't tell First Prince
I will tell you everything
Fine, I promise. Tell me everything
Commander Han is actually
not Han Zhao Yi's biological brother.
He's my older brother
It is so
No wonder you're always making strange expressions at him
Hua Ye Ye what are you saying? What strange expressions?
I'm an unmarried virgin
If you say this who will marry me?
This time First Prince
must be worried about Ya Ya.
He doesn't have the time to think about you
Hua Ye Ye
What do you think
if we forcefully send the princess away?
Ye Ye is also thinking
If we could seize by force,
First Prince would have done it already.
I'm thinking
that Han Zhao Yi is holding Empress Chu captive
to hold Princess Fu Ya captive.
First Prince is afraid of harming the innocent in the process,
so he hasn't used force.
Then what should I do?
We will find a way when we get there
Take it one step at a time
For now
we can only look to First Prince.
Take it away
Yi Fei Niang Niang
You haven't eaten in days
Please take care of yourself
and eat some.
Take it away!
Niang Niang
She won't eat?
Then don't force her
Everyone leave
Yes
Refusing food to threaten me
You're too naive!
If I can't handle you,
could I steadily rule this kingdom?
What about Du Fei Hong?
She thinks that she can threaten me with Du Family's control of the military power
I've only devised a small plot
and mother and son are at each others' throats.
Then they will unknowingly be
manipulated in the palm of my hand.
Your Majesty, how could you do this?
They are your wife and son
My wife and son
are Mei Fei and Yun Er only.
I want to see those
who harmed Mei Fei
fight each other and die of misery.
So you let Han Niang Niang enter the palace
to fight the Empress.
You are indeed intelligent
Du Fei Hong is so powerful
and so domineering
Without an intelligent woman entering,
how would the fight for my favor
be exciting?
Actually, if Han Yu He
were like Mei Fei
devoted to me,
I could leave her a son.
But she has always
been hateful towards me
How could I leave a bad seed?
Your Majesty
Because of your envy and suspicion,
you made a woman lose her ability to bear child
and killed your own child
in the womb?
That's my child
Whether he lives or not is up to me
Besides, these years
I have treated her and her brother well.
But they are ungrateful
and covertly oppose me.
So making me concubine
is also to help you against them?
You're different from them
You're intelligent and kind
I trust you, like you
That's why I'm marrying you
I know you don't like influential officials
But if there's anything you want in this world,
I will fulfill you
at all costs.
The Emperor is so cruel and heartless
to his own relatives.
You trust me,
but I can't trust you.
I'm saying all this
not for you to trust me.
I just want you to understand
that being against me
will only result in death.
If your majesty likes to watch plays,
then I have to take care of myself
to have the energy and chance
to act in this play for your majesty.
You are indeed intelligent
and courageous.
No wonder my First Prince
is so deeply in love with you.
What is your majesty talking about?
Pan Yu does not understand
My First Prince
is really unlucky.
Having Du Fei Hong
as his biased mother
The woman he loves
is going to marry me.
Since history,
no dethroned prince
has had a good outcome.
Perhaps someday,
if he's not careful
he will even lose his life.
Then, that piece of jade you're carrying
will have to be buried with him.
Your majesty
He's your own son
So what?
His life and death
will be decided by you.
Despicable!
You can call me anything
I will say again
I am the son of the heavens
You must give whatever I want
If you dare seek death,
I will make his life more miserable than death.
But don't fear
As long as you vow to follow my conditions,
I can guarantee he will be safe and sound.
Vow?
Yes
How do you want me to vow?
With the Heavens, sun, and moon as witness
I, Pan Yu,
agree to become concubine of Shu
and will not waver in my intentions
or scheme for the throne.
With the Heavens, sun, and moon as witness
I, Pan Yu, agree to become concubine of Shu
and will not waver in my intentions
or scheme for the throne.
If I violate this oath,
my dead parents
will suffer endless torment in the afterlife.
My future children
will also die young.
Vow
If I violate this oath,
my dead parents
will suffer endless torment in the afterlife.
My children will also die young.
Greetings Emperor
Why are you here?
I came to congratulate the Emperor
Congratulations to the Emperor on your success
and fulfilling your wish.
Your majesty seems
unpleased about something.
My displeasure
should please you?
Your majesty is treating me unjustly
I am
wholeheartedly thinking of your majesty.
I heard that girl Pan Yu
has an unyielding personality
so I specially came to persuade her.
Hope I can help accomplish something beautiful.
Your majesty don't worry
We are both women
I understand women's hearts the best
This cannot be forced
Besides Pan Yu is unyielding
like a wild horse.
Your majesty should be patient
Fine, as long as you persuade her to accept me,
then I
will naturally reward you well.
Thanks your majesty
Princess Fu Ya
What are you doing here?
Is my mother...
Your mother is doing great
I came to see if my ally friend
was doing well.
I haven't questioned you yet
Did you intoxicate me on purpose
and bring me to the Emperor?
Yes
I arranged everything
You...
Don't be angry Princess Fu Ya
I came to thank you
Don't think I'll follow in your footsteps
I won't submit to it
Princess Fu Ya you're mistaken
I came to congratulate
not because
you were made concubine,
but because
you will soon receive
the antidote for Nian Nu Jiang.
You can save your mother
What exactly do you want me to do?
If he didn't see you
and trust you,
how would you help me eliminate him?
You want to...
Killing him
will save your mother
Killing him
will save your lover.
During the grand ceremony,
put this in his wine.
Report if you have anything to say, otherwise adjourn court
Imperial Father, son has something important to report
Speak
Imperial Father, please forgive me for being bold
Please take back
the order granting Pan Yu title of concubine.
Son
Why do you want me to take back the order?
Because Pan Yu is my most beloved
What? How could it be?
This is improper
What did you say?
Father
Son and Pan Yu have known each other for a long time
and have chosen each other for life.
Originally I wanted to tell Father
and ask Father to grant us marriage
But I didn't expect
that Father would be a step ahead of me
and make Pan Yu Virtuous Concubine.
I sincerely ask Father,
before making a huge mistake,
to consider human principles and take back the order.
Son
Who's supporting you
to humiliate me in public?
Father, no one
Son is truly in love with Pan Yu
Father please take back the order
Father!
Father
Son also fell in love at first sight with Pan Yu
But different from Big Brother in that
I once stated clearly to Father
that as ruler of the kingdom,
Father should not steal his son's love.
Father please take back the order
Let Son and Big Brother fairly compete
Father
If Big Brother and Second Brother
can compete for Pan Yu,
then I also want to marry Sister Yu!
Besides, since Sister Yu entered the palace,
I was the first to know her.
I am also the most suitable for her
She should have been my
Royal Consort from the start.
Father please approve
Preposterous
You three unworthy sons
dare deceive and oppose me!
Father
Shut up!
If you say one more word,
kill immediately without pardon!
Emperor
The three princes are fighting with their father for a woman
This goes against the laws of the world.
Your Majesty should give up this woman
Don't imitate the Tang Emperor who stole his son's wife.
He left a bad reputation among the populace
and became a laughingstock in history.
We sincerely ask Father to take back the order
We sincerely ask the emperor to take back the order
What a group
of loyal subjects
If I don't take back the order,
won't I be called a corrupt ruler?
Thanks Father for approving
Not so fast
You say again and again
that I'm forcing Pan Yu
But who Pan Yu actually likes
I'm not sure
If I take back the order,
won't it damage her reputation?
Father
Son and Pan Yu are truly in love
If Father does not believe me,
summon Pan Yu to this hall
and ask her.
Fine, I will do as you ask
Come! Summon Pan Yu
Yes
Emperor has orders
Summon Maiden Pan Yu to the hall for an audience with the Emperor
Three princes are fighting over one Pan Yu
The Emperor's face is green with anger
Excellent
Sister
today
you're surely in a leisurely mood
to be drinking tea here.
Seems like
Sister is laying down a chess board in the palace
and putting all your pieces in one place.
I'm afraid
I'm not the only one putting all pieces in one place.
Chess must be played with strategy
Until the last moment,
victory and defeat are hard to distinguish.
I don't believe
that the Emperor would kill his three sons
and everyone in court.
If he did this,
what Emperor would he be?
According to his temper,
do you think he would be willing
to lose to his sons?
The Emperor's is capricious,
as changeable as the moon.
I think Sister
is more clear of that than me.
Then let's see
who wins and who loses this game.
Sister
is only looking at win and loss on the board.
Who knows,
maybe the Emperor will overturn the chess board.
and dares to risk commiting a huge moral error.
Greetings Emperor
Pan Yu
The entire court
and my three princes
all say that granting you concubine status
goes against the three cardinal guides and five constant virtues.
I don't want to be a corrupt ruler
so I'll let you make the choice.
If you choose
my three sons,
then I will immediately take back the order.
and give you blessing
Yu Er, don't be afraid
What's between us
Just report the truth
Maiden Yu
We three brothers
are risking death to appeal for you.
Do not hesitate to tell the truth
Yes, Sister Yu. Tell us quickly
Pan Yu has no virtue or ability
for the three princes
to trouble themselves so over me.
But my heart belongs to the Emperor
Pan Yu is willing to marry the Emperor as concubine
Yu Er, what are you saying?
Yu Er
Have you been wronged?
Quickly tell me
Is someone forcing you?
No one is forcing me
First Prince
You're only a dethroned prince
but the Emperor is at his prime.
He treats Pan Yu like a treasure
Anyone smart knows to seize the present, to move up in the world
The other two princes
are not even part of Pan Yu's consideration.
Yu Er You must be confused
What are you saying?
Sister Yu! You
I'm giving it back, so it no longer bothers me
No
Yi Fei Niang Niang please return to palace
I am the son of heaven
Whatever I want, you must give
If you dare seek death,
I will make his life worse than death.
Pick an auspicious date
I want to
hold a grand title ceremony for Yi Fei.
Congratulations Emperor
Ya Ya
Why don't you tell First Prince?
What use is it?
If it's really for his good,
then I shouldn't tell him.
Telling him would only conjure up more emotions
Just let him hate me
I've already sent the letter asking for help
Why hasn't Father replied?
Why are you here?
Second Prince, please save Sister Yu and First Prince
You're certain that I'm set on First Prince and Yu Er
You're using them to get close to me, right?
Su Yao deceived Second Prince
Ten thousand deaths cannot atone for this crime
Second Prince, please trust me once more. I sincerely want to save Sister Yu.
Sincere?
How could a spy be sincere!
For Yu Er's sake,
I will give you one more chance.
If you don't act appropriately and leave,
don't blame me for being heartless!
Second Prince! Second Prince!
Su Yao dare not ask Second Prince for forgiveness
but the matter relates to the life and death of Sister Yu and First Prince
In the palace,
only you can save them now.
Yu Er has already agreed to marry my Father
By Sister Yu's temperament,
she would rather die than give in.
I'm afraid that the grand concubine ceremony
will become a tragedy.
I have no army, no power
How can I help them?
Second Prince has been separated from the world for too long
How could you not know of people
who know not to, but do it anyways?
They know not to, but do it anyways
I understand
Don't worry Second Prince
Su Yao will not deceive Second Prince again
And very quickly,
Su Yao will give Second prince an explanation.
Pan Yu has no virtue or ability
for the three princes to be so troubled over me.
Pan Yu's heart belongs to the Emperor.
Pan Yu is willing to marry the Emperor as concubine
Yu Er
Have you been wronged?
Quickly tell me
Is someone forcing you?
First Prince, First Prince, bad news
The Emperor has sent troops to completely surround us
No one is allowed to leave
First Prince
Why is he doing this?
Father is guarding against me
He's worried I will ruin his grand concubine ceremony
But Maiden Yu has already agreed to marry him as concubine
and broke up with you in public.
The Emperor is still guarded against First Prince
Why?
You don't understand
Yu Er is definitely not a heartless, unfaithful
person who is greedy for wealth and status.
Her doing this
must be because she's being threatened.
It's windy
Does Mother's body feel any discomfort?
My chest
always feels tight
Then I
will help you remove your gloves
Empress
Niang Niang has thin skin on her hands
and wears these gloves for protection.
I understand. I will remember
From now on,
I will be more mindful of Mother.
These days,
I've only been taking care of my own injuries
and have not
paid enough attention to Mother.
Empress, you're so likeable
You should thank Niang Niang
If Niang Niang didn't intentionally fall ill,
the Emperor wouldn't accept you like he does now.
It's not all an act
My body and heatlh
can't compare to before.
Before I always thought
that when Lian Cheng grows up and matures,
and becomes the Emperor,
all will be fine.
But
for this
I've waited so many years
Xiang Yun
I know you've been wronged
Open one eye and close one eye
When he's done fussing
he will settle down.
I know
If I don't let him have that funeral,
I think he'll never be able to forget
his past love.
Perhaps only this way
he will really forget Ma Fu Ya.
How do you know about Ma Fu Ya?
Since your accident,
no one has mentioned Ma Fu Ya.
Empress
Who mentioned this name Ma Fu Ya
to you?
Empress Dowager,
servant mentioned the name Ma Fu Ya to the Empress.
Yes...Yes.
I heard Lu Qiao mention her to me.
Lu Qiao, you won't allow
anyone to mention Ma Fu Ya
before the Royal Consort.
How could you break your own rule?
I...
Xiang Yun
Your history with Ma Fu Ya
you seem to know very clearly.
I
Otherwise,
how could mentioning
Ma Fu Ya these three words
come so naturally to you?
Child, I have crossed more bridges
than the distance you've walked.
You dare tell lies before me
I...I admit my crimes
Mother...I...I
Fine, get up. Get up
I was thinking
if this Ma Fu Ya
is planted so deeply
in Lian Cheng's heart,
that maybe he inadvertently
mentioned Ma Fu Ya to you.
That's possible too
This is not your fault
Yes. Yes, it must have been the Emperor
He unknowingly mentioned it to me
but I forgot in the moment.
Probably
Xiang Yun, you're not well
you're still recovering
Lu Qiao
Yes
Help the Empress back to rest
Thanks Empress Dowager for your kindness
Empress
Empress Dowager
Do you really believe
that the Emperor mentioned it to her?
Believe? I only believe myself.
Then Empress...
Faking to win
Her acting is even
more deceiving than mine.