The late emperor has died
Your highness should
immediately take the throne
and take on the burdens of the kingdom.
During this national crisis,
how could your highness not look after
the state of affairs and the people?
In time,
Your highness will shame the late emperor
and become the criminal of Shu Kingdom.
Xing er
Did you hear the Tutor's words?
Stop acting like a child
Take the throne
Get up
I don't want to be emperor
I don't want to fight a war
Mother has spent a lifetime of effort
all on you!
I didn't think
I would raise
such an unambitious wimp like you!
I don't want to be emperor. Is that not all right?
I don't want to die, is that not all right?
You all want me to die
I'd rather die in the palace
and leave a full corpse.
You want to leave a full corpse?
Fine, Mother will grant your wish
Since you put it that way
Are you going or not?
Mother, Mother don't kill me
I don't want to die!
Mother! Mother doesn't love Xing er anymore
Mother won't ever love Xing er again
Mother doesn't love Xing er anymore
You get up! You disappointment!
Stop laughing
Especially now,
we can't arouse any suspicion.
Otherwise our many years of hard work
will fall short of success.
How could I not laugh?
We're about to have our great revenge
That old dog is finally dead
His death was well deserved
Even death was too good for him
And that person
who made me lose my child
should not be alive either.
She thinks her son
by becoming crown prince,
can ascend to the throne.
Then she can rule the kingdom through a screen
Now her bucket is empty (efforts are wasted)
Since our wishes
have been accomplished,
let's quickly leave this place.
The palace
is now in a mess.
We can't stay here for long
Messy messy messy...the messier the better
If it's messy that means there's a show to watch
I want to see
how that woman dies.
I want to see her go to hell
I have another wish
To see you assume the throne
I don't want that throne!
If you don't take it who will?
Qi Xing?
Or Qi You?
Don't think that
Meng Qi You and Du Fei Hong
don't know
who killed that old dog.
Now, only because of the approaching enemy troops,
they don't have time to deal with us.
If they start looking into it
we will die a tragic death.
If we retreat,
our outcome
will be everlasting hell.
I don't want our
half lifetime of pain
and incessant scheming
to result only
in our deaths.
Sister
First Prince has been outside
waiting for you for an hour.
Even if you don't see him,
you should tell him something.
It's so windy and rainy outside
If your heart doesn't ache, mine does
Ye Ye
Let him go
You're really not seeing First Prince?
His deep love for you...
For you
he almost lost his life
How could you be so cruel?
You won't see him once?
Eat
Eat more, talk less
Go stand over there, go
Eat it all
I won't leave any for you
You scared old servant
Hua Gong Gong, sorry
Let me go inside
First Prince, you should go back
Don't put Princess in a tough spot
Hua Gong Gong
We have struggled to make it to today
Living is also a great happiness
I don't care about anything else
What
What do you think is holding her back?
What she dreads
and feels tormented by
is her personal vow.
Vow?
If she violates the vow
and joins you,
her father's
spirit in the afterlife
will suffer torment
and will not be reincarnated.
Your future children
will die early
and end your bloodline.
How could my father do this?
So, Princess
is unable to face you now.
She cannot leave with you
Don't put her in this difficult position anymore
No!
I will not give up on Fu Ya
First Prince, are you sure?
Ya Ya's personality...
That I know
This
Fu Ya has done so much for me
sacrificed so much
I will definitely not let
this vow
consume her for life.
I must face it with her
All men, good and bad, rarely mistreat their children
Imperial Father
Why do you treat me thus?
Don't hate your father
Don't you hate him?
Even I, his son,
hate him.
Death is like an extinguished light
Actually, while he was alive,
he was lonelier and more pitiful than anyone.
He was the Emperor
He had a harem of 3000 beauties
How could he be lonely?
He had supreme power
and controlled
the life and death of everyone.
How could he be pitiful?
He's lived in fear his whole life
He doesn't trust anyone
Even his own relatives
he feared would harm him.
Living like this
is worse than death.
This is
the sorrow of a sovereign.
It's unavoidable
Imperial Father has gone, and been absolved
But the kingdom affairs he leaves behind
will certainly cause all the living
to fight savagely over it.
If Father's spirit in heaven
knew this,
it would be like
his last moment,
laughing convulsively.
Qi You
Actually your father was poisoned to death
and the one who offered him the poisoned wine
was me.
Didn't you say Father
died of extreme happiness and sorrow
attacking the heart?
It was the poison I gave myself
I wanted to end my own life
end everything
but your Father
took the cup of wine in my hands.
I didn't want to kill him
I don't want you to hate me
No, like you said,
my father's death
was his own doing.
You don't blame me?
Of course not
Father was suspicious by nature
How could he believe
that you were sincerely willing
to become his concubine?
So instead he took your wine
He went on this path
of no return himself.
This is the will of Heaven. It has nothing to do with you
Don't cry anymore
Fu Ya, we are finally free
When this is over,
let's
find a peaceful place
and live happily together.
Plant some acres of land
and raise some chickens and ducks
then
let's have some children.
No, we can't be together
Just because of that vow?
You know everything?
My Imperial Father already died with hatred
I can't let his spirit
suffer more torment.
And the children are innocent
How could I let them
be cursed by the vow from birth?
Do you really believe
those curses will come true?
Better safe than sorry
I don't want to regret it
after things have happened.
Fine, since you took a deadly oath
I can too, one even more deadly
I, Meng Qi You,
vow before my father's deceased spirit
that all of Ma Fu Ya's
suffering and torment in this life,
I will endure alone.
If I violate this,
I will suffer miserably in every possible way,
and die without proper burial.
Don't say anymore
I don't want you to suffer
Fu Ya, do you feel assured now?
You don't need to fear anymore
about harming anyone
or owing anyone.
Remember
I will handle everything
You are finally reunited
Imperial Father, Mother
You are reunited
but you leave me here alone.
In this world
there's no place that's meant for me.
No one else will love me, care about me
Imperial Father
Didn't you want
to reunite our family?
Yun er is coming to keep you company
Stop!
Brother, what are you doing?
Here, get up
Big brother
To a prince like me,
who only understands literature
but has no worldly wisdom
or human interest,
this is probably
for me
the best outcome.
Brother
You underestimate yourself too much
You even had the courage to rebel against Father
What are you afraid of?
Big brother
That's only because for Yu er,
you stood up to Father first.
So I was able to act on that as well.
Otherwise,
I wouldn't have dared.
I remember in the past
I would depend on Father's shield.
I thought I could be independent from the world
Outside turmoil
had nothing to do with me.
Now Father has left
leaving me alone.
I have no way of
separating myself from the palace struggles.
No way to resist
Who says you're alone?
Don't you still have me
your older brother?
Big brother, all these years
I have monopolized Father's love and care.
Don't you hate me even a little?
I already said
The past is in the past
What
You don't believe me?
I do, I believe big brother
Don't forget
You also have me as a friend
Thank you
I'm no longer alone
Yes, with us
you won't be alone anymore.
Zhi Xiang, the kingdom affairs are so burdensome
I can't handle it much longer.
Xing er is so cowardly and incompetent
and it's such an
urgent, critical moment of life or death.
I really don't know what to do
Can you tell me?
Niang Niang, bad news
Latest military report
The Chu-Han army
seized two of our cities in one night.
Their army
is already approaching our imperial city!
Niang Niang, the only option now
is to let the crown prince assume the throne
and personally lead the battle!
Otherwise Shu Kingdom will collapse!
Niang Niang
This can't wait
Niang Niang please order the decree
Niang Niang, order the decree
The situation is now irreversible?
At this moment, enemy troops are threatening our border
As prince,
I should come forward
and serve the country.
But Father just passed away
If I actively volunteer,
it may draw criticism
saying I have hidden intentions
ulterior motives
So right now,
going or not are both tough spots.
Big brother, but now
the three of us have no power or status.
Even if we live like mole crickets and ants [people with no power]
Disaster will still come sooner or later.
Why don't we leave the palace?
Go search for utopia
and live peacefully. Wouldn't that be very nice?
If we were in peaceful times,
withdrawing from the world and living in obscurity would be beautiful.
But Shu Kingdom is in chaos right now
How could I just leave?
But Northern Han has strong troops and horses
How could big brother
go up against such a powerful army alone?
Besides, the people in this palace
do not care about you.
I think big brother
has no need to die for them.
To be honest,
I'm not doing it for them.
Big brother! Big brother save me!
Brother Xing, what happened?
Who's bullying you?
Crown prince, please get dressed and lead the troops
Big brother, you have to save me
I don't want to lead the battle!
How did this happen?
Replying to First Prince
Empress has issued a decree
that the crown prince go to battle.
The officers and soldiers have already assembled
and are waiting for the crown prince's command.
I already said I wouldn't go!
Big brother
You have to help me think
I don't want to fight
I don't know how to fight!
Qi Xing, stop it
As crown prince,
during times of national disaster
you should take the lead.
...Big brother is so cruel...
Before,
big brother would always protect me.
But when faced with imminent disaster,
why does big brother not care?
Normally you enjoy all the benefits,
but when calamity strikes,
you push it all onto big brother.
What benefits have I enjoyed?
I don't want to be crown prince
I'm responsible for everything
Now I don't even have a choice
in my death.
You...
You are all
forcing me to go die.
Enough brother Xing. How about this?
I will lead the troops for you
No, First Prince
The new emperor must personally lead the troops
to lift morale.
How about this?
I will accompany Brother Xing in leading the troops
That should work
No!
I don't want to go on the battlefield
Your highness crown prince
First Prince is highly skilled in martial arts
He will protect you
Uncle has fought a lifetime of wars
Wasn't he also injured?
I don't even know how to hold a sword
Even if I don't die, I'll lose half my life
You're the future emperor
What a coward
How will you be emperor?
I...
I know you're trying to trick me into going
I won't fall for it
Your highness, the military situation is urgent
but if your highness leads us,
it will cheer on the entire army
and increase the odds of a counter-offensive.
If your highness refuses to go,
I'm afraid
I'm afraid that Shu Kingdom will perish.
Your highness, the safety of Shu Kingdom
lies in your momentary decision.
Think of the people and the kingdom!
Subjects beg your highness to lead the troops
I beg you not to force me
to go die!
Don't beg him
If he refuses to go,
he is no longer emperor.
Immediately issue my decree
deposing crown prince Qi Xing!
Recrown Prince Qi You
as crown prince, effective immediately!
He will immediately succeed to the throne as new emperor of Shu Kingdom.
You're not willing to lead the troops for our kingdom
and protect our people?
No, I am willing to lead troops for the kingdom
and even sacrifice my own life.
But, I'm not willing to become emperor
You don't want to be emperor?
You've kept a low profile for so many years,
and schemed endlessly
to bring Pan Yu into the palace.
Wasn't that all to become emperor?
Now you're
pretending not to know?
I am very lucky
to have met Pan Yu.
She changed my life
She made me feel
a happiness I never felt before.
I've decided
This life,
I just want to be with Pan Yu.
That's enough
Pan Yu is the most important person to you?
Then what about Mother?
I carried you for 10 months
and suffered giving birth to you.
I'm your own mother
Imperial Mother
You still know you're my mother?
You still remember
that I'm your son?
How did you remember?
At the time,
you insisted
on removing me as crown prince.
But now you clearly know
that the new emperor will lose his life,
so you hurriedly
reinstate me on the throne.
Mother, Mother
What kind
of a mother are you?
Deposing you
was your Father's idea.
You blame me?
Could I have blocked
your father's decree?
But have you ever thought
to persuade Father for me,
or to warmly comfort me?
No?
I know
As long as Mother doesn't add insult to injury,
I should plenty grateful.
I know what you want
You er, Mother begs you
Please save the kingdom your Imperial Father built
Mother begs you
Please save the poor people of Shu Kingdom
Mother begs you
Please save your
shameless mother.
Your Highness
Your Highness is proficient in military strategy
Shu Kingdom's state of affairs
all rely on your highness.
Your highness, please succeed to the throne
and lead the troops in battle.
Seems like I have no choice
To become emperor,
others will fight until their heads are bloody.
But for you to be emperor,
someone has to beg you.
That's giving you plenty of face
I hope you
will not turn your back on us.
Mother don't worry
Your child will not disappoint
what mother has entrusted me with.
Mother only hopes
that after you become emperor,
you can make Shu Kingdom
wealthy and strong, no short of greatness.
Besides this, I have no other demands
Mother is giving me the throne
I understand
not for the people
or for Mother's own life.
This is Mother
This is You er
What do you think?
Mother is giving me the throne
mainly because of
your favorite,
youngest son.
Meng Qi Xing
Qi You is the new emperor of Shu Kingdom?
Yes, it's absolutely true
The empress re-established the crown prince
First Prince Meng Qi You will ascend to the throne
He finally...
He's finally emperor!
Maiden Wen
Hei Zi!
Hei zi, you came just in time!
First Prince
is really going to be emperor?
Although First Prince is emperor,
he hasn't officially been coronated.
Why?
The emperor wants me
to bring you to the palace immediately.
He has important things to discuss
Why?
You think I'm no longer useful?
No longer necessary?
You want me to go?
Of course not
Then why?
Does Fu Ya want you to stay away from me?
Don't worry
I won't cling onto you
Furthermore, I won't
ask you to bring me into the palace.
We are only close friends
Yes
Because you are
a truly close friend,
I can't let you carry
such a heavy burden,
waste so many years.
I don't think it's a waste
Right now
your succession is unsteady, and you're leading the troops to war
Inside and outside court,
everyone either works for your Mother
or for Han Zhao Yi.
You need your own supporters
Jing Ruo, you should calm down
Listen to me
I'll be honest
Leading the war is fraught with peril
Returning in triumph
would certainly be the best outcome.
If not,
I wouldn't want to drag you down with me.
Fu Ya can risk her life for you
But your close friend can not?
Jing Ruo
Fu Ya and I are destined to be together
Our lives and deaths are entirely up to the will of Heaven
But you're different
You should
have your own happiness in life.
My happiness is you!
Jing Ruo
Fu Ya and I always wanted
to live peacefully as commoners.
But we are born into imperial families
She and I
have inescapable responsibilities.
But you can fulfill our wish
Listen to me, go
Go live the life that we wish for but cannot attain.
Don't let me bring
my concern and guilt for you
onto the battlefield.
Is that ok?
You never need to worry about me
or feel burdened by me.
I've already arranged for someone
to take you to Wu state.
At Wu, stay with Uncle Qian Hong
He is my good friend
You should have seen him before
He is a modest, self-disciplined gentleman
gentle and cultivated.
I trust he'll treat you well
You gave me to him?
No, Jing Ruo, I entrusted him with your care
You need someone
who is a lifetime companion
and loves you wholly.
Uncle Qian Hong told me
that in West Lake,
he planted 10 miles of lilies.
It must be
even more beautiful than paradise.
Jing Ruo, living there
you will be very happy.
What?
You want Han Ming to bring 100,000 imperial soldiers
to the frontline and resist the enemy?
Are the 100,000 imperial soldiers all your sons?
Fighting enemies for the kingdom
is completely reasonable.
Why are you anxious for them?
But from what I know,
the specific responsibility of the imperial army is to protect the royal palace.
They should not be transferred at will
The teeth are cold when the lips are lost
If we can't even defend the border,
what's the use in guarding the imperial city?
I think that
you don't wish to transfer the imperial army
for other motives?
Sister is really using the heart of mean men to measure the stature of great men
The imperial court is facing internal problems and foreign invasion
Both cause anxiety and concern
But Sister is here
playing clever games and calculating.
One should laugh at you with scorn
Fine
I'll be the villain
Let's talk about the ugly truth
Commander Han controlling 100,000 imperial guards
is Shu Kingdom's greatest internal problem.
Transferring him to defend the border
is exactly my plan
to kill two birds with one stone.
Han Ming has protected the palace for many years
through fear and trepidation
If no accomplishments, there are efforts
In Empress's eyes, how could he become
a villain that gathers military power
with sinister intentions?
Zhao Yi Niang Niang
The severe casualties on the frontline
are a fact.
Not having enough remaining support
is a matter of vital importance.
Actually Niang Niang's considerations are right
If Han Ming
insists on staying in the palace,
people will instead mistake me for having ill intentions.
I was momentarily confused
Sister please forgive me
I don't know if you're trimming your sails
or what you're planning inside,
but I'm telling you,
we're all the same boat right now.
When a bird's nest is overturned, no egg can remain intact
If you want to live,
then
you better not cross the line right now.
I didn't want to be the villain
but Du Fei Hong reminded me
She always worried
you would be her internal problem
but unexpectedly,
you will be her son's internal problem.
Then what do you reckon?
I'm asking you
How capable is Meng Qi You?
He's very familiar with military strategy
and highly skilled in martial arts.
calm and level-headed
He's a rare, talented commander-in-chief
In the past, Shu Kingdom
lost
because things happened suddenly
and caught us off guard.
Plus
Du Ru Hai is old
and not hard to defeat.
But now, Shu Kingdom has adequate provisions
and Meng Qi You is leading the war personally.
A strong general leading the troops
plus Shu Kingdom's geographical advantages
Meng Qi You may be
undefeatable.
Is that good, Niang Niang?
Stupid
Meng Qi You is
the emperor's own son.
And when he wins the battle,
he will sit steadily on the throne.
Even Du Fei Hong can't touch him
Then...what?
So this battle must be lost, not won
Du Fei Hong
The knife used to kill your son
you gave me personally
Ye Ye
I'm so worried
What are you worried about?
With his majesty leading the way, what can go wrong?
He hasn't sat on the throne yet
but he's already going off to war.
What kind of emperor is that?
Exactly
When the kingdom was peaceful,
no one thought of First Prince.
Now it's time for war, they all think of him!
What bullies!
When your majesty returns in victory,
we'll do the coronation ceremony and celebration banquet together.
Isn't that better?
I'm afraid that if...
Crow mouth!
What "ifs"?
The emperor will be victorious
and return triumphantly to court!
What is it Yun Zhu?
Have no confidence in me?
No...
If only I weren't so physically weak
and worried about dragging you down,
I should also protect my family and kingdom on the battlefield.
Brother Yun, when I'm on the battlefield,
you will help me manage national affairs in the background,
a different but equally worrisome job.
It will be hard work
Imperial brother don't worry
I will not disappoint you
Good
Come, remember
No matter what
you can't return this to me again.
Take it. Wait for my return.
I want you to give it to me
when you triumphantly return.
Ok, I will definitely come back
Emperor
It's getting late
We should depart
Empress Dowager is not up yet
If we wait for her,
it may delay the troops' departure.
The Chu-Han joint army threatens us
but our great Shu Kingdom has strong soldiers and horses
and a common wish.
We will defeat the enemy troops and return triumphant!
Defeat the enemy troops! Return triumphant!