I sleep with all women
except my mother and my daughters.
But if I'm": not wrong, you don't really care about the girl-.
Lord Mount Yang Lin controls a large army.
If I can win him over, my position will be greatly enhanced.
Well, if that's what you really want,
I have a way.
Tell me.
If hook or crook doesn't work,
then formally ask for her hand.
Let Sire be your matchmaker,
have him ask Lord Mount for her hand.
I don't think Sire will say yes to me.
You don't have to ask him yourself.
Ask your mother to do it,
let her ask Sire.
If I marry Princess Yu,
won't you worry you'll be sidelined?
I'm helping you get her,
so I'm confident I can wrap her around my little finger.
Besides, you gave me your word.
If you ascend the throne,
I'll be crowned empress.
Have you forgotten?
She wants to be empress...
Hold her...
strip her bare, strip her...
No...
Hold her... No.
Dengzhou House
How's the tribute silver?
We're still raising it.
What's the shortage?
A hundred thousand taels.
Do it quickly.
Make sure the local governments clear bandits along the route
to ensure the safe arrival of the silver.
Yes.
Dragon Fortress
Kill him...
More than fifty people here...
Kill him...
Stop...
What is your official position?
Constable.
I thought you were some big shot,
but you're just a lowly constable.
Long Hai, you still have time to surrender yourself.
Resistance will add to your penalty.
What a tough nut.
Guys... Yes...
Deep-fry this constable,
make sure he's crispy,
then deliver him back to the magistrate as a treat.
Hear...hear...
Yellow Boy
Come on...
Everyone freeze... Freeze...
Who are you?
Listen carefully,
Constable Qin Qiong of Licheng County, Shandong.
I'm here to arrest you.
Hero, spare me...
Come on...
Resistance will make you Long Hai's accomplices.
Freeze!
Surround them...
Brother Qiong, you alright?
Brother Fan Hu...
Not a moment too soon.
I'm fine. Good.
You deliberately let them capture you in order to slip in.
We were so worried about you.
Where's Long Hai?
Chase!
According to the law, fleeing will add to your penalty,
that means execution on the spot.
Brother Qiong, I'm so tired.
Take him back. Go!
Highness, we're here on Sire's order to deliver the betrothal gift.
The wedding date is set on the 8th day of the 8th month.
Reward them and see them out.
Thank you, Highness.
Please.
Sire, the gifts...
Betrothal gifts from Prince Jin.
The wedding date's been chosen.
Sire, what if I won't agree to it?
It's the Emperor's order, and the wedding date is set,
I can't decline.
Prince Jin is talented and good looking,
Why won't you say yes?
You have someone in your heart?
I have no other in my heart, Sire,
but I don't want to marry him.
During my dance performance,
I could tell he's a flippant man.
I just can't accept him.
Besides, I want to wait on you more,
to repay you for raising me.
I know how you feel.
But it's an imperial decree,
there's nothing I can do.
Refusing to marry would mean disobeying the emperor.
Report...
Sire,
Generals Wu Kui and Wu Liang are ready to set out for Beiping Prefecture.
Lead the way to see them off.
Yes.
Yu'er, you better prepare yourself for it.
Where's the Prince?
He hasn't been seen in days.
Highness... Say it.
Just say it.
He's gone hunting.
Were it not for this illness,
I too would like to kill a tiger or two.
Highness, you will,
and I'll go with you.
Let me.
Highness, Ying'er is marrying soon,
let him play the filial son.
Highness, Mother,
I have taken the Buddhist vow administered by Reverend Zhizhe,
my religious name is Zongchi.
I will fast for both your longevity.
Ying'er, you are filial and loving, we both can tell.
Highness.
Ying'er, you lead a simple life,
how did you get this extraordinary article?
Mother, you're thrifty, you don't care for luxury.
But your mink robe is worn,
I can't bear to see that.
So I saved this one for you.
Mother, please forgive me.
I'm haPPY-
Ying'er, what is it?
Mother, I can't say.
What is it? Just tell me.
Mother, I conquered Chen and won praise from you and Highness.
But I've incurred my brother's jealousy.
He said he won't let me live.
Mother, I'm worried that once he gets on the throne,
my life will be in danger.
Your Highness, Crown Prince is here.
Alright.
You may go.
Mother, take care.
May I be excused?
Mother, greetings.
How was your hunting?
How many wolves? How many hares?
You're the crown prince, heir to the throne,
but you keep going here or there, neglecting court affairs.
Which part of you looks like a crown prince?
Highness is ill. Instead of waiting on him, you went hunting.
Where's your filial piety?
Mother, don't be mad, I know I'm wrong.
Highness is ill, why didn't you visit him?
I...just didn't want to run into Prince Jin.
He's your younger brother by blood.
I can't stand his phony ways,
his hypocrisy.
And you're not phony?
You thought the Chen expedition too hot, and the war with Turkic too cold for you.
Your kid brother got the credit instead.
What? I touched your sore spot?
What have you done instead?
I...
You're petty.
You don't behave like a wise ruler at all.
I... It really worries me.
How can you rule Sui?
No...
Highness, you had a dream again?
I had a dream.
In my dream, I was reading memorials,
then water rushed in.
And children appeared in the water.
There were a dozen of them...
No...eighteen of them.
They ripped my robe and tore the memorials.
Then I woke up.
That's a strange dream indeed.
Eighteen kids?
Yes, Highness ordered me to find him a dream interpreter.
I rushed here to inform you.
Good...
It's late, you've worked hard.
I don't deserve it, no...
It's my honor to be of use to you.
Chen gonggong.
I depend on you to be my eyes and ears in court.
Highness, you can rest easy.
Whatever happens in court,
you'll be the first to know.
Good...
Highness needs to be waited on, I won't keep you here.
Please excuse me.
You already have a plan?
A line or two, feel free to comment on it.
Paper and brush.
Crows by the thousand dot the sky, a lone village by the river lies.
When the sun comes to set,
it's greeted by the gloomy grey.
Good poem!
This is a great chance to get rid of Crown Prince Yang Yong's right hand man.
Really? And who is that?
Li Yuan.
Have you memorized what you were taught?
Yes. Recite it to me.
T beheaded, yonder he comes, and the reign falls into his hands.
Right!
Every one of you recite it a hundred times a day.
You hear me?
Then you'll get candied apples.
Candied apples for free every day.
Honor your word.
Give us candied apples.
Of course I'll honor my word.
Here you are... Great...
Me too...
T beheaded, yonder he comes, and the reign falls into his hands.
Tell me, what trouble have you caused today?
Don't be so mad. Get it straight first.
Nothing...I caused no trouble.
I saw the man do something bad,
so I gave him a push.
Not just a push.
Mr Wang's ribs are badly bruised,
the physician said he's bedridden for at least 2 weeks.
The Wang family has raised hell here several times.
He's a bully...
Shut up! It's our family's misfortune
to have such an unruly son.
Look at your elder brothers,
Jiancheng, Shimin, Yuanji,
they're all accomplished, unlike you.
What about him?
Yuanba is kind in nature, he has his good points.
Mother...you do love me.
We have hired him so many tutors, none could teach him to read.
If we pay enough, we'll find one.
If you can't, let me.
Look at you...
T beheaded...
Yonder he comes...
and the reign falls into his hands.
T beheaded...
Eighteen kids make up the character Li.
Ripping of your robe and memorials
means this Li will wreak havoc,
and ruin the Sui reign.
My fault, I'm blabbering
Highness, please punish me.
Tell me, is there a way to counteract it?
Yes...
Tell me how.
Highness, I dare not.
Why not?
Highness, please grant me a pardon first.
Alright, you are pardoned.
There are too many Li's to watch in the country,
the only thing that can be done,
is to kill off all Li courtiers,
and remove the threat to Your Highness,
to ensure the stability of the Sui reign.
What nonsense! It can't be done.
There are dozens of Li courtiers,
most of them decorated or Highness' marital kin.
To kill off so many because of a dream
will lead to social disruption.
Highness, please reconsider.
What's more important? Highness' reign?
Or Li courtiers?
You...
It's playing safe, what's wrong with that?
Kill those that have to die.
Highness, you are blessed,
this is a warning from heaven.
You can't go against heaven's wish.
Highness...
Empress is worried that your late reading will tire you,
she ordered me to deliver lotus seed soup to you.
Leave it here. Yes.
Chen Gonggong, what do you think about Yuwen Huaji's dream interpretation?
One word, correct.
Highness, you are the son of heaven,
you have the mandate and you have a direct connection with heaven.
The dream is a sign.
You should believe it to play safe.
Highness, you can't be too careful.
Highness,
I have something to say,
but I don't know if I should.
Just go ahead.
Lately a nursery rhyme has become very popular,
no one knows from where it came,
and it's spreading fast.
What nursery rhyme?
T beheaded, yonder he comes, and the reign falls into his hands.
T beheaded is L,
Yonder is...
Sire, Li Shimin, second son of Duke Tang is in court with his mother.
They're here to visit Empress.
He heard about Highness' dream from Empress,
so he asked for an audience.
He's been waiting for some time.
I hear he's accomplished in all things.
I want to hear his interpretation too-.
Summon him. Yes.
Highness, Shimin at your service.
At ease. Thank you.
Shimin, you have heard about my dream.
What is your interpretation?
Highness, dreams are a mystery,
it's not what words can explain.
There are two sides to every coin.
Highness, please consider it from the other side.
So what is your take?
18 kids mean Highness' line is thriving.
Highness is surrounded by offspring.
What about the nursery rhyme?
T beheaded, yonder he comes, and the reign falls into his hands.
How do you explain that?
Seasons come and go, the world is expansive.
It means wherever one goes, they are still under your reign.
Highness, if it still worries you,
why not exile every Li courtier,
to ensure they are far away from the court.
My dad will be grateful to Highness,
he'll still be your loyal subject on the frontier.
Prepare the carriage and wait outside.
Yes.
T beheaded...
T beheaded, yonder he comes,
and the reign falls into his hands.
You just keep blabbering, how unbecoming.
You...
It doesn't hurt...it's like a scratch.
Milady, the carriage is outside.
Pack our belongings, we have to go.
Master...there's an imperial decree.
Already?
If it's in your destiny, there's no running away from it.
Milady... Milord.
I'll go receive it.
You go first, I'll catch up with you.
Come on.
Milord...
Highness has spared Li Yuan?
Yes.
Highness said the Li courtiers would not be killed or kept.
They're all to be exiled.
Li Yuan will take up a position in Taiyuan.
He's getting off easy.
It must be Crown Prince, he sought Mother's help.
It looks like Mother's idea.
Who else is exiled?
Duke Po, that is, Li Hung, to Great Bend,
Duke Po, that is, Li Ke, to Hebei.
There are also the Minister of Works, Vice-Minister of Revenue,
and some minor officials.
Li Yuan is the key figure of Crown Prince's gang,
he must be removed.
Kill him on his way, and frame it on the bandits.
No witness to tell the tale.
Who should we send?
Golden Snake Guards.
Who are you?
Bandits.
Master, run...
Yuanba, take the family into the woods.
Yuanba, run...
Run...
Brother Qiong, let me check it out.
Wait...
Let me go, you keep an eye on Long Hai.
Be careful. You too.
Deity...
Run...
Golden Snake Guard?
Hero, thank you for your help.
Deity...thank you...
You were amazing...
Just run...
Hero, could you leave your name?
No need.
Father, I saw his badge, the word Qiong was on it.
Qiong? Qiong and five...
Brother Qiong, it's late, where did you go?
You're always nosy.
Go to sleep now, we have a long day tomorrow.
No sleeping, we must carry on.
At this hour? Yes.
What happened?
I killed a Golden Snake Guard.
What? You killed a Golden Snake Guard?
You really have some nerve.
I didn't know he was a Golden Snake Guard.
Look.
Brother Qiong, how did you get hurt?
Don't ask, let's go, come on.
Yes.
Golden Snake Guards never fail.
You're no longer good enough to be Golden Snake Guards.
Hold it.
We have to get back the badge first.
Do you recognize the man who saved Li Yuan?
Yes.
Good.
I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself.
Thank you for sparing me.
Get out. Yes.
Golden Snake Guards are imperial guards,
they never fail in their missions.
This failure has not only endangered the Yuwen family,
Prince Jin may be implicated.
Father, let me go there myself.
I have to get the badge back.
No, you can't leave Chang'an.
It may seem peaceful in the court,
but it is filled with intrigues.
Stay in Chang'an to help Prince Jin ascend the throne.
Who's the most capable among the Golden Snake Guards?
Sima Xin.
Brother Qiong, you alright?
We can't carry on like this.
Golden Snake Guards will soon catch up with us.
We'll take the side tracks.
You decide.
But it may delay your treatment.
I'm fine, let's go. Yes.
Father.
Father, you have an order for me?
Prince Jin is marrying Princess Yu.
Go escort her to the palace.
What? You don't want to go?
That's not what I mean.
But you said I should stay in Chang'an.
Can you send someone else?
This is about the marital alliance between Prince Jin and Lord Mount.
Nothing can go wrong.
I want you to go yourself.
Did you hear me? Yes.
Brother Qiong...
Get off. Yes.
Get off.
Brother Qiong, now what?
Listen to me, we can't keep running.
You see the hoof marks we leave behind?
They can track us with them.
If they catch up with us, we'll just fight them with all our might.
No, they're all adepts.
We can't beat them.
Then what do we do?
Hold this.
Yellow Boy, listen, just keep running.
Go...
That's a good trick.
Run... Run...
Run...
Be careful.
Brother Qiong, you alright?
You hear that? They're coming.
Down.
Brother Qiong, they're gone.
Now what?
Turn back.
Turn back?
Yes, turn back. Come on.
Alright, come on.
Brother Qiong, hang in there.
Physician, how is he?
It's Zhen poison.
Zhen poison?
Yes. Zhen is a bird.
It's poisonous.
Dip a feather into wine to make it poisonous.
Several drops can kill a man.
Your brother is strong so he could survive this long.
Several more hours of delay and he'd be doomed
What now?
Young man, relax.
I have some herbs here for snake poison.
It's an antidote; it should work.
But his life is in his destiny.
Young man, the drug is potent.
It's fighting poison with poison. Just hang in there.
Come on.
Brother Qiong, hang in there.
Your brother was hit by a projectile, which was laced with Zhen poison.
The person who did this is not ordinary, who was it?
Bandits.
Now wonder.
The poison has gone deep,
he's lucky it hasn't reached his internal organs.
My drug has stopped the poison from spreading.
Brother Qiong... His life's been saved,
but the dressing needs to be changed every day.
It'll take a hundred days of recuperation for him to fully recover.
Yes.
I'll repay you for saving my life later, thank you.
Then excuse me.
Forgive me for not seeing you out.
We've been fooled. Turn back!
What nerve!
Without asking me first,
Yang Lin is sending his men to station in my Beiping Prefecture.
He's putting me under surveillance.
Highness...
Who's making you so mad?
Your Highness... At ease.
Look at you, at your age you still get mad every day.
I heard your angry voice when I stepped out.
Who angered our Lord Beiping?
Lady, you haven't heard.
Lord Mount is sending his henchmen Wu Kui and Wu Liang to station here.
He's effectively putting us under surveillance.
That's it?
Milady, you don't understand,
that rascal has gone too far.
Beiping House belongs to the Luo family, not Yang.
The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun belong to the Luo family too.
No one can barge in.
Whoever dares to try will know the Luo's are not to be ruffled.
Beiping House is not an easy prey.