Now you're pushing my back to the wall.
Tell me, what have I done to deserve this?
Sire, going against ancestors' teachings, going on tours all the time,
making unnecessary conquests, living in excessive luxury,
bringing turmoil to the country, young and old dying in droves,
people losing their livelihood, and the land is rife with bandits,
trusting only the wicked and evil.
You still don't know what you've done wrong?
Oh, the people.
Are you really here to settle the score with me for the people?
Alright, so I've wronged the people.
But you're my courtiers,
You're amply rewarded.
Have I ever mistreated you?
Why should you turn against me for the people?
Who's the mastermind behind this coup?
The grievance is universal.
Who are you to make this scene?
Only military courtiers are in a position to rebel,
who are you, a civilian, to pick up a sword?
Get lost!
What nerve! How dare you be rude to Sire?
Get out!
Sire, how are you doing?
The country is in chaos and people are getting rebellious.
Sire, you have lost the people's support, the situation is beyond your control.
I think you should hand over the imperial seal and abdicate the throne.
Then you can still end up like Chen Shubao.
You'll be given a title and live a carefree life.
It must be you.
How can Chen Shubao be compared to me?
And you see yourself as another young Yang Guang?
Then forgive my rudeness.
Linghu Xingda. Yes.
Stop!
Halt!
You've all been recipients of Sire's generosity.
You're a bunch of ingrates!
Let's no mention your ample pay,
just several days ago.
Seeing the guards suffering the spring chill,
he ordered thousands of padded coats made for you,
and he personally oversaw their completion in two days.
I dare you to say you didn't know about it.
He's so kind to you,
but you traitors...
you traitors...
you want to kill him and usurp his throne,
you'll die the most horrendous death!
You slut!
You corrupted him with your seductress ways
and caused the decline of the reign.
Now you have the nerve to insult the upright here?
You deserve to die!
Sword!
Mother...
Mother, wake up...Mother...
Mother, you can't die...Mother...
You can't die...
Sire, you always said not to leave loose ends. Exterminate root and all.
Hold it.
An emperor has his befitting way to die.
No weapons on his body,
no severing of his head, it's improper.
Get me hemlock wine.
You still care how you should be killed?
Hold on.
This is a good spot.
Hang me here.
Those that come in from the door, or look in through the windows,
when they see me,
it'll give them a sense of awe.
It paints a perfect picture.
It's fitting for the greatest emperor of all time.
Here.
Alright.
Several years ago, I had a dream.
In it, two men sang this song:
Hither to death, tither to death,
take the boat to nirvana.
So this is it.
Here we are: when the sun comes to set, it's greeted by the gloomy grey
Report.
Honorable Yuwen, Wagang and Dou Jiande's joint force has besieged Yangzhou.
Chengdu, Sire has passed away,
why are you still kneeling here?
Go look for the imperial seal with me, then we'll break out of the siege,
you can rally the people and wipe out the pretenders,
you can unify the country and establish the Yuwen reign.
I'm sorry, I can't do that.
What did you say?
Father, whatever you wanted to do, I never said no to you.
Because I had to obey filial piety.
But I'm also a Sui subject.
Sire was driven to his death,
that's already made me disloyal.
If you won't listen to me, how can you call yourself filial?
Father, the rebels are assaulting us now,
I should defend Sui with my life, to repay Sire.
You...
Everyone to the bedchamber with me.
Highness...it's bad...
Prime Minister is here with troops.
Minister Yuwen...
No, I mean Sire, you're finally here.
I've been waiting for you.
I was right about you.
You do have the face of an emperor.
I do?
Don't bother.
What you want is here with me.
Then hand it over.
I will when the right time comes.
But you have to promise me one thing.
I thought you were smart.
You think you're in position to bargain with me?
Sire, I'm not bargaining with you,
I'm seeking a way out for myself.
Dear, you are the Empress,
you will still be Empress.
Sire, you're understanding indeed.
Please come with me.
Go out.
Prime Minister, it's my pleasure.
It's you?
That's right.
Your Honor, you're here for the imperial seal, right?
Protect me.
Search.
Yuwen Chengdu,
I'm here for your head.
Bring it on.
Yuwen Chengdu came alone,
We got a message that Yang Guang is dead.
I'm sure people are looking for the imperial seal in the villa.
I wonder what's happening on Brother Yaojin's side.
Was he found out?
He is blessed.
I'm sure he's fine.
I've long heard you're a great beauty.
Now that we've met, it's indeed true.
Lord Zheng, you're too kind.
Beauty, where is the imperial seal?
I overheard what you just said.
I don't think I need to turn the bedchamber upside down for it.
Lord Zheng, really...
Let me get it for you.
The seal?
Brother Yaojin, it's mine.
What's yours? It really is...
Don't fight with me...
Buddy, what is this?
Brother Yaojin, it's the imperial jade seal people talk about.
Come on...
Brother Yaojin...
This really is a good thing...
Open the gate for the brothers.
Brother Yaojin...
Brother Yaojin, it's mine.
Heaven is on our side.
God of thunder...
Why won't you leave me alone?
I want you dead!
Ready?
Ready!
Charge!
Kill!
Li Yuanba and Yuwen Chengdu had their duel,
and both died in the end.
With Cheng Yaojin and others working from inside,
Qin Qiong and the Wagang force broke into the Yangzhou villa.
Meanwhile,
when Li Yuan learned of the death of Li Yuanba,
he ordered the attack of Chang'an.
Chang'an's defense was already crumbling,
Li Yuan successfully captured Chang'an,
and it put him at an advantage.
Li Mi, am I awesome or what?
I got the imperial seal.
General Cheng, you are blessed indeed.
Time and again, you brought Wagang victory.
Don't mention it.
Sire, the tyrant Yang Guang's dead now.
Sui's been overthrown.
What are you going to do next?
Well...what do you have in mind?
Sire, though we have the seal, and Sui is overthrown,
the situation is far from certain.
Wang Shichong has captured Luoyang and Yang Guang's treasure,
he's greatly strengthened.
Dou Jiande is a cunning fox, he has suffered no casualties,
Again, he has an advantage.
Brother Ji is right.
After this battle, the rebel leaders have all greatly weakened,
our men are greatly reduced in number.
Dou Jiande and Wang Shichong, on the other hand, have grown in strength.
But, among all the rebel forces, the most powerful is the newcomer,
Lord Tang Li Yuan.
Right, he has a force with hundreds of thousands of men,
he has taken Chang'an,
he has the help of his second son Li Shimin
and talents like Li Jing.
Though he has set up Yang You as emperor,
power is in his hands.
But Wagang has the seal,
we can rally others and go capture Chang'an.
Though Li Yuan revolted at the last moment,
he had always been an accessory.
He killed hundreds of my Er Xian Zhuang household.
I will avenge that no matter what.
Brother Tong, Li Yuan was only executing his order.
Chai Shao and Li Shimin have brought it up with me,
they wanted to resolve the feud.
Also, in the breaking of the Brass Standard Formation,
if Li Shimin and Li Yuanba had not gotten there in time,
we would have been killed by the elite force.
If we turn around and attack them now, we'll be seen as ingrates.
Brother Ji is right.
Brother Tong, let's just wait and see
if they'll do anything improper, then we won't let them off.
Since we haven't come up with anything concrete,
let's talk about it later.
Now Yang Guang is dead,
the Yuwen family has also met their demise,
but the seal is with Li Mi of Wagang.
Wang Shichong has captured Luoyang,
making him a formidable contender.
Uncle Dou Jiande is busy strengthening his force,
he is a rising power.
Father, Wagang is powerful,
though they suffered casualties in the Brass Standard Formation fight,
they are still a force to reckon with.
I think we should attack Wagang and get the seal,
so we can rally the people.
Father, Brother Jiancheng is right.
Father, I think Wagang and the seal is not our priority.
Brother Shimin, we were able to capture Chang'an because we took the initiative.
How can we be hesitant this time?
Yuanji, the situation is chaotic.
Even if we could get the seal, it won't give us the mandate.
We have captured Chang'an, that's given us an edge.
But our position is far from secure,
we should conserve our strength and build up our forces,
and then seek expansion.
The seal will fall to us.
You have a point.
But if we bide our time,
Wagang will gain strength,
then it'll make getting the seal more difficult.
The seal is just a symbol.
If we attack Wagang now,
it'll mean casualties,
and make us the target of other rebel forces,
it's not worth it.
Then we should listen to Shimin.
We'll bide our time and speed up the strengthening of our force.
Yes.
Sire, you asked for me at this hour, what is it?
Bodang, be honest with me,
are you still my most trusted man?
Of course.
Sire, my talent was never appreciated.
That was the case when I worked for Sui.
It was still the case in Wagang
until you came and put me to good use.
What is a life but the realization of one's potential?
I'm grateful for your appreciation,
I will repay you with my life.
Good! Good!
Bodang, could you do me a favor?
Only you can help me.
Please say it.
Bodang, I want you to trade Empress Xiao with the seal.
Sire, no! It can't be done!
The seal is...
How do I not know its importance?
But throughout my life,
despite my learning, life was hard for me.
There would not be today's Li Mi were it not for her.
She is my benefactor.
My love for her is true.
Now that her life is in danger, how can I do nothing?
I know what our situation is.
But at a time like this,
I'd rather fail everyone else than fail her.
So, please...
Help me.
Sire...
Sire, since you asked,
I must do it.
Here she is...
What is she doing?
Let's have a look. Come on...
Yingying... Cuiyun...
Yingying... Brother Yaojin...
What are you upset about?
You had a fight? Tell me about it.
It's a woman-to-woman talk, men should go away.
Go away...
Yingying, what is this about?
A fight? No...
Yingying, tell me Come on, tell me
Let me do you justice... Let me do you justice, alright?
Luo Cheng bullied you?
Brother Tong bullied you?
It's your fault.
I say it's Brother Tong's fault.
He knows the feelings between Yingying and Luo Cheng,
he should have long married her to him.
What do you know?
A betrothal should be proposed by the parents and the matchmaker,
How can Yingying be given away so easily.
Milady, we had no matchmaker, but we got married.
It was my tough luck, you took my heart.
I took your heart? It was your good luck.
Don't laugh...
You have the nerve!
Alright, stop laughing.
Be serious.
Let me be their matchmaker and close the deal.
It'll work.
Right, you have a silvery tongue.
Only you can do it.
Then wait for the good news.
Good...
Wait for me.
Let's go.
Speak of the devil.
Yingying, Cousin.
Come, sit down.
Why is everyone here? What's going on?
Somethings definitely going on.
A happy event.
What is it?
Milady, just say it.
I called you here today
to talk about marriage between you two.
Marriage?
Yingying, when you are of age, you have to marry.
Let me be your matchmaker.
I've asked your guardians,
Brother Qiong and Brother Tong are fine with it.
What about you two?
Good.
Cousin, you and Yingying have gone through a lot together.
Now that Uncle and Aunt are no longer with us,
let me say yes for you.
Whatever.
Thank you for your concern.
Let's forget this happened.
Yingying, you...
Yingying...
General Qin, Valiant Princess here.
Valiant Princess?
Yingying...
Since the House of Beiping was wiped out,
he's become quiet.
He ignores me.
He's turned wooden.
What have I done wrong to deserve this treatment?
It's not about you.
He's just not in a good mood.
Yingying, put yourself in his shoes.
He grew up in the House of Beiping.
He's never been through any rough times.
Now he's encountered such havoc,
how can he let it go so easily?
Maybe after some time,
when he can finally let go, he'll be fine.
He's been so down, so Shubao agreed to the wedding
to cheer him up.
But did you see his look?
He seemed so reluctant.
As if I was forcing him into it.
Come on...
Yingying, don't cry.
If he makes you mad,
I'll stand up for you.
He's still devastated, I understand.
Er Xian Zhuang was wiped out,
I understand how he feels.
But that Dou Xianniang...
Let's put her intention aside for the time being.
Yingying, you and Luo Cheng have known each other for quite some time,
you still don't trust him?
Yu'er, it's not that I don't trust him.
When we went to rescue him,
that Dou Xianniang was there to rescue him as well.
She showed him such care, and treated me like an outsider.
Luo Cheng was cold to me,
but he was nice to her.
If that's the case,
then his love has gone to someone else.
No, that's not what I mean.
I mean he's true to you.
That Dou Xianniang is the problem.
She's definitely not a nice person.
Yingying, don't worry.
Wagang has so many brothers,
we won't let you be bullied.
No way.
I don't know what to do now.
Don't feel bad about it.
Why don't you find a chance to have a good talk with Luo Cheng?
Then you'll have an answer.
Right, Yu'er is right.
If it doesn't work out, you have me.
Valiant Princess, you wanted to see me, what is it about?
It's about you.
What do you mean?
I still worry about you since we said goodbye,
so I'm here to check on you.
You remember how we met?
I'll always be grateful to you for rescuing me.
From the time I first met you,
to the capturing of Yangzhou,
I've been watching your every move.
I understand your pain and pressure.
But you have to understand,
we must learn to let go.
We live in such chaotic times,
we often have no say in what we have to do.
We have to come to terms with this fact of life.
Actually, what I mean is...
I'm willing to be your companion in these chaotic times,
to go through thick and thin with you.
In these chaotic times,
a dynasty fell, families got wiped out,
what's to say of a companion?
Besides, my heart is already taken.
If I need a companion, it wouldn't be you.
Please don't bring it up again.
I knew you would find some excuse to turn me down.
But if I didn't say it,
I may not have another chance.
That's why I came here behind my father's back.
I'm really am sorry,
I'm really flattered.
But my heart is no longer here.
What I want now is to fight,
to restore peace and stability.
So that the people will not have to suffer the havoc of war anymore.
If this is your wish,
I can't stop you.
Just forget what I said.
But I do hope that you can let go,
lighten up.
Everything comes to an end.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
I hope you'll see me as a friend.
Come.
What's on your mind? Still mad?
Silly girl.