[The Princess Weiyoung]
[Episode 38]
[Prime Minister's Manor]
Mother.
My dream finally came true. I'm now Prince of Gaoyang's legal wife.
I defeated Li Wei Young.
I'm the exalted Princess Consort of Gaoyang.
She is just a lowly maid.
She can no longer pose any threat to me.
Mother, didn't you say that I was born to be an empress?
From now on...
I will serve Prince of Gaoyang wholeheartedly...
Until he takes the throne.
By then, I will announce to the world
that I, Li Chang Le, am the chosen one.
Only I am qualified to become the empress!
- Give this to me. - Scrub harder.
- Is this better? - Be careful.
I told you not to help me. I can do this on my own!
Young Mistress... It's me.
Bai Zhi?
Young Mistress.
Why have you become so thin?
Young Mistress.
All right now.
I already told you that I'm fine.
It will heal in a couple of days.
When have you ever had to suffer such hardship?
Look at you.
You would cry at anything.
Aren't you happy to see me?
I'm definitely happy!
You should smile if you're happy.
Take those tears back.
By the way, you haven't told me
how you ended up in the palace.
Prince of Nan-An got me in.
He said that you have been feeling down
so he sent me here to keep you company.
Young Mistress, was I too rough on the wounds?
No.
Prince of Nan-An was also the one who risked his life
to plead with His Majesty for mercy.
However, Prince of Gaoyang has been nothing but a disappointment.
Young Mistress...
Are you very sad about it?
I am.
But I'm not just sad because of him.
Crown Princess Consort and Jun Tao...
I can never see them again.
And...
And?
The real murderer of Crown Princess Consort is still at large.
Although I'm innocent, I'm not allowed to tell anyone about it.
My father is deeply misunderstood by the people.
I'm not enraged by it, but I feel helpless for not clearing his name.
Bai Zhi, you now know who I really am?
Second Young Master already told me about it.
Whoever Young Mistress might be
you matter the most to me.
Thank you, Bai Zhi.
Do you know how much that means to me?
Young Mistress...
From now on, don't address me as Young Mistress in the palace.
Just call me Wei Young.
Don't worry about me.
We have to face reality.
However difficult the future might be
I have to stay strong and keep going.
Young Mistress, let me treat your wounds again.
Is the news reliable?
It's sent from someone we placed in the palace.
The empress did create quite a few opportunities
for His Majesty to warm up to Prince of Dongping.
After Chiyun Nan's death, His Majesty replaced his subordinates
with mostly those of Prince of Dongping.
That is one drastic measure.
I've worked so hard for this opportunity
but they suddenly snatched it away.
I have been too careless.
I thought that Prince of Dongping isn't normally close to the empress.
Who knew that he would make such a move?
The empress's support was way beyond your reach anyway.
Prince of Dongping's birth mother passed away years ago.
Your Highness's legal mother Consort Zhaoyi Lu is not only
alive and well, but also still in His Majesty's favor.
Now that Prince of Gaoyang married Li Chang Le of the declined Chiyun family
the competition for the throne is now
down to Your Highness and Prince of Dongping.
If Your Highness is to take the upper hand
your mother Consort Zhaoyi Lu will pose a threat to the empress sooner or later.
That was why the empress has chosen to support Prince of Dongping
and he also needs an authoritative figure in the harem to support him.
Therefore, they each took what they needed and clicked right away.
You're indeed my adviser.
You're well aware of everything that happened in court and the palace.
This isn't all that I'm capable of.
I can get Your Highness out of your current dilemma.
I believe that you must have heard about Liu Song's current news.
You're referring to the flooding of Yangtze River in Liu Song?
Your Majesty.
I have a matter to report.
We have defeated Liu Song.
They first suffered heavy casualties and now a natural disaster.
Yangtze River has flooded.
This is the best timing for Great Wei to unite the north and the south.
I'm willing to lead our army to launch an attack and conquer the south.
His Majesty has gone on great conquests
in hope of conquering both the north and the south.
If Your Highness proposes to conquer the south now
His Majesty will surely support your plan.
By then, military power will then be handed over to you.
It can't be any easier to place your own subordinates there.
Father!
I am also willing to lead the army to unite the north and south for you.
Father, I've led the army to war for many years.
Prince of Nan-An might have had one victory
but he's still inexperienced.
This is a great chance to conquer the south.
I'm willing to share your burdens, Father!
I'm willing to make a military pledge.
(Military pledge: Defeat in war will result in capital punishment.)
Your Majesty, I agree with Prince of Nan-An's opinion.
Liu Song happens to be at its weakest now.
Moreover, Prince of Nan-An caused Liu Song's heavy war casualties.
This is a great time to follow up with our victory!
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, I think that
Prince of Dongping is very experienced in warfare
so he's the best candidate to lead the army.
Your Majesty.
I think that whoever leads our army to conquer the south now
will only return in defeat!
This is...
How could Prince of Gaoyang say that?
What did you say?
There's a natural disaster in Liu Song, but we're also in a tight spot.
We managed to defeat the Song army because they were right at the fort.
Everyone in Great Wei united to oppose the enemies.
We used the joined forces of our nation to defeat them.
Now that our treasury is empty
our people are still in misery after the flooding.
How are we able to sustain such a large-scale war?
Liu Song might be in distress, but they still hold an advantage.
They aren't as vulnerable as we assumed.
We will call it a day.
We shall discuss this at a later date.
Yes.
He used to act as if he was at my beck and call.
Who knew that once he had a taste of success
he would dare to compete against me?
It seems that I really have underestimated Tuoba Yu.
Fortunately, you have always kept an eye on him.
You didn't let Prince of Nan-An know of the major plans.
Otherwise, he could easily make a counterattack.
If I don't take him out now, he might become my biggest obstacle.
I've just received some news.
Prince of Nan-An seems to be quite protective of Li Wei Young
who was just punished by His Majesty.
If we were to tackle Prince of Nan-An, we could start with her.
[Memorial tablet of the late Crown Princess Consort Jing Mu]
Mother.
You haven't had any tangerines for some time.
Whenever this season came
you would ask for tangerines every day.
I had Cheng De order these from the south.
I've tasted them for you.
They are very sweet.
They taste particularly good.
Try some.
Please forgive me!
Pick them up quickly!
These are Crown Princess Consort's dowry.
Why are you crying out here?
What happened?
It just came to my mind that when my mother passed away
I didn't get to be with her.
I believe that your mother wouldn't blame you.
How about this?
When I return from the palace
I'll accompany you to offer incense to your mother.
Your Highness...
You are now my wife.
Your mother is my mother.
Hearing this from Your Highness, I could die with no regrets.
Your Highness.
There's news of what you had arranged.
We'll talk about it in my study.
Yes.
Didn't Your Highness tell me to take Miss Wei Young's portrait with me
to the earth god shrine to see if anyone saw her there?
How did it go?
Someone just reported that a beggar saw Miss Wei Young there.
Where is that beggar? Did you bring him back?
Our men went to look for him, but he ran away
thinking that he committed a crime.
We must find that beggar soon.
Once we verify the testimony of that beggar
we can seek out my mother's murderer and clear Wei Young's name.
Didn't you say that nothing could go wrong?
How could there be such a beggar?
That is a very remote area.
I even had the area investigated and no one remembered Li Wei Young.
I don't understand how a beggar suddenly showed up.
If there is such a person
he could clear Wei Young's name.
Li Chang Le said that Prince of Gaoyang has been suspicious of this case.
If this person truly exists
Prince of Gaoyang will surely go all out to find the murderer.
Li Wei Young is the least of our concern. However, if this case is exposed
it might implicate Your Highness and get you into trouble!
You shouldn't have acted without my permission then!
It was my fault.
I'm willing to accept any punishment.
Under such circumstances
it's best to get rid of that beggar before Prince of Gaoyang finds him.
Young Mistress, I heard that Chiyun Rou is already dead.
Chiyun Rou is dead?
Chiyun Rou paid the price for her sins.
If Third Aunt and Wei Young know about this in the netherworld
they can both rest in peace now.
It's just that Li Chang Le...
You suspect that she is behind Crown Princess Consort's death?
I've been thinking over this case for a long time.
Do you still remember?
The Chiyun family has a skilled artist of disguise.
They once came up with a fake Wei Young to get rid of me.
They did it again.
Why would Her Highness's maid Qiu Yi insist that I was the killer?
It's because she did see me. She did see my face.
I only knew that Miss Chang Le is willful and difficult.
Who knew that she's so cruel?
However, I think that she's incapable of pulling off
such a meticulously plotted and perfect scheme alone.
I suspect that she's collaborated with someone.
That person must be someone who is very close to me.
Who could it be?
I can't be sure of it yet.
Give it some thought. If this person could slip the letter into my box
and even tie the red handkerchief on the tree
they must be from Prime Minister's Manor.
Could Miss Chang Le have arranged to have someone do that?
Since Chiyun Rou lost her role in the household and left the manor
whoever she could manipulate is just some insignificant person.
Who could it be?
Grandmother, Mother, and Father definitely couldn't have done it.
Second Aunt wouldn't have helped Li Chang Le either.
Not to mention Miss Chang Ru.
She is the closest to you.
Could it be Miss Chang Xi?
She has always picked on you.
Li Chang Xi might have picked on me
but I somehow think that she's not involved in this case.
Who could it be then?
Young Mistress, there's another thing that has been bothering me.
I always carried the key to the box with me at all times.
How did that person put in the fake letter?
It isn't difficult to replicate a key.
The question lies in how this person duplicated the key.
Duplicated?
You have to think carefully about if you ever took this key off.
I really didn't.
It's so important that I would wear it even when I took a bath.
Even now... I'm still carrying it.
It's Miss Chang Ru.
Here.
- Wei Young... - Is it good?
It's nice of you to still regard me as your sister.
Since my identity was exposed
even Father refused to see me as his daughter anymore.
In my mind, you'll always be my second cousin.
I really feel bad seeing you in this state.
His Majesty sent me here.
What could you do about it?
Here.
I can't take this.
Wei Young, it's a lot more complicated in the palace.
If you have some money on you, you could at least get on better.
There's really nothing I can do to help you.
Just accept this small token of my sentiment.
I really can't take it.
Please don't turn me down.
Thank you.
Some of these undergarments were made by me.
Some were made by Seventh Concubine.
But she can't visit the palace, so I brought them in with mine.
There's also some medicinal oil that I made.
Use it on your hands.
Mother already knew of my identity, but she still thinks of me.
I really don't know how I can repay her kindness.
As long as you stay alive and well
that's already the best way you can repay us.
Please let them know that I'll take good care of myself.
Please tell them not to worry.
So much has happened.
You're the only one who still treats me as you always have.
What are you talking about?
Couldn't you prove your innocence?
Didn't you say that you weren't at Crown Prince's Manor then?
Could anyone testify for you?
I was deeply troubled, so I didn't pay any attention to that.
Even if there were any witnesses, it will be hard to find them.
It seems likely that the beggar really saw Li Wei Young there.
We mustn't allow him to testify for Li Wei Young.
Why would you give her money?
Isn't it better to have her suffer?
You can't gain someone's trust in just a couple of days.
Once the timing is right, I'll make use of her trust to strike a fatal blow.
[Prince of Nan-An's Manor]
Your Highness.
How is it? Did you find him?
I made inquiries everywhere and tracked down that beggar.
He admitted that on the day of Crown Princess Consort's murder
he did see Li Wei Young.
Why didn't His Majesty find out about this person?
When His Majesty was investigating this case
the beggar happened to be elsewhere.
That was why he missed it.
If Li Wei Young isn't the murderer
Tuoba Jun will do all that he can to seek out the real murderer.
If he follows the clues and tracks them to us...
I will be implicated in this case.
I'll go and have him killed now!
Hold it.
I have a better idea.
It will make Tuoba Jun give up on investigating this case.
- Jewelry! - You.
Lift your heads up.
You may leave now.
The two of you! Search in the front.
- Yes! - The four of you!
- Search at the back! - Yes!
- Go! - Go!
Here you go.
Jun Tao! I knew that you...
I'm sorry.
Jun Tao... Are you really dead?
I still have so much to tell you.
Please don't die.
Wait for me.
[Crown Prince's Manor]
Your Highness, this beggar said that he saw Miss Wei Young then.
Don't be scared. We won't hurt you.
We just need you to tell us the truth.
On the fifth day of last month at 3:45 p.m.
did you meet this lady at the earth god shrine in the east?
I did.
What color was her dress?
She was wearing...
She wore...
Was it a light red dress?
Yes!
Yes, it was a light red dress.
You're lying!
Who on earth are you?
Who told you to lie?
I'm not lying!
You're still lying! Anyone?
Drag him out and cane him to death!
Master, I'll tell the truth!
I'll tell the truth...
Please spare my life.
I don't know who it was, but about a month ago
a young lady came to me and said that
should anyone come with this portrait looking for witnesses
I am to identify the lady in the portrait and claim to have seen her.
Can you recognize that person?
The lady was masked.
I didn't see her very clearly.
However, she had the accent of people from rural Jin City.
Jin City?
Your Highness, Miss Wei Young's maid Bai Zhi is from Jin City.
A month ago, she hadn't entered the palace, so could she have...
I've been trying to clear her name.
But she has been lying to me all along.
She even plans to use me to acquit her?
How despicable!
[Prince of Nan-An's Manor]
- Your Highness. - How was it?
I followed that assassin closely.
I saw him enter Prince of Nan-An's Manor.
It's my uncle?
He's involved in my mother's death?
Qiu Yi.
Before my mother passed away, you were always by her side.
Do you remember if she mentioned her dowry to Li Chang Le?
As far as I know, my mother cherished this set of accessories greatly.
She wouldn't take it out on a whim.
She didn't.
As Your Highness said
Her Highness had always cherished them greatly.
It's been years since she brought them out.
It was on the day of the assassination that
Her Highness had me bring them out to show to Li Wei Young.
How is it? What did you find out?
According to the servants in Chiyun Manor
before Crown Princess Consort passed away, your wife...
It was Li Chang Le.
Yes.
Li Chang Le did leave the manor that day.
The time matched as well.
It was her.
The Chiyun family has a skilled artist of disguise.
It's not difficult to disguise Li Chang Le as Wei Young.
If Li Chang Le intended to set Miss Wei Young up
she didn't have to put the Chiyun family at risk.
What good could it do her to bring the Chiyun family down?
If Li Chang Le was manipulated...
Perhaps she didn't know who Wei Young truly is or else...
She could just expose her identity.
She wouldn't have to stoop to stirring up such a huge mess and harming my mother.
Your Highness means...
Li Chang Le had an accomplice?
This person even knows of Miss Wei Young's true identity?
This person is...
If we wish to find out who that is...
It isn't that difficult.
That beggar you hired is meant to distract them
and use Li Chang Le to lure out the real mastermind?
As long as we follow the lead, we can track down the culprit.
This just all the more proves that Wei Young is innocent.
Who knew that Prince of Nan-An is actually the mastermind?
Tuoba Yu...
I understand it now.
All along, he had the report in his possession.
He already knew who Wei Young is
so he used the report to threaten Chiyun Nan into doing his bidding.
Wei Young and I both found the assault in Hua Tai highly suspicious.
It now seems that he might also be involved in it.
Your Highness. He forced you away from Hua Tai to replace you as the commander.
He then rendered a service so great
that it impressed everyone and His Majesty.
Then he had Crown Princess Consort killed and forced you to marry Li Chang Le.
He purposely tore you apart from Miss Wei Young.
What a despicable and crafty prince.
All this time... I've yielded to them in every way.
It's because I wanted to avoid bloodshed in the family.
Little did I know that I would get my mother killed
and Wei Young framed.
From now on
I won't ever give in to anyone again.
If I could only protect the ones I love
and avenge my family members who were killed by taking that position...
If so, I would go all out to take it.
Your Highness.
I'm willing to follow you until my death.
Good!
For the sake of my mother... and Wei Young
I will put up with all that is possibly unbearable.
Even if it means ending up badly beaten, I won't ever back down.
What is it? You're thinking about Tuoba Jun again?
What brings Your Highness here?
I just went to see His Majesty.
Jun has already married another.
You still have him on your mind?
I don't.
It's written all over your face.
Love isn't just something you can easily let go of.
I think that Jun already did.
If you remain this adamant...
You will be the one to suffer.
Thank you for your kind reminder.
You can't just express your gratitude with words.
What would you like me to do?
Jun told me that you play the zither very well.
Why don't you play a tune for me tonight?
I don't wish to play the zither tonight.
You dare defy my orders?
I wouldn't dare do so.
I'll get the zither right away.
I beg Your Highness to return it to me.
Why can't you just forget him?
I didn't expect to run into you here.
I'm accompanying His Highness to visit His Majesty.
Why are you here in the palace as well?
I'm here to visit Consort Zhaoyi Lu.
I heard that Her Grace is selecting a consort for Prince of Nan-An.
It's no wonder that you're so anxious.
However, Prince of Nan-An risked his life to rescue Li Wei Young.
It clearly shows how much he cares about her.
You're attacked from all sides now.
I'm really worried about you.
Look who that is.
Even my deceased Aunt Rou couldn't defeat her
and ended up bringing upon her own death.
I really feel sorry for you.
Moreover...
A past romance is always unforgettable.
You'd better worry about yourself.
The issue of our ability to now conquer the south aside
I think that an invasion would unite Liu Song to fight against enemies.
If we were to run out of rations during the invasion
we'd get caught in a bad situation and bring on our own defeat.
Go on.
In the north, Rouran seems eager to take some action.
Should we go to war with Liu Song, Rouran is bound to invade us from behind.
By then, we'd be attacked from both the north and the south.
If the war goes downhill, Your Majesty would only allow Rouran to grow stronger.
We'd decline in power while they advance.
This is no advantage for us.
Rouran will still succumb to me when they are weak and small.
Once they take this chance to develop
we won't have any peace in the north.
What else?
I think that it's best to befriend Rouran in the north
fend off Liu Song in the south
consolidate internal affairs, and recuperate with our people.
Befriend Rouran in the north and fend off Liu Song in the south...
I've been in battles all my life to conquer and expand our nation.
I'm now too old to keep fighting wars.
Fortunately, I have someone to take after me.
Jun, write down everything you just said into a report.
Hand it over to the officials for further discussion.
Yes.
Shouldn't you get down on your knees to greet me?
Li Wei Young greets Your Highness.
Your Highness, we are still in the palace.
Should anything go wrong, we'd have to answer to His Majesty.
My shoe is dirty.
Wipe it clean.
Get lost!
I told her to clean it.
How dare a mere maid defy my orders?
Are you sick of living?
Go and bring Prince of Gaoyang here.
Your Highness!
- Young Mistress. - Atrocious maid!
How dare you hurt me?
Don't push it.
So what if I do?
You are but a lowly maid now.
The most trivial palace regulation could get you tortured.
Anyone there?
Drag this wench who defied Her Highness to the drying room!
Teach her a lesson.
No! Don't touch my mistress!
- Stop! - Let go of her!
Your Highness! Please save my mistress!
Li Chang Le purposely picked on her!
How could you call my wife by her name?
My husband, she's the one who offended me in the first place.
Don't worry, my dear.
Anyone?
Li Wei Young offended Princess Consort of Gaoyang.
Cane her 50 times.
- Yes. - Don't!
Don't do it, Your Highness!
Please don't cane my mistress!
She will die after 50 strokes!
She didn't harm Crown Princess Consort!
She is innocent!
She first killed my mother and now offends my consort.
Shouldn't she be severely punished?
Young Mistress!
Isn't it too easy on her by sending her to the drying chamber?
Stop it!
Young Mistress!
Stop it!
No!
Young Mistress!
Stop it!
Stop hitting her! Stop it!
Stop! Stop it right now!
- Stop it! - Get lost!
Wei Young!
Get lost!
Are you going to get Wei Young killed?
You fell for another so quickly?
How has that woman been deceiving you?
Aunt Di.
Chang Le is my wife.
I hope that you can respect her.
Fine! I can't be bothered with you!
Just let Wei Young off!
Since the princess said so, let's just head home.
Young Mistress.
A vixen... Such a vixen!
Wei Young.
Young Mistress.
Wei Young.
It seems that Tuoba Jun has really fallen for our trick.
He really thinks that Li Wei Young killed Crown Princess Consort.
His Highness's plan was so clever.
[Hanzhong Bureau]
Wei Young!
How is she doing?
My mistress seems to have lost her soul.
She won't eat or drink.
She just lies there. She didn't even wince at all when I applied medication.
I'll go and take a look at her.
Your Highness!
Just give her some time on her own.
Prince of Gaoyang really hurt her deeply.
How could he be so heartless?
It took my mistress great determination to be with him.
Those vows he made didn't even stand up to the test.
Let's not talk about that now.
This is the best medication for wounds.
Use this on your mistress.
I'll send the imperial physician over.
Jun... That terrible man is such a fool!
It must be that wench Li Chang Le who drove a wedge between them.
I won't let her off.
I will surely get back at her for Wei Young!
Your Highness!
No matter what might happen, we have to face it together.
In life and death, never shall we part.
Your Highness.
I had her caned.
She will never forgive me.
I can't even forgive myself.
Your Highness did it for the sake of Miss Wei Young.
If it hadn't been for you, she would have been dragged to the drying chamber.
She might have died in there.
Ninth Princess arrived in time because of your arrangement.
Miss Wei Young will understand.
There are too many people in the palace.
Wei Young is now a maid of lowly status.
She's in a dangerous situation.
Now that Tuoba Yu sees me as a thorn in his flesh
the less Wei Young is involved with me, the better it is for her.
Only then can she stay out of the power struggle between me and him.
They have already planted Li Chang Le by your side.
If you hadn't done what you did today
how could you get them to let their guard down?
If they were to know that you had already figured out their plot
how could they possibly let you off easily?
Your Highness, what you did was for the sake of you and Miss Wei Young.
Stop reproaching yourself.
Cheng De.
I must become more powerful.
Only when I have enough power...
Can I protect Wei Young properly.