Spring Wine Restaurant.
Boiled chicken.
Pea sprouts.
Thick chrysanthemum soup.
And plum cake.
Plum cake
Right.
Four items. They'll be served in no time.
Honey, can you remember all that?
It's easy. Chrysanthemums dark, lotus withers, a night of frost.
That's thick chrysanthemum soup.
Plum blossom withers, other ﬂowers bloom. That's plum cake.
It's like memorizing verses. It's so easy. How could that pose any difficulty for me?
What about boiled chicken?
Wang Anshi said the chicken man's far gone after we finished singing, right?
Clever.
Here you go...Sorry to keep you waiting.
Be careful. Is it tough?
Not at all. It's much better than my odd jobs since I work indoor now.
And you? Is it tough?
As long as I can be with you, I don't care how tough it is.
Hello, Master Li. Master Li.
Do you like my wife's food?
Sure. I remember the lady boss has a braised pork dish. It's very famous.
Why can't I find it on the menu?
Well...
Master Li, braised pork is a private dish exclusively for me, her husband.
You cook such a nice dish. Why don't you share it with others?
You're wrong to say that.
My wife runs this restaurant to serve you guys.
She's already offering you good food. How could you be so greedy?
Come on. This meal is on me. Come again next time, OK?
Sure. Thank you very much then. We'll come again.
OK...Thank you. Come more often.
OK...
Damei, see the guest out.
OK. Master Li, goodbye.
Goodbye. Thank you for coming.
We've suffered a loss.
Please come again. Goodbye.
Because you pretended to be generous.
What? The restaurant is yours So is the loss.
Runzhi is helping the two of them?
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty...
Come over quickly.
Are you OK, Your Majesty?
I'm fine.
I'm sorry. I shouldn’t have thrown you so hard.
You threw down His Majesty so hard. Guards, take down this traitor Qin Shaoyou.
Hey, it's not his fault. He managed to throw me.
This shows I'm not strong enough or muscular enough.
Can I poke you, Officer Qin?
What?
I mean your tummy.
Oh, sure.
Wow, it's really not thin and soft. I can faintly feel there are six packs.
I was right to ask you to teach me wrestling
But I don't just want six. I want eight packs.
Your Majesty, you have the body of a dragon.
That's thousands of times better than ordinary people.
You don't need these so-called six-packs or eight-packs.
How can you say that?
It's good you're here.
I've considered the issue of constructing beacon towers.
Didn't Your Majesty say you would make a decision in the meeting tomorrow?
You said it's urgent.
I'm of the view that there's been peace in Song for a while
There's no urgency to construct beacon towers.
It's true that lots of wealthy people have come to the capital.
But there are also lots of poor people.
I believe that to make the country rich, we not only need a strong army
but also a sentiment of stability among the people.
Therefore, I've decided to hold a fireworks show.
Watching fireworks will make people happy.
Then they'll feel secure. There'll be stability then.
As for the number of fireworks and how frequent the shows should be,
I'll tell you tomorrow as I'm so tired now.
Officer Qin, teach me wrestling again at the same time tomorrow.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Jixiang.
Yes.
Turn around. Carry me.
Why does His Majesty suddenly want to learn wrestling?
He even wants six-packs.
It's eight-packs, sir.
Spring Wine Restaurant.
Sis Runzhi, you asked all of us to come. Is there a new dish you want us to try?
No, this is the first dinner gathering for Spring Wine Restaurant since it opened.
So I asked you guys to come for celebration dinner.
But we need to wait for Brother Dongpo before we can start eating.
Right...
His job is so easy now. What's taking him so long?
Miss Qin Cao, please come in.
Master.
Let me introduce. This is Miss Qin Cao of Waterside Cottage.
Sorry to interrupt.
See? This is natural elegance and beauty.
Thank you for the compliment.
Brother Zhe, that phrase comes from a poem I composed.
You plagiarized it. Did you consider my feelings?
Your poems and verses are so beautiful.
I was afraid you'd be unhappy if I didn't quote them.
When did you learn such sweet talk?
This isn't like you at all. Isn't that right, Sis Mi?
He's in a very good mood today. Right, Honey?
Stop talking. Sit down.
Have a seat please...
Come on. Sit down. Have a seat please, Miss Qin Cao.
Xiaomei, move over. Please sit.
Honey, this is such a happy occasion. Why don't you recite a poem too?
Well...
Beautiful ﬂowers all over the mountain. They are young and pretty.
Officer Qin, you're praising your wives.
You're really clever, Miss Qin Cao.
I heard Mrs. Su is a very good cook.
It's absolutely true.
You're so well known all over the capital, Miss Qin Cao.
I heard you're really talented. You're well versed in all forms of arts.
Right. You're even so beautiful.
Damei, I told you a woman must be both talented and beautiful.
But as a wife, her cooking skill is much more important than other talents.
But as a good female friend, she must possess other talents.
Honey, Miss Qin Cao is here today, because she wants you to teach her how to cook.
Will you teach me how to cook, Mrs. Su?
Sure.
Miss Qin Cao, I heard that Waterside Cottage doesn't entertain ordinary people.
Is that true?
Not really.
I'm holding another auction soon to raise funds for the refugees.
You're welcome to attend.
I've seen lots of beggars on the street recently.
I told you. The Green Shoots Law made life so difficult for the people.
Now it's been reinstated. Wang Anshi is really a troublemaker.
The prime minister proposes reforms
because he just wants Song to be rich and strong.
It's OK to carry out reforms.
But it must be done step-by-step. There's no quick fix.
But Wang Anshi is so aggressive.
How is that different from having the people killed?
Wang is perverse and the person above him just goes along.
The person above him? The emperor?
Be careful or someone might hear.
Why would I be afraid? I'm justified in saying this.
If the administration is bad or the emperor is lousy, I must speak up.
Honey, you'd better watch what you say.
That's right. Miss Qin Cao, what do you think?
I'm just a refugee who has ﬂed to the capital. I shouldn't comment.
OK. Stop talking The food is getting cold. Dig in.
Come on, Miss Qin Cao.
Come on...Dig in...
Dig in.
Your Majesty, please have mercy.
Your Majesty, Su Zhe criticized the administration in public.
He badmouthed the government and even Your Majesty. He's unforgivable.
Your Majesty must punish him as a deterrent.
Otherwise the government's authority will be undermined.
Your Majesty, Officer Su has served in the government for a longtime.
He's made a huge contribution. Please spare his life.
Enough. Stop spanking.
Much obliged, Your Majesty.
All of you shut up. Drag him out.
Wait.
Enough. I don't want to kill him.
I admire Your Majesty's kindness.
But everyone in the capital knows Su Zhe criticized the administration.
It's inappropriate to allow him to stay here.
He should be demoted and transferred out.
Where should he be transferred then?
As far away from the capital as possible.
The South China Sea coast
needs an able person to develop the land and find resources there.
I suggest transferring Su Zhe there to take on the job.
But I've already punished him heavily.
Isn’t this a great chance for Su Zhe to redeem his wrongdoing?
He should do it.
OK. Officer Su junior,
you will be transferred to the South China Sea coast.
You must do your best to make up for your mistake.
Much obliged, Your Majesty.
Stand down.
Your Majesty.
What now? Did someone else badmouth me?
No, I want to report to you on the Green Shoots Law.
It's been reinstated now. It's a success. But there's a severe shortage of manpower.
I would urge Your Majesty to promote an existing official
to be in charge of this new measure.
Who do you want to promote then?
I suggest promoting Qin Shaoyou to the grade five position of vice-curator.
Qin Shaoyou?
Wasn't he just promoted? You want me to promote him again?
Last time he was only given the responsibility of monitoring.
He's acquired a lot of experience.
He's the right candidate to promote to the post of vice-curator
in order to carry out the reform in full.
Much obliged, Your Majesty.
We were just chatting casually over dinner. In the end you got transferred out.
If I find out who ratted on you, I won't spare him.
I don’t mind the physical pain.
I have no objection to being transferred to a remote place.
I just don't want to get you in trouble, Brother Dongpo.
Where's this remote place, this South China Sea coast?
I can't even find it on the map.
A place that can't be found on the map? Will there be lots of snakes and rats?
How do I know? I've never been.
Don't worry. You bought a lot of pesticide.
Right. Honey, you must take more with you.
I'm not afraid of snakes and rats.
I'm not even afraid of the wolves and tigers in the government.
Save it for yourself.
Why don't you take me with you?
How can you stay there by yourself without me looking after you?
Of course not.
His Majesty said clearly that I can't bring my family.
But we said before that even though we weren't born on the same day,
we must die together.
Am I going to die?
Sis Mi, don't worry so much.
Perhaps His Majesty's decision is just for the time being.
Brother Zhe may be transferred back soon. Don't you think so, Honey?
Yes...Of course. Sis Mi should stay here. We'll look after her.
Don't worry, Brother Zhe.
Thank you, Brother Dongpo and Sis Runzhi.
You're welcome. Actually His Majesty is forgiving.
When he's no longer angry, I'll plead for you.
So you'll be transferred back very soon, OK?
Don't worry. I'll be fine. I must come back and see you guys.
How's Brother Zhe?
He's fine. It's just that his butt hurts.
You all must be careful. Don't bump into him.
Now what?
He's being transferred to a remote place.
We just had dinner.
He just made a casual comment. Now he's been demoted.
How come your husband got a promotion and a raise instead?
So you're saying our husband double crossed yours?
He would never do that.
My older brother is his older brother. We're family.
That's right.
If Brother Zhe gets into trouble, Brother Shaoyou might get implicated too.
Right.
But there were only family members at the dinner. There weren't any outsiders.
So who ratted on him?
I know. Qin Cao was an outsider.
Right.
Don't badmouth people when you're chatting.
Miss Qin Cao is well educated. She loves the nation and the people.
She has noble sentiments. She'd never do something so dirty and mean.
Brother Dongpo, do you know her well?
How do you know she has noble sentiments? How do you know she's not mean and dirty?
Before we find out what happened, we shouldn't put the blame on Miss Qin Cao.
It's so unfair to her.
No, Brother Dongpo. She's the most suspicious.
Sis Mi, I believe Miss Qin Cao is not a wicked person.
Congratulations, Your Majesty. You've made great progress.
Officer Qin, I allow you to poke me... my tummy.
OK.
Your Majesty...You mustn't allow people to poke your qi gate.
What qi gate? Come over. Wait...Now.
Yes.
Isn't it really hard?
I can faintly feel that there are several packs, Your Majesty.
It doesn't feel soft and thin, right?
It's not soft at all.
It's like pork shank, like strong biceps.
Let me tell you,
apart from practicing wrestling with you,
I've also used lots of different equipment to help me exercise.
See if she’ll still laugh at me by saying my tummy's soft.
Is she one of the ladies or the queen?
Enough talking.
I want eight-packs. Let's carry on practicing.
OK.
Waterside Cottage.
Come on. Touch me. Come on.
You're really much more muscular than before.
I rule Song so well. Would my body pose any challenge to me?
Oh, you must look at the sky later. Don't even blink.
I won't show you a meteor shower tonight. But I'll give you other stars.
There's going to be a fireworks display?
You're really clever. I took your advice.
Fireworks can make people feel secure. It will make you happy too.
But you must punish me first.
Why?
When Officer Su Zhe criticized the administration,
I was there too.
Actually, I was the one who brought up the subject.
If Officer Su is guilty and must be demoted
and transferred to the South China Sea coast,
I should be punished too.
Just that? I thought it was something serious.
I'm guilty of a serious offence, criticizing the administration.
Do I look like a lousy emperor to you?
I love comments. Why would I mind people criticizing the administration?
I transferred Su Zhe to a remote place just to appease Wang Anshi.
I was just giving him face.
When this incident has blown Over, 1 will transfer him back.
So the prime minister is that powerful? Even Your Majesty fears him?
He's just doing it in the interest of the nation.
If he's really that powerful, you must be careful.
You really care about me a lot.
Hey, the fireworks have started. Come on.
Give me your hand...This is for you.
OK. That's all for administrative issues.
Goodbye, Your Majesty.
Wait. I want to compliment the fireworks last night.
They so bright and colorful. People really enjoyed watching them.
Your Majesty, did you go out last night?
I'm the emperor. I know everything even if I don't go out.
I've given it some thought.
I've decided that we will have fireworks displays.
On every first and 15th day to share the joy with the people.
Your Majesty, each fireworks show costs a huge sum.
But you said the treasury has a surplus.
It does. But still we must spend wisely.
I'm of the view that we should use the money.
On strengthening our armament and building more military facilities.
Do you guys agree?
The prime minister is absolutely right.
I'm talking happily about fireworks.
But you insist on talking about armaments and military facilities.
Your Majesty, the prime minister is just putting the nation's needs first.
Don't throw the nation at me.
You incited the other officials to support your proposal.
Who's the emperor now? You or me?
Please don't be mad, Your Majesty.
I'm sorry for spoiling the fun. Please forgive me.
I don't want to see you guys anymore. Get out. All of you. Out.
Goodbye, Your Majesty.
Wang Mansion.
His Majesty keeps opposing my suggestions lately.
Today he even yelled at me.
He often postponed the discussion on your suggestions.
But then he'd make a resolute decision quickly on the following day.
This isn't the emperor we used to deal with.
I suspect someone is inﬂuencing him behind the scenes.
When I was teaching His Majesty wrestling,
he mentioned that "she would be happy".
I believe this woman must be involved.
Who is she then?
I really don't know. But I'm sure she's not on our side.
There's no point making wild guesses.
Let's send someone to find out who she is.
OK.
Shaoyou, you must practice wrestling with His Majesty more often.
Pay attention to his every move.
OK.
Hey, Honey. That's Huanxi's dad.
Brother Jichang, Sis Damei.
This is so cute.
Honey, shall I buy one for you? How much is it?
We're neighbors. It's free.
No, you make a living selling these. Here you go.
Thank you.
It looks so alive, like it can hop.
Do you think this grasshopper looks like me?
I thought it was some antique or jade.
So it's a rotten straw bug. You two are really pathetic.
First, this isn't a rotten straw bug. This is a lively straw grasshopper.
Besides, were not pathetic at all. It's true that our food is plain.
But we feed each other. We already feel full even before we eat.
Our blanket is thin. But we hug each other to keep warm.
It's more comfortable than sleeping on a nice bed.
We're happy even though we may be poor.
Chen Jichang is my husband after all. You're just a cheap and humble concubine.
No one cares if you're dead because you're just a cheap concubine.
You won't even get a spiritual tablet.
The fact is, I have a husband. You don't.
You...
Knock it off, Yue'e. Stop arguing.
Whose side are you on?
Madam, don't yell at them. They're nice people.
Where did this kid come from?
Hey...
Even a blind person can tell I'm an auntie and she's a madam.
What did your dad teach you?
My mom taught me that a girl mustn't scold people on the street.
Otherwise she's a shrew. It's a disgrace.
You're calling me a shrew?
What's the matter? I'm sorry, madam. Huanxi's mom died long ago.
I'm not well educated. I don't know how to teach my daughter well.
Huanxi, apologize to her.
I didn't lie.
You...
Still you must apologize.
Huanxi, you don't need to apologize.
Someone is poorly nurtured, but it's not you.
Goodbye, Uncle Jichang and Auntie Damei.
Goodbye.
Let's go.
Tied Together Fans.
Boss Xin, how's our financing business?
Given the situation now,
the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer.
Our usury business is a sure win.
Really?
Of course Thanks to the government's Green Shoots Law,
The poor farmers need money to buy day-old chicks and vegetable shoots.
But the local officials want to ensure that
they can recover all the principal and interest after autumn.
So they're refusing to lend money to the poor farmers.
So the farmers have to borrow from us at an interest rate of 40 percent.
Look. This is the revenue tor this month.
Wow, it's really a lot.
Some debtors have failed to repay on time.
If we manage to collect from them too, there'll be more.
Who hasn't repaid yet?
This guy with the last name Ding.
I'll go ask him later. I'll ask him when he'll repay.
And there's Huanxi's dad too.
He sells straw grasshoppers on the main street.
Huanxi?
Huanxi, put down your work. Eat first.
OK.
Come on.
You have money for food.
But you don't have money to repay your debt?
It's that fierce madam.
Yes. I'm fierce now. I've come to collect the debt you owe.
You owe Boss Xin 20,000 copper coins.
It's already due. Why haven't you repaid yet?
I asked Boss Xin to give me some leeway and he agreed.
He's not in charge now.
I call the shots since I'm the major shareholder.
Your daughter offended me.
If you can't repay,
you'll have to give me your daughter to off-set your debt.
I don't want to go with the fierce madam.
Move.
No...I'm begging you please.
Why don't you take the paddy field behind my house?
It's worth more than 20,000 copper coins.
I don't want any fields. I just need a maid. Or I could sell her to a brothel.
What?
Take her away.
I don't want to go.
No...
I want my dad...
Let's go.
Huanxi...
Stop.
I don't want to go...
No...
Hey, what's going on?
I want my dad.
What's going on?
Huanxi...
What's going on?
They want to take Huanxi away and make her work as a maid.
How could you do that?
Don't you know this is really cruel?
Yes, I'm cruel.
If he can't repay, I'll even take his life.
Her dad has signed a slave contract. Take her away.
I don't want to go with the fierce madam. I want my dad...
Huanxi...
If you can raise 20,000 copper coins,
you can come and redeem her. Let's go.
I want my dad...
Huanxi...
I want my dad...
Mrs. Chen.
Here's 20,000 copper coins. I'm here to redeem Huanxi.
You've come too late. Granny Huang has already bought her.
Right.
The deed hasn't been assigned yet. That means there's still a chance.
Then you'll have to pay more. 25,000 copper coins.
This is a rip off.
That's right. You don't keep your word.
We agreed on 20,000 copper coins to get Huanxi back.
You promised to love me forever too. What about now?
I don't have that much money with me. Here's 20,000 copper coins.
I'll have the remaining 5,000 copper coins delivered to you tomorrow.
Runzhi, why do you put your nose in other people's business every time?
Yue'e, why are you like this now? We used to be maids.
We starved all the time. We got beaten up all the time.
One time you missed your parents so much, you cried and tried to hang yourself.
Don't do to Huanxi now what you yourself hated.
She's only a few years old.
You want her to part with her family?
How could you be so cruel?
That's right.
The little girl hasn't offended you. Give her a break please.
She didn't offend me.
If everyone who has offended me kneels before me now,
I'll spare her. The future of this kid depends on you.
Don't do it, Honey.
It's OK. I'm used to it.
And the other one?
I'll do it on her behalf. Yue'e, please spare Huanxi and Damei.
I'll kowtow to you. Please spare them.
Don't kneel, Honey.
A person's life is the most important.
Yue'e, you better stop.
I won't. If she won't kneel, I'll sell Huanxi to a brothel.
Yue'e.
Wicked woman, you're worse than a beast.
You're bullying a kid like this just tor your own satisfaction.
No wonder Honey prefers me to you.
Granny Huang, take her with you.
OK.
Go.
No.
You can't take her.
Go.
Give her to me.
Take your hand off. Are you crazy?
Yes, I'm crazy.
My husband doesn't want me. What's the point of staying sane?
That's just an excuse. You always have so many excuses.
Yes, I have lots of excuses.
Chen Jichang, if you want to save Huanxi, you'll have to divorce Su Damei.
This is blackmail.
I won't divorce Damei.
Yue'e, I'm not who I was before. I won't let you boss me around forever.
Can I take her with me then?
Yue'e.
Here's 5,000 copper coins.
With the 20,000 copper coins from Mrs. Su,
that's a total of 25,000 copper coins. Set the kid free.
Are you crazy? You're helping them?
I've had enough of you.
You're so mean to Master Chen. You bullied Lady Damei.
I helped you do so many bad things just to keep my job.
Don't forget you took part in all the evil deeds.
I didn't expect you would become so wicked. You won't even spare a kid.
You...
It's decided. 25,000 copper coins. Deal.
What about me?
We've paid 25,000 copper coins.
You have to pay 30,000 copper coins if you want the kid.
That's ridiculous. Even a Kunlun slave isn't that expensive.
Let's get out of here.
You're not allowed to leave.
I'm not selling her now. I want her to stay here.
No...
I want to bully her...
No way, Yue'e...
Mrs. Chen, I will report to the government that you're running a usury business.
You...
Let's go. Take Huanxi with us.
I didn't sign a deed of servitude.
I will forfeit my wages for the past couple of days.
You can keep it.
Go away. All of you, go.
Spring Wine Restaurant.
Sis Runzhi, Sis Mi.
Damei.
You went to the market so early?
We didn't. Look at her.
She's been like this the whole morning. So I came out with her.
Brother Zhe was suddenly transferred to the South China Sea coast.
It's normal that Sis Mi would miss him.
In the past, you guys would keep him company.
But now he's so far away. I'm so worried about him.
Does he have enough clothes? Does he like the food there?
Is he happy with the servants there?
Brother Zhe is tough. He should be able to adjust very quickly.
That's right. Don't worry.
Once he's there, he'll write to you.
I hope so.
Have some tea.
Sir, you want to eat?
I'm looking for someone.
Looking for someone? Who are you looking for?
I'm hungry.
Sit down please.
Sir, was it good? Shall I get you another bowl?
No, thanks. I have to leave.
Thank you.
You haven't paid yet.
It's OK. This is on me.
Sis Runzhi, you're always so generous.
We'll lose money like this.
Keep the change.
Sir...
Oh, you're here.
Are you a trespasser? I don't know you.
I...I don't know you either. Who are you? Oh, no...I don't even remember my name.
He looks confused. He doesn't remember anything.
Right. He sat there alone.
I don't think he has any family or friends.
Why don't we report this to the government
so his family will take him home?
No. If the court officers come here,
people will think there's trouble in our restaurant.
Let me take him to the magistrate court directly. Let's go.
What's my name?
But...Why did she leave so quickly?
Hey, we haven't given the jade pendant back to the old man yet.
Right.
Let me give it back to him.
OK...Go.
Walk faster.
You look like someone I know. You're either my mom or my daughter.
Keep your voice down. Let's go. Come on.
Hey, Shaoyou is a good husband. You couldn't stand him because he was poor.
You even forced him to write you a declaration of divorce.
Guest Inn.
I told you to keep an eye on Dad. How could you let him go out?
I had a headache just now. I wanted to get some shut-eye.
I didn't expect he would go out by himself.
Shut-eye. If this gets out, we'll have to shut our eyes forever.
OK. This is my fault. It won't happen again.
Promise?
Just now you said the Sus followed you. Did they hear anything?
I don't know.
They were really close just now. Dad became lucid all of a sudden.
He said I forced Shaoyou to write the declaration of divorce.
What?
Actually, I don't know if Shi Mi heard what he said
but just pretended not to.
What are you going to do?
Let's smear her so no one will believe what she says.
That will solve the problem.
OK. You're clever.
Su Mansion.
Snake...Help...
Sis Mi, why are you crying for help? Is there a burglar?
What's the matter?
Why is it so noisy?
There's a snake.
Where?
In my bedroom.
Shaoyou, come with me.
OK.
It's so scary.
Sis Mi, where did you see the snake just now?
Near the window.
I've found it.
Where?
It's this belt.
That's impossible. I saw a snake just now. It was wiggling.
Were you asleep just now?
Yes.
Was it really dark just now?
Yes.
Perhaps you had a bad dream. And you mistook the belt for a snake.
Right. Perhaps you really miss Brother Zhe?
You're worried that he has no one to catch the snakes and rats for him.
So you had a nightmare.
Look. The belt moves in the wind.
You were confused. So you mistook it for a snake.
Don't scare yourself.
Is that what happened?
Yes.
Why don't we go to Chancellor Temple tomorrow
to pray for blessings in order to put your mind at ease?
That's right. Don't worry so much or scare yourself, OK?
OK. Go back to sleep.
Goodnight.
Shumei, you go to sleep too.
We've prayed to Buddha. He will protect Brother Zhe.
Don't worry anymore.
I want to make a donation over there. It's crowded. It's stuffy inside
Why don't you wait for me in Gongde Hall?
I'll go there to pay my respects to Master Han later.
OK.
Meishan Su Zhe? My husband? He's dead. How come?
Sis Runzhi...
What's the matter?
My husband...He's dead.
Dead? What are you talking about?
I saw his spiritual tablet inside. Come with me. Take a look. Come on.
Look...
What's there to look at?
You...Hey, how come?
I saw my husband's name on the tablet just now.
Huangzhou Mr Huang Zhou's spiritual tablet.
Sis Mi, you must have made a mistake since you're tired arid you miss Brother Zhe.
No, Sis Runzhi. I saw the words Meishan Su Zhe on the tablet just now.
How could I have made a mistake about my husband's name?
You...
If something bad happened to Master Zhe, the government would notify us.
That's right.
Even if the words Meishan and Brother Zhe's name
were on the tablet, so what?
It could be someone with the same name from the same town.
I'm sure it's not Brother Zhe. Don't worry.
Did I really make a mistake?
That must be it. Come on.
Let's go home so you can get some rest, OK?
I've got intel that His Majesty is leaving the palace again tonight.
We followed him last couple of times. He went to Waterside Cottage every time.
I don't think tonight will be different.
A hero always succumbs to a pretty woman. Even His Majesty is no exception.
How beautiful is this Qin Cao? She's mesmerized His Majesty?
She can influence His Majesty's thoughts and decisions.
She's definitely no ordinary woman.
Listen. You two assign people to watch His Majesty.
Pay attention to his every word and move in Waterside Cottage.
I want a full and detailed report.
Waterside Cottage.
Don't chase. Let's go in and check on His Majesty.
OK.
What happened?
Your Majesty, there was an assassin.
But he managed to escape.
Are you sure he was an assassin?
I'm not sure.
But that man-in-black is a kung fu expert. He didn't appear to be an ordinary burglar.
He dropped something. Jixiang picked it up.
Show me now.
The prime minister's badge? Wang Anshi! This is outrageous.
Don't be mad yet, Your Majesty. Don't let this badge cloud your judgment.
First of all, this badge could be a fake.
Someone could be trying to plant evidence against the prime minister
to alienate you and him.
On the other hand, if the prime minister is really behind this,
all the more reason not to make any reckless moves.
Why?
I'm afraid someone wants to harm Your Majesty.
In other words, Wang Anshi wasn't trying to kill you; he was after me!
Does he want to usurp the throne? No, he wants to appoint a new emperor?
No. Does he want you?
I dare not make wild guesses.
But given Your Majesty's wit,
I'm sure you'll find out the truth if you observe carefully.
No, I'm really worried about your safety. Why don't you move into the palace?
No way, Your Majesty. You must think of the empress dowager and the queen.
Thank you for your offer, Your Majesty.
But it's really inappropriate for me to move into the palace...
as it would affect your relationship with the queen.
You care about me the most. But I won't feel at ease if you stay here.
Your Majesty, let's send more guards to Waterside Cottage
to protect Miss Qin Cao.
That won't work either.
If we do that, everyone will know that His Majesty has been meeting me in secret.
I'm afraid this will not be good for His Majesty.
That's true.
Your Majesty...
Why don't you stay at Su Dongpo's home for the time being?
Officer Su? Won't that be inconvenient?
My relationship with Officer Su
has far exceeded that between an emperor and his official.
There are lots of people in his home. There's also a wrestling expert.
Most important of all, when I want to meet you,
I can say I need to discuss national affairs with Su Dongpo.
Then no one will suspect anything.
Since Your Majesty has taken everything into consideration,
I will move into Officer Su's home then.
OK.
Master, all the arrangements are airtight.
Good job. You stole Wang Anshi's badge in time.
Master is really smart.
You knew Wang Anshi had sent someone to follow His Majesty.
You played along and staged the assassination.
You also told me to leave behind the badge on purpose
so that His Majesty would suspect Wang Anshi did it. This is so clever.