Episode Thirty-six
You go and find the source of these funeral objects
on the black market immediately.
As long as you find anything,
we can doom Yan Xun to death.
Do it neatly.
Don't cause any trouble.
Yan Xun
is much smarter than his father.
Last time, we disturbed His Majesty.
So we don't take rash actions in Chang'an.
But we can start with
Yanbei and Xianyang.
I understand.
Master, you spent a lot of money
buying Xianyang Trading Company.
This is our account book of this month.
Please see it.
Xianyang Merchants Guild
has more power
than we thought.
We have to
spend more money
to strike them down.
Master, should we
use the tax
from Yanbei?
No.
Not only no,
we need to plug
the previous hole immediately.
If there's not enough money, use our own.
And take some money out from every trading company.
We are in critical time.
We must not be caught out
and bring up unnecessary trouble.
I understand.
You can leave.
- Yes. - Yes.
Ye'er stays here.
Let him leave as well.
Uncle, he is deaf,
he can't hear anything.
I can't say it
in front of anyone
but you.
Out.
Uncle.
Ye'er.
How do I treat you these years?
You taught me and enlightened me,
just like my father.
You don't like to see
many things in our household.
But you can't stand by
when family is in trouble.
Uncle,
what happened?
Wasn't Master Liu be punished
for the case of Imperial Mausoleum.
Corruption, clique
even official titles selling,
sins of all kinds
won't be able to
put our Wei Household to death.
Households that have a long historical standing
all have some
skeletons in cupboard.
His Majesty knows it.
So,
what should we do?
I have got something on my chest
for a long time.
A slight error in thought resulted in a big mistake.
I extremely regret it.
What?
Uncle,
how can you do this?
It was just a slight error in thought at that time.
I thought that my plan was perfect.
Nobody would find out about it.
I didn't expect things to be like this.
Uncle, there are
no perfect plans in this world.
At this time being,
we can only take out the tripod
from the coffin immediately.
Your grandfather was long dead.
How can we take out his coffin
and disturb him?
Our family is in great trouble.
Now, if Grandfather knows,
he will really be disturbed.
There is another way.
Besides you and me,
there is another person who knows about it.
If we get rid of him,
nobody will know it
in this world.
Who?
Liu Shen, the minister of the Ministry of Works.
Thank you for the trouble.
Young Master.
Liu Shen.
Isn't Liu Shen
sent back by His Majesty?
He is one of Wei Guang's men.
He is the scapegoat
of the incident in Imperial Mausoleum.
What is
the important item
you just talked about?
It was too far
and their voice was low.
I didn't hear it clearly.
Anyway, it is something of great significance.
Don't think too much.
The key is Liu Shen.
He has something
that can
put Wei Guang to death.
Where is he?
He was involved with Imperial Mausoleum
and was just dismissed.
I asked someone to watch over him.
He has been packing up his stuff.
It seems that he wants to run away.
The Liu Household is very powerful in southwest.
If he returns,
we will have no chance to get him.
I will go stop him.
We can't let him run away.
Yes.
Uncle.
I have prepared everything well.
Be cautious.
Don't worry, Uncle.
Who are you?
The bandits?
The thieves?
You are the minions of Wei Guang.
I tell you
my father is the king of the southwest, Liu Yi.
If you dare to hurt me,
you will suffer a lot.
Kill him.
Where are you going?
You...
Who on earth are you?
Don't kill me, please don't kill me.
It's you.
Just leave.
You... you...
Behave yourself.
How could you just let him go?
What are you doing?
You are injured.
Get off me.
Get off.
Don't move.
I know it hurts.
But I need to wrap it up.
Get off me.
No.
Yuwen Yue, when did you
become so cheeky?
I have always been so, did you just know it?
You need to let me go when I count to three.
I will finish this
when you count to 100.
He's right, it will be done in second.
Let's just hit the road quickly.
Good luck and strive. Good luck and strive.
Let's start off.
Let's just hurry...
What are you doing?
I think he's too annoying.
If you are annoying as well,
I can put you two together.
I will take this guy away with me.
As you know,
the most reasonable way is that he leaves with me.
Why is it the most reasonable way
for you to take him away?
Did the emperor send you here?
Did you
steal the Wooden Buddha
from the imperial mausoleum?
You have already
got everything under control.
Is there anything you want to know?
Since you have known everything,
why haven't you expose us?
Because of you.
I get it.
I guess you want to take the advantage
to get ride off Wei Guang.
Is it right?
If it makes you happy
to discuss this,
I could chat with you for a while.
When did it happen?
They have already got into the city.
I'm afraid they have been the gate of the Palace.
Did you watch it carefully
that Liu Shen is really among them?
Really and truly.
What are you doing, Sister Imperial concubine?
Don't you do this for Lord Wei?
I heard that it would exterminate every one of the family.
Now, the Jiuyou Platform will be so busy.
Don't be impertinent!
Wenshan.
Shut up.
Yes.
(Sound of opening the door)
Please get up, Imperial concubine.
His Majesty told you to go back to the Palace.
I have followed His Majesty
so many years,
I have known a thing or two
about his minds.
He still has affection about you.
He worries about your health
but can't see you right now.
It came down to the point, and no one can do anyting.
It's right, Imperial concubine.
You should take care of yourself.
The coming days would be long.
I have to bother you, Eunuch,
to give this bead flower to His Majesty.
This was the gift from His Majesty
for my first birthday
after I came into the Palace.
Please rest assured, Imperial concubine.
I will do it as you will.
Uncle.
I have succumbed to the advanced age,
and couldn't serve His Majesty.
A man must bear the consequences of his own acts.
And it has nothing to do with the others of the Wei Family.
Lord Wei.
You want to bear
everything on your own.
Do you thing that His Majesty would believe
that you could sacrifice queen to save the pawns?
Wei Shuye.
You have to pay a formal visit to the emperor with me
to testify Lord Wei.
It's...
It's the only way to avoid
the whole family of Wei being exterminated.
Please accept my bowing.
It's not necessary.
You are not the reason I did this.
Wei Shuye is not
cunning and greedy.
It's not worth for him
to pay for what you have done.
Shuye,
you just go to the Palace and pay a visit to the emperor
with General Yuwen,
and point out
all the crimes I have done.
I have been raised by uncle since childhood.
Now, you are in the trouble,
I would like to die with you.
There must be someone survive for the Wei Family.
It's the only way.
Could you be hardhearted enough to see
that the whole family be exterminated?
Ye'er, I'm begging you.
Uncle.
Only the tax increasing of Yanbei privately
you alone
can embezzle million liang gold.
It's the half-year provisions
of the people in Yanbei.
Just explain it to me.
Wei Guang should be punished by hacking process
for his crimes.
And you dared to hide the treasure
in the mausoleum of the Late Emperor, White Jade Ding,
into your ancestral grave.
Could it be ture that you have attempted to usurp the throne?
It won't be shame for me to kill your whole clan.
Your Majesty, the reason that we could retrieve the Jade Ding
and get the secret account book
is that
Wei Shuye collaborate from inside with us.
I hope Your Majesty could make the decision.
Wei Guang has not embezzled the fund
but also wanted to control Yanbei
to disturb our Wei State.
His rebellion and misconduct couldn't be forgiven.
Execute him immediately!
However, Wei Shuye placed righteousness above family loyalty
and made contributions.
Wei Shuye will take charge of Wei Family from now on.
The half soil ground and people of Wei Family
will be deprived
as a warning to others.
You all just back off.
The guilt man appreciates your mercy.
Please forgive me, Imperial concubine.
You just took the orders from the emperor
and had no other choice.
Besides,
my brother has brought the trouble to himself.
You have saved Ye'er
so the Wei Family won't be wiped out.
It's not necessary to say forgiveness.
Get up.
Thank you, Imperial concubine.
Now, my mother's clan has been greatly injured.
Just like Song'er and Chun'er,
Ye'er is simple and innocent
and lack of worldliness.
In the future, I hope you can
give advice to them and take care of them.
I will try my best.
The princess is here.
Cousin.
Your highness.
Please get up.
My mother told me to come to see you.
My uncle was muddled
to make the huge crime
and ended up like this.
It's so lucky that you and aunt have not
been involved into this.
It has come to this point,
stop saying such thing.
It's going to carry out the sentence today.
I heard you are not allowed to go outside.
Don't be too sad.
As far as the jail,
my brother has sent some guy to deal with it.
The uncle
won't suffer a lot before the death.
Thank you, Your highness.
Why did you thank me?
You should feel lucky
that my father didn't blame on you
but you could take charge of
the whole family of Wei from now on.
You should learn to be smarter
and not to do something stupid.
Okay.
It's the hour of noon.
Wei Guang should have been dead right now.
It's too easy for him to die.
It's kind of good for him.
I really want to drink a little
in such day.
There's some in the kitchen.
I will get it for you.
Just saying.
The decree says
to govern the world with civilization and suppress rebellion with military.
The commanders and generals are ridgepoles of the nation
and the mainstays of the government.
So I would like to promote the talented persons
only based on their ability not their background.
The lady named Chu Qiao is well-educated and trained in military exercises
and is both virtuous and talented.
She treats the Lord with loyalty, serves the emperor with honesty,
and acts like Mu Lan, becomes a good model.
She is bestowed to be the Coach of Arrow
in the Qiaoqi Camp.
I hope you can die on the battle field,
forget selfishness in the interest of the public,
and not disappoint my expectation.
By the emperor himself.
It's about time.
The Qiaoqi Camp
is under control of the Prince Xiang.
And Yuwen Yue.
The Qiaoqi Camp is the massive military force of Chang'an.
Most of them are sons of a noble family in Chang'an.
There are many factions and intense struggles among them.
So usually, the one who takes charge
is the imperial prince.
The Prince Xiang is born in a noble family
and has performed deeds of valour in battle,
so he can suppress
the unruly commander and soldiers.
However,
the army belongs to man.
It's too difficult for you
to lead a group of men
as a girl.
I am the thorn in the flesh and pain in the ass
of the emperor of the Wei State.
There will be a lot persons who want to take the chance
to suppress me to make the emperor happy.
I really feel worried about your trip.
It doesn’t change anything.
We can’t disobey the imperial decreed.
Besides, don’t you always say
I have acted as if
I were a man?
Don’t you trust me?
Don’t worry.
If you have any trouble,
just tell me.
We are not what we were
three years ago.
If I can’t even protect you,
my suffering over those three years
will be pointless.
It’s a good chance
for us to take a look inside the Wei State.
(Sound of soldiers practicing)
(Sound of riding horse)
Get out of the way.
(Sound of soldiers practicing)
Your Royal Highness,
the new coach of archery is here.
Do you really need to tell
me everything?
Bring him to the Camp directly.
His Majesty appointed
this coach of archery.
That woman.
Bring her in.
Yes, sir.
Your Royal Highness, it is Coach Chu.
I am Chu Qiao,
Your Royal Highness.
Stand up.
Yes, sir.
You are Chu Qiao?
Yes.
I have heard a lot about you.
At the ceremony,
you were impressive.
You are as strong as a man.
There were too many people that day.
I didn’t have the chance to talk to you.
I didn’t expect to
work with you.
Thank you, Your Royal Highness.
I heard that when the Yan Household became the rebel,
Prince Yan Xun’s families were all sentenced.
You were the one who had kept him company,
protecting him and taking care of him.
We are both homeless.
We can only rely on each other.
His Highness is a noble.
He didn’t treat me badly because of my status.
It was my honour.
You are very impressive.
No wonder father sent you
to my camp.
Unlike the Nan Dynasty,
the Wei State hasn’t had any female officials.
You will be the first female
who joins the army.
I am very grateful that His Majesty has such faith in me.
This is
CanHong Jian?
Yes.
Your Royal Highness.
A troop in my camp happens to
need a coach of archery.
You may join them. Good luck.
If you have any problem,
just come to me.
Take Coach Chu out.
Yes, sir.
Thank you.
Someone please come.
Yes, sir.
Inform General Yuwen Yue to come here.
Yes, sir.
Xue Zhileng,
You think torturing me
can make me back down?
Why don’t you just kill me?
He Xiao, if you want to die,
just say the word.
Commander in Chief,
the Vice Commander acted on impulse.
That’s why he said those words.
Please do
forgive him.
Commander in Chief Xue,
the Vice Commander He doesn’t deserve to die.
Please forgive him.
What are you doing?
Stand up.
Stand up immediately and listen to me.
He Xiao, shake the morale of the army
and intend to plot a rebellion.
I shall sentence him to death
as he deserted on the eve of a battle.
Sentence him to death immediately.
Wait.
Who are you?
How dare you stop me.
I am Chu Qiao, the coach of archery at Xiaoqi Campe,
appointed by His Majesty.
According to His Royal Highness Xiang’s order,
I am supposed to join you.
Since you are here to join us,
why did you get involved in a matter that doesn’t concern you?
Do you know what crime he committed?
How dare you stop the sentencing.
I am sorry.
I just came to
the camp
and I see all soldiers are kneeling down,
begging you to forgive him.
What crime did he commit?
He is a general of the Wei State,
but he always talks about going back home.
Doesn’t this count as
shaking the morale of the army?
Commander in Chief Xue,
if you want to kill me,
just do it.
Commander in Chief Xue, you said he shook the morale of the army.
What’s your evidence?
You should
report it first.
I am cleaning house.
There is no need to trouble the General.
The soldier you want to kill
is not someone ordinary.
He is the Vice Commander of Xiaoqi Camp,
and the General of the troop of Xiuli.
The troop of Xiuli is responsible for
the safety of Chang’an.
I wonder when it has become
your own army.
You…
You should report it to
His Royal Highness Xiang and General Yuwen first.
Coach Chu,
you want to stand up for him?
No.
I just came here.
If something this horrifying happens,
it will look rather unlucky.
If you insist in
sentencing him,
then I shall report it to His Royal Highness Xiang
and let him decide.
Fine.
I won’t kill him.
Thank you, sir.
Let’s go.
(Cheering)
You asked for me?
Since when did you have the power
to place people
at my camp?
I am the Vice General of Xiaoqi Camp.
I believe it is my duty
to do so.
Your duty?
You are indeed very responsible.
How could I miss it?
If you have nothing else to say, I shall leave now.
Wait.
I still have something to talk to you.
Do you fancy her?
I really do have something important to talk to you. Come back.
Are Your Royal Highness angry?
Of course not.
Why does the Vice General Yuwen
fancy Coach Chu?
Women who join the army
always face troubles.
They will be bullied.
It happens all the time.
Everyone at Xiaoqi Camp
comes from a family
with power and wealth.
She is a female who were just free of being a slave.
How could she survive?
At this camp,
only the troop of Xiuli from Yanbei
which are bullies by others
and feel guilty
towards Yan Xun
will listen to her.
Yuwen Yue placed her
in the troop of Xiuli.
He is trying to look after her.
You are right.
I am afraid that
in the end,
his effort will be in vain.
Commander, the woman
was the one who stood beside
His Highness, the Prince,
at Jiuyou Platform?
Of course.
She has been with His Highness at the Oriole Courtyard
for all these years.
She becomes famous when fighting
against Princess Zha Ma
in the paddock.
His Majesty appointed her
as the coach of archery
at our camp.
She is the first female who joins the army
in the history of the Wei State.
She is well-known.
Then she can talk to
His Highness.
If
she can explain for us…
Don’t be naïve.
How is it naïve?
She just helped us.
She is not hostile towards us.
She just come to the camp
and is assigned to our troop today.
She probably
doesn’t even know who we are.
She can’t help us
even though we are framed.
We can’t count on her.
Let’s see. When she finds out about it,
our problem will
be even more serious.
I haven’t gone back home for three years.
I have written hundreds of letters to them,
but I never heard a word from them.
I am worried about
my parents
and my
newly-wed wife.
When I was about to leave, she told me she was pregnant.
I don’t even know I have a son or a daughter.
Don’t overthink.
(Sound of knocking)
Coach Chu, what’s the matter?
He Xiao, are you all right?
I am fine, Coach Chu.
This is the most effective cure for your wounds.
Thank you.
Right,
how did you know me?
There are only a handful of people
from Yanbei in Chang’an.
Of course I know you.
I not only know you, He Xiao,
but also you, Ge Qi
and Wu Danyu.
You belonged to the troop of Xiuli of Yanbei.
You were subordinates of Liu Ziye.
Take care.
Thank you.
You are up late.
Coach Chu.
I can’t sleep.
Me neither.
Did I disturb you?
No.
I know a friend
who also likes playing Hichiriki.
Who is that?
Prince Yan.
Do you people from Yanbei
all like playing Hichiriki?
Hichiriki is a music instrument in the army.
My father taught me
how to play it.
I think the Duke
taught Prince Yan how to play it.
Your home is in Yanbei.
You haven’t been back
for three years, right?
Two years, eight months and twenty-one days, to be exact.
I am afraid, I don’t even know
where my home is anymore.
Ever since that incident,
my elder brother expelled me from the family.
My pregnant wife
got out of Yanbei and found me.
However, she was intercepted by some gang.
When he learnt she was my wife,
he just killed her.
He even
became a hero
because of this.
He then pleaded himself to the Wei State.
I heard he becomes an official now.
Who is that?
He even killed your pregnant wife.
I shall get rid of him for you
when I have the chance.
But I am a traitor.
So what?
I am ashamed of myself.
Why didn’t you suicide then?
Even your elder brother knew this would ruin the reputation of your family,
your commander, Liu Ziye
killed himself
in the Mountain of Xiuli.
How about you?
Why did you choose to live?
Of course I wanted to die.
However, if I died,
what would happen to the troop of Xiuli?
They have always been loyal to me.
We take care of each other.
Now they are being called
traitors.
If I died,
who would protect them?
To me,
they are not just my subordinates,
but also my families.
It is my duty to bring them back to Yanbei.
Even if we can’t go back,
I need to make their lives
easier.
I need to stay strong
no matter how hard life is.
Why don’t you think too much,
considering you are just a traitor?
Do you believe me?
If you do,
does it mean His Highness, the Prince
also believes me?
He…
He has lived in danger for years.
Now he lost his entire family.
He has a target on his back.
The three-year period is almost over.
He doesn’t even know
how long he can live.
Does it matter
whether he believes you?
What happened back then was not your fault.
Zhao Dongting used the imperial decreed
to deceive you to open the gate.
You didn’t have a choice.
However, after Bei Shuo was killed,
the troop of Black Eagle of Yanbei
decided to fight against the enemy.
None of them survived.
The troop of Hongchuan of Yanbei
also fought fiercely.
All of they died as well.
How about you?
You neglected your duty.
The entire Yanbei was covered by blood
because of your stupidity.
Then you gave up the resistance
left Yan and came to Chang'an
You have been stealing your life
for so many years
Even if you were not willing
to be betrayers that year,
three years have past
and you become
betrayers now
I emphasize your experiences,
but I don't agree with your choices
You need a goal
even when you are struggling for lives
Or you are just
stealing and killing the time
What's your goal?
I can't see it
We need to keep
our hope and determination being a human
Or we are just
a walking dead
Time will go on
You have enough time to think about
where your future leads to?