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[Nirvana In Fire II]
[Episode 33]
Your Highness.
Did you write a wrong character?
Ping Jing might seem to act careless and casual
but he's actually very sensitive.
When I wrote that character, the strength in my wrist dropped a bit.
If he notices that in my handwriting, he's bound to worry too much again.
There's no rush at all.
I'd rather write a bit more slowly.
It's fine, even if it takes me two more days to get this written.
I've just returned to the capital.
There's only aged tea that the servants bought randomly.
Please don't mind, Master Xun.
Your Grace.
Since I've paid you a visit in person
let's not beat around the bush.
Frankly speaking, I regard the information Your Grace provided
as very important.
Speaking of which
why should I believe that you did it purely out of loyalty to His Majesty?
You could well be trying to sound out the officials for Changlin Manor.
Master Xun has a point.
However, I have a question for you.
Although there are numerous loyal subjects in Great Liang
His Majesty is still young and the royal manor is too influential.
There's bound to be some insecurity.
Once the Royal Manor of Changlin turns against His Majesty
I'm afraid only you and Empress Dowager would go all out to protect him.
Am I right?
What are you trying to say?
Please have a seat.
When did you get this?
On the day Puyang Ying died.
That plague in Jinling City caused corpses to pile up.
If I had wished to do any harm to Empress Dowager and you
I could have simply handed over these two items to the former emperor.
Give this some thought.
What would have happened then?
Once Empress Dowager and you were taken down
His Majesty would have been manipulated by the old prince
even if he had still succeeded the throne.
He wouldn't have been able to struggle out of the old prince's control.
Master Xun, if I'm actually serving under the Royal Changlin Manor
would I miss out on such a great opportunity
by not handing this over to them?
Since you claim to be acting in good faith to me and Empress Dowager
why would you hold on to this evidence until now?
Because it always sounds so easy and groundless
to speak of loyalty with just words.
Without any evidence to prove it, who would believe me?
Master Xun.
Would you believe only words?
Your Highness actually sent your men to invite me over today.
That's quite unusual.
I'll be honest with you, Brother Li.
Ping Jing needs my assistance in the capital
to make arrangements for him.
I'm afraid that if I lose my stamina, I might hinder that child's plans.
I understand.
I won't work too hard.
All right.
Get some rest.
Isn't this the young marquis?
- Your Grace. - Gentlemen.
It has been a long time.
Come and have a few drinks with us upstairs.
I'm occupied today so perhaps, another day?
I'll treat you both to drinks another day.
- Come, we'll drink today. - Not today...
That isn't a royal carriage.
Why is it escorted by the Imperial Guards?
Your Grace, you've been away for too long.
You're not aware of quite a few things.
That's the young mistress of the Xun family.
She's the favorite of Empress Dowager.
She gets invited over to the palace from time to time.
Naturally, she gets escorted by the Imperial Guards.
Unfortunately, she isn't quite the right age for His Majesty.
Otherwise, she would surely become one of the concubines.
The young mistress of the Xun family?
Uncle Ting Sheng.
You must remember to deliver this letter directly to Ping Jing.
It's not to be passed on to him by anyone else.
Do rest assured, Uncle Ting Sheng.
I'll ride day and night without delaying the journey.
You don't have to ride day and night in such a hurry.
It's best not to get too tired on a long journey.
I'm very strong and healthy.
A single trip won't wear me out.
When I was at your age
I used to ride thousands of miles without feeling tired.
How could I compare myself to Uncle Ting Sheng?
Tell Ping Jing that I'll look forward to news of his victory.
Yes.
I'll take my leave.
Master Xun!
Master Xun, be careful with it.
I took a great risk in opening up the letter.
I still have to deliver this letter to Gan Province.
They actually discussed this matter in such great detail.
Do we not have a way to tackle it?
You could say that Xiao Ping Jing is making a huge move
but he hasn't done anything yet.
How are we to tackle it?
We can't send someone to inform Prince Kang of Great Yu
that Changlin Army has dug a hole for him to jump into, can we?
That's colluding with our enemies.
Definitely not.
Speaking of which, if we could really take down Great Yu's royal army
that would actually be beneficial to Great Liang.
Master Xun, why don't you just let him do it?
Your Grace spoke of politics well-reasoned and logical.
I'm so anxious right now. Do you really not understand why?
I'm flattered by your compliment.
Allow me to make a guess then.
Prince of Changlin is the advising regent in the capital.
Xiao Ping Jing controls the army out at the frontier.
With both civil and military authorities at hand
this is already a stalemate.
However, why does it still seem so peaceful in the Imperial Court?
I believe...
After Xiao Ping Zhang died
Changlin Manor's influence in the Imperial Court
must have gone down by half.
Xiao Ping Jing might have fought battles and attained some merits
but compared to his father and brother, he is very inferior to them.
Your Grace, that is indeed the case.
The young emperor only gets to be secure in the Imperial Court
because the father and son might seem to control civil and military authorities
but they can't really manage to do so.
Both you and I are well aware that they just can't do it. Yet.
An Ru?
It's so late.
Why are you standing out here?
Cousin...
I heard from Auntie that you're so seriously ill
that you can't even get out of bed.
What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?
I already recovered ages ago.
I faked it.
What?
You faked it?
Why would you pretend to be ill for no reason?
I don't wish to stay in the palace.
Among all the girls in our clan, Empress Dowager favors you the most.
She summoned you into the palace out of affection.
Why are you reluctant to go there?
It's nothing serious.
I'm just not used to the restrictions.
You've always been such a child.
You prefer to remain carefree at home, don't you?
All right.
Greet Uncle and Auntie.
Then head back to get some sleep soon.
Uncle has a visitor in his study.
A visitor?
At such a late hour?
Although it isn't clearly stated in the reply
Xiao Ping Jing must have all the military camps
at the northern frontier arranged by now.
If he can really take down our enemy's main armed forces
and wrap up this battle unscathed...
Think about it, Master Xun.
How will the political situation of Great Liang change?
The victory of this battle will boost Xiao Ping Jing's prestige so much
that he can catch up with his father and brother.
If the northern frontier is then spared from any future battles
the armed forces could then be relocated.
I'm afraid by then in the Imperial Court
everyone will really have to look to the Royal Changlin Manor.
It won't only be the Imperial Court.
It's hard to tell if His Majesty will have to look to them as well.
However, I think that Prince of Changlin and his son
exchanged letters in private...
because they still regard national mourning as an issue.
However, since they have already decided to initiate the battle
they must have come up with a justified cause.
He can say that Great Yu took the initiative.
It is hard for him to decide if he should be on the defense or if he should attack.
We can have His Majesty make a decree.
All armies at the frontiers can only act in defense.
No one is allowed out of the cities, nor to provoke the enemies.
No forces are to be joined.
Moreover, no one is allowed to provoke a battle.
Once this clearly-stated imperial decree lies before Xiao Ping Jing's eyes...
he can either obey the decree
or commit a felony by violating regulations of national mourning.
He won't have any other options.
Commander General, what brings you here?
I'm here to greet my uncle.
Master said that no one is to disturb him in the study.
Is there a visitor?
I do not know.
- Commander General! - Step aside!
Commander General!
You can't go in!
Fei Zhan?
What's the matter?
Uncle.
What visitor is it who can't be seen by me?
There isn't a visitor.
I'm alone in here.
Why did I hear a door closing?
Could it have been the wind?
I was overly suspicious.
Uncle, get some rest soon.
Your Grace.
Everything is ready.
We should set out.
He Cheng.
You were born to a family of officials
but sent to guard the frontier as punishment.
You serve under me so that one day, you can succeed in the capital.
However, we're leaving Jinling in just a few days.
Are you displeased about that?
I might not be as ambitious as Your Grace but I also understand
that we're leaving today so we may return some other day.
Well said.
I was right about you.
Thank you.
When we were in Great Yu...
I promised to sit down with you and talk things over
once we returned to Gan Province.
But it's been some time now.
I still haven't...
I haven't been able to come and see you.
You're so busy with military duties.
I'm aware of that.
Lin Xi...
You should understand even if I don't say it out loud.
You probably know better than I do, right?
I do.
The wound in your heart that concerns me simply hurts too badly.
You still can't face it.
Only by covering it up and chucking it to the side can you go on living.
I'm too much of a coward.
But it's true that I can't face it.
Therefore...
Therefore, I can only choose to handle the easier matters.
No, that's not true.
Being pessimistic, dispirited, shirking from responsibilities
and giving up on yourself is easy.
You decided to take on your responsibilities first.
How is that not courage?
You're my most cherished friend.
I don't wish to lose you.
Can you give me some more time?
The war will soon be upon us.
Don't be distracted from it.
I'll be here whenever you're ready to face that wound.
I don't understand.
Uncle Ting Sheng was in charge of all military affairs
when the former emperor was alive, so he has his habits.
He'll report to me when he deems fit to inform me.
Why should I have to inquire about it?
The former emperor never asked because he was aware of the situation.
If Your Majesty doesn't inquire
you really won't know anything at all.
Your Highness.
Your Majesty.
If it were some other matter it would be understandable
if the old prince didn't want Your Majesty to know.
This is a huge military action at the northern frontier
and yet the old prince hasn't mentioned this matter in the Imperial Court.
If the cabinet puts up with it and gives no opinion
we'll have let the former emperor down.
We'll also have acted negligently to Your Majesty.
Uncle Ting Sheng always acted according to the right etiquette.
Uncle, are you being too dramatic by saying
that there's a huge military action at the northern frontier?
If Your Majesty doesn't believe me
you could beat around the bush as I suggested, to see how he responds.
Won't it be obvious
whether the old prince tells the truth or not?
It's so great that Your Majesty can now hit the target on horseback.
Uncle Ting Sheng, do sit.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Uncle Ting Sheng.
I've read the briefing from the Ministry of War today.
There's one matter that I don't understand
so I'd like to ask you.
Ask away, Your Majesty.
During national mourning of the former emperor
it's only respectable by the rites that we defend the nation without bloodshed.
So, why would we increase ration supply by one third
to the northern frontier?
Your Majesty, did the Ministry of War specifically report that?
I asked the Minister of War.
He doesn't seem to know much about it either.
Uncle Ting Sheng, you seem to have arranged it yourself.
Should I not ask about it?
Your Majesty governs this nation, so there isn't any state affair
that you shouldn't ask about.
Great Liang is surrounded by strong enemies.
Every nation is in a different political situation.
The former emperor is deceased and Your Majesty is still young.
This will seem, to our enemies, like an opportunity to invade us.
Hence, we'll have to take even more caution at the frontier.
Your Majesty, consider this.
We might not attack the others, but if they should attack us
what approach should Great Liang take?
Uncle Ting Sheng, you mean...
The actions you took at the northern frontier recently
all serve as a precaution?
Yes.
Gao Fu.
Your Majesty.
I'll give it another try.
Yes.
Your Highness.
Your Highness has been in charge of military affairs.
Your allocation of rations to the frontier is always within quota.
Why would His Majesty ask such a question?
If it's safe at the frontier, the capital is safe.
Why doesn't Master Xun understand that?
Mother.
How did it go?
Your uncle and I were right, weren't we?
It's fine if the old prince hoodwinks the cabinet
but even after His Majesty asks about it
he shouldn't just make up such a casual excuse.
It's obvious he thinks of you as no more than a child
that he need not care to mind.
Other matters aside, would he have dared to treat the former emperor like this?
Mother, you mustn't say that.
We need to be wary of strong enemies out there.
Uncle Ting Sheng has a point.
It's not wrong to be more cautious when a new emperor is throned.
But I don't think it's that simple at the northern frontier.
Let's not discuss whether
Prince of Changlin's decision is right or wrong.
After all, this concerns the fate of our nation.
Why can't he bring this topic to the Imperial Court for discussion
and allow Your Majesty to decide?
Exactly. You should understand by now.
The old prince is just taking advantage of how the former emperor used act
and so he is manipulating military affairs.
He refuses to report this matter to you
so you won't even have a chance to voice an objection.
He's one dominant and powerful official.
This is how it is now.
Do you not see this as a warning?
So...
What is the cabinet's advice?
Your Highness.
You mean to say...
Ping Jing wants to...
Exactly.
Once Ping Jing's plan succeeds
it will surely end in a massive battle.
If this matter isn't reported to the cabinet
I'm really worried that Changlin Army will instead be
wrongly accused even after having defended our nation.
Apart from confidential military information
how many of these officials in the Imperial Court here in the capital
would know anything of the suffering during battles at the frontier?
It isn't that my son and I are arrogant and domineering.
If we were to discuss this matter in the Imperial Court
neither party would have backed down and no conclusion would have been reached.
If I insisted upon it, I'd be accused of dictatorship.
If I can't insist on it
we will miss the once-in-a-century opportunity at the northern frontier.
If we can win this battle, our nation and people will be safe.
Even if it means great calamity for me and my son
it is still worthwhile.
Your Highness.
The cabinet is indeed quite...
Can you not report to His Majesty in private?
The current situation is that we're still in national mourning
but we are being given an incredible opportunity.
It's too hard to choose between the two.
I'm already 70 years old.
I've fought in battles all my life.
It can be said that I've been through the vicissitudes of life.
But, now that I've made this decision
I can't help but feel greatly troubled.
I'm too depressed to express my feelings.
His Majesty is yet to be 14 years old.
He has just succeeded the throne.
He just grew out of a childlike face
and I'm already going to give him such a dilemma?
Will I make him take responsibility for it?
Your Highness.
You truly adore His Majesty from the bottom of your heart.
You're the emperor's confidant.
You're the one His Majesty can rely the most on.
I only told you about these matters beforehand because I hope
that you can make your own judgment.
As long as you don't waver
it won't be bad for His Majesty.
Your Highness, I shall bear this in mind.
I still think that I should discuss this with Uncle Ting Sheng.
Before my father passed away, he reminded me specifically
that I must respect my uncle.
If I keep him in the dark about making this decree
I still find it somehow inappropriate.
It is exactly out of respect for Prince of Changlin
that you didn't discuss this with him.
Why?
His Highness has always been obstinate.
When he didn't share the same opinion as the former emperor
he wouldn't back down easily.
It won't be any different with Your Majesty.
The old prince is used to deciding military issues on his own.
If he simply refuses to accept Your Majesty's opinion
will you be able to announce the decree by force?
Won't that make Prince of Changlin look even worse?
Exactly, my son.
Prince of Changlin is already so old.
He hasn't been looking well recently.
He's the older brother of the former emperor.
They were always very close.
Although the monarch-subject relationship should come first
you are, after all, his nephew.
If you have a conflict due to a disagreement in opinions
and make the old prince sick with anger
won't that be even more inappropriate?
You're right.
It hasn't even been a year since the former emperor passed away.
Should anything happen to my uncle, I really won't feel at ease.
The rites of national mourning affect the fate of the nation.
However, we also have to consider the old prince's feelings.
Therefore, after much thought, this is already the best idea.
Uncle Ting Sheng was decreed as my advising regent
so he has to be notified if Prefect of Insignia and Credentials use the seal.
Your Majesty can summon the Prefect of Insignia and Credentials to the palace.
You don't have to go through the officials.
Convey the decree directly to the prefect and make it confidential.
He can inform the Imperial Court and announce it later.
That will be what your maternal uncle needs to work on.
Your messenger is reporting back!
Yuan Qi, you've finally returned.
Thank you.
Yuan Qi, you must be worn out from the trip.
Go and get some rest now.
I gave it some careful thought.
After I received Uncle Ting Sheng's handwritten letter
I carried it on me all the time.
Even when I went to bed, I had it on me.
I really can't figure out when it could have been opened.
Could it be that it was a spy from Great Yu?
You only knew you were leaving the capital the day before.
It was also a very rushed journey.
You hardly even stopped along the way.
However skilled the spies of Great Yu are
they would have had to sneak in from a foreign land.
They wouldn't have been able to pull this off.
This is all my fault.
I've been too careless and slow-witted.
I messed things up.
Honestly, I still can't tell what is wrong with the wax seal.
The tampering was done very carefully.
It's no wonder that you can't tell.
Have a seat.
I think it's likely that before you left the capital
this letter had already been opened.
Will this affect much?
Is there a way to make up for it?
Fortunately, my father left out the details in this letter.
It won't affect the preparations.
It isn't the worst situation.
I... I don't understand.
Whoever did this, he already opened the letter to take a peek.
What can he do now?
Someone once said, "When you're unaware"
"where your enemy's arrow might shoot from or shoot to"
"the first thing you have to think about is where your weakness lies."
In terms of this matter
it isn't what they intend to do next that we have to be worried about...
but what we're afraid they will do.
The envoys announcing the decree at the four frontiers
will leave the capital today.
Prince of Changlin has yet to detect anything amiss.
We can finally relax for a bit.
Brother?
Brother!
Can we really relax now?
What do you mean?
I'm thinking...
The decree from the capital will be sent to the northern frontier tomorrow.
Can we really sit back and relax from now on?
Is anyone here? Dong Qing! Lu Zhao!
- Present! - Present!
Second Young Master.
I've figured it out.
Pick out a few quick-witted soldiers to guard all major routes to the capital.
If they see anyone who looks like they came from the capital
inform me immediately with messenger doves.
- Yes! - Yes!
I don't understand.
What are you still worried about?
However reckless Xiao Ping Jing might be
once the imperial decree is announced, it can't be taken back.
Is he going to defy an imperial decree?
Even if he tries to
or he shows contempt for the decree
the other soldiers at the northern frontier are our military subjects.
The former emperor only passed away a short time ago.
Would no one obey the command of the Imperial Clan?
Even if he does defy the imperial decree
the envoy will have to be able to see Xiao Ping Jing first.
Moreover, the northern frontier is Changlin Army's territory.
If they set up a trap or cause some delay
and stall the announcement of the imperial decree for a few days
they can deny having done so.
By then, it will be too late to get anything clarified.
Then... what should we do?
This imperial decree is too important.
I can't trust anyone to take the trip.
You wish to head over to the northern frontier yourself?
We're now at a critical point.
There is no room for any mistakes.
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