Xu Hui can only blame her own bad luck.
According to plan,
Cairen Wu was the intended victim.
After I laced the fan with poison,
who would have guessed she'd give it to Jieyu Xu,
wreaked havoc at the Banquet,
and almost caused us to lose the chess game.
Man proposes, Heaven disposes.
No matter how well planned everything is,
we still tend to lose control.
Did you spread the word
saying the fan came from Consort Wei?
People are gossiping about
Consort Wei wanting to harm you,
but somehow Jieyu Xu got in the way.
Even His Majesty might have heard about it.
All we need is a testimony from siyao Liu.
As long as she'll testify
and say Consort Wei told her to swap the pipa chord,
That'll be the end of Consort Wei.
Consort Yin should be here by now.
Milady!
Is Consort Yin here?
No, Cairen Wu wishes to see you.
What does she want?
she wants to ask you about siyao Liu's case.
she wants to know if siyao Liu is connected to the poisoning.
Milady,
there's another story circulating in the harem.
They say Cairen Wu knew about the poison
but gave the fan to Jieyu Xu anyway so she could kill with a borrowed knife
take Jieyu Xu's place at the Banquet
and catch His Majesty's attention.
That's why she's eager to know
who laced the fan with poison.
Before Consort Yin arrives, I won't see anyone.
That's her!
Jieyu Xu is very nice to her.
she's such a vicious backstabber.
Cairen Wu!
Gong-Gong, can I see Her Highness now?
she's still busy interrogating siyao Liu.
she said after she's finished,
she'd summon you.
Please return to your chamber!
Her Highness, Consort Yin!
Greetings, Your Highness!
Hello!
sorry to keep you waiting!
Have you decided?
You'll soon find out
I'm on your side.
Not only will I help you,
I can rescue you from danger.
In that case... Take me to siyao Liu.
I'll ask her to confess that
Consort Wei put her up to it.
Thank you for your help, Milady!
Please give this testimony to Consort Yang.
I'd like a word with siyao Liu in private.
Milady, this testimony will make us Consort Wei's enemy.
There's no turning back!
Are you sure we can finish her off?
We've made a terrible mistake.
The Wei clan has greater clout in the army
than I have ever imagined.
she'll continue to be His Majesty's favourite.
Despite the evidence we have against her,
there's nothing we can do to her.
Then why did you ask me to write that testimony against Consort Wei?
It's part of her plan.
she wants to beat Consort Yang at her own game.
That's why right now,
I need you to write another testimony.
Good job!
With this testimony,
you'll be able to put her away for good.
That's easier said than done.
As long as Wei Yuancheng remains in Court,
Consort Wei will not fall from grace.
Though we may not uproot her,
at least His Majesty would reprimand her.
Perhaps this is the beginning of the downfall of Qianxiang Palace.
The testimony is just a piece of paper.
Because the Wei clan is on its way out.
We're just going with the flow.
His Majesty summons Your Highness to Ganlu Hall
for an update of the siyao Liu case.
Very well!
Greetings, Your Highness!
Ruyi, you're still here?
Pardon my impertinence for pestering you.
I really want to know
who laced the fan with poison.
siyao Liu didn't mention the fan.
she admitted she swapped the pipa chord on Consort Wei's order.
Follow me to Ganlu Hall to make a report to His Majesty.
We'll deal with the fan later.
The fan passed through my hands, yours and Consort Wei's.
We're all likely suspects.
We'll report to His Majesty and let him rule on it.
I'll follow your lead, Your Highness.
Consort Wei's plan is
for Consort Yang to present your earlier testimony to His Majesty,
while you write a second one
to prove her innocence.
It was Consort Yang who coerced you
to swap the pipa chord
and sabotage the Banquet.
Then I'll commit suicide because the dead tells no tales.
Then Consort Yang would have no way to prove her innocence.
Consort Yang does not have influence in Court that His Majesty dreads.
she'll be found guilty of
framing Consort Wei and sabotaging the Banquet.
she'll be completely finished.
Consort Wei made an incredible move to turn things around. Awesome!
Milady, you honestly believe in a year,
Consort Wei will let the Prince of Qi return to Chang'an?
she wouldn't do it even before she came to power.
When she has finished off Consort Yang
and has complete control of the harem,
why would she bother to keep her word?
Besides, I used the Banquet to blackmail her
when she's done using me, she'll come after me.
There's no turning back for us.
The only thing we can do now is to side with Consort Yang.
Then why didn't you tell her the truth?
Why did you follow Consort Wei's plan
and let Consort Yang go to Ganlu Hall?
Your Highness...
You're dismissed.
Qingxuan, Ruyi, follow me! Aye!
An urgent message from Consort Yin!
Your Highness, an urgent message from Consort Yin.
It takes good faith and strength to work with someone.
I pretend to go along with Consort Wei.
Then I save Consort Yang after she walks into the trap.
I want to tell Consort Yang,
I genuinely wish to be her ally.
In any case, this pawn will be discarded.
I'll kill myself after writing a new testimony,
and claiming full responsibility.
But I'm from Chenxi Palace.
Life won't be easy for you from now on.
If we want the Prince of Qi in Chang'an,
we must do Consort Yang a favour.
I made the wrong move and all is lost.
I was too anxious to be reunited with You'er
I turned against Consort Wei without a good grasp of the situation,
and ended up in this bind. I brought it upon myself.
And I must sacrifice you.
I feel really awful.
Please don't say that, Milady!
My life is yours.
It's worth it if I can die for you.
After I'm gone,
I doubt if the girls at Chenxi Palace can look after you properly.
Don't worry! I'll look after myself!
You must take good care of yourself
and prepare for the day the Prince of Qi returns to Chang'an.
Milady, please return to your chamber.
One last thing...
About Cairen Wu,
make her acquaintance if possible.
I think she may become useful someday.
Very well!
Greetings, Your Majesty!
At ease! Thank you, Your Majesty!
You're in the mood for a game of chess?
I'm glad you're here!
The result of this game is about to be revealed.
You've been working too hard for the Banquet
and on the investigation.
Did siyao Liu confess?
Your Majesty,
I've found out she swapped the chord
because 2 weeks ago,
she had a row with the musician.
Nobody put her up to it.
Nobody?
You seem to be jumping to conclusions.
Based on what we know, it's not far from the truth.
Your Majesty!
The suspect siyao Liu hung herself.
she left behind a testimony
admitting she acted on her own accord
because of a personal vendetta she had with the musician.
Now that she has been discovered, she was too ashamed
and decided to make up for it by taking her own life.
Considering the latest development,
I don't know what to do.
I await your wise decision on the matter.
since siyao Liu committed suicide out of guilt,
the case should come to an end.
since she was from Chenxi Palace,
Consort Yin is guilty of not disciplining her properly.
Cut her allowance by 30%.
starting tomorrow, she's to remain inside Chenxi Palace,
to repent her mistake.
That was a close call.
I trust you have questions for me?
Just now
why didn't you produce the evidence against Consort Wei?
Why would siyao Liu write an entirely different testimony
and kill herself out of guilt?
I don't understand the reason behind.
I urge you to enlighten me.
It's rather complicated.
The first testimony was a trap,
and I almost fell into it.
You handed me a note from Consort Yin,
and that note saved me.
Let's go back to the Attending Office
and I'll explain to you on the way.
I have double checked, Your Highness.
This is the body of siyao Liu.
Poor girl!
Give her a proper burial. Aye!
In this new testimony from siyao Liu
she claims full responsibility.
But if you read between the lines,
she insisted it was her own doing,
Consort Yin had nothing to do with it.
such a loyal and dedicated maid deserves our respect.
What a shame she chose the wrong side,
and let a heartless and irresponsible mistress
sacrificed her for no reason.
Your Highness!
Is she the kind of ally you want?
What you just said
was too harsh on Consort Yin.
she wasn't heartless, she was too weak to fend for herself.
How can she save anyone else?
You saw how wicked and vicious Consort Wei is.
For me to go up against her,
I need an ally like Consort Yin.
Rui'on! You're back!
Rui'on!
Do you know much about Consort Yin?
How much do you know about her past?
Consort Yin?
I heard her story from an old eunuch.
she's quite a tragic figure.
Your Highness, it's time to study.
Have you finished Compilation of Books on Governing Principles?
shifu,
one should not travel while his parents are alive
or at least tell them one's whereabouts.
Why is it my parents are in Chang'an
and I've lived in Qizhou all these years?
When you get older, you'll understand.
What does it have to do with age?
I'm a prince.
I'm still a prince even after the capping ceremony.
I can never be the Emperor.
Unless I become the Emperor
or I can never stay in Chang'an?
After the capping ceremony,
you can stay in Chang'an.
Is that what Minister Yin told you?
shifu,
I want to see my Mother every day.
This trip to Chang'an...
I'd like you to come with me.
Let's not come back, alright?
Consort Yin wanted you to read more.
When will you finish the Compilation of Books on Governing Principles?
It's me! It's you!
You're accompanying His Highness to Chang'an, Honourable Yin?
Of course!
You're ahead of schedule!
You're worried I'll tip off Chang'an
you're taking the Qizhou army with you?
Governor Quan is worthy of being the top wise man under Zhangsun Wuji.
You catch on fast!
If I were wise
I wouldn't let down my guard because of your ill health,
and let you fool me.
Your Highness, do you know what you're doing?
You're rebelling against Tang and your Father.
Winner takes all!
If I win, this won't be a rebellion.
That's a child's talk!
I've marked different pages for you.
I wish you well, and that someday
you'll finish reading the "Compilation".
shifu, if you pledge your allegiance, I can...
I'm ready!
Don't let me see him!
There's something I don't understand.
Even if you are to launch a surprise attack
the Qizhou army can't possibly fight its way to Chang'an.
Who says we have to fight?
something will happen in Chang'an.
If Li shimin was lucky enough to survive it,
it'd only mean the Prince of Qi and I was attending the capping ceremony.
If Li shimin is dead, the Qizhou army will be there to avenge him,
to rid the Emperor of evil courtiers and restore peace.
What?
Consort Yin's Father has done something to betray His Majesty.
All courtiers, including Chancellor Zhangsun
wanted to execute her whole family.
But His Majesty brought her to the Palace.
He was quite fond of her then.
They say
he often took her on a boat ride on the lake
But something happened afterwards...
Around the time the Prince of Qi was born,
His Majesty became indifferent towards her.
Then the Prince of Qi was sent to Qizhou,
and Consort Yin became friendly with Consort Wei.
The old eunuch told me
Consort Yin has been brushing up her cooking skills,
but has never offered any dishes to His Majesty.
It's as if she's afraid His Majesty wouldn't like them.
she would often cook a tableful of dishes
but end up tossing them away.
I see!
What did you say?
Nothing! I was just thinking
Behind Consort Yin's anxiety and indecisiveness
is a deep affection for His Majesty.
But His Majesty doesn't know.
Milady, Cairen Wu Ruyi wants to see you.
send her in! Aye!
A year ago at the anniversary of Empress Wende's death,
you gave me food.
I have yet to repay your kindness.
Perhaps I can tell His Majesty
the dishes you make are delicious
and well worth trying.
What do you mean by that?
Just because you did well at the Grand Assembly,
and His Majesty is quite fond of you
doesn't give you the right to gloat and mock me.
I just think your love is precious.
I only want to do something for you. I mean no harm.
Please reconsider my suggestion.
Wait!
It's lunch time.
If you're not worried the food is poisoned,
you're welcome to stay.
I'm not worried! It'd be rude to say no.
As spring turns into summer,
birds have flown and flowers have withered.
Green leaves turn into a different shade
in the hazy morning and setting sun.
You said before you came to the Palace
you were very fond of His Majesty's poems.
Now I recite them to you every day,
why wouldn't you answer me?
Green scales by the oar.
Black swallows dance before the canopy.
Why is it... Why is it that...
only Fenyang has the best mountain springs?
Greetings, Your Majesty! Get up!
How is she?
The doctor said she's in no danger,
but can't say when she'll wake up.
Must be hard for you, sire
You're so busy with the Grand Assembly
and yet you still worry about sis Hui.
Must be hard for you too, looking after her day and night.
Why did you recite my poems?
Before sis Hui came to the Palace,
your poems were already her favourite.
she can recite by heart all 56 poems you have written.
I've been thinking, if I read them to her,
maybe she'd wake up sooner.
You seem to know them well too.
You like my poems?
Tired?
Get some sleep.
No, someone must watch over her!
Your Majesty, how about...
we sit over here and have a chat?
Fine! About what? This...
sire, you're due at the Imperial study.
I want to stay a bit longer.
But there are reports to read.
The polo match is tomorrow,
you should get some rest.
How about... bring me the reports, I'll read them here.
Right away!
s i re!
I don't want anyone to know I'm here for this long.
Rest assured I'll make sure they keep their mouths shut.
Good!
You feel bad about Governor Quan?
While he was my tutor,
he was strict but kind to me.
Nothing great can be achieved without bloodshed.
Quan Wanji was spying for Zhangsun Wuji.
Our troops will be stationed on the outskirts of Qizhou,
he must have known about that.
You think we'll succeed, Uncle?
Don't worry,
you're going to Chang'an to be the Emperor.
You're awake?
You too, Your Majesty?
You fell asleep.
I decided to read my reports in here.
You're awake, sire?
Cairen Wu! What is it?
The polo match is about to start.
We're up against Mongolia.
Please watch it at the Plum Blossom Garden.
Let's go!
You want to watch?
I'd better not!
I think you can go.
But I must look after sis Hui.
Your Majesty, not only will Ruyi join you, so would I.
We must root for the Tang soldiers.
You're awake!
Good. Let's all go!
Yes!...Yes!...
Are you staring at a pretty girl?
Even this sweet pear can't shut you up!
Look, Milady!
Over there is Cairen Wu
who defeated Motsube Amamori at the Banquet.
They all say
she's an expert in ingratiating herself.
Even His Majesty is quite fond of her.
Luckily you caught the last day
and the most exciting day of the Grand Assembly.
It's the polo match during the day,
and at night,
we'll see the procession of the guards of various states at Chengtian Gate.
You'll know the meaning of
"All courtiers look up to Chang'an;
all states worship Tang".
Esteemed Tian Kehan,
there's something I don't understand.
I was told, inside this garden,
after the polo match,
we'll have a feast among chrysanthemums.
But as I look around me,
I see no flowers, despite the size of this garden.
Don't worry, Prince Mutu,
you will see chrysanthemums after the polo match.
3 years ago, the Prince of Wu beat me by 1 point.
Now, we're up against each other again in the finals.
I wonder who will win.
It's best you know your limitations.
If you remember you were beaten last time,
might as well admit your defeat now and skip the match.
speaking of the past,
who was the most frequent winner
in the past Assemblies?
What about 12 years ago,
when Tang and Mongolia went to war,
who was the winner then?
Horsemanship and skills can be proven, not argued.
The winner will be determined after a few rounds in the match.
Well said, Your Highness!
We prepared these for ourselves.
swallow them if things should go wrong.
Death will be instantaneous.
Torture during interrogation can be avoided.
This day is finally here.
The Prince of Qi and his troops are ready to strike,
and we should make our move.
Once Li shimin is dead,
without a leader and people are running scared.
Honourable Yin can lead the Prince of Qi into Chang'an
in the name of ridding the Emperor of evil courtiers.
Very well. Let's carry out the plan.
Bravo!
Block him! Yes!
Bravo!