You want me to kill Wu Meiniang?
she decided to kill the horse in a split second.
A woman like that holds me in awe.
Between the state and you, how would he choose?
Deep down, I understand
with or without my consent,
Wu Meiniang will be in grave danger.
I know what you will do to her.
she's likely to die a violent death,
get poisoned like Consort Yang, or commit a heinous crime.
Zhangsun Wuji is capable of anything
under the noble banner of protecting Tang.
And there's nothing I can do to you about it, am I right?
Your Majesty...
Be patient, Fuji!
I've come around.
Compared to the state, a woman is nothing.
You've made up your mind?
Let me make some arrangements.
When the insects awake and we go hunting in Lishan,
I'll put an end to this.
Your Majesty, I believe you'll make a wise decision.
Get the hell out!
I'll take my leave now.
What is that smell?
You like it, sire?
This Xianglong boshan incense is a mixture of nardostachys root, styrax
crushed naiduo and Iuozhi
plus a pinch of ambergris.
You've been up all night.
I'm worried about your health, so I lit this incense.
It can calm your nerves and clear your head.
It's time I pulled myself together.
Right! When shizicong went crazy,
it was so scary and it almost injured the Prince of Jin.
Luckily, Cairen Wu came forward or else...
Wu Meiniang's best friend in the Palace is Xu Hui, right?
That's right! It's Jieyu Xu.
Tell her to assist me in the Imperial study tomorrow.
Meiniang doesn't have to come anymore.
Yes, sire!
You're not practising calligraphy at the Imperial Library today?
so what if I could write like Wang Xizhi?
Jieyu Xu, by order of His Majesty,
you're summoned to the Imperial study to assist him.
Please come with me.
sis...
Rui'on, why are you mumbling?
They want me at the Imperial study now?
Just now...they summoned sis Xu to the Imperial study.
Good! Then I'll have time to finish the sky lantern.
Run along! Aye!
By the way, Rui'on...
Remember to tell Wang Gong-Gong,
to remind His Majesty
I'll wait for him by Jingchu Pond at 7 o'clock tonight.
We'll launch the sky lantern and make a wish.
Wang Gong-Gong just sent word
His Majesty wanted him to tell you,
starting today,
you need not go to the Imperial study anymore.
sire, Cairen Wu invited you to join her
at Jingchu Pond at 7 o'clock to launch the sky lantern and make a wish.
Very well.
Yes, sire!
You're done grinding the ink? start copying the memorials.
Your Majesty, the memorials you just approved,
I've finished copying them already.
That was quick!
Here's the new pile.
Nice handwriting.
You must have practised well.
Fleeting like a frightened bird, graceful like a swimming dragon.
I have always liked Wang Xizhi's running script.
It feels like a soft cloud covering the moon...
Graceful like drifting snow in the wind.
Nice analogy.
I've heard, you and Meiniang are very close.
You and Meiniang are head to head in terms of artistic talents.
No!
Meiniang has natural radiance.
I pale in comparison.
You flatter me, Your Majesty!
Don't be unduly humble.
But I get the impression
you cherish your words like gold. You don't talk enough.
That's because I'm always very nervous in your presence.
For as long as I've been in the Palace,
why else would I have spoken only 39 lines to you?
But up to this moment,
you have spoken 51 lines to me.
Milady!
His Majesty has stopped summoning Wu Meiniang into the Imperial study.
He stopped?
Good! My effort didn't go to waste!
Chun Ying! Yes?
Go to Ganlu Hall later.
Tell them I will prepare wine and a beauty tonight
and wait for His Majesty at Qianxiang Palace
Aye, Milady!
Bye the way,
last time we tried to frame Wu Meiniang with a bronze puppet
but someone leaked the secret.
I've found out the one who tipped off Xianling Palace.
It was one of our maids, Yuling.
Do not leave any loose ends.
send a message to the one in Xianling Palace,
if she tries any more monkey business,
she'll only humiliate herself.
Yes, Milady!
What is it?
Nothing.
spit it out!
sire...
we're about to pass by Jingchu Pond.
so?
Cairen Wu went there early.
she's been waiting for you.
Consort Wei also sent someone to invite you to dine in Qianxiang Palace.
Did I promise to go Qianxiang Palace?
You did, right after Consort Wei pleaded on behalf of Consort Yin.
His Majesty the Emperor!
Greetings, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
At ease! Thank you, Your Majesty!
I've prepared wine and food in the West Chamber.
I hope we can have a drink.
Good!
A toast to you, Your Majesty!
Here!
Your Majesty!
Cheers!
Your Majesty, have another drink with me.
Your Majesty!
Meiniang!
Your Majesty!
His Majesty went to Qianxiang Palace.
He's not coming tonight.
I see.
Why did His Majesty...
He may have unfinished business.
Looks like I'll have to launch the sky lantern by myself.
Your Majesty!
Zhangshi Yang! It's late...
Did something happen at Ganlu Hall?
Not Ganlu Hall, but Qianxiang Palace.
Qianxiang Palace?
Two things happened over there.
One, our spy Yuling was supposed to meet with me tonight.
she never showed up.
she's probably dead.
If that's the case, we must tie up the loose ends.
The second thing...
Consort Wei used Xiao Qiang to make His Majesty stay in Qianxiang Palace.
I've heard
His Majesty summoned Jieyu Xu to assist him in the Imperial study.
That's right.
Looks like shizicong did give him a hard time.
Milady, in my opinion
if we want to get Cairen Wu out of a bind,
we can try a new interpretation of the prophecy.
Aunt!
Where's His Majesty? Why did he leave?
He said he was busy.
Did you take the phoenix and unicorn pill?
Good!
Is His Majesty pleased with you?
I think so.
Chun Ying! Yes?
Cairen Xiao, drink these 3 bowls of medicine
What is this?
They can help you get pregnant.
Drink them while they're hot.
It's just one night, I won't get pregnant so soon.
That's why I told you to take the pill beforehand
and prepared this medicine for you.
In the days ahead, I'll arrange for you
to spend more time with His Majesty. Drink it now.
From today onwards,
pretend you're sick and move to the West Chamber of Qianxiang Palace.
I'll arrange for the doctor to prescribe something for you.
Your future is at stake. Nothing must go wrong.
Well?
Cairen Xiao's circulation and energy are both sufficient.
The timing is right for her to get pregnant.
I'll take her pulse daily and adjust her prescription
and report to you if she's pregnant.
I believe she will be very soon.
You may go!
I'll take my leave now, Your Highness!
Milady, if Cairen Xiao failed
and His Majesty doesn't want her around.
Yes!
Looks like on the first night,
she failed to impress His Majesty.
Impressing His Majesty
requires both innate skill and luck,
as well as careful planning.
Xiao Qiang is a spoilt child who is impetuous and saucy.
she's not cut out to live in the harem.
I have done all I could for her.
If she fails and His Majesty doesn't summon her again.
I'll have to give up!
Among the girls in the clan who are of age,
do we have other candidates?
You have two other nieces.
They're both 15 years old and have the potential.
Excellent!
Milady,
if we're helping Cairen Xiao to get pregnant,
why must we put on this show?
Xiao Qiang is undoubtedly spoilt.
Because she's my niece, she's had no regard for the rules.
I wanted to teach her a lesson
and make her understand
if she wants a future in Taiji Palace,
she must rely on me.
This is the only way.
Have you arranged for the rest?
Don't worry, Milady!
Everything is set.
All we need now is for Cairen Xiao to get pregnant.
Over the years,
imagine all the babies that perished in my hands.
I've done wrong!
By helping Xiang'er keep hers, I can perhaps atone for my crime.
Yes, Milady!
You may go!
Thank you, Your Majesty!
Father...greetings, Father!
Qingque, why are you here?
You seem exhilarated, what is it?
Father, since you wanted me
to set up a literary hall in my residence
I have been working very hard
with scholars in going through the classics
and have finally finished compiling this book.
Here's the list of contents of the Journal of Geography
for your review, Father.
The Journal of Geography is finished?
Yes!
Good! This is a great merit.
I'm very pleased.
I'll allow you to celebrate properly at your residence.
The Palace will pick up all expenses.
Feel free to bring up any requests.
Thank you, Father!
Get up! Go home and prepare.
Thank you, Father!
Your Highness!
What is it?
I have been desk-bound day and night
my back and legs are hurting. It's nothing.
Qingque, this won't do!
You slaved over the Journal of Geography at the expense of your health.
What will you do in the future?
You still have your life ahead of you.
You must exercise and train your body.
Understand?
Thank you, Father!
You may go!
save it! Goodbye...
Watch your back! Go!
Father!
Maybe I'll join the fun later.
Thank you, Father! Don't...
Run along!
Thank you, Father!
What about today?
sis Hui was summoned again today.
Greetings, Your Majesty!
There you are, Xu Hui!
Yes!
How many lines have I said?
This is No. 96.
You're still counting?
You're nice and so is your calligraphy.
I'm just wondering
why I haven't noticed you before?
Maybe it's because
I was always standing next to Meiniang.
Or maybe you're too used to containing your radiance.
Come...
Your Highness, I beg of you
to let me stay in Chengqing Hall a bit longer each day.
Get up, Meiniang!
What is this about?
Because...
I want to see His Majesty.
I've heard Jieyu Xu has been summoned lately to the Imperial study by day
and to spend the night at Ganlu Hall.
Even Xiao Qiang has spent the night.
No, I'm left out in the cold
not because of sis Hui or Xiao Qiang.
Please help me out, Your Highness.
I don't care what His Majesty is thinking,
I only want him to know what's on my mind.
This may sound silly, but except for Chengqing Hall,
I don't know where else I can go
before I can see His Majesty.
I can arrange for you to light the lights in Chengqing Hall,
what do you think?
That's perfect! Thank you, Your Highness!
Remember that day in the Imperial Garden
I told you
if there comes a day when things get out of control,
between the state and you
how would His Majesty choose?
I choose to trust His Majesty!
You still don't get it!
Why make His Majesty choose?
You'll be the sitting duck waiting for the axe to fall.
I've already put up a fight.
By loving him?
Don't forget, he's the Emperor.
He's not an ordinary man.
Compared to the state and those courtiers,
a woman carries no weight.
she's negligible.
Your Highness, what do you think I should do then?
Right now everyone is convinced you're the woman ruler named Wu.
What if they're wrong about the real interpretation?
The real interpretation?
The Crown Prince's misconduct is the talk of the town in Chang'an.
The future of a dynasty rides on the Crown Prince.
If Tang should end by its third generation,
the prophecy is actually directed against the Crown Prince. What do you think?
No, Your Highness!
I don't even believe there's a woman ruler named Wu,
and I also don't believe Tang will end by its third generation.
I refuse to save my own neck and frame the Crown Prince.
I'll find my own way to prove my innocence.
Thank you, Your Highness! Goodbye...
Your...
What is it? say it!
Normally, right now
Meiniang should be here with you, right?
Yes!
she would have waited on you last night too?
That's right!
Your Majesty, I know Meiniang too well.
she loves you with all her heart.
If she has done anything to offend you,
I'm sure she didn't mean it.
You're becoming talkative. That's good!
I know you're very close.
That's why at a time like this,
you will speak up for her.
That proves I was right about you.
But who I dote on and who I pick to sleep with me is my business.
Understand?
Yes, Your Majesty! Please forgive me!
Get up! I'm not a tiger!
Don't look so scared!
Come here, grind the ink for me.
Aye!
It's 9 o'clock.
Just now, Cairen Xiao has been summoned to Ganlu Hall.
Don't wait anymore. His Majesty is not coming.
I'll wait 2 more hours and I'll go back to Qingning Palace.
It's been 5 days.
What if he still doesn't come?
There's still day 6 and day 7.
I'll be here every night to light the lights
I'm sure he'll be here one day.
Now that you're by my side,
don't see Meiniang anymore. Understand?
I understand.
Your Majesty, Cairen Wu just sent this.
Your Majesty,
I told you my long-cherished wish
was to cook you a sumptuous meal
and dance Prince Lanling in Battle for you.
Though the meal is not cooked, the dance is ready.
Every night at 7:00 in Chengqing Hall,
I hope to be able to wear the mask again.
I humbly await your presence.
she wants me to go to Chengqing Hall?
she's deluding herself, as if nothing has happened.
How insensible!
As much as I like Prince Lanling in Battle,
I will never see her again.
If she writes another letter, just leave it on the desk.
Aye!
Don't wait anymore!
Do you know what the Palace maids are calling you behind your back?
They call you... Crazy Cairen!
They call me Crazy Cairen, right?
They say I've gone crazy waiting for him every day.
I'm out of my mind, right?
If you knew, what's the point?
You should know, His Majesty is not coming.
Even if you waited 1,000 nights,
even if you could dance Prince Lanling in Battle better than Empress Wende,
His Majesty is not coming.
Rui'on, go get some rest if you're tired.
I want to wait, His Majesty will come.
Wake up, will you?
I know you yearn for the time
when His Majesty doted on you.
That was then, this is now.
Consort Liu and Consort Yin had their heyday.
Look what happened to them.
I'm worried you'll follow their footsteps.
I'd rather go like them.
If I had nothing to live for anymore,
inside this enormous harem,
I'd be like the walking dead, dragging out my meagre existence.
That's the fate of the women inside the harem.
They live and die for His Majesty.
Go back, Rui'on!
I want to be here alone.
I...
I'll be fine. Don't worry!
Aye!
We'll take our leave, Your Majesty!
Fuji!
sire?
You have something to say?
I'm afraid...never mind!
It's something petty.
Xu Hui, you may go!
I'll take my leave, Your Majesty!
Now you can tell me.
Your Majesty!
I heard, Cairen Wu has been lighting lights
in Chengqing Hall each night.
You're worried I'll cave in?
Don't be. I won't go there.
I know being nice to her
will only make her life more difficult.
Just like, if I hadn't given her shizicong,
shizicong would have stayed alive.
and you wouldn't have had an excuse to crucify her, right?
Fuji, over the years,
you and I have seen enough deaths.
I just don't have the heart to look at
her clear, unwavering, innocent
and wide bright eyes.