You yearn for the time His Majesty doted on you.
But that was then, this is now.
Even if you wait 1,000 nights,
even if you can dance Prince Lanling in Battle better than Empress Wende,
His Majesty is not coming.
The fate of the women in the harem is to live and die for His Majesty.
I know being nice to her
will only make her life more difficult.
A woman may truly love you
but that doesn't mean she won't threaten Tang in the future.
They say life is full of surprises.
That's why however reluctant you may be, you must part with something you treasure
Right! It's not happening to you!
Get up!
You finally came to see me!
I was just curious.
You knew why I ignored you.
Yet you persisted in trying to see me again,
cook for me and dance for me.
What's the point?
I know why you're ignoring me.
But I hope you'll understand
no matter how you treat me,
whether nicely or terribly,
to me, my love for you
is my own business.
People and things I came across...
as long as they actually happened,
even for a brief moment,
to me, it's forever.
In that case, tomorrow morning at 9:00,
come over to Ganlu Hall
and do Prince Lanling in Battle for me.
You may get your wish.
Tomorrow morning at 9:00, come over to Ganlu Hall
and do Prince Lanling in Battle for me.
You may get your wish.
How did she do?
Very well!
I'm asking how does she compare to you?
What do you mean?
I only wanted to tell you
you claimed your version of Prince Lanling in Battle was unique,
but to me, anyone can do this dance.
It doesn't matter who's behind the mask.
sis Hui?
Jieyu Xu is not a gifted dancer,
but she practised hard just so that she could do this dance for me.
How much effort she put in
is unimaginable to most people.
In this harem, as long as I want it,
anyone is willing to put in this kind of effort, understand?
I see! From now on,
I will not bother you anymore.
the most brilliantly painful goodbye?)
(Just let the tales and rumours fly!
Your Majesty, I understand what you're thinking,
and I don't blame you.
I have been in the Palace for so long,
this is the first time I feel useful to you.
I love you no less than Meiniang.
You have awarded to me
much more than any other concubines.
I'm grateful, but what I want
is not any form of reward.
What more do you want?
I want to be like Meiniang,
and keep you company all the time,
share your troubles and make you happy.
That's all I ask.
Your Majesty...Oh no!
Your Majesty, Cairen Wu...
What about her?
she threw herself into Jingchu Pond.
What do you think, Dr Zhou?
I think her pulse...
Give me straight answers.
Will Cairen Wu be out of danger if we do this?
Your Highness, Cairen Wu was in the rain and water for too long.
The cold air has damaged her energy channels and circulation,
plus she suffers from depression.
I'm trying to use eucommia bark,
codonopsis root and astragalus root
to make this bath for her in the dragon pool.
We hope Heaven will watch over her...
We wish her the best of luck!
Luck? Are you saying
Wu Meiniang's life is up to the gods?
Forgive my incompetence, Your Majesty!
Are the herbs ready?
Yes, they are ready.
Fine! You may go!
Thank you, Your Majesty!
You should all go too! Aye!
Your Majesty, the doctors are doing their best!
Please give them some time.
I believe Cairen Wu will be fine.
I understand.
Also, please forgive me for taking it upon myself
to take Cairen Wu to Ganlu Hall, I'm afraid...
You did the right thing. I know what you're thinking.
You may go!
Yes, Your Majesty!
Withered after a full bloom? Dead already?
Can't wait for me to cut you off?
Forget it!
And you...
Don't be so smug because you're pretty.
You're an eyesore!
Milady, I heard Wu Meiniang is awake.
Don't be upset! This is your favourite flower!
I'll have it replanted right away.
Why bother? It's already dead!
I'm sorry I said the wrong thing and upset you.
Please don't be mad! I'm sorry...
Wu Meiniang is alive!
His Majesty held her in his arms to give her warmth!
send a message for me to the Prince of Wei.
Tell him to kill Wu Meiniang as soon as possible.
Yes, Milady!
Meiniang, you're awake?
Your Highness!
Great!
Careful! Bring her medicine!
Your Highness!
Meiniang, you were seriously ill!
Are you so depressed
you intended to kill yourself?
I may be unhappy,
but I'm not stupid enough to commit suicide.
I was in the rain too long and passed out unknowingly.
I always thought you're not an ordinary woman.
You're not the kind who'd scream and throw a fit.
Anyone else would have done that,
but definitely not you.
Yet you chose to hurt yourself.
You really shouldn't have!
Thank you for your guidance. You're right.
I won't do something so stupid again.
Do you know His...
the doctors worked very hard to keep you alive.
His Majesty?
His Majesty came to see me?
No!
You're lying, right?
When I was half-conscious
I felt he came to see me.
When my mind was wandering, I felt I was in Ganlu Hall.
He was here? Tell me, Your Highness! Was he here?
Meiniang, the important thing for you to do is to get well.
This will be the biggest consolation for His Majesty.
Your Majesty!
Meiniang!
Hurry! Fetch her a coat!
Well? Tell me the truth! I pardon you.
Allow me to be honest, Your Majesty!
Cairen Wu was inflicted with extreme coldness
and needed the steam bath.
But you're in good health,
you could not stand the steam.
Now there's too much heat in your body.
It'll take time for you to recuperate.
That's it? From the look on your face,
I thought I had a terminal illness.
Prescribe something and you may go.
Yes, Your Majesty! Go!
Thank you, Your Majesty!
I don't understand, Your Majesty!
You and Cairen Wu...why torture yourself?
You may go too!
Yes, sire!
Greetings, Cairen Wu!
Dr Xie, what are you doing here?
Is His Majesty sick?
You're barely out of danger,
you need bed rest, you shouldn't...
I'm fine, how is His Majesty?
Is he sick?
Cairen Wu!
Wang Gong-Gong!
What's with you?
I wish to see His Majesty!
Gong-Gong, please help me!
Can you tell His Majesty I'm here?
His Majesty left word, he doesn't want to see anyone.
Just one glimpse...please?
Don't, please! This is not proper...
Well...
Alright!
Your Majesty, was that you?
I could sense it was you.
But they said "no".
When I was half-conscious,
I felt as if you were holding me in your arms
and we sank to the bottom of the lake.
so far down it felt like
we were the only ones left in the world.
Your Majesty, I finally realised
you're keeping your distance because you were afraid.
Yes, you're the great Tian Kehan.
How can you get entangled with a little woman like me?
Your Majesty, let me dance for you.
You really don't care who's behind the mask?
Or because it doesn't matter who it is,
all you can see is Wu Meinaing?
Congratulations, Your Highness!
The Journal of Geography has 550 volumes,
It's a gift to you! Good...
Feel free to share your comments.
Completing the Journal
was not my work alone.
All thanks to the scholars of the Literary Hall.
Chancellor Chu!
Your Highness!
Have a drink, Chancellor!
Chancellor Fang is over there.
He was asking about you.
I'm late in conveying my congratulations!
This commission is a major contribution.
Like Lu's Annals, the Journal of Geography
will go down in history and benefit our descendants.
You flatter me, Chancellor!
Father was ill a few days ago,
and had me worried sick.
I was really not in the mood to celebrate.
But Father is getting better now.
I thought I'd have the celebration to bring good luck,
and give Father something to be happy about.
Your filial piety
is more precious than the Journal.
Of course not! This way, please!
After you!
Please go in, Chancellor!
Your Highness, I sent the invitation to the Crown Prince,
but it was intercepted by Chengxin.
He's still in the Eastern Palace.
Keep sending someone over. Find someone smart.
We must maneuver the time we notify Father.
It shouldn't be too early, or too late.
I know! Everything is under control.
Chengxin!
Have a drink with me!
stop!
Your Highness! stop him!
Your Highness, the Prince of Wei sent us. We have a message for you.
Let them get up!
They're trespassing, Your Highness!
I said, let them get up!
Greetings, Your Highness!
What are you doing here?
Your Highness, Milord is celebrating
the completion of the Journal of Geography.
He wants to invite you to his mansion to join the celebration.
We tried to deliver the invitation 3 days ago,
but we were intercepted each time.
I see.
I was acting on my own. Please punish me!
You can go!
Will you be coming, Your Highness?
The celebration will last all night.
At 7 o'clock tonight,
we'll have fireworks and dancers from the Western Regions.
Get out!
I'm sorry! We'll take our leave now!
Chengxin!
Is the Prince of Wei's mansion in this direction?
Yes!
If I look over that way,
I can see the fireworks.
You could stop the servants from delivering the invitation,
but you couldn't stop the fireworks.
I could have curtains put up to block out the fireworks.
That's nothing but self-deception!
Even if we can't see the fireworks, they are still in the sky.
I can see the fireworks already in the sky above Prince of Wei's mansion.
The brilliance of each explosion is just like Qingque's smile.
The curtains could cover my eyes,
but not my heart.
And definitely not the glory of the Prince of Wei's mansion.
Your Highness, I'm sorry I interrupted your drinking mood.
I don't blame you, life is full of setbacks.
Chengxin, what do you think of Qingque's attitude towards me?
He's your blood brother.
I think he respects you.
Really?
Your Highness, do you know who your real enemy is in the Court?
When he found out about your injury,
he was so heart-broken he fainted.
Everyone in Chang'an is praising him for his big heart.
You want to visit him? Don't!
You won't stop me if you understand me.
Fine! I'll go with you.
sire...we have trouble!
Why are you panicking?
sire, we just got word,
the Crown Prince is drunk.
He's on his way to the Prince of Wei's mansion with his men.
It appears he's looking for trouble.
Chancellor Fang!
Chancellor Chu!
His Highness the Crown Prince!
Welcome, Your Highness!
save it! You have quite a celebration!
I came to have a drink! Enjoy yourselves!
Thank you, Your Highness!
save it!
You grace us with your presence,
I feel so honoured.
I'm most grateful...
As the host, where are your manners?
I've been here long enough.
Don't you have a cup of wine for me?
Am I not welcome here?
Please forgive me! Bring the wine!
Father gave me a tough job of compiling a book.
I'm glad you're here to give me some pointers.
Here's a toast to you!
Pointers?
The book is finished. It's over and done.
What pointers do you need?
Just like this bum leg I have,
it's too late.
This cup is a toast to my leg!
Maybe the smell of ink from this book will rub off onto it.
Congratulations!
Good job!
His Majesty the Emperor!
Father?
Greetings, Father! Your Majesty!
This is outrageous! In front of all the courtiers,
you have a gift of humiliating me!
I didn't know you're coming.
Forgive me for not greeting you.
Is this how you behave as the Crown Prince?
Please contain your anger, Father!
The Crown Prince came to congratulate me.
He means no harm.
Qingque, this is so unfair to you!
sire? Wang De!
Read the edict! Aye!
By the order of His Majesty, to Li Tai, the Prince of Wei...
At your service!
Discipline is a matter of habit, learning has nothing to do with age.
One may be born smart,
but still must keep learning to become someone useful.
According to the Book of Rites, jade must be polished,
like men must be educated.
A man devoted to learning has moral excellence.
In appreciation of Li Tai's hard work
in compiling the Journal of Geography, he is hereby awarded 3,000 taels of silver
and allowed to expand the Literary Hall within his mansion
and recruit learned scholars.
Thank you, Father!
Your Highness!
I'll take my leave now.
Thank you, Gong-Gong!
Get up, Father is gone!
Your Highness...
What? His Highness started a row at the Prince of Wei's mansion
and was reprimanded by His Majesty in public?
Yes!
Was Chengxin with him?
Yes!
If this goes on, His Highness will be in big trouble!
I must stop him from ruining his future.
You must show discretion in what you say and do.
Knowing His Highness, except for Chengxin
he won't listen to anyone.
Milady,
didn't you say earlier
you wish to meet with Cairen Wu?
Yes, I wanted to ask her
how one can win a man's heart.
I overheard what Wei Zheng said to the Crown Prince the other day.
Cairen Wu may be able to help the Eastern Palace.
After the hunting trip to Lishan,
arrange for me to meet with her.
Aye!
Meiniang, the horse...
I've tamed shizicong.
Don't worry. It won't hurt you!
I want you, not shizicong!
Your Majesty, let's go away.
Let's leave Taiji Palace.
Leave Chang'an, alright?
Come with me, Your Majesty!
Let's go away together. Come...
Your Majesty...
Meinaing!
Meiniang!
You fell asleep, sire!
Is today the Waking of Insects?
Yes, sire!
summon Cairen Wu to accompany me to Lishan.
Aye, I'll do that right away!
Wang Gong-Gong came by,
His Majesty wants you to go with him to Lishan.
Jieyu Xu!
Lin Gong-Gong! What have you heard?
Your name is not on the list.
Really?
Here's something for you.
Please accept it.
You're too kind, Jieyu Xu!
Did you find out who else is going to Lishan?
several princes and princesses...
Consort Yang from Xianling Palace was supposed to go,
but she hasn't been feeling well and has declined.
Cairen Wu is going too.
Meiniang?
Your Highness!
What is it?
His Majesty gave his order to go hunting in Lishan tomorrow.
I've been waiting long enough! It's time to go!
His Majesty wants you to study,
so you need not go with him.
What do you wish to tell me, Mother?
The Palace seems quite peaceful lately,
but I have a feeling
something will happen on the hunting day.
Remember Cairen Wu?
Make sure you stay close to her
especially during the hunting.
Don't let her out of your sight!
You told me earlier to stay away from her.
Why do you want me to protect her now?
Don't ask. Just do it!
I'll explain it to you later.
Yes!
Bravo!
His Highness is agile and strong!
Again!
Are you alright, Your Highness?
I'm fine! Help me up!
starting tomorrow, we'll go hunting outside Chang'an.
I don't care for Lishan.
Drink up!
Pour me a drink!
Your Highness!
No? I'm not leaving until I've had a blast!
I'm not on the list?
Are you sure His Majesty didn't ask for me?
Are you sure?
He did not!
But he summoned Wu Meiniang!
No, I can't wait any longer!
I want to see His Majesty!
I want him to see me!
No, Cairen Xiao! Consort Wei said
you're not allowed to leave Qianxiang Palace.
How dare you stand in my way!
Where are you going?
Aunt!
Aunt...I want to see His Majesty!
Go ahead!
Thank you, Aunt!
You idiot!
All you can think of is to fight for a man's favour.
As soon as you heard Wu Meiniang is going to Lishan,
you're burning with anxiety.
Or you think you already have
what it takes to rule the harem,
you need not pay any attention to me?
Don't be upset,
I worship you like the gods.
It's just that I think it's so unfair.
Don't be so foolish again!
You must listen to me.
You're not fit for a long trip
and this is not the right time to see His Majesty.
Trust me, you'll see him soon!
By then, Xu Hui or even Wu Meiniang
will be left behind in the dust.
I will listen to you, Aunt!