If Qiang'er dies from excessive blood loss after giving birth,
who will most likely become the mother of that poor child?
Kill my own baby and then fasten the blame on her?
If you can harden your heart and take a chance,
even though the chance is very slim, you might be able to start a new life.
If you don't take a chance, you will die.
I brought the pastry because I thought you'd behave properly like a mother-to-be,
but you are still rude and disrespectful.
Wenniang, let's go.
I don't need your so-called kindness!
You're jealous of my pregnancy.
Go and have a baby if you can!
How dare you come to Qianxiang Palace and be presumptuous like that!
Jieyu Xu, she invited you over, and you kindly accepted her invitation,
but she vented her anger on you and ordered you to leave!
she has gone too far!
Jieyu, why are you still preparing these valuable gifts?
These are rewards from His Majesty! You think they're too precious to eat!
I shouldn't have aggravated Xiao Qiang by saying something inappropriate.
she's pregnant after all. If it caused any harmful effects on the child,
how could I explain it to His Majesty?
Jieyu, you're too kind-hearted. You always put others first.
This is obviously Jieyu Xiao's fault.
Actually Xiao Qiang is not a bad person. she's just a little overbearing.
Wenniang, we don't have anyone in the Harem.
I'd rather be called a toady than make an enemy.
I think we ought to offer gifts, but at the moment whether you go or I go,
either of us is likely to get thrown out along with the gifts.
Jieyu, can we ask Consort Yang a favour?
Absolutely not.
Consort Yang never gets along with Consort Wei.
We would be making things difficult for her.
sis Hui.
Meiniang, what brings you here?
I heard you went to Qianxiang Palace to visit Xiao Qiang.
Bad news travels fast. so you already knew.
I meant no harm when I went to visit her,
but it still ended in a fight and I was ordered to leave.
Rui'an, come here! Come and help me out!
Hurry up!
Look!
Why did you stop here? What if the two ladies can't find us?
Don't you worry! When I was passing by, I saw a falling egg!
Thank goodness I caught it in time! Please help me put it back!
It won't take long!
Also, the two ladies have a kind heart! Perhaps they will reward us if they know!
It's so high!
Coward! I'll find someone else!
Wait! Who are you calling a coward?
Tree climbing is no big deal!
I knew you were wronged in Qianxiang Palace, so I came to see if you were all right.
You know Xiao Qiang has a bad temper. Don't let it bother you.
Actually it's partially my fault.
You know Xiao Qiang. she's not an evil person.
she did have disputes with you back then
but she was just being instigated by Consort Wei.
Perhaps she invited me over to mend the rift between us, but I ruined it.
I heard you have prepared gifts for her.
If you feel uncomfortable going, I can help you.
Absolutely not.
she've had disputes with you.
What if you ruffle her feathers again? It's better if you don't go.
Have you forgotten? I'm not the impudent Ruyi I used to be.
After all that's happened, there's nothing I can't tolerate.
Don't worry, I know what I'm doing.
Right, you're no longer the same Ruyi I used to know.
I'd appreciate it if you could help me.
It's a gesture of courtesy,
but whether we can mend the rift, let's just see how it goes.
And here's a scented sachet filled with anti-abortifacient ingredients.
Please give it to her.
It smells good.
You're just too sweet.
Be careful! Be careful!
Yes, keep going!
To the right!
You did it! You did it!
Be careful!
It's a piece of cake!
Be careful! Come on!
Are you tired? Look, your hat is falling off.
Wenniang, you're so kind.
Don't sweet talk me! It took you the whole morning to climb up that tree!
You're so clumsy!
Your Highness, our original plan was to kidnap Chengxin's mother
and then blackmail Chengxin into attacking the Crown Prince,
but the Crown Prince has personally killed Chengxin!
someone informed me that shortly after Chengqian took his head.
Then what should we do?
sit down. Come here, I'll show you.
If we make a fire under the cage,
the heat will make the quails go back and forth between the two sides
to drink the juice until they die from exhaustion.
The quails grilled this way are tender, juicy, and evenly done.
Definitely a delicacy.
sounds like you already have a plan.
Is Chengqian on his way to Chang'an?
The Crown Prince packed lightly and left for Liuyun Temple in Mount Mang
to pray for blessings on His Majesty's expedition.
Good. Here, give this letter to the Crown Princess.
But don't let her know the letter is from us.
What does that have to do with the Crown Princess?
You're thinking...
Hurry up and get ready.
Yes.
Your Highness, why have we brought Chengxin's belongings here?
It's been on my mind for a while.
I'm curious to know what kind of person Chengxin was.
Why was His Highness so nice to him?
Your Highness, that night His Highness and Chengxin drank together
using this pot and cup set.
What do you think His Highness and Chengxin talked about that night?
I'm clueless.
Perhaps I'll never know, but it doesn't matter anymore,
because Chengxin no longer exists in this world.
Perhaps after His Highness comes back from Liuyun Temple,
I'll be the one to drink wine with him at night.
Absolutely, Your Highness.
Your Highness, a eunuch just came to deliver a letter
and said it's regarding His Highness so you must open it personally.
How's that possible?
Your Highness?
Do you recall seeing the eunuch who delivered this letter?
That eunuch left in a hurry. I didn't recognise him.
You're dismissed.
Yes.
Help me prepare a carriage. I need to make a trip.
Where to, Your Highness?
Mount Mang.
Your Highness, a while ago sis Hui and Jieyu Xiao had a dispute.
sis Hui felt ashamed and uneasy.
she prepared some tonics for pregnancy and asked me to bring them over.
Please accept them, Jieyu Xiao.
That's very kind of you two.
But I remember when you first came here, you were not very close to Qiang'er.
There has been some misunderstanding between Jieyu Xiao and us.
so I came here today to offer our apologies.
We're hoping to resolve our disputes by peaceful means.
Cairen Wu, you seem to have a better understanding of politics and etiquette.
However, you might not know the rules here in Qianxiang Palace.
No food from the outside is allowed in the Palace.
Aunt, it's very kind of Cairen Wu and Jieyu Xu.
At least we should take a look.
sure, I guess it won't hurt.
Cairen Wu, I appreciate your kindness.
My aunt helps prepare my daily meals, so you don't have to worry, Cairen Wu.
Chun Ying, throw everything away.
Qiang'er, it's time to rest. I should be going now.
Cairen Wu, you should go too.
Goodbye.
Your Highness, this is just an ordinary-looking pasture.
It can be seen anywhere in Mount Mang. What are we here for?
If you want to see His Highness, we can go to Liuyun Temple.
Quiet.
That's His Highness's horse!
Your Highness.
He...He's supposed to be dead!
Your Highness!
Chengxin, how dare you prompt His Highness to deceive His Majesty!
Very well...
Your Highness!
Where is Cairen Wu?
I'm afraid I don't know, Your Highness.
When she comes back, tell her to see me immediately. Understand?
Yes, Your Highness.
Cairen Wu! Cairen Wu!
Now we need her advice more than ever! Where is she?
Let's go back.
Meiniang is off to Qianxiang Palace to visit Jieyu Xiao.
she won't be back anytime soon. Your Highness, what is this regarding?
It's you, Jieyu Xu.
I came to visit Cairen Wu on the spur of the moment.
since she's not here, I shall come again next time.
Your Highness, you look anxious.
You must have something urgent to discuss with Meiniang.
It's nothing urgent. You have the wrong idea, Jieyu.
The harder you try to hide, the more serious it seems.
Perhaps it's something related to His Highness, the Crown Prince?
You and I barely know each other. Why are you so concerned about me?
It was rude of me to make a baseless assumption.
Your Highness, I understand why you have doubts, but I mean no offence.
I want to help you only because Meiniang is like a sister to me.
Meiniang's friends are also my friends.
Your Highness, I hope you don't mind.
If it's nothing serious, I should be leaving.
Wait.
Cairen Wu always talks about you in front of me.
she says your wisdom is beyond hers and you are the person she trusts the most.
I think I can trust you.
Your Highness, what is it you need to talk to Meiniang about?
It's related to Chengxin. He isn't dead. His Highness is hiding him in Mount Mang.
This is unbelievable.
Your Highness, are you sure this is true?
I went to Mount Mang and saw him personally! It can't be wrong!
In other words, His Highness has deceived His Majesty!
Exactly! I was filled with rage!
I had a burning urge to help His Majesty kill Chengxin!
But then I thought if I did that, it'd prove His Highness guilty.
so I held myself back. Also, the informant was an unidentified eunuch.
Certainly that eunuch can also reveal Chengxin's whereabouts to His Majesty.
When this happens, it will be too late!
What should I do?
Your Highness, don't panic.
What we need to do
is help His Highness patch up his lie before His Majesty finds out.
If Chengxin is indeed dead, His Highness will be safe.
Dead?
Right! You're absolutely right!
But how can I kill Chengxin?
I don't have anyone to help me with killing.
Killing is men's work. We should stay out of this.
All we have to do is tell Honourable Wei Zheng the whole truth.
I believe we can leave the rest to him.
You're right. I'll have someone invite Honourable Wei over immediately.
Wait.
I perform duties in the Imperial study,
so I know each official's schedule for handling state affairs in the Palace.
In two hours,
Honourable Wei will enter the Imperial study through Thousand-step Corridor.
send someone there to inform Honourable Wei and then meet him in a secluded place.
That should do it.
A secluded place?
How about near the pagoda tree in the Imperial Garden?
sure.
Let me arrange it.
I'm so glad I ran into you.
All of us in the Eastern Palace are grateful for your help.
Please hurry.
Don't blame me. Just blame yourself for siding with her.
Cairen Wu, Her Highness the Crown Princess was here.
she said she needed to talk to you about something urgent.
Where is Her Highness now?
I'm not sure.
Meiniang, Rui'an. sis.
His Highness the Crown Prince didn't kill Chengxin but hid him in Mount Mang.
What? You mean His Highness is off to Mount Mang to see Chengxin?
sis, how did you find out?
Her Highness the Crown Princess told me.
I advised her to find Honourable Wei Zheng.
The only way to solve the crisis is to kill Chengxin before His Majesty finds out.
It would be best.
But why are you so sure His Majesty will soon find out Chengxin is still alive?
Because Her Highness told me
an unidentified eunuch gave her a letter to inform her of Chengxin.
His Highness thought his plan was flawless. He didn't know he was being monitored.
The purpose of that letter was to aggravate Her Highness,
tempt her to inform His Majesty, and kill with a borrowed knife.
Once they realise Her Highness is not on the hook,
I believe they will inform His Majesty directly.
In that case, before Honourable Wei ends it with Chengxin,
we must stop the news from reaching His Majesty.
Exactly.
sis, is His Majesty in the Administration Hall?
That's right, but His Majesty will soon be at the Imperial study to read the memoranda
Good. Let's split up.
I'll stay with His Majesty in the Administration Hall.
You'll be on duty in the Imperial study.
When His Majesty arrives, you must block the news about Chengxin at all costs.
That's the only way.
Purslane?
Fang Gong-Gong, I need to see His Majesty urgently.
You're late.
Today's discussions have ended. His Majesty is on his way to the Imperial study.
What?
Thank you.
Honourable Wei.
Honourable Wei, Her Imperial Highness has something urgent to discuss with you.
Please meet her under the pagoda tree in the Imperial Garden.
I see.
Today is an easy day. Only 30 percent of the normal workload.
I have finished reading and copying everything.
I haven't eaten this nectar soup yet. You can have it.
Your Majesty, I'd rather watch you eat.
We are offering each other a bowl of soup, as if we were a poor family.
You're joking, Your Majesty.
so, what shall we do next?
Actually I've always had a wish
to take a relaxing walk with you in the Imperial Garden one day.
sure, why not?
I can grant your wish today.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Let's go.
If my memory serves me right, the pagoda tree should be over there.
I've been walking casually and paying no attention to directions.
Are you sure that was really Chengxin?
I'm sure. That must be Chengxin.
But he's already dead.
He's still alive. He's disguising himself as a Western shepherd, hiding in Mount Mang.
His Highness deceived us!
No! He was fooled by Chengxin's sweet words!
Honourable Wei, as the Grand Tutor, you must stand up for me!
Kill that evil man Chengxin for bewildering His Highness!
Please stand up, Your Highness.
I will find a solution for this matter. Rest assured.
Your...
Meiniang!
His Majesty suddenly decided to go to the Imperial Garden! I couldn't stop him!
He already knows everything!
I used to have a wish. If I became the Crown Prince one day,
I'd lead tens of thousands of horsemen around the city for a grand hunt.
Come to think of it, it's such a silly idea.
Years of hunting are nothing more satisfying than these few days of herding.
You have taken a great risk for me. It's not worth it.
Don't worry. I stay at Liuyun Temple an hour every day.
I spend the rest of my time in the Zen room chanting sutras and praying for my father.
No one will know I've come out to meet you.
Mount Mang is too close to Chang'an. I can't help worrying.
The more dangerous it seems, the safer it is.
My father and Wei Zheng couldn't have thought
I used a substitute to save you and hid you in the outskirts of Chang'an.
If you rushed back home, we might get in trouble.
According to my informant, some strangers have appeared near your mother's house.
Just stay a little longer and have some fun with me.
After a few days, I'll go back to Chang'an and be a capable Crown Prince.
You'll go back to Mongolia, be a shepherd, and never come back again.
Chengxin, we didn't become close friends until later.
Do you know why I chose you among all the slaves and freed you?
I'm not an educated man,
but I do know everything in this world happens for a reason.
I've always wondered why you've been so kind and generous to me.
Because you remind me of someone. My childhood playmate.
Childhood playmate? How old is he now?
Three years younger than me, but he's gone.
Who is he?
His name is Chengxun.
You do resemble him. I noticed it the moment I saw you.
He's not only one.
Chengdao, Chengde, Chengming, and Chengyi. They are all gone.
You mean they...
Yes, they all died.
On the day of the Xuanwu Gate Incident,
they were all killed by my father and the Imperial Guards.
They're all gone.
It's been a long time. You should let it go for your own sake.
Here.
The harder I try to forget it, the more I remember.
Chengxun is gone. I can't stand to see you die.
Even if it costs me everything, I must protect you.
Your Highness.
Put this down too. Yes.
Your Highness.
Is that where Mount Mang is located?
Yes.
The weather is lovely today.
I hope everything goes well and no problem arises today.
Rest assured, Your Highness.
This time we have had it all planned out. There shouldn't be any problems.
Good, that's wonderful.
All these years I've never felt so relaxed before!
Of course, this is also the saddest day of my life.
We're brothers after all.
If anything happens to Chengqian, it will be very hard for me.
Your Highness, since it's all fated, you shouldn't be sad.
Your Highness, my mother asked me to give you this box of dried dates.
she made them herself. she thought you might like to try some.
How sweet of her.
All these years you've been so generous to my mother.
The money and gifts you offered have helped my mother get better.
she always reminds me to show our gratitude
by exerting myself to the utmost to assist you until I...
That's enough.
You're like a brother to me.
Let's drop the formalities.
You may go. I need some time alone.
so you're Chengxin?
Yes, Your Majesty.
Chengxin! Chengxin...
Raise your head and look at me.
Have I seen you before?
Your Majesty, I have seen you before but you didn't notice me.
What do you have to say for yourself?
It's all my fault! His Highness has nothing to do with it!
At this point, it's too late to play the good and faithful servant.
I'm not His Highness's servant! We are friends!
Friends?
You have stained Chengqian's reputation and prompted him to deceive me!
Is that what friends do?
Even the great Tian Kehan can be so shallow!
In a world full of filth, we can only keep a pure and clear conscience!
Why bother wasting time and energy to explain to those mediocre people
what it means to have a bosom friend?
Hearing how you defend yourself against me, I see the talent in you,
but the Crown Prince of the Tang dynasty can't be burdened by someone like you.
Chengxin!
Your Highness, don't come here! Run!
Chengxin! Chengxin!
Watch out!
Chengxin!
I'll kill you!
stop!
You want to kill me because of a valet?
Just blame me all you want! Why did you kill Chengxin?
Why did you lie to me? That worthless man was not worth it!
If I gave up on him, I would never have peace again!
Because he reminded me of someone!
Who?
Chengxun!
Your Majesty, there's no one here except His Highness and Chengxin.
Chengxin!
Doing a good deed again?
By the way, I heard the Crown Prince is likely to be punished.
70% chance.
Because he lied to my father in front of the officials.
It's hard for my father to save his neck.
I just hope Chengqian's luck has run out and nothing unexpected will happen.
How's Wu Meiniang lately?
strangely enough, Wu Meiniang is suddenly befriending Qiang'er.
she went to Qianxiang Palace to visit her once.
But don't worry, I won't let them keep in touch.
No, I actually think we can create a chance using their relationship.
You will sacrifice Xiao Qiang anyway. she will be worthless after giving birth.
Perhaps you can make some arrangements.
When Xiao Qiang dies at childbirth, get rid of Wu Meiniang as well.
since Wu Meiniang has teamed up with my good-for-nothing brother,
we ought to get rid of them both.
But I wonder if our scheme can really put them to death.
she always managed to pull through and turn peril into safety.
And what's more, His Majesty is very fond of her.
But don't forget my father is a wise emperor.
He will never let personal sentiment prevail over reason.
With proof of Wu Meiniang's evil deeds,
there's nothing my father can do to save her.