This is the day I've been waiting for.
Please step down, Father!
If I lose, I won't put up a fight.
Why did you collude with the Crown Prince to betray me?
I let you live not because I'm benevolent.
I need to remind myself of a lesson learnt.
Why can't I draw Empress Zhangsun's eyes?
she has been dead for a long time.
If Milady doesn't remember,
everyone else in the Palace would have forgotten.
Qingxuan, don't be rude!
What is it you need to tell me?
Did something happen with the Crown Prince?
Rest assured, Milady!
The Crown Prince's rebellion is a fact.
As much as His Majesty doesn't want to depose him,
the courtiers would not yield.
All we need is a decree from His Majesty.
That's good!
You wanted me to look into all those connected to Cairen Wu.
I'm onto something.
But now that Cairen Wu is in jail
in connection with the Crown Prince's rebellion,
unlike last time with Jieyu Zheng's murder.
It's highly unlikely she'll get out.
My investigation has become rather meaningless.
As long as she's alive,
anything can still happen.
I'm relieved to hear you say this.
We have uncovered something unexpected.
Tell me!
Aye! I've found out
Cairen Wu had a childhood friend named Li Mu, who has an unusual background.
He was connected to Li Xiaochang's rebellion.
We found out where he was banished to.
Childhood friend? A rebel?
How interesting!
Where is he now?
On his way back to Chang'an.
Good job!
It's not good enough he's coming back.
I must put on a show for his benefit and let him think I saved his life.
Don't worry, I know what to do.
How is Zhinu?
His Highness knelt in the rain for too long.
He has caught a cold.
That's easy to cure.
I will write a prescription.
He'll recover after taking his medication,
but I'm afraid...
Afraid of what?
His Highness is weak to begin with,
after being out in the rain
I'm afraid he'll develop fenji.
Fengji?
I have heard about it.
One gets splitting headaches.
Is it curable?
It's very hard to cure.
I will regularly attend to His Highness
and prescribe something to strengthen his vital essence and energy.
Hopefully when he becomes stronger,
chances of a fengji attack can be delayed.
Please forgive my incompetence.
I see. You're excused.
Thank you, Your Majesty!
Zhinu! It's my fault.
sis Wu, I'll speak to Father.
I'll go see Father...
Yes? Wang De!
What do you need, sire?
Before Zhinu came to the Imperial study,
find out where he has been and whom has he talked to.
Aye!
sis Wu, I'll speak to Father.
I've spared you already in Chengqian's rebellion.
Your Majesty!
Why wouldn't you do any introspection?
Why can't you leave my sons alone?
I don't understand.
Please explain what you mean.
Zhinu is known to be weak.
After he saw you today,
he knelt down outside the Imperial study and refused to get up.
He made a request that sounded more like a threat, for me to spare Chengqian.
Did you put him up to it?
What is your motive?
You do not want to come inside
because you're disgusted with me
and do not wish to make eye contact.
If you don't believe me,
why bother to come here?
I want to know the truth.
Did you instigate Zhinu to kneel down and beg?
I'm giving you a chance to explain.
What is your motive?
You have underestimated the Prince of Jin.
I'll level with you.
I gave him a suggestion
to stay away from the deposed Crown Prince
and do not get involved.
The reason for that suggestion is simple.
The deposed Crown Prince is finished.
But my days in the harem are long,
I need someone else to rely on.
Are you happy with this explanation?
Are you Li Mu?
Yes!
Good! Prepare to die!
Can you tell me why you want to kill me?
shoot!
Why did you save me?
Have you decided?
Your Majesty!
This edict to depose the Crown Prince...
let's hold off on the announcement.
Wise decision, Your Majesty.
The more unclear your position is,
the more distraught and restless someone will be.
This is the best opportunity to draw the snake out of its hole.
What should we do about the one in Yeting jail?
I've ordered the Grand Court to bring the prisoner to trial.
Let them decide.
Fuji, I'm tired. You're excused.
Yes, Your Majesty!
Guards!
Your Majesty?
Take it away!
I don't ever want to see it again.
Aye!
Your Highness!
Notify Her Highness,
Zhinu is here on an urgent matter.
May I ask what it is?
Milady is resting. she didn't sleep well last night.
Your Highness!
His Majesty was at the Yeting jail yesterday
she was his favourite.
It's understandable he's reluctant to part with her.
Don't forget Wu Meiniang's crime
is collusion with the Crown Prince in a rebellion.
As much as His Majesty loves her,
he can't override the law.
You're right, Milady!
But I've been thinking,
each time Wu Meiniang ended up in a bind,
she always managed to come out unscathed.
I'm worried about the odd chance...
When will the Grand Court come for her?
4 hours later.
4 hours?
A lot can happen in 4 hours.
You mean...
Her crime is obvious to all.
I'm not surprised if she killed herself in jail out of guilt.
I see.
I'll get on it right away.
Please save sis Wu!
Get up, Zhinu!
Get up!
I'm as anxious as you are to save Meiniang,
but her crime is too serious.
There's nothing I can do.
But I'm sure sis Wu is innocent.
There must be some misunderstanding.
Please speak to Father for me.
Don't...get up!
Milady!
What? They went inside?
Qingxuan, take my pass
and escort the Prince of Jin to Yeting jail.
Tell them you need to see Meiniang on my order.
Make sure you see her in person,
and wait till someone from the Grand Court arrives.
I understand!
Also...
I understand. Don't worry, Milady!
This way, Your Highness!
Thank you!
Go on! Hurry!
Your Majesty,
even if Hou Junji allowed his men
to engage in occasional misconduct in the Western Regions,
such behaviour was directed against the locals of Qara-hoja,
and does not concern Karasahr.
Besides, Hou Junji has been punished.
Why won't Karasahr let up on the discipline of the Tang army?
They're just looking for an excuse to rebel.
We conquered Qara-hoja,
Karasahr should be grateful to us.
Yet they colluded with Mongolia
and went after Qara-hoja territory.
such ambitious ingrates
should be punished with a direct attack
in order to manifest the greatness of Tang.
That's not true, Minister Wei!
Your Majesty, Karasahr's rebellion
is probably because
Hou Junji slaughtered the prisoners after he took Qara-hoja.
such lack of discipline is enough to cast a chill over the Western Regions.
In my opinion, the long term policy towards the Western Regions,
is to win them over by virtue instead of conquering them in war.
sire!
I need to interrogate Wu Meiniang!
Good!
To Yeting!
Did I say something wrong?
What is it?
How dare you defy Consort Yang's order!
I need to see Cairen Wu. Open the door!
Your Highness,
I dare not defy Her Highness' order,
but His Majesty gave a verbal order.
Once Cairen Wu was sent here,
she's not allowed any visitors.
Just open the door!
Consort Yang and I can guarantee your safety.
I dare not let you in.
Your Highness, if you have His Majesty's consent,
I'll carry out your order!
Be careful!
Yes!
Warden, ever since we arrived,
you've been making excuses
and won't let us in.
Who did you let in before us?
Why are you stalling us?
What are you trying to do?
What makes you say that?
I did not let anyone inside.
Tell him to stop!
He has gone mad!
I can't stop him!
Tell the guards to step aside!
Zhangshi Yang!
step aside...
Breaking in is punishable by death.
The prison guards will kill you!
Open up or I'll kill you!
No...I'll open it!
Hurry!
sound the horn!
someone broke in...
Meiniang!
Your Majesty!
Get up!
I know you did not collude with Chengqian
and plot the rebellion.
Why wouldn't you explain?
What happened to your eloquence?
You didn't tell me you're innocent!
suspicion has already covered up your heart, eyes and ears.
No matter what I said,
you wouldn't believe me.
You'll get yourself killed.
Killed? since the prophecy came out,
you have suspected me.
You jumped to the conclusion I was part of the Crown Prince's rebellion.
Your benevolence extends to the world
but you deny me of a glimmer of hope.
such a life is not worth living.
Don't blame me, Meiniang!
I'm sorry!
Your Majesty!
stop!
Hurry!
stop him!
Break it down!
Hurry!
You should wait here, Your Highness!
You're only a warden,
yet you repeatedly thwarted me.
You must be up to no good!
step aside!
His Majesty the Emperor!
Your Majesty!
Greetings, Father!
Zhinu, what's going on?
Are you done? Hurry up!
A maniac has broken in to save her!
Hurry!
Ruyi!
Brother Mu?
Ruyi!
Your Majesty!
Cairen Wu is inside!
Be careful, Father!
send him to the Imperial Medical Bureau.
He must live!
Aye!
It has been such an ordeal for her!
They say one who survives a disaster will be blessed.
Zhinu, we should be grateful you came to Xianling Palace just in time
or else Meiniang would have been killed.
You have grown up, Zhinu. You can protect someone.
Milady,
the Insignia Guard saved her.
I wonder what his name is,
and if he's in any danger.
Li Gu is new to the Palace.
The doctor said he'd lost a lot of blood, but he's fine.
We should go.
Let Meiniang get some rest.
Milady,
can I stay here a bit longer?
Just a little while?
Very well!
Let's go!
Greetings, Milady!
At ease!
Thank you, Milady!
How is Qiang'er?
she's been taking her medication on time
and getting the rest she needs.
It appears, under your care
Qiang'er is finally resolved.
she's not yet beyond hope!
You may go!
Aye!
Milady!
Let's talk outside!
Aye!
Wu Meiniang is safe? The killers are dead?
What about the warden?
His Majesty had him arrested.
You're completely useless!
Please don't be upset, Milady!
The warden has been well paid.
He won't turn you in.
His life is in His Majesty's hands.
What's more important?
His life or perks from me?
If the cat is out of the bag,
I'm willing to bear sole responsibility.
I took matters in my own hands.
It had nothing to do with you.
Get up!
We must give the matter further thoughts.
The important thing
is to wait for Qiang'er to give birth.
slowly...or you'll tear the wound.
Greetings, Zhangshi Yang!
Consort Yang saved my life.
I should show you respect.
How is Ruyi?
she's fine. The doctor has attended to her.
she needs rest.
You should take care of yourself.
You created quite a stir,
people are bound to take notice.
This is the identity Consort Yang created for you.
You must memorise it by heart
or else you can't stay in the Palace.
Thank you!
When can I see Ruyi?
There are rules in the Palace.
It won't be easy to see her.
Whether or not you can get your wish
will depend on your luck.
Meiniang, I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help.
If only I had been able to better explain
to His Majesty,
you wouldn't have been sentenced to Yeting jail
and almost got killed.
Now you're grounded.
You're not to be blamed.
His Majesty knew all along
and he was well prepared.
He was convinced I was colluding with the Crown Prince.
What are you going to do?
What if His Majesty sends you back to Yeting jail, then...
The Grand Court has interrogated me.
I'm sure they'll get to the truth.
It's just that there're too many unanswered questions with the Crown Prince's rebellion.
He has not been deposed,
why would he take the risk?
I don't know what went wrong.
Either he has gone mad
or someone sabotaged the plan.
Never mind about the Crown Prince.
I know you're clean.
The Grand Court will clear your name
and you can go back to His Majesty.
Go back to him?
so what if I could go back?
It's a vicious cycle.
Each time I take a step forward,
I'm forced to take 2 steps back.
It happens every time.
I'm really tired.
Regardless of what the Grand Court finds out,
and it doesn't matter what the truth is.
The Crown Prince's rebellion is an undeniable fact.
He had no reason to rebel, yet he still did it.
I can't absolve myself from the blame.
I don't know what went wrong
to make things turn out the way they did.
Don't take the blame for everything.
If you have seen the blood and bodies outside Chengqing Hall,
or heard the Crown Prince's angry rebuke at me
and saw the disappointment and disgust in His Majesty's eyes,
you'd understand.
Even if I were to be blamed for only a small part,
the burden was already too immense.
Not to mention Brother Mu is also involved.
Brother Mu?
Who are you talking about?
The person who rescued me jail
was my childhood friend I told you about.
The one you mentioned last time?
You grew up together...
But he was part of Li Xiaochang's clique.
How did he end up in the Palace?
I don't know.
I didn't get a chance to ask him.
sis Xu, keep this to yourself.
Don't worry!
I won't do anything that is not in your interest.
But...
what identity did he use to get into the Palace?
What is his motive for showing up?
You must find out.
His sudden appearance gives me a very bad feeling.
He was framed. He's not a rebel.
He's a good man who has no intention to hurt anyone.
I'm sure he has his reasons to come to the Palace.
Think no more of it.
The key is for you to get well.
I'll visit you again later.
Greetings, Your Majesty!
Long live Your Majesty!
At ease.
Thank you, Your Majesty!
You're from Cangzhou in Hebei,
studied in Yingtian Academy in the shuntian Prefecture.
In 618, the resident scholar Zhao Zhiqing and I
have met on several occasions.
After so many years,
I wonder if he's still drinking as much.
Your Majesty, as far as I know,
Yingtian Academy only has one resident scholar by the name Zhao.
His name is Zhao Zhicheng.
He only drinks tea, not wine.
Really? Maybe I was mistaken.
Li Gu!
Aye!
When you broke into the Yeting jail,
you were wounded when you fought off dozens of guards.
You were lucky to be alive.
Why did you risk your life?
Why wouldn't you raise your head?
Do I look ferocious?
All along, my wish has been to meet Your Majesty.
Now that I'm in your presence,
I'm in awe and feel terrified.
Please forgive me!
You did not answer my question.
Why did you risk your life?
It's hard to earn any merit as an Imperial Guard.
Though I'm relatively new,
stories about Consort Wei and your affection for Cairen Wu,
I have heard a thing or two.
When the Prince of Jin chose me to accompany him,
I knew it was a rare chance for me.
If I could rescue Cairen Wu,
fame and fortune would be within grasp.
At least I could let you see me.
Well said!
You're honest about chasing fame and fortune.
I'll reward you with 10 taels of gold.
There'll be more if you serve me well.
Thank you, Your Majesty!
You're excused!
Aye!
It's you!
Brother Mu!