Charge! Aye!
Arrest the Prince of Jin!
Drop your weapons!
The Prince of Wu and Cairen Wu resolved the conflict without any bloodshed.
All three princes are safe.
On his way to the Attending Office,
the Prince of Wei's followers tried to rescue him.
He was stabbed in the stomach. His life is at stake...
Take me to him!
What is Qingque doing here?
We didn't want to move him, so we attended to him in here.
This way, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty!
How is Qingque?
I have done all I could.
His Highness' injuries are too severe.
I'm not sure if he'll make it through the night.
stop! You can't approach His Majesty from behind.
Understand?
Aye!
What are you waiting for?
Have you gone mad?
Why did you save me?
We'll get to that later.
Kill...
For the sui Emperor!
We must kill Li shimin!
Anyone else?
No, that's all!
Kill! Kill...
One more!
Out of the way!
Now you can tell me your name!
Li Mu!
I knew it! In other words,
I'm fighting alongside the descendent of a traitor.
I can't face my parents in Hell!
Actually...
Your Majesty!
Protect His Majesty!
Your Majesty...
Yongcheng! Are you alright?
Please pardon me for being late!
You're not, if I'm still alive!
Release him! He's not an assassin!
send for the doctor!
Your Majesty!
Now you can tell me why you saved me.
I had trouble controlling my sword
to kill the assassins instead of you.
Now that you know who I am,
you should know my parents died because of you
and how much they have suffered.
I really wanted to kill you.
No matter who you were
and what you have done, you are forgiven.
This is where it all ends. You may go.
I want Ruyi...to go away with me.
Brother Mu!
Your Majesty!
Meiniang!
What are you doing?
Please let him go, Your Majesty!
I meant to forgive him,
but he dug his own grave.
step aside!
I started everything,
Brother Mu is innocent!
He has nothing left, Your Majesty!
Please don't kill him!
Throw Li Mu in jail!
Aye!
sire!
My protege Yongcheng didn't make it.
His injuries were too severe.
I've made the necessary arrangements.
Before he died he kept saying,
"protect His Majesty..."
Thanks to him...
What a day today!
Consort Yang is dead too.
Bury her properly in Zhao Mausoleum!
I want her tablet to read:
Here lies the Benevolent and Filial Princess Consort Yang.
But sire, the assassins
are believed to be closely connected to her.
Forget it, what Ke chose to do at the North Gate
more than made up for everything else.
Aye!
Your Majesty,
Chancellor Zhangsun and the others are here.
send them in.
Aye!
Greetings, Your Majesty!
At ease.
What's the latest on the northern boundary?
The rebel army
has repeatedly attacked our border
and engaged in killing and pillage.
But when they realised we're serious about going to war,
su Louhan changed his mind.
His envoy arrived in Chang'an this morning
and offered to pay tribute in exchange for a peace treaty.
They want peace after they have tyrannised the area for this long?
Too late!
Arrest the envoy,
charge him for betraying Duan Ji
and collusion with su Louhan.
Your mind is made up?
We have completed our preparations for war.
There's to be no more delay.
Before the first snow this winter,
I want to engage in battle.
Your Majesty,
then we must name the Crown Prince.
Originally I was hesitant
but Qingque's incident put an end to that.
Pick an auspicious day for Zhinu,
to be named the Crown Prince
so that I can lead the expedition.
After I'm gone, Fang Xuanling and Chu suiliang
will stay in Chang'an and assist the Crown Prince in running the state.
Wise decision, Your Majesty!
I always treated Zhinu like a child.
He's an adult, now that he's the Crown Prince.
We need to find him a wife.
Let's do that before the inauguration.
Gentlemen,
you have any suitable candidates?
Your Majesty,
The Magistrate of Luoshan, Wang Renyou's daughter Wang Yuyan
is graceful and is at the right age.
she makes a good match for Zhinu.
I do recall...
she has both talents and good looks.
I hear she has a pleasant disposition.
Her father Wang Renyou and her uncle Liu shuang
are courtiers I rely on.
It's settled then.
Anything else?
What about the Prince of Wei?
Exile him to Junzhou,
give him the title of Prince shunyang
and banish him forever from Chang'an.
Chengqian was reduced to commoner rank for his coup,
but the Prince of Wei is banished to Junzhou as Prince shunyang.
Aren't you being partial?
The Prince of Wei plotted against Chengqian and colluded with the harem
and tried a coup at the North Gate.
Each and every charge is a capital crime.
Your Majesty! Don't pick up!
Fuji...
Yes!
My relationship with Chengqian is like this teacup.
It cannot be mended.
Now I have to add Qingque to the list.
For the Crown Prince title,
do I have to live my life alone?
You...and you...all have sons.
My sons made mistakes,
I'm sending them away
and may never see them again.
You don't think that's enough? What more do you want?
You want me to kill them both?
Your Majesty, I'm just worried
the Prince of shunyang may not repent his ways in Junzhou.
Don't be!
I know my son well enough.
Qingque is a scholar,
who hangs out with poor scholars who engage in loud and empty talk.
What can he do without any soldiers?
Your Majesty!
say no more!
I can handle my family matter.
Wang De!
Yes?
Tell the secretariat to draft an edict.
Aye!
That's all for tonight. You're excused.
We take our leave...
Eat slowly!
It's delicious!
You said once I become the Crown Prince
I can keep you safe, look at you now!
You're locked up and face an unknown future.
Other than bringing you food,
I don't know what else I can do.
It breaks my heart to see you like this.
Why do you seem so relaxed?
Don't look so worried!
This isn't the first time.
The thought of Brother Mu in jail because of me
but at least he's still around.
I actually feel relieved.
But you...you're now the heir to the throne,
you should cheer up.
Don't look so worried!
You know those old courtiers out there
are watching you like a hawk.
sis Wu...
I'm getting married.
Don't laugh! Why are you laughing?
You know I don't want to get married.
Fine! Don't eat that!
I'm preparing for the inauguration ceremony
and the wedding.
I may not have time to see you.
Zhinu, you're an adult.
You're a grown man.
Getting married and having children
is the most logical thing to do.
I was laughing because I'm happy for you.
Tell me,
who has the good fortune
of marrying our dear Zhinu?
I don't know. I don't know her.
Her last name is Wang and I won't like her.
Zhinu, tell me...
Do you think if Brother Mu was already married,
he wouldn't have come to Chang'an
and ended up in jail because of me?
I envy him.
Brother Mu?
Why?
He's free to love and hate, and leads a carefree life.
To be in such a place is like a dream.
To me, it's the best place in the world.
But as hard as I try,
I can barely knock on that door in that world.
Yet he is free to roam the place.
What place is that?
How come you never talked about it before?
I know!
It's must be the frontier where Brother Mu was exiled to.
Father has been there too.
He has?
I don't know. Tell me!
Think no more of it.
I promise I'll get you out!
I'd better go!
Don't worry. I'll find a chance to visit you again.
The place I was talking about is your heart.
Your Majesty, it's late. You should rest.
I should be 47 after the New Year.
That's right. You were born in 598 on 28th January.
Am I too old?
Of course not!
You're in your prime.
I vaguely remember
celebrating my 40th birthday last year.
I must really be getting old.
I want nectar soup.
Go get it for me.
Aye! Right away...
Gong-Gong, why do I hear ceremonial music?
Today's is the Crown Prince's inauguration.
You're in luck, Cairen Wu.
If the Crown Prince didn't insist on granting a general amnesty,
you probably couldn't get out.
Must be tough on Zhinu.
Do you mean
everyone in jail has been released?
The Imperial Jail is not for ordinary criminals.
They don't fall under the general amnesty.
I see. Make I ask
if you know where His Majesty would be
after the inauguration ceremony.
An Imperial edict for Li Zhi, the Prince of Jin.
Commandant of Bingzhou, the Prince of Jin, Li Zhi,
is benevolent and filial,
polite and studious.
The Crown Prince needs to lead the state
and should be admired and recommended by all
to rule with justice and inherit the mandate
and carry on the legacy,
I hereby name Zhi the Crown Prince
and his wife Lady Wang the Crown Princess.
The ceremony may begin...
Thank you, Father!
Long live Your Majesty!
Long live Your Highness!
Have those two started out yet?
Your Majesty,
after the inauguration ceremony,
the Prince of shunyang and the deposed Crown Prince left.
They should be outside Chang'an by now.
stop!
Your Highness!
Brother Chengqian, Brother Tai, Zhinu came to say goodbye.
Brother Chengqian! Brother Tai!
Brother Chengqian!
Greetings, Your Highness!
Brother Chengqian!
Please get up!
Etiquette is a must.
A commoner must kowtow to the Crown Prince.
Please get up!
You too, Brother Tai!
Here! I wouldn't dare!
I apologise for offending you, Your Highness
What I did was unforgivable!
What happened before,
I never took it to heart!
Brother Tai... I am unforgivable!
Qingque, you're defying his order if you won't get up.
After all the scheming and plotting,
we can still meet again.
We should celebrate our good fortune.
Do you have wine?
Yes, I've brought good wine to bid you both farewell.
serve the wine!
Aye!
Brother Chengqian!
Brother Tai!
We're meeting today to say goodbye.
I wish to make a toast to Chang'an, the city I'll never see again.
Your Highness, may I keep this bowl of wine?
I want to drink it when I think of you.
Qingque, you're out of your mind.
Zhinu would not serve you poison wine.
I'll drink it.
That's not what I mean!
I'm not afraid, I'm just...
Brother Tai...
It's alright. I understand!
You're anxious to get started, right?
Why don't you get going?
Goodbye, Your Highness!
Take care, Brother Chengqian!
You too!
Let's go!
Brother Tai...
Don't blame him. He's in too deep!
I don't blame him at all.
It's just that, this may be the last time we'll see each other
and everything has turned out like this.
It makes me feel very sad.
Don't be.
This is not a bad ending for us after all.
At least, it's much better than for Father's generation.
Right?
I should get going too!
Brother Chengqian!
I'm sorry!
Don't feel guilty or sorry for us.
such is life!
The good suffer, the bad punished.
What's happening to us...
is what we brought upon ourselves.
You have a burden heavy enough.
Too bad I'm no help to you.
Brother!
Take good care of Father
and take good care of yourself, you hear?
How did she get out?
sire,
the Crown Prince insisted on granting a general amnesty before the ceremony
and you agreed.
Your Majesty!
I wanted to protect Li Mu
because he saved my life.
He could have run off.
He only stayed because he was worried about my safety.
I don't wish to owe him anything.
Please understand it's loyalty, not love.
You keep rambling on
because you want me to let him go.
I grew up with Li Mu,
he was like a brother to me.
I can't watch him die and do nothing.
Please have mercy on him!
Raise your head, look me in the eyes.
I still can't see what's going through your head.
But I know
the day I chose my kingdom,
I was already destined to be alone.
Inside and outside of the Palace are full of people who betrayed me.
You're just one of them.
Your Majesty!
Anyone?
Yes, Your Majesty?
To the jail.
Aye!
Your Highness!
What?
Drinking is bad for your health.
You should get some rest.
Your Majesty!
Zhinu? What are you doing here?
It's late. You came looking for His Majesty?
No, I came to be with you.
Me?
It's your wedding night.
You should be with the Crown Princess, not me.
she'll be around for the rest of my life,
one night makes no difference.
Zhinu, you were a child then
and a prince.
For you to be with a Cairen,
people wouldn't have much to gossip about.
But it's different now.
You're the Crown Prince, we must observe our status.
We cannot be friends anymore,
or we'll become the subject for ridicule.
You're 20 years old.
You're very different from when you were a child.
To behave like you did before
is absolutely not acceptable.
Besides, I still have a charge against me.
No, Zhinu, from now on,
we should avoid seeing each other.
To you, I carry no weight at all.
Not even that of a feather!
No wonder you're tired of me!
Zhinu!
Thank you for clearing that up.
You can rest assured
I'll never bother you again.
That's not what I mean.
I'm not tired of you!
Let me remind you,
the spectator can see the picture better.
Father had no intention to punish Li Mu
but you wouldn't stop begging him to set him free.
What you're doing may just be counter-productive and get him killed.
What do you mean?
You want to take Wu Meiniang with you?
Looks like you won't give your consent.
Of course!
I'm telling you to stop dreaming.
Only one of you can live.
One of the two cups of wine is poisoned.
You pick one, she'll drink the other.
Whoever survives,
I'll personally escort you out of Chang'an.
Why are you doing this?
Because she's mine.
I don't need to love her,
but she must love only me.
What if I refuse to choose?
I'll have you executed.
Because she keeps begging me
and has become such a pain.
I'll send her to guard the imperial mausoleum,
where she'll grow old and die.