For you, I'm willing to risk anything.
I'll give up my life and my kingdom, as long as you're happy.
But even as the Emperor,
I'm so pathetic I don't have the right or status to love you
since we met in Yeting,
you have become the love of my life.
I don't want to lose you.
It wasn't easy to bring Meiniang back.
How could you agree to let Uncle send her away in a month?
If it means going up against the world,
I'd do everything I can to bring her back.
I have a plan.
Let her become one of your concubines.
You... A Jieyu...
a Zhaoyi or even the Empress.
As long as she's yours,
she can stay inside the Palace.
You have gone mad!
That's outrageous!
To be with Meiniang,
isn't that your biggest dream?
No, I've never had such an improper idea about her.
Really?
This is a chance for Meiniang as well as for you.
You can save her and make your wish come true.
Either you let her stay
and never leave the Palace,
or send her back to Ganye Temple and let her live or die.
You...
It's your call, Brother Zhinu.
Become my Empress?
Greetings, Your Majesty!
What brings you to Lizheng Hall today?
Get up!
I have been so tied up with state affairs,
I have neglected you. I'm not busy today.
I want to spend some time with you.
Your Majesty!
The phoenix hairpin really suits you.
These are all the files and records
from the Grand Court investigation of your miscarriage.
You've been studying them for 20 days.
Have you found any leads?
They have recorded all the food and medication
I have taken prior to the miscarriage.
They have examined my clothes, accessories and rouge.
Nothing was toxic.
Including that cup of tea,
which only contains peony and licorice root.
I even looked for herbs that could reinforce or counteract these ingredients.
But I did not come into contact with those.
Maybe your miscarriage was an accident.
Or maybe it's the musk in your makeup.
No!
I know about my body.
Maybe the Grand Court overlooked something.
It's the tea. I'm sure it's the tea.
Meiniang!
Meiniang, you haven't had any sleep for days.
You should get some rest.
I'm fine.
How long can I stay in the Palace?
someone has already submitted a memorial about you losing the baby
and should go back to Ganye Temple.
But His Majesty rejected it on account of your health.
You have nothing to worry about.
That's good.
The Empress is really generous.
she used golden silk threads to sew chrysanthemums
and it's exquisitely done,
using the complicated 28-stitch stitching.
The colouring and patterns are so distinct!
Most unique is this fabric.
standing in front of it
you can smell a faint fragrance.
Is that the smell of golden silk?
A faint fragrance?
Yes!
What is it, Meiniang?
silk is odourless.
This smell is barely discernible.
If you hadn't mentioned it,
I probably wouldn't have noticed it.
They probably added perfume.
It's late. I should go home.
Let me know if you need me.
Rui'an!
Yes, Milady?
Cut out a piece of this embroidery
and send it to Dr Zhou.
Ask him to check the gold silk
and see if he notices anything unusual.
Aye!
Just as you suspected,
the golden silk thread is rather extraordinary.
Every thread has been soaked in wuhua.
Wuhua is a herb that improves circulation
and is harmless on its own,
but it counteracts licorice root.
When you mix them together,
you'll produce something deadly.
I have been inhaling wuhua,
so drinking the tea with licorice root
caused uterine bleeding that resulted in my miscarriage.
Am I right, Dr Zhou?
Where did you get this brocade?
When I learnt of your return,
I ordered for this brocade of chrysanthemums to be made, using golden silk thread.
It's finally finished today, I hope you'll like it.
You need not know about it.
Please also don't tell anyone
the golden silk thread has been soaked in wuhua.
But...
Dr Zhou, you've been in the Palace long enough.
You should know it's best not to wake a sleeping dog,
and don't go courting any trouble.
Unless you're willing to offend the Guanlong aristocrats
over a Consort Dowager who's nothing more than a Cairen.
I wouldn't dare! Thank you for your advice.
I will keep this to myself.
Thank you, Doctor!
It has been a month.
His Majesty still has not sent Wu Meiniang back to Ganye Temple.
Chong, tomorrow morning at 5 o'clock,
summon all the 4th ranked courtiers or above from Guanlong
to gather outside Ganlu Hall
and urge His Majesty to send Wu Meiniang back to Ganye Temple.
Aye!
Father, the Empress makes the decisions in the Harem.
she sent a letter a few days ago
and offered to do her part to banish Wu Meiniang from the Palace.
she offered to gather the concubines
and charge Wu Meiniang for insubordination and disrupting the Harem.
Fine! Tell her to come along.
Aye!
Milady, a note written by the Empress.
Really?
"Gather outside Ganlu Hall to banish Wu Meiniang from the Palace"?
sounds interesting!
Meiniang, did you send for me?
Gaoyang, I've already found out who killed my baby.
Who?
The Empress.
she tampered with the embroidery.
she soaked the silk thread in a substance that counteracts with licorice root,
and caused my miscarriage.
This is toxic? Take it away!
It's fine if you don't mix it with licorice root.
I want to keep it right here,
Then I can see it every day when I wake up.
What's your plan?
Maybe we should tell His Majesty.
The Empress' family is becoming more powerful in the Court.
Her father Wang Renyou is the Duke of Wei.
Her uncle is the Minister of Defence,
not to mention Zhangsun Wuji is backing them
His Majesty has just ascended the throne.
His foundation is still shaky.
He can snub his Empress,
but he must not suspect or punish her without any proof.
I told you, this is my personal affair.
I'll take care of it. I don't want to put His Majesty on the spot.
Gaoyang, inside the Harem,
what is the one thing the Empress values the most?
The Empress?
she is from an aristocratic clan,
but is a total bore.
If there's one thing she values,
it must His Majesty and being his Empress.
If you can win his heart
and depose Wang Yuyan,
she'll be better off dead.
Gaoyang, at a time like this,
how can you make jokes?
I'm not! I just got word
Zhangsun Wuji will lead the courtiers to Ganlu Hall tomorrow and force His Majesty
to send you back to Ganye Temple.
Meiniang, Zhinu has always listened to you.
If you ask him, he'll do anything for you.
Ask him for a title, be it a Jieyu, Zhaoyi or whatever.
But you don't actually have to become his Imperial wife.
You just need a title to stay.
No!
Why not?
I can't do it.
Then you'll be sent back to Ganye Temple.
Don't you want to stay and avenge your baby?
I do, but I don't love Zhinu.
I know you love my Father and do not wish to betray him.
You only need to marry Zhinu.
You don't have to love him.
You need a title.
You can still love Father.
As long as you're willing, you'll always belong to him, you...
Enough! Don't say it, Gaoyang!
I just can't do it.
Your Majesty, Dr Zhou sent word
the golden silk threads used in Consort Dowager Wu's embroidery
were soaked in a substance that counteracts licorice root.
That's the reason why she had a miscarriage.
Meiniang will be anxious to get revenge.
How can I make her stay?
Please don't drink anymore, Your Majesty!
Please mind your health!
Greetings, Your Highness!
Brother Zhinu!
Please sit down!
I'll take my leave!
Why don't you ask me,
a month has gone by,
is Meiniang willing to stay as your Imperial wife?
she would never agree to it.
You certainly know her well enough!
You know you won't see her from tomorrow onwards.
That's why you're drinking.
she'd rather give up revenge and be miserable
than be unfaithful to Father.
such devotion!
Just like me and Bianji back then.
You said "devotion"?
Devotion!
Father was such an exemplary Emperor!
You think he cared a thing about such silliness as love?
Compared to his kingdom,
nothing matters. Anything can be sacrificed!
Meiniang, are your sacrifices worth it?
Are they really worth it?
What's wrong with you?
Zhinu, "The woman ruler named Wu" is nonsense.
But do not allow it to go adrift.
If Wu Meiniang is pregnant when I'm dead
regardless of gender, kill...
...kill the child!
Father...
Father would kill his own child for his kingdom?
Can you believe it? Can you?
He...He...That's right!
That's our Father!
This edict...
Meiniang must not see this.
Don't ever let her see this.
It would be such a blow to her!
Burn it!
Good!
What's wrong?
Doctor! send for the doctor!
I'll help you go lie down!
Yes!
Burn this...Don't forget that!
Take it easy!
sis, remember to burn it!
Don't worry!
Meiniang!
Gaoyang, I know you have my best interests in mind,
but I won't marry Zhinu.
Don't try to convince me.
You're a fool, Meiniang!
You really think you can preserve a flawless love?
Father might have been good to you,
compared to the way he treated other women.
But it was not love.
He didn't love you.
What are you saying?
Gaoyang, what are you saying?
You've been drinking! You're drunk!
If he truly loved you,
then what do you call this?
Gaoyang, this is a fake!
It's a fake, Gaoyang!
It's not true...
someone forged it!
It's not possible...
If you think it's a fake, go ahead!
You have lied to yourself long enough!
Why not carry on?
You risked your life to protect your child.
Yet the very last person he wanted to kill
was your child.
That's his final present for you!
Is that the love you cherish?
If it hadn't been for Zhinu's soft heart,
even without the Empress, your child would have died sooner.
The fireworks over Ganye Temple
and the shadow play in Ganlu Hall were Zhinu's ideas
To please you,
he gave you one dream after another.
That's enough!
I don't want to hear it anymore.
say no more!
stay back... Meiniang...
Listen to me, Meiniang!
say no more!
Listen to me, Meiniang!
Listen to me! Calm down!
I don't want to listen... Listen...
No! Listen to me!
Men are not reliable.
His so-called love and a child can bind a woman forever?
Why? What right does he have?
You're staying not for anyone.
Not for Father, not for the baby
You're staying for yourself.
stay! You're meant to thrive in the Harem.
You'll wither away at Ganye Temple.
Do you understand?
Meiniang...
Meiniang, listen to me...
Go to Ganlu Hall! Go to Zhinu!
Ask him to give you a title
so that you can stay.
Go, Meiniang!
When Father issued that posthumous edict,
he already betrayed your love.
You need not have qualms about it.
I don't know anything, anymore...liar!
Meiniang, remember this...
Don't you want revenge?
Don't you want to avenge your child?
This is your last chance. Don't forget...
Meiniang!
she'll be there! she must!
she has nowhere to go but Ganlu Hall.
she'll be there...she must!
Your Majesty, the spy we sent to Zhangsun's Residence just sent word
Chancellor Zhangsun gave the order to kill.
They're waiting for Consort Dowager Wu to return to Ganye Temple.
From now on,
I won't let anyone hurt Wu Meiniang!
Nobody!
Chancellor Zhangsun, you think...
Be patient!
Disaster has befallen Tang!
Greetings, Your Majesty!
By order of His Majesty the Emperor
the grace of Heaven and Earth
has given Wu Meiniang to me.
I will not disappoint Heaven and Earth.
I hereby name Wu Meiniang as my Zhaoyi,
and so you have been told.
You all came here so early.
You must have something to report.
Your Majesty,
the one month deadline is up.
I'm sure Consort Dowager Wu has fully recovered.
We think it's time we sent her back.
Without the child, she's no longer the Consort Dowager.
she's only a lady in waiting for Gaoyang
who moved into the Fang's family years ago.
I told you. she's now my Zhaoyi.
she has no reason to leave.
But Your Majesty...
This is not the place to discuss anything.
If any of you objects,
we'll discuss this in Taiji Hall.
Let's not waste any time out here.
Aye!
Meiniang, no one can banish you.
I won't let you leave me. Don't worry!
Your Majesty!
You went through such trouble to gather us here to watch
your silence and forbearance?
Your Majesty,
I'm here with the other concubines to report something important.
something about the Harem?
Yes!
Family matters can wait.
Let's talk after the morning assembly.
Wang De!
Aye!
Let's go to Taiji Hall.
Aye!
His Majesty leaves for Taiji Hall!
Let's go!
His Majesty leaves for Taiji Hall!
sir, inside Taiji Hall,
will Chancellor Zhangsun do the talking for us?
Chancellor Zhangsun is a regent
who has made enormous contributions.
If His Majesty gets upset over this,
it will mean have forced him to punish a meritorious courtier.
Definitely not! I'll do that talking.
No, you're His Majesty's father-in-law.
If we provoke His Majesty
we'd be forcing him to be unfilial.
Pei Xingjian!
Yes?
Inside Taiji Hall, do your best to dissuade His Majesty
from making Wu Meiniang his Zhaoyi.
Aye! But what if he won't listen?
What then?
Use your life to make him come around.
Don't worry. I will certainly do that.
Your Highness! Your Highness!
At ease, we're like brothers!
Your Highness!
Trouble in Ganlu Hall!
Don't fuss over nothing!
Chancellor Zhangsun led the courtiers in making a request.
Of course not!
His Majesty just announced he would make Wu Meiniang his Zhaoyi.
What?
Your Majesty, making Wu Meiniang a Zhaoyi
is neither proper nor acceptable to the people.
I beg you to revoke the order.
Meiniang's virtues and elegance
won over even the Mongolian prince back then.
It's Tang's fortune to name her a Zhaoyi.
Why do you find it not right?
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty, in my opinion,
you don't need anyone's advice on the matter
This is a matter of your Harem.
Who cares what anyone thinks?
Minister Pei, as a courtier, you should know your place.
Instead of helping His Majesty with solving state problems,
you chose to butt into the affairs of the Harem.
What is your motive?
Your Majesty, he's avoiding the key here!
No doubt I'm guilty of contradicting you,
but if I can somehow prevent Wu Meiniang from returning to the Harem,
the late Emperor's name will be intact and you would remain a filial son.
I'm willing to give up my life.
You...
What are you doing?
I beg you to revoke the order.
stop it, Pei Xingjian!
I order you to stop!
Your Majesty, if you won't revoke the order,
I will shed my blood in Taiji Hall to prove my stand.