After all, our friendship is no match for your infatuation with a man!
Once inside Taiji Hall, you'll become the Empress of Tang,
and will spend the rest of your life in the Palace.
Good! smooth strokes
with appropriate strength.
Your Highness' running script has Wang Youjun's grace.
Empress Wu is fond of Wang Xizhi's running script,
I've been practising for 2 years.
I plan to copy the Biography of a Filial son for her as a gift.
You think she'll like it?
That woman persecuted the Empress,
dealing with her must be much put-upon you, Your Highness!
These past years,
Empress Wu's control of the Harem has tightened enormously.
The poor scholars she supports are getting promoted.
Her sons Li Hong and Li Xian,
the former kind, the latter smart.
They're more capable of pleasing Father than I am.
Though Tang is still run by the Li clan,
I can't help but get the feeling, I'm living under the Wu clan's roof.
To protect myself, to bow and scrape has become inevitable.
It's hardly considered much put-upon.
In my opinion,
you should try to win Chancellor Zhangsun's support.
He's only after Empress Wu,
in his eyes, I'm no different from Li Hong and Li Xian.
For the current expedition against the rebels in Congshan District,
I have recommended to him your sons as vanguards.
We're most grateful to you, Your Highness!
The Eastern Palace can only rely on you.
Naturally I'd look out for you.
Yet, do you know what Honourable Zhangsun said to me?
What did he say?
Going to battle is a serious matter,
nepotism is highly improper.
He had someone else in mind.
That's why, in his eyes,
he only cares about Tang.
He shows the Eastern Palace no regard
and none to you, gentlemen.
I won't count on getting his support.
You may go!
Aye, Your Highness!
I'm old and useless!
If you know that, why do you want to be
the Military Commander-in-Chief of Congshan District?
Putting you on top of the list of 24, the late Emperor certainly had his reasons.
You've been like that all these years.
You knew before I opened my mouth.
I didn't expect
you'd set aside your pride to ask for a favour.
It's not entirely up to me.
Level with me.
set aside everyone else, do you really want the job?
Farming suits me better.
I'm tired of the official circle.
I see. I'll take care of this.
Milady,
the gifts you sent to Luoyang for Lady Rong
and the letter you wrote her have been returned.
What else did my Mother say?
she asked you not to write her anymore.
she would not read your letters.
What's the situation with Chancellor Zhangsun?
As you have expected,
he has received many visitors, mostly courtiers from aristocratic families,
making recommendations for the Military Commander-in-Chief of Congshan District.
Even General Cheng Zhijie paid him a visit himself.
Interesting!
These aristocrats are so used to seizing all the crucial military posts for themselves.
Does the Chancellor have someone in mind?
According to my source, he's likely to appoint
the Inspector of Qingzhou, Liu Rengui.
Liu Rengui?
Milady, it's time for the medication.
What? It's 9 o'clock already?
His Majesty has been suffering from fengji since 1 o'clock...
His Majesty has recovered, don't you remember?
Pardon me, Milady!
Never mind! Don't forget,
even in front of me,
you mustn't say things you shouldn't.
I will remember that, Milady.
serve the medication.
shoo!
Cats! since black cats showed up in the Palace,
people have been gossiping
about Consort Xiao's return.
Return to do what? Kill me?
shall we send for a monk
and perform a ritual?
No! Go find out where these cats came from.
While you're at it, spread the word
that I'm so distraught at seeing these cats that I couldn't eat or sleep.
Aye!
You may go!
Aye! Aye!
Your Majesty!
You're awake!
Meiniang, this relapse...
how long was I out?
several hours.
I have prepared your favourite soup.
Do you have any appetite?
Did I miss the morning assembly?
Don't worry, there's still time.
Help me up!
I need to change.
Come...
You must mind your health.
skip the morning assembly if you're not well.
My relapse is getting more frequent
and becoming more severe.
If I skip the morning assembly on account of my illness,
the courtiers will begin to get suspicious and restless.
Besides, with a war going on,
we must decide today who should lead the army up north.
We must not put off the decision any longer.
Meiniang, all these years,
from the commander of the Imperial Guards,
to the Military Commader-in-Chief on the battlefield,
only the Guanlong aristocrats have been appointed.
The Congshan District position is an opportunity
for me to start changing things.
I understand.
I'll help you get ready!
Your Majesty!
Milady,
His Majesty's pulse is normal again.
He should be fine.
It has been 3 days, can anyone tell me
when he'll wake up?
Well...
You don't know either, right?
You may go!
Thank you, Your Highness!
Milady, an urgent request for backup from Xizhou.
His Majesty has caught the cold again?
Maybe it's more than a cold.
Let the assembly begin.
Long live Your Majesty!
By order of His Majesty,
the Empress will take his place in the morning assembly.
Anything you wish to discuss, gentlemen?
I have something to report.
Go ahead, Chancellor!
If His Majesty is not feeling well,
we should dismiss the morning assembly
and wait till His Majesty recovers to discuss state affairs.
Your Highness!
I have something to report.
The rebel troops led by Ashina Helu have been in and out of Xizhou.
We must appoint a brave and skilful general
as the Military Commander-in-Chief of Congshan District,
to defeat these barbarians.
Your Highness...
for such crucial military affairs,
we must not be hasty in the appointment.
We should give this due deliberation
and let His Majesty decide.
You should know
matters on the frontline are rapidly changing and of utmost urgency.
We must observe the protocol of the Court.
such serious state matters require His Majesty's ruling.
Your Highness, dismiss the assembly!
Urgent message from Xizhou!
Urgent message from Xizhou, Your Highness!
Chancellor, take a look!
Ashina Helu has defeated us again and captured several cities.
Flames of war are raging across Xizhou,
but you have the leisure to discuss protocol with me.
What do you want?
Let these barbarians enjoy looting and pillaging Tang subjects
and return to shuanghe unscathed?
Let them win without a fight?
His Majesty ordered me to preside over the morning assembly
so that we can choose a Military Commander-in-Chief for Congshan District
and lead the Tang army against Ashina Helu.
Feel free to nominate a candidate.
Your Highness,
I recommend Xue Rengui and su Dingfang as his deputy.
Your Highness, Xue Rengui is still green, su Dingfang is a mid-level officer.
Neither is qualified.
I nominate Inspector Liu Rengui of Qingzhou.
He's a veteran who has never been defeated.
He's the perfect choice.
He's too old.
Would you use someone young and strong like Zhao Kuo?
You're obviously playing tricks with words.
Gentlemen, you have your points,
but this expedition will be a fierce battle,
General Liu may be valiant,
but he's truly getting on in years,
and may not have the energy.
I think we should designate
some of Tang's younger generals.
Xue Rengui and su Dingfang are valiant warriors.
His Majesty and I believe they won't let us down!
Your Highness,
the Tang army is not as strong as in the Zhenguan era.
The western vassals are watching closely and are ready to act.
We cannot afford to lose.
Nothing must go wrong.
Please reconsider...
If you have the consensus,
I'm sure His Majesty won't object.
since we cannot afford to lose,
I'll take your advice
and pick an experienced and well respected veteran.
In terms of experience and track records,
General Cheng Zhijie is second to none.
To play it safe,
General Cheng will be the Commander-in-Chief of Congshan District,
su Dingfang will be the Front Commander
and they should leave right away.
Are you willing to take this on, General Cheng?
I won't let you or His Majesty down.
Very well!
Gentlemen, with regard to Congshan District,
do you have any objections?
As you wish!
Good! If we work together,
Tang will no doubt win this war.
But if General Cheng is assigned to Congshan District,
he'll be gone for at least a year.
He cannot command the Imperial Guards
as the senior Left Guardian General.
starting today, the Imperial Guards
will come under the command of senior Right Guardian General Liu Boying.
Aye!
Your Highness...
This is by order of His Majesty. Those who disobey will be executed.
since 643, General Cheng has been
the senior Left Guardian General
commanding the Palace guards and the 4 city gates.
The control of 6,000 Imperial Guards
is a force strong enough to reverse the course of events
and it belonged to us.
Now we practically gave it away to those poor scholars.
What do you know about Guo Yu?
He came from an aristocratic family.
Today in court,
why is he like oil and water with Han Yuan?
Guo Yu came from a collateral branch of a prominent family in Longxi.
He was smart and studious.
His literary skills should be top among his clan.
He was hoping to bring glory to the clan by excelling in the state exams.
But how would the Guo's allow anyone from a collateral branch to attain such honours?
so they set him up
and made him believe he killed someone while he was drunk.
He went into hiding in the Western Regions for 30 years.
Years after the death of the clan elders,
he found out the truth and returned to Chang'an.
An aristocrat who hates aristocrats!
Interesting!
When did you wake up?
soon after you started the assembly.
Come...
Thank you, Meiniang!
You did a good job.
Much better than I have expected.
You made a pre-emptive move by making concessions.
Not only did you win a position for the poor generals in the expedition,
but you removed the Guanlong aristocrats from controlling the Imperial Guards as well
You should have seen them.
The look in their eyes were like sharp knives.
They wanted to tear me to pieces.
No matter what happens,
I'm not going back there to face them.
I hope you'll make a speedy recovery
and I can hide behind you.
I feel safer that way.
I will get well...
Li Yifu recommended Xue Rengui and su Dingfang.
They were obviously His Majesty's choice.
These poor scholars and generals are getting promoted lately.
That's directed against us.
Guanlong aristocrats like us follow Chancellor Zhangsun's lead.
His Majesty only ascended the throne with the Grand Chancellor's help.
Li Yifu and Xu Jingzong allegedly were from the Eastern Palace,
but they followed that woman's lead from the start.
since when did His Majesty approve
the rise of these poor scholars in the Court
to challenge us Guanlong aristocrats?
since Empress Wang was deposed...
That's right! Yes...
she has bewitched His Majesty and rallied the poor scholars to take revenge.
Going through so much trouble to settle a personal score
is so typical of a woman!
Enough! Did you come here to moan and groan?
Regret that you've offended that woman?
since His Majesty became the Emperor,
he has never rejected the memorials presented by Chancellor Zhangsun.
The merit earned from this expedition
is most crucial to strengthening the Guanlong families' clout in the Court.
I'm hoping you can come forward
to ensure the Commander-in-Chief position for the Congshan District remains with us.
Our families have remained strong regardless who succeeded the throne.
Wu Meiniang came but from a humble lineage.
For her to go against us,
we'll show her she's in over her head.
Well said...
Milady!
I have a lead regarding the cats.
I want proof, not leads.
Is Ming Chongyan here?
Yes.
Good! send him in!
Don't let anyone know about this.
Aye!
Greetings, Your Highness!
At ease!
Thank you! About my prescription...
Was it effective?
I broke out in a sweat.
I couldn't stop my hands from shaking.
You can't prescribe this for His Majesty!
No doubt this prescription is rather strong,
or else it cannot cure fengji.
You're in good health,
you should not test the prescription.
I will not take any chances with His Majesty's health.
Everything prescribed for him, I must first try it
before I'll give it to him.
Chongyan, this illness really has no safe cure?
Judging from his pulse,
His Majesty's condition has worsened.
If this keeps up,
unless we take a chance, there's no hope for a cure.
I still think we should try phlebotomy.
No! It's too dangerous.
I've already told you not to do it.
We'll think of something else.
Chongyan, I summoned you here
because I need your help with something else
Do you know about black cats in the Palace?
It's the talk of the town in Chang'an.
I don't think it's a supernatural event,
but a man-made incident.
You want me to find out
who let out those black cats?
No, I care more about the sensation this incident has stirred up.
You're a seasoned traveller,
you must have met many people with different abilities.
I want you to find someone for me who can tame animals.
I need to put an end to
the great alarm and trepidation it has caused.
Certainly, Milady!
Before I leave the Palace tomorrow, I will go to the Imperial Pharmacy
and prescribe something to relieve His Majesty's symptoms.
Good! Thank you.
Mother, I hope to ascend the throne soon
so that I can remove Wu Meiniang and avenge you.
Who is it?
It's shangguan Yi, Your Highness!
Your Highness!
Youshao!
What brings you here at this late hour?
Your safety is guaranteed inside the Eastern Palace.
A precaution like this seems unnecessary.
I can't help it. If I'm not in here
I simply can't fall asleep.
I just dreamt of Empress Wu sending assassins after me.
Youshao, you came to see me
to persuade me to sleep in my chamber?
I got word from Ganlu Hall that Ming Chongyan is here.
For the time being, don't let the cats out anymore.
Father, I recall that after the late Emperor passed away,
you used to worship him in Zhao Mausoleum.
Why is it in recent years, you do it away from there?
What is it?
shangguan Yi, Han Yuan and Lai Ji want to see you tonight,
to discuss how we'll deal with Wu Meiniang
and those poor scholars she supports.
so that they can complain about how they have offended her?
Tell them, no.
Father, I think their worries are not entirely groundless.
since His Majesty ascended the throne,
he seldom objected to your memorials.
But now, Wu Meiniang has been allowed to seize power.
I have compared His Majesty's handwriting on the memorials.
I believe the recent ones were mostly approved by Wu Meiniang.
Who knows for how long she has been meddling with state affairs
in His Majesty's name?
I think...
Alright...I already know about this.
I've told you time and again,
we must wait for the right time to act.
Tell them I already have a plan.
When the time is right,
I will take care of things once and for all.
Go! I want to stay out here a bit longer.
I see.
Goodbye, Father!
Your Majesty, I'd like to worship you at the Zhao Mausoleum,
but I'm too ashamed to go there.
You heard what Chong just said.
Tang is facing such a state because of my incompetence.
But don't worry,
I have not forgotten our promise.
I will join you as soon as I can.
That means Father has not recovered?
Empress Wu has been keeping us in the dark?
Yes! I found out from Zhangsun Chong,
in recent years, Empress Wu has been
approving memorials by forging His Majesty's handwriting.
That woman has gone so far out of line!
she has covered up Father's illness, forged his handwriting,
and couldn't wait to show up at Taiji Hall.
she's trying to command the courtiers in Father's name.
This woman is very ambitious.
If you wish to inherit the throne,
you must get rid of her.
she summoned Ming Chongyan to help cure Father?
Our spy dared not get too close and did not hear clearly.
Ming Chongyan seems to have found a cure for His Majesty's illness.
But for some reason, the Empress forbids it.
she is meddling in state affairs
as well as in Father's treatment.
she's a control freak!
No man can stand a woman like that!
Too much is as bad as too little.
The more she wants to control Father,
the more she's pushing him away.
Try to tell Father Ming Chongyan has a cure for him.
Aye!
stop!
Your Majesty!
Thank you, Your Majesty!
Chongyan, I have questions for you.
You must tell me the truth.
Minister Guo, you have quite a pitiful past.
Though I came from a prominent family,
I hate aristocrats.
If you don't mind,
I'm more than willing to serve you.
Milady,
I've found out the cats came from the Crown Prince.
Very well! You may go!
Aye!
You're not serving me.
You're serving His Majesty.
With your talents,
His Majesty will give you an important task soon.
But for the time being, I'd like you to assist Li Hong, the Prince of Dai.
What do you think?
Thank you for the opportunity!
Milady...
I should go, Your Highness!
Milady...
What is it?
Ming Chongyan was intercepted by His Majesty as he was leaving.
He's been taken to Ganlu Hall.
His Majesty made it clear
whoever told you would be beheaded.
Let's go! Aye!
I'll level with you.
The Empress has been trying out your medication.
But the drug was too strong
and she has inevitably suffered.
Yet, she forbade me to tell you.