Episode 29
Thank you for the robe.
Thank you...
...for treating me like a human.
Feiyan the beauty.
She'd been seeing Sir Zhang.
I'm thankful that you're abandoned...
...by the late emperor for three years.
General-in-Chief.
The late emperor didn't like women.
I never met him throughout three years in the palace...
...but I bet you've encountered countless beauties.
Why would you fall for a common girl like me?
Are you just trying to win my head?
Do you still remember this?
You're still keeping this.
I always met you in my dream...
...but I'm surprised that today...
...my dream has come true.
I missed you every day in the palace.
Every day and every night? Every moment?
No, I totally forgot about you.
Tell me. What did you miss me?
I wished to collect flowers with you.
I'll make fragrance bag and tie it to your waist.
Even if I'm not around...
...the aromatic scent could remind you of me.
Collect flowers? With me? -Yes.
I don't have a special hobby.
I feel like a wild flower since young.
I lost my freedom after entering the palace.
I couldn't even collect flowers at will.
So, the happiest thing to me...
...is to collect flowers...
...and make fragrance bags with you forever.
Collect flowers and make fragrance bags forever.
All right, I'd be the general of flowers.
I want to construct a big garden for you, Jian Jia.
It's always blossomed with seasonal flowers.
You're the queen of the garden as long as I'm here.
Then you'll be the king of the garden.
Do you like any other precious...
...in the palace besides flowers?
I heard there are the late emperor's...
...favourite coral tree and peacock dress in the palace.
The empress once asked for it, but the late emperor refused.
Palace maids and I agreed that...
...they are perhaps the most beautiful things in the world.
The empress doesn't deserve it.
Only my Jian Jia deserves it.
I've long heard your name and now I've seen how you deserve...
...the prestige.
I'm flattered, Consort Prince He. I suppose you have...
"something else to say when you send me an invitation.
I wasn't in time to congratulate you...
...for your promotion lately.
I hope you'd accept my humble banquet.
You've gone through a lot to earn...
...the post of Mid-officer of Agriculture.
You've put in much effort for the state and His Majesty.
Now is the time to enjoy the outcome.
Cheers. -Cheers.
I can tell...
...that you're far more...
...capable than the position you've earned.
I'm a convict.
I'm grateful enough to be forgiven by His Majesty.
There's no ever-victorious general.
Besides, you've redeemed your mistake.
The Grand Commandant might want to avoid favouring his family much.
I'll persuade him by chance so that...
...he'd cultivate you for the state and his family.
Why would you do me such a favour?
You should know that...
...I only had nominal post...
...during the reign of Emperor Wen and Emperor Ming.
Just because I'm the adopted son of Emperor Wu...
...and brother-in-law of Emperor Wen...
"BVEFYOFIE...
...sees me as a dandy.
I look elegant in public...
...but in fact, I'm lonely.
I learn the depression...
...of idling away my time...
...much earlier than you do.
The level of depression is more than the years we've lived.
Yes.
Since the night is long, why don't we enjoy as much as we can?
Bring it here.
What's this?
This is called the "Five-mineral Powder".
I've spent years of research to prescribe it.
I never show it to anyone.
Today, I'd share it with you.
Five-mineral Powder.
You'll surely like it.
It works better than Du Kang in relieving our anxiety.
Bixie is dead. His post is yet vacated, isn't it?
Yes. Although it's an affair of the inner palace...
...you're now the decision maker of all affairs.
No one will be appointed unless you give a word.
From now on...
...Han Lin will be the Chief Eunuch.
You mean... Thank you, General-in-Chief.
Come. Get up.
Sit.
You're sewing the Empress Dowager all this while.
Yes. I've worked in the palace for 20 years. I've sewed 2 emperors.
I remember all 3 princes of the late emperor are dead.
I never heard of any concubine who got pregnant after that.
Why is there a crown prince?
Not just you, General-in-Chief.
I got to see him only on the day of his coronation.
Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling of Han were also adopted.
The late emperor might have adopted one from a vassal king.
Adopted?
How can we prove the legitimacy of his blood line?
It's whatever you say.
Do you know the significance of the Chief Eunuch?
He should manage palace maids in the harem for you.
Why will I bother about those maids?
His Majesty is young and the Empress Dowager is a woman.
There are many devious ministers in the imperial court
I'm worried of deception and false accusation.
I'll look after His Majesty and Her Highness for you.
I'll report all their conversation and action to you.
I won't leave a chance to those crafty ministers.
Tell me who they are.
You're a loyal minister.
So, they're those you dislike.
You've self-taught. Very good.
Chief Han, let's try out your power.
Yes, General-in-Chief.
Gather at Wuhu Lake.
Feed on duckweed along the stream.
Will of freedom.
Nothing to fear.
Good!
What a "will of freedom"...
...and "nothing to fear".
You're a good one, Consort Prince He.
You and I will be a pair of carefree swans...
...without fear and anxiety.
Here. -I can't take this.
I'll have this.
Aren't we going to let go of anxiety?
Why are you so depressed, Mid-officer of Agriculture?
Stop calling me that. -All right.
You're a great general...
...but not a farmer. You're Huo Qubing of Great Wei!
I'm left out by my father...
...since I committed a big mistake at Shangfang Valley.
My wings are broken.
I doubt if I'd soar in the sky with you.
Don't be pessimistic.
Emperor Wu adored Prince of Chen.
However, it's Emperor Wen who ascended the throne.
You'll be assigned with a great responsibility in the future.
How could you compare me with Emperor Wen?
Don't belittle yourself.
Speaking of maflial ads, Emperor Wen and Emperor Wu...
...are never like you.
You put on armours...
...and fought several times in the battlefield.
Speaking of moral quality, the Grand Commandant...
...risked his own life to help Emperor Wen to the throne.
How did Emperor Wen return such loyalty?
H OW?
Emperor Wen is narrow-minded.
No, Consort Prince He.
It's like a fishbone stuck in my throat.
I must say it out loud...
...when I'm dosed!
Consort Prince He.
The late emperor is no better than Emperor Wen.
All these years, both your father and you...
...have done many things for the state.
The Grand Commandant went to Jiangnan all alone...
...to crush the alliance between Sun and Liu with few words.
He also defeated Zhuge Liang at Wuzhang Plain.
In the Battle of Liaodong, you and the Grand Commandant destroyed...
...G0ngsun Yuan's 40 years of effort overnight.
Despite that...
...and his prominence in the imperial court...
...he's put second to the General-in-Chief.
I think it's so unfair to you and the Grand Commandant.
Vault keeper!
General-in-Chief.
Grand Eunuch. -Grand Eunuch?
He's the chief from now on.
Chief Han.
Open the door. General-in-Chief wants to check the vault.
Sir, this is His Majesty's vault.
No one is allowed to enter without His Majesty's order.
Don't you know the order is given by...
...the General-in-Chief from now on? Open it.
Open it.
Please, General-in-Chief.
I heard there are coral tree and peacock dress in the vault.
Are they still here? -Yes.
They're valuable tribute from the Western Regions.
They were sealed by the late emperor.
Take it out. I want to examine it.
Have you stolen it? -I dare not do that.
Come forward. -Yes.
Open the box. -Yes.
I'll keep these two for His Majesty.
No, General-in-Chief, it's national treasure.
Stealing something from the vault is a capital crime.
What did you say? -|...
Stealing?
The vault keeper robbed the vault. He should be sentenced to death.
General-in-Chief, I... -Tell them.
Tell them I'm robbing the vault. -I dare not tell them.
Tell them. -I dare not tell them.
Tell them. -I'm frightened.
It's good to hear this.
Precious. -Precious.
Please. Come and carry these to the General-in-Chiefs mansion!
It's known the General-in-Chief thinks highly of you.
Do you know about it? -Yes.
See? They all know it.
General-in-Chief will be angry if he hears this.
I'm Emperor Wu's consofl prince.
Cao Shuang is my junior!
Back then...
...Cao Shuang had to address me with respecL...
...but now I've gone under him.
What would the Grand Commandant feel...
...when I'm also dissatisfied with Cao Shuang?
Consort Prince He, you're drunk.
No, I've never been this clearheaded.
I'm idling every day.
I'm like a living dead.
Meeting you today...
...is a great relief to me.
Consort Prince He and I!
Come, Consort Prince He!
I think we should've met earlier than today.
The meritorious Grand Commandant holds the military power...
...and students all around the world.
Yet, he's restricted by Cao Shuang.
He's a shod-breathed hero...
...and I feel sad about it.
My father...
...carries a deep thought.
I can't even read through his mind as his son, so let alone you.
The Grand Commandant shall remain silent...
...but you...
...should stafl making a plan.
What do you mean?
Tell me. Are you content...
...with being the Mid-officer of Agriculture forever?
Of course not!
You're in your prime...
...and you come from a prominent family.
You excel in both civil and martial fields.
You carry the future...
...of the Great Wei.
I'm flattered.
I couldn't take the compliment.
L---
I'm unconventional...
...but I've a great ambition.
I'm forced by situation to play with just a flock of sparrows.
I can only drink this...
...to let go of my anxiety.
Consort Prince He, if you do have a great ambition...
...you should stay out of this...
...but Du Kang wine.
I don't need this...
...when I have a bosom friend like you.
I'm not a talented person...
...but I'd lend you a hand.
Cheers!
Brother!
He's robbed the vault...
...not more than a month after the late emperor's funeral.
What can I do from now on?
Has he frightened His Majesty and Your Highness?
His Majesty is too young to sense the threat.
I'm young and I've no child.
He won't take me into account.
Even the Chief Eunuch...
...is appointed without my order.
Why had the late emperor appointed him as a regent?
Your Highness, His Majesty is your son.
Your Highness shouldn't oveflhink it.
The General-in-Chief has the authority to check the vault.
There might be some misunderstanding in the case.
I'll inquire the General-in-Chief about it.
Sima Yi, I know you've sewed four reigns.
You must protect us from any threat.
Your Highness, General-in-Chief and I are both appointed regents.
We'll observe our duty while assisting His Majesty.
Thanks to the news provided by Han Lin.
The Empress Dowager is colluding with Sima Yi.
She isn't the biological mother of the emperor.
I can chase her out of the palace in no time.
Even when she's the empress dowager, she's anyhow a woman.
Just two eunuchs can put her in control.
If you want to take control of Luoyang...
...and even the state against Sima Yi...
...you don't rely on that woman or that child.
What else?
Leave here.
There are three authorities shared between you and Sima Yi.
One, military power. Two, political power...
...and three, palace security power.
Which do you think is the most impoflant power?
The strongest is the king. Military power, of course.
Besides, the military power he's holding...
...was initially my family's.
Military power is surely important when someone rises to rebellion.
Currently, Sima Yi holds a troop of 100,000 Liangzhou soldiers...
...in a long term and they're performing outstandingly.
If we seize the troop from him at once...
...we won't just startle Sima Yi, but all other ministers.
Besides, the Liangzhou army won't simply give in.
Yes, we should put Sima Yi under control...
...yet we cannot seize his power by force.
What's your advice?
Grant him high position and wage...
...until Liangzhou soldiers forget who their commander is...
...and lose their will of battle.
I don't agree with you, Sir Ding.
What's your opinion, Consort Prince He?
General-in-Chief, Sir Ding's suggestion takes a long time.
It can't solve what's coming soon. -What's it?
Sima Yi is cautious and he always keeps a low profile.
He seems standing aloof, but in fact not.
All three emperors took several attempts to get rid of him...
...yet they had no way of doing it.
If we grant him high position and wage, he might...
...rise to rebellion before we get in time to stop him.
Sima Yi is in Luoyang.
Speaking of revolt, it's his...
...palace security power that threatens us.
3,000 palace guards. -Yes.
You and Sima Yi lead 3,000 palace guards each...
...and you take turns to stay in the palace.
It provides Sima Yi the chance to get close to the emperor...
...and the ability to contend you.
He'll lose such ability...
...once I seize his palace guards.
Suppress him by promoting him.
Surely, we need to seize the palace security power.
Remember the saying of trouble arises within the family?
To bring him down, we should start within his family.
In my opinion, his second son is the best tool.
Sima Zhao? -Yes.
Sima Zhao is young and aggressive.
He holds grudges against Sima Yi who gives him the cold shoulder.
We'll make use of that...
...to get hold of Sima Yi's criminal evidence...
...and uproot him when time comes.
I like what he's just said. Uproot.
Don't act recklessly.
Sima Yi has gained much experience from four reigns.
We can only deal with him slowly...
...but not in force. - Stay calm, Sir Ding.
I agree to both your suggestions.
I won't ignore any of your idea.
Since we're to kill the tiger, we'll remove its teeth as well.
If you're Cao Shuang...
...what'd be your next step?
If I were him, there are currently two matters out of control.
First, your military power in Chang'an is beyond my reach.
Second, you've students all over the imperial court
I'll lose grasp of political power.
The best way is to seize your palace security power...
...by controlling His Majesty.
Once you lose the troop of 3,000 palace guards...
...you'll lose your weapon...
...and walk in a busy street like a child.
By then, anyone who has the mood...
...can simply get rid of you.
This is Cao Shuang's current situation.
My palace security power was granted by the late emperor.
How can he seize it from me?
Cao Shuang is young and less prestigious.
He cannot cut down your military power without a reason...
...but he'd promote you.
Make you the Grand Tutor, for example.
Appoint you to teach the young emperor.
The Grand Tutor shall give up the palace security power.
Is he smart enough to think of that?
It might not come to his mind...
...but if there's nothing like that from Ding Mi...
...you can now be rest assured.
There's no need to fear a foolish opponent.
You think like a man.
The luckiest thing in my life is I never get in your way.
You're kidding me.
If I were a man, I'll carefully choose my rival.
I won't get in your way.
Give me a suggestion.
His Majesty is young, so Her Highness is in power.
Without using the imperial seal...
...General-in-Chief won't be able to make you the Grand Tutor...
...even if he wants to.
Her Highness is too young...
...to see through many things.
Cao Shuang's spies are scattered around Her Highness.
I can barely...
...talk to Her Highness.
I just don't want to eat it!
No, I'm not going to eat it!
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, take one bite. -No!
Your Majesty. -I don't want to eat it!
This is delicious. -I don't want!
Take a bite. Come.
Your Majesty. -I miss my mom! I want to go home!
Your Majesty is the emperor. This is your home.
I'm your mother. -You aren't my mother...
...and this isn't my home! -Your Majesty.
Let me go! -Report.
Grand Commandant Sima is here. -Let me go!
Let me go! -Feed His Majesty.
Let me go!
Let me go! I don't want to eat! I don't want to eat your food!
No, I don't want to eat your food!
I don't want to eat your food!
I don't want it!
Greetings, Your Highness.
Rise. -Thank you, Your Highness.
She is... Greetings, I'm Bai Lingyun.
Congratulations for moving in Weiyang Palace.
May God bless Your Highness and your family.
Whose wife is this? She's sweet.
Your Highness, she's my wife, Madam Ru.
I heard you've a beautiful wife, Madam Ru...
...and the marriage was bestowed by Emperor Wen.
She deserves the reputation. - Thank you, Your Highness.
His Majesty is young, so he needs an experienced company.
I heard Your Highness...
...is looking for a steady and mature educated person.
My wife knows a little of literature...
...and she's the mother of my son, Lun.
I bring her here to see if she meets Your Highness' requirement.
You're offering a timely help. Please rise.
Madam Ru, come closer so that I can take a better look at you.
Thank you, Your Highness.
What books have you read?
Your Highness, I've read through Confucian Analects, Mencius...
...Book of Documents, I Ching, and so on.
His Majesty happens to need a knowledgeable tutor like you.
I wonder how he used to grow up.
If Grand Commandant wouldn't mind...
...let her stay in the palace for some time...
...to help me out.
Thank you, Your Highness.
Higher! -Your Majesty is brave.
Your Majesty isn't afraid of height? Your Majesty is flying.
Fly!
Where do you want to fly to? -The sky.
The sky? Could Your Majesty reach the sky?
It's up there. Do you want to fly high up?
Her Highness has arrived.
Take care of His Majesty. -Yes.
Your Highness.
You do have a way. In just one day...
...His Majesty started eating. He wrote 20 words this morning.
I used to bring up a child. I know we should let them...
...learn and eat while playing.
Yes, but most of the women in the palace...
...aren't blessed with children, just like me.
Your Highness has His Majesty.
I'm belittled by all ministers...
...because I'm not the birth mother of His Majesty.
Whenever I hear their voice, it sounds like teasing.
Teasing me for not knowing politics.
Teasing me who isn't the birth mother of the emperor.
Your Majesty shall tell me if you want to swing higher.
Your Highness is over-thinking.
Your Highness is the legitimate empress of the late emperor.
You're the mother of the state. No one dares belittle you.
However, there's a way...
...to deal with those ministers.
I'm not sure if I could propose an idea.