It seems like you've been thinking for sometime.
You've dawdled up till now.
Has the prince gone to rest?
It's not as you wish. He hasn't.
Get in.
Prince.
You're finally here.
It seems like you're still feeling unwell.
You need to rest more.
I'll take my leave first.
Hold on.
I was drunk yesterday.
I know.
But I was still conscious.
I know what I did.
Does being my woman...
put you in such a difficult situation?
Prince, in your lifetime...
you'll have many women.
Although I'm born of lowly status...
I don't want to be one of them.
You're saying that...
I'm only treating you as a plaything?
Well, if I tell you now that...
I am sincere to you.
Would you believe it?
I only believe in sticking together for better or worse.
When both are of equal status, they'll have mutual respect in a marriage.
Xie Huan.
Must you do this?
I have no other choice.
Blood feud must be paved with blood.
If you insist to stop it,
you'll have to kill me first.
Watch out!
Who sent you here?
How dare you behave atrociously here?
We're acting under Grand Tutor's command to wipe out Gui Hua City.
You want to wipe out Gui Hua City?
Dream on!
Release the arrows!
City Master, are you all right?
- I'm fine. - Let's not fight with them. Retreat.
After them!
Prince, you...
Help me pull the arrow out.
It's fine.
Don't hit the pressure point.
It would affect my luck.
But...
It's just a minor arrow-inflicted wound.
It's no big deal.
These arrows are neat and tidy.
The standard and length are the same.
It doesn't seem like those used in the martial world.
The white-feathered arrows. It's the imperial guards.
I've underestimated the enemy.
I thought with Yue Qing Ya in Nanjiang...
he wouldn't take any actions yet.
The Imperial Palace Guards?
Yue Ying is keeping them outside.
They wouldn't be able to storm in here anytime soon.
I've ten minutes' time to regulate my breathing.
When I'm done...
we can charge out together.
Cha Luo, are you all right?
I'm all right.
All the courtyards in Gui Hua City are one by one being annihilated by us.
There are only a few of you left.
How are you going to fight back?
If anyone can help to capture Cha Luo alive,
you'll be pardoned and rewarded with golds.
Who else dares to betray me?
Sisters.
Don't be fooled.
Would the outsiders be so kind?
We've once escaped death during chaos.
You should know.
No matter how bad Gui Hua City is,
it has at least given us a place to live.
All right.
Since you want to throw your lives away,
you can't blame me for that.
Do you still remember...
how did government force Gui Hua City to subdue back then?
The repeating crossbow?
That's right.
If you persist in going about things the wrong way,
I'll let you experience the power of the repeating crossbows.
Load the arrow bolt!
- Follow me. - Yes!
Gui Hua City?
What's with Gui Hua City?
It's but a group of low caste people who are afraid to die.
Your City Master has abandoned you.
Who else can you count on?
Give up the resistance.
I'll show you mercy and let you die with intact bodies.
Who says we're low caste people?
Retreat to Bi An Palace.
Grand Guardian?
- Grand Guardian? - Grand Guardian?
Grand Guardian. It's really him.
I'm no longer the Great Guardian.
But, I'm still Prince Ning.
Gui Hua City is bestowed by the late emperor.
Are you acting under His Majesty's order...
to kill me?
Grand Tutor's order is His Majesty's order.
Prince Ning.
Leave no survivors behind.
Grand Tutor and Prince Ning don't get along well.
If you act without permission now,
who will bear the consequences?
Leave.
Grand Tutor's command token is here.
Besiege Bi An Palace.
Who allowed you to do this?
The King of Gu in you has trumped out counterchange.
If I don't take you away, you'll be in danger.
What then?
I could still kill her.
Why must I run away?
You've seen for the power of the repeating crossbows.
Besides, it's not an option to wrestle with them.
Gui Hua City needs you.
She dares to storm into Gui Hua City.
I can go down with her.
Cha Luo made it to today because she's willing to do anything.
But, I'll never run away.
You've been with me for over 20 years.
Have you seen me afraid to die?
If you're afraid to die...
you can run for your life.
Ten years ago...
Cha Ru wanted to kill you.
You said the same thing.
You knew I won't run away.
Why say things in a fit of rage?
Go back with me then.
I'm your shadow.
I'll go wherever you are.
"Bi An Palace"
There are poisonous insects in Rebirth Pond.
The passageway is narrow too.
Even if they can storm in here, it'll be hard for them to attack.
Open the door.
Everyone.
Retreat to Bi An Palace.
Ruan Niang.
I've done a head count.
We lost 130 infantries,
170 archers,
and more than 200 are injured.
- So many of them? - That's right.
What should we do then?
Get people to knock down the door.
Even if we can't wipe out Gui Hua City today,
we must kill Prince Ning and Cha Luo.
Yes.
First troop. Go!
Although it didn't take long to construct Bi An Palace,
these hanging lanterns and the red umbrellas out there,
are left behind by the past City Masters and female assassins.
So, Bi An Palace...
is the soul of Gui Hua City.
Defending Bi An Palace...
is as good as defending Gui Hua City.
All of you must have heard just now.
I...
the prince from Ting Zhu Court,
is the present Prince Ning, Li Si Yuan.
I know everyone often discuss among yourselves.
You'll say that I am...
only the owner of this city in name.
You'll think that I'm idling my time away in Ting Zhu Court.
But, let me tell you this.
So long as I, Li Si Yuan, is the city's owner,
I'll fight alongside with you.
Gui Hua City was once Emperor Huang's secret division.
Well reputed in the martial world.
Be it the government or the martial world,
when they heard the name "Gui Hua"...
they would show us due respect.
But, the dynasty has changed.
The ways of the world are on the wane.
They seem to have forgotten Gui Hua City's power.
Furthermore, they dare to storm in here to kill.
It's good too.
If so...
I'll show them what Gui Hua City is made of.
Today, I'll make a promise to all of you.
Within three months...
I'll surely return Gui Hua City to its former glory.
I'm at your command.
I'm willing to fight with you.
We're willing to fight with you!
Everyone, please get up.
Since there's no action from the outside just yet,
let's get back into form and be ready to fight.
Wan Mei, Yue Ying and Chang An.
Follow me.
Prince.
Give me the medicine.
It's in Ting Zhu Court.
If I try to use my qi by force.
İt's still barely enough.
Judging from our position...
it's inevitable to fight at close quarters.
If I suddenly collapse later...
do you have any good countermeasures?
I'll use the poison.
We should be able to hold out for another two hours.
Judging from Ruan Niang's reaction...
Grand Tutor really acted without permission.
He's hoping to strike a move to exterminate us...
and extricate himself from it.
If so...
pledging His Majesty for a decree to force them to retreat...
is our only way.
That's right.
All right.
Who dares to risk his own life to try it?
I'll go with Chang An.
No.
They are too many of them out there.
You won't be able to break out.
Yue Ying is good at manipulating poison.
She can work together with Wan Mei.
There might still be a slim chance of survival.
I won't leave you.
I know you're loyal to me.
But don't let this loyalty...
influence your judgement.
You're my only decision.
No one can stop me from protecting you.
If anything happens to you...
I'll not live on my own.
I'll stay back...
and ensure the prince's safety.
I'll take an oath.
I'll risk my life to keep the prince safe.
Prince.
All right.
Depart at once.
Enter the palace from here.
The round trip takes about four to six hours.
Don't worry.
I won't die so easily.
You fled from the battle. You have the brass neck to come back?
Since I'm the City Master, I won't watch the city destroyed.
How is the situation inside?
We're going to the palace to ask His Majesty to pull back the army.
Leave it to us.
Quickly go and come back.
Bi An Palace's door is made of strong wooden plough.
It's hard and durable.
It can hold out for at least four hours.
If Wan Mei didn't make it back,
what will you do?
Master Mei will surely make it back.
Even if she couldn't make it back,
she wouldn't have to die here.
Is that why you suggested for her to go to the palace?
Right.
Ruan Niang and you are old acquaintances.
I don't know what are you talking about.
Back then, in Zhaixing Mansion...
why would Wan Mei fall into Yong Yue Lake?
Why would she hate you to the core then?
It's because I failed to protect her.
So many things have happened.
You really thought I would be as stupid as Cha Luo...
and have no concern for everything?
Ruan Niang's surname is Xie. Her actual name is Xie Ying.
She's Xie Ting Yun's daughter.
She's the one you addressed as "my lady".
But, I'm still curious.
Xie family treated you well.
Why didn't you choose to stand by her side?
My whole family was exterminated by Cha Luo.
Other than her...
no one here deserves to die.
What about me?
I've promised Master Mei...
to keep you safe.
You mean that...
I really have to entrust my life to you?
Help me to take a seat in the hall.
Don't let them notice that I'm dying.
Check the number of casualties again.
Yes.
It's rumoured that City Master Cha Luo is cold and ruthless.
Even those female assassins who joined in together have been slain.
But, everyone has weak spot.
Your weak spot...
is Xing Feng, the Lord of Torture Chamber.
It's also rumoured that the Lord of Torture Chamber is very tricky.
He could peel of human skin while he's joking...
and won't come in contact with a single blood.
This requires an extraordinary skill.
I presume that I won't be able...
to learn it in a short period of time.
It's a shame.
When I conquer Gui Hua City...
I'll peel off Lord of Torture Chamber's face.
That would be a bloody mess.
What a tragic sight.
You put up so much nonsense.
Who are you?
I'm Ruan Niang.
But, I have an actual name.
Xie Ying.
Do you still remember, Xie Ting Yun, from Jiangnan?
Xie Ting Yun?
Of course.
I cut off his head.
I even crushed the crown of his head.
It's rumoured that there's a third eye on human's forehead.
Once destroyed...
he wouldn't be able to find the path to reincarnation.
What a shame.
Even if you're his daughter...
and you managed to avenge him...
he wouldn't be able to rest in peace.
However he treated me back then...
I returned to him in a hundredfold.
I don't regret it at all.
Come at me if you dare to.
Don't involve others.
You're so worried.
It seems like it isn't a rumour.
What do you want?
Where's Xie family's imperial order without words?
Imperial order without words?
What the heck is that?
Let me tell you.
The only thing I took from Xie family was my dressing box.
It's left behind by my mother.
I didn't take anything else.
That's right.
The imperial order without words is right in it.
Where did you hide it?
It's impossible.
Two of your main pressure points have been sealed.
The derangement of qi and blood drained the pressure points.
It's fine if you're not afraid of pain and death.
For Gui Hua City's shadow...
this is just the first step to entering the city.
Let's go.
It's a huge Capital.
How can there be so few dancers?
You aren't aware of it.
Half the dancers who danced in the palace,
have been killed by His Majesty in a fit of rage.
Most of the dancers are either hiding or have escaped.
There's no one left then.
What should we do then?
We earn a living by putting our lives at risk.
That depends on our fate.
Chang An.
Get everyone to guard by the gate.
As to how to guard it...
it's at your command.
Yes.
Guard the gate.
Get lost!
You've ruined the show.
- Lord Liu, let me ask you. - Yes.
Are all the dancers in the Capital dead?
Calm down, Your Majesty.
I've sent the people to look for dancers outside of the palace.
They should be back soon.
Quickly dismiss yourselves.
These dancers...
are not dancing as well as Lord Liu.
Lord Liu, show me your move.
This...
Reporting to Your Majesty.
A dancer from outside of the palace is here,
- to present an exquisite dance... - Summon her then.
Yes.
Summon the dancer into the hall!
Remove your veil.
I have a proposal.
It's good for all of us.
Come out and discuss with me.
Chang An, you'll discuss it.
There are only a few dozen of you here.
You're down to a certain number and we have thousands of imperial guards.
Do you really think that you can defend the city?
Wan Mei managed to break out.
She should be in the palace by now.
You can't continue using the imperial guards.
We're merely defending against the time.
We'll come crushing down in a hundredfold and kill indiscriminately.
How will you defend?
It's a big deal to lose over half the imperial guards.
Ruan Niang, may I know how will Grand Tutor explain it to His Majesty?
I believe you've sized up the situation
You know coming down hard is not the way.
That's why you're negotiating with us.
I can let all of you leave.
I just want Prince Ning.
You get to call the shots since I let you discuss it.
No need to look at me.
How do I believe you?
All guards. Listen up.
The people from Gui Hua City will leave soon.
Don't block the way.
- Kill those who defy the orders. - Yes!
Don't think I can't tell that the prince is injured.
You're now a spent force.
An exchange of his half-dead life for all of your lives.
This is a good bargain.
I promise you.
But, I have a condition.
I'll stay behind with him.
A dancer...
has such a good strength of waist.
A martial artist?
You have a good observation.
I'm not a dancer.
I come from Gui Hua City.
Gui Hua City?
You're Prince Ning's people?
That's right.
Why are you here?
To assassinate me?
If you think I'm an assassin...
you wouldn't ask the ministers to leave.
I'm here...
to pledge for your decree.
Save Gui Hua City in distress.
Save Gui Hua City in distress?
Prince Ning always claim to be an idle person.
I sent him to Gui Hua City to relax and recuperate.
What kind of crisis would that be?
A white-feathered arrow?
This belongs to the imperial guards.
How did you get it?
I took it down from Prince Ning's shoulder.
Eunuch Yu.
Eunuch Yu!
Your Majesty.
Summon Imperial Guard, Commander Li to see me.
Your Majesty, this...
Reporting to Your Majesty.
The imperial guards...
They've been dispatched using Grand Tutor's Command Token.
I deserve to die.
I just learned about this news.
Imperial Palace Guards are used to ensure Your Majesty's safety.
Grand Tutor secretly dispatched the imperial guards today,
and attacked Gui Hua City.
If so, tomorrow...
I'm afraid he would dispatch the frontier army to raise a rebellion.
Prince Ning always stand aloof from worldly affairs.
Gui Hua City was bestowed by the late emperor.
I pledge Your Majesty to save Gui Hua City.