Episode 16
General Han Tong suspected Meng Zhi Xiang
would accuse him of betraying the country
and killed his whole family.
Father took a risk
and hid the Han family's only son
in our home.
To protect his life, changed his identity
to Han Ming my younger brother
Ever since, we've been brother and sister.
From 7 years
until he grew up
Han Ming fell in love with me.
Although I was much older
I also had feelings only for him.
At first our parents didn't approve
but allowed the marriage.
I went to the temple to light incense
who knew Meng Zhi Xiang just returned from hunting
and passed by.
Meng Zhi Xiang forced me to enter the palace
and killed my parents.
Fortunately Han Ming was not home that day
and escaped.
So, all this time I served Meng Zhi Xiang well.
I want power.
I finally have the power.
So you used your influence
to help Han Ming become commander?
On the surface as sister and brother, but really for revenge.
You and I are the same.
We both want to avenge our fathers' deaths.
But you are more fortunate than me
you have a pure body
to be with the one you love. But I, I can only
put on an air of cheerfulness in front of my enemy
acting as slave to master.
You can escape.
You can both escape with Han Ming there
Why did you enter the palace back then?
And why do you not run now?
Only because without having avenged your father's death,
your have no face to see him.
Yes, I swore
to avenge Imperial Father's murder.
The hate from my father's murder is absolutely irreconcilable.
Seeing my own father murdered.
It hurts so much.
I understand that kind of pain
but then why won't you let my mother go?
She's innocent.
Is your mother the only innocent one?
Am I not innocent?
Don't think that you can use my secret
to threaten me.Feel free to tell others.
I tell you
I only have two roads in this life:
1. Kill enemy
2. Be with the one I love
and die together.
To take revenge
do you have to sacrifice others' lives?
You have no right to criticize me.
You would do the same thing
to take revenge,
plus I am risking my own life
this is very fair.
Based on what you've said,
you won't be willing to let my mother go?
Right now I only trust Han Ming.
Before I've reached my goal
you and your mother
must be under my control.
You are evil
but I won't be controlled by you.
I will find an antidote for the poison myself.
You really told her everything about us?
That's right.
All those unbearable things from the past
I told her everything.
Fact proves I gambled correctly.
You want her to sympathize with us?
Thus making her follow the same path as us?
Without the painful past
we wouldn't be able to gain
this girl's sympathy.
For revenge
you're so hateful that you will even use our wound as a weapon?
Anything for revenge
and to be with you forever.
There's nothing I can't do.
There's nothing I wouldn't do.
Miss, this jade beads necklace you've picked out today is pretty.
Does it look good?
Miss, why are you dressed like this?
Like an opera singer.
You know nothing.
During the golden ages of the Tang dynasty,
every concubine draws their brows and lips.
Since Qi Xing likes fun,
to make Qi Xing happy, I purposely dressed like this;
To become a Royal consort
have to use some brains.
Is he worth the effort?
I don't think the Crown Prince is all that great.
Why do you want to marry him?
In my opinion, women
should find someone
who is kind to her
that is true happiness.
I don't need you to speak out of turn, make judgments about my happiness!
I...I...
My jade pearl necklace...
It's all your fault! Get it back for me!
Yes.
I would have never thought
they'd be together!
Hush
I feel sad.
One is my favorite person
the other is my life's savior
I can't hate them even if I wanted to
Don't forget what kind of status we're of.
Why should that matter?
Pan Yu is just a Royal consort candidate.
Besides, I liked the Prince first
Why can't I be with him
Stop talking
I want to keep talking
So what?
Pan Yu and Qi You
God has given me an opportunity
to get this information without any effort
Gu Gu
where are your manners
Wan Er greets the empress
What are you causing a ruckus over?
I have important news to tell you
Tell me
I can tell only you
No one else can know
Leave
There are no more outsiders. Speak
Is this true?
I heard it with my own ears.
from Pan Yu's maid
It can't be wrong
That Pan Yu is stirring up trouble in the palace,
by law she should be given the death penalty
Her death is a minor thing, but Xing Er will not allow it
Besides, if news of this gets out,
of adultery between maiden and prince,
the royal family will lose face
Then what?
We can't let them fool everyone,
tease Brother Xing
Enough!
I will investigate this
If it's true
I will not forgive anyone who dares harm my Xing Er
You're the first to betray your brotherhood
Fine, since it's come to this
don't blame me for being more poisonous than a tiger
Mother, back then I was young
I was unable to protect you
but now I will protect Yu Er
so she doesn't have the same fate
in this palace
be sacrificed
Yun Er
Yun Er greets Imperial Father
Thinking of your mother again?
Imperial father misses my mother greatly,
as a son my heart is no different.
The purpose of this palace
was to protect you mother and son
but since your mother passed away
you've been sad
you've been unwilling to leave these high walls
Except for Father
You won't let anyone approach
Because since that moment
I stopped trusting anyone
Yun Er,
Father has always been worried about you being alone
being isolated until old age
Yun Er
I will build you another palace
Meantime you move in with me
once construction is finished you can move there
Father, don't bother using the kingdom's resources on me
You know Yun Er doesn't care about these things
Then what does Yun Er care about?
Granting fertile land?
The most impressive weaponry?
Father,
what you've said...
I don't want any of these
I only want one thing
don't know if Father will grant or not
Tell me, as long as you say it,
Father will meet your demands
what I would like is
the position of Crown Prince
Vile!
I originally assumed that as a prince,
he would have lived a pampered life.
I never anticipated his inner energy exceeded mine.
Master, what's wrong?
Haven't you always wanted to run away?
Why not kill me while I'm severely wounded
No, Master saved my life
I would not betray you
Master, what should we do?
To cure this wound
I need large amounts of fresh human blood
Will you die for me?
Yes
My good A Nu
Didn't waste all these years I spent on you
Master gave A Nu a fresh start in life
As long as it helps Master
A Nu will die 10,000 times
Master
Master, quickly drink my blood to cure yourself
No need
I need fresh human blood
your dog blood won't save me. Scram
Peacock Gall and Red Crane Crown used together...
No one in history can cure these two poisons
MQY...how did he survive?
What?
The Second Prince requested this of the emperor
This...
Second Prince never shows interest in politics
Why is he suddenly so ambitious?
Emperor must find this difficult
Who said I wasn't happy
I'm telling you, I'm very happy
This...this...
Didn't the emperor just say
that it was extremely difficult?
It is difficult...
Difficulty lies in
how to bring down Empress' power in the court
so that Yun Er
successfully ascends to the throne
Forgive subject's ignorance
Liang Xiu, did you know
I've waited so long for this day
This life
I loved Mei Fei most deeply
Her son was my favorite
Before she passed I already agreed
to one day have her son become Crown Prince
But Yun Er was unwilling to take the throne
Often I think of this,
I always felt
I let his mother down
This time he actively requested it
I must think it over
and pave the way for him cautiously.
Since Emperor has
long had thought of letting him become Crown Prince,
when you removed first prince from the crown
why not directly replace him with second prince
Wouldn't that save you all this trouble?
That year Mei Fei just passed away
Yu Er was young
Besides
the Empress had too much power in court
Her brother controlled the military power
If I made him crown prince,
with the empress's viciousness,
would he still be alive today?
So, emperor
making third prince Crown Prince was only an act
to satisfy the empress
and leave Second Prince unscathed
This means
These years
letting Han Zhao Yi spring up,
letting her brother Han Ming control a hundred thousand troops
was to let them rival against the empress
Watch the tigers fight, and reap the benefits when both sides are exhausted
Let them fight each other
and then reap the benefits
so Second Prince ascends the throne
Brilliant plan
Han Zhao Yi
She is not even a match for the Empress
To take down the empress
I have to release another vicious tiger
Vicious tiger?
Who?
Father
I didn't know you were coming
Please forgive me
Get up
Thanks Father
I saw you quietly studying
and didn't want to disturb you
What are you reading?
"The rule of Yao and Shun". . .
"The subject of divine Emperors". . .
You reading these books about how to rule countries...
why?
Please don't misunderstand
I just remember when I was young
Father would personally give lessons
I wouldn't forget Father's generosity
that's why I've kept these books until now
How Father has treated you in the past,
do you still remember?
You were so young. Father was so strict towards you
Thinking of this, I really regret it
Everything I've done is for the Shu kingdom
As long as you are strong,
Shu becomes strong only if you are strong
I will remember Father's guidance
Father pioneered the country
and is brilliant,
is a model for your son
In terms of ability to rule, personality and temperament.
Among your brothers
you are the most like me
Only,
if your mother didn't scheme back then
forcing me to make Xing Er crown prince
I wouldn't have given the order
I wouldn't have the heart to make that decision
Father doesn't understand
why does your mother treat you so?
Father need not worry for me
Actually, to me
it's the same whoever becomes crown prince
It's not the same
You've seen it
It's been this many years
Xing Er is still so disappointing
How can I
pass the kingdom onto his hands?
You Er
Father wants to
remove Xing Er from East Palace
I want to make you crown prince again
Father is mistaken
I just want to help Xing Di
Please take it back
Having lost the position of crown prince
you really hold no grudges?
To be honest
previously I was as angry and resentful as the tides
now I don't think about it
I have someone in my heart
I just want to spend my life with her.
That's more reason for you to listen to me
Get up
These days
your mother has given me slanderous reports
The empress wants me to kill you.
You Er
You might not care about your own life or death
but if Shu kingdom falls into Xing Er's hands,
not only will everyone suffer,
they will harm you and your beloved
I've already decided
to help you win back the crown prince position
Only by being on the throne
can you save
your life and the woman you love
This piece of jade
is an heirloom treasure in our Meng family
Your mother and I are not the same
only you stand on my side.
This jade plaque,
give it to your future consort.
You Er
For our Meng family's future
for the woman you love
Don't disappoint
father's hopes for you
Nian Nu Jiao's poison directly attacks the heart
so surely one of the components must be Ficus pumila.
Ya Ya, time to rest
What are you busy with?
Nothing, I'm going to sleep soon
These are all medicines for countering poison
Who's been poisoned?
Nobody
I was just thinking that
for the future, with all the dangers of this palace
I could research and develop a universal cure for poisons.
Then we'd have something when need be.
It's not that urgent
It's late, you should rest
It's nothing, Ye Ye
You go sleep first, I'll be done soon
Don't worry, Mei Er
I will stick to the promise I made
and make our Yun er crown prince
Reporting to the Emperor,
The empress wishes to see you
It's late...what's she doing here?
I came this late to disturb the emperor
with something that can't wait
Yes
What is it?
I heard you went to see You Er this morning
You are scrutinizing me
Emperor, look at what you're saying
One is my husband
one is my son
All my thoughts revolve around my husband and sons
Wouldn't you say my doing so is my duty?
I did see him
but we only chatted for a while
It's good that you're monitoring and your caring is also.
it's so late
You didn't find me just to ask about that, right?
Of course it's a big matter
I wouldn't disturb your quiet if it weren't important
I came to beg you for my son
What?
I would like you to grant a marriage
Grant a marriage?
Didn't think that mother would actually...
want to have me killed
What did you say?
The empress wants to harm you?
Father reminded me to take extra caution
But didn't you say, since you were dethroned
the emperor doesn't ask about you
why does he suddenly care about you?
Don't trust only one side
I think there's something off too
Father also said
he wants to help
restore me to crown prince
Really? what about Xing er?
He said Xing Er was young, ignorant, and incompetent
couldn't pass this kingdom onto him
If he becomes emperor
Shu kingdom will fall under his hands
The emperor's words have some reason
What do you think about this?
Father's words can't be completely trusted
But you know that the crown prince position
is not that important to me anymore
Oh, Father also gave me
something very important
it's our family treasure
First Prince! Miss Yu!
Bad news
The empress is heading over with an imperial decree
Saying..
Empress asked emperor to grant a marriage
Imperial decree is here
Son greets mother
I just knew you would be here
Mother, I was not feeling well, so
I asked Miss Yu to take my pulse
Yu Er is a miracle doctor
and also your future sister in law. We're all in the same family
No need for so much concern
Empress,
dare I ask, what does the decree say?
You don't need to worry
This imperial decree wasn't easy to get
I begged the emperor for it
Please ask him to take it back
Pan Yu is of lowly birth, I don't deserve to be Tai Zi Fei
Empress please rethink this
You lowly maiden, how dare you obstruct us from reading the imperial decree?
Do you have an extra head?
Accept imperial decree
May the emperor live 10,000 years
Accept the mandate of Heaven; presenting the Imperial order from the Emperor.
Prince Qi You,
is to comply in the role of carrying on the Royal bloodline through marriage.
To the Du family marshal's daughter named Wanwho is elegant, talented and virtuous.
Thus suitably worthy of marrying into the Royal family.
She is hereby betrothed; date of wedding ceremony pending.
Accept the decree.
First Prince, accept the decree
Ten thousand years to the emperor
Congratulations to big prince
on your coming marriage
Empress
Don't worry
Once big prince is married
you and Xing Er will be married
Both are joyous occasions
You Er
I have always spoiled Wan Er
You are already cousins, now you'll be even closer
This takes a load off my mind
What
are you speechless with happiness?
Shouldn't you thank me
I thank Imperial Mother
Your son is grateful
Your welcome.
I've thought about this move for a long time
You just obediently accept the decree
Servant greets the emperor
The decree has been declared? Yes
What did big prince say
What can he say?
Although he seems resentful
he can only accept the decree and give thanks
To be able to bite the bullet
no wonder he's my son
One thing I don't understand
Ask
Emperor,
are you using first prince to suppress
the empress and crown prince's arrogance in court?
Why agree to the empress' request
and marry her niece to big prince?
This girl is rude and unruly
not well educated
definitely not good wife-material.
By giving this imperial decree
isn't the emperor making enemies with big prince?
I'm not responsible for this
While I was plotting to turn
mother and son against each other
Who thought the empress would suddenly barge in
she asked be the antagonist
I could only oblige
Right now
I am waiting to sit back and watch the battle
Emperor
Is big prince
capable of winning against the empress?
Don't underestimate him
whether in scheming or strategizing
no one is a match for him
Also, how many mothers
could withstand their own son's sword?
As long as I see her miserable
I will be content
Greetings to imperial mother
Imperial mother, the Imperial marriage decree
was it really issued by Imperial father by your urging?
Can you not see that I'm going through the astrological charts
to choose an auspicious date for your brother and cousin Wan?
My brother won't agree to this.
It's not up to him.
It's an Imperial decree, this is no laughing matter.
My brother doesn't even like sister Wan.
Imperial mother why did you do this?
Why would I do this?
Then I ought to ask you why you hid the truth from me?
What...what truth did I hide from Imperial mother?
Your elder brother and Pan Yu,
have been clear and ambiguous all along yet you're still protecting them.
With a soft heart like this,
how will you handle the great responsibility of Kingdom monarch in the future?
I already said that I'd handle it myself.
Imperial mother shouldn't have interfered.
Handle it yourself?
If I still hadn't interfered
would you still have the opportunity to speak as you are now?
This is a serious matter and not simply a love affair.
It's a matter of your Crown Prince title!
Your brother and Pan Yu colluded with an ill-intention.
Whoever obstructs your path to succeeding the throne,
I will give them what's coming.
Then what about me?
Who's path am I obstructing? Why is auntie doing this to me?
Lady Wan, whilst you're in the presence of the Empress show some respect.
Get the hell away!
Auntie, tell me
why are you treating me in this way?
I had the good will to inform you about Qi You and Pan Yu's
secret collaboration.
And I even thought that by doing it I could become the Royal consort.
Not being the Royal consort is one thing,
but why have I been betrothed to that Meng Qi You?!
No matter what Qi You is still a descendant of the Imperial family.
What's the problem with being paired to him?
There is a problem!
I'm the honorable daughter of a marshal.
So why have I been paired with a parentally unloved,
easy to frame and execute Prince?
If your wish is for me to be a widow,
then just order me to shave my hair and become a nun.
Why bother with this hassle to cause torment?
What is this nonsense?
Who is framing the first Prince?
If you don't want anyone to know what you've done, don't do it.
I no longer want to listen to your nonsense and rambles.
Have her taken out.
Go!How is it nonsense?
If you don't like your own son then fine but why harm me as well?
So what if you're the Empress?
If it wasn't for my father's support, would your position as Empress be this stable?
Say something then, anything!Go!
Let go! You let go!
Lady Wan,
I advise that you're the one who should let go and give up already.
You're just a damned lowly servant!Who do you think you are?
What nerve, copying your master and trying to preach to me!
Go and be proud of yourselves then, but your good days are limited!
Let me tell you all,
my father is in control of a million troops.If he wants to stand up for his daughter,
when the time comes who knows who'll be Emperor!
Halt.
What? Hearing my threat to incite my father to
rise up in arms in rebellion, you're scared now?
Scared? Of what?
Would I be scared of an all talk no trousers, silly wench like you?
This here is the Imperial palace.
Do you think that we're in our Du household's backyard,
where you can act atrociously and throw tantrums?
This is a place of rights and wrongs.With just one wrong word from you
is enough to wipe out your entire family.
You want your parents
and the entire Du clan to die with you
before you're satisfied?