A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
ADAPTED FROM TIANXIA GUIYUAN'S NOVEL HUANG QUAN
EPISODE 15
-Zhao Yuan. -Yes, Your Majesty.
Could there really be something evil going on?
Your Majesty.
Whether there's sorcery going on,
well...
I can't say for certain.
But there is one weird thing.
The person who came to report Prince of Yan's illness
was Minister Peng.
Reading between the lines,
he seemed to indicate that there was something strange
about Prince of Yan's illness.
I understand.
Ning Sheng went out of his way
not to inform me that his condition was unusual.
He was trying to tell me
that something wasn't right about the sorcery incident.
Ask Xin Ziyan to see me tomorrow morning.
I understand.
Your Majesty.
Evil spirits...
How is His Majesty's mood lately?
Headmaster Xin.
Why are you wasting your time speaking in riddles with me?
Regardless of what mood he is in, you will have to see His Majesty anyway.
Thank you for the warning.
I'll be careful today.
Warning?
Did I warn you about anything?
Didn't you?
You're always kind, Official Zhao.
If there was something good awaiting me,
you would have told me by now.
And you say you didn't warn me.
Headmaster Xin, you're too smart.
Your Majesty.
-You may rise. -Thank you, Your Majesty.
I summoned you here to ask you
how Ning Yan is doing being confined to his residence.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I went to persuade Prince of Zhao two days ago under the Crown Prince's order.
He seemed
a bit eccentric.
Perhaps he is not used to his current situation.
Since I became the Emperor
and moved into the palace,
I have never left this place.
Now that I think about it,
I have never felt comfortable.
No wonder Ning Yan can't get used to it.
Although Your Majesty lives in the palace,
you have the nation's interests at heart.
Staying inside the palace
is for Your Majesty's safety.
Can I really be safe
living in the palace?
Whether inside or outside of the palace,
there must be many people plotting against me.
Is Your Majesty worried
by the sorcery incident
that happened in East Palace?
I believe there must be more to it.
Headmaster Xin.
Yes, Your Majesty.
I heard
the rumors saying
that although Qingming Academy is my creation,
the students who graduated from Qingming Academy
are regarded as students of the Crown Prince.
I have heard that before.
But that is only a rumor.
Your Majesty shouldn't take it too seriously.
In my opinion,
Qingming Academy is always loyal to Your Majesty,
just as I am always loyal to Your Majesty.
I am only following Your Majesty's order
in doing whatever I can to assist the future emperor.
May your wisdom guide you to the truth.
Very well.
Then tell me,
what is Ning Yan's side of the story
about the sorcery incident?
He said he needed to see the sorcerer and do what heaven had ordained.
Your Majesty,
I would like to confess something.
That sorcerer is an old friend of my master.
His Royal Highness asked me to introduce him to Prince of Zhao.
He didn't tell me anything other than that.
I didn't expect things to end up like this.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty.
As for what Prince of Zhao told me,
you might find it hard to believe, coming from me.
So I think,
hearing it yourself from Prince of Zhao
would be better.
Hear from him myself?
I'm afraid I can't hear much of the truth that way.
Perhaps Prince of Zhao doesn't dare to tell Your Majesty the truth,
but he must tell the truth to the sorcerer he was trying to seek help from.
And as far as I know,
the sorcerer that Prince of Zhao admires so much
has never revealed his real face,
not even to me.
So...
What you mean is...
I mean, I boldly suggest that Your Majesty disguise yourself as the sorcerer,
so that you could hear the words from the bottom of Prince of Zhao's heart.
Arrange it.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Royal Highness, His Majesty called Prince of Yan to the palace last night.
Prince of Yan pled illness and didn't go.
Today, His Majesty called Headmaster Xin.
Headmaster Xin has left the palace now.
I got it.
-You can leave. -Yes, Your Royal Highness.
It is all thanks to your remarkable plan
and heaven's arrangement.
This is a toast to you.
Since His Majesty still has doubts,
I'll have Prince of Zhao divulge everything tomorrow
in front of the sorcerer.
If His Majesty still has illusions about the Crown Prince,
then he should search East Palace.
Then,
as long as His Majesty sees his name on the wooden figure,
the Crown Prince will be beyond redemption.
He never cares about his officials
or his family.
All he cares about is himself.
Other people's lives
are nothing to him.
Ning Qiao,
drink with us.
Your name will be cleared after tomorrow.
I have finally avenged you.
You can rest in peace.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
CHENGMING PALACE
You are sleeping in the wrong bed.
I don't share beds.
What do you mean? That's my bed.
I want to sleep here.
Fine. Sleep.
One who trims his sail to the wind is a wise man.
What do you mean?
-There. -There?
Are you telling me to sleep there?
-On the floor? -Yes.
You can only sleep there.
Fine.
It's just sleeping on the floor.
You took my bed and forbade me to take others'.
Just think of me as your servant girl.
Servant girls all sleep by the footstool.
Satisfied?
"Rolling up the blinds, I look out.
Bedewed grass seems thick and soft."
I'm grateful that I'm alive.
Why are you looking at me like that?
Listen, I'll let it slide this time.
It won't happen again.
He didn't even give me a quilt.
Just as Ning Yi said,
you can't even hear the sound of cicadas or birds.
Your Highness.
Headmaster Xin.
The sorcerer is here.
Sir, please help me.
Your Highness.
Why don't you let the sorcerer be seated first?
Yes.
Please have a seat.
Sir, please.
Be seated.
Your Highness.
You may lie to a man, but you can't lie to the heavens.
If you want the sorcerer to reveal the heavenly secrets to you,
you must tell him everything
truthfully.
And you must not
hide or deceive.
Of course.
I should start with what happened eight years ago.
Back then...
Headmaster Xin.
Please leave us.
This is
something I should tell only to the sorcerer.
I think he would prefer that I keep you company.
Look.
Headmaster Xin.
All right, then.
Please excuse me.
Sir.
I will start with what happened eight years ago.
RESIDENCE OF PRINCE OF ZHAO
Headmaster Xin.
His Majesty is asking for you.
Your Majesty.
What...
What happened to His Highness?
Your Majesty, what happened?
Headmaster Xin.
It has been just one day.
But your changes
really amaze me.
Your...
Your Royal Highness.
I was following
-His Majesty's order. -Of course.
I am also following His Majesty's orders to take care of things.
All right.
Now that everything is done,
I should head to the palace and report to His Majesty.
Your Majesty.
I was misguided
by the tie of brotherhood with Ning Yan.
So I asked Ning Sheng
to keep it a secret from you.
For these couple of days,
I couldn't eat or sleep because I couldn't bear the guilt.
I must atone for what I have done.
Is the carving of my name on the figure
also Ning Yan's doing?
Your Majesty.
Ning Yan admitted that he cursed me with sorcery.
But he himself couldn't explain why your name was on it.
He just kept denying it.
I thought he was being truthful
and I was worried there might be more to the story,
so I let my feelings get the best of me
and covered up for him.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty.
So, what do you think
I should do with Ning Yan?
Should I do
-what I did to Ning Qiao? -No.
Your Majesty, I don't think that is a good idea.
Ning Qiao was sentenced to death for treason.
After he was executed,
the whole nation was in turmoil for a long time.
Now, Bloody Pagoda
is causing quite a stir under the guise of the remnant of Dacheng Empire.
If it is known that another prince has rebelled against you,
I am afraid
there will be unrest in the palace and the nation.
I am worried about that myself.
Ning Chuan, you have become a worthy Crown Prince.
You may rise.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
So what do you think
I should do with Ning Yan?
I think,
if Ning Yan did it because he held a grudge against me,
it means
I must have done something wrong to him.
Your Majesty.
I am willing to take the blame for Ning Yan.
Please have mercy on him.
Good.
Very good.
Then attend tomorrow's staging
in my stead.
Tomorrow?
Staging?
Your Majesty.
As the Crown Prince and an elder brother,
I failed to discipline Ning Yan.
That's why he tried to kill his father, the Emperor of Tiansheng Empire.
I deserve to be punished.
Was it really him?
Your Majesty.
When Ning Yan saw the sorcerer, he went down on his knees immediately.
He said...
-He said... -What did he say? Speak!
He said he was the true dragon.
The sorcery didn't work last time,
so he wanted the sorcerer to perform the ritual again.
That vile spawn!
How dare he?
I tested him by saying
that I had cast a spell in the wine.
If he was to drink it,
Your Majesty and I would be dead.
I didn't expect...
I didn't expect Ning Yan to drink it
without hesitation.
Do you blame me for being reckless?
I just feel sorry for Ning Yan.
Although Ning Yan had it coming,
when I saw him dying before my eyes,
I was deeply grieved
as much as you.
It must have been hard for you.
Go back and get some rest.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, be careful!
Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, please don't be too sad.
It's bad for your health, Your Majesty.
The Crown Prince was right.
Prince of Zhao tried to rebel against you.
He did reap
what he sowed.
I am not sorry for Ning Yan,
but for the Crown Prince.
I also feel sorry for Ning Qiao.
Ning Qiao?
Forgive me, Your Majesty.
Why do you bring up the third prince?
The Wugu incident eight years ago
and the wooden figure incident today...
I am afraid they were concocted by the Crown Prince.
That's right.
Headmaster Xin confessed that he knew the sorcerer.
What he meant was that Prince of Zhao practiced sorcery
under the Crown Prince's instructions.
If the Crown Prince didn't know anything about it,
how could he have readily agreed to disguise himself as the sorcerer
without asking any questions?
I didn't want to believe what Xin Ziyan said,
so I tested him with that offer.
But he...
Even so,
Your Majesty still didn't want to believe it,
so you let him meet Prince of Zhao.
So,
the staging today was not about Prince of Zhao,
but the Crown Prince.
So he completely
ruined the staging.
Your Majesty.
I know
you don't believe in sorcery.
But your name
was indeed carved on the wooden figure.
It still troubles me.
Who did that? Was it Prince of Zhao?
Or...
That is something I am not sure of myself.
Your Majesty.
Go.
Find me three wise and trustworthy people
and bring them to me.
Yes, Your Majesty.
No matter what,
it was Ning Yan who killed Ning Qiao back then.
He got what he deserved. We should celebrate that.
Ning Yan's death...
Unless the Crown Prince or Chang Hai decide to confess,
Ning Qiao's grievances can never be redressed.
Where there is a will, there is a way. We'll think of something else.
Your Highness,
what happened today was due to my carelessness.
It was all my fault.
Ziyan, please don't blame yourself.
I can't bear seeing you like this.
I am not thinking about anything else.
I am just worried about you.
About Headmaster Xin?
Why are you worried about him?
Ziyan made a dangerous move
admitting to Father that he knew the sorcerer.
And he implied that Ning Yan was framed by the Crown Prince.
But the result was, the Crown Prince got the chance to kill Ning Yan.
I don't know what Father was thinking
or what he told the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince, Ning Chuan.
Prince of Yan, Ning Sheng.
Prince of Chu, Ning Yi.
Accept the Emperor's edict.
"The princes' well-being concerns the whole nation.
Prince of Zhao, Ning Yan,
was taken away by illness at such a young age.
It broke my heart.
The eunuchs are my gifts to you.
They'll take care of your everyday lives and be at your disposal all the time.
Only in this way, could I feel relieved."
-Thank you, Your Majesty. -Thank you, Your Majesty.
-As you wish, Your Majesty. -As you wish, Your Majesty.
How generous.
Exactly.
We are not being good sons. We are making our father worry about us.
But it still bothers me.
How could Ning Yan get sick so suddenly and...
I feel really bothered.
This whole thing doesn't seem right.
If I may ask, my brothers...
That was inappropriate.
I'm sorry.
Ning Yi.
I don't know anything about it.
If you have any questions,
why don't you ask
the Crown Prince?
Then...
You bastards!
Ning Yan just died.
Instead of mourning him, your own brother, you are spreading rumors.
I'm really speechless.
Your Royal Highness, you're right indeed.
I'm sorry.
What else are you suspicious of?
Should we ask Father about it together?
Ning Yi!
Ning Yi.
Ning Yi, are you all right?
Please forgive me, Ning Yi.
I didn't mean that. Are you hurt?
No, Your Royal Highness.
I just...
I just feel sorry for Ning Yan.
He passed away so suddenly.
That is why I asked.
Please forgive me, Your Royal Highness.
I understand.
I am also saddened by Ning Yan's passing.
But Ning Yi,
you seem to be getting weaker.
Have you been feeling unwell lately?
No.
I am totally fine.
Your Royal Highness is very kind.
That's a relief.
Ning Yan just died of an illness.
You should take better care of your health.
Thank you for your concern, Your Royal Highness.
Thank you, Your Royal Highness.
All right, let's go.
QINGMING ACADEMY
The 13th year of Heguang during Dacheng Empire.
It was Emperor Ai's 40th birthday.
The princes all prepared gifts for the Emperor.
The fourth prince, the Emperor's favorite, who was guarding the frontier,
went through a lot of trouble to get the Emperor
a magnificent black horse.
That's because the Emperor loved horses and his zodiac sign was the horse.
He sent massive troops to guard the horse until the capital.
This gift would win him the Emperor's favor.
At that time, the Emperor hadn't picked a Crown Prince yet.
The fourth prince was the frontrunner.
Let me ask you this.
Suppose you are advisors
to the other princes.
What would you suggest they do
under those circumstances?
How do we answer this?
That is easy.
Emperor Ai didn't live past 40.
And the fourth prince was a feeble man who never guarded the frontiers.
Which dynasty is he talking about?
Teacher,
I would suggest the prince find a better gift to outdo him.
Teacher,
I would suggest the prince buy off the courtiers and injure the horse.
Just kill the horse!
The fight for the crown demands unorthodox methods.
Sit down.
Wei Zhi.
What are you laughing at?
What is your opinion?
I don't know.
I dislike idiots!
Men without ideas of their own
should never show their faces in front of me again!
Do you really not know?
Teacher,
I think the fourth prince made a mistake by picking a black horse as the gift.
It wouldn't please the Emperor,
so other princes wouldn't need to do anything.
You see,
the black horse was from Dayue and was off-limits to commoners.
Such a horse was rarely seen as a tribute gift during peacetime.
And at the end of Emperor Ai's reign, the nation was in chaos.
Dayue was no longer their subject.
It deployed forces to invade the border. They were on the brink of war.
The fourth prince,
as you just said,
went to the frontiers to subdue Dayue.
I get it now.
-That makes sense. -Does that make sense to you?
He has a point.
What was he talking about?
How ridiculous.
Wei Zhi.
Since they don't understand what you said,
why don't you
explain it to them?
All right.
Since Dayue and Dacheng Empire were on bad terms,
the trade between the two nations must have been cut off.
The border should have been sealed.
So where did the fourth prince get the horse?
How did he transport it?
He was guarding the frontiers with massive troops to deploy.
If someone was to mention it to the Emperor,
the Emperor would definitely assume the fourth prince who led the troops
was colluding with the royals of Dayue.
So what do you think
of the other suggestions?
Just speak your mind.
Finding a better gift is stupid.
Injuring the horse
might cause you to fall into other princes' traps.
As for killing the horse,
if Emperor Ai found out about it,
the prince who did it would've been deemed guilty of cursing the Emperor.
The horse was a birthday gift, and destroying a birthday gift
would bring bad luck.
Teacher.
Thus, I think the best thing to do under the circumstances
is to do nothing at all.
Well done!
You are all fools!
Well done?
How could a common student be discussing politics?
You should be decapitated for that!
Correct me if I'm wrong. Didn't you discuss it yourself?
If you think commoners cannot discuss politics,
then who are you? Are you a prince or princess?
-I am-- -The Crown Prince?
What are you laughing at?
I'll beat you up!
Are you beating me up because I'm smarter than you?
Get back to your seats!
Class isn't over yet!
Wei Zhi.
Wei Zhi, come out!
Wei Zhi.
Wei Zhi, come out!
You coward! Come out!
Come out, Wei Zhi!
Wei Zhi, I demand you to come out!
-Why are you afraid of him? -Wei Zhi.
-The less trouble, the better. -Wei Zhi!
I am here undercover.
Don't be a coward.
Come out, Wei Zhi!
Wei Zhi, come out!
Are you blind?
It was an accident.
Are you sneaking around?
-What are you doing? You... -I didn't mean to...
-That hurts. -The less trouble, the better.
You are here undercover.
No one can suffer because of me.
Nanyi, don't do anything.
Why not?
He is a girl.
Get up. Are you all right?
I am fine, thank you.
Wei Zhi.
You finally came out. Are you done being a coward?
It really amazes me
how an immature person like you could be accepted as a student here.
Isn't this the Emperor's academy?
Aren't you the Crown Prince's student?
A student like you is a disgrace to both of them.
How dare you mention them in front of me?
-Do you know who I am? -I don't care.
-I know you're no good. -You...
-Don't touch me! -No good? Take that.
-Why are you running? -Get off me!
-Are you trying to run away? -Don't touch me!
I just touched you, so what?
Be gentle with her. She's a princess.
Did you trip?
You can talk, but other than that, you are useless.
Today, I will show you who I am.
Subtitle translation by Chang Jing
Subtitles downloaded with "Netflix subtitle downloader" UserScript by Tithen-Firion.