Ziguang Pavilion
My days are numbered.
How can I be sure you will honor your word?
I swear on my life. I'll never betray Qing.
Heshen, I've protected you all these years.
YOU are now on your own.
I pledge my total loyalty to Qing.
Death will not deter me, exile will not deter me.
Don't forget what you just said.
It never crossed my mind to overstep my bound.
However, Sire bears me prejudice.
He is pushing my back to the wall.
He won't stop until I am dead.
If you two really can't reconcile, I'll arrange a way out for you.
You'll have help at the nick of time.
You Majesty, thank you.
Day 3 of the Lunar New Year, Year 4 of Jiaqing Era
Heshen, you are still alive?
Give way!
Sire, what have I done wrong?
Corruption, forming your own clique,
persecuting your enemies and the people...
Any one is a mortal crime!
I am the Nine Gates Infantry Commander and the Chief Scholar,
I supervise military and civilian officials
to ensure internal peace and external security.
I spare no time or efforts to share His Majesty's worries.
If I have committed the crimes you said,
indict me in court and in the presence of other courtiers with full evidence.
Then you will hear no complaints from me.
I am not begging for my own life.
However, who else can keep the courtiers in check?
Sire, how can you ensure the Qing reign will be everlasting?
You...
Sire, greetings...
His Majesty said it's late at night.
It's about time Grand Secretary Heshen left the palace.
What?
His Majesty needs some rest.
I shouldn't get in the way.
May I be excused?
May Qing reign be everlasting.
Why?
Father!
Sire, please don't upset yourself...
Let go of me...
Father...
Why? Why?
Father, why you insisted on protecting Heshen?
Where have I come short against that underling? Why?
His Majesty is not feeling well.
He shouldn't be agitated...
Sire, please don't upset yourself...
Are you looking down on me as well?
Sire, forgive me... forgive me...
Year 56 of Qianlong Era
These are victims displaced by the flood.
However, there is no exact date for their resettlement.
Such thin congee is not filling at all...
Some officials don't care about the people.
They have lined their pockets with the relief fund.
Justice and Benevolence
Sire, I have inspected devastated areas of the Yongding flood.
Victims were only given thin congee.
They had no roofs over their heads.
I suspect Grand Secretary Heshen has not been honest with the facts,
and embezzled the relief fund.
Sire, please investigate.
Heshen, is what he said true?
Sire, I wouldn't dare to lie to you.
I just reported what local officials submitted to me.
Grand Secretary Heshen, are you saying you are not responsible?
You had the audacity to pull wool over Sire's eyes!
Honourable Zhu, you're the audacious one.
Your military decoration doesn't give you a free pass in court!
Dear colleagues, don't get so heated up.
It may not be as bad as Honourable Zhu said.
Sire, please don't listen to someone's one-sided story.
Sire, the accusation is pure fiction!
Grand Secretary Heshen is known to be just and impartial.
Local officials may have failed in their jobs.
Sire, it should be properly investigated.
Sire, Grand Secretary Heshen shouldn't be held accountable
if it's local officials who had committed embezzlement.
Sire, it's my oversight.
My colleagues are right.
Sire, I'll conduct a thorough investigation to clear you of any doubts.
I have a decision already.
Heshen, don't fail me.
Aye.
Sire...
Honourable Zhu, I never doubted your loyalty.
I now entrust you with the unrests in Anhui.
Sire...
My decision is final.
You are all excused.
Aye...
May I be excused?
My dear brother, your loyalty is second to none.
Yet you are sent away from the capital.
Heshen and his ilk, however, can hold sway in court!
It's my fault. I should have acted more prudently.
I'll plead with Father for a thorough investigation to clear your name.
Please don't!
By so doing you are falling into Heshen's trap.
He can't wait for you to draw Sire's ire.
It does you no good at all.
I prefer a face-off than suffering in silence.
Don't let rashness get the better of you.
Heaven has eyes.
The wicked will get their just deserts.
It's getting late.
Let us part here.
Highness, take care.
Brother...
Take good care of yourself.
Let us drink for three days and three nights upon your return.
Good! We have a deal!
A deal!
Jiaqing's Treasure
Give my order.
Heshen is relieved of his position of Nine Gates Infantry Commander.
Xiaodezi, Jiaqing's eunuch
Sire, the decree still needs Emperor Emeritu's seal.
What did you say?
My mistake! Sire, please forgive me...
Royal Decree
Am I still the emperor?
Sire, the removal of Heshen takes time.
It can't be rushed.
Have patience. We need to bide our time.
That's right.
His Majesty is not feeling well.
Time is on our side.
What we should do is to keep a tight watch on Heshen and his ilk,
especially Helin in Shandong.
Any unexpected moves from him may jeopardize our plan.
Mentors, you are right.
I shouldn't be impetuous
Heshen will pay for his brazenness.
I'll expose him in court with irrefutable evidence.
His name will live in infamy!
Aye...
Heshen's Mansion
Milord, it's done.
Fuchang'an, it's a treacherous time.
Once His Majesty passed away,
Sire will take actions to have me removed.
I'm sure we are being watched.
I can only count on you.
Leave it to me.
Your Honor, it's of vital importance.
Please be very careful.
You can be rest assured.
I have His Majesty's decree with me, no one dares to get in my way.
The letter will be delivered to Mr Stanley of the East India Company.
Excuse me.
Fu'en, good boy.
Now go play with Mianning.
Shuangshuang, your toddler look is still vivid to me.
You and Fengshen-Yinde should accommodate each other. Get it?
Ling'er, I picked you this thumb ring.
I mean you to be coronated as empress after the mourning period is over.
Heaven is not kind to me.
I don't think I can see the day.
I don't care about my title.
I just pray that you will get well soon.
You are kind-hearted, sweet and bright.
Though Yongyan is the emperor, it's lonely at the top.
You are his only company from now on.
I understand.
Your Majesty, thank you.
It's still early. How come the sky is dark already?
Your Majesty, it probably is due to the looming snow.
Since the sky is dark, you all should go back.
Your Majesty, have a good rest.
My I be excused?
Father, I bid you goodbye.
I pray that all is well for Father.
Changchun
Help...
Save me from His Majesty's fate...
What nonsense! Take him away.
Aye...
Sire, summon him an imperial physician.
Sire...
Sire... spare me my life...
Be quiet!
Did you drink His Majesty's butter milk?
It's my greediness.
I took a sip before washing the cup.
I didn't mean it.
Sire, spare me my life...
Who else knows about it?
No one.
My lips are sealed. I'll tell no one about it.
I believe you.
Sire, thank you...
But I also believe only dead men tell no tales.
Sire arriving...
Sire, greetings...
Sire, greetings.
At ease.
Sire, am I wanted?
You looked ill at ease not so long ago.
I am here to see how you are doing.
Where are Fu'en and Shuangshuang?
They have gone home.
Are you copying sutra?
We lately have had some unhappy happenings.
Copying sutra has the soothing effect.
You are a learned lady.
How come it's full of writing mistakes?
Only dead men tell no tales.
What have you overheard?
It's my fault.
I heard something not for my ears.
Why were you so nosy?
I didn't mean to pry on you.
It never occurred to me that for power,
you would...
For four years, I have been an emperor in name only.
Father only listened to Heshen.
I could do nothing at all.
Ling'er, I didn't do it for myself. Do you get it?
I don't... I don't want to know...
I just pray that you'll be spared remorse.
Why should I be remorseful?
Tell me, why should I?
Tell me!
Sire, if I am dead, you can live in peace.
You'd rather seek death than answering me.
Confront me!
Sire, please grant me death.
Put all the blames on me.
It's my fault.
You are willing to die for me.
It's because you know I've committed regicide and patricide.
It'll draw heaven's wrath and people's condemnation.
I was aware of it.
Ling'er, I had no choice.
Father knew I was the one who poisoned him.
Instead of berating me,
he said he had no qualms in handing over me the reins of power.
You didn't know how it broke my heart...
How it grieved me...
Sire...
None of you will understand...
I am tired of being a puppet...
It's about time I worked for the well being of the people.
With Heshen around, the people will never have good days.
I am willing to do the dirty work to ensure the continuation of the Qing reign.
I am willing to go down in history as a wicked son.
I did nothing wrong...
I had no choice...
Sire, I am just a mere woman.
However, if you are willing, let me share your worries.
Don't leave me...
Sire, I promise you.
Whatever happens in future,
I'll be there to care take of it for you.
Bravo...
She didn't miss it even blindfolded.
Awesome!
Grand Secretary Heshen, the troupe you hired every year never disappointed us.
The knives didn't go out at the same time.
To cut four ropes simultaneously,
it takes timing and the right strength.
It's awesome.
Mei, you did a great job.
My efforts were not spent in vain.
It's a treacherous time in the court.
Yet all courtiers have come.
It means they are still on your side.
Officialdom is about mutual benefits.
So long as I am still around, they have to back me up.
They know that once I am down,
they will do down with me.
It's getting late.
Madam Mei, time to set out.
Milord, excuse me.
Gentlemen, I wish you... good fortune...
and happiness in the new year.
Grand Secretary Heshen, thank you...
Lavan Dorji
Prince Yonglin
Highness, Fuchang'an at your service.
At ease.
Fuchang'an, it has been sometime. How are you doing?
Though not as blessed as you are, I am fine.
Your Honor, greetings.
Prince Jasak, greetings.
A reunion before I am in the capital, Isn't it good?
It's His Majesty's decree.
I am on my way take up my position in Gansu.
I didn't expect to meet an old friend along the way.
Are you escorting Noble Consort Dowager Ying
back to the capital for the Spring Festival?
That's right.
Where is Her Highness?
I should give her my greetings.
Mother is tired from the journey.
You should leave her alone.
Well then, let me join the fun.
You are welcome.
Bravo!
I should remind you...
You never beat me.
No...
But I am no longer the Yonglin of old.
Watch out...
Bravo...
You are too kind.
You knew I pulled my punches.
Does it mean a lot to you?
A keepsake from a girl?
The girl is my mother.
She said it would keep me safe.
I keep it on my person all the time.
It's getting late.
Please give my greetings to Her Highness.
I'll pay her my respects when I am back in the capital.
Sure.
Godspeed. Take care.
Good bye.
Prince Yinglin, greetings.
A confidential letter from Sire.
Fuchang'an, halt!
It's His Majesty's decree.
I don't think I can afford further delay.
Good bye.
It's Sire's order.
I am taking you back to the capital.
I am executing His Majesty's decree.
I dare you to stop me!
I am executing Sire's order.
Did you hear me?
Sire, it's freezing cold out here.
Don't catch a cold.
Nothing can be as cold as the human heart.
Sire, at your service.
His Majesty wants to see you in Yangxin Hall.
Where is he?
Where is my son Yongyan?
Sire is on his way.
Your Majesty, have patience.
My time is running out...
Let me go to Sire again...
Cao Jinxi... be back right away.
I don't want to be left alone here...
Aye... I'll be right back...
Yongyan... is that you?
Yongyan, let me see you...
Year 1 of Jiaqing Era
Serving Heaven and Earth
The auspicious hour is almost up...
If the abdication is not completed in time,
it may affect the Qing reign.
It's not that easy to hand over what you've held for sixty years.
Sire, the courtiers have been waiting for quite some time.
Sire, you no longer care for the throne.
That's why there is this abdication.
However, it's not abdication without handing over the imperial seal.
The people will find it baffling.
Sire, handing over the imperial seal is just a ceremony.
On your knees...
Music...
Thank you, Father.
His Majesty leaving...
Long live Emperor Jiaqing...
Emperor Emeritus will be addressed as His Majesty.
His Majesty's decrees are known as imperial decrees.
His Majesty says: I shouldn't neglect my military and administrative duties.
All court orders should bear the approval of the imperial seal.
May I be excused...
Yongyan... my eyes are blurry...
I can't see you clearly.
Come closer...
Let me have a good look of you...
Yongyan...
How come it's pitch dark here?
Trip the wicks...
My eyes are blurry...
Yongyan...
Let me have a good look of you...
Why? Why won't you...
Emperor Emeritus has passed away...
Your Majesty, I've prepared you your favourite Sanjingcha.
Enjoy...
May you rest in peace.
You are a good help to Yongyan.
You are now granted this bulwark seal.
Be Yongyan's bulwark, be Qing's bulwark.
Milord, are you sure you want to go to the palace?
His Majesty had been kind to me all these years.
He needs me now. I can't fail him.
I am Minister of Imperial Household.
It'll be a neglect of duty if I am not there at such a time.
But it is like going into the lion's den.
It worries me...
even if His Majesty has passed away,
Sire still cannot do whatever he pleases.
Moreover, you have set up everything for me.
I can get away safe and sound.
You can be rest assured.
You keep this bulwark seal safe for me.
It'll be done.
I want to visit a place first.
Wu Qinglian, wife of Niuhulu Heshen
Your Honor, I am here on Sire's order to take you to the palace.
It has been quite some time since we last shared a carriage.
We don't see eye to eye.
It's difficult for us to ride together.
How come I have a son like you?
You have done too many wicked deeds.
I am your punishment.
Year 49 of Qianlong Era
Don't be so silly.
All physicians said I am beyond help.
I'll try anything to have you cured.
Be it mean all my fortune!
I kept urging you to exercise moderation.
Pushing too hard you will get a backlash.
If my death can redeem you, I am willing.
Let heaven's wrath fall on me!
Take my life!
I alone am responsible for my deeds.
You don't deserve this!
Milord, promise me you will take good care of Fengshen-Yinde.
Teach him to be an upright and selfless man.
Don't worry, it'll be done.
Dear... don't leave me behind...
Emperor Qianlong
Take him in.
Heshen, didn't I say you will pay for what you have done?
Do your soul-searching here.
Your Majesty...
After his abdication,
Qianlong still ruled from Yangxin Hall.
When he was still alive,
his seal and Jiajing's seal
should be on every decree.
His seal says rule by tutelage.
Jiaqing was emperor in name only.