It's not safe here. Come on...
Fuchang'an, thank you for escorting Helin.
Heshen, I am ordered to take him back to the capital.
Don't make it difficult for me.
You let my brother go.
I will forget what happened.
We can still be friends.
It can't be done.
The place is surrendered.
You think you can get away?
Don't make me do it.
I dare you!
How can you answer to the emperor?
Fuchang'an, we used to be on the same boat.
Do you really think Sire will trust your loyalty?
Moreover, you are Fukang'an's brother.
He dreads you.
What do you mean?
How did your brother die?
Year 60 of Qianlong Era
Brother...
He was drunk. He fell into the river.
It might have looked like an accident.
He was murdered.
Sire did him in.
Nonsense!
What happened the day before the accident?
Sire and you went to reward my brother for his suppression of the Miao rebellion.
I was present too.
Sire was then still the crown prince.
We went to bestow your brother the distinction of three-eyed peacock feather.
General Fukang'an, congrats...
Thank you.
Brother, you make the family proud.
Sire will come tomorrow to reward your troops.
Sire is too kind.
Just because of his military success,
Fukang'an had the arrogance to call off the liquor ban before Sire's visit.
He and his men got so drunk,
they were disrespectful to the crown prince.
He stole my position!
No one surpasses me in military successes!
I too am of royal blood...
It's the last thing Sire wanted to hear.
These words sealed his fate.
General, you are drunk. Come on...
I'm going nowhere. Drink with me.
That night, I woke up in the middle of the night.
I went to the riverside for some fresh air.
I happened to see Yongyan trying to push the drunk Fukang'an into the river.
During their scuffle, Fukang'an's agate pendant fell off onto the grass.
Yongyan lost his pendant to the river.
Yongyan saw the agate pendant after pushing
your brother to the river and picked it up.
He mistook it for his.
He didn't know he picked up Fukang'an's pendant.
His was dropped into the river.
If you still insist on working for your brother's murderer,
he must be rolling in his grave.
It's your alienation trick. I won't fall for it!
I saw it with my own eyes. Believe it or not!
Even if it were true, why hid it from me? Why waited till now to tell me?
What's the point?
Would you confront Sire with it?
If you still refuse to believe the truth, you'll meet your death.
You can forget doing your brother justice.
You can continue to be loyal to Sire.
But will he trust you with power?
Think about it.
Day 11 of the Lunar New Year
Sire...
Where is Helin hidden?
Sire, what do you mean?
You just said Helin is on his way to the capital.
Why are you asking me about his whereabouts?
I am not some deity. How do I know?
Sire, Helin is my natural brother.
It does worry me if he's missing.
You can be rest assured,
I'll spare no efforts in looking for him.
If he's found, I'll take him to you.
Heshen, don't be so cocky.
People are sent to have him taken back from Shandong.
This is the capital.
He'll be found even if it means turning the capital upside down!
Sire, I'm sure your order will be carried out.
Who took Helin?
I was caught off guard.
They were masked men in black.
I couldn't see their faces.
It's incompetent of me! Sire, please punish me.
It was a secret mission. How come it was leaked?
I knew it should be kept a secret.
So I just took my trusted deputy Botuo'e with me.
He has been with me for years.
We are as close as brothers. He has my absolute trust.
It's audacious of me...
Could the leak come from elsewhere?
I trust the people around me.
Fuchang'an, don't try to find a scapegoat.
Get Helin, or you will be punished!
Aye. I'll do my best to redeem myself.
Get up.
Thank you, Sire.
My late brother won His Late Majesty's trust with his military successes.
I feel so ashamed that I have failed you.
What are achievements?
Weren't Aobai and Nan Gengyao outstanding in achievement as well?
They sealed their tragic fates with their arrogance and attitudes.
Fukang'an was indeed a talent.
His life was sadly cut short.
It grieved His Late Majesty very much.
My brother was His Late Majesty's most trusted man.
Every birthday, he was summoned to court for gift.
I remember you two share the same birthday.
You would come to court with him.
It was no longer the custom since my brother's death.
It happened to be your birthday when the Qianqing fire broke out.
Were you in court that day?
Yes. I didn't stay for long.
I left after a few drinks.
Why?
I reminded His Late Majesty of my brother.
He brought up his untimely death
and it grieved him.
So you left early for Fathers sake.
It's very kind of you.
You are excused.
Aye.
Did you believe him?
He calmly passed the blame of the leak to you.
I find him suspicious.
Still, we have no evidence to call him out.
He and Heshen had been in collusion for years.
I won't believe him unreservedly.
We can only rely on Fengshen-Yinde to get Helin.
Indeed.
Sire, with Helin missing,
his deputy Mingliang will be in charge.
I think we should recall him to test his loyalty, then go from there.
It's what I have in mind.
Draft me the decree.
Aye.
Chunyou Gate
These are accessories Sire usually wears?
Yes.
I picked out likely ones as you described.
Year 55 of Qianlong Era
I have picked you two a special birthday present.
These two agate pendants are two halves of the same piece.
That's why they have identical patterns.
I have Heshen got them for you two.
Sire, thank you.
They may look identical at first glance.
They both feature a cloud pattern with an enhydro on top of it.
The suspicious pattern is called the rising sun.
However, there is a slight difference between the two.
Look carefully.
Fukang'an, the enhydro of yours is a bit higher up.
Fuchang'an, yours is close to the cloud.
Sire, if you had not pointed it out, We might have missed it.
Sire, you are too kind to us siblings. We can't be more grateful.
We'll treat them with the greatest care.
Honor your bet!
My trophies please.
Practice before you come to me again.
Hold it!
Highness, greetings.
At ease.
I want to give it a try too.
Fuchang'an, what about a match with me?
If you win, you can name any of my accessories.
Good!
I give you a handicap of five paces.
Hold it! I want no handicaps.
I want a fair match.
It seems you have great confidence in your archery skills.
If I lose, you can have all my trophies...
and the accessories I am wearing.
A deal.
Highness, you have made great progress in your archery skills.
Again!
I am overawed.
You won fair and square.
I knew I didn't make the scratch, I have been practicing hard.
My effort was not wasted.
I honor my bet.
Highness, please.
Please take all my accessories too.
It's just a friendly match. Don't take it so seriously.
I just want this as a token.
You can take the rest back.
A bet is a bet.
Highness...
It really is brother's...
Your Honor... are you done?
I need to go back in...
Yongyan, it really is you...
These two agate pendants are two halves of the same piece.
Year 60 of Qianlong Era
You like this Sabre.
You can have it upon my victorious return.
You knew it's not for the Sabre that I proposed the match.
I don't want you to go to battle.
You aren't fully recovered yet.
Don't worry. I'll quell the White Lotus rebels and come back victorious.
We can drink for three days and three nights.
Brother...
Yongyan didn't know the agate pendant he picked up was yours.
He didn't know he's been wearing the evidence of his murder.
Heaven has eyes.
You can be rest assured, he'll get his just deserts.
I alone may not be able to do it.
I'll work with his mortal foe Heshen.
The chance will come when they are at each other's throats.
Heshen's mansion
Helin...
Brother...
How's your leg?
The wound's dressed. I feel much better.
Brother, Fuchang'an bends with the wind.
Be wary of him.
I know.
Sire must have known you took me away.
The longer I stay here, the more dangerous it is for you.
Move me somewhere else. I don't want you implicated.
Don't say that. We are of the same flesh and blood.
Moreover, I am Sire's foe. You are the one implicated.
But...
Say no more.
Don't worry.
This place is forbidden zone to underlings.
You'll be safe here.
Have a bite first.
Black-bone chicken?
Helin, your hands are cold...
They're not.
What takes Uncle Quan so long? I'm hungry.
Today is your birthday.
He's out there getting you a treat.
Heshen, Helin, a treat!
Uncle Quan, you alright?
I was being chased...
It hurt my old knee wound.
Look...
It smells so good...
Uncle Quan, you went to beg that woman on your knees again?
She ignored you last time even though you had kneeled in the snow for twenty hours.
Why went to her again?
It'll cost you the other leg as well!
No. No way will I go to your stepmother again.
It stole it from the family at the street corner.
Really?
Today is Helin's birthday.
You have a treat.
Great...
Cheers.
Here you are...
Heshen, here you are.
If only we can have black-bone chicken every birthday...
I'll make it big.
Not just black-bone chicken, we can have treats everyday.
Great...
Uncle Quan, you wouldn't desert us two when our stepmother threw us out.
You share our difficult times with us,
we'll share our wealth with you in future.
Good... Good boys...
I've got you two the nod.
You two can go to school tomorrow.
Study hard and be learned.
You won't be bullied again.
It's great!
Have some water. Cheers...
Men are born good...
When a tiger escapes from its cage;
when a jade tortoise is damaged in its repository,
whose fault is it?
Teacher, it is the caretaker's fault.
Heshen, correct!
You all should take a leaf from him.
You two are too poor to be study material!
What do you expect from a pig but a grunt?
Teach them a lesson!
Brother, come on...
I didn't know you are a fighter!
I dare them to bully us again!
We siblings are of one mind. We will make it big!
Cheers...
It's a big day for me.
Drink to your fill! My treat!
You are promoted to imperial bodyguard in so short a time.
Sire sure sees highly of you.
You beat Fukang'an when it comes to learning and intellect.
Sire will trust you even more in time.
There's no comparison.
It's said Fukang'an is Sire's illegitimate son.
Brother Heshen, go for it!
You guys see too highly of me...
Come on, cheers...
Cheers...
What cheers?
What do you a mere guard have to show off?
All get lost!
Don't get in my way of having fun here!
General, can we talk it over?
Brother, he has crossed the line.
No need to give him face.
You want us to get lost? We just won't.
Who are you to take on me?
You must have a death wish.
Get lost!
Helin, it's not worth it.
We go drink somewhere else.
Come on...
What do you expect from a pig but a grunt?
Rascal!
No...
Hold him...
General, I failed to straighten my brother out.
Allow me to apologize on his behalf.
Alright.
Finish three cups and I'll let you two go.
Brother, no!
Shut up.
Yes.
You have the guts.
What's your name again?
Heshen.
You've earned the right to drink with me.
Come! Pour us wine.
Thank you, General.
You don't know what Helin and I have gone through.
Do you mean to keep him here or move him somewhere else?
What do you think?
He's immobilized.
It is easier for us to take care of him if he stays here.
But...
Sire is convinced that I have him taken away.
I am being watched.
People must have been sent to look for Heshen.
Still, it is not yet the showdown for Sire.
He won't have our house searched yet.
Helin is still safe here, unless...
I'll keep an eye on Fengshen-Yinde.
Nothing will go wrong.
Good.
Shen Chu is secretly sent to Zhili. He'll be there in two days.
For the dike burst?
Helin was there suppressing the White Lotus sect.
I suggested blowing up the dike to drown the followers.
Zi Lin and Wang Cong'er escaped in time.
It ended up a failure.
Many people were drowned instead.
I remember it.
Are there people we can use in Zhili?
Don't worry about it.
I have already sent people over.
Whatever evidence Shen Chu can get hold of,
no way can he take it back.
Xiaoyao House
I have our signature Tibetan treats prepared to go with butter tea.
Your Honor, see if they pass muster.
Not bad...
Out...
Master Liu, it's cold and damp outside.
It's bad for your old knee wound.
Come warm it by the fire.
You are too kind.
Xiaoyao House is thriving under Miss Dieyi's care.
Uncle Quan, you were right about her.
It's because you pull me strings.
Or I couldn't have known the nobles and officials
I should pass you all info I can gather from them.
Good!
Master, Dieji has most of the underlings sent home for the new year.
Those here are loyal ones.
Their lips are sealed.
Welcome...
Grand Secretary Heshen.
Highness, welcome.
Master, excuse us.
Please enjoy.
Highness, how's your injury at the moment?
It's minor. I am fine.
Your Honor, you saved my life.
My toast to you.
You were Gulun Princess Hejing's prince consort.
I am her sister's father-in-law.
We are in-laws.
Don't stand on ceremony with me.
Cheers.
I asked you to come because I have some news for you.
What is it?
My informers reported unusual movements among the Mongol tribes.
It seems they mean to challenge your leadership when you are away.
We Mongolians don't care to be number two.
Challenges come with the leadership.
I am ready for them.
Yours is a hereditary title.
Your noble lineage makes you the best option for the leadership.
However, with you far away in the capital,
it's not so easy to quell any disturbances back home.
Leave me to handle our internal affairs.
Your Honor, you don't have to worry about it.
I like to make friends,
all the more the cousin of Noble Consort Dowager Ying.
We are family.
I'll not say no to any requests.
Your Honor, what do you want me to do for you?
I need a loyal friend in need.
A friend who can give me timely help.
Noble Consort Dowager Ying's friend is my friend.
Gannon...
Allow me to ask you this.
Do you only do Her Highness's bidding?
Since we are friends, your order is my command.
Good! We friends help each other out.
Honourable Heshen, thank you.
Master Liu, thank you.
Please come again.
This medicinal wine is made from my family prescription.
It's good for arthritis.
Try it on your leg.
You are too kind.
You can turn back.
Excuse me.
Uncle Quan, it seems you two are quite intimate.
I am just a regular customer.
The personal concern is their way of keeping customers.
I asked for two sedan-chairs.
How come there's just one here?
It's no big deal.
You take it.
I mean to stretch my legs to sober up.
Master, we are being watched.
Sedan-chair is safer.
They must be sent by Sire.
They think tailing me will lead
them to Helin. What a joke.
Don't worry.
They dare not touch me.
It's getting windy. You just go back.
I am going to the palace.
Yes.
Uncle Quan, go to some people first...
Who?
Sire, I am tipped off by an anonymous informer,
Helin has committed embezzlement.
In the 2nd year of your reign,
for his personal glory,
with total disregard to human lives,
he blew the dike of the Yellow River up in his attempt to quell the White Lotus sect.
Countless people were drowned and many homes destroyed.
This is the White Lotus Sect's stronghold.
By blowing the dike up, the resulting flood will rout them.
Year 2 of Jiaqing Era
The people will bear the brunt!
We cannot afford such petty kindness!
The decision is final.
Putting personal glory above people's lives is unforgivable!
Helin has spared no efforts for the court!
Don't you smear his name!
Shouldn't it be investigated first?
How can he be found guilty based on an anonymous letter?
I have received report on the blowing up of the dike.
He suddenly went missing when being escorted back.
Isn't going into hiding a sign of guilty conscience?
Grand Secretary Heshen, where is Helin?
If Sire doesn't know, how will I?
I gave His Late Majesty my word,
that I'll clear the court of treacherous ministers,
regardless of their accomplishments.
Whoever tries to stop me from carrying it out will meet this fate!
Sire, do you mean the court has gone into
disarray once His Late Majesty passed away?
There is no room for loyal courtiers?
How audacious!
Heshen, are you asking for punishment?
Sire, Wu Shenglan, Li Guangyun, Li Huang and Cheng Shu ask for an audience.
Summon them.
Aye.
Sage Emperor Just Minister
Sire, greetings.
What do you mean?
Sire, that time His Late Majesty was reading Tang history.
He was moved by the bond between Emperor Taizong and his minister Wei Zheng.
I wrote the plaque upon his order.
He found my competent, comparable to Wei Zheng.
During His Late Majesty's long and prosperous reign
I have always been careful to be his just minister.
My loyalty to Qing has not wavered all these years.
Sire, I can swear on the plaque that Helin is innocent.
If he's found to be guilty, I'll break this plaque myself,
because I have failed it.
Sire, Grand Secretary Heshen's loyalty and impartiality is second to none.
He has vouchsafed Helin's innocence,
I too will do likewise.
Sire, no verdict before General Helin is found.
If Helin is proved innocent...
Sire, allow me to demand an apology from all who wrongly accused him!
Grand Secretary Heshen, are you putting Sire among them?
Alright! If Helin is proved innocent,
I'll toast to his innocence!
Sire...
Aye.
Heshen had the gall to confront Sire.
Sire, you shouldn't have responded with his outrageous demand!
Most of those involved in the dike blow-up have gone.
However, one person is still around to testify against Helin.
Shen Chu is sent for this mission.
So long as Helin is not found, we cannot put him on trial.
The first thing is to find Helin.
Do you have any suggestions?
If I were Heshen, where would I put him? Where is the safest?
It must be his house.
But there is Fengshen-Yinde. Heshen must have thought of it.
He has numerous villas, banks and shops.
Sire, maybe...
Shops have people coming in and out. It's far from safe.
Heshen must have thought of it.
Think again.
Put yourself in his shoes.
If we were Heshen, what would we do?
Are you tired?
We've been walking for hours.
What about having some tea and some rest?
I'm not tired.
We need to get ahead of Shen Chu
and destroy the evidence against Helin.
Or Grand Secretary Heshen will be in trouble.
I thought you had lost heart in him because of Xiaoxiao.
I could send others.
However, you are the only one I can trust.
Sire is turning the screw on me.
I can't go to see you for some time.
It's no big deal. You take care of yourself.
I know you still care about me.
About Xiaoxiao...
Don't mention it again.
What we should do is to have General Helin taken back safe and sound.
I'll do it for you.
It's arranged.
What is it?
Go to Zhili.
We need to get ahead of Shen Chu
and destroy the evidence showing Helin's the one who blew up the dike.
His back is against the wall.
We are on the same boat.
I won't let things happen to him.
How clumsy!
Come on...
Here we are...
Oh no, we came too late.
How clumsy!
Come on...
He's Shen Chu.
They must have got the evidence.
We need to intercept them before they get back to the capital.
They will stay in inns.
Check out the inns.
Are you with me?
What?
I said I am going to Dajue Temple to ask for a blessing.
Why don't you go with me?
So many things have happened in the last few days,
I need some peace of mind.
Heaven helps those that help themselves.
We have done no wicked deeds, why should we worry?
Have you seen Madam Mei?
Is she going with you?
She's occupied. She doesn't have time to go with me.
You are going to the temple, right?
Be home early.
Mother, I know you don't want to see me taking on Father.
However, what he has done is unforgivable.
I have to answer to my conscience.
I owe it to the country and the people.
Mother, your spirit in heaven should understand me.
Uncle is Father's accomplice. He asked for it.
Is he hiding here? Please show me.
Yuan Bao, be very careful.
They are Buddha statues and woodcrafts. They are fragile.
Yes.
Her Highness is handing them over to the Dajue Temple.
She'll ask for a blessing too.
You stay behind to give her a hand.
Yes, Ma'am.
What are you doing here?
Where is Uncle hidden?
How can he be here?
Have you seen him?
How come I didn't know about this secret chamber?
This bowl is decoction.
It can only be for him.
It's for me.
This chamber is my retreat room.
I have it built for the memory of your mother.
Why should you know about it?
I do the daily tidying up and offering here
since she passed away.
I won't let others do it for me.
This lodge used to be your mother's room.
It's my daily routine to make sure nothing is altered here.
Whenever you come and see me here
You will go without doing offering, like I am your foe.
Mother knows my feelings for her.
I owe you no explanation.
I don't believe the decoction is for you.
You show me disrespect elsewhere, I can let it go,
but not here in front of your mother!
I am your father after all.
It breaks her heart!
I have no mood for a spat with you today.
Halt!
It's about time I straightened you out!
Your mother carried you for ten months.
She loved you very much.
Her deathbed wish was that I should take good care of you.
As a son, shouldn't you be filial?
How cunning of you!
You are stalling me!
Prince Consort...
What are you doing?
What are you looking for?
Where's Helin?
Uncle? Why should he be here?
These are Buddha statues for Dajue Temple.
Don't you break them.
Yuan Bao, tell me!
Where is Helin hiding?
I don't know...
Uncle is not here.
Don't lie to me!
You and Madam Mei are in collusion!
You re smuggling him out for them!
I told you he's Sire's wanted man!
You shouldn't help them!
Do you know how many people have died because of him?
You are helping the devil!
I have done nothing!
Even if I covered him up, so what?
He's injured.
Can't you just spare him?
Now you admitted it.
I am reasoning with you.
Even if Father and Uncle are guilty as charged,
there are others bringing them to justice.
Why should you stick a finger into it?
You honor loyalty to the emperor,
what about your filial piety to your father
Have you ever seen him as your father all these years?
You are a father too.
You are Fu'en's role model.
Do you want him to treat you in the exact same way?
If I were as wicked as Heshen,
I'd rather he puts justice first instead of leaving me alive to be a scourge!
Milord...
Prince Consort, respect Her Highness.
Tell no one about what happened, least of all to Master and Madam Mei.
Yes...
Don't worry. It's safe for you to recuperate here.
Your Honor, it's serious...
Sire, greetings...
Sire, what brought you to the Ministry of Justice?
Sire, we have searched every corner. No sight of Helin.
Sire, no way would I hide Helin here. Please understand...
Please understand...
Ministry of Justice
Master...
A copper clepsydra is a water clock
made up of two or more kettles.
Time is measured
by the regulated flow of liquid
into a vessel with markings.