Fengshen-Yinde found nothing either?
Anything strange in the Heshen household?
Sire, it's being watched the whole day.
Princess went out once.
Five carriages went in and out of the mansion.
They were checked.
Nothing suspicious was found, nor was Helin inside one of them.
Heshen is cunning.
Helin must have been moved out through other means.
Stay alert with the surveillance.
Aye.
Xiaodezi, anything unusual among the officials in the capital?
Sire, nothing except Suling'a went back to Ministry of Justice four hours early.
Why is he suddenly so hardworking?
I know where Helin is.
To the Ministry of Justice!
Aye.
How would I have the nerve to hide Helin?
Sire, please understand...
Soling'a, you are Helin's father-in-law.
No way you don't know his whereabouts.
Sire, I really don't.
The last time I heard from him was a letter several months ago.
He was still in Shandong suppressing the White Lotus sect.
Stop pulling wool over my eyes.
Hiding wanted man is a mortal crime.
Sire, I...
Take him out for beheading!
Aye...
Here I am.
You can call yourself a man.
Take him!
Aye...
Day 12 of the Lunar New Year
Master...
Don't worry, I won't be rash.
I just want to have a good look of my brother.
Don't fall into Sire's trap.
We go back to think up a way.
Helin, I won't let you bleed in vain,
not even a drop of it!
Master, we are ready.
Uncle Quan, you and Yuan Bao go to everyone that can testify against Helin,
buy them out or kill them off!
Leave no surviving family members!
No one can survive to testify against Helin!
Yes!
Come on...
Sire now has Helin.
He'll set up a trap for your rescue mission
Don't take the bait!
We just need to intercept Shen Chu and get hold of the incriminating evidence.
Sire won't go too far with Helin.
Helin is my natural brother.
I won't let him be harmed.
Fuchang'an, leave here.
Don't let Sire get your number.
Alright.
I am ready to be of use anytime.
Master, what are you looking for?
My pine cone...
Here you are.
You have overcome even greater crisis.
This one is no exception.
My brother and I share weal and woe.
I'll save him no matter what.
I won't forsake my one and only kin!
Commander Meng, what has my brother done?
He hurt me with a pine cone!
Brother, I didn't!
How could it hurt anyone?
Shut up!
He's still childish.
Your Honor, please forgive him.
I can let it go with a thousand teals.
Otherwise, you will be discharged and your brother thrown into jail.
Your Honor, can we talk it over?
Save it!
Either I see the money in two hours
or you will never see your brother again!
Go away!
Yubao Lane
I still fall far short of a thousand.
What to do?
Just brace it.
Commander Meng, I'm back.
Commander Meng...
Helin, where are you?
Helin, you alright?
You alright?
Come on, run...
If you had not seen the pine cone I kicked out, I would have been dead...
How many times have I told you not to be rash?
Commander Meng time and again used his position to demand money from us.
We would be squeezed dry.
Brother, you are a capable man, why should you let him ruin your career?
Commander Meng may have been dead, there are still many like him around.
We first join them and then turn the table on them.
You are right.
You go back first.
What is in your mind?
Why dance to other's tune? Be the piper!
Helin, we are colleagues after all.
I want to make it easy for you.
Spill the beans on Heshen to spare yourself the rack.
Bring them on. I can't care less!
Sire arriving...
Sire, greetings.
At ease.
Thank you, Sire.
How is it going?
Sire, we've been torturing him the whole night.
He still won't sing.
Head up!
Helin, you really aren't afraid of death?
I am covered in battle scars.
I am battle-hardened. What's death to me?
You may see light of death,
your brother, however, won't let you die.
Once Shen Chu brings back the incriminating evidence,
you will be sentenced to death.
Your brother will rescue you.
He is effectively offering himself up to justice.
If it's that easy...
Sire, why are you so impatient?
My brother is smart.
If you had his number,
you wouldn't have to use me as a bait.
Sire, if you want a sacrificial lamb to make your name and pacify the people,
I'll plead guilty.
Just execute me!
You siblings have committed hideous crimes.
The people can't wait to tear you two to pieces.
What is your life to your wicked deeds?
Justice is hardly done even with you two dead!
Dike burst caused flooding in Shandong.
You siblings asked the court for relief.
However, the supply was used to feed your troops instead.
It's because you had embezzled 90% of the army supply.
Your excuse was that soldiers couldn't go to battle with a hungry belly!
Flood victims, on the other hand, were only fed thin congee.
You were so heartless as to mix it with chalk when they complained.
You treated prisoners-of-war as beasts of burden.
Captured White Lotus followers were made to do hard labour.
They were tortured.
You didn't have the Qing Code in your eyes.
You killed them off as you pleased!
I'd long learned of your wicked deeds in Shandong.
It's because of His Late Majesty that I took no action.
Once the flood eased off, you and Hehsen picked up land on the cheap.
Victims exploited by you lost their homes, families and land.
Some killed themselves or went mad,
many joined the White Lotus sect as rebels.
It's because of you siblings that the White Lotus sect kept rebounding!
The misuse of relief supplies and abuse of captives were my doings.
My brother knew nothing of them!
Helin, you love your brother.
What about him?
You've been missing for so long,
has he cared about you?
Does he deserve your sacrifice?
Helin, it's Heshen I am after.
Tell us what you know, your life will be spared.
I won't go back on my word.
Helin, it's between choosing Heshen and the clan.
Tell on Heshen, the clan will be saved.
He asked for it.
Alright. I'll sing.
My brother has a secret. It's hidden in...
Where?
What nerve! How disrespectful!
You are doomed!
As if I care!
I am the emperor.
You won't live when I want you dead.
You and Heshen are still alive,
it's because I want to publicly expose you two's wicked doings.
Once you two are convicted,
your immediate families, distant kin and their families,
your in-laws and their families,
they all will die.
That's right! I take no prisoners.
It means total extermination of your family and clan!
Sire, officials involved in Helin's case were either killed or have disappeared.
Heshen is ruthless.
Qi Jin and his men have gone to Shandong to ensure Shen Chu's safety.
I want the incriminating evidence in Zheng Jinshi's possession, no matter what!
Heshen is cunning and he has help.
Just Qi Jin and his men may not be enough.
Send him a messenger pigeon. Protect Shen Chu!
Heshen bought loyalty with money.
I believe in my ministers.
Let me see who has the better men, Heshen or me!
Red sun in decline, white sun in ascent Sun and moon to follow, people in revolt
Though a woman, Chief is able to lead tens of thousands of followers.
She's truly a heroine!
She didn't have a choice.
With Chief Qi dead, his widow should complete his mission of overthrowing Qing!
It's lucky she has Commander Yao to assist her.
Her knife-flying skills is awesome. Where did she pick it up?
She picked it up from her mom.
She and Commander Yao grew up together as street performers.
Qingqing didn't join them until much later.
Chief's mom later died of illness.
They grew up together.
No wonder they are so close.
Chief must see Commander Yao as her confidante.
But it's not what he wants.
He wants to be her...
How are the flyers?
We have done a lot already.
Let me carry on...
Good...
I am new to the sect.
I want to do more for our chief.
Talking about her...
She has not been seen lately.
Is she alright?
The rescue mission failed.
She's still depressed.
It has caused her asthma to come back.
She's on medication.
That's why she's not been seen lately.
Is this decoction for her?
Yes.
You have all worked hard.
Come for some tea...
I go back to my work.
Oh, all wet...
I'm sorry! How clumsy of me...
I'm soaking wet.
I go change.
I just want your followers to stir up troubles around the capital,
to have the court occupied.
A deal.
What are you doing here?
Delivering decoction.
It's Cong'er's bedroom.
Who gave you the permission to come in?
I had no other intention.
Mind what you say.
What am I going to say?
What's it about?
Cong'er.
Chief.
He slipped into your room.
You asked for bathing decoction, right?
I got it now!
You beast! You are a peeper!
Stop it!
Brother Xie, when did you come in? How come I was not aware of it?
I just came in.
I took you the decoction.
We have so many female followers.
Why should you be the one delivering it?
I am a newcomer.
I should run errands for the sect.
When I knew it's your bathing time, I knew I shouldn't stay here.
I put down the decoction and left.
What a lie! You harboured ill intention!
That's enough.
It's just a misunderstanding.
We aren't prudish people.
Moreover, Brother Xie didn't mean it.
Cong'er...
That's enough.
Brother Xie, you may go.
Yes.
Cong'er, why did you always take his side?
I don't find him trustworthy.
I have this feeling he joined us with ulterior motives.
He saved my life. He's my saviour.
Do you want me to kill him?
If I am this ungrateful, how will our followers see me?
I understand.
Still, I don't think he's there by chance.
He's not what he seems.
Don't get me wrong.
You first have to prove your accusation.
If you can show me evidence, I'll take due action.
Gotcha!
Commander Yao, what's it about?
I suspect you are a mole.
You use passenger pigeon to pass out our secrets.
You should be searched!
Commander Yao, you first accused me of harboring desire for Chief,
now you are calling me a mole.
I respect you, I let it go.
Still, don't push it too far.
I don't care for your respect!
You joined us with ulterior motives.
It's not the first time you came here.
I just saw a messenger pigeon flying out.
It's carrying our secrets.
I have to search you.
If you won't let me,
I'll take you back to Chief for her discretion.
Alright, go ahead.
If you fail to find anything,
I won't cut you any slack from now on.
Well? Nothing?
You suspect me out of prejudice...
or you are the one with peeping Chief in mind?
Don't you smear me!
Want to silence me?
It's no use.
It's obvious even to a newcomer like me.
How will other brethren not see it?
Smitten Commander!
I'll find evidence to prove you are a mole!
You'll see!
Shen Chu is in Shandong, save him!
Leave no stone unturned! We have to find it
Yes, Your Honor.
It seems the evidence they are looking for is here.
Once they get hold of it, take action.
Zheng Jinshi's dead for so long.
What had he left behind?
The Yellow River dike burst of several years ago left countless people dead.
Zheng Jinshi was a magistrate back then.
He submitted a memorial to court, accusing Helin of blowing up the dike.
Heshen had the memorial intercepted.
Zheng Jinshi was later exiled to Ningguta.
However, he managed to keep Helin's forged document.
It can prove Helin's guilt.
No wonder Honourable Heshen wants it so urgently.
Few could survive Ningguta.
The Zheng guy was an exception.
He got in contact with some courtiers and Sire was alerted.
That's why Shen Chu was sent here.
Your Honor.
Here it is!
Helin, you are doomed!
Let's go.
Your life or the letter!
Help...
Who are you?
Run...
Your Honor, you alright?
Not a moment too soon...
Your Honor...
my beauty by the drapes, what is the reason for your knitted brows?
You've been looking sad all morning.
Did you have a row with Prince Consort?
All couples fight.
Usually they are over kids or the family.
It's tricky if it's about something else.
A couple is not just about being honest with each other.
Sometimes, you need to put yourself in his shoes.
Put myself in his shoes?
A couple should share one heart and one mind.
Put yourself in his shoes, share his worries and difficulties.
Put myself in his shoes...
It's the way to mutual understanding...
I am enlightened, thank you.
That's good.
Highness, His Late Majesty's personal effects are all tallied.
His Late Majesty's personal effects are all tallied.
They are going to be shared by all of you here.
It is the custom of the court.
Late emperor's personal effects are given out as mementos.
I don't intend to break it.
Thank you, Highness.
True love knot.
How meaningful!
I wish the love between you and Prince Consort is as tight as the knot.
Thank you.
Highness, these stones are translucent.
The bracelet looks exotic to me.
Did the man give you this cat's eye stone bracelet?
Please, stop it now.
How lovely!
I think they are cat's eye stones.
I like this bracelet very much.
Please, let me have it.
Consort Xian, Her Highness Royal Noble Consort is the head of the imperial harem.
It is up to her discretion.
Don't be impatient.
His Late Majesty left many valuables.
They will be justly distributed.
Your Highness is Sire's favorite.
You have countless valuables already.
What is a bracelet to you?
But I love it very much.
I don't care for others.
Please, let me have it.
I am the head of the imperial harem.
I decide who should get what.
It's not for you to grab what you like.
Qiuyue, ask Consort Xian for the bracelet back.
Highness, please...
Highness...
What nerve! I dare you...
Highness, you alright? Highness...
What happened?
How come Consort Xian suddenly passed out?
It's said she had a row with Royal Noble Consort over a bracelet.
Highness, it's a cat's eye stone bracelet.
It's among His Late Majesty's personal effects.
Consort Xian...
Royal Noble Consort has already decided who should get what.
Consort Xian insisted on getting the bracelet.
Neither would give in and then Consort Xian suddenly passed out.
Show me.
It's lovely.
No wonder Royal Noble Consort wouldn't give it up.
However lovely, the bracelet's broken.
Leave it till the bracelet is restrung.
Sire, leave the chore to me.
It's just a chore. Let some underling do it
Yes.
Sire, congratulations!
Consort Xian is pregnant...
Qing'er...
Sire, I'm overjoyed.
I am now bearing your child!
Sire, congrats...
You'll soon be a father again.
Sire, congratulations. Consort Xian, congratulations...
Good! At ease.
It'll be hard for you.
Take good care of yourself and the baby.
Don't get upset.
I want no accident for my child.
Aye.
Xiaodezi...
Aye.
Make sure the Imperial Kitchen prepares whatever Consort Xian wants.
Inform the Imperial Household her allowance is doubled.
Have everything needed for pregnancy delivered over as well
Aye.
My dear, ask the Imperial Household directly for anything you want.
No permission required.
Thank you, Sire.
But... I have a request.
Go ahead.
May I have the cat's eye stone bracelet?
What?
It must be His Late Majesty's blessing.
I am found to be pregnant once I touched the bracelet.
It is in my destiny.
I am sure wearing the bracelet will give your child blessings.
The bracelet may be good, but it's now broken.
It's incomplete.
Qing'er, you are blessed.
The Imperial Household has newly acquired a jade phoenix hairpin.
It's translucent.
You will have it.
Thank you, Sire.
Sire, congratulations.
Consort Xian's pregnancy can't be timelier.
The court sure needs the counteraction of auspicious events.
Sire, you can be rest assured.
I'll make sure Consort Xian has a safe pregnancy.
Sire isn't blessed with many sons yet.
Consort Xian's pregnancy sure is good news.
How did Royal Noble Consort take it?
She's overjoyed.
We all wish Sire's line will thrive and multiply.
Madam Mei, what are you thinking?
Nothing.
I thought you would bear me a grudge for what happened yesterday.
You would give me wide berth.
I understand your difficulty.
Uncle Helin... he's family too. No one is dispensable.
You are understanding indeed.
It's our luck that we have you as our daughter-in-law.
Fengshen-Yinde and his father are getting more estranged.
You and I are both caught in the middle.
We can only bear it.
Just explain as best as you can,
don't let misunderstandings hurt the bond between you two.
I understand.
This is not wine.
Still, it's good enough for patching up.
Milord.
Shuangshuang...
It's freshly brewed Longjing tea.
Sit down and have some to warm yourself up.
I was too impetuous yesterday.
I blamed you without first letting you explain.
Please don't be mad with me.
I'm fine.
Though I am a princess,
I see myself as a daughter-in-law since I married you.
I put my parents-in-law, my husband and my child first.
I abide by the virtues of a woman.
All I ask is the happiness of the family.
You are an understanding woman.
It's my fault that I got all worked up whenever Father was involved.
I was mad that I was his son.
I kept telling myself that I shouldn't let our kinship get in the way.
I got carried away this time.
How would you help Helin escape?
Shuangshuang, I wronged you.
You are caught in the middle, so am I.
I am Sire's sister.
I too am Father's daughter-in-law.
I feel you.
We should put ourselves in each other's shoes.
Let's have a pledge.
I won't comment on your father-son feud.
You are just my husband and Fu'en's father once you are home, alright?
You have my word.
Sire, congratulations on the coming royal child.
Consort Xian's pregnancy is an auspicious sign.
It's not the only good news.
I'm just told, Shen Chu has got hold of the evidence against Helin.
Honourable Shen has done a great job.
There's an attempt to take away the evidence.
Shen was injured as a result.
It's lucky Qi Jin and his men got there in time.
The attempt failed. The evidence was safe.
Sire, how's Honourable Shen's injury?
It's said to be quite serious.
An imperial physician will be sent to him.
It's a pity the robbers got off.
We can't pin it on Heshen.
Zhugui, what about Helin?
Sire, he still refused to tell.
He insisted it's all his doing.
Honourable Shen will be back in the capital soon.
With concrete evidence, Helin can be properly sentenced.
Sire, it's life as usual in and out of Heshen's mansion.
Heshen has taken no action as far.
It's strange.
What can he do by now?
He failed to get the evidence.
What can he do? A prison-break?
It's not like him to do nothing.
He won't have that luxury.
Sire, you mean to throw him a bait?
I have received memorials on Helin's
corruptions, neglect of duty, land grab, and reckless endangerment.
People are in an uproar.
Give my order.
Helin has committed hideous crimes. He's unforgivable.
He's sentenced to a public parade and exhibition as a warning!
Sire, Helin is not tried yet.
Courtiers may not approve of this sentencing before trial.
Sire, Prince Yonglin is right.
Sire, don't give Heshen's action any legitimacy.
Helin spat on you.
He's guilty of being disrespectful to you.
Good! Leak out his other charges to stir up public outcry.
Yonglin, you are put in charge of his escort.
Beware of rescue attempt after dark.
Don't fail me.
Aye.
Helin was willing to suffer tortures for Heshen,
let me see if Heshen also has his brother in mind.
Serve you right! Drop dead...
Give him water...
Yes.
You should thank Prince Yonglin.
That dog of an emperor is cruel!
Helin is put on public parade.
Master, he may not survive it.
Serve you right...
Brother, I won't let you suffer any longer...
Serve you right...
Sire, let me help you disrobe...
Sire...
What?
Sire, Consort Xian is blessed with your child.
Everyone is happy about it.
How come you look unhappy instead?
Xiaodezi, have you noticed Royal Noble Consort's look
when the pregnancy was announced?
Her Highness never wears her heart on her sleeve.
Her mind was not there.
I knew she was feeling uneasy.
Her Highness is generous in nature.
She's not the jealous type.
Exactly.
She's uneasy, it's not because of the pregnancy,
it's because of this bracelet.
Do you recognize whose was it?
Wasn't it among His Late Majesty's personal effects?
I remember it was a tribute from Persia.
His Late Majesty gave it to Fu Heng.
How come it's back to His Late Majesty?
It's baffling.
Sire, do you want me to dig into it?
Yes.
Be discreet.
Aye.
Sire, Honorable Heshen asks for an audience
Here at last!
Sire, greetings.
At ease.
Thank you, Sire.
Heshen, where is your usual air confidence?
How come you look so down today?
I am weighed down by my worry of Qing's decline.
Sire, Helin was sentenced without trial.
He's put on public parade.
It's a violation of the Qing Code.
Sire, how can I ignore it?
Helin was sentenced to public parade for being disrespectful to me.
Even if he hadn't...
I am the emperor,
he's guilty of whatever I say he is.
My words are laws.
Are you worried about yourself?
What is happening to Helin will soon happen to you.
Helin has great accomplishments under his belt.
He's framed without any evidence.
He's undergone tortures.
Sire, is this your way of treating loyal ministers?
How can you face the courtiers?
How can you face His Later Majesty?
Didn't the people pelt him and scold him?
They were boiling with anger.
How could he be innocent?
He was smeared.
Ignorant of the facts, the people were misled by rumors.
That's enough.
You came here to save your brother.
There is a price to pay.
You know what I want.
A trade-off?
I have nothing but my loyalty.
Loyalty?
His Late Majesty had this Portrait of Court Ladies drawn.
Emperor Yuan of Han was watching animal fights with his consorts.
A bear escaped and people ran for their lives.
Consort Feng, however, put herself between Emperor Yuan and the bear.
Heshen, you are no Consort Feng.
You are the bear.
Consort Feng risked her life for Emperor Yuan,
she was loyal indeed.
But what did she get in return?
Others were jealous of her.
She was framed and had to kill herself with poison.
Though not as heroic,
I am already framed and smeared.
I feel her plight.
Well then, just wait and see how your brother will meet his end.
Sire, you granted me this rendition of blessings.
I was blessed indeed.
Now that my next of kin is facing his doom,
blessings have left me.
Sire, may I return it to you?
Grant it to a more deserving one.
You insist on sending blessings away.
It is your choice.
Without my blessing,
Grand Secretary Heshen, you should be more careful.
Sire, thank you for your concern.
Sire, it's my belief that every cloud has a silver lining.
May I be excused?
No clouds without the sky.
Sire, you are the sky.
No weal without woe.
They are two sides of the same coin.
With blessings gone,
what's left is just misfortune.
Watch him tightly.
Beware of rescue attempt in the dark.
Don't fail me.
Highness, it's eerily quiet tonight.
Be on the alert.
Fire...
Zheng Yong, check it out.
Others stay put and keep an eye on the prisoner! Get it?
Yes.
Year end was the time for auspiciousness.
Qing emperors would give out
renditions of the word blessings.
Jiaqing even wrote couplets with it.
The first would be hung on Qianqing Palace,
About 20 renditions were hung in total.