Greetings, Your Highness!
Aren't you Prince Yi's butler?
His Highness ordered me to deliver this secret letter.
Prince Yongli, by order of His Majesty,
I will take your place to meet with the Mongolian envoy.
I'm on my way and will arrive shortly
and take command of the guards.
His Majesty wants you to return to the Palace quietly.
When will Prince Yi arrive?
Within the hour.
I must return to the Palace due to an emergency.
Zhengyong, wait here with the guards for Prince Yi and go with him.
Your Highness...
You must obey Prince Yi
and protect him along the way.
Aye!
Go!
Day 17 of the Lunar New Year
Yonglin?
What are you doing?
How could you do such a thing?
Yonglin...
Yongyan, how despicable of you!
You poisoned Father and blamed it on me.
Now you set me up again.
You don't deserve to be the Emperor.
You're worse than an animal.
How dare you! You committed a heinous crime.
And made such slanderous accusation against His Majesty!
You'll be struck down by thunder
and forever be condemned in Hell.
Let go of me! Let me kill him...
I must kill him!
Calm down, Yongxuan!
Believe me, Yonglin! I didn't kill Father...
Yongyan did it... he killed him!
He framed me! That's enough!
Why won't you believe me?
That's enough! Say no more...
What's the use?
You just don't believe me!
Yongxuan...
Debts from a previous life...
Crimes of this life and the next life...
Yongxuan...
He admitted his guilt and still expects forgiveness?
Yongxuan...
Let it be known Prince Yongxuan died of an acute illness.
Give him a funeral fit for a prince
and do not disclose what happened today to anyone.
Those who disobey will be beheaded.
Aye!
Your Majesty, your medication is ready.
Fine.
Getting well is like reeling off raw silk from a cocoon.
You need strength to get well.
Put it down.
Aye!
Though you have recovered,
you're still weak after such an injury.
It's alright to take a break.
Not until we're rid of Heshen.
The Qing Dynasty will go on forever,
I won't die so easily.
Listen, I don't care who wants to see His Majesty.
No one is allowed inside Xianfu Palace.
Aye!
I'm so relieved you have recovered.
Yonglin, all thanks to you.
You will be rewarded accordingly.
I ask only to share your troubles, not rewards.
I'm pleased to have a brother like you.
If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave.
I think we need extra troops in the Capital.
Zhu Gui, I'm putting you in charge.
Aye!
Heshen instigated Prince Yuongxuan to make a move
so he can reap the harvest of someone else's effort.
Whatever Heshen is up to, I'll find a way to beat him.
Our informer within the White Lotus Sect has confirmed
the attempt of His Majesty's life on Jing Mountain,
was organized by Heshen and the Sect.
We must have proof before I can punish him.
Aye!
Greetings, Your Majesty! At ease!
Thank Heaven you're awake, Your Majesty.
Sorry to worry you. Please wait...
Pardon me for barging in,
but I cannot wait any longer.
While you were unconscious, Lady Ying took Prince Mianning with her.
I was not allowed to see him.
What? To Shoukang Palace.
Unless Mianning is out of the way,
Yonglin will never have the chance to become the Emperor.
Don't blame me for being heartless.
Blame yourself for being His Majesty's son.
His Majesty the Emperor...
Your Ladyship...
Greetings, Your Majesty! Greetings, Your Majesty!
He's safe!
Prince Mianning is blessed with wisdom and good fortune.
It's Qing's good fortune that you have recovered, Your Majesty.
What brings you here at this late hour?
Xiaodezi, escort the Royal Noble Consort and Prince Mianning to Jingren Palace.
Aye!
Despite the Royal Noble Consort's objection,
you chose to take Mianning away.
The Royal Noble Consort is in charge of the harem,
I will not tolerate any insubordination.
The Royal Noble Consort has forsaken sleep and food looking after you.
I'm afraid she'll wear herself out.
That's why I helped her look after Prince Mianning.
If I have offended her in any way, please punish me.
I won't punish you if what you said is true.
But you liaised with the Mongols behind my back.
I found it odd that the late Emperor
would assign you to liaise with a vassal state.
It's absolutely true.
If you don't believe me. I have no way to prove it.
I will try to find out.
I won't be easy on those who lied to me.
I urge you to conduct yourself properly.
I will not tolerate anyone who defies my order.
I understand.
Considering the crime Yongxuan committed,
not sure if he's allowed into the ancestral hall.
But we must inform Father and our other ancestors.
It's all in our destiny, we have no choice.
What else can we do?
The blood on an Aisin Gioro's hands
should be that of the enemy, not our brother
We're only a pawn in someone else's game,
serving the great Qing and the Emperor.
Such is life, what's there to think about?
I want us to get along.
I don't want fratricide.
I can still see how Yongxuan died.
How do you expect me to let go?
Dragons fight in the wild always end in bloodshed.
The Liuyao Hexagram is the most ominous of them all.
Power struggle within the royal family never ends peacefully.
Yongxuan's life has run its course.
No one could have saved him.
He was still crying foul when he was dying.
Should I believe him?
But how can he expect me to believe His Majesty committed patricide?
I can't do that.
Rather than lament over someone else's short life,
I should worry about my own.
Perhaps it's time to act.
Prince Yongxuan failed and killed himself.
All six of you can't beat me.
You're still agile and not yet over the hill
You don't look like you're out of practice.
Why do you want to practice all of a sudden?
I'm not crazy about martial arts.
But you need to keep training
so you can overcome the enemy when the time comes
and make him your pawn.
What about Prince Yongxuan's family?
I made all the arrangements for them like you asked.
They'll leave the Capital for a simple life.
That's the last thing I can do for him.
Bao, what about the job I gave you?
It's done.
Most of the silver have been moved away from the Capital
and didn't alert anyone on the way.
Madam Qinglian and Madam Nalan are safely home and settled in.
Good, no more worries.
Master, it's time we move back to Jiangnan and regroup
and bide your time for a comeback.
Is the hero a product of his time or the other way around?
You don't wish to walk away?
Rather than be a sitting duck,
I'd rather take the initiative to fight back
I already told all the officials to be careful,
try to stay home and
avoid meeting anyone
so they won't give anyone any excuses.
Uncle Quan, I need you to protect Doukou.
Keep her liaison with the White Lotus Sect secret.
I want her to come back unscathed.
I understand.
What's your plan, Master?
I promised the late Emperor I won't step out of line
and assist His Majesty in running the State.
But Yongyan was ungrateful.
I gave in and ended up losing my brother.
I won't back off again.
You intend to revolt?
I'm every bit His Majesty's equal.
If I can make him, I can break him.
What worries me the most
is you, Princess Hexiao and Fu'en.
I want you all out of harm's way.
I won't become your stumbling block
or let anyone stand in your way.
I'm glad to hear that.
Something you can't figure out?
Prince Yi and Fuchang'on.
They're on good terms with each other.
Though His Majesty is Prince Yi's nephew,
he didn't necessary take his side.
You need not worry about Fuchang'an.
I'm not worried about Prince Yi taking sides
He once asked if Fuchang'an wants to be stationed in Gansu.
He might know about Fuchang'an's ancestry.
But to get it out of him may not be easy.
By order of His Majesty the Emperor, surround Heshen's Mansion.
Keep everyone inside the residence.
Don't let anyone leave.
Aye!
Minister Liu, what brings you here?
His Majesty gave the order to prohibit anyone from coming and leaving.
You must all obey and stay inside.
Why does His Majesty...
Don't worry, Chang Mei.
I will follow His Majesty's order
and stay home.
Please don't forget.
If I should find a shred of evidence,
I will do my best to apprehend the guilty party
to eliminate corruption.
I never doubted your ability.
Too bad your effort is wasted.
What I did was for the good of Qing.
Chang Mei, how do you feel?
You're weak from your illness, don't overexert yourself.
I'll sort this out soon, don't worry.
You should get some rest inside.
Yes, Master!
I'll be praying in the lodge.
I don't want to be disturbed.
Minister Liu, help yourself.
How do you feel, Your Majesty?
I'm feeling much better.
Thanks for doing me this favor.
What did the Mongols say?
The Mongol envoy reported the severity of the disaster
and they're in dire need of food supplies.
Lady Ying failed to keep her word,
which prompted them to take action.
The envoy urged us to give out relief food as soon as possible.
Mongols can be treacherous.
They had the nerve to threaten me,
I will definitely not compromise.
The dignity of the Celestial Empire must not be damaged.
After you suppress them,
you must make sure the tribes submit to Qing.
I don't know why there has been no warning signs of military action by the Mongols.
I won't let them get away with it.
Let's put a hold on the relief food.
I'll decide after I issue an official censure.
Wise decision, Your Majesty!
Yongxuan's attempt on my life failed
and I came away unscathed
all thanks to your cooperation.
I need to fake my unconsciousness to lure Heshen into action.
I need your help and please keep it to yourself.
How can I help?
Don't give Heshen a chance to meet with the Mongol envoy.
Give the job to Yonglin.
But I need you to take over
and send Yonglin back to the Palace.
I have another job for him.
I won't let you down.
You're the pillar of the State.
If anything happens to you,
how can I ever face the late Emperor?
You have done me a huge service.
You shall be rewarded accordingly.
Thank you, but I ask for no reward.
I'm getting old and this body is not what it's used to be.
Now that the crisis is over,
I'd like to retire to the mountains
and continue to be the idler Sangan.
Master Sangan cannot be carefree with Heshen still around.
Rather than abandon me for comfort,
stay in the Palace and help me topple Heshen
But...
Say no more, my mind is made up.
If you need my help,
I'll stay and share your troubles.
I'm relieved to have your help.
We might have resolved the Mongol crisis,
but Gansu is still not safe.
Will you consider sending someone?
Fuchang'an is the man for the job.
We have troubled times ahead
with the White Lotus Sect causing unrest in the Capital.
There's no hurry to send anyone.
Let me think about it.
You're quite right.
Anything?
Your Highness, Minister Zhu,
we searched the neighborhood.
No signs of the White Lotus rebels.
Are we too late?
Is your source reliable?
Definitely.
Let's split up and keep looking.
Let's split up! Aye!
Xianfu Palace
Your Majesty, I have intercepted
the valuables Heshen tried to smuggle out.
We have 4 million taels of silver,
70 pure gold ingots,
36,000 taels of foreign silver dollars
and other valuables worth 5 million taels.
The total amount has been reported.
What we found is only a drop in a bucket among Heshen's entire fortune.
I want to completely knock him down.
I understand.
I had his mansion completely surrounded
and detained Heshen and his clique in the Capital.
His accomplices elsewhere are under surveillance.
Fengshen-Yinde, you think I'll be able to
convict Heshen this time?
You should be.
Should be? Death is not enough to atone his crimes.
He deserved to be sliced to death.
Do you know why I let him live?
You want to put him on trial.
Exactly!
I need his blood to uphold the law and eliminate corruption.
That's why we need irrefutable evidence against Heshen.
I designated this crucial task to you.
Do you have it?
I'm sorry I let you down. Please forgive me.
Even though you're Heshen's son,
I know you're honest and can tell right from wrong.
That's why I made an exception to promote you.
But you have achieve nothing over the years.
Did I misjudge you?
Or you didn't try hard enough?
That's because Heshen is cunning and treacherous.
I have done my best and still failed to beat him.
I'm willing to sacrifice my life for Qing
and would never collude with corrupted officials to harm the State.
If I have evidence against Heshen,
I would never conceal it from you.
I hope I'm right about you.
But Heshen has exhausted my patience.
"Sacrificing your life" is not just something you say.
I understand.
Your Ladyship, His Majesty has yet to issue an order to give out relief food.
The situation is becoming unfavorable to us.
Mongol troops at the border... poses a threat after all.
His Majesty will try to be difficult.
Be patient. It'll happen.
I can wait, but the heads of the other tribes cannot.
Their requests for more food have been repeatedly denied
they have gathered at the border about to make a move.
If any incidents should happen,
you and I will be implicated.
You're like a brother to them,
you can keep them in line if you intercede.
Faced with natural disasters and they're hungry,
brotherhood means nothing.
Please put in a good word for us to His Majesty
and help us get out of this bind.
I can barely fend for myself.
His Majesty already gave me a warning
against meddling with State affairs.
You'll have to work it out yourself.
Now that His Majesty is back in power,
Lady Ying will only save her own neck.
I'm afraid giving out relief food won't happen soon.
Good luck, Your Highness! You're on your own
She told me to pressure His Majesty
so Prince Yonglin will have a chance to earn a merit.
Now that the attempt failed,
she wants to wash her hands of this mess.
His Majesty is beginning to suspect her.
If she tries to plead your case,
she'll only be fanning the fire.
What should I do now?
Relax, I'll help you if Lady Ying won't.
Work with me and keep the money.
With my ability and connections,
we can solve anything.
I understand your difficulty.
I will seek an audience with His Majesty.
Greetings, Lady Ying, Prince Jasak!
His Majesty sent me here to read you the Imperial edict.
Here I am...
By order of His Majesty the Emperor...
For drinking and entertaining
during State mourning,
Prince Jasak is guilty of not repaying the late Emperor's benevolence
and showing gross disrespect.
On account it's out of foolishness and not evil intent,
I have decided to show him leniency.
I hereby revoke the "Prince" title
and confer it to Bateer instead.
I order him to return to Mongolia in 3 days.
Thank you, Your Majesty!
I'll take my leave now.
His Majesty is quick to react.
By throwing you out of the Capital
and naming Bateer as your replacement,
he's obviously undermining my influence.
What can we do now?
What else?
His Majesty put on such a drama with Prince Yi
to force us to give ourselves away.
You should go home first
and wait till His Majesty calms down.
I will.
Mianning, drink this soup and we'll do a paper cut.
I want to play in the Imperial Garden.
The wind is chilly outside,
I don't want you to catch a cold.
Stay here and play.
Yes, Mother!
Such a sensible child.
I saw Heshen sneak into the Imperial Garden to speak to you.
What devious scheme did you discuss?
I should order the painters from Ruyi Studio
to do a painting of the kind mother and filial son.
Greetings, Your Majesty! Greetings, Father!
Get up!
Mianning, I know you're bored.
I asked them to bring Princess Hexiao and Fu'en to keep you company.
Thank you, Father!
You're so thoughtful.
A lot happened lately in the Palace.
I don't want you to worry, Ling'er.
I won't let anyone take Mianning away.
Thank you, Your Majesty!
You shouldn't be running around.
Stay in Jingren Palace and look after Mianning.
Even when Hexiao and Fu'en are here,
just stay in the courtyard
and don't leave Jingren Palace.
I'll put more men on guard.
I understand.
What have you found out?
Her Ladyship and Heshen grew up together in the same hometown.
According to the servants,
she stopped seeing him before she came to the Palace.
Dig deeper into their past.
The Royal Noble Consort will soon become my Empress.
I will not tolerate infidelity and disloyalty from those around me.
The Qing soldiers were quick.
Luckily we evacuated our followers,
or the consequence is unthinkable.
The Qing soldiers cleared out.
We're safe for now.
Chief, they may come back. We should move on
Yes, we should leave.
Go liaise with Miss Doukou.
I will.
Chief, for us to hit the road safely,
it's best you change your clothes.
Good idea.
Chief Wang, we found a place for you.
Thank you, Miss Doukou!
Please follow me.
They don't look like they're working for His Majesty.
You?!
Who are you? Arrest them!
Come back...
Let them go! We should get out of here.
Uncle Quan, it's him!
I finally found him after all these years.
I can't let him get away.
Calm down, Miss Doukou.
We're in great danger.
We should find a place to settle in
and worry about anything else later.
Did the assassins follow us here?
We're safe for now.
Stay here and I'll bring you food.
Thanks, Uncle Quan.
I'll have a look around.
I'll go with you, Chief!
That man in black who ambushed us
had a crescent-shaped scar on the back of his right hand.
The man who killed your family
had a crescent-shaped scar on his hand too.
You really think it was him?
I only took a glimpse.
But that scar killed my family.
I'll never forget it.
I am useless.
Master told me to find him, yet I haven't heard anything all these years.
But you ran into him today.
Perhaps it's destiny.
I'll put someone on it and we'll catch him.
Thanks, Uncle Quan!
I'll help. Wait for my good news.
Be careful!
I hope I'll finally get my revenge.
Heshen is smart. He never showed up.
Doukou has been liaising with the Chief.
To charge Heshen with colluding with the Sect,
Doukou is our only chance.
She seems devoted to Heshen.
How can you make her betray him?
We all have a weakness.
I don't believe love conquers all.
Whatever you do, make it quick.
I finally found your weakness.
Father, I'm unable to wait by you.
Please pray that Yongxuan can find peace
and rid himself of all pain and sufferings.
Your Highness, since the late Emperor moved in here,
you often come here to burn incense for him.
Too much is going on inside the Palace.
His Majesty is overwhelmed with work.
This is one thing I can do for him.
Have you heard Prince Yongxuan died of an acute illness?
I've been here serving the late Emperor.
I mind my own business and don't ask any questions.
I only heard his illness came too quickly
and the Imperial doctors failed to save him.
The nail that sticks out will be hammered down.
I'm treading on thin ice as well.
But I will finish what Father asked me to do.
I don't understand what it is.
Don't do anything unless it's approved by our ancestors.
I trust you can carry out the late Emperor's wishes.
I'm afraid Heaven may not grant us our wish.
I observed the stars last night,
ever since the late Emperor's death,
the Emperor's star remained gloomy.
Perhaps it has a hidden meaning.
I'm worried Qing's future is entangled with disaster.
Think, Cao Jinxi. Did you notice anything unusual when the late Emperor died?
Did he leave you with instructions?
I'm getting old, my memory is blurry.
Think again carefully.
Tell me... even the most trivial detail.
I'm sorry, I have no recollection.
It's giving me a headache.
I beg your pardon, Your Highness!
Forget it! I'll observe the stars.
Let's hope we don't have disloyal courtiers and unfilial sons.
Watch your step, Your Highness!
Heshen's Mansion
It must be frustrating for you, Your Highness!
As a family, we stand together through thick or thin.
Let's not talk about frustration.
I'm worried Father may not recover from this setback.
Despite the odds, he'll find a way
to protect himself and the family.
He's praying in the lodge right now and should not be disturbed.
You don't have to worry about him.
Fu'en wrote blessings on a banner.
This one is for you.
Good luck and long life
And this one for Father.
Enjoy the blessings of Heaven
I will cherish Fu'en's kind thoughts
and take good care of myself.
As for this one,
I'll pass it on to Master.
Your cough doesn't sound like a common cold.
I had asthma since I was a child.
Luckily I was treated by a famous doctor,
though I'm not cured,
my condition is much better now.
Which doctor is that?
What did he prescribe? Let me go get ready.
It was a Tibetan doctor.
He died a long time ago.
I heard Commander Fu knew a Tibetan doctor who specializes in asthma.
Too bad we're all under house arrest,
we can't even go ask Commander Fu.
Perhaps I can help.
I recognize one of the guards at the door.
Even if they can't let you out,
I can ask him to let the Tibetan doctor in.
That might get you in trouble.
I don't want to make life difficult for you.
You must attend to your illness.
I'll get on it right away.
Your Highness, Madam Mei, Jiang Goong Goong is here.
Greetings, Your Highness!
At ease!
Thank you, Your Highness!
His Majesty wants you to bring Fu'en to the Palace.
Please wait for me outside.
Aye!
You must be careful inside the Palace.
You too.
Princess Hexiao asked for this doctor.
How dare you stand in my way!
By order of His Majesty,
no one is allowed inside Heshen's Mansion.
Princess Hexiao is His Majesty's sister.
If anything happens to anyone inside because of your interference,
you're as good as dead.
By order of Her Highness Princess Hexiao,
let them in and you two may go.
Mother, can I watch the carp by the pond?
Father said we can't go very far.
Go play for a while. I'll cover up for you if Father finds out.
Thank you, Mother.
Watch Prince Mianning and Fu'en.
Don't let them get too close to the water.
Yes, Your Ladyship!
How I envy their innocent and carefree life.
Sorrow is bad for your health.
You'll enjoy a long and healthy life if you can be more like them.
Good fortune forever
So much happened lately,
after Father died,
someone tried to assassinate His Majesty,
and Yongxuan died suddenly.
I'm so confused and worried
I couldn't sleep at night.
Don't worry about anything.
His Majesty can deal with matters inside the Palace.
Focus on staying healthy and take care of the Prince Consort and Fu'en.
I only want to live my life quietly
and not get embroiled in any dispute of the Court.
I wish to have His Majesty's permission
for me and the Prince Consort to leave the Capital with Fu'en.
If you could put in a few good words for us,
I'm sure His Majesty will give the matter due consideration.
I'll try.
Thank you for helping me.
We'll have a shred of hope with your help.
Don't thank me just yet.
Thank me only when you get your wish.
You and Fu'en should get some rest while you stay in the Palace.
Madam Mei, Miss Doukou and the White Lotus Sect have settled in.
They're hiding in the winery for now.
Assassins have been dispatched by the Court.
The enemy is closing in.
We must be vigilant.
Thank goodness no one is hurt.
Those assassins are not from the Court.
What makes you say that?
I recognized one of them.
He had a crescent-shaped scar on the back of his right hand.
It's the mark of the Viper Gang.
They always did Master's bidding.
You mean...
You arranged for these assassins
to kill Miss Doukou.
You're very observant.
No wonder Master relies on you.
How could you do this?
If Master should find out, he won't go easy on you.
I'm only thinking of the big picture.
If His Majesty found out Doukou has been liaising with the White Lotus Sect,
Master will be forever doomed.
Only the dead can keep a secret.
You served Master for years,
surely you must know where I stand.
Of course I understand.
You've been scheming for Master's own good.
But Helin's death already broke his heart.
Miss Doukou is most precious to him.
Nothing must happen to her.
Please reconsider.
Don't jeopardize your marriage over this.
I know. I know better than you
how much Doukou means to Master.
I also know I come in second at best.
But only I'm capable of doing certain things
I don't care if that would ruin our relationship.
I only want to help him get through this crisis.
Fuchang'an, thanks for your help.
You finally know how useful I can be.
Luckily it's not too late.
I still have a chance to offer my services.
I won't forget what you have done for me.
What's your next move?
I'm willing to help you.
His Majesty wants to kill me.
What do you think I should do?
Reciprocate.
I'm sure you have a plan mapped out.
If I really want to kill His Majesty, will you help me?
You want me to assassinate him?
I'm giving you a chance to avenge your brother.
That I must do.
But His Majesty is on his guard.
We need careful planning to go in for the kill.
I may not be brilliant,
but I don't want to be like Prince Yongxuan.
What's your plan?
My plan? A leaf before the eyes can shut out Mount Taishan.
What I see is not the predicament before me.
Be patient. I'm biding my time.
You still won't disclose anything to me.
No matter what I have done for you,
I'm always an outsider to you.
There is something you can do.
After that, I'll trust you.
What is it?
Ask His Majesty to send you to Gansu.
Gansu?
I'm entrusting you with an important task.
Take your men with you to Gansu.
Have you considered stationing in Gansu?
I don't understand.
I have yet to take my revenge,
why must I leave the Capital?
Like you said, you want revenge.
But the Capital is a dangerous place.
If you go to Gansu,
you may find your foothold
and pave way for a comeback when the time is right.
What's so special about Gansu?
There's nothing special there.
But you're special, Fuchang'an.
You have the ability to lead an army.
What you lack is the Aisin Gioro name.
I still don't understand...
Heshen, didn't you say you'll stay inside your mansion?
You defied an Imperial edict.
You're under arrest.
That'll depend on how capable you are!
How dare you betray me!
Rather than be at your beck and call,
I'm better off winning His Majesty's trust.
I can still get my revenge if I hang around him.
You?!
I must kill you. I want revenge...
Father, Mother, I have never forgotten
our huge debt of blood.
After all these years, I finally saw him.
Wherever you are, help me kill him.
Qianqing Palace
Kneel... down on your knees!
Alright... you may go.
Just as water retains no constant shape, warfare has no constant conditions.
One who triumphs over his opponent's changes is a god.
Heshen, I finally beat you.
According to history,
a man called Chen De
tried to assassinate Emperor Jiaqing.
When he was in a sedan chair
entering Chongzhen Gate,
Chen De pounced on Emperor Jiaqing
with a knife in his hand.
Luckily Prince Mian'en, the Prince Consort
and Lavan Dorji protected him
and he came away unscathed.
?