Midnight!
The beginning of a new day.
Decree from His Majesty atthe Lantern Festival of...
third regnal year of Tian Bao!
It is now 12 a.m. of January 15!A new day has begun.
The Great Holy Lantern will dim.People will light up theirs...
and be blessed by Heaven!
All of you are called hereto celebrate this together!
It's very easy to kill him.
But an ambush doesn't suit him.
So, the weapon must be...
bright and dazzling so thathis death will shock the world.
Only by doing so can he...
be pinned in the history of mankind...
and be the laughing stockof the future generations.
Finally,
I found a weapon like that.
Who are you trying to kill?
Your Great Sage.
Your emperor.
" The Longest Day in Chang'an "
Episode 35
May the Great Sage, Emperor Xuan Yuan,give us your blessing!
Long live Your Majesty and mayGreat Tang be forever prosper!
Father, who is the Great Sage,Emperor Xuan Yuan?
I asked you to read Tao Te Ching butyou wouldn't. You just play every day.
The sky and earth linger forever...
because they don'tlive for themselves.
I already memorised it.
If you had memorised it,how come you don't know who he is?
The Great Sage refers to Laozi.
Then, this Great Holy Lantern...
is built according to Laozi's look?
I think so.
Here.
Can you please step forward...
to plead His Majesty for mercyto pardon a person?
You make it sounds like His Majestyfollows everything I say.
For the rules that Yuan Tai Zhen set,
we show no mercy to those whocommitted one of the ten great crimes.
We show no mercy to a personwho serves under crown prince.
We show no mercy to a killer.
We show no mercy to a personwith ranking five and below.
Too many people are asking meto plead mercy for them.
I'll be exhausted if I don'tadhere to the rules.
-Please be understanding.-His name is Zhang Xiao Jing.
Today, he has been puttinghis life on the line...
in order to save Chang'an.
Those who came to plead mealways have a speech of their own.
As if every one of them are greatheroes who are utterly loyal to Tang.
But I don't know if it's true or not.
So, I don't want to take part in it.
The more His Majesty listens to me,
the more cautious I have to be.
Don't you think so?
So, I will never plead for those...
who broke the rules.
This man...
is my lover.
Your lover?
This is quite interesting.
So, what are you willing to sacrificein order to save him?
I won't save someone for nothing.
Yan Tai Zhen.
Have you found the informationthat I asked you to?
Yes, I have.
Who is the winner of thefestooned carriage this year?
Xu He Zi from Yongxin County of Ji.
It's her again.
She lost last year...
and didn't get the chance to goon stage and meet His Majesty.
It's her again this year.
This year, His Majesty has oftenmentioned about her.
Word is, the people ofYongxin County...
had starved themselvesto death in order...
to squeeze these money out...
so that they can bribethe people in the court...
to make sure that she turns outto be the winner this year.
They hope that she canget close to His Majesty.
That is just a wishful thinking.
You are the only onein His Majesty's heart.
I'm sick with this name.
I have already cultivated myselffor seven years.
I'm sick with these plain robes.
That's expected.
My family has no power andI have no one in the court.
I'll always be bullied.
If anything happens toChang'an in the future,
they will definitely blame mefor being the femme fatale.
Rather than living in fear...
and waste your energy,
how about you do something about it?
You are right.
If an accident happens to Xu He Zi...
when she meets His Majesty,
your lover, Zhang Xiao Jing,
will be saved.
When the lantern toweris fully lighted up, it will...
explode.
What about the peoplein the square then?
They deserve it for liking to...
have fun so much.
You won't succeed.
None of you will succeed!Commander Zhang will stop you!
If he can really come here,
he would be here already.
Where...
is he now?
Be clever,
smart guy.
I'm waiting for you.
Zhang Xiao Jing!
Didn't you say again and again that...
you are investigating a casefor the people of Chang'an?
Why are you hiding cowardlyin other's manor now?
You don't deserve the titleas captain of sleuth-hound!
You call yourself Commander Zhang?
You are just a coward!
Come out if you dare!
If Zhang Xiao Jing comes out,let the arrows rain down on him.
Yes.
Good. You are very good.
There is just one defect.
This is not good.
This sword is not good.
It's too short to suit you.
What are you doing?
How is it with the newly builtLesser Patola Sahi Ambassy?
Is the ambassador staying there?
Yes.
He is very satisfied with it.
The ambassador told me that...
he's very grateful for beingat the receiving end...
of such generous hospitality.
He said that he will advise Su Shi Li,King of Patola Sahi...
to pay the yearly tribute to usat once when he goes back.
If the Patola Sahitakes the lead to do so,
there are hopes thatthe other 20 countries...
in the Northwestwill break away from...
the Tibetan Tubo andbow to Great Tang again.
This embassy building...
is worth our while.
Right Counsellor has done well insupervising the construction of it.
It has taken us half a year...
to build The LesserPatola Sahi Ambassy.
From choosing the place,taking care of the resettlement,
scaling it,
drawing out blueprints to supervisingthe manufacturing and construction,
including tasks of all sorts...
are done by Prince Yong.
Li Yu.
Both of them...
have contributed in appeasingthe riot in the Northwest area.
What about you?
I asked you to leadPeacekeeper Corps...
to investigate on some criminalswho bring troubles to the city.
Have you...
done it well...
or have you fallen through?
Speak.
Have anyone evertold Your Majesty about...
how they procure the landthat is used to build...
that Lesser Patola Sahi Ambassy?
Do you know what is...
the most beautiful thingin this world?
Perfection, purity...
and the ultimate stubbornness.
I came to Great Tang from Japan...
to learn about the art of Tang...
because I hope that I will beable to find that sort of beauty.
I had travelled far and wide...
and I had tried a lot of things.
But something is always missing.
But I saw it in you just now.
I saw the ideal state thatI have been looking so hard for.
You are just a craftsman.
You don't know what a massacre is.
It has nothing...
to do with beauty.
" Second Regnal Yearof Tian Bao: August "
Get lost.
Old Man Wen, I am back.
Wen Ran.
My father has gone to theBlaze Gang to deal with them.
Since the beginning of the month,
the Blaze Gang increased the monthlyrent for all the shops on this street.
And it's more than five times higher.
I don't know where theygot the idea to build an inn...
for diplomatic envoy on this street.
They did it to welcome the envoyfrom the Lesser Patola Sahi.
To purchase the landswith cheaper price,
they forced shops togo out of business...
so that the whole streethave to move.
My father has gotten news about it.
So, today,
he's going to meet with Qin Jue,the second-in-charge of Blaze Gang.
You are back.
Xiao Jing.
I need to trouble youwith something else.
Take good care of Wen Ran for me.
Where are the peoplefrom the Blaze Gang?
Young lass.
In the future, if you are unhappy,
ask Xiao Jing...
to accompany you togo to the top of Chang'an...
-Leader Wen.-to watch the sun.
I...
won't be able toaccompany you anymore.
Leader Wen!
Leader Wen, stand up!
Stand up, Leader Wen!
Old Man Tan,they slaughtered innocent people!
Sleuth-hound Captain, Zhang Xiao Jingrecklessly hurt others!
Arrest him at once!
Attack!
-Leader!-Leader, don't make this hard for us!
Leader, please surrender!
Leader!
You are no match for them!Please surrender!
-Leader Zhang, please surrender!-Leader, please surrender!
Leader, please surrender!
-Stop fighting, leader!-Leader!
The embassy is built...
on the dead bodies of 34 people.
Prince Yong is indeed very capable.
That's not true.
If the ambassador leaves,
it'll be hard to calm downthe riot in the Northwest.
It's better if you tell the truth.Don't lie to His Majesty.
Hear me out.The 34 lives that he meant...
are the man slaughtered by a lowranking solider who had gone crazy.
It has nothing to do withthe resettlement and...
construction of the embassy.
He did it alone?
Yes, he did it alone.
Where is that man now?
He is Zhang Xiao Jing.
He is supposed to wait to bebeheaded in the death cell. Now,
he is working for the crown prince.
Chang'an is crowded with peoplebecause of the lantern festival today.
In order not to disturb the people,Li Bi, chief of Peacekeeper Corps...
has used the database...
to pick out the best man toinvestigate on this case.
Are you trying toshirk responsibility...
and shift the blame onto others?
Although Zhang Xiao Jingis a death row convict,
he has been doing his beston this case for Great Tang today.
He got rid of the Wolven Squadas well as the Crouching Fire.
He took care of the safety ofChang'an all by himself.
Father, Zhang Xiao Jing hasgreat dissatisfaction...
towards the government.
Zhang Xiao Jing is not willingto be punished...
after he slaughtered the 34 peoplefrom the Blaze Gang.
You slaughtered 34 peoplefrom the Blaze Gang.
Prince Yong won't ever let you go.
Either you admit to your crimeand receive capital punishment...
or you can follow my lead.
I can show you another path.
Change to a new way of living.
What is the new way of living?
A new way of living.
Someone wants to meet you.
Guards!
From here...
to Prince Yong's manor,
ask our brothers...
to stay away from me.
I won't make things difficult for you.
Leader, your sword.
Since no one can stop you,
why didn't you leaveChang'an back then?
You still have someoneto take care of?
The Blaze Gang is the hatchet manfor Prince Yong.
I'm not afraid if they come to me.
But Old Man Wen has only one daughter.
That lass only knowshow to make incense.
She has no one to depend on.
I need to find a way outfor her in Chang'an.
Without that Wen wholeads the rebellion,
those commoners in Anye Street don'tdare to make a squeak anymore.
They moved away obedientlywithin three days' time.
He murdered his own superior andtried to take out his revenge on me.
All he had is resentmenttowards the government.
That day, he planned to escapeafter he killed me off.
-He blatantly spoke of his revenge.-I'm the 16th child of the emperor.
I can annihilate your whole familyif you so much as touch me!
Warrior, what do you want? Tell me.
I want you to swear onWen Wu Ji's daughter's safety...
so that she can live therest of her life in peace.
Why would I make things difficultfor a young lass?
How can I trust you?
I can swear in front ofmy mother's memorial tablet.
If I dare lie in front of my mother,
I will lose my arms, legs, eyesight,I'll have a crooked neck...
and I won't be able tostep into the court forever.
Make your vow!
You and your subordinates,
the people fromthe Ministry of Work...
and the people from the Blaze Gang...
will never bully Wen Ranin this lifetime of hers.
Alright. What are you going to do...
after I make my vow?
I won't kill you.
It's not enough.Just now, so many people...
had seen you taking me in as hostage.
If you run away,the Ministry of Justice will arrest...
everyone who is connected to you.
Although the daughter of Wenwon't be punished for it,
you know how cruel it is theinterrogation by our government.
I can control my people. But I can'tmanage the Ministry of Justice.
Don't blame me for it ifshe's arrested by them.
I didn't plan to escape.
Make your vow!
I, Prince Yong, Li Lin,
hereby swear inthe name of my mother...
not to make things difficultfor Wen Ran forever.
The Messer sword of Zhang Xiao Jingis resting on my neck.
But all I can think of is yourpoise and magnanimity, father.
I refuse to throw awaythe dignity of the royal family.
I can't bring shame tothe forefathers of Li Family.
So, I faced him without fear.
First, I advised that criminal thatwe should put our country first.
I told him that you want to usethe land to build the embassy...
in order to calm downthe riot in Longyou...
so that there won't be any more bloodshed in the four counties of Anxi.
Well said. Not only Prince Yongis diligent the national affairs,
-he has an insight into others' heart.-That's right.
And then, I advised criminal by usingthe poise of the people of Chang'an.
I told him that the people ofChang'an understand justice.
We should pay for what we did.
Or else, if the peoplemake him an example...
and kill as they pleaseto vent out their anger,
Chang'an will be in a chaos then.
Did anyone else hear what you said...
when you advised that criminal?
You have taughtthe crown prince before.
But you had never taught me.
So, you think thatI'm a person who lies.
Even if it's true,
if Zhang Xiao Jing can be easilypersuaded by your righteousness,
-it means that...-It means that he made a mistake...
and regrets the consequences later.
And by that time, my bodyguardswere already on their way to me.
I know that you have a greatsense of judgement, father.
Zhang Xiao Jing viewthe government as the enemy.
It's really inappropriate for thePeacekeeper Corps to get him out...
and put him on the case today.
I need to go to Xingqing Palaceand go into the lantern tower.
-Do you have any idea how to go in?-Yes.
Putting a death rowconvict in a case...
is the strategy suggestedby Peacekeeper Corps.
As for why they chooseZhang Xiao Jing,
I've never questioned them.
If he's really as badas his name precedes,
please punish me forneglecting my duties.
You are trying to get awaywith lighter punishment!
It is not up to the crown prince...
to decide what crimehe should be punished for.
Sister Tai Zhen.
After I am done with my pleading,
you have to ask your servants toarrest me in front of His Majesty...
so that I won't drag youinto this mess with me.
-You want to face His Majesty alone?-Lin Jiu Lang.
You have kept on framing me upin front of His Majesty today.
-Don't overdo it.-I have evidence.
I have my witnessesand their testaments.
If I hurt Xu He Zi,
from here onwards,
you will fall into an endless battle.
And peace will forever elude you.
You hold the seals ofthe three major ministry.
You can get whateverevidences that you want.
You set up a clandestine tribunalto force them to testify.
-Where has the law of Tang gone?-Shut up!
Your Majesty.
His Majesty in the midst of a meeting.Please go back first.
Your Majesty. Something greathas happened...
during this lantern festival today.
I would like to tell you about it.
Ask them to leave first.
Leave!
-Yes, Your Majesty.-Yes, Your Majesty.
When your previous dynastystarted to build Chang'an,
they made a secret underground passagebetween the palace and Chunming Gate.
It was made so that the people in thepalace can escape if there's a mutiny.
This secret passage willgo pass Xingqing Palace.
It is connected tothe water pipes...
that will lead you to thelantern tower built by Mao Shun.
Get into the water channel from it andit'll lead you to the lantern tower.
Where is the entranceof the secret passage?
There is a dry well in the southwestpart of the square in Xingqing palace.
It was used as breathing hole for thepeople who dug the tunnel back then.
After that, Emperor Ningwas charmed by that well.
So, he never filled it up.
Have you memorised everything?
Yes, I have.
But I don't have a way toget you out from my manor.
There are so many peoplein the square.
I have to get out no matter what.
Get him a physician.
Treat his wounds...
and send him back to the church.
Wait!
Are you afraid of water?
No.
It's good then.
Keep this with you.
Is everything here?
Yes. All of them are here.
Open up the gate of the sluiceto block the incoming road.
Yes.
An order has been given down by bothRight Counsellor and the crown prince.
Zhang Xiao Jing is safe for now.
Yan Tai Zhen asked you topretend as her maidservants...
to hide your identity.It'll be dangerous otherwise.
After the end of the royal feast,leave the palace with us.
When we get out from the gate,you can go your own way.
Thank you.
Appraiser Yuan.
An emergency official orderfrom the secretariat.
Adjourn the arrest warranton Zhang Xiao Jing...
and focus on taking downThe Ant at once.
Zhang Xiao Jing is obviouslythe spy for The Ant.
So many of us were hurt.
If we don't arrest him,we'll become the joke of the year.
Look at the signature.
It is signed by both crown princeand the Right Counsellor.
How is it possible thatthey are on the same side now?
Of course they did itunder His Majesty's order.
I have delivered the letter.Decide for yourself.
Are we going to arrest him or not?
Obviously, we have to obey the order.
Now, the more you do, the moreyou'll be made a scapegoat.
The problem is,
why would the Eastern Palace andPhoenix Hall band together?
Looks like there will bea major incident tonight.
I have to go to the lantern towerin Xingqing Palace!
That thing is the Jahannum-dhool!
Lower your weapons.Don't hurt Commander Zhang.
If you are the soldiers of Tang,don't stop me.
Send a warning to the square now.
Commander Zhang, I apologisefor my action just now.
Please feel free to work on the casewith all your might.
We are willing to give youour full support.
Guards, get him a horse!
That side and that side.
Everybody.
Place them on the place that you want.
Go now.
All of them are here. And thewater channels are filled with water.
We have washed away all traces.
Set up the Qilin Column.
Is it fine...
to leave Mao Shun aloneto stand guard there?
Today is the full moonof his oldest grandson.
He has used this chance...
to kill off all of his family members.
He is quite obedient to you.
What did you ask Mao Shun to do?
Mao Shun will controlthe movement of the lantern tower.
He will push out the Qilin Column...
towards His Majesty to blow him up.
If he can't do that,
we have planted a device at the top...
that will push out the Qilin Column...
towards His Majesty to blow him up.
If that doesn't work,
when His Majesty fires off...
a golden arrow tolight up the lantern,
he will trigger the mechanismof Qilin Column to push out...
towards him to blast off himself.
If it still doesn't work...
by then,
there is still me.
His Majesty has to die today.
Commander Zhang must bedoing everything he can to come here.
If Zhang Xiao Jing is telling thetruth, His Majesty will be in danger.
-We have to report it in at once.-We can't do that.
Why?
As an official, we can't justcall a spade a spade.
We have to balance outthe pros and cons.
It wouldn't bring me merits to reporta clue from a death row convict.
If they were to look into itin the future,
I might be blamed for spreadingrumours to mislead the people.
What should we do then?
We will go and getthe evidence ourselves...
to get the merits forour outstanding services.
The winner of the festooned vehicle...
for this year's Lantern Festival...
is Xu He Zi from Yongxin!
Xu He Zi!
I need help.
Alright.
It might be dangerous.
That'll be best.
By doing so,you will remember me forever.
Aren't you afraid?
Being afraid willget me nothing, right?
Please get me into the square.
Xu Ge. It's almost time.
Let's start our tour then.
Xu He Zi!
I long to be...
in Chang'an.
The calls of crickets during autumnwaft up from the graceful well.
The day is chilling andthe seat has gotten cold.
The once bright and dazzling eyes...
are now filled with strings of tear.
If you don't believe thatI am in so much pain,
look at the mirror...
and see my pallid face.
I long to be...
in Chang'an.
The calls of crickets during autumnwaft up from the graceful well.
The day is chilling andthe seat has gotten cold.
The once bright and dazzling eyes...
are now filled with strings of tear.
If you don't believe thatI am in so much pain,
look at the mirror...
and see my pallid face.