Episode 29
The empress is the mother of the nation.
Regardless of the circumstances,
never depose the empress.
Otherwise, Yan Kuan will be able to effortlessly...
earn the people's support and win this war.
-Greetings, Your Majesty. -Greetings, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Back in the Imperial Garden, I saw...
a courier officer from the front line...
hurrying to Guang Xuan Palace.
Is there a letter from Chief Commander Wei?
Wei Guang said in his letter that...
I must not depose the empress.
He's overthinking.
Why would I depose my empress?
Your Majesty.
When I was on my way back from the negotiation,
I heard that as the folks are starving because of the natural disasters,
the Princess Royal opened the granaries to relieve them.
Because of this,
many folks took sides with the two traitors.
Some even say that...
Yan Kuan can change the weather...
and stop the natural disasters.
You don't have to worry about this.
Wei Guang also said in his letter that...
he was just testing the enemy forces.
The defeat is not real.
As for Yan Kuan,
the ability to change the weather...
is nothing but nonsense.
Your Majesty.
I also heard that...
Yan Kuan suddenly dispatched a troop...
that will charge directly to Yandu.
You don't have to worry about that either.
I have 3 cities guarding Yandu...
namely Ping Province, Ning Province and Han City...
and they are all heavily guarded.
The general they sent is Han Zi Feng.
That man is completely useless.
He's not a good military leader at all.
You'll just have to manage the royal harem properly...
and take care of the empress dowager...
as well as the disaster relief.
Then I'll have nothing to worry about.
Why did you bring me to Guang Xuan Palace...
to say that to His Majesty?
Looks like everything will be fine.
His Majesty doesn't intend to depose you at all.
You were worried about that?
I still have some faith in myself in this matter.
But thank you.
Look at this part.
Look at the terrains here.
Greetings, Your Highnesses.
Arrest this useless thing.
Your Highness.
What did I do?
Isn't it obvious?
Chief Commander Yan gave you 30,000 elite soldiers...
and ordered you to attack Ning Province within 3 days.
You gave so many excuses to delay the operation.
Drag him out and have him flogged 30 times.
Your Highness!
This isn't the right time to attack!
Your Highness!
Chief Commander Yan.
Why did you arrest General Han?
Chief Commander Yan.
If I recall correctly,
you're supposed to be commanding the army in Sheng Xi County now.
What are you doing here?
Besides,
it takes at least...
six days to reach this place from Sheng Xi County.
Release General Han.
I appear whenever I'm needed.
What's the big deal?
Now I know.
So magic is real.
You really have magical power.
Sister.
What do you mean?
Haven't you heard?
One day, Chief Commander Yan was playing chess with the late emperor...
and at the same time, the king of State of Yueling...
met Chief Commander Yan...
who personally delivered a letter of credence.
Neither of the two sovereigns lied.
This became a much told story.
Some say that...
Chief Commander Yan used a trick.
But now, it looks like...
you really do have magic power.
I've heard of that.
But I didn't believe it back then.
Now I've seen it with my own eyes.
You're as good as rumoured.
My abilities are not important.
Now, we should be concerned about...
how to win this battle.
General Han is putting the attack on hold...
for a reason.
We shouldn't punish him...
or else it'll affect the morale of the army.
Thank you, Chief Commander Yan.
Rise at once, General Han.
Your Highness.
I will stay here...
and command the army alongside General Han.
Once we capture Ning Province,
we will be able to charge to Yandu directly.
Good.
Wei Guang thinks I'm in Sheng Xi County.
So he deployed his troops in Sheng Xi County...
to have a showdown with me.
But little did he know that...
I'm at both Sheng Xi County and this place.
I'd like to see...
what he can do about this.
Go back and get some rest.
You don't have to keep me company.
This battle...
concerns Your Majesty's fate.
I've ordered His Majesty's personal attendant Eunuch Wang...
to report to me immediately.
You're worried about...
His Majesty complying with...
the Princess Royal's demand if we're defeated in this battle?
Every time a war breaks out,
His Majesty assures that he will trust Wei Guang completely.
But whenever there is a turning point,
he will pull back again.
I trust Wei Guang...
and I won't let you lose your position.
Your Majesty. Your Highness.
His Majesty received news that...
Ning Province has been captured.
What?
Let's go to Guang Xuan Palace.
Let's go.
You are the Grand Marshal.
But you're such a failure.
You have the nerve to come back!
Grand Marshal, what happened?
Your Highness.
His Majesty ordered me to go to the military camp...
to motivate the soldiers.
But, rumour has it that...
Yan Kuan is capable of cloning himself.
The news spread in the entire army.
The soldiers got discouraged...
and many of them deserted the army.
We're losing even before the battle.
That's just his trick.
How could you believe in such lie?
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty.
At our second line of defense at Han City, the rebels...
suddenly stopped attacking.
Now, they are camping near Han City.
Also, the two traitors sent an envoy.
He requested Your Majesty's audience.
He's waiting outside now.
Let him in.
Bring him in!
Greetings, Your Majesty.
What do the two traitors...
want you to tell me?
The Princess Royal said...
war is not her wish either.
In order to prevent bloodshed,
Her Highness is willing to negotiate with Your Majesty.
However,
there is one precondition to the negotiation...
and that is,
Your Majesty must depose the empress...
and send her to the Cold Palace.
What did you say?
Her Highness also said that...
the deposal must be announced nationwide.
Otherwise,
a negotiation is impossible.
Guards!
Drag this shameless man out!
Have him flogged 80 times! Incapacitate him! Now take him away!
Your Majesty, please calm down.
I've been the empress for many years...
and I've gotten a little sick of this position.
But, I really want to know...
your master's objective behind this.
Your Majesty.
I really don't know.
Go back...
and tell the two traitors that...
I will never...
depose the empress!
Now get lost!
Your Majesty.
Since we've to come this,
I wish to head to the front line to encourage the soldiers.
An imperial consort in the battlefield? But...
That won't do.
I came from a circus troupe.
I'd like to check out...
the tricks Yan Kuan is pulling.
Others might not be able to see it,
but perhaps,
I can expose him.
Your Majesty.
Noble Consort Ning is right.
She was the one who exposed Yan Kuan's tricks...
in the palace back then.
That's right.
This is the only thing we can do now.
Please let me try.
I approve.
But please be extra careful.
Prime minister.
Send an elite troop to escort Noble Consort Ning.
If anything goes wrong, I'll hold you responsible.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Sister.
I don't get it at all.
What exactly is Yan Kuan up to?
Why isn't he attacking Han City while we've the momentum?
Once we capture Han City,
we'll reach Yandu.
Let's just listen to Chief Commander Yan.
He's extremely intelligent.
We can't understand his thoughts.
-Yan Zheng! -Yan Zheng!
Prince Guang Ding.
I thought my brother warned you...
against drinking during a military operation.
Even though you're a prince,
you must be punished for violating a military rule!
Aren't you dead?
Are you really Yan Zheng?
Why are you back?
My brother once told you that...
you will be assisted by god and mortals.
Even though I've been reduced to a spirit,
I must return and lend you my strength.
But you were killed by Xiao Yu.
The prince was just deceived.
I don't blame His Highness.
To me,
the prince is destined to be the supreme ruler.
Dead or alive, I will serve His Highness.
I only request that Your Highness make me the State Preceptor one day.
Yan Zheng.
Sister.
Xiao Yu.
-Sister. -Xiao Yu!
Yan Zheng.
If you're willing to serve me,
I will hang your portrait in the national temple...
for all the people to pay their respects to!
Thank you, Your Highness!
Sister.
I killed him.
He was killed by me.
He must be fake.
This is just a deception.
-He's wearing a mask! -Xiao Yu!
Sit down.
This is impossible.
I know Yan Zheng very well.
Earlier on,
I was observing him very carefully.
He's definitely not an impersonator.
He is Yan Zheng.
Your Majesty.
The enemy is biding their time.
I shall remain unmoved.
Even if the enemy attacks Han City,
I will not come.
I intend to lure the enemy into Yandu.
Yandu is in a strategic location.
Once the enemy enters Yandu,
Your Majesty's garrison plus my elite army of 80,000...
can work together to eliminate them.
Please keep my advice in mind.
Regardless of the circumstances,
never accept the Princess Royal...
and Prince Guang Ding's condition for negotiation.
You must not depose the empress.
Otherwise, you will fall for Yan Kuan's trick.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Ning Zhi.
Why are you still awake at this hour?
You're departing tomorrow.
It's exactly because I'll be away for a few days...
that I'm worried about Your Majesty.
I can handle the court affairs.
This time,
I will surely do my best to uncover Yan Kuan's tricks.
And I hope Your Majesty...
remembers the advices of Chief Commander Wei.
We will definitely win.
-So... -There's really telepathy...
between you and Wei Guang.
You want me to never consider deposing the empress, right?
I know.
I'm getting the same words...
from two different people.
Then I shall say no more.
I shall excuse myself.
Your Highness.
I'm leaving tomorrow morning...
to tackle Yan Kuan's tricks.
The Princess Royal demanded to depose the empress for negotiation...
and this must be a trap.
But His Majesty...
is worried about the situation.
While I'm away,
please guide His Majesty.
I'm puzzled as well.
Why does the princess want to get rid of the empress?
They are after the throne...
and not the position of the empress.
I can't explain why I think it's a trap either.
But I know that...
we haven't lost.
But, once we accept...
the enemy's conditions,
we will very likely lose.
I understand.
Don't worry.
You need to take care...
and return safely.
I know.
Please take care.
Ban Ling Er.
Leave.
You can't stay in Cheng Xiang Palace any longer.
Eunuch Li, please give me another chance.
I'm sorry.
You're not doing your job properly!
You're always so distracted.
No one knows what you're thinking!
Even the Pear Blossom Academy refused to accept you!
Noble Consort Ning.
Your Highness.
I heard you're going to the front line.
I'm so worried.
Why don't you take me along?
Let me serve you.
I've enough servants.
-Go back to Cheng Xiang Palace. -Your Highness.
You're a noble consort now. You're an important person.
Two palace maids might not be enough.
But, I had served you for such a long time.
I know you best.
Please take me along.
Ban Ling Er.
I'm heading to the battlefield.
It's not a comfortable place.
No matter where you go,
I'm willing to follow you.
I know that...
you're unhappy with me because I handed the map to His Majesty.
But, it was because His Majesty...
was sleepless because of the matter of the niter vault.
I couldn't reach you at that time.
So I handed it to His Majesty.
Your Highness.
Please forgive me.
Please let me follow you.
Fine.
You may come with me.
Run!
It's a slaughter! Run!
-Run! -They are killing up there!
-Run! -Run!
Run!
The few of you, protect Noble Consort Ning!
-Yes! -Go!
Go!
Capture those women!
Run, Your Highness!
-Run! -Run!
Your Highness, I think it's safer now.
But, we don't know if this place has been occupied by the rebels.
I believe those men were mountain bandits.
They are taking advantage of the war to rob the people.
They won't be here for long.
However,
the Princess Royal's army should enter the city soon.
Your Highness.
We've been separated from the guards.
Let's return to the palace before the rebels arrive.
No.
What am I here for?
I must see Yan Kuan and Yan Zheng with my own eyes.
It's just that...
I need His Majesty to send men to aid me.
Someone has to return to the palace to report this.
I'll go.
You?
I...
I'll deliver your letter to His Majesty.
Ban Ling Er.
You might run into the mountain bandits again.
Aren't you afraid?
I can do it.
Alright.
It's decided then.
But, please be extra careful.
I'll put you on disguise...
and you'll be much safer.
Yes, Your Highness.
Brother!
I'm a palace maid!
Please give me a lift!
Young lady, you...
I'm His Majesty's maid.
I'm in a hurry to return to the palace.
Please give me a lift.
You can drop me here.
I'll send you there.
No thanks. I can run back.
Ban Ling Er, what's the matter?
What happened?
Why are you so out of breath?
I'm fine.
His Majesty has arrived!
Your Majesty.
-Your Majesty. -Ban Ling Er.
Your...
Ban Ling Er.
What happened?
Escort Ban Ling Er to Cheng Xiang Palace.
-Yes. -Yes.
Your Majesty.
Noble Consort Ning ran into mountain bandits at Jin Feng Town.
She's hiding in the cellar of a restaurant now.
I ran for hours to report this to you.
Please...
send men to rescue her.
What should we do?
This...
Your Majesty.
What's the situation?
The rebels have captured Han City.
That's so fast.
Old General Liu promised me that...
he could guard Han City for 2 months.
How did he lose...
in just 2 days?
Your Majesty.
This isn't the time to blame someone.
We should think of a solution.
Your Majesty.
We received a secret letter from Chief Commander Wei.
Your Majesty, just defend for two more days...
and I will arrive with my army.
Good!
Wei Guang's army...
will arrive in Han City two days from now!
By then, we'll trap them from both sides...
-and catch them off-guard! -Report!
Your Majesty.
The enemy has advanced to the outskirts of Yandu.
Why are they so fast?
Our soldiers fled even before their arrival!
There's a rumour among the soldiers...
about Your Majesty's...
Speak!
They are saying that the late emperor did not name Your Majesty his heir...
and that Prince Guang Ding is the real heir to the throne.
They are saying that Prince Guang Ding is now...
on a punitive expedition!
This is ridiculous!
Bring me my armour!
Your Majesty.
You must not go.
Report. Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Prince Guang Ding sent an envoy.
He's proposing a negotiation.
But his condition remains the same.
In fact, the action must be announced nationwide.
Your Majesty.
Have they found Ning Zhi?
The Winged Tiger Army has left to aid Ning Zhi.
But, Han City has been captured.
I've no news of her yet.
The Winged Tiger Army will find her.
Ning Zhi will be fine.
Could Ning Zhi be captured by the Princess Royal's men?
Your Majesty.
My empress.
You once said that...
you're tired from being...
in charge of the royal harem.
It's peaceful in the royal harem now.
Why don't you take the opportunity to take a break?
You can leave the royal harem to Ning Zhi.
If Ning Zhi doesn't return,
Consort Zhao may take over.
Consort Zhao is a senior in the royal harem.
She knows...
what to do.
Your Majesty, what do you mean by that?
I believe you know the Princess Royal's condition...
for negotiation.
I hope...
you do me a favor.
Are you saying that...
you want to send me to the Cold Palace?
Don't worry.
This is temporary.
Once the situation gets better,
I will reinstate you.
I'm doing this for the sake of the country.
By doing this, we can avoid war.
Your Majesty.
Why can't you trust Wei Guang?
Wei Guang said that...
he'll be back with his army in two days.
He'll definitely keep his word.
Of course I believe Wei Guang.
But no one can predict the future.
If anything goes wrong, Yandu will be captured...
by the Princess Royal.
By then, it'll be...
too late to negotiated.
We've tens of thousands of soldiers guarding Yandu.
Would we fail to fend off the princess' motley crew?
It's just two days.
Our soldiers can do it.
What if they fail?
Do you want the hundreds of thousands of civilians in Yandu...
to face war and despair?
Your Majesty is threatening me...
with the country and the people.
Looks like I've no choice but to give in.
I'm at my wits' end.
If there is any other alternative,
I wouldn't have chosen to depose you.
Now, your little sacrifice...
can save the entire nation.
So why not?
But Your Majesty, aren't you being too naive?
Will deposing me...
satisfy the Princess Royal?
We've been married for 20 years.
I made you my empress.
You've enjoyed all the fame and fortune.
Now,
I'm just asking you to make a little sacrifice...
and you're reluctant?
Your Majesty.
I'm not clinging to my position.
It's just that Wei Guang had advised you...
against deposing me.
If you depose me,
you'll fall for the princess' trick.
What we need to do for Liang now...
is show the people that...
Your Majesty and I...
are united and determined to...
fight against the rebels together.
You're still full of noble excuses.
You don't care about the country at all!
I'm disheartened!
I return the same words to Your Majesty.
You are only concerned...
about yourself!
What did you say?
If sacrificing my life...
restores peace for the country,
I won't hesitate to give my life away!
If you have such integrity,
why must you depose your empress and withdraw your troops?
Why don't you fight back?
I'm done arguing with you!
Anyway, I've decided to depose you.
I can promise...
to reinstate you in the future.
But you must know your place.
You should know what to say...
and what not to say.
Sir.
His Majesty just ordered to depose the empress...
and send her to the Cold Palace.
Really?
I'm very sure.
I have...
lost.
Tell the emperor to come!
Your Highness.
It's too late.
The decision has been announced nationwide.
Your Highness.
I knew it.
His Majesty still ended up falling for the princess' trap.
Keep on scouting.
We must return to the palace immediately...
once we find a chance to escape.
-Yes! -Yes!
Wait!
Wei Guang will surely...
observe and act accordingly.
The deposal of the empress has been announced nationwide.
Even if I return to the palace, there's nothing I can do about it.
Now, our priority is to...
turn the tables around.
Disguise as the rebels...
and continue investigating the Yan brothers.
We don't have enough men.
I'm afraid we can't attack Yan Kuan and Yan Zheng.
No need to attack.
Just investigate and spy on them.
-Yes! -Yes!
Wei Guang.
Why didn't you and Ning Zhi stop His Majesty?
How could you let this happen to the empress?
Ning Zhi went missing in the outskirts of Yandu.
And His Majesty...
has fallen for Yan Kuan's trap.
There's nothing I can do.
I'm afraid we're really going to lose.
-Chief Commander Yan. -Cheers.
Fill your cups.
Coming.
Why are you so happy?
We've just attained a great victory.
Of course we should be happy.
So I decided to hold a banquet...
to reward the soldiers.
I don't understand.
We captured Ning Province...
and Han City.
We were unstoppable.
But, did we do all that just to make that foolish emperor...
depose his empress?
Judging from the difference in military forces,
I'm most likely able to repulse Yan Kuan.
In order to win, Yan Kuan must find another way...
and the answer to that is the people's support.
He demanded to have the empress deposed...
for a single objective.
He wants the people to see that...
His Majesty is a cruel man who'll sacrifice his own wife.
If His Majesty deposes the empress,
he'll also lose the support of Zheng family.
The empress might have been a fearsome figure in the royal harem,
but she is respected by the folks.
Even commoners get criticized for abandoning their wives,
let alone the ruler of the nation.
If I'm not wrong,
Yan Kuan will soon spread rumours.
He'll say that His Majesty is heartless...
and that he's a man that'll sacrifice...
anything at all for his personal interest.
And such character...
is enough to prove that...
he stole the throne back then.
We shall negotiate with that foolish emperor...
in Guang Xuan Palace.
Tell him to gather his ministers.
Don't worry about your safety.
Just walk in...
and reclaim your throne.
You're brilliant.
I'm no longer the empress.
From now on,
you don't have to greet me like this.
It's about time. Let's go.
What are you all waiting for?
I haven't even walked out of Yong De Palace...
and you don't obey me already?
Your Majesty.
According to the rules of the royal harem,
you're not allowed to enter the Cold Palace...
in your crown and phoenix robe.
I was the one who set the rules of the royal harem!
Now you want to discuss the rules with me?
How dare you!
I dare you to come up and remove my crown!
Never mind.
I'm leaving Yong De Palace...
and there's no telling when I can come back.
Maybe...
I'll never be back.
Yong De Palace will belong to another person.
I don't know who you'll be serving in the future...
and what hardships you'll face.
You've served me for such a long time...
and I don't want to give you a hard time.
Serves her right.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Rise.
Who is it?
Your Majesty.
Come in quickly.
I've helped so many people before.
Now that I've fallen from my position,
you're the only one who thinks of me.
Unfortunately,
this place is so basic that...
I don't even have tea for you.
Don't give up, Your Majesty.
Wei Guang has arrived at Han City as scheduled.
Even though Noble Consort Ning is stuck in the outskirts of Yandu,
she's protected by the Winged Tiger Army.
I believe she's fine.
How did His Majesty announce my deposal?
Even though there's nothing I can do about it anyway,
I'm still curious.
His Majesty said you violated a palace rule...
and he was forced to depose you.
Right.
What else could he say?
It's not like he'll admit that...
he's afraid of losing his life...
and fighting against the Princess Royal.
Our almighty emperor...
can only hide in his palace...
and wish for peace to come.
The negotiation will take place in two days.
Judging from His Majesty and the Princess Royal's ego,
the negotiation might go on for a few days.
Your Majesty might need to stay here for some time.
I know it deep down.
The moment I entered the Cold Palace, I knew that...
I will never...
walk out of the Cold Palace.
But I can't believe...
the rule I set myself...
was ultimately applied on me.
But it's alright.
I've no regrets.
I was the empress for such a long time.
I had obtained the fame and fortune...
ordinary people could not enjoy.
So,
I've no regrets.
But to my surprise,
the person who defeated me...
was not any imperial consort,
but the emperor himself.
Your Majesty.
If there is any chance,
I will take you away.
Your Majesty.
Many imperial consorts in the Cold Palace...
are here because of you.
They resent you.
You must be extra careful.
I'm too used to dealing with...
these scheming women in the royal harem.
You should worry about yourself.
You're dealing with the Princess Royal.
You must be cautious.
I promise Your Majesty that...
I will return alive.
Please promise me that...
you will...
reunite with me in the palace.
I promise.
Your Highness.
We only managed to locate Yan Zheng.
In fact, he appeared in 3 places at the same time.
We could only confirm one location.
That will do.
Alright.
We'll act as planned.
Let's split into two teams.
One team will prepare ships at the riverside...
and the other team...
will come with me to find Yan Zheng.
After I take a good look at him,
we'll return and meet up at the riverside.
Then we'll leave together.
Please take care, Your Highness!
Rise.
Please stay safe.
How are you, Noble Consort Ning?
Die!
We'll just follow this agreement.
I've a good news.
Noble Consort Ning appeared nearby.
Although we didn't manage to capture her,
she won't be able to get away.
If we have her as hostage,
we'll have another bargaining chip.