Episode 33
Your Highness, are you inviting me to join you in your trip?
I don't think it's a good idea to sneak out of the palace...
right after an unrest.
I asked you to come...
because I have a request.
Tell me about it.
I hope you...
leave this country.
Hide away as far as possible.
What makes you say so?
I believe you're aware that...
after you convinced the officials...
to spare the princess and prince,
His Majesty sent his men to secretly investigate the military.
He's looking for an excuse...
to revoke your military authority.
At this rate...
Do you know the future that awaits you?
Now that I'm no longer needed, His Majesty will get rid of me.
Of course I know.
The ruler will always feel...
threatened by his powerful subordinate.
My father faced the same thing.
Since you understand,
I guess I don't have to elaborate.
Please leave.
Can you really bear to let me leave?
If reincarnation is real,
I wish...
we can be reunited...
as ordinary people.
Farewell.
Wei Guang.
I wish that you stay away from politics...
and hide away as far as possible.
Yet, I also wish that you could stay by my side.
I don't want you to leave.
I can't do this.
I regretted it, Wei Guang.
Don't go, Wei Guang.
Wei Guang.
Don't go, Wei Guang!
You think it's funny?
Still trying to push yourself?
Do you think your feelings...
can escape my eyes?
You knew I can't bear to let you leave.
Why did you pretend to leave?
I just wanted to teach you a lesson.
When you're with me,
you don't have to be strong.
That capable Noble Consort Ning...
exists only in the eyes of other people.
In my eyes,
you'll always be Ye Ning Zhi.
I'll work hard...
to protect you too...
even though my wings are still small and weak.
Let me...
protect your tenderness.
And let me...
wipe your tears.
What's wrong? Why are you so quiet?
Am I critically and hopelessly ill?
Don't say that.
Your Majesty's time has yet to come.
God won't take you away.
But I saw it very clearly.
You were frowning.
Am I right?
I was just thinking about...
what snacks to bring you today...
to please you.
Don't lie to me.
I know my condition.
Lang Kun.
I want to know what to expect.
I don't want to be ignorant of everything.
I dare not lie to Your Majesty.
Your condition is indeed critical.
I'll change the remedy.
After taking it a few times,
Your Majesty will recover.
Please keep this in mind.
Avoid getting too excited or unhappy.
Noble Consort Ning has arrived!
Your Highness.
Your Majesty, how do you feel?
I'm fine now.
I heard you're leaving to help the disaster victims...
on behalf of His Majesty.
I came today...
to discuss something with Your Majesty.
What is it?
I want to tell His Majesty...
to reinstate you.
What do you think?
I don't have the energy for that.
This isn't just my idea.
The officials and folks all wish for this.
Is that so?
Of course.
Don't they hate me?
I've gotten used to this place.
I feel comfortable here.
I spend my days drinking tea, chatting and listening to pipa.
Life is so relaxed here.
If I return to being the empress,
I've to worry about my safety every day.
I don't want to return to that life.
But Your Majesty...
Your Highness.
Her Majesty seeks peace and tranquility now.
Please do not insist.
Lang Kun.
Do you want to get slapped?
I dare not.
Well,
you know my character.
I won't beg anyone...
and I'm not desperate.
So...
What if you don't have to beg?
What if His Majesty voluntarily reinstates you?
Then it depends on His Majesty's reason to reinstate me.
Actually,
it's true that a lot of things...
can only be done if I've the authority.
Right?
What's so funny?
Now Your Majesty is acting like the empress.
Your Majesty.
Are you alright?
I'm fine.
I'm just a little tired. I'll be fine after I get some rest.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty.
What are you doing in Yong Lun Palace?
I happened to have some work in Yong Lun Palace today.
Then I saw you walking around.
The weather is getting cold. Your Majesty must take care.
I'm alright.
I think I should exercise more.
Else, I wouldn't be able to walk in my empress' robe...
the day I put it on again.
Your Majesty, are you alright?
Your Majesty.
Help!
Your Majesty.
Why aren't you saying anything?
Am I approaching the end of my life?
Your Majesty is indeed suffering from severe cardiopalmus.
I'm incompetent.
I'm afraid I can't do anything about it.
How much time do I have left?
This...
It's hard to tell.
You imperial physicians...
say only useless words!
Alright. You may leave.
Yes.
I shall excuse myself.
Lang Kun.
Your Majesty.
Let me take a good look at you.
I want to see you more.
I might leave this world...
in just a few days from now.
You won't.
I'll look after you.
Don't worry too much.
Where's Ning Zhi?
Her Highness left to help the disaster victims...
on behalf of His Majesty.
When you see Ning Zhi again, tell her...
to say good things about me...
when she meets His Majesty.
I miss Yong De Palace very much.
I want to go back.
I don't want to die in the Cold Palace.
I want to be reinstated.
If I have to die, I must die in Yong De Palace.
-Greetings, Your Majesty. -Rise.
Your Majesty.
I've something to tell you today.
I've something to tell you too.
You can go first.
Your Majesty.
Her Majesty fainted today.
Her cardiopalmus is back.
Really?
No one told me about it.
She has been suffering from this since her younger days.
She's fine as long as it doesn't get worse.
Where is she now?
She's still in Yong Lun Palace.
When I was out there helping the disaster victims,
some folks asked me...
when their emperor and empress will make up.
This is my family problem.
Those commoners are so nosy.
Doesn't this prove that the folks are concerned about Your Majesty?
To them,
harmony in the royal family will bring them good luck.
They want the empress reinstated.
Let me consider that.
Your Majesty.
There's no hurry.
We're still mourning for my mother.
Let me consider it carefully.
Ban Ling Er.
Come here.
I'm going to make her a female official...
and let her assist you at the disaster areas.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
You want to be a female official, Ban Ling Er?
Why didn't you tell me?
I...
I did not dare to tell Your Highness.
You were once a female official.
I'm not good enough.
I don't deserve a position you once held.
Look at you.
You can't even speak confidently.
Ning Zhi.
Ban Ling Er was trained by you.
She admires you the most...
and she wants to serve the country like you.
I agreed because she seems sincere.
Please approve of it, Your Highness.
You said that she's exceptionally clever.
Just bring her along.
I understand.
Please do not forget about the matter of the empress.
I...
will consider that.
You've never been so free, Chief Commander Wei.
Please sit down, Mr. Lang.
You're right.
When there's no war, a general...
has nothing to do.
I'm lucky enough to be alive.
If I'm not careful enough,
His Majesty might execute me now that I'm not needed.
Wei Guang.
I've a feeling that...
the unrest is not over yet.
Great minds think alike.
We haven't solved the mystery behind Yan Zheng's revival.
I asked you to meet me because I want to take you to a place.
Your Majesty.
This is the sage of State of Qiuye,
Mr. Dongfang Yu.
It's my pleasure to meet you, Mr. Dongfang.
Prime minister.
You may leave.
I'd like to have a long talk with Mr. Dongfang.
I shall excuse myself.
Your Majesty.
I've passed by your country thrice.
But, this is the only time...
you invited me.
Do you have questions to ask?
I've long heard of you.
In this case, I shall boldly...
analyze the situation of your country.
The unrest caused by the Princess Royal is yet over...
and there is a greater disaster...
awaiting Your Majesty.
Wei Guang commands a massive army.
Noble Consort Ning is loved by the people.
As for your empress,
even though she was demoted,
over the past 2 decades, her family...
has developed into a huge political power.
I heard that the three of them are very close.
If they join hands...
Mr. Dongfang, that's...
not very nice of you.
The truth is always unpleasant.
If Wei Guang colludes with the Princess Royal's cronies...
to overthrow Your Majesty,
how do you stop them?
When the subject is too powerful,
it's a disaster to the country.
Let's change the topic.
Your Majesty.
Give me 5 more days.
I will produce evidence...
to prove that Wei Guang is in cahoots with the Princess Royal.
You're from the State of Qiuye.
Why do you want to help Liang?
If I could expose Wei Guang's conspiracy,
Your Majesty,
would you make me and my younger brother Dongfang Xuan...
your state preceptors?
Nonsense.
Wei Guang and the Princess Royal fought so hard against each other.
Why would they be in cahoots?
The situation is ever-changing.
Where interests exist,
no one is forever a foe or friend.
If Your Majesty trusts Wei Guang so much,
why not let me try?
If I can't prove it,
at least I can relieve you of your worry.
This is odd.
Yan Zheng died so long ago.
Yet, his face hasn't rotten a bit.
But his limbs are rotten.
This is unusual.
Let's head to Yan Kuan's tomb and check.
Your Majesty.
Wei Guang's intention is obvious.
He's trying to fool you into sparing the Princess Royal...
and Prince Guang Ding,
so that he can find an opportunity to rebel...
alongside the Princess Royal's remaining forces...
and ultimately seize power.
Your Majesty told us that...
the Princess Royal insulted Wei Guang's father in the prison.
We all know that...
Wei Guang is known for being a filial son.
Yet, he still...
argued with the officials to protect the Princess Royal.
What could be his reason if...
he isn't plotting something?
He's the same.
It's as if his face is still alive.
His limbs have rotten as well.
Your Majesty.
You look unhappy.
Should I put on my official suit to entertain you?
Sit down.
I have a question for you.
You're always with Noble Consort Ning.
Did you notice...
anything going on...
between her and Wei Guang?
I know that...
Noble Consort Ning is supportive of me.
But Wei Guang might not be the same.
Your Majesty.
Please don't misunderstand Noble Consort Ning.
I've served Her Highness for so long.
She never speaks of Wei Guang.
She's always talking about you.
If you misunderstand Noble Consort Ning,
she'll be upset.
I know.
I don't doubt her.
I just feel like...
Wei Guang isn't...
loyal to me.
I don't know if Wei Guang is loyal.
But, I'm a woman.
I can tell that...
Wei Guang still can't forget Her Highness.
I've even heard that...
Wei Guang still loves her.
Otherwise, why won't he get married?
Enough!
Your Majesty.
Noble Consort Ning is a good person.
She won't have an affair with Wei Guang.
You must trust Her Highness.
Wei Guang won't have the nerve to do that either.
She's my woman.
There are so many women in this world.
Why must he covet my woman?
Why?
Mr. Dongfang.
We've been sitting here for hours.
You didn't ask me to come just to treat me to wine, right?
Of course not.
Dear sir.
Look across the window.
I saw the Princess Royal and Prince Guang Ding.
That's Wei Guang.
We're lucky Your Highness was trained in a circus troupe.
If I didn't see this with my own eyes,
I wouldn't even believe it.
Every entertainer...
has their own secret skills.
They don't reveal it easily.
If it wasn't because of...
what my mother's master said in a slip of the tongue back then,
we wouldn't be able to see through Yan Kuan's trick...
no matter how we rack our brains.
The fish skin mask is so effective.
Yan Kuan and his brother...
must have abused this trick.
I made a deal with your emperor.
I promised to present evidence within 5 days.
I've kept my word.
I believe you know what to do next.
Your Majesty.
What took you so long?
Your Majesty.
Mr. Dongfang did not lie.
I tailed Wei Guang with them.
At a place 50 miles from Beidian,
he had a secret meeting with the Princess Royal...
and Prince Guang Ding in an inn.
Are you sure?
I saw it with my own eyes.
Wei Guang spent 2 hours in that inn.
He has just returned to Yandu.
Don't blame me for this.
He deserves death.
It serves him right.
Your Majesty.
Do you plan to kill Wei Guang?
I did not say that I plan to kill Wei Guang.
He's going to be...
killed by mountain bandits.
I've nothing to do with this.
Understand?
Yes.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Wei Guang.
I want you to...
deliver this letter to Wuci.
Your Majesty wants me to be your envoy?
Wuci has been ambitious.
But you defeated them.
I heard that...
the people of Wuci respect strong men.
Prince Ping Yuan of Wuci sees highly of you.
When you get there,
talk to the important officials of Wuci...
and find out if...
they still intend to attack Liang.
I shall make a trip to Wuci.
Retreat!
Retreat at once!
Your Highness.
Your Highness?
I'm alright.
Coming!
-Alright. -Alright. Be gentler.
Mr. Zhou.
Your Highness.
When will the rice reach the disaster area?
In at least 5 days.
The disaster-stricken county reported to the court that...
the victims have run out of food.
I don't think they can survive 5 days.
The ships sent by the court...
can only carry this much.
I've tried my best.
Your Highness.
I have a suggestion.
We can take a shortcut.
By crossing Mount Qilin,
we can shorten the time taken by 2-3 days.
Mr. Zhou, is that feasible?
I'm afraid it's unrealistic.
Bad news, Your Highness.
What happened?
We received news from Yandu.
Chief Commander Wei was ambushed by mountain bandits...
on his way to Wuci.
What?
Is he alright?
I've yet to receive a confirmation.
Some said that he was killed.
And some said...
he escaped.
When can we receive reliable information?
We've to wait for our scout.
Mr. Zhou, I'll leave everything to you.
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness.
Don't worry.
Chief Commander Wei will be alright.
Take me to Yandu immediately.
Calm down, Your Highness.
Our scout will be back soon.
You shouldn't leave!
Your Highness!
Bad news, Your Majesty.
Wei Guang got away.
You have the nerve to return!
You promised me that you won't fail!
But now, he got away!
I'm terribly sorry!
Dispatch the entire Imperial Guard and search for him!
If they find him, execute him on the spot!
Your Majesty.
But, this has caused a huge commotion...
and Noble Consort Ning has found out.
If the folks learn about this,
I'm afraid...
Wei Guang is conspiring with traitors.
What's wrong with killing a traitor?
Yes!
Send men to check all military camps.
Find out if Wei Guang made any unusual arrangement...
and report back anytime.
Summon the court officials and tell them to wait in the hall.
I've something important to discuss with them.
Yes.
-Come and take a look! -Candied fruits!
Report!
Your Majesty, I have something to report to you.
Come up and speak.
Grand Marshal. Prime minister.
Go to the hall and wait for me.
As for the rest,
come with me.
Yes!
-Yes. -Yes.
Your Majesty.
You're here.
Wei Guang.
You were plotting a rebellion.
Now, on top of drinking in the palace,
you asked to meet me in private.
You have some guts there.
If I don't hide here,
where else can I go?
I believe that...
no matter where I go,
Your Majesty would still send men to pursue me.
You're saying that I sent men to kill you?
I fought the mountain bandits and I saw it very clearly.
They were no ordinary mountain bandits.
They were from the Winged Tiger Army.
I'm the emperor.
I'd just have to issue an order to kill you.
Why would I make them disguise as mountain bandits?
You yourself know why you sent those men...
from the Winged Tiger Army to kill me.
This is arsenic, the deadliest poison in the world.
If you put half a pack of it into the wine, whoever drinks it...
will die immediately.
Are you trying to kill your ruler?
I'd like to make a bet with Your Majesty.
Commander of Imperial Guard, please put the rest of the arsenic...
into one of these bowls of wine.
Don't let His Majesty and I see it.
Thank you.
Let me see what he's up to.
Your Majesty tried to assassinate me...
because you no longer trust me.
Now, I shall prove my loyalty to you.
Enough of your beautiful lies.
I'm aware that you had a secret meeting with...
the Princess Royal in an inn.
Do you want to know the details?
That was Yan Kuan's trick.
I bet you don't know.
Yan Kuan is still alive.
I had ordered...
to execute Yan Kuan.
He's dead!
No matter how well you can lie,
you can't make the dead come back to life!
Yan Kuan is capable enough...
to find a man who resembles me.
Moreover, the scout Your Majesty sent...
merely saw my back from a distance.
He did not see my face.
Besides, Yan Zheng and Yan Kuan...
are experts in the long lost Art of Disguise.
The man who was executed was not him,
but a substitute.
Similarly, that Wei Guang at the inn was not me,
but a substitute in disguise.
Say no more.
Seize Wei Guang.
Wait!
Don't Your Majesty want to see me...
drink the wine with arsenic?
If I drink the wine myself,
you don't have to worry about...
how to explain to the people.
You want to...
kill yourself with poison?
Of course I wish to live.
But, whether or not I can live...
depends on god and Your Majesty.
Your Highness, Chief Commander Wei is hiding in Chang Nian Palace.
I will drink the wine bowl by bowl...
until Your Majesty tells me to stop.
My father was so loyal to the court and country.
But, he ended up being executed.
I was furious about that.
I could have avenged my father.
Yet, I did not.
Back then, I was appointed as the chief commander...
to lead an army of 100,000 soldiers in a war against Wuci.
The size of my army...
was seven-tenth of Liang's total military forces.
I had the liberty to act as I wished with the army.
I could have turned around and attacked Yandu.
Yet, I did not.
That war went on for half a year.
So many of my brothers...
fell one after another.
I was severely injured myself.
Our rations were robbed by the enemy.
Even I, the chief commander,
had to starve for days,
let alone the soldiers.
My brothers fought in the battlefield despite their hunger.
I could have retreated with the army!
Yet, I did not!
The Princess Royal and Prince Guang Ding plotted a coup...
and I spied on them.
I was almost exposed several times.
Every day felt like my last day.
When they gained control over the court...
and when Your Majesty had very little chance of winning,
I could have pledged allegiance to the princess...
and let you lose your throne!
Yet, I...
did not!
Stop!
Wei Guang!