Timing and Subtitles brought to you by the Legend of the Phoenix Volunteer Team @ Viki
Legend of the Phoenix
Episode 1
The ninth year of Tianqi. The Liang Dynasty went through five emperors and now under the reign of Pang Tong, Emperor Hao.
Although Pang Tong's temperament was gentle and reserved, he encouraged people to express their views freely.
He even broke with tradition and appointed female officials.
He made a commoner girl enter the imperial court and turned her life into a legend.
Lang Kun, did you fulfill what I've asked you to do?
Report to Your Highness the Empress, here is the list of all the nowadays well known acrobatic troupes in the Liang Dynasty. [ Empress Zheng Shujun ]
There's Han City's Feng Xiang Min troupe, [Management Bureau Secretary Lang Kun]
Ning Prefecture's Xuan Gong troupe,
and Yong City's Li Fang troupe.
Feng Xiang Min?
This is a good name, I like it.
It looks quite interesting.
Greetings to Your Highness. [Management Bureau Commander Wei Guang]
Wei Guang.
You've been staying by my side for a long time.
As the commander of the Management Bureau, you should also take over some of the affairs.
Pass on my empress' decree, summon them to come to the palace.
Yes.
All fellow townsmen. [Luo Ying]
Next up is the mainstay of our acrobatic troupe
to perform the chair pyramid.
Excellent! Excellent! [Ye Ningzhi]
Be careful!
Thank you! Thank you for stepping in and helped.
Don't you want to say something after I thanked you?
You have good skill, but too careless.
What did you say?
A scroll of calligraphy and painting? This is the first time that someone awarded me a scroll of calligraphy and painting.
Read it again carefully.
I don't see anything special.
This is a token given to you by the Empress as proof.
You can go to the palace to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday. After that,
you'll be given Five hundred taels of silver,
as your reward.
Do you understand?
Five hundred taels of silver.
Five hundred taels?
Hurry, go collect your rewarded money.
Brother!
Five hundred taels!
Come! Come! Come! Dishes are ready.
- Food is ready. - Sit, sit here.
All sit down.
Let me say something first.
I thought our troupe couldn't go on.
Who knows that things have changed.
- We have to thank heavens. - Thank heavens?
We also need to thank our young lady.
That's right. All because of her cleverness.
She got us such a big job!
Also need to thank
that young master I met on the street today.
Didn't you call him a hero?
Why now change it to a young master?
No. Back then I was frightened. Is that right?
And of course, we have to thank my mother.
- That's right! - My mother took great pains in managing this troupe.
And taught us all kinds of acrobatics.
Let's make a toast to my mother.
Here, a toast to you!
Mother, you're not happy?
Rotten brat!
Don't you know that you're in big trouble?
Do you know what a palace is like?
If you're careless, you don't even know how you die.
Now, this is great. You're dragging everyone into the palace too!
Mother, I promise you. I'll come back safely.
Alright?
Alright! I know.
You're doing this for this big family.
Here.
I've made you this new clothes.
In the palace,
you have to take good care of yourself.
Here, let's make a toast to the boss.
- Cheers! - Let's toast!
[Han City]
It's here again! Did you see it?
Did you notice? There are so many young and pretty women going this way!
There's so many!
They're going to the palace for the palace woman selection!
If they're chosen, they're set for life.
Take a look!
How boring.
This is really so boring.
The current emperor likes wood block women?
If I was the emperor, I would pick two
fun women! This way, I'd be happy in the palace!
One like you, huh Young Miss?
Me? I wouldn't go! The palace is full of rules!
It's like what my mother said. With my temper,
I wouldn't live for more than three months!
- She's right! - She's right!
- This feels much better! - Yes!
[Yongde Palace]
Look over there!
Let's go!
Let's go over there!
Follow closely, this way!
The little girl in the front
is Ye Ningzhi who plays the leading role in an acrobatic troupe.
That little girl is pretty.
It's a shame, she doesn't know.
These are the final happy moments in her life.
Greetings,
Eldest Princess!
You may all rise.
Thank you Eldest Princess!
What performances have you prepared for the Empress Dowager's birthday?
Eldest Princess,
we will first act out a big play!
Then, six celestials will fly down from the skies
to congratulate the Empress Dowager on her birthday!
Each of us has a congratulatory phrase too!
Congratulatory phrase?
Let me hear it.
The land is always the same as the sky.
If the moon is constant, it will rise like the sun.
Those are so plain.
The Empress Dowager won't like it.
Oh? Then... we can't think of something so suddenly...
Come forward.
Do you remember?
Oh...
I-I remember. But Eldest Princess, will the Empress Dowager really like that?
The Empress Dowager is my mother.
Would I not know what she likes?
She likes new and energetic things.
You have to perform in front of the emperor in two days. Just say that.
Yes!
Come, bring the gifts for Concubines Qi and Chen
and give it to them first.
One pair of jade earrings.
A glass cup.
Eldest Princess, such a valuable gift!
We can't accept it...
Thank you Eldest Princess!
As long as you can make the Empress Dowager happy,
your acrobatics troupe
will have a great future.
Thank you Eldest Princess!
Go and practice.
The lord who called us into the palace didn't come to see us.
We just arrived and don't know what the Empress Dowager likes.
Will she really... be happy if she hears those phrases?
Madam, are you Miss Ye's mother,
the leader of Feng Xiangming Theatrical troupe?
Greetings, Lord Wei.
I haven't had the chance to thank you for bringing my daughter into the palace to perform.
You are too courteous, Madam.
Counting the days, it has been several days since Miss Ye entered the palace. She should be back soon.
I bet she can make the Empress Dowager happy.
I hope she will.
Then, I'll stop bothering you. I will take my leave.
Troupe Master!
So you were here!
Why did you come back? Where is Ningzhi?
Weren't you inside the palace with her?
Don't worry! The troupe is fine.
It's just, my mother is very sick so Ningzhi told me to go take care of her.
How is Ningzhi doing? Did she create trouble?
Everything is fine. Ningzhi is smart!
As soon as she got into the palace, she received the Eldest Princess's favor. The princess was so happy,
she even gave a big gift to Ningzhi!
Really?
That's not all. The Eldest Princess even personally taught Ningzhi congratulatory phrases to make the Empress Dowager happy!
Really?
Hurry and sit and tell me more!
Lord Wei!
I'm returning to the palace right away.
Aren't you going to Ping County?
Human lives are more important!
His grandmother isn't human!
But is...
What did you say?
What did you just say?
Who are you calling not a human?
Huh?!
Who isn't human?
Your Highness, calm down. I'm not done yet.
Continue talking.
His grandmother isn't human,
She is, in fact, the deity of longevity.
The ancestor's descendants is a thief.
Stop talking.
Men! Take them away!
The ancestor's descendants? Isn't that the emperor?
Is a thief? You're calling the emperor a thief?
- Eldest Princess! I— - Your Majesty!
I also heard these four phrases when I was coming back from Jiangnan.
Clearly, someone
told them to say this.
Especially the third phrase.
The ancestor's descendant is a thief.
Isn't that implying that Your Majesty's throne
was obtained by stealing?
How can a little street performer dare to say such ridiculous things?
Your Majesty! This matter must be carefully investigated!
Your Majesty. I also think that this is no small matter.
How could a few commoners say such disloyal things?
I asked this troupe to perform for the Empress Dowager's birthday.
Why don't I investigate this?
Empress!
I'm afraid you can't properly investigate this matter.
I'd advise that you stay out of this matter.
Your Majesty! To ensure my innocence, please choose who to investigate this.
Prince Guang, Eldest Princess, you two investigate this matter!
Take them away!
Yes!
Eldest Princess, what is the meaning of this? You're the one who—
You still don't get it? We've fallen into her trap!
If you want to live, then shut up!
Where is the rest of my troupe?
Don't worry. The Eldest Princess won't make things hard on them.
Look at how good the Eldest Princess is to you.
She gave you the best food.
How about you hurry and admit it?
Yes. You can tell us everything.
The Eldest Princess knows someone taught you to say those four phrases.
Was it the Empress?
Stop talking! I don't believe the Empress would do that.
But the truth is plainly in front of us!
These four phrases came from Shanxi.
Everyone knows the king of Shanxi is the Empress's close confidante.
We cannot say for certain.
- Why would the Empress need to do this? - Report!
Your Majesty, we found these two things inside Ye Ningzhi's room!
Bring them forward.
A little troupe performer,
how could she have such valuable things?
These two things,
I gave them to the Empress.
This is what the Eldest Princess hinted to your palace staff to accuse of misconduct.
There are so many names!
We must carefully preserve this list.
We must get vengeance in the future!
This has always been the case in history.
One only makes perfection more perfect instead of providing help in moments of need.
These people have obtained so many benefits from me. But as soon as my power weakens,
they immediately run to the Eldest Princess.
Don't worry.
I will remember all your names!
Your Highness. But, I think the most important thing now is
still Ye Ningzhi.
We entered the palace on the Empress's orders to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday.
Everything was going smoothly. If we didn't say the congratulatory phrases the Eldest Princess taught us,
we wouldn't have fallen to such a state.
Now... what should I do
to protect everyone in the troupe?
- What are you doing? - Come with us!
- To where? - You're not allowed to ask!
His name is Wei Guang. He is my top advisor.
To help save you, he rushed back to the palace.
So you are... Lord Wei.
Hurry and greet the Empress.
Greetings, Your Highness!
Get up and talk.
Thank you Your Highness!
Do you know why I brought you here?
I don't know.
Don't worry. This is Yongde Palace, my territory.
No one will dare to bully you.
I know you have a close relationship with your friends.
So, you wouldn't just ignore your friends.
I have already sent someone to look into their situation.
The people from the theatrical troupe are being interrogated by Dali Temple. [Dali Temple is the Supreme Court in-charge of prison in ancient China]
Do you want to see them?
I do.
Good. Then you just have to tell me.
Those four phrases, did someone teach them to you?
Have you heard of Ye Ting?
If anyone commits a crime, they will be imprisoned there.
Before long, I'm afraid you'll be imprisoned there too.
I don't want to see an innocent commoner suffer like that.
If you tell the truth, I can protect you.
Your Highness, General Zheng is bringing a large group of royal guards here!
He suspects Ye Ningzhi is hiding here!
He says to protect your safety, he must enter to search!
What a joke! Protect my safety?
Go and tell him.
He cannot enter my Yongde Palace that easily!
Yes!
Ningzhi. You are a good child.
You wouldn't let the Eldest Princess continue being so arrogant.
As long as you tell me the truth,
I swear
I will find a way to protect you and the entire troupe.
Your Highness.
The Eldest Princess taught me those four phrases!
Good!
I will take you to Guang Xian Palace
and tell the Emperor everything!
Your Highness, I will say what I should!
[Yongde Palace]
Greetings, Your Highness!
What did you come to do?
I have my responsibilities.
I hope you will be understanding. I am under orders from the Emperor to protect your safety.
I must capture this runaway criminal!
She is a serious criminal the Emperor ordered to be captured!
You want to capture her?
Fine. Whoever dares to bypass me, enter and arrest her then.
Your Highness!
Come with me!
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Get up.
Thank you Your Majesty.
Empress, how could you do something so ridiculous?
Ye Ningzhi is a rebel.
How could you bring her to Yongde Palace?
The Eldest Princess conducted the interrogation for several days without any progress. I was anxious.
Hence, I took the initiative to inquire about the reason.
Perhaps, Heaven is watching us and is fair
and wanted me to ask some questions regarding the doubts in this matter.
I wonder if His Majesty is willing to listen.
Speak.
Ye Ningzhi, there's no harm in saying what you think in front of His Majesty.
Those four phrases...
were indeed taught to me by someone.
Someone taught you? Who?
It was...
Buddha taught me that.
Presumptuous!
Ye Ningzhi, you even dared to lie continuously to His Majesty.
If you spout nonsense again, I won't be able to protect you.
Ye Ningzhi, it's now at this stage.
Are you still going to play tricks?
This was definitely the meaning of Buddha
because those four phrases were signs given to me from Buddha.
When I found out that I was to give congratulatory birthday messages to the Empress Dowager,
I was very happy and nervous too.
I was afraid I wouldn't bring glory to Dowager Empress' birthday banquet.
As such, before I entered the palace, I went to seek for divination in the hope that I could receive guidance from Heaven.
What even more coincidental is that, after praying for my request,
I saw these signs from the soles of Buddha.
Those four phrases were written on them.
I thought it was the will of Heaven.
Your Highness, is this the result of your interrogation?
Dressing as God to play the Devil. It's indeed interesting.
Your Majesty, Her Highness detained the criminal in private
without any regards to the law and was condescending.
You should seize her position as the Empress.
Your Majesty, I think this is a Godsend opportunity.
Why do you say this?
Dare I ask if you think those four phrases are an insult to you?
"The ancestor's descendant is a thief" but I think this phrase doesn't refer to you.
Your Majesty inherited the throne after the deceased Emperor. It's the divine rights of the kings.
Empress Dowager conducted the interrogation to prove that this rumor is not related to you
to prevent the rumor from being implemented and being criticized by the commoners.
Frankly, because I'm usually not present at the Imperial court, I can understand these four phrases better.
It's not considered a fresh topic of mention in the palace today because there were already rumors among the people.
The commoners use this congratulatory message for entertainment. I'm filial to the kingdom.
If these congratulatory phrases were sang by the theatrical troupe at the birthday banquet of the Empress Dowager,
not only will the commoners see the filial piety of Your Majesty,
it will also add to the fun of the Royal family and the people. It will leave a good reputation in history.
Wei Guang, don't think that just because you are a staff from the Empress Dowager,
you can make wild speculations here.
His Majesty hasn't commented yet.
On the contrary, why couldn't you restrain yourself any further?
There's no harm in letting Weikuang elaborate more.
Empress Dowager is celebrating her birthday. It's not appropriate to fight and kill at this moment.
Empress Dowager has a kind heart. I believe she doesn't want to see any bloody disaster too.
Why don't we regard this as a praise?
That's easy for you to say.
Even if you are quick and eloquent,
you can't deny what the people from the theatrical troupe said are disobedient.
Whether it's a denial of their disobedient words, I will let Empress Dowager make the judgment.
If it can make her smile, wouldn't it be considered entertaining?
The health of the Empress Dowager for the past days has been worrying.
We are not sure if she could attend the birthday banquet in three days.
I dare to bet that Empress Dowager will definitely attend the birthday banquet.
And she will surely enjoy it.
Not only the Empress Dowager, but the civil and military officials will also laugh heartily too.
Do you mean it?
Not only this, a few days after that, Empress Dowager will even stop taking her medicines and takes stroll in the Royal Garden.
If none of these four points can be achieved, I will admit defeat.
Admit defeat?
You made it sound so easy.
What will you use for your defeat?
If you really lose,
it's deceiving His Majesty.
As an official, will you be able to bear the consequences based on your jurisdiction?
If I lose,
I will be punished with Ye Ningzhi and die together.
Fine. It's a deal.
It will be my birthday banquet in two days.
What have you prepared?
Empress Dowager, the Imperial Physician said you haven't fully recovered from your illness.
I think you shouldn't attend the birthday banquet.
There will be many people. What if you are infected by a cold?
Yes, Older Sister is right.
For the sake of your health, it's still best that you don't attend.
It's not that severe.
It's so boring to be in the Palace all day.
I want to have some fun.
Imperial Mother probably does not know that within the circus Empress invited
there was a person who was ignorant and said the wrong thing.
We're afraid that if you were to go, you'd be angered.
You've always been prone to worries.
Who would dare to behave insolently in front of me?
Do they not want to live?
It's alright.
Imperial Mother, drink the medicine.
His Grandmother isn't human.
She is, in fact, the deity of longevity.
If you're still going to be like this, then there's no need to practice anymore.
Lord Wei!
Lord Wei, you've arrived?
I already tried my best.
Now, we're on the chopping block.
How would we have the motivation to practice the play?
Yes, you are on the chopping block now.
You're even going to drag me down with you.
I'm sorry.
Lord Wei, I'm grateful for standing up for me in front of the Emperor.
For me, you didn't even care about losing your life.
But if...
but if tomorrow...
at the end of tomorrow,
the beheading really will happen,
then I—
I will definitely fight to the death to protect Lord Wei!
I will beg the Emperor to let you go,
and that you had nothing to do with this! If he wants to behead anyone, then it should be mine!
At least you still have some affection left.
That's right! This is the only good thing about her.
Miss Ningzhi, look at your colleagues.
If you can't take the time today to practice,
then if anything goes wrong tomorrow,
just your head alone would not be enough to make up for it.
Lord Wei.
Thinking about when I saw you performing in the street that day, it was clearly just a simple human pyramid act.
But your face was filled with arrogance.
That was the most alluring part.
That aura and concentration are not simple.
The Empress Dowager is fond of those who work hard, she will definitely be able to tell of your efforts.
She will definitely like it, and only then will she summon you into the palace.
In the end, you can't even do a simple performance?
But the words said already caused such a big mess,
what if the Empress Dowager already heard it?
Since it's congratulatory phrases she already heard,
would she really be surprised by it?
If you put your heart into it, it will never be simple words,
but is your real performance. Show your sincerity to everyone.
If you still can't practice, then think of your mother.
She's still waiting for you at home.
And all these fellow brothers,
their families are also waiting for them to go home.
Miss Ningzhi,
to you, this is not a performance, but a battle for life or death.
Win or lose, or put it another way, live or die.
It's all up to whether you have the courage or not.
You're right.
I can't be like this anymore.
Do we lack the bravery to fight for our lives?
- No! - No!
Do we lack money?
- Yes! - Yes!
Hurry and practice!
Yes! Let's practice!
Tomorrow night, if Imperial Mother looks even a little unhappy,
say that you're venting on behalf of Imperial Mother, and use that excuse to kill Ye Ningzhi.
I have made arrangements with the Head of the Royal Guard.
I understand.
Empress Dowager. may you enjoy boundless longevity.
Health and long life, many happy returns.
May you prosper and develop like the sun and moon.
His grandmother isn't human,
she is the deity of longevity instead.
The ancestor's descendant is a thief,
stole the immortal peach to respectfully offer to his grandmother.
Timing and Subtitles brought to you by the Legend of the Phoenix Volunteer Team @ Viki
♫ In the clear sky, thousands of fireflies drift around ♫
♫ You were once the most ordinary firefly of them all ♫
♫ When you approached me, time stopped ♫
♫ My heart started racing ♫
♫ It was like a dream ♫
♫ I travel against the light in search for a faraway shadow ♫
♫ The crowded mountain cities, but I find it so peaceful ♫
♫ I really want to let go of my name and identity ♫
♫ I will watch the peaceful marketplace with you ♫
♫ I will wait with you for the rain to stop ♫
♫ I will light the light of love to shine into your life ♫
♫ So that all the dangerous rivers can soften your eyes ♫
♫ Like the crystal tears in the dead of night ♫
♫ My heart has become more transparent and stronger ♫
♫ Even if it aches, it will not break ♫