Timing and Subtitles brought to you by the Legend of the Phoenix Volunteer Team @ Viki
Legend of the Phoenix
Episode 14
I took pity on you and asked for a pardon on your behalf.
What will you do?
Tonight at 9 PM, come to the kitchens to find me.
I want you to serve me as I eat.
I cannot, Prince.
There are many people and many mouths in the palace. I will be punished if anyone finds out.
Don't worry. Tonight is the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The imperial family will all go to the garden to accompany the Empress Dowager in lighting lanterns.
At that time, I will send away all the people in the imperial kitchen.
No one will know.
But Lihua Academy has a rule.
After the set time, I cannot leave the academy.
You said you'd do anything when you were begging me.
Are you taking back on your words? If you don't come tonight...
Tomorrow, the guards will take you to be punished.
You trespassed and denied the consequences, the punishment is more than just thirty hits.
Prince, I have already promised Lord Ye Ningzhi
- to run errands tonight. Lord Ye specifically told me to— - Lord Ye again!
You're clearly using her as an excuse.
Don't forget. I'm the Emperor's nephew.
If we were to speak of status,
who is more important...
I'm sorry, Prince. I already have plans, I cannot go.
The skinny and tall old man over there, what's his name?
What's his position?
Hurry, help me think of it, otherwise I'll pinch you.
That's Marquis An Le, he's currently working in the Ministry of Rites.
I guess you passed.
Lord Gao.
Your Majesty.
Stop.
You.
Are you willing to go to the imperial kitchen to serve me drinks?
- Let me go! Let me go! - Come!
You slut.
Do you think that I can't tell what you're thinking? The place where you were caught by the guards that night
is Guang Xuan Palace.
If I didn't happen to come out from the Emperor's place,
how could I possibly bump into you?
I think you're trying to get close to the Emperor.
You want to seduce the Emperor?
You don't think that I match up in terms of status, so now you want to destroy the bridge after crossing the river?
I'm begging you... don't hit me.
I'll do anything.
Let go of me!
Be good.
Let me go!
What are you doing?
Lord Ye!
Are you alright?
You came at the right time. Both of you are mine!
Don't be scared. I'll take you to go see His Majesty right now.
Tell everything clearly to His Majesty, he will definitely give you justice. Let's go!
Lord Ye! Lord Ye, look at him!
Prince Bei Ying, you're even pretending to be dead?
Do you dare to come with me to see the Emperor?
What's wrong?
He's dead.
He's dead? He's dead.
He's dead.
Lord Ye, Lord Ye! I've killed someone!
I've killed the Emperor's nephew! I will be executed if someone finds out!
- What to do now? Lord Ye! - Calm down!
Lord Ye! Lord Ye, why don't you just send me out of the palace?
He was the one who assaulted me first, I didn't do anything.
- I wasn't the one who killed the Prince, please send me out of the palace! - Wait!
Don't worry, calm down first.
Wait for me here. I'm going to see what the situation is out there.
No, Lord Ye!
I'm scared! I don't want to stay here.
I'm not abandoning you, I'm just going outside to see the situation.
If there's no one outside, then I will immediately come back to take you away, alright?
Lord Ye! I'm scared! I don't want to stay here.
How about you stay here and I'll go out to look?
Okay?
Okay.
Stop!
Lord.
Aren't you the new palace maiden from Lihua Academy?
If I remember correctly, your family name is Ban, right?
What are you doing here at the imperial kitchen so late at night? Are you trying to steal food?
No! It's Lord Ye.
She wanted me to see if her favorite desserts were done.
I only discovered that all the staff when to the southern kitchen today after I arrived.
Of course. Tonight is the night of the lantern festival. Let's go.
We can't! We can't! Just now, I bumped into a few guards.
They know that I'm Ban Ling'er, they recognize me!
If we leave like this and they discover the body, they will definitely suspect me!
Don't worry, I'm here!
Let me think.
We... We'll first clean up the bloodstains.
Then organize everything.
Then roll up the rug to hide the body, and then we will leave the palace to bury it.
But will the two of us be enough to lift it?
Even if we can't, we must.
I'm a fourth-ranked official. Before 11 pm, I can still use my token to exit the palace.
But after that time, I won't be able to.
Then what time is it now?
The appreciation of the lights will start between 7 to 9 pm.
The fireworks will be the axis of the lights ceremony.
We don't have much time! Let's make this bet. Quick!
So pretty!
It's much prettier than last year!
Right. Look at it.
So pretty.
Hurry! The festival will be over when the fireworks are done. When that happens, we won't be able to leave even if we want to.
Stop!
Lord Ye, you are...
Lord Lin, these guards are too out of line.
See, letting such a frail palace maiden carry such a large rug alone to Hua Xiang Palace,
I couldn't just be a bystander, so I stepped in to help. I'm just helping out.
No wonder why everyone says that Lord Ye is magnanimous.
What good is it to be magnanimous?
Hey, that little palace maiden in the front! Put some strength into it.
Don't make me do all the heavy lifting!
The doors are closed. What do we do?
Lord Ye, you must save me!
Don't worry, I won't let you be caught.
But, the festival is about to end. All the people will be coming out.
We can't go in or leave, what do we do?
Go bury him in the mountains. If anyone ever asks, just pretend you don't know.
- I'll have your back, I have a life-saving idea. Let's go. - Okay.
Lord Ye,
here's something that fell from the Prince.
Don't worry about that. Let's take care of the corpse first.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Ningzhi, where did you go?
I sent three people but didn't find you.
Did you play around so much that you were not aware of things?
Her Majesty is looking for you too. She said you just disappeared suddenly.
Something happened to my family, so I went to talk to some friends I knew outside of the palace.
What happened?
Nothing much, just something about the Baixi Circus. It's been solved already.
That's good. I have some good news for you.
Wei Guang fought another successful battle! Look here.
Your Majesty, there's bad news.
What happened?
The prince died... right at the mountain in the Royal Garden.
Lord Ye's jade pendant... was also discovered there.
You can leave.
Yes.
The prince died. Half an hour ago,
the guards found many traces of blood by the door. Next, there were wild dogs digging in the dirt at the mountain.
After the prince died... why would he be wrapped in a blanket and buried in the mountains?
How could this happen?
Lord Lin saw you and a maid carrying a blanket toward the palace.
The guards found a jade pendant where the corpse was buried.
I gifted that pendant to you when you became an official.
I lost that pendant a few days ago.
Ningzhi, do you want to lie to the Emperor?
You can't fool me.
Usually, you are extremely joyful when you hear news about Wei Guang's success. But today?
You had no reaction.
What really happened? I will stand on your side.
Your Majesty, you once said that
no matter what I did wrong, you would spare my life.
Did you really kill the prince?
I had no intention to! Although, the prince was at fault.
But killing is killing.
Your Majesty, I can't die yet.
I haven't found my family,
I haven't seen Wei Guang and I still have to protect my friends at Li Hua.
Your Majesty, please save me!
Is there really nothing you can do?
You promised me that I would be spared, that was an important promise!
If I use my promise to spare you once right now,
even if you confess to the heavens that you killed the prince,
and the Emperor shields the murderer,
he will be disrespectful to the law and his clan.
The only thing I can do now is to prevent them from investigating further.
I can only think of this.
Listen to me and drink it.
There isn't another path you can take.
How could this be? How could this happen?
I am requesting to meet the Emperor.
Lord, tonight is the Mid Autumn festival. His Majesty got a little drunk and has fell asleep.
Your Majesty, I have an urgent reason to meet you.
Your Majesty, the prince died.
Why are you not meeting us?
Open the doors.
Empress, I don't dare.
I told you to open them!
Yes.
Emperor.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
You all... what are you doing here?
Spread my words, from today on,
Ye Ningzhi is my noble consort.
Grant her the title of Consort Ning!
Greetings, Your Majesty.
How is the prince's case coming? Is Ningzhi really involved?
Your Majesty, we just met the Emperor, but we cannot investigate right now.
Why?
The Emperor has already declared Ningzhi as his consort.
And bestowed her as Consort Ning.
What?
Right, Your Majesty. Being His Majesty's consort means being a part of the Royal Family.
Based on the Great Liang's rules, cases that trouble the Royal Family,
no one has any privilege to investigate.
Empress.
There's no need to go. They've already returned to the palace.
Your Majesty, what are you thinking about?
The prince died...
The head investigator believes it was Ningzhi...
And now the Emperor has suddenly made her his consort.
These two things must be connected.
Your Majesty, have you ever thought that...
These two things do not have a connection.
The prince being killed might not have to do with Ye Ningzhi.
Just during the investigation,
we unintentionally scored a lucky hit and saw His Majesty fooling around with Lord Ye.
Impossible.
Ningzhi isn't like that.
I've already asked the people around the Empress.
At that time, the Empress and some maids personally saw
that His Majesty and Ye Ningzhi were drunk.
They were committing improper acts in the study.
Completely impossible.
If Ningzhi ran into any trouble,
I'm sure there must be a reason behind it. In addition, I believe that
in her heart, other than Wei Guang, there is no one else.
It is even more impossible that she would do those kinds of things with the Emperor.
Your Majesty, Ye Ningzhi indeed does not like the Emperor.
But, what about the Emperor? Does he not like her?
The Emperor is pretty nice to Ningzhi, but that's only because she's saved him before.
Your Majesty, you may not know.
The Emperor has loved Ye Ningzhi for a long time.
What did you just say?
I only know because I bribed the eunuch that serves His Majesty.
When His Majesty was undercover,
he saw Ningzhi perform acrobatics in Ping Zhou.
He fell for her at first sight and kept it to himself.
Keep talking.
After he returned, he never forgot her.
He even sent people to go search for her.
But no one knew of Ye Ningzhi's whereabouts,
and His Majesty felt very sorrowful.
So he tasked a painter to paint a portrait of her, and he often took it out to look at it.
He never forgot it.
Lang Kun, if even half a sentence of what you just said is false,
then I won't let you go easily.
I don't dare to lie.
Your Majesty, if you have suspicions,
you can ask the people by His Majesty's side.
I greet you, Your Majesty.
No need.
Ningzhi, you can relax.
I've already announced that you're my consort.
At least the head investigator can't do anything now.
I will write a secret message to Wei Guang.
I'll clearly explain the cause and where this is going to him.
I thank you for kindly saving me!
Ningzhi, stand up.
You know that you've saved me. I'm only returning that.
Just... you have to keep your mouth sealed about this.
You can't let the Empress or any maids know.
I am the Son of Heaven, if word gets out that I did this just to save a woman,
I would not have any face.
And the commoners would no longer place their trust in me.
I understand your efforts, I'll definitely keep my mouth sealed.
I will ask the imperial astronomer tomorrow to select an auspicious day
for your marriage ceremony.
Your Majesty, you saved my life.
Even though the six departments do not have the right to investigate, the death of a prince
will definitely be investigated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In addition, there's still the Empress.
I've already brought you too many troubles. How about
you fake my death, and then I can leave the palace and hide amongst the commoners?
I hope that Your Majesty can still take care of the ladies at Lihua Academy
Ning Zhi, do you know,
how great the crime of killing Royal Blood is?
Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Bei Ying's death happened in the inner palace.
It seems like a Royal matters but because it's under the management of Ministry of Personnel, it must be confidential.
Whether this incident is related to official court matters,
I hope that Your Majesty will be able to uncover the truth.
It seems that you are worrying too much.
Yesterday was the mid-Autumn Festival and everyone was happy.
Due to being drunk and disorderly, someone caused a ruckus.
How could this be related to the court?
Your Majesty, the guards discovered that Prince Bei Ying was wrapped in a rug by someone
and buried in the hillside. This is not an accident.
When where was he harmed?
In the back of his head. It seems that when he fell, the back of his head hit the shattered pieces of the vase on the floor, causing his death.
Is this not an accident?
Don't forget, this was a family banquet.
Your Majesty, the prince died tragically and everyone knows.
You must give the people an explanation. You cannot be muddleheaded about this.
Are you blaming me?
Your Majesty, the guards saw Lord Ye near the vicinity yesterday.
No, I mean Consort Ning's jade token.
Perhaps Consort Ning saw something.
Yesterday night, Consort Ning never left my palace.
The lot of you also saw that.
Your Majesty, during the banquet, Consort Ning was indeed present.
This subject is thinking that perhaps she saw something on her way back to Guang Xuan Palace.
What? Are you trying to interrogate the Inner Palace now?
Don't forget your status. I have already told the imperial astronomer to select an auspicious day for Consort Ning's ceremony.
You dare to think about interrogating an imperial consort? Do you even put me in your eyes?
Your Majesty, I do not dare to overstep.
This matter can be handed over to the Inner Palace to question.
However, the death of Prince Bei Ying must be investigated clearly.
Such a shocking murder, according to my Great Liang's laws,
the murderer will be executed along with their nine generations.
If we conclude the case just like this, it will be hard to give an explanation to the people.
My Great Liang's laws will then be ignored,
and the people will be disillusioned with the Imperial Family.
You're getting even more brazen!
Right now we are at war, and the southern part of the country has been met with disasters.
Not only are you not trying to find any solutions to my problems, you're sticking your noses into my family affairs!
Your Majesty, if the murder of an imperial relative is not resolved, how will the citizens react?
Seeing that the laws do not apply to the imperial family, societal order will be threatened!
- That's enough! - Your Majesty!
This is my nation! This is my family law! I will deal with it!
This matter is concluded! If anyone brings this up again, they will be disobeying a royal command!
Yes!
During the night of the mid-Autumn Festival, I had a big fight with Prince Bei Ying.
In my drunken state, I pushed him.
I did not think that it would turn out like this.
Did Prince Bei Ying seem as if he was going to attack you?
Yes.
Since it was an accident, why do you not give it to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to deal with?
At the time, I was drunk and was not thinking clearly.
I let Ye Ningzhi take care of the problem.
Ningzhi never left your palace?
Yes, she never left.
Ningzhi also saw that you were fighting with Prince Bei Ying?
She saw it.
I beg Mother to use her position as a clan elder to step out
and calm down Prince Bei Ying's relatives.
I know my wrongs. I will not make the same mistakes again.
I hope that Mother can understand me this time.
Prince Bei Ying has always been arrogant and believed himself to be above the laws.
I have already been more than magnanimous with him, but I did not expect that he would try to attack me while he was drunk.
That's why this happened.
If you really were the one who did this,
this matter cannot be known by other people.
Even though Prince Bei Ying got what he deserved, I still feel terrible.
Forget it. I will trade my face so that
the Imperial Family can still keep theirs.
At such an old age,
I don't know how many times I can still be able to cover for you.
Let me handle this matter.
I will obey mother.
Great Marshal, the Emperor sent you a secret missive. Here it is.
Wei Guang, I'm sure you've already heard of what happened to Ye Ningzhi.
I had my reasons for doing so.
Mother, the Imperial Astronomer has already selected an auspicious day.
Next month at 4 pm, the conferment ceremony will be held in Ronghua Hall.
From today onwards, Ningzhi will become Consort Ning.
Is Your Majesty making her your consort in order to cover up the incident with Prince Bei Ying?
I don't want to hide it from Mother. I...
I truly like Ningzhi.
But the Empress recently said that Ningzhi and Wei Guang...
Ningzhi, are you willing to be a consort?
I do not dare to disobey a royal decree.
- What are you saying? - Mother,
I truly like Ningzhi.
I am willing to live like how the commoners live married lives, being in harmony with her forever.
Who knew that Your Majesty is a fool in love?
Then I will allow it.
However, who you are and what kind of person you are,
Yoru Majesty is clear about it in his heart.
I understand.
Ningzhi, hurry and greet Mother.
From today onwards, along with the other consorts,
you will give your morning greetings to Mother every day.
Why are you looking for me?
Could it really be because of
Ye Ningzhi being made into a consort?
Since the ancient times, the new generation always surpasses the old.
Your Majesty, don't you think that Ye Ningzhi
is very similar to when you hadn't become the Empress yet?
Thank you, take care.
Look here, you can look all you want.
Look around.
My Lady.
They left.
Let's go.
Sister, drink some tea.
How is it going?
I contacted the past officials of the Imperial court.
Eight out of ten are willing to take our side.
It's just that a few of them
do not know how to appreciate favors.
They even reprimanded us for having wishful thinking.
These people are no longer powerful ministers in the Imperial court.
Their intention was merely to talk about the late Emperor's wishes.
They are old. It's easy for mishaps to happen to them.
Older Sister is indeed smart.
Oh right, there's another thing that's really strange.
A few days ago, the spy in the palace
told me that Ye Ningzhi has been conferred as a consort.
Isn't she Wei Guang's interest?
She and Wei Guang get along very well.
She suddenly has a change of heart.
Something isn't right about this.
Grand Marshal, the Princess has arrived. She says she wants to talk privately.
The Royal Princess?
Why is she suddenly at the front line?
- Who did she come with? - There were only three hundred soldiers that escorted her.
Three hundred soldiers?
She just silently came like this to the front line.
- Where is she right now? - In the planning tent.
What is the reason that you have come?
Grand Marshal Wei, please have a seat.
I heard that you are invincible.
I've come to congratulate you.
You are praising me.
It's really embarrassing to talk about this.
A small state like Wuci even fought their way to the entrance of Great Liang.
If the late Emperor were to know about this, I wonder if he would have any regrets
that he handed over the throne to such an incapable person.
Princess Royal, you spoke indiscreetly.
I didn't.
I only know how to do my job and be loyal.
Are you really doing this for the official's salary?
If this is the case, how much can you be bought for?
The generations of the Wei family has always been loyal and serves only one master.
Of course, I know generations of your Wei family is loyal.
But does His Majesty knows?
Everyone knows about your talent in military strategies
but His Majesty covered this up.
What's the use of this kind of loyalty?
His Majesty stood his ground against the opinions of the masses and valued the ministers.
The ministers are grateful to him for helping them and his encouragement.
What if he wants you to sell your life for him?
You're fighting and charging at the front line;
he's in the palace and making Ye Ningzhi a consort.
I don't know what you are saying.
Your relationship with Ye Ningzhi had been spread to the Inner Palace long before.
Moreover, His Majesty is prone to suspicions.
You have been successively victorious in your battles.
Grand Marshal Wei, you should know
what your result will be at that time.
I don't quite understand your words.
I have military task to perform. I'm taking my leave.
Wei Guang.
Traditionally, an official's great merits have always caused the Emperor to be uneasy.
They won't have a good ending.
You are smart.
You should understand self-protection.
Wei Guang, you will come find me in the end.
How come your mood is so good today?
A heavy storm is coming. This is the final music piece I will be playing.
This torrential rain should have occurred two years ago.
This time, it'll be hard to avoid.
Umbrellas for sale.
Come, take a look.
Go, go, go. Get out.
Why are you here for treatment if you don't have any money?
Leave, leave, leave.
Get out!
Don't interrupt our business. Go.
Go!
Scram now!
Be careful.
Here, stand up.
Be careful.
Sir, what happened?
My wife's hip hurts, but we have no money to see a doctor.
We pleaded the doctor to show some pity and cut the price in half,
but he threw us out here.
Hey, sir. Wait a moment.
We had no money to rest here.
In Anling City, poor people can't afford to eat.
Sir, I came here around ten years ago.
At that time, it was still very prosperous.
How come it's like this now?
Ever since the Royal Princess came, we haven't had a good life.
All money has been taken by her to go train the armies.
Old man, could you not say so much?
Last time some farmers argued with the Royal Princess,
they were all executed.
If the guards hear this, I'm afraid we'll be troubling an outsider into this.
He could be killed!
Don't worry ma'am, I'm not scared.
I'm one who climbed out from the pile of dead bodies.
What things have I not faced?
Ma'am, I don't think your hip pains are too much of a problem.
I have a prescription for the medicine. You can try it.
What, are you a doctor?
I'm not. But, I know a doctor who has a very effective medicine.
Before, I had worse hip pains.
I had to walk like this.
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 ♫