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Master Xueyi, don't worry.
Yihuan has got a way to find Long San.
What is it?
Since
Yihuan can't find him
I'll make him
come to her.
Nasai.
Where is it?
Over there.
That's odd.
Who did it?
How dared he
fly the Kongming lantern in the Forbidden City!
Uncle, it looks suspicious.
Two characters on the lantern.
Long San.
Can this be...
a code for some action?
Nasai, take someone
to get the lantern down.
Yes.
You two, go to the imperial garden
and see who is flying it
and what he wants.
Yes.
Go. Let's go and protect His Majesty.
Yes.
His Majesty hasn't gone to bed, has he?
He's reviewing memorials to the throne.
I've got something to tell him.
Please kindly report it for me.
Okay. Lord Suo, please wait a second.
How is it, Eunuch Li?
Lord Suo, His Majesty asked you in.
Thank you.
According to His Majesty
all guards sent to search the imperial garden shall come back.
From now on
if anyone finds
the Kongming lantern like this
he should report it directly
instead of discussing about it secretly.
Whoever goes against it will be killed.
Yes.
Lord Suo.
What does His Majesty really mean?
Do not guess what His Majesty thinks as his subordinate.
We'll just do it as ordered.
Sorry, that was uncalled for.
Junior Long.
If you still don't show up tonight
I'll break with you.
Brother?
It's me, Junior Long.
Brother.
Why are you a girl?
I...
I'm Yihuan's sister
Yi Chou.
No kidding.
When we became sworn brother
I gave this jade ring
to you.
This?
My brother gave this to me.
Impossible.
He promised me that
he wouldn't give anyone
the gift I gave him.
So...
Are you a girl or a boy?
Junior Long, I find that
you're weak and poor in martial arts.
Moreover, you have little experience.
You didn't realize I was disguised as a man!
You know what?
Luckily you work in the palace.
If you're out of the palace
you'll be fooled.
Come on.
I recognized you were a girl.
But I'm from a family of officials
girls I've met
are timid and shy.
They don't even socialize.
You're the first brave girl I've seen.
You even dared to steal food in the palace.
I just want to see
what you're going to do next.
You mean
you knew I was disguised as a man?
I have little experience.
But I'm not a fool.
Anyway, we've become sworn brothers.
I'm your big brother and you're my little brother.
No matter I'm a boy or a girl
you must call me brother. Got it?
No. No.
You're one year younger than me and you're a girl.
You want me to call you big brother?
Just be my little sister.
No. No. No.
I'm fed up with being a little sister.
After all the trouble, I can be a big bother.
You know what?
We don't decide who is a brother
upon the age
or gender.
Upon the ability
instead.
If you can defeat me
you'll be the big brother.
Fine.
I can't compete you in martial arts.
But you're in a dress.
I really feel embarrassed to
call you brother.
Or may I
call you big sister?
Bah!
It sucks.
Brother. Brother. Brother.
No way. No.
Brother.
Fine then. How about Big brother?
All right.
As long as you admit I'm senior.
Tell me, Junior Long.
My brother asked to meet you here lately.
But why didn't you show up?
The other day
His Majesty sent me out for a secret task.
I was just back.
Then why did no one
even know you
when my brother and I asked around?
Big brother. Come on.
You said you were experienced, huh?
Look.
In this place, there live tens of thousands of people
including palace maids, eunuchs and guards.
Some can hardly know everyone else
even after they spend their life here.
What's the problem?
You made some sense.
Did my brother tell you that?
I was sent by...
Hush.
Talk later in a safer place.
Let's go.
Slow down.
Oh, Junior Long.
If you tell His Majesty that
Oboi faked the identity of a candidate girl
could he be punished?
Big brother.
You're too idealistic.
Oboi has been ruling the royal court for years.
He even dared to kill Suksaha
the assisting minister assigned by the decreased emperor.
What's the big deal of faking the identity of a candidate girl?
Even if His Majesty investigates it
he will have a way
to clean himself up.
Besides, quite a lot of people
are willing to bear the blame for him.
What should we do then?
Can't we just do anything to deal with him?
In fact, the fact that Oboi trained beautiful girls secretly
and sent them to the palace or homes of other minister
wasn't new to His Majesty.
But he has just taken over the reins of government
without much real power.
He has no choice, but to bear from speaking.
It never occurred to me that
he would use you.
I could have slipped away with my flying skill.
But I suddenly
thought of you.
So I planned to tell you about this.
And you can tell His Majesty.
Maybe you'll get awarded.
I didn't expect you
to take such a risk for me!
Oh, Big brother.
About the tonifying pill
does it matter?
Is there an antidote?
The tonifying pill? Sure...
Sure, it matters.
That is a poison
Oboi invented.
My brother and I failed to detoxify it.
But when I think of you
well, I'd like to sacrifice myself
for you.
I'll not hesitate
even if I suffer in danger.
Big brother.
I really appreciate your loyalty to me.
After His Majesty arrests Oboi
he will force him
to give you the antidote.
I don't rely on the emperor.
He summoned three girls
for three nights.
But they were killed by the empress dowager
early the next morning.
How brutal he is!
Even if he arrests Oboi
and takes back the real power
how will that help me or his people?
Big brother.
You misunderstood.
Those three girls
are not ordinary.
They were trained and sent here as spies
just like you.
You mean among us
there are other spies working for Oboi.
Sure.
Not only him.
Wu Sangui
and other evil ministers
also train girls as their trusted followers
trying to control the emperor
by interfering with
his concubines.
Oh, God.
That sounds horrible.
Everything seems to be in peace here.
But there are so many schemes.
It's a pity those girls are dead.
What wrong have they done?
They must have been threatened
to be spies.
How cruel the emperor is!
He killed them all!
Big brother.
The fight for power
isn't like entertaining guests.
It's a life-or-death struggle.
If His Majesty is merciful at this moment
he will be deadly controlled
by powerful ministers like Oboi.
Junior Long
do you think His Majesty will kill me?
If he
manages to find out your background
you'll be dead.
But I've report it to His Majesty.
You're safe!
For real?
Besides, if you cooperate with His Majesty
to capture Oboi
you'll be greatly awarded.
Will he give me a lot of awards
if I help him?
Sure.
You'll have enough jewels
for more than one lifetime.
Seriously?
Well, it's worth my risk then.
Tell me.
How should I cooperate with the emperor?
How?
Since Oboi wants you to win the love of His Majesty
why don't we
turn his trick to our own use?
You're fine.
Maybe you have some indigestion.
You'll be fine
after taking some medicine to help digestion.
That's not odd.
Snacks here are really delicious.
I can't help eating them.
Danger is everywhere in this place.
You should restrain yourself.
Got it.
What's the problem with you?
Why do you always want to control me everywhere?
Stop arguing.
Be serious.
I don't think Long San's plan will work.
Don't forget.
You're the daughter of Duke Jin
and my wife in the future.
How can you spend the night sleeping with the emperor of the Qing dynasty?
Again!
Didn't I tell you that
I would not really sleep with him.
That's a trick he discussed with the emperor
to deceive Oboi.
I'm not going to sleep with him.
Even though
But when you entered
his resting palace
you'll be spending the night with him alone.
He's a young man.
And you're a beautiful girl.
What if he really wants to sleep with you?
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Besides, Long San told me that
the emperor was weak
because he suffered from the slow-acting poison
given by Oboi.
He hasn't recovered yet.
I'll never
stop worrying about you.
I prepared you a silk scarf
soaked in sleeping drug.
If he wants to flirt with you
ask him to smell this
and you'll be saved.
Keep it carefully.
Remember.
If you really lose virginity to him
I'll...
What will you do?
Eat me?
You always bully me.
I don't dare to hurt you.
But if he really bullies you
I'll kill him
even if I die for it.
Bro. Zhu.
You used to be calm.
Why are you so impulsive at this?
Look at me.
I used to be wayward.
But I'm never confused for important matters.
Don't worry.
Besides, I have the flying skill.
I can run away
in case of danger.
I'll go make the medicine for you.
Awesome?
His Majesty commanded that
Miss Yihuan shall spend the night with him.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
The wind blows beautifully
getting me stuck in the prosperous world.
Love brings the raging sandstorm.
Hatred is nothing, but a life-long care.
I want to be the apple of his eye
and offer him my purest wishes.
The bright moon shines over me
leaving me the love I'll never regret.
Eunuch Li.
Where is the dress for me?
Miss Yihuan.
You can't sleep with His Majesty with anything on
If you've finished the bath, please come out.
We'll wrap you with the red silk
and carry you to the resting palace of His Majesty.
Nothing on?
Yes.
No jewels, either.
Don't come it.
Get out. Get out.
Out of here.
No.
We must wrap you with the red silk
and check your skin
and body conditions
to make sure there aren't undetected flaws
or anything else you might take.
How could you?
Men and women should maintain a proper distance from each other.
How about this? You may get out first
and I'll tell you when I'm done.
Eunuchs of Management Department are in charge of
sex affairs between His Majesty and all consorts.
Didn't you learn it
after you came here?
I did.
But I'm just
not accustomed to that
Yes.
You...
Miss Yihuan.
You can play the flying skill?
My father is an military officer.
I learnt some from him
when I was little.
Eunuch Li.
I know
rules shall not be broken.
But sometimes,
we can negotiate, can't we?
Before I come here
my father gave me many private savings.
omorrow! I'll reward you greatly tomorrow.
What do you think?
Fine.
Just this once.
Got it.
Yes.
Excuse me.
Please get my silk scarf.
My silk scarf.
Eunuch.
Miss Yihuan
not to mention the silk scarf.
You can't even bring a thread.
My silk scarf.
Miss Yihuan
His Majesty is coming for you soon.
Don't forget the rules
you've learnt
and remember to entertain His Majesty well.
Okay.
Draw the curtain.
Yes.
Oh, it's the resting palace of the emperor.
I wonder
if Junior Long has made a deal
with the emperor.
I failed to take the silk scarf Bro. Zhu got me.
If the emperor wants to flirt with me
and sleep with me,
what should I do?
I'm screwed!
If Bro. Zhu sees me in this
he must be pissed off.
Shall I slip away
before the emperor comes?
If he's annoyed
and wants to kill me
Junior Long
will plead for me.
Where are you going?
Who are you?
Who else could I be
except the emperor?
You...
You're the emperor?
But why are you wearing a mask?
I enjoy playing little games
with my consorts
when spending the night with them.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Long live Your Majesty.
Get up.
We're alone here.
Don't restrain yourself.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
It's so kind of you.
I used to...
Oh, no.
Sorry
Me... Uh...
It's okay.
We're alone here.
Say anything you like.
You'll feel free then.
Oh,
where were you going?
I thought it was
too dark in this room.
I had planned to get some candles
for this room.
I like the darkness
when sleeping with my consorts.
Your Majesty.
Don't blow out the last candle.
I'm afraid of darkness.
Don't be afraid.
I'm with you.
Greetings, Your Grace.
Get up, Dr. Li.
Thank you, Your Grace.
Your hand, please.
You look
as if you were trembling.
Are you afraid of me?
No, I'm not.
I just feel
very cold in this room.
You must be cold in this cloth only.
How about this?
Get to my bed
and warm yourself in the quilt.
Get to his bed?
He really is evil!
I'm not cold now.
Well, let me hug you
and warm you.
You really are afraid of me.
I...
But Long San told me that
you were very brave.
You're never afraid
when talking with him about me.
Your Majesty. I'm not afraid of you.
I'm just afraid if you're too close to me.
We made a deal, didn't we?
What a deal did we make?
No, not me.
Long San made a deal with you.
Don't you remember?
we're just putting on a show.
You'll pretend to sleep with me
and win the trust of Oboi.
Tonight, everything is not real.
We're not sleeping together.
I made the deal with Long San
to use Oboi's trick against himself.
But the night is long.
Why must we waste it?
Stop pretending.
Sleep with me.
Besides
all girls in the world
want to be with me, don't they?
Your Majesty.
Not all girls in the world
are greedy for high position and great wealth.
For most of them
it's better to find a true lover
to spend their lives with
rather than staying in the palace
and striving for your favor with many other girls.
Like Yu Xuanji of the Tang dynasty said
a true lover is rare
rather than a treasure.
Since I got married at the age of 13
no one ever said this to me.
Your Majesty.
You're angry?
Will you execute me?
Are you taking me as a killing monster
who always executes people?
You didn't enrage me.
Instead, you interested me.
I don't think we should take the trouble to pretend.
Let me sleep with you.
After the enjoyable night
I'll make you the consort.
Your Majesty.
What do you think?
Your Majesty.
Who allowed you in?
Your Majesty.
we saw the candles were out
and heard the noise of fighting.
I thought there were assassins.
So we rushed in to protect you.
Assassins? What assassins?
Where do you see assassins?
Without my order
no one shall come in.
Yes.
All right. No more fighting.
Or they'll take you as the assassin.
And you'll get killed.
Why are you crying?
You bullied me!
How did I bully you?
You struck first.
You're the first one
who dared to hit me
in my bed.
I'm afraid
you're the ever first
who dared to hit an emperor in his bed.
Sophistry!
We made a deal.
But you still forced me.
I didn't want it
and resisted.
You didn't even let me resist.
And you threatened me when you failed to defeat me.
What the hell!
Am I that bad?
Fine. Stop crying.
If the eunuchs hear you
they'll think I'm bullying a weak girl
when they're unaware of the situation.
tay away from me and I'll stop crying.
Will I do what you ask me to?
Humiliating, isn't it?
Junior Long, where are you?
You said His Majesty was an upright man!
But he bullied a weak girl like me.
Fine. Fine.
Stop crying.
I won't bother myself arguing with you.
Go to the doctor on duty to get the medicine on the prescription.
I'll stay to give Consort Li an acupuncture treatment.
Yes.
Go get some hot water.
I'll get her changed.
Yes.
Junior Xue.
Senior brother.
Awesome.
I thought
I would never see you again.
Why?
Have a nice chat.
I'll keep watch for you.
What are you looking for?
A towel to wipe my face.
No towels in my bed.
I don't want the eunuchs to disturb us.
What do you want again?
Don't worry.
I won't touch you.
I'm the emperor and my words carry weight.
I just want to wipe your tears.
Look at you.
Long San said you were his Big brother.
If he sees you
crying like a slug,
he'll mock you.
In... in fact...
I was boosting in front of him.
I wasn't that brave.
Nor did I have much experience.
No playboy has flirted with me before.
Not mention the...
the most powerful one...
Can I not be afraid?
I understood.
You're cursing me
as a lecherous playboy
in a mild way, aren't you?
No, I dare not.
I didn't' mean that.
Your Majesty.
May I ask you for a favor?
What is it?
Could you not tell Junior Long about
what happened tonight?
If you tell him,
I'll be ashamed to boost in front of him.
I'm not a gossip.
I won't tell him.
But when I help you
to defend you in front of your sworn brother
how will you reward me?
Your Majesty.
You're the most powerful man throughout the country.
And the richest moneybag.
Are you blackmailing me
an unclothed
and penniless girl
for such a small thing?
My fault again?
Why is it always my fault?
What's the noise?
My stomach growled.
I was too nervous
to have dinner.
I'm starved.
Oh, I remember.
You love eating most.
Long San told me about that.
You're now working for me.
I can't keep you starved.
Tell me. What would you like to eat?
Thank you, Your Majesty.
I want roast duck, fried shrimp balls steamed cheese
braised lamb chops, and...
And eight vegetable dishes, cabbage soup
crystal dumplings, pea cake
and osmanthus wine.
Your Majesty.
How do you know my favorite dishes?
Uh...
Long San told me.
He told me that
you grabbed food with him
the first two times you met him.
It sounded interesting
and left a deep impression to me.
Humph, damn Long San.
I'll never speak to him.
Why did he tell everything to someone else?
I'm not someone else.
I'm the emperor.
Somebody. Light the candles.
And get us some food.
Qingcheng.
How are you doing
after you come here?
I had to leave my families and friends
came to the tomb-like Forbidden City
and fought with hundreds of women
to entertain our greatest enemy.
How could I be doing well?
Sorry, Qingcheng.
I objected to the plan
when you come into the palace in Shu Wanxin's place.
But it was a joint decision of six masters.
I wasn't strong enough to oppose.
Senior brother, don't blame yourself.
Even if you oppose
I would apply for coming.
After all, kids like us
who grew up in the Pearl Valley
couldn't live for us alone.
Even our junior sister, who was pure and willful
came here by accident, didn't she?
How incompetent I am!
You girls have to
take the risks for me
and get humiliated.
Tonight
Yihuan was summoned, too.
I wonder how she's doing now.
I'm full.
Full?
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Clear the table.
Yes.
It's fun to watch you eating.
You have such a good appetite as a girl.
How can your small belly
hold
so much food.
Speaking of eating
no one of my consorts
can eat as much as you.
They're pretending.
Because...
you're the emperor.
In front of you, they must behave well.
So they have to restrain their appetite.
Confucius said that
a man had two pleasures.
The desires for food
and sex
are human nature.
Consequently
food is one of the best pleasures.
You're right.
The desire for food and sex are human natures.
You've enjoyed the fun of food.
Would you like to
enjoy the fun of sex?
It seems the lecherous emperor
doesn't give up his evil intent.
If only I had the silk scarf Bro. Zhu gave me!
When he smells it
he'll fall asleep.
The night is still long.
Would you like to
take some rest in my bed?
What do you want?
Your Majesty.
I ate too much.
It's getting
to my throat.
May I do some sports to digest it?
Okay.
If I refuse
I'll be having
no compassion for you.
If you want some digestion
go ahead.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
He is so patient.
It seems he's determined to sleep with me.
I can't do sports for the whole night.
What should I do?
I'm exhausted.
Tired?
Would you like to have some rest in my bed?
Your Majesty.
I...
I might have eaten something wrong.
I have an upset stomach.
I ate too much food of all kinds.
My stomach aches so much.
Stomachache?
Should I get a doctor
to check on you?
No, thanks.
I'll just go back to my room
for some rest.
Since you want to rest in the bed
why do you bother to go back
to your own room?
You can take some rest
in my bed then.
I... I... I...
It's different.
My stomach aches.
I shouldn't do it here, right?
I must behave well in front of you.
Please let me go.
If you have loose bowels
there's a gold closestool in my room.
Use it.
Use it?
That's not proper.
Your Majesty, please let go of me.
It's normal
when they eat, drink, sleep and defecate.
If I can't accept it,
I'll be against human relations, won't I?
Don't be nervous.
If you have an upset stomach
go to the lavatory here.
I don't mind.
Why are you staring at me?
No more tricks
do you?
The lecherous wants to sleep with me!
No way.
Got it.
I can play drinking games with him
and get him drunk.
Why are you silent?
Are you thinking of some other tricks?
Your Majesty.
Shall we play with dice and drink?
How about this?
Let's make a bet. If you win
I'll rest in your bed.
But if you lose
ask Eunuch Li to send me back.
What do you think?
Dare you?
Sounds interesting.
Never does anyone
dare to play with dice with me?
Fine. As you wish.
Somebody.
Get us a pot of wine
and two dice cups.
Yes.
Wait a second.
A jar of wine.
Your Majesty.
Let's play a big game.
Why the cup?
Let's use the bowl, huh?
Okay.
I'll see
how much you can drink.
What?
Yeah.
It was the rule
every time I was summoned.
It's a special rule in this palace.
No exception for anyone.
Yihun must be in danger
isn't she?
Senior brother, don't worry.
She's clever.
She will have a way to get away from it.
Yihuan is a clever girl.
But she's young and na?ve
without any experience in sexual affairs.
Besides, we're in the palace.
She's not facing an ordinary guy
but the emperor who rules the whole country.
Senior brother.
You're not an ordinary man.
Don't get on impulse.
No.
I can't just wait and do nothing.
I must try to
get to the nearest place of Palace of Heavenly Purity.
I can help her in time
in case of any accident.
If there's an accident
Master and I will give up our mission as the spy
and fight out of the palace with you.
No.
Don't expose yourselves
unless you have to.
Otherwise
we'll waste all the previous efforts.
The important mission of you and Master Xueyi
is to conceal yourselves in the Forbidden City
and find the copper box concerning our success.
And the golden key as well.
I gotta go. Take care.
Senior brother.
To defend Yihuan's chastity
you can sacrifice yourself.
But what about me?
I'm entertaining our enemy with my body.
You feel nothing
but sorry for me?
Open!
Your Majesty, sorry.
You lost.
Drink it.
Come on. Drink it.
You lost.
Keep drinking.
Again.
Come on. Let me fill your cup.
Try again, huh?
- Your Majesty. - I can't drink any more.
Your Majesty.
No. I can't drink any more.
Where are you going?
Your wine!
Your Majesty.
Let me see what you look like.
Let me have a look.
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