Music
Lady Attendant.
This is a very complicated lock.
We really can't unlock it.
Yeah...
Let me have a look.
Please.
Please have a try.
Lady Attendant.
You can unlock the door?
Shush.
Voice down.
Don't tell anyone about this.
If I can't unlock the door
you'll lose your hands.
Yes. Yes. We won't tell anyone.
If I fail to open it
don't blame me.
We won't. You'll open it!
Please.
Knock on wood!
God bless me!
After we helped Kangxi to catch Oboi
we've won his absolute trust.
I believe it won't be long
before Yihuan gets the copper box.
Unexpectedly
things went on so smoothly.
You complete the mission
in a couple of months
which we failed to succeed in more than ten years.
It seems that
you and Yihuan really are our lucky stars
with great blessings.
After we get the copper box
and after Sis. Fan and Junior Ye
get the first golden key
we can get the treasure map
for the recruitment.
By then
the great cause to recover the Ming
will be half done.
What, Godfather?
I've been keeping a secret
for many years.
I'm telling you about it now.
You must keep it in your heart
and tell no one else.
Enlighten me, Godfather.
I'll keep the secret.
Do you know
why I asked you to catch Sun Fu alive?
To get rid of traitors
and track Bro. Sixing down.
And do you know
why I'm eager to find him?
Bro. Sixing
is your biological son.
He fought wars with you
and performed deeds of valor.
He's now missing.
You're determined to find him
because of your love for him
and human nature.
I'm eager to find Sixing
not only for the family tie.
Do you know
the second golden key with agate
was in my hands?
When I covered the decreased emperor up during his escape
I knew I would die.
So I gave the key
to Sixing.
You mean
the second golden key
is missing with Bro. Sixing?
I had a chance to save my wife and daughter.
But...
Give our son to me.
And give your seat
to Princess Consort Jin.
Absolutely no, Your Majesty.
Please get in the carriage with Her Grace.
I...
I've got my wife another carriage.
Father.
Why are you going to leave...
Another carriage is arriving soon.
His Majesty asked my mother to get in
but you refused.
You know
Wu Sangui is going to attack the city.
What?
You're going to leave my mother and sister alone?
The country is faced with a crisis.
We don't have time to bother our own family.
Dad, but...
No buts.
Take the order.
Mom.
Sister.
From now on
you're no longer my father.
According to that
we only have the third golden key
from Lord Yanping.
Even if we find the copper box
and the first golden key
it'll make no difference.
Over so many years
this has been
a serious problem to me.
I didn't dare to tell anyone else.
But now
I must tell you about it.
It's my fault to hold up the cause to recover Ming.
Godfather, don't say that.
You've sacrificed a lot
for the Ming dynasty
and our family.
Godfather.
After we get the copper box
and the first golden key
we'll look for Bro. Sixing.
I've never heard from him in the past years.
I'm afraid
he has been dead.
Or he hides himself deliberately
to punish me for what I did.
Godfather.
We will find him.
And I believe
he will understand you
someday.
God will
bless our
Ming dynasty.
Grandma.
She's a mere junior consort.
How dared she slap His Majesty!
More surprisingly
His Majesty let go of her.
He even made an exception
to make her Lady Attendant
with more care for me.
Ridiculous!
How dared a Lady Attendant
slap His Majesty
in broad daylight!
Li Defu.
Uh...
What?
You don't dare to tell me the truth
for the fear of punishment from His Majesty?
Your Grace.
I didn't mean to hide the truth.
Lord Suo, other eunuchs and I
were kneeling
with our heads lowered.
I heard a slap.
But I didn't see what had happened.
What about others? No one saw it?
I don't know.
So... did you hear the slap
because His Majesty slapped himself?
Sure not.
Did he
slapped Li Yihuan?
No.
You denied both.
Explain to me right now.
What's the truth about the slap?
Your Grace.
I'm telling the truth.
At that time
I didn't see
Li Yihuan slap His Majesty.
His Majesty also banned us from being gossipy.
I don't dare to guess around.
You cunning guy!
Li Defu.
You really are dim-sighted!
You failed to see what you should have seen.
Please forgive me, Your Grace.
It's my bad.
Please punish me, Your Grace.
Li Defu.
You've been working here for years.
Tell me.
What's the crime
of offending His Majesty?
Your Grace
it's capital crime.
What about slapping him?
Uh...
I've been working in the palace for over thirty years
but haven't seen such a heaven-daring
and sightless fool.
No case can be used for reference.
But whoever did that must be executed
and all his families should be killed.
Li Defu.
If the empress hadn't told me about that
you would still be playing deaf and dumb.
Sorry, Your Grace. My bad.
Li Defu!
You've been working for me
for more than thirty years.
Do you know
what I'm worried about most
and afraid of most?
I don't dare to guess around.
Oboi exercised dictatorship.
I was worried, but not afraid.
Wu Sangui
owns a great army.
I'm also worried, but not afraid.
I fear most that
another bitch like Consort Dong
will show up in the palace.
I fear she may ruin the emperor
and our country.
Your Grace.
Please rest assured.
Li Yihuan can't be another Consort Dong.
She's from the Han nationality
and was engaged when she was little.
Once her fiance comes back from his trip
she will leave the palace to get married.
What's wrong with a Han girl?
And engaged, so what?
Harjol had been married.
Emperor Taizong
still loved her greatly.
So was Consort Dong.
She was the sister-in-law of the decreased emperor.
He was still bewitched
wasn't he?
Compared to
Harjol and Consort Dong
Li Yihuan could only be worse.
She even dared to slap His Majesty!
He tolerated her for that.
How much he connived her!
Li Defu!
This is a serious problem.
How dared you not report it to me!
I'm wrong, Your Grace. My bad.
But I'm grieved.
After Li Yihuan
came to the palace
she didn't seem to gain much love.
She was a mere junior consort.
But...
I didn't expect her
to be so important today!
It means
Li Yihuan
is a rather sinister girl!
Grandma.
You mustn't
connive such a bitch!
Otherwise
His Majesty might recommit the same error
that you've been worried about.
Don't worry.
As long as I'm alive
no one
shall mess up.
It's been two hours.
Can you really open it, Lady Attendant?
- Don't rush me. - But time is running out.
I'm afraid our hands will be chopped.
Yeah.
Stop being desperate!
I have a hunch that
I'll open it soon.
Very soon.
Uh...
Are you sure?
It's been two hours. You still can't open it?
God! I did it!
Look!
I did it!
She did it!
Lady Attendant!
You're awesome!
Lady Attendant.
What a surprise!
You can unlock the door!
You're amazing!
Let's go.
- No. No. - Go and have some rest.
I don't unlock doors.
His Majesty
asked me to
stay with Oboi as a spy.
I watched him unlock it serval times.
I copied him.
See? It took me two hours.
Lady Attendant.
What a surprise!
You watched once
and then you could remember.
That's amazing.
How clever you are!
Go and have some rest.
Oboi has fallen from power.
How does my brother react?
I think he is controlled
by the tonifying pill.
He may not be working for Oboi sincerely.
He becomes a spy
just to protect himself.
Now Oboi is kept in prison
but didn't expose him.
We didn't expose him, either.
Therefore
Kangxi has never suspected him.
Now he's kind of living a peaceful life
in the palace.
If I identify myself
do you think
he will recognize me?
Will he correct him conduct
and join us to recover the Ming?
It's hard to tell.
I asked him several times.
He often sighed that he was all alone
as if he missed his old families.
But he's been living in the palace for decades.
He's now numb and slippery.
Also, he is now rich and powerful.
I guess
he will not abandon
what he has now
for the relationship with you.
Fine.
We'll...
We'll take more time to observe him.
Lady Attendant.
You two! Take them away
and reward them. Hurry!
Yes.
Thanks. Thanks.
What a surprise!
Oboi even has more jewels
than His Majesty.
Exactly.
My Lord.
How about this?
Let's pick out some
before recording them
into the account.
What do you think?
It's great fun
to work with you.
Well...
You go that way and I go this. Okay?
Let's go.
God helps those who help themselves.
Finally I found you!
Bro. Zhu.
How can you still tease me?
Lady Attendant
you finished?
Sure.
Take some more.
No. No. I've had enough.
I've had enough.
My Lord, you can get more.
Oh...
I remember!
No.
What?
We haven't found the antinode yet.
How can we explain to His Majesty?
Will you take your men
to look for it?
It's getting dark.
I've got enough. I gotta go.
Okay. Let me walk you out. Come on.
Thank you.
Be careful.
Okay.
Dr. Li.
The empress dowager doesn't feel well.
Dr. Li, go and have a look.
Okay.
I'm on my way.
When you retire in your old age
will you go back to Yulin to enjoy the rest of your life.
No, I won't.
Without families
a hometown is no longer what it used to be.
Do you really
have no families in the world?
I have a twin brother.
But I haven't heard from him for decades.
I'm afraid he has been dead in the war.
What if your brother is lucky enough
to be still alive?
How is that possible?
How can there be
so much luck in the world?
Hurry up. Her Grace is waiting.
It seems
he still wants a family.
He must be surprised
if Godfather contacts him.
Eunuch Li.
Our director always
looks after the empress dowager.
Why does she want me
the poorest doctor?
I don't know.
Maybe the director praised you
for being young but skillful
and Her Grace remembered that.
Eunuch Li.
I don't think it's the way to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.
Her Grace isn't in the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility.
No more questions.
Just follow me.
Eunuch Li.
Does Her Grace wants to see me
for something else?
For the sake that we're from the same hometown
could you tell me something about it?
Don't sweat it.
You just saved His Majesty.
Maybe...
Her Grace wants to reward you.
Thank you.
Go ahead.
Wish you good luck, Your Grace.
Hello, Eunuch Li.
Greetings, Your Grace.
Don't stand on ceremony, Dr. Li.
Thank you, Your Grace.
Master, Big Brother is in danger.
I'll go tell Yihuan.
You must calm down.
You mustn't expose yourself
unless you have to.
I see.
I've been sparing no efforts to search for it
yet by a lucky chance I find it.
Bro. Zhu must be pleasantly surprised
if he sees the copper box.
By then
I'll describe the process
to be struck with fright.
I'll see
who dares underestimate me again!
Yihuan.
Who?
Yihuan, go save Big Brother.
Hurry.
Eunuch Li.
Doesn't Her Grace ask me to treat her?
Why am I taken here?
Get in before we talk.
Open the door.
Eunuch Li.
What the hell is going on?
On the command of the empress dowager
you, who helped to catch Oboi
are gathered here
and rewarded with
a cup of imperial wine.
Junior Long.
I'm begging you! Please save my brother
and the servants.
What wrong have they done?
They just saw
I slapped you!
But...
are they going to lose their lives for that?
That's unfair.
I asked everyone to keep his mouth shut.
But the empress dowager still
heard about it.
She has given an order.
I can't openly go against her authority.
Does her authority
matter more than their lives?
The empress dowager is defending
the authority of imperial power.
This is the Forbidden City
where there are many rules.
Not only servants must obey them
I also have to.
I caused the trouble.
It has nothing to do with them.
I slapped you.
Slap me!
As many times as you want.
Drop it.
Do you think we're playing house?
It's too late.
The empress dowager will not let go of you.
After she handles your brother and other servants
she'll come to you.
Fine.
Kill me, first.
If you kill me now
I can die before my brother.
Then I won't feel too guilty.
Yihuan.
You always proclaim yourself as my Big brother.
At such a critical moment
you can do nothing
but threaten me with your life?
You're the great emperor.
But I'm a mere maid.
I don't have a choice, but to beg you for mercy
to spare my brother.
Stop using the puppy-dog eyes trick.
When did you really regard me as the emperor?
You always treated me
as your sworn brother, didn't you?
I don't dare to have an exaggerated opinion anymore.
You're the emperor
not my Junior Long.
Your Majesty.
I was wrong.
Punish me if you want.
Get up.
No!
Get up.
Kneeling doesn't help.
Your Majesty.
I'm begging you.
Could you please save them?
If they die because of me
I'll be dying of guilt.
Junior...
Your Majesty, please save them.
I will save them.
But how do you think
I can persuade the empress dowager?
You can tell him
the story of Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong.
Back at that time
Guan Zhong shot Duke Huan of Qi
to save his own master.
However
he just shot
at Duke Huan of Qi's belt.
Duke Huan of Qi didn't die.
Later, he made Guan Zhong the prime minister
instead of punishing him.
Guan Zhong was grateful.
He spared no effort
to help Duke Huan of Qi
become the head of Five Hegemons.
Your Majesty.
Will you not
be as generous as Duke Huan of Qi?
Speaking of generosity
I'm as great as him, of course.
But are you as talented as Guan Zhong?
Speaking of ruling the country
I'm nothing, compared to Guan Zhong.
But...
it's easy to recruit talents.
Yet it's not easy
to find someone like me
who can have fun with you
and gamble with you.
That's a good reason.
However
you will leave the palace and get married.
You're not going to stay with me forever.
That's unfair to me, isn't it?
Oh, you're worried about that.
What do you want then?
Tell me about your childhood sweetheart.
What's his name?
What's he like?
What family does he come from?
It's my own secret.
I can't tell you.
Then you must tell me
what he is like
compared to me.
Well...
I can't tell you, either.
Why not?
Just answer my questions.
Fine, I will. But don't get angry.
Ridiculous.
Am I so mean in your heart?
He's not as noble or handsome as you.
But...
he is gentle
and nice to me.
He's honest.
He does whatever I ask him to.
I can totally control him.
Unlike you...
Sometimes you feel happy
and sometimes annoyed.
Do you love him?
Master, I feel dizzy.
I'll take you for some rest.
Master. Yihuan is pretending to be ill.
Don't be taken in by her.
After everyone finishes practicing
I'll punish you for crouching for another one hour.
Sis. Yihuan.
Stop being angry with me, okay?
This is for you.
Let's make up.
Walnut pastry?
Your Majesty, look what a condition we're in.
Why are you still chatting?
Hurry and go save them with me.
I'm also a human being
with emotions.
I can be curious
and even jealous.
Junior Long, I'm begging you.
If we're not going
they'll be beheaded soon.
Don't worry.
We don't easily
behead people.
Normally we use poisoned liquor.
Poisoned liquor?
Then... please hurry and give the order.
Go! Go save them! Go!
Don't be anxious.
The empress dowager took away
a dozen of servants from me.
Won't I take action
before you beg me?
I shouldn't openly go against her.
But...
I've got the antinode ready.
Really?
Why didn't you tell me earlier?
No.
Will you...
will you have some conditions
before you give the antinode to me?
Sure.
I want you to ask one question.
Do you love your childhood sweetheart?
I...
I don't mean not to answer.
To be honest, I don't know, either.
All I know is that...
we grow up together.
He's been very nice to me.
And I'm going to marry him.
As for love
I'm not sure, either.
Fine. I'm done with the answer.
You should go with me to save them, huh?
Wait a minute.
I have one more question.
Why do you have so many questions?
Don't beat about the bush.
Go ahead, Your Majesty.
Hurry!
Do you love me?
This is the imperial wine from the empress dowager.
Everyone, have a cup and enjoy it.
It's poisonous.
Spare us, Eunuch Li.
Eunuch Li.
Why does the empress dowager give us the poisonous wine?
I can't help.
In this case
I'll explain to you before you die.
It's because you had bad luck
and saw what you shouldn't have seen.
Eunuch Li, we didn't see anything.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Please kindly
plead for us with the empress dowager
and spare us.
I'm not that important
or brave enough.
Since the empress dowager
gave an order
no one could save you.
You must
drink it
no matter
if you want to.
Spare us, Eunuch Li.
Drink it. Drink it.
Drink it.
Cut the crap.
Come on.
Drink it.
Get him down.
Eunuch Li.
I have something important to tell you.
Eunuch Li.
I know you're just like us.
You ate the tonifying pills
and worked secretly for Oboi.
Today
if you don't save us
I'll no longer
keep the secret for you.
Why don't you answer me?
I don't know what to say.
If I tell the truth
I'm afraid you'll get angry and won't give the antinode to me.
But if I lie to you
I'll be committing a capital crime.
Just tell the truth.
I promise you
I will save your brother
and my servants whatever happens.
Really?
An emperor
must keep his work.
No, I don't.
What a snappy answer!
You don't care for my feelings at all.
I told you.
The emperor is the last man
who deserves to be loved.
As the Big brother
maybe I'll fall in love with
my sworn brother Long San.
But as the imperial maid
I will never love the emperor.
Kill him.
Li Defu.
I didn't expect you to kill me for keeping your secret!
Go! Go after him!
Go after him!
Stop!
Hurry.
Dr. Li.
If you kill me, you won't live.
Li Defu.
Don't think no one knows you're the spy for Oboi
as long as you kill me!
Don't forget.
My sister Yihuan is still there.
If I die
she won't let go of you.
Dr. Li.
You!
You and I are from the same hometown with the same family name.
I meant to take care of you.
But with the order from the empress dowager
we don't have a choice
but to take the order.
I saved His Majesty
and helped him to catch Oboi.
How could the empress dowager kill me
without a good reason?
Blame your sister for that.
She was absolutely lawless
with the favor of His Majesty.
I've been working here for decades
but I've never seen
who dared to slap His Majesty.
Where's Yihuan?
How is she now?
I don't know.
But I know...
the empress dowager won't let go of her.
Dr. Li.
Why don't you release me
and keep the secret for me?
I'll go plead for you with her.
As far as I can. What do you think?
What about the servants and maids?
Look what a condition we're in!
We're hardly able to save ourselves.
How can we care for them?
No way.
I can't just watch
so many innocent people getting killed.
I'm going to see His Majesty.
Stop.
Your Majesty?
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Get up.
Dr. Li, I absolve you.
Save the poisoned servants
with Songgotu right now.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Yes.
Hurry up.
Li Defu.
You really are working hard on this.
Please forgive me, Your Majesty.
Lady Attendant.
I don't have a choice.
Lady Attendant, please be generous
and do not hate me.
My Lord.
Greetings.
Is everything going smooth in the palace?
My Lord.
Don't worry.
Everything is under your control.
Is His Majesty fine?
Every day
His Majesty wrestles with some guards
for fun.
He doesn't care for state affairs.
He does that for me
doesn't he?
I still vividly remember
when Emperor Shunzhi entrusted His Majesty to me.
Now he's grown up
and doesn't respect us.
It's time to give him a lesson.
My Lord.
You mean?
Give him a bowl of tonic every day.
Remember. Watch when he drinks it.
Got it?
Yes.
How... how did you know?
Eunuch Li.
I imitated well, didn't I?
You...
you were in the carriage, too?
How did you recognize me?
Eunuch Li.
You were very cautious that day
wearing the mask.
I failed to see your face clearly.
However...
I saw the mole
behind your ear.
So...
I still recognized you.
Li Yihuan.
The empress dowager is right.
You really are not simple.
But Eunuch Li...
She's wrong about you, too.
You're not loyal to her, either.
What the hell do you want?
Eunuch Li.
You know it.
I don't really hurt people.
But I hate those most
who hurt people.
So...
as long as you don't try to
hurt my brother and me
we won't hurt you, too.
But you...
want to hurt us...
Your Majesty.
Wait for me.
Junior Long.
Thank you.
Even if you don't beg me
I will save them, too.
Though it may annoy the empress dowager.
I have caught Oboi
and truly taken over the reins of government.
I must stick to my decisions.
But...
Eunuch Li
is really annoying.
He must be the one
who told on us to the empress dowager.
How would I not know it?
But Li Defu came to the palace at the age of ten
and served emperors of three generations.
The empress dowager trusts him greatly.
Since I was little
he has been
reporting whatever I do to the empress dowager.
I'm used to that.
Even if I felt angry
I didn't have a choice.
I didn't expect you
to feel helpless, too.
I feel helpless quite often.
BTW...
have you found the antinode to the tonifying pill.
My father hasn't worked out the antinode yet.
I guess
Oboi wants my brother and me to die with him.
What should we do?
Oboi is in prison.
But he's a great minister for three generations.
What he has done is quite complicated.
I haven't figured out how to deal with him.
Besides, he's tyrannical.
However forced
he won't give me the antinode.
Junior Long, I'm your Big brother.
God blesses the good man.
I'll be okay.
How useless I am!
I can't even protect you.
Junior Long.
Don't be so nice to me.
Or I'll feel guilty.
Hurry. Pour the antinode in!
Come on. Slow down.
Pour the antinode in!
Hurry!
Hurry. Force his mouth open.
Open your mouth.
Feed them!
Hurry.
Drink it.
Your Majesty.
Don't bother. Save them first.
Hurry. Save them.
Your Majesty.
I've had my men
pour the antinode into them.
Can they survive then?
With the antinode
they'll survive. But...
But what?
But...
the wine is too poisonous.
It has hurt their throats
though they took the antinode.
From now on
they can no longer talk.
You mean...
they'll be
mute?
I hurt you.
Sorry.
Sorry I hurt you.
Li Defu.
You failed to handle such a small thing.
How useless you are!
Your Grace, don't get angry.
When Nasai and I
were almost finishing
His Majesty and Li Yihuan suddenly came!
His Majesty ordered me to release them.
How dared I disobey him?
His Majesty is bewitched by Li Yihuan
greatly!
Fine.
Bring Li Yihuan to me!
Yes, Your Grace.
Junior Long.
I didn't expect to hurt so many people
because I slapped you on impulse.
I didn't expect
it to go that way, either.
In my heart
a good emperor
should be respected
rather than be feared.
No wonder kings and bears often worry their keepers.
Now you understand
why I said
you were the last man
who deserved to be loved, huh?
Yihuan.
I know
it must have
left deep shadow in your heart.
You're less likely to love me.
Maybe...
this is really not a right place for you.
You may get happier
when you leave the palace
and get married with your fiance.
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