Music
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Li Defu you are really thoughtful.
How dare you come see me now?
Please forgive me your majesty.
I know that
you are in a bad mood now.
But your grandma
asked to see Lady Attendant in the Peaceful palace.
So I have to covey the message.
Your majesty
Could she
give me the poisonous wine?
It's ok.
Don't be scared.
I'll go with you.
Here comes the emperor.
Wish you good luck, Your Majesty.
Stand up.
Thank you, your Majesty.
You wait outside.
I'll go talk with my grandma first.
Your majesty
Whether I can keep my head with me
it depends on you.
Don't worry.
Empress Dowager must not be easy to talk to.
If she doesn't listen to the emperor
should I escape now when I still can?
Wish you good luck, my grandma.
Get up.
You just captured Oboi
With so many things to attend to right now
how can you be here
with me?
You always taught me to
be calm
dealing with important issues.
I've always kept that in mind.
Thanks to my father and my masters
allowing me to skip other classes
but forcing me to learn flying skills.
It is a live-saver at critical times.
What about the copper box that I risked my life to get?
And those valuable jewelries.
They are still in the Lodge of Eternal Happiness.
What should I do with them?
Forget about it.
I can't take them with me.
I need to keep my live first.
No wonder Oboi fell under this girl.
At moments like this
She is still relaxed.
Your majesty, you assumed power
And you are incharge
of many things now.
No need to
listen to my blabbering anymore.
Grandma, why are you saying that?
I'm terrified.
I don't know where I did wrong.
So please tell me your thoughts.
Ok, go play.
Leave us, all of you.
Leave us.
My grandson.
I heard that
you pardoned Dr. Li and servants
in the palace.
Yes.
Dr. Li contributed in the capturing of Oboi.
He also saved my life.
And
These servants have
worked for me for many years.
I cherish their lives
so I pardoned them.
I save lifes
to garner blessings for you and your longevity.
Grandson
You just came to power.
Your petty kindness
is not good
for your authority
That...
Li Yihuan
a Junior Consort
slapped your face
in front of all the ministers
You didn't
punish her
but gave her
the position
of Lady Attendent
to serve beside you.
And you gave her the Lodge of Eternal Happiness.
These servants are being so careful
not to hear what they shouldn't hear
and standing far away.
I can't be that careful.
I need to hear what's going on.
If Junior Long fails to persuade his grandma
I'd better go away asap.
Your majesty
Where is law and order in your eyes?
Originally I
wanted to help you deal with these matters.
I didn't expect that
you've already pardoned them.
Have you considered my feelings?
The grandma who raised you
and helped you came into power?
You didn't
consider my opinion at all!
please don't be mad.
If it damages your health
I would regret it forever.
If you still consider me important
Then order
Li Yihuan to be killed right now.
What a vicious old lady.
You can't let me go after all.
Junior Long
If you can't protect me
I can only send the signal
and ask Bro. Zhu to go with me.
You would never see me again.
Don't blame me for it.
You're such a coward emperor
who can't even protect his sworn brother.
I lost my parents early.
Thanks to your love and caring
I can grow up.
My loyalty and commitment to you
can be seen by all.
I might have
dealt with this matter inappropriately.
But I don't mean to offend you in any way.
So be it.
You are merciful and kind.
And
You are young and playful.
So it's easy for you
to lose your mind
and do the wrong thing.
Grandma
please be calm.
Yihuan
and I
met during my
private trip.
Back then
I wanted to play with her
so I became her sworn brother
as my guard, Long San.
I told her that I'm the body double for the emperor.
Surprisingly, she believed me.
That's why she slapped me in the face.
Actually she didn't mean to offend me.
She just thought of me as
her sworn brother who was the emperor's body double.
She didn't know you were the emperor?
No she didn't.
Yihuan came from nowhere.
And is pretty narrow-minded.
She is also naive.
So I just wanted to play with her.
I didn't expect her to believe me for real.
And risked her live to help me
Whom she thought was
the emperor's body double
to fight Oboi.
If others in the palace were disrespectful to me
they will be killed for sure.
But
Yihuan is just a
loyal and silly girl.
So no need to bring yourself down to her level.
So I'm a
silly girl in your mind.
You asked me to be your boss
to make fun of me.
Grandma
to be honest
here
No one would
risk her life for me
to fight against Oboi.
So please
spare her life
for the sake of her devotion to me.
Grandson
can you be honest?
Are you really
falling in love
with this Li Yihuan?
Grandma.
I just assumed power
and still got Oboi's remnants to eliminate.
Out there we have the revolt of the three feudatories
and the anti-Qing alliance formed by the Ming remnants.
They are threating our Qing Empire.
So
I can't be indulged in romance.
And I won't fall in love
with any woman.
Junior Long
So you were not being true to me.
It's good that
we owe each other nothing.
I think
Li Yihuan
is a vixen
trying to capture your heart.
So what you said
makes me less worried.
Li Yihuan's
life or death
is in your hands.
Grandma
I have one more thing to ask.
Yihuan
is lovely
and naive
like a comedian.
So
I'd like to keep her with me
as my servant.
Here you go again.
Grandson
you're responsible for the Qing Empire
at such a young age.
I feel your burden.
If you can be
emotionless
and responsible
then you are
finally mature.
Grandson
There are many
suitable girls in the imperial harem.
You can have anyone you like.
Does it have to be Li Yihuan?
Is she that beautiful?
What can she do?
Grandma.
Yihuan is an extraordinary girl.
I beg for your approval.
Is she
waiting outside?
Call her in.
Let me
take a look.
Empress Dowager and the emperor
ask to see you inside.
Ok.
Yes sir.
Your grace
Your majesty
Greetings.
Wish you good luck, Your Grace.
And your majesty.
You are a clever girl indeed.
Why are you staring at me?
I'm just carious.
You are so beautiful
with a benign look.
Just like the Goddess of Mercy
in the drawings.
Don't bother trying to
flatter me here.
Li Yihuan
Have you realized your crimes?
I have.
What crimes?
Tell me.
I...
My eyes are blind for
not recognizing the he
is the real emperor himself.
My brain is not working
for believing
what ever the emperor says.
See?
Grandson.
This girl
is not admitting her fault
but
blaming the emperor one way or another.
Grandma
She is always like this
frank and reckless.
Then
you can get up.
Thank you your grace.
Your grace.
I'm telling the truth.
I'm not lying.
When I saw him wearing his dragon robe
returning to the royal study in his royal sedan.
I was carious.
So I went to ask him.
You...
Are you the emperor or Long San?
He answered me very seriously.
Shush.
Be quiet.
I'm Long San.
Not the emperor?
If you are not the emperor
why did they all kneel down
and called you your majesty?
Because
I
I'm the emperor's body double.
His body double?
Yes.
I look like the emperor.
So...
I'm his body double.
You know that
our empire
has been here for 10 years.
But its root is weak.
The young emperor
has just come into power.
Ming remnants
and many ministers
were trying to murder the emperor.
So...
I work as his body double.
Ok.
No wonder we became sworn brothers.
The emperor
won't be my brother.
Right.
Now you know
why you didn't
know me in the palace.
Because
I'm not a regular guard.
I...
only need to show up
when the emperor wants me to.
Your grace.
What are you laughing at?
I'm serious.
I'm not lying.
I thought that
Junior Long is so unfortunate
working for the emperor
and sacrificing his life for the emperor.
This girl is funny indeed.
Grandma.
It was indeed
what happened back then.
I
was being playful.
I thought this girl is naive
and funny.
So I want to trick her.
You wanted to trick me
but I took it seriously.
I treated him as my brother.
I don't want to see you killed.
Your grace.
I really thought
he was risking his life to fight Oboi.
So I had my golden silk vest
taken off
and gave it to him.
I went with him
to fight against Oboi.
If it wasn't for my brother
the emperor and I would...
we would be...
Look at the poor girl.
Ok.
I'll forgive you this time.
Really?
Thank you very much.
You are the best.
Unlike the emperor
who only knows of bullying me.
I heard that
you slapped the emperor
in public
in front of many ministers.
Is this true?
I'm really pissed off.
I didn't expect that
you like the emperor says
are just a ruthless
and
loyal
and silly girl.
So...
You mean...
I'm forgiven?
No.
You slapped the emperor after all
disrespecting the supreme power.
If we don't punish you
our authority would be damaged.
Your grace.
So you still want to punish me?
Your
crimes must be punished
but by death.
Let's do this.
We whip your hand which
you used to slap the emperor
fifty times.
Your grace.
My dad and masters used to whip my hands
I'm scared of it.
Can you change the punishment?
Just don't whip my hand.
I've passed the death penalty.
And you still want to bargain.
No.
I'm not bargaining.
But...
I used my right hand to slap the emperor
which was injured
with bandages.
See?
Right grandma.
She was injured
for saving me¡£
She was stabbed by Oboi's dagger
causing this long and deep wound.
We spent a lot of time stopping the blood.
And the wound hasn't recovered.
Ok, then we can wait till she's better.
Your grace.
Please forgive me.
I admit my faults.
I won't do it again.
Hmm...
I'll give you another chance.
I'll ask you three questions.
If you answered correctly
I'll cancel the fifty whips.
Exams?
I'm scared of exams.
Can I pass?
You little girl
no death
no beating, no exams.
What do you choose
death?
whips?
Or exams?
Exams then.
But your grace
are your questions
unanswerable at all?
Why would I do that?
You little girl.
My questions are answerable.
Ok.
Please stay calm and don't be mad.
My bad.
Please lay out your questions then.
Let me tell you.
The queen is in charge of the imperial harem.
So she will give you the three questions.
Two hours later
you come back here for the questions.
Yes mam.
Thank you your grace.
Grandma
Why are you going easy
on Li Yihuan, who is cunny and shrewd.
What else can I do?
Even if I killed her
it would not
bring the emperor
close to you.
He would keep away from you.
And he would hate me for ever as well.
Aren't you worried that
Li Yihuan would stay in the palace
to seduce the emperor?
I was worried at first.
But I saw her
and realized that she is just a
ruthless little girl.
And the emperor was just enjoying
a fresh and funny companion at the moment.
So I
decided to forgive her this time.
I'll see what I need to do with her later.
You've made your decision
so I
will stand down for now.
The three questions are aimed at
first
testing Li Yiahuan's abiity.
Second
giving you an opportunity as well.
Now
You can come up with
the first two questions.
And I will think about
the last question.
Now.
The first question...
You need to use this rope
to move this ice cube from this bowl
to that bowl.
That easy?
It's not that easy.
You can't use the rope to
circle the ice cube.
Can I use other things as assistance?
Yes.
You can only use one hand.
And you can't
touch the ice cube.
Grandma.
This is too hard.
Only one hand usable
and no touching the ice cube.
So how can she use this rope
to move the ice cube to the other bowl?
Grandson.
If she gives up
I'll ask the chief of eunuchs
to give you a demonstration.
But you have to go through
the fifty whips.
Grandma.
Yihuan's hand is injured.
Then we can punish her when she's recovered.
Grandma.
Hmm...
If Yihuan can't solve it
can you change questions
for my sake?
I've already compromised
due to your pleas.
Your majesty.
No need to plea for me.
I figured it out.
Really?
Are you sure?
Your grace and your majesty.
Please give me some time.
I'll go get something.
Ok.
But you have to be quick
or the ice will melt.
Thank you.
I'll be excused.
Make way!
whose wild child is this?
So reckless.
Move!
So rude.
Why isn't she back?
The ice is melting.
Have you figured it out?
Yes.
Ok.
Just wait a sec.
So clever.
I didn't expect you to use this method.
So what's in
this jar?
I got this jar of salt
from the imperial kitchen in a hurry.
I see.
I learned about this before
during a lesson.
I didn't think of it just now.
Yihuan.
I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable.
Don't praise me.
As I grew up
I don't want to focus on learning.
I know many things
but only superficially.
I didn't dig deep.
So I'm far from
being knowledgeable.
I know this
because when I was a child
I liked to
play with my brother in winter
using salt water
to make ice figures.
That's how I know it.
Nice.
Little girl.
You've solved
the first question.
Now questions two.
Count this
horizontally
and vertically.
How many copper coins
are there?
To answer your question.
Four if counted horizontally.
Five if counted vertically.
So eight in total.
Right, now you take just one copper coin
out from these eight.
and make each line counts five.
But
this way its five horizontally
and four vertically.
I'll give you some time.
If you can't solve it
you lose.
It's over.
When I was little
I didn't want to pay attention at school.
I was a trouble-maker among my brothers and sisters.
My masters always warned me
by holding high the whip
and put it down lightly.
Now...
This beating will make up for
all the beating that I dodged before.
Your grace.
You only said
to move one copper coin.
But you didn't say they can't overlap.
Is this the right way?
Little girl...
did you figure it out yourself
or did someone help you cheat?
Forgive me your grace.
In fact
the emperor solved it first
and told me the solution.
That's how I knew the answer.
Little girl.
I helped you.
But you sold me out.
I'm sorry your majesty.
It's ok to leave the problem unsolved.
But it's a felony to
cheat your grace.
Grandma.
actually
I just made a gesture.
So it's not cheating.
And
this question
is too easy.
Without my help
Yihuan would have figured it out herself.
Little girl.
If she doesn't admit it
and you don't admit it
then I
won't be able to catch you two.
So be it.
For the sake of your
honesty
I'll consider you
passed this time.
Thank you your grace.
Your grace.
You are the best.
Like a real
Goddess of Mercy.
You're flattering me.
Ok, here
is the third question.
Now my grandson
you can't
help her cheat this time.
Ok.
For this question
I won't help her.
If you cheat again
you'll lose as well.
The third question...
Listen carefully little girl.
What is the thing that others can do
but you can't?
Hmm...
I know it.
Except for me
others can kill me.
But I can't kill myself.
The answer is correct.
Grandma
This question
is solved by Yihuan.
Grandson.
Don't take it for granted so soon.
Think about it.
Why would a normal person
kill others with no reason?
Of course.
Everyone can commit suicide.
It depends on
whether he is willing to do so.
So it's incorrect.
Incorrect?
No.
This answer can be demonstrated.
Your grace.
My mind is not clear now.
I don't know the answer.
Looks like you are willing to be punished.
Grandma.
I won't stand up for Yihuan.
I just hope that
you can give Yihuan more time
to think about it.
Ok.
For the sake of the emperor
I'll give you one more day.
To make sure that others won't help you
I'll keep you at the Peaceful Palace for the day.
If by this time tomorrow
you still can't figure it out
then we'll punish you then.
Thank you your grace.
Li Yihuan
is so clever
who solved these problems so quickly.
Originally
She would have been stuck
at my second question.
If the emperor hadn't helped her
she would have lost already.
Don't say that.
Without the emperor's help
Yihuan would also figure out the answer
but
with more time.
Luckily your third question
is too difficult for her to solve.
Even if she thought about it for three days and three nights
she won't be able to find the answer.
But
I'm afraid tonight
there will be others who send her the answers.
As long as you know why
I came up with the third question
then it's ok.
Don't mind the results.
If Li Yihuan
failed to answer correctly
what should you, the queen
do
to achieve the best results?
Oboi is in jail now.
Are you still working for him?
I'm not working for him.
I'm like you
forced by Oboi to take the tonifying pill.
So I can't disobey him.
I just sometimes
delivered messages for Oboi
with nothing important.
Dr. Li.
We are home fellows
with the same surnames.
So please keep my secret.
Don't sell me out.
We didn't sell you out.
But why did you sell us out?
Yihuan slapped the emperor.
Why did you tell this to Empress Dowager?
You framed us up.
I'm innocent, Dr. Li.
I was like you in that
I was also controlled by Oboi.
But he said that
among his spies
I'm the most special one.
He communicated with me alone.
And
others don't know about our connections.
So I didn't know that
you were aware of it.
So how could I have thought about
killing you two?
Yihuan and I
were arranged by the emperor to spy on Oboi.
So you worried about that one day
after we know about you connection with Oboi
we would inform the emperor.
So
you wanted Empress Dowager
to kill us first.
No.
Dr. Li.
I'm not that bad.
The emperor took down Oboi
without punishing me
proving that you are not a threat to me.
And...
Her grace told me to
watch the emperor
and report his actions to her grace.
Now that the emperor took power
with paramount authority
I didn't dare to
report everything
to her grace as I did before.
The emperor favors your sister so much.
So why would I want her grace
to kill you two?
If I was this stupid
how can I survive till today
and be chief of eunuchs?
If it wasn't you
then who did this?
Hmm...
I
have no idea.
Relations are complicated
in the palace.
You don't know who took whose money under the table
and worked for whom.
Ok.
I believe you for now.
We are home fellows with the same surname.
So I'll let you pass this time.
In the future
we have to take care about each other.
Right...
Take care of each other.
Your majesty
what are you worried about?
Sis. Yihuan?
The last question by the queen
is too hard.
I thought about it for a long time
without solving it.
I also drained my racked my brain out
but got nothing.
Lady Xue...
What do you have in mind?
I got nothing.
But you must not worry about it.
We have so many talents here.
So why don't you summon your confidants
to brainstorm?
Brainstorm?
Good idea.
Wanxin
In the heram
you are the most gentle and kind one.
Others
are all jealous of Yihuan
hoping something bad would happen to her.
You are the only one
caring about her wholeheartedly.
I want to share your burdens
and I really like Sis. Yihuan.
Our emperor
has never summoned us
this late since he took power.
What do you think
is going on?
Are there new clues
in the Oboi case?
Dr. Li...
you're here as well.
Is
the emperor not feeling well?
Shush.
Don't say that kind of thing.
It will invite troubles.
Official Ming Zhu.
Dr. Li...
what do you think
is going on?
The emperor sent an emergency message
asking me to be here immediately
without mentioning
specifics.
Ok.
Let's go.
After you.
My beloved ministers.
I called you here this late
because
I encountered a very difficult problem.
I contemplated for a long time
without a solution.
So
I want to hear your thoughts on it.
Your majesty
What's the problem?
What are the things that
only others can do
but one can't do by himself?
So this is the question
bothering your majesty.
I got it.
For example.
Others can kill us.
But
we can't kill ourselves.
Incorrect.
This is
quibbling.
We can commit suicide.
It's not undoable.
The correct answer
must be something
others can demonstrate
but one can't perform by himself.
Your majesty
How did you
know such bizarre questions like this?
And why do you need the answer so urgently?
I can't tell you that.
You just need to brainstorm
and solve the problem.
Got it, your majesty.
Your majesty.
We
can't hold our hairs
and lift ourselves up from the ground.
But others can.
It doesn't work either.
The questioner will say that
we can just jump
from the ground.
So no need to lift our hair up.
So
It won't work.
Your majesty.
This kind of bizarre question
has no standard answers.
It
depends on whether the questioner
is deliberately creating obstacles or not.
Your majesty.
Who is the questioner anyway?
What's his purpose?
Official Mingzhu.
The emperor called us here this late
to brainstorm
not to raise more questions.
Your majesty.
Solving this kind of problem
is not our strong suit.
Even if you let us
stay here for the whole night
we won't find the right answer.
So you'd better let us go home
and talk with our aides and staffs
so that
we can write the answers on the paper
and deliver them
to you before sunrise.
There might be the correct answers then.
This is the only way left.
Ok.
Leave me now.
Yes sir.
We'll be excused.
Dr. Li, you stay.
Who is it?
Sis. Xue
It's me.
Yihuan.
Sis. Yihuan.
Sis. Xue.
Come have a seat.
What brings you here?
Weren't you under
house arrest by Empress Dowager in the Peaceful palace?
That old lady
has no idea how good I am.
She just sent a maid to watch me.
I put her in a comma
and jumped out the window.
But, Sis. Xue
I can't stay for long.
Without the emperor's protection
I'm afraid that the old lady will kill me.
Right.
Songgotu and Mingzhu
harbored hundreds of talents.
They must be able to
find the right answer before sunrise.
The thing is
My grandma kept Yihuan under surveillance
to prevent me from helping her.
Dr. Li.
Can you find a way to send the answer
to Yihuan without being discovered?
It's easy.
We were at
the same school before.
Yihuan was naughty
and playful.
So to help her evade punishement
I always help her cheat.
So when time comes
you can use my method
to deliver the message to Yihuan.
The emperor is discussing with his confidants overnight
to help you find the right answer.
He
really cares about you.
He is just tired of those
nice girls in the heram.
I'm just
a new toy for him.
Sis. Xue.
I'm here to tell you that
I found the copper box.
And I'm ready to leave the Forbidden City with Bro. Zhu.
the copper box?
You found it?
Shush.
I found it from Oboi's mansion.
I think
there is a spy in our Pearl Valley
who told Oboi about the copper box.
But Oboi, being selfish
didn't report this to the royal court
and had the copper box
stored at his own place.
Ok.
I didn't expect that
we got a mole in our Pearl Valley.
Who could that be?
I don't know.
But Bro. Zhu has informed my dad about it.
So my dad is on his way back to the Pearl Valley.
He wants to discuss
with other masters to find out the mole.
Do you think our identities were compromised because of
this mole?
I think
this mole doesn't know
our whereabouts outside the Valley.
He didn't know
we were here in the palace either.
So we're safe for now.
Music