Music
What happened in the hostel must be spread out
after the big scene.
If my identity is exposed, too
we'll really be in danger.
Yeah, Master.
Master, have some water.
How about we buy you another carriage
in the coming market?
No need.
Compared to starved and homeless civilians
what I'm suffering is nothing.
Take it.
My Lord.
I've got some important news.
Together with Official Long
there is a young and mysterious woman.
She wears a veil and rarely comes out.
Strangers can't get close to her.
Even the commissioner
respects her very much.
Even the commissioner respects her very much?
In this way
this woman
should have an even higher position.
Yes.
That woman
must be the only daughter of Shu Jian
Shu Wanxin.
Shu Wanxin?
My Lord.
Wasn't she went to the palace
months ago?
I hear
she has won the love of His Majesty
soon after she entered the palace.
She was made the consort
and soon was promoted.
She rules the Palace of Eternity now.
Therefore
it makes sense
when Official Long respects her.
But according to imperial rules
no consort shall leave the capital
unless they leave with His Majesty.
Whoever breaks the rule will be executed.
Rules are dead.
But humans are not.
His Majesty
favors Shu Jian a lot.
When Shu Jian was dying
it was possible that
His Majesty asked Official Long
to get Imperial Concubine Li back secretly to meet her father.
My Lord.
Shu Jian's body has been escorted to Taiyuan
for the funeral.
By then
I'll go to his house
in the name of condolence
and figure out
if she is Shu Wanxin.
I haven't met Shu Wanxin before.
But I heard of her.
She's said to be outwardly yielding but inwardly firm.
She knows we're deadly foes of his father.
Now Shu Jian is dead.
Will she let go of it?
She will definitely force Official Long
to investigate Shu Jian's case.
I don't think bribery will still work this time.
We might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb.
When Imperial Concubine Li
saw her father died a miserable death
it's understandable
that she dies of extreme grief.
My Lord.
Imperial Concubine Li is a weak girl.
However much she hates you
she can't interfere with political affairs.
She can do nothing on you.
Why must you take the risk?
Guard Meng.
You're not working for the royal court.
That's why
you don't understand much
about the power in the palace.
I'm telling you.
In the imperial harem
the best chance of a woman is to have a son.
Now
His Majesty loves Imperial Concubine Li.
She will have a son sooner or later
By then
will she let go of us?
Will she not take revenge?
Therefore
we must get rid of her
as early as possible.
You're right, Brother-in-law.
We must leave no chance for her.
Taking the chance that Shu Jian is dead
and his family is jittery
I can buy some of his servants over.
That'll be helping
whatever we want to do.
Wanxin.
Is that really you?
Anybody?
Open the door.
Let me out.
Anybody?
Let me out.
Wants to leave?
Let me out.
Anybody? Let me out.
- Let me out! - Miss.
Stop yelling.
We're in the suburb.
Large tracts of lands
belong to our master.
It doesn't help even if you cry to death.
Hey.
Who is your master?
Why did he take me here by force?
My Master is Qiu Gui.
Qiu Gui?
Why does it sound so familiar?
He's the president of Shanxi Chamber of Commerce
and the biggest grain merchant in Taiyuan.
Last year, his sister married the provincial governor
and was favored by him.
Who can you go to cry out a grievance?
Qiu Gui is with Liu Dezhao!
Liu Dezhao is my father's foe.
Luckily, I passed out just now
and didn't tell them who I was.
Otherwise, I would get my father involved
and I might be sent back to the palace again.
In that way
I'll never see my Bro. Meng.
Miss, to be honest.
We were also cheated or taken back forcibly
by Master Qiu.
We used to cry when we first came.
But as time went by
we learnt to live with it.
In such a famine year
it's great luck to survive.
What else can we expect?
Miss.
Why don't you stay
and live your life
Master will support your life.
Isn't it better
than wandering around without anything to eat?
Thank you for comforting me.
But I wonder
why Mr. Qiu took me away.
Will he slave me?
You're so beautiful.
How will he slave you?
His sister is pregnant.
I think he may possibly give you to the provincial governor.
To the provincial governor?
But...
Doesn't he fear that
I may strive for favor with his sister?
To be honest
his sister is pregnant
and can't serve the provincial governor.
Master gives his girl to him
to take the place of his sister.
That'll be better than the governor finding a new one himself.
Miss, stop crying.
As long as you cooperate
Master will be nice to you.
You'll have someone to rely on.
Liu Dezhao hasn't met me.
He won't recognize
I'm Shu Jian's daughter.
When I get to his house
and play Pipa
Bro. Meng will come to save me.
Thank you.
I'll take your advice.
I'll listen to Mr. Qiu
and serve the provincial governor well.
That's right.
Girls get married anyway.
It's great luck
to marry the provincial governor.
Oh, Miss.
What's your name?
My family name is Wan.
I'm Wan Su.
Wan Sun?
Okay. Sit down
and have something to eat.
Songgotu reported that
Dr. Li and his sister hadn't done anything usual.
They were loyal to the emperor.
However
Shu Jian was killed
right under his eyes.
Grandma.
Liu Dezhao isn't alone
behind the death of Shu Jian.
Wu Sangui is also involved.
Isn't His Majesty taking a dangerous trip?
Please advise him to come back soon
instead of going to Taiyuan.
It's too late.
I'm afraid
he has arrived in Taiyuan.
Half box! Half! Half!
Fine. Half. That's all I have!
Not enough money.
Boss, can you give me more?
Half box is great.
Tomorrow, such money can't even afford this much.
I'm begging you.
Give her half box!
Boss.
Not enough.
Isn't Taiyuan the provincial capital of Shanxi?
Why is it so depressed?
My whole family lives on this.
Give it to her.
Thank you. Thank you.
Boss, I'm begging you.
Do you have money? Fuck off if you don't have any.
Boss. I haven't...
I haven't had anything to eat for five days.
Sister.
What are you doing?
Buy some rice.
Rice?
Is this the only grain shop in the city?
Why is the long queue?
Dude.
You're not local, aren't you?
Don't you know
we're suffering a great draught?
I know it, of course.
But the royal court
has sent some relief materials, hasn't it?
Didn't you have any?
Relief materials?
We haven't seen any of it.
Instead, we saw the price of rice
keep rocketing.
We can't afford it.
We can't afford the rice.
Boss, what's the price of the rice?
Don't you see the note? Go read it yourself.
Why is the price still rising?
Half box! Half! Give her half!
Okay. Half box.
Catch up.
We can't survive.
So expensive.
Yeah. We can't even afford the rice.
Catch up. Give her half.
Fine. Go away.
2,000 coins for each hopper of rice.
Next.
Hold it.
Big brother, when did you come?
When you were wandering in the secular world
what was the price of rice?
It depends.
In a harvest year
each litter
costs almost
ten to twelve coins.
One bucket equals ten litters
That's one hundred to one hundred and twenty.
In an off year
with bad harvest
the price will be doubled.
It's almost two hundred to two hundred and forty.
Junior Long.
Do you know what 2,000 coins mean?
In past years, it was worth a pig.
Uh...
Master, take it easy.
Let's deal with the case of Commander Shu first.
Hurry up. Or you can't get the price tomorrow.
Hurry.
Greetings, Your Grace.
Get up, nanny.
Your Grace, do not grieve too much.
You look thinner.
You jaw is sharp.
When Her Grace stays in the palace
and missed her families
she must have been thinner.
Is the food distasteful to you?
When you were little
you loved the steamed goat milk cake most.
I just made some for you.
Thank you.
But I don't feel like eating anything here.
No way.
Master is dead.
You should take more care of yourself.
When you didn't feel like eating at a young age
whenever you smelt the cake
you would regain the appetite.
Your Grace.
Come on. Smell it.
Take it away. Take it away.
Uh...
What's wrong, Your Grace?
You loved the smell most.
Why do you want to throw up when smelling it?
I don't like the smell now.
Do you dislike me now?
Come on.
Got it?
Yes, got it.
Your Grace, take care of yourself.
May you excuse me.
She's finally gone.
Yihuan.
What did you tell her?
I told her
you were pregnant.
And there was a mystery about your father's death.
Consorts were striving hard.
So she mustn't tell anyone about this.
You little girl!
Don't you feel ashamed to tell the lie?
What else could I do?
She kept nagging.
If I didn't lie, would she leave?
But Sis. Xue
if you still
don't like their meals
you don't need to fear you may get exposed.
You're right.
But they all are old maids here.
Could they see me through?
Shu Jian is dead.
You're no longer in danger.
Besides, only servants are here.
Even if they find something wrong
they won't dare to
suspect you.
Don't worry.
Master.
We've searched the study several times
but still haven't found anything useful.
Master.
Look.
New and old files
are mixed in a mess.
It means someone had searched them
before we came.
It seems that servants here
have been bought over by Liu Dezhao.
Files left by Shu Jian
have been cleared up.
Master, would you like to
meet ministers in Shanxi led by Liu Dezhao?
Absolutely not.
Master, you must take care of yourself.
Why don't we hurry back to the capital
after Commander Shu is buried.
Even if I don't go to them
I think they'll come
to meet me, the commissioner.
Master.
Ministers of Shanxi come for the condolence.
They're led by the chief prosecutor
the governor
and the guard of Governor Liu Dezhao of Shanxi
Meng Xianghe.
See? I was right, huh?
Let's go and meet them.
Master.
Do be cautious.
Do not expose yourself.
Don't worry.
It's not long since I took over the reins.
Ministers in Shanxi
haven't seen me before.
Yes.
Greetings, Your Grace.
Get up.
Thank you, Your Grace.
Your Grace.
Official Liu was grieved
when he heard the death of Official Shu.
He had meant to come.
But resulting from the worse draught
he was too busy with political affairs
to come for the condolence.
So he sent us for the condolence
and to greet you.
Your Grace, please do not grieve so much.
His Majesty broke the rule and allowed to come back for my father's funeral.
That was great royal graciousness.
I'm grateful.
But...
do not make it public.
I don't like to trouble you, either.
Please take my gratitude
to Official Liu.
He's been working with my father for dozens of years.
I'm grateful to his care for my father.
Your Grace
I'll convey it to Official Liu.
Greetings, My Lord.
Don't stand on ceremony.
You come for the case of Official Shu
under the order of His Majesty.
Official Liu asked me to tell you that
all ministers in Shanxi
will help you with all our strength.
Please let us know if you need anything.
Thank you then.
It seems that
all our actions are within Liu Dezhao's grasp.
How insolent Liu Dezhao is!
He didn't come
but sent his trusted followers.
Master.
Maybe...
Liu Dezhao has really gone to patrol for the draught condition.
I don't believe it.
He can't be a good guy.
Master.
I wonder
if I should tell you something.
We're not in the palace.
Why are you so careful?
Be straight.
Yes.
Master.
On our way here
everything we met
was related to
Liu Dezhao
though we didn't have evidence.
He deserves to be executed for each one.
If it adds up
he'll be executed for many times.
Therefore
I'm afraid if he knows who you really are
he may feel desperate
and do something traitorous.
Master, if you hear or see anything
do hold your temper.
Deal with them after we're back to the palace.
Taiyuan is the territory of Liu Dezhao.
We should be cautious.
Yes.
Master.
I hear famine victims are making trouble.
The whole state office is surrounded.
Let's go have a look.
Let us in! Let us in!
We want to see the provincial governor.
Let us in.
Back off.
Let us in. Let us in.
Back off.
We want to see the provincial governor.
Back off!
Are you seeking your doom!
Open your eyes and watch closely!
Do you know where you are?
You're in the state office, a restricted military area.
You know what?
We'll arrest you if you dare to break in.
We're almost dying of starvation. Do we fear of being arrested?
Get Liu Dezhao out!
Yeah. Get him out!
Back off. Back off.
Where's Yihuan?
She must have sneaked into the office
with her excellent flying skill.
She always keeps us worried.
Take a team to look for her. Don't get her in danger.
Okay.
Get Liu Dezhao out.
Let us in. Let us in.
We want to see Official Liu.
Villagers, listen to me.
Calm down.
You want to see Official Liu? Okay.
But he's out for patrol today.
It doesn't help
when you besiege this place.
If you still don't come out
we'll rush in.
Yes. Rush in.
We'll rush in.
Back off!
You wanna die, don't you?
Let us in.
Back off!
I'll see who dares to rush up.
We want to see the provincial governor.
Stop them! Back off!
Hush.
Stop them!
Let us in.
Back off.
You...
Hold me up.
Count down three, two, one. Open the door.
He's out. Out.
Villagers.
You want to see Official Liu, don't you?
He's coming.
You know what?
Before the day breaks this morning
Official Liu has gone to patrol
some worst drought-stricken counties.
He hasn't had anything to eat till now.
Look at him!
He looks famished
and gets thinner.
Master.
Whatever happens
hold your temper for the moment
in case of alerting them.
Villagers.
You rush to see me.
What do you want to tell me?
We heard that His Majesty commanded that
the soup kitchen in the draught-stricken area
should give meals three times a day
and meals should be enough.
Now it only gives one meal a day
and the porridge
is extremely watery.
Some even get the porridge
without any rice.
Yeah.
No rice at all.
How could we eat it?
How many of us will be starved to death?
Yeah.
Villagers.
I, Liu Dezhao
am sorry for you.
I'm sorry.
To be honest
I don't have a way out, either.
The relief materials given by His Majesty
has run out.
To suffer with you
my families and I are making every penny count.
Every day
we have only one meal, too.
For each meal
we have only watery porridge as you do.
In addition to the disaster relief
I kneel in the Buddha hall every night
praying to the heaven
for some rain.
But I'm not that capable.
I sent plenty of memorials to His Majesty.
Yet I still failed to
get more relief materials
for you.
Villagers.
I feel sorry.
I feel sorry for you.
Maybe...
the royal court gave no relief materials to us?
Official Liu really looks like
he hasn't eaten much for days.
The young emperor
must be too busy fighting Oboi
to care for us.
Villagers.
To be honest
the royal court
has its own trouble.
Not only we suffer the draught
people in Shandong, Hebei and Henan
are also suffering it.
I think
His Majesty
must be badly battered.
But will he just watch us dying of starvation
and do nothing?
In the Forbidden City
His Majesty has dozens of dished for a meal.
How does he know
our pain in having nothing to eat.
While the rich wine and dine
the poor die of cold by the roadside.
Everyone.
Please calm down.
Right now, the royal court is actively raising
new relief materials.
Villagers.
Just be patient.
And wait.
I'm not very talented.
But I will
share the burden with you.
Hoping
God will show mercy
on us.
Villagers.
See?
It doesn't help when you besiege here.
Official Liu can't get your food with magic.
We should share happiness and sufferings, shouldn't we?
Leave.
Villagers.
I just asked the soup kitchen
to take my last grains
from my home
and make more porridge for you tonight.
Don't worry.
I'll keep writing to His Majesty
to get you more relief materials
as soon as possible.
All right?
Look up!
How hot it is!
Villagers.
Save your strength.
And leave.
Get back for some rest.
Get back.
Leave. Leave.
Leave.
Leave. Go.
Go.
Wanxin.
In Liu Dezhao's memorial
the number is 86,000.
Or 68,000?
Master, it's 86,000 hectares.
Yes, exactly.
The draught-hit population is...
That's 234,000.
Yeah.
I asked Songgotu
to give the relief materials
based on two taels and one dan of rice for each person.
I also added food and money
for special circumstances.
It's totally...
Totally 500,00 taels of silver
and 300,000 dans of grain.
Wanxin.
You have a great memory.
When I played chess with you in the imperial study
you received the memorials from Liu Dezhao
and read it.
I kept that in mind by accident.
Unexpectedly
you have an extraordinary retentive memory.
I don't have other talents
except the good memory
which could help a little.
Hope I can help you, Your Majesty.
The number Liu Dezhao gave
was doubled as I saw
during my trip.
I gave the relief materials
according to the number he gave.
Even if they embezzled some
fine, even if they embezzled half
the remaining materials
should be enough for victims
to survive to the next harvest season.
But why is this happening?
Maybe Liu Dezhao
embezzled more than half.
But he looks famished.
He doesn't look like a greedy person.
Junior Long.
You're tricked.
Master, one may know a man's face
but it is difficult to know his heart.
We sneaked into his house.
What a waste
when he isn't an actor!
Take your time. Speak slowly.
He was totally different after he went back home.
Hurry, Master.
Sit down. Sit down.
I'm so hot.
Don't stand around. Massage him.
You must be hot.
How is it going?
Those unruly people have left.
Left?
Those people
are unruly
but stupid, too.
What a great idea you had!
Mask my face with the vegetable juice.
It works much better than I argue.
When you looked famished
those people
wouldn't like to embarrass you.
They would only complain about His Majesty.
You miss me, huh?
Of course.
Give me a kiss.
Master, you got the vegetable juice on me.
Let me wash your face first.
Fine. Wash my face before kissing you.
How is the watermelon?
I iced it for you.
Liu Dezhao
even put ice all over his concubine's room.
It's said that he has an ice cave
even bigger than his house.
The ice cubes he has stored
is enough for them over the whole summer.
Then
Liu Dezhao gathered
several close ministers
including the chief prosecutor and the governor
for a meeting to discuss about the solution.
My Lord, I have gone to Shu Jian's home for condolence
and met Official Long.
He came to investigate who assassinate Shu Jian
under the secret order of His Majesty.
Commissioner Long San came to Taiyuan for a case
but didn't inform me.
He must be a pretentious
and tough person.
You must be more careful
in case he gets anything on you.
Don't worry.
He only came for the assassination of Shu Jian.
The hostel manager is dead. Dead men tell no tales.
He can't do anything to us.
I know something
about other commissioners.
I can have a break on them.
But I have never
heard of Long San.
I couldn't help feeling anxious.
Don't worry.
I have asked all acquaintances in the capital
to enquire about Official Long's background.
Most unknown commissioners
are from humble families.
Maybe he was promoted
from a remote place.
He looks serious.
But he must be eager
at this moment.
We can spend more money
to satisfy him.
Yeah.
Fine.
I'll see how he'll satisfy me
and how much money he will give me.
Obviously, they're experienced
in dealing with commissioners.
They're vigilant against you
but not very much.
They changed another topic soon
and discussed how to raise the rice price
and get rich from the relief materials.
Meanwhile, they would write a memorial to exaggerate the draught
and ask for more relief materials.
As for victims who came to make trouble
they will be assassinated.
Oh
his brother-in-law was there, too.
He said the enclosure had been completed.
Farmlands in Yanghuai Village
now belonged to the Liu family.
Well...
I'll go to see Liu Dezhao
in the name of the commissioner
and ask him to hand out the relief materials.
Master, don't act on impulse.
The decree you have clearly indicates that
you come to
investigate the assassination of Commander Shu.
You're not allowed to interfere with political affairs in Shanxi.
Besides, Liu Dezhao and his men
have transferred
the relief materials.
When he took you
around the empty granary
and told you the food has been handed out.
What can you do?
Then I'll ask him
to show me the account book.
But Master...
Without the relevant decree
when you interfere with the local affair
Liu Dezhao will not even listen to you.
He won't give you the account book, either.
He can also easily fake an account book.
How many victims are there?
Who are they and where do they leave?
Will you go and inspect all of that?
Fine.
Let's find a way
to figure out where he kept
the money and food.
With the money
we can force him to hand it out.
Junior Long.
My brother and I thought about it.
And we found his place of hiding.
Really?
I told you!
You defend me in the palace.
And I'll defend you when we're out.
I hear Liu Dezhao's brother-in-law Qiu Gui
is the biggest grain merchant in Taiyuan.
So we tracked him down
after the meeting ended.
Everybody, don't bother to see me out.
Don't bother to see me out.
My Lord, see you.
Everybody, see you.
See you. See you.
God bless us!
The draught
is coming in a perfect time!
Dudes.
We should go to the temple
praying for a draught every year.
Yeah. Yeah.
Let's go to the Moon Restaurant. My treat.
Okay.
Go.
Please. This way, please.
We found that
Qiu Gui
had a manor in the suburb
with dozens of granaries
full of grains.
In such a draught
how does he
have so many grains?
All relief grains from the royal court.
We also found a treasury
in his manor
filled with silver.
All is official silver.
You have no idea.
Even the rats in the granary are bigger than normal cats.
How they're wasting the food!
Liu Dezhao is also a large rat, isn't he?
Well, let's take the victims
to Qiu Gui's manor
and show them the relief money and grains.
I'll see how Liu Dezhao will explain.
Master.
At this moment
do not have head-on confrontation
with Liu Dezhao.
Liu Dezhao dares to assassinate
those victims who made trouble.
I don't believe
he dares to assassinate me
the commissioner.
Your Majesty.
You know who you are now.
You are a mere commissioner.
But which commissioner
acts so rashly?
You take victims to make trouble
instead of communicating with the local government.
Liu Dezhao doesn't need to assassinate you with an excuse.
He can directly take troops
to suppress us.
By then
he can use the excuse
that you lead the victims to cause trouble
to take you back to the capital.
Maybe he sent someone disguised as bandits
to kill you
on the way back.
It's always wise to play safe.
Yeah, Master.
Lord Suo is right.
Taiyuan is different from the capital.
Local ministers are also different from those in the capital.
You'd better not appear in public.
Your Majesty.
Master, you don't need to appear in public.
We just need to tell the victims secretly.
I was too rash.
I shouldn't appear in public
but I really want to see
how Liu Dezhao will deal with those victims.
It's easy.
Count on me.
No one will recognize you.
Junior Long, what do you think?
Great, huh?
My disguising skill
is supper great.
Not to mention those local ministers
who just met you once in Shu Jian's mourning hall.
Even eunuchs and palace maids
can hardly recognize you.
You're right.
You really are my Big brother.
You know more skills.
Oh, no.
Now I'm your grandpa.
Grandson!
Be a good boy!
Get away.
Look at you!
You're just like a native boy!
How can you be my grandpa?
One voice-changing pill for you.
Your voice will be changed within twenty-four hours.
But it costs a lot.
Each pill costs one tael of silver.
What?
What? One tael?
Do you still take me as the stupid emperor
who doesn't know daily necessities?
What? You...
Tell me
what ingredients you used.
One tael. Is it worth it?
You're smarter.
I can't cheat you.
Big brother.
If you want to be a dishonest trader
that'll be hard.
What a mean emperor!
But compared to the old you
who was wasteful
I like the new you.
Really?
Yes.
Comfortable, huh?
Yes.
Unexpectedly
Shu Wanxin
is capable.
She's been in the palace for only two months
and now is Imperial Concubine Li.
You bitch.
What?
Jealous?
Why am I jealous?
You're the emperor in Taiyuan, aren't you?
We're living a life
as good as that in the palace.
You talk
so sweetly, huh?
You know what?
Shu Wanxin
must have blamed me
for her father's death.
She will ask the commissioner
to cause me trouble.
What should we do?
Shall we give him some gifts to send out his intention
as we did before?
It isn't the time yet.
I'm asking someone to check Long San's background.
He just arrived in Taiyuan.
If I give him gifts so fast
he will suspect me more.
We'll just wait and see.
It's so thoughtful of you.
Come on. Give me a kiss.
My Lord.
Who is it?
Something wrong in Mr. Qiu's manor!
Let us see.
Open the door. Open the door. Open the door.
Let us in.
Open the door. Open the door. Open the door.
Let us in.
Open the door.
Hurry! Open the door!
Since you said
you didn't privately take possession of the relief materials
open the storehouse here
and let us have a look.
Right?
Yes.
Yes, let us in.
Open the door and let us in.
Let us in and have a look.
Explain to us.
Let us in.
Music