Music
If they were enemies
why haven't they assassinated me
when they had many chances
on the way here?
This means that
they have a bigger plan.
I can see that
they're good in nature.
They depend on me
to save those
dying refugees.
I don't worry
about my life for now.
Songgotu
go now, don't worry
Yes sir
You have a plan already
then I have no worries.
I will be back soon.
I'll be excused.
Yihuan
I trust you won't hurt me.
Please don't let me down.
Are you telling the truth?
You won't hurt the emperor?
Relax, uncle
if we are going to do it
we will let you know in advance.
So that you got time to escape.
We won't get you killed.
Don't do anything stupid.
Let me tell you.
The emperor is watching you.
He is mature
and not reckless
so he didn't show his temper.
You'd better not hurt him
if you had planned to do so.
You said
not to be with us.
Why did you tell us
these secrets, then?
I didn't want to recognize you.
I don't
want to die because of you.
You are the only
relatives I got.
I can't stand idle to watch you
get killed.
your kindness is well taken.
If my dad knows
he will be really happy about it.
Never let him know
or he would think I changed my mind.
He would take the chance
to bother me.
I don't want to get you killed.
It's the best I can do.
Don't ask for anything more.
My lord
Guard Meng's injury is quite serious.
He needs proper treatment.
You go and ready the herbs for him.
Yes
my lord.
Xiang He
it's the most serious
injury you got so far.
The bodyguards of the Commissioner
were the best in the game.
I'm sorry for not accomplishing the mission.
Looks like they were fully prepared.
Did Long San
see your face?
No.
I escaped
as soon as possible.
Fine, we will find other chances.
Xianghe.
our contract
is due in a month.
Are you willing
to accompany me
afterwards?
You're so kind.
I came from nowhere
so afterwards
I want be nobody and to travel around the world
to spend the rest of my life freely.
Ok, as you wish.
I won't force you.
You need to rest
due to the injury.
But the trap-devises at your uncle's manor
have been broken by the thieves.
You need to
go there now
and fix them
to prevent the thieves from breaking in again.
My injury doesn't matter.
I'll go there now
to fix them.
No hurries.
You can wait till
you've taken the medicinal herbs.
You're so kind.
I'll be excused then.
Off you go.
My lord
I think Guard Meng is really weird.
After he accepted your bonus
he was not
extremely appreciative.
And he didn't want
the maids you sent to her.
He is generally loyal to you
but I don't think
he is completely reliable.
I man of no desire, money or women
is hard to manipulate.
He was keeping
his parents' promise of serving me for ten years.
After that
I won't be able to keep him here.
It's ok for him to leave.
But I'm afraid that he will turn his back on you
and work against you.
Guard Meng
what brings you here?
I'm ordered
to fix the trap devises here.
I also need to check the terrain from upstairs.
Please.
Guard Meng
how is Wan Su doing these days?
Has she been crying?
No
she got it over with
after I talked with her.
She is fine now.
She has been
quiet these days, reading
doing embroidery, playing Pipa when she's bored.
You can present her to the governor
when time is right.
The governor is busy right now.
There will be
opportunities later.
Ok.
Sis. Wan.
Bro. Meng.
Sis. Wan.
Bro. Meng.
Is that really you?
Please bear with this for now.
and don't expose your identity.
I'll save you
when time is right.
How long should I wait?
The pact I had with Liu Dezhao
will end in a month
so
that's when.
That's a long time.
If
Qiu Gui send me to Liu Dezhao
what should I do?
He won't.
He is now busy dealing with the Commissioner
with not time for women.
Also, I was injured last night
and should be better
in a month.
I'll come and save you then.
You're injured?
Where is it? Is it serious?
Don't worry about
my light injury. Some rest then I'm ok.
Sis. Wan.
You take care of yourself.
Wait
How is my dad? Is he ok?
He is fine.
Does he know that I was kidnapped?
He
doesn't.
Why not?
After you were kidnapped
a similar-looking girl
went instead of you
so your dad hasn't noticed.
what?
A girl that looks like me
went on my behalf?
Who is she?
Sis. Wan, it is complicated
I can't explain.
But you remember
not to expose your identity
wait for me.
Ok
I'll wait.
Ok.
Now it's better than the past.
We don't need to worry about it.
Someone entered the palace for me.
Let's arrange the bowls first.
Ok
I's almost done.
Here you go.
It'll be ready in a minute.
Here.
Let me try.
Quit it
Don't disturb me. Allow me.
I'll do it.
Stop.
If you continue like this, it won't be ready for those refugees till tonight.
No one does it like this.
Do it like this.
Like this.
Not like that.
Watch me closely.
The porridge will be out soon.
Then buns need to be
the same sizes
or they will fight for
bigger ones and wasted the smaller ones.
Understand?
Ok, you try.
Done.
Slow down.
Everybody come here
for free food.
A bowl of porridge and a bun per person.
Don't rush.
Come here for the buns
Stay in line.
One for me.
Take it.
Here it is.
Watch out, it's hot.
Be careful.
Thank you.
Here
enough for all, don't rush.
Take it.
Here.
Easy.
Here you go.
Take it.
Have the buns.
This is yours, grandma.
Hold it tight.
Grandma!
What's wrong?
How is she?
Dead
gone.
This is a sin.
It's a pity that
she died like that.
Mam, have some porridge please.
Why is the boy crying so hard?
He must be hungry
feed him some breast milk.
I...
I don't have any.
I haven't been eating for three days.
Don't cry.
Your dad,
brothers and sisters
are all starved to death.
It won't be long
that
our family
could reunite after death.
Mam
I help hold your baby and look after him.
You eat something first.
Here, I got him.
Little boy, don't cry.
Don't cry. Thanks for that.
Mam
the porridge is too hot,
eat a steamed bon first.
Cute boy, don't cry.
Mam.
No water anymore.
I have backers in the government.
Pay the bills.
Arrest him.
Dragon's tears?
What are dragon's tears?
They're the emperor's tears.
Your tears?
To be honest,
I never shed
any tears except
when my parents died.
I was eight then.
Ask the steward
to find a nanny,
and raise him up
till adulthood.
I'll cover
his spending.
You are so kind.
This kid has no parents, which is unfortunate.
But he is lucky
to have met you.
I will take good care of him.
Songgotu
will bring the soldiers back in ten days.
Each day of delay means more people will starve to death
creating more tragedies.
I got the news that
hundreds of thousands of refugees
are rushing into Taiyuan everyday.
Dozens of people die of hunger per day.
The authorities, with no time to burry the dead
has to burn the bodies
outside the city.
Junior Long
do we really have to wait another ten days?
God knows how many people will die by then.
How about
we take the risk
and rob the local authorities
who pocketed most of the disaster relief money and food.
Sis. Huan.
The law
punishes robing of money and food from the authority by death
together with all the family members.
Lady Attendant
you can't talk
like that
even out here.
Master, I'm ruthless
since childhood.
Please forgive me for talking like that.
I'll something ruthless this time
robbing Liu Dezhao of their pocketed
disaster relief money and food.
Really?
The emperor leads in the robbing of local government?
Correct.
But we need to have a thorough plan
making sure it works.
Don't worry, my brother is the best on this.
He never fails.
Sis. Huan.
I know without Yihuan's words
that when you two were out there
you've done many things out side the law.
What have you told the master?
Nothing
he guessed it.
Doctor Li
don't deny it
or blame Yihuan.
I'm pardoning you
of all the crimes you've committed.
We appreciate your forgiveness.
When I was wandering around
I did some unlawful things.
But now I'm serving you with all my heart
and will never
act recklessly.
From now on
think of nothing else but
a good strategy to rob them
and save the refugees.
As you wish.
Jianqing, how could you be so stupid today
agreeing to rob the authorities with the emperor.
It means you admitted that
you used to be mobs robbing the government.
Understand?
Yihuan is always like this
with a big mouth.
It's good that
this way,
Kangxi will treat us like
regular mobs
with no other suspicions.
You shouldn't
go rob the authorities for real.
What if something goes wrong?
Kangxi ordered
me to do so.
I will arrange everything carefully.
If anything goes wrong,
we will abort the mission.
If we don't get the food and the money
we have planed our escape route.
Don't worry, uncle.
You guys
are too young
to read the emperor's mind.
If you successfully
helped the emperor this time
he may thank you for now.
But after a while
he might realize that you're lawless and uncontrollable.
Then
he would keep an eye on you.
Thanks for the heads-up.
I know
what you mean.
But if this operation succeeds,
many refugees will be saved.
I have to take the risk.
But it will put
you, Yihuan, and me
in danger.
Uncle
you are rich and famous now
getting used to a luxurious lifestyle.
And you no longer care about
the lives of the refugees.
Don't you remember
the time when you and my father
searched for food in the pile of dead people?
If you got any other way
you would not have served as a eunuch.
If this operation
can really save these refugees,
then we can prevent many tragedies like this to happen.
It's a good deed.
Is it not?
Junior Long
you haven't paid me
for the two voice-changing pills.
I have no money to pay you.
You owe me then.
As my brother
you can choose your own interest rate.
You
are looting a burning house.
You're worse than that profiteer, Qiu Gui.
Sis. Huan.
Quit it.
Here is the Shanxi Chamber of Commerce.
Qiu Gui has met us before
so don't let him recognize us.
You go first.
I'll stand guard.
Roger.
Slow down grandpa.
Watch your steps.
Let's go grandson.
Ok.
The drought in Shanxi
has made the rice more expensive.
I don't understand
why you have to go from the capital
to us here in Shanxi for the grain.
To be honest
the fact is
my grandpa used to be very health.
But this spring
he got seriously ill.
Even the best doctors could not find the cure.
Not long ago
my grandpa had a dream
in which
the Goddess of Mercy
told him that a misdeed
at his youth
caused the illness.
And that only
charity work can help him.
So
Mr. Ai,
you are buying the grain for charity.
Yes.
My grandpa wants to purchase a thousand dan of grains for the refugees.
I've done my research.
Qiu Gui and other merchants
are storing about two hundred thousand dans of grains.
Only one third of the
three hundred thousand dans of grains
were distributed to the refugees.
The rest
was pocketed by the merchants.
So we have to
wait for Songgotu's soldiers
to arrest Liu Dezhao and deliver the grains to the refugees.
Right now we can get part of the stored grains
so that the refugees have enough food
before Songgotu gets here.
There are ten thousand refugees in town
ten days
till the soldiers are back.
If one person take one liter of grain per day.
he will have one dou in ten days.
Ten thousand refugees will consume ten thousand dou of grain.
In all
it's a thousand dan of grain.
One thousand dan equals one hundred and five thousand jin.
Yihuan, the guards and I
can't
transport that much grains
from Qiu Gui's manor.
in such a short time.
So only one way left.
What?
You two
are much experienced
the I am
in this sort of business.
Junior Long
what are you trying to imply here?
We have a deal.
You pardon us for what we did.
And you authorized this operation.
You can't punish us afterwards.
I'm kidding.
I mean what I say
and won't eat my words.
Tell me what you got.
We can't steal the grains,
nor bringing grains from elsewhere.
So the only method
is to purchase them.
Sir
your benevolence
is indeed
admirable.
Right?
Yes.
But...
do you know
the price of the grains here?
Two thousand Qian per dou of rice.
One dan of rice is worth 20 tael of silver.
So one thousand dan of rice is twenty thousand tael of silver.
Am I right?
Taiyuan's grain price
is up to two thousand qian
or two tael per dou.
Ten dou is one dan
So one dan of grain
cost twenty tael of silver.
One thousand dan of grain costs twenty thousand tael of silver.
How much money
are we bringing with us?
Plenty at first
but you donated
much of it on the way
so not much left.
what about my belongings
worth twenty thousand tael if pawned?
Junior Long
this is a private trip, without the imperial extravaganza.
To be safe
we didn't take anything valuable.
Concubine Li and I
got some valuable jewelry.
But we can only pawn
some of the
ordinary ones
worth only two thousand tael.
So you mean
we are ten thousand and eight thousand tael short?
Not even close.
Refugees can't eat raw rice.
And the cooking material all costs money.
If we give one tael per person
then it costs
ten thousand tael more.
So...
we are twenty thousand eight thousand tael short?
Yes, correct.
Of the five hundred thousand tael of disaster relief money
less than two hundred thousand tael
was allocated to the refugees.
The rest
were pocketed by Liu Dezhao and local officials.
Liu himself
took one hundred thousand tael of silver
half of which is in Qiu Gui's manor.
I see.
You
want us to rob the silver instead of the grains
and use the money to by the grains.
Right?
Mr. Ai
I need to ask
are you really willing to spend twenty thousand tael of silver
for those refugees?
Yes.
I will spend all of my money
to treat my grandpa's illness.
Ok
Mr. AI
your wealth makes you words louder.
But during this special period
we have a rule of
only taking cash, is that ok?
Grandson
Mr.Qiu
doesn't believe we have that money.
Bring the cash here to show them.
Yes, grandpa.
Please wait a second.
Bring it in.
This is two thousand tael of deposit.
Tomorrow morning, at this location
No pay no grains
Ok?
Ok.
Mr. Ai
is candid and frank.
So it's a deal.
Let's clap to seal it.
Mr. Ai is so straightforward.
Yeah.
Come and escort Mr. Ai on the way out
This is the man we want to do business with. Yes.
Right, totally.
Junior Long
you know
to have the two thousand tael of deposit silver
concubine LI and I
pawned all
of our jewelry
even my golden bracelet.
Don't worry.
After Songgotu arrives
we will redeem all of your jewelries.
If even one piece is missing, I'll take responsibility.
That's not enough
I want that plus interest.
Ok
you can blackmail me all you want.
Of course
you are the emperor
after all.
Sis. Huan, stop messing around.
Let the master go and rest.
We have to go through tonight's
operation details with the guards.
Last night they were already alarmed.
And Qiu Gui must have tightened the security.
We have to be fully prepared.
It's ok
I'm not tired.
I'll go through the plans with you.
I want to be part
of tonight's operation.
Junior Long, you were not kidding before.
You really want to rob the authorities with us.
You are the emperor after all.
Do I look like I'm kidding?
Your majesty
it's too dangerous.
Dangerous?
My parents died when I was young
and I spend every day in danger
since I was enthroned at eight.
It was dangerous last time
when we captured Oboi.
I crave for risk
and excitement like you.
I was just trapped without freedom in the Forbidden City.
And
it
might be the only chance
for me to be mob in my whole life.
I don't want to miss it.
This is the front door of Qiu Gui's manor.
This is the backdoor.
There is a hidden door in the central garden.
This is the barn.
The treasury is here.
Junior Long
here is your uniform
try it on.
Great!
Finally I got the chance to be a robber.
Li defu, help me get changed.
Master, you must not do it.
How can a man of your status
go rob the local government with them?
If anything happens to you
then I...
I deserve ten thousand deaths.
No more talking.
I've started to practice martial arts since five
and got no chance to utilize it.
I'll show them what I got tonight.
Don't worry.
We will
ensure the master's safety.
If anything happens
we will abort the mission
never putting our master in danger.
Doc. Li, it's easy for you to say.
There are many hidden traps in Qiu Gui's manor.
So how can you guarantee the emperor's safety?
And
if empress dowager knows
that you encouraged the emperor to rob the government.
And that I didn't stop you.
Then
we'll all lose our heads.
Ok, I won't go then.
You stand up.
Thanks for your understanding.
Sorry about that, eunuch Li.
You old fella
is always murmuring around me.
I'm not a child anymore.
So annoying.
Eunuch Li
stay here and take a good rest.
We will be back soon.
Miss
I cooked a bowl of cubilose for you.
I'm not hungry.
And I don't feel very well. I need some rest.
Miss, are you ok?
Should I find a doctor
for you?
No need
I'm just tired
it'll be fine tomorrow.
Ok, you take care.
I will visit you next morning.
I'll be excused.
Off you go.
She's gong.
This nanny is so annoying.
She is the
only one I got in this world.
Please bear with her on that.
Bro. Meng
you are so kind.
No wonder that Wanxin still loves you
even though you are Liu Dezhao's bodyguard.
I lived by the southern lake outside the city.
Wanxin liked to dress like a boy
and to carry her father to play by the lake.
She was my childhood sweetheart.
It was when she was selected as candidate girl
and came to me for farewell
that I realized that
she was Lord Shu's daughter.
I see.
Do you know where Wanxin
is right now?
Yes.
She is detained at Qiu Gui's place.
My injury
and Qiu Gui's enforced security
prevent me
from rescuing her.
I'm sorry for hurting you too badly that night.
But don't worry.
We will keep our promise
and help you rescue Miss. Shu
so that you two can go far away.
Thank you.
No discord, no concord.
Don't worry about it.
Right now Qiu Gui is focusing on
presenting Wanxin to Liu Dezhao.
And Liu
is busy dealing with the commissioner.
So Wanxin is safe for now.
First I'll help you
take the silver pocked by Qiu Gui.
You need to save the refugees first.
Ok
so it depends you
whether we can
take the money or not.
I'll do my best to assist you.
In fact I'm conflicted
as Liu Dezhao's bodyguard all these years.
If I can do something for the refugees
then consider this my redemption.
Junior Long
you look so funny in these clothes
much better than wearing the imperial robe.
You think?
Right?
I think so too.
We're lucky with Songgotu's absence.
It would
scare the shit out of him if he sees my like that.
He won't let us take the risk.
Are you wearing the golden silk vest?
No.
Why not?
If you don't wear it
we won't take you with us.
Gotcha!
How could I
disobey big Big brother's orders?
You can feel it here.
Are you telling the truth?
Stop tickling me!
You did put it on.
Ok, we'll take you.
You know
taking you
makes us
ten times more nervous.
I've been practicing martial art since childhood.
I'm not as good as your brother,
but you and me could be at the same level.
You're just bragging.
I have to remind you that
this operation is no picnic.
I will try my best to protect you,
but if anything happens
you must stop fighting
and retreat immediately
under my cover.
Don't worry.
I like risky things
but I don't want to be
a loser-emperor who
got caught as a thief and was beheaded.
How about
I follow your orders one hundred percent when we get there?
Ok.
To make sure nothing goes wrong
you need to
go through the maps of Qiu Gui's manor
and its traps, one more time.
Ok, let's go.
How come a mature man like Junior Long
suddenly becomes so impulsive.
With my influence I guess?
I encouraged many refugees
to gather at the gates of local government and other influential figures.
Liu Dezhao has deployed many soldiers
to disperse the crowd there.
So only some of Qiu Gui's servants
stayed to guard here.
Nice move!
Later when they switch guards at the perimeter
we got a short window
to run
to that corner
which is a blind spot.
Ok.
You're up.
Go.
Don't worry.
I'll do it. Be careful.
Don't worry. Ok.
Come on! Go, go, go!
Junior Long, are you nervous?
Yes
but it's so exiting.
Robbery is fun.
Put that on.
Master
don't be naive.
This is a mater of live and death.
Every year there are many robbers
who died at the scene
or caught and killed by the authority.
Only a few lucky ones
can survive temporarily.
But if you walk near the river it's impossible to stay dry.
So death is inevitable.
Shut it.
Why are you always forgetting the taboo
and say things like ¡®death'.
We're just getting started.
The first group of soldiers have killed
those hidden guards
at the top of the wall.
We can climb over the wall and go inside.
You wait here, I'll go for recon.
Ok.
Big brother
you didn't need to help me get up here.
I practiced flying Kongfu.
I can do it myself.
You really think you are a dragon
that can fly?
Quit it.
Remember the flying techniques
I taught you before.
You might need them next time, understand?
Yes, you are the best.
Of course I am.
Or how can I be your Big brother.
Go.
Why I'm I so itchy?
Anybody there?
Don't worry master
they are soldiers I brought from the palace.
This is group two.
Master
I will go with them
to kill the dogs at the gate of the treasury.
Yihuan, you guide the master to the treasury
to meet us.
Remember the map?
Of course.
The routes here is actually a labyrinth
so don't get lost.
Don't underestimate me.
Be careful!
If lost
you could use your flying Kongfu to get out
but it would leave the master in danger.
I'm the Big brother
which means I can protect Junior Long.
You guys take care. I'll go first.
From now on
follow my steps closely.
Don't fall behind, ok?
Yes, Big brother.
Let's go.
What's wrong?
I don't know where to go.
This way, let's go.
Left or right?
Left maybe.
Are you sure?
No, to the right.
I think you're little lost.
Fine, I don't know how to get out.
To the left, yes?
You're the Big brother.
Shit.
Stop!
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