Music
Since he complained about you
in front of two girls
he loved
it would be easy to figure out
his genuine intention.
What a merciless ruler Kangxi is!
In the past
if I hadn't allowed Dorgon to come into the pass
the Aisin Gioro family
might not have taken over
the great country.
The great country.
I was a general
once working for the Ming dynasty.
For the Qing dynasty
I earned myself eternal infamy.
Now
they want to discharge me after I served my purpose.
That's how
the Qing royal court treat its benefactor.
Don't get angry, Father.
Luckily, you have unified Yunnan and Guizhou for years
with a strong root.
Kangxi can't deal with you
in a short time.
He doesn't dare to deal with me now.
But it's hard to tell in the future.
Kangxi approved of my request
giving me one million taels.
But he also asked me to go north
and spend the rest of my life comfortably in the capital
considering my hard work.
At first
I was hesitating.
Now I've made up my mind.
I'll stay here
without going anywhere.
But the imperial edict has been sent.
Are you going to disobey it?
Qi'er.
I'll writing to Kangxi right now.
Telling him that I'm grateful for his care
But I'm too old
with a recurrence of old illnesses.
I'm afraid
I can't take the trip
far away to the capital.
I'll see how he will reply.
I'm sending a message to Priestess Xueyi right now
asking her to kill Kangxi
whenever possible.
It's so considerate of you, Father.
I'd like to take your orders.
That day
His Majesty decreed
to execute Li Yihuan out of the palace.
Uncle.
Why didn't we seize the chance to get rid of her?
Even if His Majesty calms down and regrets
he can't blame you.
Your Grace.
His Majesty wanted to kill Li Yihuan
just because he was angry
and trying to scare her.
If Li Yihuan had really
been killed
His Majesty wouldn't blame me.
But he would hate me.
Our family
would have a hard time.
But if we keep her
she'll hurt His Majesty
and our country sooner or later.
We planned to keep her
to deal with Oboi.
But now
Oboi is mad.
Li Yihuan is useless
to us.
We can't cherish a snake in our bosom.
Your Grace.
We must
kill Li Yihuan.
But...
in a different way.
We can't leave any evidence.
Otherwise we'll lose the favor of His Majesty.
Now, Qiu Gui
is going to all lengths
to find the real Shu Wanxin.
As long as we can prove that
the existing Imperial Concubine Li is fake.
We may possible track her down
to figure out who Dr. Li and his sister really are.
This is the best plan.
His Majesty loves
Li Yihuan
but also Imperial Concubine Li.
It'll be the best
if we can root them out.
Yes.
Sis. Wan.
Bro. Meng, you're back.
How are you doing today?
Tired, huh?
I'm kind of lucky today.
I hunted two hares and one fox.
I skinned the fox
and sold it for two taels of silver.
Then I bought you a silver hairpin.
Let me have a look.
Do you like it?
So beautiful!
You're so mice to me, Bro. Meng.
Put it on for me.
Okay.
Do I look good?
Yes.
Sis. Wan.
I have something to discuss with you.
What?
In the town, I heard that
Liu Dezhao and partners
were all beheaded.
Really?
Awesome!
Finally, I can revenge my father.
My father will feel relieved
in the heaven.
Sis. Wan.
What I want to say is...
I heard no one
prayed at his tomb.
I wanted to do it for him.
No, you can't go.
Sis. Wan, I know you hate Liu Dezhao.
I hate him, too.
He deserved his death for the crimes he has done.
But he helped our family.
Now...
He's been killed
for the expiation.
I'd like to burn some incense
in front of his tomb
as for
paying him back on behalf of our family.
Husband.
You get me wrong.
I'm not
a mean or vicious girl.
Since Liu Dezhao has been executed
my father was revenged.
Why would I care for a dead man?
What worries me is that
when Bro. Li and Sis. Xue left
they urged us
to hide ourselves
and not to expose ourselves
in case of trouble.
If someone sees you when you visit Liu Dezhao's tomb
what should we do?
Sis. Wan.
How about this?
Wait here for me.
I'll go back to Taiyuan alone.
I'll wordship him secretly
in the still of the night
and come back before the night is out.
I don't think
I'll be exposed in this way.
But...
Sis. Wan.
Don't worry.
Trust me.
My Lord.
You've done so many evil things
to make such a fortune.
But in the end
you're dead with nothing left.
Also, you implicated your families
and your whole clan.
I wonder
if you regretted
after you died.
You did my parents a great favor.
And I protected you for ten years.
Today
I come to worship you
as completely paying you back.
Now
I hope you'll be a good guy in your next life
and never do what you did in this life.
Guard Meng.
It's been a while.
Qiu Gui.
You're wanted everywhere.
How dare you still show up?
Why don't I?
Why?
You know what?
I'm going to win great credit
and make up for my error.
Make for your error?
What credit can you win?
I'll show you.
Bring her up.
Bro. Meng.
Sis. Wan.
Bro. Meng.
You.
Bro. Meng.
I told you
not to come, but you didn't listen.
Doomed.
How can we explain to Dr. Li and Sis. Xue?
Sis. Wan.
It's my bad.
But whatever happens
we can't get our friends involved.
Now
I have to kill you
and then kill myself.
Don't blame me.
I don't blame you, Bro. Meng.
Since I chose you
I would always be with you
alive or dead.
Good.
You really are my wife.
Stop, Meng Xianghe.
What are you going to do?
To kill yourself?
I won't stop you.
But...
your beautiful wife!
Qiu Gui!
Don't move.
And...
the baby he has...
Don't you want them?
Meng Xianghe.
You're going to be a father.
Sis. Wan.
Is that true?
Yes.
Bro. Meng.
I've been feeling unwell
before I could tell you.
I had a doctor check on her.
After he felt her pulse
he said she was pregnant for two months.
He's sure that
it's a boy.
Meng Xianghe.
In your family
there's only one boy for each generation, isn't it?
Besides
think about it carefully.
They dare to approach His Majesty with under your wife's name.
Who could they be?
Rebel forces, of course.
For such rebel forces
are you going to
kill all your families?
Is it worth?
You'll die without descendants!
This way!
Give it to me.
Take it.
Here. This away.
Come on. Give it to me.
Take it.
Come on.
Greetings, Your Grace.
You're back, Lady Xue.
You had a long trip.
Get up.
Yes.
I...
I was mourning for your father in Shanxi.
But with much worry about you
I rushed back to take care of you.
Lady Xue, you don't know, do you?
After coming back from Shanxi
Her Grace has been promoted.
Greetings, Your Grace.
Lord Suo.
Who?
Who dares stop Lord Suo?
Put the palanquin down.
I'm Qiu Gui.
I have something to tell you.
My Lord.
Qiu Gui?
It's you!
Somebody!
Here.
They're wanted criminals.
Arrest them!
Yes.
Wait, Lord Suo.
I come to surrender myself
and make up for my error.
Please give me a chance
to explain.
I promise
what I'm going to say
is very serious
and I'll help you
win great honor.
Bring them back to my mansion.
Yes.
Take them away.
Get up.
Go.
Master said
she failed to find Qiu Gui.
She went to
where Meng Wanxin and Meng Xianghe lived
but found their room half-closed and unlocked.
She didn't find them, either.
Besides
there was a little
evidence of a struggle.
It seems
Shu Wanxin and Meng Xianghe are in danger.
Qiu Gui may possibly
caught them.
That's how Master guessed, too.
And possibly
Qiu Gui has taken them
to the capital
to surrender
for making up
for his error.
Sis. Xue.
Won't you be exposed then?
Bro. Zhu, think of a way.
What should we do?
Under the circumstances
we have to make no move
and act according to circumstances.
Master also brought the newest instruction from Wu Sangui.
He wanted me
to assassinate Kangxi.
It seems
Wu Sangui has fallen into our trip
and decided to strike first.
Bro. Zhu.
You said
if we killed Kangxi
there would be a new emperor.
It wouldn't help with the overall situation.
It seems
Wu Sangui can't be
even as sensible as you.
Wu Sangui isn't as stupid as you imagine.
We keep Kangxi alive
because he trusts us.
We can use his trust
to bring up the civil strife between him and seigniors
and earn profits.
But there's no such thing as trust
between Wu Sangui and Kangxi.
If he kills Kangxi and makes a new emperor
the royal court of the Qing will be in chaos for years.
They don't have a choice
but to keep drawing Wu Sangui over.
Wu Sangui
has just signed the treaty of alliance with my father.
I'm sure he didn't discuss with my father
about the assassination.
If he succeeds
our plan will fall through.
Wu Sangui
never cares for trust.
For him
profit matters most.
Someone is coming.
Greetings, Your Grace.
Don't stand on ceremony, Eunuch Li.
The empress dowager felt unwell
and asked Dr. Li for the treatment.
Okay.
I'm going right away.
His Majesty just summoned Songgotu
and locked the door secretly from insides.
I don't know what they talked about.
I just heard
Qiu Gui and Concubine Li.
She is always close to you.
Is she your partner?
You must be kidding, Uncle.
Concubine Li is Shu Jian's daughter.
How can she be our partner?
But thank you for reminding me.
Go back to the imperial study
and keep an eye on them
for us.
Since you and your sister showed up
I've been
worrying every day.
No wonder
I feel Concubine Li very different.
She's too courageous.
So she's a fake one.
Shu Jian also found her suspicious
before he died.
Your Grace.
Dad.
Why are you so thin?
Your jaw is sharper.
Dad.
I miss you so much.
His Majesty is very nice to me.
But...
when I think of
you're getting old
and no one can take care of you
I can't help worrying about you.
But...
your eyes
look different, too.
Dad, you must be muddled.
I've been in the palace for months.
How can I still be the same as the old me?
You look pale.
On the way rushing her
I caught a cold.
I'll get better after taking some medicine.
Don't worry, Dad.
Unfortunately
Shu Jian was killed
by Shi Qinghong
before he could see through her daughter.
Yeah, Your Majesty.
Luckily
Qiu Gui found the real Shu Wanxin.
God blesses our country.
But who the hell is Concubine Li?
Why does she pretend to be Shu Wanxin?
Your Majesty.
Qiu Gui said
the fake Concubine Li
must be a surviving supporter of the Ming dynasty.
Well.
Does anyone else know it?
I mean...
Do Dr. Li and Li Yihuan know it?
Are they with
the fake Concubine Li?
Uh.
I don't dare to judge.
But...
Concubine Li is close to Li Yihuan.
They're getting
so well with each other.
That's rare in the imperial harem.
Fine.
Hush up.
Let's discuss it later
after I go to your mansion secretly
to meet Qiu Gui, the butler of Shu Jian
and Shu Wanxin.
Yes.
We were right.
Before Liu Dezhao died
he told Songgotu that
Qingcheng disguised herself as Shu Wanxin.
Qiu Gui escaped
possibly because Songgotu helped him.
Now...
Qiu Gui has Shu Wanxin and Meng Xianghe.
With the evidence
Songgotu came directly to tell Kangxi.
Songgotu seems
to be mild
but crafty in fact.
He must be
suspecting you two, too.
When we came back from the trip to Shanxi
Songgotu started to suspect us.
Will he
get rid of us all together?
Yihuan.
In such a critical moment
we must be calmer.
Songgotu
told this directly to Kangxi.
It's not bad for us.
If Qiu Gui had reported it to the local government
exposed her
and reported to Kangxi from different levels of ministers
the royal court would have burst into an uproar.
It would be harder to control the situation.
What should we do now?
Since Qiu Gui
surrendered himself
and transformed passivity into initiative
we will
surrender ourselves, too
and reverse the situation
again.
Seriously, Bro. Zhu?
Are you serious?
Do you mean
we'll surrender ourselves to Kangxi
and tell him we're spies from the Pearl Valley?
Silly girl.
Since Qiu Gui
only has the evidence against Qingcheng
we only
need her
to surrender alone.
Bro. Zhu.
What's wrong with you?
Are you going to sacrifice Sis. Xue
to protect yourself?
Am I that kind of guy
in your heart?
Junior Sister, you get the wrong idea.
I understand him.
Now I have double identities.
The traitor from the Pearl Valley
and the spy working for Wu Sangui.
We can defuse the crisis
by telling Kangxi
I'm the spy working for Wu Sangui.
Meanwhile, we can also intensify
the contradiction between Kangxi and Wu Sangui.
Oh, that explains.
Now I understand.
Bro. Zhu.
You really are smart.
I misunderstood you.
You're as smart
as Junior Long.
If you become the emperor
I'm sure
you'll be a good one.
No. No.
You'll be a better one, okay?
Humph.
Finally you see my virtues.
Junior Long.
Wait.
Junior Long.
Are you going for a secret visit
in the plain clothes?
Well.
It's been long
since I left the palace for a walk last time.
So...
Songgotu told me that
Daguan Tea House
had a new storyteller
who told good stories.
Therefore
I asked him to take me there
for a walk.
I haven't had a secret visit for long, either.
Why don't you take me?
No.
All men are in the tea house.
It's not convenient
for a girl like you.
Uh...
He didn't tell the truth.
So he must be suspecting me, too.
I'm afraid you're not leaving today.
Because...
I have something important to tell you.
What is it?
Wu Sangui has planted a spy in the palace.
Who?
All of you, back off.
Yes.
Your Majesty.
The spy is
Concubine Li.
For real?
Sure.
She told me herself.
Today when we were in the Lodge of Eternal Happiness
she said that
Wu Sangui sent her here.
She wanted to tell you
but didn't dare.
She feared you may kill her
in a fit of anger.
So she asked me
to plead for her.
For such an important matter
I rush to tell you
without any delay.
Let's go to the Lodge of Eternal Happiness.
After you, Lady Attendant.
Because I looked similar to Shu Wanxin
Duke Pingxi
sent me to the palace in her place
to win your favor.
Your Majesty.
Duke Pingxi
threatened me with my brother's life.
I didn't have a choice.
Please kindly show some mercy
and do not kill me.
Why makes you
surrender to me today?
Because my master Priestess Xueyi
has retuned
with the latest instruction from Duke Pingxi.
He forced me
to assassinate you, Your Majesty.
Wu Sangui
is more dauntless than Liu Dezhao.
Liu Dezhao is a mere provincial governor.
He dared only
to accept bribes or do bullying things.
How can he be compared with Wu Sangui
who usually threatens the royal court
overtly?
Your Majesty, I don't want to hurt you.
But I'm also worried about my brother.
After thinking about it carefully
I had the only way
to surrender to you.
Your Majesty.
Please issue a decree that
I was executed
for failing to assassinate you
and not telling the one
behind me.
In this way
maybe Duke Pingxi
will not kill my brother
considering I didn't tell on him.
Your Majesty.
Her Grace did towering crimes.
But she was forced.
Could you allow her
to make up for her error?
Come in.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Take off your veil
and let me have a look.
You really look exactly the same as Xue Qingcheng.
Tell me.
Who kidnapped you
and where were you taken to?
I...
I didn't know who they were.
They wore masks.
I couldn't see their faces.
They sent me to a secret valley
in a carriage without windows.
I couldn't even tell the direction.
When I escaped
I met a wild elephant.
Then
I asked the way
and knew I was in a forest in Yunnan.
It really was Wu Sangui.
Duke Pingxi kidnapped you?
But...
Why did he kidnap me?
Was there any grudge
between my father and him?
Your father sent me a secret memorial to throne before he died
telling on the corruption cases in Shanxi.
He mentioned that
Liu Dezhao colluded with Wu Sangui secretly.
Oh, I see.
Shu Wanxin, tell me.
You're a candidate girl from the Han.
Before you take part in the election
you can't get married.
You were kidnapped.
Theoretically, you should have reported to the government
after you escaped
and waited for my management.
Unexpectedly, you made the best of a mistake
and ran away with your lover Meng Xianghe.
Now
you're even pregnant.
Do you know it's a capital crime to lie to me?
I know, Your Majesty.
Please punish me.
For your father's sake
I can spare you.
After you have the abortion
the head of your clan will take care of you
and get you married.
As for your lover Meng Xianghe
he must die.
Your Majesty.
I don't beg for mercy.
Nor do I want the abortion.
I'd like to die
with Meng Xianghe
with our baby.
Do you know Meng Xianghe will be killed by dismembering the body
for having seduced a candidate girl?
Do you want the same death with him?
Yes, I do.
I'm glad to die with him.
We made make mutual pledges.
We weren't born on the same day
but we would when we died.
Even if I had to be dismembered
I'd like to die with Meng Xianghe.
Please kindly help us, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
You have so many consorts in the palace.
It doesn't matter
if you have Shu Wanxin.
Besides, Meng Xianghe is a loyal guy.
When we were in Shanxi
he risked his life
to help us secretly.
Junior Long.
Please let go of them
and help them.
Boss Qiu.
Lord Suo has gone to the palace
for such a long time.
Why hasn't he come back yet?
What are you worried about?
His Majesty is busy with myriad affairs every day.
Lord Su can't easily see him
as he wishes.
Lord Su said we made great credits this time
and our errors would be cancelled.
His Majesty
may even award us greatly.
But why am I feeling agitated?
What for?
His Majesty trusts Songgotu very much.
We gave him such credits
for no reason at all
and asked him to let go of us.
Is that hard
to award us?
You.
Rest assured.
Yes.
Lord Suo. Lord Suo.
Finally, you're back, Lord Suo.
How was it going?
Well
congratulations.
You're spared of the previous crimes.
Besides, His Majesty decided to award you.
The award is coming soon.
Lord Suo.
You really are my lifesaver.
Except you
did anyone else
help with us?
Lord Suo.
I know.
It's about the dignity of His Majesty.
Except the butler and me
only the four trusted followers of mine
knew it, who helped to
catch Shu Wanxin and Meng Xianghe.
It's sensible of you.
But I wonder
where they are now.
Why don't you bring them here
and let me have a look?
First
I can get some awards for them.
Second
if I like them
isn't it better
that I keep them working for me?
Lord Suo.
They four
are merely roving bandits.
It'll be their great luck
if they can work for you.
They're in Happy Inn in the east of town.
I'm going to get them here right now.
Good.
Boss Qiu.
Don't bother to go.
Somebody.
Don't move.
What are you doing?
You!
- What are you doing? - Take him away!
Songgotu.
You betrayed us!
Take him away.
Yes.
Nasai, come.
Uncle.
Take them
to the suburb
and bury them secretly.
Yes, Uncle.
Besides
take another team
to Happy Inn in the east of town
and arrest his four followers.
Remember.
During that
do not allow them to talk madness.
Yes.
Once I find them
I'll cut their tongues first.
Okay, go ahead.
Thank you for sparing me, Your Majesty.
And thank you for
killing Qiu Gui who escaped
and revenging
my father.
For your father's sake
I spare you.
But...
from now on
you're no longer Shu Wanxin.
The Concubine Li in the palace
will be the real Shu Wanxin.
Do you understand?
Yes, Your Majesty.
I understand.
You may leave.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Wish you
good luck
a long life.
Throughout the country
time flies quickly.
The wish of the emperor
is to care for his country.
With the power to rule...
Junior Long.
Thank you
for helping Shu Wanxin and Meng Xianghe.
Meng Xianghe is an ordinary man
without any property
or career.
Unexpectedly, a girl like Shu Wanxin
wants to share happiness and sufferings with him
and even die with him.
I have many consorts in the palace
but none of them
truly treats me like her.
Junior Long.
I shared happiness and sufferings with you!
I risked myself to save you several time.
So I'm grateful to you
because you gave me
such good memories.
But you still refuse to be my girl.
One day
you will sleep on the same couch with your husband
and bear children.
I'll still be alone.
Through all eternities
there have been much happiness.
Moaning and leaning, I look up at the moon.
With stars high up in the sky, I feel sentimental.
What?
Concubine Li is the spy of Wu Sangui?
Why did His Majesty
deal with such an important thing so casually?
Xue Qingcheng took a better move.
When she realized she would be exposed
she went to His Majesty
and surrendered herself.
Considering the love with her
and the dignity of the royal family
His Majesty allowed her
to take the rightful place of Shu Wanxin.
Now in this palace
only His Majesty, Dr. Li
his sister and I
knew her real identity.
His Majesty urged me
not to tell anyone
about this.
If anyone knows it
I must take the blame.
So Your Grace
even if you know this
please pretend you don't know.
Uncle.
This is weird.
Why did Xue Qingcheng
surrender exactly when
you found the real Shu Wanxin?
Yeah.
What a coincidence
when she surrendered!
But...
But I didn't find flaws
when she said Lady Xue would assassinate His Majesty.
His Majesty didn't have a reason to suspect her.
Uncle, do you think
Xue Qingcheng and Li Yihuan
are her partners?
Li Yihuan and her brother
should both be her partners.
Xue Qingcheng
surrendered
just to protect them two.
But we don't have any evidence.
Through this
we should be clearer about
how His Majesty cherishes Li Yihuan.
If we convict her rashly
His Majesty will think
you're jealous of her
and trying to slander her.
Then what should we do
at this moment?
We must strike them at the critical point.
Otherwise we may get hurt instead of hurting them.
So Your Grace
please be patient and wait for a proper chance.
I believe
they must be planning something
if they really are spies
and they'll give themselves away sooner or later.
That was very close!
Your three
were nearly exposed all together.
Luckily, the crown prince played to the score
and solved the problem skillfully.
It was good.
Even though
Kangxi and Songgotu
may still suspect you.
You must be careful.
Don't worry, Godfather and masters.
Songgotu has been suspecting that
Yihuan and I are spies sent by Wu Sangui.
So...
we've decided the next step.
We will help Kangxi
to smash the assassination of Priestess Xueyi.
In this way
Kangxi will firmly believe us.
Songgotu will erase some of him suspect
on us, too.
But in this way
I'm afraid Priestess Xueyi has to be killed.
She's the spy
Wu Sangui has planted around us.
But she's still a patriot of the Ming
and has been working with us for decades.
I really don't want to kill her.
Dear wife.
We mustn't have petty kindness.
Priestess Xueyi works for a jerk like Wu Sangui
for her personal enmity.
She also tried to kill Yihuan secretly.
We go
a totally different way from hers.
You're right.
We don't need to
show mercy on
Priestess Xueyi.
But if we help Kangxi to kill Priestess Xueyi
Wu Sangui
will definitely fall out with us.
We must weigh the pros and cons
about this carefully.
We formed alliance with Wu Sangui
for what we need separately
instead of for real friendship.
That's why he hid the identity of Priestess Xueyi
to us
and asked Qingcheng to kill Yihuan secretly.
Since so
we should teach him a lesson.
You're right, Godfather.
Maybe after this round
the alliance between Wu Sangui and us
will be more solid.
Your Majesty.
Have something to eat.
Concubine Li.
I'm not happy today.
I gave Wu Sangui a decree
asking him to come to the capital for the rest of his life.
But he refused me with the excuse that
he was too old to take the trip.
He openly opposed me
but none of my ministers
dared to utter a word.
Music