Music
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.
In my heart
sooner or later
I will kill him
myself.
Your Majesty.
You're drunk.
Go to bed early.
I'm not drunk.
Drink more with me.
Your Majesty.
You're going to the morning audience tomorrow morning.
Go to bed early.
Come on.
Your Majesty, be careful.
Your Majesty.
The bed is over there.
Your Majesty.
Be careful.
Slow down.
Come on.
Your Majesty.
Uh...
Qingcheng.
It's the last chance tonight.
Stop hesitating.
But...
if we kill His Majesty now
we'll be exposed.
We can escape from the palace.
But maids in the Palace of Eternity will be involved.
Don't worry.
Duke Pingxi gave me special poison.
After he drinks it
he'll die in seven days.
By then
who will suspect us?
You're not drunk!
If I were
I would have been killed.
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 the 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 force.
Could you allow her
to make up for her error?
Master.
Shall we arrest Lady Xue
right away?
Don't act rashly.
She can't be a small role.
Wu Sangui is my great threat.
Unfortunately
ministers are not of one mind.
Some of them really are stupid.
They still think of maintaining the status quo with Wu Sangui.
They have no idea that
Wu Sangui even wants to kill me.
Your Majesty.
When we arrest Lady Xue
we can prove Wu Sangui's ambition
can't we?
Whoever still supports Wu Sangui
will be
disloyal to you
as a bad minister.
Huan'er.
You have no idea
how hard it is to handle ministers.
They accept bribes from Wu Sangui
and also fear his power.
If Lady Xue refuses to confess
and we don't have another witness expect Xue Qingcheng
they'll insist that
Xue Qingcheng is sent by the Anti-Qing Alliance
instead of Wu Sangui.
By then
they'll advise me not to be deceived.
How can
Sis. Xue be the spy from the Pearl Valley?
Wu Sangui still has her brother.
I haven't seen my brother
for many years.
I really wonder
if he's still safe and sound.
Unexpectedly
Wu Sangui sent a spy
around me
and she has won my favor.
No one else shall know about it
except us.
I see.
Yes, Your Majesty.
As for Lady Xue
we mustn't alert her.
Since she wants to kill me
I'll give her the chance.
If we confirm Wu Sangui wants to kill me
in this way
no minister will dare to argue for him.
After unifying all ministers
it'll be easier
to deal with Wu Sangui.
It's wise of you, Your Majesty.
I really admire you.
Yihuan.
You made contributions, too.
Your Majesty.
Do you mean
you will award me again?
Yes.
You're allowed
to pick several treasures from the treasury.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
But...
How will you deal with Concubine Li?
Concubine Li.
You're guilty.
But you were forced
and didn't have a choice.
You risked your life to tell me about Wu Sangui's plot
and planned for me.
I can see your care for me.
I should cherish you, rather than the real Shu Wanxin.
I'll spare you of your past crimes.
From now on
you're the real Shu Wanxin.
And Shu Wanxin is you.
Priestess Xueyi
the spy of Wu Sangui
sneaked in for the assassination alone.
It has nothing to do with you.
Your Majesty
thank you so much.
Songgotu.
Yihuan.
Did you hear me?
Yes.
Congratulations, Your Grace.
I was too careless.
How could a cautious and restrained emperor like you
be given to sensual pleasures
and sleep while drunk?
But today
you're not leaving anyway.
Master.
Confess and surrender yourself!
Qingcheng, you!
I wondered why Kangxi knew our plan.
You betrayed me!
You and Wu Sangui
keep threatening me with my little brother.
But my brother
died of accident three years ago.
You didn't tell me about that.
Your brother isn't dead.
He's still alive.
Stop lying to me.
I know everything.
And I told everything to His Majesty.
His Majesty spared me of past crimes.
Master
as long as you regret sincerely
and help His Majesty kill Wu Sangui asap
His Majesty will spare you, too.
Qingcheng.
How silly you are!
Why do you trust the emperor
instead of me?
Qingcheng.
Your little brother
is really alive.
Priestess Xueyi.
You're exposed.
It has no meaning to still lie to Qingcheng.
Kangxi.
You lied to her
by saying her brother is dead, huh?
But how did you see her through?
As early as when we were in Shanxi
and hunted by Wu Sangui's soldiers
I suspected you.
So you suspected us so early?
But you kept your head.
You really deep-minded enough
to be the emperor.
In old years...
Dad!
Five hundred disciples of my sect
were killed by the cavalry of the Ming.
Duke Pingxi saved me
and the survived disciples.
He is our lifesaver.
Why will I
ever betray him?
I won't be forgiven then!
Your Majesty.
Duke Pingxi is seignior titled by the decreased emperor.
He helped your country
and was loyal to you.
This time, I assassinate you
alone.
It has nothing to do with him.
Do you really want to die
for Duke Pingxi?
Master.
Stop being stubborn.
His Majesty said
as long as you could convict Wu Sangui
he would spare us.
I'll never believe you
the crafty emperor of Qing.
Qingcheng.
Since you betrayed me
I don't need to
care for you anymore.
Your Majesty.
You only know Qingcheng is my apprentice.
But do you know
she has another identity?
Your Majesty.
People of the Ming dynasty are my enemies
not you.
To you
neither Duke Pingxi nor I
am your enemy.
Your real enemy is
the rebel party against you.
Since the Qing was founded
some scholars have proclaimed themselves as ministers for the Ming
and refused to work for me.
Rebel parties exist in different areas.
But they make trouble on small scale
without any hope.
Now I worry most
about Wu Sangui.
Your Majesty.
You must have underestimated remnants of the Ming.
How about this?
You can punish me
as you wish.
As long as you don't blame Duke Pingxi for this
I'll atone for my crimes
and tell you another spy in your palace.
Duke Jin of the Ming dynasty, Li Dingguo
isn't dead.
Instead, he leads a power against you.
Over the past few years
they have developed secretly
and become powerful.
As long as you agree to my request
I'll tell you
the spies sent by Li Dingguo.
And I'll help you
to exterminate the Pearl Valley.
Your Majesty.
You know the Pearl Valley is in a dangerous place
with countless traps.
Without me
you can't have the chance
to exterminate the Pearl Valley
and spare all later trouble.
Master.
Are you going to blame others
so as to absolve Wu Sangui?
Your Majesty.
I really am
telling the truth.
Among spies sent by Li Dingguo
Xue Qingcheng is one of them.
To revenge your sect
and to work for your so-called lifesaver Wu Sangui
you've been hiding in the Pearl Valley for so many years.
Master Xueyi.
You really endured great humiliation.
You are?
Master Xueyi.
His Majesty commanded me to arrest you.
This place is besieged with all master.
You won't run away.
You were my master.
I don't want to hurt you.
Surrender yourself.
I wondered
why His Majesty suddenly had so great marital arts.
So it's you.
Master.
Stop being stubborn.
Wu Sangui is a great traitor cast aside by the people.
When you work for him
you'll be condemned by posterity.
It's not late to wake up.
As the old saying goes
a girl can sacrifice everything
for her love.
Did you betray me for him?
I'll kill you.
Master Xueyi.
Speaking of martial arts
you can't defeat me.
Surrender yourself.
Fine.
Under the circumstances
I have to kill myself
to apologize to Duke Pingxi.
Master.
Master Xueyi.
You brought Qingcheng up
just as your own daughter.
She doesn't want to hurt you.
Are you going to hurt her?
She only
cares for you, now.
How will she still care for me?
Master Xueyi.
The Ming army exterminated your sect.
My family, the Zhu family
owed you.
It has nothing to do with Qingcheng.
Let go of her
and take me as your hostage.
I'm not as good as you in martial arts.
But I'm smarter
than you.
I won't be fooled by you.
Don't hurt Sis. Xue.
Master Xueyi.
Listen to me.
You're blinded by hatred.
If you kill Sis. Xue now
you can't run away.
Why don't we make a deal?
Let go of Sis. Xue
and I'll plead with His Majesty to release you.
What do you think?
Stop shedding crocodile tears.
I'm going to see Kangxi right away.
I'll tell him
who you really are and all your secrets.
If the worst comes to the worst
we'll have a life-and-death struggle and die together.
Xue.
Stop!
How dare you!
Release Her Grace
and you'll be spared.
Her Grace?
How blind you are!
You respect her as the imperial concubine.
But you don't know
she's from the Anti-Qing Alliance.
What do you mean?
Not only she
but also Dr. Li
and his so-called sister Li Yihuan
are all from the Pearl Valley
namely the Anti-Qing Alliance.
Enough.
Priestess Xueyi.
When you failed to assassinate His Majesty under the order of Duke Pingxi
you're trying to drive a wedge
and frame us up.
Do you think His Majesty will still believe you?
Lady Xue.
If you keep talking madness
I'll kill myself.
Qingcheng.
You betrayed me.
But I don't want
you to die.
Nor do I want both of us die here.
Master.
Yihuan.
If you want me to release Qingcheng
I won't
unless you take her place.
No way.
Okay.
I agree.
Yihuan.
Don't worry, Bro. Zhu.
She wants to leave the Forbidden City asap.
She won't hurt me
unless she has to.
Take me in exchange for Sis. Xue.
Yihuan.
Go!
Make way.
Don't move.
Let them go.
Get out of the way.
Or I'll kill her.
Don't catch up.
Don't act rashly.
You won't run away from the Forbidden City.
Get out of the way.
Get out of the way, all of you!
Or I'll kill her.
Come up with me to Star Restaurant.
Don't play tricks.
Okay.
I'll go with you.
Besiege this place.
Yes.
Priestess Xueyi
Don't make a rash act.
Master Xueyi.
Why don't we make a deal?
If you don't
tell them who Bro. Zhu and I are
or betray the Pearl Valley
I'll make you leave the Forbidden City safely.
Do you think
I'll believe you?
I never expected you
to betray me
to win the support from Kangxi.
Okay.
I must go back to Diandu to see Duke Pingxi
and tell him
you lied to him
when forming an alliance with him.
Wish you good luck, Your Majesty.
Get up.
Yes.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Concubine Li, are you alright?
I'm fine, Your Majesty.
But Lady Xue took Sis. Yihuan
up there.
Your Majesty, look.
Priestess Xueyi.
Are masters are around in the palace.
You can't run away.
If you let go of Yihuan now
I won't kill you.
Kangxi.
Ask your men to go away.
Otherwise
I'll freeze her
and push her
off the building.
Don't. Don't do that.
Your Majesty.
Huan'er, don't be scared.
I'll get you out.
Your Majesty.
You can't go.
It's too dangerous up there.
Your Majesty.
Don't make a rash act.
Don't ask your men to attack us, either.
I'm still young.
I don't want to die.
Put away your weapons.
Master Xueyi.
See?
His Majesty cares for me.
If we knew you were so great
why would we
rack our brains
to cultivate Qingcheng for the honey trap?
Master Xueyi.
Why will we hurt both of us?
As long as you don't sell us out
I'll keep you safe.
Besides
you don't have a choice
but to trust me.
Okay.
I don't want to hurt us both
unless I have to.
But...
you must leave here with me
and to see Duke Pingxi in Diandu.
Okay.
Deal!
Your Majesty.
I have something to tell you.
What is it?
This is not a proper place.
Please come with me.
Tell me now!
Yes.
Master.
I went to help Dr. Li catch the assassin
on your command.
But when I entered the room
Priestess Xueyi said...
What did she say?
She said
Dr. Li, Miss Yihuan
and Concubine Li
were all with Anti-Qing Alliance.
Besides
they're all from a base
named the Pearl Valley.
Did she really say so?
Your Majesty.
This is a serious matter.
I don't dare to talk madness.
I didn't hear it alone.
The imperial guards heard it, too.
So did Eunuch Li.
He heard it, too?
Your Majesty.
Priestess Xueyi did say that.
But Miss Yihuan
lay bare her purpose immediately
and convicted that
Priestess Xueyi was sent by Duke Pingxi.
She came to
stir up trouble and frame them up.
Your Majesty.
My sister and I are loyal to you.
We can swear.
My sister is still in danger, kidnapped by Priestess Xueyi.
But you're suspecting her, Your Majesty.
How sad she will be
if she knows it?
Your Majesty.
During the action to arrest Wu Sangui's spy
Dr. Li and Miss Yihuan
made a lot of contribution.
They are
exactly your capable assistants.
We still haven't caught the assassin yet.
Your Majesty, don't be fooled
by Priestess Xueyi
to hurt your own assistants.
Yeah, Your Majesty.
Priestess Xueyi
is a spy sent by Wu Sangui.
We can't
blindly trust her.
Your Majesty.
This is a serious matter.
I just didn't dare to hide the information from you.
Now we only have the statement of Priestess Xueyi.
I don't dare to judge
the rights and wrongs.
Get up.
I won't believe Wu Sangui's plan
to drive a wedge.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Lady Xue is great at marital arts.
If we fight
I'm afraid my sister will be in danger.
Why don't we
let them go now?
My sister is clever.
I believe she'll get a chance to escape.
It seems to be the only option now.
Leave us.
Yes.
Hurry.
I need a fast horse
and the pass token to Diandu.
Okay, you'll have it.
Go. Nasai. Get it done.
Yes.
But after you leave the Forbidden City
you must release Yihuan.
No way.
For the fear that
you may ambush me on my way to Diandu
I must take her with me.
And let her go after we arrive in Diandu.
Your Majesty.
Don't worry.
I will protect myself.
Priestess Xueyi, listen.
If you dare to hurt Yihuan
I'll kill all your families
and lead the troops myself
to kill over Diandu.
Go.
Make way.
Okay. Okay.
Go.
Your Majesty.
I'll arranged my men
to stop Lady Xue at all passes.
No way.
I don't want to get Yihuan hurt
for a mere spy.
Yes.
What the hell is going on?
What else are you hiding from me?
Uncle.
We didn't mean to hide them from you.
But knowing too much
does no good to you.
But I don't understand.
Shu Wanxin's Shu Jian's daughter.
Shu Jian is a trusted minister of His Majesty.
Why are she
and Lady Xue
the spies sent by Wu Sangui?
And meanwhile your partners?
What...
What the hell is going on?
This is complicated.
You've been working in the palace for years.
Don't you understand that
we shouldn't know much about others' secrets?
Kangxi knew
Concubine Li was a spy sent by Wu Sangui.
But he told no one.
Because he didn't want more people
to know the secret.
Uncle, why do you bother to ask?
Do you think I want to know
the killing secret?
You get me involved.
What should we do now?
His Majesty keeps calm
but he must be suspecting you.
Right now
we'll just wait and see.
Luckily
it's confirmed that
Lady Xue is the spy of Wu Sangui.
Things
are not irreversible yet.
You really are
my nightmare!
We've been
suspecting Dr. Li and his sister
are also spies of Wu Sangui
just as Xue Qingcheng.
But now
they're helping His Majesty to catch Priestess Xueyi.
I have to suspect
if I had a wrong guess.
But...
after I heard what Priestess Xueyi said
I realized that
Dr. Li and his sister
are traitors from the Pearl Valley
instead of the spies sent by Wu Sangui.
But His Majesty
still didn't believe it.
Am I right?
What happened this time
was similar to that
when we arrested Oboi.
Dr. Li and his sister caught Oboi
and Oboi said they were with the rebel party.
They explained that
Oboi was driving a wedge.
This time
Priestess Xueyi
exposed them
exactly when
they were trying hard to catch her.
Naturally
His Majesty thought she was driving a wedge, too.
Does His Majesty trust Li Yihun that much?
Oboi convicted her.
Priestess Xueyi convicted her, too.
But His Majesty
still didn't want to suspect her.
Your Grace
The player can't see most of the game.
All the time
His Majesty has felt that
Dr. Li and his sister risked their lives to protect him.
But Priestess Xueyi and Oboi
are his political opponents.
Naturally, he trusts Dr. Li and his sister more.
But His Majesty is smart.
I believe
he suspects them and is wary of them
one way or the other.
We just need to wait for the chance
and get His Majesty
to suspect them little by little.
I believe he will realize it
one day.
Hope so.
Wish you good luck, Your Majesty.
Wish you good luck, Grandma.
Greetings, Grandma.
Don't stand on ceremony.
Get up.
Have a seat.
Didn't you sleep last night?
You have bags under your eyes.
It's okay.
I'm young.
It doesn't matter
to have a sleepless night.
Do you know
Concubine Li and Lady Xue
are spies sent by Wu Sangui?
Something so serious happened.
But you kept it
very secret from me.
Don't get angry, Grandma.
I didn't mean to hide it from you.
I meant to meet trick with trick
to arrest Lady Xue.
So I blocked the message.
Do you want to
keep Xue Qingcheng in the palace
in the place of Shu Wanxin?
But she has great martial carts.
If she has some other purpose
what should you do?
Grandma, don't worry.
I've strengthened the security.
Every move of Xue Qingcheng
is under my control.
Throughout the royal court
many ministers
are traitorous
such as Oboi and Wu Sangui.
It's easy to kill a spy.
But more spies
will keep turning against me.
If I make a show of conciliation
and get those spies to surrender
after weighing advantages and disadvantages
I'll win more support.
Did Xue Qingcheng
really surrender to you?
I heard Lady Xue
exposed that Xue Qingcheng, Dr. Li and his sister
were all surviving supporters of the Ming.
Don't blame the empress.
She rules the imperial harem.
She should bother about
everything in the imperial harem.
Grandma.
Well.
Just like Oboi
Lady Xue tried to
drive a wedge
so that she could revenge herself.
Grandma, forget it.
Lady Xue has run away.
But it's confirmed that
Wu Sangui tried to kill me.
No minister will dare to support him anymore.
It'll be easier for me
to cancel feudatories.
Grandma.
It was the help of
Xue Qingcheng, Dr. Li and his sister.
What if Lady Xue told the truth?
Grandma.
Lady Xue is the only witness.
No more evidence.
I don't want to make a rash act.
I don't want to disappoint those
who try to submit to my authority.
Don't worry, Grandma.
I'll send guys to
check on them secretly.
As long as you have a clear mind
I don't want to
bother much.
Look at this.
- Do you like it? - It's so nice!
Buy one if you like it.
Come have a look.
I thought I've been here before.
When I left the Pearl Valley for the first time at the age of seven
Godfather took me here.
Look!
People in Diandu live a prosperous and contented life.
If Kangxi really cancels feudatories
there will be a sanguinary slaughter.
Will you really help Kangxi fight against Duke Pingxi?
Master Xueyi.
We didn't mean to betray you.
We have our own difficulties.
Tell Duke Pingxi about that
and see
if he will trust you.
You're Li Yihuan?
Greetings, My Lord.
I met you when you were just born
seventeen years ago.
That was weird.
I killed people like flies
and never showed any mercy on anyone.
Unexpectedly, when I was trying to kill you
you suddenly smiled to me.
Looking at your pure smile
I wasn't hardhearted enough to kill you.
It seems
you really are tough.
Thank you for sparing me, My Lord.
So that
I enjoyed the flourishing world for seventy years.
What a clever girl you are!
No wonder you managed to enchant Kangxi
without supreme beauty.
You're flattering me, My Lord.
To His Majesty
I'm a mere wild girl
different from his consorts.
He's just interested in me
for a short while.
My Lord, don't trust her.
She and Kangxi are deeply attracted to each other
and love each other.
Really?
Li Dingguo
is devoted to recovering the Ming dynasty.
He has been wise
but took the wrong step
that he sent his only daughter
the wife of the crown prince appointed by Emperor Yongli
to the emperor of the Qing.
Unexpectedly
you fell in love with him.
How satirical it is!
So satirical!
My Lord.
You may get the wrong idea.
I like my big brother, Bro. Zhu.
My big brother and I
grew up together.
We were engaged long ago.
I treat Kangxi
in the same way as Sis. Xue does.
It's just a matter of expediency.
A matter of expediency?
My Lord.
She always tells lies.
She's great at lying.
My Lord, be careful.
Don't be fooled by her.
Really?
I'll see
how she will explain to me
why they sold you out
to Kangxi.
My Lord.
My father was sincere to form an alliance with you.
We didn't mean to break your agreement
by betraying Master Xueyi to win Kangxi's support.
We didn't have a choice.
Because Qiu Gui
brought real Shu Wanxin to Songgotu.
We didn't have an alternative
but to ask Sis. Xue to pretend to confess
and make up for her error.
In this, we only needed to sacrifice Master Xueyi alone
to protect me
Sis. Xue
and my big brother.
What do you call it?
Making minor sacrifices to safeguard major interests.
Yeah, that's it.
According to you
I should have been grateful to you?
Your Majesty.
Don't stand on ceremony.
We're families.
We should help and support each other
shouldn't we?
You really
are glib-tongued.
If you really made minor sacrifices to safeguard major interests
why did you keep it secret from me
instead of telling me in advance?
Come on, Master Xueyi.
How could we tell you?
If we told you
we would sacrifice you
to protect everyone else
would you agree?
No, you wouldn't.
Besides
you're exposed.
But My Lord
Sis. Xue is still there.
She will stay with Kangxi
and keeps working for you.
Our Pearl Valley also preserves our power.
It's also good to you
isn't it?
My Lord, don't trust her.
If I hadn't had a good idea
and taken Qingcheng as my hostage
I would have
been killed.
And they would have
convicted you of the crime of assassinating Kangxi
with me as the witness
and forced you to rebel.
Then the Pearl Valley
would gain profits.
Come on, Master Xueyi.
Let's sort it out.
If you hadn't failed to kill Qiu Gui
such things wouldn't have happened.
Are you trying to
shrinking your responsibility
in case he may blame you?
You proclaimed that
he was your lifesaver
and you were loyal to him.
But what are you doing?
You know His Majesty wants to cancel feudatories.
Duke Pingxi can only get through it
with the help of us.
What are you doing?
You're stirring up trouble between us.
What do you really want?
I...
My Lord.
I really am loyal to you.
I swear!
The Pearl Valley didn't mean to form an alliance with you.
Instead, they wanted to provoke the contradiction between you and the royal court
so that they could gain profits.
Fine. Say no more.
I'll judge.
Somebody!
Yeah.
Bring Li Yihuan to the guest room
and take care of her.
Yes, My Lord.
Greetings, Your Majesty.
Get up.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
What? Any news about Yihuan?
We just knew that
Priestess Xueyi had taken Yihuan back to Diandu.
They went to Duke Pingxi's mansion directly.
How did Duke Pingxi react?
Not sure, yet.
I'm trying to get more information.
I just drafted a decree
and have it sent to Diandu quickly.
I pretend to ask Wu Sangui angrily that
if Priestess Xueyi worked for him
and assassinated me under his order.
It's wise of you, Your Majesty.
If you keep calm
and genially say Wu Sangui is innocent
while Priestess Xueyi framed him up
I'm afraid Wu Sangui will think
you have other fish to fry
or hurt him.
If you ask him angrily
it feels close instead.
Wu Sangui will think
you still
trust him.
You're remarkable.
You understand what I mean.
You're flattering me, Your Majesty.
I...
I can understand you sometimes, Your Majesty.
Wu Sangui has two choices.
First
kill Yihuan right away
and then rebel without delay.
Second
let go of Yihuan
and escort Priestess Xueyi to the capital
to vindicate himself
and to main the ostensible relationship with me.
Dr. Li.
Which do you think
Duke Pingxi will choose?
Your Majesty.
I don't know much about Duke Pingxi.
Nor do I know anything about his power.
I don't dare to judge.
Since when did you learn to talk like Songgotu?
To be honest
I don't know which Wu Sangui will choose, either.
Hope he will let go of Yihuan.
If so
I'll have years to get prepared for cancelling feudatories.
Duke Pingxi knows you love delicacies.
He asked us to make these for you.
Wait.
Will I live alone in such a big yard?
Did he say
when he would let me out?
What the hell!
Anyway, I shouldn't get starved.
I heard delicacies in Yunnan were the best.
Today
I really am impressed.
This is the topographic map.
Yihuan is kept in this yard.
BTW
the curfew is imposed in Diandu.
This is the pass token. Take it.
But...
When your father finds Yihuan missing tomorrow
you will be blamed.
It doesn't matter.
I'll insist that
I don't know anything.
But few people
can get the pass token.
He will not believe you.
Music