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I lived in the Pearl Valley since little
and grew up
with Zhu Cixuan and Li Yihuan.
I have some feelings for them.
But compared to the national cause
such feelings are
not even worth mentioning.
Good.
Huan'er.
Don't worry.
She's fine.
This is...
the evidence.
Rest assured.
I won't let go of the murderer who hurt Yihuan.
Fine.
I'll be relieved then.
Xuanye.
You don't need to plead with the empress dowager.
Anyway
I'm almost
a dead man.
I...
have something else to beg you.
Tell me.
I will help you.
When she wakes up
do never tell her that
I saved her.
Why?
In fact, Yihuan also
likes me.
Without you
she and I will make a perfect couple.
However
since she chose you
why would I make her sad
or ambivalent?
Now you see.
I'm not only as smart as you
but also love Yihuan
more than you.
How is he?
He's now a common man
without any internal force.
Get the imperial doctor
and keep him alive
with the best medicine.
Yes.
Zhu Cixuan
sacrificed himself to save Li Yihuan
for their own relationship
not for your sake.
In terms of private
or public interests
they're your enemy with irreconcilable hatred.
Emperor.
But you're softhearted.
Grandma.
I'm not softhearted.
I just feel that
Zhu Cixuan is a common man.
It doesn't matter
if we kill him or not.
We can put him under restraint
just as how we did to Oboi.
As long as he's alive
the Anti-Qing Alliance doesn't dare to make a rash act
or mess up easily.
I don't think so.
He's the last crown prince of the Ming.
As long as he's alive
even if he's a common man
he still stands for the Anti-Qing Alliance.
Only when we kill him
and stop them from rebelling
can it be the best plan.
Emperor.
You're benevolent
with a great kind heart.
You worry that
Li Yihuan will fall out with you
if you kill Zhu Cixuan.
Let me do it for you.
Grandma.
Emperor.
You can
decide it alone for anything else.
I don't bother
even when you keep Li Yihuan
in the Lodge of Eternal Happiness.
But you must be aware.
This is my bottom line.
In six days
Zhu Cixuan must be sent to the execution ground
and be executed
to save the future trouble.
Your Majesty.
If Zhu Cixuan is killed
I'm afraid
Miss Yihuan will never forgive you.
I'm exactly worrying about this.
Hey, you.
Do you have any idea?
I do have one.
But please kindly help me
and do not tell anyone that it's my idea.
If the empress dowager knows it
she'll kill me.
Don't worry.
I don't have many men
who can help a lot.
Besides
you've been taking care of me since I was little.
Without you
I'll feel bad.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Well, this is
a very simple plan.
Four words.
Substitute someone for him.
Please take the medicine.
Or His Majesty will kill us.
Yeah, please take it.
His Majesty isn't a tyrant.
Why would he always kill people?
It's okay.
Take it away.
Huan'er.
Good point.
I like it.
Wish you good luck, Your Majesty.
Give the medicine to me and leave us.
Yes.
Huan'er.
Come on.
I told you
I was fine.
Stop feeding me
with such bitter medicine, all right?
If you want news of your Bro. Zhu
take the medicine first.
Do you bring me good news?
Not really.
The empress dowager
won't spare Zhu Cixuan.
But...
you must have some other way, don't you?
Junior Long.
See? I'm not lying to you.
You won't lie to me, will you?
I won't lie to you.
But I can't
openly run counter to
the empress dowager
and those ministers
in favor of her.
Therefore
I've got a plan
after thinking carefully about it.
What is it?
Disguise a condemned prisoner
into Zhu Cixuan
and sent him to the execution ground
for the execution.
In this way
I can convince the empress dowager and all ministers.
I'll find a secret chance
to let go of Zhu Cixuan.
Thank you, Junior Long.
You really are a good emperor of his word.
You!
Don't rush to make the compliment.
I have a condition
for you.
You must stay in the palace for the rest of your life
and stay with me forever.
In fact
I've made up my mind.
If you really can let go of Bro. Zhu
I'll stay with you all my life.
But...
I can only be your confidante
instead of your consort.
What?
How can you do that?
If...
If I put a plate of roast duck in front you
you could only watch instead of eating it...
What the hell...
Junior Long.
Don't you know what I'm thinking of?
I love you
but care for Bro. Zhu.
I feel guilty for you.
And I feel guilty for him, too.
I can't give up on you.
But...
I can't let Bro. Zhu down too much.
If you feel unfair
fine...
from now on
I'll no longer enjoy delicious food
or roast duck.
Every day
you should just give me some simple food
to keep me alive.
Why is he still shackled?
Unshackle him right away!
Yes.
Xuanye.
I'm going to
be executed tomorrow.
Why do you bother?
Zhu Cixuan.
We're mortal enemies
and rivals in love.
But you and I
are kind of friends with similar ideals and beliefs.
Especially when you saved Yihuan
I'm quite grateful.
I saved Yihuan
because I liked her.
None of your business.
But don't forget.
You promised to
find out the man who hurt Yihuan
and kill him
to relieve her of future trouble.
I knew who he was.
But now...
I can't kill him.
You're the emperor
but fail to keep your own promise.
That man is just like Er Biqi
and Long Deduo.
I'll kill them sooner or later.
But I can't advance too quickly.
I must break the Anti-Qing Alliance
pacify feudatories and recover Taiwan
before I have time to solve civil strife.
Zhu Cixuan.
You've been learning how to be an emperor.
You should understand my strategy.
Xuanye.
Do you think
I'll still trust you?
I feel sorry
when you don't trust me.
Given some time
I'll show you
what the real faith of an emperor is.
I can't wait till that day.
Show Yihuan.
Don't disappoint her so much.
Who told you that you wouldn't wait?
I promised Yihuan
to get you out of the palace tonight.
So...
I'm here
to see you off.
You're letting me go?
Without an enemy like you
to witness my political and military achievements
won't I lose the fun
of being an emperor?
But...
I have one condition for you, too.
Like I said
if you're here to induce me to capitulate
save your breath.
Zhu Cixuan.
You said I didn't know you.
But it seems
you don't know me, either.
I know.
When I release you, I'm breeding calamity for the future.
You lost your martial arts.
But with your special identity and wisdom
you'll still lead the Anti-Qing Alliance
as my great threat.
I don't mean to
completely annihilate
all the rebel party like you.
I want you to submit to my rule willingly.
Zhuge Liang caught and released Meng Huo seven times.
I'm the emperor.
Can't I be as generous as a prime minister?
This time
I really underestimate you.
You have some other condition, don't you?
After I release you
you should either run away
or submit to me.
Whichever way you choose
you won't be qualified to fight with me for Yihuan.
Yihuan
promised to stay here with me.
But she still
feels guilty for you
and doesn't want to be my consort.
I need your help.
I can't help you with that.
Yihuan is willful and pure,
but she has her own principles.
Just like...
I can never make her
give up her love and trust
on you.
Nor can you make her
give up her care
and respect
for me.
Didn't you say
you loved her more than me?
Since you don't want her to know
you sacrificed yourself for her...
Since you don't want her to feel embarrassed...
why don't you finish it completely?
Since you know you will never be together
why do you still insist on
staying in her heart?
Zhu Cixuan.
I'm different from you.
I'm the emperor.
I can't share my country or girl
with anyone else.
If Yihuan doesn't love me wholeheartedly
how can I love her in the same way?
The imperial harem is just like the royal court
with growing crises.
You asked me to kill that men who hurt Yihuan.
Do you think that will relieve her of the future trouble?
Wrong.
My true love
can be her best amulet.
Huan'er.
You saw him.
You should be relieved, huh?
Junior Long.
Can I have a minute
with Bro. Zhu?
Okay.
But hurry up.
He must be sent out as soon as possible
in case that
undue delay may bring trouble.
I see.
Go ahead.
Why...
Why are you so thin
and pale?
Did they abuse you?
No.
I'm fine.
Junior Ye caught me.
But we were brothers.
He took care of me secretly.
But why do you
look different?
Compared to the past
your eyes look duller.
I was just released from the prison
and got recovered.
Sure
I look haggard.
After I leave
I'll have Master Fan Li help me with the recuperation
and I'll get better soon.
Bro. Zhu.
Sorry.
It was all because of me.
If it weren't for me
you wouldn't have been caught.
Nor would Bro. Ye have hurt you.
You really hurt me.
I didn't expect
our childhood relationship over ten years
to be beaten
by your love with Kangxi
in less than a year.
But fine.
I finally realize
who
I should love.
If you have nothing else to say
I gotta go.
Qingcheng is waiting for me out there.
Sis. Xue?
What... what do you mean?
I don't understand.
I forgot to tell you some good news.
That night
after you left with Kangxi
Qingcheng found me
and saved me.
Qingcheng and I
have got married.
Is...
is that true?
It's about Qingcheng's chastity.
How can I be kidding?
Yihuan.
In fact
I was nice to you
just because I thought
we were engaged since little.
I must be nice to you.
Even if I feel
Qingcheng is beautiful, highly gifted
considerate
and attracts me more
I have to keep the feeling
deep in my heart
and never tell anyone about it.
When you escaped
from the wedding that night
you gave
a rare chance
to Qingcheng and me.
We both feel
grateful to you.
Bro. Zhu.
I...
I don't know what to say.
I didn't know that.
But Bro. Zhu...
I really feel happy for you and Sis. Xue.
You really had a hard time.
I mean it.
I truly wish you
to enjoy forever happiness
and have a baby.
Okay.
I also wish you and Kangxi
to enjoy forever happiness
and grow old together.
Yihuan.
Why don't you compete with Qingcheng
on who will have more babies
and who
will be a responsible mother.
Zhu Cixuan
is really affectionate and tenacious.
What a pity!
If he weren't the crown prince of the Ming dynasty
I would have been his close friend
who commiserated with each other.
Your Majesty, you've released him three times
and praised him.
With such generosity
you are really
a wise emperor.
With both talent and virtue
Zhu Cixuan is
an outstanding man.
Unfortunately
he fails to see the trend
or adapt himself to circumstances.
How can he equal you, Your Majesty?
Well...
I like your comment.
You're right.
However talented a man is
he must be able to see the trend
and adapt himself to circumstances.
Otherwise
he would be a pathetic hero just like Xiang Xu
who left nothing
but a regretful song.
Bro. Zhu.
Junior Long has many beautiful consorts.
But few of them truly love him.
So I want to stay with him
and supervise on him
to be a good emperor.
But...
I don't think I can be
his consort.
Why?
I married Qingcheng.
She is now the veritable wife of the crown prince.
She and I will bear the responsibility
to recover the Ming.
You're out of it.
Because...
my father and masters.
So...
Silly girl.
You're not the son.
Only a son can follow the occupation of his father.
A married daughter is like split water.
You don't need to mind
the attitude of your father and masters.
Besides
they knew I married Qingcheng.
Your father and other masters
will not force you.
Don't push yourself.
Only when you live a good life
can Qingcheng and I live a good life, too.
Otherwise
we will
feel sorry.
What are you talking about, Bro. Zhu?
You're never sorry for me.
I feel sorry for you.
Don't you know me?
I'll live a happy life every day.
Don't worry about me.
That'll be fine.
Let's...
call it a day.
See you and take care.
Let...
Let me walk you out.
No.
See you.
Bro. Zhu.
Bro. Zhu, what's wrong with you?
I'm fine.
No way.
Well...
I'll ask Junior Long
to send you out in a carriage.
Don't bother.
After I get out of the palace
Qingcheng will take care of me.
I must take you
to Sis. Xue
before I get relieved.
Besides
I haven't given her my wishes.
Wait a minute.
Junior Long.
You heard us.
Bro. Zhu has married
Sis. Xue.
So...
I've made up my mind.
I can be your consort.
Really?
Will you keep your word?
Sure, I will.
But you must promise me three things.
Okay. What are they?
First...
I believe you're a good emperor.
But...
I don't know
how to persuade my father and masters
into giving up on recovering the Ming.
If one day they lose
please show some mercy
and do not kill them all.
Please spare them
okay?
Okay. I promise you.
Second
if you fail to do what you promised me...
for example
rectify the management of officials
abolish privileges and enclosure...
and fail to offer people a good life
you'll not be a good emperor.
I can then leave you at any time.
You can't stop me.
I promise you, too.
Third
Bro. Zhu broken off the engagement with me
but...
I can't ignore my father.
I must go back
to pay respect to my ancestors.
And explain to my father
and masters.
By then
I'll come back to marry you fairly.
But what if you don't come back
after you leave?
Don't you trust me?
I don't mean not trusting you.
I don't trust your father
and your stubborn masters.
No one is capable of hurting his own children.
Don't worry.
I know they may not agree
when I go back.
But they'll expel me
if the worst comes to the worst.
They won't hurt me.
Let me go back.
If I don't go back to explain to them
I don't feel relieved.
Since you dare to release Bro. Zhu
why don't you dare to let go of me?
Since you bet
why don't you bet on a big game?
Okay.
I'll bet on a big game.
Take the token.
When you come back to me
no one will stop you.
Junior Long.
I will come back.
Remember our promise.
We'll trust each other
support each other
not suspect
or harm the other one.
I gotta go.
Go ahead.
Bro. Zhu, let's go.
Do you think Yihuan will come back?
Your Majesty.
As far as I know Yihuan
she will come back.
I'm gambling with big stakes.
I, Li Yihuan...
I, Long San...
swear to the moon that
we'll be sworn brothers.
From now on
we'll share each other's fortunes
take blames together.
and never betray each other.
We'll share happiness and sufferings
live and die with each other.
Whoever breaks the vow
will die a violent death!
Junior Long.
You're a good emperor.
With stars all over the sky
I can't see him through in the rain.
Can the moonlight
bring his broken heart back home?
I want to be the apple of his eye
and offer him my purest wishes.
The path of memory is strewn with flowers
shining greatly.
I want to be the apple of his eye
and offer him my purest wishes.
The path of memory is strewn with flowers
shining greatly.
What?
The emperor didn't go to the morning audiences?
Yeah, Your Grace.
It's been three days.
Since His Majesty took over the reins of government
he has never neglected state affairs like this before.
In the last three days
he hasn't gone to the morning audience.
He has even locked himself up in the Palace of Heavenly Purity.
He allows no one in
or wants to see anyone.
Unexpectedly
what I worried most
finally happened.
Wish you good luck, Your Grace.
How is the emperor now?
His Majesty
locks himself in the palace.
He allows no one in
and doesn't see anyone, either.
Slow down.
Xuanye.
I haven't seen you
for three days.
Are you alright?
Emperor.
Could you open the door
and talk with me?
If you don't to open the door...
how...
how about a little talk
through the door?
Xuanye.
What you're doing now
really
remind me
of your grandfather.
It was
September 13th of the 6th year of Chongde
when your grandfather
was guarding at Songshan
leading his army in a bloody battle.
Unexpectedly
he heard
my sister Harjol
fell ill.
He was desperate...
desperate to
come back to the capital.
On his way
he didn't even rest or sleep.
He travelled day and night.
On the fifth day
he finally returned to the capital.
Unfortunately
he failed to see Harjol.
He was so sorrowful that
he didn't eat or sleep.
He was in a coma.
The imperial doctors saved him.
But he talked madness
as if he were crazy.
In this way
soon
he died
leaving me
and your poor father
who was only six.
Do you understand?
Xuanye.
At that time
our country
was just founded.
The royal court
was threatened by growing crises.
For your father
and our country
I spared
no efforts.
After all the trouble
I finally
brought up your father
and made him the emperor.
But he was...
just like your grandfather.
For Consort Dong...
that was a long story.
I can't continue...
He was just twenty-four.
He left alone
leaving me
and you
who was not even
eight years old.
I...
lost my husband when I was young
and lost my son when I was in middle age.
What a hard life
I was living!
Even though
I...
I still brought you up
with concentrated attention
for you...
and...
for our country.
Xuanye.
You've taken over the reins of government.
Now you sit firmly on your throne.
But you...
you...
Why did you
step into the shoes of theirs?
I know...
men of your family are faithful.
But...
you're too infatuated.
You must realize that
you're the emperor.
You...
You must consider
for your country and your people.
Emperor.
You don't even have a son now.
Will you
make us
be reviled
in history
as traitors through the ages?
Emperor.
Please open the door.
Your Majesty.
Xuanye.
Get me dressed
and start the morning audience.
Long live Your Majesty.
Throughout the country
time flies quickly.
The wish of the emperor
is to care for his country.
With the power to rule
we'll bring up trouble easily.
With flowers blooming on the fingertip
butterflies fly gently in the palm.
I can see the heaven and earth reflected in my eyes.
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.
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