Midnight!
The beginning of a new day.
Decree from His Majesty at the Lantern Festival of...
third reignal year of Tian Bao!
It is now 12 a.m. of January 15! A new day has begun.
The Great Holy Lantern will dim. People will light up theirs...
and be blessed by Heaven!
All of you are called here to celebrate this together!
It's very easy to kill him.
But an ambush doesn't suit him.
So, the weapon must be...
bright and dazzling so that his death will shock the world.
Only by doing so can he...
be pinned in the history of mankind...
and be the laughing stock of the future generations.
Finally,
I found a weapon like that.
Who are you trying to kill?
Your Great Sage.
The emperor himself.
" The Longest Day in Chang'an "
Episode 35
May The Great Sage, Emperor Xuan Yuan give us your blessing!
Long live Your Majesty and may Great Tang be forever prosper!
Father, who is the Great Sage, Emperor Xuan Yuan?
I asked you to read Tao Te Ching but you wouldn't. You just play every day.
The sky and earth linger forever...
because they don't live for themselves.
I already memorised it.
If you had memorised it, how come you don't know who he is?
The Great Sage refers to Laozi.
Then, this Great Holy Lantern...
is built according to Laozi's look?
I think so.
Here.
Can you please step forward...
to plead His Majesty for mercy to pardon a person?
You make it sounds like His Majesty follows everything I say.
For the rules that Yuan Tai Zhen set,
we show no mercy to those who committed one of the ten great crimes.
We show no mercy to a person who serves under crown prince.
We show no mercy to a killer.
We show no mercy to a person with ranking five and below.
Too many people are asking me to plead mercy for them.
I'll be exhausted if I don't adhere to the rules.
-Please be understanding. -His name is Zhang Xiao Jing.
Today, he has been putting his life on the line...
in order to save Chang'an.
Those who came to plead me always have a speech of their own.
As if every one of them are great heroes that are utterly loyal to Tang.
But I don't know if it's true or not.
So, I don't want to take part in it.
The more His Majesty listens to me,
the more cautious I have to be.
Don't you think so?
So, I will never plead for those...
who broke the rules.
This man...
is my lover.
Your lover?
This is quite interesting.
So, what are you willing to sacrifice in order to save him?
I won't save someone for nothing.
Yan Tai Zhen.
Have you found the information that I asked you to?
Yes, I have.
Who is the winner of the festooned carriage this year?
Xu He Zi from Yongxin County of Ji.
It's her again.
She lost last year...
and didn't get the chance to go on stage and meet His Majesty.
It's her again this year.
This year, His Majesty has often mentioned about her.
Word is, the people of Yongxin County...
had starved themselves to death in order...
to squeeze these money out...
so that they can bribe the people in the court...
to make sure that she turns out the be the winner this year.
They hope that she can get close to His Majesty.
That is just a wishful thinking.
You are the only one in His Majesty's heart.
I'm sick with this name.
I have already cultivated myself for seven years.
I'm sick with these plain robes.
That's expected.
My family has no power and I have no one in the court.
I'll always be bullied.
If anything happens to Chang'an in the future,
they will definitely blame me for being the femme fatale.
Rather than living in fear...
and waste your energy,
how about you do something about it?
You are right.
If an accident happens to...
Xu He Zi when she meets His Majesty,
your lover, Zhang Xiao Jing,
will be saved.
When the lantern tower is fully lighted up, it will...
explode.
What about the people in the square then?
They deserve it for liking to...
have fun so much.
You won't succeed.
None of you will succeed! Commander Zhang will stop you!
If he can really come here,
he would be here already.
Where...
is he now?
Be clever,
smart guy.
I'm waiting for you.
Zhang Xiao Jing!
Didn't you say again and again that...
you are investigating a case for the people of Chang'an?
Why are you hiding cowardly in other's manor now?
You don't deserve the title as captain of sleuth-hound!
You call yourself Commander Zhang?
You are just a coward!
Come out if you dare!
If Zhang Xiao Jing comes out, let the arrows rain down on him.
Roger that.
Good. You are very good.
There is just one defect.
This is not good.
This sword is not good.
It's too short to suit you.
What are you doing?
How is it with the newly built Lesser Patola Sahi Ambassy?
Is the ambassador staying there?
Yes.
He is very satisfied with it.
The ambassador told me that...
he's very grateful for being at the receiving end...
of such generous hospitality.
He said that he will advise Su Shi Li, king of Patola Sahi...
to pay the yearly tribute to us at once when he goes back.
If the Patola Sahi takes the lead to do so,
there are hopes that the other 20 countries in...
the Northwest will break away from...
the Tibetan Tubo and bow to Great Tang again.
This embassy building...
is worth our while.
Right Counsellor has done well in supervising the construction of it.
It has taken us half a year...
to build The Lesser Patola Sahi Ambassy.
From choosing the place, taking care of the resettlement,
scaling it,
drawing out blueprints to supervising the manufacturing and construction,
including tasks of all sorts...
are done by Prince Yong.
Li Yu.
Both of them...
have contributed in appeasing the riot in the Northwest area.
What about you?
I asked you to lead Peacekeeper Corps...
to investigate on some criminals that bring troubles to the city.
Have you...
done it well...
or have you fallen through?
Speak.
Have anyone ever told you about...
how they procure the land that is used to build...
that Lesser Patola Sahi Ambassy?
Do you know what is...
the most beautiful thing in this world?
Perfection, purity...
and the ultimate stubbornness.
I came to Great Tang from Japan...
to learn about the art of Tang...
because I hope that I will be able to find that sort of beauty.
I had travelled far and wide...
and I had tried a lot of things.
But something is always missing.
But I saw it in you just now.
I saw the ideal state that I have been looking so hard for.
You are just a craftsman.
You don't know what a massacre is.
It has nothing...
to do with beauty.
" Second Reignal Year of Tian Bao: August "
Get lost.
Old Man Wen, I am back.
Wen Ran.
My father has gone to the Blaze Gang to deal with them.
Since the beginning of the month,
the Blaze Gang increased the monthly rent for all the shops on this street.
And it's more than five times higher.
I don't know where they got the idea to build an inn...
for diplomatic envoy on this street.
They did it to welcome the envoy from the Lesser Patola Sahi.
To purchase the lands with cheaper price,
they forced shops to go out of business...
so that the whole street have to move.
My father has gotten news about it.
So, today,
he's going to meet with Qin Jue, the second-in-charge of Blaze Gang.
You are back.
Xiao Jing.
I need to trouble you with something else.
Take good care of Wen Ran for me.
Where are the people from the Blaze Gang?
Young lass.
In the future, if you are unhappy,
ask Xiao Jing...
to accompany you to the top of Chang'an...
-Leader Wen. -to watch the sun.
I...
won't be able to accompany you anymore.
Leader Wen!
Leader Wen, stand up!
Stand up, Leader Wen!
Old Man Tan, they slaughtered innocent people!
Sleuth-hound Captain, Zhang Xiao Jing recklessly hurt others!
Arrest him at once!
Attack!
-Leader! -Leader, don't make this hard for us!
Leader, please surrender!
Leader!
You are no match for them! Please surrender!
-Leader Zhang, please surrender! -Leader, please surrender!
Leader, please surrender!
-Stop fighting, leader! -Leader!
The embassy is built...
on the dead bodies of 34 people.
Prince Yong is indeed very capable.
That's not true.
If the ambassador leaves,
it'll be hard to calm down the riot in the Northwest.
It's better if you tell the truth. Don't lie to His Majesty.
Hear me out. The 34 lives that he meant...
are the people slaughtered by a low ranking solider who had gone crazy.
It has nothing to do with the resettlement and...
construction of the embassy.
He did it alone?
Yes, he did it alone.
Where is that man now?
He is Zhang Xiao Jing.
He is supposed to wait for his beheadment in the death cell. Now,
he is working for the crown prince.
Chang'an is crowded with people because of the lantern festival today.
In order not to disturb the people, Li Bi, chief of Peacekeeper Corps...
has used the database...
to pick out the best man to investigate on this case.
Are you trying to shirk responsibility...
and shift the blame onto others?
Although Zhang Xiao Jing is a death row convict,
he has been doing his best on this case for Great Tang today.
He got rid of the Wolven Squad as well as the Crouching Fire.
He took care of the safety of Chang'an all by himself.
Father, Zhang Xiao Jing has great dissatisfaction...
towards the government.
Zhang Xiao Jing is not willing to be punished...
after he slaughtered the 34 people from the Blaze Gang.
You slaughtered 34 people from the Blaze Gang.
Prince Yong won't ever let you go.
Either you admit to your crime and receive capital punishment...
or you can follow my lead.
I can show you another path.
Change to a new way of living.
What is the new way of living?
A new way of living.
Someone wants to meet you.
Guards!
From here...
to Prince Yong's manor,
ask our brothers...
to stay away from me.
I won't make things difficult for you.
Leader, your sword.
Since no one can stop you,
why didn't you leave Chang'an back then?
You still have someone to take care of?
The Blaze Gang is the hatchet man for Prince Yong.
I'm not afraid if they come to me.
But Old Man Wen has only one daughter.
That lass only knows how to make incense.
She has no one to depend on.
I need to find a way out for her in Chang'an.
Without that Wen who leads the rebellion,
those commoners in Anye Street don't dare to make a squeak anymore.
They moved away obediently within three days' time.
He murdered his own superior and tried to take out his revenge on me.
All he had is resentment towards the government.
That day, he planned to escape after he killed me off.
-He blatantly spoke of his revenge. -I'm the 16th child of the emperor.
I can annihilate your whole family if you so much as touch me!
Warrior, what do you want? Tell me.
I want you to swear on Wen Wu Ji's daughter's safety...
so that she can live the rest of her life in peace.
Why would I make things difficult for a young lass?
How can I trust you?
I can swear in front of my mother's memorial tablet.
If I dare lie in front of my mother,
I will lose my arms, legs, eyesight, I'll have a crooked neck...
and I won't be able to step into the court forever.
Make your vow!
You and your subordinates,
the people from the Ministry of Work...
and the people from the Blaze Gang...
will never bully Wen Ran in this lifetime of hers.
Alright. What are you going to do...
after I make my vow?
I won't kill you.
It's not enough. Just now, so many people...
had seen you taking me in as hostage.
If you run away, the Ministry of Justice will arrest...
everyone who is connected to you.
Although the daughter of Wen won't be punished for it,
you know how cruel it is the interrogation by our government.
I can control my people. But I can't manage the Ministry of Justice.
Don't blame me for it if she's arrested by them.
I didn't plan to escape.
Make your vow!
I, Prince Yong, Li Lin,
hereby swear in the name of my mother...
not to make things difficult for Wen Ran forever.
The Messer sword of Zhang Xiao Jing is resting on my neck.
But all I can think of is your poise and magnanimity, father.
I refuse to throw away the dignity of the royal family.
I can't bring shame to the forefathers of Li family.
So, I had faced him without fear.
First, I advised that criminal that we should put our country first.
I told him that you want to use the land to build the embassy...
in order to calm down the riot in Longyou...
so that there won't be any more blood shed in the four counties of Anxi.
Well said. Not only Prince Yong is diligent the national affairs,
-he has an insight into others' heart. -That's right.
And then, I advised criminal by using the poise of the people of Chang'an.
I told him that the people of Chang'an understand justice.
We should pay for what we did.
Or else, if the people make him an example...
and kill as they please to vent out their anger,
Chang'an will be in a chaos then.
Did anyone else hear what you said...
when you advised that criminal?
You have taught the crown prince before.
But you had never taught me.
So, you think that I'm a person who lies.
Even if it's true,
if Zhang Xiao Jing can be easily persuaded by your righteousness,
-it means that... -it means that he made a mistake...
and regrets the consequences later.
And by that time, my bodyguards were already on their way to me.
I know that you have a great sense of judgement, father.
Zhang Xiao Jing view the government as the enemy.
It's really inappropriate for the Peacekeeper Corps to get him out...
and put him on the case today.
I need to go to Xingqing Palace and go into the lantern tower.
-Do you have any idea how to go in? -Yes.
Putting a death row convict in a case...
is the strategy suggested by Peacekeeper Corps.
As for why they choose Zhang Xiao Jing,
I've never questioned them.
If he's really as bad as his name precedes,
please punish me for neglecting my duties.
You are trying to get away with lighter punishment!
It is not up to the crown prince...
to decide what crime he should be punished for.
Sister Tai Zhen.
After I am done with my pleading,
you have to ask your servants to arrest me in front of His Majesty...
so that I won't drag you into this mess with me.
-You want to face His Majesty alone? -Lin Jiu Lang.
You have kept on framing me up in front of His Majesty today.
-Don't overdo it. -I have evidence.
I have my witnesses and their testaments.
If I hurt Xu He Zi,
from here onwards,
you will fall into an endless battle.
And peace will forever elude you.
You hold the seals of the three major ministry.
You can get whatever evidences that you want.
You set up a clandestine tribunal to force them to testify.
-Where has the law of Tang gone? -Shut up!
Your Majesty.
His Majesty in the midst of a meeting. Please go back first.
Your Majesty. Something great has happened...
during this lantern festival today.
I would like to tell you about it.
As them to leave first.
Leave!
-Yes, Your Majesty. -Yes, Your Majesty.
When your previous dynasty started to build Chang'an,
they made a secret underground passage between the palace and Chunming Gate.
It was made so that the people in the palace can escape if there's a mutiny.
This secret passage will go pass Xingqing Palace.
It is connected to the hydraulic channel...
that will lead you to the lantern tower built by Mao Shun.
Get into the water channel from it and it'll lead you to the lantern tower.
Where is the entrance of the secret passage?
There is a dry well in the southwest part of the square in Xingqing palace.
It was used as breathing hole for the people who dug the tunnel back then.
After that, Emperor Ning was charmed by that well.
So, he never filled it up.
Have you memorised everything?
Yes, I have.
But I don't have a way to get you out from my manor.
There are so many people in the square.
I have to get out no matter what.
Get him a physician.
Treat his wounds...
and send him back to the church.
Wait!
Are you afraid of water?
No.
It's good then.
Keep this with you.
Is everything here?
Yes. All of them are here.
Open up the gate of the sluice to block the incoming road.
Roger that.
An order has been given down by both Right Counsellor and the crown prince.
Zhang Xiao Jing is safe for now.
Yan Tai Zhen asked you to pretend as her maidservants...
to hide your identity. It'll be dangerous otherwise.
After the end of the royal feast, leave the palace with us.
When we get out from the gate, you can go your own way.
Thank you.
Appraiser Yuan.
An emergency official order from the secretariat.
Adjourn the arrest warrant on Zhang Xiao Jing...
and focus on taking down The Ant at once.
Zhang Xiao Jing is obviously the spy for The Ant.
So many of us were hurt.
If we don't arrest him, we'll become the joke of the year.
Look at the signature.
It is signed by both crown prince and the Right Counsellor.
How is it possible that they are on the same side now?
Of course they did it under His Majesty's order.
I have delivered the letter. Decide for yourself.
Are we going to arrest him or not?
Obviously, we have to obey the order.
Now, the more you do, the more you'll be made a scapegoat.
The problem is,
why would the Eastern Palace and Phoenix Hall band together?
Looks like there will be a major incident tonight.
I have to go to the lantern tower in Xingqing Palace!
That thing is the Jahannum-dhool!
Lower your weapons. Don't hurt Commander Zhang.
If you are the soldiers of Tang, don't stop me.
Send a warning to the square now.
Commander Zhang, I apologise for my action just now.
Please feel free to work on the case with all your might.
We are willing to give you our full support.
Guards, get him a horse!
That side and that side.
Everybody.
Place them on the place that you want.
Go now.
All of them are here. And the water channels are filled with water.
We have washed away all traces.
Set up the Qilin Column.
Is it fine...
to leave Mao Shun alone to stand guard there?
Today is the full moon of his oldest grandson.
He has used this chance...
to kill off all of his family members.
He is quite obedient to you.
What did you ask Mao Shun to do?
Mao Shun will control the movement of the lantern tower.
He will push out the Qilin column...
towards His Majesty to blow him up.
If he can't do that,
we have planted a device at the top...
that will push out the Qilin column...
towards His Majesty to blow him up.
If that doesn't work,
when His Majesty fires off...
a golden arrow to light up the lantern,
he will trigger the mechanism of Qilin Column to push out...
towards him to blast off himself.
If it still doesn't work...
by then,
there is still me.
His Majesty has to die today.
Commander Zhang must be doing everything he can to come here.
If Zhang Xiao Jing is telling the truth, His Majesty will be in danger.
-We have to report it in at once. -We can't do that.
Why?
As an official, we can't just call a spade a spade.
We have to balance out the pros and cons.
It wouldn't bring me merits to report a clue from a death row convict.
If they were to look into it in the future,
I might be blamed for spreading rumours to mislead the people.
What should we do then?
We will go and get the evidences ourselves...
to get the merits for our outstanding services.
The winner of the festooned vehicle
for this year's Lantern Festival...
is Xu He Zi from Yongxin!
Xu He Zi!
I need help.
Alright.
It might be dangerous.
That'll be best.
By doing so, you will remember me forever.
Aren't you afraid?
Being afraid will get me nothing, right?
Please get me into the square.
Xu Ge. It's almost time.
Let's start our tour then.
Xu He Zi!
I long to be...
in Chang'an.
The calls of crickets during autumn waft up from the graceful well.
The day is chilling and the seat has gotten cold.
The once bright and dazzling eyes...
are now filled with strings of tear.
If you don't believe that I am in so much pain,
look at the mirror...
and see my pallid face.
I long to be...
in Chang'an.
The calls of crickets during autumn waft up from the graceful well.
The day is chilling and the seat has gotten cold.
The once bright and dazzling eyes...
are now filled with strings of tear.
If you don't believe that I am in so much pain,
look at the mirror...
and see my pallid face.