01x06 - Episode 6

[bunniefuu]

[Capital of Biantang, Tangjing]

Your Majesty.

- My beauty.
- Your Majesty, join us.

- Come, Your Majesty. I am right here.
- Where are you hiding?

Try to catch me!

Just you wait, I shall catch you all.

Come, let's play.

Over here.

[Li Jiao, Emperor of Biantang]
You cannot catch me, Your Majesty.

- Your Majesty.
- Hurry, Your Majesty.

Come on, my beauty.

You are swift indeed.

Here I am, Your Majesty.

Come, Your Majesty, come play.

- Come this way.
- Come and catch me.

Come here.

Your Majesty.

[Episode 6]

[Empress of Biantang]

Your Majesty, I beg for mercy!

Please, Your Majesty, have mercy!

Spare us, Your Majesty!

- Forgive us!
- Show mercy!

None of this was your fault.

You could not defy the imperial command.

Steward Fang.

Let them go.

The floor is far too cold.

Kneeling here will ruin their health.

Yes, Your Majesty.

You may all rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Physician.

How is His Majesty?

Your Majesty.

His Majesty is burdened with stagnant qi.

His blood and energy do not flow freely.

A chill has entered his body.

That is why he suddenly coughed up blood.

Is there a cure?

There is, Your Majesty.
But His Majesty must refrain from wine.

He must rest and recuperate.

Only then will he recover swiftly.

Go and prepare his medicinal meals.

As you command.

Your Majesty.

You have heard it all.

The physician has spoken.

It is nothing grave.

It is likely due to the chill these days.

You need only rest to recover.

Better not to fret nor tire your spirit.

All these years,

you have shielded me from many burdens.

You've been busy in the palace and the court,
back and forth.

You have endured so much hardship.

To shoulder Your Majesty's sorrows
is my greatest blessing.

How could I call it hardship?

You have been put through much.

His Majesty grows weaker
with each passing day.

Today, he has spat blood once more.

Then, what is your plan, Your Majesty?

The two beauties you sent His Majesty
were well chosen.

His Majesty was truly taken with them.

Continue to seek out more lovely girls

and send them to the palace.

As long as they bring His Majesty joy.

I understand.

[Zhan Zi Yu, The Empress's Paramour]

Your Majesty.

There is one more matter.

The Crown Prince has returned from Yanbei.

By his side,

he has brought back a woman
of unknown origin.

A woman of unknown origin?

I do not yet know who she is.

But caution would be wise.

The Crown Prince grows bolder by the day.

If he ever turns against you,

it will bode ill for all.

Then, find out her true identity for me.

As you command.

You have stayed with me for three days,

yet never asked who I am,

or why I would choose to leap into that lake.

In this vast world,
every soul carries their own sorrows.

If it pains you to speak, I shall not ask.

You remind me of someone from long ago.

That person must have meant the world to you.

Yes.

He was everything to me.

But he never wished to see me again.

Yet I cannot let him go.

Would you, for now, see me as him?

At least until his memory
fades from your heart,

and you are freed from this sorrow.

Can I, really?

Can I ever truly forget?

If you wish it,

I shall stay by your side,
for as long as you need.

[The Black Mountains, Yanbei]

[Biantang, Crown Prince's Residence]

Come.

Mind your step.

Here, take this.

Li Ce.

This is the Crown Prince residence.

Something feels off here.

Qiao Qiao, it is hard
to explain everything at once.

Let me explain in a moment.
Just come with me for now.

Quick, now.

Get inside first.

Qiao Qiao, all these fine garments
were collected by me during my travels.

So brazenly revealing.

Truly unfit for the eyes.

They hardly cover anything at all.
I can't wear them.

Qiao Qiao, that was not my intention.

The situation is urgent.
Let me explain later, alright?

Come on.

Your Highness, this is bad.

We had barely stepped inside
when the Empress already knew.

Palace messengers have already arrived.

You are summoned to the palace immediately.

I have been gone for some months,
yet Mother's news is as swift as ever.

- Never mind. I shall go at once.
- All right.

Come, Qiao Qiao.

Your Highness.

Remember to change your clothes.

Greetings, Your Highness.

[Boque Palace]

Grand Chamberlain Zhan Zi Yu bears
an imperial edict from the Empress.

The Crown Prince wandered abroad
for many days.

Her Majesty is most anxious
for his well-being.

She has sent us here in person
to deliver ten slices of deer-hide tonic,

five ornate boxes of Baiyi incense,

and five wild mountain ginsengs.

All for His Highness's health and recovery.

Each was gifted by the Empress herself.

You must ensure His Highness receives them.

Deliver them to his chambers.

If anything goes amiss,
there will be no leniency.

Yes, understood.

Who is in there?

Your Highness, this person looks unfamiliar.

Are you one of the Fengyi Palace attendants?

Why have I never once seen you
in the Empress's company?

Your Highness, I serve under Mr Zhan.

Ouch...

- Your Highness.
- I have a bad stomachache.

I must return to my residence at once.

Seize the assassin.

So there truly is an assassin
in the Crown Prince residence,

aimed at harming His Highness.

Take that assassin at once.

Who are you people?

What are you trying to do?

This is the Crown Prince residence.

I am one of His Highness's own.

One of His Highness's own?

I often visit the Crown Prince residence.

Yet I have never once seen you before.

His Highness often travels north.

Bringing home a lady is no great surprise.

And who are you to question me?

Whatever Hiss Highness does,
and wherever he goes,

does he owe you an account?

If you know your place,

then you shall come with us to the palace.

You will explain the truth
before the Empress herself.

Seize her.

She is no assassin.

She is Princess Fu.

Your Highness,
did you not go to greet the Empress?

How are you here now?

I only returned to Tangjing today.

I was suddenly stricken by a stomach ailment.

I feared it would be improper
before my mother.

So I turned back halfway
through the journey.

However, I happened to stumble upon

a misunderstanding
between you and Princess Fu.

- Princess Fu?
- Mr. Zhan.

This lady is not the assassin
you think she is.

She is the one I sought out
through much hardship,

the lost daughter of Lord Pingnan,
Princess Fu.

Seven years ago,
Lord Pingnan led his household to w*r.

He was slain on the b*ttlefield.

Princess Fu vanished that very day.

All trace of her was lost.

This journey to Yanbei of mine

was precisely because I had learned
of Princess Fu's whereabouts.

I travelled there to bring her safely home.

In those days, you had not yet
entered the palace to serve Her Majesty.

So naturally,
you know little of such matters.

Perhaps you should put the question
to my mother, the Empress.

She will surely enlighten you herself.

Any confusion will be resolved.

If that is Your Highness's wish,

then I shall return to the palace at once.

I will seek the Empress's guidance.

I shall take my leave.

Let's go.

How is he?

Wake up!

He is fading fast.

General Cheng.

We have lost our sense of direction.

If we press on at this pace,

I fear we will not hold out much longer.

None of us will live to see home.

Are you certain it lies just ahead?

It is straight ahead.

Up ahead is the Sacred Pyre
atop the Black Mountain.

Once we place His Majesty upon the pyre,

Yanbei's guardian spirits will protect him.

He will be restored to life.

Onward.

Yes, sir.

This is the place.

This is the Sacred Pyre.

His Majesty will be saved.

- Your Majesty!
- Your Majesty!

Who was that court eunuch just now?

How dare he act with such arrogance
in the Crown Prince residence?

Zhan Zi Yu is no mere court eunuch.

He holds the post of Grand Chamberlain.

He's a close confidant of my mother,
the Empress.

Most of what he does
is by my mother's decree.

Your mother?

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

- Your Highness.
- Your Highness.

- Your Highness.
- Your Highness.

- Your Highness.
- Your Highness.

You have all come.

- Your Highness.
- Your Highness.

Why did you return without telling me?

Your Highness,
have you forgotten all about me?

Of course I have not.

Then please, look at this.

While you were gone,
I stitched this sachet just for you.

Here, take in its fragrance.

Your Highness.

You must be tired, Your Highness.
Come in and sit for a while.

- Your Highness.
- Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Here. During your absence,
I made this shawl for you.

The pattern is all my own design.

It cannot be found anywhere else.

I made one for myself too.

We can wear them together one day.

My beauty.

Why are you crying?

I see your face lacks its usual glow.

You must have worked yourself
to the bone in Yanbei.

Seeing it, I cannot help but shed tears.

Who is she?

Who is she?

Your Highness.

She... She is...

- Who are you?
- Speak the truth at once.

She is a vixen.

A little vixen.

Your Highness.

If you're so unfaithful
and favour that little vixen,

then we shall let you two be.

There is no place for her
so long as we are here.

If you want her, you must do without us.

Your Highness, go and live happily
with your little vixen.

Ladies, let's leave.

[Ming Lu,
Head Maid of Crown Prince's Residence]

By the way, where is Madam Zi Ming?

How come I have not seen her
since I returned?

Madam Zi Ming?

Your Highness, if I may,
our lady has missed you for many days.

She has been consumed by worry,

and has fallen ill with a heart ailment.

A heart ailment?

I see. She must have missed me so much.

Go and tell your lady,
I shall pay her a visit this evening.

This is the chamber prepared for you.

Before His Highness's return,
we received word and made arrangements.

But it was all rather rushed.

I shall see to the rest tomorrow.

My thanks to His Highness.

I have ever been content with little.

This is more than enough.

May I ask, what should I call you?

I am the head maid here.

If you need anything,
just speak to the maids.

I shall make the arrangements.

If there is nothing needed,
you need not call for me at all.

What Princess Fu?

Princess Fu has been dead for years.

Seven years ago, Lord Pingnan defied me.

He challenged me openly at court.

So I had His Majesty send him
to w*r in the south.

He died for the realm.

Princess Fu and Lady Pingnan
went with him to the border as well.

Not even their ashes could be found.

Then is that woman truly not Princess Fu?

Then why would the Crown Prince...

The Crown Prince is flirtatious.

Playing around with women
is nothing out of the ordinary.

But you claim this woman can fight.

And the Crown Prince defies me for her sake.

That, I must say, is a surprise.

So Your Majesty believes

there is something suspicious
about this woman's origins?

His Majesty has but a few days left to live.

The moment His Majesty passes,

whether Li Ce is crowned or cast aside

shall depend on my words alone.

At such a time, whoever this woman may be,

she matters deeply.

If her presence is but a sordid affair,

we will bring it to His Majesty's attention.

Let the entire court speak of it.

But if there is a deeper secret,
then do not blame me

for sparing no mercy, even for my own kin.

I understand.

I shall keep careful watch
over the Crown Prince residence.

[Memorial Tablet of Late Husband,
Crown Prince Mao Cheng]

[Crown Prince Mao Cheng]

The weather is growing cold again.

You once made me a promise...

that every year,
you would watch the snow with me.

[Memorial Tablet of Late Husband,
Crown Prince Mao Cheng]

The snow will soon fall,
yet you are not at my side.

It is you, Emperor, who broke your word.

You slew the Crown Prince Mao Cheng.

Since you are so heartless,

do not blame me for my own ruthlessness.

Princess Fu.

It is late.

Aren't you visiting
the lady who has taken ill?

Princess Fu, what do you mean?

I have only ever cared for you, Princess Fu.

Tonight, I shall remain in your chamber.

Ouch, Princess Fu. What are you doing?

I have a question for you.

Who is Princess Fu?

Why do you say that I am her?

Shush.

Be careful. The walls have ears.

Don't play such games with me.

Fu Er, do not be angry.

They...

Mother bestowed them to me
when you were not here.

But you are back now, are you not?

What is all this about?

Let me be brief.

I am but a powerless
and pitiful Crown Prince.

There may be countless beauties
in this palace,

yet every one was bestowed by my mother.

Day in, day out,
their duty is not merely to amuse me,

but to drown me in indulgence,

and a haze of extravagance.

Worse still, my every word and deed
is relayed straight to my mother.

As for Fu Er...

She was Princess to Lord Pingnan.

A woman I once cared for.

But now,

she has passed from this world.

You and her share a striking resemblance.

So I let you borrow her name for now.

Only in this way can I keep you safe.

So it seems,
I was wrong to judge you harshly.

Since you have to pretend to be Princess Fu,

from now on,

I shall stay here in your room each night.

You cannot begin to imagine,

what I most dread each night
is having to spend the night with them.

But you are here now beside me.

What are you saying?

With you here...

Princess, gently, please!

Princess, it hurts. Ouch!

Let me do it.

It is already late.

Do we still travel on?

It took Mr Zhao great effort
to find Chu Qiao.

We must journey on through the night
and carry this message to Mr Muhe.

We must not delay.

Innkeeper!

Settle the bill!

Who are you?

What do you want?

If you dare tell anything you've heard
to the Muhe clan,

I shall make sure
you never utter another word.

Zhuge Yue.

Zhuge Yue.

Zhuge Yue.

Zhuge Yue.

Zhuge Yue, where are you going?

Don't go. Zhuge Yue, don't leave me.

Zhuge Yue.

Where have you gone?

Come back, Zhuge Yue.

Zhuge Yue!

Fu Er.

Fu Er.

What is the matter?

Did I speak in my sleep just now?

A moment ago,
you kept calling Zhuge Yue's name.

I feared someone might overhear,
so I woke you up.

What did you dream of?

Nothing of importance.

Since I woke from that frozen lake,

my dreams are always much the same.

Who is there?

Qiao Qiao.

You really are peerless in martial arts,
and breathtakingly cool.

Be quiet.

This dart is laced with poison.

What is going on?

Someone in this house wants my life?

Hansha dart.

A hidden weapon
of the Muhe clan from Great Yong.

You probably aren't the one
they're targeting.

[Zuiyue Tavern]

Honored guests.

Remember this,
sometimes we hear more truth than we see.

When we can't see,

we can sometimes find what we desire most.

[Mingyue Restaurant]

Great.
[Zhao Kuo, Great Yong envoy]

You have brought yourself to my very door.

Chu Qiao.

I knew you're still alive.

I just didn't expect you would
hide in the Crown Prince residence

and dare to come meet me alone.

If I had not come,
would you truly have let me live?

You are right.

Back then, you and Yan Xun joined forces,

and m*rder*d Young Master Muhe Xi Feng.

You even seized the chance
to topple the Wei family.

Now, can you guess, in Great Yong,

does the Muhe clan wish you dead more,

or is it the Wei family?

But your wretched life

can never repay what is owed
to Young Master Xi Feng.

I'll k*ll you first,

then hunt down that cur, Yan Xun!

Aren't you Yanbei's most capable general?

Aren't you the Xiuli Army's great commander,
unbeaten in many battles?

I will send you
to the underworld this instant!

Xing Er.

Xing Er, wake up.

Zhuge Yue.

I can see you.

Zhuge Yue.

I can see you.

Zhuge Yue.

At last, I finally see you.

Today is the fourteenth day.

The Huotu Tonic you gave me
has done its work.

I know you are still alive.

I know you were the one
who sent the Huotu Tonic.

Zhuge Yue.

You have been alive all this time.

Why do you keep hiding from me?

You went after Zhao Kuo
without caring about your injuries.

You used your inner strength
to stop your pulse,

to make me believe you were at death's door.

You did all this just to lure me out?

Yes. Everyone insisted you were dead,

but I knew you had survived.

I could always sense you near me.

If you had not been guarding me,

Li Ce and I could never have
made it safely to Biantang.

Xing Er.

Do you know...

the Xiuli Army fell in battle?

Miss Yu was slain by Cheng Yuan too?

I know.

Did you know,

for a moment, I thought...

that not only did I cause Zhong Yu's death,

I caused destruction to the Xiuli Army,

and lost the one I cared for most?

Do you remember the day
I departed for Yanbei?

You said to me,

"Do you need me?"

Now, Zhuge Yue,

will you stay for me?

General Huan,
you're weary from quelling the revolt.

Go and rest awhile.

You are certain it was a woman
who entered your chamber?

I will obey Your Majesty's command.

Long ago, I became neither living nor dead.

What does death matter to me now?

I suppose you are rather like

an escaped sl*ve,
wanted by Yanbei and Great Yong,

Chu Qiao.