01x03 - Episode 3

[bunniefuu]

♪Trapped in this tiny world♪

♪I'm crushed into dust♪

♪I meddle around without any mercy♪

♪I'm my own pawn♪

♪I sigh at my fate♪

♪Numerous people are under my control♪

♪All the sand is washed away♪

♪An old dream fades♪

♪A bumpy path lies ahead♪

♪Traps within traps,
I never make mistakes♪

♪I take a risk at every step♪

♪Even in disputes,
I break through with my life♪

♪Schemes within schemes,
I prison myself♪

♪Each link swaps bluff and truth♪

♪The world is my Weiqi game board♪

♪Everything's just fleeting♪

♪The play begins♪

♪No return is expected♪

♪The flame is gone,
whether we win or lose♪

♪The wind never ceases.
I hold the reins♪

[Ashes To Crown]

[Adapted from Xixing's novel,
Empress of the State of Chu]

[Episode 3]

The Emperor passed away!

Anping Rebellion came to an end.

In this life,

I cut off Xiao Xun's path to throne.

But this game to crush him

has just begun.

Your Highness, congratulations
on getting what you want.

The same to you, Grand Mentor Deng.

[Deng Yi, the Grand Mentor]

You got wealth and honor

as you had longed for.

The Imperial Guard Commander
was involved

and ex*cuted.

This position

concerns the entire imperial city

and even the royal clan.

Your Highness.

Anyone in mind?

Jiu.

Your Highness,

what do you mean?

This is my first order.

Fu Jiu, retainer of Chu clan,

will be promoted to
the Imperial Guard Commander.

He can be armed at court.

Any objection, Grand Mentor?

[Imperial Guard]

Don't regret it.

Don't make me regret it.

General!

Urgent message from the Capital!

Urgent message from the Capital!

General!

General,

message from the Capital!

[The Emperor has passed away.]

[In his final decree, he conferred upon]

[Chu Zhao of Chu Clan the title
of Grand Princess of State,]

[and granted her the authority
to oversee state affairs]

[and govern the court
together with the Grand Mentor.]

His Majesty has died.

Zhao...

She's the Grand Princess now.

What on earth has she

gone through?

Complicated infighting in the court

is far more fierce

than that on the frontier.

At least, she's safe now.

Glad she's safe.

General, enemies are invading!

Arm up!

Move out!

His Majesty has arrived.

Zhao.

I want Zhao to be here.

[Xiao Xun, heir to the Lord of Xiaonan]

[Xie Yanfang, the Prime Minister]

[Deng Yi, the Grand Mentor]

Your Majesty,

this is inappropriate.

Yeah, Your Majesty.

There is no precedent.

Let the Grand Princess enter.

Yu,

what's wrong?

Zhao,

I don't want to walk alone.

You walk with me, all right?

If a woman interferes with politics,
the state will collapse.

Please behave, Your Highness.

Chamberlain, don't you remember

what happened before?

When Dowager Empress Xie

ruled behind the curtain,

you were the first

to urge the emperor to take the throne.

Your Majesty,

time to move on.

Kneel.

Your Majesty, may you have longevity

and a prosperous reign!

Rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Mr. Xie,

still here?

I've lingered for a moment

to thank you

on His Majesty's behalf.

It's so polite of you, Mr. Xie.

I don't know

how I should reply.

You're from the direct line
of the Xie Clan of Gaoyang.

And by blood,

you're Yu's uncle.

You can call him

by his nickname in private.

Then let me thank you, Your Highness,

on behalf of my clan.

for saving Yu's life

and keeping his throne.

You flatter me, Mr. Xie.

Yu and I will

rely on you and your clan.

You're modest, Your Highness.

I know it perfectly well.

You didn't get where you are

by relying on my clan.

Instead, my clan relied on you.

Otherwise,

I wouldn't have had a position

in the court.

Since we're in the same boat,

forget about the formalities.

When we're outside the court,

I'll call you Yanfang.

All right?

It's my honor.

After you come back here,

you look very well.

I wonder

what illness

made you leave the Capital

for a long recovery.

A long-standing illness.

Thank you for your concern.

In the previous life, he was

best at disguising.

His clan had a century-long history

with profound impact.

To put Xiao Xun off his guard,

he feigned illness
and stayed in Gaoyang.

But he secretly gathered private troops

and expanded his power.

A man like him,

who keeps a low profile,

is more likely to have the last laugh.

Why do you stare at me like that?

Am I untidily dressed?

I was just thinking...

Yanfang,

you're an extraordinary young man.

Among all the ministers,

I've never seen anyone

who could be

even half as smart as you.

I wonder how sincere you are

when you praise me.

Every word I say is sincere.

You're a master strategist.

I'm waiting for you to advise me

on what the Lord of Xiaonan

will do next.

The Lord of Xiaonan

didn't mourn the late emperor

or pay homage to the new emperor.

His ambition

is all too evident.

The Grand Mentor has sent nearby troops

to Xiaonan Prefecture secretly

in the name of hunting
remnants of the rebels.

The Lord of Xiaonan

has schemed for over two decades.

I'm afraid a lot of things

are no longer under the court's control.

Can't we strike first?

Not until we have a just reason.

The Lord of Xiaonan declared

he was overwhelmed with grief

and bedridden
over the late emperor's death.

So, he couldn't come here.

And Yu is his junior.

We must placate him.

What's worse,

foes from the Northern Desert

are lurking on the frontier.

New court, young emperor.
Internal and external troubles.

Our state is too fragile
to survive unrest.

That's why
the late emperor's edict stated

Xiao Xun made contributions
in saving the throne.

Otherwise, his father might

have an excuse for rebellion.

But actually, Xiao Xun

is the mastermind behind this.

He set up the trap

to k*ll the Crown Prince and Princess.

The Crown Princess is my eldest sister.

She's like my mother.

I'm the mortal enemy

of Xiao Xun and his father.

One day,

I'll k*ll them with my own hands

to avenge my sister.

But not now.

Xiao Xun appears
to be the imperial uncle.

But actually, he's still a hostage.

Don't worry, Your Highness.

Take everything slowly.

Do not rush things.

I understand.

Thank you for your instructions.

If you have any further confusion,

summon me anytime.

Be careful.

The paths in this palace

are treacherous.

So, someone like Xie Yanfang,

upright and noble,

also wants to k*ll people

out of hatred.

Since you also intend

to oppose Xiao Xun,

then don't blame me

for taking advantage of you.

The Xie Clan of Gaoyang

came to rescue
with 5,000 private troops.

It's him.

The Xie Clan.

We heard

your mother worked in a brothel.

Our clan

doesn't want dirty people.

Since

you're just like your mother,

how about we pierce your ear

and dress you up?

Maybe you'll fetch a good price.

You can endure a lot.

One more.

Stop.

Uncle, it's really kind of you.

You even pity an illegitimate child.

Xie Xiao,

you and your peers bullied

the weak boy.

Do you know how you should be punished?

Do you want me

to take you to the ancestral hall

and make you kneel?

Uncle, we're wrong.

We'll leave now.

It hurts, huh?

Go get some medicine.

No need.

Your ear...

Why do you wear that?

If people see it...

I'm not afraid of being seen.

This

will become part of my flesh and blood

and remind me day after day

not to forget

how they pierced

my ear.

And one day,

they will be pierced

by me.

How daring!

How dare you rebel?

Your whole clan may be ex*cuted!

That's just what I want.

Congrats, Yanlai.

With the Commander's token,

you look impressive.

The Grand Princess

isn't as weak

as you think she is.

She's indeed extraordinary.

You worked for Chu Ling

for so many years.

You know more about Miss Chu

than I do.

She acted perfectly.

But sadly,

she's way too impatient.

I'm quite curious.

Why did she suddenly

hate Xiao Xun?

How did this engaged couple

become estranged?

Why can't they get along?

From the very beginning,

Xiao Xun wasn't after Chu Zhao,

but the frontier troops

under Chu Ling's control.

She would notice it

if she weren't a fool.

It sounds like...

Yanlai, you think she's clever.

I've never heard you

praise anyone else like that.

The way you look at her...

It's like how you look

at your pet.

However,

she's a wolf

growing up in the desert.

If you're careless,

she'll bite through your neck.

What's bad about a biting wolf?

Isn't that funnier than a dog

wagging its tail?

Yanlai, you know that.

I always like clever people.

I've made my point.

Young Master Xie,

be careful not to get burned.

Thank you for your concern.

When you have time,

come back home.

After all,

you're a Xie.

[Xie]

[Xie Yanlai,
the Imperial Guard Commander]

Now you know

why the Imperial Guard Tally

can't be given to Fu Jiu.

He's a Xie.

He's the ninth child of Xie Family,

Xie Yanlai.

I know.

You know?

He worked for my father for five years

under a false name.

How could he not be exposed?

You think my father's troops

didn't know his identity?

They did.

They just didn't care.

Whether he's Fu Jiu or Xie Yanlai,

if he had ill intentions

or harmed frontier troops,

my father would punish him accordingly.

But you gave the Tally

to someone from the Xie Clan.

Do you know what that means?

Calm down, Grand Mentor.

I can give you

more.

Seven shops in Yongfeng Alley

will be put under your name tomorrow.

Glazed cups and glowing pearls

aren't rare.

Two boxes have been sent to you.

Feel free to enjoy them.

If you need anything else,

don't hesitate to tell me.

I'll do my best

to get it for you.

Why, Your Highness?

Do you know

why the palace walls
can stand for a century?

Because every brick

stays where it belongs.

I made Xie Yanlai

the Imperial Guard Commander.

But I'll count on you

for court affairs.

So rest assured, Mr. Deng.

Before I'm no longer the princess,

your position

will be rock-solid.

I will

spare no effort.

I've heard your mother

has been missing the hometown.

So I sent men at full gallop

to bring some millet

from your hometown.

It's nothing.

Hearing you're a very good son,

I'm just offering a little present.

I...

Thank you for your consideration.

Everyone has his weakness.

So do you, Deng Yi.

Xie Yanfang is famous
throughout the state.

But he still can't resist flattery.

Since he likes obedient people,

I'll sheathe my claws before him.

As for Deng Yi...

He's greedy and filial to his mother.

I'll just give him what he wants.

Xie Yanlai.

All the ministers are fierce.

He's the only one...

Who protects me with his own life.

[Xie Yanlai]

Jiu.

I can trust you.

Right?

How dare you, an illegitimate son,

burn the ancestors' tablets?

You even angered your father to death.

Believe it or not,

I'll dig your mother out

and feed her to the dogs.

Lowborn!

You bring bad luck.

Lowborn!

k*ll him!

Hit him hard!

Are you k*lling Yanlai, Great-uncle?

Father has just died.

Do you want
to lose another family member?

But he burned the ancestral hall.

Right!

Without descendants,

what do we need the hall for?

By k*lling a Xie descendant,

will you answer to our ancestors?

Yanlai.

Yanlai.

In childhood, you were afraid of pain.

You cried in the barn

for an hour

over your scraped knee.

But today, you endured 18 lashes.

Like a different person.

I'm Fu Jiu.

I'm not your brother.

I remember, when you were ten,

you stole my books to pad the manger.

I chased to the west yard

and saw you wrapping

a crippled dog in the doghouse.

At that time, you said

everything had a soul.

A crippled dog shouldn't be discarded.

But now, what's going on?

When you're discarded,

why do you let their words

get to you?

You're just like them!

You look down on my mother and me.

Why are you pretending

to be a caring brother?

I am your elder brother.

I don't need to pretend.

Jiu, you haven't fully recovered.

Why are you on night duty?

It's not appropriate for you

to come so late.

I'm just here to give you a cloak.

You won't reject it,

will you?

I'm used to cotton.

I won't like

fancy fabrics.

Cotton is too soft

to guard against arrows.

Don't you agree?

Mr. Xie Yanlai.

Your Highness, are you testing me

or trying to win me over?

I heard

when you served under my father,

you didn't bat an eye
when breaking through ranks

and pulled down the flag.

But now,

why are you afraid of a cloak?

Afraid?

Now I have

the Imperial Guard Tally.

Shouldn't you

be the one who is afraid?

I am afraid.

Covert schemes are harder to dodge

than open attacks on the frontier.

So, Mr. Xie, will you consider

becoming my ally?

Now, you know who I am.

Why do you think I'll pick your side

instead of my own clan?

Because I'll prove to you

I'm more worthy of your support

than Xie Yanfang.

Is this a deal

or an order?

It is a request.

Your Highness,

you're powerful now.

Your request

is too much for me.

Let alone

the support thing.

You'd better

take the cloak back.

Life is like a game. Nothing is set yet.

Jiu, it's a little rash of you

to reject me so firmly.

If one day,

you change your mind,

come to me

anytime.

Congratulations.

You've become the Grand Princess

and gained the supreme power.

You can finally take revenge.

No.

I want more than that.

Don't you remember

how Xiao Xun strangled you,

how he cut off your father's head,

and how he annihilated your clan?

Even if you have to lose your life,

you should make Xiao Xun

pay blood for blood!

Nothing but hatred

can get you up

to the peak of power.

Nothing but hatred

can make you use everyone,

especially men.

They're greedy for power

and beautiful women.

If you don't mind,

they will do anything

for you.

By then,

you'll be able

to take revenge without bloodshed.

Revenge.

That's not my only desire.

I do hate Xiao Xun.

I also want to cut off

his path to success

and ruin everything

he longs for.

To make all this happen,

I have to hide my abilities

and conceal my edge for further action.

With everything you have now?

You're a princess

in name only.

Xiao Xun is the imperial uncle.

Deng Yi oversees the court.

The Xie Clan has accumulated merit.

What do you have?

What makes you think you can fight them?

Didn't you risk your life

to become the Grand Princess

just because you wanted Xiao Xun
to regret it

and wanted to slice him

by the blade of power?

No.

I want more than this.

I want to rule behind the curtain.

I want the real power.

I'll make my father and me

live a long life.

What I want is...

Fate won't repeat itself.

What?

Yeah.

The Grand Princess is here.

That's utterly improper.

It has never happened before.

Indeed.

Your Highness, it was all right

that you attended
the enthronement ceremony.

But now,

how can you even attend court?

Are you trying to rule
behind the curtain

just like Dowager Empress Xie?

That's right.

This is ridiculous.

Outrageous, indeed.

Who does she think she is?

Come on.

Ministers,

my duty is to oversee the court.

His Majesty will rule sooner or later.

His Majesty should attend court.

Who made the rule

that Your Highness can attend court?

Good question, Mr. Qin.

A few days ago, you failed your duty.

By law, you should have been ex*cuted.

On the pretext of your military merit,

you were given a minor penalty.

I also want to ask you.

Who made that rule?

We've been sparing no effort

for our state.

But now, in the court,

a woman outside the royal clan

takes charge of politics.

Isn't that ridiculous?

Yeah. That's outrageous.

That's right. That's absurd.

Chamberlain,

you're the father-in-law
of the Third Prince

who k*lled his elder brother.

If His Majesty hadn't shown mercy,

you wouldn't be standing here

and ranting.

Instead of feeling grateful,

you make things difficult.

Aren't you biting the hand
that feeds you?

It's perceptive of you, Mr. Deng.

You've figured out everything

about all the ministers.

How admirable.

Within only a few days,

you've put in so much effort.

This is truly a blessing for this state.

When you assist His Majesty so well,

our state will be peaceful.

Entrusted by the late emperor,

I dare not slack off in my duty.

Mr. Xie, you used to be sick

and away from court for years.

When you're back here,

you must have a lot of confusions.

If you want to discuss anything

with me,

I'm always at your service.

Ministers,

present your reports.

Or the court is dismissed.

But...

This...

How could she say that?

What a breach of rules.

Who does she think she is?

She has no right to say that.

She oversteps her authority.

She...

She's being presumptuous.

Yeah.

Who would accept that?

Yeah.

Commander Xie.

Her Highness ordered!

Present your reports!

Or the court is dismissed!

I...

I have something to report.

Recently, I dreamed

that the late emperor wept blood

and wanted a sacrifice
at the Ancestral Temple​.

The late emperor should

cry out to the current emperor.

Why would a hostage like you

say such things?

In that case, Mr. Xiao must have

a close connection with the late emperor

because they're blood-related.

But oddly enough...

Mr. Xiao,

why didn't you dream
of the Crown Prince?

Does the late emperor also think

your branch is closer to him

than the Crown Prince?

So, last night,

Grandfather appeared in Uncle's dream.

He must have been angry with me.

In the past few days,
he often came into my dreams,

saying he would fly a kite with me.

But last night, he didn't appear.

Yu.

Your Highness,

what do you think we should do?

Since His Majesty had dreams,

Mr. Deng and Mr. Xie

shall prepare for the sacrifice thing.

We'll do our best.

It's so tiring to attend court.

Can I not go tomorrow?

Yu,

an emperor must put the state first

instead of complaining all the time.

Where's my Nine-ring Puzzle?

Back there.

Watch your step.

Don't trip.

All right.

Without requesting an audience,

I came in here uninvited.

Please forgive me, Your Highness.

You're Yu's close family.

And now I'm his sister.

You and I are close too.

You don't need to inform others

before you visit Yu.

But now,

he's the Emperor, after all.

I hope

you'll inform me next time

so that I can be prepared.

I'll keep that in mind.

Yu.

I'm your...

Uncle.

Be careful.

I heard you brought a toy

to today's court.

It's just a Nine-ring Puzzle.

Give it to me.

I know I was wrong.

Never do it again.

Yu,

this is Mr. Xie Yanfang

from the Xie Clan.

He's also your uncle.

Xie Yanfang?

Oh, the Third Uncle.

Yu,

I know you hate

my clan and me.

We failed to protect

your parents

as well as you.

So, I came here today

to apologize to you.

From now on,

I'll spare no effort

to keep you safe.

Yu,

it's time for morning classes.

Go wait for me in the study,

will you?

He's a kid

and it's normal that he doesn't know

how to hide his emotions.

Don't bother to console me.

We do feel sorry for the m*ssacre

of the Crown Prince's family.

We arrived too late

to protect them.

Yu harbors some resentment

and I understand.

Yu is still young.

After such a tragedy,

his temperament changed somewhat.

Later on, he'll get better.

Next time you come,

bring him some toys

and that might cheer him up.

How rare.

The two of you

match well in character.

How enviable.

Yeah.

Commander Xie is exceptionally brave.

I admire him a lot.

I'll count on him

for the safety of the imperial palace.

You know Xie Yanfang is suspicious.

But in front of him,

you pretended to think highly of me.

What were you up to?

You didn't deny it just now.

So, you agreed

that I was telling the truth.

Does it mean

you've accepted my offer?

It's my duty to protect Your Highness.

Not because of your offer.

Then have you decided?

Once you're the Commander,

you won't go back to Yunzhong.

I was a retainer of your family.

I don't care about that.

As for you,

the Grand Princess,

there's really no turning back.

Is this

what you really want?

Xie Yanfang is the head of ministers.

Deng Yi controls speech.

Xiao Xun owns Xiaonan Prefecture.

But you...

What do you have?

I have you

who will risk his life for me.

Two against two. I won't be scared.

Even if Xiao Xun interferes,

we have Xiao Yu.

Three against three, then.

Besides,

you can fight against not only two,

but even a hundred more.

I want you to handle Deng Yi

and Xie Yanfang.

But Jiu, you look like

you want to devour me.

You should figure out

how to handle Xiao Xun first.

He suddenly proposed the sacrifice.

He must have a plan.

I know.

You know?

Then how can you

remain so calm?

If I panicked,

what would that change?

I prefer to stay put and wait.

I'll see

how he's going to play his game.

♪Broken walls and withered branches,
trapped in the mire♪

♪Yet still striving
to reach for the sky♪

♪My pride is torn down
and my body is sacrificed♪

♪The spark smolders in the crack♪

♪And roars in the blaze♪

♪Burning the cold night until daybreak♪

♪Fate imprisons me♪

♪But I won't beg the abyss for mercy♪

♪Even if hope is faint,
I remain proud♪

♪A mayfly will cross the ocean,
however long it takes♪

♪However it ends up,
I'll go my own way♪

♪With no fear of the distance♪

♪Born from decay, fireflies still burn♪

♪With sword in hand,
I'll pierce the dawn♪

♪Let these scars all over me become♪

♪My new pride♪

♪Peril is everywhere in the palace♪

♪Yet I smile to nobody but you♪

♪Amidst the chaos♪

♪I'll always be with you♪

♪The spark smolders in the crack♪

♪And roars in the blaze♪

♪Burning the cold night until daybreak♪

♪Fate imprisons me♪

♪But I won't beg the abyss for mercy♪

♪Even if hope is faint,
I remain proud♪

♪A mayfly will cross the ocean,
however long it takes♪

♪However it ends up,
I'll go my own way♪

♪With no fear of the distance♪

♪Born from decay, fireflies still burn♪

♪With sword in hand,
I'll pierce the dawn♪

♪Let these scars all over me become♪

♪My new pride♪