01x39 - Episode 39

[bunniefuu]

♪Flowers falling by the river again♪

♪Turning the clear waves red♪

♪Sparrows singing in celebration♪

♪Calm years pass by the silent bustling city♪

♪Sitting at home♪

♪No one knows love's outline like I do♪

♪If one day the river breeze blows again♪

♪I won't be a mere reflection in the mirror♪

♪Dreams can shatter; Memories remain♪

♪Rich fragrance A*DS; Light ink writes♪

♪In the deep red windows lies mundane dust♪

=Are You The One=

=Episode 39=

Fresh crabs for sale.

We've almost finished shopping.

Big crabs, freshly caught.

- Take a look.
- Wait a moment.

Big crabs.

The autumn crabs

are quite plump now.

Sir, Madam,

do you want fish or crabs?

You must be craving my crab roe rice.

I'll cook tomorrow.

Honey, you're trying hard

to make me happy,

so I must

return the favor.

- I'd like a basket of crabs.
- All right.

These crabs were just caught.

I want that one, the big one.

Sure.

- And this one too.
- Freshly caught.

- See how lively they are.
- Thank you.

Prince Sui's Sanjin Camp is moving.

They'll reach Qingfeng Town

by the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Troops are relaxed during the festival.

If Qingfeng Town is attacked,

the capital will lose its buffer zone.

It might fall completely.

Prince Sui has finally made his move,

starting a rebellion.

I suspect he's planned this

since we went to the capital

to investigate the chief instructor.

Mid-Autumn Festival...

Prince Sui is such a nuisance.

Can't he let us enjoy the festival in peace?

I rushed here from miles away,

and you're hiding here whispering?

Zhen, what brings you here?

We wanted to celebrate

the Mid-Autumn Festival with you, Miantang.

You came at the perfect time.

It wouldn't be lively without you.

Delicious food.

Let's have a drink together.

The capital's roast duck

truly is the best.

Someone

promised to cook today,

but as soon as friends arrived,

he abandoned his post.

Maybe he's afraid

his cooking skills aren't up to par?

He was going to cook?

Lord Huaiyang,

aiming to be a kept husband?

Why aren't you home celebrating

with your mother?

Why come here to join the fun

and make me cook?

Our Zhen's Porcelain

is now the imperial kiln,

chosen by the court.

We must seize this opportunity.

We've contacted the capital's

largest porcelain shop

and brought in

new designs.

We're waiting for the Mid-Autumn Festival

to make our mark.

Look,

it's Mid-Autumn Festival again.

We can't miss this chance.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival,

the more people, the livelier the market.

It's good for business.

You seem to forget,

my husband used to run

a failing porcelain business.

He knows nothing about business.

I forgot.

My poor memories.

What's this, honey?

We have friends visiting from afar.

Tonight, we should relax

and forget about the troubling court affairs.

It's in.

I got it in.

It went in.

Go.

- Lord Huaiyang is good.
- Not bad.

Aim.

A steady mind leads to a straight shot.

So close.

Aim for the mouth of the pot.

Easy, easy.

Get ready.

Go.

Not bad.

Your turn.

Go.

Hey, no cheating.

I'm not playing with them anymore.

Then teach me the correct posture.

- Honey.
- Let me show you.

- Like this.
- Do you know

what our opponent fears most now?

What do they fear?

Unexpected complications.

He seems

to have everything going his way,

but if he makes one wrong move

at a crucial moment,

the next steps won't follow,

the rhythm and arrangement

will be disrupted,

and all his efforts will be wasted.

He won't get what he wants.

Who are you referring to

when you say "unexpected complications,"

honey?

The situation is worsening.

There are few capable officials in the court.

Even the Three Bureaus

can no longer keep Prince Sui in check.

If it comes to it,

I'm willing to risk my life.

But the Empress cannot be put in danger.

What are your plans then,

Your Majesty?

In two days,

I'll send the Empress

to Yiqing Temple for prayers and meditation.

I want you

to take my letter

and escort her safely

to Xizhou...

Your Majesty,

a message from Chonghua Palace.

I don't have time to go there.

It's not to the palace.

The Empress wants to have a drink with you

in the Imperial Garden.

Is Your Majesty's bold move

meant to exclude me?

It seems so.

You've been avoiding me lately,

yet you sent Eunuch Fu to tell me

I'm going to Yiqing Temple for prayers.

Do you think

I'm afraid of death,

after all we've been through together?

- Xueji...
- I'm willing to cooperate.

Just like when you helped me,

rescuing me from the Shi family.

You've had too much to drink.

Indeed.

The Empress and I are merely using each other.

There's no need to go this far.

- My Lord...
- I am the Emperor.

I chose you as Empress

only because you obey me without question.

I have no feelings for you.

I don't need you

to display any deep affection here.

Your only duty

is to fulfill your role as Empress

and obey my orders.

Don't make me repeat myself.

My Lord.

We received some fresh fruit,

and I remembered

your favorite drink.

I followed the recipe

and prepared some fruit-infused beverages.

And everyone in the mansion

came asking for some.

You are so thoughtful.

Your Highness.

Princess of Huaiyang.

Isn't this the birthday gift

Your Highness gave to Consort Xian?

Why is it back?

Consort Xian is grateful for the gift,

but she finds the fragrance of the incense

to be headache-inducing.

She's unable to enjoy it,

so she sent me

to return it to Your Highness.

Fine.

If Consort Xian didn't like it,

I can't impose on her.

I wonder what gift

would delight her.

Consort Xian has recently taken a liking

to various types of hairpins.

If Your Highness could bestow upon her

a set of red hairpins,

Consort Xian would be deeply grateful.

How dare you.

Those red hairpins are extremely valuable.

There's only one set in the palace.

How dare you, a mere maid,

speak so boldly?

I am simply conveying

Consort Xian's preferences.

Whether Your Highness chooses

to bestow the gift is entirely up to you.

Your Highness,

a gift must touch the heart
to be truly appreciated.

Why not grant

Consort Xian her wish?

[Virtuous and Disciplined]

Your Majesty.

Didn't I send someone to tell you?

I'm swamped

with memorials today,

no time to accompany you.

It's my birthday.

Even if you're busy with state affairs

and can't come to Jingyang Palace,

now that I'm here,

can't you just spare a glance at me?

Your Majesty,

please dine with me

before attending to the affairs.

I haven't even had my birthday noodles yet.

Can you dress up like this

just because

it's your birthday?

I recall you praising

my elaborate hairstyle and hairpins,

so...

Is the golden hairpin set

something you're allowed to wear

with your rank?

The Empress

bestowed them upon me.

The Empress gave them to you,

so you can wear them every day

and flaunt your status in the palace?

Fu Yushen.

Consort Xian,

please remove them.

It's my birthday today.

No matter the occasion,

you cannot overstep

the Empress's protocol.

After all,

Qi has only one Empress.

Is that so?

Then what about

all the affection

you showed me before?

Take them off.

Your Highness.

News from the palace,

Consort Xian has fallen out of favor.

She's completely heartbroken now.

Why not seize this opportunity

to ask her

to help us?

It would increase our chances of success.

Yun'er is blinded by love,

repeatedly acting recklessly.

There's no telling what she might do.

She's no longer of use.

I only hope she can behave herself

and not ruin my plans.

Yes, Your Highness.

You have beautiful skin.

It makes this hairpin

shine even brighter.

Your Highness.

Madam,

please take your time.

I'll leave you be.

Excuse me.

All right.

Your Highness, Consort Xian
was turned away by His Lordship.

[Prince Sui's Mansion]

- Take care.
- Thank you.

Is Consort Xian allowed to enter?

Please return. His Highness said

today isn't a day for family visits.

Consort Xian is...

Young lady.

Are you the shopkeeper

of Treasure as Desired?

I'd like to have a word,

please.

Your Highness.

Am I allowed to come home?

No.

But I just met the shopkeeper
of Treasure as Desired.

He gave me this box

and said Princess of Sui

chose the jewelry for you

and you should open it yourself.

It seems the Princess still cares for you.

[Great Fortune]

To witness the dragon fall from the sky...

Where is the shopkeeper?

He left.

If you wish to witness the dragon's fall

and the changing of the world,

you must

take action yourself.

Back to the palace.

Yes, Your Highness.

Consort Xian,

Empress of the kingdom.

- Concubine Yan sent it a few days ago.
- Consort Xian, Empress of the kingdom.

I'll take it away immediately.

- Wait.
- Consort Xian,

Empress of the kingdom.

I really

like this melody.

The Empress meticulously selected

both the music and the dishes

for this banquet.

I wouldn't dare

to steal the credit.

I'm grateful for Your Majesty's kindness.

I will diligently fulfill my duties.

It was no trouble at all.

Very well.

His Late Majesty often said

that a harmonious marriage

is a rare and precious gift.

Dear relatives,

you are the important figures of Qi.

As we gather for the Mid-Autumn Festival,

I wish you all

abundance, peace,

and happy families.

Thank you, Your Highness.

All right.

Please

be seated.

The Grand Empress Dowager is right.

A harmonious marriage

is a precious gift.

I'm not good with words,

but my heartfelt wishes

are in this toast.

Your Majesty,

I wish you

a long

and peaceful reign.

Thank you, Consort Xian.

Empress,

there's no need for a grand celebration

for my birthday this year.

I will go to Yiqing Temple

to offer incense and pray for blessings.

Princess of Huaiyang,
why are you staring at me?

I find your elaborate accessories

and makeup today

quite appealing.

Seeing you so happy

makes me happy genuinely.

Your Majesty!

- What's wrong?
- Brother!

- Your Majesty!
- Brother!

Summon the physician!

Quickly, summon the physician!

- Your Highness!
- Your Highness!

- Your Highness!
- Summon the physician!

Summon the physician now!

Someone, help.

Silence!

No one who attended the banquet

may leave today.

I've tested all the food

with silver needles,

and there's no reaction.

As you instructed,

I brought back the utensils

used by His Majesty

and the Empress.

Your Highness,

may I examine them?

Permission granted.

Colored lacquer?

What is that?

Your Highness,

there's colored lacquer in the pot.

Colored lacquer flakes off when heated.

If the poison

was sealed within the lacquer,

it wouldn't be detected
during the initial inspection.

But once the liquor is warmed,

the poison would be released invisibly

in front of everyone.

I don't know.

I don't know.

You warmed and poured the liquor.

How dare you deny it?

Mercy, Your Highness.

Mercy, Your Highness.

Who arranged

today's banquet?

Your Highness,

the Empress personally supervised

all arrangements

for the palace banquet.

She likely appointed Head Chef Qiu

from the Imperial Kitchen as well.

The Empress herself is poisoned

and in danger now.

How could she possibly harm His Majesty?

You're right.

But this servant

wouldn't dare commit

such treason

without someone's orders.

Speak.

I'll confess.

I will.

I was indeed

instructed by someone.

Is that person

present now?

Your Highness,

I can't hide it any longer.

Years ago,

you had an affair with His Majesty

but failed to become Empress.

Driven by jealousy,

you sought revenge.

She is skilled in porcelain-making

and has secretly crafted a pot

coated with colored lacquer
containing poison.

Are you accusing

Princess of Huaiyang?

How dare a servant like you

frame Princess of Huaiyang?

Do you have any evidence?

Your Highness,

I know

I shouldn't expose you,

but poisoning His Majesty

is an unforgivable crime.

I can only...

I can only...

It's...

Guards.

Arrest the treacherous Liu Miantang.

Hold.

Princess of Huaiyang,

did you do this?

Your Highness,

I did not.

That's strange.

If she hadn't orchestrated this,

how could this servant

have risked her life

to frame her?

Does Consort Xian mean

that whoever commits suicide

is telling the truth?

Then what's the point of Qi's laws,

the Ministry of Justice,
and the Court of Judicial Review?

Wouldn't all those
wrongly accused prisoners

just need to line up

and jump off Xuande Gate

to prove their innocence?

Death for truth.

Is that how it works?

My point is,

there's no witness left to testify.

Physician Song has returned.

Your Highness.

Well?

His Majesty and the Empress

have indeed been poisoned.

They were likely poisoned with aconite.

It's a potent poison

that destroys the internal organs.

We've done everything we can,

but His Majesty and the Empress

haven't shown

any signs of improvement.

Now,

all we can do

is wait.

Physician Song,

the servant who poisoned them
has committed suicide.

Please examine her.

Is there any chance she's still alive?

Allow me to check.

Your Highness,

this criminal only fainted

from external injuries.

The wound

isn't fatal.

She confessed

that Princess of Huaiyang was behind this.

Testimony alone isn't enough

to prove the guilt.

Your Highness,

may I examine the liquor pot?

Permission granted.

It's wolf's-bane.

Your Highness,

the residue in this pot is indeed

the poison that afflicted

His Majesty and the Empress:

wolf's-bane.

Commander Zhou.

Please.

Get me some bowls of potash water.

Yes, sir.

The toxic powder

of wolf's-bane

is extremely fine, light,

and easily transferred.

Ordinary soap and water

can't remove it completely.

But potash water,

as I mentioned,

counteracts wolf's-bane.

When they react,

it will present a turmeric color.

This way,

we can easily determine

who else here

has touched the poison.

All right.

Everyone present today,

dip your hands

in the potash water.

If your fingers turn yellow,

you are suspected of assassinating His Majesty.

I'll go first.

Look,

Princess of Huaiyang is innocent.

Your Highness,

this criminal's fingers turned yellow.

Go on.

Your Highness,

I am innocent.

What are you waiting for, Consort Xian?

Your Highness,

this method can't prove

her innocence.

What if the mastermind

didn't touch the powder?

We're dealing with attempted regicide.

We must explore every possibility.

Consort Xian,

if you have the time

to cast suspicions,

why don't you

dip your hand in the water

and see?

Or

are you afraid?

Consort Xian,

your hands.

Show them.

Your Highness,

her fingers turned yellow.

Arrest her.

Aye.

It was her.

Arrest everyone from Jingyang Palace

and take them to the dungeons.

Take her to the Cold Palace.

His Majesty shall interrogate her personally

after he awakens.

She will be ex*cuted

afterward.

Aye.

Your Highness,

the Empress was too deeply poisoned

to recover.

A moment ago,

she passed away.

Shi Xueji is dead?

She's dead.

Take her away.

Shi Xueji is dead.

She's dead.

Shi Xueji is dead.

Shi Xueji is dead.

She's dead.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

I used a golden elixir

to stabilize His Majesty's meridians.

But the poison has seeped deep down.

Whether he can pull through

depends on God's mercy.

Your Majesty.

Mother.

Mother.

What happened to His Majesty?

Mother.

How dare you ask?

It's all thanks to your adopted daughter.

Don't be angry, Mother.

Don't be angry, Mother.

Mother.

Don't be angry, Mother.

Don't be angry, Mother.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Our kingdom needs a ruler.

Your Majesty.

[Landownership Papers]

I've searched the entire capital,

only to discover the traitor is my son.

What a disgrace to our family.

How shameful.

Duke, where are you going?

I'm going to tie him up.

And then what?

Report it to the court?

My brother-in-law will be ex*cuted

and the Guo family be destroyed?

The reputation of your family

will be ruined in an instant?

My brother-in-law is your only son,

and he has no offspring.

Even I, as his in-law,

can't bear the thought.

Without a witness,

how can we expose

Prince Sui's heinous crimes

and restore peace to the court?

Duke,

His Majesty is ill
and unable to hold court today.

This is unprecedented.

I'm afraid

the palace is in turmoil.

If Prince Sui seizes this opportunity

to strike,

we'll have no chance

to take him down.

Father.

Father.

Kneel.

Kneel.

Your Highness,

our scouts have news.

The Sanjin Camp has reached Mount Wuling.

But a landslide occurred,

and they had to detour through Feihu Pass.

They won't reach the capital within ten days.

It doesn't matter.

Sit.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Liu Yu has been poisoned.

The Imperial Medical Institute predicts
he won't survive five days.

Regardless of Yun'er's motive
for poisoning him,

she...

she's done me

a favor anyway.

With Liu Yu gone,

who in Qi

is more qualified

to claim the throne than me?

What's wrong?

Don't you like it anymore?

I do.

I just don't know

when I'll get to eat it again.

Xingzhou,

I'll be with you.

Whether

we succeed or fail,

I'm prepared.

Even if

it's a narrow escape

or we'll face death,

as long as you want

the food I cook,

I'll cook for you

no matter what.

Eat up.

Is this how you comfort someone?

Now I lost my appetite.

The Cold Palace is heavily guarded.

But Consort Xian
had been laughing maniacally,

it's impossible to meet her privately
without attracting attention.

I thought I wouldn't be able to get any info,

but then

Consort Xian jumped into a well.

Is it suicide or execution?

The official story is

that she committed suicide out of guilt.

But Yanchi said

Zhou Cuo's man pushed her.

The well has been sealed off now.

So her body won't be seen in a while.

What a pity.

I initially wanted

to spare her life.

After Liu Yu's death,

she'd be posthumously honored.

She would

have died with dignity.

With this turn of events,

Cui Xingzhou

will sure to make a move.

Anything new about him?

He must

have heard some news.

Our scouts reported

that his aide has rushed to Zhenzhou overnight.

All bark and no bite.

With his biggest supporter gone,

he's at his wit's end

and can only go to Zhenzhou

for reinforcements.

- Duke Qing.
- Duke Qing.

Your Highness.

- You...
- Duke Qing.

Your Highness,

I know I've chosen
a different path than you,

but this time,

I'm truly desperate.

Please, Your Highness,

save my son.

How is His Majesty?

Still unconscious.

What do the imperial physicians say?

They're tight-lipped.

The Grand Empress Dowager
stayed up all night

and isn't feeling well.

She's returned to Yongshou Palace.

I need

to stay by His Majesty's side.

If you're exhausted,

you may leave first.

Fellow officials,

it's been quite eventful lately.

The Grand Empress Dowager

has personally appointed me as regent.

Therefore,

I shall

remain here and attend to His Majesty.

For all military and state affairs,

submit them to me

and I shall present them
to the Grand Empress Dowager.

I have a memorial.

It concerns the foundation of our country.

It's urgent

and must be reported immediately.

Proceed, Duke Qing.

Lord Zhang from Chancellery,

Censor-in-Chief, Lord Jiang,

and Surveillance Commissioner Zhong

shall accuse

Lord Huaiyang, Cui Xingzhou.

♪The boat drifts,
bringing back the sunset♪

♪When we reunite, we still joke
about the cause and effect♪

♪Who passed by, the crabapple
falls with a turn♪

♪Loving rightly but choosing wrong♪

♪With joys, sorrows, partings and reunions♪

♪Everyone travels far, seeing clouds and snow♪

♪Always hard to stay, yet easy to part♪

♪Crossing spring waters and autumn trials♪

♪A couple under the moonlight,
can stay together♪

♪Long hidden in the eyes,
flickering in and out♪

♪Let go of the flowers blooming
in the yard last night♪

♪Let go of the waves in the stream
in half a lifetime♪

♪Let those dust and chaos go on endlessly♪

♪In this lifetime, my wish is to the vast sky♪

♪There are many more♪

♪Everyone travels far, seeing clouds and snow♪

♪Always hard to stay, yet easy to part♪

♪Crossing spring waters and autumn trials♪

♪A couple under the moonlight,
can stay together♪

♪Time flows as we dream through four seasons♪

♪I wish to journey with you forever♪

♪Year after year♪

♪For many years to come♪