01x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

Master Pei.

His Majesty has issued so many decrees.

You're finally back.

How is His Majesty?

The physicians said
he wouldn't hold out any longer.

The noble consort and the others
are awaiting permission to see him.

[Pei Shenzhi, Directorate-Supervising Eunuch]

By your decree, I headed south
to exterminate the rebels.

Your Majesty,

I've fulfilled the mission.

Shenzhi.

You're finally back.
I have been waiting for you.

The medicine has gone cold.

Is this how you serve His Majesty?

Get out.

Yes.

Now that you're back,

[Ning Weishan, Emperor of Ning]
I finally

feel reassured enough
to issue the decree of succession.

Pass on

my decree.

I assumed the throne

[Imperial Edict]
by the mandate of Heaven.

Due to my severe illness,
I shall select a capable successor.

The Crown Prince is benevolent, filial,

and wise, possessing inherent virtue.

Therefore, I shall pass the throne
to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince is morally unfit
to be my successor

and shall be deposed from his position.

Shenzhi, you...

Write it down.

Yes.

You...

You...

Your Majesty.

Do you still remember the m*ssacre

in the imperial palace 20 years ago?

Who are you?

[Twenty years ago, Former Reign, Xia]

By His Majesty's decree,
the enthronement will take place tomorrow.

All the remnants of the former reign
shall be exterminated.

The deposed empress can't run far

with her newborn child. Find them!

Yes.

[Lyu Fengning, Empress of Xia]
Check over there.

Hurry up.

This way.

My child, don't cry.

Why is there a baby crying?

Split up.

Search.

Don't leave anyone alive.

Over there. Get her.

[Zhuo Shangxian, Eunuch of Xia]

Zhuo Shangxian.

You've submitted to His Majesty.

So why are you protecting
the deposed empress?

By His Majesty's decree,
all the remnants are to be ex*cuted.

How dare you defy him?

I defied him?

Who saw it?

Your Majesty.

Shangxian.

I don't blame you
for submitting to another master.

But I hope you can spare this child,
considering that I once

saved your life.

Fengning.

Who are you really?

The person

you k*lled on the throne back then

was Father.

You...

Traitor...

You seized this empire

and started on the wrong foot.

Now, this empire is in chaos.

What a joke.

Spare my life, Master.

I saw nothing.

I will write whatever you tell me

to write.

What a loyal scribe.

[Now,]

[who can rule this empire?]

[Imperial Edict]
[Who deserves to rule this empire?]

[Ning]

[Ning Jinyi, Fifth Prince]

[Could it be...]

= Dominion and Devotion =

= Episode 1 =

Foster father.

The Crown Prince knows
he lacks talent and virtue

and has voluntarily left the palace.

Have you obtained the will?

Yes.

No successor has been appointed.

[Zhuo Shangxian, Seal-Holding Eunuch]

What are your plans?

With all the turmoil in the Imperial Court,

we naturally need to select
a new emperor to restore order.

Pass down the order.

Summon all princes to the main hall
to await the decree.

I thought you would

appoint me as the emperor.

Shenzhi.

As a prince of the former reign,

you will surely cause unrest

by rushing to proclaim yourself emperor.

Of course, I know that.

Everyone knows that I am a eunuch.

Naturally, I can't take the throne.

It's just that

I can't help but feel somewhat disappointed.

I know you've been upset.

How about

you handpick the new emperor?

Will this

alleviate your distress?

Sounds good.

Wait.

Now that the rebels in the north
have been wiped out,

have you forgotten to return
the tally of the Yilin Army?

I was summoned back urgently.

The rebel remnants are still lurking around.

I will definitely return the tally

once I get rid of the rebels.

Traitorous child.

So annoying.

[Li Jingxian, Chief Palace Maid]

Auntie.

Why did you get up?

I just caught a cold.

I can't stay in bed

while thinking about this game.

I'll play against you.

All right.

You said you'd pay respects
to His Majesty with the other princes.

Why did you come back so early?

Father is gravely ill.

The ladies and I were kept outside.

But

things were somewhat strange.

I didn't see a single guard

on my way back.

But the main halls in the palace
were heavily guarded.

I suspect...

What do you suspect?

I suspect

that Father has already passed away.

Your Highness.

Have you told anyone else about this?

I wouldn't do that.

I remember your teachings.

Always be cautious.

Do not attract attention.

We've been hiding the fact

that you're a girl for about 20 years.

We finally have a chance to escape.

Once we are out, we will no
longer have to live in fear.

I'll get a physician.

- What's going on? - Take him.

Auntie.

Wu.

Auntie.

Shenxing Camp of Yilin Army
can reach the east of the capital in four hours

for a surprise attack
on Zhuo Shangxian's Huting Army.

[Zhao Ze, Deputy General of Shenxing Camp]

Shush.

Master Pei. The princes will arrive shortly.

Please wait in the conference hall.

How much longer do we have to wait?

Pei Shenzhi.

Why did you call us here?

His Majesty passed away.

The Crown Prince

was incompetent and left voluntarily.

Nonsense.

[Father passed away?]

The Crown Prince left?

His Majesty said

that the empire needed a ruler

and commanded me

to select a wise sovereign

among the princes.

How dare you eunuch

assess the royal descendants?

Seeing the imperial seal
is like seeing His Majesty.

Speak cautiously.

His Majesty established himself through w*r.

Therefore, the way to get this seal is simple.

[Why am I feeling so hot?]

It seems that you are all quite modest.

But this seal can't remain ownerless.

I shall not fail the task

and let His Majesty down.

In that case,

why don't we let

the Third Prince inherit the throne?

[Oh no.]

What... what are you doing?

[If they make a move against Third Brother,]

[then they might just k*ll me as well.]

[I was hoping to leave
the palace with Auntie.]

Fourth Brother.

You're the best martial artist among us.

But based on seniority,

our Second Brother

should be the one to inherit the throne.

Third Brother and I don't even

qualify as candidates.

Why don't you

talk it over?

We are brothers.

Let's not fight each other.

Fifth Brother is right.

Second Brother.

I support you in inheriting the throne.

That's my brother.

Ask my sword if it agrees.

Second Brother, be careful.

How dare you block me?

You overestimate yourself!

You rascal.

Father?

Father?

You bear evil intentions

and have lost all conscience.

How dare you k*ll your own brothers?

I will k*ll anyone

who dares to stop me
from ascending the throne.

Including you.

I will k*ll you all.

Die!

Die!

[He noticed the Mind-Clouding Incense.]

[The Fifth Prince
seems a bit more interesting.]

Are you crazy?

Crazy?

My longing for the throne
has driven me crazy.

They can fight for it.

Why can't I?

Fifth Brother.

You are so naive.

You really think he'd
let us inherit the throne?

Master Pei.

Father entrusted the imperial seal to you.

If the seal is damaged,

how are you going to

appease all the court officials?

What are you suggesting, Fifth Prince?

I don't want to take the throne.

Just let me leave the palace

with my auntie.

As long as you let us leave,

we will never come back.

What I hate most

is such heart-warming
mutual dependency in the palace.

How about this?

Since you want to leave,

k*ll your auntie.

I'll let you go.

Or

I'll k*ll you

and let her go.

What do you think?

What if

I choose neither?

♪ Candle lights the halls
through springs and autumns ♪

♪ Love and hate are written in a few strokes ♪

If I k*ll you,

no one will ever know the truth.

However, I'm giving you
the option to choose.

Will you

choose or not?

♪ Bloodstained vows with a touch of tenderness ♪

Yes, I will.

Very well.

♪ Unending ♪

♪ Heaven falls ♪

♪ No concern for cause and effect ♪

♪ On the throne ♪

♪ Is it a shackle ♪

Master Pei,

please go easy on my auntie.

♪ Break through the wind and clouds ♪

♪ A dream lasts a lifetime.
The world has changed ♪

♪ One step forward, gaze back at the youth ♪

♪ At a glance, all beings bow their heads ♪

In fact,

you have one more choice.

Ascend the throne.

♪ Having the loneliest dream in this world ♪

You and Madam Li can both live.

Master Pei,

why me?

Bereft of a mother from a young age,
you're powerless and easy to manipulate.

That makes you the best candidate
among all the princes.

Am I not right?

I will do as you say.

I, Pei Shenzhi, respectfully welcome
Your Majesty to ascend the throne.

♪ Candle lights the halls
through springs and autumns ♪

♪ Love and hate are written in a few strokes ♪

♪ Imperishable ♪

♪ Bloodstained vows with a touch of tenderness ♪

♪ Fate is written by the universe ♪

♪ Unending ♪

♪ Heaven falls ♪

♪ No concern for cause and effect ♪

♪ On the throne ♪

♪ Is it a shackle ♪

♪ Locking you and me up ♪

♪ Break through the wind and clouds ♪

♪ A dream lasts a lifetime.
The world has changed ♪

♪ One step forward, gaze back at the youth ♪

♪ At a glance, all beings bow their heads ♪

♪ I'm in the midst of chaos ♪

♪ At the end of the night ♪

♪ Having the loneliest dream in this world ♪

♪ Move on ♪

♪ Don't look back ♪