01x10 - Episode 10

[bunniefuu]

Chu.

Chu.

I wish to see the King.

I know full well why you are here.

His Majesty is in a bad mood.

You'd better return another day.

Since His Majesty's recovery,
he either searches for Queen Chu,

or makes merry with wine
at the hunting grounds.

Matters of the state have amassed.

- Your Majesty.
- Your Majesty.

Speak.

It has been three months
since Great Yong withdrew their troops.

Our scouts in Yong sent news today.

Meilin Pass appears
to be thick with soldiers.

It's an unbreakable stronghold.

But in truth, the eastern flank

has moved its men from Xintai Pass
towards the west.

Now, Xintai Pass is the weakest point
in Great Yong's defenses.

The Yong army, in the battle at Meilin Pass,
was all but decimated.

Meanwhile, Yanbei's stores are well-stocked.

Enough to send 50,000 men to w*r.

Your Majesty, I believe that while
Great Yong has yet to catch its breath,

we strike at their weakest flank.

Let them be caught unawares.

You.

Come here.

Your Majesty.

Lift your head.

What did you just dance?

It is Yanbei's w*r dance.

It praises the warriors of Yanbei,

who fear no enemy and carve new lands.

A dance defying earth and sky.

To carve new lands.

To defy earth and sky.

Well done!

You will be rewarded!

Why did you stand in my way just now?

I have ridden for hundreds of li
through the night,

just for His Majesty's reply.

Why did you try to stop me?

Couldn't you see His Majesty
watching that dancer

who looks very much like Chu Qiao?

To speak of w*r just now,

what good could it possibly do?

Let it be.

[Episode 10]

Bring tea.

Your Majesty.

What are you doing here?

I am here to serve you, Your Majesty.

I hope Your Majesty
will not think me unrefined.

Which tribe do you belong to?

Your Majesty, I am of the Pale tribe.

The Pale tribe.

Help me get changed.

Your dress and your ornaments are not cheap.

Did the old man of Pale give them to you

to send you here to tempt me?

Your Majesty, you must be jesting.

Elder Pale is my uncle.

When I was but a child,

I once saw you at his residence

and have held deep admiration ever since.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Tell your conceited uncle.

Should he try to act smart again,

you will not walk out of here alive.

Get out.

Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, calm yourself.

I've failed in my duty.

- That dancer...
- What dancer?

That is Elder Pale's own niece.

They are so eager to push
their very blood kin to my side,

but it is not my bed they wish to share,

it is my throne they seek.

Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness.

Of late,

there has been fresh stirring
among the tribes.

Stirring.

I know very well, no need for your reminder.

They say only one thing.

The King of Yan has no Queen and no heir.

Who will Yanbei belong to in the end?

That is yet unknown.

Your Majesty is overthinking.
The elders would not dare.

They would not dare?

Chu.

In Yanbei, only those who can
command the black eagle

are worthy to be King of Yanbei.

Come here.

Chu, be my Queen in Yanbei.

Who would want to be your Queen?

I wouldn't bother.

I am not lying to you.

I'm serious. When my father comes for me,

we will return to Yanbei together.

We rarely have wars in Yanbei.

There are hardly any refugees.

All eat their fill there.

Even sl*ves can live as they wish.

Is what you said, really true?

It is true, Chu.

Once we reach that land,

no one shall ever threaten you
with a sword.

I will take you hunting wild horses
on the Huolei Plains,

and to soak in the hot springs
at Huihui Mountain.

You will love it, I promise.

Help me bring Chu home.

Bring her back.

Let her become Queen of Yanbei.

[Border of Ximeng and Biantang]

Beyond the next city,
you'll reach the border of Biantang.

Inside Biantang, watch him closely.

If anything at all happens,
notify me at once.

Nothing can go wrong.

As you command.

[Ba Ze]

Fu Er, what is troubling you?

Did they frighten you?

He is not the King of Ximeng.

What?

According to Ximeng custom,

I'm paying my respects to you,
the Emperor of Biantang.

King of Ximeng, you are far too courteous.

Your journey has been arduous.

A state banquet awaits you in Biantang.

It is held in the King of Ximeng's honor.

The King of Ximeng has come from afar

to make friendship with Biantang.

Truly, it is Biantang's great delight.

You are far too kind, Empress Bian.

Though Ximeng stands on the distant edge,

we have long admired the strength
and splendor of Biantang.

Your land's harmony
and renown are known to all.

It is for this reason I journeyed here myself

to witness Biantang's glory with my own eyes.

And I am most grateful for the royal welcome.

King of Ximeng.

On behalf of Biantang,

I offer you this cup.

A toast to Empress Bian.

Wait.

By the custom of Biantang,

it is forbidden to wear a mask
at a state banquet.

It is deemed an affront.

Yet King of Ximeng, you keep your mask on,
even at a toast.

Does that mean you will not
share wine with His Majesty

or with me?

It's not that I refuse to remove my mask.

It's just that my appearance is peculiar,

and might well startle your guests.

At a state banquet like this,
if I were to remove my mask,

it would only cause greater offence.

Just now, you paid your respects
to His Majesty

according to the custom of Ximeng.

And now at the banquet,
you still refuse to remove your mask.

Does this mean you will not abide
by Biantang's customs?

Is it because Biantang is
but a smaller state,

hardly as vast as Ximeng,

that you don't hold His Majesty
or myself in your regard?

Empress, why put me on the spot like this?

If you will not unmask yourself,

then I shall have someone do it for you.

You there, go and remove his mask.

Pathetic wretch.

How dare you show such disrespect
to the King of Ximeng!

Take her out. Beat her to death.

Spare me, Your Majesty!

I know my crime.

Have mercy, Your Majesty!

Spare me, Your Majesty!

Have mercy, Your Majesty!

Go on.

Mercy, Your Majesty!

I know my crime!

In truth, those who have
long offended Biantang

and ravaged your borders
with violence and shame...

Though they claim fealty to Ximeng,

they are nothing more than
unruly tribes beyond restraint.

The King of Ximeng is
not one so cruel at heart.

He would never stand by whilst
the innocent are slaughtered before him.

Your Majesty, I beg your permission to speak.

The King of Ximeng is of the highest rank.

For a palace maid to remove his mask
would be ill-advised.

It would be better for the Crown Prince

to unveil the King's true face himself.

Would that not suffice?

Fu Er, what are you doing?

Now, this is beyond my understanding.

Just what are you playing at, Princess Fu?

The King of Ximeng has come from afar,
seeking friendship with Biantang.

Surely it is not out of disrespect
that he keeps his mask in place.

There must be reasons he cannot voice.

The Crown Prince is heaven's chosen,

his status above all others.

Firstly, he can act on behalf of the throne

and witness the King's true face.

Secondly,
if only the Crown Prince goes forth,

it will not seem a discourtesy.

Surely the King of Ximeng will not object?

The King of Ximeng was scarred in battle,

hence, he covers his wounds with a mask.

For the Empress to force this upon him,

are you not showing
deliberate contempt for our king?

Must you publicly disgrace him?

This is a matter between two allied states.

Let's not let a trifle upset our harmony.

Wouldn't you agree, King of Ximeng?

- Fu Er.
- Ce Er.

What exactly are you doing?

Mother, Father.

I... I...

I fear the King's face
may unsettle all who are present.

I did not wish to ruin our joyful gathering.

I only meant to put your minds at ease.

Very well, Ce Er, since you are so concerned,

you shall do it in our stead.

Go then,
and witness the King of Ximeng's true face.

A ghost!

The Crown Prince has been startled.

A ghost!

Ce Er.

What was it that you saw?

Mother, Father.

I have already seen the King's true face.

It is precisely
as the King of Ximeng explained.

His injuries have not healed.
It is ill-suited for others to see.

So it truly is as he claimed.

And his face is hideously d*sfigured.

It is most dreadful to behold.

Mother, it is best he keeps his mask on.

Enough.

We have seen enough.
Let the banquet start.

Your Majesty, don't be so hasty.

We have arranged an entertainment
for the King of Ximeng.

The performance is yet to begin.

Here are three Ximeng warriors.

They boast of extraordinary strength.

Yet on Biantang soil,
they pillage and violate.

So I propose.

While the King of Ximeng visits today,

let our Biantang warriors and Ximeng's

test their strength against one another.

Let the contest begin.

He cannot even grip his blade.

So this is what Ximeng believes to be valor?

If you ask me, they are not warriors,
but utter frauds.

I thought the Ximeng soldiers
would be ferocious in battle.

Yet upon witnessing it today,

I find them pitiful indeed.

They are no better than wild beasts.

These three warriors are clearly weakened.

They appear half-starved,
and gone for days without food.

This is merely the strong bullying the weak.

Continue.

Your Majesty,
please take our bodies home to Ximeng.

Empress, the King of Ximeng
has come a great distance.

You picked out soldiers at random
and forced them to fight.

This is hardly the proper way
to honor a guest.

What Your Majesty said is only right.

Queen Ling Yue carries the highest rank.

If there must be a contest,
it should not be against ordinary soldiers.

Perhaps...

let Princess Fu take the field.

Princess Fu is Lord Pingnan's daughter.

Not only is she of royal blood,

she is also born to a family of generals.

She has been guided
by Lord Pingnan since childhood.

For her to face Queen Ling Yue
could not be more fitting.

Mother, Fu Er is still recovering
from her injuries.

- Crown Prince, there's no need to worry.
- I fear...

Princess Fu, much like Queen Ling Yue,

comes from the highest birth.

Any contest is no more than a simple trial.

They need do no more than show their skill.

Don't you know how to fight?

- Why aren't you defending yourself?
- I was born into a family of generals.

A general values commanding soldiers in w*r,

not exchanging blows in a senseless brawl.

That is enough.

Queen Ling Yue has disregarded decorum.

She has wounded your noble lady.

I ask your forgiveness.

It is nothing.

About the contest, such things can happen.

We have startled the King of Ximeng today.

This was Biantang's failure.

I hope this minor incident

will not mar the friendship
between our two lands.

I have crossed many miles to be here,

to bring harmony between our kingdoms.

Blades have no eyes.

A few marauding Ximeng warriors dying
is nothing.

But damaging our alliance
would be a true loss.

King of Ximeng, you speak wisely indeed.

No doubt you, like myself,

hope for friendship between our nations.

That is why you aided Princess Fu.

And yet I feel

there is some deep connection
between Princess Fu

and you, King of Ximeng.

You refuse to show your face,

yet it was the Crown Prince
and Princess Fu who intervened.

Princess Fu and Queen Ling Yue
crossed swords,

and you're moved to help as well.

Why do I have the sense

there is some prior bond among
you, the Crown Prince, and Princess Fu,

as though there is a connection
we don't know of?

What connection could the Crown Prince
possibly have with the King of Ximeng?

Ximeng is a distant, remote place.

This is the King of Ximeng's
first visit to Biantang.

This...

Does the Empress mean something by that?

Your Majesty, you must be jesting.

The King of Ximeng is exceptionally skilled,

and looks down on all but the highest.

He hides even his own face from the world.

He is not a man one meets every day.

How could a woman like me
find any easy connection to such a man?

Of course, I would wish
to know the King of Ximeng.

But I fear, in his eyes,
no one is worthy of his trust.

Princess Fu, you jest.

From the moment we met, I felt at ease
with the Crown Prince and you.

I did not mean to look down on anyone.

Enough.

There has been noise enough for half a day.

I am exhausted.

The Crown Prince and the King of Ximeng
have found common ground.

So let the Crown Prince oversee the
King of Ximeng's journey in Biantang.

Crown Prince.

If you don't know anything,
ask Mr Wang of the Ministry of Rites.

How did Zhuge Yue
become the King of Ximeng?

Qiao Qiao, please say something.

Are you hurt?
I'll get the imperial physician to see you.

I am fine.

I know you met Zhuge Yue today,
and you are feeling low.

- But that is all right.
- Stop the carriage.

What is it?

There is something I must do.

You go on ahead.

Xing Er.

Zhuge Yue.

The border of Yanbei is just ahead.

Let's part ways here.

Xing Er, Yan Xun is no longer
the man he once was.

Why do you still stand by him?

Yan Xun did not choose
to become this way.

Who is truly to blame for all this?

This is the path I chose for myself.

I shall not turn back.

I must return and stand by him.

Wherever there are people,

there will be the struggle for power.

And people will consume one another.

The flawless world you dream of
simply does not exist.

Zhuge Yue,
this is where you and I are different.

You accept the rules of this world.

But I never will.

Since this is the path you have chosen,

even if it's laden with corpses and blood,

you'll walk it to the bitter end.

But if the day comes when you cannot
take another step forward,

you should know the way

back to Qingshan Court.

And if one day you do turn back,

I shall be just behind you.

Trouble! The stables have caught fire!

Hurry, put the flames out!

Put the fire out!

Hurry, put it out!

- What is going on?
- Go, fetch water!

- Here is the water!
- Your Majesty, it is nothing serious.

It was only a stack of hay
in the stables that somehow caught fire.

I have sent men to search the grounds

to check for anything unusual.

There is no need.

The air is dry, flames catch easily.

Today has worn us all out.

Let everyone rest early.

Yes, Your Majesty.

The one who arrived today
was Princess Fu from the banquet.

She was the one you meant
to save with Chegu Grass.

Let me warn you.

Since you have saved her,
don't stir up trouble again.

Though I may not be able to k*ll you,
I can certainly k*ll her.

Give it back to me.

This wooden carving
is a token of the Ling Yue tribe, is it not?

Five years ago,

the King of Ximeng sent his army
to seize the Ling Yue tribe.

The King of Ling Yue would rather die
than surrender.

He was m*rder*d by the King of Ximeng.

But Queen Ling Yue
turned against her own people.

She chose to side with the King of Ximeng.

Her people spat curses upon her name.

This Queen, it was you, was it not?

Who told you that?

A woman, gifted and proud,
with a spirit that brooked no restraint,

would gladly live
as the King of Ximeng's sl*ve?

Since I have given my word,
I shall see it done.

But if you dare use Chu Qiao
to threaten me again,

then neither of us
will leave Tangjing alive.

I care nothing for my own life.

And even less for your schemes.

Wait.

You two, come here and try this.

Don't worry, it is strong as iron.

Come, see the little rabbit.

A little rabbit, born and raised at home.

Brother Yan Xun!

Chun Er.

Chun Er.

What is the matter?

It is nothing.

Chun Er.

Chun Er.

Make a guess.

What do you think I have brought you?

Today, whilst I was in the street,
I saw you gazing at it for ages.

I thought, perhaps, you liked it.

My residence is ever so quiet.

You must feel bored living here all day.

So I specially went back
to the archery stall,

and won this prize for you.

I hoped it would keep you good company.

Chun Er?

Chun Er, what are you doing?

You said so yourself.

You gave this to me.

What I do with it is my concern.

The rabbit.

You are right, it is yours.

But what wrong did the little rabbit ever do?

Why hurt it with such cruelty?

Yes, I am heartless and wicked.

No one has ever liked me.

Everyone despises me.

So why do you bother with me at all?

Go on, leave!

Go then, just go!

Men are all liars anyway.

One day, you will trick me and hurt me,
just the same!

Chun Er, I am sorry.

You must have suffered so much.

But here with me,

I will never let you feel wronged.

Chun Er.

I will guard you all my life.

You cannot even k*ll me.

How could you possibly harm them?

Don't grieve, Your Majesty.

Punish only me, that will suffice.

From what I know of Zhuge Yue,

his arrival in Biantang
is surely no simple matter.

Chu.

I miss you so much.

Greetings, Consort Helian.