01x20 - Episode 20

[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 20]

Is that the Commander of the Imperial Guard Office

Her Highness brought back from the frontier?

They say

she single-handedly stormed a Northern Desert outpost.

Quite impressive.

Qiang,

you have a banquet to attend.

While you may have caught Mr. Deng's eye,

these century-old noble families...

I shall decline.

My rank

was earned on the b*ttlefield,

not over drinks.

You cannot turn this down.

They're the direct descendants of the noble houses.

If you choose Mr. Deng's invitation

over theirs,

you will bring talk upon yourself.

Indeed,

military merit is important,

but without the support of the nobility,

you will end up just like Xie Yanlai.

Do you really intend

to stake your life on a military pledge

to k*ll the Northern Desert King

just for the position of Guard General?

Sir.

Drink up.

General Liang,

a guest is offering you a toast.

If they are offering a toast,

why aren't they here

to do it themselves?

This liquor isn't from the tavern.

The guest brewed it personally.

Mr. Xie,

Yu Shang has arrived.

Greetings, Mr. Xie.

This is a token of welcome

from my master.

Unearned gifts come with a price.

Furthermore, this token

is far too valuable.

My master

wishes to ask for a favor.

Your reach is known to be unparalleled,

so I was wondering if you might...?

Du Qi,

fetch some fine liquor.

Let us welcome Yu Shang properly.

I pride myself

on many things,

yet my tolerance for liquor is not one of them.

Actually,

my master has a fair capacity.

I hope there will be a day

when you can see that for yourself.

Please.

After defeating the Lord of Xiaonan,

now that we have secured the greatest advantage,

why continue to cooperate with him?

The tides of power turn in an instant.

Her Highness's recent moves

are aimed at nothing more

than reclaiming control at court.

We must prepare a foolproof response.

What about Deng Yi?

Well,

Liang Qiang's ambition to revive his family

is plain for all to see.

Her Highness

founded the Imperial Guard Office

and has turned the Capital on its ear.

Fearing for their own skins,

the officials have only served

to allow Deng Yi to overshadow the court.

This is something

Her Highness cannot accept.

My condition

is not likely to improve any time soon.

I'll leave the court affairs

to Her Highness

and Mr. Deng to settle.

Understood.

Mr. Xie,

have some sobering soup.

How is Yanlai?

Where has he reached?

Did he have a safe journey?

Rest assured.

Everything has been taken care of,

and everyone concerned

has been notified.

Eat up.

Here,

take this for the road.

General,

even the finest pastries

are meant to be eaten,

not stared at.

If you keep looking at them for another few days,

they will surely spoil.

Kneel.

General, we caught one alive.

Who sent you?

I have no patience for this.

Just k*ll me.

Remember to clean this up.

Yes.

After the fire at the Wei Village,

our men arrived a moment too late.

This was the only scrap

we found in the ruins.

Keeping it all these years

has been no mean feat, Your Highness.

When Xie Yanlai was on the ship,

he lost his composure

the moment the Wei Village was mentioned.

Clearly,

this is his raw nerve.

If

we could truly find

that child named Xiang,

perhaps

we could finally get a hold

over the new Guard General.

Please forgive my ignorance,

but would Xie Yanlai really care

about such a threat?

He would.

After all, the Xie Yanlai of today

is far more human than he once was.

And

to be human is to be shackled

by one's soft spots.

Mr. Xie has come as summoned.

Show him in.

Your Highness, be careful.

Don't dip the pastry in the cinnabar.

Yanfang,

is your health improving?

Take a seat.

It is an old ailment.

It always flares up

during the turn of the seasons.

However, with the court in such chaos,

I have been bedridden

and unable to assist Your Highness.

I come to seek your punishment.

How are you

at fault?

My inaction, Your Highness,

is truly for your own good.

If you rely on the Xie Clan to suppress Deng Yi,

to the court,

you are nothing but a puppet dependent on others.

If that happens, all the achievements

you earned yourself,

the mandate from the late Emperor,

the Battle Against the Northern Desert,

and the defeat of the Lord of Xiaonan,

none of those

will truly belong to you.

But should Your Highness subdue the court alone,

you shall become

an unquestioned authority,

truly holding the reins,

and thus,

a third force,

independent of Mr. Deng

and the Xie Clan.

Are you truly happy to see this happen?

I have always believed

that everything Your Highness attains

is what you deserve.

What if I lose?

By that time, Your Highness will remember

that I am still here.

I have said my piece,

so I will take my leave,

lest I pass my sickness on to Your Highness.

Rest well.

I will not forfeit

your trust.

I have always believed

in Your Highness.

Why is he being so obsequious?

He merely senses

the stalemate is ending,

and the show must conclude.

[Northern Desert Army Camp]

Your Majesty,

Xie Yanlai has declared

that within half a year,

he will come for your head.

That brat

is quite arrogant.

Very well,

then I shall see

if he takes my head first,

or I spill his blood

to consecrate the banner of the Northern Desert Army.

Zheng Xia's examination fraud

has been confirmed.

By the laws of the State of Chu,

he is to be ex*cuted this autumn.

Why

is Zheng Xia sentenced to death?

What?

I said,

"why is Zheng Xia sentenced to death?"

When I inquired about the case earlier,

wasn't it said

that a retrial would be held after the autumn?

Since none of you will answer,

today,

I shall deliberate

on this case myself.

Zheng Xia, a subordinate clerk in Jingzhou,

stands accused of selling imperial examination questions.

Yet a thorough review of the case yields no concrete evidence.

The person involved is your pupil, Mr. Deng.

Are you aware of this?

Zheng Xia has been wronged.

I ask Your Highness to order a retrial.

I recognize you,

Censor Zhu Yong.

You say Zheng Xia is wronged.

Explain exactly how.

The seal Zheng Xia applied

is not the same one

the Clerk broke

at the examination hall.

The court record is clear

that the handwriting is verified.

Zheng Xia is left-handed.

Due to social prejudice,

he practiced writing with his right hand.

On the day of the crime,

he deliberately sealed it with his left hand.

Though the writing resembles his usual style,

the brushwork is different.

Then why didn't he prove his innocence?

After his arrest,

the yamen runner broke his left hand.

Since then, he has been unable to write,

much less clear his name.

It seems this case is indeed suspicious

and requires a retrial.

Zhu Yong,

have you lost your mind?

Are you willing

to throw away your future

for Zheng Xia?

He is innocent.

I cannot just stand by.

Past connections

don't obligate you

to accept his claims.

He was unlucky enough

to be caught in the political crossfire.

With those scholars jumping into the river

and the matter blowing up,

someone has to pay with their life.

I don't know about the others,

but Zheng was barred

from serving in the Capital

because of his corruption.

He chose to remain in Jingzhou

as a flawed official,

because he vowed

to despise

academic fraud above all

and shield students

from falling as he once did.

And you fell for such high-sounding talk?

Well,

now he's doomed,

and so are you.

But Her Highness believes...

What Her Highness believes matters little.

She is merely using this as a pretext.

Do you truly think she cares

about the life of a minor official?

She just wants someone

to support her claims.

The officials dismiss her words,

nor can they do anything to her.

But you?

You are

absolutely finished.

Take him away to the rack.

Yes.

- My Lord! - Move.

I'm innocent!

I swear on my life, My Lord!

I've been wronged!

By the order of Her Highness, the Imperial Guard Office

is retrieving Zheng Xia, the Subordinate Clerk.

My Lady,

this case is being tried by the Commandant of Justice.

Even for a transfer,

it requires extensive paperwork.

I don't understand the procedures

of the Commandant of Justice's Office,

nor do I need to.

I act

only

on Her Highness's orders.

Bring him out.

- Yes. - Yes.

They are breaking into the prison!

How dare you!

Have you no respect for the law?

Someone!

The Imperial Guard Office

is acting on Her Highness's authority.

Anyone who obstructs us will be charged with treason

and ex*cuted without trial.

Mr. Xie,

the Imperial Guard Office has raided

the Commandant of Justice's prison.

I heard the news

and rushed over,

only to find the guards

lying everywhere.

The Imperial Guard Office

is parading Zheng Xia through the streets.

This morning,

they stormed

Chancellor Jiang's residence

and dragged him away

mid-feast.

The Jiang Clan is a house of letters, three generations deep.

Even the late Emperor gave them due deference.

These brutes

have truly run wild.

Well done.

Mr. Xie, you're actually praising them?

They have kidnapped Zheng Xia.

But what good does that do?

It has caused panic.

What if they decide to storm

the Xie Residence tomorrow?

Du Qi,

this case is like this game.

The black and white are entangled,

yet no one dares to make a breakthrough.

Zheng Xia is merely a discarded pawn

in a compromise between forces.

Her Highness is playing the white piece to break the deadlock.

The more chaotic the situation, the better it is for us.

Mr. Deng, on the other hand,

should be getting a headache.

The most brilliant players

never have to place their own pieces.

Mr. Deng,

how do you find the time to visit me today?

Your Highness, you must stop this.

You allowed the Imperial Guard Office

to arrest a senior official in the streets

and snatch a prisoner.

I am investigating a case

and looking into

how you are involved

in this fraud.

This is not an investigation, Your Highness,

for you are trampling

upon the laws of the court...

and allowing the Imperial Guard Office

to run wild.

You say I disregard the law?

It was you

who blinded yourself to the inconsistencies

of Zheng Xia's case.

It was you

who countenanced

such brutal torment.

And it was also you

who turned a deaf ear to the blood

and pleas of the innocent.

If you want the court to act

as if I do not exist,

very well.

I shall use this case

to show everyone

how you trample

on the law,

and whether

I have the authority

to intervene in state affairs.

I will see this case through

to the end,

and I will uncover

every hidden truth.

Your Highness, please do not forget

I am the Regent by the late Emperor's decree.

It's true,

but I am

the Grand Princess of State,

appointed by the same grace.

So what?

Anything that threatens

the integrity of the court

falls within my authority.

[Seven Days Later]

The Jingzhou Prefect reports

that

there have been several clashes between the Jingzhou city guards

and the Imperial Guard Office,

resulting in over a dozen casualties.

The court will send someone to Jingzhou

to pacify the people

and set things right.

Setting things right?

So clearly, Mr. Deng represents the "right",

and Her Highness the opposite.

Commander Mu Xiaoman of the Imperial Guard Office

requests an audience.

The Commander of the Imperial Guard Office

is not a court official.

By what right does she trespass?

Dismiss her.

Admit her.

Let Mu Xiaoman enter.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Your Highness,

I have concluded the investigation

into the Zheng Xia case.

The true culprit is Jingzhou Clerk Chi Yu.

Exposed for trading examination papers,

he tried to shift the blame onto Zheng Xia.

Not only did he order a yamen runner

to break Zheng Xia's left hand

to destroy evidence,

but he also bribed the Chancellor of the Directorate of Education

to cover his tracks.

Here are the confessions from Chi Yu and the yamen runner.

The culprits have been brought to the Capital

to await sentencing.

Rise.

You have all heard

and seen the truth.

This case was never complex.

It is the human mind

that is complex.

The noble families in Jingzhou

trade state examinations at will,

the Clerk

frames the innocent at whim,

and the Chancellor of the Directorate of Education lines pockets with bribes.

To them, an upright official

from a humble background

is nothing more

than an ant to be crushed.

Mr. Deng,

the Clerk and Chancellor

are your pupils.

We shall discuss this matter later.

I beseech Your Highness

to bring these people to justice at once.

He is siding with Her Highness.

How dare a mere censor

challenge

Mr. Deng?

Granted.

For the Zheng Xia examination fraud,

spare no one and punish all involved

with the utmost severity.

My deepest gratitude

for Your Majesty's grace.

Your Highness, this was a masterful move.

With the Zheng Xia case overturned,

thirty percent of the officials in Jingzhou

will need to be replaced.

You are mistaken.

It was not my strategy that was masterful.

It was Chi Yu and the others

who forced their own destruction.

Does Your Highness realize

that you have purged

more than just a few corrupt officials?

You have broken the unwritten rules

the noble families have upheld for over a century.

Rules?

Are these the rules of selling offices for wealth,

or the rules of protecting each other's corruption?

Your Highness,

by eliminating my people,

are you not afraid that Xie Yanfang will grow stronger?

It will be even harder to control him then.

I have my own arrangements

for Xie Yanfang.

You should worry about yourself.

Mr. Xie,

Mr. Deng and Her Highness

are at each other's throats,

yet here you are,

living like a recluse.

Why the rush?

It has only just begun.

His Majesty has dispatched the Censor

to Jingzhou.

The truth

will soon be brought to light.

Will Deng Yi make

a move?

Are we truly not going to intervene?

If he were truly intelligent,

he would know

that these are all discarded pawns.

Entangling himself in a lost game

is a futile waste of strength.

What do you mean?

Do you remember the Military Supervisor

sent to the frontier troops a few days ago?

Let's wait and see.

The best part is yet to come.

That wretched Military Supervisor

just struts about the camp all day,

shielding himself behind the Token.

Nowhere to be found when the w*r starts,

but now he is here throwing his weight around.

With the w*r so critical,

I cannot allow such mediocrities

to lord it over this camp.

Military Supervisor Fu,

what pearls of wisdom do you have today?

The Adjutant General of Changping Pass

recorded the third quarter of the Xu hour

as the start of the hour.

Such carelessness

is intolerable.

General, I request

that you cashier and investigate the person at once.

His immediate superior is also to blame.

What sharp eyes you have.

Dismissed for a single misrecorded quarter?

Why not behead him

to set an example?

That would be far more efficient.

The troop rotation is a serious matter,

not to be trifled with.

If there are any lapses

that give the Northern Desert scouts an opening,

who will bear the consequences?

General Zhong, you surely wouldn't want

to shield them by using the urgency of the w*r

as a pretense?

Frontier troops reward and punish without fail.

Those who deserve death

will not be spared.

Good.

I am reassured.

However,

you are Her Highness's right-hand man,

so do not disappoint her expectations.

You may act under the Grand Mentor's seal,

but never forget,

His Majesty's throne is supreme.

Thank you, General, for the reminder.

I shall take my leave.

What a pathetic lackey.

Flaunting Mr. Deng's support,

he struts about the camp,

lording it over everyone all day.

Enough.

If our people hadn't blundered,

he wouldn't be in a position to gloat.

General,

what about Changping Pass?

It's such a critical post.

Who can we possibly send

at such short notice?

That brat

finally made it back.

The Military Supervisor is abusing his power.

Your Highness, please have no concerns.

General Zhong is steady and experienced,

and General Xie has returned to the frontier.

It will not fall into chaos.

Deng Yi

has abandoned all pretense.

He is determined to undermine the frontier troops.

Your Highness,

we must guard against his next move.

Of course he has a next move.

Changing the commander

at Changping Pass

is all about installing

his own people.

But since Jiu has returned to the frontier,

the outcome of this game

will not be decided by Deng Yi.

You brat,

show some restraint once you arrive at Changping Pass.

Too many eyes are fixed

on the frontier troops.

Even if you just pass wind,

someone will submit a formal complaint against you.

Stop nagging.

I am more aware of these matters than you are.

Zhong,

without my support henceforth

in the Yunzhong Prefecture,

fend for yourself.

Don't be annoyed by my nagging.

Listen.

If you do not correct

your rashness

and commit an error someday,

no one will be able to save you,

even if you're from the Xie Family.

I have always fended for myself

all my life.

Spare me the nonsense.

Tell me,

what is the deal with that pledge?

You do not even know

where the Northern Desert King is hiding,

so how do you intend to k*ll them?

If it were so easy,

I would have k*lled the man

countless times these past twenty years.

Do you really think it'd be your turn?

I have

my own ways.

You? Seriously?

If only

those in the imperial court

who squabble endlessly for their own gain

could realize

that our ultimate interest lies

in defeating the Northern Desert.

Zhao,

I am in Jingzhou.

Only after leaving the Capital did I realize

that your reputation among the common people is immense.

The women here in Jingzhou

are also quite familiar with your story.

I have held

another literary gathering for women here,

and they competed for a full half month.

I am currently compiling the results

of our literary gathering into a volume.

I'll have it sent to you in a few days.

Do remember to grace it with your calligraphy.

I shall certainly sell it for an exorbitant price.

I have seen Mr. Zhu,

whom you sent

to Jingzhou,

and have been keeping an eye on him.

He is reaching out

to the local scholars one by one,

inviting them to showcase their talents

and reach for greater heights.

He's using this

to purge the Jingzhou ranks,

weeding out

the rot

to elevate capable scholars.

His words

were reasonable, stirring, righteous

and profitable too.

The scholars of Jingzhou

were instantly galvanized.

The local officials

had been considering

how to give Zhu Yong the cold shoulder,

but when he arrived,

he did not even set foot in the yamen,

and the scholars

were already sworn to his cause.

Zhu Yong

may seem weak and pedantic,

but he is surprisingly unconstrained in his methods.

He is truly a talent worth using.

Leyun,

I heard you have something urgent to tell me.

Zhao,

still in the mood

for swinging?

Wait,

I forgot something.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Spare me the formalities.

What is it now?

What news have you heard?

Listen,

the whole Capital uses

the Imperial Guard Office

to keep children in line.

They tell them: "If you misbehave,

the Imperial Guard Office will come take you away."

It's like this

on every street corner.

Even if the Office

does nothing,

it has been turned into a bogeyman

that stops children from crying.

I know.

Everyone is accusing

and slandering the Imperial Guard Office,

but the true goal is to slander me.

I also know

where these rumors started,

and I have kept a record of them.

Then why not have them

all arrested immediately?

There is no need.

To dispel this rumor

is actually quite simple.

We only need to show people

that the Imperial Guard Office

is not a monster that frightens children,

but a champion of justice.

Come, Leyun.

Let me tell you

what to say to them.

The scholars of Jingzhou

respectfully thank Her Highness for her protection

and present the Canopy of Insight.

The scholars of Jingzhou

respectfully thank Her Highness for her protection

and present the Canopy of Insight.

Look.

Each patch of cloth on that canopy

seems to bear

a person's name.

Indeed.

Every scholar in Jingzhou

tore a piece from their own robes

and stitched it together into this canopy

to thank Her Highness.

But wasn't Jingzhou turned upside down

by the Imperial Guard Office?

Why are they thanking her?

This egregious injustice finally came to light

upon Her Highness's direct order for a full inquiry.

Had she not intervened,

the innocent would have died in vain,

while the wicked remained at large.

Senior officials colluded

and protected one another,

and only Her Highness

could deal with them.

But this is against the rules.

The Imperial Guard Office has no authority to investigate cases,

yet it acted beyond its power.

How is that any different from those corrupt officials?

The scholars of Jingzhou...

Evil against evil,

it is evil nonetheless.

I

do not care about the rules.

I only know

that those who seek justice for the people

are true guardians of righteousness.

Well said.

I only know one principle,

whoever punishes the wicked is a hero.

Indeed.

How beautiful that canopy is.

It really was as Zhao predicted.

Just how many people are there?

There are silks and homespun.

They must range from rich to poor.

Besides their names,

everyone also inscribed

a line of ancient wisdom upon it.

Yu, look at this.

"A strong foundation and frugality assure freedom from poverty."

Where does this come from, and what is the interpretation?

Zhao,

they didn't send this canopy

to test

my studies.

Xiaoman,

how about having Zhu Yong

serve as your deputy?

Him?

He appears frail

yet has quite a backbone.

Just the sort I need.

You'll command troops at the frontier sooner or later.

The Imperial Guard Office

will become

a sharp blade to monitor all officials.

Only someone as firm and flexible

as Zhu Yong will do.

As Your Highness wishes.

I have committed my life

to you.

Very well.

Xiaoman,

you shall rise

to General.

Zhao,

you should bring this canopy to the court tomorrow

and show the officials

the respect the scholars of Jingzhou have for you.

I doubt anyone dares to speak out of turn.

Yu,

those people

will not change their minds

just by seeing this canopy.

Besides,

this canopy

was never meant

for them to see.

It is for the people of the world.

Liu,

how are things at your estate today?

Look!

Which senior official

is the Imperial Guard Office going after now?

Whoever it is,

they must be corrupt.

Gentlemen,

just eat your meal.

Either way,

they won't be coming for the common folk.

- True. - You are right.

- Indeed. - Correct.

Her Highness commanded the Imperial Guard Office

to surround the Directorate for Imperial Manufactories at once.

The ledgers exposed the rot at once.

The funds for the summer floods in Huzhou

were skimmed layer by layer from top to bottom.

Dikes and canals

that should have been repaired once

were being rebuilt year after year.

Deputy Prefect Du not only exposed

these ledgers in the imperial court

but also

voluntarily handed over

private letters.

With witnesses and evidence secured,

Mr. Deng is left without a word.

Furthermore,

this will undoubtedly lead to

exposing more corruption.

But Deputy Prefect Du also threw himself into prison.

What is he after?

Has he lost his mind?

He hasn't lost his mind.

He is fighting to the death.

Do you remember, years ago

at Mr. Deng's family banquet,

two men argued

over a marriage arrangement?

One was Tian Lin, Chief Secretary

of the Court of the Imperial Treasury,

and the other was Deputy Prefect Du.

They quarreled

because their families had discussed

a marriage a year prior,

between Tian Lin's eldest son

and Mr. Du's only daughter.

Unfortunately,

Tian's son was a wastrel,

and Mr. Du did not approve.

This angered the Tian Family.

Earlier this year, while Miss Du was out,

she encountered a startled horse and broke her leg,

leaving her with a permanent limp.

Was this the Tian Family's doing?

Miss Du did encounter Mr. Tian

while she was out,

but there is no evidence

that he was responsible.

Though Tian Lin holds a lower position than Mr. Du,

he is much closer to Mr. Deng.

Even if Mr. Du complained to Mr. Deng,

it would be useless.

Tian Lin pays Mr. Deng

far more than Mr. Du does.

Mr. Deng

is always impartial.

While he did dismiss Tian Lin from office,

it was not enough

to settle Mr. Du's grudge.

Through these contests,

more than half of Deng Yi's pupils have been lost.

The landscape of the imperial court

has been turned upside down.

But how did Her Highness

find out

about these private matters

between the Tian and Du Families?

She now holds the Imperial Guard Office.

From now on,

she will be able to find out

whatever I can know as well.

What a masterful move.

By creating such a scene,

does she think

she can rule the court?

The people's favor matters little.

Commoners cannot speak in court.

With public support

and Deng Yi's influence diminished,

she has finally gained

the leverage to challenge me.

It is time

we let Her Highness know

that she is not the only player

in this imperial court.

Having been tended to

for all this time,

your cold should be healed by now.

How is Yanlai?

He has reached Yunzhong Prefecture

and is en route to Changping Pass.

Whether our sharpest weapon

can bring down the Northern Desert King or not

remains to be seen.

This year's new tea from Lingnan

has a fine flavor.

Mr. Deng, what refined pleasures you keep.

Your Highness,

did you enjoy

the performance?

Mr. Deng, what refined pleasures you keep.

Upright and virtuous at court,

while behind closed doors you let your pupils

run rampant with corruption.

Quite the act.

Likewise.

You saved Zheng Xia

merely to gain people's favor, didn't you?

After the siege of Xiaonan Prefecture,

Xie Yanfang seized control of half the Imperial Guards,

and even His Majesty trusts him utterly.

No matter how many pupils you have,

it might be difficult

to shake the Xie Family.

Did Your Highness come at such a late hour

just to tell me this?

If Xie Yanfang gains power,

the first person he will remove

is you, the Regent and Grand Mentor.

But by cooperating with me,

you might at least be able to struggle and survive.

What would you have me do?

It is simple.

Act as an opponent

who wants

to put me to death in the court.

Are you not afraid I'll make it real?

If you wish,

you may try.

Of course,

I will also return

your blows with all my might

to ensure Xie Yanfang

sees no flaws.

I have been delving into Chenxiang.

Does Your Highness know

what makes it so exquisite?

It seems gentle,

yet flares fiercely once touched by fire.

Much like our performance.

It must appear convincing,

while still leaving room to maneuver.

You're smart enough

to know which path to choose.

Your performance

was excellent.

Indeed.

I have lost

my most valued pupils.

Your sacrifice

will not go unrewarded.

When?

You should get some rest.

Mr. Deng, after all your work with Her Highness,

why have you gained nothing?

Gain?

Staying alive

is reward enough.

And yet,

this game

permits no retreat.

Your Highness,

all those involved in the Jingzhou examination fraud

have been apprehended.

Execute them according to the law.

No mercy.

Your Highness,

I just cast a divination

for General Xie.

Fire rising into the sky.
[*The Hexagram of Li]

Bloodshed is...

Did I not tell you

not to divine for him?

I simply could not resist.

Are you mocking my commands?

Even children heed such warnings. But you...

Your Highness, worry not.

The Hexagram of Li

may yet portend a great victory.

With wood fueling the fire,

General Xie's brilliance in command

will surely turn this peril into triumph.

Your Highness, please forgive me.

I will never divine

for General Xie again.

Truly.

I swear it.

Le, my apology.

I should not have lost my temper with you.

I know your anger springs

from caring too much for General Xie.

It is my fault.

The situation is unclear.

I confess I am afraid.

Your Highness, do not fear.

That divination was just a random attempt.

It can't be accurate.

General Xie

will return safely.

You are waiting for him, after all.

You may leave.

By the moon above,

I, Zhao,

pray only for Jiu's safe and victorious return.

♪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♪