01x22 - Episode 22

[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 22]

Firecrackers

should herald the Chinese New Year.

Yet, while the summer heat lingers,

the air is already thick with the festive spirit.

The blasting has lasted from the Mao hour to the Shen hour.

Everyone's saying

the frontier troops nearly tore apart

the Northern Desert King's tent.

Mr. Xie,

do you still intend to go to the frontier?

The Northern Desert King

is already at the end of his rope.

Why should I get entangled

in this mess?

I'll just send some nobody

to go through the motions.

This was supposed to be our setup.

Had it not been for Xie Yanlai,

Zhong Changrong would be dead.

Once your men in Wangcheng

k*lled the Northern Desert King

and Liang Qiang moved in to reclaim Wangcheng,

the frontier troops would be ours

for the taking.

That brat's meddling

ruined the entire plan.

What's the rush?

The merit roll still lists

a Xie at the top.

Does it really matter

who leads the troops?

Besides, it's not even certain

he'll live to collect his reward.

Mr. Xie, you mean...?

The moonlight is stunning.

Let's put the celebration banquet aside.

I must first give Mr. Deng

a proper send-off.

Something's on fire.

Not quite.

I've been around enough forest fires

to smell one

before it starts.

The fire spread fast and fierce.

They've drenched the room

in fire oil.

Had I been a moment later,

I would not have made it out.

Deng Yi died

just like that?

I don't usually get along with Mr. Deng.

But I refuse to believe

he would collude with our enemies.

For the moment,

our priority

is to stabilize the court.

Mr. Deng has been confined.

At this moment,

I should step up.

"To stabilize the court"?

"Step up"? How noble.

Xie Yanfang

truly is a master of strategy.

Everything is flawlessly calculated.

The Imperial Guard Office

is still investigating the fire,

and the body

has been sent to the coroner.

Your Highness.

Your Highness!

[Xie Residence]

Your Highness,

I suppose you heard about Mr. Deng...

Did you order his death?

Your Highness, what is this about?

Who else

would dare?

Your Highness, you are mistaken.

There is another

who has the nerve,

the will,

and far more reason besides.

And that person is you,

the Grand Princess.

You and Mr. Deng have long been at odds.

The Grand Mentor's Residence

is filled with the Imperial Guards.

How could suspicion

for his m*rder ever fall on me?

If I were to k*ll him,

it would be according to the law,

with clear evidence,

and for all to see.

Is Your Highness suggesting

I am underhanded

and can only operate

in the shadows?

Even if I k*lled him,

would you really k*ll me

for revenge?

Are you using this opportunity

to get rid of me as well?

I never thought

that you would be the one to save me.

Mr. Deng, did you really think

a lock could keep me

in that side residence?

I was merely waiting

for the perfect moment

to leave the Capital.

I never imagined that beneath the city

lay such a secret.

In your eyes,

the Capital

is just a board for power struggles.

Father, however, viewed it

as a home to return to.

Over the years,

he remembered everything,

from the halls of noble mansions

to the very number of bluestone slabs

on these streets.

Indeed.

No threshold in the imperial city,

however high, can keep out

those who yearn for home.

I suppose

I am nothing more

than His Lordship's gatekeeper,

entrusted with his most precious holding of all,

this Capital.

It's all fated.

It was written

that I would save you tonight.

Mr. Deng,

your meal is ready.

They have come for you.

Were it not for me,

this is

where your life ends.

Tie Ying,

set the fire.

Let's go.

With this water,

let's toast

to our escape

from the jaws of death.

Was it

Her Highness who wanted to k*ll you?

It was not her.

It was Xie Yanfang.

To think he could be so vicious.

I favor poison.

Yet he proved even more venomous.

Thank you for saving my life, Your Highness.

What is it you desire, Your Highness?

Speak plainly.

I've bided my time in the depths long enough.

Mr. Deng,

since you're always cautious,

I assume everything that matters

is close at hand.

Please, Mr. Deng,

escort me home.

Can we actually get away?

I have arranged

for someone to die in your place.

That should buy us some time.

Your Highness,

Zhu Yong just reported

that the corpse was not Mr. Deng.

What?

Are you certain?

The coroner has finished the examination.

It is confirmed.

The dew feels chilly.

Your Highness is too precious to fall ill.

Please take care.

It has come to this after all.

With Xie Yanlai's great merit,

the frontier troops under the Xie Family,

and no footing whatsoever

left for you

in Xiao Yu's court,

why suffer under Chu Zhao and Xie Yanfang

when you could come with me to Xiaonan Prefecture?

If I ascend to the throne,

you will still be the Grand Mentor of the State of Chu.

He is indeed not Deng Yi.

Good thing we retrieved the body in time.

If the face had been burned beyond recognition,

it would be impossible to identify.

I fear that should something happen to Mr. Deng,

regardless of whether he lives,

it will be detrimental to Your Highness.

Someone will frame you

for wanting him eliminated.

What does this have to do with Her Highness?

All the officials saw

the Imperial Guard Office

escort him to the imperial city

and lock him in his residence.

Now that the frontier troops have captured the Northern Desert King,

Your Highness's influence is surging.

Eliminating him now

would not stir unrest.

The timing could not be better.

That is nonsense.

Her Highness

has no reason to k*ll Mr. Deng.

Disagreement in policy

and struggle for power

are reason enough.

If Xiaoman had not been fast enough

to charge into the fire

and drag him out,

we would truly believe

he was

dead.

The first problem

we must resolve

is those issues

you're worried about, Mr. Zhu.

So this body

is a stand-in?

Did he arrange this himself,

or was it someone else's doing?

And what was the purpose?

To fake his death and escape?

Xiao Xun.

Zhu Yong,

go to Xiao Xun's residence immediately

and report back what you find.

Yes.

The entire Grand Mentor's Residence

has been searched,

but there is no trace of Deng Yi.

We kept watch outside,

and not a soul was seen coming or going.

But

there must be something

we missed.

He couldn't just vanish

into thin air.

They knew

you were posted outside.

They wouldn't have moved

without a way out.

By the way,

is Mr. Deng's mother still here?

Everyone in the Grand Mentor's Residence

is under guard.

Mr. Deng's mother

has been placed under separate care.

We searched where Mr. Deng

conducts his affairs too.

The Imperial Seal alone is missing.

That was my oversight.

It is not your fault, Your Highness.

Mr. Deng was under confinement

and yet to be convicted.

No one has the authority to seize

the Imperial Seal gifted by the late Emperor.

Mr. Deng's power and influence

stemmed from the position

granted by the late Emperor

and his possession of the Imperial Seal.

Whether he faked his death

or was taken away,

he would surely take it with him.

Your Highness,

Xiao Xun is gone indeed.

Relay my order.

Lock down all city gates immediately.

Your Highness,

there is a secret passage in the room.

Deng Yi

and Xiao Xun

have finally joined forces.

Once they return

to Xiaonan Prefecture,

they will seize the chance to rebel.

Is the course of fate

truly beyond my reach,

no matter how hard I struggle?

Mr. Xie,

we used poison,

so why did a fire break out?

A minor mishap

from an unexpected twist,

but of no consequence.

Du Qi,

get things ready.

I need to make a long journey.

Where to?

North of the Cang River, to intercept

the Lord of Xiaonan's rebel forces.

Since when did they rebel?

Our grand mentor

is soon to become

theirs.

Only then

will he and Her Highness

be truly locked

in a fight to the death.

This is more intriguing

than my original plan.

- Wish Your Lordship a long life. - Wish Your Lordship a long life.

Your Lordship,

His Majesty's gift has arrived.

I'm glad he thinks of me.

That is enough.

Nothing warms my heart more

than the people of Xiaonan celebrating in the streets

of their own accord.

Indeed.

Distribute these among the people,

so they may share in the joy.

Your Lordship,

you seem to have forgotten

His Highness's gift

arrived

alongside His Majesty's.

Yes.

Bring it forward.

Let me see

what surprise he has for me.

Each character is written

by His Highness himself.

Your Lordship,

this is the Scroll of Longevity

from His Highness.

Such devotion

is truly quite impressive!

Come.

Everyone, take a look.

Xun must have put in a lot of effort.

Writing in such small script

must have strained his eyes.

Indeed.

Each character is written in a different style.

Xun is truly thoughtful.

The scent of the ink is quite unique as well.

His Highness has arrived!

Father!

Father!

Xun,

are you the true surprise?

Father,

quick.

Throw it away! It is poisoned!

Father.

Your Highness, what are you...?

Father.

Father.

Your Lordship.

Your Lordship!

- Father. - Your Lordship.

- Your Lordship. - Your Lordship.

Father.

Father.

Father!

Your Lordship!

Father!

Father!

Your Highness,

what is going on?

Why has His Lordship been poisoned?

The poison lies within the script.

Once inhaled, it pierces the vitals.

Father.

Sir, quick.

Check on His Lordship.

But Your Highness,

you prepared this yourself.

How could it be poisoned?

When the palace said

they would present the gifts to Father

on my behalf,

I gave it little thought.

Once I finished the Scroll of Longevity,

I handed it over to the palace.

But several days ago,

someone told me

that my gift

might cost my father his life.

He said the scroll

had been soaked in poison.

I knew Father would pay no mind

to gifts from the court,

yet would examine

anything from me with great care.

Close enough to inspect it,

he would inhale the poison from the ink,

and...

He

helped me flee the Capital.

I traveled day and night

to stop Father,

but

I was still a step too late.

- Father! - Your Highness.

Your Highness,

you must remain calm.

Is there any way to save His Lordship?

Mr. Deng,

please, save my Father!

Deng Yi?

Why are you here?

Guards, seize him.

You have it all wrong.

It was Mr. Deng who helped me return.

Your Highness,

the person you mentioned earlier

was him?

Mr. Deng.

Your Highness.

Please

save my father.

I beg of you.

Well...

Mr. Deng,

please,

save His Lordship.

Mr. Deng,

save His Lordship.

Please.

I implore you, Mr. Deng.

Your Highness, please rise.

I do as you wish,

but you must keep your promise.

Mr. Deng.

The poison runs too deep.

He is beyond saving.

Father!

Your Highness.

Father.

Since you told His Highness

about the poison

and helped him escape,

you must know something.

Indeed.

His Lordship has sent His Highness

to the Capital as a hostage,

so who would want

to harm His Lordship?

Mr. Deng,

who exactly is behind this?

The late Emperor.

What?

The late Emperor?

How is that possible?

Mr. Deng, you must be mistaken.

If the late Emperor wanted His Lordship dead,

why wait until now?

I mean

it was the late Emperor who sowed

the seeds of His Lordship's end.

Do you know

who the late Emperor designated

as the Crown Prince

on his deathbed

when the Capital was in peril?

His grandson, wasn't it?

- Yes. - No.

It was the heir to the Lord of Xiaonan,

Xiao Xun.

What?

Is this true?

How can we trust you?

Xiao Xun, heir to the Lord of Xiaonan,

is virtuous, wise,

beneficent to the people

and judicious in governance.

He shall ascend the imperial throne

and bear the weight of the state.

On his deathbed,

the late Emperor named Xiao Xun

as his heir.

The late Emperor

did issue this decree on his deathbed.

I am the witness.

However, Chu Zhao and the Xie Family conspired

to hold the late Emperor hostage

and forced him to issue a new decree.

This imperial edict

never even made it

past the palace gates.

Father,

are you unable to sleep,

or is sleep simply beyond your reach?

Do not fear.

Soon, you will be able

to rest soundly,

never to wake again.

You always loved

to stroke my face like this,

and I always loved

lingering close beside you.

Among all your children,

only

I was blessed

with such affection.

To repay

your indulgence,

now that I've sat

on the throne,

I shall honor you as the late Emperor.

At last, your wish is fulfilled.

Father.

Are you happy?

I am truly happy.

Although I used to say

I wanted to help you fulfill your wishes,

I never knew

if I would feel happy

once they were accomplished.

But now I understand.

So this is what it feels like

to be happy for oneself.

It's finally done.

I should go visit Mr. Deng.

Tie Ying,

bring the Golden Finch Venom

and soak the scroll.

Mr. Deng,

what brings you here?

The decree has reached

Xiaonan Prefecture and the eight commanderies

and twelve cities beyond.

Outside the prefecture, thirty thousand regional troops

have lifted their defenses

and stand ready to be commanded.

I appreciate it, Mr. Deng.

The Prince of State's Residence is stronger than ever

with you on our side.

Your Highness is too kind.

It is His Lordship's foresight we should credit.

All those decades of winning loyalty,

and one command

is all it would take.

Yet no command ever came.

Father held it back

for decades.

Without you,

today would have been

no different.

It seems

His Lordship

owes Your Highness thanks.

You willingly threw away

His Lordship's life

for control over the state.

It was my father's wish.

To see it fulfilled,

he cast me aside without hesitation.

Much less would he spare himself.

His death

would be for a worthy cause.

We have secured

the garrison in Xiaonan

and the surrounding local forces.

But progress toward the Capital

is far less smooth.

The Grand Princess has reached out

to all post houses

and prefectures along the route,

and now, most of our decrees

have been intercepted.

Who would have thought

the Grand Princess's decrees

would carry more weight than those

of the Emperor?

Your Majesty,

everything is prepared.

Please proceed to the enthronement ceremony

along with Mr. Deng.

The late Emperor's final decree is here.

In the autumn of the fifteenth year of Tianshu,

I am approaching my end.

Xiao Xun, heir to the Lord of Xiaonan,

is virtuous, wise,

beneficent to the people

and judicious in governance.

He shall ascend the imperial throne

and bear the weight of the state.

Proclaim this to the world

so that all may know.

Kneel.

Kowtow.

Rise.

Kowtow.

You may rise.

Read the proclamation.

On the twenty-seventh day of the eighth month,

in the third year of Xingping,

the Prince of State passed away.

Deng Yi, the Grand Mentor, withdrew to Xiaonan Prefecture,

carrying the late Emperor's final decree.

[The Capital]
No righteous men in court, but traitors within.

During the turmoil of the Yongning year,

the imperial in-law Xie Yanfang

colluded with the frontier troops, took the late Emperor hostage,

usurped the throne

bent the state to his will,

and poisoned the Prince of State.

In the ninth month

of the third year of Xingping,

Xiao Xun, heir to the Prince of State,

acting on the late Emperor's decree,

enthrones Chu Zhao as Empress,

raises arms against the treacherous Xie Yanfang

to restore order

and sets forth on campaign.

Move out.

Deng Yi forged the imperial decree,

claiming the late Emperor intended to pass the throne to Xiao Xun.

He holds the Imperial Seal,

so he can write

whatever he pleases.

The late Emperor was poisoned that night.

Who knows

what the truth really was?

At this point,

what is false becomes true.

Ministers,

do not be disturbed by rumors.

Mr. Xie has blocked the rebel army at the Cang River,

and the Northern Desert King has surrendered.

The frontier will soon be stable.

We have enough energy

and troops to quell the rebellion.

Xiao Xun is merely walking the same doomed path.

Even with Deng Yi, what could a pathetic wretch

like him possibly amount to?

His Majesty will issue the proclamation

and make it known to all.

Court dismissed.

- We bid farewell to Your Majesty - We bid farewell to Your Majesty

- and Your Highness. - and Your Highness.

You were so quick to grasp

"besieging Wei to rescue Zhao."

Why are you struggling so much

with "concealing the dagger behind a smile"?

Zhao,

it's just

so hard.

Can I learn that some other time?

Greetings, Your Majesty,

Your Highness.

Uncle, you're back.

Mr. Xie, you must be exhausted.

I thought

you still had an hour to go.

Fortunately, the meal is prepared.

Please, take a seat and eat.

I appreciate it.

Uncle,

try some and see

if it agrees with you.

There's a new chef in the palace

who specializes in Gaoyang flavors.

Yu finds it quite good.

It tastes very much

like what his mother used to enjoy.

It feels so good to be home.

To see one's kin

is to be home.

The chef brewed this himself

with a traditional method.

Yanfang,

please, have a sip.

Thank you.

Uncle,

try some of this.

This is my favorite.

Very well.

Here, Yu.

I have a chef

who makes exceptional rice cakes.

I shall bring some

for Your Highness to try another day.

Uncle,

can I try some as well?

Of course.

Here.

Uncle, try this.

North of the Cang River,

three commanderies and twenty-eight cities

have all submitted to Xiao Xun.

Together with the Lord of Xiaonan's

illegally raised forces,

the total comes to two hundred and seventy thousand.

I never expected

they could gather

so many troops in just a few months.

Rebellions always begin

with a roar

of momentum.

Deng Yi

stole the Tally and the Imperial Seal.

It is no surprise that many people

have been misled.

In time,

when the court sends forces against them,

people will see the truth.

Just like in the previous life,

Xiao Xun ascends to the throne,

and the one who leads the campaign against him is Xie Yanfang.

Do not worry.

I am here.

I am not worried.

Once Jiu

escorted the Northern Desert King across the frontier,

he could lead the troops

to provide support

and form a pincer movement

with the court's forces.

The Lord of Xiaonan's rebels

will be crushed.

Do you miss him?

What?

The time has come.

Let's go.

Chu Ling must have wished

to storm my tent

just as you did.

It is precisely because General Chu

kept you locked in battle for decades

that I now have the chance

to take you down.

You are very valorous.

Your father

must have been proud of you.

My son is much stronger than you.

He knew his father loved him until the very end.

I have one last question for you.

What really happened

with that fire in the Wei Village

five years ago?

Back then, Chu Yan had Alan Ruoying

survive as the leader of a band of bandits,

Mu Mianhong,

and hide in the Cangmu Forest.

So, we decided

to make a deal with the Lord of Xiaonan.

We set a fire at the Wei Village

at the foot of the Cangmu Forest

and left clues

to frame the Cangmu Stronghold.

Once the court of the State of Chu

followed our lead

to investigate the stronghold,

they would discover

Mu Mianhong's true identity,

which would serve

as ironclad proof of Chu Ling's treason.

If Yunzhong Prefecture lost Chu Ling,

seizing the frontier would be a simple task.

I do not know

why the clues pointing to the Cangmu Stronghold were erased,

and why you appeared

in that fire

and ended up

taking the blame for us.

Later,

I heard that the young man from the Xie Family

framed for burning the village had gone to the frontier

and become the most capable vanguard

by Chu Ling's side.

As they say in the Central Plains,

the world never unfolds as planned.

I never imagined

we would meet again

on the b*ttlefield like this.

Now

you have settled

the debt of that injustice.

General, we are under attack.

We have been surrounded.

Is it someone looking for you?

Who wants you dead?

It could be anyone.

To claim the throne,

one must first remove the predecessor.

I want to see

who can actually take my life.

You can butcher each other for all I care,

but

you must not die within the State of Chu.

Follow me.

Hurry.

Go!

Mr. Xie,

I heard that Her Highness

is personally leading another campaign.

Has she developed a taste for w*r,

or

is she acting out of spite because Xiao Xun declared

he would take her as his Empress?

Regardless of the reason,

if she wants to do it, she should go.

We need only pave the road for her,

just like the dead-end road

we paved for Yanlai.

I received a secret report.

Yanlai is dead.

He died believing

that the ones who attacked him and the Northern Desert King

were Xiao Xun's men.

You are truly far-sighted.

Deng Yi dying at her hands

is better than him dying at mine.

They started with an alliance

and ended up shattered by infighting.

Once she learns of Yanlai's death,

there will be no reconciliation

between her and Xiao Xun.

Well,

are the night refreshments ready?

Yes.

Have them packed

and delivered to Her Highness.

You are far too good to her, Mr. Xie,

yet gratitude

is not in her nature.

I don't know what you are aiming for.

The better I treat her now,

the greater

her agony will be.

Once she kills Xiao Xun

and returns covered in wounds,

I must ensure she has a place to return to.

That scoundrel Xiao Xun

actually dared to declare

that he would take Your Highness as his empress.

All he wants is for me to become

what he is,

a rebel who seized the throne

and deserves to be struck down

by all.

Your Highness,

you should march out with the troops now

and claim his head

before the eyes of the world.

Your Highness,

are you feeling unwell?

I don't know what is wrong.

I feel terribly anxious.

My chances of winning are higher

in this battle against Xiao Xun.

Even if it is difficult to defy fate,

at worst, we will fight to the death.

Yet why

does my heart feel so unsettled?

Your Highness,

urgent report from the frontier.

What has happened at the frontier?

It is General Fu Jiu.

What about Jiu?

General Fu Jiu and the Northern Desert King

were ambushed by an unknown army.

Whether they survived is unclear.

Are you going to the frontier?

Yes.

Must you go?

Yes.

He is dead.

No body means

there is still a chance.

I believe General Zhong

has been looking for him.

If you are worried,

I will send more men.

If he is alive,

I will retrieve him myself.

If he is gone,

I will do everything in my power to uncover the truth.

You are the Grand Princess.

Xiao Xun has risen in revolt,

and

you would leave the court

over something so absurd?

If something happens,

you will regret it forever.

Do you think I am doing this

only for one Xie Yanlai?

As the Grand Princess,

if I remain indifferent to the unjust death

of a loyal general,

who else will be willing to give their life for the state?

Xie Yanfang,

you dare try to k*ll me?

By leaving the court without sanction, Your Highness

is putting the very foundation of the state at risk.

Since I am aware of this,

I cannot ignore it.

If you come back with me,

I will pretend nothing happened.

♪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♪