A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
ADAPTED FROM TIANXIA GUIYUAN'S NOVEL HUANG QUAN
EPISODE 55
Lure the Crown Prince here too.
End it once and for all.
Of course,
I can also go back to the capital and fulfill my father's orders.
Kill three birds with one stone.
What do you think?
Prince of Chu. That's a great plan.
Your Highness.
Prince of Chu. This is an important matter.
Please let me think about it.
I'll discuss it with you again later.
What do you think?
Of course.
A person who does great things
must think carefully before making any moves.
I'll take my leave.
Find out who that is.
Yes, Your Highness.
This is from Helian Zheng's uncle, Helian Lie.
It's stated that
Helian Lie wants to work with Your Highness.
They want us to send soldiers to kill Helian Zheng.
He's willing to give Baitou Cliff to Dayue.
How interesting.
Jinshi's internal chaos is bringing such an advantage to me.
Guo Jun, in your opinion,
which should I choose?
Ning Yi or Helian Lie?
Your Highness. Ning Yi's plan is too risky.
Helian Lie's Baitou Cliff is more practical.
Well, I have to think about it carefully.
I pay respect to Your Majesty.
You may rise.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Zhao Yuan said you have an urgent request.
I find that really interesting.
You've never made any requests. Tell me. What is it?
I just went to see Father,
but he would not let me in.
I don't know what I did wrong that angered him.
I just feel kind of uneasy.
Your Majesty.
The Ghost Festival is almost here. I'm thinking about my ancestors.
So I want to attend the ceremony at Qinglong Temple to pay my respects.
Please permit me, Your Majesty.
The Ghost Festival is the time to pay respect to ancestors.
I grant your request.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
I'll take my leave then.
Wait.
This is not what you came here for.
I know.
If you keep things from me as well,
then I'll really have no one to talk to from now on.
Your Majesty, I...
Tell me. What is your request?
I know that I can't hide anything from Your Majesty.
Your Majesty refused to see Ning Qi yesterday.
He's very anxious.
So he asked me to find out what Your Majesty is thinking.
-So you agreed. -No.
I refused him.
Why are you here then?
Last night, I was thinking
how sad Ning Qi must be
to be refused by his parents.
I couldn't bear it.
So I wanted to see Your Majesty.
But after I saw Your Majesty,
I thought,
you have your ways of disciplining your children.
This is between a father and his son.
A woman like me should not interfere.
I feel consoled hearing your honest thoughts.
Don't worry.
I wasn't targeting Ning Qi.
On that table is a report Ning Qi sent.
I was reviewing it.
That child is outstanding.
Your Majesty. Ning Qi is impatient and rash.
You should still tame his drive.
The Royal Court is different from the Imperial Harem.
A royal son should have drive.
As Ning Qi's mother,
you don't need to worry.
I know how to teach my own son.
After I'm done with my matters,
I'll go visit you.
By the way, autumn is almost here.
If you need anything in your palace,
just tell Zhao Yuan.
If Your Majesty visits me,
that is better than everything else.
I'll take my leave, then.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Lady Wang received so much insult in the Imperial Harem before,
yet she had never requested anything from me.
But she made a request for the first time for Ning Qi.
She must love her son very much.
Zhao Yuan.
Yes, Your Majesty.
If Prince of Wei requests to see me tomorrow,
I will permit it.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Did that servant confess?
Your Majesty, he did.
I haven't gotten around to reporting to you yet.
-Speak. -Yes, Your Majesty.
The servant said
that Ning Sheng wants Your Majesty to think of him.
So he thought of many ways to bribe him,
so that
he would find a suitable opportunity to mention him to Your Majesty.
Ning Sheng.
Ning Qi can make a request to his mother
just so that he can see me.
As for Ning Sheng, his mother has passed.
And he's a criminal.
If he wants to see me, who can make a request on his behalf?
He can only seek favor from people around me.
Your Majesty. I also heard that
Ning Sheng has been copying scriptures and reciting novenas
to ask the heavens to forgive his sins,
so that he can see Your Majesty.
They're all my sons.
Ning Sheng is abstaining from meat and reciting prayers.
He must regret what he did.
-Zhao Yuan. -Yes, Your Majesty.
Pass on my orders.
Release Ning Sheng from Zongzheng Temple.
Send Song Jie to take care of him.
Keep an eye on him as well.
I will comply, Your Majesty.
Please forgive me, Prince of Chu.
I thought about it for a long time.
Your plan is brilliant, but it's a bit risky.
If the Crown Prince doesn't fall for it,
won't that destroy my plans that I worked on all these years?
However,
I still want to thank Your Highness for your plan.
Who would have thought...
Prince of Chu, I am merely a mediocre man.
Why do I feel like
it's not that you're mediocre, but that you have other plans instead?
Why do you say that?
If you chose Helian Lie as your ally today,
that means you're choosing to be my enemy.
Helian Zheng is Tiansheng's in-law.
I'm going to Jinshi to take down Helian Lie.
I'm just worried for you.
Perhaps you'll suffer a loss instead of making a gain.
Prince of Chu.
Why does it have to be black or white?
I never wanted to be your enemy.
Furthermore,
Helian Zheng needs to return to Jinshi safely, right?
I knew it.
You don't want to be my enemy.
So I acted on my own
and helped Your Highness make a decision.
What kind of decision?
Just a small decision.
Your Highness.
That person is an official sent by Helian Lie from Jinshi.
Are you confident to kill him?
You killed my guest in Puyuan.
Do you think this is your backyard?
Guards.
Your Highness, you're mistaken.
The one I killed on your behalf is not your guest.
He's your stumbling block in becoming an emperor.
Your Highness, you're so smart.
Do you not understand my intention?
Aren't you afraid that you won't be able to get out of here?
If I don't return within five days,
there will be troops who'll come for me.
Your Highness. Can you handle that?
Prince of Chu.
You are careful and meticulous. You're my good friend indeed.
We need to discuss the details of our plan now.
Guo Jun. Dismiss them.
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness.
I really like doing smart things with smart people.
Likewise.
Father, please have some tea.
Ning Yi has not left his carriage for a few days.
Lu Ming is a bit worried.
Not going to Jinshi is a grave crime punishable by death.
Returning without being ordered to is also punishable by death.
Ning Yi won't make any moves so simply.
Please don't worry, Father.
I don't think he has the guts to do such a bold thing.
Go to the Ministry of War later.
Order them to tighten the security in Yuzhou.
Once Jinshi falls into chaos,
Tiansheng will immediately benefit as a third-party.
Very wise, Father.
Ning Yi went to Jinshi.
You're the only one I can rely on now.
Don't be anxious.
What's yours won't fall into the hands of others.
I understand.
I see that you are always holding that perfume case.
You look like you rely on it a lot. What kind of herb is inside?
I can find that for you.
Instead of official matters,
you're concerned with trivial things. What's the use of that?
What rights do you have to look for my items?
Please don't be mad, Father.
Leave.
Official Zhao.
Where did Father's perfume case come from?
Why is he so mad because of it?
His Majesty loves fragrances. That perfume case has never left his side.
It's something His Majesty treasures.
Maybe it's a foreign offering.
I'm not too sure where it came from either.
Is there anything you don't know about Father's items?
Are you trying to brush me off?
I wouldn't dare.
Your Highness.
Some things are not convenient for me to say.
I hope you won't give me a hard time.
In that case, I won't ask anymore.
I'll take my leave.
Take care, Your Highness.
HUZHUO
I, Lady Wang,
only hope that His Majesty can be safe, have good fortune,
and live a long life.
Ning Qi?
Mother.
When did you come?
I went to see Father earlier.
I really missed you, so I came here to visit you as well.
I told you.
How can there be no bond between father and son?
There must be a misunderstanding as to why he refused to see you last time.
I know your father very well.
Your affection toward Father is so noble.
No one in the Imperial Harem can compare to you.
You're very favored by Father.
I'm a bit worried.
Why?
I'm just afraid
that an emperor's affection is like a dream.
The Chang family's fortune dissipated like smoke.
That's because they lost Father's favor.
Throughout the generations,
it's been common to fight for an emperor's favor.
There are many women in the Imperial Harem.
Aren't you afraid of losing such favor?
I've been true to your father.
Why should I be worried?
That's also the reason why your father favors me.
Ning Qi.
The most precious thing in this world is a pure heart.
Your father also values a pure heart.
That's because he doesn't have a new love.
If he does,
there would be no place for you anymore.
If that day comes and your father casts me aside,
that's my fate, then. I cannot change it.
If I lose your father's favor, I must have done something wrong
and don't deserve your father's affection.
Mother.
You've emptied your heart while you were waiting for Father.
Father is the Emperor.
You're not the usual husband and wife.
In my heart,
only my love toward you
is the most precious.
Ning Qi.
What are you saying?
I don't understand.
What do you mean?
Don't think too much about it.
Didn't you say the Royal Court affairs are boring?
I will only talk about casual things with you.
"...as my companion
who will fulfill my orders carefully.
Prince of Wei, Ning Qi, will handle the Ministry of Revenue starting today.
This takes effect immediately."
I thank His Majesty and shall comply.
Congratulations, Prince of Wei.
Thank you for passing on the order.
It's my first time handling the Ministry of Revenue. I'm nervous.
I hope you can help advise me.
I appreciate Your Highness' thoughts.
But I don't dare
advise you on such matters.
Your Highness should understand His Majesty's intentions more.
I'll take my leave.
Your Highness.
I can work beside His Majesty for so many years
because I've always understood
that His Majesty is deeply insightful.
I can never easily read him.
That's why I only need to focus and do my part.
Thank you for your words.
I'll remember that.
Official Zhao is just His Majesty's servant.
How can he compare to Your Highness?
Now that Your Highness is handling the Ministry of Revenue,
it's obvious that His Majesty values you.
Even though he is just a servant, Father trusts him deeply.
As to whom Father favors more,
I might not be able to compare to Official Zhao
or even that Ning Yi.
He worked for so many years in the government.
How can I compete with him just by handling the Ministry of Revenue?
Your Highness just returned to the capital,
so you can't compete with Prince of Chu yet.
However, there is this saying.
"Money talks."
As long as Your Highness is willing,
it's not hard to make arrangements when you want to.
That's easy to say.
Where would the money come from?
The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the fields and military service.
It is of the best position among the six departments.
-As long as-- -How dare you?
Do you know how many people are watching me,
now that I'm handling the Ministry of Revenue?
Especially Father.
I can't be penny wise and pound foolish.
We must think of another way to expand our resources.
I understand.
We also need to think about another thing.
Mother is kind by nature.
She's been in the Imperial Harem for so long without much favor.
I don't want to involve her and increase her worries.
We need to arrange for another person in the palace.
Search secretly.
Search for a woman
who can make perfume.
Yes, Your Highness. I'll do that right away.
HUZHUO
We pay respect to the King.
We pay respect to King Regent.
The King is still young. Please rise.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
-From now on-- -Uncle.
It's the eldest prince.
-It's the eldest prince. -Yes.
Don't talk about matters going forward yet.
I want
to get an explanation
about what happened.
You came just in time.
We can talk about it
after you pay respect to the new king.
Helian Tu.
Helian Zheng. What do you mean by that?
I just brought my brother
a toy from Tiansheng.
How impetuous!
You disrespected the King of Jinshi in the Royal Court.
Do you want to disobey the late King's royal edict
and commit treason?
You mentioned the royal edict.
What a coincidence.
I have with me
a royal edict as well.
But this royal edict states
that Father transferred the position to me.
Which official is willing to examine it?
See if it's the handwriting of the late King himself.
Fellow officials,
this royal edict is really in the late King's handwriting.
Who in this Royal Court
is actually disobeying orders?
Who is the one committing treason?
Since ancient times,
positions are transferred from the eldest to the youngest.
Now, the eldest son has the late King's royal edict.
In my opinion,
we have to discuss this carefully.
-Yes. -That's right.
The late King was very sick.
Before he died, he himself said that Helian Tu should replace him.
The Queen Dowager and I are witnesses.
So, Helian Zheng.
Do you think that the Queen Dowager and I are lying?
Helian Zheng.
Even though I'm not your birth mother,
I've raised you for the past ten years.
Ask yourself.
Have I ever mistreated you?
Based on the ten years we've spent together,
am I a person who would commit treason just for the throne?
Your Majesty.
You were the one who raised me.
I'll always remember that.
You are righteous and pure.
You loved and respected my father.
You won't cause him harm to steal the throne.
However,
I'm just afraid that you have been tricked.
Helian Zheng.
Are you implying that I have committed treason?
I'm not implying it.
I'm suspecting that you, Uncle,
killed Father and fabricated the royal edict
to make Helian Tu the king so that you can reign on his behalf.
What proof do you have?
You dare accuse the King Regent in the Royal Court.
The monarchy is the foundation of our kingdom.
Since there are doubts surrounding the late King's death
and Prince Helian Zheng has the late King's royal edict,
I'm willing to die
to protect Prince Helian Zheng.
-We're willing to die -We're willing to die
-to protect Prince Helian Zheng. -to protect Prince Helian Zheng.
All right.
Very well.
Great.
King Regent.
King Regent, don't be rash.
If Helian Zheng becomes a king under such chaos,
I'm afraid it will weaken Jinshi's foundation.
The King Regent and I won't be at peace.
Then what do you plan to do?
In my opinion, we should give it one month.
If Helian Zheng can find proof
that the late King's death is suspicious within one month,
I'll go to the late King's tomb myself and accept the charges.
I'll open the casket and examine his body.
If you can't find any proof within one month,
then I'll charge you with treason punishable by death.
All right.
We'll do what the Queen Dowager said.
Within one month, if I can't find any proof,
then I'm useless and I will repent to Father.
I'll come and ask for my punishment.
Si Xian, the head of the Si family, was imprisoned by the late King of Jinshi.
His family disappeared without a trace.
We only found his son, Si Yinlun, who was marked as a criminal
and locked up in the ancestral hall.
-"Marked as a criminal"? -Yes.
What crime did he commit?
Rape.
But I did some checking.
There are some inconsistencies.
The Si and Liu families are two of the most prominent families in Jinshi.
Liu Meiduo, the Liu family's youngest daughter,
had already been set to marry Si Yinlun since she was little.
They should have grown up together.
But when Liu Meiduo was at the right age and they were about to get married,
Si Yinlun lost his mind.
He tried to rape Liu Meiduo.
Isn't Liu Meiduo the sister to the Queen Dowager of Jinshi?
That's right.
There are inconsistencies indeed.
Then I should meet that Si Yinlun who lost his mind.
Arrange that.
Yes, Your Highness.
SI RESIDENCE
My name is Si Yinlun.
Are you looking for me?
This is Zhanbi's relic indeed.
You must be the Si family's old friend.
Since we're old friends, I have a favor to ask you.
I hope you can help me.
I like helping friends.
However, does the Si family owe anyone anything?
Why don't I remember?
Since you like helping friends,
isn't it better to treat it as friends helping out one another?
Why does it matter who owes whom?
You have a point.
It's not easy to do things in this world.
It's always best to gain friends.
I agree to help you then.
Si Yinlun.
Do you know what I want you to help with?
Based on your appearance, you must be a noble from Tiansheng.
You want to bring down Helian Lie with my family's influence.
-Am I right? -Yes.
All right. No problem.
It's no problem to have a friend like you, of course.
But you have to be sure
that it is what you really want to do.
All right.
Can I ask you the reason?
I don't like him.
Does that reason satisfy you?
-Does the Princess from Tiansheng know-- -Will you help or not?
Calm down.
Haven't I agreed already?
I merely asked out of curiosity.
It's fine to tell me.
The less you know, the better.
Curiosity kills the cat.
Since you're not willing to tell me,
I won't ask anymore.
After thinking about it,
maybe you can do me a small favor.
You're a noble.
You must not like owing people, right?
Tell me.
I want to use your position
to get my father, Si Xian, out of prison.
A prison break?
You have to prove to me that our friendship
is worth risking the Si family's lives for.
What do you think?
-Isn't it fair? -It is.
It's very fair.
Although Si Xian is a power to be reckoned with in Jinshi,
his family hates Helian Lie.
They might be able to assist you.
Could you get in touch with him?
The head of the Si family, Si Xian,
has never gotten along with my father.
Nanyi.
Please ride ahead to Jinshi's capital to check out the situation.
That way, we'll be able to plan ahead.
Don't worry. I'll be discreet.
Why are you following me? Do you know who I am?
Si Yinle.
If you know, why are you so impetuous?
You offended the Si family in Jinshi.
Do you want to die?
Please let me see the head of your family.
So you want to see the head of my family.
Does our head meet people so easily?
Who are you?
-Gu Nanyi. -Who's Gu Nanyi?
It's me.
I don't care who you are.
You tricked me.
You can't say that.
You followed me first.
This is called self-defense, you know?
You're following a girl secretly.
I'm sure you're not a good person.
I am. I never caused anyone harm.
You're a good person?
I'll be damned if I believe you.
You're quite adept.
What exactly do you want?
To follow you.
All right.
You'll go wherever I go.
Would you do whatever I do?
Until I see the head of the Si family.
All right. It's a deal.
Come on.
Everyone, don't miss out on this.
This is my brother, Gu Nanyi.
Our family is unfortunate to have such a disobedient son.
A few years ago, Gu Nanyi wanted to rape our family friend's daughter.
What are you talking about? I didn't do that.
Nanyi, I know you didn't, of course.
You were framed by that girl.
But what's the use?
Mother died due to depression.
Father is now in prison.
Now you're here to sell your skills and atone for your crime.
Whoever can beat my brother
will receive this money.
If you can't beat him, please give us five coins.
You can all go together.
-All right. -All right.
-Go and try. -Go.
Hit the gong.
Don't just watch. Come on. Support us.
Come on. Support us.
Thank you.
-Thank you. -This is for you.
Thank you, everyone.
You're quite amazing.
You're a lying scammer.
When did I lie? I was telling the truth.
The truth?
Since it's the truth, can you let me see your brother?
Who exactly are you?
You don't know anything about our family.
Why do you want to see my brother?
Why do you want to see the head of our family?
You won't say?
All right.
Continue following me then. Let's go.
Men and women should keep a distance.
I'm letting you follow me closely, isn't that good?
-Let go. -No.
I got a pot of gold. I don't want to let go.
Let go first, okay?
Didn't you want to follow me?
Didn't you want to see my brother?
Then you have to do your job well.
Don't give up in the middle of your task.
-Let's go. -Let go of me.
Princess, please have some tea. The Queen Dowager will be here soon.
I've had almost a whole pot of tea, and still haven't seen the Queen Dowager.
Is this how you treat guests in Jinshi?
Or are you disrespecting Tiansheng intentionally?
Turns out the Princess of Tiansheng is an unreasonable woman.
You look quite beautiful.
I can't compare to your heavenly beauty.
You really think so?
Of course.
I believe all men in the world think the same.
I don't care what all men in the world think.
-I just care about what he thinks. -He?
Who is he?
I feel like I've known you for a long time.
What's your name?
-Liu Meiduo. -Meiduo?
You're the Queen Dowager's sister.
Why?
Has he mentioned me to you before?
Is Prince Helian the "he" you're referring to?
Subtitle translation by Coleen Chua