Original subtitles

Meiniang...

Are you pregnant?

Take me straight to Ganlu Hall.

I have something important to tell His Majesty.

Aye!

Meiniang is bearing Father's child?

Yes! She's wearing a loose robe to cover it up,

so no one in the Temple has noticed.

That's...wonderful!

I must congratulate her.

I know she has always wanted

to bear a child for Father.

You're obviously disappointed,

why force yourself to smile?

She was Father's Cairen,

I have no right to be disappointed.

Never mind, as long as I can see her again.

I'll issue an edict to bring her back.

If you bring her back now,

she'll forever be a Consort Dowager.

Is that what you want?

Except for that,

what else can happen between us?

Even as the Emperor,

I can't always get what I want.

You're the Emperor

but you can't do the things you want to do.

Take now for instance, since you ascended the throne,

you have respected and listened to your courtiers,

and worked hard on state affairs.

But you're allowed to make fewer and fewer decisions.

Have you ever wondered why?

Well...

Because the current Tang court

is dominated by Uncle

and he practically appoints all the courtiers.

Even the Emperor's edicts are rejected by him.

Nobody can help you.

No, I've issued an edict

to summon General Li Ji who was banished to Diezhou by Father.

He should be back in a month.

He can help me when he gets back.

Li Ji is an outsider.

Besides, his influence is in the army.

He won't interfere with Court matters.

The only person who can help you is...

...Brother Ke.

But you can't get him back.

Right?

Because Chancellor Zhangsun won't allow it.

Uncle is doing this for the sake of Tang.

Look around you in the Court,

except for a handful of courtiers like Xu Jingzong, the Minister of Rites,

who are connected to the Eastern Palace,

everyone else is dominated by Chancellor Zhangsun.

You'll always be under his control.

You'll never be free.

You and Meiniang will never have a future you dream about

Gaoyang,

you're saying I should

try to get Brother Ke back in Chang'an?

If you can do that

and let him help you build your own power circle,

that would be best.

But exactly what to do,

is something you must decide for yourself.

By the way...

the Grand Assembly should be over soon.

Why?

I just remembered...

Meiniang thinks highly of it and can't forget about the fireworks.

If she really wants to see it, I can arrange it for her.

But she thinks the harem

is the most hypocritical, heartless and dangerous place.

She wants to take her child away from Ganye Temple.

She probably doesn't want to come back

and won't see your fireworks.

How odd! I thought they're coming.

What's taking them so long?

Lianzhi, go take a look.

Aye!

Mother!

Sujie!

Get up, Sujie!

Mother!

Where's your Father?

He was coming with me,

but he was called away.

Called away?

Tell me, Sujie!

Who called him away? The Empress?

No, Aunt Gaoyang.

They wanted to find someone called Consort Dowager Wu.

Consort Dowager Wu?

I'm hungry, Mother.

You are? Good boy.

If Father won't spend time with you, I will.

I've prepared lot of goodies for you.

Come!

Let's go!

Father, we're not going after Li Ke?

Though Li Ke is not behind the murders,

that doesn't mean he harbours no dissent.

At the North Gate,

he made a questionable decision.

The late Emperor is gone,

Tang cannot withstand any disturbances.

Unless we have absolute proof of his loyalty, or else...

Chong, we must make use of this opportunity.

Even if we don't get rid of him for good,

we must send him away from Chang'an,

as far away as possible.

Milady, His Majesty sent word,

he's not coming to Lizheng Hall tonight.

Tonight won't the only night.

Did the Pure Consort personally invite him to Xianling Palace?

She sent the Prince of Yong.

To stop His Majesty from coming here,

she's capable of anything.

But His Majesty didn't go there either.

He went back to Ganlu Hall.

I heard when they were at the door,

His Majesty was intercepted by Rui'an.

He went to see Princess Gaoyang instead.

Gaoyang?

"The woman ruler named Wu" is nonsense.

Even so, do not allow it to go adrift.

If Wu Meiniang is pregnant when I'm dead kill the child, regardless of gender.

But Meiniang is allowed to live.

Meiniang, this is how he treated you.

But you still can't forget the fireworks you watched with him.

Fine! So long as that can make you happy,

I don't mind making your dream come true.

Anyone?

What is it, Your Majesty?

Send this to the Prince of Wu in Anzhou.

Aye!

Summon Xu Jingzong.

Aye!

I heard

the Deputy Commander of Xuanwu Gate has retired.

Yes! What's on your mind, Your Majesty?

You think my brother, the Prince of Wu is a good replacement?

I think so.

The position should not be left vacant for too long.

Fill it as soon as possible.

I'll submit a memorial tomorrow.

You may go.

Goodbye, Your Majesty!

Father!

Father, on your death bed,

when you entrusted me with Uncle,

did you realise he'd have my hands tied,

in everything I try to do?

They...all think I'm weak.

Maybe Uncle doesn't believe

I'm worthy of the throne.

But Father, since I became the Emperor,

for each waking moment,

I've tried my very best to be like you,

and give my subjects peace and prosperity.

Father...

Father, for the sake of the kingdom

and to make my dream come true,

I have decided to declare war on Uncle.

Don't blame me, Father! Just watch me!

I promise I won't let you down.

I don't know why you're upset,

but this letter ought to cheer you up.

Zhinu...His Majesty wrote this!

What did he say?

He said, he trusts me

and will summon me back to Chang'an to assist him.

That's great!

But why do you look so worried?

I often think of that day by the lake when someone tried to assassinate me.

Somehow I've got this feeling

that the arrow was not aimed to kill me.

Watch out!

Your Highness,

everything happened so quickly,

how can you be sure the arrow wasn't meant to kill you?

You're reading too much into it.

Back when Zhangsun Wuji sent me out of Chang'an,

I didn't hate him for it,

because I had my own thinking

and wanted to be as far away from Zhinu as possible.

The reason is,

I often see this picture in my mind, of Qingque at the North Gate.

So many people came from Xianling Palace,

and they were determined to kill Father.

They were all loyalists of Sui.

Am I right?

Did Mother pay for them?

Or they were in collaboration?

How many more were there?

I was afraid they'd come to me again.

Recently, I've been having this dream.

I was leading a crowd.

We barged into Taiji Palace and killed Zhinu

If I return to Chang'an,

I'm worried...this dream may come true.

Your Highness,

there's nothing to worry about.

Those die hard loyalists of Sui

were the result of your Mother's painstaking effort for years.

But they were all killed that day they tried to assassinate the late Emperor.

You're going back to Chang'an to assist His Majesty.

To let a sword collect dust is such a shame.

How can you bear to see His Majesty

take on the responsibility of Tang alone?

Don't you want to make a contribution?

As soon as we get His Majesty's edict,

we'll return to Chang'an.

In my opinion,

the Prince of Wu shows no dissent,

but Zhangshi Yang who serves under him should be killed for treason.

We have done what you asked of us.

When can we see the Prince of Wu?

Be patient. The timing is not right.

Loyalists of Sui like all of us worked with Consort Yang

only because she wanted to kill Li Shimin and avenge the late Emperor.

If the Prince of Wu had no intention to kill Li Zhi and usurp the throne,

he's not worthy of our allegiance.

Don't forget,

His Highness carries the bloodline of Emperor Yang,

he would not serve someone else.

Rest assured he will meet with you.

But it won't happen until we assassinate Li Zhi.

Or else anything we say now is nothing but an illusion.

Fine! Next month, on Empress Wende's birthday,

the assassination of Li Zhi was our original plan anyway.

But Ganye Temple will be heavily guarded.

We may not be able to sneak inside.

Have you forgotten we have help inside the Palace?

Getting inside Ganye Temple should be easy with his help.

He's already notified me.

Your men

may not even need to enter the Temple.

They can lie in ambush in the forest outside the Temple.

Morning assembly is adjourned if there's nothing else to report.

I have something to report.

Go ahead, Yanzu.

Your Majesty,

Deputy Commander Fang Qingju of Xuanwu Gate has recently retired.

The vacancy should be filled as soon as possible.

I recommend Li Ke, the Prince of Wu.

Minister Xu's recommendation will not happen, I'm afraid.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty,

the Prince of Wu has been assigned to Anzhou for less than 6 months,

if he's to return to Chang'an so quickly,

it would leave the impression the Court can't make up its mind.

For the Deputy Commander position at Xuanwu Gate,

I nominate Gu Shenxing, former Commander of the Left Personal Guards.

Your Majesty!

I second the nomination.

Your Majesty!

I think Commander Gu is most suitable

to command the Imperial Guards.

Chancellor Chu has a good point,

but I think...

Your Majesty, I have something to report!

Please go ahead, Duke of Wei.

Your Majesty, I would like to impeach

the Crown Prince's advisor,

the Minister of Rites, Xu Jingzong for greed and impropriety.

For a substantial bride price, he married off his daughter

to the barbarians in the south.

I urge you to punish him, Your Majesty.

His greed makes him unworthy of being a scholar.

Not to mention he's the Minister of Rites!

Scholars from poor families know nothing about shame.

Minister Xu, is it true about what the Duke of Wei just said?

I lost my head, please forgive me!

Since you admit it, there's nothing more to be said.

I'll strip you of your post as Minister of Rites

and demote you to the post of Inspector of Zhengzhou.

Aye!

Chancellor Zhangsun and Minister Wang

obviously came prepared

with evidence against Minister Xu.

The Court is completely controlled by the Guanlong aristocrats.

Poor scholars like us will never get ahead.

Fine! Do as you wish.

Let Gu Shenxing fill the position.

Assembly adjourned!

Long live Your Majesty...

Your Majesty, please take a break.

It'll just take the Prince of Wu longer to get back.

Please don't be upset.

Even Xu Jingzong has been banished from Chang'an.

He's my only trusted follower in Court.

If I can't protect him,

how can I bring my brother back?

Your Majesty,

The Empress has prepared

Prince Lanling in Battle for you.

Please enjoy it at Lizheng Hall.

No!

Aye!

Your Majesty, the Empress' father is one of the Guanlong courtiers,

who's Chancellor Zhangsun's equal.

You think...

Convey my thanks to the Empress.

I'm busy today.

I'll watch the dance some other time.

Aye!

Rui'an!

Do something for me.

Meiniang considers the harem

the most hypocritical, heartless and dangerous place.

She wants to take her child away from Ganye Temple.

She probably doesn't want to come back.

If I barged in like this,

you'd still avoid me.

Zhinu, I know it's you.

Forgive me for the rejection.

We must atone our mistakes.

But our child is innocent.

I won't let anyone...including you,

find out this is our child.

Or else it will become

a blade hanging over your throne.

You will get hurt.

Goodbye, Zhinu!

I will take the child away from Chang'an.

This is the only way to keep him safe,

and keep your kingdom secure.

Meiniang, I won't let you go

and lead a vagrant life.

I will protect you and your child.

I will make you stay in Chang'an

and stay with me.

You sent for me, Father?

How is the investigation on Li Ke?

He's not up to anything in Anzhou.

But Zhangshi Yang who serves under him

has been contacting local officials

and is involved in training up an army,

all in the name of the Prince of Wu.

I intend to use this as evidence

and charge him for factionalism.

Good! How long will it take?

About a month!

It's destiny!

Arresting Li Ke

will be the best present for Empress Wende's memorial service.

Aye!

Gentlemen, since Sui was destroyed,

we've led a vagrant and miserable life.

For what?

Revenge!

Yes, we must take out the Li clan

to avenge the Great Sui.

Now we finally have a chance.

Tonight, we'll go to Chang'an to make the arrangements.

One month later, at the birthday memorial ceremony at Ganye Temple

we must assassinate Li Zhi.

Kill him...

Your Highness!

Be careful!

It's Prince Sujie!

Kill... Your Highness...

Who would have thought

an uncouth wench like Consort Xiao who is so annoying,

would give birth to such an adorable child like Sujie?

If I had a son,

I'm sure His Majesty would visit Lizheng Hall more often.

Be careful... Kill...

Not so fast...

Your Highness...

Be careful, Your Highness...

Your Highness... Kill...

Greetings, Milady!

Sujie, remember me?

Yes, Your Highness!

Give the child a piece of jerky.

Aye!

Your Highness!

This jerky is made of beef and venison.

It's very tasty! Here...

You should be hungry.

Go ahead and eat it.

Why? You don't want to eat it?

I do.

Your Highness, I ate it.

This is how Consort Xiao has taught her son?

I beg your pardon, Milady...

Get lost!

Please forgive us, Milady!

Please don't be upset, Milady!

Please don't be upset, Milady!

The child is insensible!

No, it's not the child's fault!

Obviously Consort Xiao instructed the child not to eat anything from me.

Because she has earned His Majesty's favour,

she is becoming more defiant towards me.

She has repeatedly stepped out of line.

Considering her young age, I chose to let it slide.

But my lenience only encouraged her.

Today, she used this young child to humiliate me.

This is utterly detestable!

Forgive me for being bold.

I have an idea.

If it's for my own good, I won't blame you for it.

Tell me...

They say stones from another hill maybe good for polishing jade.

If you can rope in someone

who has earned His Majesty's favour,

Consort Xiao would learn to tone down.

You think you're the only one

who thought of that?

Where can I find someone like that within the harem?

There's someone called Wu Meiniang,

the former Consort Wu.

Have you heard of her?

Isn't she inside Ganye Temple?

I heard a rumour,

the reason Consort Xiao has won over His Majesty

is that she looks a bit like this Wu Meiniang.

The painting hanging in Ganlu Hall,

"Shooting a Chrysanthemum at a Polo Match"

allegedly is a painting of her.

When can I meet Wu Meiniang?

Normally, you can't go inside Ganye Temple...

But next month is Empress Wende's birthday memorial service.

You will go inside the Temple for the service.

You'll get to meet Wu Meiniang.

The Emperor and the Empress were very much in love.

She was an exemplary Mother whose virtues will long be remembered

in the many generations to come.

His Majesty will kowtow to Empress Wende.

Father, Censor Xing Chun will arrive at the Prince of Wu's mansion.

To ensure the arrest, he will bring soldiers.

Who are you?

Here is the token!

The Prince of Wu is guilty of factionalism.

As the Censor,

I'm here to arrest him on Chancellor Zhangsun's order.

Where is the Prince of Wu?

Sir,

His Highness went out 2 days ago

and has not been back.

Where did he go?

Chang'an, I believe.

Hurry, in an hour,

His Majesty and I am going into a fast. I must see Wu Meiniang at once.

Here, Milady!

This is the residence of all those who served the late Emperor.

Her Buddhist name is Mingkong.

Master Mingkong?

Master Mingkong...

Your Majesty, in an hour,

please change for ablution

and start the fast at the Grand Hall

until tomorrow morning at 7 o'clock

when the fast officially ends.

I see. You may go

Aye!

Your Majesty, Sis Wu has left the Temple.

Meiniang, are you alright?