Original subtitles

♫ Raising the wine cup, I toast to the boundless sky ♫

♫ In talks and laughters are vast mountains and rivers. ♫

♫ Love and hate, debt and feuds, have all dissolved. ♫

♫ Where's my soul's hometown and my kindred spirits? ♫

♫ Seasons rolling by, we dream for harvest. ♫

♫ Warriors and warhorses howl across the sky. ♫

♫ If only I could turn into the wind, ♫

♫ to blow away all the pain in mortal coil. ♫

♫ I toast to the blue sky, to courage in solitude, ♫

♫ to migrating gooses, to boats heading home. ♫

♫ With even three thousand days and nights, ♫

♫ Will it be enough to drain this cup I toast to peace? ♫

[Swords into Plowshares]

[Episode 4]

You are no little kids.

Why are you so coy, putting on such an affected air?

An unrighteous family will not show mercy.

At that time, when that heartless scoundrel came to the Tian family as a son-in-law,

I was pregnant with you,

but I didn't shed a single tear.

Shortly after,

I married the father of Taizhen and Ayou.

Thirty years has past,

I haven't shed a single tear.

Now that he is dead, all past grievances can be written off.

Third Brother!

Mother, look.

It's that boy.

Third Brother!

Third Brother!

The grudges with his father have been settled,

yet I now owe this boy a great favor.

Fine.

After we returned, pack your belongings and go to the Western Court in Hangzhou to serve him for five years,

as to pay back his favor.

Mother—

Not willing to?

If within five years,

he dares to deflower Taizhen,

he must prepare wedding gifts and marry her!

You're so circumspect.

If he dares to be heartless like his father,

I wouldn't mind gathering a few hundred ships to the Qiantang Estuary one more time.

Your humble servant, Cheng Zhaoyue, Chengfenglang,

Commissioner of the Inner Army, pays respects to the Regent.

You are already the Commissioner.

The official appointment has been signed.

You are no longer the eighth-rank Chengfenglang.

I am filled with trepidation.

Why?

Reporting to the Regent,

I was originally a commoner, and a traveling merchant.

I dared not associate with the nobles.

Shanyue House spans national-wide, facilitating trade to accumulate wealth.

Earning a colossal sum of money is bound to arouse covetous schemes.

I am too weak to protect all the business and dare not oppose the court officials.

Therefore, over the past ten-plus years,

I have given away eight or nine out of ten of my shares.

Among these, several Grand Commandants from inner guard hold more than thirty percent.

Now, I've received your grace.

I am filled with trepidation.

Among the officials,

who else holds shares in the Shanyue House?

The young Commissioner from Lord Du's family, held more than twenty percent;

The Third Young Master of Jinhua,

fifteen percent;

Minister Hu from Lord Hu's family, roughly less than ten percent.

Other officials and their family members also held some shares, but only less than five percent in total.

And my Fifth Uncle?

In the second year of Tianfu, when Yuanqiu and Yuanxiang brothers rebelled.

Fortunately, the Eldest Prince spoke, and the late King spared me from being implicated.

To thank the kindness of Eldest Prince and others, I offered treasures.

The Eldest Prince was upright, unwilling to accept.

They then transferred the gifts to the Fifth Lord of Jinhua mansion.

The Fifth Lord could not appear in person,

so the Third Prince received them and sent them to the Shanyue House as share capital.

The late King bestowed grace,

yet this gratitude and gift were actually received by Fifth Uncle's family

and the eldest brother.

Why tell me this?

The Regent inquired,

I must answer truthfully.

Why didn't you tell me earlier?

I am a commoner merchant and dare not oppose the nobles and officials.

But now you dare?

As the Commissioner of the inner guard, your retainer,

I must serve you with wholehearted loyalty.

Do you know your crime?

I know my crime.

Merchants are the lowest of the four classes.

To collude with nobles and officials with wealth, such crimes are unforgivable.

My life is forfeit.

With a single order from me, I can have you and your three clans wiped out.

I have broken the law and am willing to accept punishment.

Whether this order is issued or not rests on my will.

The lives of your entire clan also rest on my will.

You understand?

I...

have already become your retainer.

When you worry, I am shamed.

When you are shamed, I should die.

If you need,

this head of mine, and the lives of my entire clan,

you may take them all.

Your head,

the lives of your entire clan,

shall be kept for now.

I entrust you with one task.

If you do it well, your past crimes will be pardoned and you will be rewarded.

If you dare to ruin it, I will punish you for your all crimes together.

Are you willing to do it?

If taking my life can alleviate your worries by even one ten-thousandth,

I would not dare to hesitate for a second.

This matter is inconceivable

and utterly absurd.

Cheng Zhaoyue is a low commoner.

Until yesterday, he was merely a merchant with an honorary eighth-rank title.

This man accused Du Zhaoda of plotting to enthrone Prince Hongjun.

He slandered recklessly.

We request that he be sent to the Censorate prison for interrogation,

and punished according to the law,

to appease the officials and the nobles.

I knew what you have said.

I have already interrogated him overnight.

Chief Counselor, look at this.

I am guilty.

I beg you to punish me.

Lord, you don't need to be like that.

Each family has its unworthy descendants.

Not to mention yours, Lord,

even Minister Hu must have been deceived by those scoundrels.

I am young,

but not foolish.

Regent, I failed to govern my family strictly

[Qian Yuanyi, Prince of Jinhua] Regent, I failed to govern my family strictly

[Qian Yuanyi, Prince of Jinhua] I'm willing to accept punishment.

However,

regarding supporting the usurpation,

I truly find it not reliable based solely on a single share certificate.

Please investigate it clearly.

Please discern clearly.

It is possible that the officials have been careless in minor matters.

However, the accusation of usurpation is fabricated.

I

also dare not believe it.

Gentlemen, please calm down.

Uncle Fifth,

as an elder of the royal family,

please understand my hardships.

Some money and silk are nothing serious.

A slight punishment is enough to distinguish between right and wrong.

I have no intention to pursue to the utmost.

However, the matter of treason concerns the foundation of the state.

I also have no choice but to inquire thoroughly.

I must live up to the trust of the two late Kings,

and return Eldest Brother

a clear reputation.

Father, please discern clearly. I do not know, do not know anything at all.

If it's not you,

then who?

It's my fault.

It's my fault.

What a fine business, what a fine trade!

This one deal of yours,

cost the status as a regent minister.

What a huge profit you've made!

I was wrong, I was wrong.

Get up!

Who are you putting on a show for?

Father.

Is the Regent going to be against you?

What are you thinking about?

He is still the Regent now, not yet the Great King.

He hasn't even settled firmly on his seat yet.

How could he act against me?

Do you think our young Regent is as foolish as you?

Well

Why did the Regent asked about this in court, without sparing you any dignity?

Just a warning.

A common tactic, that's all.

However, from this day forward,

your father can no longer act as the late King's entrusted minister in front of him.

It's only been a few days, and you've already earned a high-rank robe.

Truly, extraordinary people encounter extraordinary opportunities.

Gather your troops and follow me.

I am no longer the Commander of the First Unit of Imperial Guard.

Here is a military order handwritten by the Regent.

Effective immediately,

the First Unit of Imperial Guard is reorganized into the Fourth Unit of Imperial Attendant Guard.

The newly appointed Commander of it

is He Chengxun.

Let me go!

Let me go!

Mother!

Let me go!

Mother!

Let me go! Let me go!

[Du Zhaoda]Commander He!

Commander He! Save me!

Commander He! Save me!

Commander He!

Let me go!

Let me go!

I...

Cheng Zhaoyue!

May you die a miserable death!

Let me go! Let me go!

I'll kill you!

Cheng Zhaoyue!

You'll die a horrible death!

Let me go!

It's my turn now.

Eldest Brother, don't be angry.

Sixth Brother temporarily takes away your military authority intending to protect you.

Please lodge in Hexian Courtyard these days.

Once things are fully investigated, he will still need your assistance.

My life is in your hands, whatever.

Lead the way.

Officer Shen, wait a minute.

I have something to ask you according to the order.

I request you to move to the Inner Surveillance Commissioner's office.

You...

Sir,

rest assured.

This way.

His flesh was beaten to a pulp, which took seven or eight days to heal.

This circulation of beat and heal repeated five or six times,

but he has not said anything, let alone sign a confession.

It's a gentleman's morality to be as virtuous as jade.

A scion of a noble family,

an educated man,

is ultimately different from a dandy like Du Zhaoda.

Du was also from a noble family and educated.

And he has a prominent father, Lord Du.

After a few rounds of torture on the rack, he said whatever we wanted him to.

It's different.

You can just kill someone like Du Zhaoda,

The Eldest Prince is from the royal family.

It is absolutely impossible to convict him without his confession.

Regent,

there has been three interrogations.

[Qian Yuanyi] Can Hongjun's case be closed?

[Qian Yuanyi] When can it be closed?

Fifth Uncle,

the case is being investigated by the Inner Surveillance Office.

Hongjun is my elder brother.

I also hope he is fine.

But Du Zhaoda's confession contains statements about usurpation.

How we not questioning Hongjun?

Family affection cannot be placed above the law of the state.

But...

Regent.

Du Zhaoda has been executed to the law, so we will never know if his confession is true.

The Eldest Prince took command in a crisis to oversee internal and external troops only a few months ago.

How could he harbor thoughts of rebellion?

I believe the words of the petty men are not credible.

It must be investigated clearly whether he has.

Right and wrong must also be sorted out to stabilize the court situation

and convince everyone.

Now the case is still under interrogation. Why be so anxious?

Young as the King is, he acts with considerable maturity.

In such troubled times, it's best to be like that.

Academician Yuan,

Academician Yuan,

what does the Regent mean?

Fifth Lord, please remain calm.

How can I remain calm?

My son is now imprisoned, life or death unknown.

I can't even receive a message.

If he doesn't want this brother, just say it and return this son to me.

I reckon that Shuiqiu should be arriving soon.

Shuiqiu.

The cases of Sun Ben and the Eldest Prince are actually the same.

The Third Prince restored his original surname, Sun.

Then his case is closed.

When can the Eldest Prince's case be closed,

depends on when Shuiqiu returns from the capital.

Inner Academician.

[Fanzhi, Hanlin Academian] Commissioner Shuiqiu, why are you still here?

Lord Feng ordered me

to fetch the national decrees this afternoon.

But I've been waiting and still haven't seen him until now .

You can return to the inn in North Lane and rest.

I'm afraid he won't be coming back today.

Academian, has anything happened?

I can't say it.

I can't.

Father

It's Academician Fan.

I

His Majesty has instructed, when the Inner Academician arrives,

he may go straight in and don't need to tell the name.

The Sage,

the Seventh Prince,

and Lord Feng

are in the hall.

The Seventh Prince?

What's going on today?

Father,

Could it be that...

His Majesty is failing?

Be quiet!

Your Majesty, this is Academician Fan.

I, Fan Zhi, come by the order.

Draft the decree.

Yes.

[Lady Li, Shi Jingtang's Queen] Lord,

Grand Marshal of Jin,

shall be entitled

Duke of Yan.

I

am unwell and entrust

the Lord

with the regency.

Sev...

Seventh Prince,

bow to the Lord.

Seventh Prince, bow now.

Your Majesty, don't be anxious.

If you have something to say, just tell me and the Lord.

Let the Lord hold him.

Lord.

Mother.

Kedao,

I beg you.

Thank you.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Mother!

Go to Guangjin Prefecture, and report to the Prince of Qi and Marshal Jing,

that the palace's lamp oil has run out.

Go!

Yes.

Here.

Let's go.

Go home.

Lord.

Invite the Prince of Qi into the palace.

Let's go.

Lord.

Where are you going?

I'm tired.

Going home to sleep.

Lord.

Lord.

Lord.

His Majesty...

His Majesty has passed away.

The Imperial Guard should observe national mourning.

The raw and processed hemp in the palace is probably insufficient.

Tomorrow, issue a document to the Three Departments,

to allocate some from the Left Treasury into the Inner Treasury.

Yes.

Lord.

Lord.

Lord, please stay.

Zhao Hongyin.

Are you going to arrest me?

You...

Are you going to arrest me?

You all!

Are you going to arrest me?

Go.

Father.

Do your duties.

Yes.

Get on.

Are you following me back to the residence，Fan Zhi?

I...

I have served two dynasties.

Now I also bear the title of

Regent and Guardian of the Heir.

The Prince of Qi

may not be able to do anything to me.

You do not have this foundation.

You'd better not to be involved into these troubles.

Lord.

Fan Zhi.

To protect your entire family,

you still need an imperial edict.

Inner Academician Fan.

Your subject,

Director of the Bureau of Scrutiny,

Hanlin Academician.

Secretariat Director, Fan Zhi

welcomes the Your Majesty into the palace.

What is this?

His Majesty has passed away.

This is His Majesty's orally decreed testament.

What does it say?

The testament of the late emperor states:

Inspector-General and Palace Attendant,

Governor of Guangjin,

Prince of Qi, Shi Chonggui, is solemn, resolute and widely respected.

He may inherit my lineage

and ascend to the great throne.

We welcome Your Majesty into the palace.

We welcome Your Majesty into the palace.

We generals respectfully welcome Your Majesty.

You and your son have done well tonight.

We pledge our lives to you.

The one who came to deliver the message is your second son, right?

Reporting to Your Majesty, it is indeed my humble son, Zhao Kuangyin.

Has he entered the Three Guards?

My son is still young and has not yet received such grace.

He temporarily serves at the army's front.

You,

promoted to Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards.

I find your son promising.

Appoint him as Palace Attendant.

Grant him the actual position of Commander of the 18th Infantry.

Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty.

Your son pays respects to the Sage.

Since you have been here,

from now on, you are the Emperor.

I and the state

entrust ourselves to you, Your Majesty.

Do not worry, Sage.

Since I have succeeded to the throne, you are the Empress Dowager.

Just rest in the palace.

All necessities will be fully supplied.

If anyone disrespects you, the three-zhang execution platform is precisely set for him.

I venture to ask,

where is the Seventh Prince?

You play this better than me.

Again!

My turn.

Father, are you really to place our entire clan

under the axe and halberd?

The Prince of Qi is not Sima Zhao,

[Feng Ji, Junior Clerk of the Secretariat] and I am not Chen Tai either.

There's no need for you to put on such a show?.

The Prince of Qi has already entered the palace, yet

you hide the Seventh Prince within our residence.

I fear that a catastrophe is imminent.

I beg Father

to consider the lives of our entire clan

and don't fight a chariot with a mantis.

Who said I want to do that?

This is this my token of loyalty.

Just take hit to the Prince of Qi.

Want some cakes?

What does Lord Feng mean by this?

Your Majesty need not worry.

[Sang Weihan, Military Commissioner of the Jinchang Army]Lord Feng's memorial

is to propose a transaction with Your Majesty.

A transaction?

Lord Feng's memorial states that

on his deathbed, the late emperor promoted him to Grand Marshal

and enfeoffed him as Duke of Yan.

Ridiculous.

Lord Feng is a old minister having served two dynasties.

Even if my father had left no instructions,

I, having newly ascended the throne,

will need his assistance a lot.

How could I not bestow grace?

Why would he use the late Emperor to pressure me?

Lord Feng is not speaking of himself;

he is speaking of the Seventh Prince.

What does Lord Feng take me for?

Would I go so far as to harm a three-year-old child?

Lord Feng took the Seventh Prince back to his residence

and sent such a memorial,

mentioning the late emperor's dying wish in it.

He actually wants to inform Your Majesty the late emperor's dying wish

that you treat the Seventh Prince well.

Minister Sang,

how should we handle

Lord Feng's request?

This memorial itself is an expression of attitude.

Your Majesty only needs to let Lord Feng know your attitude.

That's enough.

Fan Zhi.

I'm here.

Draft an edict.

By the emperor’s last command,

enfeoff Lord Feng as Grand Marshal

and change his title to Duke of Yan.

Father

It should not be the Prince of Qi.

Right?

It should be him.

Then are we considered rebels?

Who isn't?

This...

is already the best.

At least there was no bloodshed,

and no one died.

The first King established the state,

leaving it to future generations.

Succeeding to the throne, the late King carried forward the achievements of his forebears,

being the chief pillar of the state and united the hearts of all the people.

The Emperor received Heaven’s mandate, accepting throne,

and ruled the realm for more than twenty years,

with his diligence surpassing that of former kings.

Not a single day he passed without upholding imperial order,

and tot a single matter escaped his own review.

Rising early and resting late,

wracked with anxiety and toil,

he forgot entertainment and luxury.

He appointed the right ministers,

and bring peace and prosperity for the people, especially those in hardship.

May all living creatures hope for state to revive and exist forever,

and to stay in peace.

The seventh year of Tianfu, June.

Although there exist troubles,

at least there has been no bloodshed.

It can already be considered smooth.

[Duting Station] Instead in our Kingdom of Wuyue,

[Duting Station] nothing had happened for fifty years.

It seems to be us who are short in knowledge as if kept in a well, making a fuss over nothing.

If there really were a well that could shelter us from the storm

and to keep peace,

I, Fan,

would gladly sit in this well

for thirty or fifty years.

It is better than endure so much troubles, accidents,

fear and anxiety.

Fan, why do you say that?

I am only thirty-two years old this year.

Over the past thirty-two years,

the Central Plains has witnessed nine emperors to come and go.

Among these nine emperors,

the one with shortest reign only be there for a few months,

and the longest reigned six years.

One of them

was Emperor Mingzong.

I, Fan,

entered official service during that time.

Another one

was the late emperor.

Now,

he has passed away.

This empire...

doesn't knows where to go next.

Born in turbulent times,

one has no control over one's fate.

Mr. Fan,

it's time for farewell.

One more word.

Fan, do take good care of yourself.

Lord Shuiqiu,

take care.

At least you

still have a well.

What are you looking at?

This well has a name. It's called the King Qian Well.

When my grandfather raised his army,

he set up his central camp nearby.

Because they have no water to drink,

he ordered my uncles and my father to work together and dig this well,

to get water for the soldiers.

That's how this well got its name.

You're lying.

This place is close to West Lake.

Why would they need to dig a well for water?

Besides, how could this well possibly suffice

for thousands upon thousands of soldiers?

You must be lying.

Alright,

I made up that story.

Why did you make up a lie to deceive me?

I didn't want to deceive you.

I was

trying to deceive myself.

Think it over. If all these elder brothers of mine...

could all truly be like the men in this story, harmonious and united,

how wonderful things would be.

Put down the wine jug.

Aren't you tired holding it all the time?

Don't you know this is the etiquette of hosting guests?

My eldest brother is not a guest.

He lives here, so clearly he is the host.

We are the guests.

Your tongue is so detestable that it should be cut off and served with wine to the Eldest Prince!

We didn't make it.

I went to beg Seventh Brother to persuade Sixth Brother to release Officer Shen.

But he scolded me.

He said I was reckless.

Hongzong

has now also made progress.

Since entering the chancellor's mansion, he became a different person.

His spouts platitudes all day.

His expression grows more severe day by day.

Begging him for half a day, and I was punished to kneel in the Ancestral Hall for two hours.

Don't do that anymore.

It's fine.

Just two hours.

It won't ruin my knees, and I can recite the text.

I take it as homework.

I mean, don't...

Don't go beg Hongzong anymore.

He is now the Chief Counselor of Chancellor, an important minister.

His status is different.

Many things become improper.

So have things been with Sixth Brother, and now Seventh Brother.

Third Brother, having returned to the island, can't do much too.

How come? A loving family of brothers... suddenly have so much improper things?

Family matters have become state affairs.

How can everything still be proper?

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles strech towering mountains. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles run surging rivers. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles cry warhorses. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles there are emotions unspoken. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, flowers are blooming along the road. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, gooses are returning to the north. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, we stand through storms. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, we hope for a safe return. ♫

♫ Tens of thousands of miles is not enough, ♫

♫ for a lifetime's sorrows and joys. ♫

♫ Tens of thousands of miles is not enough, ♫

♫ for the endless seas and rivers. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, ♫

♫ love will overcome all barriers. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, ♫

♫ we are together in life and death. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, ♫

♫ the moon shines in the boundless world. ♫

♫ My heart has its hometown to return. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, ♫

♫ who is the one crossing the waves with me, ♫

♫ with our hearts unrepentant, through countless lifetimes. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, ♫

♫ oceans and lands witness that♫

♫ the world will be safe and sound. ♫

♫ Across tens of thousands of miles, ♫

♫ my heart is unchanging. ♫