All language subtitles for OepLrp_Ashes.to_.Crown_.E20_eng

SAY NO TO PIRACY, SUPPORT ORIGINALS

ADAPTED FROM XI XING’S NOVEL
QUEEN CHU ON QIDIAN.COM

VIRTUE GUIDES ALL

WEST GATE OF THE IMPERIAL CITY

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 battlefield,
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 kill the Northern Desert King

just for the position of Guard General?

Sir.

Drink up.

FENGBAO RESTAURANT

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 take a seat.
-Sure.

GLORY TO FOREBEARS, BLESSING TO HEIRS

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.

Eat up.

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 kill 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 requests an audience.

Send 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.

But what if I fail?

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,

DILIGENT AND VIRTUOUS

he is to be executed this autumn.

DOSSIER ON THE IMPERIAL EXAM
FRAUD OF ZHENG XIALI

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.

That's prison break!

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 executed 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.

She really admits 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 his 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,

30% 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.

XIAONAN, MOUNT BANBI, MOUNT BIZHANG

That wretched Military Supervisor
just struts about the camp all day,

shielding himself behind the Token.

Nowhere to be found when the war starts,

but now he is here throwing
his weight around.

With the war 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 war 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 kill them?

If it were so easy,

I would have killed the man
countless times these past 20 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.

CAPITAL

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.

-Indeed.
-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. Indeed.
-You are right. Correct.

GLORY TO FOREBEARS, BLESSING TO HEIRS

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 Clerk of
the Imperial Manufactories,

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. 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.