Original subtitles

Timing and subtitles brought to you by Impossible Promises @ Viki.com

[The Promise of Chang'an]

[Episode 41]

I heard that His Majesty was unable to eat and sleep properly.

Obviously, without his mother by his side,

relying just on the nanny and those servants is not a good plan.

Third Sister-in-Law, how much capability could

a boy who can never leave his mother's side have in the future?

Qiyuan is not a normal boy. He's the emperor.

It's because he's an emperor that he needs to train himself.

He's not like us, fighting on the battlefield ever since childhood.

So, he should not be overly spoiled.

Otherwise, he would be like a domestic flower. Unable to survive through tough weather.

If he is like that, then how will he be able to properly rule over a nation?

Ninth Brother, I know that you're thinking about what's best for the emperor,

but I can't help but think about you.

Even though your sincere confession of loyalty cannot be doubted,

but there are many who aren't convinced, and they will continue to bring up your faults.

I don't care how others think.

My entire heart is devoted to Great Sheng and His Majesty.

I have a clear conscience. I will take my leave.

"In the ancient times, a person who wanted to rule the world must first govern his nation.

In order to rule his nation, he must be good to his family.

Someone who is good to his family must first educate himself.

A person who wants to educate himself..."

Great! The rain has stopped!

I can go catch fish now!

Your Majesty, where are you going?

I am going to catch fish. Regent, is it any of your business?

Your Majesty, if you only ever care about playing and never bother to learn,

then how can you be a respectable ruler?

Regent, how do you know

that I can't learn how to be a good ruler?

Your Majesty, you are the ruler of thousands of commoners.

When you see the change in weather, you cannot just focus on your own fun.

You need to think about whether or not there are floods

and if there are commoners who are unable to make a living because of it.

I do want to be like you and take every single detail into consideration,

but where are the commoners? I've never met them before.

Even more, I have no idea what you mean when you say that commoners won't be able to make a living.

Your Majesty, you are very reasonable.

Ever since you were little, you grew up within the palace.

You never knew of the commoners.

Of course there would be no reason for you to think so much on it.

I expected too highly of you.

Go study.

Mingyu.

In the past, I talked rudely.

Don't take it to heart.

I understand what kind of person you are,

so I won't cause a dispute with you over it.

They always say that I'm domineering,

they say I took the emperor away because I was scheming something.

It's true. I am.

I gave up the emperor's position.

I don't want the lands

to be entrusted to a useless person.

Chengxu, I understand.

Mingyu. I don't care how others think of me.

I only care about your feelings and trust.

You also know ever since I started walking this path,

I didn't have many people I could trust.

It has only been you who I trust completely.

Qiyuan, though he is the emperor,

is still young.

So I would ask you to teach him patiently. One step at a time.

I will definitely not disappoint your trust.

I will teach Qiyuan well.

I will make him become an emperor who makes the nation safe and prosperous.

Give me your hand.

Give me your hand.

Hold it steady.

Good.

"Everything starts somewhere. All matters have a start and end."

"So—" - Sun Tze's Art of War says that

Ninth Royal Uncle! You're so amazing!

Qiyuan, do you want to be as powerful as I am?

I do!

Even the best warriors must still have good weaponry.

This bow is made of superior rosewood

and rare bull horns. I made it for you myself

Thank you, Ninth Royal Uncle.

When you can bend this bow and shoot large hawks,

do not forget to be a good emperor.

But do I really have the capability?

How could you not?

Tomorrow, I will take you hunting.

I will make you a godly archer and have everyone respect you, ok?

That would be great! That would be great!

Hold it tightly.

Look out in front of you at that red dot.

Do not lose focus.

Greetings, Empress Dowager Xianzhen.

Greetings, Regent.

No need for the formalities.

I heard that today. all of the princes are here to test their shooting on horseback skills.

His Majesty also happens to be here.

I just came to look.

Everyone one generation younger looks so good.

Great Sheng is in capable hands.

Prince of Su, you have been teaching them all these years to shoot on horseback.

You've really been troubled.

I wouldn't dare. They're all my brothers.

Teaching them is both beneficial and enjoyable. Naturally, good things would come out of it.

His Majesty also thought that it was lively over here,

and that's why he usually comes here to practice.

It's not because he doesn't like the regent's teachings.

Regent, please don't misunderstand.

Prince of Su, where are these words coming from?

His Majesty has the interest in learning and can also improve himself. This is good.

Right, His Majesty and his siblings have, for our archers,

created a new way to practice.

Your Majesty and the Regent should come take a look together.

Ok.

Greetings, Mother Queen.

- Your Majesty, you have worked hard. Quickly, take a seat. - Yes.

Ninth Royal Uncle, how do you like the new practices I created for the archers on horseback?

In the past, I went to the military camp with Eldest Brother and watched them practice.

It looked too rigid.

Fighting in wars needs to be flexible. Things change without warning,

so I thought of this method.

I think it's good, and it is also more practical by far.

How about starting from tomorrow, we make them practice with this method?

I'm certain that the output of progress will be higher with half the amount of time spent.

I don't think it is necessary.

Ninth Royal Uncle, is this a bad method?

It looks like these days

when I left the capital to patrol the deployment of forces,

the homework I left you on military strategies was neglected.

Otherwise, how would you have so much doubt?

I just thought that these military books,

no matter how familiar I am with the knowledge in them, it is still talking hypothetically on paper.

All methods need to be gained by experience.

I think this new way of training troops

- should— - You think that just by watching

the practices at the military camps, you know everything?

Those flashy displays that make people feel dizzy when they look upon them

but have absolutely no true uses are not considered "hypothetically on paper"?

Ninth Royal Uncle, you have lots of military merits. You clearly know a lot,

but you don't have to be so obsessed with the rules and be closed minded toward new methods.

What is a rule? What is a new method?

Your Majesty, what is the use of the horsebacked archers battlefield?

Naturally, they are the ones who fight on the frontlines and use their arrows to kill the enemy.

Completely incorrect. On the battlefield, there are archers and crossbowmen.

They are able to shoot more accurately and further than those on horseback.

The horseback archers serve as the light cavalry, so they need to cooperate with the heavy cavalry.

They need to cut through the enemies. Their arrows are supposed to mess up the enemy formations.

They are to mess up the enemy arrangements.

How could they be like Your Majesty

and just use their individual strength to hit a few targets?

They should follow the orders of the general and form an organized formation

ready for combat at any given moment.

Let me ask Your Majesty, how could this method and this type of practice have any use?

Besides, you do not need to meddle with how the soldiers practice.

I would ask you to go back to He Yuan Hall immediately.

You must finish all of the homework about military strategies that I assigned.

When I finish dealing with the governmental affairs, I will come back and inspect it.

If it is not good enough, then you are not allowed to rest tonight.

Ninth Royal Uncle crossed the line.

You're at least the emperor.

Why wouldn't he consider your feelings at all?

It's not the first time the Ninth Royal Uncle did such a thing.

I'm already used to it.

It's just a shame.

Originally, I thought that after hearing Eldest Brother's words, I'd be able to make a good impression.

Maybe I could've even gotten the Ninth Royal Uncle's praise.

Who knew?

In normal days, I don't really inquire about how the regent teaches you.

Today, people who didn't know

would have thought that the Ninth Royal Uncle was purposefully trying to suppress you.

The Ninth Royal Uncle didn't purposefully try to suppress me!

It's just that he's a bit strict, that's all.

It's my fault for not doing well enough.

I can never satisfy him.

Being strict is obviously not wrong.

However, the regent doesn't let you keep even a sliver of dignity in front of family and ministers.

I am worried that all of the people of the court

Your Majesty, you will take over the governing some day.

When that time comes, are you still going to have the regent stand behind you

in order to direct the court?

When the time comes, it definitely won't be like that.

I should just memorize the books.

I don't want to be forbidden to sleep at night.

Good tea.

Good tea can only have good flavor when it is heated gently, no?

When you say this, you are not talking about good tea.

You're blaming me for being too harsh with His Majesty today,

but look. He neglected his actual homework and studies

to waste effort on what?

I understand your intentions.

I am also not trying to spoil him so much that he fails.

See for yourself. Normally, when you teach Qiyuan, do I say anything about it?

Qiyuan is a young and frivolous boy.

He should be scolded and disciplined when it is needed.

That's natural.

It's just that in a few years, he will be crowned.

He won't be a child any longer.

Ordinary people need self dignity.

He's the emperor.

There are some things that you can say to him in private.

Perhaps he'd be more willing to accept it.

You're right.

I always think that he's like a child.

Her Highness often says that she still sees His Majesty as a young child.

However, in the blink of an eye. His Majesty has already become an adult-like figure.

We cannot just treat His Majesty as a young child.

Zhen'er, your reminder was correct.

In the future, I will just talk with more awareness.

I don't dare to remind you.

I will pour tea for Your Highness.

Your Majesty.

- Let His Majesty rest. - Okay.

N-Ninth Royal Uncle. I-I finished memorizing.

Y-y-you can check whatever you'd like.

Then I will ask Your Majesty.

What is the way of a general?

The general has five virtues and ten vices.

What are the ten vices?

The ten vices are...

to have bravery but die quickly.

To be impatient and to not act calmly.

To be a person who loves to play and is greedy.

To be strong but too self-contained.

To be soft and malleable by others.

To be righteous but h-harsh toward subordinates.

To be honest. Honest but too trusting of others.

Smart but weak.

To be strategic...

To be strategic but...

But... but...

To be strategic but unable to make up one's mind.

To be willing to tolerate others but not have morals.

You seemed to have understood it.

Your Majesty, in the future you must use this knowledge.

You are correct, Ninth Royal Uncle.

Today, you have done well enough.

It looks like you are tired today. Rest early.

I'm not tired. I'm so active. The more I read, the more active I get.

- Really? - Yes.

Your Majesty, do not worry.

Someone, come.

N-ninth Royal Uncle. This is...?

I am leaving the capital for patrol.

I will be back in a few days.

You cannot neglect your studies.

You must diligently listen to the instructor speak.

You need to finish reading all of these books.

When I return, I will check them.

Okay.

Sixth Brother, how come you're sighing? Let's go. We'll catch birds.

I can't. I've got a lot of work to do.

If I don't get it done, Ninth Royal Uncle will have another reason to reprimand me again.

You don't know. During this period of time, he's been saying I'm wrong in this way, in that way.

I'm now wondering if I can be a good emperor or not.

You're the emperor. Why do you have to be afraid of what he thinks?

Besides, didn't the Ninth Royal Uncle leave?

He won't be back for a while. What are you afraid of?

Who says I'm afraid? I'm the emperor.

I have the most power in the land.

Would I really have to be afraid of him? I just respect him.

Fine. Even if you admitted it, I wouldn't laugh.

I heard

that recently, they've been controlling you very strictly.

I said I'm not afraid. Even if he was here, I don't care.

Not studying anymore. Let's go.

Your Majesty, you're here. It's time for our lecture.

Today, I'm not up for it.

Your Majesty, you shouldn't do this!

I already said that I don't want to have class today!

Your Majesty, don't make things difficult for me.

The regent kept advising me before leaving the palace

that I must make sure to watch your studies!

If you insist on doing this, then I must tell this to the regent.

Your Majesty, don't you remember a few days ago, when you skipped out on class

and you were punished to study for nights on end?

Then I will have to report you in the court.

Sixth Brother, it's this old fellow who tattles on you with Ninth Royal Uncle?

Don't mention it. The second you mention it, I get angry.

Recently, he won't even leave courtesy when grading my documents.

That caused me to be scolded terribly by Ninth Royal Uncle.

Ninth Royal Uncle isn't here today.

Why don't you take the opportunity to get back at him?

It's time to show my prestige.

Let go of me! Let go of me!

Your Majesty, you can't! You can't! Spare me!

Spare me! Your Majesty!

My beard. My beard!

Ridiculous! This is absolutely ridiculous!

Catch him. Don't let him run off.

Enough!

Instructor, get up.

- Regent. - Your beard.

Men! Get the doctor!

Regent, this is just a surface wound.

You don't need to work hard.

Just take me back to the manor and let the physicians take a look at me.

Instructor. You were injured because of my neglect.

- I would like to apologize. - I do not dare accept the apology.

Your Majesty, don't you

think you should apologize to your instructor?

He is my minister.

Since when did emperors apologize to their ministers?

Besides, it was he who fell on accident. What does it have to do with me?

He can't even take a joke. I think you don't have to come anymore.

His Majesty is correct. I was clumsy. I'm not capable of being a teacher.

It would be hard for me to take the responsibility of being in instructor. Regent,

please accept my resignation.

- Yan Hai. - Here. - Have someone take him back home.

Immediately get the imperial physicians to examine him.

- Yes. - I'll take my leave.

Here.

He got hurt because he was careless. It's not my fault.

It was all you good-for-nothing eunuchs who steered His Majesty wrong! Someone, come!

Here.

Give him 50 beatings. Then throw him in the cell.

Without my permission, no one can let him out.

Xiao Linzi! Let me punish him with a hundred!

Yes.

Regent, spare me! Regent, spare me!

Your Majesty! Save me!

Your Majesty! Save me!

Your Majesty is getting more and more capable.

This is already the fourth instructor who resigned!

You humiliated and gave your instructor wounds.

If this matter got out,

Your Majesty, aren't you afraid that everyone will criticize you?

I told you.

It was just a joke. He hurt himself.

Even now,

you have no remorse.

You really disappoint me.

Now, not a single minister within the court

would like to be your instructor.

I want to ask you one thing.

What do you plan to do?

What I plan to do,

I don't know what I should do.

I do so much studying every day. What use is it?

In the end, all of the documents are send to you.

I would like to ask what the point is of learning all of this.

If you learned to be capable,

then you can take power from out of my hands.

Was the instructor not even able to teach you these?

Stop right there.

N-Ninth Royal Uncle.

All of these things that His Majesty did were under the encouragement of you.

If I let you off today,

who knows what kind of trouble you'll get into in the future?

- Ninth Royal Uncle, it's got nothing to do with me. Ninth Royal Uncle! - Someone, come.

- Here. - Take hold of Seventh Prince and give him 3 beatings. - Yes.

Ninth Royal Uncle, it's not my fault. Sixth Brother! Save me!

Sixth Brother!

Make them learn their lesson

so they'll know what they should and shouldn't do.

Save me! Sixth Brother! I don't want this!

Stop it! I told you to stop!

This was my idea! If you want to hit someone, hit me!

Yes. Everything started with you.

When studying, you must respect your instructor. Your Majesty, do you understand what it means to respect your teacher?

You're always so disrespectful, and you're never eager to make progress!

How could you bear to disappoint all of the hopes your mother has for you? How could you be a good emperor?

I don't need you to get in my business!

I, as your Ninth Royal Uncle,

as the regent that the two Empress Dowagers entrusted with these lands,

today, I am going to discipline you properly!

- Men! - Here!

- Grab hold of His Majesty! - I'm the Emperor! You dare!

Grab him!

Let go of me!

You are disrespecting the emperor! Aren't you afraid that I will behead you all one day?

Xiao Chengxu! I will kill you one day!

Listen well, Your Majesty.

Hitting you was my order.

I was also the one who wasn't respecting you. My head is

patiently waiting for you to decapitate it.

Didn't you say you wanted to be punished in place of the Seventh Prince?

Then the rest of the twenty beatings

will be taken by you.

Continue!

Your Majesty, do you admit your mistake?

If you admit your wrongs, I will tell them to stop.

I will not admit my wrongs, even if I had to die!

Fine! You are brave.

Again!

Do you admit your mistake?

I was not wrong. Even if you beat me to death, I won't say I was wrong.

You're still hard-lipped? Then I'll see how much longer you can hold on.

If you weren't of this status,

what could you possibly do?

I fear that you wouldn't even be capable of being a magistrate!

Mingyu. Slow down. Be careful not to fall.

Chengxu has never given a beating to Qiyuan.

I don't know what happened this time.

One is stubborn and the other is impulsive. I knew that something would happen sooner or later.

What did you say?

His Majesty was taken to the south by the regent?

How's that possible?

Didn’t you just say His Majesty was beaten? He still has wounds. How is it possible that he is traveling to the South?

Just what happened? Tell me everything.

Xiao Linzi.

How come you are here? Where is this?

Where are you taking me? Are you planning to harm me?

If I wanted to harm Your Majesty,

then would you still be here conversing with me?

Then what exactly do you want to do?

Today, in the court, there is not a single person who is still willing to be your instructor.

It’s my fault for being so busy with governmental affairs.

It was because I neglected Your Majesty’s studies

that the situation became the way it is today.

From today on, I will personally stay by Your Majesty’s side

and teach you properly. It's just that I urgently must deal with a flood in the south,

so I will have to trouble you with coming along with me.

Do you still have a heart? I was just beat up, and my wounds still have not healed,

You want me to ride with you in this shaky horse cart?

You were only hit a few times,

yet you fainted. Aren't you a little bit too fragile?

When I was your age, I already started going on the battlefield.

What do you mean, fainted due to beatings? I fainted out of the anger you caused me!

I'm fine. I don't feel any pa—

Your Majesty, you know you made a mistake now?

I didn't make any mistakes. I was not wrong, and I was beaten up for no reason.

I'm telling you, one day, I'm going to get revenge on you for beating me up.

Good. You've got courage.

If Your Majesty really had the capability of taking this revenge,

then I would be so relieved.

I would only congratulate you.

Wait a second. You just said we're going down south?

Due to the south's abnormal weather conditions, the sudden storm caused chaos.

Disasters usually leave health pandemics in their wake,

so we must contain the floods and prevent disease as soon as possible.

Isn't Dong Yizhi governing the southern areas?

If I went down south, wouldn't i get to see Ruoxuan?

We haven't seen each other in a long time. I wonder how Ruoxuan is doing.

Since... Since this is the cause, then I might as well trouble myself and go with you.

Your Majesty. You understand how to contain a flood now?

How hard could it be? Don't we just make dams and reroute the waterways?

If it really were as easy as you say, then Great Sheng

would never suffer from floods in the future.

Your Majesty has finally ventured out of the palace. You should take this opportunity to see and learn more.

That way, the next time someone asks

you wouldn't say such empty, absurd words.

What? Qiyuan humiliated the instructor and caused him to become injured?

No wonder Ninth Brother was so angry.

Qiyuan is so disobedient!

Empress Dowagers, Consort Dowager Qiao would like to see you.

She definitely came to discuss Qirong's situation.

- Let her come in. - Yes.

- Greetings, both Empress Dowagers. - It's fine. No need for formalities.

That Xiao Chengxu punished His Majesty and Qirong in front of an audience.

Does he have any respect for the former emperor at all?

Does he have any respect for you two Empress Dowagers?

I think that he's taking the opportunity to rebel.

Consort Dowager, you were too harsh with your words. The regent disciplined His Majesty and Qirong

because they held no respect for their elders. He did not cross any lines.

Besides, didn't the imperial physicians say that Qirong's injuries would get better in a few days?

Yes.

This time, even though His Majesty and Qirong are fine,

what happens if the regent decides to do something like this again?

All these years, the regent has been single-handedly took control of the court's and the country.

Empress Dowagers, can you really rest assured like this?

Consort Dowager Qiao. Throughout the years, the regent took care of Great Sheng.

He made sure that the commoners were safe and made the country prosperous.

We, as well as the ministers of the court, clearly know that.

Empress Dowager Yuanzhen and I both trust that the regent will teach His Majesty well,

and we trust that he will entrust Great Sheng's lands into His Majesty's hands safely.

Since that's the case, I have no reason to say much else.

I heard news that the regent forcibly brought His Majesty to down south of the river.

The south was just ravaged by a flood. The commoners do not feel at ease.

I will go burn an incense and pray for His Majesty to return safely.

I will take my leave.

The truth is that the Consort Dowager voiced my concerns.

Even though I believe that Chengxu did this

for Qiyuan and Great Sheng,

he's been getting more and more like a dictator.

He didn't even tell us that he was planning to take His Majesty out of the palace, even though it's such an important matter!

If we keep going down like this, things will not be pleasant.

Sister Qi, from what I see,

there was a reason for his actions.

Since he was able to take His Majesty out of the palace,

I trust that he will bring him back

perfectly intact.

Greetings, Regent.

Get up.

Thank you for your grace, Regent.

Regent, may I ask who this is?

He is my follower.

Follower? Yes. That's what I am.

Official Li, find a clean room for my follower.

He is a person I admire. I would like you to take care of him well.

Regent, please do not worry. I will surely make sure people take care of your follower well.

During this time, do your best to learn with this magistrate.

- Where are you going? - I am busy.

You can't just throw me out here all alone!

You even said you'd teach me personally? I knew you'd be unreliable.

Mr. Follower. Come here.

- Official! - Official!

- Quiet down! Quiet down! - You must help me!

Speak one by one. This woman, please speak first.

Official, due to the flood, all of my chicken and ducks are gone!

Official, since my house was ruined by the flood, he stole my land!

Official, help me out!

Official! You must help me find Wangfu! I can't find him. I want Wangfu!

Is Wangfu your older brother?

Wangfu is our guard dog.

I understand! I understand!

Mr. Follower. Mr. Follower.

- You finished the hearing? - Yes, I finished all of the cases.

However, the regent advised me

that I should ask you to finish reading all of these documents.

This many? And I have to finish them all?

Mr. Follower, please read them.

He gets to figure out the important issues caused by the flood, but he makes me do the unimportant things!

He's clearly playing me. Fine.

He looks down on me? Then I won't accompany him!

I need to find a plan to get out of here.

- You two. Go over there. - Yes.

Open the door! We are on official business!

You two, go over there.

Yes.

Such a huge event happened, Why didn't you let me know earlier?

If something bad happens to His Majesty, then neither of us will be equipped to face the consequences!

I originally thought that we would be able to find His Majesty quickly,

so I assigned people to guard outside the palace walls. However, we never found His Majesty.

I was thinking. Would it be possible that His Majesty went somewhere else?

He left the palace for the first time today. He's not familiar with any of the lands.

Where could he possibly go by himself?

If we cannot find him in the magistrate's manor, then I fear that something bad has happened.

As soon as I found out that His Majesty was missing, I immediately asked people to guard the city doors. Nothing was found.

His Majesty is definitely still in the city.

Right now, bring everyone

to search every corner of the city. We must find His Majesty.

- I obey. - Remember.

We cannot make this public. Moreover, we cannot let His Majesty's identity come out.

Otherwise, His Majesty's safety will be compromised.

I understand.

Go ahead.

Oh. You woke up.

You!

Don't you two just want money?

How about this. If you let me go, I'll give you any amount of money you want!

You think we're idiots? You think we'd let you go that easily?

Older Brother, take a look. He looks pretty fit.

We should sell him as a slave in the quarry by the river?

This way, we will get our money back!

That's a wonderful idea.

Let's go!

You guys are so bold! You dare to sell me?

Do you two know who I am?

Who cares who you are? If you say one more word, I'll cut your tongue off.

Let's go!

Are you alright?

- Are you ok? - He dares to slack off?

- Get away! - Go away!

Go away! Get up! Get up!

Under your care, he's never suffered this much.

If an accident really happened, what would we do?

It's because he has been spoiled since childhood

with everyone following his command. It has made him willfull.

- Just like this time. He chose to disobey us. - What are you staring at? Go work!

If we didn't save him in time,

who knows what kind of dangers he would have been exposed to.

We need him to understand

that being impulsive comes with consequences.

The Promise of Chang'an

Timing and subtitles brought to you by Impossible Promises @ Viki.com

"Falling Fate" - Singer: Li Yugang

♫ Who is swaying at dusk on the riverbank by the gently fluttering willows? ♫

♫ That beauty dances between the clouds and the rippling moonglade ♫

♫ Dancing lightly like the startled birds and your graceful face is like delicate blooms ♫

♫ Longing in the wind, with glistening eyes looking toward the ripples ♫

♫ I could not take my eyes off such a sight to behold ♫

♫ It seems brief, my adoration for you has been for years ♫

♫ You come or go as you please, my soul is being led by dreams of you ♫

♫ These are foolish and infuriating times, I still wish we could be together forever ♫

♫ Destiny leads you into my life to make me whole ♫

♫ My love for you is like an ink-mark that never dries ♫

♫ As the snow scatters in the wind, as the clouds shield the moon ♫

♫ As I have to be drunk to sleep through the night ♫

♫ Like you, the paper I write on is full of melancholy ♫

♫ Destiny leads you into my life, times of great changes separate us ♫

♫ My tears fall and fill the curtained carriage along the way ♫

♫ This homeward journey, this boundless life ♫

♫ It is fleeting, and filled with joys and sorrows ♫