Original subtitles

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[The Promise of Chang'an]

[Episode 42]

Being impulsive has its consequences.

Take those two criminals back to the county office. Make sure the county punishes them.

Find someone to take care of His Majesty secretly.

We cannot let him be in any danger.

Yes. I understand.

Eat slowly.

if Mother Queen knew I was suffering so much,

she would surely feel so much pity.

In the past, I had good food but refused to eat it.

Now, I can only eat stuff like this.

I don't know whether or not this is retribution.

If I had known this would happen,

I wouldn't have left the area because of my anger with Ninth Royal Uncle.

Drink the porridge.

If you don't eat it, I will.

I—

Here.

Eat slowly.

If my father was still alive,

he would surely protect me like this as well.

He wouldn't let me be bullied by anyone.

You don't look like someone who does this kind of labor.

How did you get here?

I was kidnapped and sold here.

Let me guess. You and your father got in a fight

and you ran away. That's how you got here, right?

It wasn't my father!

Because of some little things, he hit me and scolded me.

When I was suffering, he didn't even come find me.

Could a father like this actually exist?

What kind of parents don't get angry when disciplining their children?

If he didn't care about you, then he'd even think that hitting you was a waste of effort.

I already said that it wasn't my father!

Eat up.

What about you guys? Were you also sold here?

My house was washed away by the flood.

My wife and daughter died.

The crops are also all gone.

If it weren't to fight for a bite of food, I never would've brought him in here.

Didn't the court decide to open up stores to give out rations?

There were so many people who suffered from this disaster.

There are homeless people all over the place.

The rations that the court gave out were exploited at every level.

How could there be enough?

Then... Then why don't you stop the flood?

If you stopped the flood, then you could get your territory back.

Aren't we stopping the flood right now?

But we fix the dam every year. The workers work hard, and it hurts us, but what use it is?

Every time the large floods come, everything is washed away again.

Your Majesty, you now understand how to prevent floods?

How hard could it possibly be? Don't you just fix the dams and reroute the waterways?

if it really were as easy as Your Majesty suggests,

then in the future, Great Sheng will never have to suffer through a flood again.

Are you full?

Ninth Royal Uncle was correct.

I thought of things too simply.

Will I never be able to go back?

Am I to live like this for the rest of my life?

I would rather die.

If I could go back, I would definitely do my best to learn.

I would protect the commoners and bring peace to the lands.

I would never disappoint Mother Queen and Ninth Royal Uncle again.

Everything was fine. Why would I think of Ninth Royal Uncle again?

He hates me so much. He surely hopes that I

will never go back ever again.

Hurry up!

His Majesty has already gotten so much thinner.

We are doing this just to let His Majesty learn his lesson.

If he can't even suffer this kind of bitterness,

then how will he know he was wrong?

Father.

Brother! Brother, are you okay?

Brother, wake up. Brother!

Get up, Brother! Hurry and get up!

Go work! Go!

Hurry up!

How come it's him again?

You're slacking off here again?

I'll beat you to death!

Here. Your Majesty.

Your Majesty. Your Majesty.

Ninth Royal Uncle...

Ninth Royal Uncle.

Ninth Royal Uncle!

I thought you wouldn't look for me!

How come you only just came?!

It was my fault.

I made you suffer.

I will take you home right now.

I want to go home.

Let's go. Let's go home.

Come.

Your Majesty, isn't pain your biggest fear?

Ninth Royal Uncle, haven't you said before

that all men from the Xiao family must be strong?

I was wrong. I didn't care for you well enough.

I made you suffer so much.

No. This was my own fault.

I clearly had no power to protect myself,

but I insisted on impulsively leaving.

Not only did I take myself into danger,

but I also made you worry.

If you didn't show up at the right moment,

I fear that my life could have ended.

I never would have thought you would think like this.

I had thought you would blame me.

I brought it upon myself.

How could I dare to blame you?

Ninth Royal Uncle, in the past, you said that if I wasn't of this status,

I wouldn't have even been able to be a magistrate.

Now, I think that if I wasn't of this status,

I might be even worse than the average commoner.

Your Majesty, you don't have to belittle yourself.

You were born respected and have always lived a life of pampering.

The fact that you could endure and keep going in such a difficult situation proves that you are better than the average commoner.

- Really? - Why would I lie to you?

Your Majesty, your wounds are heavy. I cannot leave this place yet.

So I'll first have some men escort you back to the Palace first.

Ninth Royal Uncle! I'm not going back. I want to stay here and learn how to manage the flood!

The books are clearly not superior to real experience. In the past, the methods I talked about that could stop the floods

were all read from books.

Actually, I really don't know a whole lot.

It's fine if you don't know it.

You were born intelligent.

Your Majesty, if you have the determination to learn, you will be able to learn it quickly.

Your Majesty. Your Highness. Governor Dong is here.

- Have him come in. - Yes, Sir.

I, Dong Yizhi, pay my respects to Your Majesty and Your Regency.

I did not know ahead of time that Your Majesty and the regent would arrive.

I missed my opportunity to greet you both. Please accept my apologizes.

I came here in secret. There is no need for formalities.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, Your Highness. I searched everywhere.

I found a specialist with experience in stopping floods.

He has unique insights on how to reroute waterways.

That's great news. Immediately bring him to see me.

Okay. I already brought him.

He's waiting in the Western sit room.

Okay, I'm going.

I also want to go.

Your Majesty, you still need to rest for your injuries to heal.

Ninth Uncle, I'm fine.

I also want to learn how to repair damage caused by floods.

You have finally made long-awaited progress. You really look like a ruler now.

- Let's go together. - Okay.

Please.

My subject, Dong.

Your Majesty, what is your command?

Princess Ruoxian, how's she been?

Why didn't she come with you?

To reply, my daughter is doing well.

It's just that a few days ago, she went to her grandparent's house.

She might not be back any time in the near future.

Okay.

His Majesty has been out of the palace for two months.

These days feel like years.

I don't know how he's doing out there.

Ever since Qiyuan's childhood, he was spoiled.

He will not be very well-adjusted to life outside the palace.

Chengxu doesn't have a soft personality.

I don't know how much he'll make him suffer.

Just thinking about it breaks my heart.

I'm hoping and anticipating that he can learn to grow.

At least that way, he wouldn't be wasting all of the toils Chengxu went through for him.

Princess. Empress Dowager.

I just got news that the regent's mission to stop the floods went smoothly.

They're on their way back.

Regent, this time, you went overboard.

If I do not punish you, I fear that not a single person in the court would be satisfied.

I was wrong.

Empress Dowager, Ninth Royal Uncle took me out of the palace secretly, but I don't blame him.

Instead, I'm grateful.

Why so?

In the past, the instructor always said that I didn't understand what human suffering was.

I never thought much of it.

Only after I left the palace this time did I realize

what human suffering was and what bitterness they endured.

I have a better understanding that the path to ruling a nation

and to bring it to prosperity, a ruler must protect and take care of the commoners.

Your Majesty is growing up.

I am so relieved and happy.

This was all because Ninth Royal Uncle was willing to face the risk of being accused for rebellion

in order to take me out of the palace to learn.

Mother Queen, you love me most. You should not punish Ninth Royal Uncle for this.

You should do the opposite, reward him.

Only be rewarding and punishing people accordingly can our commoners feel at ease and united, right?

That's right. What Your Majesty said is correct.

I won't punish him.

I should reward him.

Thank you, Empress.

Thank you, Your Majesty, for not punishing me.

Chengxu, you've used all of your effort to teach His Majesty.

I don't even know how I can ever repay you.

It's what I promised you.

I must fulfill my promise.

Now that I see he has started to grow up,

I feel like I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

I also didn't break my promise to you.

You have never broken a promise to me, and I have never suspected you either.

But when the time comes,

and we're both still alive

to watch His Majesty bring peace and prosperity to the lands,

then I can finally make my wish come true.

Your wish?

Your Majesty, this time, the floods were very severe in the southern areas.

When I went to patrol the south,

I found out that many officials within the regions were acting very corrupt.

Within them, the most corrupt official happened to be prefect Liu Mingtai of Jianglin.

Liu Mingtai knew he was breaking a law

when he embezzled the money and rations from the disaster.

If Dong Yizhi hadn't found out about it in time,

we fear that it would have caused a great uproar among the commoners.

I would ask Your Majesty

to severely punish Liu Mingtai.

Your Majesty, Liu Mingtai has always been honest, never interested in indulging in selfish desires.

There is surely a misunderstanding within this matter. I would ask Your Majesty to investigate carefully.

There's no need to investigate.

This matter of Liu Mingtai's corruption was already confirmed by me

when I was in the south.

I just fear that someone is reversing black and white in order to make Your Majesty misunderstand.

Prince of Su, you mean that I cannot tell the difference between right and wrong, and I am unable to have clear judgement?

I would never think such a thing.

Corrupted officials must be severely punished.

Regent, in your opinion, how should we punish him?

- Your Majesty... - Prince of Su, do you have anything else to say?

Liu Mingtai and the regent have had conflicts in the court. Everyone in the court knows of this.

I do not believe that His Highness would treat this matter fairly.

I would like you to reconsider how to deal with this matter.

The regent is following the orders left by the late emperor.

Dealing with corrupt officials are within his rights.

Besides, I can trust my regent.

I trust that he will deal with this matter fairly.

I will not disappoint your trust in me.

I will treat this matter fairly without any hit on selfishness.

Your Highness, the regent has already ordered a decree

In five days, Liu Mingtai will be beheaded in public.

What do they mean by corruption?

If they did an investigation, how many southern officials would actually be clean from corruption?

It's just that this Liu Mingtai is a good friend of mine.

Xiao Chengxu wants to kill Liu Mingtai. Isn't he just doing that to target me?

The spies I finally inserted into the south

were picked out so easily by him!

How evil.

Your Highness, besides the matter with Liu Mingtai, there's something else.

It's even worse for Your Highness.

Are you talking about His Majesty's attitude toward Xiao Chengxu?

In the past, His Majesty and His Highness could never see eye to eye.

Even though His Highness held all of the power,

but as His Majesty is getting older, in order to defend against His Highness,

His Majesty would have asked you to help him get rid of the regent.

You would've had a wonderful future.

However, now, for whatever reason,

he suddenly trusts and respects His Highness's every word.

If this doesn't change, Your Highness,

you might never have a chance to surpass him.

Then do you have any ideas to prevent this?

If you want to prevent this, you first need to figure out

why His Majesty's attitude changed.

Perhaps you can assign someone to go to the south to ask what happened.

The south...?

No, right now, the entire southern region is Xiao Chengxu's.

We won't be able to get anything from investigating there.

However, there is someone who might have some information.

Eldest Brother.

Qirong, aren't you usually with His Majesty at this time of day?

Don't mention it. I used to be able to spend time with Sixth Brother.

However, after the regent came,

all Sixth Brother wants to do is study from him.

I've been cast aside.

First Brother, look. Ever since Sixth Brother and Ninth Royal Uncle returned from the south,

they're like the exact same person.

Isn't it just because Ninth Royal Uncle saved him once?

But— It's the sworn duty of every minister to save His Majesty.

Does he really have to care that much about it?

Now, he listens to every single thing Xiao Chengxu says.

From what I see, even if Xiao Chengxu asked for his throne,

he'd happily give it to him.

Xiao Chengxu

saved His Majesty? How exactly did this happen?

Come here.

Look straight ahead.

Your Majesty, the Prince of Su is here.

You are...?

Good boy!

You dared to disguise as a female? You caused us to lose money!

It's you!

I guarantee you I'm going to cut you to pieces today!

Your Majesty, spare me! Spare me!

That wasn't my idea.

I was ordered by someone to do so.

Who ordered you?

- I . . . - Speak!

Okay, okay. I didn't know who you were.

I didn't know who you were, so I kidnapped you. However, when you were passed out,

the officials found us and discovered you!

So you're saying they found me much earlier.

Yes. When the officials came, they grabbed me.

I thought I was going to die.

At that time, I met an old official.

This official said... he said... that you were his disciple.

He said that you normally didn't follow your studies well, and you needed to learn your lesson.

He said that as long as I did what he asked, he would spare me.

Your Majesty, please investigate. Your Majesty, please investigate.

Your Majesty, I have already shown portraits of all of the princes to this man.

In the end, it was Ninth Uncle.

It was the regent.

How dare you? You dared to frame the regent?

You think that just by these few words, I would suspect him?

You dared to lie to a ruler. Don't you fear that I'll rip you apart?

Your Majesty, spare me!

If anything I've said is even half a lie,

may I be struck by lightning and die a terrible death.

Your Majesty, spare me!

Brother, you've been fighting with Ninth Royal Uncle for many years.

I know you and him don't see eye to eye.

So you plotted

to bring this man before me.

Did you really think I wouldn't see your motives?

Your Majesty, I have never been compatible with the regent.

It's the truth. I cannot deny it.

However, this matter is also completely true.

I did not have even the slightest intention to frame him.

I heard of this incident by chance from Qirong's mouth.

That was where I learned that you were put in danger, and His Highness saved you.

I grew up alongside His Highness.

I understand his methods thoroughly.

I knew for sure that something about this was suspicious.

That was when I assigned people to go to the south and investigate.

I found this thief who was already shipped off to a northern labor camp.

Then, I was able to clearly figure out what happened.

Then how do I know

that you did not orchestrate this to fake the truth?

Your Majesty, you just need to think carefully about this.

His Highness single-handedly conquered the southern region.

His power had been deeply rooted there since long ago.

If he really wanted to find Your Majesty,

would it really be so hard?

There's only one possibility.

That is, he purposefully chose to delay it.

He wanted to watch you.

If Your Majesty still doesn't believe it,

it wouldn't hurt to interrogate His Highness.

When that time comes, you will be able to conclude whether my words are true or false.

How must I conduct this interrogation?

Greetings, Your Majesty.

At ease, Ninth Uncle.

Why have you called for me?

What business do you have here?

There's something I wanted to talk to you about.

Though Liu Mingtai committed heinous crimes, there are still many ministers insisting he was wronged.

I think we should wait longer to punish him.

When everything is clearly investigated, punishing him wouldn't be too late.

This way, we can quiet down the people spreading rumors.

The ministers that are crying that he is wronged,

are just Xiao Qihan's puppets.

Your Majesty, you don't have to take it seriously.

Liu Mingtai was corrupt.

The evidence is solid. There is nothing refutable about it.

I would ask you to punish him on schedule.

But I've already promised him.

Your Majesty, why didn't you discuss it with me first

before you came to such a decision?

Didn't you say you would trust me?

Didn't you say you would let me take care of everything?

I just promised them to delay the sentencing.

I didn't promise I'd let him go.

Ninth Royal Uncle, didn't you say you would support me?

Why wouldn't you let me make decisions on something so small?

Anyway, I already promised them. I cannot go back on it.

If you care about my wellbeing, then do not stop me.

I obey.

Ninth Royal Uncle accepted my idea of delaying the punishment.

Does that mean that he is actually innocent?

The Prince of Su said he kidnapped me,

and that he wanted to kill me. Could those be lies as well?

Your Majesty, this...

Yes. Yes!

It must have been a lie! Ninth Royal Uncle takes care of me sincerely! He wouldn't lie!

Your Majesty.

Prince of Su. I did as you asked and investigated the regent.

Do you know what happened?

The regent obeyed you.

You're not wrong. He generously accepted.

He was not like you suggested. He wasn't hasty to kill him.

But you slandered the regent. That is a heinous crime!

In order to have your trust,

he took very drastic measures.

- What do you mean? - Your Majesty, did you know that Liu Mingtai

just killed himself in prison?

No way! I already delayed his sentence! I did it so he could have the chance to clear his name!

But someone didn't want him to have that chance.

He pretended to obey you,

but behind your back, he killed him.

He never saw you as an equal.

In his heart,

Your Majesty is just a puppet he can control.

I heard that Qiyuan's studies have improved greatly.

Sister Qi and I were so happy upon hearing the news.

During this time, His Majesty really did improve greatly,

so I was just saying. Boys,

they must go out and experience the world more in order to be successful.

Princess. Nanny Li send a letter.

He will stay in the mausoleum for half a year?

Isolated with no plans to leave?

How come Qiyuan keeps acting so rashly?

He didn't even discuss with us beforehand.

As the ruler of a nation, he is still so willful.

Stay in the mausoleum for half a year?

It's been so long. How come His Majesty suddenly remembered

to pay his filial piety to the former emperor? This is obviously an attempt to escape his studies.

I originally thought that after the incident in the south,

His Majesty already changed.

I also thought that I would be able to feel at ease.

I never would have thought that after such a short amount of time,

His Majesty would start to go back to his old ways.

Chengxu, don't get angry just yet.

I think there's more to this.

Let me find out more about it.

I will go to the Emperor's mausoleum right now and ask His Majesty exactly what's going on.

I want to see what exactly he is planning to do.

I hope that when His Highness goes to find him,

he'll be able to bring His Majesty back.

Qiyuan is my son. I understand him.

He certainly would not do this without reason.

This matter must have a story behind it.

Royal Father, you died when I was still young.

Later, someone appeared in my life.

He got into my business about everything and blamed me all day,

so I hated him. I was so afraid of him.

I purposefully caused him anger and sided against him. I enjoyed it,

but so many years have passed.

It was only today when I realized

that he was the one who taught me how to be a good person.

He taught me how to ride and shoot. Even my martial arts

and swordsmanship skills were taught by him.

When I faced danger,

it was still him who rescued me. Protected me.

The truth is that I was so happy.

All along, someone loved me like my Royal Father did.

Protected me. But...

Your Majesty, your health will be damaged.

Don't think about the sad things.

Go on out.

There are some things I want to tell Royal Father alone.

Yes.

But it wasn't until today that I found out that

it's all been a lie.

If he really loved me,

how could he bear to let me face danger? All of his care for me

and love for me were just methods to confuse me.

He just wanted me to obediently become his chess piece!

Royal Father.

Your Majesty.

You dared to barge into the emperor's mausoleum?

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

I was asked by the Empress Dowager to bring you back to the palace.

Don't use her to pressure me.

I want to guard the spirit. I'm not returning!

Your Majesty has the good heart to guard the former emperor's spirit.

This is a good thing, but all things

have a time and a place.

Your Majesty, you just abandoned your studies,

and you abandoned your governmental affairs. You privately left the palace.

Isn't that right?

Before the former emperor died,

he worked hard on the nation's affairs and never slacked off.

If His Majesty really was watching you,

he would never allow you to be like this.

Rash and willful.

Regent, are you planning on teaching me how to be a good ruler again?

This time, what kind of methods are you going to use?

Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?

Haven't you always called yourself

someone who was brave and honest?

Today, how come you are pretending to be so noble?

You think I didn't know?

That what happened in the south was all planned by you?

Your Majesty.

What have you heard from others?

I can ignore the words of others.

Today, I will only listen to your words.

If you're brave, then promise right in front of my Royal Father

that when I was sold to slavery in the south, it wasn't your fault!

When I was bullied and tortured by others, it wasn't your fault either.

Swear it!

Your Majesty, it's not what you think.

You don't want to?

So what they said is all true.

Xiao Chengxu, I was all wrong about you!

Your Majesty, you've misunderstood me.

In the past, Your Majesty was too willful.

You never thought about the consequences.

The reason I did that

was so you would

know that willfullness has a cost.

What gives you the right to teach me a lesson?

Xiao Chengxu, do you think

that I'm laughable?

Is that why you can put me under your control?

The hardships you've suffered,

I fully understand.

Your Majesty hates me. I can understand that.

It's just that I want you to understand.

All of it was because I

want you to become a good Emperor.

I had men watching you to protect you.

There was no way I would leave you in any kind of danger.

Of course you wouldn't let me die

because right now is not the best time to steal the throne yet.

If I had died,

you wouldn't be able to keep your regency position,

so you tortured me mercilessly

in order to make me follow your every command.

Your Majesty.

You've really misunderstood me.

If I really wanted to be king,

do you think

you'd still be sitting on the throne today?

Okay.

You've finally said what's been in your heart all along.

All these years, you're still so bitter

about not being able to take the throne.

Mother Queen said you are a loyal subject.

But she's wrong.

In my eyes,

you're just a disgusting traitor who has many schemes and motives in his heart.

Guards!

Your Majesty.

The regent purposefully started a fire within the emperor's mausoleum. Take him away!

All these years, for Your Majesty,

I fought for this land. I did my best.

All that I've done

was for the sake of Great Sheng and Your Majesty.

Now, you suspect me like this

and deliberately set me up!

I won't believe a single word of yours.

What are you standing there for? Take him!

- Yes, Sir! - Who dares?!

Towards Your Majesty, I am

absolutely loyal.

The Heavens are my witness!

As the regent,

I am in temporary control of the court. Even if I was guilty of wrongdoings,

that is for the courts to decide whether or not I'm guilty. The Empress Dowagers are the ones who decide my punishment!

You cannot be the only one who gets a say in this.

Move aside!

If anyone dares to stop me,

I will punish you for rebellion!

I have a suspicion that I would like to share with all of you ministers.

If there was a psychopath who did not respect the former emperor, how do I punish him?

The former emperor was wise and widely respected by all.

Anyone who is disrespectful toward the former emperor

should be given a severe punishment.

Your Majesty, I am sorry.

I don't know who you are referring to who did not respect the former emperor.

I would like Your Majesty to explain.

The regent's heart is unpredictable and evil.

Not only did he prevent His Majesty from guarding the former emperor's spirit,

but he also knocked over the former emperor's eternal light.

He does not respect the former emperor and defiled the emperor's mausoleum.

I would like to ask Your Majesty to remove Xiao Chengxu's title as regent

in order to comfort the former emperor's soul.

Your Majesty, please remove the title of Regent from Xiao Chengxu's name

in order to comfort the former emperor's soul.

This actually happened?

I asked everyone.

Qihan brought someone to visit Qiyuan.

Now, Qiyuan's misunderstandings with Chengxu have gotten deeper.

It was Qihan who started this again.

We really can't catch a single peaceful moment.

If he weren't the former emperor's eldest son, I never would've let him get away with it.

Just now, the people were united

and the court was peaceful.

Suddenly, things took a turn.

We really cannot catch a moment of peace.

Princess. Empress Dowager. Bad news!

I heard that His Majesty and the regent fought in court!

His Majesty is planning to remove the title of regent!

What?

That little emperor really doesn't know where his limitations are.

Now, even he dares to challenge you, brother.

First, he lured you into the mausoleum and accused you of disrespecting the former emperor.

Now, he made all of the court's officials

want to remove your title of regent!

Didn't he think it through?

Brother, you worked incredibly hard for Great Sheng and have so many merits.

Is there a single official who

doesn't think highly of you?

How could they let a little emperor like him stir up rumors?

Now, the officials in the court

are speaking up for you.

The little emperor has nothing he can do.

He dares to battle you? He's still too young and inexperienced.

Brother. Why aren't you speaking?

I know that you exhausted so much effort

on that little emperor,

but now, he and his father are exactly the same.

He deliberately set you up.

He really is an untrainable wolf.

[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 ♫