Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

We can't leave him here.

Get them out of here.

Help! Help!

Somebody!

Here, drink this.

Move them out.

Your Highness,

I think I saw Madam just now.

Ying'er?

Yes. But there were too many victims.

When I looked again, she was gone.

What is she doing in Hua Prefecture?

I'm not sure.

When I was in the city,

I went through the relief camps.

She was nowhere to be seen.

But I've already ordered her search.

The plague spreads easily.

We must take precaution.

If you see any wormwood, remember to smoke it

and cleanse the hall.

Sagewort can be brewed into a medicine.

It will alleviate sickness.

Granny, everyone's taken the medicine.

Why don't you have a bowl?

I'm going to take a rest. You should, too.

Is something wrong, child?

Tell me.

I've been through it.

What's wrong, child?

Just now, in the street,

I saw him.

The father of my child.

Why didn't you go to him?

When I saw him,

I felt an urge to run up and embrace him,

and never let go.

Having been separated, you two still found each other.

It means

your destiny with the child's father has yet to end.

We met each other during a disaster.

We've experienced life and death together.

He's a man of honour and loyalty.

Learned and courteous.

Thoughtful and kind.

We've promised each other

to always be together.

Then why are you two apart?

It was me who left him.

Because staying by his side

would only cause him more problems.

Many people

do not want us to be together.

Sometimes,

you won't know unless you've experienced it.

And unless you know, you won't persevere.

You mustn't give up.

You can't give up.

Don't give up.

Read it.

I...

It's fine.

Okay.

"A memorandum by Wang Qin Ruo."

"The Magistrate of Hua Prefecture, Liu Yi,"

"performed acts of corruption amidst the calamity,"

"including fraud, defamation, and bribery, among many others,"

"constituting 12 major crimes in total."

"The evidence is irrefutable. He must be punished."

"I beseech your judgement."

No wonder Magistrate Liu of Hua Prefecture

has been so supportive of Yuan Xi.

Turns out those two

are in cahoots all along.

Forgive me, Your Majesty.

Without Duke Xu's backing,

no matter how daring the Magistrate of Hua Prefecture is,

he wouldn't have had the nerve

to misappropriate the funds for repairing the levee.

The deluge from the Yellow River has destroyed

both land and lives.

Luckily I sent Yuan Kan.

Or else,

who knows what other atrocities

they would've committed.

Thank god Yuan Kan managed to quell the unrest.

Absolutely, Your Majesty.

And whose memorandum is this?

It's Duke Xu's.

Read it.

Yes.

"A memorandum by Duke Xu."

"Duke Xiang's dishonesty in Hua Prefecture"

"has disrupted the water supply"

"and exacerbated the disaster,"

"to which he responded with reckless decisions and abuse of power."

This is the complete opposite of Wang Qin Ruo's memorandum.

You should take these things with a pinch of salt.

Every story has two sides.

I have read both Yuan Xi

and Wang Qin Ruo's letters.

However, there are discrepancies.

Which one do you trust more?

I've thought deeply about it.

Wang Qin Ruo presented a well-argued case.

It's the more convincing one.

Knowing the three princes' characters,

only Duke Xiang genuinely loves the people.

He has worked tirelessly to alleviate the problem.

One must hear both sides of a story.

I won't take action against Yuan Xi for now.

Order Kou Zhun and Wang Win Ruo

to continue observing the three princes' flood control efforts.

I'll send help to Yuan Kan.

If he fails again,

no one can save him.

Yes.

One more thing.

Confer the title Loyal Minister to the late River Conservancy Commissioner Wang He.

Have the Three Ducal Ministries commission

a memorial hall outside the city so that the people

can commemorate him.

You are wise, Your Majesty.

The great flood

has spread to the villages nearby Hua Prefecture.

The victims have begun to seek refuge in Hua Prefecture.

Our first priority

is to take precautionary action.

Only by saving Hua Prefecture will we save the victims.

Or else, Hejian Province, Chan Prefecture,

and even Dongjing

will be in danger.

Your Highness,

the Emperor's Special Envoy

has arrived in Hua Prefecture

with a large quantity of ration.

Thank god.

Any later,

and the victims won't be able to survive.

Where's the Special Envoy?

Duke Xu has received the Envoy

and the ration.

It's being distributed as we speak.

Duke Xu?

Your Highness.

Didn't Lord Wang report Duke Xu's transgressions

in his memorandum?

The Emperor should've known by now.

Why hasn't His Majesty punished him?

What if someone...

A righteous man walks with god.

If one's conscience is clear,

he has nothing to fear.

Justice

will be served one day.

Come on, get in line.

No need to panic. There's enough for everyone.

Get in line.

Get in line.

Get in line.

No need to panic. There's enough for everyone.

Get in line, everyone.

Duke Xu will dole out the ration.

Come right up. Get in line.

Be patient.

This ration's a lifesaver, sir.

Listen up, everyone.

Today's food drive

is all thanks to His Highness, Duke Xu.

Otherwise, you'll go hungry.

Duke Xu

has brought not only food and aid

but also blessings and happiness!

Thank you, Duke Xu!

Thank you, Duke Xu!

Thank you, Duke Xu.

Thank you, Duke Xu!

Thank you, Duke Xu.

Granny, the government is giving out food.

We can eat now.

I'll make some congee for you.

Granny.

Granny.

Our best option is Han Village.

It's about 20 li from Hua Prefecture.

According to the Water Chief,

it was an abandoned settlement

surrounded by barren land.

Uninhabited,

the houses have deteriorated.

But its thick, tall walls

have held up for hundreds of years.

They're made from stacked stones.

I'm thinking of using it as a reservoir.

What do you think, Yi Jian?

It just might work.

Your Highness, look.

If we create an opening here,

the flood waters can be diverted to Han Village.

Good.

Yi Jian, send a survey team.

Make sure there isn't a single civilian there.

Don't worry. I'm on it.

Good.

Come with me.

-Yes. -Yes.

The rain is too heavy.

Give the medicine a few more minutes.

Okay.

Here, take this.

What's wrong?

Nothing. He's kicking again.

Is he?

You should get to it.

Okay. I'll share out the medicine.

Where did you get all that strength?

You're kicking me again.

The flood has yet to subside.

Your father is still trying to fix it.

We can't see him for now.

You can hardly wait, can you?

I wonder when

the rain will stop.

Your Highness,

Han Village has been evacuated.

We've planted the explosives under the levee.

Just give the word,

and we'll blow it up and drain the waters.

Blow it up.

Yes!

Blow it up!

It's going down. The water's going down.

It's going down.

Your Highness.

Yi Jian, the water's going down.

It's actually going down.

The city is finally saved.

We're saved. We're saved!

It's working like a charm.

The city is saved.

Good. Good.

The flood is gone.

Huzzah!

The water has receded.

Drink up.

We're saved!

The water has receded.

Our city is saved!

Huzzah!

Huzzah!

Our ordeal is over.

The water has receded.

The water has receded.

Come out, my child.

Your Majesty,

this year's flood has claimed more victims than ever.

The Yellow River flood had reached the Han Village nearby Hua Prefecture,

engulfing Chan Prefecture, Pu Prefecture,

Tongli County, Xiang Prefecture and beyond,

claiming countless lives.

Despite a delay in the levee's construction,

Duke Xiang worked relentlessly

to lead the irrigation efforts and comfort the civilians.

He got his hands dirty and stayed in the fray,

earning the people's respect.

And I thought Yuan Kan

didn't have it in him.

This flood had completely destroyed

the grain reserves,

causing famine and starvation in the Hua Prefecture area.

Bandits grew rampant,

and efforts to rebuild after the flood were met with setbacks.

Despite the Three Ducal Ministries' injection of 1.23 million dan of rice

to relieve the victims,

the effect was minimal.

Duke Xiang has remained in Hua Prefecture till this day

to tie up the loose ends.

So devoted to his people

that he hardly has time to submit a memorandum to you.

Your Majesty!

Duke Xiang carried out his duty

and brought the corrupt Liu Yi to justice.

As per your wishes,

he paid restitution to

the wrongfully convicted Wang He

and the families of the Water Chief.

The people are grateful to the royal family,

singing praises.

That's right.

Duke Xiang heeded your orders

and performed them to a tee. He lived up to your expectations.

Duke Xiang's contributions were invaluable.

He should be handsomely rewarded.

Please consider it, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty,

Duke Xiang was pivotal in the relief efforts.

His merit is incalculable.

It's only natural to make him the Crown Prince.

Please consider it, Your Majesty.

Please consider it, my wise Emperor!

But of course.

I've always dispensed reward and punishment fairly,

as I'm sure all of you can attest.

The flood control panned out beautifully.

Now you can take your mind off the flood

in Hua Prefecture.

The Yellow River flood

has plagued our country

for generations.

When the water goes down, all is beautiful.

When the water goes up, everything is gone.

Again and again, the cycle repeats itself.

Keeping the flood at bay is harder than trying to fly.

Indeed.

Duke Xiang's exploits in Hua Prefecture

seem to have won the people's hearts.

Yuan Kan has alleviated the flood for me.

For that, I'm grateful.

As you've said,

keeping the flood at bay is harder than trying to fly.

But what if Lord Kou and Lord Wang

only gave you the good news?

What do you mean?

Lord Kou said

the flood in Hua Prefecture

had spread to the neighbouring prefectures.

Tens of thousands of people have drowned.

But he didn't explain

how those people actually drowned.

I...

Why are you stuttering?

Out with it.

What have you heard?

Your Majesty,

a few days ago, the Three Ducal Ministries sent a relief team to Hua Prefecture.

According to them,

in order to stop the flood,

Duke Xiang ordered for the upstream levee to be blown up,

causing the waters to swallow Han Village in the outskirts of the city.

None of the villagers, old or young,

managed to survive.

Those in the know are well aware

that it was Duke Xiang's sole decision.

But the common people,

they were uninformed.

Word on the street is that it was Your Majesty's decision

that caused the deaths

and the destruction.

Now the streets of Hua Prefecture

are filled with its people's grievances.

You've unwittingly become a scapegoat.

Is that so?

Uncle, you've fallen ill for the sake of your country.

Here's your sick bed, Uncle.

Are you feeling better now?

-Have you seen the Emperor? -Yes.

I'm beyond cure now.

I'm afraid I cannot serve my country.

This performance is called "Yi Ya Steams The Son."

It's a story about an emperor and his subject in ancient Qi.

The "Uncle" is a minister named Guan Zhong.

Who's the one beside him?

That's Duke Huan of Qi.

Guan Zhong spent his life

helping Duke Huan create his empire.

But he fell terminally ill from working too hard.

So, Duke Huan personally

called on the old minister.

He saw that Guan Zhong was seriously ill,

and it worried him.

So, he asked him,

"If you've passed away,"

"who's going to take your place as Prime Minister?"

Guan Zhong replied,

"It matters not who takes my place."

"But there is one person you should be wary of."

"And that person is Yi Ya."

My lady, who was Yi Ya?

Yi Ya was another one of Duke Huan's ministers.

His fierce loyalty to the monarchy

was unrivalled.

In order to win Duke Huan's favour,

he even killed his little son.

He steamed him and offered him to Duke Huan

as a gesture of his allegiance to the Duke.

Do such people exist?

Killing his own son?

That's so cruel.

That's why Guan Zhong warned Duke Huan

to be wary of him.

If a man

doesn't even love his own flesh and blood,

how can he love his king?

What happened then?

Then,

Duke Huan ignored Guan Zhong's warning.

He continued to trust Yi Ya

even with important matters.

Many years later,

Duke Huan indeed died

at the hands of the seemingly loyal Yi Ya.

A man's heart is unpredictable.

What minister wouldn't act loyally

in front of their king?

It's always the loyal ones

that are the most devious.

Loyalty or treachery?

You'll never know

until it's too late.

The flood waters are finally receding.

We'll wait for the Yellow River

to go down further

before we repair the levee.

Fret not, Your Highness.

The Emperor has commanded the Three Ducal Ministries

to repair the levee in due time.

In the last few days,

you've had people

search for Ying'er in the relief camps.

Any news?

None.

Perhaps I was mistaken.

But the Minister of Revenue

is doing a headcount from door to door.

I told him

to inform me immediately

if he sees someone named Liu E.

Then tell the Ministry of Revenue

to step on it.

What if she really is in Hua Prefecture?

No matter what,

I mustn't let her slip by.

Understood.

Your Highness, a disaster in the east side.

Several civilians have just died in the medical hall.

Yi Jian, let's check it out.

Sure.

Stand back, Your Highness.

These people are afflicted by a plague.

I knew it.

There's always an outbreak after a flood.

How many are infected?

I'm not sure.

But just today, we've admitted three patients.

They've passed it to their families.

It's just that the symptoms haven't shown.

The river may have subsided,

but there are no signs

of its aftermath slowing down.

What can we do

to stop the plague from spreading?

There's only one way,

and that's to isolate the infected.

A quarantine?

Here, Your Highness.

I heard from the old folks here

that the Yellow River breaks out twice every three years

and changes its course once every hundred.

Not even the sage, Yu the Great,

was able to tame the flood.

Let alone me.

What can we, as three brothers,

do?

I've been here in Hua Prefecture for days.

Yet I haven't accomplished a thing.

I don't know

what to tell my father.

Don't worry, Your Highness.

The Empress and Head Eunuch Wang

have been putting in

a good word for you in front of the Emperor.

As long as the flood is abated,

the credit will go to all three of you.

The servants said

there was another dispute between Duke Xiang and Duke Xu.

Their relationship is on thin ice.

They nearly fought each other.

They've always had their differences.

It's nothing to write home about.

Your Highness, you'd be wise to observe silently

and strike when the opportunity rises.

Your Highness, Duke Xiang and Duke Xu

invite you to a discussion about the flood relief.

Me?

Yuan Zuo.

Hasn't the flood outside the city

receded?

Why did you invite me over for a discussion?

I've invited both of you here

to discuss how to deal with the plague.

Plague?

There's a plague in Hua Prefecture.

And a serious one at that.

We've administered the Imperial Physician's

plague medicine.

But the effect was underwhelming.

People are starting to die

in medical halls everywhere,

and the number is rising.

The plague is incurable.

An infection is practically a death sentence.

The way I see it,

since the water have finally subsided

from the city,

let's not stick around.

Why don't we report back to Father?

Yuan Zuo.

The plague is part of the flood.

If it's not fixed,

how will we answer to Father?

Right now, there's a plague raging out of control after the flood.

If we don't subdue it,

more lives will be lost to it

than to the flood itself.

Are you telling me you want to wait here and die?

Yuan Kan, what do you propose?

I suggest

we move the infected out of the city

and treat them in one group.

That way,

we can slow down the outbreak.

Good idea. Excellent.

I'll pass the order

to transport the infected out of the city.

Thank you, Yuan Xi.

Who'd have thought you two

would actually agree for once?

Take all of them to the quarantine camp.

Magistrate's orders.

Everyone is to be quarantined.

But we're not infected.

Clean up the Patron God's Temple.

Take them to the camp.

But we're not infected!

-Take them away. -Come on.

Where's everyone?

I heard soldiers took them away

to a quarantine camp.

Are you sure there was a girl named Liu E among them?

Absolutely.

What are you doing?

Don't hit him!

What's going on?

Back off!

How can you simply arrest people?

Whose orders are you on?

Duke Xiang's orders.

Duke Xiang?

We're not infected.

Back off!

Let us out.

We want to go home.

Let's fight our way out!

Let's fight our way out!

Stop! Stop this!

Yuan Xi, ask them to stop.

This will get ugly real quick.

The quarantine camp is Yuan Kan's idea.

If it gets ugly, that's his responsibility.

Yuan Zuo, why worry?

No wonder you were so willing to help build the quarantine camp.

If you're not cunning,

how can you rule the world?

Your Highness.

Yi Jian, what makes you so anxious?

I have information about Madam.

Really?

Yes.

Where is she?

She was taking refuge in the Patron God's Temple

with the other flood victims.

But now,

she's been rounded up with the infected

and sent to the quarantine camp.

Ready the horses.

Yes.

How are you supposed to clean up this mess?

If we release them,

it'll only cause more deaths.

What do you want?

Burn down the quarantine camp.

You're making a big mistake!

If the fire doesn't kill them, the sickness will.

What's the difference?

Set the fire.

Yes.

Don't!

Do it!

Yes.

Set the fire!

Help!

Your Highness.

Run quickly!

Help! Run for it!

Yi Jian,

Ying'er is inside.

Ying'er!

Ying'er!

Ying'er!

Stop! Don't harm the innocent!

Your Highness, Duke Xiang is inside.

Run!

Stop right now.

Don't harm the innocent!

What is he doing here?

Look! If that's not Yuan Kan, I don't know who he is.

Quick! Save Yuan Kan.

Save Duke Xiang.

Yuan Xi.

Your Highness,

shall I go immediately with some men to rescue Duke Xiang?

Yes. You shall.

Understood.

Hurry. Hurry!

You must protect Duke Xiang!

It's too late.

No one can save him now.

Help!

Close the gates.

Duke Xu's orders.

Let no one escape.

Those who oppose will be killed without question!

Yes!

Help!

Who are you?

Your murderer.

Ying'er.

Stand right there.

Your Highness! Your Highness!

Ying'er.

Ying'er.

It's me.

Yuan Kan?

Ying'er.

Yuan Kan.

Is that our child?

Get up.

Leave with me.

Come.

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Yuan Kan!

Once we reach the top, we'll be safe.

Ying'er, give me your hand.

Come.

Come.

Ying'er, are you alright?

I'm fine.

I'm sorry

for putting you through all that.

And today, you almost lost your life.

I don't blame you.

We're together again.

And with our child.

We're all alive.

Ying'er.

You're a prince.

You should devote yourself to your country,

not me.

If I can't even save you,

how can I devote myself to my country?

How can I serve my people?

Life has been really tough for me.

If it weren't for you,

if it weren't for our child,

I'd have crumbled long ago.

I promise you.

I won't ever leave you again.

Yuan Kan actually did that?

Your Majesty, what did Duke Xiang do?

"A plague broke out in Hua Prefecture."

"Duke Xiang forced its citizens into quarantine,"

"sparking public outrage."

"Duke Xiang commanded the burning of a hill,"

"killing the innocent and sacrificing countless lives."

"Fearing judgement, the Duke fled,"

"never to be seen again."

I shouldn't have sent Yuan Kan to Hua Prefecture.

Duke Xu's memorandum again.

Perhaps jealousy of Duke Xiang's success in alleviating the flood

has made Duke Xu scornful.

His claims may have been exaggerated.

I don't think Yuan Kan

would act against the public's safety.

But why did he flee

without a trace?

Pass my order.

I want every soldier stationed there searching for Yuan Kan.

We must bring him back.

As you wish.

Duke Xu! Duke Xu!

Duke Xu! Duke Xu!

Duke Xu! Duke Xu!

Duke Xu! Duke Xu!

Your Highness have saved us from both the flood and fire.

We, the citizens of Hua Prefecture, have made an Umbrella of the People

for Your Highness

as a token of our appreciation.

Thank you, Duke Xu.

Thank you, Duke Xu.

Thank you for your kindness.

I am touched.

Duke Xu! Duke Xu!

Your Highness, I think I saw Su Yi Jian just now.

Why isn't there news of Yuan Kan yet?

I've ordered my men to search it.

Increase your efforts and keep searching.

We must find him before Su Yi Jian does.

Yes, Your Highness.

Since returning from Hua Prefecture,

every time I close my eyes,

I see Yuan Kan scurrying in the flames.

Screaming,

"Somebody! Help!"

But as the eldest brother,

I did nothing.

I did nothing.

It's not your fault.

Life is unpredictable.

Everyone has their fate.

Stop dwelling on it.

It's in the past now.

Hurry.

Summoning Duke Chu and Duke Xu!

Father,

it's my fault that Yuan Kan is missing.

Please lighten my sentence.

Get up.

How did you three brothers manage

the flood situation in Hua Prefecture?

And how did your brother disappear?

Father,

in Hua Prefecture,

I realised how obsessed Yuan Kan was with glory.

Upon his arrival,

he persecuted the Water Chief in charge of flood control

based on Magistrate Liu Yi's mere words

and executed several people.

Even Commissioner Wang He

was forced to commit suicide in the river.

Upon further investigation,

it was revealed that Wang He was an honourable

and capable water official.

Yuan Kan realised

he had killed a valuable official.

Then he killed Magistrate Liu Yi

with Lord Kou's hands

to absolve himself of blame.

Duke Xu,

in my visit to Hua Prefecture,

the people told me

the deaths of Wang He and the Water Chief

were solely your doing.

Why do you lay the blame at Duke Xiang's feet?

Kou Zhun!

Were you there

when Wang He and the Water Chief died?

Besides,

can any of the citizens come forth and testify?

Duke Xu,

with Wang He and the Water Chief now dead at your hands,

and Duke Xiang missing,

it's only natural that they will be reluctant to testify.

That doesn't mean you can

distort the truth.

Kou Zhun!

How dare you slander me in His Majesty's court?

When did you become so bold?

You...

Kou Zhun, let Yuan Xi finish his words.

I will decide the truth of the matter myself.

Father, when the three of us arrived in Hua Prefecture,

the Yellow River had breached the levee and surrounded the city.

To tame the deluge,

Yuan Kan blew up the levee upstream

and redirected the waters

away from the city, flooding Han Village.

No one in the village, old or young,

managed to survive. It was a tragedy.

I...

Lord Kou, calm down.

Many of Hua Prefecture's citizens were struck by a plague.

So, Yuan Kan set up a quarantine camp outside the city

and sent the infected into the wilderness.

But many healthy individuals were rounded up

by mistake

and brought to the quarantine camp, awaiting for their death.

The people in the quarantine camp revolted.

So, Yuan Kan ordered for the camp to be burned down.

Countless innocent lives

were lost in the fire.

Your Majesty, the plague was highly contagious.

If one person got infected, his entire family

would be doomed.

Duke Xiang was right to set up a quarantine camp.

At the beginning of the quarantine,

everything was in order.

But then, all of a sudden, all hell broke loose.

I wonder who ordered the burning of the camp?

Your Majesty,

you mustn't take Duke Xu's words at face value.

Please investigate, Your Majesty!

Duke Chu,

you were in Hua Prefecture too. Can you enlighten us?

Your Majesty,

I was not feeling well

at that time.

On the day of the fire,

I wasn't at the quarantine camp.

Therefore, I don't know what had really happened.