Original subtitles

[English subtitles are available]

Let's drop the formalities.

Ying'er,

if you hadn't brought Ji'er

to court and convinced Father,

I would've been

in Cangzhou Prison right now.

Thank the Emperor's wisdom.

He knew long ago

you were the best candidate for Crown Prince.

Or else,

how could I have convinced His Majesty?

May Your Highness do the Emperor proud

and serve the country well.

I won't disappoint you and Ji'er.

Right.

Give me a bowl of water.

Thank you.

Here comes the Liao army!

Here comes the Liao army!

The Liao army is here!

After all these years,

Song's army is still as vulnerable.

Escort Empress Dowager into the city.

Into the city!

All forces, into the city!

The Liao people are here, run!

Run!

Run!

Zhenzhou has fallen.

Empress Dowager Xiao is leading generals Yelu Xiuge

and Yelu Xiezhen,

and a 100,000 strong army southward to Gaoliang River.

Dingzhou, Man City,

Guannan, and Daming Province are at risk.

General Yang Yan Zhao has fought against both of them.

He knew these persons well.

Summon General Yang to Daming Province and fight.

Yes, Your Highness.

When dealing with the Liao army,

we have to get around them and break their spirit.

Do not get engaged.

Harmony is priority.

If they fail to capture the city,

it doesn't matter

how intimidating they are.

Nonsense!

Father, please enlighten me.

Right now is

the best time to crusade against Liao.

"Harmony is priority" my foot.

Empress Dowager Xiao has just become regent in Liao.

Dissent is brewing in her court.

In the past two years,

Liao has been doubling down on military campaigns,

burning through its resources.

If now's not the time to crusade against Liao

and reclaim the Youyun Sixteen Prefectures now,

I don't know when is.

Father, after Liao Jing Zong died in Yunzhou,

his eldest son, Yelu Longxu ascended to the throne.

Liao's monarchy is strong.

Yet Empress Dowager Xiao, as a woman,

has successfully become regent.

We mustn't underestimate this woman.

Your Majesty,

there's a lot of natural disasters recently.

The national treasury isn't that sufficient.

I think

we should focus on defense when it comes to dealing with Liao.

It's not suitable to fight.

Your Majesty, I usually stand for fighting,

but based on the situation now,

I agree with Your Highness and Lord Wang.

♫ The path to great wisdom lies in manifesting one's virtue ♫

♫ In loving the people ♫

♫ In perfect temperance ♫

♫ Temperance leads to stability ♫

♫ Stability leads to tranquility ♫

♫ Tranquility leads to peace ♫

♫ Peace leads to thinking ♫

♫ Thinking leads to your goals ♫

♫ Like roots and branches, everything has its beginning and its end ♫

♫ Understanding cause and effect is the key to the Path ♫

♫ The ancients who wished to enlighten the world with their virtue ♫

♫ Started by governing their country ♫

♫ One who wishes to govern his country ♫

♫ Must first govern his own family ♫

Stop.

Sorry, Mother.

You should focus while studying.

Do not get distracted.

When you finish this book,

I'll teach you

what it means to govern one's family and cultivate one's self.

You must understand this

in order to become a great man.

♫ The path to great wisdom lies in manifesting one's virtue ♫

♫ In loving the people ♫

♫ In perfect temperance ♫

♫ Temperance leads to stability ♫

♫ Stability leads to tranquility ♫

♫ Tranquility leads to peace ♫

♫ Peace leads to... ♫

Father.

Come here.

How was it?

Did you learn it well?

Yes.

Did you finish reading this passage?

I did.

Did you?

He's always distracted at about this time everyday.

He keeps thinking you'll be back

when the bell falls.

Is that so?

No.

You miss me?

Yes.

But I've memorised The Great Learning.

Say it to me.

The way of great learning consists in manifesting one's bright virtue,

consists in loving the people,

consists in stopping in perfect goodness.

When you know where to stop, you have stability.

When you have stability, you can be tranquil.

When you are tranquil, you can be at ease.

When you are at ease, you can deliberate.

When you can deliberate, you can attain your aims.

Good.

Son, here.

Look what I brought you.

Thanks, Father.

In the blink of an eye,

Ji'er is already seven years old.

I, the Crown Prince of Song,

bear the throne and manage politics in Da Qing Hall.

But still unable to bring my

wife and child into the palace.

Ji'er and I are doing great here.

You don't have to worry about us.

Ying'er, the last seven years

must've been tough for you and our child.

Don't say that.

National affairs are far more important than family issues.

Since I became the Crown Prince,

Father has been getting more strict with me.

Today, Father and I

quarreled again in the palace.

You are blinded by the Crown Prince's words.

Father,

the current food, weapons, forces are not enough.

It's not the best time to reclaim the Youyun Sixteen Prefectures.

Father, please reconsider it.

Your Majesty, please reconsider it.

Are you telling me to let Empress Dowager Xiao

take the territory the late emperor conquered?

He is headstrong.

He won't listen to me.

The Liao army is responsible for His Majesty's arrow wound.

His Majesty certainly couldn't let them go,

and wants a showdown with the Liao army.

But how could Father not know the priority between his revenge

and the fate of the country?

He just can't let go of his power.

Do you have confidence?

It's a great opportunity.

Yes.

The Emperor and the Crown Prince have

finished reading the articles

of every scholar in Jiang Wu Hall.

The top scholar will be selected to sit for the imperial exam today.

The Crown Prince will conduct this imperial exam.

He will hand-pick the new scholar.

Summon Ding Wei to the hall.

Summon Ding Wei to the hall.

Ding Wei, please enter the hall.

Long Live the Emperor.

Please rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

In your article, you claim that the insufficiency of our military forces

will weaken our country.

In your opinion,

why is that?

Your Highness,

Nowadays, the imperial court keeps recruiting new soldiers.

In light of our limited resources

and the people's shrinking pockets,

I suggest we cease the recruitment efforts.

It is sufficient to train the pre-existing soldiers.

Great nations achieve greatness

on the back of a great army.

Our military resources

are wasted on endless recruitment and hasty scheduling.

I beseech you to harden your resolve

and tighten our purse strings,

so that our army will grow stronger.

Empress Dowager Xiao is advancing south to Gaoliang River with an army.

Targeting Dingzhou, Qizhou,

Shenzhou, Jizhou,

Daming Province and other places.

Based on your opinion,

must we fight with Liao?

No.

As the ancients said,

it's best not to draw swords.

For the wise, fighting is the last resort.

The emperor who violates the military forces won't gain the kingdom.

I would like to hear more about it.

I heard that the Liao army has invaded our borders many times.

This has become the main issue of the central plains.

Beacon fire is everywhere, corpses are piled up high.

This is not what a wise emperor would like to see.

The soldiers guard the borders

and fight with Liao

because they had to.

The land of Song

can be a place the citizens call home,

or it can be a place of bloodshed and violence.

The people of Liao

have different habits than those from Song.

But the fear of war, the fondness for freedom,

and the aversion to violence

are the timeless, universal nature of men.

Liao is freezing cold and lacking clothes and food.

That's why they move southward to loot,

and are willing to fight us.

If people from Liao are set for life

and live well,

why would they be here to conquer?

The way of a wise emperor

is to train the warriors well,

not to show any weakness,

and subdue the enemy without fighting.

The way of a wise emperor

is to humble one's self and think of the people.

In this case,

why should we worry about Liao?

Stopping the war and offering peace

is the only way to raise the universal empire.

Stopping the war and offering peace

is the only way to recuperate.

The aged are cared for until death, adults are employed in jobs that

make full use of their abilities, children are nourished and educated.

May Your Majesty apply humanity on the inside, civility on the outside.

Harmonising all nations, advocating amity among people.

Only then, will the country and the world be peaceful.

Stopping the war with Liao, promoting trade among the people,

these should be Song's long-term goals.

Great idea, Ding Wei.

Summon the kindness of the world,

tone down the murderous intent of the world,

only then our country would be safe.

Harmonising all nations.

I like what you said.

You are the appropriate person to be this new scholar.

From now on,

you are my protege,

my Imperial Scribe.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Congratulations, new scholar Ding Wei.

Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you, Your Highness.

I will perform whatever you ask of me

to return the favor.

Congratulations, new scholar!

I deserved to die.

Arise, both of you.

The old ministers are gone one by one.

I've been dreaming of Zhao Pu recently.

The passing of Zhao Pu

is like losing my right-hand man.

All I left is Yuan Kan.

But he is not wholly in league with me.

There's one thing

that I remain perplexed.

Just say it.

The Crown Prince clearly knew that Yelu Xiuge

was the Liao general who gave you the arrow wound.

Yet he showed not a hint of hatred

when he talked about him.

Instead, he wanted to make peace with him?

Tomorrow, I'm going to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to pray.

Tell Yuan Kan to go with me.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Empress,

are you doing well?

Eunuch Wang,

why didn't you come to see me for so many days?

What's the situation in the palace?

His Majesty's arrow wound had a recurrence today.

I'm sure that

there's not much time left for His Majesty.

His Majesty...

His Majesty...

But if His Majesty was dying,

Yuan Kan, Kou Zhun, these people must know it

and look for an opportunity.

We must be careful and meticulous.

Do not ruin everything.

Empress, please rest assured.

All the eunuchs in the palace answer to me.

Nothing can go wrong.

Besides, I have the commander's tally.

The Imperial Guards in the palace answer to me.

Once the Emperor dies,

we can dispatch them anytime.

If Duke Chu becomes the emperor,

you will be the strongest contributor.

You'll be the Prime Minister of Song.

Thank you, Empress.

Thank you.

Zhao Pu,

it's been seven years since your passing.

Father, it was unfilial of me

to talk back to you.

I ask for your forgiveness.

Let's not talk about Liao and

Empress Dowager Xiao today,

just have a small talk.

In a normal family,

parents and children are always together.

But in a royal family,

relatives tend to become enemies.

There's no turning back for you.

You must

take control of Song.

Father, please rest assured.

I'll

bear your advice in mind.

Tell Lu Duan to meet me in the palace tonight.

Do not tell anyone about this.

Yes.

All hail the Emperor.

Chancellor, please rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Since I demoted you to Security Lieutenant,

do you have any grumble?

I voluntarily went back to my hometown back then.

Why would I dare to grumble about Your Majesty?

My parents passed away, as their son,

I had to obey the rules and mourn for them.

I dreamed of Emperor Taizu and

my brother, Duke Qin yesterday.

They tell me to go with them.

It seems

I have not much time left.

I chose the Crown Prince myself.

Just that there's no trusted advisors to help him.

I'm worried about him.

Your Majesty, please rest assured.

I'll do everything I could to help the Crown Prince.

Chancellor, you're steady

and generous.

You have the talent to become the Prime Minister.

Among all the ministers,

you're the fairest.

You don't play favorites.

You never bother about trifles,

yet are always aware of the important things.

You're 60 years old now.

I regret I didn't make full use of your talent.

Only now, when you're old and Grey, do I call on you.

I'm sorry.

Your Majesty, please rest assured.

I'll spare no effort in helping the Crown Prince.

I shall be your loyal and faithful servant until death.

This is my will.

I'll pass the throne to Yuan Kan.

I order you to help him with your every effort.

Go.

Water.

Water.

Your Majesty.

There's fire!

There's no fire, Your Highness.

Everything is fine, there's no fire.

You may leave first.

Yes.

There's fire.

Eunuch.

Your Highness,

I have something to report.

Tell me.

The Emperor is dead.

The Emperor is dead?

The Emperor

is dead?

The Emperor is dead.

Your Highness,

there's no outsider now.

There's no need to act like a lunatic when we're alone.

Your Highness, I've obtained the commander's tally.

The Empress and I

will support your ascension to the throne.

When that happens, all of Song

will belong to you.

Eunuch,

there's fire! Eunuch!

There's fire!

Your Highness! Put out the fire!

There's no fire!

There's fire!

Your Highness, there's no fire!

There's fire!

Head Eunuch, that's just how His Highness is.

Sometimes he's sober, sometime's he's crazy.

Seems like he's insane.

Your Highness.

Take good care of him.

Yes.

Your Highness!

Your Highness!

Eunuch Wang, what all the fuss about?

Your Highness, the Emperor is dying.

Your Highness is summoned to enter the palace to meet His Majesty.

Prepare the sedan chair.

Yes.

Empress,

His Majesty is dead.

Finally.

Empress,

the sedan chair is ready.

Please return to the palace.

Sister,

Eunuch Wang just said that His Majesty is dying

and asked the Crown Prince to go to the palace to see His Majesty.

For a big deal like this,

why has no minister heard about it?

I'm about to go back and ask my father about it.

You stay here and wait for the Crown Prince's news.

Madam,

terrible news!

Didn't you go to the palace with the Crown Prince?

Why are you back?

Eunuch Wang asked me to come back with the sedan.

Then he asked the Imperial Guards to carry it away.

He said it was the Emperor's order.

Since Eunuch Wang already passed the message from the Emperor,

why would he send the Imperial Guards here once again?

Sister, would that be a trap?

There's something wrong for sure.

Go and find Lord Kou.

Report the whole thing to him

and see what to do about it.

Lord Kou!

Greetings to Lord Kou.

Who are you?

I'm the servant of the Crown Prince.

Why are you here?

My lord, Eunuch Wang came to Eastern Palace just now,

claiming that His Majesty was dying

and that His Highness was needed.

Eunuch Wang ordered the Imperial Guards

to carry His Highness away

just as the Crown Prince and I stepped out.

Why are you blocking us?

Don't you know it's the Crown Prince in the sedan chair?

Hand His Highness to me.

Stand down.

Eunuch Wang, what's wrong?

Reply to Your Highness,

they're here to escort you by imperial decree.

People from the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace should stand down.

Alright, let's go.

Yes.

Somebody, help!

Somebody, help!

Empress, there's one more thing.

It's a tip from eunuch in the palace.

He said before the Emperor died,

Lu Duan was summoned secretly

and he is titled as the Prime Minister.

Lu Duan?

Yes.

Master! Master!

Is the Prime Minister here?

Eunuch Wang,

Welcome to my house.

Look at me.

I'm such a fool.

Why did I take this out?

I totally forgot about it.

The Prime Minister is clear about the important matters,

but fails miserably at little things.

Sorry about that.

I have a short memory as I'm getting old.

I heard that His Majesty summoned Lord Lu

and appointed him as Prime Minister.

Congratulations, Lord Lu!

His Majesty summoned me

just to get reacquainted,

that's all.

Prime Minister,

His Majesty is dying.

I was sent here to

invite you to the palace to see His Majesty.

His Majesty has an important request.

No wonder

His Majesty asked me to draft an imperial decree.

It's on my table.

I'll go take it.

Lord Lu,

what's this decree about?

It's about the accession of the Crown Prince.

To discuss the date of coronation.

You didn't know?

I heard His Majesty talk about it several times.

Lord, hand the royal decree to me.

I'll hand it to His Majesty for his approval.

How's that?

Okay. Come on.

Head Eunuch, please.

It's in the house, let's go.

Alright.

Head Eunuch, please.

Lord Lu, what do you mean by this?

Eunuch Wang,

people said that I, Lu Duan, am clear about the big matters.

Let me tell you.

You've made a huge mistake today.

Lu Duan, oh Lu Duan.

How can you be this impertinent when you're about to die?

Imperial Guards, you have your orders!

I have the commander's tally.

Quickly take Lu Duan down

and send him to the prison.

Yes, sir.

Hold on.

The royal decree is here.

Imperial Guards, here's your order.

Behold the message

of the Emperor.

Wang Ji En, the head Eunuch of the inner court, is traitorous.

He conspired with the harem to incite rebellion.

It is a heinous crime.

Such an important matter should be overseen by the Prime Minister, Lu Duan.

He will help the Crown Prince in his accession.

Yes, His Majesty!

Eunuch Wang,

do you have anything to say?

Eunuch Wang said that Father is critically ill,

and wishes to see me,

but I've been locked in here.

What crime did I commit?

What's taking Father so long to see me?

Your Highness, I'm only following the orders.

I don't know the reason for this.

This is the meal that the chef specially made for Your Highness.

Please enjoy the meal.

I don't have the state of mind to eat now.

I want to see Father.

Your Highness,

you haven't eaten all day.

Please have something.

Eunuch Wang will be here soon.

Hold on!

Your Highness, hold on!

Tie him up.

Your Highness,

I just saw the Prime Minister

send Wang Ji En to the prison.

The Empress conspired with Wang Ji En

to help Duke Chu assume the throne.

They used His Majesty's name to detain Your Highness secretly.

They wish to kill Your Highness.

I never thought that Empress Li

would be this cold-hearted.

Wang Ji En already confessed

that this jailer is his henchman

and they had poisoned the meal.

Luckily, I came just in time,

or the consequences will be unthinkable.

Take him down and send him to the prison.

Execute him together with Wang Ji En.

Yes.

Lord, please show us mercy!

I was only following the orders.

I want to see Father.

Your Highness.

Wang Ji En didn't disclose the Emperor's death.

His Majesty passed away.

Ping Zhong, are you lying to me?

I don't dare to.

Father.

Greetings to the Empress.

Prime Minister, what brings you here?

Empress,

when the late Emperor passed away,

on whose orders did Wang Ji En

keep His Majesty's death hidden?

And on whose orders

did he use the late Emperor's name to send the Crown Prince to jail?

I was in the Cold Palace all the while.

How would I know?

Prime Minister.

Wang Ji En, the Head Eunuch of the inner court planned to rebel.

He's now been captured

and sent to the Supreme Court.

Waiting for your command.

Fire! Help!

Go and get him out of here.

Don't let him make trouble here.

Your Highness.

The late Emperor passed away,

By heaven's order

and the late Emperor's commandment,

I will ascend to the throne.

According to the late Emperor's dying wish,

I'll issue a special decree

to extend benevolence and love,

and declare a total amnesty.

Long live the Emperor.

When the late Emperor was in power,

there were set rules for the governance of the imperial court.

I'll honourably follow them

without complacency.

But I'll be seeking more inputs,

talent selections to make great efforts to build a strong state

for the late Emperor to rest in peace.

Your Majesty,

about Empress Li, Wang Ji En and others,

they planned to victimise Your Majesty.

They are sinful.

Your Majesty, please make a fair judgement.

Your Majesty,

treason is a serious crime.

It is the wickedest crime.

The Supreme Court gave the poisoned wine to Empress Li.

Wang Ji En has been sent to prison

and is waiting for his punishment.

I've already issued a decree to declare a total amnesty.

Empress Li is credited with serving the late Emperor.

Her death sentence can be waived.

Jing Zong.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Go to Empress Li's chambers and pass my message.

Empress Li will be spared.

Wang Ji En will be stripped of his title

and exiled to Junzhou.

My country

should be filled with peace

and be purged of wickedness.

You've responded to evil with virtue,

just as a great emperor should.

We have great admiration for Your Majesty.

Orders from His Majesty!

The late Emperor's Empress, Lady Li, you have committed treason

punishable by death.

In view of your years of servitude

to the late Emperor,

your death sentence can be waived.

You will be sent to Han Ning Palace to reflect on your sins

for atonement.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Where are you taking me?

I don't want to die!

Stop there!

Let me out!

Greetings to Your Majesty.

Let Duke Chu out.

Yuan Kan!

Help me! Help me!

Stand down!

I don't want to die, Yuan Kan!

It's me,

brother.

Yuan Kan.

Come on, get up.

I don't like this cage.

You tell them to get rid of it.

I don't want to see this iron cage anymore!

Get rid of it!

Yes, Your Majesty.

Jing Zong.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Pass my message.

From today onwards,

no one can hurt and detain Duke Chu!

Violators will be executed!

Moreover,

Redeploy two attendants, two court ladies

and a chef from the palace to

Duke Chu's residence.

Have them take good care of Duke Chu.

Yes, Your Majesty.

With the view of the late Emperor,

I'm afraid Ying'er will be criticised by

the ministers if she wants to enter the palace.

Put her in Duke Xiang's residence then.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Tell Ying'er

I'll be visiting her once things have settled down

in Duke Xiang's residence.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Madam, nursemaid.

So this is Ji'er.

You're getting taller.

His Majesty specially asked me to stay here with you.

Thanks, nursemaid.

Why is the house here so big?

This is your house.

Before you were born,

your mother and I used to live here.

Do you like it here?

Madam.

Your Majesty, there's news from the northern border.

Empress Dowager Xiao has a 100,000 strong army at the Song-Liao border.

They are preparing to attack.

By imperial decree, General Yang is not allowed to fight.

Now that the Liao army is short of victuals.

They prepare to withdraw their forces.

Your Majesty made a wise decision.

Empty the house, clear up the field, subdue the enemy without fighting.

This is the most efficient tactic to deal with Liao.

But Empress Dowager Xiao has set conditions.

She will only withdraw her forces

if we agree to her terms,

What are her terms?

Empress Dowager Xiao's condition is

that Song and Liao should each send a prince over as hostage.

The duration is three years.

If there's no aggression

between Song and Liao within three years, the prince will be repatriated.

Song and Liao will sign a pact

to promise never conquest.

Exchange prince as hostage.

Your Majesty, it's not advisable!

It's not advisable!

If we send a prince over,

then Song and Liao

are free of war after three years.

Your Majesty,

I think we should give it a try,

How can we, the great nation of Song,

send our prince to such an isolated place?

Moreover, it takes three years.

How could we protect the prince?

Dismiss first.

Let me think about it before making decision.

Greetings to Your Majesty.

Rise.

Greetings to Your Majesty.

Rise.

Greetings to Father.

You'er, don't be so formal. Continue your work.

It must be tough for Father to attend the morning audience.

I made a cup of dragon bud tea just for you.

Please enjoy it.

I haven't seen him for days.

He has grown a lot.

You'er hasn't seen Your Majesty for days.

He missed you so much.

He has been asking me to take him to you.

But I'm afraid that Your Majesty is busy working,

so it's better for us not to interrupt you.

Good boy.

Qing Yi.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Today is a beautiful day.

Take You'er out to play.

I have something to discuss with duchess.

Your Majesty.

Qing Yi knows

what Your Majesty wants to say.

I beg Your Majesty.

Please don't send You'er away.

Your Majesty.

You don't have to be like this.

Get up.

I have nothing left.

My Lin'er is gone at such a young age.

He never came back since then.

I've already lost a child.

I can't lose You'er.

Get up and talk!

No!

Look, you scared You'er.

You'er,

kneel down.

Tell your Father.

Father, please listen to His Highness.

Please don't send me to Liao.

Your Majesty, let us go.

If Your Majesty doesn't promise me,

I'll never get up!

You'er.

I beg Your Majesty.

Get up.

I promise you. Get up!

Get up.

Don't cry. Don't cry.

Don't cry.

Ying'er.

Your Majesty.

I have something to say,

but don't know where to start.

No.

Your Majesty,

you don't have to say it.

Duchess already lost Lin'er.

I can't let You'er leave her again.

But I'm not willing to part with Ji'er too.

Making him a hostage in Liao

is my act of despair.

Ying'er.

Mother, why do you cry?

Ji'er!

Ji'er is going to a distant place.

I can't go with you.

Why is that?

Because Ji'er is the prince.

Because Ji'er

is the child of Song's royal family.

So Ji'er must go.

If you go,

you can save numerous lives.

Ji'er,

wait until you grew up,

you'll understand my feelings.

I don't want to leave Father.

I don't want to leave mother.

Empress Dowager,

the Emperor of Song, Zhao Heng, sent us a letter.

Please have a look.

Song's emperor replies us so soon.

De Rang, take a look.

See what he said.

Yes.

Okay. Stand down.

Zhao Heng's letter said

he's willing to exchange the prince as hostage,

and agrees on three-year duration.

If the princes of both sides return

safe and sound,

then Song and Liao will establish rapprochement

and never start a war.

Let me take a look.

Yes.

Empress Dowager, the Jurchen has arisen.

Our kingdom can't help but fear.

Right now, we should maintain peace with Zhao Heng.

De Rang,

you're right.

Sister, don't be sad.

Or I can go to Liao with Ji'er.

His Majesty chose two court ladies to accompany Ji'er.

But I don't feel safe either.

Right.

I don't feel safe

handing Ji'er over to others,

let alone you.

I won't let Ji'er suffer

with me around.

Of course it's the best if you can go with him.

I will feel safer with that.

Or let me ask His Majesty

to let you tag along.

Okay.

I really appreciate it, Wan'er.