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Master.

What is it?

You don't like the food?

I...

He's still that ungrateful, just like how he was

in the Buddhist Tower of the Mansion.

Don't you

underestimate him.

Back to

the days in Nanxiao,

he was well-versed in both literature and martial arts.

He once tamed

a running battle steed with just one hand.

His martial arts skills are much better than yours.

It's already in the past,

not worth mentioning.

In that case, I wanna compete with you again.

I surrender.

Surrender or not, you can't say that

until we have a competition.

This disciple of mine

once stayed half a month

along the riverside to learn how to swim.

You don't have much going on right now anyway.

It's not a bad idea

to practice a little after chanting sutras.

Fine.

Then I'll be a kung Fu monk for a while.

It's just a competition.

Again!

Feng Qiao.

As one from the Prince of Nanchen's Mansion,

you should be a good sport.

I lost.

Who would've thought

you would lose one day?

-Your Highness. -Master.

Your Highness, I'd also like to compete with you.

Me?

That year your army and mine

confronted each other across the Huaishui River.

We almost had a battle.

Do you still remember it?

I of course remember it.

Back then, I was still fighting

all over the place for the Emperor of Nanxiao.

It was such a joke!

At that time,

you and I were enemies.

If we fought,

one of us would have to lose.

But now it's not

an issue anymore.

I'd like to compete with you.

You are right.

Please.

Your Highness, I'm impressed.

I'm flattered.

Master.

I found a nice place.

Good.

Get me the horse.

Yes.

Are you coming?

I don't have a horse.

I have one.

But it once trampled on dead bodies.

Are you afraid?

I'm not.

Let's go.

Shiyi,

do you wanna catch up on your master?

Your Highness.

Where are we going?

To the location of the new temple.

What new temple?

Ask Eleven.

Oh, it's...

Tell me later when we get there.

Let's check it out over there.

There's nothing to see.

Watch your steps.

Do you have a name for the temple?

Green Dragon Temple.

Green Dragon Temple...

No other heavenly deities

are more powerful than the Green Dragon.

It's a good name.

Why Green Dragon?

My mother told me

that my father saw through the vanity of the world,

so he abandoned us and became a monk.

She also told me

that the monastery he joined

was called Green Dragon Temple.

I asked General Cui

and my brother to help me find it,

but it's been years,

they still haven't

found a temple

named Green Dragon.

They are all here.

Let's go.

It is nice, and it's a huge space.

This place has been deserted for long.

If we can rebuild it,

it'd be a good deed.

We just scanned the whole area.

If this is the central axis,

the gate and the Hillside Hall can go over there.

Front yard.

Back yard.

And we can build the Four Heavenly Kings Hall,

the Ten Kings Hall,

and the Arhat Hall around it.

Your Highness, have you thought of a name?

Name?

We'll call it

Green Dragon Temple.

Now, let's go.

Let's go.

Your Highness.

Advisor Xie.

Prince of Guangling has been waiting for you in the camp.

And he brought four guards.

It's the Chief Commander's camp.

We can't even go in without my master's permission.

How dare he bring guards in?

I'll go kick him out!

Xiaoyu!

He's Shiyi's fiancé.

Don't make a scene.

Military rules shall be obeyed.

You don't have to make an exception for me.

Master, if you don't wanna confront him,

I'll ask him to leave.

When did I ever ask you

for help while I was around?

Uncle.

Sorry that I kept you waiting.

What were you watching?

I was watching

the territory you fought for Beichen.

Shouyang is over here.

And one who's been guarding

the frontiers down the south

is him, General Cui.

Greeting, Your Highness! I'm Cui Feng.

Your last name is Cui?

Yes.

So you are...

I'm Shiyi's cousin.

Then that makes you

my cousin brother, too.

I'm flattered.

Uncle, I hope we can interrogate

the prince of Nanxiao together.

So this is what

you are really here for?

Yes.

This is Prince Nanchen's camp!

Nobody is allowed to come in

without permission!

Those who break in the camp

must be killed!

My apology.

Get out, now!

Yes.

Master,

I'll go keep an eye on them.

Wen!

From now on,

we'll part ways and you'll

no longer be my father!

Why are you doing this?

You are my son!

The fact is not like

what your mother told you!

-You are... -Don't come over!

Okay! Okay!

If you take one more step forward,

I'll kill myself right now!

Okay.

I won't push you!

I give you more time to think it over.

I'll wait for you to be back!

Protect him in secret.

Bring him back to me

unharmed.

Yes!

Prince of Guangling came from the Capital City.

He wants to meet you on His Majesty's behalf.

Miss Feng, please lead the way.

Why did you come to Beichen?

I escaped here.

From the fight over the Crown Prince position of Nanxiao,

or...

My mother was the Consort Dowager of the previous dynasty.

After the country declined,

she married the Emperor of Nanxiao.

Seven and a half months later, she gave birth to me.

Therefore, people of Nanxiao

always suspect that I'm

the son of the late emperor.

Young Prince of Nanchen must have heard of it.

I surely have.

Are you saying

the rumor is true?

Yes.

Before my mother passed away,

she told me the truth

and asked me to avenge my birth father.

I've been troubled

by the fact ever since,

and I planned this escape.

I will tell His Majesty

what you said today.

And it's up to His Majesty

how to punish you.

Feng Qiao,

see him out.

Yes.

Prince of Guangling.

You used me just now

and got rid of the four guards.

Do you have anything else to say to me?

I risked my life to come here because I want you

to send out an army and save His Majesty.

Zhao Teng colluded with General Liu Yuan.

They hold Empress Dowager hostage

and order around the officials in the name of His Majesty.

The esteemed officials

have all resigned to avoid trouble.

And what's left

is only the clique of Zhao Teng and Liu Yuan.

Grand Mentor Cui also resigned for that reason.

Go on.

Uncle, please send out an army

and take him back to the Capital City.

I'll set off tonight and go back

to the palace to report.

Your Highness.

You can't send out an army.

If you do, I'm afraid

His Majesty

will mistake you intention for rebellion.

He won't.

When he said he looked out to the Western State

while he was in the Central State,

I knew right away

that he was still that young kid.

It's just

that I have to do it in secret.

If people see me,

they'd think something huge happened,

and some of them

would take the chance and revolt again.

It'd put the Central Plains in trouble.

We still don't know which side

Counselor-in-chief Liu Wei is on.

And he's quiet close to Liu Yuan.

I'm worried that he'd get in the way

or trick the officials

into forcing His Majesty to step down.

We need someone who's

more influential than the Counselor-in-chief

to keep him under control.

This person has to be highly respected

and disinterested

so that he won't pose any threat to His Majesty.

Master,

I have a person in mind.

My uncle.

The Tu Clan in the north is led by the Cuis.

My uncle Geng Yin

served three emperors

and enjoys high prestige.

The officials will listen to him.

But Grand Mentor Cui has resigned.

He may not be willing to return.

I'll go talk to him.

And my brother will go with me.

my brother and I

will go back to

the Qinghe Commandery regardless.

Let us give it a try.

I think it's worth trying.

Okay.

I'll let Xiaoyu see you off.

Thank you, master!

I'll go tell her.

What are you worried about, Your Highness?

This is the first time she's left the Western State

since she came to the Prince of Nanchen's Mansion.

To go to the residence of Cui,

her own home.

I will do my best

to persuade my uncle.

Your Highness, rest assured.

I will talk my father into coming

even if I have to kneel and beg.

General.

It's cold at night.

Please go to sleep inside.

We didn't even have a piece of cloth

to block the wind when we were on the march before,

and we still made it.

We suffer 360 days a year.

You should at least rest for five days.

Otherwise, you'd be too hard on yourself.

It's okay.

You can leave now.

I'll watch him.

Yes.

Use an extra iron chain

and tie me on the shed.

You don't have to suffer because of me.

I'm just curious.

Why do you put yourself through this?

My master

didn't ask me to torture you.

Suit yourself.

I used to pave gravels

on the floor of my room.

When I reviewed the reports,

I'd walk on the gravels

back and forth barefoot

to get used to the rough feeling.

In that case, when I escape

I can eat less, sleep on the straw mat,

and resist the coldness when there's no fire.

I trained myself to develop those habits.

Just to make your escape?

Yes,

and no.

I called him father and was loved by him

for over 20 years,

but as it turns out,

he's the one who killed my birth father

and slaughtered the people of my country.

My mother, bearing her hatred toward him,

was forced to marry him.

I'd never forgive myself

if I don't make myself suffer.

Master.

Lead an army of 30,000 soldiers tomorrow

and take him back to the Capital City.

Master, I thought

we'd decide how

to deal with him

after Prince of Guangling returns to the Capital City.

Are you questioning my order?

I dare not!

Go ahead.

What are you doing?

Master asked me to stop you

so we can hear their conversation.

You want to use me as an excuse

and deploy heavy forces in the Central State.

I've heard that you'd rebel

for over 10 years now.

And finally I'll get to see it.

Who told you that I'd rebel?

You won't?

Don't tell me you send out the troops

to the Central State just for a drill.

No. For escorting you.

Though I know Kung Fu,

I can hardly fight against 20 soldiers.

You need an army

of 30,000 soldiers to escort me?

Because

of your special identity.

No matter what, I'm your prisoner now.

I'm at your mercy.

You sent away the women in your mansion

and hid your son and daughter in a temple.

How did you know?

Emperor Xiao found them

and killed them.

But he regretted it right away

and gave them a proper burial.

He issued a decree

that you'll still be his son

as long as you get back.

I will never forgive him!

In fact, I do have another reason

to escort you back.

I can keep you alive

if you do what I say.

What do you want me to do?

Let this thing settle itself

and do not say a word.

What is Qinghe Commandery like?

I haven't been home for so long.

I don't even remember.

I'd never stepped out of the house

since my father was gone,

until I left for the Western State.

I heard that the snacks there

are quite tasty,

and that they are always in high demand

on festivals.

When we finish our business,

I'll take you to try the snacks.

We can also bring some back

to our fellow brothers and sisters.

Then I'll thank you in advance

on behalf of them!

You are very welcome!

Your Ladyship,

we'll cross the border soon.

Time really flies!

Young Master, Your Ladyship.

Please take a bath and change.

They are all waiting for you.

Mother.

My daughter was recovered in the Western State!

Yes.

That's great!

Please rise.

Though it's been a year,

Cui Feng hasn't changed a bit.

You made so many military exploits,

but you don't look like a fighter,

more like a scholar.

You stayed in the Western State for too long.

You forgot our family rules already, didn't you?

You were the last two

arrived in the Qinghe Commandery.

The clan leader asked about you many times.

We all dared not tell him.

Don't be mad.

The Western State is the furthest from here.

They were only a couple of days late.

It's no big deal.

But they came back late...

Fine.

Sister,

you always protect them.

Your uncle has been staying in the academy

and studying history.

When he has time

to see you,

you can go greet him.

In that case, I'll go

see my father by myself.

You need to go see him

at the academy as well.

What's the matter?

Mother,

we didn't come back this time

for the compilation of the history of Beichen.

We have something to talk to my uncle.

In or word,

we came bearing a secret letter from His Highness.

Father.

Shiyi.

I didn't get you into the palace.

I'm sorry.

I don't want to enter the palace.

And I don't blame you at all, uncle.

See,

the two people you care

about the most are home now.

Just be relieved and focus on getting better.

Aunt,

when did my father fall ill?

How come he never mentioned it in his letters?

For all these years, your father

appeared to lay low,

but actually he never stopped

fighting against Liu Yuan and Zhao Teng

in order to save people's lives.

Because of that,

he offended Zhao Teng and his people.

So,

he can't let people know that he's ill,

in case

our family will be in danger.

He's a well-respected veteran official.

Liu Yuan wouldn't dare touch him.

But

once something bad happens to him,

Zhao Teng and Liu Yuan will surely seek revenge

for the drudge they've been holding

and take it all out

on the descendants of the Cui family

Therefore,

we used the history

compilation thing as an excuse

and asked you guys to resign or leave the army

so that you can come home for protection.

Even if your uncle passes away,

we can't

let people find out.

We have to keep it a secret as long as possible.

As soon as he's alive,

the Cuis will be safe.

Otherwise,

the Cui family will lose

its foothold in the court for sure.

And that's why your marriage arrangement

with the imperial family is more important than ever.

I understand.

What does

Young Prince of Nanchen want us to do?

My master didn't send us back.

It was our idea to come back.

My master has decided

to lead heavy forces to the Central State.

He'll get rid of those bad officials

and bring the court back on the track.

He'll do it by force?

My master said

any of his moves would spark rumors

about Prince of Nanchen

leading his troops invading the east,

and that would cause a big mess.

So,

he won't go

under the name of the Prince of Nanchen's army.

He's find an excuse

and move the army to the Central State in secret.

That's a good idea.

Then what about Zhao Teng?

He's our primary target.

Prince of Guangling will offer help inside the palace

and deal with Zhao Teng,

while my master will deal with Liu Yuan

outside the palace.

So what does he

want us to do?

To keep the court in order

with his prestige.

As long as my uncle is there,

even if Zhao Teng

and Liu Yuan are dead,

no one would dare say anything.

But we'll all die if we fail.

How many family members do we have?

Have you thought about that?

Wenjun.

What else did His Highness say?

My master said

His Majesty gave this to me.

You'd understand,

when I bring it back.

He's trying to remind me

that our Cui family has been

highly valued by the imperial family.

We should keep that in mind.

I'll set off

tomorrow.

How's your father?

I'll tell you later.

Aunts,

this is General Hong,

the principal disciple

of Young Prince of Nanchen.

I'm Hong Xiaoyu. Nice to meet you!

You can all spend the night at the academy.

If you need anything, just ask the servants.

Thank you, Lady Wenjun!

My uncle is seriously ill.

You are the only general in our Cui family.

But I didn't teach you

any of my learning.

I feel like I've let you down.

Our Cui family declined

when I was little.

We had nothing back then.

I copied books and helped

my family to get by.

Later,

I became well-known for my scholarship,

and I was titled as Secretariat Director,

in charge of compiling the national history.

I was also appointed as Cavalier Attendant.

That's how I revived our Cui family.

And then I became the Grand Mentor

and the Grand Guard.

I

served three emperors

to get our Cui family

to where it is now.

From now on,

our Cui family

will rely on you guys.

I'm not good at comforting people,

especially in this kinda situation.

You don't need to comfort me.

Like my father said,

the court matters are more important.

We need to remodel

Shiyi's carriage tonight.

My father can't sit up.

Everything inside must be redesigned.

Then we need to hurry.

You haven't had dinner yet, have you?

You haven't either.

You are different.

You are our guest.

How can we let our guest starve?

I'll ask them

to cook you something.

You see me as a guest?

Your father is badly ill.

I know you don't have appetite.

You think I do

when I see you

like this?

I'll go check the carriage.

To your uncle, those manuscripts

are more important than his life.

He doesn't allow anybody to touch them.

I noticed earlier that you seemed a little rusty

when you performed formality.

Do you greet with formality in the Prince's Mansion?

I don't have to.

His Majesty doesn't care.

He'd actually

blame me if I did.

He doesn't like that.

When he was young,

I often heard him read out a poem.

I thought it was quite improper back then,

and I found the one

who wrote that poem

was overstating it.

But now it seems

that he's really become like that.

What poem?

Just a doggerel made up

by some scholar.

Mother, tell me.

“Lying on the Baigu beach,

I can't help singing out loud.

With one steed

and one bottle of wine,

who can be as free as me?”

Mother,

if we make it this time,

I want to take some book from the academy

to the Western State.

There's a library in the Prince's Mansion.

The second floor is still empty.

I want to fill it with books.

Okay.

“Lying on the Baigu beach,

I can't help singing out loud.

With one steed

and one bottle of wine,

who can be as free as me?”

Here, have some water.

Thank you, Your Highness!

So, are you tired?

We've just started.

I'm not tired yet.

Try to eat more

and save some strength.

-Keep it for... -Advisor Xie.

What are you looking at?

I'm observing the sky.

Can you tell it's bad luck

or good luck?

I can tell

that it's a clear day

and windless,

suitable for a fight.

You two old timers

never take things seriously.

Okay.

Since I'm not serious enough,

why don't you tell fortune for His Highness?

A nothing guy like Liu Yuan

doesn't serve my fortune-telling.

If we can't win,

the generals should be beheaded

as punishment.

Judging by the palm force,

it must be General Feng.

You punk!

Your hearing is indeed good!

Master,

the Cui family's carriage

has passed through the city gate.

We'll set off

in one hour.

Stop!

General, where did you come from?

That's not a question

you can afford to ask.

We are escorting a major criminal to the Capital City

according to His Majesty's decree!

Forgive me, General!

General, please.

Shiyi is so bold.

She's holding a fake decree

as if it were real.