Original subtitles

[The Princess Royal]

[Adapted from Mo Shubai's novel, The Princess Royal]

[on Jinjiang Original Network]

[This is a work of fiction.]

[Episode 5]

I heard you saved Pingyue last night.

Why aren't you saying anything?

Your Majesty.

Please save my life.

What's going on?

Why would you say that?

Your Majesty.

It's only a matter of time before my head rolls.

Who'd want your head?

You must've heard

what happened last night.

While I saved Her Highness,

because of circumstances,

we spent the night alone together

and it taints her honor.

Please punish me with death.

Well...

That's not punishable by death.

No.

There's another reason for my imminent death.

Explain.

The situation was urgent.

I should have come to you first,

but the Empress came to me first.

She wanted me

to hide the fact that I spent the night with Her Highness

and even wanted me to vouch

it was Yang Quan who saved the princess.

You're worried about the Empress?

If I may make a daring guess,

Her Majesty has long decided to form

marital ties with the Yangs.

What happened last night

was an act put up for the princess

to be impressed by Yang Quan

who saved her in times of distress.

Yet I ruined their plans.

With how petty Yang Quan is

and how brazen the Yangs usually are,

the moment I exit the palace gates,

only death awaits.

Rest assured.

The Empress will not kill you

for something this insignificant.

Get up.

Your Majesty, do you really see their potential alliance

as no cause for concern?

You may be young,

but you know plenty.

Say,

have you truly decided on Pei Wenxuan?

Well, Queen Mother

wants you to choose Yang Quan.

He has command over the troops.

But you must understand.

If the Yangs are seen as aligning with the Crown Prince,

they military command they hold

will soon change hands.

Then why did you put Yang Quan's name

on the Consort list?

Lay it out for me.

Why is it a significant thing if the Yangs ally with the Crown Prince?

Your Majesty.

They Yangs has guarded the borders for years,

earning great renown.

Yet late last winter,

when the enemies attacked again,

the Yangs lost two cities in a row

losing against 20,000 enemies with 50,000 troops.

Have you considered?

The Yangs have guarded the borders for years.

Why would they crumble like that?

So you know?

If I dare assume,

you do, too.

Over the years,

the Yangs have been bribing the enemies with army rations.

The yearly battles

was just a show

put up by the Yangs and the enemies.

Pei Wenxuan.

How many heads do you have?

You make bold claims.

Your Majesty.

These people are ruthless and ambitious.

If they cling to the Noble Houses

and mislead the Crown Prince,

the country will be compromised.

If I chose Yang Quan,

Father would learn

I'm after the Yang Family's military command

and wants to betray him.

He may have secretly collected evidences

of the Yang Family's wrongdoings.

Then, when he deals with the Yangs,

he'll deal with us too.

I see.

I do not think the Yangs account to much.

And now,

this is the best time to deal with the Yangs.

Then what about the borders?

Force them into revolting?

In today's imperial court,

there aren't many who would dare stand up against the Yangs.

Pei Wenxuan.

If I make you my blade

and tell you to kill Yang Quan

as your betrothal gift to marry Pingyue,

would you dare to do it?

I don't understand.

We're both his biological children.

Why is he doing this to us?

Would things have turned out differently

if I'm not the Crown Prince?

Chuan.

I hope you can maintain

this purity always.

As for the others,

leave it all to me.

Okay?

I've made you fret over my matters.

What pertains to you pertains to the entire Yang family.

We cannot afford a single misstep.

How did the audience with His Majesty go?

He said he'd consider

the waved me away.

However,

he then summoned Pei Wenxuan privately.

Her Majesty too summoned Pei Wenxuan.

I'm afraid

His Majesty, Li Rong, and the Empress

have all chosen Pei Wenxuan.

What should we do?

I did everything I could. Father, he...

Quan.

Over the years,

our father and brother led our people to battle.

Meanwhile, I stayed in the palace and painstakingly maneuvered

every careful move

before the Yang Family could flourish like so,

earning our repute in the Northwest.

I cannot stand by and watch

everything fizzle into nothing.

Li Ming.

He has thoroughly humiliated me.

Sister.

What do we do now?

Since they'd like to choose Pei Wenxuan,

we'll just erase that man

from this world.

Why do you trust Pei Wenxuan?

Anyhow, I don't.

You don't need to trust him.

Just trust in me.

I won't harm you.

But...

I need your help.

Okay.

Everything you say.

Okay.

I should get going.

Pei Wenxuan should be almost done.

This is a nice sword.

I'll gift this to Pei Wenxuan on your behalf.

When he succeeds,

he'd be your ally.

Halt.

Mr. Pei.

This is for you.

Consider a token of thanks for saving my life.

I got it from the Crown prince for you.

Do you dare accept it?

You've dared to bring it.

Why wouldn't I dare to accept?

I've also sent you some men.

Good luck.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Let's go.

Fu Lai.

Your Majesty.

If Pei Wenxuan succeeds,

ensure that I can see him immediately.

If he fails,

get rid of him.

I've never seen him today.

Yes, Your Majesty.

[Ministry of Justice] Su received intel.

There will be a disturbance in the city today.

The Ministry of Justice

must bring in the culprit at once.

Yes, sir!

Young Master, didn't you say it'd be dangerous?

Why did you come to such a remote place?

Shut it.

You can disappear now.

Disappear?

Hide well.

Your Highness!

Still no news from the hidden guards?

Yes, Your Highness.

You'd better survive.

How dare... you kill me!

Colluding with the enemy, holding the princess hostage,

and killing important officials.

You Yangs dare to do it all.

Why wouldn't I

dare to kill you then?

Young Master! Are you alright?

I came under the princess's orders to protect you, Mr. Pei.

For Her Highness to lend a hand,

I am grateful.

I will visit another time to thank her personally.

No need, Mr. Pei.

Her Highness insisted there is no need for such hassle.

She sure treats you well.

Her Highness said

you can simply kowtow to her portrait three times

to thank her for saving your life.

That... wouldn't be appropriate.

She's making me

kowtow three times to a portrait?

Sure.

Young Master.

As the saying goes...

- Get me a brush. - A man's knees...

Get me a brush.

Okay.

I'm done kowtowing.

[Pei Wenxuan kowtows thrice]

Mr. Yuan,

you can bring this back to Her Highness.

Good work, Mr. Pei.

Let's go.

Much thanks!

Alright, let's hurry.

To the palace.

What palace?

That Yang Quan gave me quite the startle.

I'll lodge a formal complaint to His Majesty.

Young Master.

After you got to know the princess,

you sure have been getting ahead of yourself.

We should run.

Pei Wenxuan.

Ministry of Justice? Great timing.

I'd like to make a report.

Make a report?

Arrest them all!

Yes, sir!

He's arresting us!

Run!

Tong Ye.

Take this.

It's raining money!

Young Master!

It's raining money!

Young Master!

This won't do.

This won't do!

Move!

Freeze!

It's raining money!

Pei Wenxuan!

My salary for the year!

We're leaving!

Move, move!

Your Highness.

We have received word.

It is done.

Yang Quan is still too impatient.

Head to the Imperial Study first.

Just say

I'll be presenting some flowers to father.

Yes, Your Highness.

How is it?

We chased Pei Wenxuan

all the way from the crime scene,

but we still lost him.

Intercept him at the palace gates.

Deepest condolences, Your Highness.

How dare you, Pei Wenxuan.

I'll bury you alongside my brother Quan!

Inform the family immediately.

Pull out of Huajing at once.

Also...

Send an urgent letter to my father at the border.

In addition,

send someone to keep an eye on His Majesty.

Report anything that happens

to me immediately.

Yes, Your Highness.

Eunuch Fu.

Your Highness.

[Hanqiu Palace] His Majesty is still in discussion.

A moment, please.

No hurry.

Please get me a chair then.

I'll wait here.

I am familiar with your ways, Your Highness.

Thank you, Eunuch Fu.

Not at all.

Pei Wenxuan has arrived.

Bring him over.

I'll inform His Majesty.

Yes, sir.

I'll get going then, Your Highness.

Please do.

Tell them to set down another chair

and a teacup.

Yes, Your Highness.

Young Master Pei.

I belong to the Hanqiu Palace.

You have been summoned.

I'll keep an eye out on my way back.

See if I can pick up some of my money.

What money?

Stay here and wait.

Please wait, Mr. Pei.

Mr. Pei.

Your Highness.

I just saw you leave the palace.

Why did you return?

Do you perhaps miss me?

You jest, Your Highness.

I wouldn't dare!

I simply ran into some matters on the way

and came back to report it to His Majesty.

That darned man.

He's not only acting naive, but he's also acting pure!

My father is still in discussion.

Let's sit and wait.

Bring the tea, Jinglan.

That should calm Mr. Pei.

Yes, Your Highness.

So she likes to read this kind of random books

long before she got married.

Your Highness.

Mr. Pei, His Majesty has summoned you.

Eunuch Fu.

I'm been sitting here for half a day.

Why does he get an audience first?

Mr. Pei said he had urgent matters.

What urgent matters could he have?

Bring them both in.

Your Highness, Mr. Pei.

This way.

Your Majesty.

Wenxuan.

- Your daughter, - Your subject,

- hereby greets you, father. - hereby greets you, Your Majesty.

Rise.

Why have you come, Pingyue?

I guess I'll come later then.

You're already here. Stay.

Come here first.

Pei Wenxuan,

haven't you left?

Why did you return?

Right after I left the palace,

I was ambushed by Second Young Master Yang.

In panic,

I accidentally...

...killed him!

What did you say?

W...Who did you kill?

Mr. Shangguan.

Young Master Pei is just a young man.

He also went through such an ordeal.

If you scare him like that,

how can he explain what happened?

This...

Young Master Pei.

Don't be afraid. Recount it slowly.

Who did you kill?

Your Majesty.

I killed Yang Quan, the Second Young Master of the Yangs!

You...

Just what exactly is going on?

Queen Mother.

Greetings, Queen Mother.

Do you know Yang Quan's been killed?

Yang Quan's been killed?

Good riddance.

Serves him right for coveting my sister!

If only I got my hands on him first.

Now's not the time.

I received information.

Your sister's hidden guards were involved also.

Looks like...

She's chosen Pei Wenxuan as her consort.

That's...

Why didn't she discuss with my first?

Your sister has acted without considering the greater picture.

It'll bode trouble.

But I have faith in her choice.

So long as she's happy.

Do you know about this?

Even if you did,

you must pretend you don't.

You must remember.

Your Highness.

I am well aware of my wrongdoing.

Although Second Young Master Yang

had ambushed me,

but I know

how much the Yangs have contributed to Great Xia.

Moreover,

we are at the brink of war.

Even if Second Young Master Yang wishes to kill me,

for the sake of the nation,

I should not have retaliated.

But Your Majesty,

it's true that I only committed such a grave mistake

because I didn't want to get killed.

Your disgraced subject deserves death, Your Majesty!

His life is worthless.

I just wanted to let you know

before disaster happens.

Disaster has fallen upon us Peis!

Pei Wenxuan,

you reckless fool!

The Yangs have long commanded the border troops.

They garner immense power.

Even if he did commit a crime,

the punishment must be calibrated.

With the borders now strife with war,

if we aggravate the Yangs,

who could we send to fend off our enemies?

Answer me!

Scoundrel.

You've caused great trouble!

Pei Lixian.

Please calm down.

This deed was done by Pei Wenxuan,

that ignorant fool, alone!

The Pei Family knows nothing about this, Your Majesty!

Your Majesty!

Why are you so jittery?

You are an official of Great Xia.

Yang Quan tried to assassinate you in broad daylight.

If he's killed, so be it.

There's nothing to fear.

But Your Majesty,

the borders...

Or would the Yangs revolt?

They hardly put up a fight

when the enemy invaded.

They've utterly shamed the Great Xia!

50,000 soldiers

failed to hold off 20,000 enemies.

Yet they dare kidnap the princess in Jinghua,

and assassinate an imperial official!

The Yangs seem to think I'm dead!

Please calm down, You Majesty!

Your Majesty.

Wins and losses are commonplace in war.

With the enemy's sudden assault,

even the Yangs are taken by surprise

and was caught off guard.

With the Yangs still at the frontlines,

to deal with this...

Enough!

I have decided to pursue this.

The tyranny of the Yangs over us have gone too far!

Not only will I pursue this,

but I will also pursue this thoroughly!

My subjects.

Who would be willing to investigate this for me?

Very well.

Very well indeed!

All of you are intimidated by the Yangs.

In that case,

Pei Wenxuan.

You already have the guts to kill him.

I'll give these cases to you.

Do you dare accept them?

Your Majesty, no!

Wenxuan is still but a child.

He is not fit to take on such a major case!

Did I ask you?

Answer.

I am willing to share your troubles, Your Majesty.

Good. From this day on,

you'll be an Inspector Censor at the Censorate.

Investigate the case of the Yangs alongside the Ministry of Justice.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty.

Please allow me.

Pei Wenxuan said it himself.

He is a victim of the case.

If you put him up to investigate the case,

then we might as well give the case to Mr. Shangguan.

How does that sound?

Father.

Why don't I be the Chief Judge?

Mr. Pei may assist instead.

After all, this started because of me.

If we wish to investigate the Yangs,

my rank

would be suitable as well.

Anyhow,

a suitable candidate has not been selected.

Isn't that so?

But you're also a victim of this case, Your Highness.

Then let's get Mr. Su Rongqing to supervise the case.

Isn't he from the Ministry of Justice?

I've long heard Mr. Su is a righteous and upstanding man.

If you're still worried, Right Chancellor,

why not let Mr. Su be the Chief Judge?

You're too kind, Your Highness.

My son is still young.

This case is too huge for him.

That's why I'm asking him to supervise.

What do you think?

I think

Her Highness has a point.

Father.

At this juncture,

we are out of options.

Do as Pingyue said.

Affairs of the court is no laughing matter.

Pingyue will stay.

the rest may go,

I shall take my leave.

Mr. Pei.

Your nephew is a good one.

Second Uncle, Third Uncle.

You've gotten bold!

You're fearless now!

You're pitting yourself against all of the Noble Houses!

You're too rash.

You'll ruin the entire Pei Family!

Second brother.

This is no place to talk.

Let's continue at home.

Head home right after you tie up the matters in palace.

This concerns the family's survival.

You will be punished accordingly!

Father.

Pingyue.

You examined four men this time.

No,

it's just three now.

How do you feel about Pei Wenxuan?

I... I feel that...

He's pretty decent.

He could be of use to you in the future too, father.

It's just...

It's just that Queen Mother...

All you need to consider

if whether if you like this man.

Disregard everything else.

Why the tears?

Father.

I'm just wondering.

We're all family.

Why can't we just be simple and happy?

You and Queen Mother...

No need to ask about your Queen Mother and I.

Treat it as you know nothing.

Pick someone you like.

I'll always respect your choice.

However,

Pei Wenxuan and you

spent a night alone together.

That pretty much

makes you his woman.

As I see it,

Pei Wenxuan is a good choice.

He has the brains

and the looks.

If you marry him,

you won't suffer.

Go back and think about my words.

After we close the case about Yang Quan,

I'll betroth you to him.

As you wish, father.

Your Highness.

There is something else I must see to.

I shall stop here.

As for the rest of the path,

Mr. Pei shall be escorting you.

His Majesty is much more committed to the act than me.

His acting was convincing, I must say.

He ordered me to kill Yang Quan

as a betrothal gift to marry you,

but he looks like he knew nothing.

You dare gossip about my father?

Why?

Doing his bidding like so.

Do you hate it?

Do I have a choice?

Let's cut to the chase.

After we conclude the case,

I intend to propose

pushing the affairs of the Northwest to the Crown Prince.

If he manage to find his foothold,

there's no need to worry about the military.

But what if he fails?

You'd even bet something like that?

How brazen.

If I'm not that brazen,

would I dare to marry you?

I suppose.

Asking for my hand is no easy task.

It's perilous.

The task itself isn't.

You're the perilous one.

And you're the one who begged to marry me!

Yes, yes, yes.

I was the one who begged.

There is something

I'd like to ask you.

Go on.

Just now, at the Imperial Study,

you requested for Su Rongqing to supervise the case.

What's the meaning of that?

How would you like Su Rongqing

to supervise the case?

Do you summon him daily

and stare at his face while he investigates?

Or do you keep him by your side

so you can be together always while you investigate?

You...!

Do you see me as a hindrance

to your investigation?

Alright then.

You can investigate this case

alone with Young Master Su.

Why do I even need to be here?

Can you be more fake?

Look, what's that?

What?

Your pettiness.

I won't deny that I'm petty.

But you're plenty thick-skinned yourself, Li Rong.

How old are you already?

Su Rongqing is at his best years.

Give up on netting yourself a younger guy.

Why? Does being called old

make you upset?

I'm old. You're not.

Your mind is too muddied.

I don't want to talk to you.

It's just a friendly reminder.

Don't let him sabotage our plans.

He's ruined you before.

If you let him do it again in this life,

that's just foolishness.

Even so, it's none of your business.

We'll get divorced in two years anyway.

Pei Wenxuan, let's be clear.

If I kill you in this life,

it won't be because of someone's prying.

Head back on your own.

I won't see you off.

You...

The Yangs will probably leave the city tonight.

I need more men.

Alright, alright, I know.

I'll arrange for it.

Why did Young Master Pei leave?

He's sick.

Let's head back too.

It's time for the cleansing.

[Su Mansion] Wen Bo.

Master.

Is Rongqing around?

I haven't seen him.

Father.

Rongqing.

Great timing.

What happened the Imperial Study...

I've heard about it.

How do you feel about the Yangs, father?

We're not trying to save the Yangs,

but the Noble Houses.

Under the orders of His Majesty,

we are here to arrest the Traitorous Yang Family!

Arrest them!

Yes, sir!

Your Highness, it's not like that!

It's not like that!

I'm wronged! I'm wronged!

Your Highness.

We found these ingots when searching her room.

They're not mine! They're not mine!

Your Highness!

You must not know it.

Ingots of the Noble Houses have their own special mark.

Why did you betray me?

General Yang promised

he'll make me his concubine

after he marries the princess.

Please spare me,Your Highness! Your Highness!

Please spare my life! Please spare me, Your Highness!

The worst thing a woman could do

is to pin their hopes on men.

Spare me, Your Highness! Please spare me!

Your Highness!

No need to kill her.

Send her to the nunnery

for the rest of her life.

Understood.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

Your Highness.

It's done.

Don't tell me you haven't slept?

Thanks to you,

I haven't slept at all, actually.

Looks like my men needs to be more capable.

They spent so much time arresting this little people.

Exactly. If this continues,

unless you offer to help,

I'd be breaking my back.

They left in batches.

It took some time to get all of them.

Why don't we round them up today?

It'll make the hearing easier.

You can decide. But leave it to after the court session.

Just a word of reminder.

Don't say anything.

We don't know where he stands.

Greetings,

- Your Highness. - Your Highness.

Mr. Su. Young Master Su.

I'll give you some space.

Enter the hall!

Young Master Pei,

I'll get going first.

See you after court.

Your Highness, please.

Please.

Li Rong.

One day, I will walk by your side

and protect you.

Your Highness.

An edict from His Majesty.

Your Highness is not a court official.

As such, please await to be summoned.

I can't enter,

and so does Your Highness.

Could it be that...

you're waiting specially for me?

That's right.

I am waiting specially for you.

We'll be partners for a long time after all.

Since we're partners,

allow me to rest a little here.

Cover for me, won't you? Your Highness.

Give an inch and he takes a mile.

His Majesty arrives!

Boundless fortune to the Emperor!

Long live the Emperor!

Please rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty!

The Northwest sent a secret letter.

The Yangs have embezzled army rations for years

and colluded with the enemy.

I wish to hold a thorough investigation.

What do you think, dear subjects?

Your Majesty.

The Yangs have protected the borders for years.

They have won many battles.

If you trial and punish them

over some baseless rumors,

I fear it may devastate our soldiers at the borders.

I implore you to consider it carefully.

Exactly.

You can lie against me.

That way, you won't fall.

They are valiant in battle and illustrious in their contributions.

All the glory they gained in battle

are from being in cahoots with our enemy!

They deceived and belittled the emperor,

kidnapped the princess,

and assassinated an official.

Is that enough to put them to trial?

Your Majesty, such severe crimes

require indisputable proof before a case can be made.

Otherwise, it will be hard to convince the people!

Convince the people? Sure.

Bring them in.

Summoning Princess Pingyue and Pei Wenxuan!

Time to get up.

- Greetings, father! - Greetings, Your Majesty!

You may rise.

- Thank you, father. - Thank you, Your Majesty.

Pei Wenxuan.

What do you have to report?

Just go ahead.

I, Pei Wenxuan, am lodging a case against the Yangs!

After failing to win the princess's hand, they kidnapped her

and when their plans fell through,

they tried to silence me.

Your Highness.

Would you be my witness?

Of course.

Your Majesty, the Yangs are illustrious in war.

They might be haughty,

but you shouldn't hear just from Mr. Pei alone.

You claim I provide a biased account.

Do you mean the princess's words

cannot be trusted as well?

I was there.

Mr. Pei spoke nothing but the truth.

Even if Yang Quan did kidnap the princess

and assassinate Mr. Pei,

Yang Quan is Yang Quan,

he is not the Yang Family.

Mr. Pei,

how could you lump them together?

That is right. Yang Quan is Yang Quan,

while the Yangs are the Yangs.

How could we lump them together?

But if Yang Quan wasn't backed by the Yangs,

would he dare commit such atrocities?

There's a song in the Northwest.

Xia has two emperors; Yang of the North, Li of the South.

Rumors along the borders

say they sell weapons to our enemies.

Pei Wenxuan.

This is the imperial court.

How could you use a folk song

as court evidence?

If the rumors are indeed true,

would you let His Majesty be deceived?

If we let tyrants fill the streets

and be revered by the people,

we'd be a joke for millennia to come.

♪Who gazes at the sky from afar?♪

♪Who gazes at the sky from afar?♪

♪In the night's chill breeze♪

♪What is she singing for?♪

♪The wind caresses the hills♪

♪The wind causes ripples on calm water♪

♪Moonlight graces passing souls♪

♪Her steps get slower and slower♪

♪She's trod a lengthy path♪

♪Memories lost then found♪

♪Gazing idly as clouds roll by♪

♪She holds a red candle♪

♪To brave the thick fog♪

♪Life can be bitter sometimes♪

♪Experience it with grace♪

♪Like a fleeting dream♪

♪Like a fleeting dream♪

♪Neither warmth nor cold will last♪

♪Like a fleeting dream♪

♪Like a fleeting dream♪

♪The moon is reflected in her eyes♪

♪In her gaze, the unwavering faith remains♪