Original subtitles

[The Princess Royal]

[Adapted from Mo Shu Bai's novel, The Princess Royal on jjwxc.net]

[This is a work of fiction.]

[Episode 28]

You're dressing in very plain clothing today, Your Highness.

You look amazing.

Please.

I'm being followed. Make it brief.

As for the case you mentioned to me previously,

is it a local squire who took your friend's

examination candidature?

Yes.

Where did that happen?

Zhangping County. In Wangzhou.

Your hometown?

Yes.

You work for the Ministry of Rites,

and you can't handle it?

You must be jesting, Your Highness.

It's just a powerless position.

What can I do?

You have complaints?

You were offering yourself

back then.

What do you say?

Come here.

Are you doing this for your friend or yourself?

What do you mean?

Haven't you ever thought

about making some achievements in court?

In the past, he was being dissipated and unrestrained,

often lingered in brothels, and showed no interest in politics.

However, I've read his poems.

From his words, I can tell

he is concerned

with politics.

I know what you mean.

Filing a complaint is just an excuse.

Your real goal is a marriage of convenience.

You do that

because you want a strong ally.

You've aroused my curiosity.

Since you want to find a strong ally,

what's taking you so long to act?

Also...

why me?

It'll be no fun

when you lay everything bare.

But yes, you're right.

I do want to pledge loyalty to you.

And I'm giving you

this case as a gift.

A gift?

How so?

I know Consort Rou is your enemy.

The individual who took the candidature is Xiao Pingzhang,

a relative of hers.

You jest, Mr. Cui.

What does Consort Rou

have anything to do with me?

Right.

I know you're suspecting

why I'm helping you.

You just need to know

that I want to be your ally,

so I don't mind making minor sacrifices.

How can I trust you

if you don't make everything clear?

If I tell you

it's because you're very pretty,

will it be enough?

So it's because of my beauty?

Yes.

Think about it.

My father was just a teacher

but he could become an official.

Why? Because when I first came to Huajing,

my poetry was outstanding.

I was also appreciated by several noble people.

I'm poor and not very talented.

All I can rely on is my face.

If you don't want to tell me the truth, so be it.

It's because you handled the Qin Family's case.

It makes me think

that you're someone who cares for people.

I knew you wouldn't believe that.

What makes you think so?

I understand now.

I shall be frank.

I will not take you under my wings.

But I can plant you around Consort Rou.

You want me to be your informant?

Yes or no? Answer me.

Yes, of course, since this is your wish.

To reassure me,

you have to take this.

It's a chronic poison.

On this day every month, we will meet

and I'll give you the antidote that can temporarily suppress the toxicity.

Once Consort Rou is eliminated,

I'll give you the antidote that can completely detoxify you.

Remember now.

This is a test of your fidelity.

If you're truly capable,

regardless of your background

or physical appearance,

you can even be the Secretariat Director.

As expected of women,

you are skeptical.

If you need me,

just come to my mansion.

Sure.

Well, Mr. Su,

you and Chancellor Su indeed put me in a difficult situation.

The plan regarding the examinations

seems simple enough.

But there are many hidden details to take care of.

His Majesty is supervising it,

so I can't afford to make any mistakes.

Come on, Mr. Wang.

No. I'm drinking no more.

Mr. Wang,

you will get much more benefits from this in the future.

They are poor scholars.

They don't have money.

What can I get from them?

Mr. Wang, don't...

Well, Mr. Su,

I have tried my best.

But I still need to hand over the rest

to the others.

So I'm not failing the tasks that you and Chancellor Su asked me to do.

What do you think, Mr. Su?

Listen to me, Mr. Wang.

You have to do this yourself.

I suddenly remember

that I have yet to feed my birds.

It's an emergency.

Mr. Su, let's have a chat next time.

Okay?

I'll take my leave.

No wonder you'll be kicked out soon.

Because you can't see the incoming change in this country.

Young Master.

What are you doing here?

It's none of your business.

Tell me.

How did Cui Yulang come here?

He rented a carriage.

The coachman

told me

that while he looked fancy,

he

haggled

with the coachman

for more than an hour.

Mr. Cui sure is very frugal.

Frugal?

He's not frugal. He's poor.

Right. Poor.

Leave two silver taels on his carriage.

Then, remove the wheels for me.

You want me

to steal the wheels?

You can't do it?

No.

I can do that.

But it's not something

a gentleman should do.

Gentleman?

I've been a gentleman for more than 20 years.

Can't I be a despicable man for once?

When you said that,

you truly looked like a despicable man.

Go now.

Sure.

Take care, Your Highness.

You should return too.

Your Highness.

Perhaps you can reconsider me?

You and the Prince Consort have already divorced.

When it comes to romance,

I'm as good as him.

Don't ever say that in public again.

You'll provoke others.

It's worth it

as long as I can get your attention.

Enough with your flattery.

Let's go.

What are you doing?

You asked me to steal the wheels.

Where should I hide them?

Why did you carry them here?

Put them back.

Wait...

Forget it.

Put them back tomorrow.

Leave them an extra silver tael

to compensate for their accommodation and time.

Young Master, why are you doing this to me?

Go now.

Sir, what should we do?

This is...

Do you have an extra carriage?

No.

At this time, they are all gone.

That's right.

Mister,

can you help us?

Can you find me another carriage?

I have to attend the morning court tomorrow.

Even a donkey cart will do.

You're a court official,

yet you spent such a long time haggling with me.

I hold a lowly position.

Can you please help me?

I can pay you double the price.

I walked around

and found nothing.

Perhaps

you can try outside.

I'm so unlucky.

I'll refund you the payment for the return journey.

Come on.

Help me fix the cart.

I should have

asked Her Highness to give me a lift.

Why am I so unlucky?

Young Master, Cui Yulang is there.

Mister.

Hurry.

Mister.

Mister.

Mister.

Mr. Pei?

Sorry, Mr. Cui.

I didn't see you.

I'm in a rush. See you.

Wait. Why did you pour water out?

To water the plants?

Wait for me!

Wait for me!

Wait for me.

Today's tea is so good.

It's delicious.

It's the tea we've been drinking for a long time.

Besides, you didn't even take a sip.

Your Highness.

What is it?

Someone in your family got into trouble.

He stole someone else's examination candidature.

The victim is filing complaints

all the way from his hometown to Huajing.

Sooner or later,

they'll drag me down with them.

Perhaps

you can ignore them

and cut ties with them.

My brother's soldiers in the Northwest

still need their support.

I cannot cut them off.

Oh, right.

Anything new about Pingyue?

Anything unusual?

Not at the moment.

But Second Young Master Su

is waiting for your reply, Your Highness.

I need a capable man like him.

But his previous failure made me doubt his fidelity.

We'll put that aside first.

You asked to see me later

because of Cui Yulang.

And now, when you see me you're like nothing has happened?

Li Rong.

You are heartless.

Pei Wenxuan is so good at putting up an act.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Your first mission

is to impeach the Crown Prince.

Isn't that too risky?

You're scared?

Forget about our alliance, then.

No...

Your Majesty, I'd like to report something.

What is it?

It's about the Crown Prince.

Official Cui,

I remember you work for the Ministry of Rites.

Why are you doing the job of an official from the Censorate?

While I'm a powerless official in the Ministry of Rites,

the issue concerns the welfare of our country,

so I must report it.

Did Cui Yulang

obtain some solid evidence on Chuan?

He sounds so confident.

I don't think

I have made any grave mistakes.

If the problem is that serious,

pray tell, Official Cui.

Your Highness,

our country has been suffering from natural disasters in recent years.

Let alone last year,

this year, the blizzard made people suffer and they all complained about it.

I believe disasters befell us because...

Because the Crown Prince has no morals.

Nonsense!

What nonsense is that?

Are you implying

that I've failed

to raise my child properly, so I also have no morals?

Take him out and flop him.

The imperial court

is no place for your superstition.

Your Majesty, during the autumn ritual we held last year,

His Highness sneezed

during the procedure.

His action might have offended

the heavens, which committed great irreverence.

What stupid accusation is that?

Your Majesty,

His Highness caught a cold last year.

Nevertheless, he made sure

he attended the ritual despite his frailty.

His devotion is palpable.

The benevolent higher beings

will not

punish the sagacious Crown Prince

for a mere sneeze.

While certain counties

did suffer from natural disasters in recent years,

it wasn't serious.

Our country spans a vast land.

It is normal that we have natural disasters every year.

It is far-fetched to regard it

as some sort of divine retribution.

To make such a blatant claim is to be deserving of punishment.

I agree with Mr. Gu.

- I agree with Mr. Gu. - I agree with Mr. Gu.

While Mr. Cui's allegation might sound ridiculous,

it is not utterly baseless.

How about this?

I shall just withhold Cui Yulang's wage for two months.

Crown Prince, you will kneel at the ancestral shrine tonight

to apologize for your mistake in the previous autumn ritual.

Father is deliberately targeting Chuan.

Yes, Father.

Dismissed.

Court dismissed!

- Take care, Your Majesty. - Take care, Your Majesty.

Mr. Cui.

Your Highness.

You should proceed with caution in the imperial court.

You just assumed your office not long ago.

Make sure you consult your seniors

for anything regarding your work.

I appreciate your advice, Your Highness.

Cui Yulang.

You sure picked a wonderful excuse.

But it's okay. Don't worry about it.

See you.

Your Highness, I'm even poorer now.

You're too soft-hearted.

How could you fail in such a simple matter?

How will Rong and I rely on you in the future?

If one Cui Yulang can make you get punished,

what's going to happen in the future?

You'll watch as more powerful ministers

bully you?

What now?

Every time I come,

I see Chuan's scolded by you.

You too.

Why didn't you discuss it with me

before you got divorced?

And it took you this long to show up here.

Do you even care about my feelings?

Mother,

Rong is also very upset.

Don't scold her.

Silence! Reflect upon yourself.

Calm down, Mother.

Or your health will be affected.

Let's speak calmly.

Why are you arguing?

I was told

that Cui Yulang had complained about him.

I want him

to teach Cui Yulang a lesson,

but he doesn't want to do it.

Can't you see what your father is doing?

Cui Yulang set up a precedence.

If Chuan doesn't retaliate,

many more people

will bully him.

Even though we both hold a high position,

we're both women.

Our honor and pride are contingent upon Chuan.

If something happens to him, what do we do?

I'm doing this for his own good,

but he won't listen.

He doesn't behave

like a crown prince at all.

If I had another son, I'd...

Mother.

Have some tea.

Chuan. Stand up.

I came

to talk about Cui Yulang.

Rong, even though Cui Yulang complained about me in court,

he didn't do anything wrong.

No need to...

Cui Yulang works for me.

I asked him to complain about you.

Don't lay your fingers on him.

Rong, what are you...

Mother.

Chuan is old enough now.

We can't sit around and do nothing as Consort Rou becomes

more powerful, right?

You want to remove her?

But what does Cui Yulang have anything

to do with this?

Besides, your father is very protective of her.

You want to get rid of her?

[Qianqiu Gate]

If I may have your time, Mr. Cui.

You are...

I am Consort Rou's maid.

How may I help you, miss?

Prince Su's art teacher cannot come here

due to sickness.

Her Highness asked me to ask

if you could tutor Prince Su

since it was said that you were an expert in painting.

Please ask for Her Highness's forgiveness.

I have made plans for today.

Think it carefully, Mr. Cui.

It's Consort Rou and Prince Su who are inviting you.

I'll take my leave.

After arguing with Mother,

you won't speak to me either?

No.

I'm just tired.

I want to rest.

Mother said those words

in the heat of the moment.

Don't take it to heart.

I'm fine.

Actually...

Mother was right.

If she had another son,

perhaps all of us would be happy.

I wouldn't have to be the Crown Prince.

Mother wouldn't have to rely on me solely.

If you were a boy,

I wouldn't be this exhausted either.

Chuan.

I know...

you won't be mad at me.

I'm just saying.

You and Mother did many things for me.

As the receiver of this glory,

I will not back off.

Don't worry, Rong.

Do you know

why I'm supporting you unconditionally?

Because I hate to see you forcing yourself

like this.

Well.

I might have found someone to rely on.

I have Pei Wenxuan now.

Once I resolve the conflict between the noble families

and the imperial family, I'll have power, love,

and freedom.

But you would spend the rest of your life...

in this palace.

As if you're caged here

forever.

You work for Mother,

for me,

for the Shangguan Family,

for our people, for our country,

but not for yourself.

Oftentimes,

I want to do something for you.

I know

you worry about me as a younger brother,

not as the Crown Prince.

Yes.

You're not just the Crown Prince.

You're Li Chuan too.

He really said that?

Yes, Your Highness.

What if Cui Yulang is a useful pawn

that will do your bidding?

Perhaps his open criticism toward the Crown Prince

is just a way to attract attention.

We don't know what he wants yet.

I can't wait to see what he will do next.

And what Shangguan Yue will do too.

Have our people spy on Cui Yulang.

Knowing Shangguan Yue,

she'll either draw him over to her side

or find an excuse to get rid of him.

She is not dumb enough to kill him

now that he just impeached the Crown Prince.

I guess they will want to draw him over to their side.

Let's...

observe for now.

Yes, Your Highness.

Miss, who are you?

Fengming, an imperial guard in the Eastern Palace.

The Crown Prince would like to have a talk with you.

Mr. Cui,

if His Highness wanted you dead,

he wouldn't have sent me here.

Please lead the way.

Your Highness,

it's as you anticipated.

The Crown Prince met with Cui Yulang.

Go to see Cui Yulang and tell him

that I want to see him

and that Prince Su will give him double

what the Crown Prince offers.

Yes, Your Highness.

Thank you.

You're welcome. Everyone will have some.

Thank you, Mr. Su.

You're welcome.

- Thank you, sir. - Thank you, sir.

Let's find a place.

[Recruiting talents]

Thank you, Mr. Su.

You're welcome.

Your Highness, why did you

buy this all of a sudden?

He loves it. What if he comes over tonight?

My family is providing convenience for the scholars in the capital.

I look forward to your assistance.

Mr. Su.

Ronghua.

Come on.

Everyone will have some.

Not bad.

Wait for me at Su's Perfumery.

Come on.

Who would've thought

that I'd run into you here, Mr. Su?

My family has several establishments here

that accommodate exam candidates who can't afford a place to live.

Would you like to have a visit, Your Highness?

Sure.

This way, please, Your Highness.

Aren't you leading the way?

Walk before me.

Your Highness, that is inappropriate.

You're leading the way. How is that inappropriate?

Besides, you're a young master of the Su Family,

the Right Minister of Justice.

You're not a servant.

Don't stand on ceremony.

Don't you have something else to ask?

Don't you have something else to say?

I have no questions.

If I want to find the truth, I can investigate it.

It's not hard to deduce your goal either.

You're as candid as ever, Your Highness.

I might only ask you a question

when that specific moment arrives.

It's when one of us will fall.

I won't visit your establishments.

Let's go, Jinglan.

Your Highness.

Take care.

Are you done gawking?

No.

I just

ran into Su Rongqing.

He's giving accommodations to exam candidates in Huajing.

Earlier on, I've heard

that he's just taking in candidates,

but also people who're trying to file complaints.

I don't know what he wants.

If he's taking care of exam candidates,

I can assume that he wants

to get into their good graces.

But why someone who wants to file complaints?

How is Cui Yulang?

What's the plan between Cui Yulang and you?

Why did he complain about His Highness in court?

If he did that,

Consort Rou would come to him.

He comes from a humble background,

which is the opposite of Su Rongqing's.

I'll just have to put up a few acts with him

to earn Consort Rou's trust.

That way, the alliance between Consort Rou

and Su Rongqing will fail.

What an ingenious plan.

Of course.

Without Su Rongqing,

Consort Rou is barely a threat.

If Prince Su and she are gone,

Su Rongqing will never

defeat His Highness on his own

unless he's committing treason.

That's what I'm thinking.

All right. There are so many people here.

I should go. This is for you.

Rong.

What?

Go.

All right.

Mr. Cui, Her Highness said

Prince Su would give you double

what the Crown Prince offered.

Please lead the way, miss.

Consort Rou must be sitting behind him.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Long Live Your Highness.

You may rise.

Greetings, Your Highness.

You may rise, Mr. Cui.

Thank you, Your Highness.

I heard

after the incident at the court today,

the Crown Prince tried to recruit you.

Yes.

So, why are you here, Mr. Cui?

His Highness offered me a fifth-ranked position.

But your messenger told me

that Prince Su would double the offer.

Therefore, I'm here.

Everyone wants power.

I like your honesty

as well as the strategic alliance we share here.

Tell me.

What can you do for me?

How far will you go for me?

Since you're so candid, Your Highness,

I shall be frank.

Your Highness,

would you like to have the Inspectorate Office?

I know very well that you have

many advisors by your side.

As such, I do not come empty-handed.

Complaining about the Crown Prince

is just the stepping stone.

The Inspectorate Office

will be my real gift, Your Highness.

Would you like

to receive this gift, Your Highness?

I found out

that since early this year,

Su Rongqing has been taking care

of scholars who came to Huajing to attend the examination.

Ordinary candidates will stay at the yard you've seen.

Those who wish to remedy injustices

will be given another yard.

Why is he...

doing this?

I don't know yet.

Interestingly,

Mr. Pei's men are among them.

Tell Cui Yulang

to speed up

the plan with Consort Rou.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness.

A scholar came to the office

and claimed that someone had taken his examination candidature.

I brought him here.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Are you Chen Houzhao?

Yes.

Do you have the written complaint?

I have written it.

I did go to the Su Family,

but when I was there,

they tried

to buy me off.

What

did they do?

They tried to silence me.

Why did you come to me, then?

A friend of mine

told me that you could be trusted.

You are willing to trust me?

Yes, I am.

Su Rongqing has taken in aggrieved individuals

but has forbidden them from filing complaints.

What is he trying to do?

Take the money and leave Huajing.

By Huajing Moat,

there is an old man called San.

Board his boat and leave.

The boat will sink when approaching Zhang County.

You will swim to the shore with San.

Someone will take you to safety.

Lay low for a while

and wait for my order.

Yes, Your Highness.

Thank you.

Your Highness, what are you trying to do?

You will serve someone else soon.

Get ready.

You're giving up on the office for now?

[Mingyue Palace]

Your Highness, Prince Su,

please seek justice for me.

What is the problem?

Tell us.

Your Highness, I have a friend from my hometown

called Chen Houzhao.

A local squire took

his candidature for the spring examination,

so he came to me in Huajing to seek help.

I redirected him

to Princess Pingyue.

Just as I expected,

after Her Highness received the written complaint,

she sent him out of Huajing.

And now,

I can't even locate the boat they used to send him out.

Is this true?

Chen Houzhao

left this written complaint to me.

Please take a look.

I believe

you can summon Princess Pingyue

here tomorrow

and show her the written complaint.

After that,

we can expose this in court.

Your Highness,

do you know why Princess Pingyue wanted to kill Chen Houzhao?

Pray tell.

Stand up and speak.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Pei, brew some tea for Mr. Cui.

Yes, Your Highness.

Your Highness,

Princess Pingyue is the Crown Prince's sister, after all.

While they are against the noble families on the surface,

they are one of them.

Thus,

she could investigate the Qin Family's case

and the military provisions and funds case,

but she cannot harm the foundation of the noble families.

His Majesty implemented

the imperial examination to balance noble families.

There are so many people involved in this case

and she is in a precarious position.

Therefore, she will not take the case.

Not only will she reject it,

but she also has to protect the position of noble families.

If those noble families fall, so will the Crown Prince.

Thus, she must kill Chen Houzhao.

You already knew that she'd kill Chen Houzhao

before you sent him to her?

I said I'd give you and Prince Su

the Inspectorate Office.

Did you think

I was joking?

We lured her into killing Chen Houzhao.

With that, we got something on her.

Then,

we can force her to take the wronged candidate case.

She doesn't want to handle the case.

Besides, we got something on her.

Leaving the Inspectorate Office

is her best option.

Once she's gone,

someone has to run the office.

Whoever is willing to investigate this case

is the new leader of the Inspectorate Office.

Your Highness,

His Majesty appreciates your background as a commoner.

That is Prince Su's foundation.

The harsher you are toward those noble families,

the more His Majesty is fond of you.

Princess Pingyue was investigating the noble families.

Thus, she was allowed to establish the Inspectorate Office.

If you want to earn His Majesty's favor,

you'll have to be more ruthless than Princess Pingyue.

Your Highness.

I'm Consort Rou's maid.

Her Highness said

that she hadn't seen you in a while

and would like to talk to you.

Sure. Lead the way.

Why is Consort Rou seeing the Princess now?

♪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♪