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 29]

Please, Your Highness.

You're here, Pingyue.

Greetings, Your Highness.

Take a seat.

These are my favorites.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Have some tea.

After you were betrothed, you hardly came to the palace.

I haven't seen you in a while and I've missed you.

How is it after the divorce?

Thank you for your concerns, Your Highness.

I've been busy with my work in the Inspectorate Office.

Other than that, nothing in particular.

That's good.

I asked you to come

as there is something I'd like you to help.

A fellow villager of mine

has been studying hard for ten years.

He finally passed the autumn examination and became a recommended scholar.

He planned to take part in this year's spring examination.

However, someone stole his spot.

He traveled all the way to Huajing

to file complaints.

Since you work in the Inspectorate Office

and are appreciated by your father,

I told him to go to you.

Did you see him?

By the way, his name is Chen Houzhao.

It seems like

you've met him.

Not at all.

Your Highness,

the matter you said should be handled by the Ministry of Justice.

You should redirect him to them.

It's getting late.

I'll take my leave.

Pingyue.

A secret will not remain hidden forever.

Be more cautious when you meet with your ex-spouse.

It's better not to let your father know anything about it.

I suppose I should send some women to Pei Wenxuan's way

in case he reconciled with Pingyue.

Tell Pei Wenxuan

to stop meeting me.

We're being watched.

Also,

change the guard posts in the mansion

so that Cui Yulang can come to see me.

Yes, Your Highness.

Go.

Everyone, is there anything you'd like to report?

I'd like to raise an issue.

Say it.

Princess Pingyue of the Inspectorate Office

refused to accept a case

and even expelled the plaintiff coercively.

There's no such thing, Your Majesty.

What did she do?

Please elaborate.

Chen Houzhao, a candidate,

ranked first in last year's autumn examination in Qingcheng.

He was thus recommended to attend this year's spring examination.

However, a local squire extorted him

and took his candidature. Therefore, he couldn't take part in the exam.

He came to Huajing to file complaints

and seek a legal remedy.

However, his written complaint met a dead end in the Inspectorate Office.

Chen Houzhao was expelled by Her Highness

via a boat.

Somehow,

it sank the moment it left Huajing.

Chen Houzhao has been missing since then.

This is

an egregious matter, and I hope

you can launch an investigation.

Pingyue.

Any explanation?

I...

I'm wronged.

Do you have any evidence?

I have eyewitnesses

who can be summoned at any time.

He did come to lodge a complaint

and I did receive his written complaint.

But before I could launch the investigation,

he left the capital.

How could you say

that I forced him to leave?

Enough.

Official Wang is a senior official.

He will not accuse you of wrongdoing lightly.

Pingyue, come to the Imperial Study after the morning audience

to explain everything to me.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Greetings, Father.

Kneel.

Tell me.

Why did Chen Houzhao go missing?

Is he dead?

I do not know.

I know

what you're thinking about.

Answer me.

Why did you refuse to investigate the imperial examination fraud?

The Inspectorate Office isn't for show.

Chen Houzhao's case reflects

the basis of our talent-recruiting system.

Wang Houwen accused you of murdering Chen Houzhao.

What do you have to say?

I did not kill Chen Houzhao.

This doesn't matter.

Just tell me.

Will you investigate the imperial examination fraud?

I'd love to,

but...

I'm too scared to do it.

Too scared?

What's the use of the Inspectorate Office anymore then?

You're no longer the Supervisor of the Inspectorate Office.

Resign voluntarily

and recommend Prince Su to take your position.

Father, Prince Su is...

Even if you don't resign,

as the Supervisor of the Inspectorate Office,

you won't win the respect of others.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Stand up.

You had a divorce recently.

Use this opportunity to rest up

and reflect upon yourself.

Thank you for your generosity, Father.

Your Majesty.

I'll allow you to take care of the Inspectorate Office for now.

Zhenzhen, I hope this letter finds you well.

Looking at the sun and the moon, my yearning for you grows infinite.

Rong told me that you were doing well in the Northwest

and that you even earned some military merits on the front line.

I'm so glad to hear that.

Nevertheless, the battlefield is a dangerous place.

Please take good care of yourself.

♪Only if today were like the past with a serene sunset♪

I used to lament over my destiny.

But now, I've realized

that I have my loving sister

and you whom I miss by my side.

I will be

a coward no more for you.

♪Love and hate are intertwined♪

Zhenzhen,

do you remember the promise we made?

We promised that one day, we would travel the world together.

To make this wish a reality...

I will forge on, no matter

how perilous the path ahead is.

♪Few lifetimes of encounters and reunions♪

I hope that when we reunite,

I can hold your hands and call you Zhenzhen...

Rather than Xun Chuan.

I hope all is well.

Don't worry about me. From Li Chuan.

His Highness is so romantic.

How could you peek at me?

You were so engrossed in your reading

that you didn't notice we were approaching.

Jokes aside,

it seems like things have been shaky at the imperial court.

For a few months now,

His Highness's funds have slowed down.

He must have faced many restrictions.

Regardless,

we must be on standby.

When His Highness needs us,

we will lend him our assistance.

If that ever happens,

it will be the ultimate battle.

I have faith in His Highness.

Oh, right.

If one day,

order has been restored at the frontier and within the court,

what will you do?

I'll return to Jiulu Mountain

and grow vegetables and flowers.

I've lived there for many years.

That is my home.

What about you, Cui?

I...

You once told me

about your mother's life experience.

It's the reason why you aren't accepted by the Cui Family.

It has bothered you for many years.

I suppose

you'll want to return to them.

In the future,

we'll trade military feats for your family's acknowledgment.

Your Highness,

the previous Supervisor of the Inspectorate Office

recommended Prince Su to take over the Office in this letter.

You may leave now.

Cui Yulang is so capable.

One trick and the Inspectorate Office is ours now.

How come no one has noticed his brilliance before?

Mother,

don't you think it's too good to be true?

Cheng,

you're overthinking it.

Cheng is right.

Everyone in this world,

especially those at the imperial court,

has their own consideration.

We don't know what Cui Yulang wants

at the moment.

However,

he got us the Inspectorate Office,

and thus, I shall acknowledge his ingenuity.

Regardless of our stances,

it's a tool we can use,

so we shall use it to our advantage.

In fact,

Su Rongqing, Cui Yulang, or the Inspectorate Office

make no difference.

Now that you have your father's support,

the Inspectorate Office will be a lethal weapon.

But it is a double-edged sword.

If...

If one day,

it hurts us,

what do we do, Mother?

Cheng, you have grown up.

You've learned to think carefully before you act.

But sometimes,

we just have to do it with hope

and try our best to achieve what we want.

If we don't try, we will never know the outcome.

Before one learns to swim, one must first jump into the water.

Don't you agree?

As to how far we can go,

only time will tell.

[Wenxuan's Abode]

So the Inspectorate Office has a new supervisor now?

It must be Li Rong's plan.

She simply let go of the Inspectorate Office

because His Majesty only regarded her as a pawn.

If His Majesty did care about her even just a little,

she wouldn't have lost her position this soon.

Besides, she was even asked to recommend Prince Su in person.

Prepare a robe for me.

Make sure you fumigate it with incense.

Sure.

Young Master, are you meeting someone for business

or for love?

Please don't behave like this.

Her Highness said it wasn't that you weren't allowed to see her,

but it's because people are watching you.

How confident are you regarding my plan?

At this stage,

while Consort Rou looks indifferent,

I'm sure she has grown to trust me

after I helped her take over the Inspectorate Office.

Since everything is in order now,

I'll take my leave.

All right.

Jinglan.

I'm tired. Prepare the bath.

Yes, Your Highness.

Hurry up.

I heard echoes.

Me too.

Am I developing auditory hallucinations?

Yes.

Hurry up.

Never mind that. Come on.

All right.

What happened?

Mr. Cui?

Cui Yulang?

What are you doing here?

Mr. Pei,

what are you doing here?

I'm going home.

Me too.

Screw you!

Mr. Cui!

Mr. Pei.

Mr. Pei.

Mr. Cui came for a serious meeting.

Don't fight here,

or we'll alert the guards.

A serious meeting?

I misunderstood you.

Is your eye all right?

No!

I'm fine.

It's a misunderstanding.

Mr. Yuan,

why don't you help me go out first?

Are you sure I didn't hurt you with that punch?

Talk to you next time, Mr. Pei.

Mr. Pei.

Didn't you say that you were going home?

By climbing the wall?

What are you implying? Come down now.

Where is Her Highness?

Tell those two to leave.

Her Highness doesn't need any more service.

You're dismissed.

I'll stand guard here.

Yes.

I snuck in here.

What are you doing here?

I missed you.

Still, I must remind you

to be extra vigilant.

Consort Rou is keeping a close watch on us.

I know.

I was being cautious when I came over.

No one followed me.

Oh right,

you did a lot of things recently

just to let Consort Rou take over the Inspectorate Office?

You must be exhausted.

I'm fine.

His Majesty

asked you to recommend Prince Su?

Don't be upset. It's a trivial matter.

It'll be over soon.

You came tonight because you thought

I was upset as I lost my position

and Father asked me

to write a letter to recommend Prince Su

personally?

It's not just that.

I punched Cui Yulang

by the wall just now.

I've got emotional damage.

Shouldn't you offer me compensation?

What compensation do you want?

What about this?

Like what?

Like this?

Not enough.

♪A dream takes me through eternity♪

Like this?

♪Waking up to the warmth of the sun♪

Not enough.

♪Only wrinkles on one's sleeves♪

♪Then, you wave to me♪

♪I follow the breeze♪

♪And I see your eyes♪

♪Parasol trees by the garden♪

♪With a brush, one weaves a view♪

♪Talking about everything♪

♪I'm glad to have you in my world♪

[Taiji Hall] Last night,

I received a memorial from Pingyue.

She resigned as the Supervisor of the Inspectorate Office

and recommended Prince Su to take her place.

I thought it was a great idea.

What do you think, everyone?

They are all very calm.

It seems like this is part of their plan.

Your Majesty,

may I know why Princess Pingyue

resigned from her position?

Prince Su is young.

He might not be able to take this position.

Mr. Shangguan,

while Cheng is young, he is a prince.

He should be involved in state affairs.

Running the Inspectorate Office

will help him gain experience.

Father.

I've been feeling under the weather lately.

I cannot serve you for the moment

and I ask for your forgiveness.

It's all right.

You are a woman, after all.

It's good for you to resign and refine yourself.

Your Majesty, Prince Su is simply too young.

It might not be a good idea to let His Highness

take over such an important position.

You do make some sense.

How about this?

Consort Rou will assist Prince Su

in tandem.

Your Majesty.

Consort Rou is just a consort in the harem.

She cannot meddle in state affairs.

It's Pingyue's first time dealing with state affairs,

but she has performed masterfully.

Were it not for her poor health,

I'd love to let her continue.

Your Majesty!

Your Majesty.

What's the hurry?

Bad news.

Speak.

A group of scholars and some other men

blocked the palace gate.

They claimed that their candidatures in the spring examination

had been stolen

and they wanted justice.

What is happening?

These scholars said

that they were recommended students who passed the prefectural exams.

They were supposed to come to Huajing to take part in the spring examination,

but someone took their spots.

Therefore, they came to Huajing

to voice their grievances to you, Your Majesty.

They are now kneeling outside,

waiting for a word from you.

You may leave.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Who among you

would like

to handle this case?

Your Majesty, I would like to handle this case.

Official Pei,

you only became the Vice Minister of Personnel recently.

You might not be

experienced enough for a case like this.

While I am certainly inexperienced,

my determination makes up for it.

I come from a modest background.

I cannot bear to see

that the opportunities these scholars should enjoy

were taken away from them.

Therefore, I implore you to allow me

to handle this case.

I will make sure that justice is served.

You're too young.

Even if you have the determination, you might not be able to handle it.

I agree with you, Your Majesty.

Mr. Pei is inexperienced.

But since this is a serious matter,

why don't we let the Crown Prince handle it?

Mr. Pei can assist His Highness.

What do you think, Mr. Pei?

He's trying to back Chuan into a corner with no way out.

Your Majesty, His Highness is busy.

He will eventually delegate

the task to his subordinate.

If you can let me handle this matter,

I will do my best to resolve it.

I agree with Mr Pei.

Father,

it is not a very serious matter.

The imperial examination is an educational assessment.

Compared to the disasters or conflicts on the border,

it is insignificant.

Mr. Pei is a fourth-ranked vice minister.

He has more than enough capacity

to handle this case.

Why don't we let Mr. Pei

handle this matter?

I beg to differ.

The imperial examination is the system by which we select future officials.

It is of paramount importance.

Someone abused the system

on a national level.

If His Highness doesn't address the issue in person,

the people will not be appeased.

I beg to differ...

Your Majesty.

Why don't you let Prince Su handle this?

This is a ruse to get rid of the Crown Prince.

Why is she so eager?

Your Majesty,

I heard that Princess Pingyue

recommended Cheng to be the Supervisor of the Inspectorate Office.

While Cheng is young,

he wants to lighten your burden too.

If none of you can come to a consensus

regarding this matter,

why don't we let this be a test of Cheng's abilities?

I will accompany him to meet with those scholars

to hear their plea.

You're righteous, Consort Rou.

Prince Su is part of the imperial bloodline.

If he's running the Inspectorate Office,

he is the best candidate to handle

this case.

- You're righteous, Consort Rou. - You're righteous, Consort Rou.

- You're righteous, Prince Su. - You're righteous, Prince Su.

This is decided then.

Consort Rou is digging her own grave.

You may air

your grievances to Prince Su.

He will make sure that he seeks justice for you.

Your Highness,

I am Wen Xingzhi.

We have three demands.

One,

identify the culprit

behind our stolen candidatures

and give us justice.

Of course.

I'm here with Prince Su

for this matter precisely.

Two,

add a palace examination

this year,

invigilated by His Majesty,

so that no one can abuse their power

and cheat.

Three,

take the imperial examination

as the sole means to select officials

and abolish the traditional nomination by noble families

for a fairer system.

How preposterous!

Great job.

Likewise.

You scoundrel.

Isn't this too much to avenge the loss

of my position?

Your Highness, you're here today,

so you must have made

the decision to help poor scholars like us.

We have been

studying for decades

and we shoulder our family's hopes

just to become an official.

To pay for my tuition, my father refuses

to treat his sickness

or eat staple food.

I finally became a recommended student,

yet

my decade-long dream was destroyed within a night.

Prince Su and I

promise to get to the bottom of this.

However, the appointment of court officials

has nothing to do with this.

How can you say it has nothing to do with this?

Mr. Pei.

The leader, Wen Xingzhi,

is your man, isn't he?

What are you talking about, Mr. Su?

I don't understand.

The imperial examination is set up

to recruit more talented people.

Yet the imperial court is filled with members of the noble families

who collude with one another, which puts the court at stake.

How dare you!

The palace gate is no place for such baseless accusations

from you wet-behind-the-ears!

Someone!

What are you doing here?

You want to kill us

to silence us?

Your Highness,

is this the justice you promised us?

Back off.

Everyone.

This is a serious matter.

Please stand up.

We'll handle your affairs one by one.

When, Your Highness?

Are you planning

to make another plan

after you calm us down?

Truth be told,

I too come from a modest background.

When I was little,

Father sold me to the palace

for two silver taels.

I've gone through

the same tough times as you.

In fact,

as a woman,

I might have suffered more than you did.

Therefore, please rest assured.

I will give you justice

even if it costs my life.

I will handle your case

one by one.

This is not an empty promise.

Please believe me.

Stand up, please.

Mr. Pei.

I'm a subordinate of Eunuch Fulai

and I came bearing a message.

His Majesty wants to see you.

Okay, I will go at once.

Your Highness.

Speak.

Just speak frankly.

His Majesty wants you to submit the official seal of the Office.

Thank you for your trust.

Please give me some time.

You will hear from me soon.

Prince Su and I...

Here you go.

will relay this to His Majesty immediately.

Tell Cui Yulang to see me later.

This is to declare war on the noble families.

You're asking us to get ourselves killed!

What is happening?

Why is reform being raised here?

I believe

this is a perfect opportunity

for you, Your Highness.

Did you know this would happen, Your Highness?

No.

What did you tell Consort Rou?

After His Majesty's accession,

he is often restricted by the noble families

and he has long wanted to get rid of them.

His Majesty has anticipated

the current circumstances for many years.

I believe

it provides the best opportunity to win His Majesty's support

and to eliminate the Crown Prince.

It's easier said than done.

We're not convincing enough.

Even I think that it's too aggressive.

Then,

I told them this.

It's very simple.

It all depends

on whether His Majesty will see Consort Rou or not.

If he comes to her and supports her,

it means His Majesty wants her to do it.

If not,

I suggested

Consort Rou and Prince Su

voice their difficulties in front of His Majesty

and ask for resignation.

It will minimize the damage done to Prince Su.

However, the task

will fall on Pei Wenxuan.

Your logic is sound.

Consort Rou cares too much about His Majesty.

If His Majesty consoles her,

she will take up this challenging task for him.

I know what to do now.

I should take my leave then.

Jinglan, tell Wenxuan

that I'm coming over.

Yes, Your Highness.

[Inspectorate Office] Greetings, Your Highnesses.

Your Highnesses,

should I recuse myself?

You are the Deputy Supervisor of the Inspectorate Office.

You should be here to assist us.

Stay here and hear their plea.

Yes, Your Highness.

Ask them to come here one by one to recount their story.

Summon the scholars.

Your Highnesses,

I am Chen Qimai

from Jiangshan County...

Wen Xingzhi, you may voice

your grievances to Prince Su and Consort Rou.

Your Highnesses,

my exam candidature was stolen.

It's just a trivial matter.

Commoners like us hope

that we can use this opportunity to reform

the selection system for officials.

While we commoners can become officials

through the current system,

the position assigned to us

is insignificant.

I must say,

Mr. Pei's plan is ingenious.

[Qingmei Restaurant] Remember Lin Feibai?

The illegitimate child of the Xie Family?

Yes, he's serving in the military at the border

and has earned many military merits.

He's returning soon.

If he is allowed back into the Xie Family,

one can say that he has rewritten his destiny.

It's not going to be easy to join the Xie Family.

After Xie Lanqing was exiled,

his third brother, Xie Chunhe, is now the head of the family.

Xie Chunhe looks

affable,

but in reality, he's a vicious man.

When Xie Lanqing was still here,

Xie Chunhe was the mastermind

behind the Xie Family's many plans,

including the plan to assassinate Her Highness.

He did it?

Many years ago,

I was once Xie Chunhe's

gaming partner.

We played card games for ten days consecutively

and I had never lost once.

Then he lost his temper.

He flipped the table,

hit his attendant, and slapped his maid.

I couldn't stand the sight of it, so I left right away.

I am the first young master of the Su Family,

so he wouldn't dare to do anything to me.

Later,

I heard that the attendant and the maid who dealt cards

both disappeared.

You mean...

Xie Chunhe is a ruthless man.

In the Qin Family's case,

the Xie Family suffered a loss from Her Highness.

Knowing Xie Chunhe,

he will return

twice the humiliation.

What's on your mind?

I was thinking...

I was thinking

that you actually won Xie Chunhe for ten consecutive days.

You always won too

when we played together.

Do you have a trick or two?

Of course.

I knew it.

Tell me.

You want to know?

Don't be cryptic. Tell me already.

This is my trick.

This is...?

My lucky dice.

I've been keeping it by my side.

As long as I have it,

I win every gamble.

Is it that powerful?

The Inspectorate Office has met a new supervisor.

The future will only grow more unstable.

I don't know

what the future holds,

but one thing is for sure.

Her Highness and you

will need luck on your side.

Here. Take this.

May the odds

be in your favor

in the future.

I'll gladly accept it.

Thank you for the lucky dice.

A toast to you.

Cheers.

[Wenxuan's Abode]

Where are you going?

Young Master, there's a...

Your Highness!

Your Highness, when did you arrive?

Young Master, Her Highness is here.

You must have waited for a long time.

Let me get you some water.

The carriage is ready.

We can set off at any time.

I'm not going.

No?

Right.

We're not going anywhere.

I'll tell them to dismiss.

I came

because I have some questions

for you, Mr. Pei.

What are you doing?

Sorry, I made a mistake.

Yes.

I want to reform the selection system for officials.

I know Su Rongqing wants to use this case

to put the Crown Prince on the spot.

And knowing His Highness,

he will accept the case.

But no matter what he does, he will come out with a loss.

Therefore,

I told His Majesty about this case in advance.

We discussed and agreed

to use this case to launch a reform.

Utterly ridiculous!

The demands you asked them to make today

cannot be achieved even given hundreds of years.

Get up.

No.

Unless...

Unless you stay here tonight.

I want you to get up now.

Do not talk back.

No.

Get up.

Do you truly think that after our divorce,

whatever happens to you

will not affect me?

If Consort Rou didn't show up today,

would you have accepted the case?

Fine. If you handled it well,

then all would be good.

What if you didn't? What would happen?

Have you forgotten how difficult it was for you and Chuan

to launch the reform?

If you corner the noble families

and they fight back, what will happen to you?

Your Highness,

all the great changes in this world

come with a price.

What price?

Your life?

Are you my tactician or my cannon fodder?

Does your life mean nothing?

I didn't say I would sacrifice myself.

If you don't care about your life,

why bother becoming my spouse?

I'm still fine right now.

I don't care if you're currently in danger or not.

Did you ask for my opinion before you took the risk?

Do you think that your survival doesn't matter to me

or that I don't care about you?

Answer me.

Listen up, Pei Wenxuan.

Your life isn't just yours.

You're my husband

and the father of my future child.

Even for the sake of me and us,

you should have told me everything.

Do not laugh.

If you can't do that,

I...

How annoying!

Rong.

Rong.

Don't be angry.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

If you died because of this,

what would I do?

Don't worry. I'll be fine.

I won't do this again.

I won't make you worry.

I'll tell you everything.

Don't be mad.

How did you come in here?

Even now, you're thinking about this stupid question?

How did you come in here?

Like this.

You climbed the wall?

But the next door...

I bought it.

Go back then.

You don't want me to stay?

I'm joking.

I'd love it if you could stay over.

But I thought about it

and I realized

that I had made a mistake.

If you stay over,

you will be

awarding my mistake.

An intimate time should also be a romantic time.

It shouldn't be mixed with other matters.

Besides,

you're right, Your Highness.

We're not allies.

I am your spouse

and the father of your child.

Moving forward,

I will tell you everything in advance

and discuss them with you.

Good.

I'll go back then.

Be careful.

I am very nimble.

I'm leaving.

Be careful.

Don't worry, Your Highness.

His Highness has gone back to his chamber to rest.

Mr. Su.

Come in.

Your Highness.

I will leave after posing my question.

May I know who suggested you

handle the case today?

Someone did advise me,

but it's what I want to do too.

So it's your idea

to cross the noble families directly?

Your Highness,

Prince Su and you have barely secured your position in the court.

Even Princess Pingyue is reluctant to handle the case.

Yet you volunteered so eagerly.

You might have been set up.

That's all I want to say.

Take care, Your Highness.

Your Highness.

If I may speak frankly,

Mr. Su is right.

I know that.

But I had no other options.

I took the case in public.

I thought

that while I did not work at the court,

many people from a similar background to mine

might support Cheng.

I was hoping to gain more with this endeavor.

But if these scholars are not satisfied and make another scene,

Cheng's reputation will be irreparably damaged.

It's not difficult to handle the imperial examination fraud,

but we are powerless to launch a reform.

I believe we must

count on Mr. Su in this.

♪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♪