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Subtitles and Timing brought to you by the Royal Troubles Team ⚜️ @viki.com

[The Princess Royal]

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

[Episode 36]

When the Ministry of Personnel wanted to promote any official, it was done based on their merit scores.

As for the grading process, ten marks would be deducted if the one was from a noble family,

- and ten marks would be awarded if the one was a commoner. - He was being too impatient.

Actually, I knew where he was coming from.

I knew what he was trying to do.

However, it could not be implemented with just a good policy alone.

He just ascended the throne not long ago.

And he was making such a huge move immediately.

Many local prestigious families naturally disagreed with him.

Although he issued the order, his subjects didn't proceed with it.

Or, they might twist his policy on purpose, and increase the people's burden.

He wanted to establish his authority by killing those who disobeyed him.

But after that, he realized that he couldn't even bring down a second-rate noble family.

In the late winter during the third year of Dexu Era, he ignored Pei Wenxuan's advice

and ordered Qin Lin to kill the leader of a small local clan.

This led to rebellions in that area for three consecutive years.

Initially, that place wasn't that bad.

But in the end...

it became a desolate place.

Under such circumstances, there was no other way but to reform the system.

By abolishing the noble families, millions of common people could be saved.

Your Highness, what if you were in his shoes, what would you do?

But are you capable enough to kill someone from a noble family?

Your Highness!

- Your Majesty... - You may leave as well.

Your Highness, you might not know, but Li Chuan would lock himself up

in the Imperial Study overnight right after you questioned him every time.

I had no idea indeed.

It's because you always took him for a boy.

But you need to know something.

If an emperor realized that he was incompetent,

the sense of shame would drive him mad.

The conflict between Li Chuan and the noble families could never be resolved.

And it'd only be further intensified.

Shangguan Ya would be caught in a dilemma between them.

Li Chuan told me this before.

Whenever he saw Shangguan Ya and her valuable accessories,

he would be reminded of the people who were starving.

Your Majesty.

However, Shangguan Ya only thought that she was inferior to Qin Zhenzhen.

The more she dolled herself up and tried to be gentle and considerate,

- Your Majesty. - the more Li Chuan hated her.

In the end, they even started sleeping in different rooms.

Your Majesty.

Therefore, Shangguan Ya sought my aid.

Since it has come to this, I'm not expecting him to develop any feelings for me.

But my family has been pressuring me.

They hoped that I could give birth to an heir apparent.

But now, they have no idea that I don't even have the chance to sleep with him.

As the Emperor, you shouldn't favor Qin Zhenzhen alone.

Shangguan Ya is the Empress after all.

If people find out that you haven't slept with her in a long time,

you'll receive many memorials complaining about you.

I don't like her.

Don't I even have the right to choose?

You don't have the right to choose until after she gives birth to an heir apparent.

You're the ruler of the state.

Shangguan Ya is the Empress.

Heading to Qionghua Palace and getting yourself an heir apparent is one of your duties as well.

Rong.

Tell me what's the difference between me and the courtesans in the brothels.

Your Majesty!

- Summon the imperial physician! - No need for that.

I visited the Empress after leaving my palace.

I just took some aphrodisiacs.

I'm fine.

Your Majesty, you...

I've completed the task assigned to me by Princess Royal.

Did Shangguan Ya know about this?

I suppose she does.

Actually, Shangguan Ya took some aphrodisiacs as well.

Shangguan Ya was a proud person.

But she was trapped within the palace like livestock just so she could give birth to an heir apparent.

And she could only suffer in silence.

What happened after that?

Your Majesty!

All of you may leave.

No need for formalities. You may rise.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

I know that you are taking aphrodisiacs before you come to see me every time.

From now on, let's be honest with each other.

You can be an empress all you like.

I can provide you with all the power you want.

Let's drop the act.

For some matters, we can discuss and resolve them together.

We shouldn't be trapped by the palace.

In the future, you can stay out of my affairs. What do you think?

But Your Majesty...

I abandoned myself, and the love that was supposed to be mine

not to hear you telling me that we should

mind our own business in this palace.

Your Majesty, I'm not here to fulfill your wish either.

I'm not here to fulfill your wish of obtaining the love you want.

Don't you desire to leave the palace?

What do you desire, then?

I...

I desire a child.

Someone! Bring us the liquor.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, it was my fault before this.

From now on, I won't care about who you'll visit at night.

But I need you to make me a promise.

What else do you desire besides having a child?

The position of Empress.

No problem.

You'll be the Empress as long as I'm the Emperor.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

As for the child, I shall assist you in completing the task.

If so, Your Majesty, I hope you can spare some time for our next intimate session.

All right. I understand.

Your Majesties, the Imperial Academy of Medicine has sent us a piece of news.

- They said that Consort Qin was pregnant. - She's pregnant?

Hurry. I'm going to see her now.

Your Majesty, you should hurry and check on Consort Qin.

Hurry!

What's with the urgent meeting?

His Majesty has decided that he would never be intimate with another woman

in the harem besides Consort Qin.

This morning, Consort Qin has been confirmed to be pregnant.

Therefore...

I need a man.

Anyone is fine.

I need to have a child.

A child?

What happened after that?

Back then, you were intending to leave the capital.

Li Chuan's evil intentions are obvious to all.

If he truly aided a commoner prince to ascend the throne, by then...

it shall be the end of the noble families.

Mr. Shangguan, I'm sure you know this as well.

I'm just an idle wanderer. This has nothing to do with me.

I'll take my leave.

Ya is having a hard time in the palace.

She needs someone.

She needs a man.

Greetings, Your Majesty.

What are you doing here?

I'm here to keep you company.

Leave.

I don't want you to be here.

But you don't have a choice.

And it's too late for me to withdraw anyway.

I don't want you...

to see me in such a pathetic state.

In this life...

I'm willing to descend into hell with you.

I'm willing to descend into the underworld with you.

Two months later, Shangguan Ya was confirmed to be pregnant.

But the date of her child's birth was confusing.

Even now, I don't know who the father of that child is.

Did Chuan know about that?

Back then, Li Chuan didn't even know that Su Ronghua and Shangguan Ya had an affair.

When the commoners saw that Li Chuan favored Qin Zhenzhen

and that she was pregnant,

they started spreading rumors and fabricated miracles.

Some officials from humble backgrounds even submitted memorials

saying that her child would be the Emperor's eldest son.

They said he would be the Crown Prince after his birth.

They were actually cornering Qin Zhenzhen by doing so.

Most of the commoners came from humble families.

They had no idea about the dirty tricks within the palace.

And Qin Zhenzhen also knew that she was in danger.

In order to express that she and her child had no intention of usurping the throne,

she even submitted a memorial, hoping Li Xin would be selected as the Crown Prince instead.

Only now do I understand how frustrated he was back then.

Back then, Li Chuan didn't wish to start a conflict with the noble families.

He felt guilty toward Shangguan Ya as well.

Therefore, he instructed meto draft an imperial edict.

He intended to select Li Xin as the Crown Prince.

But all of a sudden, rumors started spreading among the people.

They said a strange bird alighted at the entrance of Qingfeng Taoist Temple.

They said it was a phoenix, and that it was a sign that the Empress would be dethroned.

The noble families couldn't tolerate it any longer after hearing that.

Therefore, Su Ronghua poisoned Qin Zhenzhen to death personally.

Initially, you wanted to take Li Ping's life.

But Qin Zhenzhen was protecting Li Ping all the time.

She lived and ate together with him.

She tried every bit of food, every medicine, and every drop of water before she fed him.

In the end, Qin Zhenzhen was poisoned.

She managed to protect Li Ping.

I actually tried to take a child's life?

Ronghua, you don't need to beat yourself up for this.

You were just bewitched by Shangguan Xu.

After Qin Zhenzhen's death, Li Chuan could no longer tolerate the noble families.

It wasn't only because of the death of his beloved.

It was also because he finally realized how incompetent he was.

It was driving him crazy.

When he was keeping vigil beside Qin Zhenzhen's coffin...

[Memorial Tablet of Noble Consort Zhenjing of the Qin Clan]

The Crown Prince hasn't been selected.

Your Majesty, please select your heir as soon as possible.

Please select Li Xin, the son born to the Empress, as the Crown Prince

to set the record straight.

When you deal with devils, you have to be a devil yourself.

Only then will you stand a chance to win.

Pass on my edict.

To stabilize the foundation of the state, I shall select Li Xin as the Crown Prince.

Hurry and return with me.

Come with me. All of the officials are waiting...

All of the officials are waiting for you. They're waiting for you to make a decision.

You have plenty of memorials to review.

Look at what you're doing right now.

Are you truly going to disregard the state affairs for a woman?

Did you forget what you are supposed to do?

Did you forget who you are?

Who am I?

You're the Emperor.

No. I'm Li Chuan.

Li Chuan. I'm Li Chuan!

Back then, I thought Chuan was the one who had changed.

The noble families also thought that Li Chuan had made concessions.

But in reality, Li Chuan turned into a tyrannical ruler after that.

He was emotionally unstable and increased heavy taxes.

He favored the commoners and killed the noble families randomly.

He couldn't care less about the ongoing war, the people, and justice.

He only wanted to topple the noble families.

In those years, the Great Xia faced chaos, with wars raging everywhere.

He favored the commoners and killed the noble families randomly.

Many officials from humble backgrounds turned out to be corrupt and greedy.

No one lived in peace.

Our family tried everything we could to persuade the new ruler and comfort the people.

We expended countless wealth to support disaster relief, using up all our troops and food.

He supported Qin Lin's troops with tax money.

He even approached Shangguan Ya on purpose to make people believe that he adored Li Xin.

But in reality, he was using Shangguan Ya as his protective charm.

Therefore, back then, he was depleting the forces of the Shangguan Family by taking advantage of the local troops.

In the end, it turned out that those were all parts of Li Chuan's plot.

He wanted to suppress the noble families through rebellions.

Through my investigation, I also found the culprit who killed Qin Zhenzhen.

It's actually him?

Your Majesty, what do you plan to do?

Why did His Majesty summon us here?

I have no idea either.

- Aunt. - Ya?

Aunt, did you summon us here?

This is...

This is bad! Run!

Run!

Chuan, what are you doing?

How did Qin Zhenzhen die?

Whose son is he?

Your Majesty, I don't know what you're talking about.

Your Majesty, this is your biological son.

Chuan, your offspring concerns the foundation of the state.

You mustn't spout nonsense without any evidence.

None of you wants to tell me the truth, right?

Father!

Father!

If you intend to kill them, you must kill me first!

Tell me!

Whose son is he?

He's your son!

Your Majesty, if you don't believe me, why don't we do a blood test?

Fine.

Someone!

Your Majesty.

Do you have anything else to say?

You made me a promise.

You said you wouldn't depose me as the Empress as long as you're the Emperor.

I was partly responsible for Qin Zhenzhen's death as well.

What if I trade my life... for Ya and Xin?

Will you be satisfied with that?

Why did you kill her?

For the sake of the Shangguan Family.

All right.

I'll grant you your wish.

Aunt! Aunt!

Father!

Father!

Father!

Why?

Li Chuan, why must you do this?

I intend to go on another expedition to the North.

Make preparations for it.

Your Majesty, you mustn't do so!

Your Majesty, our country has been on various expeditions for the past few years.

The national treasury has been exhausted now. We can't afford such expenditures.

We can't afford it?

Have we truly run out of money?

But they didn't understand His Majesty's intentions.

The expedition wasn't His Majesty's true goal at all.

His Majesty merely wanted to use their military power to suffocate the noble families.

During the eighth year of the Dexu Era,

Li Chuan gathered a substantial number of forces.

He wanted to slander Prince Su for plotting a rebellion.

He requested our family to send our troops and quell the rebellion.

Prince Su intends to plot a rebellion.

After giving it some thought, I realize that only your Su Family can be trusted.

Are you willing to send your troops for me?

His Majesty has wanted to get rid of Prince Su long ago.

However, he wants us to do the dirty work for him.

Father, Rongqing, just sacrifice me.

You knew that those were all excuses.

Even so, you still stood up for Prince Su.

I was once Prince Su's tutor.

I'm willing to swear on my life that Prince Su has no intention of betraying you at all.

Swear on your life?

All right. I'll grant you your wish.

He convicted you of conspiring with enemies.

Our entire clan was taken into custody.

He intended to execute our entire clan.

Someone. The Su Family is treasonous and immoral, intending to rebel.

They're conspiring with Prince Su.

Pass on my edict.

The entire Su Family is to be executed.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, I'm innocent! Your Majesty!

Our entire family was executed?

What we face today is what you will face tomorrow!

Back then, I had no idea that you had an affair with Shangguan Ya.

I just felt we were wronged.

Princess Pingyue knew that our family was maligned.

She wanted to rescue us.

Your Majesty, the Su Family has been a renowned clan for a century.

They contributed to the foundation of the state.

If you execute their entire clan, you'll make all the people feel bitterly disappointed.

Your Majesty, as the Princess Royal, I implore you to spare the Su Family.

Well. They might be spared from execution, but they will still be punished.

Castrate Su Rongqing.

Your Majesty, Su Ronghua already took his own life with this jade hairpin.

Ronghua!

Even so, he still needs to be castrated.

What do you think about this hairpin?

It looks nice.

But it looks like it was used before.

I wonder who the owner of this hairpin is.

I got this from Su Ronghua.

I heard that you two were very close.

Therefore, I was thinking of giving it to you as a keepsake.

But he's quite gutsy too.

He could have survived if he endured the castration.

But he used this hairpin to stab his own neck instead.

He's dead.

He's dead!

Back then, I missed you very much, Your Highness.

You were like the only light in the entire palace.

All lights would be extinguished eventually.

Only you could move forward with courage forever.

Due to the various wars, the people had suffered more than enough.

And the noble families were running out of patience.

According to my knowledge, there were no less than 20 noble families who wanted to start a rebellion.

During those eight years, the commoners rose from their ranks while the noble families fell from grace.

They were already a spent force.

He couldn't just corner all of them. Or, they'd perish together.

Therefore, he chose to cultivate immortality and make you the Regent Princess Royal,

supervising the state on his behalf.

It's his way of telling the noble families that he's calling for a truce.

He wanted the noble families to have peace of mind.

Because of that, he couldn't do anything to Shangguan Ya even if he wanted to.

He dared not do so.

Therefore, he could only wait for another opportunity before he acted.

I was the head of the commoners while you represented the noble families.

We balanced each other out and formed an alliance.

The next decade in the Great Xia was spent recuperating from its old wounds,

finally ushering in a new golden era.

However, a decade...

A decade was too long.

The decade after that was so long that everything had changed.

It was so long that people forgot how it looked like originally.

It was so long that they could no longer see the path ahead.

They also forgot the way home.

The fate has started changing once again.

It was another decisive moment.

Your Highness, since you know about the past now,

will you still abandon the Crown Prince?

Ronghua.

The story is over.

Will you still stop me...

from stopping the Crown Prince?

I understand what you're saying.

Yes. He does have his own difficulties.

However, even so, I can't just forgive him for what he did.

When it comes to suffering, everyone is the same.

I understand.

Then, tomorrow, I'll take you to visit the Crown Prince.

After that, I'll take you to see Su Rongqing.

You...

Are you willing to let me join hands with Su Rongqing?

Your Highness, no matter what you wish to do, I will follow.

It's fine as long as you understand what you truly desire

and don't regret your decision.

Rongqing.

Is that dream true or false?

I've tested it.

It's true.

Was that the reason why you joined hands with Consort Rou?

Were you trying to stop the Crown Prince from ascending the throne?

That's right.

If you kill the Crown Prince, you're destined to be Princess Pingyue's foe.

Have you given up on Princess Pingyue?

That's right.

Don't you think it's a shame? Why don't you try to change it then?

Change it?

Ronghua, how can I change it?

Did our family let down Li Chuan?

Or did we have too much influence and power?

As the ruler, Li Chuan only had wild ambitions.

He was utterly ignorant.

He acted out recklessly, started wars, burdened the people, damaged the economy,

made reforms without proper planning, and suppressed the noble families.

He favored the commoners and corrupt officials, and disregarded the people of the Great Xia.

Do you think his deeds weren't absurd enough?

When he ascended the throne, the population of the Great Xia was about 90 million.

After eight years,

only eight years, the population became less than 70 million.

Those 20 million people...

Even if I want to change it, where should I begin?

That was what his temperament was back then.

He just looked virtuous on the surface.

Ronghua.

I do love Princess Pingyue.

However, I have my own boundaries.

Rongqing.

We don't need to justify ourselves so grandiosely.

We should just admit it.

The noble families are the blight of the Great Xia.

So, Ronghua...

Do you still intend to help Li Chuan ascend the throne? Is that so?

I'm not helping anyone.

Rongqing, rest well. I'll discuss this with Father.

Can you not tell Father about this now?

I'm still wounded.

I'm worried that Father might lose his temper.

I might not be able to endure his punishment.

Don't worry.

Just rest and recuperate. Take good care of yourself.

Zhenzhen.

Lin, how are you?

- Come with me. Let's talk over here. - All right.

Lin, I've been inquiring about your whereabouts ever since I escaped from the military camp.

They didn't find your body.

I knew that you were still alive.

Sorry for making you worried.

I've been hiding here as I am wounded.

Lin, I've got you some ointment.

Your wound will heal faster if you use this.

What do you plan to do next?

Our foundation is in the Northwest.

We have to regain control over the military forces.

How dare you two return?

You're pretty careless, aren't you?

Were you so certain that I was already dead?

You shouldn't have betrayed yourself.

- Retrieve the tiger tally. - Yes.

I have the tiger tally! Warriors, heed my order!

I've slain the traitor, Cui Qinghe!

Those who are willing to follow me, come out!

Those who aren't willing to follow me, you may leave.

I won't make things difficult for you.

General Qin, you've taken great care of us.

General Qin, all of us know your character well.

General Qin, we're willing to follow you.

General Qin, we're willing to follow you.

Your Highness, we've received news from the palace.

They say that Prince Su is no longer in critical condition, and is fine now.

If that's the case, I suppose no later than tonight, His Majesty will take action.

Should we visit the Crown Prince now?

If we don't go now, we might not have the chance to do so in the future.

Since you already said so, I don't think I have a choice here.

Su Ronghua.

Su Rongqing lost his mind long ago.

He formed an alliance with Consort Rou long ago, and decided to support Prince Su.

He framed Pei Wenxuan by using Hongde.

For the military provisions and funds case, the imperial examination fraud case,

and the assassination on Winter Festivity, he was involved in all of them.

He won't allow the Crown Prince to ascend the throne.

And now, the Crown Prince will no longer tolerate him.

Initially, I thought His Majesty was the only major obstacle between us.

I thought we could be together once the Crown Prince ascended the throne.

Actually, you were right.

I drew the same conclusion as well.

But later, I gradually realized that Su Rongqing couldn't tolerate the Crown Prince.

And you wouldn't turn your back on Su Rongqing.

I once asked you if you were willing to be the master of the Su Family.

Now, I'll ask you again.

Are you willing to do so?

Seems like you're not.

The Crown Prince is the foundation of my Shangguan Family.

It's impossible for me to give up on the Crown Prince.

I can't betray my family either.

Therefore, you see, our relationship will only end in deadlock.

Ronghua.

Let me address you like this just once more.

I'm very grateful to you.

Thanks for showing me that we can still be true to ourselves

even though we're descendants of noble families.

But I'm sorry.

In my life...

I will never gamble again.

Ronghua.

Let me hug you one last time.

♫ Eyes like flickering fireflies ♫

♫ Lighting up the misty sea tower ♫

♫ Allowing you and me to dock safely ♫

♫ In this long and arduous journey ♫

♫ I'm fortunate to have met you ♫

♫ It is your tenderness ♫

♫ That makes me willing to set aside my pride ♫

Su Ronghua!

Just leave.

Go and do some sightseeing.

Go and travel the world.

♫ May we stay together in dreams ♫

Don't ever come back again!

♫ Regardless of the seasons ♫

♫ We will journey through life together until the very end ♫

♫ Ever-growing fireworks ♫

♫ Let time slip by ♫

Subtitles and Timing brought to you by the Royal Troubles Team ⚜️ @viki.com

♫ 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 ♫