Original subtitles

ADAPTED FROM MO SHUBAI'S NOVEL, THE GRAND PRINCESS ON JJWXC.NET

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION

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 exam 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 as an official?

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 question my reasons

for 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 only because I'm pretty?

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 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 truly 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 wing.

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 out of the picture,

I'll give you the antidote that completely detoxifies 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 many 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.

All right?

I'll take my leave.

No wonder you'll be kicked out soon.

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

Sir.

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 actually 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? -Well,

I can do that.

But it's not something

a gentleman should do.

A gentleman?

I've been one 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 told me to steal the wheels.

Where should I hide them?

Why did you carry them here?

Put them back.

What…

Forget it. Put them back tomorrow.

Leave them an extra silver tael to compensate

for their accommodation and time.

Sir, why are you doing this to me?

Go now.

Sir, what should we do?

This is…

-Goodness. -Do you have an extra carriage?

-No. At this time, they are all gone. -That's right.

-Where do we find a carriage? -Mister, can you help us?

Can you find me another carriage?

I have to attend the morning audience 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 had a look around

and found nothing.

Perhaps you can try outside.

I'm so unlucky.

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

Come on.

Help me fix the cart.

I should have

asked Her Highness to give me a lift.

Why on earth is this happening to me?

Sir, 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.

Wait!

Wait for me!

Today's tea is so good.

It's nice.

It's the tea we've always had.

And you didn't even take a sip.

Your Highness.

What is it?

Someone in your family got into trouble.

He stole someone else's exam 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 Mr. 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 rescheduled our meeting

just because of Cui Yulang.

Now, you're acting like nothing has happened.

Li Rong.

You are so heartless.

Pei Wenxuan is so good at putting on 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.

But…

Your Majesty, I'd like to report something.

What is it?

It's about the Crown Prince.

Mr. Cui.

I remember you work for the Ministry of Rites.

Why are you doing the job of 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,

explain now, Mr. 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.

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 flog 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 Heaven,

which committed great irreverence.

What stupid accusation is that?

Your Majesty.

His Highness caught a cold last year.

But 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.

Excuse me.

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 Cui Yulang can make you get punished,

what's going to happen in the future?

Will you watch as more powerful ministers

pick on you?

What's happening now?

Every time I come,

I see Chuan being 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 want to give him a hard time.

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.

He complained about me in the court,

but he didn't do anything wrong.

-No need to-- -Cui Yulang works for me.

I told him to complain about you.

So don't do anything to 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 get rid of her?

But what does Cui Yulang

have anything to do with this?

Besides, your father is very protective of her.

How can you 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 due to sickness.

Her Highness wanted 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' and Prince Su'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 won't.

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 pin her hopes on me solely.

If you were a man,

I wouldn't be this exhausted either.

Chuan.

I know…

you won't blame me for anything.

I'm just saying.

You and Mother have sacrificed a lot 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, your younger brother,

not the Crown Prince.

Yes.

You're not just the Crown Prince.

You're Li Chuan too.

Did he really say that?

Yes, Your Highness.

What if Cui Yulang is a useful pawn that will do your bidding?

Perhaps his open criticism of 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 keep an eye on Cui Yulang.

Knowing Shangguan Yue,

she'll either rope him in

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 rope him in.

Let's…

observe for now.

Yes, Your Highness.

TEA

Give me two.

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 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.

I look forward to your assistance.

Mr. Su.

Ronghua.

Come on.

Everyone will have some.

Not bad.

Please wait for me at Su's Perfumery.

Here.

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 out anything, 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 heard

that he's not just taking in candidates, but also people

who are trying to file complaints.

I don't know what he wants now.

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 plan do you and Cui Yulang have?

Why did he complain about His Highness?

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 on 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.

Rongrong.

What?

Go now.

All right.

Mr. Cui.

Her Highness said Prince Su would give you double

of 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.

Then 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?

And 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 did 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 residence you've seen.

Those who wish to remedy injustices

will stay at another residence.

Why is he…

doing this?

I don't know yet.

But 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?

Yes.

I did go to the Su Family,

but when I was there,

they tried

to buy me off.

What exactly

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.

Are you willing to trust me?

Yes, I am.

Su Rongqing has taken in aggrieved individuals,

but 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 Mr. San.

Board his boat and leave.

The boat will sink when approaching Zhang County.

You will swim to the shore with Mr. 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 the court.

Your Highness.

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

Explain now.

Stand up and speak.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Xiaopei.

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 not harm the foundation of the noble families.

His Majesty implemented

the imperial examination to keep the noble families in check.

There are so many people involved in this case

and she is in a precarious position.

So she will not take the case.

Not only will she reject it,

but she also has to protect the noble families.

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

Thus, she must get rid of Chen Houzhao.

You already knew that she'd kill Chen Houzhao

before you sent him to her.

I said I'd give Prince Su and Your Highness

the Inspectorate Office.

Did you think

I was joking?

We lured her into killing Chen Houzhao.

With that, we've got something on her.

Then, we can force her

to take the imperial examination fraud case.

If she doesn't want to handle the case,

we have something on her.

Leaving the Inspectorate Office

will be her best option.

Once she's gone,

someone has to run the office.

Whoever is willing to investigate this case

will be the new leader of the Inspectorate Office.

Your Highness.

His Majesty appreciates your background as you are from a humble family.

That is Prince Su's foundation.

The harsher you are to those noble families,

the more His Majesty will be fond of you.

Princess Pingyue was investigating the noble families.

So 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 would Consort Rou want to see the Princess?