Original subtitles

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

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION

I will protect this glory on your behalf, Father.

Father.

Please calm down.

Rongqing.

I'm glad you're here.

Whatever happens,

remember this.

The Crown Prince is the monarch

and we are his people.

As long as the Crown Prince

doesn't violate any ethical--

I…

I can't see.

Rongqing…

Hurry.

Call the physician.

Father.

There's only one way to protect

the glory of the Su Family.

That is to support

a ruler who listens to us.

Or else…

our family will vanish.

Father, have a rest.

I'll be back once everything is done.

No.

SU

Rong…

No.

No.

Grandfather, I wonder if I can make a request.

Based on the ancestral rules,

the patriarch token should inherited by the legitimate firstborn son.

Uncle Lixian, please give it to me.

I can't. You're still young.

If I'm going to give you this,

I'm afraid there will be trouble.

Don't worry.

I'm not asking for it

to fight over a family property.

We are in desperate times

and our family needs a leader.

If I don't take control of these, will you do it?

I'm not joking here.

At any rate,

there should be someone to lead our family.

We will not be choosing anyone.

Choosing no one means everyone has the right to step in.

Uncle Lixian, you need to evaluate it.

Our family and Princess Pingyue shares a deep bond.

If you don't choose anyone to lead,

are you certain that the family's foundation sustains?

Or are you leading us to our deaths?

What you're doing

is the one that will destroy this family!

I know what you're doing.

News from the palace says that Prince Su is alive.

You're helping the Crown Prince,

you're afraid that His Majesty will dethrone him.

So what you are doing now

is seizing the throne.

Wenxuan.

What would you do if we didn't give

the patriarch token to you?

Grandfather.

The Crown Prince is my brother-in-law

and I will not abandon him.

If so, how sure are you?

Father.

Grandfather.

Prince Su is dead.

-And the one in the palace… -He's an impostor.

Apart from me, many people

knows about this.

They can't hide that for long.

That evil consort ruined the purity of the imperial bloodline.

Do you think

that fake Prince Su stands a chance?

Liming, what's your decision?

Father.

I trust Wenxuan.

Pei Liming!

Give him the patriarch token and the warehouse keys.

Father, he's just a kid.

That decision is mine not his!

Give him the patriarch token!

Father, we can't allow him to repeat his mistakes!

Give it to him now!

Our family

should stay out of this.

As of now, it's necessary

to tie Pei Wenxuan and send him to the palace.

You!

Pei Lixian.

Why are you being violent in the ancestral shrine?

To discipline this disgusting descendant on behalf of our ancestors.

This…

Uncle Liming, that's enough.

Grandfather.

Uncle Lixian is being violent in the ancestral shrine.

Please allow me to ease your burden.

What are you waiting for?

Take him.

Uncle Lixian, look around.

Who are their swords pointing at?

Here's the patriarch token.

I will wait for who dares lay a finger on me.

Reporting!

Our men surrounded the front and back yards.

Tong Ye.

Uncle Lixian, this liquor

is what you gave to my father before.

He finished it all.

Today,

I want to return this on his behalf.

Wenxuan.

If you insist

to get the patriarch token,

you can have it.

PEI

PEI

Pei Wenxuan.

Father.

Wenxuan!

SU

My father is gravely ill.

I'll be the acting master of the Su Family.

-Yes, sir! -Yes, sir!

Seal off the inner courtyard.

-Do not allow anyone to pass by. -Yes, sir!

-Mu Hong. -Yes.

Find Su Ronghua and ground him.

Escort the irrelevant clansmen

out of Huajing in batches.

Gather all troops of Su's Mansion

and stand guard at the South Gate.

Send a messenger to Tianshou Pass.

Inform Su Ping about the coup here

and bring back 8,000 elite soldiers.

Yes, sir.

Your Highness.

His Majesty summons you.

A war is approaching,

but at least the people in Huajing are informed.

But for some cities,

they will desperately resist the attack yet fail

and the commanders can't evacuate them in time.

That's the worst.

Others will die

the very next day.

HUAJING

Let's go.

-Your Majesty! -Your Majesty!

Leave now.

Be careful.

Your Majesty, I will call the imperial physician.

Wait.

What time is it?

It's almost Xu hour.

We don't have much time.

The Crown Prince is on his way.

HANQIU PALACE

Greetings, Your Majesty.

Stop!

Stop the carriage!

Stop!

Stop!

-Stop. -Yes.

Your Highness.

Why are you here?

Can we talk?

I just met with Su Ronghua

and said Su Rongqing started a rebellion.

He controls now the Su Family.

The Sus and other noble families conspired with Consort Rou.

They mobilized 8,000 elite soldiers from Tianshou Pass.

Does he make any move?

Not yet.

Not yet?

He's waiting

for Chuan to act.

Once Chuan initiates a coup,

he will have enough reason to kill Chuan.

If the noble families in the capital join him,

Su Rongqing has nearly 10,000 soldiers

in Huajing alone.

If troops from Su and Wang Families

around the Huajing are mobilized tonight,

he can gather

a total of 20,000 soldiers tomorrow in Huajing.

Then,

Chuan will definitely lose.

There is only one way left.

To agree with Father in suppressing the Shangguan Family

and work with him if we want to win.

Your Highness.

What should we do now?

Please decide now.

Your Highness.

If I die in the palace today,

what will you do?

I will go back.

I will go back to the palace

and help Li Chuan to escape.

Don't tell anyone.

Yuan Feiyu.

Go back and look for Pei Wenxuan.

Tell him something happened to me and I need him to rescue me.

Then, escort as many members of the Shangguan and Pei families

as possible out of the city.

-Go. -Yes, Your Highness.

Ya, you must leave Huajing too.

-Your Highness, I-- -We must preserve our strength.

As long as the Crown Prince is alive, we stand a chance.

Once Xun Chuan arrives,

you will attack the city immediately.

What about you, Your Highness?

I am staying in the palace

to command the attack.

If no one commands in the palace,

Su Rongqing will know that Chuan is gone.

Besides, even if he finds out

that I am commanding,

I can still buy some time.

That's it.

Hurry up. Stop hesitating.

Your Highness, I will return and inform Lin Feibai

to meet you near the palace and assist you.

All right.

Consort Rou commits treason,

intending to overthrow the throne.

Her Majesty takes over the palace and the imperial guards

by His Majesty orders.

You shall obey.

We will be at Her Majesty's command.

Mr. Pei!

Why are you here?

Her Highness is in trouble at an inn outside the city.

She asks you to go there immediately.

RONG

Tong Ye, lead the troops and stand guard here.

I need to leave the city. I'll be back soon.

Enter the palace now.

Your Majesty.

Mother.

Eunuch Fu.

You've been here for a long time.

Most of His Majesty's imperial guards

were replaced by the Shangguan Family.

As of now,

Hanqiu Palace is under my control.

I think you know what to do to save yourself.

I will

follow your orders, Your Majesty.

What are still doing here?

Go in and make him surrender the imperial jade seal.

You will ascend the throne at tomorrow's morning audience.

Mother…

I've taken action on your behalf.

If you don't go now,

he will kill you,

appoint Ling Cheng as Crown Prince,

and execute me, your sister,

and the entire Shangguan Family.

HANQIU PALACE

I wanted to give you a chance to choose.

But you ignored it

and showed me your answer.

Do you know

if you kill me,

you will be part of history with a tainted reputation?

It doesn't matter.

You are not even scared of that.

It seems…

you wanted the throne so desperately!

No.

Not you.

It's your mother,

your sister,

and the Shangguan Family.

All of you want my throne!

Father.

I don't care about the throne.

What baffles me is

why you hate me.

You're my son.

I don't hate you.

I hate your mother

and the Shangguan Family.

The Shangguan Family

is greedy.

They treat the Li Family as their puppets

and intend to rule the country with us

through a marriage alliance.

They're heartless!

Do you think your mother truly loves you?

Do you think the Shangguan Family…

regard you as their family?

No, they don't.

You're just a tool

they use to control the Great Xia.

What are you doing here?

I'm here to see you for the last time.

Li Ming.

My brother replaced more than half of your guards

with the people who work for the Shangguan Family.

Your Hanqiu Palace and the entire palace

are now in my control.

I should have seen

that the Shangguan Family will start a rebellion.

It's just that

I didn't expect you to be ruthless.

When you sent people to build Beiyan Pagoda for me,

I thought we had genuine feelings for each other.

Because you once told me

you would show me the prettiest stars in the universe.

The stars on the ground

are the prosperous nation you give me.

And the stars in the sky

would be within my reach when I stood at Beiyan Pagoda.

I thought

I was so close to the love

that everyone yearned for.

But then,

you favored one consort after another

for the sake of power dynamics.

Beiyan Pagoda…

became a symbol of ridicule against me.

When I thought you're at least Chuan's father,

you fully supported Li Cheng and tried to dethrone Chuan!

What are you waiting for?

Do it now.

Li Chuan.

Many people are waiting for you outside.

A slight delay in your ascension could lead to upheaval. Hurry.

Shangguan Yue.

He's my son.

Will that be easy to kill your own father?

Just do it!

Mad woman!

Had I known this day would come,

I would've torn down the Beiyan Pagoda!

Once I kill you,

I will destroy it with my own hands!

-I will do it! -Mother!

You are so indecisive.

How can you be the Crown Prince or even the Emperor?

Kill him and you will become the Emperor.

The whole country will be yours.

Kill him now!

Put your sword down.

Chuan, put it down.

Why are you here, Rong?

Rong, you…

Mother.

He poisoned Li Cheng to death too.

What did you say?

The Li Cheng in the palace is an impostor?

That's right.

He didn't trust Li Cheng

and intended to keep him in check with poison.

Am I right?

Yes.

I poisoned Cheng.

But my intention of keeping him in check

is for your sake too, Chuan.

You don't love anyone, Li Ming.

Your throne only matters to you.

Mother.

Su Rongqing and Xiao Rou are working with each other

and waiting with their troops now.

Once Chuan commits parricide,

they will kill him with the rebellion as an excuse

and ascend the impostor to the throne.

What?

Then…

Both of you must leave the palace now.

I'll stay here.

You're staying here alone?

Yes. You must leave.

-Chuan. -Chuan!

Chuan.

The chance I offered is still on the table.

If you help me get rid the entire Shangguan Family,

I will give you the throne now.

I can give you the entire nation too.

I will not give Rong and Mother up

to stay alive.

I may not be qualified to become a crown prince

or even a monarch,

but I don't want to be like you.

I want to protect my family.

I want to be with someone I like

and do things I like.

I don't want to sacrifice anyone's life for my own gain.

I want to be indecisive.

I want to be naive and kind.

I want to hold no grudges.

You're such an idiot!

Scold me all you want. I don't care.

You hate me anyway.

Whatever it is, Father,

I will not kill you.

That will taint my heart.

Rong, let's leave.

Mother.

Chuan.

Chuan!

Chuan.

Chuan.

Listen to me.

I can't leave.

I have to disguise as you and stay here

so Su Rongqing won't get suspicious.

Rong, I'm not leaving.

Either we leave together

or I will stay here with you.

If Su and Xiao Families' troops will combine,

we don't stand a chance.

Leave and return only after gathering reinforcements.

No. As I said,

I will stay to protect you--

What are you doing? Chuan!

Mother, leave now.

Or else, all of us will be trapped here.

And you?

Rong!

Where is Her Highness' carriage?

What's going on here? Where is Her Highness?

She's in the palace.

Why did she go back?

Su Rongqing may have led an army of 30,000 to ambush in Huajing.

Her Highness is stalling,

so the Crown Prince can leave the palace.

She's concerned you'd be trapped there, and sent me to lure you out.

What's this?

She told me to give you that letter

when you arrive here.

You love me more than your life,

and so do I.

I have no regrets.

Li Rong.

Sir.

Her Highness is doing this for the bigger picture.

Who did Su Rongqing contact?

The Wang Family, the Zheng Family, the Gu Family,

and the Xiao Family under Consort Rou's lead.

Try every possible means

to track down these families.

Arrest those who have left the city.

As for those who remain,

attack their mansions.

They will probably bring troops

to surround the palace tomorrow morning,

leaving fewer soldiers in their mansions.

By then,

capture everyone there,

especially the Sus and Wangs.

-You will have a bad reputation for this. -Just do as I say.

You're scared of me?

I'm not.

You're not scared of Chuan,

but you fear me.

Why?

Do you think I will kill you?

And he won't?

Isn't that true?

He's not like you.

Don't worry.

I can easily kill you now.

I don't need poison.

Why did you come back?

Are you here to die in Chuan's stead?

Where are Consort Rou and Li Cheng?

Why are you asking?

Honestly, I've always been confused

as to what you really want.

You want to suppress the noble families

and the Shangguan Family,

but you can't see Chuan has the same intention as yours.

You've tried so hard to dethrone him.

Why is that?

Despite knowing Li Cheng is an impostor,

are you still willing to give the throne to him?

Cut your bullshit.

Although Cheng was poisoned,

the poison has been neutralized.

No physician can neutralize the Poison of the Fragrant Beauty.

You knew that when you used it, right?

You haven't answered

my question.

Why did you do that to Chuan?

Because he's not just part of the Li Family.

He can never break free from the Shangguan Family.

So as you.

You're also part of the Shangguans

and can never get away from--

We are part of the Shangguans,

but are we not your children?

Forget it.

Enough with these upsetting things.

Father.

I have a child too.

This is my first child

in nearly 40 years.

Forty years?

What are you talking about?

Let me tell you a secret.

In fact…

I don't know why this happened,

but I lived twice.

Maybe not.

Maybe it's just a dream.

I'm not sure if you're in my dreams

or am I in yours.

Are you insane?

I know you won't believe that.

Honestly, you hated Li Chuan.

You think he's weak

and doesn't want to suppress the noble families.

He was much crueler than you later on.

He went on expeditions to the North,

slaughtered the entire Su Family,

and reformed the appointment system for officials.

Close the gate!

Close the gate!

Back off!

Ya.

I will go and stop my cousin

and tell him the truth.

Don't worry about me or push yourself too hard.

I know.

Take care.

Take care.

Be careful.

I will.

Don't want him to leave?

Bring the Crown Prince and Empress to safety.

Send someone to contact Xun Chuan to see where she is.

Then, count the forces outside the city.

We can't stay by Her Highness' side,

but we must save her.

Your Highness.

From the Inspectorate, Pei's Mansion, and your mansion,

there are more than 3,000 soldiers.

and they are gathered around Hanqiu Palace.

It seems

you're going all out for this battle.

Not really.

If I'm meant to lose,

why don't I just surrender?

If we fought wars for a few more years

to eliminate all the noble families

and let the Great Xia collapse,

perhaps a new dynasty

could change the situation.

Don't you think

this is too cruel?

Cruel?

Neither of us wishes for the Great Xia's destruction.

The people don't want that either.

Pei Wenxuan always says

the essence of power lies in understanding human nature.

He says I don't understand human nature.

And if I do,

I will be a good ruler.

It's true that you don't.

If you did,

you wouldn't have pressured Chuan

and yourself to this extent.

This palace forces people to turn into demons

and makes them believe that the world is supposed to be like a living hell.

Then continue to push others.

Pei Wenxuan is right.

Only if I had realized this sooner.

Your Highness.

Your Majesty, it's time for the morning audience.

Rong.

You go on my behalf.

You haven't seen the golden throne that close.

Go and have a look.

Fulai, draft a decree.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Rong.

Come and sit here.

This jade seal…

You can have it.

What?

This belongs to you.

I'm returning it to you.

When you were a month old,

I held a ceremony to predict what will you be in the future.

You grabbed this jade seal.

It symbolizes power.

I was so happy.

I thought my dear daughter

would achieve something great.

Since then,

I have been carrying this with me.

But as you grew older

and became more opinionated,

I began fearing this jade seal.

I fear the power in your hands too.

Sometimes,

I wonder

if this jade seal…

holds my fear of you

or my love for you.

That was the first time

I became a father.

When I saw your little hands

grabbing this jade seal tightly…

I was elated.

Take it.

Rong.

PEACE AND PROSPERITY

Don't blame me.

How is the situation in the palace?

Mr. Su, are you really sure about this?

With all of your troops,

we have 30,000 soldiers now.

The palace is sealed,

but news continues to come out.

The morning audience hasn't been canceled yet.

Perhaps Li Chuan will announce his ascension

during the morning audience.

If he dares to announce it,

it means His Majesty…

Sir.

Fulai has come with a decree

summoning the Su Family, the Wang Family,

the Gu Family, the Zheng Family, and the Xiao Family

to the imperial hall.

This is our opportunity now.

It seems His Majesty is being held hostage.

Li Chuan is issuing a fake decree

to lure us into negotiation.

However,

before my cousin and Mr. Wang mobilize the troops,

there are only over 10,000 soldiers around the city.

Therefore,

you have to deploy your forces.

Otherwise, not only will we fail to attack,

but we might also be swayed by them

during the morning audience.

Don't worry.

Since we have decided to form an alliance with you,

we won't hide anything.

Very well.

Let's enter the palace.