I'm sure you must be able
to see what I did from above.
I wonder if you would be glad to see them
or would you abhor them?
In fact, ever since you left,
I've long been all alone without anyone to rely on.
However, I refuse to surrender to fate.
I want to fight as well.
Mother.
I've met someone
that reminds me of you.
After I met her,
I could feel warmth in my heart.
It was as though you were alive.
MEMORIAL TABLET OF LADY SHENGCHUN
But I was a little scared
at first.
I was worried she might distract me.
But still, I couldn't let go.
When she is around,
I feel confident.
That is good.
MEMORIAL TABLET OF LADY SHENGCHUN
FENG CHANG'S RESIDENCE
Your Highness,
Lady Baili has sent you
the wedding gown.
She wants you to try it out.
If it's uncomfortable,
I'll order the tailor to make some adjustments.
The gown can be changed to fit the body,
but when there is no love,
how can that be changed?
Forget about trying it on.
Whatever happens,
I'll have to put it on anyway.
You are dismissed.
My mother is very thoughtful.
Tomorrow,
we're holding a memorial ceremony for the late lady,
but she is still concerned about me.
How thoughtful of her.
She wants what's best for you, Your Highness.
Mr. De.
Have you convinced yourself
of your own lies?
I wouldn't dare.
However…
I'm going out.
Your Highness.
Check out the fabrics!
Check out these lanterns!
All sorts of lanterns for sale!
Toys and fun stuff!
Check out the fragrance pouch!
Fragrance pouch!
Look at these!
-They seem interesting. -What's this?
This looks pretty.
Buy one.
This is great!
There is certainly more freedom
living as a martial artist.
Look at this.
It doesn't look good on you.
Why not?
It's you again.
What are the odds?
It's almost New Year.
I have been busy.
I came out for some fresh air.
We've known each other for so long,
but I still don't know what you do for a living.
We are a small sect.
We are only visiting.
Do you have other friends
from the martial arts world in the capital of Yongzhou?
I mean,
if it isn't too much trouble, could I have the honor to meet them?
I long for a life such as theirs.
Do you not know what danger lies in their path?
It's best you don't know these people.
The martial arts world may be perilous,
-but there is freedom. -Sir,
Mr. De requests you to return.
He needs you to check the wedding litter in person.
Understood. You may go now.
Yes.
Are you getting married?
You're getting married! Congratulations.
It isn't something worth celebrating.
It was my mother's decision.
There goes the saying,
"A child's marriage is the parents' duty and decision."
However, this will decide
the rest of your life.
If you don't love her,
neither of you will be happy.
Life is short.
Decades pass
in the blink of an eye.
Sometimes, we mustn't compromise.
If you ever need help
while you're in the capital,
you could let me know.
So long.
It's the 31st year of the Chunxi Reign.
Respectfully, we have prepared food and wine
as our offerings
to the benevolent, wise, dedicated, and intelligent late Lady Shengchun.
Her heart was ever so generous.
She was a great exemplar in the Lady's Palace.
Her passing had dulled even the moonlight.
Many were overcome with grief.
Spring had become dreary.
It was a great loss for the royal family.
The offering from His Lordship.
May the late lady accept our offering
and be pleased with it.
The offering from Prince Yongping.
May your spirit be pleased with our offerings.
The offering from the Second Lady.
If your spirit can hear me,
please accept my offering.
-Noble Consort Baili -Noble Consort Baili
-comes from a humble background. -comes from a humble background.
-Please reconsider, Your Lordship. -Please reconsider, Your Lordship.
That's her. Have you heard the rumors?
The gold digger.
That's her.
-That seems nice. -Indeed.
Your Ladyship?
I…
Mother, what's wrong?
Get up.
Stop standing there.
End this ceremony.
Silence.
The ceremony is not over.
Mother, come with me.
The offerings from the officials!
Your Lordship, I didn't mean to do it.
I know.
I don't blame you.
Those officials are insolent!
I would never disrespect Yige.
My hand slipped,
but they insisted on saying
I had embarrassed the entire nation!
I will punish them.
Your body is frail.
Don't dwell on the incident.
Rest well.
What about those rude civilians?
They are saying
it's divine retribution.
Your Lordship, help me.
That's enough.
You feel humiliated today,
but what about me?
I had told you many times
the ceremony must be carried out flawlessly,
but you couldn't even hold a wine cup properly!
What is wrong with you?
I was overwhelmed by fatigue.
The ancestral temple was cold.
Is it colder than the Cold Palace?
Your Lordship,
this can't be serious.
Do you know
why I didn't reprimand you in front of the people?
I have an image to uphold!
You came from a lowly background.
I argued with the officials for six months
to finally be able to crown you the new lady.
It's my duty
to take care of your embarrassment!
However,
my effort to care for you has been left unanswered.
It did nothing but bolster your arrogance!
Perhaps
you've enjoyed the title of a lady for so long
that you forget who you really are.
Your Lordship!
I've shown you love for two decades.
I've spoiled you into a fool!
You interfered with court affairs
and caused disruptions.
You embarrassed the nation!
I took pity on you
for the hardship you went through.
I turned a blind eye to your scheming,
but your ambition grew by the day.
How dare you try to usurp the title of my heir for your son!
Are you so eager to watch me die
so you can be the Queen Mother?
Your Lordship!
I wouldn't dare in a million years!
So tell me, why have you
ignored my warnings?
Do you think I wouldn't find
the mastermind
of the imperial examination scandal because you played the fool?
Are you not worried
I will track down the missing funding
used for horse trading?
There is nothing
I cannot give you
or take from you.
Send out my decree.
Due to her gratitude for her bond with the late lady,
Lady Baili will go into seclusion and fast for the next 30 days
to pray for the late lady's afterlife.
EVERLASTING VIRTUES
Your Highness, we received reports that Lady Baili has been grounded.
Understood.
I came to the palace at a young age.
I've been with Your Highness and the late lady since then.
Now that Your Highness has won against Lady Baili,
the late lady would be very pleased.
I will carry out her dying wish
and serve Your Highness for the rest of my life.
Ms. Huan,
I know you are loyal
to my mother.
You are an adult now.
If there is someone you love…
My loyalty has never wavered.
I will serve you until I draw my last breath.
I will never leave.
I'm not banishing you.
Calm down.
I came to the palace as a child.
I've served you since I came of age.
The life outside is not for me.
Please, have mercy on me.
Very well.
You may go now.
Thank you, Your Highness.
EVERLASTING VIRTUES
Have a look around!
Accessories and ornaments!
We didn't get to see the capital of Yongzhou last time.
The capital of Yongzhou is more exciting than I expected.
Master wants us to buy some goods for New Year.
Don't forget why we're here.
Just let her have some fun.
Master made it back in one piece.
She is overjoyed by his return.
You know me the best.
Fengxi,
do you know
why I insisted on celebrating New Year in this capital
and sent a notice
to summon all the disciples?
It's almost New Year
and Master is wounded.
Our best option is to stay in the capital of Yongzhou.
My father is wounded,
but he's more than capable of going home.
So why are we staying?
Do you not know?
Is it because of me?
Lu Shi,
let's buy them some snacks.
Let's go.
My father is giving you a chance
to quench your yearning.
Wait.
What yearning?
Don't be silly.
I'm serious.
Can't you tell from the way Hei Fengxi looks at you?
Don't you like him?
Langhua,
enough with this nonsense.
Black Fox and I
are just friends.
Is that so?
Why do you treat him differently?
That's because…
That depends on the person.
I have this urge to challenge him when I see him.
So I treat him differently.
It's the same way with you,
Lu Shi, and Jiurong.
If I treated Jiurong the way I treated you,
wouldn't you be jealous?
Come on, don't be silly.
What is he doing here?
-Fengxi. -Fengxi.
We bought a lot of snacks.
-Fengxi. There are more over there. -Let's go.
-Let's check them out. -Come on.
-Let's go. -Let's go.
We found Bai Fengxi.
Keep an eye on her.
Yes.
But this time,
we suffered heavy losses.
The Soultaker Sect
was almost wiped out.
The Han family's medicines,
Xuanyuan Sect's formation,
the Tie family's cast iron,
and the Ma family's secret manual,
I have everything.
Is there any purpose
for the Soultaker Sect to exist?
The Soultaker Sect
was formed based on the legend of the Locust and Cricket.
Without me,
you could only dream of leading this sect.
Forgo what you must.
Do not forget
our true goal.
Understood.
I went to Mount Wu
for the Sacred Jade Moon.
But it fell into the hands
of Hei-Bai Fengxi.
It seems things are more
complicated than I think.
We should spend more time
in the capital of Yongzhou.
Am I beautiful?
Your Ladyship, you are ever so elegant and gorgeous.
No one here can match your beauty.
In this palace,
even Royal Consort Xu of the lowest rank
is more prestigious than me, the daughter of a fabric merchant.
You may speak freely.
After the recent memorial ceremony,
people now know about my past as a lowly civilian
even though I had spent years
making everyone forget.
That's Feng Lanxi's goal.
If I could
become a lady all those years ago,
I certainly wouldn't
let anyone look down on me again.
Your Ladyship!
What are you doing?
I'm not trying to end my life.
His Lordship wants me to fast for a month.
I might as well do more by copying scriptures with my blood.
Let's see if anyone would still look down on me!
Your Ladyship, you mustn't do this!
The physician said you were suffering from anemia.
I simply need a wound to fool them all.
There are plenty of pet birds in the palace.
Since I'm grounded,
I can't leave the palace.
Chamberlain,
I need you to go out.
Tell my brother
the marriage between Duke Qi's daughter
and Prince Chang must be settled before New Year.
Yes, Your Ladyship.
Your Highness.
A message from Lady Baili.
She wants you to finish the betrothal proposal
and submit it to His Lordship.
All right.
Prince Yongping sent you a present.
The messenger says
it's information about Duke Qi's family.
According to him,
he wants Your Highness to follow the heart's calling.
If Your Highness decides to marry Ms. Qi Cheng,
there is some information
you may use as leverage in your marriage.
TO MY BROTHER, FENG CHANG
Life is short.
Decades pass
in the blink of an eye.
Sometimes, we mustn't compromise.
Your Highness.
Where are you going?
My mother has been grounded.
It's only right for me to visit her.
But…
Your Ladyship,
Prince Chang is here.
Let him in.
Yes.
Greetings, Mother. May you live well and be blessed.
You found out
your father has grounded me.
Don't worry. I'll be fine.
What happened to your hand?
I drew some blood to copy scriptures.
Now you know what I went through.
Just not that long ago,
I traveled far and wide for Buddhist prayers on your father's behalf.
And now,
the slightest mistake
warranted such punishment for me.
He is ever so unpredictable.
Come on.
That is precisely why
I'm so concerned with your marriage.
Your father has become even more unpredictable lately.
I'm at the end of my rope.
I could lose my life
at any moment.
You and your brother will have to fend for yourselves.
I must find each of you
a partner that will care for you.
Only that will put my mind at ease.
I checked the calendar.
Every day until the end of this month is a good date.
Pick a date
and ask for your father's consent to the betrothal proposal.
Tell him you and Duke Qi's daughter are love at first sight.
He will grant you this request.
Mother.
I have no plans to marry Duke Qi's daughter.
Now is not the time to throw a tantrum!
I am not throwing a tantrum.
I am visiting you because I want to tell you
I changed my mind.
I don't care whose daughters you're matchmaking me with,
as long as it's your decision,
I will never marry any of them.
I won't lie to myself anymore.
Rest well and heal, Mother.
I'll take my leave now.
Stop right there!
Stop!
What is wrong with you again this time?
I ordered Duke Qi to prepare the dowry for your wedding.
This is your marriage, not a child's play!
When you get flustered, you forget you are a mother.
You see yourself as the lady again.
Are you saying
you will make me fulfill the wedding by force?
Feng Chang!
Mother!
Manners matter in the palace.
The servants are watching.
Come with me to my room.
We can talk this out.
There is nothing to talk about.
Your Ladyship,
do you really think
I was ignorant
of why you're suddenly treating me with such motherly love?
You want me to marry Duke Qi's daughter
and make enemies with Feng Lanxi.
I've played the filial son for too long.
I'm tired of it.
I should never have had
those meaningless dreams.
You only have one son
and his name is Feng Ju.
Do you think you can get away so easily?
Do you think when I'm defeated,
Feng Lanxi will spare you from misery?
Do you really think he sees you as his kin?
From what I learned,
you chased him out of your residence
when he visited you.
It seems the two of you
aren't that close.
I can't force you into submission.
However, I can bring you down with me.
I had plotted against Feng Lanxi.
If your father found out
you were part of the plotting,
who do you think he would believe?
You or me?
I thought you merely disliked me.
As it turned out, you hated me.
We are mother and son.
You should have seen this coming,
am I right?
Do not force my hand.
If I get desperate,
I will tell the world about your epilepsy.
A repulsive condition that disgusts all
should ruin your reputation in court for good.
Chang'er.
We are in the same boat.
You will never come out unscathed.
I bet you must hate me to the bone.
It's not like you can do anything about it.
Do as I say.
I know.
You and Feng Lanxi are very close.
If you help me with my plan,
you have my word
that I will never trouble you again.
It's not just you.
Pretending to be your loving mother
is just as revolting for me.
Look at you!
The thought of getting married
has got you so excited.
Go back to your residence.
I'll have everything arranged for you.
Your Highness.
Submit it for me.
SOUTHERN MARKET
STELLAR TALENT
What brings you here?
Am I not welcome here?
Master invited him.
This capital is such a merry place.
Three of the Four Gentlemen
are gathered here.
Yu Wuyuan is in the capital?
Yes. Fengxi and I even saw him on the street.
Fengxi, I'll lead Mr. Feng inside.
Master is waiting for him.
Go ahead.
Master Bai,
why have you summoned me?
I need the Fountain Abode
for an investigation.
You may speak freely.
You will have full support from the Fountain Abode.
This is the fake token Huang Chao tried to return.
This wasn't the token Yan Yingzhou had.
There is another fake token?
Master Bai,
why are you interested in a fake?
Have you heard of Token Keepers?
Rumor has it that the Imperial Family
has powerful martial artists to protect the Empyrean Token.
They are known as the Token Keepers.
Master Bai,
you are one of them.
The Token Keepers
are not only charged with protecting the token,
but also
limiting the Imperial Family's power.
When Xi'er returned
to the Tianshuang Sect,
she told me all about Yan Yingzhou
and the fake token.
I wrote a letter
to inform another Token Keeper.
It was Wang Shuilong.
In his letter,
he mentioned the other fake token he found.
To meet him,
I went to Mount Wu.
I see.
I need you to find out
who is behind all of this
and why they are using fake tokens to cause confusion.
I will investigate.
Do not tell Xi'er for the time being.
I don't want her to worry.
I understand.
Go on.
Someone is expecting you.
I shall take my leave now.
What did you and Master talk about?
I promised him
not to tell you.
How mysterious.
Keep the secret to yourself then.
It's not like I would love to know.
Why are we here?
To keep my father and Lady Baili from knowing that I know martial arts,
I would come here every night
to practice in secret.
Were you
very lonely?
Indeed.
Even with the bustling city below,
I couldn't help but feel lonely.
I kept telling myself
I had to endure that loneliness
to realize my goal.
What is your goal?
At first,
I wanted to protect myself.
Then
I wanted to become my father's heir.
And then,
I wanted to conquer the world.
Next…
What's next?
The greed is endless.
I told you,
you have a choice.
Why not give up on conquering the world?
That's because
this isn't how the world should be.
I've been drawn to people.
There are the helpless,
the living,
and those who make me feel alive.
I want all of them
to have a better life.
I'm curious.
What is the world full of warmth and simplicity
that you envision?
What is this?
When I first met you,
I had this strange feeling
that our fate was intertwined.
As it turns out,
you're such a nuisance.
We are human beings,
it's normal to have worries.
To acquire the Sacred Jade Moon,
we must create an opening
and wait for both of them to make a move.
Keep an eye on them.
Yes.
Sir.
Yu Wuyuan is in the capital,
but the Fountain Abode doesn't know?
I'll see to it.
Watch him. I want to know every action he takes.
Yes.
Your Highness,
a message from the palace.
Prince Chang has submitted his betrothal proposal to His Lordship.
He is going to marry Duke Qi's daughter.
Is this his decision?
Duke Qi has been our enemy.
If this marriage is approved,
how should we face Prince Chang
from here on?
Feng Chang, you're leaving me.
Don't worry.
I'll always be there with you.
Feng Chang!
Perhaps he made this decision
because I failed him.
In that case,
we shall adapt and overcome.
Yes.
YOUZHOU
PRINCESS OF YOUZHOU, HUA CHUNRAN
Greetings, Father.
Long live the Lord.
LORD OF YOUZHOU
Chun'er, you've come.
Get up. Come on. Stand up.
Thank you, Father.
You two are dismissed.
Father, why am I summoned?
I haven't seen you in a while.
I wanted to see you.
Earlier today,
a batch of silk gauze was sent here as a tribute.
You may use them
for your new dresses.
Thank you, Father.
Come, have a seat.
Father, I've missed you.
But you're always busy with work.
I barely have any chance to serve you.
This is all thanks to your good-for-nothing brothers.
They can't help me with my work.
I have to see everything personally.
Chun'er.
I wish you were a man.
Father, my elder brothers are all outstanding men.
It's just that you outshine them
by a league.
But still,
like father, like sons.
With enough time,
they will follow in your footsteps
and become lords as wise as you.
It's nice of you to say that.
I merely tell the truth.
But Father,
why not leave the trivial matters to your officials?
Why see to them personally?
I heard that Official Qian Qi,
Official Wang Qing, and Official Xiang Ya from the court
are all loyal and capable
despite their low ranks.
They are the best out there.
Therefore,
you should task them with greater responsibilities.
That will show the people you value talented people
and prevent you from overworking yourself.
You will have more time for your children.
We can take better care of you.
That is a sound plan.
I'll be sure to spend more time with you
whenever I have the time.
However, I summoned you
because there is a matter to be discussed.
You are of marrying age.
Isn't it time to find you a husband?
Are you saying I'm annoying you
with my presence?
Not at all!
Men and women should get married when they are of age.
It's a big world out there.
If I leave the palace,
I might never see you again for a very long time.
Well…
Chun'er.
Perhaps I could find you a husband that takes our family name.
Father,
a real hero would never agree to be married into a woman's family.
You're right.
Perhaps I could hold a spouse selection contest.
A spouse selection contest?
I only want
the best among the men.
Find out
who suggested the idea of my marriage to my father.
Yes.
I read the betrothal proposal
you submitted.
Are you sure you want to marry Duke Qi's daughter?
Yes.
I am in love with her,
just as you were when you met my mother.
Very well.
Duke Qi is one of the nobles of Yongzhou.
His child is worthy of my firstborn.
Lady Baili has done well in this matter.
Indeed.
She was very concerned about me.
Ask the Astronomy Officer to divine their birth date.
If nothing goes wrong, we'll exchange the dowry and dower.
On the first day of the upcoming year,
I will grant you the betrothal decree.
Consider it a new beginning for a new year.
Lady Baili's fasting
will have come to an end.
Much obliged, Father.
Send out my decree.
Feng Chang will be given the title of Prince Yongxin.
He will be granted a fief of 3,000 households.
Yes, Your Lordship.
Congratulations, Prince Yongxin.
Much obliged, Father.