ADAPTED FROM QING LINGYUE'S NOVEL OF THE SAME NAME
Fortunately, Ms. Huan was attentive enough
to notice that something was missing from Your Highness's fox fur coat.
Otherwise,
they would have found out.
Good thing Minister Feng
prepared a used fox fur coat.
We won't be able to clear our name if it wasn't for her.
I don't understand why Lady Baili
would go as far as to kill Ms. Qi Cheng just to frame you.
She has always wanted Feng Chang
to fight against me.
I don't think this is her plan at all.
I'm afraid
this is Feng Ju's doing.
Your Highness, now that Prince Chang is still unconscious,
you cannot completely get away.
If Prince Chang wakes up,
then…
I will
deal with him.
Why are you here?
I heard you were imprisoned
so I came to visit you.
Are you
worried about me?
Why would I be?
You don't need nor want
to resort to hurting your own family.
Also,
you weren't arrested.
You're just confined to this place.
That means you already have a solution.
You already knew?
Not just me,
everyone in the capital of Yongzhou knows.
There are all sorts of rumors.
A feud between brothers for the throne
is now dinner-party material.
The royal family is now a laughingstock.
My father must be infuriated now.
If you don't mind,
why don't
you tell me everything?
That was what happened.
Thank goodness I'm always cautious,
so I came prepared.
Otherwise,
I would be incarcerated now.
You knew very well that it was a trap set by your brother.
Why did you step right into it?
I get it.
You're doing this for Feng Chang.
You told me that he was forced.
If you did not take the bait,
he would be coerced into doing this again.
To save him,
you have to take this risk
and figure out a solution on the way.
I just didn't expect
they would go as far
as to cripple Feng Chang
and kill Ms. Qi Cheng.
I fancy myself an intelligent man,
but I can't predict everything.
That's why I never like to chase after dominion.
For their selfish desire, humans are willing
to destroy their own families.
However,
although you look aloof and distant,
you show a different side when you're with the ones close to you.
All in all,
you're a decent person.
How do you know I'm different
with people close to me?
Because I have seen it myself.
All right.
Anyway…
I know you're doing this for your brother,
but your strategy is lackluster.
You should talk to him,
reconcile with him,
and join hands against common enemies.
You always hide your feelings
and don't communicate.
And if you don't,
no one will know what you're thinking.
Did you
get my feelings then?
I…
I'm busy.
Goodbye.
GRACEFUL, COMPASSION, CULTURED
You are dismissed now.
His Highness's pulse is all normal.
Your Highness.
You should…
Your Highness.
How is my leg?
You fractured your tibia.
With enough rest,
your motor skill will recover.
No.
Tell everyone in the royal palace
that my leg sustained a heavy injury
and I'll have to use a crutch forever.
-Your Highness… -Add that
I'm still unconscious
and it will take several days before I wake up.
There are blood clots in my brain
and when I wake up,
I might have amnesia.
Your Highness,
falsifying a medical report is a serious offense.
I don't dare lie to His Lordship.
If you can't cure me,
my father will only reproach you for your incompetence.
If you do not obey me…
Your son just earned the title of a scholar, didn't he?
As you wish, Your Highness.
Go out now
and tell those guards sent by my father
that I need to rest in tranquility.
Tell them to stay in the front yard.
Do not move without my order.
Yes, Your Highness.
I'll take my leave now.
Your Highness,
should I summon Physician Zheng, the Administrative Assistant,
to administer acupuncture to quell your pain?
The more painful it is,
the less guilty I feel against Lanxi.
When I saw Ms. Qi Cheng's body,
I regretted my decision.
Your Highness,
you don't deserve this.
It's better this way.
Only when I become a useless cripple
that she will stop using me as a pawn.
Otherwise,
she'll continue forcing me to get rid of Lanxi,
to get rid of all who are in her way.
Bring me some wine.
Your Highness,
you shouldn't imbibe anymore.
Any news on Feng Chang?
Prince Chang is still unconscious.
His Lordship has arranged for physicians to look after him in shifts.
I have also planted my people in his residence.
As soon as he wakes up,
I'll ask him to proceed with the plan
and frame Prince Yongping.
Will he truly do it?
Your Ladyship, are you saying
that Prince Chang does not want to frame Prince Yongping?
Then…
If Prince Chang went mad…
Mad?
When he wakes up,
he might or might not frame Prince Yongping.
But if he goes insane,
we will definitely be able to pin this against Prince Yongping.
He takes medicine every day, doesn't he?
Poisoning his broth shouldn't be too difficult.
Get it done.
Say that
it is Prince Yongping's order.
All right.
FENG CHANG'S RESIDENCE, YONGZHOU
Greetings, Prince Yongping.
Your Highness, you're still under house arrest.
I miss my brother.
I wish to visit him.
When did the physician say he would wake up?
What a shame that everything
has finally come to this.
Feng Chang,
I know you were forced
to frame me.
I attended the plum blossom festival
to stop them from coercing you.
Like I always said,
you are my brother.
And even now,
this still holds true.
Someone told me
to tell you my feelings in person.
I do not know
where to start.
But now that you're unconscious,
it somehow gave me courage.
Truth be told,
after my mother passed away,
you're the only relative
I have left in this world.
Prince Chang
thinks the same too.
I know.
To clear my name,
Feng Chang was even ready
to sacrifice his life.
I have many regrets.
I want to tell him so many things,
but I have missed the opportunity.
I believe my mother will protect us.
She definitely doesn't want us
to live with regrets.
Prince Yongping,
I'm sure Prince Chang will find solace
in your words.
Give me the medicine.
All right.
Why is there poison in it?
Where is the physician's prescription?
It's here.
The prescription is fine,
but this broth has been poisoned.
Someone wishes to harm Prince Chang.
Mr. De,
who brewed this for Feng Chang?
A new maid in this residence.
I have run a background check.
She…
She works for Lady Baili.
Prepare another broth.
When Feng Chang is awake,
don't tell him I visited.
Don't tell him about the maid as well.
I'll deal with it.
Just let him recuperate.
All right.
Your Highness.
From now on,
you're the only family
I have in this world.
He's awake?
Head to his residence immediately.
Yes, Your Lordship.
Didn't I tell you to poison him?
For some reason,
Prince Chang's housekeeper found out that the broth was poisoned.
Our people couldn't find
another window of opportunity.
Go to Prince Yongxin's residence.
Make sure Feng Lanxi is being watched closely.
Yes, Your Highness.
Our people are among the guards dispatched to Prince Yongxin's Residence.
Make sure they pay extra attention to Prince Chang.
If any harm comes to Prince Yongping,
inform us right away.
Yes.
Also, ensure Minister Zhang is aware of the evidence as soon as possible.
Do not dally.
-Yes. -Go now.
Prince Chang just woke up.
He could use something to calm his mind.
Her Ladyship asked me
to deliver this soothing broth that she brewed.
Prince Chang is still unwell.
He lacks the appetite.
-I'll serve it to him later-- -It's best served warm.
Try it, Your Highness.
His Lordship has arrived!
-Greetings, Your Lordship. -Greetings, Your Lordship.
Get up now.
-Thank you, Your Lordship. -Thank you, Your Lordship.
Greetings, Father.
Chang'er, you're awake.
Who pushed you off the second floor?
Chang'er?
Did you hear me?
Who tried to kill you?
Was it Feng Lanxi or Baili Jing?
That day,
someone told me that Feng Lanxi was looking for me.
However,
I didn't see him when I was upstairs.
And then…
Yes?
I can't remember what happened next.
You can't?
Your Lordship.
There are blood clots in Prince Yongxin's head.
He is most probably suffering from amnesia.
You can't recall anything.
It's all right.
In that case,
rest well.
We'll speak when you're completely healed.
Thank you, Father.
I'll leave then.
-Farewell, Your Lordship. -Farewell, Your Lordship.
EVERLASTING VIRTUES
Your Highness, Prince Chang is awake.
His Lordship went to visit him.
Prince Chang claimed he couldn't recall what happened in Xuliu Parlor.
I see.
Visit my mentor
and ask him to scour all the intel from Liang City.
Liang City?
Why the sudden interest, Your Highness?
To be the heir,
I need to have power.
To be the ruler of the world,
I need to have an army.
Within Yongzhou,
the best place for us to amass an army
is Liang City.
I see.
I'll go to Chancellor Ren now.
EVERLASTING VIRTUES
What? Amnesia?
Yes.
His Lordship quizzed him,
but Prince Chang said he couldn't remember a thing.
He would rather sacrifice a limb
to clear Feng Lanxi's name.
What a traitor.
This pawn
is no use anymore.
Do you think
he's telling the truth or it is an act?
In my humble opinion,
some things are best forgotten.
A message, Your Lordship.
Minister Zhang Zhongge seeks an audience.
Greetings, Your Lordship.
You may get up.
Thank you, Your Lordship.
Your Lordship,
I discovered a torn part on the fox fur coat
from Baili Jing's residence.
It carries
the same scent on Ms. Qi Cheng's body.
Zhongge.
Don't you think this piece of evidence
came at too great a timing?
Yes, I do.
Close the case then.
Tell everyone that Feng Chang's fall was an accident.
As to Baili Jing…
Isn't he a madman now?
He'll be liable for the death
of the Qi family's daughter.
Yes, Your Lordship.
About Her Ladyship…
It can't be helped.
That's her fate.
Her nosy brother dug the hole himself.
Set all princes
free now.
Ask them to attend the court meeting tomorrow morning.
When the ministers see them,
everything will be clear.
PRINCE YONGXIN'S RESIDENCE
Is today the 24th day of the 12th month?
PROSPEROUS AND RESPECTED
Yes, it is.
That's why
I asked the servants to clean the rooms
and change the geomantic omen while we're at it.
I hope that next year
will be a peaceful year.
Lanxi will always visit
on this day.
Maybe
he had a slight delay on his way.
I see.
Let's return.
All right.
Prince Yongping has arrived.
PROSPEROUS AND RESPECTED
Your Highness, you're here.
After my mother passed away,
I always come to visit Feng Chang on House-Cleaning Day.
Have you forgotten this, Mr. De?
No,
I can't possibly forget this.
Feng Chang,
should we do the usual then?
I will get the chessboard now.
Please wait here.
-You're dismissed. -Yes, sir.
Leave now.
I don't want you here.
-My brother. -Don't call me that.
Our brotherhood
died in the plum garden.
We are sworn enemies who vie for power.
We can't go back
to what we used to be.
Leave.
Don't make me chase you away.
Leave.
Leave!
Prince Lanxi!
-Prince Lanxi! -Don't go after him.
PROSPEROUS AND RESPECTED
I shooed him away.
But why,
Your Highness?
Lady Baili knows where to strike to inflict maximum pain.
If Lanxi and I reconcile,
Lady Baili will know
that I'm his weakness.
When that time comes,
I will only be a burden to him again.
This brother of mine
looks conniving,
but he has a kind soul.
If he wants to be who he wants to be,
he can't show that weakness.
This is the last thing I can do for him
as his brother.
Perhaps Prince Chang just wants to protect you.
Do you know why I play chess with Feng Chang in his residence
on House-Cleaning Day every year?
Back then,
Lanxi was five years old.
It was on House-Cleaning Day too.
Lanxi
wanted to be a part of everything.
Unable to dissuade him otherwise,
Lady Yige
asked me to play chess with him.
Feng Chang then told me
that if I won,
my father and mother would give me
an extra red envelope.
I won
all the time.
And this one time, my mother told me
that my father and she gave everyone the same amount of money.
The one I had extra
was from Feng Chang's own red envelope.
He's always like this.
He always sacrifices himself to protect me.
I will be lying if I say I wasn't hurt
by what he said today.
Please go back.
I want some time alone.
All right.
All sorts of dumplings!
Delicate snacks! Come have a look!
Sure.
All right.
Mother, I heard there is a temple event outside of the palace.
I want to check it out.
It will be crowded
and we can't venture out of the palace on a whim.
Next time, perhaps.
All right. Noted, Mother.
What's the matter?
It's the New Year.
You shouldn't pout during this time of year.
Or else, you'll have an unlucky year.
I see.
Do you like it?
Even though we can't attend the temple event,
I asked your mentor
to get this for you.
Thank you, Mother.
Do you like this clay doll?
I'll buy one for you.
Vegetables!
Look at my fresh harvest!
You're frowning and brooding.
But this clay doll cheers you up a bit.
If you like them,
I'll buy them all.
You have bought many gifts for me and I have never returned your gesture.
Now, it's my turn.
Sir.
Yes?
How much for these three clay dolls?
I don't sell clay dolls. I sell clay.
You just have to pay ten wen to create your own clay doll.
All right.
It looks fun.
Let me try.
REGRETTING THAT THE SPRING IS TOO SHORT
Do you think I don't know how to sculpt so I'm just winging it here?
It looks good,
but the final product
is yet to be seen.
It's better than those who only give comments.
Who said I wouldn't participate?
Watch this.
Done.
The rest is for you then.
Sure, but you have to be
my model.
I need your posture and your expression.
Me?
LIFE IS SHORT. ENJOY IT WHILE WE CAN
What do you think?
Does it look like you?
It's so ugly.
That's not me.
Ugly?
If it's ugly,
throw it away then.
It's ugly,
but you made it.
You can't take your gift back.
Sir!
Sir.
Are you all right?
The blood curse is getting stronger.
It is not enough
to suppress it anymore.
Only by getting the Sacred Jade Moon
that it can truly be suppressed.
My life will then be prolonged.
I was about to make a report in that regard.
We have made
what you requested.
With it,
the Sacred Jade Moon will be mine.
By the way,
my people have been watching
Hei-Bai Fengxi.
They found out a secret.
The true identity of Hei Fengxi is Prince Yongping.
Prince Yongping?
Fengxi.
Feng Lanxi.
I see.
How interesting.
What a surprising discovery.
Yongzhou shall be in chaos.
Disseminate
the news of my arrival
in Yongzhou.
Yes, sir.
Greetings, dear ancestors.
Please lend me your blessing
and protect the Yu family.
May we be free from the curse soon.
EMPYREAN YU FAMILY, YU LELIN
Wuyuan,
we are the Empyrean Yu family.
You're the smartest of us all within three generations.
Now that you're an adult,
it's time for me
to pass down my duty to you.
I am a descendant of the Empyrean Yu family.
Whatever this duty is,
I will shoulder it.
In that case,
I shall explain the secret of our family.
Have you heard of the Battle of Chongde?
Yes.
A century ago,
a foreign army invaded
and almost dethroned the Dadong Empire.
This foreign army went by the name of Cricket.
The Cricket of the Locust and Cricket
was comprised of elite soldiers from three families.
Their mission was to overthrow Dadong
and establish a new dynasty.
Since there was Cricket,
there was Locust too.
Locust was the leader of Cricket.
And the Yu family
was the Locust.
After our defeat in the Battle of Chongde,
the Empyrean Token inflicted the three families with a blood curse.
That's why our ancestors
never lived beyond 30 years old.
I see.
So our ancestors' wish
was to overthrow Dadong and to rule with the token.
Now that you are aware of this,
you need to continue our legacy.
Overthrow Dadong.
Rule with the Empyrean Token.
That's how I can get rid of this curse.
This blood curse
forced my entire family to be the nation's enemy.
There is no alternative.
I can only press on.
Greetings, Mother.
May you live well and be blessed.
-Get up. -Thank you, Mother.
New Year is around the corner.
Have you prepared the gift for your father?
Of course.
Don't worry, Mother.
It's Father's favorite.
Good.
You have caused enough trouble this year.
Seize this opportunity
to regain your father's favor.
Yes, Mother.
Therefore, engage yourself in politics.
Do something great.
Enlighten me, Mother.
Do you know why your father amassed military supplies out of a sudden?
I even heard that all blacksmiths of the Ministry of Works
do not get a New Year's break.
Do you know why?
Yes.
Father is amassing military power to be prepared.
Yes.
What do you think an army and a war will cost?
What?
Money in our treasury.
You're in charge of the Ministry of Revenue.
If you can make sure that the pocket is always filled,
your father will have one less worry.
You will have a bigger achievement than Feng Lanxi.
I get it, Mother.
But I'm not the Deity of Riches.
Where can I get more money for Father?
Fu Wenbo, Luan Qiya,
and He Youde.
Do you know them?
I am acquainted with them,
indeed.
The three of them have embezzled enough money.
Find reasons like corruption
and requisition the money they embezzled
into the national treasury.
That will put your father's mind to rest.
I see.
I shall leave now.
Fu Wenbo, Luan Qiya, and He Youde.
My mother knows the people
around me by heart.
Your Highness…
New Year is close and it's the period for house cleaning.
We can definitely use some cleaning.
Your Highness, I have been nothing but loyal to you.
I know it's not you.
I thought Wang Yuan was the only informant
my mother planted around me.
After he died, I thought my place would be cleaner.
How innocent of me.
Fret not, Your Highness.
I will identify the snitch
and get rid of him.
Do it properly.
Don't raise my mother's suspicion.
Yes, sir.
Your Highness, the news of Yu Wuyuan's arrival
in the capital of Yongzhou is circulating.
I suppose the royal palace must have caught wind of it by now.
I suppose Yu Wuyuan intended this to happen.
Continue following him.
Let's see what he is up to.
Yes, Your Highness.
I'm coming.
A SERENE ABODE OF GRACE
Who are you, sir?
Is this the residence
of Mr. Yu Wuyuan?
Indeed.
Can I talk to him?
May I know who you are?
YONG
Give me a moment.
Greetings, Eunuch Yuan.
Mr. Yu,
what gave my identity away?
Although you are in plain clothes now,
your boots bore the royal marking.
Only someone at the management level of the royal court can wear them.
Rumor has it
that the Lord of Yongzhou loves ambergris.
And you give off the scent of it.
That means you are someone close to His Lordship.
And so, I hazarded a guess
that you are Eunuch Yuan.
As expected from the Finest Gentleman.
His Lordship wishes to see you.
It is my pleasure.
Mr. Yu, your wisdom far precedes you.
Our meeting today has filled me with joy.
A toast.
I am just a commoner.
I can't accept your compliments, Your Lordship.
You're too humble, Mr. Yu.
Huang Chao of Jizhou called you his One-Line Tutor.
That already proves your exceptional talent.
What does Yongzhou owe to your arrival,
Mr. Yu?
I travel around
to see if I can bring a solution
to this sundered world.
A solution to this sundered world?
Ambitious, aren't you, Mr. Yu?
You managed to stop a siege from Shangzhou with one sentence.
That, I have heard of it.
It is impressive.
Why don't you stay here to help me?
With your help,
Yongzhou
can unite all other states.
I appreciate your offer, Your Lordship.
However, my heart extends beyond a mere city or a mere state.
I do not want to be employed by any royal family.
I am a commoner
so I serve the commoners.
I just want to see a peaceful world.
And may all citizens
get to enjoy the serenity.
That's why
I aid Huang Chao.
So what do you wish to tell me then,
Mr. Yu?
Since you have broached the topic,
I do have a few suggestions.
Pray tell.