ADAPTED FROM QING LINGYUE'S NOVEL OF THE SAME NAME
The marriage arrangement between Youzhou and Jizhou
has been set.
Now,
both states are gathering their forces in secret.
Looks like they are going to declare war on Qingzhou.
My beloved officials.
What do you think
we should do?
I think that
even with the combined forces of Jizhou and Youzhou,
Qingzhou is more than capable enough to defend its state.
Moreover,
this union between Youzhou and Jizhou
is a double-edged sword.
Lord of Youzhou will be wary of Huang Chao.
Huang Chao will try his best to take over Youzhou as well.
I think
Yongzhou can just
observe for now.
I don't think it's appropriate to do that.
Qingzhou is our neighboring state.
If Jizhou and Youzhou manage to conquer Qingzhou,
Yongzhou will be stuck in the middle.
Then it will become hard for us to survive.
I think
we should join hands with Qingzhou
to disrupt Jizhou and Youzhou's plan.
I heard that these days,
Qingzhou is being governed
by Prince Xieyue.
If that's the case,
it will be even easier for Jizhou and Youzhou
to defeat Qingzhou.
Feng Xingtao is the backbone of Qingzhou.
If he falls right now,
Qingzhou will be in grave danger.
If that's the case,
the best way is to join hands
with Qingzhou right now
just like what Minister Qin had proposed.
We can't just let them take away
such a prosperous land.
Yesterday,
we received the memorandum from Feng Ju.
Their military advance
is going smoothly.
They've managed to eliminate the bandits in the south.
Besides raising his rank,
we have to reward his army.
Thank you, Your Lordship.
After we reward his army,
replenish their food supply at once.
Be ready to set out at any time.
I will ask the Ministry of Rite and Ministry of Works
to handle it at once.
I'll ask the Ministry of Revenue to prepare more food supplies.
Rewarding the army is a serious matter.
I will go to the Ministry of War at once to get it done.
My beloved officials.
I'm very glad that both of you
can understand me so well.
The power on this land is volatile.
It all depends on pre-emptive opportunities.
After rewarding the army,
have them set out to Qingzhou at once and encamp there.
We'll play it by ear.
-Yes, Your Lordship. -Yes, Your Lordship.
-The moon will always be bright. -The mountains will always be standing.
Why are you here?
An elder of my friend is gravely ill.
I'm here to ask for the 1,000-year-old Red Lingzhi.
Hold on. I'll pass on the request.
He's quite good at martial arts.
He's a tip-top fighter in the Imperial City.
He has killed before.
He has a fierce aura to him.
I think he has been to war.
He practices external martial arts.
I'm afraid the only ones who have these qualities
in the Imperial City…
The Imperial Guards.
Looks like
we found the right person this time.
It will be 3,000 taels.
We'll meet again.
This Supreme Physician is very mysterious.
Transactions are done through his guard.
He rarely meets anyone.
He hides his identity.
But he can't hide
the smell of Lingxiang Herb on this box.
It's a fragrance specially used by the people in the palace
to hide their own smell.
I think this high-quality Red Lingzhi is a tribute.
Normal people can't get their hands on it.
Maybe he's a eunuch who is in charge of the Imperial Apothecary.
Who are you?
Do you know who I am?
Since we are here for you,
of course we know.
You don't have to be afraid.
My young master just wants to meet you.
I don't care who he is.
I will never meet him. Get lost.
What are you doing?
Are you going to kidnap me?
We are here to invite you.
If you refuse to cooperate,
please forgive us for being rude.
Do you really think that I'm all by myself?
Guards.
If you are talking about those guards in the courtyard,
they are all unconscious now.
Please come with us, Eunuch Hu.
Listen.
Since you are so accommodating,
we will have to be polite.
-Take him away. -Yes, sir.
Who are you?
Why did you kidnap me?
Should I call you Eunuch Hu
or the Supreme Physician?
Supreme Physician?
What Supreme Physician?
I don't understand.
You don't understand?
If that's the case,
I'll kill you.
Yes. I am the Supreme Physician.
Who are you?
When we bought the Red Lingzhi yesterday,
you sent someone to tail us, didn't you?
Since you already know,
why did you let them follow you?
If they hadn't followed us,
how would we know where you were?
You are right.
No.
What do you want?
I have money.
-I can give it all to you. -It's not the money.
We invited you here today
to check something.
Do you know anything
about Nux Vomica?
Are you here for Nux Vomica?
I sell it.
No.
I'll give it to you for free.
You are cautious.
We just want to know
if someone has bought it recently.
No.
Aren't you going to give it a good thought?
It's true.
Nux Vomica is rare
even in the palace.
So it's extremely expensive.
And not many know about it.
All these years, I've only sold two of them.
Who did you sell it to?
As per the rules of the black market,
I don't ask for their identities.
You really don't know?
Yes.
However,
as a safety measure,
I send my men to tail those buyers
to draw a portrait of them.
Where are the portraits?
They are for my own safety.
Or course I'll keep them in the safest place.
The safest place in Dadong Empire
is of course the Imperial Palace.
Then we'll have to trouble you
to take us there.
Sir.
Are you all right, sir?
The Sacred Jade Moon
can only suppress part of the blood curse.
If I want to break the curse,
our top priority
is to get the Empyrean Token.
We don't have much time.
We have to take action.
Yes, sir.
This way, please.
This is my record over the years.
RED LINGZHI
MEAT LINGZHI
NUX VOMICA, MEAT LINGZHI
What's wrong?
This Longevity Amulet
is from the royal harem of Yongzhou.
If he's not lying,
then it's true
that no one has bought the Nux Vomica recently.
Eunuch Hu.
There is a medical record for the palace too, right?
Yes, there is.
Let me get it for you.
MEDICAL RECORD OF DADONG IMPERIAL APOTHECARY
Well…
My subordinates are in charge of this.
I don't do these menial tasks now.
YIKUN PALACE, HEAD OF SERVANT, JINGREN PALACE, 12TH OF FEBRUARY
"Zhang Jin"?
Where is he from?
Yuqian Palace.
Is he the personal servant of the Emperor?
Eunuch Hu, I need the Nux Vomica.
-Well… -Don't worry.
I'll pay you according to the rules of the black market.
If you don't sell it to me
or if you give me the fake one,
your secret will be exposed.
I'll get it for you now.
Keep it well.
NUX VOMICA
Thank you.
Let's go.
Guards! Assassin!
It's really not me.
I've been with you all the time.
I don't have time to sound the alarm.
-Father. -Your Majesty.
-Summon the imperial physician! -Summon the imperial physician!
Summon the imperial physician!
Father!
Guards! Summon the imperial physician!
Summon the imperial physician now!
Father.
Father!
Are you Mr. Yu?
My master asked me to wait for you here at this time.
It's me.
I completed my mission
after hiding here for so long.
Are you sure he is dead?
I am sure.
Don't worry.
I'll get you out from here.
Yes, sir.
General Dong Shufang.
Why are you here so late at night?
His Majesty has been assassinated.
I've been ordered to search for the assassin.
His Majesty has been assassinated?
-This… -His Majesty was assassinated just now?
This is too much of a coincidence.
Eunuch Hu.
Have you seen any suspicious-looking men?
General, how is His Majesty now?
I'm so anxious now.
The imperial physician is treating him now.
Eunuch Hu, I was asking you.
Have you seen any suspicious-looking men?
No.
Do you know what I'm thinking?
If I can be with you,
I don't mind
staying here longer.
No.
-Search the place! -Yes, General!
I have a report!
The personal servant in Yuqian Palace, Zhang Jin, has gone missing.
Lock down the Imperial Palace at once.
We have to find him.
The Crown Prince has summoned you to the imperial hall.
All right.
Follow me.
Let's go.
You can come out now.
If the Crown Prince has summoned him,
it means that His Majesty is already dead.
It looks like Zhang Jin
knows a lot of secrets.
It's too much of a coincidence for him to go missing now.
The palace is in lockdown now.
Let's find a way to get out first.
Sirs, can you please do me a favor?
After we pass the watchtower, we'll be able to leave.
It takes 30 breaths for the guards to finish a rotation on the watchtower.
I have an idea.
Who is it?
Your Highness,
Mr. Yu is waiting in the side hall.
-Sorry for being late. -Rise.
Wuyuan.
My father is in fatal danger now.
If something happens to him,
this country, this position…
You have to help me.
Mr. Yu, have you been in the Imperial City
these past few days?
His Highness invites me
to visit him at the palace every month to study together.
I just reached here yesterday.
Are you suspecting me, General?
His Majesty was assassinated today.
Everyone who entered the palace will become a suspect.
What is it? Can't I suspect you?
General Dong Shufang.
Wuyuan is devoted to the Dadong Empire.
Although the Empyrean Yu family
has never joined the court,
we are always there for the emperor.
We are loyal to the emperor.
But every state knows
that you are close to Huang Chao of Jizhou.
Everyone knows
that Huang Chao has never given up
on his ambition to rule over the world.
I've never hidden my relationship with Jizhou from anyone.
But I have my own reasons for not talking about it.
But don't worry, Your Highness and General.
Everything that I do
will be for the people.
I won't betray the people.
All right, Mr. Yu.
Remember
what you said today.
His Majesty has passed away!
-Father. -Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Father.
-Your Majesty. -Father.
Your Majesty.
-The Empyrean Token -Father!
will be mine.
The Imperial Guards are on high alert. We are not allowed through.
Let's find an inn to rest for the night.
All of you must be tired.
All right.
Fengxi.
Fengxi!
Why are you here?
You visited my father.
I saw the liquor you left
in front of his grave.
Fengxi, are those guards chasing after you?
We can't stay here for long.
Let's talk at another place.
Your Highness.
You have to lock down the Imperial City.
We can't let people know that His Majesty
has passed away.
No.
Why not?
I think that we shouldn't keep this a secret.
We should tell the people about it.
Do you know
who the assassin is?
Who is he working for?
How many spies are lurking in the city?
Do you think
that we can keep it a secret?
Yu Wuyuan.
What are you plotting?
All Six States are watching us with ill intent.
With the passing of His Majesty, they will all attack the Imperial City.
That's why we should spread the news.
A hero is born in troubled times.
Only when the Six States are at war
that His Highness will get a slim chance of survival.
How can he survive?
Don't worry, General and Your Highness.
I have a solution.
Enough.
Pass down my order.
Inform the Six States
about my father's passing.
General Dong Shufang.
Yes, Your Highness.
Continue to search for the assassin.
Yes, Your Highness.
The silver needle is not reacting to it.
My father told me
that this poison is very rare.
It's used by the Imperial Army of the Dadong Empire.
Not many know about it.
This kind of poison really exists.
Fengxi, I've misunderstood you.
Get up.
I don't blame you.
Under those circumstances,
anyone would panic.
But I hurt you.
If something happened to you, I would've done a grave mistake.
Fengxi, I'm sorry.
There's no need to apologize.
I'm still alive and doing well, right?
Let bygones be bygones.
Don't mention it again, all right?
It's already in the past.
Fengxi won't take it to heart.
When did Master offend someone from the Imperial Palace?
Why did they poison him?
I think it's because our master was investigating
the fake Empyrean Token in secret.
Your Highness, a report from Fountain Abode.
They found a corpse in front of the palace gate.
That corpse belongs
to the missing eunuch,
Zhang Jin.
Zhang Jin is dead?
What is his cause of death?
Who killed him?
There was a cut on his body.
Based on the wound,
it's a skill of the Soultaker Sect.
Was Zhang Jin a member of the Soultaker Sect?
They silenced him with death.
If that's true,
then this is not as simple as we think.
They lured us here with Nux Vomica.
The Emperor was assassinated at the same time.
What is the mastermind planning?
Is the Soultaker Sect responsible for my father's death?
I think Master Bai must have discovered something.
That's why he was killed.
But now, we are sure that the Soultaker Sect
is responsible for the Emperor's death.
Fengxi, let's seek the Soultaker Sect.
Yes, we have to avenge our master.
No. Now that the Emperor of Dadong is dead,
everyone will try to attack this place.
War is going to break out soon.
It will be dangerous out there.
Don't worry.
I'll find the real culprit.
I'll find the person who killed our master
and avenge him.
-But-- -Langhua.
Master is gone.
You are his only daughter.
I'm sure he doesn't want to see you putting yourself in danger.
Moreover,
you've been entrusted with the duty to revive our sect.
Protect our juniors.
Understand?
Yes, Fengxi.
Why are you here?
No one saw you, right?
I've already taken care of the people outside.
They won't wake up so soon.
I sent you a letter with a pigeon two days ago.
When Lord of Yongzhou knew Jizhou and Youzhou were joining hands,
he sent his troops to head toward the border of Qingzhou.
He wants to reap the benefits from it.
What is the plan of Mr. Yu and Prince Huang?
Mr. Yu is more ambitious than that.
Everything is going smoothly.
He is going to reopen
the old case of Yongzhou.
We train our subordinates at length for one single use.
He wants you to make your move now.
I'll do as he commands.
Could it be
that he is confident
in taking down Yongzhou as well?
Yongzhou is nothing to speak of.
After all, he has planned this for so long.
Let's talk about you for example.
Who would have thought
that the Prime Minister of Yongzhou
is the spy of Jizhou?
Mr. Yu has planned ahead of time
just for this moment.
He is indeed wise.
That's it for now.
Feng Ju is gathering his forces right now.
You can make use of him.
I'll follow up with you later.
Wait.
How is my mother in Jizhou?
I can't be by her side to take care of her.
I miss her so much.
Don't worry.
Prince Huang Chao knows you are a citizen of Jizhou
who is working for Jizhou out here.
His Highness will make sure she is well taken care of.
After we succeed and everything is in place,
you can come back to Jizhou.
I promise you can reunite with your mother.
Thank you for His Highness' kindness.
STILL ALIVE AND RESIDES IN YONGZHOU
Is there any news?
I've found her.
Not long after my mother passed away, someone did leave the harem.
Her appearance
is the same as in the portrait.
And she's still alive.
-I have to go back to Yongzhou. -I'll go with you.
What do you want?
Nux Vomica.
Lady Yige.
I don't know what you are talking about.
Looks like you don't want to see your husband and son ever again.
Please don't hurt them.
In that incident,
you were just a pawn who was being used.
You are still alive now.
I'm sure you don't want to die.
Besides,
you have a husband and son.
How painful it is for your son
to lose his mother.
I'll tell you everything.
Back then,
I was seduced by Lady Baili's money.
So I obeyed her order
to buy medicine from the black market.
But back then,
I didn't know what the medicine was for.
NUX VOMICA
After that, Lady Yige suddenly passed away.
Only then did I realize
that the two incidents were connected.
Out of fear, I asked for permission to leave.
That's all I know.
You know such a huge secret about Baili.
Why did she let you leave the palace
instead of killing you?
Someone saved me in secret.
Who?
-I don't know. -Tell me!
I really don't know.
Continue.
After that, everything was fine.
I thought that no one would never know about it.
But I still can't run away from it.
But who are you?
Yige's son.
Your Highness, please spare my life.
I was wrong.
I have been repenting.
Please have mercy on me.
You are
still useful to me.
Prime Minister, Feng Lanxi has found Du Xian.
The fish
has finally bitten the bait.
Notify Jizhou
that everything is going according to plan.
Yes, sir.
What are you thinking about? Tell me.
I'm just thinking about the past.
I've always lived
in a conspiracy.
It's going to be exposed soon.
Now, I finally understand
why they fear me so much.
But I don't know
whether or not my father knows about it.
If he already knew,
what should I do?
No matter what happens after this,
let's face it together.
Don't worry.
I won't let them succeed.
Your Highness, as per your order,
I've put Du Xian and her family under our protection.
Also, I've sent out our men.
But the incident of the late Lady Yige happened so long ago.
I'm afraid we won't be able to find much evidence on it.
We found Nux Vomica this time.
I believe that with this progress,
together with the evidence Fountain Abode has found,
we can find out the truth.
Yes, Your Highness.
Another thing, keep a close eye on Feng Ju's residence.
He'll come back from the south soon.
Yes, Your Highness. I'll handle it now.
What should we do next?
Expose their crime.
Let them deal with the consequences of their actions
and bring justice to my mother.
I thought that my mother's death
was due to the rivalry of the royal harem.
Now, it's not that simple.
I'm afraid the officials in the court
were involved in it as well.
Why would the officials of the court
work with Baili to murder Lady Yige?
Profits.
I think my mother was too secure in her position.
So she was in their way of gaining profits.
Now,
we can only follow this lead
to uproot them.
Sorry for interrupting, Ms. Feng and Your Highness.
Qiwu, how have you been?
I'm fine.
His Highness had helped me before he left.
Moreover, the Feng family has a strong influence in Yongzhou.
His Lordship won't attack us simply.
When we left Yongzhou,
I worried about you the most.
Qiwu.
Did something happen in the capital lately?
This is the record of what had happened in the capital recently.
Please take a look.
REWARD FOR THE ARMY
"Rewarding the army of the south."
Why are there so many soldiers?
You've realized it too.
I suspect that His Lordship's target
is Qingzhou.
My father wants to attack Qingzhou?
I think he wants to prevent Jizhou and Youzhou
from attacking Qingzhou together.
If Qingzhou is taken down,
Yongzhou will be in danger.
So His Lordship sent out his troops
in the name of rewarding the army.
He wants to gauge the situation before making a decision.
Most of our troops are heading toward the border of Qingzhou now.
The capital of Yongzhou is at its weakest.
If anyone decides to attack us,
it will be a dire situation for us.
Qiwu.
Report to me at once if anything happens in the court
-these days. -Yes, Your Highness.
How are you, Father and Xieyue?
I heard Qingzhou is under the attack of Jizhou and Youzhou.
I miss both of you so much.
I don't know the whole situation yet.
I can't wait to be back.
Your Highness, according to our scout,
the army of Youzhou
will reach the border of Qingzhou soon.
Within half a month,
they'll reach Lang City.
What about their military forces?
Is the Skyrider Cavalry of Jizhou with them?
Based on our intel,
Youzhou has sent out 50,000 soldiers.
The Skyrider Cavalry of Jizhou is not among them.
But Huang Chao is with them.
I think the Skyrider Cavalry is on its way.
The Lord of Youzhou is determined to take down Qingzhou.
But
he has forgotten who abandoned his city and surrendered ten years ago.
Even if he has the Skyrider Cavalry,
we have the Fengyun Cavalry.
We don't have to be afraid of him.
Your Highness,
aside from the soldiers of Youzhou,
the army of Yongzhou has reached the south of Yongzhou a few days ago.
However, the Lord of Yongzhou has sent us a letter
stating that Yongzhou will lend us a hand
if we ask for their help.
Yongzhou?
They are just another ambitious party with ill intent.
What's their target?
They want to take over our state too.
We can't work together
with those cunning snakes.
I agree.
Yongzhou is watching from the sideline to reap the benefits of this war.
If we ask Yongzhou for help to go against Youzhou,
it wouldn't be good
for Qingzhou.
General Xu, bring 30,000 soldiers from the Fengyun Cavalry
to Lang City first.
Defend Lang City together with the garrison there.
Yes, Your Highness.
General Qi.
Get a team to Ling City in secret.
If Huang Chao's Skyrider Cavalry is to come,
they'll have to pass through Ling City.
Send a team to stop them.
Yes, Your Highness.
I want to meet
this fearsome Skyrider Cavalry too.
I'll leave it to you then, my fellow generals.
-Yes, Your Highness. -Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness, we have news from Princess Xiyun.
Her Highness is in Yongzhou now.
Send her a letter at once.
Yes, Your Highness.
YONGZHOU
Are you saying that Feng Lanxi has found out about Nux Vomica?
How is that possible?
It's true.
And Prince Lanxi already knows
that you are the one behind it.
He's gathering evidence now.
Soon, he'll report it to His Lordship.
I am the mastermind?
Have you forgotten
who was the one who dragged me into this back then?
But your dream came true
when you moved into this Phoenix Palace, didn't it?
But if His Lordship finds out
you are the one
who plotted the murder of Yige back then,
what will he think of you?
Are you threatening me, Your Highness?
Since you are here to inform me about it,
I'm sure you want us to survive this.
If this secret is exposed,
it won't do us any good.
It will affect Feng Ju's position as the heir of the Lord too.
So let me ask you.
Do you have a plan?
I heard Prince Ju managed to defeat the bandits in the south.
It was a fruitful victory.
He is also in charge of a large troop right now.
Now, most of Yongzhou's military forces
have been sent to the border of Qingzhou by His Lordship.
If Prince Ju can arrest Feng Lanxi at that time
in the name of cleaning up the court for His Lordship,
then no one can ever compete with Prince Ju
for the title of the heir.
Also,
you can stop anyone from finding out about the death of Lady Yige.
So your plan all along is to ask Feng Ju
to overthrow His Lordship.
What if we fail?
This is the only way.
Besides, Prince Ju can now get his wish fulfilled earlier.
Killing multiple birds with one stone.
But how should we do it?
What is your plan?
It will be His Lordship's birthday in seven days.
I hope you can help me
get His Lordship's Military Tally.
I'll use the Military Tally
to let the city defense garrison take over the Royal Army under Zhao Hai
for the safety of the palace.
At the same time,
you'll receive a secret letter
stating that Feng Lanxi wants to use this chance to revolt
by sending his soldiers to storm the palace.
This is where Feng Ju will come in to save the court.
That's indeed a good plan.
This is a grave matter.
I have to think about it.
I'll wait for you
to come to a decision then, Your Highness.
I'll take my leave now.