01x33 - Episode 33

[bunniefuu]

Why did you

say that Prince Fei told you to come?

I'm Ganquan Palace's maid.

I came to you

on Grand Consort's instructions.

(Chief Clerk of Qin, Li Si)
Ganquan Palace

is Queen Dowager's residence.

Why did you say that
Grand Consort instructed you?

My heart and body belong to the prince.

Grand Consort also agreed for the prince

to marry me when she was alive.

(Maid Ye)
If the prince dies,

I won't keep living either.

I see.

Grand Consort told me

that if Prince Chengjiao's life
is in peril,

I shall seek your help.

Therefore I've already checked
your whereabouts earlier.

Now, everyone in Xianyang is saying that

Prince Chengjiao is a traitor.

100 thousand troops were detailed
by Prime Minister to k*ll him.

Please save the prince, sir.

All right, speak while standing up.

Thank you, sir.

Grand Consort
was Han Fei's elder sister.

Han Fei must have taught her
to say so.

That means

Han Fei is the one requesting me

to save Prince Chengjiao.

Han Fei was my classmate

and he's my good friend.

I should help him.

However,

I'm Qin's official.

Currently...

Sir, is there a way to save the prince?

It would be difficult.

Lord Chang'an's rebellious official call
to arms has spread to the other states.

Many say that you're a great talent.

You'd surely figure out a way.

I'm begging you.

You let me think about it again.

Let me think about it again.

As far as I know,

His Majesty doesn't want to harm
his brother.

The one who wants to k*ll
Prince Chengjiao

is actually Queen Dowager.

If we want to save him,

it will be great

if we have the goods on
Queen Dowager.

Yes, we have that.

Queen Dowager is the regent.

What can she do wrong?

Queen Dowager has two sons.

That's nonsense.

Queen Dowager's only son

is His Majesty.

I meant,

aside from His Majesty,

she has two other sons.

The father is Chief Palace Attendant,
Lao Ai.

Queen Dowager went
to Yongcheng for a few years

to avoid His Majesty

and give birth to her sons.

Is it true?

Yes.

This is Ganquan Palace's huge secret.

Chief Palace Attendant instructed
everyone not to say a word.

He even kept rewarding people

to shut the mouths
of the palace attendants

and the palace maids.

Everyone covets the rewards

and fears Queen Dowager.

We don't dare to tell anyone about it,

or we'll be k*lled.

Who else did you mention this to?

Just Grand Consort.

Even Prince Chengjiao doesn't know.

So Queen Dowager

is hiding such a huge secret.

Can it be used to save Prince Chengjiao?

I do have a way.

I just don't know
if you'll dare to do it.

As long as the prince can be saved,

I'll do it even if I'll die.

All right.

You follow me to Zhangtai Palace

to see His Majesty

and tell him Queen Dowager's secret.

If His Majesty knows the truth,

perhaps he'll pardon Prince Chengjiao.

All right, I'm willing to tell
His Majesty.

Guards.

Prepare the carriage.

After you.

Thank you, sir.

(Xin Sheng)
There's no need to thank me.

I'm staying at the inn opposite.

I heard a commotion outside just now,

so I came to help.

How did you offend Lao Ai, sir?

These are Lao Ai's people?

I've seen

two of them
in Lao Ai's residence before.

They're his retainers.

These few people...

Don't worry.

I'll take care of it.

Thank you, sir.

May I ask for your name?

I'm Xin Sheng.

I once battled with Xiongnu's army
in Shang Commandery.

I came to Xianyang
for a brighter future.

An elite warrior from the border.

Are you willing to work for me?

Yes.

Do you know who I am?

You're Mr. Li Si.
His Majesty values you.

I'm willing to work for you

and serve His Majesty.

(General of Qin, Fan Wuji)

(Lord Chang'an of Qin, Chengjiao)

General Fan.

We have been stationing here.

When will we make a move?

Be patient.

After the six states have received
the official call to arms

and sent their troops,

then only we can mobilize the troops.

We've been stationing here.

If Qin happens to mobilize its troops,

what should we do?

Don't we have Zhao?

Guo Kai's personally leading the troops.

They don't have a general.
How can they battle?

My lord, don't worry.

We'll hear news soon.

Report!

Report! Someone...

Someone would like to see you.

General.

Why are you here, General?

(General of Qin, Wang Jian)

It's not just me.

I brought 100 thousand troops
from the Qin army.

You...

You're here to capture me?

Exactly.

Wang Jian.

You're so bold.

You want me to tell my men...

to break you into pieces?

No one will listen to you here.

We're all Qin's soldiers.

What... What do you mean?

Chengjiao.

You really thought that I would follow

a spoiled brat like you

and betray Qin?

You... How dare you lie to me!

Now, Qin and the six states

know that you're a traitor.

No one can help you now,

and no one can save you either.

You... You set me up!

I was just acting on
Prime Minister's instructions,

but you can't blame him.

Blame yourself

for being born into an imperial family.

What's the matter?
You still want to resist?

Fan Wuji.

Even if I die,
I want you to die with me!

Are you done?

Prime Minister has given the order.

"Ying Chengjiao

is a traitor who colluded with our enemy
and falsely accused His Majesty.

He should be k*lled.

Execute him on the spot."

Take him outside and execute him.

Yes.

Prime Minister, what should we do?

Report!

Here's a letter from Qin.

Leave now!

Yes.

(Prime Minister of Zhao, Guo Kai)

Chengjiao was ex*cuted.

If our army doesn't retreat,
they'll battle with us.

Prime Minister.

Will we still battle with the Qin army?

Battle? Can we defeat them?

Retreat! Are you waiting to die here?

Yes.

Hurry up and let's go.

Report!

Speak.

The Zhao army is retreating.

(King of Han, An)

The battle hasn't begun.
Why are they retreating?

Wang Jian came with 100 thousand troops.

They've already ex*cuted
Prince Chengjiao.

Chengjiao is dead?

(King Daoxiang of Zhao, Yan)
How did it go?

Chengjiao is dead.

You...

You retreated the army

without battling with Qin.

You've totally...

You've totally embarrassed me!

Your Majesty, don't be angry.

Don't let this take a toll
on your health.

Your Majesty, the Qin people
are so cunning.

They used us to k*ll Chengjiao, in fact.

I thought that
since Chengjiao was already ex*cuted,

if I still battle with Qin,

we might not necessarily win.

If we lost some troops as a consequence,

it wouldn't be worth it.

That was why I ordered them to retreat.

Fool!

Fool!

What's the use of my troops?

I'm to defeat Ying Zheng!

Right.

I was a fool.

I'll deploy troops to Qin
for a battle again.

Even if l die for the nation,

I won't have any regrets.

Scram!

Your Majesty, don't be angry.

Don't let this take a toll
on your health.

Your Majesty.

Your Majesty, don't be angry.

Scram!

Prime Minister,
you're old and wise indeed.

You removed Zheng's threat
so quietly and unknowingly.

Even if Zheng is resentful,

he won't be able to blame me.

(Prime Minister of Qin, Lv Buwei)
After what happened, you should know

(Queen Dowager of Qin, Zhao Ji)
that even if Zheng is on the throne,

a lot of people are coveting

his position.

Aside from Chengjiao,

who else?

There are lots of men in the Ying family
in Xianyang.

Some are even holding military power.

What should we do then?

We can't k*ll them all.

I'm worried that

after Zheng governs the state,

the people in the Ying royal family

would take advantage of him
all the more.

What do you mean?

Zheng has the Ying bloodline.

He is inherently close

to the Ying royal family.

On the clan banquet,

who...

Who first mentioned

letting Zheng carry out

the Coming of Age Ceremony
and govern the state?

Think about it.

Think carefully, Queen Dowager.

It was Lord Weiwen.

After Zheng governs the state,

he'll surely value people
from the Ying royal family.

Once they have gained power,

Qin's affairs

wouldn't be merely decided by us
anymore.

Even the king's appointment
and dethronement

will be decided by them.

That won't do.

Zheng can't be controlled
by the royal family.

How do you plan to deal with this?

Tell me.

He's just a child, after all.

He's very sentimental.

It's easy for those people

with ulterior motives

to use and harm him.

Qin's affairs

need to be handled by you

whom Zheng trusts.

Of course,

but I trust you, too.

Something is amiss.

What is it?

Queen Dowager Xuan reigned in
the state

for over 40 years.

That was why the late King Zhaoxiang

lived long and accomplished
great things.

Under Queen Dowager Xuan
and the late King Zhaoxiang's rule,

Qin dominated the states.

What is amiss?

All right.

We'll do as you said.

You and I

will guard Qin

on Zheng's behalf.

We can't let those ambitious thieves
from the royal family

take advantage of it.

It's the end of the year.

The crucial matters reported by
each commandery and district

will be handled accordingly.

Anything else you want to report?

(King of Qin, Zheng)

(Lord Weiyang of Qin, Ying Xi)

I, Minister of Imperial Affairs,
Ying Xi, have something to report.

Go ahead.

We've been planning for His Majesty's
Coming of Age Ceremony for long.

Currently,

the funeral is over, and the rebellion
has been crushed.

It's time for Qin
to unify all the states.

I'm requesting Your Majesty
to govern the state

and lead the people
in accomplishing great things.

Please carry out the Coming of Age Ceremony
and govern the state, Your Majesty.

(Secondary Marquis of Qin)

His Majesty's Coming of Age Ceremony
is an important national affair.

The regent Queen Dowager
must decide about it.

Mother.

King's Coming of Age Ceremony
isn't a trivial matter.

King inherits the late King's legacy

and the lives of the people
depend on him.

Even if His Majesty is old enough
to carry out the Coming of Age Ceremony,

in recent years,

anomalies, chaos

and hardships abound.

It's really not the best time for
His Majesty's Coming of Age Ceremony.

I've decided

to carry out His Majesty's
Coming of Age Ceremony

after two years.

When everything is going smoothly
in Qin,

only we can carry out
the Coming of Age Ceremony.

(Lord Weiwen of Qin, Yingsheng)

According to the late King's
imperial orders,

the regent Queen Dowager and
Prime Minister assisting in governance

shall return their power to His Majesty

when he turns 20.

His Majesty is already 20.

He should carry out the Coming of Age
Ceremony and govern immediately.

Otherwise, we will be defying
the late King's imperial orders.

Lord Weiwen, you're so impatient.

Are you planning something?

What a joke.

We're all officials

from the royal family.

Requesting His Majesty to carry out
the Coming of Age Ceremony and govern

is our responsibility.

Should it only benefit us

before we do so?

Prime Minister, you were a merchant.

We don't blame you

for calculating the pros and cons
for every matter.

After Chengjiao from the Ying royal family
betrayed the nation,

does anyone from the family
want to do the same?

Goodbye, His Majesty.

(Madam of Qin, Mi Hua, Li Qiu)

Madam, Dong'er is here.

Madam.

(Dong'er)
Dong'er.

Dong'er.

His Majesty has been staying
in his study the whole day.

He wouldn't see anyone.

His Majesty didn't eat
or drink anything today.

Talk to him,

so that he...

Madam, don't panic.

His Majesty will be fine.

Perhaps he prefers to be alone now

and talk to himself.

But...

There are numerous challenges
in this world.

His Majesty can overcome all of them.

Please return to your chambers and rest.

Don't worry too much.

Throughout these years,

I've been managing the state,
writing books, and recruiting talents

so that someday,

I can hand over Qin to him,

and in one go,

he can unify all the states!

It's not the time yet,

and he's impatient about the Coming
of Age Ceremony and governing.

How childish!

He'll surely cause a big trouble,

and I must clean up the mess!

How childish.

Summon Li Si to the palace.

Yes.

Your Majesty.

For Chengjiao's death...

You also played a part.

In order to assist Your Majesty
in gaining your rightful power

and unifying all the states,

I won't have any regrets even if I die.

You want to use Chengjiao's life

to sober me up.

Have you thought

about how to give me what I want?

Your Majesty.

Prime Minister is a very clever man.

Since he started managing the state's affairs,
he kept all parties' power balanced.

He works with strength and grace,
and he does things flawlessly.

However, to err is human.

Please give me more time.

I'll surely get hold of
Prime Minister's weakness.

As long as we hit his weakness hard,

we can surely succeed.

Then you will get what you want.

Do you think we're very close already?

I...

don't dare to assume that.

Good thing you're aware.

Go and do it.

Yes.

It seems like in Qin,

what its Prime Minister says, counts.

But I heard that

it was Qin's Queen Dowager

who wanted to delay King of Qin
from governing.

That's because you're not aware.

Before Qin's Queen Dowager

married the late King of Qin,

she was a retainer in Lv's residence.

Now,

(Hostage from Wei)
although she's the regent Queen Dowager,

in reality,

she listens

to what Prime Minister says.

That's right.

(Hostage from Han)
Queen Dowager's favored official now

was once Prime Minister's retainer, too.

You're referring to Lao Ai?

That palace attendant is amazing.

He bought a residence in Xianyang

(Hostage from Qi)
and recruited retainers.

What a presence.

I've met him before.

He's arrogant and domineering.

(Hostage from Yan)
He's like a Xianyang's nouveau riche.

Their king has no real power.

The visitors, royal family,

and the Chu faction

all just seem to get along
on the surface.

Now, there's a nouveau riche.

Qin will surely be chaotic
in the future.

Chaotic? The more chaotic, the better.

Be so chaotic until they have
internal strife

and have no time
to unify all the states.

When that time comes,

it will be the opportunity
for states in Guandong region to rise.

Right.

Grandmother.

(Queen Dowager Huayang of Qin)

Chengjiao.

I came to visit you.

Why did you come, Your Majesty?

My younger brother died.

You'll surely feel sad.

I came to accompany you.

Thank you for your kind thought,
Your Majesty.

Grandmother.

I want to ask you.

Am I not your grandson?

I'm also hoping that,

like Chengjiao,

you would love me, too.

I'm your grandson, too!

I'm your only family now!

Speak while standing up.

Stand up.

At the imperial court yesterday,

the Chu faction was on my side.

I would like to thank you, Grandmother.

However, you still

can't carry out the Coming of Age
Ceremony and govern the state.

I wanted to save my brother,

yet I couldn't!

In Qin,

someone wanted to k*ll
the King's brother,

yet the King couldn't stop it!

Grandmother, isn't that funny?

Your Majesty.

Chengjiao's death

was just a ploy to prevent you

from governing.

Grandmother, you're brilliant.

You should also know very well

what I would like to do next.

For the sake of Qin,

for the unification of all the states,

I'd never endure over ten years of this.

I don't want to become
another King Zhaoxiang.

Grandmother, please take care.

I'll come and visit you again.

Merchants and hostages from
the six states are so impetuous.

(Zheng Yi)

During warring times,
merchants aren't doing business

and hostages aren't
fulfilling their roles.

They're on the lookout for news

to scout for their states.

If we get hold of anything on them,

punish them according to the Qin law.

Let the Xianyang Magistrate handle it.

What about Mo Bi from Yide Pavilion?

We can't let him live.

Yes.

Prime Minister.

Fan Wuji is requesting to see you.

Bring him to the study first.

Yes.

The debt collector is here.

Fan Wuji still can't let go

of his desire to lead troops to battle.

His heart is not in serving His Majesty.

I'll let him do what he wants then.

Chengjiao was ex*cuted out of the state.

After death, his memorial tablet can't
be placed in the ancestral temple

and can't be buried
in the Ying family's graves.

This was all because of Lv Buwei.

That cunning merchant is so callous!

Lv Buwei has been controlling Qin
for over ten years

and bullying, oppressing
the royal family for long.

Now, he has even influenced
Queen Dowager

to delay His Majesty from governing.

With such a desire for power,

he even said that

he has been putting in so much effort
for Qin.

Powerful officials harm
the state indeed.

That traitor got Chengjiao k*lled.

Even if I, Ying Yu, risk my life,

I'll k*ll him.

Don't act recklessly.

Based on your current circumstances,

if you fight against Lv Buwei,

it's like trying to smash a stone
with an egg.

I don't want you to follow the footsteps
of Chengjiao.

Huayang.

I thought

(Lord Yangquan of Qin, Mi Chen)
I'd never eat with you

and my two nephews again.

That's enough.

Why do you act like Chengjiao,

who was a crybaby?

Chengjiao.

That child suffered injustice, Huayang.

(Official of Qin, Mi Qi)

Queen Dowager,

Uncle.

Don't be too sad.

Right.

Auntie, Uncle,

(Official of Qin, Mi Dian)
it's rare for us to gather together.

Take care of yourselves.

Huayang.

Back then,

were we wrong to make Yiren

the legitimate son?

If we didn't do that,

how could Lv Buwei

be so powerful in the state now?

Also, how can the Mi clan

decline so much?

No.

Making Yiren the legitimate son

was the greatest accomplishment

by the Mi family for Qin and the world.

Back then,

if we didn't make Yiren
the legitimate son,

how could we get His Majesty?

His Majesty?

There's roaring thunder
and blinding lightning.

There's no peace everywhere.

These warring times

might change soon.

It's time for a change, too.

However, Prime Minister is the one
governing the state now.

His Majesty can't govern himself.

How can he unify all the states?

Lv Buwei

became a powerful official
from a merchant.

His tactics and courage

are far better than
the ordinary people's.

But his fault lies

in staying at a high position
for long,

and he's trapped by his desire
for power.

He wrote books and appointed officials,

and he thought that Qin

must go forward
according to his stratagems.

Even His Majesty
should listen to him.

He doesn't know that

those who submit will prosper;

those who resist will perish.

His good days

are numbered.

Remember this well.

At all times,

if you're loyal to His Majesty,

you can never go wrong.

Let's dig in.

♪I remember the cold wind last night,
look at the world♪

♪It's boundless and vast♪

♪Each year is sad and very tumultuous♪

♪Military exercises at the plateaus,
horses drinking by the Yangtze River♪

♪Communicating the unification
of the country♪

♪Brandishing the safety of the world♪

♪The land was given to officials for
500 years, lives flourished and decayed♪

♪Ruined structures, sorrows, heroes'
tears, I must have great ambition♪

♪In the vast mountains and rivers,
the weather keeps changing♪

♪Bring peace to the world, build a new
universe, be like the sun and the moon♪

♪Armed for battle,
the soldiers are unstoppable♪

♪A land consumed by w*r,
the beginning of the king's law♪

♪Follow the footsteps of
our ancestors and martyrs♪

♪A great nation's
iron-willed representative♪