Subtitles brought to you by The Scintillating Team @ Viki.com
~ Moonrise by Lu Hu & Huang Yali ~
♫ The moonlight shines brightly on the strings of the zither that night ♫
♫ You and I are teetering on the edge of loneliness ♫
♫ Softly reciting the bygone days we cannot return to ♫
♫ Also floating in the air is a kite with a string that has snapped ♫
♫ The yearning stirs my heartstrings that night ♫
♫ Love and hate whimper quietly and unrestrainedly ♫
♫ To meet or not to meet, both are similarly on the edge of pain ♫
♫ That umbrella that shielded me from the rain was badly damaged ♫
♫ At moonrise, I meet with you ♫
♫ At moonset, I could not see you anymore ♫
♫ At moonrise, I endlessly yearn for you ♫
♫ At moonset... at moonset... ♫
♫ A millennium passes by rapidly... ♫
The Legend of Hao Lan
Episode 48
Your Majesty, if we kill Lu Buwei, we can calm the anger of the people. Kill him!
That's right. Kill him!
Kill him!
Your Majesty, if I can't recover the gold by tomorrow,
I'm willing to die.
Fine. I will give you another day.
Okay then. The deadline is tomorrow.
Fine, tomorrow is the deadline.
It's a deal.
Crown Prince, one more time.
Crown Prince, over there.
Crown Prince, you are great.
You lost. Come and be punished.
Punish him now. He lost.
What's this? The game is inferior.
Who are you?
Crown Prince, that's Minister Lu.
I'm the Crown Prince of Great Qin. Whatever I do, it's none of your business.
As the Crown Prince, you should be playing the most interesting game in the kingdom.
What's so interesting about fooling around with a group of people in the palace?
What's the best game in the kingdom?
Follow me.
Why should I follow you? You are the subject. Follow me.
Crown Prince, this...
- It's empty. - That's right.
The biggest weakness of a battle is the rear.
If a cavalry attacks from the rear, it's very likely to collapse.
If I replace another row, you won't be able to do anything.
I don't believe you. Do it again.
Crown Prince, Minister Lu is very busy. He wouldn't have the time to play with you.
Your game is not interesting. Scram!
This is very easy.
Line up according to the arrangement of the stones. I will hit it and show you.
Come, I will change to another method. Do it again.
Arrange the position and line these up again.
You are awake.
How pitiful.
If this knife has gone in deeper,
even if I invited the best physician in Qin state,
you would have gone to heaven.
Your humble servant, Situ Que,
greets the Prince and Prince Yangquan.
No need to force yourself. Sit and talk.
Prince's kindness in saving me, I will etch it in my heart.
If I can survive, I will repay your kindness.
Saving you was an accident.
Whether you can survive or not, it depends on your determination. It has nothing to do with me.
But I didn't imagine this.
You are extremely loyal to Lu Buwei.
Because of a woman, he treated you ruthlessly.
Prince, you are a righteous person.
Can you tell that he and his Master have obviously set up a trap
to deceive us to take the bait?
Is that so?
Prince Yangquan, do you really think Lu Buwei would allow himself to be captured without putting up a fight?
Why?
The so-called seven days deadline was just a delay.
For the last 7 days, he has secretly dealt with his businesses in all countries.
Everything has been emptied out. The real estate and land have been gradually sold.
Even the ancestral estate of Wei state has been cast off.
At daybreak tomorrow, even if he can't make up for all the gold, the difference will be negligible.
What do you mean?
Whether this is true or not, investigate it and you will know.
I don't need to lie to you. I can't really help you.
This information is my way of repaying you.
Stop there.
I've been following Lu Buwei for many years. I know his ways.
He is deeply conniving and quickly adapts to changes.
Even if he comes to a dead end, he will still survive.
Based on what you said, what should we do then?
I can't do anything.
Can't do anything?
You really can't do anything?
Situ Que,
haven't you thought of taking revenge?
Also, once you leave Xianyang,
you will never be able to see your beloved person again.
You have already repaid what you owed Lu Buwei.
Don't you want a way out to find a new path?
Prince.
I have a trusted aide in Lu Manor.
But, Prince, are you willing to trust me?
I will. I will give you a chance.
Prince.
Greetings, Empress Dowager.
Why are you here?
I heard that you are sick and came to visit you.
It's a pity that my body is heavy and clumsy. The prince doesn't want me to leave the house.
There are people guarding the front and back doors. I managed to sneak out today.
Comforting gifts have already arrived at Hope Peace Palace.
Is there a need for you to make your way here?
Prince's wife, if there's anything, just be blunt.
Empress Dowager, you are anxious. I will be blunt then.
Lu Buwei has been diligently investigating the lost gold.
He didn't even go back to Lu Manor.
But this afternoon, he was in the garden playing with the Crown Prince.
What are you trying to say?
I believe you have heard the rumors going around in the streets of Xianyang.
I'm here to advise you to relax.
The Empress, from being a down-and-out woman from Zhao state, became the Empress of Great Qin.
She knows what to decide and plan things in advance,
Between a Qin prince and a common merchant, the choice was easy.
When she first abandoned Lu Buwei and threw herself into the Emperor's embrace,
it's also human nature.
Prince's wife, watch what you say.
It's that between them, one discards old love and the other hungers for wealth and power.
They hoodwinked His Majesty.
If the Crown Prince is really not His Majesty's biological son...
their evil intention is really very scary.
Shut up!
Empress Dowager, don't be angry.
Will your health be able to take it?
Empress Dowager, take care of yourself.
Today, you are standing here
because you just want to sow dissension
and gain all the benefits?
Don't you think I am aware of your ambition like a wild wolf (aggressively greedy)?
That's right. I'm here to stir up troubles and sow dissension.
My husband is the same as His Majesty. They are both impressively from the bloodline of the Great Qin.
Of course, he should have the right to succession and ascension to the throne.
But, what right does Zheng'er have?
Is it based on his birthright from a mother who was a dance performer?
Or is it based on his biological father who came from a lowly merchant background?
Get lost.
Empress Dowager, the occupant of the Yongmen Palace isn't the Empress.
The one who stands in the imperial court is also not Prime Minister Lü.
They are a pair of thieves who schemed to seize the state of Qin.
At all times, they glare like tigers watching their preys (eyeing covetously) with the intent to usurp the throne.
As for you, as the Empress Dowager of the Great Qin,
how can you just look on helplessly?
Looking on helplessly as the throne falls by the side.
Looking on helplessly as this pair of Great Qin thieves live on freely, happily and unrestrained.
After a lifetime, how would you face the late king?
Also, how would you face the ancestors of the Great Qin?
I'm asking you to get lost! Men!
Let's see who would dare to touch me.
I won't trouble you, Empress Dowager. I will leave on my own.
But you must think clearly and thoroughly.
No matter who will end up on the Great Qin's throne,
it shouldn't be Zheng'er.
Empress Dowager, Princess Consort is maliciously trying to sow dissension.
Of course, I know what her intentions are.
It's just that there is something she said that's right.
The hardships and painstaking struggles of the Great Qin ancestry
that broke new ground till the state it is today was not an easy feat.
How can it fall into the hands of an outsider?
Go. Invite the Empress over here.
Go immediately!
Yes.
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Greetings, Empress Dowager.
Come. Take a look at my bonsai plant.
Back then, when Zichu was held as a hostage in the state of Zhao,
I think of him daily, crying so much that my eyes are almost blind.
To divert myself from feelings of loneliness, my time was idled away with this.
Each leaf and each branch of this bonsai plant,
including even the little pebbles, are all decorated by me.
Look. The little stone figurine by the faux mountain was also carved by me.
In order to carve this,
even up till today, my fingers are deeply scarred.
The plant is very fragile and it could grow worms or be ill. It needs tender loving care at all times.
What difference is there when compared with raising a child?
Empress Dowager!
Empress Dowager.
Empress Dowager!
What are you doing? Daughter-in-law here is unable to bear it.
No matter how much effort is spent on a bonsai plant, just watering it with a pan of hot water is all it takes for it to wilt.
However precious it may be, it would never be comparable to my beloved biological son.
In my heart, Zichu is the one and only treasure in this world.
Please get up first and we'll talk.
Empress Dowager, what exactly do you want to say?
Empress, ever since your return,
Zichu protects you at every turn and is very fearful that I'd neglect you.
As a mother, of course I would feel disappointed.
But, as long as Zichu is happy, I'd be contented.
But, right now, there's a rumor spreading all over the city of Xianyang.
It says you are the concubine of Lu Buwei
and that Zheng'er is his biological son.
Empress Dowager, why would you believe in such complete nonsense?
Since the matter is at this stage, whether the rumor is true or not is no longer important.
What's important is that Zichu's political foes are beginning to doubt the lineage of Zheng'er.
They say Zichu is foolish and outrageous
to let himself be toyed with in the palms of Lu Buwei.
They say he is not fit to sit on the throne of the Great Qin.
They want to drag him down and take over his place.
Empress.
The rumor has spread quickly and widely.
There's no way to reverse this desperate situation.
I just hope that time will heal all this.
You... Could you leave the city of Yong with the Crown Prince temporarily?
It only needs three years, no, it would probably be even shorter.
Once the rumor has calmed down, you two can come back.
Haolan, I beg you.
Just consider it as my pleas.
Don't ruin my son.
Don't ruin your husband.
Empress Dowager, you don't need to behave this way.
Zichu is your most cherished treasure.
Zheng'er is likewise to me.
As a mother, I will definitely not allow the people to humiliate him in this manner.
Even if you didn't beg me, I would also definitely not stay here.
I am leaving. Please take care of yourself, Empress Dowager.
This is done.
Empress Dowager, isn't this your original intent?
Originally, I thought I would wait for her to leave
and then try to persuade Zichu to change his mind
and change the heir apparent crown prince to Chenjiao.
Unexpectedly, she agreed before I was done talking.
Is this sincerity or hypocrisy?
Empress Dowager, Empress has already agreed.
That matter worked out well.
But it was unfortunate for this bonsai plant.
[ Harmony Gate ]
Why do I not know anything about the rumor outside the palace?
His Majesty has given instruction not to trouble Your Highness with any of the rumors outside the palace.
As a servant slave, how would I dare to disobey and act otherwise?
You may leave.
Yes.
What are you so deep in thoughts about?
I have personally embroidered a robe for you. Quick, try it on.
I don't want to.
What's the matter?
Haolan, I am exhausted.
Then, go and take a rest. All right?
But, I am hungry.
Then, I will get some people to make preparation.
I miss the osmanthus honey cake that you used to personally bake for me.
Now is not the season and so there aren't any osmanthus seeds.
But, I'm sure you've some osmanthus jam hidden somewhere.
That day, I saw it with my own eyes. You had Hu Po deliver it to Zheng'er.
Why don't I have any?
Then, wait a while. I'll be back very soon.
Don't go.
Take a seat and wait a while.
[ Harmony Gate ]
Haolan.
Haolan!
Attendant!
Your Majesty.
Where did Empress go at this time of day?
I am asking you! Where did Empress go?
Your Majesty, please forgive me.
Her Highness... Her Highness heard the rumor that is spreading outside.
Mother, where are we going?
Back to Zhao state. If you don't like it, I will take you to Chu state.
Do you still remember what I said to you in the past?
Your grandmother is from Chu state.
I'm a Crown Prince. I should remain in the palace.
After you entered the palace, you have changed a lot.
You have never gone against my decision.
Mother, you said that, anything I don't want to do, I must be insistent.
You also said that, you won't treat me like a kid and will respect my decision.
I want to go back to the palace. I want to go back now.
You are not allowed to.
Candy figures for sale.
I want to eat candy! Stop the carriage!
Candy figures for sale.
- Zheng'er. - Come and try.
Zheng'er! - I will take two.
You only know how to buy candies. Go back with me.
- Come with me. - I'm not going back!
- Let's go. - I'm not leaving!
- Are you coming or not? - I won't!
Zheng'er, come here.
- Royal Father. - Zheng'er.
I prepared lots of candies and left them in your bed chamber. Come back with me.
Let me have one.
Let's go.
Your Highness, please return to the palace.
[ Yongmen ]
Come here.
I'm ordering you! Come here now!
Come here!
- Zichu... - First,
I'm punishing you for disregarding your status as the Empress and violating the palace's law!
Stand properly. Stand properly!
Stretch out your hand.
Second, I'm punishing you for not obeying as a woman and abandoning your royal husband.
You were at fault first.
You distinctly knew about the rumors and didn't tell me.
In any case, I wasn't wrong this time.
Empress Dowager gave you a hard time. Did you ask me?
You privately took my son and left. Did you ask me?
If you encountered anything unhappy, you cast away your husband!
You still won't admit your mistake!
I was wrong.
It's useless to admit your mistake. You committed a major mistake!
Then...hit me.
We are husband and wife. Why didn't you trust me?
Zichu, you highly respect Empress Dowager.
If I complain behind your back, you will be disgusted with me later.
I didn't tell you the rumors because I didn't want to stress you.
Regarding the Empress Dowager, I will solve it.
But you...you left privately. You made me furious!
Zichu, sorry. I caused you to worry.
I was wrong.
Xianyang city faces east, and the East Gate is the official gate.
This morning, your direction was the opposite way.
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Has the Empress left the palace?
What is the matter?
Mother.
Zichu?
It was I who stopped her.
What is your intention?
I would like to show you something. Please come with me.
Where are you taking me?
This square matrix is not right. Come back again.
Zichu, what are you showing me?
Are we here to watch the Crown Prince?
How he likes to play?
Mother likes Chenjiao better, right?
Jiao'er is obedient, sensible, smart and quick-witted. I watched him grow up too.
The feelings are naturally different.
Siluo must have told you that, ever since Zheng'er came to Qin,
I have never asked about Jiao'er's lessons again.
Isn't this factual?
I used to personally supervise his lessons
but he's weak and lacking in energy.
A day of lesson needed to be split into three days for him.
His mother pampers him so much that she has someone else do his homework.
Jiao'er is young. Zheng'er loves to play too.
In my opinion, you are biased.
I admit that because I love the Empress very much, in my heart,
Zheng'er is different from others.
But ever since Zheng'er came to Qin, I ordered him to review documents.
Every day, it's ten dan of documents.
He still has the time for archery and amusement. Would an ordinary person be able to do this?
How is this possible? One dan is about 120 kgs of bamboo scrolls.
He's a ten year old boy. How could he finish reading them?
I think you are bragging too excessively.
If you don't believe me, you can ask his teacher.
You can also personally test him tomorrow.
I won!
After one dan of books, he could still remember.
I was just like that when I was young, wasn't I?
The overactiveness that you dislike is also a hereditary trait passed down for ages in our blood.
Mother, Great Qin needs a king with strong will to handle those arrogant and unruly people
in this tumultuous time
until we realize the goal to unite all the nations under Qin.
Chenjiao has a weak heart. He's unable to handle the affairs of Qin state.
If you really kick Zheng'er out,
you will regret in the future.
Zichu, are you absolutely certain that
Zheng'er is your son?
The royal Yin of Qin's bloodline cannot be smeared by others.
Mother, do you think your son is a fool?
- Zichu. - Mother.
If you give Haolan a hard time, you are giving me a hard too.
I hope that, in my heart, you will always be a compassionate mother.
And not Empress Dowager Xia who's full of anxieties.
But Zheng'er is too rebellious. It's unheard of.
Okay, I won't meddle with this anymore.
Mother.
I can fight with heaven. I can fight with life but I can't defeat you.
I know that you dotes on me.
Trying to trick me?
Escort Empress Dowager back to her palace.
I have some instructions for the Crown Prince.
- Your Majesty! - Get Physician Yin now.
No. Do it quietly. Don't let the Empress know.
Yes.
Your Majesty, have you been having chest and heart pains?
I have pains in the chest after eating.
I haven't been sleeping soundly too. What's going on?
If you have anything to say, just say it.
You have serious heart damage.
The vessels through liver and lungs are blocked.
You should rest properly but every major and minor matters of Qin state need to be decided by you.
You have been working hard day and night too. That's how you have such frequent attacks.
If this continues, I fear that your injury will be many times worse than in the past.
The medicine is not working...
Are you saying that I don't have much time left to live?
I dare not affirm this. I only need you to set aside your work and take a good rest.
Perhaps, it will turn out for the better.
If any of this spreads out today,
I will destroy your clan.
I will obey you.
You may leave.
This way, please.
Greetings, Your Highness.
My body is heavy, I won't follow the propriety.
Your Highness, please forgive me.
I thought you would feel shame in your heart
but I didn't imagine that you would be so thick-skinned.
Dowager Empress personally evicted you, and the entire Qin state is discussing about you.
If it were me,
I fear you won't be able to stay even a single day in Xianyang Palace.
Are you waiting to see me lose my temper and just up and down?
My apologies. I'm a distinguished and legitimate Empress of Qin state.
My Zheng'er will be the future king of Qin.
Where would I go?
On what basis should I leave?
Should I hand over my post to another person?
Don't worry. I won't leave.
I still want to watch the child in your belly grow up and pay homage to Zheng'er.
Zichu is so intelligent, yet he cannot see through how deep your scheming is.
Zheng'er is the eldest son, he will naturally inherit the throne.
Why? I have earned what I deserve and that means I have fallen too deep in scheming?
If I really wound up in all your plans, then you would say I'm as stupid as a pig again.
I have never lived for the sake of others.
Whatever the people in the kingdom are talking about, it's just hearsay.
Anyway, I have advice for you.
If you think too much, in the end they are empty thoughts.
Go back and take care of your fetus.
Fine. I invited you to leave and you won't leave.
When you want to leave, you won't be able to do so anymore.
Your Majesty... When I informed His Majesty this morning, was it too early?
It's never too late or early.
The timing is just right.
Lü Manor
Miss, stop crying.
What if we invite Minister Lü to plead with her?
Are you stupid? Situ Que taking liberties with her is already a crime punishable by death.
Yet Miss still begged for mercy on his behalf, don't you think Minister Lü would be angry?
Now, everyone is saying that Miss has intimate relations with her servant.
Minister Lü didn't say anything more about it, that is already giving face to Young Master.
You still want him to plead with her? Don't be ridiculous.
Leave!
Yes.
Why don't we invite Young Master to plead for mercy on the behalf of Miss?
Tell that that Minister Lu is not treating her well.
If he were to reveal this, our Miss will lose her dignity.
What should we do then?
For Minister Lü to be so cold... Isn't it because Miss made a mistake?
If Miss is able to find his shortcomings, wouldn't things change?
Shortcomings?
For example, Lu Buwei and the Empress has an intimate relationship...
Stop spouting nonsense.
As long as there is evidence then Lü Buwei will definitely come and beg Miss.
As for me, I may be able to return to Young Master's side.
Especially when they don't hope for this matter to leak out.
When Miss was in Minister Lu's study, she discovered the hairpin that he wanted to gift the Empress.
- But... - Qiao'er.
Help me.
For Miss.
Qiao'er, do you want to see Miss being so depressed?
You came to visit unexpectedly. What is the reason?
It's already the seventh day. Minister Lu, have you found the gold?
The sun hasn't set yet. Prince, what's the urgency?
Yes, the sun hasn't set yet
But, there is already an anonymous tip that you have embezzled a secret horde of gold.
Is that person Situ, who was driven away for misbehavior?
He has a grudge with me. This is false accusation.
Whether it's false accusation or not, and whether there's any gold, just search and we will know.
Prince, what do you think this place is?
Minister Lu, your manor in Xianyang City is the only place that wasn't searched.
If we must be fair, everyone should be searched.
Are you resisting because you have something to hide?
What if you search and can't find anything?
I will kneel to apologize to you in the Guayi Palace.
Do whatever you want.
Search!
What's going on?
You are still alive?
Yes. Mr Situ really has a long life.
I should thank Master.
The ex-Master for being kind.
Lord Lu, what do you have to say?
Royal stash of gold all carry a mark. These gold are not marked.
Good.
Apparently it's true that you have sold your assets to fill the hole.
You are really loyal to the Qin's king.
Your Highness, we discovered a strange jar in the cellar.
Prince, it's this.
This is Lu Buwei's secret to steal gold.
There is only old wine in the cellar, nothing else.
Situ Que, don't slander others.
I want to hear what he said.
Lu's ancestor met an amazing master who gave him a secret recipe to melt gold.
Lu Buwei started out with gold shops that gave free gold cleaning service.
He used the gold-melting solution to soak the gold jewelry.
He accumulated the gold to get rich.
The customers actually thanked him in gratitude.
He now repeats the same method.
He melted all the royal gold into liquid.
This jar that he hasn't had time to ship out is the biggest evidence.
Situ Que, do not falsely accuse a good person.
We have never seen any gold liquid nor any gold recipe.
The Lu's shop transacts business legally.
I am the witness, and this jar is a physical evidence.
With both of these proofs, who can dispute the accusation?
I didn't imagine that,
the beggar boy that I saved has turned out to be a poisonous snake.
Whatever I owed you, I have already paid back.
Now, it's your turn to pay the debt.
I understand now.
Prince, oh Prince.
You shot down the Queen's sky latern to deliberate start a fire.
You then used the Marchioness Xuan's party night to ship out the gold liquid.
And then falsely accuse me of the theft of the gold.
Now it's become a plot between me and the Queen to steal from the royal treasury.
What a smart scheme to kill two bird with one stone!
Lord Lu, this jar was found in your own cellar.
You actually want to shirk the responsibility?
Situ Que has been in my household for years. He probably has a few cohorts.
It's not a problem to secretly plant a jar.
I really regret having such a disloyal traitor.
He should be killed to avoid anymore problems.
Subtitles brought to you by The Scintillating Team @ Viki.com
~ Immortalization by Gao Yu'er ~
~ ♫ Where have the surging clouds and the rising winds gone? ♫
♫ Do not grieve over the separation because of being forced to move and wander ♫
♫ In this lifetime, we will keep on seeking because of love ♫
♫ It’s difficult to reminisce about the splendid times that slipped away ♫
♫ In retrospection with a faint smile, that beautiful countenance caused the city's downfall ♫
♫ And a sweeping upheaval all across the vast nation ♫
♫ In a dimming dream of an illusionary bright moon ♫
♫ We have given our promises to each other in this lifetime ♫
♫ In the complete decline of prosperity, watching the passing of thousands of sails ♫
♫ With affection, perhaps we could wait to be connected again ♫
♫ Like the zither and the harp that play in perfect harmony, let’s grasp each other's hand to stay together ♫
♫ Wishing for you and me to be immortalized with the wind... ♫
♫ In retrospection with a faint smile, that beautiful countenance caused the city's downfall ♫
♫ And a sweeping upheaval all across the vast nation ♫
♫ In a dimming dream of an illusionary bright moon ♫
♫ We have given our promises to each other in this lifetime ♫
♫ In the complete decline of prosperity, watching the passing of thousands of sails ♫
♫ With affection, perhaps we could wait to be connected again ♫
♫ Like the zither and the harp that play in perfect harmony, let’s grasp each other's hand to stay together ♫
♫ Wishing for you and me to be immortalized with the wind... ♫