EPISODE 8
She can't go back to Qiu Residence.
Where will she go tonight?
Your Highness, you seem to really care about that impostor.
It's all my fault.
If I had caught her today,
you wouldn't have had to worry.
You may leave now.
I want to be alone for a while.
Your Highness.
It is I, your humble servant.
Please forgive me for my abruptness.
It wouldn't be wise to let anyone else see her.
I understand.
If I don't take her in,
nobody else can.
Chief Gu, come with me.
Come in, please.
Your Highness.
I don't know if you remember this,
but the first time I met you
was on a rainy night
just like tonight.
For generations, the Gu family struggled to have children.
Finally, two sons were born in your generation.
Yet, luck did not shine upon you.
Even though your brother married young,
only one son survived.
Are you really going to watch him die?
I tell you.
I, Gu Yan,
will never betray my brother and Dacheng.
Never!
It was you.
You made me betray Dacheng.
It was you.
You caused the death of my brother.
You and I...
We have this hatred between us that can never be resolved.
I did do that.
And I do feel guilty about it.
My brother died because of you.
But his wife and child
are still alive.
If you, Your Highness,
could protect them
and keep them safe,
I am willing to put that hatred behind us
and start over again.
All right.
I promise you.
Then,
I am willing to follow you,
and even die for you.
What are you willing to do?
What will you do to prove your loyalty?
I will take down the Crown Prince
with you.
Good.
Very good.
If one day
you find out who you are,
and what I did to you,
what would you think of me then?
Why am I here?
Was yesterday a dream?
What did you do in your dream?
Can you tell me?
I thought I ran away
from your residence.
I even left you a letter.
A letter? What did it say?
You are probably exhausted.
You had a fever.
That's why you fell asleep on my bed.
You never left this place.
A fever?
No wonder my head is spinning.
-What? -Are you lying to me again?
Why would I lie to you?
You are still running a fever.
You probably overheated your brain.
You were never smart to begin with, but after this fever,
you will probably get stupider.
What is this familiar scent?
What?
What are you doing?
You sneaky tailor.
You lied to me again.
You smell like Qiu Yuluo's perfume.
I remember now.
Last night, I evaded the Royal Guards and was attacked.
Did you order the attack?
Why are you so cute even when you are being stupid?
Don't go.
Hey, stop!
Watch her.
What is this supposed to mean?
Let me out of here.
I have to go save my mother and brother.
Do you have something
that you could give me?
If you do, I will let you go.
Something?
Something that another person would recognize instantly to be yours.
This is a gift my uncle gave me when I first entered Qiu Residence.
Keep it safe.
Can I leave now?
Hey!
You lied to me again!
Do you want to save your mother and brother?
If you do,
stay here and don't leave.
Be good.
Do you think you can keep me here?
Let me out.
You wait and see!
Zhu Yin, since you came all the way here to invite me,
I have no reason to refuse.
However, I have been very busy lately.
I am not really in the mood to have fun at House of Lanxiang.
Where did you get this?
Now, are you in the mood, Colonel Qiu?
Colonel Qiu.
Your Highness.
Chief Gu.
It is kind of hot in here.
Can I get some air?
Some air.
Aren't you hot?
Not at all?
Well, it is getting late.
Aren't you exhausted?
Fine. Keep standing then.
If Chief Gu
is willing to risk it for Mingying,
I will have to take part as well as her brother.
It's just...
I am worried that the Crown Prince
already has a well-thought-out plan.
Even if we find out where she is
and are able to rescue her,
the Crown Prince can still expose Qiu Mingying's true identity.
If that happens, the Qiu family will all be killed.
Mingying and her two children
will also have to flee and live in poor conditions.
So,
we will have to save them,
and let the Crown Prince and Chang Hai find out who they are,
but make sure
they won't be able to tell anyone.
How can we do that?
Your Highness.
Have you already come up with a plan?
YUHUA
These are false charges made by Yuhua.
Please don't believe them, Your Highness.
That wicked woman deserves to die.
I heard that she is dead now.
Qiu Mingying killed her.
Colonel Qiu, is that true?
If Yuhua made up these accusations,
why would Mingying kill her?
It's all because Yuhua ordered the servants
to humiliate Zhiwei first.
What a terrible woman.
Your Highness, please calm your anger. I...
That's right.
Chief Gu should know for sure.
When Mingying delivered the babies,
I was not in the capital.
Your Highness,
I am willing to testify
that Mingying did give birth to boy-girl twins.
You may chop off my head if that is not true.
Of course, I believe you two.
Otherwise, I wouldn't invite you here
to discuss how to save Gu Heng's wife and children, would I?
Be at ease.
Your Highness,
it may be bold for me to ask,
but do you think
you could
destroy this letter?
If we keep it,
Mingying and her children will definitely be killed.
I am actually going to use this letter
to make sure the three of them will be safe.
Fire!
Fire in East Palace!
Hurry! Shut the doors! Get water and put out the fire!
Hurry up!
All of you!
Put out the fire and protect the Crown Prince!
What are you still doing here?
Go put out the fire! Now!
Hurry!
Protect the Crown Prince!
-Hurry! -Where is the fire?
Your Royal Highness.
Chief Gu?
It is I.
You...
Where is the fire in East Palace?
Did someone start a fire to try assassinating me?
Your Royal Highness, there is no fire.
I lied about it. Please forgive me.
I had to see you urgently, but nobody can know about this.
That's why I had to lie.
Chief Gu, don't startle me.
Has something bad happened?
You are right, Your Royal Highness.
Something terrible has happened.
What do you mean?
I...
I was just informed that Ning Yi
has found the ninth prince,
the remnant of Dacheng Empire.
-Gu Yan! -Your Royal Highness.
If you don't stop this nonsense,
I will kill you right now!
Your Royal Highness.
Please don't be too infuriated, Your Royal Highness.
Your Royal Highness,
I would never dare lie about such a thing.
You should have Qiu Mingying confess
and testify that the remnant fell off the cliff with her dead husband.
Your Royal Highness.
I am willing to go
to persuade my sister-in-law.
Gu Yan, are you sure about this?
Yes.
It has been 18 years.
I have wanted to call you my sister-in-law,
but I know I don't deserve to.
When I see you,
it still feels so familiar.
You are
the only family member
that I have seen
during those 18 years.
I know you loathe me,
regardless of what I say.
I understand.
Mingying.
I know how much hatred
you have in your heart toward me,
or how much you look down on what I am doing now.
But right now,
you must take my advice.
Will you, Mingying?
This is for the lineage of the Gu family.
To keep it alive.
You must do as I say.
Just do what the Crown Prince wants you to do.
Will you?
Mingying.
I am sorry.
These 18 years
have been harder on me than anyone else.
It's my fault.
It's all my fault.
I deserve to be severely punished.
Mingying.
Your life and my nephew's
are now in the hands of the Crown Prince.
Please, can you just look at me?
Look at me.
We don't know where my niece is.
It will be difficult to arrest her right away.
SAFE
Why don't you just take my advice?
Will you?
Do what the Crown Prince wants.
Save the lives we can first.
Murder!
Murder! Come! Help!
Feng Zhiwei killed Madam Yuhua!
My dear guards,
I am hungry.
How about this?
Take me to the kitchen to get some food.
There are so many of you.
I am just a weak girl.
We are in His Highness' residence.
I can't get away, can I?
I am telling you,
His Highness is keeping me here because I am an important person.
Very important.
If you starve me,
His Highness will not forgive you when he returns.
You look like a bunch of kind and considerate people.
I am begging you.
I am starving.
Starving.
Don't bother wasting your time.
His Highness has said
that you can convince even the dead.
So...
These guards you see here are all deaf.
Here is your food.
-No, I am not hungry. -Hey.
Didn't you just say that you are a very important person?
And that if I starve you, His Highness will punish me
when he returns?
I am not eating.
I will leave it here then.
Move!
Out of the way!
-Move it! -Out of the way!
Hurry! Protect the Crown Prince!
Move!
What is happening?
Your Royal Highness, Bloody Pagoda has set up an ambush.
Hurry. Let's go back to the palace.
Yes, Your Royal Highness. Turn around.
Hurry. Move it.
Out of the way!
Move!
Where is Xin Ziyan? Did you send someone to get him?
I am here. What happened?
Is it so urgent that you have to act like this?
I was almost assassinated today. Did you know that?
I almost died.
Who could be so bold?
Didn't they fear death?
Who? Who else would it be?
Bloody Pagoda!
Headmaster Xin.
Bloody Pagoda has become my worst nightmare!
What have you found about them so far?
Do you know who is trying to kill me?
I was wondering about that.
I used all my resources to investigate those bodies, but...
Miraculously, they were innocent.
I have a rather bold suspicion.
I am afraid...
What is it? Just say it, will you?
Bloody Pagoda does exist.
They waited 18 years, and now they are at large again.
What do they want?
What if the remnant of Dacheng Empire really exists?
What should I do now?
I often disagree with Duke Chang, so I don't know if I should say this.
Of course. You can let me know what you think.
Instead of doing something, it would be better if we do nothing.
If Your Royal Highness keep messing around
with those terrible bandits, they will strike back for sure.
The issue will get out of hand,
and the Emperor will hear of it.
Your Royal Highness will be in trouble.
The Emperor already knows.
My father has become suspicious of me.
If I do as you say,
how should I answer my father's questions?
There is another person to take the blame, isn't there?
Why are you worried?
If you keep this person close by,
when everything dies down,
you will still be the Crown Prince your father adores, right?
-Ning Yi. -Yes, the sixth prince.
Your Royal Highness.
I have persuaded Qiu Mingying.
If you let her and her son live,
they will do whatever you want.
Good work, Chief Gu.
Have someone kill them both.
Headmaster Xin is right.
I should lay low for now. And dead people can't talk.
-Go. -Your Royal Highness.
Your Royal Highness, there is something else.
What is it?
Madam Yuhua was killed in Qiu Residence.
The daughter who got away was the alleged killer.
I think...
Your Royal Highness, killing the mother and son
is an easy task.
But the daughter who ran away will be reckless in confronting you.
You are trying to resolve the situation.
But it will only get worse.
By then, nothing we do will work anymore.
The most important task right now is to find out what they are thinking,
so that we can make a wise decision.
Headmaster Xin is right.
To Qiu Residence.
Ning Yan.
Your Royal Highness.
If I had known you were coming,
I would've greeted you outside.
No need for that, Colonel Qiu.
It was a sudden decision.
I heard there was an incident here.
I came to offer my condolences.
Forgive me, Your Royal Highness.
Unfortunately,
I recently lost one of my concubines.
She is gone.
How did she die?
A sudden illness.
Yes, she fell ill.
Your Royal Highness.
An important person like you
shouldn't stay long in this ill-fortuned place.
I will take care of things for you.
Ning Yan.
You truly are my blood brother.
You are always one step ahead of me.
I am so glad that I have a brother like you.
Of course, Your Royal Highness.
-It is absolutely-- -Colonel.
-Yes, Your Royal Highness. -Why did I hear that
there was something suspicious about her death?
Is there something you aren't telling me?
Maybe you could share with me,
so I can help you as much as possible.
Your Royal Highness.
She was just a concubine. Her death is not important.
Your Royal Highness.
Your Highness.
Ning Yi...
Colonel, who died?
Your Highness.
Tell me.
One of my concubines has died.
What... You...
Ning Yi.
You asked me to come here because you needed to ask Colonel Qiu something.
Why are you so late?
Just ask him whatever you have to ask.
I am busy.
Ning Yi.
Your Royal Highness.
A terrible incident has happened here at Qiu Residence.
If it is not urgent, ask some other time.
Of course, Your Royal Highness.
Ning Yan, Colonel Qiu, goodbye. I am sorry for your loss.
-Come, Ning Yi. -Yes, Your Royal Highness.
Ever since I started investigating Bloody Pagoda,
I haven't been sleeping well.
Finally, I discovered something.
But then I came across another problem.
Your Royal Highness,
could you give me some advice?
Is that the reason you went to Qiu Residence today?
You can tell me.
I received a tip.
Gu Heng's wife
is Qiu Shangqi's biological sister,
who has been living at Qiu Residence.
That really surprised me.
We had an eye on her,
but Qiu Mingying suddenly disappeared.
Your Royal Highness,
this is a serious issue.
Do you think I should tell Father?
Or should I not?
You are too careless.
How could...
About this,
I'll have to think about what I should do.
I have had too much to drink.
You can sit here for a while, Ning Yi.
This is a dragon tail inkstone from Huizhou.
It is also called the She inkstone.
It is a rare masterpiece.
You have followed the Crown Prince for years, Headmaster Xin.
I am sure you have seen many fine goods.
Is this gift of mine too cheap?
No.
I have a fondness for the Four Treasures of the Study.
I love those treasures more than flowers.
The brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone I have at home aren't expensive,
but they are usable.
Today, you gave me this She inkstone.
But what shall I do if I don't have other rare treasures to go with it?
What I mean is,
if you happen to see
paper, ink, or brushes of the same rarity,
maybe you could...
I can give you whatever you like.
All right, I'll accept this gift then.
This is an expensive gift.
I haven't helped you with much. I feel guilty now.
You have helped me a lot.
Who knew
that by knowing such a big secret,
I could...
-You can leave now. -Yes, Your Highness.
-Thanks for the reminder, Headmaster Xin. -No need to thank me, Your Highness.
If it weren't for you,
I wouldn't have known that the Crown Prince was so wary of Bloody Pagoda.
I almost offended him.
Think about it, we both are loyal servants to His Royal Highness.
Of course, I am willing to help and support you.
Did you see the Crown Prince at Qiu Residence today?
-What happened? -I did see him.
Just as you said,
the Crown Prince trusts Colonel Qiu very much.
In the future,
I will definitely try to get closer to Colonel Qiu.
You are very wise, Your Highness.
When I left, that little raccoon was refusing to eat.
Maybe you should go check.
That little raccoon...
Ning Yi.
-Isn't it nice to be a carefree prince? -Yes, Your Royal Highness.
You even have a raccoon.
But Father gave you the task of investigating Bloody Pagoda.
That must be too hard for you.
So about what you just mentioned,
I think that maybe we should let it go,
so that you can take care of your raccoon.
What do you think?
You know me so well, Your Royal Highness.
Of course, it's too hard for me.
How could I find out anything about Bloody Pagoda?
I didn't dare say no to Father, so I tried my best.
But Your Royal Highness,
I was thinking that I should perhaps find out
about Gu Heng's wife's whereabouts
just in case it gets complicated.
If Father finds out, he will throw me back into the Zongzheng Temple.
-That would be terrible. -Didn't I just tell you?
Just let it go!
Ning Yi, I was just joking.
Look how startled you are.
I was just messing around.
But it's true.
You should let the matter slide.
All right, Ning Yi.
You are busy with investigating and taking care of your raccoon.
I will let you go now. Goodbye.
Thank you for your advice, Your Royal Highness.
-Take care. -Remember, let it go.
Thank you, Your Royal Highness.
I see that you had a lot of fun
at that meeting you attended.
Your Royal Highness.
Your Royal Highness, when did you...
How did you get into my house?
I was so scared. You're very stealthy, Your Royal Highness.
Your Royal Highness.
How did you know I was having a drink?
Why?
So, even you are trying to climb up
through your connections, Headmaster Xin?
I ask of you, Your Royal Highness.
In this palace, who is more powerful
than you, Your Royal Highness?
Do you think I wanted to go?
I was forced to.
I heard Prince of Zhao brag to someone that he knows a huge secret.
I was worried it had something to do with an important issue.
That's why I forced myself to have drinks with him.
It's fine that you wrongfully accuse me,
but if this affects your future,
things are going to get ugly.
Subtitle translation by Sophie Chang