A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
ADAPTED FROM TIANXIA GUIYUAN'S NOVEL HUANG QUAN
EPISODE 21
Uncle.
Ning Chuan.
Uncle, I believe you.
-I believe you. -All right.
All right.
Uncle.
You can't go.
-But... -If you go,
I will be all alone
with nobody to rely on and nothing to live for.
That's why...
That's why I should be the one to plead with my father.
Uncle,
if you go, you will die for sure.
But if I go to Father and ask for mercy,
maybe I could stir the affection left in him for me, his son.
Even if that doesn't work,
Uncle,
I still have you to seek help for me from the Chang family.
You can contact your followers in the army.
Then I might have a chance to survive.
Who knows, maybe we could even get a chance to turn the tide.
Uncle.
Ning Chuan,
you're all grown up.
Your Royal Highness, Gu Yan has brought the Royal Guards for a search.
Open the doors and let them search.
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
Thank you.
My lord, you're like a father and brother to me.
I'm only doing what I should.
I let my wife and children down.
They died because of me.
It was my fault.
I must avenge them myself.
Even if it will cost me my life,
I will bring the Crown Prince down.
I understand.
Vice Minister Ge came back yesterday
and exposed what the Crown Prince really did
when he claimed that he had destroyed the headquarters of Bloody Pagoda
and brought the 13 bodies.
The bodies didn't belong to members of Bloody Pagoda,
but workers who were digging the canal. Those workers were killed secretly.
Their bodies were used for his lies.
I'm afraid that Ning Yan was killed
for discovering that.
It is only now
that Ge Hongying comes forward.
His motive is questionable.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Ge Hongying knows that he's guilty.
He doesn't expect your forgiveness.
All he wants
is justice for Prince of Zhao.
Justice?
If Ning Yan were here,
he would've been held accountable too.
Wei Zhi.
What else is in the memorial?
Your Majesty,
Colonel Qiu has sent a memorial accusing the Crown Prince
of taking bribes in the horse market.
-Chief Gu also-- -That's enough.
-Grand Secretary Yao. -Yes, Your Majesty.
Give my order to the Royal Guards
to take Ning Chuan into custody until the trial.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Wei Zhi, you will help Grand Secretary Yao
list down all the crimes of Ning Chuan.
Do not miss a thing, understand?
I understand.
You are dismissed.
-Yes, Your Majesty. -Yes, Your Majesty.
Allow me to be excused.
Headmaster Xin.
Yes, Your Majesty.
With me as his father and you as his teacher,
how could he be like this?
How could he?
It's my fault.
I just don't understand.
In history,
the princes fought and killed each other
because the emperor didn't choose a Crown Prince.
That's why
I chose a Crown Prince
as soon as I took over the empire.
He is already the Crown Prince.
Why would he do such things?
Being in a position he stole,
how could he ever feel relieved?
Stole?
What do you mean?
I suppose Your Majesty hasn't read the memorial by Chief Gu.
The one who persuaded him to surrender
was Prince of Chu, Ning Yi.
The one who tracked down the remnant of Dacheng Empire was also Ning Yi.
Father, I have captured a member of Bloody Pagoda, Gu Yan.
He is the brother of Gu Heng.
He can testify that this baby is the ninth prince of the Dacheng Empire.
Prince of Chu planned to persuade Gu Heng
to take the remnant of Dacheng Empire and surrender to Tiansheng Empire.
However, Ning Chuan was too eager to take the credit.
He ordered the Chang army to release arrows from behind.
Gu Heng and the remnant of Dacheng Empire were shot and fell off the cliff.
Ning Yi, who was only eight, was wounded too.
Ning Chuan.
Shame on you and your stolen position.
Long live Your Majesty.
-Long live the prince. -Long live the prince.
-Long live the Tiansheng Empire. -Long live the Tiansheng Empire.
It's all my fault.
I have been deceived for 18 years.
At the beginning of your reign,
the peace within the nation was frail. You needed Lord of Minhai's help.
So it was your best choice to make Ning Chuan, one with the Chang's blood,
the Crown Prince.
However,
I think...
What can't you say now?
I think if the Crown Prince didn't have the Chang family to back him up,
he wouldn't have gone astray and done so much wrong.
Now that the nation is prospering,
if Your Majesty is to choose another Crown Prince,
you should be aware of the clans for they may take your power.
So in your opinion,
which prince should I choose
to avoid repeating my mistakes?
The selection of a crown prince
is essential to the empire.
I'm in no position to comment.
That's right.
-Zhao Yuan. -Yes, Your Majesty.
Let it be known that anyone, be it in the palace or harem,
who dares discuss the replacement of the Crown Prince,
will be arrested.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
If there is nothing else you want to discuss with me,
then allow me to be dismissed.
Bring Ning Yi to see me.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Step aside. They are confidential documents.
Your Highness.
You are used to your authority now.
Forgive me, Your Highness.
"The Crown Prince concocted the Wugu Incident
-to frame Prince Ning Qiao." -Give it to me.
I told you that's confidential.
We'll both be severely punished if someone sees us like this.
I forgot.
You are my father's favorite right now. Sorry for being disrespectful.
Everything is going your way and your wish is coming true.
What else do you want?
How about justice for Huo Laosan?
Chang Hai did it.
I have reported it to His Majesty.
You might have found out who gave the command,
but he wasn't punished.
And you covered up for someone you shouldn't.
You broke your promise to me.
Your Highness, are you threatening me?
I told you.
You'll get what you wished for.
The people who deserve to be punished won't get away,
and those who shouldn't be punished
should be able to live safe and sound.
Isn't that the best for everyone?
The princess didn't know anything about it.
-Why do you have to get her involved? -Do you think
this is about the princess?
How could Chang Hai dare to use the princess to poison me?
Wei Zhi.
I warned you.
The Chang family in Minhai
is the biggest threat to the throne.
I'm worried about you.
You might get killed one day
by the hands of the Chang family.
CONCOCTED THE WUGU INCIDENT TO FRAME NING QIAO
Have you gotten what you wanted?
-Are you satisfied? -Not yet.
Not yet?
Why not?
You won't rest
until the Crown Prince is dead?
Or will you only be satisfied
after gaining the title of Crown Prince?
If I follow my heart,
I only wish for my brother, Ning Chuan,
who was a noble man, to receive the throne.
If I follow my desire,
I wish none of these things had happened,
so Ning Qiao would still be alive.
As well as Ning Yan.
We could still be
a happy family.
How eloquent.
I mean every word of it.
What about the title of Crown Prince?
I have no interest in that.
You spent eight years planning and preparing.
You finally brought the Crown Prince down.
Was that all only for Ning Qiao?
That's correct.
Why are you so obsessed with him?
What? Why can't you speak?
You are my emperor and my father.
Are you talking to me right now as my emperor or father?
Father.
I was only eight years old
when my mother died.
Since then, I had no mother
and my father began to shun me.
During the years after that, only Ning Qiao kept me company.
He was all I had.
That's right, Father.
You may not remember that.
Are you blaming me?
I understand.
Parental love is a luxury for the imperial family.
That's why I've tried my utmost to remember the people and things
that have brought me warmth.
But...
What? Can't you go on?
-Are you blaming me? -Yes!
I'm blaming my father!
I remember clearly
that my father
used to love my mother deeply.
But when she died of illness overnight,
my father did nothing and turned a blind eye,
believing the rumors about her.
What do you want?
You mother died of illness.
What else do you want?
What?
Do you want to investigate me, your own father?
You insisted my mother died of illness
because you believed
the rumors about her were true.
Father, didn't you believe that Ning Qiao was a treacherous son until recently?
What about now?
Do you want to look into your mother's death?
I believe
that is a son's duty.
If I don't do that,
I don't deserve to be her son!
What if I don't allow it?
Who doesn't allow it?
The emperor or the father?
The emperor and the father.
I am lost.
Is it because you have too many sons?
Then you should send me
to be with my mother.
How about that?
How about that, Father?
How about that?
ZHAOQING PALACE
Your Ladyship, His Majesty is here.
Sister, after your death,
I should have taken care of Ning Chuan for you.
If it's allowed,
I am willing to be punished in his stead,
so that he could be forgiven.
EMPRESS XIAOCI OF THE CHANG FAMILY
Your Majesty.
I was so sad that I forgot my manners.
I didn't welcome Your Majesty.
Please forgive me.
There's nothing to be forgiven for.
I'm also in distress.
You may rise.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
The Empress passed away over ten years ago.
As her sister,
I should've taken care of Ning Chuan on her behalf.
Now that Ning Chuan has committed such grave crimes,
I'm also responsible.
I deserve to be punished too.
What Ning Chuan did broke my heart.
And Chang Hai, as Ning Chuan's uncle,
didn't even try to stop him.
I'm utterly disappointed.
I let down Lord of Minhai.
He has been guarding the borders for many years.
The country is in his debt.
But I failed to look after his brother and nephew.
Your Majesty,
please don't worry about that.
My brother found out already
and sent me a letter.
TO MY SISTER, YONGMEI
What did Lord of Minhai say?
My brother was very upset
when he found out what Chang Hai and Ning Chuan did.
It was eating away at him.
After all, they are very dear to my brother.
What did Lord of Minhai think about it?
My brother believes in tough love.
He told me to implore Your Majesty
to administrate justice impartially and mete out what they deserve.
Do not show leniency just because they are family.
Your Majesty, the letter is right here.
Why don't you read it yourself
instead of hearing it from me?
That's a private letter to you. It's not appropriate for me to read it.
With so many things happening these days,
I may not be able to visit you for a while.
Why don't you have Ning Sheng
come here more often to keep you company?
So that you won't be so worried
about Ning Chuan.
I'm so lucky to have the love and care of Your Majesty.
Your Majesty, please take good care of your health.
Back to the palace.
Give the letter to Ning Sheng.
Yes, Your Ladyship.
Is there anything else Your Ladyship wants me to tell His Highness?
He'll know what to do
after he reads the letter.
Yes, Your Ladyship.
So what if he's the son of a concubine?
All things come to he who waits.
Sister,
you are about to be reunited with your son.
Are you happy?
Therefore, I beg Your Majesty to issue an edict
to overturn the ruling on the Wugu Incident eight years ago,
so that justice can be served.
I am mandated by the heavens to be an emperor,
but I am also a father.
I care about all of my people.
How could I not hold my first legitimate son dear?
Zhao Yuan, announce my edict.
Yes, Your Majesty.
"The Chancellery,
I am commanded by the heavens
to issue this edict.
According to tradition,
I'll honor Ning Qiao
to console my heart.
The third prince, Ning Qiao, was a paragon of integrity,
so his posthumous name will be Crown Prince Zhuangyi.
His remains will be moved back to the ancestral temple
in the ritual for a Crown Prince.
Prince of Chu, Ning Yi, will supervise it.
This edict shall be carried out immediately."
Thank you, Your Majesty.
Crown Prince Zhuangyi in heaven will be...
He will be overjoyed for this honor.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
-Long live our wise Emperor. -Long live our wise Emperor.
All rise.
-Thank you, Your Majesty. -Thank you, Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
According to the investigation by Grand Secretary Yao and others,
the Crown Prince has the intention to rebel.
It's all very clear now.
As the Crown Prince's teacher,
I have let Your Majesty down
because I neglected my duty.
So I beg Your Majesty to issue an edict
to punish me as well.
As an emperor, I bestowed too much trust on my son.
So the treacherous court officials used him
to serve their personal agenda.
I believe...
I am at fault as well.
Wei Zhi, announce my edict.
Yes, Your Majesty.
THE EMPEROR'S EDICT
"The Chancellery,
since there were emperors to shepherd the commoners,
they all chose their first legitimate son as the Crown Prince.
To consolidate their rule, they had to be impartial.
The succession of the crown must be done justly.
The Crown Prince is important to the nation.
The choosing and deposing of one determines a country's fate.
The Crown Prince, Ning Chuan,
as my first legitimate son and the Crown Prince,
was taught knowledge as well as manners.
But he went astray and ruined his reputation.
He kept men of integrity away, but degenerates close.
He never did any good, but he did every evil he could.
The first year of Changxi,
the first prince Ning Chuan was awarded the position of the Crown Prince
for killing the remnant of Dacheng Empire.
But now, according to the testimony of Chief of Royal Guards, Gu Yan,
it was Prince of Chu, Ning Yi, who actually accomplished that.
Ning Chuan lied to the Emperor to receive the title of Crown Prince.
That's his first crime.
After Ning Chuan became the Crown Prince,
he secretly kept Bloody Pagoda
and had them assassinate his dissidents in the palace.
Over the ten years,
he had 36 high-ranking officials murdered.
Ning Chuan kept killers and murdered high-ranking officials.
That's his second crime.
The tenth year of Tiansheng,
Ning Qiao found out about what he did.
To cover his tracks,
he instructed Prince of Zhao, Ning Yan, to concoct the Wugu Incident
to frame Ning Qiao for treason.
Thousands of officials and their families were embroiled.
Ning Chuan disregarded ties of brotherhood
and brought harm to thousands of innocent people.
That's his third crime.
The Crown Prince, Ning Chuan took the Emperor's trust for granted.
He framed his brother and murdered his people.
He defied his Emperor and brought chaos to the palace.
He will be deposed from the position of Crown Prince as of today.
He will be confined in Zongzheng Temple until the end of his days."
You must have suffered so much.
Sorry I came late.
Suffer? Not at all.
I trust Father will give me justice one day.
I am the firstborn of the late Empress.
Father was fooled by sycophants.
He'll take me out of Zongzheng Temple sooner or later.
I don't need your pity.
You are right, Ning Chuan.
You are the firstborn of the late Empress.
We can never be the same.
But today,
it's only because my mother begged our father
to allow us in here to bring you some food.
That's why he made an exception for us
to visit you in Zongzheng Temple.
Your mother, Noble Consort Chang,
is only a concubine.
When did I ask for her favor?
Ning Chuan.
How could you still not have come to your senses?
If Ning Yi hadn't driven a wedge between you, Ning Sheng and Ning Yan,
how would you have ended up here?
-Uncle, are you all right? -Ning Chuan.
Why don't you thank Ning Sheng?
I am now wanted by His Majesty.
It was thanks to Ning Sheng and Noble Consort Chang's careful arrangement
that I could get into this heavily guarded Zongzheng Temple
and meet you here.
Go.
Ning Chuan.
I know you are very upset at this moment.
I won't take offense to anything you say right now.
Because all my mother and I want
is for you to get out of here safely.
Ning Sheng.
What you and Noble Consort Chang have done for me
is too kind.
As long as you trust me,
I'll do anything for you.
Uncle, there is not much time left. Let's follow the plan.
Plan?
What plan? What are you going to do?
Ning Sheng, how could you bring a knife in here?
Uncle,
what are you doing?
Ning Chuan, we are here to get you out of Zongzheng Temple.
Yes, don't worry.
I told the leaders at the south gate
to bring soldiers and wait for us outside the temple.
Get me out?
You brought soldiers to wait for us?
You are not saving me.
You are forcing me to commit treason.
You'll take me to the point of no return.
Suppose Father still has affections for me.
If I do this, he will never forgive me.
Ning Chuan, I don't want to see you die here alone.
That's impossible.
Our father won't be that cruel to me.
He will definitely let me out one day.
Besides, I still have Uncle Chang Yuan to help me.
Uncle.
Did Uncle Chang Yuan send any letters? What did he say?
Uncle.
Tell Ning Chuan the truth.
What truth?
Uncle Chang Yuan said that--
It's Lord of Minhai's idea
to help you escape from here.
Really?
Your Royal Highness, once you leave here,
I'll take you to Minhai.
Fine.
Since it was arranged by Lord of Minhai,
I'll go with you.
Let's go.
Your Highness! Duke Chang--
Don't move.
Don't move!
Don't move! Anyone!
Duke Chang, let go of His Highness.
You'll get my brothers and me killed.
What you are doing will hurt the Crown Prince.
Get out of my way. Back off.
Back off!
Anyone who dares come forward
will be responsible for Prince of Yan's death.
Don't move! Anyone!
Someone is trying to harm the Crown Prince.
Guards, come here immediately!
Your Majesty.
Please have some tea.
It's my fault.
It was my carelessness. Why is that your fault?
Your Majesty.
I have been serving Your Majesty for decades.
If anything happens to Your Majesty,
no matter what caused it,
it's all my fault.
I'm sorry, Your Highness.
Your Royal Highness, let's go.
Uncle.
I trust you have read this letter from Lord of Minhai.
Yes.
In the letter, he said I had it coming
and that I was beyond redemption.
I know.
Lord of Minhai asked you to put the interest of the Chang family
above everything
and sever ties with me.
Uncle,
why didn't you listen to him?
Now that the Chang family has abandoned me,
even if I get out of here with you today,
where in this world could I go?
Your Royal Highness.
This letter has made me decide to take a risk.
Or Ning Chuan...
You may never see the sun again.
Don't think too much, Ning Chuan.
Let's just focus on getting to Minhai safely.
Once we arrive, I'll ask my brother to let you stay.
Then we can work out a way to change His Majesty's mind.
What if he won't change his mind?
Then consider yourself retired in Minhai.
You can live a carefree life thereafter.
A carefree life?
Uncle, you know well that Lord of Minhai is a stern man.
He will never change his mind.
Neither will my father.
Carefree?
The best I can do is stay alive.
From now on, you and I,
a treacherous official and a rebellious son,
would rather be dead wherever we go.
Your Royal Highness, stop hesitating.
We can discuss after we leave the capital.
Hurry.
Colonel Chang.
I, Ning Chuan, have nothing left now.
Let me ask you this.
Will you follow me wherever I go?
Of course.
Good.
Then let me ask you again.
Will you always stand by me
no matter what I do?
I, Chang Hai,
will defend Your Royal Highness until the last moment of my life.
Rather than become an outcast,
I will put up one last fight.
I want to see
if the heavens are on my side.
Chang Hai will follow Your Royal Highness, for better or worse.
Colonel Chang, receive my command.
Yes, Your Royal Highness.
I command you to gather all the forces you have
and prepare to fight to the death.
Subtitle translation by Chang Jing