A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
ADAPTED FROM TIANXIA GUIYUAN'S NOVEL HUANG QUAN
EPISODE 29
You and I both eat the same food.
Why is your hair nicer than mine?
Look.
The headmaster of Qingming Academy is brushing your hair.
Isn't that delightful?
My headmaster husband.
All you talk about is teaching your students
about disciplining themselves, managing their families,
governing the state and bringing peace to the world.
Managing the family is really important.
Isn't brushing your wife's hair considered managing the family?
My wife knows how to use the Book of Rites to argue with her husband.
One takes on the color of one's company.
All right.
I'm willing to brush your hair daily
with all my heart.
Dahua.
I'll be right back.
The osmanthus oil is missing.
Don't move.
Your Highness, sorry to keep you waiting.
Is it fun to brush hair?
Zhang Chang drew his wife's brows. Now, Ziyan brushes his wife's hair.
We achieve the same result with different means. Of course, it's fun.
-Let me smell it. -The fragrance still lingers.
It's Dahua's scent indeed.
Da...
How does Your Highness know?
You always smell like this.
Is that so?
Let's talk about serious matters.
-All right. -I've contacted Colonel Chunyu.
He's still very passionate.
He was indignant upon hearing about it.
If I didn't stop him, he would've grabbed his weapon and ridden a horse
charging toward Minhai.
Ziyan, are you at ease now?
And let me tell you.
I've already convinced Hu Shengsan.
He promised me to report to Father before Chang Yuan comes to the capital
and helps us impeach that old fart.
No.
Your Highness, I can't be at ease.
Over half of the government officials are on Chang Yuan's side.
Right now, we need to restrain ourselves.
This is Grand Secretary Yao's letter to me.
"Jinshi's official is Zhanbi from Dayue."
Yes.
Vice Minister Xu is on Chang Yuan's side.
He intentionally hid this from us.
It must be under Ning Sheng's orders.
Ning Sheng did this because of you, of course.
We just don't know what true his intentions are.
I'm curious too.
So I've decided to bring the invitation tomorrow
and go to the relay station to find out.
No, I don't think that's a good idea.
Then let Ning Cheng go.
Yes, Your Highness.
Are you going to continue brushing hair?
I'll continue leaving a nice fragrance on my hands.
QINGLONG TEMPLE
Prince of Chu has set up a memorial tablet for his mother
at the Qinglong Temple.
Every first and fifteenth day of the month,
he sets up lotus flowers there for her.
Yale.
If you're not willing to marry him,
I'll fight our chief with you,
even if I lose my life.
Don't marry Ning Shizheng.
Don't leave me too.
If I don't go,
he'll come back to the tribe for another sorceress.
If I leave with you, my sister will be the one who will suffer.
She's just 14 years old.
How can I just leave?
Forget it.
No matter how hard it is,
let me suffer alone.
Yale.
I don't want you to leave.
Who's there?
Are you Prince of Chu?
Are you Ning Yi?
Yes, I am.
Who are you? Why were you hiding?
I...
I'm Jinshi's official,
Zhanbi.
Zhanbi?
Are you really
Jinshi's Zhanbi?
Your Highness.
Do you know another Zhanbi?
I only know one Zhanbi.
He's from the Riluo Tribe of Dayue.
He was friends with my mother.
THE DECEASED MOTHER, YALE
It's a shame
that I never met this person before.
Otherwise,
I could hear him talk about Mother's past
and receive some comfort from him.
This hairpin is mine from 18 years ago.
Take it and use it wisely.
With the Buddha as my witness,
I, Yale,
will love only Zhanbi my whole life.
Regardless of whom I marry in this lifetime,
I will not forget this person.
Your Highness.
I'm the person you mention.
Zhanbi from Dayue.
Your mother, Yale's friend.
I also want to know if Yale
was ever happy
after we parted in Pucheng.
Are you really Zhanbi from Dayue?
Your mother
was good at making incense.
I still cannot forget that fragrance even now.
It's a shame
that I can't smell it anymore.
Who's there?
Your Highness, it's me.
-Why are you here? -I...
Are you following me? Who sent you?
-Did you see everything? -Your Highness.
-I didn't see or hear anything. -Scram!
Scram! Get out of here!
-Your Highness, you... -He's my servant.
No way.
What should I do?
This is bad.
Your Highness, what's the matter?
That servant is a spy sent by my father.
He'll surely tell my father.
I set up a memorial tablet in secret to remember my mother.
That's against my father's rule.
Furthermore, you and I
even talked about your relationship with my mother in the past.
That's a crime punishable by death.
Mother.
I won't be alive much longer, Mother.
I'm going to die soon.
I'm going to see you soon.
Mother.
Your Highness.
Yale and I grew up together.
We didn't do anything shameful.
Do you think my father would believe that?
He won't.
Mother.
Your Highness.
Your Highness, please calm down.
I'll be right back.
How daring.
You dare kill a royal servant in broad daylight.
Get him.
Take him away.
-Go! -Move!
Your Highness.
I've confirmed that
Zhanbi did kill Prince of Yan's servant outside of Qinglong Temple.
Zhanbi wouldn't say why he killed him.
Qinglong Temple.
Was Ning Sheng there at that time?
Someone saw Prince of Yan go to Peng Pei's house.
They say he went to celebrate Peng Pei's mother's birthday.
Bring Zhanbi to me.
Yes, Your Highness.
Your Highness, Zhanbi is here.
Zhanbi.
Aren't you going to pay your respects?
Another Prince of Chu.
It's such an honor for me to have the mighty people in Tiansheng
lower themselves to try to fool me.
You are all dismissed.
Yes, Your Highness.
You have already met Prince of Chu, Ning Yi, haven't you?
Eighteen years ago,
my mother ruined her reputation
and lost her life
because of you.
Yet...
you can still love without a care.
If you and my mother
didn't have any contact at all,
why would I come to see you?
I'm seeing you now.
I'm so disappointed.
Foolish.
Impulsive.
Why do I suddenly have an evil thought in my head now?
I want you to die now.
Right in front of me.
But even if you die,
your death won't be able to quench the hate in my heart.
Tell me.
Eighteen years ago,
why did you go to Qinglong Temple?
Eighteen years after,
why did you go to Qinglong Temple again?
Tell me the truth.
You're right.
I am to blame for Yale's death.
I should have died 18 years ago.
If you're really her son,
go ahead
-and kill me. -Shut up.
Do you think a coward like you
deserves to call my mother by her name?
Who do you think you are?
You just need to tell me who killed my mother.
I want to send all of you to apologize to my mother.
Tell me.
Eighteen years ago, were you a spy of Dayue?
Speak.
All right.
I'm willing to die.
-Let me tell you everything. -Kneel when you speak to me.
Kneel!
Speak.
Ning Yi.
If you can clear Yale's name,
I'll die in peace.
Carry on.
Your Highness was right.
Prince of Chu went to the prison indeed.
I wonder how many people are willing to die for love.
Now, the people we need are already where we wanted.
It's time for me to make my move.
Shaoning.
It's up to you now.
If Zhanbi is the bait to reel him in,
then Wei Zhi is the hook in the bait.
Don't worry.
I'll make Wei Zhi agree.
If needed,
use my command token and ask Qiu Shangqi for help.
Aren't they relatives?
I understand.
Ask Ning Qi to come.
Yes, Your Highness.
It seems
Ning Sheng pretended to be Your Highness
to use the guilt I felt for Yale to entice me to kill
and get me imprisoned.
I wonder what he's going to do next.
I don't know what he's going to do next.
I just know
that he wants me dead.
Your existence
is just a weapon
he's using against me.
Your Highness, many years ago,
I came to the capital to see Yale
because I couldn't control my emotions and ruined her name.
For the past 18 years,
I was able to live because of her.
Please, don't let me put you in danger now.
Your Highness.
Don't care about me. Just go.
Can you tell me more about my mother?
What kind of woman was she?
Ning Yi.
I can only tell you
that Yale was the nicest and most beautiful woman
in the world.
She was the only one I cared about.
When I was little,
I never saw my mother smile.
I always thought
it was because she hated the other women with my father.
Now I know
how much she suffered.
My mother suffered greatly.
In my memories,
Yale always smiled tenderly.
I hope that she can forget
all the pain of this world in heaven.
Why did you have to exist?
Why couldn't my mother forget you?
Why?
Why did she leave me
when I was eight years old for you?
Why?
Your Highness.
Take good care of Zhanbi.
Leave our guards here.
Without my command token,
nobody can go near him.
Yes, Your Highness.
Ning Sheng.
Please enjoy.
Look how far you've come. You're smart indeed.
I'm not bright. You taught me well.
I apologize to you with tea instead of wine.
Why would you say that?
I can't accept that.
My mother has already reprimanded me.
She said I shouldn't have used you that way in Chen Shao's case.
I was wrong.
Please don't say that.
You and Noble Consort have been good to my mother and me.
I'm pleased to be of help to you.
Your words are very comforting.
I don't want Ning Yi to misunderstand you.
Why don't you ask Ning Yi to come here?
Perhaps the three of us can sit and talk about this.
Tell him I forced you to do it.
It had nothing to do with you.
That would make me feel at ease.
I can't ever repay you
for your concern toward me.
Now, I can only thank you with this tea instead of wine.
In your opinion,
should I treat Ning Yi
to dinner?
Perhaps you want to...
Neither.
It's Scholar Wei who should buy us dinner.
RESIDENCE OF PRINCE OF CHU
Your Highness, I pay respect to you.
You may rise.
Ning Qi, you seldom come here.
Something must be on your mind. Sit.
-Tea. -Yes, Your Highness.
There's no need.
Have a seat.
To be honest, I came from Prince of Yan's residence.
He asked me to invite you for drinks at Wei Residence.
Ning Sheng is inviting me for drinks.
Yet he asked you to tell me.
Ning Qi, you just came back to the capital.
Don't forget what I told you.
The crossbow is good.
But be careful not to harm yourself.
Thank you for your concern, Ning Yi.
But...
I'm powerless.
I can't fight back.
I can only oblige.
I understand.
So is there any reason for the drinks?
Ning Sheng said
that the three of us started suspecting and resenting each other
because of Chen Shao's case.
Did we?
Noble Consort Chang said
that brothers should have harmonious relationships.
She asked him to talk to us.
Ning Yi.
I quoted those words verbatim.
Did you suspect us?
I didn't.
Then why do we need to go to Wei Residence?
According to what Ning Sheng said,
the Qiangu wine Father gave Scholar Wei
is a rare wine.
He invited us to taste it.
But I think
it's not that simple.
Ning Yi.
You should be careful.
Ning Sheng
asked you
to invite me to Wei Residence
to drink the royal wine Father gave him.
Interesting.
Interesting, right?
It's interesting.
It's really interesting.
QIU RESIDENCE
Come here.
Let's go.
Look away.
Why?
You're a boy, I'm a girl. Isn't it obvious?
Can't I look?
Of course, you can't.
If you don't look away, I'll...
What?
I'll turn and change.
WEI RESIDENCE
-Huaishi. -Scholar Wei.
Did you receive the invitation I sent?
I came because of that.
Prince of Yan suddenly wanted to drink here.
-Please start the preparations for me. -His Highness is already here.
-He's waiting in the living room. -Already?
Prince of Yan is really acting strange.
Huaishi.
Go and talk to Prince of Yan first. Tell him I'm coming.
Find out why he's here.
All right.
He's in a hurry. We're not.
We shouldn't let him notice.
All right.
Your Highnesses.
Scholar Wei.
Look at Scholar Wei. He's such a courteous person.
He even welcomed us personally.
Your Highnesses came without invitation.
I'm so honored. How could I not welcome you?
Ning Qi, why do I feel like Scholar Wei is blaming us?
Forgive me, Scholar Wei.
It's my fault.
I heard that Father gave you Qiangu wine.
I got excited and invited my brothers.
I'm sorry if we've troubled you.
I see.
It's my fault.
I received this wine and forgot to invite Your Highnesses to try it.
I'm sorry about that, Your Highnesses.
That's fine.
It's just wine.
Let's enjoy it today.
I'll just give you more next time.
This way, please.
Why is Scholar Wei not showing himself?
Does he not welcome me here?
-Please don't be angry. -Your Highness.
-Look. He's here now. -Your Highness.
Your Highness, sorry I'm late.
I pay respect to Prince of Yan.
Scholar Wei.
Prince of Chu and the seventh prince are fond of my backyard.
They want to drink there.
I invite you to go there, Your Highness.
Great.
Scholar Wei, please lead the way.
Your Highnesses came too suddenly. I wasn't able to make preparations.
Your Highness, this is what we'll do.
You make your way there first. I'll make preparations and join later.
Please, Scholar Wei.
This way please, Your Highness.
It seems there will be chaos in my residence today.
I'll make arrangements in the backyard and secure the area.
-Then I'll let Nanyi-- -It should be the opposite.
I'm just having drinks.
The fewer people know, the better.
Huaishi, tell them.
Aside from the people serving His Highnesses,
the rest should not come out, especially Nanyi.
But...
Huaishi, I'm depending on you. Go.
-If there's danger... -Don't worry.
The one who's in danger today is surely not me.
Ning Yi.
It's rare for us to gather like this.
Here.
Let me make a toast to you.
Ning Sheng.
Is there any other reason for this toast?
Reason?
When do brothers need a reason to drink?
Ning Yi, you're so funny.
Ning Qi.
This is your fault.
What reason do you need for gathering with brothers?
Why do you need a reason?
You must have a secret, right?
Ning Yi, don't be mad.
I...
I have ulterior motives indeed.
I wanted to use this gathering
to make the two of you remember
that I'm always your brother.
-I am always at your service. -All right.
I heard you have a crossbow expert in your residence.
Can you lend him to me?
Can you?
Your Highnesses.
I have a suggestion. I'm not sure if I should say it.
Tell us.
Isn't it a waste to drink without poems?
How about a drinking game?
What a good suggestion.
A drinking game must be interesting though.
But please don't use poems and songs.
I've been at the border for too long.
I'm not good at those things.
I would embarrass myself in front of you.
I apologize, Scholar Wei.
You're too humble, Your Highness.
Wei Zhi.
You can't tell the others about this.
Ning Qi is apologizing because of a drinking game.
You...
You're right.
Ning Yi, Ning Qi.
I think Scholar Wei's suggestion is good.
We are a family.
It's just a gathering between brothers.
It's fine.
Fine.
Since it's a drinking game, the purpose is to entertain ourselves.
So it shouldn't be too hard.
But Your Highnesses are royals, so it shouldn't be too common.
That's why I have an idea.
How about we use poems to guess words?
What do you think?
We already have the idea. So what are the rules?
The game master should drink a cup of wine before providing a poem.
Then pass the cup while the drums are playing.
Once it stops, whoever is holding the cup should drink it up.
Then provide the answer.
If he can't answer or answers incorrectly...
He who can't answer or answers incorrectly
will need to drink three cups.
Ning Sheng.
You seem very confident.
Ning Yi.
Don't you know I love drinking?
Let's start.
Then I'll be
the game master first.
My poem is,
"She crosses the river with waves a thousand feet tall.
She bends thousands of bamboos as she goes through them."
All right.
I'll drink.
"Desolation at the border makes the magnificient view weltering."
Nice.
Great.
Scholar Wei.
You're good.
How does that count?
Isn't there a rule?
I delayed you, so I should answer.
Scholar Wei.
You think too lowly of me.
All right, then.
Let me try.
"How unpredictable she is.
She's breezy, fierce and warm."
Ning Qi, do I pass?
Ning Sheng.
Carry on.
Your Highness, are you done with your act?
You can act, but I can't?
Qiangu really is a good wine.
This time,
I really am tipsy.
It's so rare for me to get drunk.
And in your residence too.
I just don't know
until when I can stay drunk.
Zhanbi is still waiting
for me...
in prison.
Mother.
Why are you here?
I didn't know you were coming.
I wasn't able to welcome you. I'm such an unfilial daughter.
Zhiwei.
There's no need for courtesy.
There's really no need for that.
I didn't know
I was coming here either.
Your uncle was kind enough to send me to look around the place.
Don't worry.
Scholar Wei, I saw you entertaining my brothers.
So I entertained your mother and brother on your behalf.
You won't be mad at me, right?
I couldn't be mad at you, Your Highness.
Since my uncle was so kind, my mother and Feng Hao
can drink here in peace.
I'll take care of things no matter what happens.
I don't know why you said that. I wonder what can happen.
Subtitle translation by Coleen Chua