A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
ADAPTED FROM TIANXIA GUIYUAN'S NOVEL HUANG QUAN
EPISODE 42
Shaoning pays respect to Prince of Wei.
How are you, Shaoning?
Thank you for asking, Ning Qi.
I have something to discuss with you in private.
You may leave.
Yes, Your Highness.
Tell me, Shaoning.
You probably know what I'm worried about, right?
Is Wei Zhi not willing to consider it?
Shaoning,
there are many nice men in the world.
Why do you have to like Wei Zhi?
Ning Qi,
I think Wei Zhi is the only good man.
If you don't want to help me, you can just tell me.
I'll tell Father to assign someone else to help me.
Shaoning.
Shaoning, don't be like this.
How would I not want to help you?
It's just that...
You know what men are like.
I can't say too much right now.
How about this?
I'm inviting Wei Zhi to House of Lanxiang tonight.
You can come along and observe his behavior,
so you won't regret your decision.
What do you think?
Thank you, Ning Qi.
But,
you have to promise me.
Don't let anyone see you, no matter what you see.
Don't forget, you're a princess.
If people see you at a place like that,
it'll ruin your reputation.
Don't worry, Ning Qi.
Ziyan.
When you come to my residence, you usually barge in like nobody's here.
What's wrong with you today?
Could it be that Father doesn't agree with our plan?
That's not it.
He gladly agreed to it.
-Isn't that good? -It is.
But...
-Something is up with you. -Nothing is wrong.
I'm just here to get something.
Ziyan.
I've never forced you to do anything.
No.
You haven't.
I just heard
that Ning Qi is looking for a husband for Princess Shaoning.
His Majesty has agreed to have Chang Zhongyi come back for the wedding.
Whom did he pick?
Whom did he pick for her?
What did you say?
Tell me.
Wei Zhi.
I'm tired. Excuse me.
Stop.
Ziyan, you know who Wei Zhi actually is.
Feng Zhiwei won't really have to go.
She'll just create the opportunity for Chang Zhongyi to return.
-That's all. -And after that?
What about Feng Zhiwei?
Once Chang Zhongyi returns, we'll find a way
to help Feng Zhiwei escape before the wedding.
She'll become a criminal
and have to change her name as well as go into hiding.
She won't do it.
She won't? Or you won't let her?
What's the difference?
Come. Let's think about this.
-There must be another way. -Another way?
I would like to find another way,
but Princess Shaoning and His Majesty wouldn't allow it.
You know, Feng Zhiwei lied about so many things.
-In the end-- -I don't want her to do it!
Then Chang Zhongyi won't return to the capital.
We won't be able to weaken local powers.
Taking down the Changs will become impossible.
You must think clearly.
-Aim higher, think further. -I don't care.
You must come up with something.
-Right now-- -Your Highness.
Go away.
Prince of Wei wishes to see you.
-Go ahead. -Who?
Headmaster Xin, it's Prince of Wei, Ning Qi.
Send him in.
Stay calm. Don't let him see your anger.
I'm not angry.
I know that you will think of a way for me, Ziyan.
That makes me happy.
That's not good.
I...
The Yan family is willing to cooperate,
but Minhai is still ruled by Chang Yuan.
If you recommend yourself and go there, what if...
Choose the lesser of two evils.
Do you think we still have a choice?
Congratulations, Ning Qi.
You have found a wonderful husband for Shaoning.
Father will be very pleased.
Stop making fun of me, Ning Yi.
It's not a cause for celebration.
You know more than anyone what Shaoning's personality is like.
All I want is to complete the task Father entrusted me.
That's enough for me.
What can I do for you?
I was thinking,
you are good friends with Scholar Wei.
You two are very close.
Could you invite him to House of Lanxiang for me?
Of course,
I'll have the other two candidates there as well.
If one of those three
is willing to help me out,
I'll have good news to tell Father.
Very well. Wu Ying.
Yes, Your Highness.
Take my calling card
and have Ning Cheng bring it to Wei Residence.
Yes, Your Highness.
Thank you, Ning Yi.
We're brothers.
This is just a small favor.
No need to thank me.
I'll head out now.
See you another day.
That gathering sounds fishy.
Think of something.
I've come up with something already.
Do you want to hear it?
I do.
I thought about it, and there's only one solution.
That is,
I'll dress up as Wei Zhi,
marry Shaoning, and make Chang Zhongyi return to the capital.
What do you think?
Fine.
I'm just joking.
You look worried.
-You're not smiling-- -Xin Ziyan.
There are some things you can't joke around.
-Understand? -I understand.
You did well.
This was written very well...
Wei Zhi pays respect to Prince of Chu.
You may rise.
May I ask what you called me here for?
We're going to watch a play.
Please.
Wei Zhi.
Look at House of Lanxiang now.
Since Zhu Yin passed away,
it has never been the same.
Things stay the same, but people change.
Zhu Yin is gone.
Zhiwei pretends to be Wei Zhi.
And Your Highness,
you're no longer Liulang.
Now,
someone wants to turn us back into who we were.
They're here.
Blow that out.
-Go away. -Yes, Your Highness.
Forgive me, Prince of Wei,
I'll just say what I need to say.
To be honest, yesterday,
my father punished me for my ridiculous behavior.
I don't deserve to marry the Princess.
What kind of ridiculous behavior?
It's not that ridiculous.
I went behind his back and got my 13th concubine.
-If I marry-- -Yao Yangyu.
That's low, even for you.
Yao Yangyu, you must be a true man.
You're too kind.
Chunyu Meng, what about you?
Did you also get your 13th concubine?
Your Highness.
I do have an issue. I do not wish to insult the Princess.
Well, then you must tell us your issue.
Otherwise, how will Prince of Wei report to His Majesty?
Ning Yi is right.
Chunyu Meng, tell us about it.
There's something wrong with my body.
My father just came to consult the imperial doctors.
You can go ask them, Your Highnesses.
We have to ask them?
Just tell us what you have. If you're sick, we can treat you.
It probably won't get in the way of marriage.
That's exactly what it will do.
What kind of illness is it?
I'm infertile.
Chunyu Meng, I'll drink to that.
Then, Scholar Wei...
I already paid for this.
Just do whatever I say tonight.
That sounds like trouble.
I won't go easy on you.
Scholar Wei.
-Scholar Wei. -I would rather die right here!
-Qianmo, put down the knife. -What are you doing?
Any problem can be solved.
Solved? What is there to solve? I spent 18 pieces of gold on her.
I'm going to do what I want with her tonight.
Or has House of Lanxiang become a house of bandits?
Servants, take Qianmo to his room.
Yes.
My lord,
what will it take for you to give her up?
I'll pay you back for her.
How about that?
I have lots of money.
But I refuse to be embarrassed by this courtesan.
My lord,
we do business here at House of Lanxiang.
You can find another courtesan.
No need to interfere in Qianmo's problem.
What if I have to interfere?
From what you're wearing,
could it be that you're not experienced?
How about this?
If you insist on interfering,
I'll let you have Qianmo tonight.
You can try her out.
What do you think?
My lord,
will you let Qianmo serve you tonight?
No, Qianmo, I won't.
Servants. Drag Qianmo back to the room.
How dare you!
Who is it?
Lady,
you're unwilling to serve this rich patron,
yet you've set your eyes on my friend.
You have a good eye.
Yet, the Princess has a good eye as well.
She likes him.
I won't allow him
to taint the reputation of the royal family.
Ning Qi, am I right about that?
Yes.
-You are always right, Ning Yi. -Scissors.
In a place like this,
it's not surprising if a person dies here.
Wei Zhi. Come with me.
Let's leave this troublesome place.
Come.
Spy on Wei Zhi for me.
Yes, Your Highness.
I don't think it was a coincidence tonight.
Even though I don't know what Ning Qi is trying to do,
I can feel that Feng Zhiwei is in danger.
That's why I said yesterday,
even if you and I are willing,
as long as His Majesty and Shaoning aren't willing,
it's no use.
I'm afraid
that Wei Zhi has to marry her.
Ziyan.
It's my fault that she had to become Wei Zhi.
I've been encouraging her to.
We were able to avenge Ning Qiao
because of her assistance.
Ziyan,
what you should do now is to persuade Father
to send Wei Zhi to Minhai instead.
Maybe she'll be safe there.
Your Highness,
do you understand why I asked His Majesty to send Ning Qi to Minhai?
I do.
You're clearing the way for me.
You don't understand.
It's much more than that.
Chang Yuan has great power in Minhai.
If Ning Qi can weaken his power, he will be rewarded.
But I'm sure that Chang Yuan won't put up with it.
So when Ning Qi, the son of the Emperor, shows up in Minhai,
it shows that the Emperor is determined to weaken Chang Yuan's power.
With Chang Yuan's personality,
it's very likely that he'll kill the one who carries out the Emperor's orders.
Then, he'll rebel against the Emperor.
I think that the local powers are causing trouble in the empire.
Ziyan,
we have been trying to weaken the local powers
not just in order to get rid of Chang Yuan, who is harming Minhai,
but also to bring peace to Minhai and the people
and allow them to live happily.
That's why I think it's better if we send Feng Zhiwei to Minhai. Think about it.
With Chang Yuan's arrogance, he wouldn't even see her as a threat.
That's why he won't rebel.
We still have enough time to weaken the local powers.
We can slowly plan it.
Am I right, Ziyan?
Wonderful.
Very wonderful.
You're very talented.
You can always turn things about love and emotions
into things about justice and loyalty.
I never know how to argue with you.
From whom did you learn this?
Since you asked,
thank you for teaching me well.
I taught you?
I do this to deal with my wife,
but you use it to deal with...
Very well.
I'll think of another way to bring Chang Zhongyi back.
So you agree with me?
What else can I do?
Thank you, Ziyan.
Do you know how hard I worked to persuade His Majesty?
I played him in pitch-pot. I finally...
I'm going to make a set of House of Lanxiang robes
and send them to Dahua.
It was nothing.
Let's go with your plan.
Come look at this painting.
Wei Zhi. Stop right there.
Wei Zhi pays respect to Princess Shaoning.
I do have something I need to discuss with you.
Wei Zhi.
Let me ask you one more time.
Are you going to be my husband or not?
Your Highness.
Forgive me, I can't do that.
Tie him up.
We're going to see Father.
Your Highness, this isn't a good idea.
Take him.
Your Highness, you can't do this.
Your Highness!
Let me down!
We can talk about this.
Please, Your Highness.
-Your Highness, I'm begging you. -Goodness!
Wei Zhi, why are they carrying you like that?
Helian Zheng.
How can you still be in the mood to joke around?
Her Highness is taking me to the Emperor. This can only mean trouble.
You must help me.
I've never seen Wei Zhi afraid of anything.
Princess, please forgive me.
I can't be your husband because I've decided I won't ever marry.
Husband?
Marry?
Your Highness,
you can't force Wei Zhi to marry you.
How is it your business?
Move.
Wei Zhi.
Your Highness!
Your Highness...
Ziyan.
Where are you going?
Don't ask me about it.
Ziyan.
What happened?
You know the Princess, right?
And Feng Zhiwei.
You know her...
The Princess has tied her up.
They're taking her to Fengyun Palace. I didn't want to tell you
because you'll get involved, but if you don't, she's going down.
Be careful!
Why did I tell him that?
I'll wait for him here.
Wei Zhi, tell me,
why don't you want to marry her?
Your Majesty,
I'm from a humble background.
In 100 years, I am the only one
in the Wei family to be able to serve you.
I don't want to be royalty
if it means I can't serve you and make Tiansheng stronger.
Please understand, Your Majesty.
I don't want him to leave the Royal Court, either.
Father, if I can't marry Wei Zhi in this lifetime,
I'll never marry anyone else.
Please, Father.
Shaoning, stop that nonsense.
Wei Zhi.
I can change the rules
and allow you to be in the Royal Court even as the Princess's husband.
What do you think?
Your Majesty,
all my life,
all I've wanted was to be valued for my own worth.
I don't want my colleagues to say that I'm here only because of my relations.
Please understand, Your Majesty.
How dare you, Wei Zhi?
Then let me ask you this.
Why don't you have maids in your residence?
Why do you always stay away from the courtesans in House of Lanxiang?
You're so close with Ning Yi that it's almost suspicious.
Your Highness.
I have self-respect.
Do you see that as a crime too?
Your Majesty.
You're just trying to deceive everyone.
Father, don't listen to Wei Zhi's nonsense.
If you let such a dishonorable person stay by your side in the Royal Court,
it would bring shame upon Chengming Palace.
Father.
Wei Zhi.
If you don't want to marry the Princess,
that's fine.
Tell me now.
Do you have someone you like?
I can arrange your marriage today
so that Shaoning will give up.
Your Majesty,
please execute me.
Your Majesty.
I, Helian Zheng, am willing to marry the princess
to advance relations between Tiansheng and Jinshi.
I would rather die than marry Prince Helian.
Father.
Prince Helian,
marriage is not something to joke about.
Please, Your Majesty.
Wei Zhi,
why do you wish to die?
Wei Zhi is...
not my name.
I am
Feng Zhiwei.
I am a woman,
yet I dressed as a man and entered the Royal Court.
I tricked Your Majesty.
This is why I deserve to die.
Tell Father that Ning Yi wishes to see him.
Father, Ning Yi is here to see you.
Father,
pardon me for the abruptness.
You came, Prince of Chu.
The greatest nonsense
has occurred in Fengyun Palace and Chengming Palace.
Is my palace like the theaters in the country?
Ning Yi, tell me.
When one tricks the Emperor, should they be killed or tortured?
Father?
Scholar Wei?
Father. Scholar Wei is a woman.
This woman
was able to answer your questions.
This woman was able to come up with plans
to bring peace to the Dayue border.
This woman
was even able to help
come up with the golden box strategy.
She is very wise indeed.
I can't even compare.
Regardless of her deeds,
she tricked me. She must die.
Ning Yi,
are you trying to plead for her life?
Father.
Father,
Ning Yi probably knew all this time.
He helped her trick you.
Don't let him get away with this.
Shaoning, that's nonsense.
Father,
I know Shaoning is upset.
The man she likes turned out to be a woman.
All right,
I'll let you take it out on me.
Father!
-Father. -Servants!
Escort the Princess back.
-Father-- -Yes, Your Majesty.
Don't touch me.
-Ning Yi. -Father.
As the Head of the Censorate,
what do you suggest I do with someone who has tricked and fooled me?
You should kill them.
Ning Yi, what do you mean by this?
Your Majesty.
If Your Majesty believes she has committed a crime,
give her to me and I'll bring her to Jinshi.
How dare you, Helian Zheng?
Father,
Prince Helian has no manners.
I'll ask him to leave now.
Please forgive him, Father.
Your Majesty.
Prince Helian, please.
Please go.
Why did you stop me?
Father.
Father,
you must be tired.
How about I take Feng Zhiwei, who has committed a crime,
and throw her in prison?
Assign duties to the Three Bureaus and complete the paperwork.
We'll decide what to do then.
Yes, Father.
Guards, take her away.
I'll take my leave, Father. Please don't be too infuriated.
Your Majesty, anger is bad for your health.
I'll escort you to your palace.
Where are you taking her?
Ning Yi.
Where are they taking her?
The Ministry of Justice's prison.
You can't do this.
Helian Zheng.
Watch out.
Go now.
Feng Zhiwei.
Aren't you going to save her?
Don't make a mistake.
My siblings who grew up in the capital
all think that I'm just an uncivilized prince from the border.
They underestimate me.
But who cares about that now?
I have you and Mother by my side.
When the people in the capital talk, they never mean what they say.
They're not as straightforward as the people at the border.
I miss our life at the border.
I'm sure it must be tiring for you,
having to navigate through their ways.
I uncovered Feng Zhiwei's disguise,
which is like breaking one of Ning Yi's wings.
I am not tired at all.
These are just little tricks.
From what I know,
His Majesty trusts Feng Zhiwei very much.
If he changes his mind and keeps Feng Zhiwei,
then what you have done will create a powerful enemy against you.
Don't worry, my dear.
I'll help Father make a big decision.
I didn't want Zhiwei to go to the Royal Court because I was worried about this.
I never thought
that the thing I was worried about would happen so soon.
Do you know that the Emperor of Tiansheng
has locked her in prison because she tricked him?
We can't help her.
Will we have to watch her lose her life?
Calm down, Madam Mingying.
Bloody Pagoda is thinking of a way to save her.
It's the imperial prison and very secure.
Even if the Bloody Pagoda members sacrifice their lives,
it probably won't help.
I was the one who took the risk.
That's why Zhiwei is in trouble now.
No matter how hard it is,
the Bloody Pagoda members will sacrifice their lives to save Zhiwei.
Don't worry, Madam Mingying.
You're sacrificing the members of Bloody Pagoda to save Zhiwei.
How could I not worry?
We both serve the mission
to revive Dacheng Empire.
Don't feel guilty.
Your Highness.
Aren't you usually very slick?
Why were you so reckless this time?
Even if Shaoning forced you,
you could have just agreed.
You would have had enough time to plan your escape.
Now,
you've forced Father into a corner.
How are you going to save yourself?
I'm not as smart as you are, Your Highness.
It's all right if I die.
No need to make fun of me.
You're very brave.
Maybe you should add on another sentence.
After 18 years,
you'll be alive and well again.
In my next life,
I'll still come back to bother you.
That's my little raccoon.
All right.
Since you insist on coming back to bother me,
I'll think of some ways to help you.
I have two ways to get you out of here.
Want to hear them?
What are they?
First,
pregnancy.
I can bribe an imperial doctor for you to say that you're pregnant.
That way, you won't be executed.
You'll have ten months to think of a way to get out.
That's a ridiculous plan.
So many things could go wrong.
If I'm pregnant, where is the father of the child?
I can be the one.
It's cold and wet down here.
-You don't need to stay. -I know.
I knew you wouldn't agree to it.
Here's the second plan.
According to the law,
"Criminals who were forced or wronged
can overturn their sentence."
You can use this letter as evidence and tell Father you were wronged.
Tell him that you only did this because I forced you to.
"I order you
to enter Qingming Academy in disguise
to help me investigate the Crown Prince.
From Prince of Chu, Ning Yi."
No, Your Highness.
I could not frame you to save my own life.
I...
I would rather die.
This isn't framing me.
You only entered Qingming Academy because of my plans.
We can protect Feng Zhiwei
and quickly sabotage Ning Yan and Crown Prince's relationship.
It sure is a good idea.
Today, I want to see
the face of Tiansheng's Ultimate Scholar.
"...give Wei Zhi the title of Ultimate Scholar
and grant imperial privilege."
I shall obey...
By being your pawn,
I've returned you the favor for saving my life, Your Highness.
But now,
I can't owe you anything anymore.
I have nothing to give you.
Please, Your Highness.
You're my little raccoon.
Raccoons are like cats.
They have nine lives.
Only the determined can succeed.
On the battlefield, every movement needs to be swift.
How did you live to this day being so cautious?
Be more decisive.
Yes, Father. I understand.
Subtitle translation by Sophie Chang