A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
ADAPTED FROM TIANXIA GUIYUAN'S NOVEL HUANG QUAN
EPISODE 68
"From now on,
we shall be strangers."
No matter where you are,
despite what your identity is,
you'll always be my Yueling.
My one true love.
I'm sorry.
And thank you.
I've done everything in my own accord.
You don't have to say sorry.
And you don't need to thank me.
I only hope
that this will all be over soon.
I hope that your wish can come true
and you won't suffer anymore.
That is the very reason
why we met today.
Is everything all set?
Yueling.
Buddha is merciful.
Please forgive my sins.
Servants.
Yes, Consort Qing?
I hope Buddha
would help Zhangsun Hong
fulfill his wish soon.
After that happens,
I'm willing to serve Buddha all my life.
Let's go back to the palace.
-Yes, my lady. -Yes, my lady.
Commoner Ning Yi pays respect to Your Majesty.
"Commoner Ning Yi."
How ridiculous.
You removed your royal status
and became a common citizen.
Are you also removing
your status as a son?
Whose son am I?
And where are my parents?
That is between your mother and me.
No matter who's right and who's wrong,
your mother
is already gone.
However,
you father is still alive.
My mother is already gone.
Even though I'm very much in pain,
I can still always reminisce
her love and concern for me.
My father is still alive.
But I...
I don't know
whether he has ever loved me,
or whether he has ever loved anyone.
Young Lady.
-Young Lady. -Young Lady.
Are you here to see our leader?
I'll tell him right away.
Can you take me to him directly?
I shall obey your order.
Elders, please don't be sad.
I, Zhangsun Hong, should have died in battle.
Even though I escaped from death and lived over 20 years more,
those old wounds torment me daily.
I've been holding on tightly.
Your Highness, you can't die.
Without you,
how can lost souls like us survive?
Zhiwei?
Come greet the elders.
Zhiwei. Everyone has been hoping to see you.
Here, continue.
Zhangsun Hong. What exactly happened to you?
What else are you keeping from me?
Elders, the Dacheng royal family still has Zhiwei.
She's your hope.
Trust me.
She won't let you become lost souls.
Your Highness.
His Highness doesn't have long to live.
We're counting on you, Princess.
You may go now.
Father.
I came here so suddenly. I didn't have time to prepare properly.
Please forgive me, Father.
That's why I want to suggest
toasting to you together with Ning Yi and Ning Qi.
We wish Father good health.
Ning Yi.
-We wish Father good health. -We wish Father good health.
All right. You may rise.
Thank you, Father.
-Thank you, Father. -Thank you, Father.
This is a family banquet.
There's no need for courtesy as lord and vassal.
If you have anything to say,
say it during this banquet.
Tonight,
I'll spare you for being disrespectful.
That's right.
I haven't been in the palace for long.
I've gained His Majesty's affection
and I'm now the host in Zhaoqing Palace.
But I'm too young.
If I offend you in any way in the future,
please tell me directly.
We're family, after all.
"The host
in Zhaoqing Palace"?
"Family"?
Ning Yi.
If you have anything to say,
say it during this banquet.
Father.
This royal family is really different
from ordinary families.
In an ordinary family,
if the mother just died and the father already has a new wife,
and the son forces himself
to be merry in such an occasion,
wouldn't that make him a bad son?
Even though your words are not music to my ears,
you were speaking out of filial piety
toward your mother, so I don't blame you.
Thank you, Father.
All the memorial tablets here
are the people who have died because of Ning Shizheng.
Be honest with me.
Why exactly are you leading these people and hiding in the capital?
Do you want revenge or rebuild Dacheng?
"Rebuild Dacheng"?
My days are numbered.
I'll be watching you from here soon.
How can I rebuild the empire?
Since that's not your intention,
why are you working with Ning Qi?
Why do you insist on staying in the capital?
Because this is my home!
This is our home.
Zhangsun Hong.
I believe that as long as you're with family,
then anywhere is home.
The world is a big place.
There must be somewhere where you and I can live.
Zhiwei.
Do you really think there's heaven here on earth?
Do you really think that Tiansheng
can tolerate people from the previous empire like us?
How did Qiu Mingying die?
How did Feng Hao die?
How did Zong Chen, Xing Yi, and others in Bloody Pagoda die?
They all died because of me.
No.
They didn't die because of you.
They rightfully died for their own beliefs.
That's right.
There must be somewhere where they can live in this world.
But how can we achieve that?
And how can we let Ning Shizheng understand?
ZHAOQING PALACE
Ning Qi.
Your turn.
I initially wanted to celebrate with Father and Consort Qing.
But according to what Father said earlier,
won't that make me a bad son?
My mother
has also just passed away.
Please forgive me for being somber.
Ning Qi, let me ask you.
Yes, Father.
When you were guarding the border before,
what did you tell me when you came back to the capital?
What Father wants is what I want.
So you still remember.
Then let me ask you again.
That day at Chengming Palace, what did you tell me?
So?
Did you forget your own oath?
I swear
to remember Father's words.
And I will be good brothers
with Ning Yi and Ning Ji.
All right. Very well.
I want you two to forget about past grievances.
Today, I want you to remember your oath.
You'll value your brotherly relationship,
and be good brothers with Ning Yi and Ning Ji all your life.
Can you do that?
I, Ning Qi, will abide by my oath.
As long as Ning Yi
is willing to observe filial piety for my mother for 100 days,
I'm willing to forget past grievances and become good brothers with him.
Lady Wang did not deserve to die.
I understand that.
So not just 100 days,
I should do it for three years.
All right, very well.
I knew it.
Are there any grievances that cannot be resolved in this world?
That's right.
However...
Prince of Wei,
can you also provide an explanation
in front of Father in this banquet
regarding my mother's death?
Why?
Can't say anything?
Didn't you say you value our brotherly relationship?
Isn't our brotherly relationship enough to get the truth out of you?
I can't stand a second being together with the murderer of my mother.
Father wants us to be good brothers.
Father.
It's easy to resolve this.
Let me and Prince of Wei
repay a life with a life. That would be resolved then.
Do you dare do that?
Ning Yi, shut up!
You two...
You two are really stubborn.
Father, drinking is bad for your health.
Consort Qing, don't pour more wine for Father.
I was too careless.
-It's my fault. -I was the one who wanted to drink.
Why? You also want to learn
from your unfilial brothers and interfere in my affairs?
I don't dare to. However, Father,
please take care of your health.
Why should I when you're all so unfilial?
-Your Majesty. -Father.
Your Majesty.
Father, you've had too much to drink.
Your Majesty, let me help you back for a rest.
Your Highnesses, please go for now.
Thank you, Consort Qing.
-Your Majesty. -Father.
Father.
-Your Majesty. -Stop drinking, Your Majesty.
Father.
Your Majesty.
Ning Yi.
Didn't you want an explanation for your mother's death?
"A life for a life."
Kneel.
Ning Qi.
-Why do you have to do this? -I'm the heir to the throne now.
And you are a commoner.
Have you forgotten Tiansheng's laws?
Do you want me to charge you for impudence?
"Heir to the throne."
It's not like I haven't killed one before.
Am I right?
His Majesty orders Ning Yi to come in and continue the conversation.
Official Zhao, why aren't you by Father's side?
That's what Consort Qing wants.
Does Father really want to see me?
Of course.
Perhaps His Majesty fell asleep after I left earlier.
Liulang, please wait a bit.
Official Zhao, please tell His Majesty
that I have urgent matters to discuss with him.
Vice Minister.
This...
Vice Minister, please wait a moment. I'll go and tell His Majesty immediately.
Please.
Your Majesty.
-Only His Majesty and Ning Yi are inside. -Your Majesty.
-Your Majesty! -Guards!
-Soldiers! -Your Majesty.
Your Majesty.
Save His Majesty!
Vice Minister.
I am afraid it's already too late.
Vice Minister. I received news
that Ning Yi is planning to kill Father.
Father has already given me the imperial will to pass his position to me.
You two must go to the palace tonight.
If nothing happens, so be it.
If something happens,
I'm afraid I have to fulfill my order.
We shall obey your order, Your Highness.
Your Highness.
You've already gained His Majesty's trust for this position.
Why are you in such a hurry?
Please reconsider, Your Highness.
Thank you for your reminder, Vice Minister.
Consort Qing, what's going on?
Why is Ning Yi with His Majesty alone?
How would I dare comment?
Ning Yi didn't want me to listen to their conversation.
It seems His Majesty is quite angry. He's scolding Ning Yi.
Vice Minister.
Ning Yi wouldn't try to kill His Majesty because he became a commoner, right?
-Well... -Vice Minister.
Isn't this an urgent matter?
Father is in danger.
If you know something, why don't you tell us now?
His Majesty has long been unsatisfied with Ning Yi.
He mentioned to me that he wants to...
His Majesty wants
-to exile him to the border. -That's impossible!
-His Majesty has never mentioned... -Official Zhao.
Even though Father really trusts you,
you're just a eunuch.
How can you interfere with official matters?
Father.
Guards, call the imperial doctor!
-Call the imperial doctor! -Your Majesty!
-Your Majesty. -Father.
Use force!
-Your Majesty! -Your Majesty!
It's too late, Ning Yi.
I'm old. I've lost my vigilance.
-That's why this happened today. -Your Majesty.
Remember.
I'm passing the throne to you today.
Succeed the royal throne.
Don't ever... be weak.
Father!
You'll be fine.
-Father. -Imperial doctor.
Guards.
GU HAO'S MEMORIAL TABLET
Feng Hao died under the name of Dacheng's heir.
And that Ning Shizheng
told the world that I, Feng Zhiwei, am the Dacheng's remnant
who conforms to Tiansheng in order to appease the people.
The pitiful Feng Hao
cannot be placed in the Gu family's ancestral hall.
He also cannot be buried in the royal tomb.
Feng Hao. It's all my fault.
No. It's not your fault.
It's Ning Shizheng's fault.
So I want to kill him myself before I die.
Blood for blood.
My bad luck
all started with him.
I want to kill him.
Zhiwei.
Killing Ning Shizheng is something that requires risking your life.
I don't have long to live anyway.
You don't have to do that yourself.
However, Zhiwei,
I know you still love Ning Yi.
Once you kill Ning Shizheng,
both of you
will become enemies.
Can you do that?
I can't do it, but I have to do it.
Though he and I love each other,
we're not destined to be together in this life
because of the lives that were lost.
I want to see Feng Zhiwei.
Zhangsun Hong, I don't want to see him now.
All right.
I pay respect to King of Jinshi.
Is Feng Zhiwei here?
I want to discuss something with her.
She has left.
If you really love Feng Zhiwei,
you must know
that only by letting her see the real Ning Yi,
only by letting her hate Ning Yi,
will she be able to free herself from this.
And that's how
she can really belong to you.
This is from the palace.
Heavens are really protecting Dacheng.
The capital is falling into chaos.
Our opportunity has come.
I don't want to interfere with yours and Ning Yi's fight.
But the Chief Imperial Doctor is treating Father now.
I hope you won't interrupt him.
Please step back.
You think you alone can stop me
-by holding a sword? -No.
But if anyone wants to enter this door tonight,
they must do it over my dead body.
Ning Qi, you've already gotten the imperial will.
If your conscience is clear, why are you so impatient?
If you really become emperor,
won't your reputation suffer for all this mess you've created?
All right. You have a point.
My conscience is clear. Why should I be impatient?
Soldiers, stand guard over here.
Don't let the culprit who killed the Emperor go.
Yes, Your Highness!
Don't you dare come closer.
Focus on saving His Majesty.
Peng Pei.
Now, you and I can only press on until the end.
If anyone gets in my way to become emperor,
show no mercy.
-Kill him. -I shall comply, Your Highness.
The tenth prince, Ning Ji, colluded with Ning Yi
and disobeyed His Majesty's imperial will.
He's a traitor!
Soldiers, kill him!
Headmaster Xin.
Do you want to disobey His Majesty's orders, too?
Prince of Wei.
According to our laws, the imperial will must be in two copies.
May I ask
where the other copy is?
I'm afraid we have to ask Official Zhao
to get His Majesty's copy of the imperial will.
So that we can all believe it.
Zhao Yuan colluded with Ning Yi and betrayed Father.
How will there be another copy?
I'm afraid they have already destroyed it.
Yao Yangyu, Chunyu Meng, listen to my order!
Guard Zhaoqing Palace to relieve Ning Ji.
-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.
A few days ago,
His Majesty told me himself to announce
that the imperial will is to be retracted
and that Ning Ji should be the heir to the throne instead
-and rule the empire. -How dare you, Xin Ziyan!
You're full of lies.
You don't believe me even though I have the imperial will in hand.
Why should we believe what you say?
-What a joke! -Whether or not people believe
is not up to you and me.
But everyone can see
that Ning Ji has been protecting His Majesty.
And you?
Where are you?
You're holding an imperial will from who knows where.
This pretentious rescue, just so the Emperor would abdicate.
Do you really believe that everyone here is blind?
Xin Ziyan.
You and Ning Yi have been colluding for a long time.
Who doesn't know that?
Today, Ning Yi wants to kill Father.
Vice Minister is a witness.
You said I intend to force the Emperor to abdicate.
Do you have a witness?
I wanted to save Father!
Father!
The Emperor has passed away.
According to His Majesty's last orders,
the sixth prince, Ning Yi, is to rule the empire
as the emperor
and assume the responsibilities associated with the position.
-Father! -Ning Ji.
Zhao Yuan!
You announced fake orders!
Ning Yi, I'm the heir to the throne that Father chose himself!
I'm the real heir!
Liulang.
Do you really dare fabricate imperial orders?
Everyone, bow to the new Emperor!
I bow to the new Emperor.
Ning Yi.
Why don't you answer me?
Ning Yi, you killed the late Emperor.
I won't reconcile with you!
I'll never acknowledge a traitor like you!
Don't ever let the sinners escape!
Whoever committed
the unforgivable crime of killing the late Emperor,
I will
investigate thoroughly and punish him
according to the law!
CHENGMING PALACE
This is the imperial announcement.
"I, Emperor Ning Yi, worship with a black bull
and inform the heavens as such.
The Tiansheng empire is limitless.
I only have poor virtues.
I'm afraid to assume the imperial position.
I asked all the people in our empire.
And I cannot refuse the heaven's wishes.
Others cannot assume our ancestral vocation.
Someone needs to rule the empire.
All your hopes lie in me alone.
I'm in awe of the heaven's power
and fear the empire falling into ruins.
I've chosen an auspicious day to assume the imperial position
and receive the imperial seal.
I'm offering this sacrifice to inform the Gods
and satisfy them,
so that they'll bless Tiansheng and grant the empire everlasting peace."
Long live Your Majesty!
Subtitle translation by Coleen Chua